@BadBoyEmbryCall -

She didn’t give me an eye roll. That was telling.

‘I don’t need help to look after my own home. I just tripped and took a shelf down with me.’

I brushed her hair off her face and saw the ballooning bump growing on her forehead.

“Ma. That’s not what I was saying.” She winced. “Sorry… It’s not broken. But. I think you need to go to the hospital. Your arm needs stitches, this foot needs an X-ray at least. And that bump on your forehead. You could have a concussion.” -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

‘No, it’s fine. You’reoverly protective.’

I frown, shifting to old the towel around her arm. “Ma, see. We. Are. Going!”

I looked around before lifting her up into my arms.

‘Leah Angeni Clearwater put me down.’

Moving her over a little so I didn’t bang her head on the door frames. I grabbed her jacket in my hand and kept walking.

“Saying my full name won’t make me stop. Act like a kid, and I will carry you like one.” My heart was pumping so hard. But I was in control.

@HotHeadSheWolf
I was quiet for a moment, contemplating the irony of how someone looking out for you could also feel like a judgement.

But #Quil... he never lied to me. Even when he was calling me out on my shit. 'I won't ask again.' he said after a beat. 'I believe you. And as long as I know this newfound... calm that you seem to have isn't something that ends badly for you. Then...' He shrugged. 'That's all I need to know.'

"You don't need to worry about me. I'm doing good. Really >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< good... all things considered."

I pulled into the empty driveway. Mom's car being gone was always a sign that things weren't as good as they used to be. But her waves of sickness and dizziness could come with hardly any warning, it made no sense to keep her car sitting there.

#Quil barely waited for the car to stop before jumping out to bound inside. 'Momma T!! Your favourite son is home!!' He yelled before walking in."

@BadBoyEmbryCall

My hands were tight around the wheel, my eyes darting from the road to Ma who sat in the passenger seat drifting.

“Ma. Keep your eyes open.” I told her placing a hand over her lap and squeezing softly.

‘Usdi. I am…’ I cut her off.

“If you say you are fine. I swear to the great wolf. I will go apex Predator on you.”

She chuckled ever so softly and winced again. The drive to the hospital didn’t take long. As much as I hated being in four wheels, I still knew how to -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

Use them to my advantage.

I wanted to carry Ma in.

‘You cannot usdi. People will question how you could do it.’ She tapped my shoulders for me to put her down.

As much as I hated it, I know she make a valid point.

“Stay here. I’ll get some help.”

At the front entrance I found someone who gave me a wheelchair. So that I could roll ma inside.

@HotHeadSheWolf
I was sitting at the kitchen table, mo had handed me a coffee and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and cut it into triangles like she used to when I was little... and the same for #Quil. Only when we were little we had milk instead of coffee.

My phone buzzed on the table and # Seth's big goofy grin appeared on the screen... He never called me unless it was pack business. he was all about texting. I rubbed my hands on my jeans and mom slapped me on >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< the bicep... lightly she had learned many years ago that even a light slap hurt her. I looked to #Quil and he started distracting Mom so I could slip out the back door and take the call.

"Hey kid, what's up?" I pulled the door closed with a light click. 'Um...' His voice was strange. 'I'm... um I'm not sure.'

I took a few steps from the door. "#Seth take a breath and tell me what's going on."

'I'm at Mom's... her car is gone and Leah's bike is here but >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< they're gone...' He was talking too fast for that to be all.
"That's not unusual #Seth why are you panicked." I pressed.

'I can smell blood but Leah didn't answer her phone. and mom's is still here.'

"Okay, we're coming kid. Stay there, Call the Rez Clinic and see if she went there." I went back inside and mouthed to the Mom and #Quil. that we needed to go. "Wait for us right there."

He promised he would and then I explained everything to >

@BadBoyEmbryCall

‘Leah? My dear what are you doing he… oh Sue!’ I was so thankful to see #Deb working the front desk at the ER.

The woman knew so much and most of all, knew how to get things done. Some part of me missed seeing #DrCullen here at times like this.

‘It—‘ I came to a stop and frowned down at Ma.

“Ma is going to tell you it’s nothing.” I told her trying to keep a check on the anger bubbling within me. I didn’t let those younger years out bursts rule me anymore. But it didn’t -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

Mean I didn’t feel it from time to time.

‘Sue, we can all clearly see that there is something. Leah wouldn’t bypass the Rez and bring you here if it weren’t. Leah, dear. Could you roll your mom in and I will have her seen too.’ This was the no nonsense woman I needed to see.

“Yes, ma’am.” This time a little relief washed into my words.

Ma was quite now, which in itself was saying a lot. She didn’t fight the young doctor when he came in to examine her. She didn’t even -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

Notice his ring less finger and start the questioning as to why he wasn’t married.

‘Your daughter is correct in bring you Mrs Clearwater.’ He said as he worked in stitching her arm up. ‘You needed some help with these injuries.’

The two kept talking and I could see what he was doing. His fingers working fast, and precisely. Trying to leave the a clean line in his wake.

I stood by the wall, arms crossed frowning.

‘Don’t look so worried. You did the right thing.’ He -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

Smiled up at me, I wasn’t sure I could reply without saying something sarcastic. So I just nodded.

‘We are going to take your mom for some X-rays now. Would you like to wait—‘

“I’m coming with her.” He just smiled wider.

‘Sure, why don’t I take you instead of waiting for a porter.’

Ma and he started to talk as we left the ER. And I reached into my back pocket for my phone. I needed to tell #TheKid

“Crap.” Bitting down on the inside of my cheek. Glancing back to -

@BadBoyEmbryCall - the door.

‘Usdi!’ Ma tapped my leg as I walked next to her.

‘Everything okay?’ He asked. Looking up at me.

“Sorry. Yeah. I just can’t find my phone.”

@HotHeadSheWolf

#Seth was making his way to the ar before I even pulled up by the curb and he climbed into the back of the Jeep. ‘The colonic said that Mom hadn’t been there today.’ He told us and I was already turning the the car around.

‘So Leah took her to the hospital.’ #Quil explained in that perfectly logical way of his and put his hand on the kids shoulder.

‘He’s right #Seth, I’m sure we’ll find them there. Your sister just took her to fix whatever happened.’ Mom twisted in >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< her seat, looking back at him. ‘Everything will be okay, sweetie. You’ll see.’

Mom didn't lecture me for driving too fast, but u was still holding back because she was in the car.

I parked the jeep and #Seth made a beeline for the hospital and #Quil ran with him so I could walk with Mom.

By the time we got to the emergency room reception a nurse I recognised was telling #Seth that his mom was taken to x-ray and she would let us know when she came back up.

“Come on, >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< Kid.” I put my hand on his shoulder and pulled gom back when he looked like he was going to press for more information.

“We will take a seat and Deb will your mom and Leah know that we are here, right?” I smile at the nurse.

‘Of course, they took her right down. It shouldn't be long.’ She smiled encouragingly at #Seth. ‘The doctor is with her, she’s in good hands. I promise.’ she closed the chart in her hands and madr her way though the double doors.

@BadBoyEmbryCall

‘Here you go, you can us this.’

I was stood by the wall, my back leaning on it and my arms crossed over my chest. Biting the inside of my cheeks as I waited for Ma to come out of X-ray room.

The young doctor had raved off, if assumed to an emergency, however he was stood in front of me now with a phone.

‘You said you have some calls you wanted to make. And couldn’t find your phone. I had to run to my locker to get this.’

He raised the phone up between us.
-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

“You didn’t need to do this.” My eyes not leaving his face.

‘I don’t mind. Make your calls, I will go and check you mom is done in there.’ He smiled warmly, this time I took the phone.

“I’ll only make one call.” The woman now willing to take the help from a stranger ( also thinking how to pay it back. ) where as a year ago this wouldn’t have happened.

I knew the number off by heart, I didn’t even need to glance at the screen as I tabbed it in. Waiting for the answer -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

‘Hello?’ His voice was wrong, and I guessed he knew.

“Kid—“

‘Lee!!! Where are you? Where is ma? Is she okay? I went to the house… the bloody… there was blood… Ma’s blood….’

“Kid. Shhh… on on someone’s phone. So listen. I’m at Forks Hospital. Ma hurt herself and I made the call she needed to come here. She is having some X-rays. Have had to have ten stitches in her arm. She is okay. Just weak.” I wasn’t going to tell him any more untold I knew myself. -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

We know. We guessed this is where you would be. I’m in The ER. I’m coming up.’

‘We?’ My eyebrows pulled together.

‘Yeah. Mama T, Quil and Bry are here too, they drove me here.’ His voice shook and I knew what this would do to him. Seeing Ma’s house and not knowing would have killed the kid.

“I’m sorry I didn’t call you before.” I told him.

@HotHeadSheWolf

'It's okay, Lee.' #Seth said. 'You did what you had to in the moment.' he repeated almost exactly what I had told him on the drive here. It had happened to me so many times before we got Mom's condition under control. I would find her in agony or with a burning fever... I would get her to the hospital and then call someone. Someone always came.

#Sue 𝕒𝕝𝕨𝕒𝕪𝕤 came.

#Quil was already texting the group chat and telling them what he heard from Leah's end of the phone. 'I'm gonna >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< come up.' #Seth said again. His voice shook but with something like relief. Not the terror of his first call. as soon as he hung up I was next to him, clamping a hand on his shoulder.

"She's gonna be okay, kid." I said. 'When you see her you'll feel better, I promise.' #Seth looked passed me to my Mom and I knew what he was thinking... He was remembering the times I wasn't there when Mom was rushed to hospital and I was the one in his place. He nodded.>

@HotHeadSheWolf
< 'I'm sorry... sorry I fell apart.' He said quietly.

"No... you didn't #Seth. You didn't know what to do so you asked for help. Leah... she knew what to do and she did it. Neither of those were bad choices. I've been through it... I've done both and I've done the wrong thing." I explained to him. He looked at me like he wanted to ask... "Freezing... doing nothing. That's the only wrong thing to do. You do something or you get help. Nothing else matters"
>

@BadBoyEmbryCall

The doctor came out of the room and closed the door behind him. I held his phone out to him.

“Thank you for this.” I glanced over his shoulder at where my Ma should have been.

‘If you need to make other….’ I shook my head.

“No. Thank you. Just the one call to my kid was all I needed.” His face dropped and he looked me up and down. Until it clicked. “My kid brother.” His mouth turned into an ‘O’, and he smiled.

“Where is my Ma?” I asked

‘Right, your mom. There is -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

Nothing to fear.’ He started my my heart sank and beat harder all at once.

“Why do people say that before giving bad news?” I was frowning, holding it together.

‘You were right to think that your mom was concussed. With the blood lose, and the concussion would like to keep her overnight. Just to be certain.’ I rubbed my temple thinking over what I needed to do. ‘We have found her a bed, and they are taking her to level four room 404. You can make your way up. -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

I could walk you up?’

‘Thank you Doc, I can walk my sister up there.’ I felt him and smelt him before I saw and heard him. His heart was racing and I knew he heard it all.

‘Oh. Yes. Sure.’ The doctor stepped to the side as #TheKid came to stand in front of me. He was shaking, and his eyes were full of fire.

“Thank you for everything.” I told the doctor before he left and I pulled #TheKid into my arms. This was something Ma would do. She would hold him. To whisper -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

It would be okay. To give him what he needed. All I did was open my arms and he did the rest. His forehead on my shoulder, his arms engulfed me, and I felt the warmth of his tears.

“She will be fine.” I whispered to him. His fear had been one I knew, I felt it too. We just reacted in different ways.

‘I.. I.. I thought…’ I placed a hand on the back of his head.

“Shh. I know. I. Know.” The fear of losing out only Parent was crippling for him. ( and me. )

@HotHeadSheWolf
Mom sat there wringing her hands. I cover both of hers with one of mine, stopping the nervous tic. "You okay?" I asked and that drew #Quil's attention too. He examined her from head to toe for any signs that something was wrong. It was the wolf in him... in all of that did that.

'Oh, I'm fine sweetheart. Just worried about #Sue.' She admitted. I offered her a smile. "Me too. but she'll be fine. I'm sure #Seth will text us soon with an update.

Mom nodded and dropped her >

@HotHeadSheWolf
@HotHeadSheWolf
< gaze to the floor. "What is it, Mom?" I knew when something was bothering her.

'Just... Seth's face. That poor boy was so upset and afraid...' Her voice quavered a little. "I know... but he's a tough kid he'll be fine once he sees her."

'I'm so sorry, Embry...' My brows pinched together. at her words. 'For the number of times I've done that to you.' er glistened a little at the corners.

"No, Mom." I wrapped my a pulled her to my side. "You >

@HotHeadSheWolf
being sick isn't anything like coming home to find no there and blood all over. It's not the same."

'I suppose so... but it's still frightening.'

"It is... but no more frightening than all my ER trips? Right?" I tried to make her smile. She did... but only humoured me. "Don't worry about me Mom... or, at least... not because of that, okay? Yes, there were bad days... scary days. But you were always right there with me... and I know what to do now."

>

@HotHeadSheWolf
< 'Jacob and Nessie are heading to #Sue's to clean up so #Sue doesn't have to see that when she gets back home.' #Quil came to the rescue with a change of subject. 'And #Seth they are taking her to 404... to give them time to settle #Sue in and then we can come up.'

"Okay... let's grab a coffee and give them time. Then we go see them." I stood and held out my hand to help her up. Mom told #Quil to text Jake back >

@BadBoyEmbryCall

As soon as we saw the room #TheKid let go of me and rush into the room. The nurses were still helping Ma into bed and he took over. Charming the nurse into letting him help.

I stood back by the far wall, waiting and watching Ma. She was slow, her skin pale, her arm was wrapped well now and her forehead was bruising out. They placed a pillow under her leg and to her side, which made her wince and my eyebrows pulled together. She had kept that from me! -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

‘Stay calm, you won’t help by upsetting Ma now.’ My wolf told me as I bit the inside of my cheeks. ‘And stop that! You won’t have a cheek left if you keep it up.’ She chastise me.

‘You had me so worried Ma! Mama T, Quil and Bry are downstairs. And everyone else is asking to come.’ He was kissing her all over her face, trying not to hurt her. But he needed to know she was there.

My chest constricted, he had found time to keep -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

the others informed of everything? And I couldn’t even find my bloody phone!

I shook my head. ‘Usdi. Come here.’ Ma saw me, even with me trying to melt into the background. Her hand was outreaching for me. #TheKid turned to look over.

‘Sis?’ He said and I shook my head, clearing my throat.

“It’s okay. The Kid is here. I’m going to go sort some things out at home.” I told her, my eyes looking and not looking at her all at once. “Kid, do not leave Ma alone.” -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

Ma dropped her hand and gave me a smile. ‘Usdi—‘ I cut her off.

“Please. Just rest. I will be back ready soon.” Taking out the keys to Ma’s car I set them down on the side, telling #TheKid were I had parked it before I turned to leave.

‘Leah?’ #Debbie called out from behind me as I rushed towards the stairs, I wasn’t going to wait around for the elevator. ‘Is your Mom all settled sweetie?’ She smiled. -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

“Hmm.. yes. Thank you. She is. 404.” I pointed to the door. “Thank you for all your help. I..” she squeezed my arm.

‘Happy to help sweetie.’ By the time she let me go, that feeling in my chest had grown into a chasm. And I couldn’t breath.

I ran down the stairs three at a time. Four flights of stairs where a breeze for me, and not enough to give me what I needed all at once.