#anyway all's well i just cried buckets more my heart's been wrung OUT

[thebirdandhersong]

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[princesstreaclefanfic]

Chapter Twenty Six

Apologies for the late posting. I've had some university work to finish up. Please read my author's note at the end as to the second reason why this is late.

Disclaimer - All recognisable characters belong to their original owners. I do not make a profit from writing this; I simply do it for my own amusement. No copyright infringement intended.

Chapter Twenty Six

Black's – The Next Morning

Jake resisted the urge to roll his eyes as Victoria stood in front of him, arms crossed over her chest, explaining to him why she could never work with Nessie.

"I just don't feel safe with her on the premises." Ridiculous. "She attacked me. I could have died." She flicked her red hair over her shoulder. "I'm not going to quit and give her what she wants – and I wouldn't do that to you, Jake. But I won't work with her. Any shifts we have together will need to be rearranged."

"Of course," Jake told her with a fake smile. He'd worked with Victoria for long enough now to know that if he said anything about how stupid she was being she would launch into another rant. The less time he spent with her the better.

"Good," she smiled. "I'm glad we're on the same page." Did she forget he and Nessie were… seeing each other? Fucking each other? He wasn't quite sure what they were, friends who slept together but only with each other? Anyway, that didn't seem to matter to her.

She turned and headed back into Black's and to deal with the morning rush.

It was a few hours later before Jake saw anyone, he was elbow deep in some paperwork he needed to fill out when Victoria came running through, not even bothering to knock, her red hair frizzed around her, heart beating fast and panic in her eyes.

"Tyler's poisoned everyone!" She ran back down the hallway leaving Jake to wonder what the hell was going on.

He got up from his chair and jogged after her only to find her stood in the main part of the bar surrounded by patrons who were… vomiting like their lives depended on it.

The smell made him gag and he wondered how he hadn't heard or smelt it before now. He must have really been into the paperwork.

Esme was the only other waitress working this morning and she was rushing around with buckets and paper towels, trying to comfort those who hadn't managed to make it to the bathroom in time.

When she saw him, she hurried over to him.

"I've called an ambulance. I don't know what's going on." The usually calm woman looked frazzled.

"Where's Tyler?"

"In the kitchen."

At that, a man made a loud moaning noise from across the bar before vomiting up what Jake assumed had been his breakfast. Esme gasped and ran over, patting his back and handing him some paper towels to clean his mouth with.

"What do we do?" Victoria asked, her voice shaking slightly.

"Make sure everyone has some water and open all the windows – maybe some fresh air will help." Victoria nodded and quickly went into the back. Jake headed into the kitchen.

"Tyler – what's going on?"

Tyler was stood by a counter, checking over the ingredients he had used for breakfast. "Honestly boss I have no idea. Everything is in date. I cooked everything thoroughly." He shook his head. "I don't know what's going on."

Jake wasn't angry at him. He didn't think was Tyler's fault but he was confused as to how it happened.

"It's alright," he told him, walking over and placing a hand on his shoulder. "I don't think you did this."

Tyler nodded and let out a breath he had been holding in. "Thank's boss." He turned and smiled at Jake but as quickly as his smiled appeared it went as he looked over Jake's shoulder and the colour drained from his dark face.

Jake heard his heartbeat speed up, smelled the sweat gather on his skin and his pupils dilate. Jake turned and looked behind him, expecting to see… well, something. But no one was there. He turned back to Tyler.

"Tyler?"

His cook didn't respond. He was frozen on the spot and his heart had taken up a dangerous rhythm.

"Tyler?" Jake questioned again, moving closer. Again, no response.

"Tyler!" Jake shouted this time, grabbing ahold of his shoulder and shaking him fiercely.

Tyler's startled, wide brown eyes shot to Jake's face and he jerked back violently from him, flinging himself away from the large man, tripping over in the process and falling.

"No! Stay away!" he cried, sliding himself back across the floor until he was in the opposite corner, cowering and crying.

Jake was stunned for a few seconds and then lowered himself, making his body as small as he could as he approached the terrified man.

"It's alright." he cooed. "It's alright."

Jake wasn't entirely sure what to do. He didn't know if he should reach out to him or what, but he didn't want to leave him. Not like this.

"Stay away from me you bitch!" Tyler cried, burying his tear-stained face in his arms as he rocked.

Jake had been called many things in his life but never a bitch.

When Tyler looked up again, Jake realised he wasn't looking at him but over his shoulder. Again, Jake glanced behind himself but didn't see anything. Whoever Tyler was calling a bitch was someone Jake couldn't see.

"Esme!" Jake shouted loudly. "I need your help!"

He heard her footsteps as she ran towards the kitchen. He never took his eyes off Tyler though.

"What's going on?" She asked breathlessly, flinging herself on the floor near Jake as Tyler whimpered.

"He can see someone who we can't." Esme turned to look behind them and then turned back to Tyler. "He's not responding to me. I thought he might respond to you."

Esme nodded and immediately reached forward, her soft hand touching Tyler's hot arm.

"Tyler, can you hear me?" Tyler shook more and another sob broke out from his mouth.

"Tyler, it's me, Esme. There's no one there. It's just us." Her fingers gently stroked down his arm until she got to his hand. It was pressing into his other arm so hard that his fingernails had left crescent-shaped marks on his own skin. She gently but firmly grasped his hand in hers and brought it to her chest where she clasped it with both hands.

"You're safe, Tyler."

Jake didn't know if it was Esme's voice, touch or something else but Tyler's tense body relaxed, only a fraction. He raised his tear-stained face to look at Esme with watery eyes before a cry burst from his lips and he lunged himself into her arms, almost knocking her over. It was only Jake's solid arm on her back that stopped her.

"Esme! Oh God, Esme!" Tyler sobbed in her arms, his tears now falling onto her neck.

Esme looked worriedly at Jake as she rubbed Tyler's back and tried to comfort him.

None of them tried to get him to speak for a few minutes. They sensed they wouldn't get anything out of him.

As his sobs began to subside and his shoulders stopped shaking, Esme pulled back from Tyler and held his face in her hands.

"What happened?"

Tyler's whole frame seemed to shake again and his eyes welled with tears.

"You can tell us," Esme reassured him. At that moment, Jake felt like a parent.

Tyler whimpered and closed his eyes tightly.

"Maria – I saw Maria."

Jake and Esme shared a look.

"Maria – the woman who took you hostage?" Jake clarified. Tyler nodded his head quickly, eyes still squeezed closed.

"She's dead, Tyler," Esme said. "She… shot herself."

Tyler, who had been ensconced in her arms, opened his eyes and flew back from both her and Jake. "I know what I saw!" His anger overtook his fear and he got to his feet, Jake and Esme scrambling to theirs just after him.

"We're not saying-" Jake tried to explain but Tyler cut him off.

"I know what you were saying. I'm not crazy! I saw Maria last night and I saw her again today! Austin didn't believe me and neither do you!"

"You've seen her before?" Esme questioned and Tyler nodded, his mouth set in a hard line.

Jake didn't know what to say. Thankfully Esme did.

"What did she look like?"

"Dead."

When neither Jake nor Esme responded, Tyler began to defend himself.

"I'm not crazy!"

The sound of sirens pulled the three of them out of their bubble and they all turned towards the main part of the bar, the blue lights flashing through the windows.

"We need to help those people," Esme told Jake and Tyler. "But then we need to discuss this." She turned to look at Jake and then Tyler. "I don't think you're crazy, Tyler. I think you did see, Maria." Tyler looked relieved. "Whatever's going on. We'll figure it out." He nodded and wrung his hands together.

"Come on," Esme said to Jake. "We've got some people to help."

Jake followed Esme as they headed out of the kitchen, when they got to the corner, he gently tugged on her arm to get her to face him.

"Do you really think Tyler saw Maria?"

Esme nodded and bit her lip. "Yeah, and I have a feeling she's not going to go away easily."

Jake sincerely hoped she was wrong.

Forks Forest

Jake's large paws hit the ground with a thud as he did his usual rounds, making sure that the population of Forks was safe – or as safe as it could be with all kinds of supernatural creatures coming out of the woodwork.

This morning had been a disaster. More ambulances had shown up to take most of the customers to the hospital but no one could tell him why they were being sick. They didn't have a stomach bug or the flu or food poisoning. The bar was to remain closed whilst it was checked to make sure nothing had been contaminated. The paramedics had wanted to check Esme and Jake out but they'd come up with excuses; both had said they hadn't eaten the food and felt fine. The last thing either of them needed was someone taking their blood and wondering why they were showing up abnormalities. Heck, even if they took Jake's temperature they'd wonder if he was running a fever.

The cool night air was rushing through his fur as Jake loved the smell of the forest. When he was here he could forget about everything, if just for a few minutes. He could forget that his pack left him. He could forget that his imprint didn't feel the same about him. He could forget that every time one obstacle was overcome another seemed to come along. When it was running in the forest, it was just him. A wolf.

Slowing up, Jake rubbed his large shoulders on some trees that ran along the Forks boundary, scenting them. He was letting others know this area was his. He was the protector.

Sniffing the air to make sure his scent was clear, Jake turned and headed towards Edward's house. They were all meeting there tonight to discuss Tyler. Jake had rung Bella and Rose; he wanted them to read Tyler's mind and make sure he had actually seen Maria. Esme had rung Carmen and asked her to come over. It was meant to be the new coven's first meeting tonight but Carmen had pushed it back so she could talk to Tyler. She didn't know herself what was going on.

As Jake got closer to the Masen house he smelled the normal wolves of Forks that prowled the forest. Usually, they kept to themselves, staying away from Jake because they sensed he was stronger and faster. Tonight was a different story.

Jake slowed when he felt eyes on him and he cautiously looked around the forest, sensing more and more wolves. As he looked into the night, amber eyes stared at him and growls echoed through the forest. Something was wrong.

Jake stood to his full height, his own lips curling back to reveal large white teeth. It was a threat. No wolf moved.

Slowly, Jake moved his left front paw, lifting it slightly, intending to walk away. The pack had other ideas. It started with a deep growl and ended in a hissing snarl.

Using his large back legs, Jack propelled himself forward and away from the pack. He had no idea why the hell they were attacking. They were angry. And for some reason, he was the target.

Jake ran through the forest, using his speed and strength to get as far away from them as possible. But they kept coming. They were hot on his heels, snapping at his flank.

Ahead of them, Jake saw an outcrop. His idea was to get to that and then jump off it, giving him a head start to hopefully get away.

The pack had other ideas.

As Jake jumped he was grabbed from behind by one wolf. It wasn't enough to injure him but he was pulled down and onto the ground, his side smashing into the floor sending leaves and soil flying up around him.

The fall left him disorientated and more wolves jumped on top of Jake, biting at his flesh and ripping into his skin.

Jake let out a whimper and kicked his back legs, sending a few flying.

He righted himself, stumbling when he stood on his back left paw and a burning sensation ran through his leg and the scent of his own blood filled his nose.

He swayed through the forest as a large number of wolves jumped on his back in an attempt to bring him down, their sharp teeth cutting into him.

The more that climbed onto him the harder Jake found it to get away, his vision blurring, his heart pounding in his ears and his limbs feeling heavier with every step he took.

It was a sharp pain to his throat that jerked Jake back into reality. Wolves hunted in packs and Jake was their prey. They were trying to take him down and the bite to his throat was meant to do just that.

Not today, Jake thought. Summoning up every last inch of energy he had, Jake rolled hard onto his back, slamming the wolves into the ground. He rolled, digging himself into the dirt as he felt their hard jaws let go of skin to yelp and cry in pain.

He rolled back onto his four paws and threw his large furry body against the nearest tree to his right and then the nearest tree to his left, shaking off the last of the wolves.

On stumbling feet, he ran, through the forest, through the stream until he saw the lights of Edward's house in front of him.

He didn't know if it was the scent of the vampires or the show he had put on but the wolves left, many of the sporting injuries.

Walking towards the house with him own limp Jake felt sick and tired, blood was pooling in his mouth and his coat felt cold, blood matting his normally slick fur together.

As he got closer he saw a figure coming towards him. His body fell to the ground with a thud and he cried out in pain, not sure which part of him hurt the most.

"Jake!" It was Nessie. She fell to her knees next to him in the ground and ran her fingers through his coat. "What happened?"

Jake closed his eyes and felt the fluttering beneath his skin as he changed from wolf back to human.

Nessie gasped and when Jake looked down at himself he realised that most parts of his body were covered in bites, blood oozing from them as he struggled to heal due to the sheer number of them. His left foot felt numb and when he looked at it, it was sticking out at an odd angle. His ribs ached as if he had been punched in them extremely hard and his head felt fuzzy and heavy.

"Jake!" Nessie cried once more when she didn't get a response. She rolled him onto his back and lifted his head into her lap, cradling his face. He heard her shout for Carlisle and when he opened his eyes she looked fuzzy –like how a television screen looks when it loses signal but the picture still manages to come through.

As his eyes began to shut, his body giving in to the tiredness, he thought about how beautiful she looked in the night. The stars behind her and the wind blowing. She always managed to look beautiful.

Thank you for reading.

As for the second reason why this is late, well… I got a review on the last chapter of this story about the scene between Tyler and Austin. I won't name names but somebody implied they wouldn't read this story if I continued to write homosexual sex scenes. I want to address this. Please don't threaten to not read my story because you don't like what I put in it. I write for me. The fact that others like it and I get reviews, comments, kudos, recommendations, messages etc. are a bonus. If you don't want to read my story – don't. If you do, great. It's taken me a while to figure out what to say, but I hope this makes it clear.

Now… what do we think is going on with Tyler?