I don't own twilight, Stephanie Meyers does.

Chapter 2

Jasper laid down on a bed of pine needles and looked for slivers of sun to pass through the thick trees. How long had he been here? Alone? It seemed an eternity, he had stopped counting the days when he had counted ten years.

He heard a bird call overhead and on a whim decided to climb a tree. He wanted to feel the sun on his skin, see the endless sea of green he lived in. It didn't take him long to climb a tall tree and he closed his eyes as he faced the sun.

The heat on his skin felt nice. For a little while he could forget the scars that covered his body and deformed his face. His peace was short lived as he heard nearby gunfire. He groaned and jumped down the tree. He raced to his cabin, the shot had sounded close to his home and he didn't want a hunter stumbling on his solitude.

He quickly caught up with the hunting party and began to send them light fatigue and boredom. That was usually enough to send sport hunters on their way. Few had wandered out this far and when they did they were tired from the long trip. These humans seemed no different, they yawned and stretched. They began to joke about the beer waiting for them at camp and started to head out.

Jasper let out a sigh of relief. So far he had been able to dissuade anyone from finding him. In his solitude he had learned to control his gift. He was able to manipulate others emotions with ease now. He felt their emotions from a greater distance too. His gift had become such an ingrained part of him, he couldn't understand how he had ignored it for so long.

He never let anyone see him but a few times, in sheer loneliness and a need to escape his crushing guilt, he had ventured into the small town of Forks. He liked the town and it was easy to loose himself in the emotions of those around him. He didn't do it often the risk of getting caught was great, he never wanted to feel horror from another living being at the sight of him. Only when the guilt of his past crimes threatened to swallow him did he risk it.

Not only had he learned more about his gift in his hermitage but his past began to haunt him. He had been arrogant before, he had viewed the world only in the ways it involved him. Jasper closed his eyes as pictures of his past actions played in his mind. He had never tortured anyone as cruelly as Maria had but he had tortured human and vampire alike. He had killed without mercy, ignoring broken cries of fear and agony. He had ignored his victims plights in the past but now...now he knew pain , loneliness, fear, despair felt like first hand and he regretted his actions.

Jasper snorted, a mirthless laugh, it was ironic that an empath was only now beginning to learn compassion. It was even more cruel that now that he knew how to show sympathy, he was alone and anyone that he would want to show it to would run from him in terror.

Charlie walked into the station with a bounce in his step. It was his first day as a deputy and he was anxious to start. He had no illusions of big crime in his sleepy town but he was eager to serve the people who lived here. He loved Forks, he had grown up here and he wanted to protect the people. Besides maybe Renee would agree to marry him now that he had such a secure job. Sure she was young but he loved her so much, he would make her happy, he knew he would.

The chief looked up at him as he approached his desk. He was on the phone and seemed annoyed. Chief Robbins was good at his job but everyone knew he had a temper. He didn't like people wasting his time.

"Charlie this woman says she wants to talk to you." He said handing Charlie the phone, he kept his hand over the receiver. "She sounds like a wacko." He said in a low tone. Charlie smiled and reached for the phone.

"Can I help you Ma'am?" He asked eagerly.

"Hello, I hope you can help me." She said. Her voice sounded like bells and Charlie was momentarily amazed.

"I broke up with my boyfriend last week and his family says they haven't heard from him since. I know he has a cabin far out in the woods. Could you maybe go check and see if he is there?" She asked sweetly.

Charlie felt a blush cover his face. He knew he loved Renee but this woman...she sounded...heavenly. Charlie nodded before realizing she wouldn't see his nod and gruffly answered yes.

"Oh thank you." She gushed. "He may try to hide, please look thoroughly I am almost certain that is where he went."

Again Charlie nodded before shaking himself and replying to her. "I promise I will search diligently." He said hoping he sounded intelligent. Chief Robbins snickered behind him.

Charlie ignored him as he listened to the angels voice give him directions. He hung up before he realized he didn't ask her for her name or her ex-boyfriends name. Chief Robbins laughed more before patting him on the shoulder.

"She told me her name was Alice Cullen and the man she is looking for is Jasper Whitlock." He smirked at Charlie's red face. "Personally I think this is a waste of time but if you want to play the knight in shining armor it's fine with me. I'll introduce you around town tomorrow. Maybe we can go by Pacific Place, I heard Renee was working there after school."

Charlie said nothing as he walked out the door. He heard Chief Robbins laughter following him though.

Jasper felt the human coming. He tried to stop him, he sent him boredom, fatigue, even fear but the man kept coming. He was looking for someone. Jasper could tell by how alert he was, how he looked at his surroundings carefully as if he was searching for clues. His emotions were full of excitement and determination. He couldn't help but like the man. His emotions were so positive and optimistic. They drew him in, made him want to actually meet and talk with the man. It had been so long, would he even be able to use his voice?

The man was not being deterred and Jasper was running out of ideas. He was almost to his cabin. Why had he built the cabin? It would have been easier to hide if he hadn't. It wasn't as if he actually needed it, but it had given him something to do and made him feel more human.

The man saw his cabin and a smile covered his face. He put the map he had been following back in his pocket and walked with more determination. Jasper held back his sigh. He was going to have to move now. It was too bad, he had grown to like living here.

He watched the man curious what he would do, what or who he was looking for. The man walked up on the porch and knocked on the door, he looked around him and for a moment, Jasper wondered if he knew he was being watched. He studied his emotions. The man did seem to be more anxious than before.

"Mr. Whitlock, Alice Cullen has sent me to check on you. Your family is worried about you." The man said.

Jasper was shocked. The man knew his name. Who would know where he was? Who would care? And who the hell was Alice Cullen? Jasper stood there in indecision. Part of him screamed at him to leave, his solitude was clearly gone. The man had known exactly where he was and who he was. The other part of him wanted to know how the man knew. He doubted Maria would search for him and if she did she wouldn't send a human to find him. Peter?

Curiosity won out and he stepped out of the shadows. He kept his hood up and his head down, hiding his face. The man turned to him instantly. Jasper studied him, he was younger than he had thought. He was tall with dark brown hair. He was clean shaven and his brown eyes were clear and full of his own curiosity.

"Mr. Whitlock? Jasper Whitlock?" The man stepped forward and Jasper stepped back a little.

The man stopped and ran a hand through his hair. Jasper knew he was thinking of ways to handle the situation. Finally he smiled and began to speak.

"My name is Charles Swan, you can call me Charlie." He said with a smile. He held out his hand for a handshake and Jasper was sorely tempted to shake it. The man was just so enthusiastic and friendly it was almost infectious.

Charlie dropped his hand and his smile. He cleared his throat and tried again. "Your girlfriend called..." He trailed off and let out a big breath of air. "Listen Mr. Whitlock I can't pretend to know what you are going through, but I would like to help." Charlie said.

"Why?" Jasper croaked. He felt Charlie's genuineness even though he was sure the man didn't know what Jasper needed help with. He meant what he said, but why would he want to help a stranger that he didn't know.

Charlie kind of chuckled and looked a little embarrassed. He ran a hand to the back of his neck. "It's my job..." Charlie stopped obviously he had meant something more. "It's more than that. It's my life, what I want to do with my life. This is my town, my friends, my family. I love it and want to serve and protect not only the place but the people who live here and you Mr. Whitlock live here. " Charlie said with feeling.

Jasper read all his emotions during his speech and was awed by the young man who stood before him. He honestly liked him.

"I don't know any Alice Cullen. I have been living out here alone for years." Jasper told him his voice raspy.

Charlie frowned. He was disappointed but Jasper didn't really know why. He heard him mutter "Chief Robbins was right she was a wacko." Jasper actually smiled for the first time in a long time.

"Well I'm sorry to have bothered you Mr. Whitlock." Charlie said and started to turn around.

"You can call me Jasper." He said and held out his hand.

Charlie's warm smile returned and he shook his hand vigorously.

"Well I'm glad to meet you Jasper." Charlie said as he let go of his hand. "I'll see you around." He said as he turned to leave.

Jasper didn't want him to go. He had talked to no one in so long and this young man was so warm and full of like, so idealistic. He wanted to be his friend.

"Maybe...maybe you could come by again sometime." Jasper said. His eye widened under his hood what the hell was he thinking? He felt Charlie's happiness and it calmed his panic.

"I would really like that Jasper." He said and turned to leave again giving him a last friendly wave. Jasper watched him leave, he put a hand to his face feeling the scars there and wondered if he had made a huge mistake.

Author's note: Thank you everyone who has read, favorite, reviewed, followed this story. My updates wont be as regular as I normally like. My life is busy right now but I just couldn't stay away from writing. As you can see it will be a bit before Bella enters the picture. She will appear though.