Landslide
Chapter Eight

Jacob's point of view (third person limited)

Quil, thanks to Alpha's orders, kept his mouth shut about the eventful morning, and left the room. Jacob ran a hand through his hair and sighed, looking back to a frazzled looking Leah as she got out of the bed.

"Jake..." She said gently.

What had he done? What about Nessie? He completely... Well, even if she wasn't a romantic interest to him just yet, she would be in the future, he was unfaithful to her. Had he just betrayed the trust of his imprint? A better question, yet... Looking at Leah in his robe, hair a mess, and seemingly just as confused about this as he was: Did he care?

Jacob was overwhelmed with emotion, and despite his own internal struggle, he went over and took her hand, looking down at her. She was even beautiful when she first woke up, he realized subconsciously. "Uh.. Don't worry about it."

Had his first time really been a drunken night with Leah Clearwater? The girl he should be able to call his current girlfriend? Of what, a week? He could hardly remember anything aside from bits and pieces of them; their bodies, close, intertwined. And it had felt good. No, better than good. Amazing. But even those good moments were shadowed with a foggy haze on his perception of the night.

"Do you remember anything?" Leah asked, dropping her gaze. She wasn't sure if she wanted him to or not, to be honest.

"Well..."

"Jake!" They heard Seth's voice call from downstairs, half-startled. "Come here!"

Oh God. Jacob groaned. He hoped to God this wasn't about the girl laying in his bed.

"I'm going to change and shower," Leah said quickly, getting up off the bed. "I'll be downstairs after."

Jacob nodded, not knowing how to part, so he just left, going downstairs in his pajama pants. "What's up?"

"We caught a trail," Embry said, concerned. "They're close; vamps."

That got Jacob into battle mode. Seth and Embry had been on patrol that morning and he took a moment to be grateful that they didn't know what happened. Or maybe they did, and they just weren't saying anything. He would definitely have to be in control of his thoughts on this run. But how could he when the girl he was in battle mode to protect right now, was the one he betrayed the night before? He would have to talk to Quil later, he decided.

"Quil, Embry, I want you to go out and do a perimeter check. Seth, you wait for me and Leah. I'm going to get her and then we'll be out."

The three nodded and split up. Seth looked to Jacob when they were alone, and he suddenly felt extremely awkward. Did he know? Why was he so embarrased about sleeping with Leah? Was it because they had been drunk? Because he felt like maybe he had taken advantage of her without knowing it? Or was it because of Nessie? He couldn't decide, and he didn't have the time. "Seth, go over and warn the Cullen's."

And he was gone, as well.

Jacob ran up stairs and knocked on the bathroom door. "Leah, come on, we have to go-"

The door opened, and Leah stood in a towel, not even having had time to get in the shower. He almost completely lost his train of thought seeing her so exposed, despite the night before. "The shower can wait," he regained his voice. "We have to go patrol. Embry and Quil caught a vampire scent earlier this morning."

Leah sighed, and nodded, grabbing the dress she placed on the sink. She shut the door and in seconds, she was back out, with the dress covering her body, hair still an unruly state, but she was still beautiful.

"Off to protect your precious half-breed, I suppose," but they both knew that Leah's motive to going up against the vamps was for her own revenge; for them coming to Forks and destroying her life with Sam.

"You know that's not what this is about," Jacob said as they ran down the stairs, and outside.

"Not entirely."

And she was right, but he didn't acknowledge her. They both went into the forest, turning away from each other, both wondering if there was even a need to after the night before, but soon, they were all connected; all 5 of them.

What's going on? Jacob thought.

The scent is still fresh, but they've ventured away from the boundary line of the Cullen's, Quil replied.

Good.

They're gone up toward the Canadian boarder.

Embry established.

The Cullen's are notified. They're coming out to check themselves. Seth informed them.

Leah focused at the task at hand; trying to figure out where the dirty leeches went, and keep her personal thoughts out of this. Still, she would love a chance to tear one of those things apart.

Leah, Jacob scolded her thoughts.

She rolled her eyes at the acknowledgment.

Are we going to follow them? Quil asked.

Blondie and Emmett are already following the trail, Jacob read Seth's thoughts. Meet in the clearing behind the Cullen's.

All of the wolves accumulated in the backyard, and phased back, clothing themselves quickly. Leah went into the brush to phase back, and joined them a minute later.

Carlisle emerged from the house. "Rosalie and Emmett lost their scent in a large river close to the boarder."

Jacob nodded, and was about to speak when a girl emerged from the house. She looked even older today. About thirteen. "Jake!" She cried, running over to him. "Mommy said there's new vampires; people like us!" She cried, hugging his legs.

"Ness," Carlisle said softly. "We don't know if they're like us. You must not be out alone, okay?"

She nodded. "I have Jacob to protect me."

Jacob's heart broke into a million pieces, and so did Leah's, and both had to do with the same reason; the small girl clinging to Jake's legs.

He picked her up, unable to deny her. "Listen to Carlisle, Ness. You have to be careful."

She nodded. "I will be," she kissed his cheek. "When are you going to come see me for the day again? I miss you."

He hadn't been around as much with the patrols, and, well, Leah. He was trying to distance himself, if he was being honest. He would go over for an hour every day or so, just to fill the void she left when she wasn't near, but then he would go back home, and see Leah, and question everything all over again. Why couldn't this be easier?

"Soon, Ness." He promised.

Edward came out onto the patio and I knew he would realize everything going through my head; the events of the previous night. He sighed as Nessie turned to him. "Jake? Can you come over tonight?"

Jacob felt the impulsive need to agree; to tell her of course, with no other thought. But he looked over to Leah, who was staring off into the forest. He decided he needed to take care of something.

Jacob looked to Edward, and he nodded. He took Nessie over to the far-side of the house, away from everyone. He put her down, and knelt down to her height, taking her hands. "Nessie, I need to talk to you, okay?"

She nodded, her curly hair framing her face brilliantly. He had to protect her, from mental and physical pain. But her also had to protect the members of his pact, too; all of them. No man left behind.

"You know Leah?"

Nessie nodded, and reached her hand up, showing Jacob a memory she had of Leah and him, outside, talking; He hugged her, and then they parted. Jake remembered the day; not long after Renesmee was born. She congratulated him on the imprint. Only now, seeing it through Nessie's eyes, he realized how forced her happiness had been.

When the vision ended, he sighed. "Leah's hurt, and she needs me, just like you do. I need to help her."

Nessie, although being extraordinarily smart, was visibly confused. "I love you, Jake."

Jacob felt the words catch in his throat. "I love you, too, Ness," he whispered. "But I love Leah, too."

"Like a sister? Like me?"

They had already went over this. He told Nessie he loved her all the time; like a brother should love a sister. He couldn't lie to her. "I love Leah in a different way, Ness."

"As a girlfriend?" She looked up at him. She was so big, now. A pre-teen. She knew about this stuff. Jacob underestimated her intelligence because of her appearance too often.

"As a friend," Jacob said, not lying considering he was unsure of everything himself. "But she needs me to help her, too."

Nessie hugged him. "Then help her."

He nodded, feeling so much better now that Nessie knew his reasoning – somewhat, for his current absence. But he still had betrayed her. "Ness? You remember what I told you about imprinting?"

She nodded, holding his hand. "Yes. Everything. Why?"

Jacob gulped. "You remember I told you that the imprinter would be anything the imprintee needed him to be?"

She nodded again.

"What do you need me to be?"

Was she finally getting to the stage of wanting a boyfriend herself? She looked thirteen, but had a fully developed brain. Did she want someone who would – in her pre-teen years, hold her hand secretly and always want to see her? Nothing physical, of course. Just... A innocent relationship? Was she there yet? Was this happening sooner than he thought?

But she was much, much smarter than he even realized. "I want you to be whatever you want to be, Jake."

Authors Note: Summer's here! Sorry for the delayed updates on, well, everything. However now with Summer only 2 public exams away I will definitely love to continue writing for you guys! I have a plan for this story and enjoy writing it for you guys, so I hope you would like me to continue! Remember, review! (:

- Dramaticfield