Arrested By You
by SparklingFae
A/N: A huge thank you to Mama4Dukes for beta’ing this chapter, All characters are property of SM. I just like to play with them.
Sam POV
I woke up startled and panting, my skin glistening with sweat. I could feel silent tears trying to escape my eyes as I closed them and took a deep shuddering breath. My fingers rubbed the ring that I always wore in memory of Emily, as if to ease the pain. It was always like this, more nights than not, I would wake after replaying, over and over in my dreams, her death. Sighing, I sat up, rubbing my face as I planted my feet on the ground and quietly padded outside to sit on the porch. I could never sleep after the nightmares; as a result, I'd taken to being an insomniac.
I mused in silence until I could see the first rays of the sun. Knowing that Bella would be waking up in a bit, I was torn between going and talking to Billy or waiting until I had taken her to the hospital before I talked to him. After some internal debating, I decided to wait to talk to Billy and take her to the hospital first. The pull I felt towards her was intensifying, I was positive that it wasn't an imprint but, other than that, I was clueless. That was the biggest thing I needed to speak to Billy about. I honestly didn't want to fight it. There was just something about Bella that made me, the man, want to know her, want to be around her and just wanted her altogether.
"Am I really ready to move on from losing Emily?" I asked myself. It had been three years since that fateful day. I could remember every detail perfectly. Emily had gone to Port Angeles to get some party supplies to throw a surprise party for Embry. We were sure that he was my half brother. She and I had decided to throw a little party for him in honor of our fledgling family. I knew something had happened when I collapsed in the woods just having come off of patrol. Paul had to help me inside because I was unable to move. Everything in me was telling me that she was gone. My wolf was howling in devastation and I was not any better.
It wasn't until Chief Swan came to my door that everything became real. He had come to tell me that she was gone. I'd barely been able to make it to the funeral. It was during that time that Jake had taken over as Alpha. I barely ate nor slept for weeks. It took Leah to finally bring me out of my funk and get me to start some semblance of living again. Her methods might have been lacking as she had come yelling and hitting me until I finally looked at her and spoke one word, "Alright." It was enough for her, she knew I meant I was going to be alright--even if it took time.
It took a year before I was truly on my way to recovery. I had applied to the Forks P.D. and started helping out once more around the community. I took my role as an elder and council member seriously. I worked hard to fight to make the land of my people a better place to live on. Two years later, here I am, I've become a stronger man, known to many as Officer Uley. I, along with other members of the council had installed several programs to help our culture thrive and not be forgotten.
I could hear Bella starting to stir and I made my way to the kitchen to make some coffee for the both of us. She was quiet when she tip-toed into the kitchen, taking the offered coffee cup from my hands with a whispered, "Thank you."
"You're welcome Bella. Whenever you're ready, I can take you to the hospital," I told her. She just nodded, lost in her own thoughts as she sipped her coffee. I left her to be while I went and got dressed for my day.
I was taking my time in getting ready, wishing to give Bella plenty of time to get ready as well. It didn't take nearly as long as I thought for her to get ready, her voice calling out about twenty minutes later, "Sam, I'm ready!"
I called out as I stepped out of my room, "Coming." I could hear her already at the truck as I walked outside, quickly making my way to the pickup and getting in after opening the passenger side door for her.
We were silent during the drive to Forks. Just as I pulled up to the hospital, I spoke, "Do you want me to come up with you?"
She shook her head no and smiled my way, her hand reaching over and taking mine. "Thank you for this, Sam, I really do appreciate it."
"No need to thank me, Bella, I'm glad I could help, I'll be back later to check on the Chief and to get you, okay?" She flashed me another smile and nodded before sliding out of the truck and walking into the hospital. I couldn't tear my eyes from her back until she disappeared from my sight.
I headed back to La Push, it was time to have a conversation with Billy. I could only hope that he had some knowledge on this draw I was experiencing. When I pulled up, Jake came out, I was a little uncertain on approaching him because I had Bella's scent on me but it couldn't be helped now. "Hey Sam," he called as I made my way up to the porch.
"Hey Jake."
He took a small step back as he sniffed the air and his eyes widened. "Be..Bella's back?"
I sighed and rubbed the back of my neck before muttering, "Yeah..she came back to take care of Charlie."
He started to get a little excited, declaring,"I need to go and see her!"
I couldn't help the growl that escaped and the sharp look he gave me because of it. "Fuck, Jake. You have Leah now...and I like her...hell, my wolf loves her. That's what I came to talk to your dad about. I'm drawn to her but it isn't an imprint."
He relaxed a little and put his hand on my shoulder before speaking, "Look Sam, I know and I believe you, any feelings that I have for Bella are just platonic."
I exhaled and nodded, glad to hear that. "She's changed Jake. So many things about her have changed. I don't know how to describe it. She even went and got a degree in Native American mythology."
I could tell he was impressed as much as I had been when she had told me that. I offered a bit of a grin towards Jake, something I hadn't done for the past couple years until over the last few days. It was because of Bella that I was starting to smile again.
"Chief inside?" I asked Jake. He nodded and before I turned to walk inside, I paused to speak once more to Jake, "She's staying with me...maybe you could come over with Leah one night soon and we can all have dinner together."
He beamed at the idea and nodded. "I'd like that Sam, thanks bro," he said before heading to go work on some cars at his shop.
I made my way inside to speak to Billy. "Hey Chief," I teased him when I walked in.
"Sam," he mumbled and wheeled himself over towards me. "What can I do for you?" always straight to the point he was.
"Well...I wanted to ask you...if you've ever heard or read from any of the past packs, a protector finding another mate?"
He looked me over sharply, in a scrutinizing glance before speaking again."Did you imprint again, son?"
I shook my head and sighed, "No...I..well, I went to get Bella Swan for Charlie...and I'm drawn to her...my wolf is crazy about her." I rubbed the back of my neck in a nervous gesture as he thought over what I said.
"Let me think about that and see if I can find anything in the histories," he declared.
"Thank you, Billy," I said, rising to leave. "Do you need anything before I go? I have to go into the station for a bit." He shook his head and after shaking his hand, I made my way back home to get ready for my shift. If Billy could not find any answers, then I would consider going to Old Quil and having a spirit quest.
As I drove to Forks, it dawned upon me that when I talked to Billy, I had referred to Bella as my mate. My mate? Is Bella really my mate? My wolf certainly seemed to think so. How is that possible though? Emily was my imprint, she was supposedly my forever. We were told that a wolf can't exist without his imprint. When an imprint dies, the wolf soon follows. Or does he? Here I am, two years later, and I'm still surviving. More than just surviving, in fact--I was living. I was actually living. I brought myself back from the dead and I was living, intent on going on with this life without Emily, but with...with Bella.
It occurred to me that I had just answered my own question: "Am I really ready to move on from losing Emily?" The answer was a resounding, yes. Yes, as long as I had Bella.
Sam POV
I woke up startled and panting, my skin glistening with sweat. I could feel silent tears trying to escape my eyes as I closed them and took a deep shuddering breath. My fingers rubbed the ring that I always wore in memory of Emily, as if to ease the pain. It was always like this, more nights than not, I would wake after replaying, over and over in my dreams, her death. Sighing, I sat up, rubbing my face as I planted my feet on the ground and quietly padded outside to sit on the porch. I could never sleep after the nightmares; as a result, I'd taken to being an insomniac.
I mused in silence until I could see the first rays of the sun. Knowing that Bella would be waking up in a bit, I was torn between going and talking to Billy or waiting until I had taken her to the hospital before I talked to him. After some internal debating, I decided to wait to talk to Billy and take her to the hospital first. The pull I felt towards her was intensifying, I was positive that it wasn't an imprint but, other than that, I was clueless. That was the biggest thing I needed to speak to Billy about. I honestly didn't want to fight it. There was just something about Bella that made me, the man, want to know her, want to be around her and just wanted her altogether.
"Am I really ready to move on from losing Emily?" I asked myself. It had been three years since that fateful day. I could remember every detail perfectly. Emily had gone to Port Angeles to get some party supplies to throw a surprise party for Embry. We were sure that he was my half brother. She and I had decided to throw a little party for him in honor of our fledgling family. I knew something had happened when I collapsed in the woods just having come off of patrol. Paul had to help me inside because I was unable to move. Everything in me was telling me that she was gone. My wolf was howling in devastation and I was not any better.
It wasn't until Chief Swan came to my door that everything became real. He had come to tell me that she was gone. I'd barely been able to make it to the funeral. It was during that time that Jake had taken over as Alpha. I barely ate nor slept for weeks. It took Leah to finally bring me out of my funk and get me to start some semblance of living again. Her methods might have been lacking as she had come yelling and hitting me until I finally looked at her and spoke one word, "Alright." It was enough for her, she knew I meant I was going to be alright--even if it took time.
It took a year before I was truly on my way to recovery. I had applied to the Forks P.D. and started helping out once more around the community. I took my role as an elder and council member seriously. I worked hard to fight to make the land of my people a better place to live on. Two years later, here I am, I've become a stronger man, known to many as Officer Uley. I, along with other members of the council had installed several programs to help our culture thrive and not be forgotten.
I could hear Bella starting to stir and I made my way to the kitchen to make some coffee for the both of us. She was quiet when she tip-toed into the kitchen, taking the offered coffee cup from my hands with a whispered, "Thank you."
"You're welcome Bella. Whenever you're ready, I can take you to the hospital," I told her. She just nodded, lost in her own thoughts as she sipped her coffee. I left her to be while I went and got dressed for my day.
I was taking my time in getting ready, wishing to give Bella plenty of time to get ready as well. It didn't take nearly as long as I thought for her to get ready, her voice calling out about twenty minutes later, "Sam, I'm ready!"
I called out as I stepped out of my room, "Coming." I could hear her already at the truck as I walked outside, quickly making my way to the pickup and getting in after opening the passenger side door for her.
We were silent during the drive to Forks. Just as I pulled up to the hospital, I spoke, "Do you want me to come up with you?"
She shook her head no and smiled my way, her hand reaching over and taking mine. "Thank you for this, Sam, I really do appreciate it."
"No need to thank me, Bella, I'm glad I could help, I'll be back later to check on the Chief and to get you, okay?" She flashed me another smile and nodded before sliding out of the truck and walking into the hospital. I couldn't tear my eyes from her back until she disappeared from my sight.
I headed back to La Push, it was time to have a conversation with Billy. I could only hope that he had some knowledge on this draw I was experiencing. When I pulled up, Jake came out, I was a little uncertain on approaching him because I had Bella's scent on me but it couldn't be helped now. "Hey Sam," he called as I made my way up to the porch.
"Hey Jake."
He took a small step back as he sniffed the air and his eyes widened. "Be..Bella's back?"
I sighed and rubbed the back of my neck before muttering, "Yeah..she came back to take care of Charlie."
He started to get a little excited, declaring,"I need to go and see her!"
I couldn't help the growl that escaped and the sharp look he gave me because of it. "Fuck, Jake. You have Leah now...and I like her...hell, my wolf loves her. That's what I came to talk to your dad about. I'm drawn to her but it isn't an imprint."
He relaxed a little and put his hand on my shoulder before speaking, "Look Sam, I know and I believe you, any feelings that I have for Bella are just platonic."
I exhaled and nodded, glad to hear that. "She's changed Jake. So many things about her have changed. I don't know how to describe it. She even went and got a degree in Native American mythology."
I could tell he was impressed as much as I had been when she had told me that. I offered a bit of a grin towards Jake, something I hadn't done for the past couple years until over the last few days. It was because of Bella that I was starting to smile again.
"Chief inside?" I asked Jake. He nodded and before I turned to walk inside, I paused to speak once more to Jake, "She's staying with me...maybe you could come over with Leah one night soon and we can all have dinner together."
He beamed at the idea and nodded. "I'd like that Sam, thanks bro," he said before heading to go work on some cars at his shop.
I made my way inside to speak to Billy. "Hey Chief," I teased him when I walked in.
"Sam," he mumbled and wheeled himself over towards me. "What can I do for you?" always straight to the point he was.
"Well...I wanted to ask you...if you've ever heard or read from any of the past packs, a protector finding another mate?"
He looked me over sharply, in a scrutinizing glance before speaking again."Did you imprint again, son?"
I shook my head and sighed, "No...I..well, I went to get Bella Swan for Charlie...and I'm drawn to her...my wolf is crazy about her." I rubbed the back of my neck in a nervous gesture as he thought over what I said.
"Let me think about that and see if I can find anything in the histories," he declared.
"Thank you, Billy," I said, rising to leave. "Do you need anything before I go? I have to go into the station for a bit." He shook his head and after shaking his hand, I made my way back home to get ready for my shift. If Billy could not find any answers, then I would consider going to Old Quil and having a spirit quest.
As I drove to Forks, it dawned upon me that when I talked to Billy, I had referred to Bella as my mate. My mate? Is Bella really my mate? My wolf certainly seemed to think so. How is that possible though? Emily was my imprint, she was supposedly my forever. We were told that a wolf can't exist without his imprint. When an imprint dies, the wolf soon follows. Or does he? Here I am, two years later, and I'm still surviving. More than just surviving, in fact--I was living. I was actually living. I brought myself back from the dead and I was living, intent on going on with this life without Emily, but with...with Bella.
It occurred to me that I had just answered my own question: "Am I really ready to move on from losing Emily?" The answer was a resounding, yes. Yes, as long as I had Bella.