Caleb Black Pov
"UNO!" Josh said fast and I looked up from my cards that I held in my hand.
"What? Already?" Daniel said.
"Great." I said, slamming my hand down. "I quit."
Joshua laughed.
"We're not finished." Daniel stated.
"He has won every game we've played. I quit." I muttered.
"What? No, come on." Daniel said as I stood from the folding chair and table.
We've been paying cards all morning, Dad was playing with us until he left to go check on mom.
I sat on the edge of Sarah's bed.
With her left arm in a case, every time I look at it I imagine her body hitting an ocean rock. I'm pretty sure she landed on it with a crack, but the adrenaline probably never gave her a chance to think when she hit the water and knocked herself unconscious.
"You would think after a week she would wake up." I stated merely to myself.
"She's in a coma," Josh said to me bitterly. "It takes more than one week."
He was upset at Sarah. He thinks what she did was selfish and insensitive to mom.
Embry made it clear that Sarah had no idea about mom's miscarriage, but that she knew mom was in the hospital when he went to go get her.
Josh is angry, I don't blame him but his anger doesn't solve anything.
"Sometimes," Daniel added. "No one knows how long it'll be, when she's ready she'll open her eyes."
Daniel on the other hand isn't angry at all. He understands why Sarah did what she did and has pity for her and Embry.
"I wonder what it's like." I whispered, touching Sarah's cold hand.
"Take a nap, you'll see." Josh snapped at me.
"Don't say that." Daniel said, I'm sure he was speaking to both of us.
"I don't mean the committing suicide part, I mean to be in a coma unaware of what's happening around you. I hope she can sense us, I hope she knows that we won't ever leave her." I said, rubbing her hand between mine.
She once always annoyed me, she was the youngest and she always got what she wanted. However, she never complained about the movies I watched like Josh or Danny, and she always saved me the last muffin or bagel unlike anyone else in the house. I would totally miss her if she was to die or move away.
"She knows." Daniel stated. "She probably can hear us right now, but is too tired to move or speak."
"Then that'll mean she'd be paralyzed, and that's worse." Joshua clarified.
"I can imagine she's dreaming about Disneyland or something." I said.
I was hopeful for any unknown happiness.
"Knowing her, she's probably dreaming about red velvet cheesecake and pretzels." Daniel laughed.
I laughed. "Yeah, that would be heaven for her."
"More like tacos and Embry would be her heaven." Josh restored.
"This is the worst torture in the world." I muttered as the laughter stopped. "Just having nothing we can do to help her. She's our sister and we can't help her."
"She made her choice." Josh muttered.
"Shut up, Josh, that's not helping." Daniel snapped. "We didn't see any signs, we were too busy and we can't change that. All we can do now is pray she makes it through."
"Right, when has prayer truly worked for us?" Josh muttered.
"Can you stop being negative? It's like you don't want her to wake up." I said to Josh ignoring Daniel.
"Are you insane? Of course I want her to wake up. It would be nice not to be stuck here every single day bored outta my mind." Josh stated.
"You're just saying that because you being here stops you from sucking face with your new girlfriend Lauren all day." I retorted.
"Sucking face? What are we two years old?" He said standing from his chair. "And for your information, her father just died. Jeremiah just died two days before our kid sister decided to take it upon herself to commit suicide. Now is it her fault that it failed? No, but it is her fault for being so selfish and not thinking of Jeremiah or mom for that matter? Yes. Mom didn't ask to have a miscarriage. So yes, yes I would rather be anywhere than here."
Joshua and his arrogance never cease to amaze me.
"I don't pity you." I said standing up. "Maybe Sarah diving off that cliff was selfish, but she was hurting and no one cared enough to want to know why. Mom is hurting as well. All wrapped up in your world you're just as bad as anyone. Josh, you of all, are the most self-centered, condescending, jerk. Do you think for a second that Lauren would want to be with a dropout who can't care enough if his only sister died or not?"
"Says the guy with no girlfriend." He replied, moving to stand face to face with me.
"Come on, you two." Daniel said, placing each of his hands on our chest. "Let's not do this right now."
"No Danny, he needs to hear this." Josh said, removing Daniel's hand from him and Daniel stepped back.
I didn't move, If he wanted a fight then a fight is what he'll get. "You hate that I'm better than you at everything, you hate that I always get what I want while you're stuck at the cafe and home, following behind dad's every bark and call. You're jealous, I don't blame you." He spat.
Angry, I shoved him away from me. "You're an idiot. I've never been jealous of you and I never will be. Why would I be jealous of someone who has no future? Some golden child you are, couldn't handle the medical field. Jee, I wonder why… too many big words?" I mocked.
Joshua growled and I watched as he swung his fist at me and I moved to the side.
"Cut it out." Daniel said, grabbing hold of Josh, who fought against him. "Josh, be the bigger man. You two shouldn't be fighting."
"Yeah right.. but he can't be the bigger man." I said to Daniel. "Sarah may be the sad one, but he's pathetic." I taunt.
"Caleb, shut it." Daniel snapped at me.
"What is going on here?" The sound of mom's voice came from the door.
We all turned to look.
With a hospital gown on Mom walked into the room, with Dad right behind her and a nurse who I noticed was Kelly behind him.
"Why are you fighting?" Mom asks, moving towards Sarah's bedside. "And in here?"
"I'm going for a walk." Josh said moving from Daniel and the door slammed making everyone jump.
"Sit." Dad said fast. Then Kelly moved over to stand beside Sarah and mom.
"Sit." Dad said again not wanting to yell as Joshua, Daniel and I froze.
Daniel was the first to move and I followed by grabbing the fold up chair I sat in before.
"All her vitals are stable," Kelly said to mom. "I'll be back shortly so she can receive lunch."
"Thank you, Kelly." Mom said as dad slid the comfort chair that was in the corner right next to the bed. "Thank you, but I'll just lay with her." Mom said, crawling into the hospital bed with Sarah who was still unconscious.
Kelly rushed to open the door and head out the room as dad sat in the comfort chair.
"Now, tell us what the heck is going on." Dad said and mom fixedly between us, snuggling up again Sarah.
"Nothing." Josh answered first.
"It's been a long week." I said. "It was nothing."
"The truth." Dad stated.
Daniel sighed. "They were fighting about Sarah, among other things."
"Give me more than that." Dad demanded.
"Well Caleb-"
"Not from you Daniel, them!" He looked between Josh and I.
I sighed. "It's my fault, I shouldn't have gotten upset and shoved him. I'm sorry." I said being the bigger person glaring over at Josh.
Mom caressed Sarah's hair.
"Whatever." Josh muttered back.
"No, not whatever." Dad said standing from his chair. "There is too much happening for there to be fighting amongst yourselves. End it right here and right now."
"It is over." I replied.
"The last thing anyone needs is negativity." Mom says. "Sarah almost died. I had a miscarriage, Jeremiah and the baby are gone. Dead. So please, feel free to explain to us what could possibly be the reason that you're fighting?"
"I made a comment about Sarah being selfish, and not wanting to be here all day long." Josh stated. "Caleb replied and we just went back and forward. Guys, really it was nothing. Just pinned up frustration from the both of us." He said to mom and dad, I nodded in agreement.
"In that case I suggest you two hug it out right now, and let it all go." Dad says as mom continued to rub Sarah's hair and I looked over at Josh.
I was willing to end feuding with him for the sake of mom and dad.
"Fine." Josh said exhaling then stood to his feet.
I smirked standing up myself.
Moving towards each other I held open my arms and wrapped them around him.
"I'm sorry." I said as he hugged me back.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm sorry too." He said fast then grabbed my arms holding me away from him. "Shove me again though, and I'm knocking you on your butt."
I laughed, then nodded. "Right."
He smirked then walked around me towards the direction of Sarah.
"See? That wasn't so bad now was it?" Mom asked.
"No, not at all." Josh said sarcastically, leaning down to kiss Sarah on the forehead. "Get well baby sister, I'll be back tomorrow." He said then moved around the bed for the door.
"Where are you going?" Dad asked him.
Though it was clear he was going to go pick up Lauren from work then take her back to the house. "Out with Lauren, she had a dream about Jeremiah this morning. It made her pretty upset." He says.
I rolled my eyes at that.
Dad nodded. "Fine."
"I'll check in later." Josh said to him, then he headed out of the hospital room.
"Come on, let's finish the card game." Daniel said to me, and I nodded.
At least I know for a fact, Danny never cheats in any game.
Jacob Black Pov
*Flashback*
16 years ago
My blood boiled seeing Sam here in my house with Leah.
He still wanted her. I glared between them.
"Tell me once again how there's nothing going on." I said repeating her words back to her.
"I should go." Sam says.
"No. Sam, wait. We all have to talk about this." She says, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Jacob, seriously... there's nothing going on in that way. He just came over to talk about the fundraiser, and to say goodbye. I told you this isn't romantic."
I shook my head. "I'm done. First you two get caught sneaking around town and now you bring him to my house." I said turning for the door.
"Jacob, hold on a second." Sam grabbed my shoulder and I swung my other fist, punching him right in the face.
With a grunt he stumbled back. "Sam." Leah said, catching him.
That felt good. Years overdue, yet still good.
With one hand on his shoulder she steadied him, then placed her palm on his cheek. "What the heck is wrong with you?" She yelled towards me, and I felt so mad I could break his neck.
"What's wrong with me?" I retorted pointing to myself. "You know, I had things all twisted and you had to prove her right." I said not even surprised anymore.
"Her who?" She asked me.
It didn't matter because she was right about it all.
"He's speaking of Camilla." Sam answered.
Now I really wanted to break his neck.
"What are you talking about?" She looked between Sam and I. "What does Adam's little sister have to do with any of this? You just hit Sam for no reason."
"No. You want him in your life so bad, you can have him, but you can't have me too." I stated. "Make a choice now. Him or me?" I say giving her an ultimatum.
"Are you out of your mind?"
"Clearly." I stated. "Now, you decide. Him or me?"
"You know what, Jacob..." She spoke too calmly. "You should just go." She said fast and I narrowed my eyes confused.
"Me?" I pointed to myself. The hesitation in her eyes, I could tell she didn't really want that type of war to start.
This was the second time I've come home and he was here.
She was upset that she couldn't control me.
She wanted me to be okay with her and Sam. I refuse to be.
"Jacob, we're family. Is it possible we all can talk alone in peace. We can get through this." Sam says.
That's the last thing I'll allow in my house.
For him to be alone with Leah is all he ever wanted, to get his hooks in her once more.
I nodded. "I'm gone."
"NO!" I heard one of the boys yell behind me, and turned.
Caleb ran from the bottom steps, ramming into me so hard I knew it hurt. "You can't go." He whined.
I sighed. "I'll be back, I'll take you guys fishing after work. Alright?" One day this week.
"When?" Josh asked, stepping down from the stairs and I picked Caleb up in my arms.
"Just go up the stairs and be good." I said to them.
"No. You can't leave us. You said you weren't going anywhere, remember?" Daniel yelled upset.
Sitting Caleb on the step beside Daniel, I sighed. "Look, Just be good and listen. I'll be back before you know it."
"Why?" Daniel asked.
"I wanna go." Caleb mumbled.
"Can we go with you?" Josh said fast.
"NO!" I yelled and they all jumped back.
I halfway turned glaring down trying to figure out what to say. They shouldn't be caught in the middle of me and Leah's crap.
"Just... Just stay here and do what you're supposed to do. I'll see you tomorrow." I said putting one hand on Josh's shoulder and the other on Daniel's.
I need some time alone to think.
"I'll be back." I said fast and went for the door.
Slamming it shut behind me, I walked onto the porch and jumped off.
I needed to clear my head, the only place I knew to do that was the beach.
Not even caring about taking the car or taking off my clothes, I ran as fast as I could, leaping high enough to phase.
*End Of Flashback*
That night sixteen years ago was the night Camilla drugged me- metaphorically anyway- I believe, Camilla had plenty of half-vampire friends. I'm sure one with a specialty ability helped her on her revenge scheme. She set her sights on me because I was too naive to see beyond her disguise.
Camilla's innocent act reminded me of Renesmee, and her boldness reminded me of Leah. I had no idea who Camilla was, other than Adam's half-sister.
I was away from my family for six months after that night. Sent away for a crime I didn't commit. I swore moving forward I would never allow a mistake like that to ruin my family.
I never wanted to be separated from them again, ever.
In the hospital room with Sarah, Leah, Caleb and Daniel.
There was a knock on the door and I looked over as Embry walked in wearing his cop uniform.
"Hey," He said and I turned my head to Leah who was asleep with Sarah in her arms. Leah hasn't been sleeping much, but it was good that she was now.
"On duty?" I said to him while making conversation, even though I was still pissed at what he did. I even punch him when Daniel informed me that Ethan Uley, learned from Sarah that Embry and her got physical the night before she tried to commit suicide. I haven't told Leah, and I don't think I will.
"Yeah, It's a busy day, but I still had to come see her." He replied, then glanced over at Caleb and Daniel who alike Leah fell asleep.
"Can I talk to you for a second?" He asked motioning towards the hall and I shrugged.
"Sure." I was only playing nice for the sake of Leah and Sarah, but I could kill him for what he's put my daughter through.
I stood up from the chair taking another glance at Leah who was still sleeping.
Following Embry out of the room, I peeked Kelly at the nurses station on the phone.
"What do you want?" I said to him, not in the mood for some dumb speech tonight or any night.
"I was thinking maybe you guys should get out of here for a while, take some time away."
"No. It's only been a week." I stated. "We're fine."
"I know, it's just I talked to Josh. He said, he and Lauren are getting really serious about traveling overseas so she can continue modeling while he pursues music."
"We know." I said, speaking of Leah and I. "They sat down with us two days ago and informed us."
"Perhaps you and Leah should go somewhere too... With losing the baby and ... everything that's happened with Sarah... you two need a break." He said obviously trying to get rid of us.
"What the heck are you talking about? We're not leaving Sarah."
"Take a vacation, you guys should go to the Bahamas or something. I'll watch over Sarah."
I shook my head. "No, none of us can leave right now and the last time I thought my daughter was safe with you, she jumped off a cliff. No thanks."
"Jake, I just need time to make this right. To apologize and prove to her that I was afraid and didn't know how to act. I had no control over my body, I just needed to please her and do what she asked. She begged me."
"Stop!" I practically yelled, then glanced back to the bed to make sure Leah was still asleep. "You don't get to come here and play the best friend trying to get a good card, that ship has sailed. You blew this and we almost lost her. We can still lose her. Don't you get that?" I said angry, and Embry rubbed the back of his neck ashamed.
"If I could take that night back, I promise you I would." He said pathetically.
"You can't." I'm glad he feels guilty. This was all his fault.
"I know, I just want to make things better. Any more time in this place we'll get comfortable. We should move her, move her somewhere she's familiar with."
I laughed. "Like where, your living room? Not a chance. You're out of your mind if you think Leah will allow that. We all work around the clock. Sarah needs to be here where she can get proper help from nurses and doctors."
"Your right, your right. I know." He says it's like a broken record.
"Go home, man. Get some sleep." I said calmer, I was not in the mood to talk to him any longer.
"Jake, look I know Leah wants to continue her book tour eventually... maybe you should think about going with her next year, once she and Sarah are better."
"You're out of your mind." I said to him, warning to punch him again.
"With Daniel going to Canada with Hazel, Caleb will be left in charge of the cafe with Haylie. Leaving it alright for you to go to Japan with Leah. I'm sure she'll be happy about it." He spoke.
I glared at him, with that thought already being considered today, yet only if it would take a year for them to be well. Sarah will need more than a year. I can handle Joshua going to London with his girlfriend, and Daniel spending next summer in Canada. If things were different it wouldn't be a bad thought to accompany Leah back to Japan.
This crap was the last thing I needed to think about right now.
"I know someday soon Sarah is going to wake up, I'm just hoping to make everything up to her." He says.
"Maybe one day in the distant future she'll give you that chance." I reassured him.
Regardless of how I feel, Sarah loves him and she wouldn't cut him off if he proved to her he truly cared.
"When she wakes up, I'd like to fully commit to her." He says in a query tone. "I'm hoping you won't have a problem with that."
I barked a laugh. "Of course I have a problem with it. She tried to kill herself because of you, idiot."
"I know, that's why I have to fix it. I have to show her that I never for a second regretted the dance or our movie night when it made her so happy. I care for her so much, you know that. I'll do anything to have her with me. I just want you to be alright with it, because eventually in the future I will ask her to marry me."
I rolled my eyes. "She's sixteen years old, she hasn't finished growing. She probably has no idea what she wants to even be. You can't ask me to be alright with anything."
"Jake, you know at the end of the day I will take good care of her."
"Do I?" I snapped. "You were there and you didn't stop her. You were there and you didn't help, you turned your back on her." I practically yelled.
"I was hurt and confused. I just caught her kissing the Uley-kid. How could I've known she would've done what she did?" He replied.
We went through this crap days ago. If Leah was out here she would tell me to calm down before I rip his face off.
I exhaled.
"I don't want to think about this anymore. You will not marry her, or see her for a very long time if you keep pushing it. We left things in your hands and this is where we all ended up. Thanks, but Leah and I will take care of Sarah because she is our daughter. Meaning when she wakes, it's our way or no way. Got it?"
"Jacob, she's my life. I'll die protecting her. Tell me if this was you and Leah, you wouldn't hesitate to take her away and live peacefully in the end."
"You and Sarah are nowhere near Leah and I. You can't even say no to her without there being some type of meltdown. If the situation was different, I would banish you from her life." Or worse, kill him.
Embry lowered his head. "Remember when the Volturi came when we were younger, and Bella told you to take Renesmee and run."
I rolled my eyes at the memory. "What about it?"
"I would do that." He stated. "To protect her. I would ask her to leave with me, and you and I both know she would go."
I threw up my hands in defeat. "The only person she needs protection from is you! You're the one who keeps hurting her. What is it that you want me to say? Take my only daughter and run? Because I won't, and she would hate you for asking her to go anywhere. Even if she was awake, you couldn't make her choose between her family and you."
"I'm her family too, and I honestly wouldn't want her to choose. I just would like you to give me the okay to be with her one day. To take care of her, forever."
I growled looking over into the hospital room where Leah and Sarah laid once again.
Those are my girls. My only girls, I would never let anyone take them away from me. Not even the Messiah himself.
"Just forgive me at least." He pleaded.
"Let her make her own choices, Embry. Allow her to make up her own mind. You said you wanted that, so stop trying to force everything." I demanded. "When Sarah turns eighteen she can feel free to live with you or marry you or whatever. Until then, she's ours."
Embry nodded, biting his lower lip. "Alright."
"For a very long time, I won't take any type of vacation without Leah and Sarah. They are my responsibility, not yours. Not anymore." I noted.
"I got it." He accepted.
I turned back for the room, but paused before entering.
"And Embry," I said glaring back at him.
"Yeah?"
"You hurt her again, I will kill you." I swore then turned back for the room.
Sarah would hate me, but I'll help her get over it.
To have my only daughter wanting to be physical, to get physical with anyone at a young age, enrages me. Why did she feel she had to do that now? She's too young. Sex is huge. People wait years to do it. Among fifthteen-seventeen-year-olds, 69% of boys and 72% of girls have never had sex. She had to have felt pressure from Hazel or was intimated by Embry's age experience. There's no way that came out of nowhere.
Walking to sit back in my chair, Caleb and Daniel stood up.
They must have woken to hear Embry and I talking.
"Alright Dad, I'm going to head on to the cafe before Haylie closes up for the night." Caleb said and Daniel trailed behind him.
"Yeah, I think I'll go say goodnight to Hazel. You know she has a curfew." Daniel stated.
"Alright, drive safely." I said as they headed out of the room. "Text message me when you two get home." I said and they both nodded.
This morning before they came, Caleb was working at the cafe since Haylie had to be at her second job. Daniel had driven him over.
Leah coughed and I sat down feeling a bit hungry.
I knew she had to be starving, she's been so depressed that she hasn't really been eating.
"Well nice to hear my opinion doesn't need to be heard." Leah said, kissing Sarah's forehead then sitting up to crawl out of the hospital bed.
"You were up?" I asked.
"I believe Daniel, Caleb and I all were up the second Embry said hi." She replied.
I stood to my feet when she stretched her arms.
"Thankful that you didn't punch him again, that blackeye is finally clearing up on his face." She added.
"So you heard everything?"
She yawned then nodded. "Yeah, and I think you handled that conversation like a true champion. I'm so glad I married you."
I laughed. "You would've regretted it if you didn't."
She smiled. "Can't believe he wants to marry her already. He's definitely out of his mind."
"Won't argue there, but not until she's old and gray." I clarified.
"Still, I liked the idea of you coming to Japan with me or anywhere for that matter."
I was not surprised at all. "After your recovery and Sarah's... we'll decide."
Leah nodded. "It'll be nice to travel with you and Sarah. It hasn't been just the three of us in a very long time. Not since she was a toddler." She says.
There was one time when the boys were with my dad for a weekend, leaving Leah and I alone with three year old Sarah. Those days she was beginning to talk and was so clingy like only a girl should be.
"Yeah, we are overdue for some family time." I agreed.
Leah smiled, then frowned with a nod.
"I just think with Sarah being stuck here, I never want to go too far, only home and back for a change of clothes. She'll wake up and we're not here, I'll never forgive myself." I admitted.
"Embry did mention a thought I had earlier while watching the boys fight." She says.
I narrowed my eyes. "What's that?"
"Home is where Sarah and I both need to be. She may feel more comfortable in her room, in her own bed. She may wake up."
"You want to take her home?" I asked.
Leah smiled, wrapping her arms around my neck. "Yes, and we can hire Kelly to take care of the hard stuff.. she's already staying with us. We have the money. It could be better."
"I could ask Kelly, she does need a bit of a break from the hospital." I say thinking of my stepmom and how our relationship has grown over the past couple days. "Besides I can see an upside to having you home, I barely sleep like you. I'd like to cuddle up with you and relax in a nice steaming hot bath." I stated.
Leah closed her eyes making a sweet adorable moaning sound. "I can just feel your hands on my body when you say that."
I laughed. "I wish it could happen right now."
"Are you trying to have another baby?" She flirted, and I frowned remembering what the sex of the baby was that I didn't tell her.
A few days ago, she didn't want to know.
"I'm sorry, it's too soon to say stuff like that." She said guiltily.
"No, no. It's just. Are you sure you don't want to know the gender of the baby? It may help you to give it a name and heal."
Leah sighed thinking it over.
"Okay, tell me." She spoke in a whisper.
"No, I don't want to kill the mood." I said even though it was obvious that we already did.
"Jacob, it's alright. I want to know."
"It was a girl." I breathed.
Leah nodded. "I had a feeling."
I instantly felt sad again. "It's healthy to talk about these things, to say what we're feeling and thinking." I reassured her.
"I agree, but I'm too hungry to feel sad." Leah stated. "Can we go home and get some clothes then find something to eat?"
"Yes," I nodded. "We surely can." I said leaning down, putting my lips gently on hers. "Let's go before she wakes up." It was already going on eleven o'clock.
"Okay." Leah spoke, as we both moved to our feet.