Going Deep

[Leah Clearwater]

The sun was up and it was a rare bright day in this rainy town. The sun wasn't completely out; but there was enough light that for the moment at lest one could pretend. The large grey wolf climbed the pile of ruble in it's way and stood over the edge looking down at the land of trees and moss and pure wild and almost untouched woodlands. If one was looking from afar they would of stopped and stared at the classic earthly beauty of the scene, a lone wolf looking over it's hunting lands.

If one was in her head; it was a little less poetic. Gag me! Leah thought, It stinks this close to the house! Jumping from the ruble, Leah took off on her patrol again, finding the path that her and Seth and Jake had been running easily. The ground showed signs of being well traveled after having so many heavy feet hitting it so often in a short time.

Still, Leah knew better then to bitch about the lack of scenery. She didn't think Sam would order an attack, but if he did she wasn't looking forward to the fight. She was willing to take on Paul however, who was one of Sam's best fighters now that Jake left. She was willing to be that she could handle Paul just find. No brains that one. She didn't however, want Seth in the fight, but knew if push came to shove they would need him. While she disliked leeches with a sick sort of passion; she was commented to her pack. She would make sure nothing got by her.

[Jacob Black]

Another patrol. For what? Leeches. No. For Bella. She was his best friend, if nothing else. She needed his help. He hadn't expected to get extra help. But the Clearwaters weren't to bad. Leah was trying, and Seth was just so pure. Jake was racing at full speed in his wolf form, trying to keep his mind clear for his pack, he focused on the beat of their paws on the dirt, but than he realized Leah was no longer running. He skidded to a stop as he saw Leah peering out onto the horizon, found her. He snorted at her thoughts. Leah would never change. But then again, sometimes he wished he could think like that too. Of course, he was too damn compassionate. Or maybe just a fool.

When she began to think about Sam's pack actually attacking them his fur rose on his back. He shook his fur out quickly after, to smooth out the ruffled spots and then he sat. He stared past Leah, at the scene she had been looking at. Let's hope it does not come to that, Leah. She would go after Paul, for some reason this bothered him, but her logic was probably right, Seth was just to innocent for this. Sam... he would be for me though. Jacob cringed at the idea of attacking his brothers. Especially Quil and Embry. This was his punishment, his hell.

His pack contained a little kid, and his sister. Jake's thoughts turned bleak. Before he could hurt their feelings he shook his head. If he was alone, this would be easier. No more guarding thoughts, it was bad enough that damn bloodsucker could hear them. He sighed and laid down. He rested his head on his paws and watched Leah. He cleared his mind, and waited for her opinions. Why? Who knows. Not even he did.

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[Leah Clearwater]

Leah could hear every thought Jake had, and every thought Jake had and wanted to hide. She could hear him thinking over her battle plans, and knew this would be hard on him. She didn't envy him the fight ahead-If there even was a fight ahead-since he would be fighting two guys that were his best friends. If they come at us Jake, It wont be by their choice. Sam would have -made- then to it. They wont like it any better then you would. Just focus on taking Sam. Leave Paul to me. Of it it's easier, I can go for Embry and Quil.

Leah wasn't sure why she felt the need to say something nice to Jake, but there. She was nice about it. She had just assumed she would be the one fighting Paul, she had the experience fighting Paul (as they did it at every turn) and while Seth was stronger and bigger then her, she was more ruthless; Seth to trusting and loving (Like Jake had once been). Leah would have offered to take on Sam for him, but she knew her heart wasn't in it. She should hate Sam, but her biggest trouble was she didn't. She never could.

She didn't even hate Sam for giving the order to attack the Cullen, she was only annoyed he wouldn't send Seth home. Part of her thought the order was late in coming, that Sam waited to long to give the order.

She respected Jake more however for giving everyone that choice to make. He didn't know she wouldn't snap and attack the Cullens, he was going off of faith. A faith she wasn't about to let down.

She was annoyed however that she was not an asset in him mind. She was 'the little kid's sister'. I can be less annoying then Paul. Leah promised, still riding that high of FINALLY be free of Sam and his thoughts. That was her goal; prove to Jake that she was less annoying then the guy who imprinted on his sister.

[Jacob Black]

Leah's kindness shocked him a bit, but at the same time made him angry. He did not want to think about Quil and Embry getting hurt because of him. He hurt enough people as it was, he was in enough emotional pain thanks to Bella and that damn bloodsucker. He had lost everything. Now he was an Alpha of a pack. A pack that was sharing his pain. Leah was being logical, he should take Paul and Sam, he would not have the heart to go after the other two, and no reason to make Leah even stand up against Sam. He knew that that would be nearly impossible, like him trying to bring down Bella. It wouldn't happen. He snorted, Thanks Leah. Really. Jake was getting weak.

Leah continued to keep her thoughts on the topic and he heard her concerns about Seth. He gave a wolfy smile at her then. She really did love the runt; someone with that much compassion could not be all that bad?

Another shocking thought: Leah respected him?! Jacob's jaw dropped.

Less annoying than Paul? He regained himself for her last comment, to answer her directed thoughts. Well, if you can do that, than you can stay until this is over. He felt no reason to keep a "pack" once everything was over. He wanted to be alone. To have his own thoughts, since sharing them with someone would be hell on whoever had to. He would never wish that on someone. Let his personal hell torment just him.

Paul. Rach. He shivered, Really Leah? I could tear him to shreds for having the nerve to imprint on MY sister. He was a little annoyed that she had thought about that, bringing it back to his attention. Of all the damn wolves, and all the people in the world PAUL had to imprint on his sister. Just my luck, right? That was more annoying than anything Leah could ever do though, so as of right now, she was right. Leah was less annoying than Paul. He would probably kill Paul if he had to hear any lovey thoughts about his sister.

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[Leah Clearwater]

When Jake told her she could stay 'until this was over' if she could be less annoying then Paul, Leah quickly thought of other things. Such as how green the grass was out here, and how slow turtles where. ((Anything to keep Jacob from knowing her plan to ask him to let her stay longer)).

It's not really love. Leah thought to Jacob about his thoughts of her and Seth. It's more about me not wanting to tell my Mother she lost a son. But they both knew, it was about love. Seth was her brother and did love him, even when he annoyed the hell out of her with his happiness.

So, we checking a hunting path for the leeches? Leah asked as she looked over to the area they would soon be running. She didn't want to leave Seth here alone on guard but she knew they had to made sure the hunting paths were clear for the leeches. Heaven forbid the leeches got hurt while hunting on their watch. Leah never thought she would see the day where she helped a vampire hunt. I don't think Sam would leave La Push un protected to go this deep.

[Jacob Black]

How green the grass is Leah... really? What are you hiding? He was slightly annoyed that she thought she could hide anything from him. If she even so much as thought of staying with him after this... he sighed. But his mood picked back up slightly at her denial about it being about love. Everyone knew it was love. She spoke of Seth with such a fondness, she was a fool for trying to pretend otherwise. Jake just shook his head, he himself knew those feeling, he was worried about his sister being moved back, but at least she was not in the middle of the action like Seth was.

Leah's reminder made Jake growl. He looked over at the path, and decided to get back to his feet. He shook his fur out and stretched, things he had picked up when he had run away. I don't think he would either, but we can never be too careful, plus I do believe they would hesitate to attack Seth. He withdrew at the image, what had he gotten them into?

[Leah Clearwater]

They better to more then just hesitate with it comes to Seth! Leah thought, mentality plotting to kill whoever hurt her baby brother. I just hope them leeches are grateful for what your doing for them. Leah had never had a full conversation with maybe of them, she had one or two short ones with the doctor one; but she wasn't ever going to fix that either. She didn't know who Jake and Seth could stand the smell, much less the creep factor of WHAT they were.

Even so, she hated--Leah cut off that thought and forced on the trail they would take, not wanted to piss off Jake. Leah came to a stop, from her small run, beside Jake. While she was still huge in her own way, she could be called small next to Jake's massive size. Even Seth was bigger then her right now, but Leah didn't hate being the smallest. It made her the fastest. No one, not Sam, not Jake, not anyone had out run her. Wanna race, O'fearless leader? Granted, they were looking for scents, but Leah knew they could run a few miles out before dropping to a slower speed to check for trace scents.

[Ha! I used a quote from the book!]

[Jacob Black]

She ignored his other statement and of course he had no desire to force the thoughts out of her. So for now he would let it pass... maybe. In return though he ignored her thoughts about the vampires. Until... Leah, you know you do not have to be here. Jacob puffed out and started on the trail, his nose all the while smelling for the others. His mind wandered to when he was with everyone, and not alone... then he remembered Leah and Seth, and was ALMOST happy to share their thoughts... well he was. For the time being.

So Leah wanted to race? Of course, if you got it, flaunt it. He gave a snort and launched into full speed. He ran with everything he had, knowing this leader would soon be behind his pack-sister. Jake remembered why he loved having a pack. Running with someone was... exciting. He loved the sound of her paws mixing in with his... he shook his head as he continued the run. His stomach rumbled. Hungry?

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[Leah Clearwater]

Leah watched Jake run; yeah she was that full of her self that she could give him a head start. Leah knew she was only faster, cause she was smaller then the boys. They might be bigger and stronger but all that ego and muscle slowed them down. Granted they were still super faster, but with her being smaller and lighter she flew around them. Leah had heard Jake tell her she did not have to be here, and one reason she was watching him run was so she wouldn't have to think about how she really had no were else to go. Besides, she rather run this spoke out, then run circles around the Cullen house.

Leah bolted after Jake, and ran with everything she had in her so she would pass him faster if she could. Hungry, yes. But I don't eat raw! Leah HATED eating raw. Something about it made her human side want to puke. She had images of eating Bambi's mother and then the sight and smell of the open and dead body made her shiver. She knew the boys didn't mind at times, and have even had the misfortune to have to see them do it at times.

Still, it was eat raw or eat food cooked by the leeches. Leah gave a mental sigh as she flew past Jake, Fine, we can hunt but don't expect me to not bitch about it. She slowed her run so Jake could keep up and she could stay just a few feet ahead. She had yet to pick up Sam's scent, or any of his followers. She wondered what would happen if Jake found Embry or Quil out here alone, and then banished the thought not wanting to hurt Jake. Before she was in Jake's pack she would have loved to think of things to hurt him, had done it many times. Now, she didn't want to be the pack's bitch. She owed Jake that much.

[Jacob Black]

The thoughts of disgust filtered through Jacob's mind. It was unfair to her, and he knew it. Although they had been offered food by the vampires, Jake knew that Leah would never take any kindness from them. And he couldn't blame her. She was here helping him, despite her hatred for the vampires, her attitude toward him in the past she was running with him here. Now. Although he never would have asked for such things, especially not from Leah. He did appreciate her help, greatly.

Somehow his gratitude made him want to help her as well. Leah, I don't know if you would want it...Jacob stopped his thought process and let his mind go blank for a quick second while he watched the smaller gray wolf run in front of him. Would she be angry with his suggestion? Or take it? He gave a wolfy sigh and continued But I can try to help you, I lived like a wolf for a while Leah, I ate raw. His thoughts turned to the days he ran in anger and allowed her to see what he meant. How he had eaten and let his wolf take over. Maybe it could help her now.

Though before Leah could even respond to such thoughts, he quickly thought Just a suggestion... to help. He let his scent take over while she turned it over in her head, he focused on looking for the other wolves so she could have some privacy if she wanted it. A large part of him hoped, prayed that Sam would keep the pack away. That he would not act. How badly things have gotten so quickly.

[Leah Clearwater]

Leah slowed her pace some to drop behind him at his offer, following along the non-beta side of him since Seth seemed to have that job, though no one really had it. She was thinking of his offer, not the ranking. While she doubted it would work, and she felt very five year old agreeing to it, she knew she had to eat. She was hungry and it came down to being grossed out and wanting to puke it up, or trying Jake's way and seeing what would happen.

Leah gave her self a mental shake before agreeing with Jake's offer. I doubt it would hurt to try, but even after seeing you turn away from your human side I don't know if I can. You didn't want to be human, Jake. I want it more then my next breath. The comment was oddly soft coming from bitter and bitchy Leah, but she was trying to be less annoying then Paul, and not cause Jake to get angry and send her back to Sam's pack when this was over.

[Jacob Black]

Seeing Leah fall back on his flank reminded him that he was an alpha. That wolves needed to have a ranking system. He just, could never see himself forcing others to do what he asked. He had more respect for other people than binding them to do something, binding them with a curse most of them did not even want. He glanced over at Leah, it was ironic, these two ran together. The two who wanted this the least out of all the wolves. Then her thoughts caught him off-guard, his heart held a tinge of pain for her. She wanted this even LESS than he did. It is easier if you just let go. He knew that that task alone was difficult, but if he could do it, so could she, plus he could lend her his mind.

His senses kicked in the minute his mind turned over to hunting, and within seconds he had found a large dear. His attention focused on the prey and he pounced. The deer was no match for him and within seconds it was laying lifeless at his feet. He looked over at Leah and invited her over with a nod of the head, showing he wasn't gonna be all alpha-ie and make her wait. He opened his mind to her, completely. Letting her choose to accept it or not, his thoughts were on nothing more than the food in front of him. Suddenly his teeth tore into the meat, and he felt the instant gratification. How easy it was to slip back into nothingness.

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[Leah Clearwater]

Letting go wasn't something Leah didn easily. Case point her feelings for Sam. Still, she was willing to try, even while her mind had it's doubts. She could see how it worked for Jake. How he almost didn't even think humanly. There was thoughts still, but they were more forced on sights and smells, and the now rather then the drama they left a few miles behind. Leah evnyed him that even while she tired to do it. When she tired, she only thought about trying to not think about things, which made her annoyed. Stupid deer, stupid wolf thing, stupid Sam, stupid stupid stupid . . . .

She took that annoyance out on one of the larger bucks that were running from the sight of Jake. She jumped out of her hiding place, and had it by the neck and dead and on the ground quickly. She was so focused on her inability to think like a wolf, like Jake, that was wasn't even thinking about the deer, or the raw meat she was eating. She was almost finished with her's before she noticed what she was doing, and even then it was easy to block out again. While she still rather a good cooked steak, she was glad Jake had showed her how to do this. She had never been very nice to Jake (or anyone in the pack who's name was Seth), so she wasn't sure why Jake was being nice to her. Why did you let em stay? She more wondered then asked him.

[Jacob Black]

Leah's thoughts almost had Jake laughing, but he did his best to keep his mind clear to show her his example the best that he could. He glanced up in time to see Leah take down a buck of her own and he watched as she torn into it, piece by piece. Her thoughts were not even registering what she was doing, and suddenly Jacob felt a sudden closeness to Leah he had never felt before, not with any wolf. Slightly disturbed, he shook his head and finished tearing the meat of his buck before he sat back to watch the other wolf. Somewhere inside of him his wolf told him she was a part of him, the alpha in him wanted to protect her, keep her healthy. Jacob never asked for this.

The question came at Jake, and he knew she was more so giving him a choice to answer. Why did he let her stay? It wasn't just for Seth's benefit, though he knew the other Clearwater had a lot to do with it, no there was more. "Mostly though Leah, I don't want to be an alpha, so I don't want to command anyone to do something they don't want to do. I am pretty sure you weren't about to leave on your own, and I am not about to force you." He knew that was the main reason he allowed her to stay but there was more. Letting her get away from Sam's mind, he would want the same kindness from someone else if he ever needed it. He knew she heard all of it, even what wasn't directed at her. He intentionally let her see all his reasonings behind it, that way she understood... that even he wasn't sure why he let her stay, but he had.

The two bucks laid on the ground and his eyes swept over them, his stomach no longer rumbled and he was full enough for now. "So how was that Leah? Better?" Jacob didn't do mushy well, and changing the subject seemed the best way to get past the lovey stuff. He laid down alongside his buck and began licking his paws and rubbing his muzzle, no reason to let the blood stain his coat, no telling when he would run into one of the vampires, they would get a kick out of seeing blood on his muzzle, and he wasn't about to give them something to laugh and joke about.

[Leah Clearwater]

Leah heard what Jake thought and for a moment she was mostly silent while she just thought over random things. She was only here because he didn't want to force her to go. Leah thought over things for a moment about Sam's rule. How he lead the pack by almost controlling their every move. Leah had liked that mostly. It had saved anyone from getting hurt or killed, and with a pack the size of Sam's it gave them order. Still. . . .

It was nice to be free to do what you needed to do. Be free. Don't let this go to your head, K? But your a good Alpha Jake. Not in the same way Sam is, but in your own way. Leah said, as she wiped her long noise against the grass and thinking of how Jake had been running his pack. his little pack but he had kept order and peace with out ordering anyone to shut up or to do something. and yeah, it helped. . . . now I am going to do you a favor and let you eat my dust as desert! Leah said as she bolted down the path they were heading. She did note she was picking up some faint leech scents, as if the Cullens had come this way a few days or a week before maybe. She laughed in her head at the idea of a vampire dareing to laugh at Jake.

[Jacob Black]

The fact that Leah thought him a good Alpha sent a whirl of mixed emotions throughout Jacob. A part of him was happy, another disgusted. He did not want to be an Alpha, he did not want to be responsible for others. He did not WANT to be in command, but somehow her confession... made him feel better about it. If he had to be an Alpha he wanted to at least be a good Alpha. He wanted his wolves to respect him, not fear him. For now he was stuck being an Alpha, but the future, well who knew what the future held? Thanks Leah, really.

Shortly after his thoughts were dragged from unpleasant, pleasant things with her bolting into a run. Jacob gave a wolfy grin, and then followed after her, running his fastest, attempting to keep up with her. Just as her thoughts processed the scent of vampires and shrugged it off as the Cullen's from a while ago Jacob's nose caught the same scent, and he agreed with her thoughts. Do you think it is safe for them to go hunting, Leah? He himself was almost positive Sam wouldn't be so reckless, but she did know him better than he did. No sense in being reckless, extra caution never hurt.

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[Leah Clearwater]

Don't turn this into a chick flick moment. Leah teased as Jake thanked her for her opinion. She had never thought her and Jake would get along at all much less to this level of agreement. Maybe it was because in then end, they both lost int the game of love. Maybe that was why there were seeming to get along so well now.

or maybe not.

Depends; safe for them, safe for the wild life population or safe for my stomach? She slowed down to look behind her for a moment, Yes, I think it's safe for them. She thought over the 'them' for a moment and her mind lingered on Rosalie. She lingered over the images she had seen from Jake, of Rosalie protecting the belly more then Bella, in a way. I sort of get her, ya know. I know were she is coming from. Leah said, meaning Rosalie.

[Jacob Black]

The two were getting along so well, he was beginning to almost respect Leah and then she mentioned the dumb blond, and not only that but she understood her. For a second he thought she was making a joke, a sick joke with poor taste, but a joke none-the-less, but then he realized she WAS serious. Fury ripped throughout Jacob's body and it was almost impossible to control, the blond who was killing Bella, and she "GOT" her! Within second Jake looked around for Leah's body, a sudden desire to bite her rippling through his body.

He resisted the impulse to rip her into shreds, Don't Leah. Her comment sickened him, what in the hell was Leah Clearwater saying? Of ALL of the vampires to somewhat ""get" she "got" THAT one. The one he hated most of all, more than Edward. The dumb, annoying, arrogant blond. Jacob didn't even WANT to control his anger anymore.

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[Leah Clearwater]

Leah knew she might have gone a bit to far when admitting this but the wolf was out of the bag now. 'Jake, calm down, let me explain. I am only saying I understand her. As much as Leah HATED to understand any leech, she felt like she could give Jake an insight. Not that it would make the sting of Bella's loss any easier. I am not trying to be mean, I just know how they feel.



'You know why Sam thinks we imprint--To make a bunch of new little werewolves. Survival of the species, genetic override. Your drawn to the person who gives you the best chance to pass on the wolf gene.--If I was any good for that, Sam would have been drawn to me. But I'm not. There is something wrong with me. I don't have the ability to pass on the gene apparently, despite my stealer blood lines. So I become a freak! The girlie wolf! Good for nothing else . . . I'm a genetic dead end and we both know it..' Leah's voice was both bitter and sad when she spoke, 'If Bella had asked this of me, I might have done the same. When you can't have something, it makes you desperate.'

[Jacob Black]

It was public knowledge to the werewolves that Leah had thought about this before, everyone had just chosen to ignore it. It was something none of them wanted to think about and it only had made her angrier, but he knew. . . knew it was the reason she detested becoming a wolf so much. Her pain was so much Jacob broke his stride while running and had to slow himself down to catch his thoughts. We don't know that, Leah. That's just Sam's theory. Imprinting happens, but we don't know why. Billy thinks it's something else.

Then he thought about something else. Leah, it's probably just the whole frozen-in-time thing. When you quit your wold and start getting older again, I'm sure things will. . . er. . . pick right back up. This was NOT a conversation he wanted to have, she was just convincing him not to let her remain in his head after this entire mess was over. He wouldn't want to think about this.

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[Leah Clearwater]

Maybe, Jake. Leah didn't want to hurt him, but she saw this as helping. If Jake could see it from their point of view, then maybe he could at lest understand. Even if he didn't agree. Leah understood. She got why Bella was taking the risk of her life to have a baby and why the blond was protecting her. She did. She understood perfectly. She knew the desperation, and fear. She could only imagine the joy and love, and she longed for it. She wanted a son to name after--well, Harry wasn't a good name for kids now days thanks to Harry Potter but, she would give him her father's middle name, and raise him to make her Dad proud. She knew how they all felt.

It didn't mean that she would not be the first there to kill the kid should it turn out to be the monster from Sam's head.

[Jacob Black]

Understanding Leah and accepting her thoughts were two completely different things. He refused to accept that Bella should be putting her life on the line for a. . . monster. For HIS monster. She could have had HIM, and she chose the damn leech. Jacob brought himself to a halt and flipped around on Leah, his teeth bared, he was not going to hurt her, but he was done with this conversation. The only part he agreed with was killing the monster inside of her, just not while it was still in it's place.

Quickly composing himself Jake quit baring his teeth and just looked at Leah. Her pain was different, but so similar. She wanted Sam happy, she loved him, and she was accepting of what had happened to her. She was even healing. Jake, he would be broken for a long time. Things like this took years, just like Leah knew. He turned back around and picked up his run again, once again looking for some sign of Sam and his pack, still nothing. Jake gave a quick nod at Leah, and hoped she was ready to change the subject or be quiet.

Should he even CONSIDER letting her stay. . .?

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[Leah Clearwater]

Leah shook her head slowly trying to clear it of the thoughts. It was time to let this go until she was once again alone to deal with it. Looked over at Jake and then, tried not to think about what she was gonna say or do before doing it. 'Don't worry Kid, Leah said and paced by him, Maybe that leech doc who helped you, will think of something. Leah had a few doubts but she did her best not to think of them.

She was trying to think of more exciting things to think about rather then the risky events upcoming. I got no scents, not even Paul is dumb enough to attack us and the Cullens. I think it's safe for them and for us to head back. Your call . . . . ughh . . . boss . . . The last word came out with an eye roll.

[Jacob Black]

Leah's quick attempt to lighten the mood to lessen his anger and he even gave an eye roll back to her own. But she was right, he agreed with her observation. He did not smell anything either, and the vampires were probably getting hungry. They might as well head back.

With that thought Jacob quickly adjusted his course and had the two of them heading back toward the mansion and Seth. He looked over at Leah and against his better judgment felt thankful she was beside him. She was no Quil or Embry, but she was better than Paul. I do like him. . . the doctor. He's the one leech I would have a hard time hurting. Him and his wife. Why did he feel the need to tell her that? Maybe to prove he wasn't heartless? He snorted at the thought. They all knew he wasn't heartless. His heart was just shattered right now.

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[Leah Clearwater]

Leah didn't really know if she agreed on his view with the leeches, but she could agree with the feelings. Besides. they had been nice to her, even if she had not wanted them being nice to her. She wasn't going to wear their clothing, or eat their food; but she could at lest use that to see where Jake was coming from.

Yeah, maybe with luck a few of the others will feel the same way. She doubted it, but she was trying to be more upbeat. I don't think they are going to try it today or even tomorrow. Sam is smart, he knows that with us here the element of surprise is gone, and fighting against us would mean a body count. He will wait until he knows something about . . . the baby. I vote we head on home.