Sorry for the delay but here's the next chapter. Hope you guys like it.

Garrett didn't know how long he'd been in the room now but it felt like days. The bastard had left again but he'd be back soon. So far he'd only been burned with cigarettes, and while being very painful, it was bearable. The part of it that bothered him the most was the fact that the man had done the same thing to his own son. Henry Whitlock was a true psychopath. He looked around and still had no idea where he was being held. It was for storage obviously but, beyond that, it was just an average room. He tried moving his wrists again but the ropes still didn't give. As he sat there, alone and in pain, he couldn't help but think about his Kate. He wondered what she'd felt and done when he hadn't shown up. If she thought he'd just taken off…he'd done it before after all. Or maybe she sensed something was wrong and called the police…maybe they were searching for him that very moment. He wanted to see her so badly…

"Good evening."

Garrett's hands clenched into fists behind his back as the bastard opened the door and came inside.

"Let me go you son of a bitch!"

Henry just stared at him with a dull expression…and then he pulled the knife.

"I've told you so many times, just tell me where he is. Tell me and I'll let you go."

"And I've told you no, I won't tell you where the kid is so you subject him to more of this insanity!"

Henry smiled and came closer. "This is becoming tedious…torturing you just doesn't…feel the same…"

Feel the same? Thought Garrett as he watched the man suddenly stare off in to space. In just the short amount of time they'd been together, Henry's personality seemed to fluctuate. One minute he was coherent and sharp, then the next he was angry and would ramble on about nonsense. It was hard to keep track. And the thought that the man had enjoyed torturing his own son made him want to protect Jasper even more. This whole thing also explained exactly why the kid was the way he was. In fact Garrett was surprised that Jasper was as sane as he was. Anyone else probably would have snapped long before Jasper had.

"Why do you hate him so much?" He needed to know why a grown man would despise his own son as much as Henry did.

Henry focused on him once again. "Why do I hate Jasper?"

"Yes. Why do you want to hurt him?"

"Oh, I want to hurt him for so many reasons…he took everything from me. The little bastard ruined my life! He took my happiness and so he has to pay the price. And I will make sure he continues to pay, for the rest of his life. I won't allow that sorry, worthless, piece of crap to have a single moment of happiness!"

Slice!

"Argh…!" Garrett screamed as the knife cut into the flesh of his arm. Henry had stabbed him, actually stabbed him. The blood started to run down his arm and drip onto the dirty floor.

"Tell me where he is!"

Garrett shook his head vigorously as the smell of alcohol wafted over him. Henry reeked of it and he couldn't help but wonder if the man was ever sober…or if he would be the same way if he was.

The man's eyes narrowed in cold anger and for the first time, Garrett wondered if he would make it out of this alive.

Almost a week had past now and Carlisle was really starting to worry. Jasper had not been making as much progress as he'd thought he would. After that night with the police, the boy had conformed to the rules without a fight. But that was because he didn't do anything that would break them in the first place. He stayed in his room for most of the day, only coming out to use the bathroom or grab his food at meal times. It wasn't healthy despite the fact that he was still healing, and considering Carlisle's vacation was almost up and he would be returning to work, effectively leaving Jasper alone with Esme and Edward, he wanted the three of them to get to know each other. Esme tried to get him to come out of the room but Jasper always politely declined. Edward, being in school during the day, was unable to help much either. It was very frustrating.

"Don't worry dear. Jasper will come out when he is ready. Fussing over him like that will only make things worse."

He nodded halfheartedly and put down his newspaper.

"I just worry how he will react when I go back to the city tomorrow."

"Why? Do you think he will be upset?"

"No…not upset. He does trust me somewhat but I doubt he'll miss me or anything. I just think that he is used to me and will feel isolated when I do go."

Esme walked over and joined him at the kitchen table. "I've told you before, you worry to much Carlisle. He just needs time to adjust. This is a huge change for him and anyone would feel uncomfortable at first."

His wife was right of course but…it didn't stop him from worrying. Esme placed her hand over his and smiled gently at him. "Maybe we could try dinner again tonight. Edward can invite Bella and maybe the three of them can get to know each other a little. If he's around more people his own age maybe he'll feel more at ease."

Carlisle wasn't so sure about that but it was worth a try. He was willing to try anything at this point. "Alright sweetheart, we'll give it a shot. I have to head into town later anyway, so write down anything you'll need for supper and I'll pick it up."

Esme smiled widely, patted his hand, and then stood up and headed for the pantry. It was nice seeing her trying so hard to connect with Jasper. Not having a mother figure in his life must have been tough and having someone like her around might help ease the pain a little. Carlisle knew that no one could replace Jasper's mother but, maybe, she could be someone he could rely on.

Another issue that he'd been concerned over was Jasper's enrollment in school. Jasper's wounds were healed enough that school was now a priority. The boy was scheduled to start the following Monday and Carlisle couldn't help but wonder how Jasper would react. Looking at previous transcripts, he had found out that Jasper was a very bright young man. He got excellent grades…it was just his attitude that caused problems. Jasper had been written up numerous times for getting into fights with other students and Carlisle worried it would continue at the new school.

He sighed in frustration and stood up from the table. He figured he'd give his wife some room to work so he decided to head out to do some yard work. It had been a while since the weather was nice enough to be outside and he didn't want to waste the opportunity, plus it would give him some time to clear his head. This was just another little speed bump in making a better life for Jasper.

Staring up at the ceiling seemed to be his new favorite pastime. Jasper sighed and pushed himself into a sitting position. He was starting to go stir crazy. Of course it was his own choice to stay locked away, but it didn't mean he liked it. It was one of the tests he'd come up with for the Cullen family. He wanted to see how they would react to him isolating himself. He was trying to push them in order to get a feel for how they reacted under duress. So far Edward didn't seem to care, which was very refreshing. Esme was worried, he could tell, but she seemed to be trying to let him decide on his own to come down. He wasn't yet sure how he felt about that. As for Carlisle, he could tell the doctor was feeling concerned. Carlisle was a compassionate fool in Jasper's opinion but he found himself starting to feel bad about making them feel bad. It was annoying him immensely.

He also had a lovely first day at a new school to look forward to in a few days. He wondered if the kids here were as big of idiots as those back at his old school. Small town meant fewer students, which meant more eyes on him. He was definitely going to have to stock up on long sleeved shirts. His eyes were drawn down to the scars. The suicide scars were only the tip of the iceberg.

His finger slowly ran along one of the worst ones. It had been about a month after his mother had died and his dad had been exceptionally drunk. Henry had taken a knife and carved it down his arm in a jagged line. It was painful and it had bled a ridiculous amount. Thankfully Henry had snapped out of it enough to realize the danger he was in and took him to the hospital saying he had accidentally done it himself. Sadly the doctor had believed his father. Kids did stupid things after all.

Clink clink clink

The strange sound dragged his mind from his dark thoughts. It was coming from outside the window. Curiosity moved him from the bed to see what it was. Looking down he saw that Carlisle was outside doing some yard work. As soon as he saw him Jasper burst out laughing. An honest to God, happy, laugh. The man was wearing the most ridiculous outfit Jasper had ever seen. He wore a wide brimmed hat covered in flowers and a pair of jean suspenders, and to top it all off he was wearing a pair of yellow rain boots. It was hilarious.

Knock knock

Shit, he thought as he immediately cut off the laughter. Whoever was outside the door had probably heard him and came to see if he'd finally lost it.

"Jasper? Jasper dear, can I come in?"

It was Esme. Taking a deep breath Jasper made his way over to the door and opened it. She was standing out there smiling at him. Did the woman ever stop smiling?

"Hello dear. I heard you laughing. Is everything alright?"

Clink clink

Her eyes widened in realization when she heard the noise and she too started laughing. "I see now. He does look rather goofy in that outfit doesn't he."

The way she said that, voice filled with so much love, made Jasper a bit uncomfortable. "Yeah…"

Esme smiled over at him. "Can you believe that Edward picked that hat out for him."

Despite his best efforts, Jasper's eyes widened in shock. Esme laughed at his expression. "Oh yes. I had given him free reign one father's day when he was six. That was what he picked out. Carlisle wears it every time he goes out to garden. The overalls and boots made Edward laugh so the outfit became a bit of a staple in his wardrobe."

"Wow…" Jasper could not believe the strangeness of the family reached as far as their wardrobe. Then he remembered that Esme was still standing there. "Uh…was there something you wanted?"

"Oh! Yes, of course. I wanted to let you know that we're having a farewell supper for Carlisle tonight and we'd like for you to join us. Edward and his girlfriend Bella will be there too. What do you think?"

Dinner with the Cullens. It would be his first one. Thinking back on the past week he realized that he was acting like a child. Hiding away in a bedroom. Since when did he become such a god damn coward. His name was Jasper Whitlock and he was not a broken kid. Time to suck it up.

"Sure I guess."

Esme's face lit up like a Christmas tree. He was kind of glad that he could make her smile. It was a weird feeling. "Really?! Oh, I'm so glad. Is there anything special you would like to eat?"

He couldn't believe that she was asking him. Usually his supper had consisted of frozen dinners. "No."

"Alright then. We'll be eating around six so I'll call you then okay." She nodded happily and then turned to leave. Jasper watched her go with a bemused expression on his face. Esme was an interesting person.

She was like Carlisle in a lot of ways. She also reminded him of…his own mother.

Maria Whitlock had been a troubled woman but she had loved her son…and her husband. Maria had been the type of person that never caught a break in life. She was an alcoholic and a drug addict but despite these things she was always there when Jasper needed her. She took him to school everyday, cooked him meals, listened to him with kind eyes. She loved him and he could feel it in every look, every smile, and every touch. His mom had been his whole world. He missed her everyday. He knew though, if the cancer hadn't of gotten her, the substance abuse would have eventually. He was thankful for one thing though. He was thankful that she had gone quickly. She had been diagnosed and then about a month later she was gone. She had escaped. Sometimes he wished that she had taken him with her.

Shaking himself out of the memories, Jasper closed the door and went back to the window. He saw that Carlisle was still out there and without noticing it, a smile flitted across his lips…and it stayed there for quite a while.

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