Troubleshoot

Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to SM.

Leah Clearwater

Before he went to confront his family, Jacob decided to take some time out so he could be alone and clear his head. It wasn't really because he was worried about losing his temper. It was rare that anything ticked him off enough to make him lose complete control like it had in the early days (maybe except for Paul, of course). It was easy now, something he just did, natural. The red haze didn't wash over his eyes. The heat didn't shiver down his spine. It was freeing, being more in control of his emotions again. He knew a lot of that was due to Bella. The happiness she brought him calmed the wolf's volatile nature. Just her presence was like a soothing balm to his soul.

"Jacob, I heard what went down with Rachel." Leah demanded. "Bella was completely out of order. I hope you told her so."

Jacob's teeth clenched together at the sound of the she-wolf's belligerent tone. His family drama was none of her business. And she had no right to criticize Bella. None. He wouldn't stand for it.

"Stay out of it, Leah!" He warned.

Like anyone in the pack, the she-wolf knew everything. She knew he often came here- to the very edge of the earth and sky and sea. To be alone. She knew this was all he wanted right now. Just to be by himself.

But Leah was going to force her company on him anyway.

"Jump off a cliff, Leah." Jacob pointed to the one at his feet.

"Really, kid." Leah ignored him, throwing herself into a sprawl on the ground next to him. "You have no idea how hard this is for me."

"Stop calling me a kid!" Jacob retorted irritably. "And what do you mean it's hard for you? My home life is none of your business."

"It is when I have to listen to Billy go on about it all day. He's practically moved into our house. Its all he talks about. He's driving me mad with the constant whining."

It took Jacob a minute to believe that she was serious. "You have to be the most self-absorbed person alive, Leah. I'd hate to shatter the dream world you live in – the one where the sun is orbiting the place where you stand – so I won't tell you how little I care. If Sue had a problem with my dad being there, she would say so. Go. Away."

"I'm self-absorbed?" Leah exclaimed indignantly. "That's rich coming from you. Just look at it from my perspective for a minute, okay?" She carried on as if Jacob hadn't said anything.

If she was trying to break his mood, it worked. Jacob glared at her, laughing derisively.

"Stop snorting and pay attention." Leah snapped.

"If I pretend to listen, will you leave?" Jacob asked, glancing over at the permanent scowl on her face. He wasn't sure she had any other expressions anymore. The difference between her and Bella was striking. Bella had overcome adversity, Leah still wallowed in it.

Jacob remembered back to when he used to think that Leah was pretty, maybe even beautiful. That was long time ago. No one thought of her that way now. Except for Sam. He was never going to forgive himself. Like it was his fault he had imprinted on Emily. Despite his devotion to Leah's cousin, the she-wolf still had him in an emotional chokehold. Sam would never be happy. Leah wouldn't allow him to be. She clung to her bitterness like a shroud, forever staking her claim on him.

Leah's scowl heated up, as if she could read the thoughts running through Jacob's mind.

"Its not just about Billy taking up space at my house. Its you. Its Bella. It's making me sick, Jacob. I feel nauseated just thinking about it."

"What are you talking about?" Jacob was getting bored with the conversation. "What have me and Bella got to do with anything?"

"Everything!" Leah griped. "Can you imagine what it feels like to me? You two are so disgustingly in love it makes me want to puke. I don't even like Bella Swan. And you've got me lusting after the leech lover like I'm in love with her, too? Its sheer emotional torture. That's what it is. I dreamed about kissing her last night! What the hell am I supposed to do with that? Normally I dream about punching her in the face."

Jacob's eyes tightened at the corners. "You hurt Bella and you'll regret it." He growled.

"Oh, shut up!" Leah sniped. "As if I would actually do it. She'd probably attack me with a mop like she did poor Rachel."

"There's nothing poor about Rachel. She's as self-absorbed as you. In fact, I think you'd make a perfect pair. I wonder why it was Paul who imprinted on her and not you."

Leah flew into a fit of rage as soon as he mentioned imprinting. Her hand balled into a fist, she raised her arm, ready to strike him, but Jacob caught her by the wrist before she could follow through with the action.

"Don't you even try."

"I can't stand being in your head anymore!" Leah cried, yanking her arm out of his hold. "Get over yourself already! You think this pathetic relationship of yours is going to last? Well, it won't. What happens to Bella when you imprint, Jacob? You call me selfish, but you're no better. Because when you leave her, and you will, you'll end up destroying her more completely than the leech ever did!"

"Shut up." Jacob growled.

It would be wrong to strike back. He knew that. He was biting his tongue. But she would be sorry if she didn't walk away. Now.

"I'm thinking she would have been better staying with the leech. It's the worst decision she ever made choosing you." Leah continued, sneering.

This time Jacob had to work really hard. He closed his eyes and fought the hot taste in his mouth. He pushed and shoved against the slide of fire down his back, wrestling to keep his shape together when his body tried to shake apart.

When he felt he was finally in control again, he glowered at her. Leah was watching his hands as the tremors slowed. Smiling in satisfaction that she had gotten under his skin.

Bitch.

"If you're upset about gender confusion, Leah…" Jacob said. Slow, emphasizing each word. "How do you think the rest of us like looking at Sam through your eyes? Its bad enough that Emily must deal with your fixation. She doesn't need us guys panting after him, too."

Angry as he was, Jacob felt guilty when he saw the spasm of pain shoot across Leah's face. He knew he had gone too far, but she had driven him to it.

"Sam was mine before he ever belonged to her!" She screeched.

Leah scrambled to her feet – pausing, only to spit in his direction- and ran for the trees, vibrating like a tuning fork.

"You missed." Jacob muttered.

Sam was going to give him hell for that, but right now he didn't much care. Leah had overstepped the mark. She could dish it out but couldn't take it when the same venom was directed back at her. Well too bad!

Jacob returned to watching the swells roll toward the beach. They disappeared under the edge of the cliff, much like his former calm. Leah had destroyed that. He heard the waves beat against the sand, watching them for quite some time as he tried to regain his composure.

Going home was probably a bad idea. But Jacob was hungry, and he knew he couldn't put off facing his family any longer. He was still pent up and furious about what Leah had said. So much for time alone to clear his head!

When Jacob walked into his house and got a look at his dad's face, he was beginning to think he should have put off the meeting. It was clear Billy had something on his mind besides what they were here to talk about. It was easy to tell – he always overdid it. Acted all casual.

He also talked too much.

Billy started rambling about his day before Jacob could even get to the table. He never jabbered on like this unless there was something he didn't want to say. Jacob ignored him as best he could, concentrating on the food as he made himself a sandwich with what was left in the cupboards, which wasn't much. It seemed that Paul had raided the food supply again.

"… and Sue stopped by today." Billy's voice was loud. Hard to ignore. As always. "Amazing woman. She's tougher than a grizzlies, that one. And she gives the best advice. Always so willing to listen. I don't know how she deals with that daughter of hers, though. Now Sue, she would have made one hell of a wolf. Leah's more like a wolverine." He chuckled at his own joke, though there was an underlying edge of nervousness to the laughter that Jacob immediately noticed. "Sue said Leah came home in a very foul mood. She'd had words with someone…"

Here we go, Jacob thought.

Billy waited briefly for Jacob's response, but didn't seem to see the tense, trying to stay in control expression on his son's face. Jacob wished he would shut up about Leah. He was trying not to think about their row, instead focusing on the much-needed conversation they were supposed to be having regarding Rachel and Paul taking over the house. But so far Billy had avoided even acknowledging the elephant in the room, continuing to talk about Leah and her moods as if that mattered. He hadn't even welcomed Jacob home. He was acting as if everything was normal and that his son hadn't been absent for the last few weeks.

"Seth's a lot easier. Of course, you were easier than your sisters, too, until…well, you know…"

"Do I?" Jacob cut in scathingly. "Is it because you see me as such a pushover that you let Rachel get away with everything, while at the same time expecting me to toe the line?"

Billy sighed, long and deep, and stared out the window. "Its not as simple as that."

Every muscle in Jacob's body locked into place. A feather of heat seemed to brush down his back. So much for his former self-congratulation about maintaining his cool. He held onto the table to keep his hands steady.

Billy went on like he hadn't even noticed his son's distress. "Its different with girls, Jacob. They react in ways that men don't. They are so much more emotional. You must tread carefully. I know you don't think so, but your sister is quite sensitive underneath her brash exterior. She's not as confident and self-assured as you – "

"That's bullshit, Dad. You are still making excuses for her. Do you even know the real reason why she came home?"

"She won't tell me. Like I said, she's sensitive. I don't want to put her under too much pressure. I – "

"Enough with the excuses." Jacob interrupted angrily. "Where is she anyway? She's supposed to be here so we can thrash this thing out like a family."

"I – I think she had a job interview. Yes, I'm sure that's what she said. That's a positive sign, isn't it? Shows she's making an effort. Otherwise, she would have been here." Billy said shakily. He was staring anxiously at Jacob's left hand which was visibly trembling. "Um, son, we only have the one table."

Jacob's fingers were clamped down on the wood hard enough that it really was in danger. He loosened them one by one, concentrating on that action alone, and then clenched his hands together so he couldn't break anything.

"Yeah, so I know it's frustrating that Rachel isn't here to speak for herself, but as I said, we must focus on the positives. If she gets this job then she will be able to contribute financially. I know that was one of the things that was making you anxious…" His voice tailed off when he saw the disbelieving look on Jacob's face.

"There is no job interview, Dad. She's spinning you a line."

"Rachel wouldn't do that." Billy insisted.

"This is pointless." Jacob got up from the table, shrugging out of his t-shirt as he stood.

"Son, where are you going?" Billy cried as Jacob punched the front door out of his way.

Jacob was running before he even hit the trees, his clothes strewn out behind him like a trail of crumbs- as if he wanted to find his way back. He was done trying to make things right with his family. Rachel had won. He was never going home again. He would have to find somewhere else to live.

His body already knew where he was going, and, before he asked it to, it gave him what he wanted.

He had four legs now, and he was flying.

The trees blurred into a sea of black flowing around him. His muscles bunched and released in an effortless rhythm. He turned in the direction of Forks, running to Bella, yearning to look into her beautiful chocolate brown eyes, and find the inner peace that she always gave him.

A/N-thanks for reading!