A/N Everyone needs to thank Kim Rathbone for get all these back to me, so quickly. Thank you.
Chapter 7
I thought about so many things on my drive home. I now had the information; I needed to help Bella through her pain. I understood what the root cause of it was as well. It was the same pain I felt, but I never imagined that he would've told her that he only thought of her as a pet. How fucking could he? I still had a strong urge to go after him and tear him limb from limb. I calmed myself down as best as I could as I pulled into the driveway.
I found the twins playing Halo 3 on the X-Box360 as I walked through the front door.
"See you made it back in one piece." They both said, not looking up from their game.
"Did you have any doubts?" I asked as I put my things down.
"Not really, but it was hard to say. It's not over yet." They said, now looking at me instead of the TV.
"What do you mean it's not over yet?" I asked
"You will fight again and very soon. This time there's snow on the ground." Michael said by himself for a change.
I knew they were telling the truth, and I could feel it the whole way home that this was only the beginning. Something just didn't bode right with the story Edward and Alice gave. I needed Bella to talk to me, to tell me her side of the story. I got some answers but not all of them.
I joined in and played Halo with the twins until they excused themselves to go to their rooms. As soon as they were asleep, I slipped out to hunt, knowing that I would be with Bella all day. As I ran, I thought of all the different things I wanted to say to her in order to try and help her heal. I knew that soon I'd have to tell her that we're mates. I hoped that when I did she would embrace it as I have.
I was heading back home after taking down a couple of elk when I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket with a text message. I stopped and pulled it out to read what Peter had to say now.
Char and I will be at your place in an hour at the most. Yes, she will embrace it as you have.
I wondered why the all knowing Yoda and his lovely bride would be coming to pay a visit as I made it back home. One thing was for sure, I was quickly tiring of his cryptic messages already.
I showered and got dressed to start my day at the hospital. I knew that Peter would be here at any moment, and I hoped that he would have some much needed answers as to why he was here. Did he know about the twins? I wonder how they will react to having Peter and Char here. They're human drinkers after all.
I felt their familiar emotional climates as they pulled up and decided that I'd meet them at the door. I waited until I heard the car doors shut before I opened the front door and stepped out onto the porch.
"Bro, I'm here to help in any way you need me." Peter said before I could greet him and Char.
"Am I gonna need that help?" I asked out of amusement.
"I wouldn't be here, unless you did." He told me in such a sincere manner that I was almost scared to ask about what was coming.
"I'll drive you to work, and I'll be sticking around as well." Peter said before kissing Char, telling her to go make herself comfortable and wait for the twins to get up.
That told me that yes, he apparently did know about the twins. We climbed into Peter's car and headed towards the hospital. Just a few minutes into the drive, Peter started his inquiries about the twins. "So, tell me about the wonder twins."
"What would you like to know?" I asked feeling that he was full of curiosity.
"Well for starters, when are you gonna change them?" He looked at me expectantly with this. This question just blew me away.
"I'm not." I told him rather flatly.
"Oh, yes you are! The Whitlock clan is going from three to six very soon." He stated firmly.
"Then you tell me oh omnipotent one. When am I'm gonna change them?" I asked now curious about this.
"I can't tell you that. What I can tell you is that it's you that changes them, and they'll take the Whitlock name."
We finally pulled into my spot at Fairfax. Peter said he'd be staying here and waiting for me. I wasn't sure why but I got the feeling that this was going to be an interesting day. Although I supposed I should have known since he'd accompanied me. I checked in to see how Bella was over the weekend. All the reports said she was as calm and quiet as a mouse.
There was also a memo on my desk stating that there was a mandatory staff meeting in the conference room. I looked at the clock on the way, noticing I had five minutes until I had to report to the conference room. This wasn't the first staff meeting that we'd had, since I'd been here so I didn't know why I was so worried.
I stood to leave my office to go to this meeting when my phone vibrated with a text message. I pulled it out knowing that it was the annoying Yoda I call my brother.
Don't worry. It's just a standard staff meeting. You have a new doctor coming on board.
If that was the case then it was just a standard staff meeting letting all of us doctors know about the new one, so we can assign cases that would fit his or her profile. I quickly made my way to the conference room, not really worried that they were going to take me off Bella's case, as Dr Watts has already agreed to keep me on until the end of the year.
The new doctor was coming to us right out of school and would be working hand in hand with Dr. Morgan for her training. Although Dr. Watts did want her to take a look at Bella's file and see if she saw anything that none of us had so far. I could buy that. Fresh eyes sometimes see something that others can't. Even when I first started on her case, I was already tainted by the fact she was like family to me. I should've never taken her case, but I did because I thought I could help her where all other doctors had failed.
The new doctor would start the following Monday. Her name was Dr. Kelly. She had grown up right here in Kirkland so coming here was her first choice. She must have had top-notch marks to get her first choice.
As soon as the meeting was over, I headed straight to the place where I knew I would find my heart. Nurse Bell rang me through, and I asked her how her weekend had been, which had become a normal thing between the two of us. She told me her daughter got her driver's license on Friday, and so she was on pins and needles waiting for the call to come in that she had been hurt in an accident.
I could understand her fear. Your only child coming into their independence could be a very scary thing. I remember Carlisle's fear the first time I went off to school with the other 'kids'. Even with Alice saying everything would be fine; he still had that fear, and rightfully so with my background. I had to keep telling myself that, even though Alice had lied to me for years, we'd had some really good years together, and I needed to hold on to them, so I didn't lose who I am.
I opened Bella's door calling her name as usual and was pleased when she looked at me. Her eyes didn't have the pain or dead look to them at first. I could see a silent inferno behind them before they reverted back to their usual dullness. The sight of her eyes showing something other than their usual emptiness made me feel relieved that progress was actually happening. Although I didn't feel any emotions coming from her yet.
I took my seat on the edge of the bed and unhooked her restraints, rubbing each wrist as I released it.
"Bella, Darlin', will you talk to me? I know about the parting words, he said to you." I told her while caressing her cheek.
At the sound of this, her inferno re-manifested in a way I could feel rather than see. I hadn't expected this reaction from her at all.
I could tell that she was close to crying again so I pulled her into my arms, laying her head on my shoulder to comfort her. As her tears started to flow, I could hear her talking, so quietly, to herself. I don't think she meant for me to hear what she was saying, but it was like she was going over the conversation word for word.
"We're leaving Bella. You're not coming with us... You've been nothing but a pet for me. A tool I used to make my true mate jealous. You see; I've known since the moment Alice and Jasper came to join the family it was I that was her real mate, and not Jasper."
"No! This can't be true..."
"Bella all I wanted to ever do was kill you, but Alice stopped me each time I started to plan it. So I decide to use you to get what I ultimately wanted."
"I knew I was never good enough for you! Why? Why can't I be good enough for you?"
"We aren't meant to be together. That's why you aren't good enough for me. I should've killed you that very first day and enjoyed the delectable feast instead of drawing it out like this."
"Why would you use me, telling me that you loved me and wanted me if it wasn't true?"
"I was using you to make Alice see it was time she left that pathetic husband of hers. She knows we're mates, but won't leave him. I needed you to get through to her, and it worked. Thank you for giving me what I've always wanted. My precious Alice... Goodbye, Isabella. You'll never see me or my family ever again."
Then she was racked with pain and self-loathing. The longer I sat, listening to her talk, the greater my rage became. I knew I needed to calm her before I left, but how could I calm her when the Major is lurking in the background, just waiting to be unleashed? Now I knew why Peter was waiting outside for me.
As I looked down at her the answer became simple. Both the Major and I knew she had to come first. He returned to the shadows of my mind, for the time being, so I could take care of our precious one. The one that, mattered most. I rocked her in my arms, telling her that I would never leave her, but once again, she began talking to herself.
"I just want to die... Why can't I die? Without him, I have no life, no heart, no family, no friends. Edward, Edward please... Don't leave me."
Then she started mumbling almost incoherently. If it wasn't for my vampire hearing, I wouldn't have heard her.
I can't find him. It's getting dark; I'm starting to get cold. I remember once when he said there's worse things in the woods than him. I remember tripping over a log, and so I curled up under the ferns, trying to stay dry as it started to rain. I don't know how long I lay out there. I heard voices calling my name, but I couldn't find it within myself to answer. It wasn't there anymore. I just wanted to die. Sometime later, someone big and strong picked me up. I kept mumbling 'he's gone; he's gone.' It was weeks before I came around the first time. Dad had called mom to come and get me. I threw a fit and cried for the first time. In the end, I got my wish of staying with dad. It was only days later I tried to kill myself for the very first time. I spent three days in the hospital but the pain wouldn't leave. Each night I awoke screaming in pain. At first dad was always there, and then he stopped coming in to check on me.
She started crying once again, and I was appalled that he had left her in the woods. The Major was just waiting to break out and hunt him down. After a short while, Bella was finally calm once again, sleeping in my arms. I gently laid her back on her pillow, reattached the restraints, and kissed her forehead, telling her that I'd be back soon.
I left her room as quickly as I could at a human's pace. I knew where I was going and what I was about to do. Edward had never had the pleasure of meeting the Major. The Major was now of the opinion that introductions were long overdue. As I passed Dr. Watts's door, I let him know I was leaving because of a family emergency, and I was pleased when he said hurry back.
As I opened the front door, I saw Peter had my car pulled up next to the sidewalk with the passenger door open. I jumped in easily, knowing full well that my Captain knew what was going on and where we were headed. I nodded to him and we were off.
Within a few hours, we were pulling up to Carlisle's house in Canada where we would track them from there. Carlisle met us as we exited the car, looking worried.
"Jasper, Peter why are you here? Jasper is everything alright?" He asked, looking into my eyes and seeing them pitch black.
"Edward laid, Carlisle. Bella told him the full story about how he left her in the woods." Peter said trying to remain calm as I roared, causing the rest of the family to emerge from the house.
"He left her alone in the woods?" They all said at the same time causing another roar to escape the Major.
"It seems so. There's no stopping him this time. Just let it happen." Peter advised them, knowing full well there was no turning back for me now.
As soon as Carlisle nodded, an indication that they wouldn't stop us, we were off and following Edwards and Alice's scents. They were headed north and I had a feeling they were going to the Denali's. I could smell the others following us, but I knew they would stay out of my way and let the Major do the job correctly this time. With my faithful Captain at my side, I knew we would walk away victorious.
Each hour that passed their scents became stronger as we got closer.
We followed the highway up to the outskirts of Denali National Forest where we found their cars parked. By the smell, it's been just a few hours, since they parked them. I was in full Major mode at this point in time. Peter was highly aware of this, which was why he was standing behind me and letting me lead the way.
We circled the car for a split second, tracking the scents of Edward and Alice. Realizing that the scents were headed north, I looked to Peter, who gave a brief nod, and then we were off into the wildlife. My sensitive hearing was picking up all the sounds of nature that surrounded us but there was only one sound I was listening for. It wasn't a minute later that I heard it. The soft padding of footsteps that would never be heard by a human. As I took in the scent, I immediately knew it was Edward, I could also not smell Alice anywhere around him. He was alone and he was mine.
As I crept around the corner, I saw Edward stalking upon a big bull moose, which would explain the heartbeat. On the entire drive over here, I swore to myself that I would wait it out and attack Edward at the most opportune time. The time where I could easily rip him apart, piece by piece without him even realizing I was in the vicinity. Upon seeing him though, all of that went out the window.
The moment I saw him crouched down and ready to spring onto his unsuspecting prey; I snapped. At the same time that Edward sprung for the moose, I jumped out from my hiding spot and slammed into him in midair. There was a loud crack that sounded like boulders colliding as our bodies made contact with one another. The back of my leg unfortunately grazed the side of the moose, sending all sixteen hundred pounds of him to the forest floor. With a deafening roar, he got up and took off into the trees. Leaving me alone with Edward and Peter.
"What the fuck?" He yelled as he scrambled to his feet, taken by surprise.
I smirked but said nothing, being sure to keep my mind entirely blank. By now, we were circling each other the way vultures' circle their next meal.
"What's your problem asshole?" He hissed as he lunged for me.
I easily sidestepped him and grabbed him by his arm, forcing him onto the hard ground underneath me.
"Did you think you would get away with it?" I hissed into his ear, my mouth touching the outside of his earlobe.
"Did you really think that I wouldn't find out eventually? Or were you hoping that she would succeed in one of her suicide attempts?" I growled out, pushing my knee into the middle of his back and pulling his arm further behind him.
"I don't know what you're talking about." He ground out through his teeth.
"You forget you're talking to an empath," I hissed, "And I can feel your hesitation. I can feel your doubts. And you know what else? I can feel that you are fucking terrified." And with that I brought my arm back swiftly, effectively tearing his arm right off of his body.
Edward's yelp of pain was unfortunately drowned out by another shriek. A shriek I knew all too well.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing Jasper?" Alice screeched, coming at me like a tornado.
Her eyes were pitch black and so entirely focused on me that she didn't see Peter off to the side, giving him the advantage.
"I think I'm about to kill your mate." I said in a deadly calm voice, not removing myself from Edward's back. I kept my perch as we stared at each other, still holding him firmly against the ground.
At that second Peter lunged, connecting with Alice and bringing her down next to Edward.
"Well... That was rather easy." He scoffed, and I could feel disappointment rolling off him.
"It's not over yet." I said as I got off of Edward and pulled him up with me. I took his arm that I was still holding and threw it off to the side, "Don't worry," I told him, "You won't need it."
"Major, not to interrupt your fun, but the rest of the Cullen's, are going to be here in two minutes." Peter said.
"Well that's going to put a damper on things." I said offhandedly. It didn't matter if they were here or not, they weren't going to stand in my way this time.
"Keep her restrained," I told Peter harshly, "I don't care how many limbs, she loses, don't let her loose."
"Yes Sir." He replied all too happily.
"Now what the fuck were you thinking?" I hissed to Edward, pushing him against a tree so hard that it cracked slightly, "You left her in the fucking woods. Why would you take her to the fucking woods to tell her the shit you told her?" I roared in his face, my anger coming back tenfold.
"It doesn't even matter," He replied smugly, "I did what I had to do, and in the end I got what I wanted. You know nothing you can do or say will change that."
I could feel my temper reaching an all time boiling point, and I knew that I was projecting but nothing mattered to me anymore. All that mattered was the fact that Edward just signed his death certificate.
"We'll see how long you keep up that blasé attitude." I replied as I nodded towards Peter, motioning him to bring Alice forward.
I turned Edward around so that he could see Alice struggling in Peter's arms, trying her damnedest to get free.
"Let's see if your limbs will be joining his, Mary Alice," I hissed, "Why would you do that to her? She was supposed to be your best friend." I accused.
"Sheis my best friend!" She yelled, still struggling to get to me.
At that exact moment, four other scents joined ours. The Cullen's. I saw them standing in a direct line behind Alice and Peter and their emotions were overpowering. The level of anger and animosity radiating from them was overwhelming to say the least, and it just spurred me on further.
"You lost your right to call her that the moment you walked out of her life." I hissed.
"Jazzy you can't mean that." She whined.
"Oh, you don't have the right to call me that either! You left me for this piece of shit." I said with venom dripping down my chin.
"I think you two just pissed off the wrong vampire. Let's end it Jasper, I'm with you man!" Emmett bellowed out. He so very much resembled what the irritable grizzly that almost took his life must have looked like.
"Jazzy, we can still be together. You do away with Edward and you and I can go back to the way we used to be." She pleaded.
"Never!" I roared giving off so much hatred that it brought her down to her knees. She fell with such force it ripped her arms off as it had caught Peter off guard. "Alice I need answers and I mean now. Why did all this happen? I thought you saw the future?" I added before letting her say anything.
"Jazzy I did it for all of us. With both of you, I can create the perfect future. Bella was just a pawn in my plan to get the future I have to have! Controlling people is the only way I can achieve my goals." She whined with her voice laced with pain.
"Neither of you deserve to be called a Cullen, and from this day forward you'll never be one again." I said, as I first ripped off Edwards' cuff. Afterward, I marched over to Mary Alice and rolled her over; taking her necklace that housed the Cullen crest.
I threw both of them over towards Carlisle, so he could collect them for future Cullen's. As I started to walk away, I heard a noise coming from Edward, that whiny ass pansy. I couldn't help myself as I walked back over to him, grabbed his head and twisted it off as I gave, my warning to the both of them.
"If I ever catch either of you near my family again I will kill you, and that is a promise not a threat."
I had to get out of there before I made good on it all too soon. I took off running, not knowing where I was headed. I stopped to feed sometime later, and as I finished up my caribou, I felt Peter's presence.
"It's safe for you to join me." I said, knowing he wouldn't enter the clearing, unless I said it was alright.
"Jasper? Are you alright?" He asked, concerned for me. Sometimes I had trouble coming down from fights and the Major would stay attached for a while. I had been known to take an innocent life because of it.
"I'm back to myself. Thanks for your help today, bro. Let's go home." I told him and took off towards the current Cullen residence where we had left his car.
