Chapter Two: Comfort

Nessie

I had felt a sense of disillusionment when I first walked in the room to see Papa tending the other girl while Winnie sat alone. But the next instant I realized that of course, he would want to try to repair the damage, both the physical damage to the girl and the damage to our image and reputation. And as I pulled Winnie into my arms, I smelled Papa's scent fresh on her; he had comforted her first.

His calmness amazed me; when I first called him he hadn't even seemed surprised, responding as though this wasn't something terrible and unusual. Watching him now, still calm as he finished tending the girl and spoke with Mrs Hewes, helped me keep my own feelings under control. Anyway, Winnie was upset enough without me going to pieces…she clung to me, sobbing almost hysterically, and I remembered that of course she had no idea why she had had the urge to bite her classmate. We had never told her what we were, afraid she was too young to keep it a secret; since she had always eaten human food, we had assumed the smell of blood wouldn't be an issue. I was regretting that decision now; if she had known about the thirst, she probably would have been able to resist it.

"Stop by the college," Papa had suggested, and as I looked at my daughter crying herself sick in the seat beside me, I understood the wisdom of his suggestion.

The woman behind the front desk looked askance at the hysterical child I brought into the building. "Is Jasper Cullen available?" I questioned.

She pursed her lips. "Do you have an appointment, Mrs…?"

"Black," I supplied. "No, but he'll see us."

She frowned, and picked up the telephone to talk to Uncle Jasper. "He says to send you up to his office," she said finally, curling her lip in disapproval. "Room 8b on the third floor."

"Thank you." I turned, guiding Winnie to the elevator and shepherding her through the hall.

Her sobs began to lessen even before we reached his office; as we approached it he pulled the door open and reached a hand to draw her against his side. "Nessie, what happened?" he asked quietly.

I stepped forward and pressed my hand to the side of his face, careful not to include the scent of blood as I showed him what had happened; I knew it was still harder for him than for the others.

Uncle Jasper frowned in sympathy. He gently lifted Winnie to sit her on the edge of his desk. He mopped her tears with a handkerchief, then held it for her to blow her nose, gaining a small smile from her. I found myself wondering briefly why a vampire would be carrying a handkerchief.

Uncle Jasper sat behind the desk, leaning his arms on it so that his elbow touched Winnie's knee. * "Did I ever tell you about the little girl who saved an army?"

Winnie shook her head, and Uncle Jasper began the story. He could make history come alive; it was his ability to make you feel all the emotions of the main character, so that you almost thought you were living in the story. Winnie listened spellbound, the same girl who had been complaining only yesterday that history was boring. But I had to admit, there was little in common between one of Uncle Jasper's stories and a school history textbook.

He was just finishing the story when there was a hesitant tap at the door.

"Come in."

The student pushed the door open, then stopped in confusion at seeing Winnie and me. "I didn't realize you were busy…I'll come back later…"

"No, it's quite all right," Uncle Jasper said, getting smoothly to his feet and putting her at once at ease. "What did you need?"

"Well…they said you had a book about the Navajo Code Talkers."

"Ah, yes." He lifted Winnie to the ground and gently tugged one of her braids. "You go along with your mother, Pooh Bear."

"Thank you, Jasper," I said quietly as we turned to leave. He smiled at me, then turned his attention to finding the book the student needed.

Winnie's face sobered as we walked along the hall; I was sure Uncle Jasper was letting his influence fade gradually as she walked out of his range. But while she was pensive on the way home, she didn't return to her former hysteria. The story had distracted her, and Uncle Jasper had made her feel so many emotions in a short half hour that her mind had lost track of which was the real one.

* Link to illustration can be found on my profile.

Next chapter coming next week!

I proofread all my stories at least once before posting, but if you see any mistakes I might have missed, please let me know!

Please note that I have internet access only once a week, and may not have time to respond to all reviews/messages. If you have questions regarding my Twilight alternate history, check my profile first to see if they're answered there. Thanks for your understanding! Barbie