Revenant Paul Lahote

Chapter 18

For the first time in a long time, the wolves and the Cullen's were not only on the same territory, but they were actually acting civil, sort of. 

Paul was terrified. It had seemed like forever since they had brought Caylee in, and his feelings were running wild. Being confined to the waiting room with Sam and Jared next to him, he uncomfortably paced up and down the hall, tugging at his short hair. 

"What's taking so damn long?" Paul growled. 

"Easy," Sam scowled. "The last thing we need is to give the Cullen's a reason to kick us out." 

He was right. Carlisle had been very understanding when he saw a teary eyed Paul in his waiting room, but they definitely shouldn't push their luck. Though, it wasn't just Carlisle who had seen how distraught Paul was - the whole pack did. 

Everyone who had shifted, or shifted after the accident, could see just how close Paul was with Caylee. It had scared them at first, especially Sam. Sam knew first hand how devastated Paul would be if he looked into her eyes and didn't get the results he wanted. It was so clear how much they loved each other, and just as Sam and Jacob knew that it didn't always work out with the person you think you love, it didn't make it hurt any less.   

It worried Sam that the anger and resentment he would possibly feel in that scenario would send the boy spiraling, perhaps send him into an angry state he wouldn't be able to return from. But as they sat there in the hospital, it became obvious that separating them did nothing but cause pain. 

"Gentleman," a smooth and cool voice floated through the air just as the scent of death wafted into their noses making them want to gag. "She's stable, but the medicine we used to put her under was strong so she will be asleep for a while." 

"Can I see her?" The look on Paul's face was heartbreaking, and Carlisle felt nothing but sympathy for the young boy. 

"Of course." 

She looked so small - so much smaller than usual as Paul pulled his seat as close as possible to her bed, eyes never leaving her face. Carefully, as if scared, Paul reached out and held her hand. His thumb brushed over her knuckles and it brought him memories of the times she attempted to clean up his bloody hands without touching him. 

"She never lets me touch her," he whispered under his breath. "God," he laughed dryly, "she'd probably be so mad at me for having touched her even if it was to save her life." 

Carlisle peered over at him with a knowing glance. "I think you'll find that forgiveness can come quickly when it comes to those you love." 

He didn't respond, just continued to revel in what little touch he had; the only touch he had from his best friend in two years. It was peaceful. 

That was until a pixie like vampire plopped herself down into a chair across from him. 

"We have a lot to discuss." 

***

Alice once again flipped a page to her magazine dramatically, making the wolf grit his teeth in irritation. 

"Why are you here?" He snarled out, his patience thin. 

"I've already told you everything," Alice rolled her eyes. "When I was a human I had a little sister  named Cynthia, Gran as you two liked to call her, who had a daughter who also had a daughter which is Caylee. So -" 

"Yes I know! You're freakishly related to my best friend. What I mean is what are you doing here right now besides pissing me off?" 

Their argument was cut short as the girl beside them began to move, her eyes fluttering open slowly as Alice disappeared to find Carlisle. 

"Paul?" Caylee's voice rasped out. "What's going on?" 

"Sh, Cay. Try not too talk to much. We're in the hospital, you were in a car accident," his voice soft. 

"Gee, again," she joked earning an eye roll from her best friend. Then her eyes widened in realization. "Paul there was this woman, she was - " 

"I know and I promise to explain everything." 

She finally looked up at him, looking straight into his brown eyes she loved so much. 

It was as though time stood still, and Paul could almost hear Gran's voice in the back of his mind telling the story of her lover over and over again. It didn't feel like how he saw it in Sam's mind; it wasn't new, or a surprise, it simply felt - familiar. As if the love he had for her that had always been there simply became less hidden, less boxed away for fear of ruining their friendship. 

And oh, did he feel so much love for this girl in front of him. 

But it wasn't just him who felt a tug. Caylee had tried for two years to push away any feelings of true love for this boy. She had been terrified to feel anything but platonic love for him, because she knew if she shared an inkling of how she really felt, she'd ruin everything for him. She couldn't risk asking him to return the love she had for him when she knew she couldn't give him anything but heartbreak. 

"Hello Caylee, I'm Dr. Cullen." 

They tore their eyes away from each other, looking at the doctor she had met only once prior. As he went over everything,  Paul's eyes didn't once remove themselves from Caylee, and she would continuously glance back over at him throughout the one sided conversation. 

Things were definitely changing.