AN – I do not own any of the characters o Twilight. They belong to Stephanie Meyers.

Chapter 16

Third Person POV

The next morning, Uma's house was quiet. Uma and Quil had managed to get some sleep but Tia had lain beside Quil, eyes open, no emotion played across her face. Just past 9 am, there was a knock at the door. Uma opened it to see the Chief of Police Charlie Swan with his hat in his hand. Letting him in, he asks Uma if she could please call Sam to come up. He needed to speak to them all, Tia, Uma and Sam.

After Sam arrived, Uma walked into Tia's room to wake her and Quil. She busied herself in the kitchen fixing coffee for Sam and Charlie. She had noticed that Charlie was nervous, fidgeting constantly with the brim of his hat. After about 10 minutes, Tia and Quil came into the living room. They sit down on the sofa as Charlie sits in the chair opposite of Tia. Sam decides to stand next to Uma.

CPOV

As much as I enjoy my job, there were times when I really didn't. This was one of those moments. I received a phone call early this morning that had me now waiting at Uma Walker's door. If there had been any way to avoid this duty, I would have but my damn conscience wouldn't let me. I knock on the door.

Waiting for Tia to get dressed felt like an eternity. Having my own teen daughter, I understood but this time was different. I thank Uma for the coffee and sit down in the chair across from the sofa trying to find the words that would soften the blow of what I had to tell Tia. Finally, she and her boyfriend Quil come out to the living room. I set my coffee cup down on the table and leaning forward, I place my elbows on my knees looking at her. What I saw brought my Bella to mind. I have seen that facial expression before, the blank stare, the lack of emotion. I also understand how it feels to watch someone that you love go through this kind of pain. With Bella, it was as if she was mired in not understanding why or how Edward could have left her. However, this time I feel as if Tia knows why I am here.

Sighing heavily, I look down at my hands. I can't look at her while I say the words. "Tia, I wish I didn't have to tell you this but your mother was found dead in her apartment last night." Being straightforward was definitely better than beating around the bush.

What happened next surprised us all. Tia silently jumped up and flew out the back door. Quil automatically jumped to follow her but Sam stopped him by taking his arm. "Give her a minute. We need to know what happened." I noticed that Sam's voice was different as he spoke to Quil. A tense look passed between them. Quil remains standing by the couch, but starts pacing in worry. Sam turned to me and asked for details.

"Apparently, Ms. Walker was involved in some sort of altercation with her boyfriend, Jim Nelson. According to the report, he was seen fleeing just before the police arrived on the scene. Jemilla was found face down in the living room, dead. She had been beaten to death. There was evidence in the room of drug use but we will have to wait for the autopsy to know the real reason for her death."

Both Sam and Quil are trembling with anger and rage, and Uma covered her face with her hands and cried. Sam got himself under control, nodded to Quil who flew out the back door after Tia. Then, Sam sat down asking what needed to be done next. I filled him in on the details, gave them my business card and left. They would call me if and when they needed me.

QPOV

No No No No NO!

My thoughts raced screaming as soon as I heard the news of Tia's mom. It was all I could do not to take off as soon as Charlie said the word "dead" but the Alpha order held me until Sam nodded. I barely made it out the back door before I phased. I had to catch her. I had to…oh god. Tears flow down my cheeks. I can't think anymore. I just had to find her. Following her scent, I track her into the forest.

Quil? What happened? I hear Jared ask. He's patrolling this morning. I replay Charlie's visit in my head.

I'll call a pack meeting at Emily's right now. You go find Tia. Stay with her until she either is ready to come back or you hear from us. As beta, he makes the decision since Sam is busy with Charlie and Uma. A howl pierces the morning air. I soon hear answering howls from throughout the Res. The pack was not going to take this well.

After a couple of minutes, I track Tia quietly finding her curled up at the base of a large tree about a half mile from the house. Her knees are pulled up under her chin and her arms are wrapped around her legs. I hear no sound nor see any movement coming from her. I phase back, get dressed and walk carefully over to her. Seeing my imprint's state, my wolf is now frantic and showing no signs of calming down. PROTECT! MINE! PROTECT! I start to shake violently. Given my emotions and Tia's situation, there's no way I'm going to be able to control my wolf so I decide to give in. I turn and run back behind a bush. I undress again to phase. I wait a moment sniffing the air to make sure that there's no immediate danger to Tia and then walk over to her. I sniff her hair and her cheek hoping that she would at least acknowledge my presence but nothing happens. I decide to lie down, wrapping myself around her burying her in my fur and protection. We're going to stay where we are until one of the guys comes for us. Whimpering at the pain in my heart and soul for my imprint, I lay my head down to wait.

Third Person POV

The pack meets up at Sam's place. Jared had shared through the pack mind what had happened to Tia's mom so they were all full of questions as soon as they phased back to human. Jared had already spoken to Emily by the time they all had arrived. She knew that Sam needed her so she set off up the hill to Uma's. Paul was shaking in anger over her mother's death. Embry and Seth wanted to know how they could help Tia and Uma. Jared had no answers other than "We will wait until Sam comes to us. He's sorting out what needs to be done next." Each of the pack members lowers his head, waiting and dealing with their own emotions. When an Imprint goes through this sort of situation, it affects every one of the wolves. Their need to protect Tia was that great, but they also knew that Quil's wolf had to be losing its mind with worry and pain. They can't imagine how Quil is handling all of this.

SPOV

Shortly after Charlie left, I heard the pack's cries; most likely calling a meeting at my place. I sit with quietly with Uma, supporting her as she dealt with her grief. Emily came through the door and ran straight into my arms. I bury my face in her neck, allowing myself a moment of tears as I tried to figure out what to do to help Tia. Being the level headed woman that I love, Emily starts asking questions.

"What happens next Sam?" she rubs my back soothingly as I lift my head up from her shoulder.

"Well, Tia is next of kin but she's in no state to handle identifying her mother's body. We're going to have to take her down there regardless. If it's ok with you Uma, I'll drive her and Quil down to handle the more pressing matters. You can come down with Emily for the funeral after it's planned." Uma nods, sniffing. Emily places a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"I'll need to talk to Old Quil about Quil but I know that he'll approve. Tia needs him. Not allowing them to be together at this time would cause them both more harm."

Emily turns to me and says "The pack is waiting for you down at the house. I'll stay here with Uma. Tell them to come up after your meeting. I'll see that they get breakfast. I think busying ourselves will help us both." Again Uma nods her head. Giving both Uma and Emily a gentle hug, I go out the door towards my home. We need to firm up patrols and plans and someone needs to go find Tia and Quil.

Third Person POV

After talking to the Pack, Sam collects Emily and Uma to go over the Ateara house to speak to Old Quil. Jared goes searching for Quil and Tia, finding them in the shade of a large tree. Jared and Quil discuss the current plans through their mind link, not wanting to upset Tia any further. After phasing back, Quil picks up Tia and heads home with her. Jared follows and watches as Quil carries her through the back door and into her room, depositing her gently on her bed.

QPOV

Sitting on the side of Tia's bed holding her hand, my fears start to grow. What if she doesn't snap out of this? Will she be the same when she realizes that her mother is gone? What else can I do to help her? His mind refuses to calm. His wolf is pacing, looking for a way to protect his imprint. Quil runs his free hand through his hair, tugging at it in frustration.

"Quil, how are you doing?" his best friend asks with concern in his eyes.

"It's too much too fast, Jare. I still feel our imprint bond but I feel nothing coming from her; no fear, no anguish, no…" I drop my head unable to go on. I feel Jared place his hand on my shoulder in reassurance.

"I was thinking on our way back to the house that maybe this is for the best for Tia, even though the way that this came about is traumatic. If you think about it, having the constant reminder that she might have to, at any given time, go back to Vegas, back within reach of that bastard, couldn't have been easy for her to deal with. Yes, she lost her mother and no one can replace her but we are her family now. We will see that she gets what she needs to find peace with her mother's passing. We all will do whatever it takes."

I look up at him. "Damn Jared, when did you get so deep?" I rub my hand across my face thinking about what he had said. "You're right though. She's all ours now, no going back to her painful past. We'll see her through, however long it takes." I smile for the first time today. A small glimmer of hope begins to grow in my chest.

Uma comes in to sit by Tia as I run back over to my house to pack a bag. I really don't want to leave her but I'll only be gone for about 20 minutes. Regardless, my wolf is not happy about it. Racing through the door, I don't see my grandfather anywhere. I go straight into my room, grabbing my bag throwing in toiletries, clothes and anything else that I think we might need. Lost in my own thoughts as I packed, I almost failed to hear grandfather's slow gait as he entered the house from the back porch. He comes up to my room and leans on the door frame of my bedroom. I look up at him and his calm face soothes me. He can see the anguish written on my face.

"Do not worry for Tia, Quil. She will pull through this." He placed his arm across my shoulders in support. I start hyperventilating and throw my bag down on the floor in frustration. I feel so helpless. Up until this point, I hadn't allowed myself to show any emotion. Now, I let go as the tears began to flow down my cheeks. I sat down on my bed and grandfather joined me.

"I just feel so lost grandfather. I don't know what to do for her… I can't lose Tia. I just found her." I whispered.

"Quil, the Great Spirit would not have created your imprint bond only to have her taken away from you so soon. Have some faith and stay strong."

Third Person POV

The preparations for the trip to Vegas went quickly. Sam's plan was to start our drive down around 5 pm. They would arrive Monday afternoon and meet with the police investigator as well as visit the morgue on Tuesday. They had decided to use Emily's car since it would be more comfortable for Tia. They packed the car in silence. No one knew what to say. Words were no good at this point.

AN: I had to edit the last paragraph! If you are just now reading this chapter, then continue on. If you had previously read it, I moved a bit to the beginning of Chapter 17.

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