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

Chapter 18

QPOV

As we started our drive back home, all I could think about was Tia. She feels even more withdrawn than before which is scaring the hell out of me. As Sam pulls out onto the interstate, I settle us into the pillows piled in around us. I turn her so that her head is lying on my chest and I can see her face. It calms my wolf to be able to see her facial expressions especially since she hasn't uttered a single word in four days. I take my MP3 out of my pocket, find some soothing music for us and plug in the headphones. Exhaustion overwhelms both of us. Very soon, I feel Tia's breathing even out and her heart rate slows down as she falls asleep. I tighten my arms around her and close my eyes. Knowing that Sam is driving and has his eyes on the road, I let my defenses down for a while. Tears fall and I'm just going to let them go. She's safe. She's going home. She's leaving that hell behind. I will make her happy. I will show her how much she is loved. I will make her mine.

SPOV

I had forgotten how much I hate being in a real city. It's too crowded, too noisy and too claustrophobic. I'm very ready to leave that mess in Vegas behind and get back home where we belong. I hear some shuffling in the back seat as Quil and Tia get comfortable. The past couple of days have been hard on them, but they've made it through. I know that once we get back on the Res that the healing that they both need will come. It's only a matter of time now. I catch the sound of a sniffle coming from the back. I look up in the rearview mirror to see tears running down Quil's face. It's about time. He's been holding back for too long and I would not dream of ever telling anyone else that I saw him in a moment of weakness. I've had my share of them with my Emily. Quil is due for his, especially given what they have been through these past couple of days. Focusing back on the road, I decide that I'm going to drive as far as I can, all the way if possible, so that those two in the back can get some much needed rest. I can sleep once I'm home with Emily.

QPOV

Yawning, I look up to notice that we've made it to Forks. What the heck? Why didn't Sam wake me up so that I help drive? How the hell did he drive that distance without waking us? Idiot. Sighing, I tell myself to get over it. I did feel a little better for having slept. Tia is awake, but she's relaxed. I wonder if she knows that we're almost home. Watching the scenery change from small town to heavily woodland that marks the tribal lands, I can feel the comfort of being back on the reservation begin to cover me like a blanket. Although my heart is still heavy, I feel like I can breathe a little better now.

"Hey Sam, why did we just pass the turn to your house?" I'm confused. I look up in the rearview mirror to see a grin on his face. What is he up to?

"Um yep, I did. Just wait a minute, you'll see…" He continues to drive past La Push beach and towards First. He turns on the road that runs along the back of First Beach and up onto the ridge.

"What? Sam, are you serious?" I see him nod. I smile for the first time in several days. My family has surprised me again. As we pull up to the cabin, I see that Embry and Jared are doing something out back. Something baking in the kitchen smells wonderful and wakes my stomach up. I realize that I really haven't eaten since we started this trip. Man, it felt good to be back home.

Third Person POV

As soon as Emily received the phone call from Sam that they were headed back home, the pack was put to work. Emily and Uma cooked and cleaned up the kitchen. Bella and Kim readied the other rooms of the house. The boys were doing any odd job repairs or working on the firewood supply. The kitchen was stocked. The freezer was filled. Every room had been aired out and readied for their arrival. Sam called Emily when they neared Forks. She called a quick pack meeting and asked them all to control themselves when Quil and Tia got out of the car. Most of them did not know about what had happened to Tia. She didn't want them to inadvertently scare her by being their normal boisterous selves.

QPOV

Sam parks the car and hops out. Emily runs into his arms for a hug. I can see everyone, either on the front porch or standing nearby. They are happy to see us but I can tell that they are holding back. I rouse Tia and help her out of the car. She immediately wraps her arms around my waist and her heart rate accelerates again. She's not handling the change of a new place well. I look up at Jared to see concern on his face. He comes over to grab some of our stuff to help us go inside. The others part the way. I try to smile at them to say hello but all I really want to do is get her inside and calmed down.

JPOV

Holy crap, what happened down there? The anxiety that I see on my best friend's face is hard to face. I help him grab their stuff as they start to head into the house. I give him a hand with Tia as they climb the steps to the front door. Walking through the door, Uma rushes to them, wrapping her frail arms around them. Old Quil is sitting in one of the chairs in the living room, waiting for his grandson's arrival. One look at him and his Imprint, and Quil Sr. became very worried. Uma shooed Quil away as she pulled Tia into the bedroom to help her freshen up from the trip. Everyone else came into the house behind us. The living room and kitchen were soon overrun but the noise level was hushed. The others wanted to know what had happened. Sam settles them all down to begin explaining about Tia's mother's death, the investigation, and the attack. The pack immediately tenses but Sam then tells them that Nelson is behind bars and will be for a very long time. Questions start to fly and I see that Quil is beyond anxious.

"Hey Quil, do you need a hand with the other bags?" I look at him, wanting to talk to him away from the crowded house for a minute. He nods and I follow him out the door. When we make it to the trunk of the car, he wipes his hands across his face in frustration.

"Ok, give, what happened?" My best friend turns to me with a look of pain in his eyes.

Quil explains in more detail the meeting with the officer and then the attack on Tia. My anger rises at the thought of that slime bag touching her. Quil then covers his face with his hands and walks further away from me.

"Quil?" he doesn't reply. He's breathing harder and starting to shake. He hasn't been able to release his wolf in several days. I wonder at how he has managed to keep control through it all. "Quil, you ok?"

"Dammit, no I'm not, Jare." He turns to face me and I can see the rage and guilt on his face. "I failed Tia. I failed her and I am to blame." He looks at the ground, clenching his fists.

"What? Why?" I'm confused and I know that he's on the verge of phasing and hitting the woods. God knows when I'd be able to catch him if he did.

"That bastard wouldn't have been able to lay a hand on her if I had been paying attention. I'm the one that didn't shut that hotel room all of the way. I'm the reason that he got his hands on her. He had a knife at her throat. He could have killed her." His shaking was getting worse but he wasn't giving in to it.

Not knowing how to reply, I hear a sound on the front porch. Turning, we see Sam standing there. "Jared, take a run with Quil. He needs it. Just don't stay gone too long." I nod in agreement. We both phase and tear off into the forest.

The pictures of what happened race through Quil's mind as we run full speed. The dream, finding Tia in the woods, the news of her mother's death, the police station, and more, it's overwhelming. He's snarling, growling and in complete rage. I stay by his side until he finally skids to a halt. He looks like he is in physical pain. Quil howls and drops to the ground.

I don't know if I can do this Jare…

Do what? I'm not following you. I sit down beside him, waiting for his reply.

Breathing heavier than before, Quil's anxiety continues to escalate. I feel our imprint bond but that's it. She hasn't spoken or even looked at me in days. It's tearing me apart Jared. I don't know how to help her, how to reach her.

Damn, I didn't think about his side of this. It has to be torturous, not knowing when or if Tia will ever truly recover from this trauma. I nudge him with my nose. Tia needs time. Getting her back home was a step in the right direction. You just need to stay with her through this. She needs your strength. You have it in you to help her, just have some faith.

Quil looks up at the stars above. Time, sounds easy enough…he drops his head on his paws. What if she doesn't want me when she does recover? What if she hates me for not protecting her from Nelson?

Dammit all Quil! Can you hear yourself? I snarl at him. Stop with the What Ifs. Don't put words in her mouth. She's going to come around and I'm willing to bet that she will love you even more than she already does when she realizes that you were there for her through it all. Give yourself some credit. You have done everything that you can and will continue doing so. Just take one day at a time for a while, ok?

Quil sighs. I know. This love stuff sure is hard. I wish there was some sort of guide book to help a guy through the rough spots.

Psssht, don't we all? Don't we all? Come on, we've probably been gone long enough. Let's get you back to your lady love. I bump into him playfully as he stands and then we race down the mountain towards the cabin.

QPOV

As we enter the house, I find the pack sitting on the floor of the living room. Uma, Grandfather and Sam are waiting for our return. Paul throws a towel at me so I can wipe the sweat from the run off of my face.

Standing up, Sam says "Quil, the cabin has been made ready for you and Tia. You will be staying here with her while she recovers. Emily and I will make sure that you have anything that you need in the meantime."

Then Grandfather speaks. "Uma and I have enrolled both of you in an online school. You can start your classes whenever you are ready. The paperwork to get started is over on the table by your laptop."

Pulling Emily up from the couch, Sam adds "Ok everyone, it's time to get out of here and let them get some rest." The pack follows him out the door, only Uma and Jared are left.

"You give me a call if you need anything, ok?" Jared asks. Well, more like orders me to… I nod to him. He gives me a brotherly hug before he heads out as well.

I turn to face Uma. "Quil, I've already made sure that she has eaten a bit and then I gave her some of my tea to help her sleep. You need to do the same."

"I will." I look down at my hands, feeling helpless.

Uma takes my hand in hers, looking up at me. "Be her rock. She needs you. You will help her through." She gives me a hug.

If only it were that easy…I think to myself. I grab something to eat out of the fridge and a quick shower. Changing into my lounge pants, I climb into bed beside my sleeping Tia. I pull her into my arms. I can smell the sweet smell of jasmine in her newly washed hair. I bury my nose in her neck and growl in contentment. We're home. We're in our home, where we belong. Allowing the tensions of the past couple of days go, I make a promise to myself and to Tia. I will be what she needs. I will make her feel safe again. I will show her how strong our bond is. One day at a time…