Chapter Six

Carlisle

I had no idea what was happening to Jasper, I'd never heard of this kind of thing happening to a vampire before. The closest to it would be Jane's gift of inflicting pain but this was something different. Emmett, Rose and Edward had gone out to check the surrounding forest and town looking for another vampire's presence but they all came back with the same report, no sign of another vampire within miles and even Jane and Alec's gifts had limitations. I decided to speak to Alice so while Esme sat with Jasper who had been episode free for a few hours I took Alice in to my study. She looked concerned so I didn't bother with any useless platitudes.

"Have you seen anything that could explain Jasper's episodes?"

"No, nothing at all."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes positive, what does it mean?"

"Well if its not being directed by anyone then its more serious than I thought."

"You mean it's organic in nature? Like a disease or a mental breakdown? But why now Carlisle? He's not under any pressure and he's happy enough."

"I know all that Alice but if you can't see anyone orchestrating this then chances are it's something inside Jasper himself. You were pushing him pretty hard about visiting Volterra."

"Oh so now its all my fault? I'm causing my husband to have a mental breakdown because I want to go to a party?"

I backtracked quickly,

"No I wasn't suggesting anything of the kind Alice. I just wondered if stress might have something to do with it, that's all."

"Well it doesn't. Carlisle what am I going to do? Am I going to lose him?"

"No Alice, of course not, but it is baffling."

We both heard Esme's shout and went running to find her holding his writhing body down on the bed as he moaned and flailed trying to get free of some invisible demons. I went to her aid while Alice sat beside the bed talking quietly to her husband trying to register her presence with him but to no avail and the longer it went on the more distressed he became until his cries could be heard all over the house and even outside as Rose and Emmett came running having heard him from the forest where they were still searching for another vampire.

"What's going on Carlisle? He's in pain, what's happening to him?"

Rose looked as devastated as Alice and I signaled for Esme to take them out,

"Emmett and I can handle this."

She nodded and ushered the girls out while Emmett used his muscle to stop Jasper breaking up the bed with wild swings which lasted another hour until finally he started to quieten down slumping back exhausted, his eyes even more sunken with thirst now.

"Jasper can you hear me?"

He nodded turning his head slowly to look up at me,

"Yes."

"Do you remember anything son?"

"Memories."

"Your memories? Are you dreaming?"

"No, I'm there Carlisle."

Emmett went to my study to fetch some human blood I had stored there for experimentation, Jasper was too weak to hunt and desperately needed blood, animal wouldn't be enough for him in this state but Alice who appeared with the blood forced it down him, half angry at his protests, half relieved he was back with us. Once he had drunk his fill and sat up on the bed still looking exhausted I continued questioning him much to her disgust,

"Carlisle can't you let him rest for a while? You can see how tired he is."

He touched her face with a trembling hand,

"Its OK Alice, Carlisle needs to ask me now while I remember."

"Tell me what you can remember Jasper."

"Just memories, of my time with Maria. Why should I be remembering those times now?"

"Carlisle thinks I upset you by asking you to take me to the Volturi party."

"No, Alice it isn't you. I love you."

She smirked at me triumphantly and cuddled him close,

"Why don't you rest for a while, any more questions can wait can't they Carlisle?"

She wasn't going to let me pursue the matter just yet so I agreed and left the couple alone. Perhaps a few hours with his mate would do Jasper more good than my interrogation in any case.

Esme was waiting downstairs with the others,

"Is he losing his mind?"

I glared at Edward,

"No of course not why would you say that?"

"Well he said he was reliving memories didn't he?"

"Yes."

"Well he wasn't consciously thinking about the past that's all."

"What did you hear Edward? It could be important."

"That's just it, his mind was a blank, like a TV screen switched to static, it was strange. But whatever is going on we have to be careful, he could be heard by anyone close to the house. He can't go to school either. Imagine the consternation if he had a fit in class."

"They aren't fits Edward, he's not going mad."

Rose sounded angry and we all knew not to get her riled up so Edward shrugged,

"Sorry, I was just pointing out the truth that's all."

"Well its true he will have to stay home until we get to the bottom of this but he cannot be left alone. Esme do you think you can cope with him for a couple of days until I can arrange some time off?"

"Of course, now I know he's just remembering things I won't worry so much."

During the evening he had two more attacks, each longer than the previous and although Alice insisted on staying at his side it didn't seem to help. In fact she was getting upset herself so Rose took her out for an hour and Emmett and I watched over him. I noticed we were both edgy by the time he came back for the second time. His pain was affecting us too and I had to find out what was going on as quickly as possible. After the second episode he drank more human blood reluctantly and Emmett decided to go hunting for him which eased the tension in the bedroom then we left him to Alice who had joined him on the bed holding him like a little child to soothe him. Downstairs once more I told Esme of my fears,

"If its not an outside influence then I have no idea what to do my love. I think I must ring Marcus and ask his advice."

"Is it wise to bring the Volturi into this? They may decide he is too dangerous to stay out in the world and come for him. I don't think I could bear that Carlisle."

"Perhaps you're right but if it keeps happening I'll have to do something."

"Please give it a few days, it might stop as quickly as it started."

"Very well but if he becomes too much for you to handle you ring me straight away."

"I will my love but its probably just stress. I know he hates the thought of going to Volterra. Speaking of which perhaps you could do some research while we're there."

"If Jasper doesn't get any better we won't be going ourselves Esme, remember Aro only has to touch either of us to know what's going on."

It was a tense evening for all of us as Jasper showered and came down looking a little better while the girls fussed around him. Em was playing a computer game as always but even he kept an eye on his brother while Edward played the piano, a soft lullaby I think he was hoping might soothe Jasper's confused thoughts. Nothing more happened that night and we were all relieved next morning, perhaps it had just been a strange episode brought on by stress although Alice would hear nothing of that.

"Don't be stupid, he's been under stress plenty of times since leaving Maria and this never happened before. You're just using that as an excuse because you don't know what it is or what to do Carlisle."

Esme chided her but I thought maybe my "daughter" was right, perhaps I was blaming my own inadequacy on her, still we would see. Alice had reluctantly agreed not to say anything more about a trip to Volterra so he was no longer under any stress.