@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.

@HotHeadSheWolf
I passed out the cups of coffee as the machine in the lobby spluttered them into the paper cup. Mom had become a bit of a tea snob lately with #Sue and Leah bringing are all of that special tea... so she opted to treat herself to a hot chocolate.

#Quil's phone rang and it was #Jake with all sorts of questions about what to pack. Mom took the phone and just as she was telling Jake that #Sue's slippers would be by the back door if they weren't by her bed.

I saw Leah appear >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< at the bottom of the stairwell. I gave a #Quil a nod and he nodded back, telling me he'd stay with Mom.

"Leah." I said quietly as I approached her. "Where are you headed? #Jake and Ness are at the house packing a bag for you Mom for the night." Even from the whole way across the lobby I could hear Mom say.

'Oh, and her favourite picture of Harry and kids is on her bedside table you should grab that too. No Ness, one change of underwear will be fine for one night.'

>

@BadBoyEmbryCall

“Spirits!” I said under my breath. Coming to a holt with Embry voice calling me. All I wanted to do was run. To leave. To explode. To let the volcano in my chest free and not care what and who was in the way. But that was the old young and misguided Leah. This Leah had walls, she had masks, and she knew how to lock herself down.

I glanced past Embry as he spoke, the buzzing in my ears and the red in my eyes subsiding enough for me to hear #Ness’s sweet -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

voice, and #Jake’s frantic one asking #MsC a million questions.

#Quil’s eyes met mine, and that boyish smile of his was covering up the concern for my Ma. He placed one hand on his chest and dipped his chin. Telling me I was not in this alone.

Even with her mind on the phone call, I wasn’t sure how #MsC knew. But her eyes searching until then locked onto mine, and she beckoned me over with her hand. -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

‘Go to her, she will help. She always does.’ My wolf told me. But I couldn’t. I couldn’t risk them all. I couldn’t risk the lobby full of innocent people.

“I..” when I finally looked to him, his smile and that laughter. The hospital coffee we all were used to held out to me. The burning need to run from here, and everything fault against the clam these people brought with them.
-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

“Your Mom knows how to get the best out of people.” I say with the strongest of wills I could pull out and together.

“Thank you.” I told him. My eyes met his and I hoped it was for more than just the cup in my hand now. He was here, he looked after my kid, and now they were all helping in their own way.

Taking the coffee, my eyes darting to the doors and my way out. But my feet slowly started towards where #Quil and #MsC were sat. -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

She ended the call and reached a hand for me. “She is in room 404. On the fourth floor. They have taken good care of her. And the Kid is with her.” I filled them all in of what I knew. “Maybe she will tell you more than she will me.” I finally told #MsC. “But you should head up there. I’m sure she will kill me if she find out you are down here and no one had taken you up.” Giving her a half smirk.

She gave the cup in her hand to #Quil, taking my free hand in hers she pulled-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

me down to my knees before her. She cupped my face and really locked those deep brown eyes of her with mine. It was like looking into her sons eyes and my heart tried to react, but I stopped it.

‘We are here. You are not allow. And this is not on you my sweet child. We all know your Ma can be somewhat stubborn when she sets her mind to something.’ Now she whispered and I felt #Quil turn away to give some room. Even if I knew he heard it all. ‘This is not your sin.’ -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

She all but crushed me. She saw me when no one else did. She knew what was hidden under the mask.

I lowered my head and cleared my throat. “Go up. See your sister. She needs you.” I whispered for her to hear.

@HotHeadSheWolf
Her reaction told me she was probably looking for space. Somewhere to be alone and clear her head. I followed her gaze behind me to Mom. "Yeah, she's always been good at that." I smiled and then turned that smile back to her.

"We will; we were just wanted to give her a little time to catch her breath." I said, following her towards Mom... if anyone could stop Leah from wanting to run it was Mom.

#Quil got up and came to stand, by me, giving them some semblance of privacy. We >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< Heard Mom's words and even though #Quils eyes dropped to the floor, he couldn't have known how fast my heart dropped into the pit of my stomach.

After a too-long moment of silence, I spoke. "Hey, why don't you take Mom up ahead up and I'll follow in a second." I smiled at #Quil then Mom, nodding my head to the elevators. Mom stood and kissed the top of Leah's head, then my shoulder as she passed me and whispered. 'Good boy.'

>

@BadBoyEmbryCall

That kiss to my head from #MsC about crushed me. If I hadn’t have had years of practice in hiding in plain sight, the cracks would have shown to anyone who set their eyes on me.

I stood up when she did, my eyes were on the door once again as she moved to join the guys. With that growing need to get away from anything and everything. I wanted no witnesses to the turmoil rampantly trying to drag itself to the surface.
-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

It was the touch from him drew me back. I felt the knee jerk reaction only step away, but his voice, the way he looked to me, wanting to give me support I never expected from anyone.

“Me?” What did I need? No one had asked me that before. Spirits even I hadn’t asked myself that question before. But what did I need?

“I need out of here. And I need to know Ma and the Kid are taken care of. He is soft at heart, this is breaking him.” -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

The words low for him and only him to hear. “And for me to be his strength. I need out right now. Five. Ten. I will be back. I… I…”

My eyes were on him to read the need to shed the fear I felt when my mind played tricks on me at smelling my Ma’s voice, at wondering what could have cased it and how I wasn’t there with her.

And just like that it hit me. I was telling him. Telling him that I needed right now. In a way, asking for help.

@HotHeadSheWolf
I watched her, and gave a small nod, my eyes meeting hers. “Okay, go... Get some air.” I smile, filling the expression with understanding. I'd been there... And the only reason I had been able to run (briefly) away was because of Sue. “Your Mom is looked after. And don't worry about the Pup. I’ve got him... And #Quil.”

I took half a step back giving her space but only half because my natural instinct was to go to her and comfort her. But that wasn't how to comfort her.. That >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< was the generic assumption: human contact equals comfort. But people weren’t 𝕠𝕟𝕖 𝕤𝕚𝕫𝕖 𝕗𝕚𝕥𝕤 𝕒𝕝𝕝. I prided myself on being able to tell what people needed. At least, for the people I cared about and something time that meant contact even when they thought the didn't need or want it, like when I hugged her in Seattle. Sometimes it meant giving them room to breathe.

Right now... She need to breathe.

“He did really well understood you know. He didn't panic... He was in shock >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< and couldn't think straight. So he called for help. He asked for help... He did and you Mom proud. He did Harry proud.”

I stepped back again. “You made him proud getting her here so fast. Take all the time you need. I’ll stay with them until you get back, no matter how long... #Quil can take mom home if it gets late.”

I had work, but the was several hours away. And Joe Walker was a lot of things... But when it came to family matters, I new I could call and tell him I >

@BadBoyEmbryCall

I wanted to touch him, just a squeeze of the arm, of a touch of a finger. Tell him 𝕋𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕜 𝕪𝕠𝕦. That him stepping up for Ma and the Kid, he got the meaning of Family. It was more than a word to us, and his actions proved it to me each time.

I glanced over him and saw #Quil give me a half smile waiting with #MsC for the elevators. The nod from him said. ‘We got the kid, don’t worry.’ But this also meant that he saw what -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

I looked like right now, and he heard some if not all of what was said.

I took a few steps back away towards the doors. “You got them.. See you soon.” I said before turning around and walking out of those doors without looking back.

The thudding in my heart pushed the fear I felt higher, the pain of seeing my Ma in pain threatened to show itself. I willed myself, as I broke into a run as soon as I was outside. Heading straight for the forest and out of sight of people.

@HotHeadSheWolf
I could so many unsaid things in her eyes... I acknowledged them all with a small smile and the slightest lowering of my chin.

"We've got them." I added and I turned away when she did... Watching her go would set alarms bells off for #Quil and full-blown sirens for Mom.

But as I walked to the lift to join them I felt a tug on my left shoulder to just glance back. But I didn't. Her thumping heart didn't make it easy.

Mom looped her arm through mine and we stepped into the >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< Elevator. 'She will be fine, sweetheart.' She said.

"Leah?" I asked raising a brow. "Of course, she will. She's a Clearwater." I smiled and the lift started to rise. I was tempted to text her and tell her to take as long as she needed. I would be here. But I had told her that I knew she heard me and trusted I would stick to it. Texting her would only make me feel better.

It was what I did with the guys when things happened... keeping in contact, making >

@HotHeadSheWolf
sure they knew I was there. And for them, it was the best thing to do, the regular reassurance.

Leah didn't work like other people. she had her way... and she would be back when she was ready.

@BadBoyEmbryCall

There was nowhere I could go and not be heard. There was no way I could run all the way back to Ma’s for my bike just for this. And there was NOWAY I would leave to go that far with Ma in hospital and the Kid in turmoil.

The best I could do for myself was this, staying on two legs I ran, I ran as fast as the spirits blessed me. Ducking and turning from the trees and their branches. Jumping and the fallen logs and rocks.
-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

The pressure building with every stride I took, the air in my lungs not even at its capacity. I was in pain and my body felt nothing. I pushed, and pushed, and pushed some more. Needing to feel something. Anything!

‘STOP! Leah!!!! STOP!’

She halted me at the precipice of the edge, pushing my body back from taking the leap I knew too well that I couldn’t make on two legs.
-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

‘You can’t hurt yourself like that, they need you.’ She growled from within me. ‘You can’t become so blinded with your grief. This isn’t who you are anymore.’

She spoke to the lost girl who tried everything in her power to punish yourself when she killed the only man who loved her.

“I…” I couldn’t think. All I saw right now was where I wanted to be. -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

So, I took off running to the rivers edge where I knew I could made the crossing.

‘Shift!’ She told me.

“No!” I snapped back.

‘LEAH! SHIFT!’ She pushed to come out. But I held her bad.

“NO!!!” I screamed at her and the took the leap over the Cullen’s treaty line.

I ran as hard and fast as I could before my legs were taken out from under me. I tumbled, -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

my body rolled into a ball as I hit the ground with velocity. And then came to a stop.

My face was in the ground. My breathing harder now, but not where I needed it to feel the burn.

‘Breathe Leah. She is okay, Ma is going to be fine.’

But all I saw was her blood that had been spilled on my watch.

“I should have been there. I should have done.. I should have….”
-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

‘Should have read her mind and known she is as stubborn as you at times, and has ideas of improvement in her home? Leah. Be realistic here.’

But I couldn’t. Not when it came to Ma or the Kid. Their pain. I couldn’t take it. I burst out into a silent scream. One I had perfected over the years. When you lived where every sound was heard. And you were judged. There had to be an outlet that no spirit warrior could hear.
-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

My body tensed and my fists banged into my chest. Making that hurt rush out. My eyes closed as I let out everything that had been building into that volcano that needed to be let free.

She didn’t say anything, she watched. She protective, and held my soul, she cradle me as she had from the moment I excepted her as mine. My wolf let me have my moment. She Let me be a kid, with the fear riding me. -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

She know I couldn’t lose my only Parent. Not like this. Not after what I had taken from my famIly and this world.

@HotHeadSheWolf
I was distracted until we got to the room the #Sue was in. I heard Mom whisper something to #Quil about how I hated being here… but that wasn’t exactly true. I felt a lot of things here. I spent a few horrible days and night in the ER here and then the treatment that kept Mom ali— healthy happened here too.

I smiled brightly at the ghostly woman in the bed. She was laying against #Seth’s lanky frame perched awkwardly in the edge of the bed one foot still firmly on the floor. >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< Or it would be awkward for a human. The Kid looked wholly unphased.

“Well, well! Look at you, as beautiful as ever! Worrying us all just for attention are you?” I lied with beaming smile. #Sue lifted her hand to her cheek like she did when she blushed. But no colour stained her cheeks.

‘Oh stop!!’ she waved me off with a tired laugh. Mom was already at her side adjusting the pillow her injured hand rested on more carefully than I thought I would ever be capable of.

>

@HotHeadSheWolf
< #set extricated himself, leaving a kiss on the top of his mother’s head. He looked from me to #Quil and the door. ‘She just needed some air.’ #Quil said before I to.

Our attention went back to the women who we heard. ‘You shouldn't have came, Tiffany. You could pick up all kinds of infection that could set you back.’ #Sue was insisting.

‘Nonsense.’ Mom replied. ‘This isn't just like any old appointment, how many emergency trips to the hospital have you made for me?’

I >