@BadBoyEmbryCall -

Ma smiled her trademark smile saying that she would eat something nice and big once she was home and showered. She didn’t like to have her breakfast before she showered. So, I didn’t push. This was when I knew that she would be okay.

The minute the doctor was done with his work, she started to quiz him on why there was no ring on his finger. And I closed my eyes and counted to five before she said. “My daughter Leah, she’s right there behind you. -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

She is single too. She is such an amazing young lady.” And I wanted to ground to open up.

When I opened my eyes, they were both looking at me, and the doctor for once had the look that said. “I get it, my mom does the same to me.”

This time I didn’t even have a go at Ma when he and the nurses left. I didn’t care what she did, as long as she was here, fit and healthy. When #Billy and #Jay returned I asked if they could stay with Ma and make sure she eats her breakfast. -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

‘Where are you going Usdi?’ Ma asked, I kissed her head.

“I need to go and pay the bill Ma, I will be right back.” Kissing her head again, I left the room.

I had only gone a few steps when I hear #Billy calling out my name from behind. Worried something had happened I ran back to him.

“What happened? Is…” He held up a leather wallet. “What is this, Billy?” I asked

-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

‘It’s what I have at home. Jake is going to the bank right now and will be back as soon as he has taken out what we have. Together we will pay this bill Lealea.”

I swallowed down that hard lump in my throat again. My hand on the wallet I lowered it to his chest. I knew how hard he and Jake saved. -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

This money would be the reason what Jake would be happy to leave Billy. Knowing that his dad had something to fall back on.

“Billy, you have nothing to worry about. I have the money. The bill won’t be that much.” He gave me that look. He knew what the care in this hospital would put us back. “Have faith in my Billy. I have Ma covered. I have this covered. But…” I bent down on my knees to come eye to eye with him. “Thank you. Thank you for offering.”

@HotHeadSheWolf
I stepped out when I parked the Jeep at the front of the HWH, I stepped out. I could hear the truck approaching, but only barely SO I pulled out my phone and typed back to Leah:

[𝙰 𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝙹𝚊𝚌𝚔𝚜𝚘𝚗 𝙷𝚊𝚢𝚎𝚜' 𝚋𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚠𝚎 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚌𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚒𝚝 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗.]

Then a second one:

[𝙼𝚊𝚢𝚋𝚎 𝟸]

I smirked and made my way around to the back of the bar the double door were open and Mac walked out just as got there.

'What are you smirking about?' He asked. 'Good news from the hospital?'

"Yeah... >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< #MrsClearwater is coming home today... but it could be a long few weeks of recovery. But I was just telling Leah she owes a few beers for helping out." I laughed ryly... just in case my expression gave any other ideas.

'How do figure that will work considering she insisted she could be here and she could handle it?' Mas teased as the truck pulled carefully around the building.

"Doesn't matter... Leah hates to think she owes someone. Even is she didn't ask... she still >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< has the reward hard work." I smirked. It was true... she wouldn't really owe me... but it was how she saw things so if a few beers evened the scales I would drink them with gusto!

Mac tossed me a pair of work gloves and I pulled them on just the play human while we worked. "Alright, then boss... tell me where you want these?"

We got stuck in, I moved what the driver unloaded inside where Mac told me to take them while he checked everything off a list.

@BadBoyEmbryCall

[𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚢 𝚒𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚊𝚌𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚝, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚒𝚝 𝚍𝚘𝚎𝚜𝚗’𝚝 𝚋𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚒𝚗𝚟𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚋𝚘𝚗𝚍. 𝙸𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎, 𝙸 𝚊𝚖 𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚕𝚘𝚊𝚗 𝚒𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞.]

I read Lucky’s text twice before pocketing my phone and stepping out of the elevator on the Admin floor. Feeling useless in this building whenever I came into it. Until I realised that I could help people by taking the pressure off of them when it came to this finally walk to pay the bill.
-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

Then I set Ma’s insurance card down the woman behind the desk gave me a look. I knew what she was thinking. People like me didn’t tend to have insurance, people like me tended not to come off the Rez away from our small doctors clinic. Let alone the shock on her face when I told her I would clear the rest of the bill with my bank card and not a credit card.

‘It’s a lot of money dear.’ She smiled with a patronising tap on the back of my hand when I set the card down -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

Before her. “I know. Funny enough I know how to read, write and count. Now… do your job… and take the payment.” One glare from me has her quaking in her heels. “And I want a full brown down invoice while you are at it….. thanks.”

I was never rude to the staff in hospitals. But women like this one, she thought herself high and mighty because she felt she had power. Little did she know.

My phone buzzes, I took it out and shook my head reading the text from Call.
-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

[𝙸 𝙲𝚊𝚗 𝚍𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚋𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗 𝚝𝚠𝚘 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎. -𝙻]

Hitting send I smirked a little. Not telling him what the better would be

@HotHeadSheWolf
#Mac finished checking off the delivery notice and started helping me move the boxes. I had taken care of the kegs first… they didn’t way that much more than a case of beer bottles.. but they were more awkward to carry and knew he had an issue with his back already.

“Take your time will you?” I teased him. ‘You’re making me to look bad.” I tried to keep him talking as we worked but he was still lifting two cases at a time.

‘Do you need a little more time in the gym, >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< Call?’ He laughed. ‘I’ll give you some pointers if you want?’ he teased right back.

I responded by lifting three cases and following him into the stock room. “I think I’m good!” I laughed. I felt my phone vibrate but I didn’t want to stop until this was done.

‘Show off!’ He scoffed. ‘I could do that.. but… I’m not as tall as a tree so I wouldn’t see where I’m going.’

“Keep telling yourself that.” I laughed.

And then he started to ask about the open mic night… things >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< like why I never I could sing… and how shocked he was by Nessie’s voice. He wondered why neither of us ever pursued it as a career…

“Wait like… sing for a living?” I scoffed. “Nope! Were you not there that night? I about shit my pants on that stage!”

‘Only for the singing… I bet you’d get over that.’ He replied. Stopping the gulp down half a bottle of water.

I used the chance to reply to Leah. [𝙲𝚘𝚕𝚘𝚛 𝚖𝚎 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚞𝚎𝚍… 𝙷𝚘𝚠’𝚜 𝚂𝚞𝚎 𝚍𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚐? 𝙰𝚗𝚢 𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚊 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢’𝚕𝚕 𝚜𝚒𝚐𝚗 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚘𝚞𝚝 >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< 𝚢𝚎𝚝?]

“Nah… what’s that saying about never doing what you love for a living? I think #Ness feels the same.”

‘There’s a saying about that?’ Mac seemed to think.

“Isn’t there?” I shrugged. “Feels like there should be.”

@BadBoyEmbryCall

‘How much stuff did Sue need for one night?’ Jay asked the moment the door was opened and I stepped inside.

“Ness.” Is all that had to be said, he smiled as he would knowing the meaning right way. We all knew the imprints so well, especially Ness. We all had spent time with that kid, as she grew up before our eyes. And now we knew how she would react, and this had her stamp all over it. Hadn’t I had this conversation already? -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

I didn’t know it was all becoming one to me right now because my mind was on Ma in that locked bathroom.

‘I’ll take these down to the car and then be back to help.’ He said before lifting the page and heading out.

The sounds coming from the bathroom told me where Ma was, I gave the room a once over before turning to find #Billy right there looking up at me. ‘Well? How much was the bill?’

My eyebrows shot up with a roll of my eyes. -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

“I told you Billy, it’s covered. We are all good.”

This man had been one of the first to pick me up when I came home. I heard the stories from Ma and Da about Aunty Sarah and Billy coming rushing over to decorate our home to welcome. So, he always thought he could read me. And at times he could because I left him a few bread crumbs. But today wasn’t that day.

The door behind him opened with Ma coming out. ‘Fine, but this conversation isn’t over.’ -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

His voice low enough for me to hear but not for Ma.
“Yes, it is.” I muttered before worked my way around him to Ma’s side. “Are you really to go home?”

‘I am, I need a shower to get this hospital smell off me.’ I knew what she meant. It was something I was used to. Once I’d been around the Cullen’s for long enough everything else smelt like roses. (Not really but yeah.)

‘The doctor said he would be back with some medication, then we can take Sue home.’ Billy told me. -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

The two of them began to talk about something but I tuned it out. Leaning on the back wall I crossed my ankles and arms over my chest to watch them.

When my phone went off, I pulled it out and rolled my eyes.

[𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚊𝚕𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚊𝚐𝚗𝚎, 𝚆𝚒𝚜𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚜𝚎! 𝚆𝚎 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝙼𝚊’𝚜 𝚖𝚎𝚍𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙳𝚘𝚌, 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚎 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚋𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚑𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚕𝚞𝚗𝚌𝚑. -𝙻]

Hitting send, I shot off the same ish text to #TheKid, and #Jake too. just letting them know.

@HotHeadSheWolf
< the can and pulled out my phone.

[𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚝’𝚜 𝚎𝚡𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚗 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚍. 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚛 𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚎𝚍. 𝚃𝚛𝚢 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚂𝚑𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚝 𝚑𝚘𝚖𝚎.]

Then I followed it up with another. Knowing we would both need to delete the message immediately. But it said everything that was needed to be said, I was here... No matter what she needed.

[𝙸 𝚐𝚘𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞.]

‘What about your mom?’ #Mac asked. ‘How is she doing?’

“Oh...” it was a topic I want expecting, which was stupid considering the topic was sick >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< Moms. “I'm... Yeah. She doing better. I mean the only cure is a new kidney. But the medical grant from the council really took the pressure off and bring less stress out seems to have had a major impact.”

‘Seems to have worked for you too... You hadn't been the guy I was used to seeing around here for the last few months.’ #Mac added with a knowing look.

“Yeah... Trying to keep the bills paid and mom looked after... It was... Hard. But now I can not focus on her.”

@BadBoyEmbryCall

I knew he was coming from the sound of his feet and his scent. Before he was at the door I opened it and stood back so he saw Ma sitting up in bed laughing with the doctor and #Billy. His heart was hammering in his chest, and I could tell he was trying and failing to control himself.

“She is going to be okay kid.” I said in a low voice as he came to the door and stopped.
-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -
“Looks like it.”

I took the prescription from the nurse giving it a once over. Letting the guys take Ma as I listened to the instructions of what was needed and when. Being told to keep the bandages fry for at least 72 hours, which meant we would have to be careful when we took her home, and she showered.

Leaving the room behind he others my phone went off and I ready the two messages. A rush of calm came over me, -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

and I knew I should delete that last part. Three little words, and it was so much more that I heard from it.

[𝚂𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚒𝚍. 𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞 -𝙻]

I didn’t need to say ‘thank you for helping Mac, for steeping in for the Kid and me, so that we could be here for Ma. Thank you for saying you have me. That no matter what, you will be beside me.’ Because he knew it was all inclusive.
-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -
Hitting send I rushed down the stairs as the rest went to the elevator. Running down then four steps at a time, I made it to the pharmacy on the ground floor. Showing then the discharge papers and prescriptions. Gathering them just as the others arrived in the lobby.

‘Sis, it maybe best to take Ma home in mine, Jay is going to take Billy home, and…’
-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

“I will drive Ma’s car back. It’s a good plan.” The porter rolled Ma out into the waiting area as the Kid came around. Only once they had all left, did I make my way to the parking lot to follow them back to La Push.

@HotHeadSheWolf
I helped Mac restock the bar… but they seemed to get most of that done after closing. Then I said goodbye to #Mac telling him to text me if he needed anything else.

I headed straight to #Billy’s I knew he wasn’t there but #Nessie’s had offered to stay so she could take my phone and the hospital beeper while I did my run. When I got there she was sitting on the porch at the top of Billy's wheelchair ramp staring out at the road instead of the trees… that is how I knew something >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< was wrong.

I stood next to her and squeezed her shoulders. “What’s on your mind little one?”
I asked.

‘I just.. it’s…’ she sighed. ‘Their all going to die.’

I flinched, tact was never her thing. But neither was malice. Her hand flew up to her mouth. ‘Oh my god!’ She stood up in a flash and hugged. ‘I’m so sorry… I shouldn’t have said that… not to you… I just…’

“It’s okay Ness. You can say these things. I know how you feel.” I hugged her back. “I know its hard for you >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< to see them sick or hurt.” Them being the humans she loved. “It make sense… mostof your family is essentially indestructible. But you love harder than anyone i have ever met Little One. And every single human you’ve ever met is the better just for knowing you.”

She sniffled now and I squeezed her a little. ‘But what do we do when they’re gone?’

“We hurt… until remembing them doesn’t hurt as much. And we love them anyway. We make them proud to have loved us when they were >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< with us and remember everything they taught us.”

She sniffled again and pushed me away. ‘I hate you sometimes, you know that.’ She wiped away her tears, but a weak smile broke through I could tell she was breaking through the dark cloud.

“No, you don’t.” I teased her.

‘You should go before you’re late.’ She swiped at her face again.

“Do you need me to call someone to keep you company? #Kim id home today…” I offered but she cut me off.

‘Quil is bringing Claire over… >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< We’re going to make jewellery.’ She laughed and I started the optimistic Ness again.

“As long as it's not leather…” I pointed to the cuffs on her wrists. “I think Quil would kill you.”

She shook her head and laughed. ‘No… she had a beading project for school. I said I would teach her since #Emily is so busy.’

“Awesome… Get her to make something pink and sparkle for Leah… she could use the laugh and she can’t say no to that girl.” Then I headed for the trees with the >

@BadBoyEmbryCall

With Ma settled in bed, I left her with #TheKid to get started on making some dinner. I knew that even one night away from home would had been hard on her. So, it would be best not to make her eat anything from outside. And really, I wanted to cook. Ma had always been in love with cooking, for her it was a art form that she would feed those who she loved with. She never backed down from feeding anyone who stepped foot into her home, or if she found out they were -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

under the weather.

She had a fresh chicken and vegetables in her fridge, which meant I got to work on a soup. The chicken went into the oven to roast with some herbs, onion, garlic, and butter. And the veggies I began to clean and chop.

#TheKid came down some time into the day to take ma up some tea, and then returned to help. ‘Ma’s sleeping. She cannot keep her eyes open.’

“It’s been a lot on her body. Sometimes… I guess we forget just how human she really is.”
-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

We didn’t say anything else. I cooked and he baked. He wanted to make something, anything, it was more about doing something without time, because if we stopped, we would think, and if that happened. Then we would… I didn’t want to think about it.

Two hours later there was a knock on the door, we found #MsC and #Emily came in with a bag filled with food.

‘Leah. You should be sleeping. We have dinner made.’ I could hear the sounds of a kiddo in the bad, and then -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

he was rushed in on the shoulders of #TheKid making my lips curl up into a smirk.

“I needed something to do.” I told them shredding the chicken.

‘Let’s face it. This house is going to be busy for the next few days. It will add be eaten.’ #MsC said as she was about to sit down on the table. I stopped her.

“No. In the living room. Or you can go and climb into bed with Ma. Your choice.” She smiled patting my cheek.

-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

‘With Sue.’ She said. #The Kid handed the kiddo over to me and helped #MsC up to settle her with Ma.

‘Leelee.’ The Kiddo asked.

“Hmm?”

‘Where Ulisi Sue?’ (Grandmother)

“She’s not feeling well kiddo. She’s resting. You can play with Uncle Seth for now, and then later you can see her. Okay?”

‘They—’ I cut #TheKid off.

-