Challenge Number/Title: #3 – Word Play

Date Posted: 02/22/2013

Fandom: Twilight

Rating: NC17

Genre: AH

Content Descriptors: Angst, Romance, Mystery

Character Pairing: Bella / Edward

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Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

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Hello, everybody! This is my contribution to PTB's Writing Challenge 2013. There will be one story line, under the unofficial title 'Secret Hearts', concluded in 52 chapters. My greatest thanks to MOD Mel and JulieToo from PTB, for beta'ing this chapter for me. I have been remiss when I posted the previous chapter. I forgot to thank BelleDuJour for pre-reading my chapters. Thank you, thank you, thank you so much, you have no idea how much your words of encouragement have helped me find some confidence in my writing. Okay, on with the show…

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Secret Hearts

Chapter 3

"Hello, Mr. Whitlock. To what do I owe the honor of your call?"

"Good evening, Sir. I hope I haven't caught you at a difficult time."

"No, not at all. Is there something I can do for you?"

Jasper took a deep breath. "Yes, Sir. Do you know a woman named Isabella Swan?"

"Yes, I do. I gather she finally found you?" Phil asked and scrubbed his scruffy chin. "Persistent little thing, that one," he mumbled.

"Yes, she did. Sir, with all due respect, what the hell were you thinking?" Jasper asked in a very, very frustrated tone of voice.

Phil didn't particularly like the not-so-subtle inflection, and his voice authoritatively rung through the phone. "Mind your language, Agent. Remember who you are speaking to."

"Yes, Sir. Sorry, Sir," Jasper rushed to say. "But honestly, how could you send her to the other end of the world on a wild goose chase? You know the dangers better than any of us."

He had spent the last half hour trying to gather the courage to make this call. It wasn't par for the course to call the founder of the organization you worked for to demand explanations. But Bella's life and theirs—not to mention an entire operation—was on the line. It was not the time to beat around the bush.

"She put herself in danger. I almost shot her on sight when I found her watching us. If it had been someone else, she would have been shot." A shudder went through Jasper's body when he remembered their meeting. "She could have compromised our position. She may have."

"She hasn't," came the reply through the line. "She has been taught well."

"Then why was I able to surprise her on that summit? She was completely unaware of her surroundings. How would she know if someone was following her if she paid no attention?" Jasper retorted.

There was silence for a few moments before Phil asked, "Was she being followed?"

A heavy sigh was Jasper's first response. "No. I made sure of it before I took her to the compound," was the second. "But it could have been—it probably was—just blind luck. The fact that she reached us safely was nothing short of miraculous."

"It wasn't luck, Agent. You don't see her very clearly. You don't really know her."

"I used to. We all did. She's changed. She's more..."

"She is more. She has strong blood. Where is she now?"

Jasper scratched his chin and rubbed his tired eyes. The day was supposed to be quiet. And he had yet to inform Edward of her presence in the compound. That was not a conversation he was anxious to have. If brooding were a kingdom, Edward would have been its rightful king. He sighed. "She is back in her room. I sent her there so I could speak to you. To confirm her story."

"Have her call me later, Mr. Whitlock." He paused for a moment. "Is that all for now?"

Jasper understood when he was being dismissed, so he ended the call and let his body fall heavily back on his chair. The conversation had allayed only one of his concerns. She clearly wasn't a spy for the enemies, but that was now only a speck in the cluster-fuck that was about to unfold.

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Back in her room, Bella sat quietly on the bed and did some of the exercises Phil had taught her to help her focus. Breathing steadily in and out, she closed her eyes and opened her ears. It was quiet, but not completely. Footsteps echoed in the labyrinth of hallways, a hint of activity close by.

That place was like a tomb. Dug deep in the body of the rock, it stayed hidden from dangerous, prying eyes. It was huge, from what she had gathered. On the surface, only a small, trodden shack was visible. The rest of the compound was an underground network of tunnels, not unlike an ant farm. She had watched the place from that summit for a couple of days—for signs of activity—finding it hard to believe that the location she had found was the right one.

She felt ashamed for the way Jasper had surprised her. There must be another entrance to this place, she thought. Probably several and all guarded. She had lost her focus for a few minutes, and Bella knew that it would have been bad if anyone but him had found her. The memories had been too persistent, and she had given in, losing her concentration.

Opening her eyes, she waited for Jasper to appear at her door. Once the first bout of emotion was behind her, she wouldn't let anyone catch her off guard. She had recognized his footsteps as he approached her room. "Come in," she told him. When he entered the room, she looked at him and waited.

"Director Dwyer said to call him back. He verified your story," Jasper told her calmly.

The smirk that appeared on her face was belied by the sadness in her eyes. "You really believed that I would try to hurt you?" she quietly asked him.

Afraid of the answer, she dropped her eyes on his feet. She saw them coming closer and stopping in front of her. Then he knelt down and enveloped her trembling hands in his.

"Honestly? I didn't know what to believe, Bella. I haven't seen you in a year and...the way we left Forks...I just didn't know. There is more at stake here than a friendly reunion. Things you don't know. Things you shouldn't know, but you do. And the others still have no idea that you're here. I can only imagine what will happen when that particular can of worms is opened." He shook his head and tugged at her arm.

"Come on, Belly Nelly, let's go get you something to eat. There's always a brighter outlook on a full stomach," he said and teasingly ruffled her hair.

"Hey," she cried indignantly. "Don't mess with the hair. I'm already sporting a cabbage patch head. I don't need you making it worse. Jerk!"

His laugh warmed her heart until she heard him say, "Well, your wonderful hairdo will be perfectly in line with the menu. Today we're having cabbage soup for lunch."

The way her face contorted in absolute disgust brought a new bout of laughter to Jasper. He pulled her up and squished her in his arms.

"I missed you, Bella. Whatever happens, remember that. We all missed you, okay?" he told her in a reassuring voice.

Bella tried to swallow the lump that had suddenly appeared in her throat and blinked back tears. "I missed you too, Jazzy," she said and hugged him tighter. A few moments later, they pulled back and tried to compose themselves.

"So...cabbage soup, huh?"

"Yep," he replied, smirking.

"Any chance for a Pop-Tart?"

He barked a laugh. "We'll see," he said.

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A/N: That was chapter three. I would love to hear what you thought of it. Back to you soon, hopefully.

Love,

Kallie xoxo