10

He paced rapidly through the living room, cell phone to his ear. His blood red eyes were panicked. I could feel his panic spreading through the room and it was all I could do to stay where I was, in Phil's armchair, watching him with wide eyes.

"Alice." She had answered the phone. "I can't stay here, I need to-" He paused. "Tell Edward-" Another break. "But you don't understand, Maria-" Alice must have been interrupting him. "Yes, she's here." He said after a few seconds. "I will." He hit a button, and I could hear Alice's voice as he set the speakerphone.

"Bella, are you okay?" Alice asked calmly. Did she have any idea what had just happened?

I swallowed. My throat was very dry. "I'm fine." I said. I was a bit alarmed and caught off guard and panicky, but otherwise okay, and the last part was really Jasper anyway.

"Good." Her tone was approving. "Now take the phone from Jasper before he throws it at something, please."

I stared at the phone. Was she crazy? He still wasn't in control of himself, he had said so himself, and that the danger was still very present that he might come after me. I looked up at him and our eyes met briefly before he looked away, holding the phone out to me. I felt a flicker of hurt, and realized that my hesitation had hurt him, ridiculous as we both knew that was.

I moved forward to take the phone. "Move slowly." Alice suggested to me. "Don't be oversensitive, Jasper. It's only natural for her to be a little nervous about this."

"I know." He retorted.

"I know you know." Alice's voice was still way too calm. "I'm just reminding you." I took the phone at that point, and Jasper started pacing again.

"Alice-" She cut him off.

"I know. I saw it. Edward's on his way. He left as soon as we knew it involved you two, though, so he doesn't know all the details yet."

"He'll be overprotective as soon as he figures it out." Jasper sighed.

"Of course he will. He can't help it."

"Are you coming?" His tone was pleading, like a child's. It was surprising.

Her voice was grim. "Edward will be able to handle things there."

Jasper didn't like that. "Where are you going?" He asked sharply.

"I'm going after Maria." She practically snarled. "I've had enough of that woman."

"No." Jasper's sudden terror rocketed through me, and I nearly dropped the phone. "You can't. Alice, don't, please. Stay away from her."

"It'll be fine, Jasper." Her voice was soothing now. "I can handle myself."

I was getting a headache from the amount of stress he was under. "I need you here, Alice." His voice was trembling. "Please."

"Of course." Alice said, no sign of resignation in her voice, no sign that she had so suddenly changed plans. "I'm on my way." He relaxed some, then, though not much. "Now calm down. You can't just run off. Edward will be there in about three hours. Bella?"

"Yes?" I asked. I felt ready to collapse. I felt like I was falling apart. I wondered if that were me, or Jasper.

"When will your mom and Phil be home?" We both panicked again. I had forgotten them. I checked the clock.

"Less than half an hour." I replied. What on earth were we going to do?

"Hmm." Alice's response was not encouraging. "Do you have any sunglasses?" She asked.

"Yeah."

"Jasper will need to borrow them. Jasper, how are your clothes?" It struck as odd that she would be worried about his clothes right now, as we were in the midst of an emergency, even as preoccupied with such things as she was.

"They're clean." He replied. "No blood on them." Oh. That was why she had asked. I felt silly.

"Small mercies." Alice muttered. "What about the body?"

"I don't know." Jasper replied. "I wasn't thinking clearly."

"I'll check on that before I meet up with you then." She sounded unhappy. "It's going to be okay, Jasper."

I went in search of a pair of sunglasses. Jasper followed at a distance, since I still held the phone. I set it on the bed as I began rifling through my dresser.

"I don't even know who she was, Alice." Jasper said softly.

"I know." Alice's reply was businesslike. "Does she know?" Did I know what, I wondered as I handed Jasper the sunglasses.

"No." Came Jasper's terse reply. They dropped it before I could ask.

"Can you control yourself around Bella?" Alice asked. I wasn't fooled. I knew they had been talking about me before too.

Jasper was uncertain. "I think so. As long as I don't get to close."

"Good." Alice said. She was silent for a minute. "I told Carlisle."

"And?" He was afraid of what Carlisle's response had been. Afraid of disappointing him.

"He said to remind you that these things happen." Alice replied. "And to remind you that it's been about eight years since the last time. He's proud of you, Jasper." Her voice was warm as she continued. "You never thought it was possible, remember?"

"I know." He was starting to calm down, but there was something else coming.

"Hey Jasper?" Alice's voice was light, teasing. "Edward won't be happy if Bella's depressed when he shows up, okay?"

Jasper sighed again. "I know."

"Hold on." She said. "See you soon." She hung up as the door opened, and Mom and Phil were home. Jasper and I flew to the couch and settled down as if we had been watching a movie. I flipped the TV on and we were supposedly watching Star Trek when Mom and Phil came through the door.

I pocketed Jasper's phone as Mom looked surprised. "I didn't know you liked Star Trek." She commented.

"I don't." I replied. "Jasper does." I said it in a rush, hoping I was convincing. I probably wasn't. I probably looked guilty.

"Really?" My mom asked.

Beside me, Jasper nodded. "Sure." He replied, eyes on the screen. "The first series is the best, though. Kirk always gets the girl, Spock and McCoy argue about being human, and Scotty always fixes whatever can't be fixed."

Mom laughed, and I tried to look like I had some idea of what he was talking about. I hoped Edward got here soon. Jasper was fighting a losing battle to stay calm, and I wasn't sure what would happen when he lost.

Disclaimer: As ever, Twilight does not belong to me.