Chapter 23

Heaven Is Waiting

January 8th

Jacob woke to the sound of heavy rain on the roof. Rolling over to look at his alarm clock Jacob was surprised to see it was after ten in the morning. He hadn't realised just how much he hated early mornings until Sam put him on morning shifts. Jacob had no idea how Fay stayed alert after doing double shifts every night. He jumped out of bed with a spring in his step. It was Saturday, not only his one day off but also Fay's one day off.

Billy had gone out fishing today and the house was silent as Jacob left it. Even with the heavy rain he picked up on Fay's sent in the air. It was faint but she had definitely been here this morning. He marched towards the forest so focused on the sent trail that he didn't hear the truck turn into his driveway. It was only when Bella called out his name that Jacob stopped. He turned to look at Bella.

"You cut your hair off?" Was the first thing she said when she was within reaching distance. "And got a tattoo?"

"Bella." He said not wanting to do this now, not wanting to do this ever.

"I thought you were too sick to come outside. Or pick up the phone when I called." He felt bad, he knew he had hurt her, but this was best for her.

"Go away," he said only just loud enough to be heard over the rain.

"What?" Bella asked her face scrunching up in confusion.

"Go away."

"What happened to you? What's wrong?" Jacob turned away from her and Bella reached out to grab his arm. "Hey, what happened? Did Sam get to you, is that what's happening?" That comment hit a nerve with Jacob.

"Sam's trying to help me don't blame him. We can't be friends any more Bella." Jacob prayed she would leave. He didn't want to have to hurt her worse.

"Jacob, I know that I have been hurting you. It's killing me, it kills me. Just maybe give me some time or something." Bella said in a pleading voice reaching for Jacob again, he stepped backwards away from her grasp.

"Don't. It's not you-"

"It's not you it's me, right? Really?" Bella said sounding annoyed.

"It's true, it is me. I'm not who I use to be Bella, and neither are you. This doesn't even matter we're over, go home."

"You can't break up with me. I mean, I mean you're my best friend. You promised me-"

"I know, I promised I wouldn't hurt you Bella and this is me keeping that promise. Go home and don't come back or you're going to get hurt." It wasn't easy for Jacob to turn away. He felt no better than that blood sucker just leaving her broken out in the rain. But he couldn't look at her anymore. He was relieved she didn't try to stop him again. It wasn't until he was in the dense forest tree line, he allowed himself to look back at Bella. She hadn't moved from the spot in his yard. He stood there watching for several minutes until Bella pulled herself together enough to go back to the truck and drive off. He felt bad but knew it was for the best.

…

The stupid Swan girl is like a bloodsucker magnet.

Paul's thoughts were the first thing to hit their minds as Fay and Jacob phased. Jacob growled at Paul's comment.

Focus, Sam scolded as his thoughts brought everyone up to speed. An image of a wide-open field filled their minds. In the middle of the field stood Bella Swan. In front of the human girl stood a cold one. This was no random cold one though. Fay instantly recognised the thing as the one that had attacked her the day Sam and the others had found her. Images of when she last saw this blood sucker ran through Fay's mind, Sam, Paul and Jared also shared memories of it. The anger of the pack grew as they all sprinted to Sam's location.

It was on the other side of the reservation on the Forks side of the boarder. If the Cullen's were still in Forks, they wouldn't have been able to cross the border. But since they had left the land was free to cross even though they didn't patrol it.

Why were you on this side Sam? Fay asked as they finally reached the others. The whole pack was their watching from the tree line as Bella talked with the blood sucker.

Caught his scent and followed it here. I thought it might have been one of the Cullen's returning.

We have to stop him. Jacob thought loudly, moving closer to the tree line.

Jacob wait. Sam ordered. If we go out there Bella will know about us.

If we don't, she dies. Aren't we meant to protect people? Isn't that why we are what we are? Jacob thought back.

We are here to protect La Push and the tribe. Sam replied and Jacob mentally growled.

If we let her die we are no better than them Sam. Fay said through the mind link.

Paul, Embry take my left. Jacob and Jared go right. Fay stay behind me and get ready to chase. He will either fight or flee. Sam stood to his full height, and everyone got in position. Fay felt almost giddy with the idea of killing a cold one. She didn't know whose thoughts that energy was coming from, most likely Paul or Embry. Jacob's thoughts were more focused on the human then the cold one. Jared moved in front of Jacob focusing only on the cold one in case it did go their way.

Sam let out a warning growl as he stepped forward revealing his position to the cold one. Fay was unable to see from her position, but she saw the look of shock on the things face through Sam's thoughts.

Come forward, be ready to run. Sam ordered and the rest of the pack stepped from the trees. The cold one looked frozen in place its red eyes locked on Sam. Now. Sam roared. The cold one spun in place and ran in the opposite direction of the wolves. Sam leapt forward and the chase began. As fast as the cold one had started to run, he stopped spinning around just in time to side swipe Sam throwing him across the field. Fay cringed at the sound of her brothers surprised yelp. The cold one had made a mistake though by stopping even if it was only for a second, he gave everyone else time to catch up.

It was all but over when the cold one entered the tree line on the other side of the meadow. The trees slowed it down while the wolves only sped up. Fay took a flying leap landing square on the things back nocking it to the ground. Paul was a second behind her locking his jaws around the cold one's arm. Fay clamped her teeth into the cold one's neck pulling with all her might. With a sickening crack the head ripped off and Fay fell forward the head still in her mouth. That was not the end of the cold one though. Jared got a leg and the rest joined in like a game of tug a war.

The cold ones left arm was the next thing to fly off. The limb screeched as it was torn from the body, the sound was like nails on a chalk board. Only ten times louder. Fay dropped the head and walked behind a tree to phase out. She quickly pulled on her shirt that she kept strapped to her ankle. In the pocket of the shirt was a small lighter, one of the few things everyone carried with them.

Fay grabbed some small sticks and dryish looking leaves off the ground making a fire as quickly as she could. She cringed every time a limb was ripped off the cold one's torso. It didn't matter how much she hated that thing the sound still sent shivers through her body. Once the fire was going Fay removed herself from the seen walking a few meters into the trees. The guys began burning the body, the only way to fully destroy the cold one. She could hear the crackle of the fire as it turned the cold one to ash. Fay didn't look back until a large snout pushed at her arm.

Sam nudged Fay with his large wolf head. Fay wrapped her arms around her brother's neck savoring the comfort before stepping back. "I'm okay. Are you?" Sam nodded his large head looking back at the burning fire. Embry and Jared were in human form walking around picking up any smaller pieces of the cold one that had been missed and throwing them into the fire. Paul was nowhere to be seen and Jacob stood a few feet behind Sam watching Fay.

"I'm okay," she repeated looking at Jacob. "I'm going home I'll see you guys later." Fay brushed her fingers through Sam's coat one more time before walking away in the direction of her house. She made it across the river before Jacob caught up to her in his human form. Wordlessly she hooked her fingers with his. He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. Fay savored the silence knowing sooner or later Jacob would have questions.

They walked into the house and Fay dropped onto the sofa too exhausted to go any further. Jacob fell down next to her hooking his arm around her shoulder and letting her melt into his side. She rested her head and hand on his chest. She had to fight to keep her eyes open.

"Aren't you going to ask?" She said after a few minutes.

"You said you were okay. If you want to talk, I'm here but I'm not going to ask you questions you don't want to answer." Jacob replied tightening his arm around her shoulders.

"Thank you." Fay whispered letting her eyes fall shut for a second. After such a long day and being in the warm embrace of Jacob, Fay instantly fell asleep.

…

Fay woke with a jolt. Her hand instantly grasped at her neck feeling for the bite that had woken her. She struggled to breathe as she thought of his jaws crushing down on her windpipe.

"You're okay, Fay. It was just a nightmare," Jacob's voice was calming, and Fay let out a relieved sigh as she tried to steady her breathing. Jacob sat right next to her but made no move to touch her as Fay's eyes flicked to his.

"Sorry, sorry," she repeated, her voice sounding horse.

"I'll get you a glass of water," Jacob said standing up. Fay grabbed his hand stopping him.

"No." Was all she could manage to say. He sat back down and waited for her to say more. "It's stupid."

"Do you mind telling me what it is then?"

"It's just a nightmare. I freeze in the middle of a fight. It's so stupid." Fay rubbed a hand over her neck still worried she would find some sign of an attack.

"Yeah, it is stupid," Jacob said pulling Fay's hands away from her neck. Her nails had left red marks on the tanned skin but other than that she was fine.

"I'm not great with comforting people but I don't think that's what people are meant to say," Fay said with a soft, humorless laugh.

"Today you didn't freeze. You didn't even flinch you just did what needed to be done. Don't let the nightmares get to you. Cold ones should be having nightmares about you not the other way around." Fay tried to take comfort from his words. But it wasn't a cold one that had attacked her in the new nightmare. It was Paul. His wolf lunged at her through the air, his jaw snapping until his teeth were locked into her flesh.

"It's getting dark we should go Emily will have dinner ready soon." Fay said changing the subject.

"I need to get home to Billy, but I'll walk you to Emily's," Jacob said standing up. Fay followed him out of the house. "Are you staying there tonight? I don't think you should be alone."

"Yeah, I'll just sleep there." She rubbed at her neck again and Jacob grabbed her hand holding it tight in his as they walked.

"I was thinking maybe next Saturday we could go ride dirt bikes I've got two in the garage we could use." Jacob said trying to get Fay's mind off her nightmare.

"Sure. Did you want to invite Embry?" Fay asked.

"I was more thinking just the two of us. Like a date?" Jacob said. Just because they were imprints didn't make it any less nerve racking to ask her out. He had never had to ask anyone out before. The closest thing to a girlfriend he ever had was Bella, and did she really count?

"Oh. Okay sure, sound like fun. You just can't freak out if I get dirt on the bike. Embry freaked out when his bike got dirty. It's literally in the name, dirt bike."

"I promise I won't freak out." Jacob laughed happy she agreed to go on a date with him. They talked as they walked. Neither one rushing to get there. It was completely dark by the time the lights of the small cabin came into view. Sam was waiting for them on the front porch.

"Sam is everything okay?" Fay asked as they reached the cabin.

"Yeah, I just wanted to let Jacob know we won't be doing patrol in the morning. Harry called. Bella told Charlie she saw a pack of wolves so he's taking a hunting party out tomorrow. They think that's what's taking all the missing hikers." Sam didn't look to mad, but he definitely wasn't happy. A stern scowl was plastered across his face.

"What are we going to do?" Fay asked her brother.

"Take the day off. Harry will keep us updated when the hunting trips are. Night patrols will still be running like normal."

"Sam if I could just tell her-" Jacob was cut off.

"No Jacob. She has gotten us in enough of a mess do you not see that? Keep away from Bella." Sam ordered. Jacob left without another word visibly shaking with anger. "He will understand sooner or later that girl is bad news." Sam growled under his breath.

"I hope it's sooner." Fay whispered staring at the forest where Jacob had disappeared. She wanted to go after him but decided against it. He just needed time to get over Bella. He would come to his senses soon.