Author's note: Just realized that through a comedy of errors I got poor Harry's name mixed up, going through and fixing that now! So sorry guys! lol
(Paul)
"I'm going to take Leah in to see him, okay? Just wait here and I promise you'll get a chance too."
I promised Bella, her small, warm hand still in mine. Her light brown eyes returned my gaze, I could hear her heart skipping beats.
She nodded and I reluctantly let her hand go so she could take a seat by Elizabeth and Clair.
"No, not yet, not until we talk!" Sue protested.
"We can talk later you damn hag-"
"Ladies, how about we not make a scene, huh? Leah, you came here to see him, so see him."
Sue shot me an incredulous look.
"Why the hell are you even involved in this?" She demanded.
"I just am, okay? Let her see her father, you can work out whatever later." I turned towards Dumb ass to find that he had left his damn post.
He had slinked off while we were talking to go sit by Bella who was shyly staring down at her lap.
That pissed me off.
His ass is going to taste my goddamn foot later.
"No, you're joining us." I simply stated as I gestured towards the door.
Dumb ass grumbled complaints but ultimately obeyed, following me, Leah and Sue into the room. He called out to Bella that he'd be back as he shut the door behind him.
I stepped over and hissed in his ear.
"We'll discuss this later."
"Bet on it." He grunted his reply.
"Just stand by the damn door."
Would it kill him to think about Leah?
He snarled, then turned and casually leaned against the edge of the doorframe, crossing his arms.
I turned my attention to Leah, who had stomped into the room then immediately halted when she saw her father in his hospital bed.
She'd stood, silently staring as I had dealt with Dumb ass.
Finally, Sue took her hand and coaxed her into the chair beside Henry's bed.
I stood directly behind her as her mother took the adjacent chair.
"Dad…."
It was a soft whisper.
Henry remained motionless in the hospital bed, his eyes closed, his machines breathing for him, humming an obnoxious roar all around him.
For a moment, childhood memories of Harry Clearwater flashed before my eyes, the things he'd taught me about being a man. He was the reason I always looked forward to my and Ma's trips back home.
I pushed them aside so I could focus on Leah.
"We're- we decided to have him removed from life support. They're preparing to move him down to hospice."
Leah tilted her head to the side, fought the tears for a moment.
"Who the hell said you could make that decision without us?!"
I squeezed her shoulder, a quiet warning to watch it.
Sue flinched for a second, then stiffened her spine.
"His wife, the mother of his children, the only damn family member who was here."
Leah turned to her mother.
"I came as fast as I fucking could."
"It wasn't fast enough!"
Leah began to stand and I forcefully held her down in her seat, gauging her tremors.
Goddamn it Leah, don't make me have to drag your ass out of here!
It wasn't that I wasn't sympathetic to her plight, in fact my heart kind of bled for her- but no matter who was right or wrong- she can't afford to get angry here.
A deep growl rumbled from Leah's throat.
I kept my hold on her.
Sue stared in awe, then steeled her resolve.
"The least you could have done was be here-!"
"I fucking tried-!"
"Leah." I warned.
"We should just drag her ass out already." Dumb ass interjected.
"No one told you to talk." I growled over my shoulder.
"What is wrong with her?" Sue demanded as she stared at Leah with wide eyes. "What's happening to my daughter?" She turned her head back to me. "Why are you here? This is a family matter-"
"The fuck do you know about 'family matters'?! You sold me out to my whore cousin-!"
Sue recoiled.
I tightened my grip on Leah, using both hands now, trying my best not to intervene with her family drama.
"She's your family, Leah." Sue stated.
"She's a traitor and a bitch."
"Why can't you just be happy for her?" Sue demanded.
"Because she's intent on rubbing my goddamn nose in it!"
"Emily just wants her best friend back, Leah! This whole fiasco has embarrassed this family enough!"
"I'm not gonna be her goddamn maid of honor!"
"You have to! Everyone needs to see-"
"That she's a fucking whore!"
"Goddamn it Leah, work with me here!" I yelled, fighting to keep her under control.
She's going to make me have to drag her ass out.
"Again, I ask, why the hell are you here, Lahote?! Let me talk to my daughter-"
"I'm the only reason she hasn't mauled you yet."
"Just drag her ass out already." Dumb ass called across the room, his tone bored.
"Shut the fuck up, Jacob." I called back.
Sue turned her eyes back to her daughter, stared at her for a good few moments. Leah closed her eyes and took deep breaths, slowly willing her tremors away.
Good, keep it up Leah.
Finally sue asked in a meek voice.
"What- happened last night- it- it was real?"
Yeah, of course she saw it.
"She's new- try not to push her buttons so damn hard." I answered.
Tears welled in Sue's eyes, then anger flashed across them.
"How could you-? In front of your father-!"
Goddamn it.
"You knew the man was having chest pains-!"
Leah began to vibrate, her body priming to contort into a phase.
I yanked her out of the chair.
"What are you doing?! She has to answer for this!"
Sue called out as I physically dragged Leah by her vibrating shoulders, her feet barely touching the floor.
I ignored her as Dumb ass covered my flank to make sure Sue stayed a safe distance from Leah.
"He's dying because of you!" Sue called out as she tried to follow us out of the room.
"Where are you taking her?! She can't leave!" Sue called after us, trying to follow us through the hall.
Dumb ass made himself somewhat useful as I dragged Leah to the emergency stairwell. He stood in front of the door, blocking Sue from following us any further.
We could hear her yelling and protesting as she tried to get past Dumb ass. I dragged Leah down several flights of stairs, then stopped between floor levels.
Finally, I let her go.
"Breathe, Leah."
"Fucking bitch." Leah growled through lung fulls of air.
"She's still your mom, Leah."
Leah bent over her knees, leaning forward, she tried to catch her breath.
"Don't- give- a- shit." She puffed, still vibrating too damn much.
"She is, Leah. She just doesn't understand."
"Just once- would it kill her to be on my goddamn side? I'm her goddamn daughter!"
"I'm not saying she wasn't wrong, Leah. I'm saying you can't afford to react."
"What do you know about goddamn anger management?"
"Fellow hot-head, remember? Had to learn control, too. Still am actually."
"Well la-dee-fucking-da."
"Just- take a minute, okay? I'll take you back to him when you're ready- alone this time."
"But with you still up my ass."
"That was the deal."
" 's a bullshit deal."
"Be grateful I haven't dragged you out of the building, Sam's going to be pissed as it is."
"Fuck Sam."
"He's your alpha now, y'know."
"Didn't consent to that."
"Doesn't change it."
"So how do I get out then? Y'know- leave this stupid fucking cult?"
"Pack- and you don't. Member for life. There is no stop phasing, hell there isn't even retirement- you're pack bound until you grow old and die."
"Oh what the fuck!"
"Sorry sister, it's a lifelong commitment."
"I will find a way out."
"Good luck with that, really. Share with the class when you do."
"When I do, I ain't sharing shit."
"Like I said, good luck."
"Hey-! You idiots still down there? Billy's lookin' for ya!" Dumb ass called down the stairwell.
"Keep your panties on, we're coming!" I called back.
I assessed Leah, she still knelt over, but her breathing had calmed, her vibrations had slowed down to light tremors.
"Good job, Leah. Ready to head back?"
She closed her eyes, swallowed and nodded.
"Good, let's go."
Paul, Jacob, Leah.
Sam's alpha voice reverberated through our heads.
"Get out of my head you cousin fucking prick!" Leah yelled out, spinning around, looking for an invisible Sam.
"Damn it, Leah- public, remember? Pack's gotta stay a secret- remember?" I reminded her.
(Paul) What's up, Sam?
(Sam) Seth and the others, they came across some trouble.
(Paul) What the hell happened?
(Sam) The intruder- he intercepted them, hurt Embry and Jared pretty bad- Seth's missing.
(Leah) My brother-!? You lost my fucking brother?!
(Sam) Paul! I need you to meet up with me! Send Jacob here with Bella and Leah- he'll guard the imprints with Quil.
(Leah) Like hell! I'm going to go get him!
(Sam) Damn it, obey, Leah! We don't need two novices in the way! We'll get him back!
(Paul) Got it, I'll send them.
(Jacob) I can hear too, y'know.
(Paul) Then shut up and obey.
(Sam) Just get a damn move on!
We could all feel Sam leave our minds, severing our mental connection, an ability he had as the alpha of our pack. As he did so he took one last long look around himself so I could see where he was. He was on his way north of our border on four legs. I was familiar with the small stream he was following.
"You heard him, try not to kill each other." I tossed Emily's car keys to Leah and turned on my heel, making my way down the stairs to the nearest fire exit.
"I'm going!" Leah yelled after me.
"You're staying. You want him dead?" I demanded over my shoulder. "We're more experienced, we'll bring him back. Not go."
I didn't wait for any more bullshit. I finished my trek down two more flights of stairs and shoved my way out of the fire exit.
