I don't own twilight, Stephanie Meyers does.
Chapter 3
Jasper felt Charlie coming and smiled. Charlie had been visiting him once a week for six months now and Jasper was glad that he had taken a chance and talked to him. He was filled with such happy emotions that it soothed Jasper's own darker ones.
Jasper's smile widened, Charlie seemed even happier than normal today. He pulled his hood over his head and walked forward to meet him.
"Jasper!" Charlie called waving a hand in the air as he saw him. Jasper half heartedly waved back but inside he rejoiced at the joy he felt coming from Charlie.
"I was going to wait to tell you but I just can't hold it any more." Charlie said handing something to Jasper.
Jasper took the item and looked at it a little confused. "A cigar?" He asked.
"I'm going to be a father!" Charlie declared happily.
Jasper didn't know what to say. He was happy for Charlie but he had doubts about Renee. Charlie had told him what a free spirit she was and how she dreamed of traveling the world. It was part of the reason Charlie loved her so much. Renee was just eighteen, Jasper wasn't sure that she would take the news as well.
Charlie clapped him on the back. "Come on let's grab the poles. I need you to help me figure out how to propose to her." He said smiling widely.
Jasper followed him and they each grabbed a pole. Charlie put his pole under his arm and fumbled in his pockets for a minute before drawing out a ring box. He opened it nervously and showed Jasper an engagement ring. It wasn't big but Jasper knew it was probably more than Charlie could afford.
"Do you think she'll like it?" Charlie asked nervously.
Jasper put the cigar in his pocket and reached for the ring. He made a show of studying it while he thought of what to say. "I think she will, but are you sure she will want to get married?" Jasper asked cautiously.
Charlie brought the ring back and shut the box, putting it back in his pocket. "Of course she will! We're going to have a baby!" Charlie declared.
Jasper began walking again and Charlie followed his good mood starting to fade and doubt creeping in. Jasper hated that but he was worried for his friend. He had heard him talk so much about Renee with obvious love that he had gone to see her, in secret of course. She was definitely beautiful and from what he could read kind, but she was also discontented and a little selfish. He supposed it was just her age and in time she would mature. She was at the age to rebel and she clearly wanted to leave this town. The problem was that Charlie loved it here.
He looked over at his friend who was smiling and staring off into the distance. "So maybe you could take her to Seattle, to a fancy restaurant. Do the whole getting down on one knee thing..." Jasper trailed off wondering if Charlie was even listening.
"That's perfect!" Charlie exclaimed.
Jasper smiled at his enthusiasm. "Maybe for your honeymoon, you could take her some place exotic. Maybe Jamaica?"
"Renee in a bikini..." Charlie said dreamily then blushed when he realized he said that out loud. Jasper chuckled and they sat down next to the stream they regularly fished at. They never actually caught anything, Jasper really didn't think the stream was big enough for fish but it was an excuse to sit and talk and he loved it.
Charlie frowned after a moment. "Renee might be too pregnant to want to lay around in a bikini. Is it even safe to fly when you are pregnant?" Charlie said beginning to worry.
Jasper honestly didn't know so he thought of an alternative. "Well maybe you could go to Vancouver, Canada? You said she wants to travel."
A cloud passed over Charlie's face. "Do you think I can make her happy?" He asked softly.
"Yes, Charlie." Jasper told him honestly. Charlie could make anyone happy.
"I want you to see her Jasper! She's the most beautiful baby ever. Her eyes are so expressive and she is so smart. I swear she is going to be the first woman president!" Charlie told him while he sat on Jasper's porch. They had given up the pretense of fishing three months ago and now would sit on the porch and watch the forest.
"She smiles at me and is babbling, she said mama very clearly and I swear she said dada but Renee told me I was imagining it." Charlie said still smiling.
Jasper just grinned he loved to just listen to Charlie describing his happiness. His feelings overwhelmed him and chased out the guilt and loneliness that Jasper felt when he wasn't there.
"Renee insists we call her by her full name but I think Isabella is too long. She's my Bella." Charlie said with a dreamy grin. He looked over at Jasper and his face became serious.
"I'd like you to meet her. Renee said you can come for dinner Saturday." Charlie told him.
Immediately Jasper tensed up, he couldn't go to his house. Renee might want to see his face...then Charlie would see him as a monster. "I can't." Jasper said quietly.
Charlie studied him for a couple of minutes before reaching in his pocket and pulling out a picture. He passed it over to Jasper. Jasper looked at the tiny baby and smiled, Charlie was right she was beautiful. He told Charlie so.
"I know." Charlie said with pride taking the picture back. He turned the conversation to work and sports but didn't bring up the invitation again.
"Bella is five now and I've decided it's time to take Renee on a trip. I've saved enough money that we can go to Paris, Spain, or maybe England. Anywhere she wants to go." Charlie said as he looked up into the sky.
Jasper sat next to him on the porch and listened silently. Charlie wasn't his normal self, he was tense, he had been for the last six months.
"She's unhappy Jasper...I was thinking maybe a vacation would help." Charlie said taking a sip of his beer.
"There is a killer loose. Rachel was found beaten and stabbed in the forest yesterday. She was just sixteen...her mother is distraught. Before that it was Michelle Jones, found in her car. Things like this aren't supposed to happen here. I'm supposed to stop things like that from happening it's my job!" Charlie said looking off into the distance.
Jasper knew it was more than just a job to him and he felt the guilt that Charlie felt.
"I can't leave while someone is preying on the women of this town but...I'm afraid I'm losing her Jasper." Charlie whispered. Jasper felt his fear and guilt, had felt it for a while now but didn't pry. Now he was cursing himself for not asking him what was wrong. Charlie had been a good friend and Jasper needed to help him.
"I can help." He said quietly.
Charlie looked over at him studying him quietly. "What can you do?" Charlie asked skeptically.
"Take me to where you found Rachel." Jasper told him.
Charlie seemed to think it over, finally he shook his head. "I can't do that Jasper. I'm sorry but I don't want you hurt by some psycho. Let us handle it, that's what we are paid for." Charlie said with a strained smile.
"I'd better go. Renee wants to go out for dinner. Mrs. Raymond is coming over to watch Bella tonight." Charlie stood up and headed down the trail. Jasper watched him go.
Jasper watched the little girl walking up her walkway. Charlie hadn't exaggerated Bella was a beautiful little girl. She looked over to the trees he hid in and for a moment he feared she had seen him but she quickly looked away and walked the rest of the way to her house.
Jasper turned away he had taken to watching over Bella since that talk he had with Charlie. She was a lot like her father, her emotions were happy and positive. He felt drawn to her. It disturbed Jasper that someone was killing people in this town. He had seen many atrocities, he had committed some and been the victim of them but it shouldn't happen here. Not in Charlie's town. He decided he wasn't going to let it happen. He was going to catch this killer.
He knew there was a chance Renee might convince Charlie to leave once this killer was caught. He had been reading Renee and her restlessness was almost bubbling over. She would leave soon and Charlie loved her enough to go with her. Jasper didn't want him to leave but he wanted his friend happy.
He let his gift roam the town. Emotions washed over him, he tried to pick out anything that might be suspicious but could find nothing. He walked the outskirts of the town, searching as he had for the last month. Two more murders had been committed. Charlie said that they were thinking of sending out the state police but Chief Robbins was trying to stop that.
Chief Robbins was a very stubborn man who didn't like anyone horning in on his territory. Charlie didn't think he would be able to hold them off for much longer, though.
Jasper picked up Charlie's emotions, they were no longer filled with happiness and optimism. Now he was filled with fear and determination. Jasper admired the man more and more every day. His loyalty and his deep love for his family and community inspired him. Jasper followed the police car. Maybe he could get some information by eavesdropping on them at the station.
Charlie parked his car and went inside. Jasper went to the other side of the building and positioned himself under the window. A sudden spike of fear went through Charlie and Jasper heard him shout. "Freeze!"
Jasper didn't even hesitate he jumped through the window and landed to the side of the Chief's desk. It only took him a moment to assess the situation. Chief Robbins sat at his desk his head laying on it blood pouring down his back, Jasper could hear no heartbeat from him. Charlie stood with his gun drawn and pointed at a man who also had a gun drawn and had turned it on Jasper.
Everything happened in a blur of speed. Charlie fired his gun at the criminal, who in turn fired at Jasper. Charlie's shot went wide but the criminal's shot was sure. Jasper felt the impact of the bullet as it bounced off him and embedded in the wall. He didn't give the man a second chance to fire. He ran at inhuman speed and disarmed the man. He held his arms behind his back and looked at Charlie.
Charlie was staring at him with his mouth open.
"Cuff him Charlie." Jasper said.
That woke him up and he pulled out his handcuffs. He secured the man then went to the phone. Jasper left while his back was turned. He would have to face Charlie's questions but he didn't want to be around when the state police showed up.
Jasper sat on the chair he had made and waited as Charlie approached. It had only taken him a day to come up here. Jasper guessed it took him that long to get everything cleared up.
"His name was Richard Manns, he came here from Utah. Apparently he was wanted there for murder. They suspect he targeted small towns in hopes of avoiding capture. Chief Robbins stopped him because he had a parking light out. He gave the Chief lip and you know how bad Chief Robbins temper was, he took him into the station and Richard panicked." Charlie told him grimly. Jasper felt the grief in him. Chief Robbins had been his mentor.
Charlie sat down and stared into the woods. "What are you?" He asked.
Jasper debated on telling him, it could put him in danger but Charlie was the best friend he had ever had. He wanted to talk to him.
"A vampire." Jasper said after some time.
He felt nothing from Charlie, no disbelief or acceptance just quiet. "It's daylight." Charlie said quietly.
"We don't hide from the sun because it hurts us, we hide because it reveals us." Jasper told him.
Charlie looked at him for the first time. Questions appeared in his eyes and Jasper could see he wanted to believe him but he doubted. Jasper stood up and walked off the porch. He pulled off a glove and rolled up his sleeve, thrusting his arm into the light. The sun glittered on his skin and Charlie's eyes widened then narrowed as he studied Jasper's revealed skin. Jasper quickly rolled down his sleeve, he knew Charlie saw the scars that deformed his skin. He pulled on his glove and walked back to the porch, but Charlie stood up and stopped him.
"Let me see your face." Charlie said.
Jasper put a hand to his hood pulling it more over his face. He didn't want to feel the horror come from his friend. Charlie said nothing he just stared at him steadily and waited.
Finally Jasper began to pull his hood back. He was terrified but he had taken a gamble with Charlie before and it had paid off in a deep friendship, maybe this would work out. He closed his eyes and pulled the hood back. He heard a small gasp and felt a slip of apprehension, followed by pity then replaced by understanding.
"That's why you hide." Charlie whispered.
Jasper nodded. "I won't lie to you it is shocking but you are a good man. I know once people got to know you they would accept you." Charlie told him.
"It's more than just the scars. I have a gift, I can read people's emotions. Everyone who looks at me in horror...I feel it." Jasper turned his back on Charlie and took a deep unneeded breath.
"Look Charlie you don't really know me." Jasper turned back and looked at him with his one eye. Charlie didn't flinch but held his gaze. "I am not a good man. I deserved this. That man we caught, Richard, he killed five people here, maybe more else where? I killed hundreds. I tortured people, I reveled in their pain and the sense of power it gave me. I deserve this!" Jasper yelled the last.
Charlie said nothing as he studied him. Jasper sensed compassion from him, not pity. "You have been a good friend to me all these years Jasper and I'm afraid I haven't returned the favor. I have accepted your ear as I told you about my life. Now why don't you tell me about yours?" Charlie asked him.
Jasper just stared at him for a moment, then he walked over and sat in his chair. Charlie sat beside him and he began to talk. He told him everything, from his boyhood to this very moment and Charlie listened attentively. When he was finished he felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. During his telling he had felt no disgust or dislike from Charlie only acceptance.
"You have had quite a life Jasper. You have done some awful things but I think...I think now you have a second chance. You lost your heart when Maria changed you but now those scars have taught you compassion and given you back your heart. What are you going to do with it?" Charlie asked.
Jasper looked down. He hadn't really liked himself when he was with Maria, but he really didn't like himself now either. He wasn't sure that Charlie was right, he hadn't done anything but hide since he had been disfigured.
Charlie stood up. Jasper looked at him and realized that it was getting dark. He must have talked for hours.
"I have to get home Jasper." Charlie said as he started to walk away he stopped suddenly and turned back to Charlie. "This changes nothing you are still my best friend." Charlie said and then continued on his way.
