@HotHeadSheWolf
< texts from the pups telling that had dropped by and that Leah told them Auntie Sue was okay. I replied to them all saying the best thing they could do for the Clearwaters right now was to fulfil their duties and be ready to help if they were needed.

Because I couldn't help myself I text Leah while I was sitting on the loading dock getting some sir before I had to go back inside.

[π™·πš˜πš  πšŠπš›πšŽ πšπš‘πšŽ πš™πšŠπšπš’πšŽπš—πšπšœ?]

Then added
[π™Έπš 𝚒𝚘𝚞 πš›πšŽπš™πš•πš’ 𝚝𝚘 πšπš‘πš’πšœ 𝙸'πš•πš• πš‹πšŽ πš™πš’πšœπšœπšŽπš πšπš‘πšŠπš 𝚒𝚘𝚞 πšŠπš›πšŽπš—'𝚝 >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< πšœπš•πšŽπšŽπš™πš’πš—πš]

I laughed at myself. "Way send mixed signals, Call." I swigged the last of my beer and chucked my pizza box into the dumpster nearby before heading back inside to take up my least favourite post, Joe's usual role... manning the door.

@BadBoyEmbryCall

I was sat on the back porch looking up at the overcast sky when I heard his foot steps.

β€œWhy are you awake?”

He held out my phone to me, with a small frown. β€˜Why is Embry texting you this late?”

Raising my eyebrow, my chin dropped to glance at him.

β€œI just meant it really late.” He was back tracking now. He knew the rules. And saw walls had been coming down, but some were still up and in place.
-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

Taking my phone I opened the text and read it. Showing #TheKid the first one.

[π™·πš˜πš  πšŠπš›πšŽ πšπš‘πšŽ πš™πšŠπšπš’πšŽπš—πšπšœ?]

β€œHe is checking in your mom, and his mom who I kept here tonight.”

He winced as he read the message. β€œThat is the first and last time you are seeing any messages on my phone.” My voice told him I wasn’t kidding here.

β€˜Soβ€”β€˜ cutting him off.

β€œIf you are about to say sorry, stop. If you used your brain to think. You wouldn’t have needed to over step.”
-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

It wasn’t deflection, this was fact. No man was going to get away with talking to me that way. No even my baby brother.

β€œGo to sleep, I’ve got this watch.” I told him and watched him go back inside before closing my eyes and breathing.

Going into my phones settings I turned off message preview before replying.

[πšƒπš‘πšŽπš’ πšŠπš›πšŽ πš‹πš˜πšπš‘ 𝚏𝚊𝚜𝚝 πšŠπšœπš•πšŽπšŽπš™. π™°πš—πš 𝚒𝚘𝚞 πš‹πšŽπš’πš—πš πš™πš’πšœπšœπšŽπš πšπš˜πšŽπšœπš—β€™πš πšœπšŒπšŠπš› πš–πšŽ.]

@HotHeadSheWolf
The night hadn't picked up much... but considering this as the one and only nightclub in Forks and the only place open after midnight; a slow night was almost at capacity and a slight queue at the door... just to lure people in. There was room inside to let these folks in with beaking fire codes... but the line outside was a hook. And one I kept moving enough to stop people from giving up and going home.

I pulled out my phone smiling and tucked it back into my pocket. There >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< was a good chance #Seth was keeping a close eye on her sister, hoping for the chance that just once she might let him look after her even if all that it entailed was staying awake s she could sleep... Maybe, someday she would let the Kid have that. Or it was possible the guys who could get away like #Jay, #Sam or #Jake would stop by. If I was texting her all night it would be a giveaway.

Plus... I knew without a doubt that even now... with everything that was happening with >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< Everything happening between us... she still was not even a little worried about m being mad at her or not. I smiled again at the thought.

One of the turn-offs of relationships for me had always been the dependency... the idea that someone's day, week or life would hinge on whether or not another was mad at them or missing them. But Leah would never be like that, she was her own compass.

I wondered then if that was why it was so easy to talk to her... I wasn't worried >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< That my sadness or stress would drag her down... or talking about a good day would be seen as self-involved because she had a bad one. She just heard me out... and then if she was so inclined... shared a little something too.

I wasn't sure how long I had been lost in those thoughts so I allowed in the next group of people.

Some nights... manning the door really wasn't that bad.

@BadBoyEmbryCall

When I finally came back inside to my spot in the living room. Sitting on the flood, With my back against Ma’s couch, and with my legs outstretched. #TheKid took his place too. His head in my lap and he turned to fact me.

He used to do it when he was much younger. Hide his face in my stomach and close his eyes. Then tell me a secret or share something that had happened to him.

Now the conversation from outside, gone. My eyes in a book that I try to read. My fingers -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

Playing with his hair. Stoking it like I did back then, not needing to think of my action until a thought came to life. I missed his hair. His long silky dark hair. He never let it grow back now. Some of the others in the pack grew theirs out a little. I had grown mine out completely. But not #TheKid.

β€˜Sis?’ Arms curled around a cushion as he spoke.

β€œHmm?”

β€˜Are you alone?’

Still reading i answer β€œNo, I’m with you.”

He sighed. β€˜No. Wait. It’s not what I mean.’ -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

β€œOkay.”

There was silence again for a while as I turned the page.

β€˜Are you lonely?’ His voice is a soft whisper.

β€œNo, I have you and Ma.” Turning the page again.

β€˜You know that’s not what I mean. I know you don’t like talking about … well…’

β€œKid. Do you really want to hear about my sex life?”

He shuddered and shifted to sit up. Taking the book out of my hands. And then he sat crossed legged facing me.

β€˜1. No. And B. Not what I meant. People came be -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

surrounded all their lives, with thousands of people , and still be lonely. Are you lonely?’

His light brown eyes were watching me.

β€œNo. I’m not lonely. People are lonely when they can’t be happy with themselves. When they can’t have happiness in being… just being… I am not that kind of person. I am happiest when I am with my own thoughts. Why are you asking this?”

He’d never asked me it before.

β€˜Just…’ he shifted his tall body to lay his head back down where it was.

@HotHeadSheWolf
The night went smoothly, most nights went off with a hitch, and fights weren't common. Most of the time people were thrown out for being too drunk or too wasted. Tonight it was the usual few drunks tossed and no big hassles.

Lock-up seemed to take as long as the rest of the shift and I knew that it was because I was wondering how things were at the Clearwater's... and not just about #Sue and Mom. I wished I knew how #Seth and #Leah were too. They had both been so shaken in >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< very different ways.

I wasn't naive enough to fool myself that my concern for Leah wasn't any different than it would have been a few months ago. Then I would have thought she was fine, that she was rationalising everything and coping by managing the situation and being her usually responsible self. But now I knew better.

And yes, everything I would have thought then was true and sill was now, but there was more. So much more. She would be wrecked with guilt, thinking she >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< should have been able to stop the accident, that if she had anticipated her mother's needs better maybe she wouldn't have even gone to the shed, to begin with. All of these things were outside her control... and even if I could be with Leah now I couldn't convince her of that.

Not that I would try to... but there it was. The reason I wished I could be with her. She knew I wouldn't try and convince her not to punish herself for this... So she would voice all of it, let those >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< thoughts run free in the world and maybe... just maybe it would make things a little bit lighter. Maybe if she lay next to me with all those sounds and scents that accompanied us being together she would sleep.

Maybe.

But I knew that wasn't an option. I told myself she was fine... she was with #Seth and even though most people looked at him like he was one that needed taking care of... he was good at looking after others. He just wasn't afraid to need people too.

That >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< train of thought kept m company the whole way home.

I resisted the urge to text either of the Clearwater siblings on the way inside. The house smelled like #Bear and popcorn. there was a book on the couch that I picked up and opened to the bookmarked page...

I cringed... Some dude covered in bandages getting busy on a couch... not fourteen-year-old reading material. But I could deal with that in the morning.

I grabbed a beer and a guitar and headed out to the back porch >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< where I sat on the back step and swigged from the beer.

It was cold and dry... the clouds weren't too thick and the house was close enough to the beach to smell the salt in the air but not quite hear the waves. Home was the sound of trees and the smell of the sea for me.

I picked up the guitar and played... for the Clearwater's, for #Sue to heal quickly and for #Seth and #Leah to know that they weren't alone in this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8d-yzmIMbI

Leave a Light On - Tom Walker (Piano Cover)

YouTube

@BadBoyEmbryCall

The house was quite once again, with the moms fast asleep upstairs. (I knew because I never stopped listening to their breathing and hearts.) And #TheKid was now fast asleep with his head still in my lap.

Allowing myself to close my eyes after watching my baby brother for a long while, try to understand where his questioning came from tonight. But it didn’t make any sense to me. Somethings were never solved, I guessed this would be one for tonight.
-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

They started to dance, and then they sang. The flurry of the wind came in from the windows I’d opened in the living too. And I knew without a doubt what and who had caused it. Embry was home, and he was playing.

It was something I started to notice since Seattle, the fact that their joy was connected to our joy, and their sadness was too. They had been a soft hum all day today, the sound of the spirits -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

protection over Ma. But now it had changed a little. They still prayed for her, but they also danced in the spirit of the Warrior who played in his back yard without know what reaction he cased in them.

Reaching out and shooting over a text.

[Get some sleep, it’s been a long day and night for you. -L]

@HotHeadSheWolf
I picked up the phone on the step beside me and chuckled at her message, she always knew.

[𝙸'πš– πšπšŽπšπšπš’πš—πš πšπš‘πšŽπš›πšŽ, 𝙸 πš™πš›πš˜πš–πš’πšœπšŽ. π™±πšžπš πš πš‘πšŠπš πšŠπš‹πš˜πšžπš 𝚒𝚘𝚞? πš‚πš•πšŽπšŽπš™... πšπš‘πšŽπš’'πš›πšŽ πš˜πš”πšŠπš’.]

I didn't like this feeling, I felt like I needed to be there The feeling of being in the wrong place at the wrong time was undeniable.

[𝙸 πš πš’πšœπš‘ πšπš‘πšŽπš›πšŽ 𝚠𝚊𝚜 πš–πš˜πš›πšŽ 𝙸 πšŒπš˜πšžπš•πš 𝚍𝚘, πš’πš πšπšŽπšŽπš•πšœ πš πš›πš˜πš—πš πš—πš˜πš πš‹πšŽπš’πš—πš πšπš‘πšŽπš›πšŽ.]

I hit send, knowing that was a message were would both need to delete too. I picked up the beer to take a
>

@HotHeadSheWolf
< swig.

I knew I would have to get to bed soon... but I couldn't help but want to be next to her so I knew that she was at least trying to sleep.

Part of me had no doubt that she would sleep, we both would... if we were together.

@BadBoyEmbryCall

I knew when I saw my phone flash that he was still aware, even if the spirits had slowly died down outside.

I also knew the need to unwind after work. I couldn’t just go home and crash. And I had learnt he was the same.

[𝚈𝚘𝚞 πšŠπš›πšŽ πšπš˜πš’πš—πš πš πš‘πšŠπš 𝚒𝚘𝚞 πš—πšŽπšŽπš 𝚝𝚘 𝚍𝚘. πš†πš˜πš›πš” πšŠπš—πš πš‹πšŽ πšπš‘πšŽπš›πšŽ. 𝙸 πš‘πšŠπšŸπšŽ πšπš‘πšŽπš–..]

The sleeping sounds from upstairs and from the kid with his head in my lap, I could tell that we were on the way out of this nightmare.

And yet Sleep still couldn’t take a hold of me.-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

When I noted the time, I knew that the moms would soon need their meds again. And then after an hour of two they would need feeding. So really, was there any point to sleeping now? I could do it later? Or at least I thought it was possible.

@HotHeadSheWolf
I set the guitar aside and took another mouthful of beer before I replied to her.

[π™Έπš'𝚜 πš—πš˜πš πšπš‘πšŽ π™Όπš˜πš–'𝚜 𝙸'πš– πšπš‘πš’πš—πš”πš’πš—πš πšŠπš‹πš˜πšžπš, 𝙸 πš”πš—πš˜πš  πšπš‘πšŠπš πšŠπš›πšŽ πš’πš— πšπš‘πšŽ πš‹πšŽπšœπš πš‘πšŠπš—πšπšœ. 𝙸 πš“πšžπšœπš πš πš’πšœπš‘...]

I paused and took a breath because i wasn'tsure how to say what I wantd to say.

[𝙸 πšŒπš˜πšžπš•πš πš‹πšŽ πšπš‘πšŽπš›πšŽ πšπš˜πš› 𝚒𝚘𝚞. π™°πš—πš πš‹πšŽπšπš˜πš›πšŽ 𝚒𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚊𝚒 πš’πš, πš—πš˜πš πš‹πšŽπšŒπšŠπšžπšœπšŽ 𝚒𝚘𝚞 πš—πšŽπšŽπš πš–πšŽ 𝚝𝚘... πš’πš'𝚜 πš‹πšŽπšŒπšŠπšžπšœπšŽ 𝙸 πš πšŠπš—πš 𝚝𝚘. 𝙸'πš– πš—πš˜πš πšπš‘πšŽ πš”πš’πš—πš 𝚘𝚏 πš™πšŽπš›πšœπš˜πš— πšπš‘πšŠπš πšŽπšŸπšŽπš› πšπšŽπšŽπš•πšœ πš•πš’πš”πšŽ πšπš‘πšŽπš’πš› πš’πš— πšπš‘πšŽ πš πš›πš˜πš—πš πš™πš•πšŠπšŒπšŽ 𝚊𝚝 πšπš‘πšŽ πš πš›πš˜πš—πš πšπš’πš–πšŽ. π™°πš—πš πš›πš’πšπš‘πš πš—πš˜πš  𝙸 𝚍𝚘. π™±πšžπš >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< 𝙸 πšœπšπš’πš•πš• πš”πš—πš˜πš  πšπš‘πšŠπš 𝚒𝚘𝚞'𝚟𝚎 𝚐𝚘𝚝 πšπš‘πš’πšœ. π™°πš•πš πšŠπš’πšœ.]

I hit send wondering if that was the right way to say what I was trying to say. I went back inside to take a quick shower... maybe it would make me feel a little more prepared for sleep... but that was when I noticed Claire wasn't there.

I knocked and Quil's door and he explained she was sleeping at Emily's... I wanted to know more but I let him go back to sleep and I could find our tomorrow.

I took the quickest shower ever.

@BadBoyEmbryCall

It took a long moment for unpack the meaning behind what Embry was trying to say when I read the replies. I hadn’t known him to be someone who hadn’t the words to say how he felt, and yet here we are.

Sitting here I looked over the screen feeling the reply and then I began to form my own words.

[πš†πš‘πš’ 𝚍𝚘 𝚒𝚘𝚞 πšπšŽπšŽπš• πš•πš’πš”πšŽ 𝚒𝚘𝚞 πšŠπš›πšŽ πš’πš— πšπš‘πšŽ πš πš›πš˜πš—πš πš™πš•πšŠπšŒπšŽ?]

I wasn’t one to ask questions, however this path meant I couldn’t wait. -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

I was learning to step up at times like this. Hitting send before there was time to rethink or changed my mind about this conversation. It would have been one of those we’d have shared in the bubble. But this was different.

@HotHeadSheWolf
Standing in my room in a towel I read her message.. and I had absolutely no idea how to answer that question.

I pulled n a pair a boxers and climbed into bed, picking up my phone again.

[𝙸'πš– πš—πš˜πš πšœπšžπš›πšŽ... π™½πš˜πš›πš–πšŠπš•πš•πš’ 𝙸 𝚐𝚘 πš πš‘πšŽπš›πšŽπšŸπšŽπš› 𝙸 πš πšŠπš—πš 𝚝𝚘 𝚐𝚘. 𝙸 πšŠπš•πš πšŠπš’πšœ πšœπšžπš™πš™πš˜πšœπšŽπš πšπš‘πšŠπš 𝚠𝚊𝚜 πš πš‘πšŽπš›πšŽ 𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚜 πš–πšŽπšŠπš—πš 𝚝𝚘 πš‹πšŽ πšžπš—πš•πšŽπšœπšœ 𝙸 πš”πš—πšŽπš  𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚜 πšπš˜πš’πš—πš πšœπš˜πš–πšŽπšπš‘πš’πš—πš πš πš›πš˜πš—πš. πšπš’πšπš‘πš πš—πš˜πš  πš πšŠπš—πš 𝚝𝚘 πš‹πšŽ πš πš‘πšŽπš›πšŽ 𝚒𝚘𝚞... πšŽπšŸπšŽπš— πš’πš πš’πš πš–πšŽπšŠπš—πšœ πšœπš’πšπšπš’πš—πš πš˜πš— πš˜πš™πš™πš˜πšœπš’πšπšŽ πšœπš’πšπšŽπšœ 𝚘𝚏 𝚊 πš›πš˜πš˜πš–.]

I chuckled when I hit send and followed it up with... >

@HotHeadSheWolf
[πš†πš‘πš˜ πšŠπš– 𝙸 πš”πš’πšπšπš’πš—πš? 𝙸 πš–πšŽπšŠπš—... 𝙸 πš πš˜πšžπš•πš πšπšŠπš”πšŽ πš’πš. π™±πšžπš πš πš‘πšŠπš 𝙸 πš›πšŽπšŠπš•πš•πš’ πš πšŠπš—πš πš’πšœ 𝚝𝚘 πšπšŽπšŽπš• 𝚒𝚘𝚞 πšœπš•πšŽπšŽπš™πš’πš—πš πšŠπš—πš πš–πšŠπš’πš‹πšŽ πšπš’πšŸπšŽ 𝚒𝚘𝚞 𝚊 πšπš’πš—πš’ πš–πš˜πš–πšŽπš—πš 𝚘𝚏 πš™πšŽπšŠπšŒπšŽ... πš’πš πšœπšžπšŒπš‘ 𝚊 πš–πš’πš›πšŠπšŒπš•πšŽ πš’πšœ πš πš’πšπš‘πš’πš— πš–πš’ πš™πš˜πš πšŽπš›.]

@BadBoyEmbryCall

I’d made it back into the kitchen, this time a fresh pot of coffee had been put on and I was looked in the freezer as to what I could cook everyone for breakfast in a few hours.

Finding a fresh loaf of bread, I set the oven on to bake it, knowing the rest would be easy. Ma has some rolled oats soaking, bacon and eggs. Some muffins. It wouldn’t be a bad start at all.

When the texts came in, I had to lean on the counter to read them, hearing his low voice in -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

my mind as the words registers. What could I say to that? He felt like he wasn’t where he should be? But he had to be there. #Quil and #Bear needed him. He wanted to make sure I slept. We both knew that wouldn’t happen, not here, not tonight. Not while I still felt like I failed to be there when Ma needed me.

I stood watching the screen, trying to find the words for all that I was feeling. But I couldn’t. I wished sometimes that I could put all that was in -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

my head into letters and words. But that wasn’t who I was or would ever be.

[πš†πšŽ πšŒπšŠπš—β€™πš πšŠπš•πš πšŠπš’πšœ 𝚐𝚘 πš πš‘πšŽπš›πšŽ 𝚠𝚎 πš πšŠπš—πš 𝚝𝚘. πš‚πš˜πš–πšŽπšπš’πš–πšŽπšœ. πš†πšŽ πšŠπš›πšŽ πš—πšŽπšŽπšπšŽπš πš πš‘πšŽπš›πšŽ 𝚠𝚎 πšŠπš›πšŽ. 𝚈𝚘𝚞 πšŠπš›πšŽ πš—πšŽπšŽπšπšŽπš πš πš‘πšŽπš›πšŽ 𝚒𝚘𝚞 πšŠπš›πšŽ. π™°πš•πš• 𝙸 πšŒπšŠπš— 𝚍𝚘 πš’πšœ πš™πš›πš˜πš–πš’πšœπšŽ 𝚒𝚘𝚞 πšπš‘πšŠπš πš’πš˜πšžπš› πš–πš˜πš– πš’πšœ πš’πš— 𝚐𝚘𝚘𝚍 πš‘πšŠπš—πšπšœ.]

I didn’t say anything about him wanted to see me at peace. Because what would that even look like?

@HotHeadSheWolf
With my headphones in and music playing I read her reply and smiled.

[𝙸 πš”πš—πš˜πš , πš‹πšžπš πšœπš˜πš–πšŽπšπš’πš–πšŽπšœ πšπš‘πšŠπš πš”πš’πš—πš 𝚘𝚏 πšœπšžπšŒπš”πšœ. π™±πšžπš 𝙸 πš”πš—πš˜πš  πšπš‘πšŠπš π™Όπš˜πš– πš’πšœ 𝚊𝚜 𝚜𝚊𝚏𝚎 𝚊𝚜 πšœπš‘πšŽ πšŒπš˜πšžπš•πš πš™πš˜πšœπšœπš’πš‹πš•πš’ πš‹πšŽ. 𝙸'πš– πš“πšžπšœπš πšπš‘πš’πš—πš”πš’πš—πš πšŠπš‹πš˜πšžπš 𝚒𝚘𝚞... 𝙸 πš”πš—πš˜πš  πšπš‘πšŠπš 𝚒𝚘𝚞'πš›πšŽ πš‹πšŽπšŠπšπš’πš—πš πš’πš˜πšžπš›πšœπšŽπš•πš πšžπš™ πšŠπš‹πš˜πšžπš πšŠπš•πš• 𝚘𝚏 πšπš‘πš’πšœ. πšƒπš‘πšŽπš›πšŽ'𝚜 πš—πš˜πšπš‘πš’πš—πš πš πš›πš˜πš—πš πš πš’πšπš‘ πš πšŠπš—πšπš’πš—πš 𝚝𝚘 𝚊𝚝 πš•πšŽπšŠπšœπš πšπš›πš’ πšŠπš—πš πš–πšŠπš”πšŽ 𝚒𝚘𝚞 πšπšŽπšŽπš• πš‹πšŽπšπšπšŽπš› πš’πšœ πšπš‘πšŽπš›πšŽ? π™½πš˜πš πšπš‘πšŠπš 𝙸'πš– πšœπšžπšπšπšŽπšœπšπš’πš—πš 𝚒𝚘𝚞 πš—πšŽπšŽπš πš–πšŽ 𝚝𝚘 πšπšŽπšŽπš• πš‹πšŽπšπšπšŽπš›... πš“πšžπšœπš πšπš‘πšŠπš 𝙸 πš πš˜πšžπš•πš πš•πš’πš”πšŽ 𝚝𝚘 πšπš›πš’ πšŠπš—πš πš‹πšŽ πšπš‘πšŽ πš›πšŽπšŠπšœπš˜πš— 𝚒𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚘.]

I closed my eyes, leaving >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< my phone on the bed next to me. I knew she would understand if I fell asleep before she replied. I turned it over and over in my head, I knew that Leah was blaming herself for all of this. #Seth... hopefully sleeping but I knew that he had not only his mothers well being on his mind... but then his worry for his sister that he had expressed to me earlier as well.

@BadBoyEmbryCall

Sipping on the cup of coffee in my hand I shook my head. I knew what he had been trying to tell me. What he had openly told me. That he was here for me, that he wanted to be in the same room as me. And it was something new. That he would want that? No. But that I could see him sat across the kitchen table from me right now. Yes.

And that realisation was….

β€˜Sis? Did you sleep at all?’ #Seth came out of the living room, -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

with his heavy feet padding on the wooden floor. He made a point to walk in Ma’s house with heavy footing so that she could hear him coming. β€˜Why are you cooking breakfast. You know after the day we all had yesterday there is no way the moms will be up at the crack of dawn.’

I pocketed my phone before turning to look at him stood in the door. β€œJust wanted something to do.” I told him as he came to still beside me, taking my cup of coffee and drinking from it. -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

β€˜I know you won’t believe me. But you need to sleep too. come on.’ Setting the cup down he curled his fingers around mine standing and making me follow him to the couch. β€˜You sleep, I will take the next watch. I will give them their meds when they wake up and I will keep my ears on them at all times.’

Setting me down, he pulled the throw over my legs and kissed my forehead. β€˜Please. Sleep.’

Giving his hand a squeeze, I turned to free my -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

hair from under myself before curling my legs to fit on Ma’s couch. Thinking of Embry’s words.

β€˜π™Έ'πš– πšœπšžπšπšπšŽπšœπšπš’πš—πš 𝚒𝚘𝚞 πš—πšŽπšŽπš πš–πšŽ 𝚝𝚘 πšπšŽπšŽπš• πš‹πšŽπšπšπšŽπš›... πš“πšžπšœπš πšπš‘πšŠπš 𝙸 πš πš˜πšžπš•πš πš•πš’πš”πšŽ 𝚝𝚘 πšπš›πš’ πšŠπš—πš πš‹πšŽ πšπš‘πšŽ πš›πšŽπšŠπšœπš˜πš— 𝚒𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚘.’

Taking my phone out I sent a quick shot message hoping he will see it in the morning after he had slept.

[π™Έπš πš˜πš—πš•πš’ 𝚒𝚘𝚞 πš”πš—πšŽπš  πš πš‘πšŠπš πš‘πšŠπšŸπš’πš—πš 𝚒𝚘𝚞 πšŒπš•πš˜πšœπšŽ πš‹πš’ πš‘πšŠπšœ πšπš˜πš—πšŽ 𝚘𝚏 πš–πšŽ.]

@HotHeadSheWolf
My alarm blared... well... not really because my phone was permanently on vibrate. But my head ached from the lack of sleep, so the buzzing was the most irritating noise I had ever heard right now.

My phone was still next to me, I lifted it and cancelled the alarm. Snooze was never something I needed, it was one of those things that people found shocking about me... they assumed my laid-back approach to life meant I liked to stay in bed. But I was a morning person.

I read >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< her text and smiled. Because I could imagine... If it was even half of what she did for me? Well... that would be something for sure.

I knew it was true, and knew that it wasn't easy for her to say even that much. I knew she could never ask me to be there for her... but maybe that was exactly why the ancestor steered our paths this way. I never needed to be asked or invited, I was really good at just showing up anyway.

[𝙸 πš”πš—πš˜πš  𝚒𝚘𝚞 πš πš˜πš—'𝚝 πš‹πšŽ πšœπš•πšŽπšŽπš™πš’πš—πš 𝚊𝚝 πš’πš˜πšžπš› πš™πš•πšŠπšŒπšŽ πšπš˜πš—πš’πšπš‘πš... >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< πš‹πšžπš πš–πšŠπš’πš‹πšŽ 𝚒𝚘𝚞 πšœπš‘πš˜πšžπš•πš πš‘πšŽπšŠπš πš‹πšŠπšŒπš”... 𝚜𝚊𝚒 πšŠπš›πš˜πšžπš—πš πš•πšžπš—πšŒπš‘πšπš’πš–πšŽ? πš™πšŠπšŒπš” 𝚊 πš‹πšŠπš, πšŠπš—πš πšπšŠπš”πšŽ 𝚊 πšœπš‘πš˜πš πšŽπš›... πš–πšŠπš’πš‹πšŽ 𝚊 πš—πšŠπš™.]

My patrol would be finished at about that time and I could spend a few hours with her if she could ta herself away... but this was Leah. The chances of her putting her needs first were slim. But I would just keep trying.

I got up and headed out to the main room of the house... it was only when I saw #Quil, up and dressed that I realised the house smelled of coffee and >

@HotHeadSheWolf

< bacon.

I looked around the room... "What the hell? What's wrong? Why are you up?" It was normally my waking him up... but breakfast was a bowl of cereal... not... I followed the smell. It was making my stomach growl.

'Littlesea dropped off breakfast... he figured we all had a day yesterday.' #Quil stuffed his face with a sausage. 'Damn that pup can cook!'

I laughed. It was true. But was a greasy fry-up... not his usual healthy version. "He's a great kid... I never even >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< heard his truck."

'He walked up from down the road, he didn't want to walk you up because you had been working.' #Quil explained.

"Of course he did." I laughed and made myself a plate from the food wrapped in tin foil on the counter.

@BadBoyEmbryCall

The sound of the truck wasn’t new to my ear. I knew that sound anywhere. #TheKid was walking towards the front of the house before the wheel had turned into Ma’s drive way.

β€˜Did I wake you?’ the soft voice whispered.

β€˜No, not at all. I was just in the shower.’ The scent of soup was in the air. Not that #TheKid would lie.

-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

β€˜Good, I made you all some breakfast. I wanted to make sure you all had some down time this morning.

#TheKid laughed. β€˜Sis made breakfast at the crack of dawn. But you know we will never say no to your food Pup. Come on in.’

I sat up on the couch, pulling my hair up into a messy bun before standing and stretching my body out.

-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

β€˜Good morning, Leah, did you sleep at all?’ #Collin smiled from the living room door.

β€œIs that your way of saying I look bad?” I asked narrowing my eyes at him.

β€˜Uhm… no… n… No… not at all…’ his face and ears were turning red.

β€œSo, now you are checking me out while you are standing in my Ma’s house?”

-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

β€˜NO! NO… I promise you….’ The pup moved from foot to foot pulling on the collar of his shirt.

β€˜Sis, would you stop messing with the pup. He brought us all food.’ #Seth placed a protective arm around the pups shoulder and squeezed him. β€˜She’s always in a bad mood when she doesn’t sleep. It’s why I put her to sleep.’

-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

The pup’s eyes moved from my brother and then to me and back again. β€˜I should go.’

β€œNo.. No, you shouldn’t. get your arse in the kitchen and eat some breakfast with us, and then I promised you, and Fuller that you could see Ma today.” Looking out at the street and the other Pup made his way up the path. β€œSpeaking of.”

Letting the boys set up breakfast I went to brush my teeth and clean up, seeing the missed text from this morning from -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

Embry. I knew he was right, but I also knew myself. And I wasn’t going to be able to leave Ma, not while she was hurting.

[𝙸 πšŒπšŠπš—β€™πš πš–πšŠπš”πšŽ πš™πš›πš˜πš–πš’πšœπšŽπšœ 𝙸 πš‘πšŠπšŸπšŽ πš—πš˜ πš™πš•πšŠπš—πšœ 𝚝𝚘 πš”πšŽπšŽπš™. 𝙸 πš”πš—πš˜πš  𝙸 πšœπš‘πš˜πšžπš•πš, πš‹πšžπš 𝙸 πšŒπšŠπš—πš πš•πšŽπšŠπšŸπšŽ πš‘πšŽπš› πš•πš’πš”πšŽ πšπš‘πš’πšœ.]

@HotHeadSheWolf
#Quil and I ate, and I had the mid-morning run. For #Quil, it was time with his imprint and I would probably go to see Mom for a while before I spent a little with Bear too... before she had to go home.

I waited for #Quil to go to the bathroom before I took out my phone and smiled at my phone.

[𝙸 πšžπš—πšπšŽπš›πšœπšπšŠπš—πš. π™Ύπš—πšŽ 𝚝𝚎𝚑𝚝 πšŠπš—πš 𝙸'πš– πšπš‘πšŽπš›πšŽ... πš’πš 𝚒𝚘𝚞 πšŒπšŠπš—, πš˜πš› πš’πš 𝚒𝚘𝚞 πšŒπš‘πšŠπš—πšπšŽ πš’πš˜πšžπš› πš–πš’πš—πš. π™Άπš’πšŸπšŽ π™Όπš˜πš– 𝚊 πš”πš’πšœπšœ πšπš›πš˜πš– πš–πšŽ πš πš‘πšŽπš— πšœπš‘πšŽ πš πšŠπš”πšŽπšœ πšžπš™. π™°πš—πš πšπšŽπš•πš• πš‚πšžπšŽ πš‘πš˜πš  πšπšŠπš‹πšžπš•πš˜πšžπšœ πš’πšœ πšœπš‘πšŽ.]

I felt the need for a >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< Shower... but i didn;t see the point. would just grab one at Jake's after my patrol and save myself a trip home.

I finished eating and washed the dishes. by the time #Quil was done in the shower, we made short work of tidying up and putting the leftover food in the fridge. There was enough left for both of us to get a decent dinner. That young pup always planned ahead.

"I'll tell Mom and Sue you said hello." I told #Quil before we got into separate vehicles.

'You >

@HotHeadSheWolf
< know there's no way Claire will leave with seeing Sue and Momma T... tell them we'll drop by for a visit. We won't stay long so they can get their rest.'

I just smiled and promised I would before I pulled out.

@BadBoyEmbryCall

The Mom’s both awoke to a house full of worried people. I helped Ma to shower and change before #TheKidd carried her down the stairs. β€˜It’s my arm not my feet that is damaged.’ Ma said still not quite herself yet.

β€˜I don’t care, I’m carrying down and that’s that.’ He laughed.

Then came a soft laughter of #MsC and her giggles. β€˜Put me down young man.’ -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

Someone had taken a hold of her too?

β€˜Nope, you are both being carried like the goodness of the Rez.’ #Brady was following the lead of #TheKid.

β€˜You’re listening to what’s happening inside.’ #Sam was beside me holding the door of the shed open. While I checked over everything that was in there. All the tools were backed away safely, and it was clean in here, however still Ma had injured herself.

-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

β€œI like to keep an ear out.” #Sam stepping in to grab some clippers and move them to their rightful place.

β€˜Yeah, I know. But no sleep, thinking it’s all on your shoulders, not asking for help. Leah it’s all going to come to a head.’ Turning my head as my hands reset my Da’s tool box.

β€œAnd yet here you all are. At the hospital, now, so do I need to ask for help?” -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

His wife could be seen from the kitchen window, the sound of laughter coming from the house that had too many people in there which was why I made myself useful out here.

β€˜And you’re out here hiding from them all.’ #Sam finished off.

β€œI don’t hide. Just…” he shook his head as I spoke.

-

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

β€˜Sure, sure. You came out here to investigate, how Sue was hurt, and how it can never happen again. Things happen Leah, we can’t watch over them all the time.’ There was some truth in his words, I knew it. But some part of me still couldn’t let go. β€˜Come on, Emily brought some food with her. And the Pup did well with the food he brought too. We should show them some love by eating it.’

I threw a car wash sponge at his head. -

@BadBoyEmbryCall -

β€˜Hey, I know you can eat too.’ of course he caught it.

β€œHow about you get your arse in the kitchen and let you wife sit down.” Snapping my teeth at him that just made him laugh.

β€˜Have you forgotten I’m banned from ever going close to her or anyone’s kitchen?’ He was laughing.

β€œStop blowing up the toasters and they will let you back in.”

β€˜Leah, Sam. Come in lunch is ready.’ Emily opened the door and called out. -