Hello everyone! This is just a story I wrote on a train heading into Penn Station. I liked it so I thought I'd share.
As I have every night for the past two weeks, I wake to the movement of the one beside me. Deep in his nightmare, Jasper thrashes and mumbles furiously. He'd had a very long streak during which the horrors of his past remained where they belonged. However, as it always has been, the good streak ended and left him at the bottom, with the memories plaguing him for weeks on end. It was always truly horrid to witness, the proud, strong soldier tormented like this. I felt as helpless as I always did knowing that I could not wake him and pull him from his past, though I always long to. "Don't…Please!" he pleads desperately with a woman he hasn't seen in decades. The damage Maria did to him amounted to more than just the visible scars. I knew her tactics also left deep psychological wounds that I alone could not heal. I had thought no one could, until my latest vision. And as the man I love whimpers in pain recalled from long ago, I know this has to change. I can't allow this to continue any longer. It's high time his wounds are healed, and there's only one man who can do it.
As always, Jasper wakes with a cry. He bolts upright, his eyes searching the darkened room for his torturer. When they land on me, his expression immediately shifts from shock and pain to a deep sadness. If he could cry, I'm sure he would be. "Alice…" he whispers, his voice cracking. I hold out my arms to him, and he clings to me tightly, hiding his face in the crook of my neck and sobbing tearlessly.
I hold him to me securely, lightly stroking his hair. "Shh, Jasper. Shh, baby. It was just a dream. You're safe, my love. She can't hurt you anymore. I've got you. Everything will be okay. It's over, honey," I murmur, kissing his forehead gently. I continue to hold him as he shudders and gasps for breath he doesn't need. Slowly, he calms in my embrace until his breathing regains a normal rhythm, only interrupted by small gasps.
"Jasper, love?" I murmur gently. Curious, he looks up at me with the eyes of a tortured man. He is surprised, I know, because this is not part of the normal routine. Usually, after I've calmed him, I rock him gently, humming softly to him until he falls asleep again. We never talk about it. But this is the time to convince him to get help. He watches me expectantly as I reach over and turn the lights on. I sit back against the headboard, pulling him into my lap, his head resting on my collarbone.
"It's time this ended," I begin softly. "She shouldn't be allowed to hurt you anymore."
He nods slowly. "I-I'd stop it if I k-knew h-h-how…" he replies shakily.
"I know you would, sweetheart," I assure him, kissing the crown of his head. "I think I know how. I saw it."
He looks up at me eagerly. "H-How? What did you see? I'll do a-anything!"
"You're going to have to talk to Carlisle," I explain. He's the only one who knows how to help." At this, he groans. "I'm sorry, love, but I can't let you suffer any longer. It's time we stop this, and Carlisle will help. If you keep an open mind and trust him, everything will be fine."
He is quiet for a long moment. "Can you stay with me?" he asks finally.
I nod. "Of course."
"Okay," he agrees quietly. "When do we talk to him?"
"Now."
"It's four o'clock in the morning," he reminds me.
"So?" I counter. "It's not like he's sleeping. And it's not like you will either." I gently pull him up from the bed, pulling him close. We travel the short distance to Carlisle's office, and I knock softly on the door.
"Come in," his muffled reply comes, and I open the door slowly. "Ah, good morning," he says when he sees us. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
I look to Jasper, who bites his lip. "Um…I kind of…I need some help."
Carlisle nods solemnly. "Of course. Come on in." We close the door behind us and take our seats on the couch against the wall. Carlisle sits across from us. "So, I take it this is about the nightmares?" he asks. Jasper looks up, surprised. "I didn't mean to pry," he explains. "It's just…vampire hearing. Anyway, I'll absolutely help. Are these dreams flashbacks to an earlier time?" Jasper nods. "And what time are you flashing back to?"
I squeeze his hand gently as he replies. "Usually my time I spent with Maria…Sometimes to my human father."
Carlisle nods. "And are the flashbacks generally of very upsetting or traumatic events during those times?"
"Yes."
Carlisle mulls it over for a minute. "Okay," he says finally. "I need to do a little research before we do anything. So here's what we'll do. I'll do the research tonight, and you two can stay home from school tomorrow and we'll get started." He looks Jasper over for a moment. "Tonight, you both need sleep." He digs through a drawer for a minute, coming up with a bottle and a syringe. Jasper eyes him carefully. "Don't worry, it's safe," Carlisle assures him. "I make it myself. It will allow you to sleep without the nightmares popping up again. If you'd like, I can give you a dose tonight to help you sleep until we fix the problem."
Jasper hesitates, but nods. Carlisle begins measuring out a dose in the syringe, and he watches carefully. "But won't the needle just break off?" he asks, puzzled.
"No," Carlisle replies. "I have a lot of time on my hands," he says by way of explanation. He finishes and looks at Jasper. "Ready?" Jasper nods and holds out his arm. Carlisle takes it gently and carefully injects the medicine. Right away, Jasper's eyelids begin to droop.
"Thank you daddy," I say, pulling Jasper from the couch.
Of course," he replies. "Get some rest. I'll see you tomorrow."
Well, that's that. The first chapter. I've written the first four, and if I get some reviews I'll start putting them up. Please let me know what you think!
~TheSongSmith
