Back to the Start
Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to SM.
Meeting
As soon as Sam opened the door to the Clearwaters-with a sense of balance that Bella could only envy-Leah jumped into his arms so forcefully, that she nearly knocked him off his feet.
"Calm down, Lee." Sam said, taken completely by surprise by her emotive reaction upon seeing him again. He wasn't used to such overt displays from her and wasn't quite sure how to handle it. He patted her on the back awkwardly.
Leah's cheeks were flushed, her eyes just a little too bright. It was clear she was holding back tears. "Are you okay?" She demanded, grabbing hold of his face with both hands, and peering into his eyes.
"I'm fine." Sam promised, sounding a little exasperated.
"Give the poor guy room to breathe, Lee Lee." Harry said, walking in after his daughter. He smiled in amusement as Leah turned and glared at him.
"Hush, Harry." Sue admonished her husband. She alone knew how worried her daughter had been for Sam's safety. Harry tended to treat everything as a joke, it was his way of covering up his own anxiety, but now wasn't the time.
Seth came in last, tall, and lanky; he reminded Bella very much of Jacob before he had phased and packed on the muscle mass. The young teenager stared around, wide eyed, wondering when the fun would start.
The next to arrive was Old Quil. He was escorted by his grandson, young Quil, who had gone to fetch him. The old man leaned heavily on his walking stick as he hobbled inside the house, glaring at Quil when he tried to assist him.
"I'm not dead yet, my boy." He grumbled.
Quil just rolled his eyes as he pushed his way through the others gathered in the tiny living room to find his grandfather a chair to sit on.
Once the ancient elder was settled, silence descended on the room. Everyone looked at each other, all of them unwilling to kick start the conversation. Bella looked around just like the others. Most of the boys that made up the pack appeared solemn, apart from Sam who continued to look uncomfortable, as Leah kept running her hands over his shoulders, and down his arms, like she was checking for hidden injuries, even though there was not a mark on him. Thankfully all the pack had escaped the fight relatively unscathed, apart from a few cuts and bruises, which had soon healed up due their quick healing ability.
Bella was still sitting on Jacob's lap. She glanced at him anxiously. Soon everyone else did the same. It was clear he was going to have to act as spokesman just because he was the Alpha wolf. He sighed irritably, looking toward the older men in the room, hoping one of them would take charge for once, but they all seemed preoccupied.
Jacob reluctantly let go of Bella. She slid off his lap, giving him space to stand. Jacob towered over everyone else in the room, looking every inch the Alpha male that he was. He looked around at everyone sternly.
In his deep, husky tones, he began to relate to those in the room who were not in the know, exactly what had happened that night, explaining who had started the fires and why, detailing the subsequent fights in Forks as the pack confronted the perpetrators, then lastly the battle in the backyard with the redheaded instigator.
Shocked gasps greeted the part where Jacob told them about Billy's miracle transformation into the golden wolf, allowing him to save Bella. All eyes immediately swung Billy's way. He met everyone's gazes stoically. Slowly rising from his chair, he stood up, swaying a little, but remaining on his feet.
"Impossible!" Harry murmured. "Isn't it?" He looked toward Old Quil for confirmation.
"It has happened before during times of crises. Taha Aki was able to transform into his wolf – "
"Yes, but that was different." Harry blustered, cutting the old man off. "He was old for sure, but he had phased in the past. Billy, I mean, he was weak, sick…." He paused when he saw Billy frown in annoyance.
"What has that got to do with it, Harry Clearwater?" Old Quil demanded, still peeved that Harry had interrupted him.
"Well, nothing, I suppose." Harry mumbled. His face turned red when he noticed his wife shaking her head at him. "I mean if it happened to Billy…it might happen to me."
Old Quil shot him a look of disbelief, staring markedly at Harry's large stomach, which hung heavily over the belt of his trousers, the strained buttons on his white shirt barely able to contain it. "I doubt it." He muttered.
Insulted, Harry fell into a brooding silence.
"How are you feeling, Billy?" Old Quil asked, turning his attention to the tribal chief.
"Remarkably okay, considering." Billy replied in his deep baritone. "In fact, I feel invigorated. I can't remember the last time I was able to stand on my own two feet."
"Extraordinary." Old Quil remarked. "I wonder how long the effects will last."
"Permanently, I hope." Billy said cautiously.
The hope in his eyes died a little as he considered the possibility that this might only be a brief respite from his illness. He had only phased once. He didn't know if his body was capable of the feat again. Taha Aki had remained as a wolf, he had never phased back after the loss of his third wife. If he was unable to phase again, did that mean his diabetes would return, along with the crippling neuropathy in his legs and feet?
Jacob saw the terror in his father's eyes and moved to stand close to him, putting a comforting hand on his shoulder. Billy glanced up at his son, a rueful smile taking over his face.
"All I know is that my dad was the hero of the hour. He saved the girl I love…"
Jacob's dark eyes sought Bella's across the room, his heightened emotions telling her that he needed the connection, just as she did. His eyes were so different in moments like these, softer than she knew eyes could be. They gazed at each other for a long moment, speaking without words what each felt deep in their heart, knowing it was the only medication they needed to survive the next few hours until they could be alone.
"So, the threat is over?" Old Quil asked, breaking the tense silence. "You got all of the vampires?"
Jacob reluctantly tore his gaze away from Bella so he could focus on the old man instead. The elder peered at him intently, his rheumy gaze assessing. "Not all of them." He admitted guiltily. "I know for a fact one of them got away. I was prevented from going after him to finish him off because I was needed back here." He looked around at his brothers to get their side of the story.
"I killed the ones who attacked me by the school." Sam said. "But, like you, I was unable to stick around to see if there were anymore."
"One got away from me." Embry revealed. "I just wasn't fast enough. I'm sorry. Charlie's men were all over the place, I couldn't take the risk of following without revealing myself."
"Its okay, Em." Jacob reassured him. "We can't check for scents until they all go home anyway."
"I killed two. Ripped the heads right off the bloodsuckers." Paul crowed. "It was simple, easy."
"Yeah, I bet." Jacob muttered, irritated by Lahote's boastfulness. His overconfidence would come back to haunt him one day. "Jared, what about you?"
"I found one behind Newton's. She was just a kid." Jared winced at the memory of the young teenage vampire. She could have been no more then thirteen. She was clearly frightened, her rabid bloodlust the only thing stopping her from fleeing from him. It had been the worst feeling in the world attacking such an innocent. Her terrified red eyes would haunt his nightmares for some time to come, he was sure.
The room fell silent again, everyone sharing Jared's pain, although secretly glad that they were not the ones having to bear the burden of taking such a young life.
"You did what you had to do, son." Old Quil piped up eventually. "Her life was already over as soon as she was turned."
Jared hung his head. He knew this was true in his heart. It didn't make it any easier to deal with.
Jacob ran his fingers through his hair. He was beginning to feel the effects of the long day and night. He was exhausted, both emotionally and physically, as were the others. He felt his father sway beside him, and he quickly caught him, lowering Billy back into his chair.
"I think that's enough for tonight. We'll regroup in the morning when we're all more rested. Charlie will be back then. We can tell him what happened, and he can tell us what he knows."
"Who's going to draw the short straw for patrols tonight?" Paul asked.
"There will be no patrols tonight." Jacob replied firmly. "No one is in a fit enough state to go out there again without proper rest."
"But – "Paul began to protest.
"No buts!" Jacob snapped, losing patience. "We've had a long night, and we all need rest. Without the redhead controlling things, I expect the other leeches just took off into the wilderness anyway. And if they do come back, I doubt it will be tonight."
He was right, and everyone (apart from Paul) seemed to agree.
The meeting finally broke up. Sam left with the Clearwaters, intending to stay the night with Leah. Embry went with Jared, unwilling to disturb his mother, who was still having difficulty accepting the whole werewolf thing. He accepted the offer of sleeping on Jared's sofa for what remained of the night. Paul stalked off in a huff, still annoyed at being overruled by Jacob. Quil took his grandfather home, bidding everyone goodnight.
"I'm off to bed." Billy said when everyone was gone.
"Need any help?" Jacob offered automatically.
"Not this time, son." Billy smiled wearily. "Goodnight."
"Night, Dad."
Bella and Jacob were finally alone. He looked at her. She looked at him. "You can have my room." He said awkwardly. "I'll sleep on the couch."
Bella looked at the ratty old couch. The image of Jacob trying to squish his long body on that tiny thing made her laugh. "Jake, there is no way you would fit on it. And I won't turn you out of your own bed. We can share."
Jacob smiled in relief. "I Just didn't want to assume…?"
"Assume away." Bella pushed herself onto her feet. She reached for his hand. "Come on, there's not many hours left until daylight anyway. Let's go to sleep."
While Jacob was in the bathroom brushing his teeth, Bella slipped inside his room and began to hunt for something to wear. There wasn't much room to move, the double bed taking up most of the room. She waded her way through the clutter on the floor so she could reach his closet. Tugging it open, more junk fell out, it seemed his closet was less for clothes storage and more for hiding junk. Everything from old trophies to broken toys were stacked up in several boxes inside. Even if he wanted to hang clothes in it, there wouldn't have been much room. It just reminded her that despite his insane growth spurt and huge muscle mass, Jacob was still your typical teenage boy.
Bella shut the closet and looked around, finally spotting an overflowing laundry basket stuffed in the corner of the room. She picked up the first thing she could find, it was a t-shirt, it was probably too small to fit Jacob now, but perfect for her. She quickly undressed, chucking her clothes on top of the overfull laundry basket, and tugging his t-shirt over her head. It fell almost to her knees.
Jacob walked in the room at that moment. He stopped, staring at her, completely mesmerized by the sight of her standing there dressed in one of his t-shirts. She looked so beautiful. She had pulled her hair back in a messy bun at the top of her head, a few fine tendrils had escaped, framing her exquisite face to perfection. The t-shirt was big on her, but still, it revealed enough of her shapely legs to send Jacob's thoughts spiraling in a whole new direction. He blinked, trying to focus his gaze on her face, but failed miserably as his eyes dropped to her legs, before flicking back up to stare at her pouty lips, only to find those same lips pulled up into an amused smirk.
"You look like you're in pain."
"I am." Jacob admitted with rueful laugh. "You're killing me, honey."
"Am I?" Bella snickered, clearly getting a kick out of his reaction. "Perhaps you should sleep on the couch after all. I don't want to torture you."
"Ah, but its such sweet torture." Jacob made a grab for her and they both fell onto the bed, laughing hysterically.
"Hush." Bella put a warning finger to her lips. "You'll disturb Billy. Remember he's a wolf now. He's got super hearing."
"God, I forgot about that!" Jacob groaned, flopping onto his back, and staring up at the ceiling. "This is so not fair."
"True." Bella agreed, making herself comfortable. She grabbed the thin blanket folded up on the end of the bed and drew it over them. Not that it was really needed. Jacob was hot enough to warm them both.
Bella slid to his side, resting her head on his chest, which was much better than any pillow. They lay there in silence for a few minutes, both lost in their own thoughts, before Jacob finally spoke.
"I have never been so scared as I was tonight, Bella." He admitted. "The thought of anything happening to you…"
Bella hushed him again. "Don't finish that thought. I'm right here, Jake. I'm fine."
They fell silent again. Only broken by the sound of their combined breathing.
"You weren't scared." Jacob said after a while.
"Yes, I was." Bella confessed, trembling a little at the memory of the redhead's unprovoked attack. "I was terrified. I didn't know what was happening. I tried to stay strong for Billy's sake, but – "
"I don't mean that, honey. I meant of me."
"You?" Bella exclaimed in astonishment. "Why would I be scared of you?"
"I know you've seen me in my wolf form before, but you've never seen me attack anyone, like tonight, when I…I killed those bloodsuckers. It sickens me that you had to see that side of me…the monstrous side."
"Oh, Jake, we've been over this. You're not a monster. You did what you had to do to keep me safe. The redhead was the monster. Not you." Bella raised herself up a little so she could look at his face. It pained her to see the tortured look in his eyes. "I love you, okay. I love every single part of you. Why are you doubting that?"
"I'm sorry, Bella, honey." Jacob apologized. "It just continues to amaze me how good you are with weird. Nothing seems to faze you. Not vampires. Not giant wolves. Not anything. You are the bravest person I know."
"If I'm brave, its because you make me so."
Jacob's arms wrapped around her tightly, feeling comforted by her faith in him. Bella lay her head back against his chest, listening to the sound of his heart thumping beneath her ear. It was such a soothing sound that she soon drifted into a peaceful sleep.
A/N-thanks for reading!