Being There

Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer.

A/N-thanks once again for the lovely reviews. I really appreciate all the support! :)

Be warned this chapter is going to be a very emotional read...

Part Nineteen

"You kissed Leah?" Jacob felt lost for words. "But how is that possible? What did she do?"

Sam pointed to his left eye, now that Jacob looked closely he could see the fading bruise of what was once a black eye. Sam's quick healing ability had hidden the evidence as soon as it happened. "She gave you a black eye."

"Yes," Sam sat back down on the bottom step.

"Why did you kiss her, Sam?" Jacob asked him again.

"You know how she has been since she phased, constantly baiting me and bringing up the past. After Victoria was killed we all headed for home. Leah followed me; she wanted proper answers from me. She kept asking why I gave in to the imprint and did I ever truly love her. I tried to keep my cool but she kept on and on. It all built up inside me and she was there right in front of me, all the feelings that I have been suppressing for her came to the surface and I just couldn't help it. I kissed her, she responded before she pulled away and punched me in the eye." Once Sam started talking the words just poured out of him. Jacob was not used to his Alpha being so talkative; he was usually taciturn and hid his feelings.

"Do you love Emily Sam or is it the imprint that keeps you with her?" Jacob cut to the chase.

"Yes, no,maybe...I don't know. It's all so messed up. I don't know what's real or not anymore." He hung his head, hiding his expression. "I can't believe I'm telling you all this but you're the only other one who is in a serious relationship that has nothing to do with imprinting."

Jacob wasn't offended by Sam's words. They had never really mixed before; normally it would have been Jared that Sam confided in but he had recently imprinted on a girl called Kim. She was one of his classmates, in fact they had sat next to each other day after day for a year, and Jared had shown no interest. After he phased he had accidentally looked into Kim's eyes and she was suddenly the centre of his world. She was all he thought about. But unlike Sam he had not been in a prior relationship so there was no conflict in that respect and apparently Kim had always had a crush on Jared anyway.

"I don't mean to pry but how are things with Emily? I thought the two of you were happy..." Jacob's voice tailed off as he saw Sam's whole frame shudder.

"I hurt Emily Jake, badly. The scars she carries are what keeps me by her side. I don't think our imprint is the same as Jared and Kim's. Lee thinks I just gave up on her as soon as I saw Emily but it wasn't like that. I tried to resist, underneath the pull I was still me. I still loved Leah, but when Emily was right in front of me she was all I could see. The whole thing was tearing me to pieces and in the end I had to cut Lee off for her own sake. I couldn't drag her down with me." Sam confessed. "The night I phased and accidentally hurt Emily was the worst of my life, if she was truly meant for me why would that have happened?"

Jacob put a comforting hand on Sam's shoulder. He had no idea how much he had been suffering. He had been the first one to phase, the first to have his life turned upside down by imprinting and had been forced into a position of leadership he was not born for. All through this he had kept up a stoic, impassive exterior, shielding his brothers from knowing just how chaotic his private life was. They all looked to him to guide them and offer his strength as their chosen leader, but it now seemed that with Leah phasing; the barrier he had placed around his soul was crumbling.

"I can't answer that Sam. I don't understand imprinting at all. It seems to be more like a curse than a benefit to the pack. Maybe it was needed in the past to bring people together, our tribe was scattered over a large area, but now things are different." Jacob sighed, thinking about Bella and their baby. He really needed to sit her down and tell her the truth. Sam's situation had brought it home to him that keeping secrets like that could be disastrous.

Sam sighed and ran a hand through his short hair. He stood up. "I need to go and tell Emily what happened." He said tiredly.

"Are you sure that's wise right now?" Jacob asked.

"I can't lie to her, the imprint bond won't allow it. Once she asks me what's wrong I will have to tell her anyway. It's best it's all out in the open. I'm so tired of being torn in two."

Jacob stood up too. He held out his hand and Sam shook it. "Good luck and if the worst happens and Emily chucks you out. There's a couch you can crash on here." He offered wryly.

Sam nodded. "Tell Bella congratulations. We'll talk again soon."

Jacob watched Sam stride slowly toward the tree cover until he disappeared. He needed to get back to Bella; they had to talk.

XXXXXX

Bella opened the front door expecting to see Jacob but instead found Leah. She was shocked to see the other girl had been crying, the tears were still running down her cheeks. Bella quickly ushered her inside and closed the door. Charlie came out to see who it was but when he saw the state Leah was in he made an excuse and left the two girls alone to talk.

"I'll make a drink," Bella suggested leading the way into the kitchen.

"A drink isn't going to fix my problems," Leah snapped angrily.

Bella didn't respond. She had learned by now that it was just Leah's way. "Well I need one. Sit," she pointed to one of the kitchen chairs.

Leah reluctantly pulled out a chair and slumped into it. "I wouldn't have come here but I have no one else to talk to..." she muttered.

"What about your mom?" Bella poured water into the kettle and switched it on.

"Not about this," Leah snorted sarcastically. "She's too involved because it has something to do with my dear cousin Emily."

"Right," the kettle boiled the water and Bella made up two mugs of coffee. She placed one in front of Leah, who despite refusing it, drank it down greedily; not seeming bothered that the water was still hot.

"Have you had a fight with Emily?" Bella asked tentatively after a moment's silence.

"No, Sam," Leah's voice was quiet when she spoke. The tears were still running down her beautiful face but she hardly seemed aware that she was crying.

"Sam?" Bella was surprised. "Do you want to tell me about it?"

Leah regarded her thoughtfully for a moment as if she was mulling something over. Bella looked back at her innocently having no idea that her world was just about to crash around her for the second time. "I didn't want to bring this up, Bella, but after thinking things over and especially what happened to me today, I can't keep it from you even though Jake wanted me to."

A nauseous feeling crept into Bella's stomach. "Jake wanted you to?" She echoed.

Leah reached across the table and took Bella's shaking hands in her own. "We have to stick together, Bella. Those boys can't keep messing with our heads. You need to be aware of all the facts. I don't want you to go through what happened to me without being forewarned."

The sick feeling landed in Bella's throat, her mind was conjuring up all sorts of scenarios. A sharp pain shot through her stomach and her hand landed there as if trying to reassure the little baby inside that none of this was really happening. "Maybe I would rather not know." She mumbled brokenly.

Leah's grip on her hand tightened. "It's for the best, but I promise you Bella. I will be there for you, okay."

Bella nodded dumbly. Leah was going to tell her whether she wanted her to or not. She closed her eyes and hung her head, bracing herself for the worst.

"You need to listen to me carefully, Bella because it's not going to make a whole lot of sense at first. It's a wolf thing. I am going to start from the beginning about why Sam and I really broke up and the reason behind it..." Leah began.

Bella kept her eyes closed as Leah continued her long winded explanation about imprinting. The longer the other girl spoke the sicker Bella felt. Her stomach roiled as she learned why Sam had abruptly ended his relationship with Leah and taken up with her own cousin, Emily. A gasp left her lips as she found out that it not only affected Sam but every wolf in the pack was susceptible to the same phenomena. One day Jacob was going to look into another girl's eyes and imprint and she would be tossed aside like Leah and abandoned for the second time.

"Are you certain this will happen?" She asked Leah dully.

"I'm sorry to sound harsh but yes one day it will." Leah stated bluntly.

Bella pulled her hand away from Leah's and stood; she automatically began clearing up the empty mugs. Leah stood too and looked at her worriedly. "Are you okay? Like I said we need to stick together."

"I'd like you to leave now," Bella kept her back to Leah, her voice dead.

"Bella let me support you. I..." Leah pleaded.

"Leave..." Bella cried out desperately.

Leah didn't argue this time. She gave Bella one last sad glance and hurriedly left the house, more tears leaking out of her eyes.

Bella watched her go, one of the mugs clutched tightly in her hand. The sick feeling was making her dizzy and her skin was hot. She didn't feel well at all. She tried to move but a sharp pain in her belly made her bend over double, the mug fell to the floor with a crash as she slumped against the kitchen cupboards.

Charlie ran into the room and was shocked to see Bella in such a state. "What's happening, Bells?" He put his arms around her and helped her back to her seat.

Bella looked at him, devastation written all over her face. "The baby..." she gasped.

Charlie didn't waste any time. He picked his daughter up and quickly strode out of the house, snatching the keys to the cruiser as he passed. He gently placed her in the front seat before running around to the driver's side. With blue lights flashing he tore out of the driveway and straight back to the hospital.

XXXXXX

Jacob arrived at the house to find it empty. He went all around to investigate and banged on the door several times. No one was at home; the cruiser was gone from the driveway but Bella's truck was still parked there. He frowned; he could smell Leah's scent strongly at the front of the house. A panicky feeling made his skin crawl. Why would Leah have been at the house? He quickly phased back and headed for La Push. He had hoped Leah would be phased so he could pick through her mind and see why she had been at the Swan house. He hoped it wasn't for the reason he was thinking. Turning swiftly he headed straight for the Clearwater's.

He found her sitting on the front porch of her house. It was obvious she had been crying from her red rimmed eyes. As he strode toward her she stood up and glared at him defiantly. "There's no point in coming here to have a go at me, Jake. She deserved to know."

Her words stopped Jacob in his tracks, his heart beat loudly in his chest as he realised the import of what Leah had done. "You told her about imprinting? Why?" He yelled at her.

"Because it fucked up my life and I didn't want her to go through the same," she spat back at him. "I'm sick of the mind games."

Jacob clenched his fists as fear mixed with anger tore through him. "Do you realise what you've done? You had no right. I was on my way there to tell her myself about it. I know what happened between you and Sam. How could you dump all your crap on her when she's pregnant?" He roared at her.

Leah's body became still. "Bella's carrying a baby?" Her voice shook as she spoke. "I didn't...she didn't...oh my god." Her hand clamped to her mouth as she staggered back onto the porch steps.

"Yes, Bella's carrying my baby. My dad thinks that it confirms that I will never imprint, although I knew that already. I was going to let her know that she had nothing to fret over and now you've dumped this on her." Jacob began to pace back and forth agitatedly. "And now I have no idea where she is, so I can't even explain."

"She's not at home?" Leah asked worriedly.

"No. I've just come from there," he snapped.

"We've got to find her," Leah said desperately. "I have to tell her I'm sorry."

"You've done enough. Stay out of it," Jacob said coldly. He didn't bother listening to her pleas. He phased quickly and headed home. He would call Charlie and see if he could track them down.

XXXXXX

Billy was waiting for him as soon as he arrived home. Jacob knew it wasn't good news by the look on his dad's face. "Tell me?" He begged.

Billy rolled his chair forward and took his son's shaking hand. "Charlie called looking for you. He had to take Bella back to the hospital. We don't know anything for certain, they're still running tests..."

"Please not the baby," Jacob pleaded, devastation written all over his face.

"Come on," Billy said grimly. "We need to get down there."

XXXXXX

Dr Stainton checked Bella's blood pressure and and smiled. "All in good order, Bella. You and the baby are fine. It's normal to have episodes like these. You did the right thing coming in."

"That's good news isn't it, kiddo?" Charlie said in a relieved tone.

Bella nodded weakly. "Thank you." She whispered.

"Just remember, get plenty of rest," Dr Stainton patted her hand and left the cubicle, closing the curtain behind him.

Charlie sat down on the bed next to his daughter and took her hand. "Are you sure you're alright, kiddo?" He asked in concern. "Don't worry, Billy called he and Jake are on their way."

A panicked look crossed Bella's face. She wasn't ready to face Jacob, she needed time to think. "Dad, I can't see him. Please just tell him I'm asleep or something." She begged.

Charlie frowned. "Why? What's going on, Bells?"

"Dad. I can't explain. I just need some peace. You heard what the doctor said." She played her trump card.

Charlie sighed. "I don't know what is going here, Bells but you can't stop Jake from seeing you. He's the baby's father and he loves you."

Bella nodded tiredly. "I know dad. There are some things I need to think over. I will talk to him soon, just not right now."

Charlie sighed. "Alright Bells. I'll go and talk to him when he arrives. You try and have some sleep."

Bella nodded, even though she knew sleep wouldn't come. She had to face facts, Jacob had done the one thing that she hated the most; he had lied to her and about a very serious issue that could threaten the future of their relationship. She was finding it hard to take in; her Jacob, her sun could one day leave her because of some supernatural mumbo jumbo called 'imprinting.'A tear rolled down her face as she contemplated what to do.

XXXXXX

Jacob and Billy saw Charlie waiting for them at the entrance to the ER. He had his hands shoved in his pockets and he looked thoughtful. Jacob pushed his dad quickly toward Bella's father and begged him for some news.

"It's okay, Jake. Bells and the baby are fine. It seems the stress has been getting to her." Charlie told him.

Jacob winced, he knew exactly what had caused Bella's distress. He cursed Leah in his head, although he knew it was really his own fault. "Can I see her now?"

Charlie coughed awkwardly. "Err sorry son. I don't know what's going on but she asked me to tell you that she's feeling tired right now and she'll talk to you soon."

Jacob froze. "No. I have to see her now. Please Charlie..."

"Jake," Billy reprimanded him. "Calm down. Chief would Bella allow me to see her."

"I hardly think so Billy," Charlie shook his head.

"I'll be blunt with you, old man," Billy said firmly. "Bella learned something today that upset her. I cannot say what because it is between my son and her. But what she was told was not the complete truth. I understand that she doesn't want to see Jake right now, but maybe I'll be able to put things into perspective for her."

Charlie's eyes narrowed. "What things? What has he done?"

"Nothing bad. We've been friends for a lifetime, Charlie. Please let me speak to Bella," Billy asked him earnestly

Charlie looked at Billy speculatively for a moment before caving in. "You have five minutes, Billy. If Bells gets distressed then you leave."

"Agreed," Billy promised. He then turned to Jacob. "Wait here."

Jacob nodded. His heart felt heavy in his chest as he watched his dad follow Charlie toward Bella. He just hoped and prayed that his dad could get through to her and make her understand.

A/N-thanks for reading! Sorry I still couldn't fit in the pack's reaction. This had to be dealt with first! Let me know what you think, thanks...Nikki