He heard shouting behind him, and he knew that they had to get out of sight as quickly as possible. He landed on the ground in a crouch, and then he sprinted after her retreating form. She was already disappearing into the woods. Luckily the ICU was in the rear of the hospital, so there was no one to witness their dramatic escape. Sam glanced back to see the security guard and six staff members gaping at him through the broken window. He could only hope that they hadn't caught sight of Leah.

He yelled for her, and she responded with a howl. Shit. From the sound of it, she was already pretty far away. She must be awfully fast. This time he didn't pause to remove his clothing. He just burst out of his skin and into his wolf, and then he ran.

Instead of seeing the forest in front of him, Sam had double vision, and he heard frantic cursing in his head. What the fuck what the fuck what the fuck what the fucking fuck? It was LeeLee's voice. Sam tripped over a log in his confusion, and when he landed, he involuntarily closed his eyes for a second. For that brief moment, he only saw one image in front of him.

LeeLee? Is that you?

Sammy? He saw the forest rushing past, and then he opened his own eyes and tried to stand. He blinked and swayed in place. He could simultaneously see the trees in front of him. They were standing still. But in his mind's eye, everything was moving.

Yeah. It's me.

I can hear you! Where are you? He felt her beginning to register the ground in front of him.

He kept his eyes trained downward, but even that was disorienting. He closed his eyes. I'm right where you left me. I followed you out the window.

She spun around, looking for him. But she couldn't spot him through the trees. She had made it surprisingly far. Where are you? Why can't I see you?

Because you left me behind. He couldn't keep the accusatory tone out of his voice.

She was totally perplexed. So was he. Then why can I hear you?

I think... I think we're connected.

What? How? What's going on? She was frantic, and she began to pace back and forth, trying to figure out where he was.

He heard voices at the edge of the wood, and he realized that hospital security was looking for them. Shit. We have to get out of here. She started to run in an arbitrary direction, but he hastily stopped her. No, wait. I'm coming to you, okay? She kept going in her fear. This time he yelled. Stop!

She froze, unable to move a single muscle, while he began to sprint toward her. He realized he knew exactly where she was somehow. Oh my god oh my god oh my god I can't move I can't move what the hell?

Just wait for me, okay? Just relax. Her muscles instantly unclenched, and she almost dropped to the ground. I'm coming, okay?

How come I'm seeing two of everything? Why am I standing still but I can see everything moving?

I think you're seeing what I'm seeing, he guessed, because I can see through your eyes too. He wished the Elders had prepared him for this psychic connection, but he suspected they didn't know. It was clear to him that there was a lot they didn't know.

And then he was there, right in front of her. Oh shit, Sammy? She shrank away at the sight of the intimidating animal stalking toward her, the same one that mauled her. She wanted to scramble away, but she was unable to move. Oh god!

His voice assured her of his identity. Don't worry, baby, it's just me. It's just me. He buried his muzzle in her neck, nudging her nose with his, pressing his forehead against the side of her snout. I'm here. I'm here. It's okay. I'm here.

She pushed her smaller body toward him, eager for his comfort once she realized who he was. Sammy? Is that really you in there? You're huge!

It's me, he answered. It's me. It's going to be okay.

Do you promise? Her voice was small and frightened in his mind.

We're together, LeeLee. So yeah. We're going to be fine.

He felt relief wash over her, but her relief was marred by confusion. She stared up at him in awe. You're an enormous, terrifying black wolf!

Yeah. Guess I am. And you're a less enormous, much prettier one. But you need a haircut.

The absurdity of it made her laugh, and it came out like a bark, which startled her. Is that why you cut your hair? But he could answer, they both heard the sounds of bodies crashing through the brush. Both their heads snapped up in unison, looking toward the sounds. What's that? she asked.

Hospital security. Or maybe they called the cops. Or both. We should get out of here.

Where? We can't go home like this.

He immediately thought of the isolated cave near Third Beach where they sometimes went to make love. He didn't even have to talk about it. He realized she could see the image in his mind, and he started toward it.

For some reason, though, she didn't move. Sammy? Sammy! She was trying to get her limbs to cooperate, but nothing was happening.

Come on, LeeLee! We have to go! And then she leapt after him. What was that? I saw you trying to move...

But I couldn't. It was really scary, like I didn't have control over my own body. They both thought back to the moment he ordered her to stop.

A memory appeared in Sam's mind: Billy telling him he would be in charge of his pack. That he would be Alpha until Jacob took over. That he would have a kind of influence that had no analogy amongst humans. I think I'm going to have to be careful of what I say.

You mean, I can only do what you tell me to do?

I don't know. Unbidden, he imagined himself ordering her to strip off her clothes and give him a lapdance. He would have flushed with embarrassment if his fur allowed it.

But she thought it was funny, even amidst their terrifying situation. Her laughter rang out in his mind. Honestly? That's where you're going right now? Wait, now that I can read your mind, am I going to confirm that myth that guys think about sex every seven seconds?

Yeah, uh, that might be a gross underestimate, at least when we're not in deadly peril...

But the sound of someone calling out both their names refocused their train of thought. He could hear the questions swirling in her mind, jumbled memories of her hospitalization, his secrecy, and his disappearance. They both vividly remembered the gruesome moment when he phased and ripped into her flesh, and his heart sank into his stomach. I'm so sorry, LeeLee. I'll never forgive myself for hurting you that way.

No, don't do that. I thought it was an accident, and now I see I was right. And it doesn't even hurt anymore. Actually, she slowed in her sprint as she assessed her own body, nothing really hurts anymore. But just a couple minutes ago it felt like my whole body was on fire. And I thought I actually exploded up in that room. That's what it felt like. Now these stitches are just really itchy. She pawed at them in futility.

He realized that she didn't know that not only had her transformation released the animal that had lay dormant inside her, her wounds had healed. There was an undercurrent of despairing thoughts about how hideous she thought she would look with permanent disfigurement across her face and neck. He thought of the way her skin looked in between her stitches, smooth and unlined, and she responded with a feeling of confusion. Well, you basically did explode. Your wolf is bigger than your human, so your bones and muscles tore apart when you phased. He glanced down at her. She was actually quite petite compared to him, and the silver and grey streaking through her white fur was quite pretty.

The thought of phasing terrified her and shoved any vain thoughts of her appearance into the depths of her brain. Will it always be like that? Maybe I'll be stuck this way forever. I don't think I could stand to hurt that way again!

Don't worry, he reassured her. Only the first time feels like that. The rest aren't bad, just hard to control. They both thought of themselves phasing uncontrollably. Obviously.

So this is what happened to you those two weeks?

Yeah. I was stuck. I didn't know what had happened. I was trapped in my wolf the whole time. I only figured out how to turn back a few seconds before I came through your window.

That's awful! He saw her remembering her anger at him. I'm so sorry I yelled at you. You must have been so scared!

I was terrified, he admitted. But you had every right to be mad at me. I was being a total asshole. I kept running off because I was afraid I'd phase in front of you. Which, you know, turned out to be... Guilt began to consume him.

Hey, don't do that. I get it, okay? Please don't beat yourself up. Just tell me what's going on, all right? And be with me?

I promise you aren't going to be alone! I'm with you. You won't have to do this by yourself. We're together again. In every way. And we'll be okay as long as we're together.

Okay, okay. He felt her beginning to calm. But why didn't you tell me? And why is this even happening? It's completely unbelievable. You're probably not even here right now. I've probably gone mad and just conjured you up. You're probably my imaginary friend.

Oh, baby, I promise I'm really here with you. I'm so sorry I didn't explain. His thoughts were jumbled and confused, but he tried to make sense of them for her. It was hardly necessary. He remembered his agonizing decision to let her go to Seattle without him, his desire for her to live the life they wanted. I was trying to protect you, LeeLee.

He didn't have to say more. She had always seen into his heart, and now she could see into his mind as well, and she understood. He felt her frustration, since she felt she deserved the truth, and her own transformation would have been far less traumatic had he explained to her what was going on. She believed he had made the wrong choice. But she forgave him in the same moment, because she saw how hard the decision had been for him to make, and she saw that it was based in love, misguided though it was.

They approached Third Beach. Each of them thought of romantic, passionate, and simpler times spent in that very same spot. They came together as soon as they entered, Sam curling himself around Leah's smaller body and resting his head on hers. She nuzzled into his warmth.

Finally she asked, What's really going on?

Sam then told her what he knew as they settled into the familiar cave. He sent her flashes of Billy telling their legends, and she began to understand. Both also quickly began to realize the utility of their mental connection. They were no longer limited by the boundaries of language. What took multiple conversations over several days between Harry, Billy, and Sam took only minutes for Sam to share with Leah. But neither could they shield one another from their frayed emotions. Leah, who would have liked to feign bravery for his benefit, couldn't hide her fear. Sam, who wanted badly to reassure and comfort her, was unable to display the confidence he would have pretended to feel.

She stopped his guilt before it could blossom further. Sammy, don't do that. I'm just so glad you're here. I can't imagine going through this without you.

I'm going to take care of you, LeeLee. I promise. I'm not going to leave you alone for a single second unless you want me to, okay? She could see that he meant every word, and that as sad as he was for her that her life had gotten overturned, he was relieved that he could share everything with her. They would be together in every way, in the realms of both the possible and the impossible.

Yeah. She lifted her muzzle into his neck, and he realized he didn't mind his huge wolf body nearly as much since she had a matching one. I feel safe here with you, Sammy. But tell me about the Cullens. So the reason this happened to us is that they're here, right? The same doctor that saved my life?

Oh. Sam hadn't thought of it that way. He was angry at the coven for moving back to Forks, of all places, when they were clearly rich enough to go anywhere. But it would be harder to maintain his righteous anger knowing that the doctor had saved Leah's life. You're right.

I feel kind of bad growling at him now. It was instinctive. When I smelled him, I just wanted to rip him apart.

Well, he can take the blame and the credit too. If they weren't here, we'd be packing to leave, and none of this would have happened at all. But I guess he took okay care of you, so I probably can't hate him completely.

He's creepy, she continued. I don't remember much about getting to the hospital, but his hands were freezing. And I thought the whole place smelled like death, but I guess it was just him. But when I changed, and he went to my dad, he was just trying to help him since he fell down, wasn't he?

I think so.

My parents have to be so worried! Do you think anyone else saw me? Saw us?

Not your wolf, I don't think. Which is probably thanks to the vampire doctor again; he shooed everybody out of the room. His memory of their last moments in the hospital flashed through his mind for her to see. But everyone else is probably wondering how we both managed to run away from a three story fall.

I need to get back to my parents. Let them know I'm okay.

Are you okay? He asked, worried.

She pushed her nose into his fur again. As long as you're with me I am.

Then let's work on getting you back into your body. Sound good?

That's the best idea you've had in a while.

He began by phasing in and out several times to show her the process. On his third re-entry into his wolf, she teased, You know, if this wasn't so traumatic, I might actually enjoy all the nudity. Is this where your six pack came from? I mean, you were always really good looking, and all that hard work really did give you muscles. She flashed up a few before and after images, much to his amusement. But now, you know, damn!

He laughed with her and sent a few corresponding thoughts of her as well. Well, I can tell you that I expect to have a very nice view when you manage to change back, particularly considering you've got no clothes.

She was startled by how he saw her, how beautiful she was. I don't look like that, Sammy!

He tilted his canine head at her. That's not bias or exaggeration, LeeLee. That's exactly the way you look. That's just you.

I don't know about that, but it's sweet of you to say. And am I going to look like some bodybuilder when I get my body back?

He snuffed in amusement, imagining her lifting a huge dumbbell above her head. I don't know if your body will change much, since a lot of the bulk I got happened in the weeks before I phased. You didn't look particularly different to me this morning. As for what you looked like already, you'll see. When the other guys join us, you'll find out how they see you to. It's not just me.

Thank goodness it's you here and not some other guy! Who'd Billy say we have to watch out for? Jacob? Jared? Paul?

Sam growled before he could stop himself. He tried to push away his memory of the crude things Paul said about Leah that helped trigger his transformation, but she got the highlights anyway. Stupid punk...

Wait. He stole my panties? Sam tried not to think about it but failed. Motherfucker! I'm going to kick his ass!

He was amused by her cursing since she rarely spoke such words aloud. But his mirth was overtaken by his irritation. You're not going to get a chance, because I'm going to kill him first. But first let's try to get you back into that sexy body that drives me crazy.

It took her the entire day. At first she didn't even seem to understand the process, let alone know how to replicate it. She tried focusing on her human body like he told her to, but she couldn't stay focused long enough to achieve any change. She kept thinking of questions she wanted answers to, which then led to being frustrated about the answers or distracted by the next logical question. Then she started to beat herself up about not concentrating on phasing back. She was used to being in control of herself, and she had never felt so powerless. She was angry with herself for her lack of control. Sam reminded her that he took a full two weeks to change back, but that just made her frightened that she would be stuck for days.

By evening, Leah was exhausted. Sam suggested they take a break. He wrapped his large form around her protectively, tucking his tail over her flank, tugging her head to rest on his front paws, and resting his head on the back of her neck. Is this the wolf version of spooning? she asked.

He chuckled, the sound producing a rumble from his chest. I guess. Only furrier.

I never thought I'd say this, but I miss my skin.

He smirked at her internally. I miss your skin all the time. Like, whenever you wear clothes.

Should I just wander around naked?

Yes. Definitely.

How about when there are other people around?

Well, no. If Paul ever actually gets a glimpse of you naked, I really will have to murder him. But feel free to wear daisy dukes and tube tops. He imagined her in a skanky getup that she'd never wear in real life.

Very classy, she answered dryly. I could get a job at Hooters wearing that.

He immediately pictured her in orange hot pants and a tight tee shirt. Hey, there's nothing wrong with showing off your assets. Then he imagined removing the uniform.

My boobs are not that big, Sammy. And my legs are not that long.

She pictured what she thought she looked like, but it was off. You're remembering how you looked last summer, or maybe the year before. And you were already insanely hot, by the way. He mentally scrolled through images that he had memorized over the years. He tried to limit himself to pictures of her in her normal clothing, but he couldn't stop himself from including a disproportionate number featuring her in her underwear, swimwear, or wholly nude. Then adjusted the image back to the original. But this is what you look like now.

She was flustered by his raw thoughts, but he couldn't make himself hold them back. It was rare for him to express his feelings for her out loud, and his unchecked and unfiltered thoughts surprised her. Is not!

Did you or did you not have to buy new bras?

Well yeah, but…

LeeLee, this is exactly how you look. Trust me. I've spent a lot more time staring at you than you have.

She shook her shaggy head beneath him. You're sweet, but I still think you're exaggerating.

Yeah? He figured there was only one way to settle the disagreement. Prove it. Show me.

What?

Picture your human body.

Isn't that what we've been doing?

Picture it until you're back in it. C'mon, give it one more try. If it doesn't work, we'll take a nap.

She thought about how exhausted they both were. Oh, a nap sounds amazing. I could fall asleep right now.

Me too. But just for a minute. Think about your hands, LeeLee. He pictured her fingers twined with his. The way you get goosebumps if I touch your arm the right way. He remembered lightly brushing the tips of his fingers in the crook of her elbow. The way you shiver if I kiss your neck in that spot. I want to do that again. He playfully licked the corresponding area under her pointed ear, but it was much too furry to have any effect, and they both laughed. Think about the way your back feels pressed against me after we've made love. He pictured her round bottom, and imagined himself pinching it playfully before pulling her back to tuck it against his groin.

She joined in the reminiscing. And the way your legs twine with mine when we lay together. She thought about his hot skin against hers. She envisioned her human toes, and the way the wet sand squished between each one when they walked together on the shore. She thought about looking backward and seeing two sets of footprints.

That's it. Think about… He wasn't sure which one of them originated the thought, but they envisioned themselves kissing. He thought about how soft and plump her lips were, and she thought of the sensation of his breath on her mouth.

And then she pulled together, and he was cradling her lovely human body against his huge wolf form. She looked up at him in surprise, reaching up to run her fingers through his thick fur and staring at her own hand. Her startled gaze flicked back to him. "You're beautiful, Sammy," she whispered. "Thank you."

He shifted back, and he kissed her softly. "It's you that's beautiful." Then he pulled back and raked his eyes up and down her nude body.

He caught an apprehensive look in her eye. "Do I look different?"

"You look a little more toned, but nowhere near bodybuilder status. And I think maybe you're slightly taller? It'll be easier to tell when you stand up, and I won't have to bend over so much to kiss you. But otherwise I was right. Your boobs are exactly as big as I thought they were." He cupped her in his hand to prove his point. "Perfect."

Her startled laugh made him ridiculously happy. "You perv! You really do think about sex all the time, don't you?"

"Your perv." He nodded. "And kind of, yeah."

"Well," she squirmed out of his grasp and stood. "You'll have to put that thought on hold. I think I'd better let my folks know I'm okay. I mean, as okay as I could possibly be."

"Yeah, we'd better get back. But don't hold it against me if I'm not sad that you have nothing to wear on the way back." He examined her closely, giving himself the excuse that she wanted to know if her body had changed. She was probably an inch or two taller than she had been, and she was as gorgeous as she had ever been.

She looked down at herself. "Crap! Where am I going to get clothes?"

"I keep some stuff behind my house. You can use one of my tee shirts and then we can go to your house. You should put a stash outside too, in a watertight bag. Or a few stashes, actually."

They made their way to his house first, and she discovered that she could run much faster than she remembered, even in human form. Sam looked forward to the day they could run together in their alternate bodies without any threats around them. She already liked running as a human; she was going to love it as a wolf. He imagined himself chasing her through the forest and roughhousing with her in a meadow. He'd tackle her and pin her down, then they'd both phase back and he'd take advantage of her nudity and take her wherever she lay. So far, his transformation hadn't been any fun whatsoever, but now that he could share it with Leah, he had a feeling that his other life was going to get a lot better.

Reality, of course, completely failed to live up to his fantasy.

It took them another half hour to figure out what had happened while they were gone. After stopping by the woods behind his house for his clothes (he wore his shorts and gave her his shirt), they went to her home only to find it empty. She was surprised. Where else would everyone be? They couldn't still be at the police station, could they? Or the hospital? She tried her parents' phones, but both went straight to voicemail. Not knowing what to do, she took a much-needed shower to rid herself of the dirt and debris she had accumulated on her flight through the woods. It wasn't until she came down the stairs, marveling at the smooth skin she saw underneath her stitches, that she noticed the answering machine was blinking with a dozen messages.

She only listened to half of the first one before involuntarily phasing in the middle of her kitchen, knocking the table over. Sam grabbed two more sets of clothing and put them in a backpack while she struggled to calm herself, but she didn't manage to change back before he opened the back door and she squeezed through. She was sprinting through the woods in the general direction of the hospital before Sam could get undressed. He yelled after her as he shoved his own clothes into the pack and ran into the woods. He phased and chased after her, the bag clamped in his jaw.

She was fast. Very fast. He couldn't keep up with her. She was a full minute ahead of him when she arrived in the woods behind the hospital. She was terrified and distraught in a way that eclipsed even her fear right after she phased. She barely registered his pleas for her to slow down, to be careful, to phase back as soon as she could. He finally had to order her not to move, because she was about to expose herself. She froze immediately.

Once he caught up with her, he realized there was no way she could calm down enough to phase back again. He didn't want to leave her side, not for a minute, but she pleaded for him to go inside and find out how her father was doing. Reluctantly, he complied.

He didn't have any good news to give her. He found Harry in the ICU, just two rooms away from the one that Leah had occupied that very morning. He saw through the glass wall that the broken window was boarded up with plywood. He looked about carefully, relieved that the staff had changed shifts since he had last been there. No one gave him a second glance, not even Charlie Swan and Billy Black, whom he had passed in the waiting room; the two men were huddled together in deep conversation and hadn't noticed him walk by. Jacob sat in a corner opposite his father, hands folded in his lap. A slim brunette girl he vaguely recognized as Charlie's daughter was sitting next to Jacob, talking in low tones. He peered into Harry's room. Sue and Seth flanked him, each holding one of his hands. He was unconscious. A mask that covered his face was connected to the wall, and IVs were running into one of his arms and the side of his neck. Wires stuck to his chest led to a monitor, a cuff was wrapped around his arm, and an oxygen monitor attached to his finger. Sam didn't know what any of the numbers blinking on the screen meant, but the look on Sue's face as she gazed at the screen told him what he needed to know.

She didn't notice him until he entered the room and pulled the door and curtain shut to give them privacy. Her eyes widened hugely in shock, then narrowed in anger. "What the hell is going on here, Samuel?" she hissed. "Where is my daughter?"

"Outside."

"Outside? Go get her! Bring her to the ER!" She stood up. "She needs medical care! Sam, from what I heard, you should need medical care yourself!" She circled him as she searched for injuries.

Seth didn't let go of his father's hand, but he asked, "Did you really jump out the window?"

"Yeah. It's a long story, but the bottom line is we're both fine."

"Fine?" Sue looked at him incredulously. "It's a three story drop! And she was in critical condition just a few hours ago! What are you talking about?"

Sam sighed heavily. Harry had warned him that very few people knew his secret. He hadn't even told his own wife prior to Sam's involuntary phase in their backyard that landed Leah in the hospital. But what had he told her after? How much did she know? And had Harry had a chance to tell her that Leah had phased too? "Did Harry explain? Or Dr. Cullen?"

She frowned at him in confusion. "What? Does he look like he's up to a conversation? And Dr. Cullen was kind of busy taking care of him. I want to know what happened this morning! I want to see my daughter!"

"As soon as she's able. But she can't come in right now. Physically can't."

"Then she needs help! Then she needs medical care!"

"No, that's not why she can't come in. She's healed. I swear. Just…" Sam had no idea how to explain, and he feared that he would be discovered by someone with impossible questions at any moment. It was a miracle that no one had recognized him on his way in. "Just come outside with me. I'll take you to her."

Sue looked between him and her husband lying still on the bed. She only took a second to decide. "Seth, stay with your father."

"What?" Seth jumped up in protest. "Wait, no. I want to know what's going on!"

Sue shook her head. "No, your father shouldn't be alone right now. Just call me if anything happens, okay?" She pulled her phone from her purse and realized the battery had died. "Dammit, that won't work."

Sam looked at Seth. The boy was young, and Harry didn't expect him to phase until he was older, if at all. But then again, no one had expected Leah to phase. They couldn't afford a repeat of what had happened that morning. What if Seth got agitated like Leah had? "It involves him, don't you think? Plus we're not going far." He remembered Emily, who had been there that morning. "Maybe Emily can sit with Harry?"

Sue shook her head. "No, she had to go to work. She left a few hours ago."

"Look, this is really important," Sam insisted.

"I know! Can't you tell me here?"

Sam listened carefully. There were too many people nearby, and he would be discovered at any second. And there were far too many ears to overhear what had to be a private conversation. "Look, what happened to me has happened to her too."

Sue's eyes widened. She clearly had no idea this was a possibility. "What?" she whispered. "That's impossible."

"I'll tell you everything. But I need to let her know what's going on in here, and this isn't a safe place to talk." He stared at Harry, motionless except for the rise and fall of his chest. How he wanted Harry to wake up and explain everything. "How is he?"

She shook her head. "Not good. He had a heart attack. A big one. He lost consciousness just after… after…" She stared at the monitor.

"After what happened to Leah?" Sam ventured. He remembered Harry collapsing to the floor. He hadn't realized that it was due to anything other than surprise.

Sue nodded. "His heart stopped. They coded him right here, paddles, intubation, everything. Got him on medicine immediately, and they took him to the cath lab…"

Now Sam was lost. "The what?"

"They had to open some blockages in the arteries leading to his heart. They put in two stents, but there were blockages that weren't accessible. But they think he's had heart attacks before. Silent ones. I should've..."

Sam interrupted her before she could express her misplaced guilt. "Is he going to be okay?"

She snapped back, "Does he look okay?"

Seth stood up to wrap his arms around his mother. "It's gonna be okay, mom. It's gonna be okay."

She crumpled in her son's arms for just a second, then straightened and glared at Sam. "He's alive right now thanks to that oxygen on the wall and all the drugs making his heart beat."

Sam felt his heart dropping into his stomach. "I need to tell Leah. She doesn't know if he's even alive right now."

The mention of her daughter finally registered. Sue nodded. "Okay. I'm coming."

"Me too," Seth insisted.

"But…"

Sam cut her off. "Please. He needs to know too."

She nodded curtly. On their way out, Sam caught the eye of one of the clerks. "Hey, aren't you…"

He just walked by. She hadn't been there that morning, but she recognized him from previous visits to the hospital, and she had undoubtedly heard an incredible story about how he had left the hospital that morning. He ignored her completely and strode out of the ICU, Sue and Seth on his heels. Billy spotted him this time, but the other man just gave him a somber nod and made sure to distract Charlie.

At first, Sue was too frightened to approach the grey wolf huddled at the edge of the wood, but Seth wasn't. He walked forward and held out his hand to his sister, and she whimpered and shoved her head into his body. He was startled and amazed, but he instinctually embraced her. "Lee? Is that really you?"

"Yeah." Sam swallowed heavily. "It's her."

Seth stepped aside to let his mother approach, and Leah immediately moved forward, wanting the comfort of her mother. But Sue threw her hands up and stepped backward defensively. "Wait!"

Leah immediately dropped back, cowering, whimpering, and trembling. Sam didn't hesitate. He knelt and wrapped his arms around her neck, burying his fingers in her fur and whispering comforting things into her ear. He looked between Leah and Sue, waiting for Sue to explain what had happened to Harry. But she just stared at them in awe.

He sighed and began, "So Leah's fever was probably due to how close she was to the Cold One."

"Dr. Cullen?" Seth asked.

Sam nodded. At least Harry had explained that much to his family. "Yeah. Unless there are other vampires here too. He triggered the phase. It's really hard to turn back, but we managed it earlier."

Seth was catching up more rapidly than his mother, or at least he was able to speak. Sue was still staring at them. "Is that why you were gone so long?"

"Yeah. It took me a full two weeks to turn back. I didn't know what had happened, didn't know anything like that was possible. Leah here only took a few hours to get back into her body."

Seth peered at his sister. "Then why's she like this right now?"

"Getting upset makes us phase. She heard the news, so..." He waited for Sue to begin explaining what happened to Harry, but she was still frozen. He sighed and closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. "LeeLee, I'm sorry, but like we heard on the message, your dad had a heart attack. He's upstairs right now. He's not awake right now. He's unconscious."

She whined low in her throat and started to shake even harder than she already was. Sue finally registered her daughter's obvious terror, and she spoke. "Oh, my baby girl, don't be scared." She opened her arms, and Leah hesitantly stepped forward until her mother gestured for her to come closer, and then Sue pulled her in for an awkward embrace. Eventually Leah sat back on her haunches and Seth moved to her other side, petting her gently. Sue began to croon, "It's gonna be okay. You're okay, sweetie. It's gonna be okay."

Sam interrupted their reunion to tell them, "I can talk to her directly if I phase. I'm going to go over there for a second..." He pointed to a grove of trees.

"Huh? Talk to her?" Seth didn't understand.

"When we're wolves we have a mental link. I can speak with her in my mind."

Seth asked, "Like telepathy?"

"Yeah, I guess."

"That's so cool!" Sam almost laughed at his enthusiasm before phasing and joining Leah. He ignored Seth's exclamations at how big he was. He was immediately bombarded by her mixed feelings of terror, anger, and relief. You okay, LeeLee?

How's my dad? How is he really?

Sam would have liked to filter his thoughts better, but he immediately pulled up his memory of Harry lying still on his hospital bed. He replayed Sue's reaction, which didn't help at all. I'm so sorry. I...

He was prepared for fear and grief, but her overwhelming sense of guilt surprised him. Oh my god, what did I do to him? What have I done?

Done? What? You didn't do anything!

I turned into this monster right in front of him! Oh my god, I gave him a heart attack!

He wanted to press himself against her and comfort her physically, but Seth and Sue still flanked her. No you didn't.

Of course I did! She replayed the agonizing memory of her first phase, concentrating on her father's reaction. Oh, this is all my fault!

It's not! You can't give someone a heart attack, LeeLee. Your mom said he had blockages in his heart. You didn't put them there! It's not your fault!

But the memory of Harry collapsing in front of her was playing in an endless loop in her brain. No, I did this. I did this to him!

There was no way to reason with her, especially not after what happened next. They dimly heard an alarm sounding inside the hospital, and they both looked up. They couldn't see Harry, but they had a view of his window, and his room was filling with people. Sam immediately phased, staying in a crouch to avoid exposing himself to Leah's family. "Sue, something's going on up there."

Sue and Seth broke for the hospital in a dead sprint. Leah tried to follow, but he held her back with his arms. She tried to pull away, so he shifted back into his wolf so he could fully communicate with her. You can't go in there, LeeLee. Not like this.

She looked down at herself and realized that she was stuck in her alternate form. Her frustration and terror mounted. What's going on up there? I have to be there!

Baby, even if you were in your body again, I don't think we could go up there. They'd recognize you. They'd think you were still sick and try to keep you. How'd we explain your face? He thought of her healed skin. The fact that you didn't get hurt falling out the window?

What? Who cares? I want to see my dad!

Sam didn't think it was a good idea, but they both knew that Harry might not survive the night, and nothing meant more to Leah than being there for her father in his time of need. Not like this, though. You can't go in there like this.

Then you go! Find out what's going on.

He weighed the options. He hated to leave her, and he wasn't sure how she would fare by herself, but she deserved to know what was happening. Can you stay out of sight? Stay here in the woods where you can't be seen?

Yeah, yeah. Just go already! Go and find out and come out and tell me! She was staring at Harry's room, which was swarming with people. He has to be okay, Sammy. He has to be okay!

Sam nodded and phased back. He felt almost as strongly about it as Leah did. Harry was the most reliable father figure he had ever had. He had always been there for Sam despite having no obligation. Not only had he gotten him his first job, taught him how to drive, cheered him on at his basketball and soccer games, and given him his daughter's hand, he had helped him through the most traumatic experience of his life: his discovery that he was a Protector. Harry wasn't just a better father than Joshua had ever been. He was the best father Sam could imagine. Leah was right. He had to be okay. What would they do without him?

Sam hung back, just out of sight of Charlie and Billy, who were pressed up against the doors to the ICU. Bella had her face buried in Jacob's chest, and he was squeezing her tightly. Sam didn't need to go any farther. He peeked around the corner and was easily able to see through the windows in the doors, and he could hear the commotion as clearly as if he was standing in the middle of it.

A nurse in blue scrubs was kneeling over Harry, compressing his chest rhythmically. A young doctor was standing at Harry's head, squeezing a blue plastic balloon attached to a tube in Harry's throat. Another nurse was jumping between a red cart and one of Harry's IVs, injecting medications. A physician in a long white coat was standing at the foot of the bed barking out orders. Seth and Sue were huddled in the corner, clutching each other.

Each minute that passed felt like an hour. The words being tossed around the room were gibberish to Sam, "PEA... epinephrine... acidosis... hypoxia... vasopressin..." But Sue's expression was unmistakable. And even Sam recognized the word "asystole" and the flat green line on the monitor above.

Eventually the physician quietly instructed, "Stop." The nurse giving compressions sat back on his heels before climbing down from the bed. The young doctor disconnected the ambu bag and gently pulled the tube from Harry's throat. A technician rolled the red cart out of the room as the other physician somberly intoned, "Time of death, nine twenty three." She turned to Sue and Seth, saying, "I'm so sorry."

Sam didn't wait to watch the Clearwaters' grief, nor to see Billy and Charlie cry for their old friend, or the way they tried to hide their tears from their appalled children. His feet dragged as he made his way outside to his LeeLee. She was right where he left her, staring up into the hospital room. She had a clear view of her mother and brother standing right by the window.

So Sam was spared the agonizing task of telling her what had happened. He shifted into his wolf and pressed himself against her while they both howled their grief to the dispassionate moon.

X-x-x-x-X

A/N: Thanks again to Babs81410. All mistakes are mine.