Thanks, guys, for such a wonderful response! Those of you, my Jasper girls, I really appriciate you giving this a shot, even though it's not your usual. This chapter is longer than the last, but not as long as I wanted. But I didn't want to cram too much in it, and you'll see why. The further we go with the story, the longer the chapters will be.
Thanks, CatieALardin and booty492, for being so great. They rock my beta world.
Edward
I looked over the notes I took on Jane Doe, growing more and more puzzled with each line. She clearly wanted to communicate. She was, by observation, intelligent and understanding. There wasn't anything physical that was preventing her from speaking, and even if there was, why wouldn't she write it down? I could only conclude that whatever had happened to her had just destroyed that part of her completely, effectively preventing her from all forms of telling communication. What also bothered me was that why wasn't a missing persons report filed on her? How could no one miss her? It's as if this girl appeared at out nowhere. What happened to her? I asked myself over and over. She didn't seem to be damaged, but clearly the wounds ran deep. I ran a hand through my hair; I hated to be this puzzled. I sat down and went through all the documents again, making sure I've missed nothing. I poured over the missing person's list-nothing. I went through police records for all the towns in the surrounding area where she was found-nothing.
Nothing.
Nothing.
It was like she didn't even exist. And yet, she did-she was educated, she understood me-she wasn't some feral human picked up on the outskirts of a town, long since abandoned. She had been someone's daughter. I would hazard to guess that she had gone to school. I found that I was more puzzled as to where she came from, then why she wasn't speaking; if I knew one, I would know the other. Letting out a frustrated sigh, I got up and headed to the kitchen, intent on doing something besides staring at my computer screen. I didn't normally drink, but I felt that this situation called for a glass of scotch. For a brief moment, I considered turning down the case, just on the pure fact that it was already consuming me. After I downed the first glass, I wondered something. Had all of this woman's therapists been men? It was a small straw, but I was grasping. I headed back to my files and checked quickly-I was right. All men. Pursing my lips, I picked up my phone and dialed. I had worked with a therapist once, on a joint case, who not only dealt with lost memories, but suffered from it herself. She remembers nothing prior to the age of 15.
"Hello?" her voice echoed on the other end of the line.
"Alice, its Edward. I was wondering if you'd consider looking over a case with me?" I waited as she considered.
"Tell me about it." Her business-like voice rang through, and I knew she would. I gave her a brief overview of what I had read, and of the brief encounter I had with her, and then explained that all her therapists had been men.
"I know it's reaching, but I'm willing to try. Perhaps you could connect with her-she's responsive and understanding."
"I'll see what I can do. When is your next appointment with her?" She asked.
"Tomorrow at two pm. Can you be there? If so, I'll get there early, explain to her what's happening." Another breath on her end as she thought it over.
"I'll be there. Fax me what you have so far so I can familiarize myself with the case, and I will see you tomorrow at 2." She hung up, and I did as she asked, immediately faxing her what I had. I felt better; maybe this was a step in the right direction. I decided to call it a night, turning in early and heading to bed.
Jane-the next day
I knew I had an appointment with Dr. McSexyPants today, and I wasn't sure how I felt about it. He had the look-the one that said he wasn't going to give up. I hated to be the one to finally give all his hard work the boot, because I wasn't fixable. But on the other hand, he was nice to look at, and that was a fun change. So I'd sit here, and tell him in the only way I can, that he's not going to do a damn bit of good but thanks for trying. Just like all of them. I was resigned to the fact that either I would never get out of here, or they'd finally get tired of me and release me-just so I could live on the street forever. I couldn't work. I couldn't do anything. I was hopeless. I knew that if I did get out of here, I'd be in even worse shape than I'm in right now. Where would I go? I knew what I wanted to do. I wanted to make friends, have a life, go to college. All the things I'd never have.
I waited for two pm, lurking around my room and pulling my hair in different styles and changing clothes, because I was excited. Finally, the door creaked open, and the regular guy motioned Dr. McSexyPants in, and hot damned if he wasn't still as beautiful. He smiled at me and took the seat across from my bed, and I grinned like an idiot.
"Hello, Jane. How are you today?" he asked, smiling all the while. I raise my eyebrows and smile, like it's all good here in the crazy house! "Jane, I've got someone coming in today, someone to talk to you. I think you'll like her. Her name is Dr. Alice Brandon, and she's got experience with people who aren't able to communicate. She deals a lot with people who've lost their memories, or parts of them. She, herself, doesn't remember anything before age fifteen. Is that okay?" he asked, questioning me with his eyes. I shrugged, nodding my head. Sure, why not? They've never sent a chick in here before. It might be a nice change. And the fact that her last name wasn't Cullen was not lost on me. He smiled again. "Good. She'll be here soon. Would you like me to go, or stay while she is here? It's up to you." Go? Why the hell would I tell him to go? I pleaded with him a little, telling him not to go. "Okay. I'll be here-but I'll stay on the other side of the room. If I feel like you're holding out because I'm here, I will leave. Understand?" I nodded. He mulled around, asking me questions that I answered in the best way I could until there was another knock on the door. The regular guy let in a small woman with short black hair and glasses. I was taller than her, and that was saying something. She smiled brightly at me and headed over to shake my hand.
"Hello! I'm Dr. Brandon. How are you today?" she asked, and I was glad that she didn't tack on the Jane that everyone else called me. I gave her the 'I'm about as good as I can be face,' and she nodded. "I'm going to tell you a little bit about me before we get started. I'm sure Dr. Cullen told you what I do?" I nodded again. "Good. I'm going to tell you why, and then I'll discuss with you what I'd like to try." I stared at her, waiting for her to continue.
Edward
"When I was around fifteen years old, I woke up in the woods. I don't know how I got there, or why. And I say around fifteen because I can't be certain; the doctors just estimated that was how old I was at the time. I didn't know my name, my parent's names, where I was from-I was almost a blank slate. I could speak, but I didn't know what to say. I didn't have the answers that they were looking for. I literally had to build my whole life. I chose this name, because I liked the way it sounded. That day they found me in the woods? That was day one for me. I had basic life skills, a general education, and nowhere to go. I was put into foster care until I was 18, I was home schooled, and it was very difficult for me to get into college. But I did." Alice stopped then, to take a deep breath and assess how Jane was taking the story. It was always hard for her, no matter how many times she told it. Jane was watching her with wide eyes, her brow furrowed as she devoted all of her attention to Alice. She sucked in another breath before continuing. "I had nothing. I am my only family. I have tried….everything…to get back what I lost. But nothing has worked. I spend my life trying to help people get back what I've lost. I will help you, any way I can so that you can get back what you've lost." At this point, she took Jane's hands in hers, and looked into her eyes. She was speaking with her like Jane spoke with everyone else.
And Jane was crying.
I was amazed. She had connected with her already; it was a step in the right direction. Alice gave her a sweet smile. "Jane, here's the first thing I'd like to try. I want to try hypnotism. It's one of the easiest ways to tap into the unconscious mind. Would that be okay with you?" Jane looked at her with teary eyes and nodded. "I know that one of your other doctors tried this on you and it didn't work, but I think maybe it's time to try again. I'm going to ask Dr. Cullen to step out of the room, because I don't want him to distract you, but he'll be right outside the door. Is that alright?" Again, Jane nodded. This time, Alice rounded on me. "Outside, if you please, Edward. I'll come get you when I'm finished. I'll be recording the entire experience for both of our records." I had nothing to say, so I just nodded and went to sit in the chair outside of Jane's room. The door clicked behind me, and I rested my head against the back of the chair. I hoped this would work, but I had my doubts. Hypnotism was always the first choice for her, not only because it did work sometimes but also because it can gauge how deep the issue is ingrained. I could only hear Alice's muffled voice inside the room, growing steadily softer until it was only a murmur. I closed my eyes and drifted while Alice worked. She had worked on so many cases, told her story so many times…but each time, it was hard on her. She wanted, so desperately, to remember her life, to remember anything. Just like Jane, there were no missing persons filed on women fitting her appearance. Nobody knew where she originated from. At this point, we weren't sure if Jane just didn't remember, or simply refused to communicate what had happened to her. Maybe it was a combination of both. Her mind was protecting her from something; protecting her from telling what happened. The question was why. My mind drifted further away as Alice worked, and I was no longer paying attention to what was going on in the room.
Then Jane screamed.