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Blind Faith

Chapter 11

Jasper

"Just promise me something Jasper…If…if you do hook up with someone, please make sure I don't find out; I don't think I can stand the thought of anyone touching you."

I turn and walk into the bathroom closing the door. I hear the front door close. I turn on the water and plunge myself in finally allowing my emotions to flood to the surface as I let my agony out.

I stood on the other side of Edward's front door forcing myself to refrain from walking back inside and taking him in my arms, telling my sweet boy I wasn't serious that I would, in fact, be his dirty little secret.

My Sethie…I miss you already…

Tears threatened to fall from my tired eyes, I'm sure I looked a fright.

I could feel an addiction to him building; my God, he was the most glorious, magnificent specimen…he had no idea how I hungered for him and now that he was revealed to me…Edward…my hands twitched in their desire to course over his flesh again…to bite and lick his skin…to pull him tight against my body…I just wanted to hold him.

My feet, encased in the stupidest looking shoes I've ever seen pushed me forward and away from Edward…

…I flagged down a passing cab as I reached the street getting in and provided my address before I could run back to him.

This was the right thing to do, however painful, I mused; I just hope we get a chance to be together some day the way I think we both want.

I fear Edward will never truly be able to live openly as a gay man and the thought dashes what little hope I have.

With that gloomy thought in mind, I refreshed my body and my clothing leaving for work and able to make it in by 9:00. A hot cup of coffee cures all ills and in my case, will help keep me alert. The lack of sleep last night will catch up with me this afternoon…I'll go straight home and sleep like the dead, I'm certain.

I fiddled with my laptop getting it started as I looked at today's agenda. More meetings with Edward and the team…I sigh and gather up my files arriving at the war room before the rest of the team.

So far, there is no sign of Edward.

This concerns me; Edward is the consummate professional and his habit is to be conspicuously punctual. His absence is being noted…knowing how I left last night or rather, early this morning I worry…

The schedule for today is continued strategy meetings, which will include Edward Senior and Carlisle later in the morning. As I scan my e-mail Felix strolls in plops himself down in a chair and tosses his files on the table.

I feel my anger at his manipulation simmering but this was not the place or the time to engage…

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

Felix snickered at me; I wanted to slap that smug smile off his grinning face…

"Sooo… Jasper, how'd it go with Edward last night?" He spun in his chair like the juvenile he was…What Caius saw in him…sigh…I looked up in time to see Edward pass by just then, briefcase in hand heading for his office. He did not look our way.

…A wave of relief washed over me, we seemed okay…

"Hmmm? Oh, he was nice enough to let me crash on his couch until I sobered up." I wanted to distract him; there was no desire on my part to continue the discussion.

I rose from the chair deciding to return to the conference room later…the atmosphere in the room was cloying.

"You look like hell Jasper…" his investigator's eyes pierced into me looking for answers. Damn, he was good…

"Thanks for your help with that" I responded acidly. "I want you to know I barely remember dinner although I'm sure it was good…by the way, what happened to my shoes? They're ruined…"

Felix rolled his eyes and pulled out his files suddenly serious.

Edward stood in the doorway, coffee in hand, Bella right behind him carrying his laptop and files.

Edward was dressed conservatively in a black pinstripe suit, white shirt and blood red tie. He looked like a model straight out of GQ. He appeared fresh, as if nothing out of the ordinary happened the previous evening. Okay…I get it. He had his big boy shoes on…

Edward's face was as impassive as ever as he barely glanced at me giving me only the slightest nod in acknowledgement. He walked briskly to his place across from us at the conference room table.

Bella placed his files on the table and hooked up his laptop fussing over Edward looking at him with those large doe eyes of hers…

Yuck!

"Thanks Bella." Edward smiled at her kindly…she practically ignited right there in the conference room…poor girl…

"Can you have lunch brought in? It's going to be a long day…I also want the AV set up so I can hook my laptop up to the video feed."

Maria walked in just then passing by me and slapping my ass...the nerve of some women…

"Are you showing it today, Edward?" she asked as she took her place at the table.

"Yes, it's time." He responded grimly. "Edward Senior and Carlisle will be joining us so make sure to order enough food for a large group." Edward pulled open his files as he stood over them sipping his coffee. He looked up glancing at me then at Bella. "Oh, and make sure the blinds are closed" Bella departed closing the blinds to the hallway and effectively isolating the four of us in the room.

I felt a bit awkward because I realized this was Edward's big reveal…not in an ostentatious sense, the guy just had built his entire identity around taking these fuckers down. I was on board but I sensed that I was just about to be let into the tent.

Edward brushed very close to me but the fucker was all business…his every nerve ending said don't fuck with me today…well okay sir…

I watched him closely as he connected his laptop to the projection equipment engrossed in what he was doing.

To call Edward gorgeous was to understate the case…he was miraculous in his stunning beauty, I recognized in him now his understated kindness and lack of artifice. His shyness causes him all sorts of grief I can see now knowing him better, making him appear to be aloof. I sigh as I realize I must have hurt him deeply last night in rejecting a relationship with him at this point in our lives; I wonder momentarily whether I've blown the opportunity of a lifetime. I close my eyes and picture Edward as he was last night in my arms; vulnerable…loving…naked…

"Jasper, can you plug in the cord, I can't quite reach…" I'm jolted out of my reverie to find Edward holding out a cord towards me from across the table. His eyes meet mine and for a brief moment my Sethie appears but quickly he is blinked away…

"Oh, sure…" I leap out of my seat and reach out to take the cord from his hands. He catches my pinkie with his fingers and squeezes briefly looking down; then pulls his hand away. Was that accidental or some sort of signal…I can't read him as his back is to me now arranging his display materials. I plug the cord into the control panel in the center of the table and resume my seat dragging my mind back to the job at hand.

Maria is watching me closely as is Felix.

"What?" I mime. Edward's back is still towards us…I sip at my coffee watching the two of them over the rim of my cup. They both snicker quietly, which I find highly annoying…Has Felix shared last night's events? It would appear to be the case. I need a moment alone with my investigative colleague so that I can strangle his highly amused neck; he is messing with my mojo and quite enjoying my discomfort. He makes a kissy face at me, which I choose to ignore burying myself in the paperwork before me…

The conference room door opens and the elder brothers Cullen enter moving regally to take their seats murmuring between themselves and their hovering assistants. Once they are adequately plied with coffee and rolls, fluffed and pampered, their aides depart.

…On with the show…

When everyone had arranged themselves to be able to view the video, Edward sat at his laptop appearing to gather himself…He clicked a few buttons and started to speak…

"What we are going to watch is a video made by one of the plaintiffs. It is very important to become intimately familiar with the details of the events depicted as this is one of the critical pieces of evidence for our case. This video was not available during the criminal trial which is a shame because I'm fairly certain the outcome would have been different. I warn you, some of the scenes are hard to watch…" Edward paused and looked directly at me"…however, if you chose to be a part of this case you must watch it in its entirety…likely many times so steel yourself."

With that Edward clicked his mouse and the screen lit up. I looked at him but he was staring straight ahead, the light from the screen flickering off of his face; devoid of all emotion…

I looked back at the screen; what I saw was pretty innocuous. Someone, likely the mother was videotaping a lovely little girl; it appeared they were decorating for her birthday party.

"Hi Bree, look over here, look at Mommy, there's my big girl!"

The little girl, Bree could not have been more than three but she was a lovely little thing. What stood out were her crystal blue eyes fringed by long lashes and sweet dimpled smile. She had a cloud of curly blonde hair tied up in a pink ribbon which matched the ribbon on her white eyelet dress. She looked like a perfect princess awaiting her subjects. She was dancing and skipping around the brightly decorated room festooned with balloons and colorful garlands. Soft children's music was playing in the background as she joined in attempting to sing along. Her mother laughed, a bell like sound full of happiness, attracting the attention of the man who appeared to be cleaning the backyard pool.

The man, most likely the father smiles at the woman drops the leaf skimmer and enters inside passing his little daughter ruffling her locks.

"No, Daddy, no touch my haiw, I'm a pwincess!" She flounces off as the man approaches the woman with a big smile on his face. He gets close to her and mugs for the camera…obviously hugging her and coming in for a kiss.

"How's my big princess doing? Are we ready for the madness of twenty kids…?"

"Mmmm, I hope so…"

The video camera continues to run capturing the shaky action behind them as they kiss…what it captures is a horror…little Bree has wandered outside and has picked up the leaf skimmer eyeing it and glancing back at her parents. She determinedly plops it into the water leaning forward as she certainly has seen her father do many times…

No no, I think…stop and turn around before it's too late, my heart starts pounding and I want to shout at the video STOP HER!

All rational thought has left me, I become desperate to change the past…I find myself standing, crouching slightly ready to act.

…she is such a little thing and as she leans forward she falls in…

Fuck! The light splash catches her parent's attention and they move quickly.

"Bree! Bree! David she's fallen in!"

Dad moves rapidly sprinting back outside diving into the pool. Bree has not been under the water more than ten seconds a period of time unlikely to cause permanent damage.

Mother is screaming but continues holding the video, probably peering at the happenings through the viewfinder unconscious of her actions.

Dad surfaces panicking.

"Call 911" He gasps, "she's stuck on the bottom! I can't get her up" he moans in agony as he dives back down.

Mom sets the camera down and runs screaming inside to call. Dad surfaces again panting and crying as he is desperately trying to save his little girl.

Go Dad, save her…Fuck! This is agonizing! I realize I'm pulling at my hair and gasping as if I'm out of breath.

He dives back down surfacing a short time later tossing a pink ribbon to the deck and dives once again. Mom is back moaning; she jumps in to the pool to help diving deep.

Far in the background a doorbell rings…even further in the distance, the faint wine of sirens approaching…will they get here in time?

Dad and mom surface both crying, yelling she slaps his face. "Fix her! She's bleeding!" Mom screams as they dive again.

"Turn off the fucking skimmer" He yells at her. Mom swims to the side pulling herself out and switches off the skimmer...

…Silence…

No no no…

This time when he surfaces, he is holding a bloody bundle barely recognizable as a child. Dad is crying, Mom has collapsed on the deck in grief and two horrified young party guests stand with their mother frozen as the paramedics run around the side of the house…

Five minutes and forty-two seconds after the video started, the paramedics arrive but it is already too late.

Bree Richards has been effectively disemboweled by the underwater leaf-skimmer…

Edward clicks his mouse to end the video.

I'm breathing heavily and realize I'm about to cry. I hunch over as Carlisle rounds the table offering comfort.

Edward regards me…his hands clench and I know he wishes it were he with his arms around me offering comfort.

"That little girl and two others like her, maybe more are what this case is all about; the lies those bloodsuckers told to keep that product on the market, well, I want to drain them of every dollar just as efficiently as their machine drained those little children and their poor parents of their lives."

Edward sits down as the lights come back up. He puts his head in his hands…I understand his passion better. I can only hope to be as dedicated as he is in order to bring them to justice.

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

Edward

The look of horror on Jasper's face was wrenching. Although the rest of us had seen it before, this was Jasper's first time. His eyes met mine and I knew he understood now why I was so driven to bring those bloodsuckers to justice. The assholes at Jason Electronics and their counsel Craig Matthews of Volturi Partners, especially had prevailed at the criminal trial but I was determined they would lose in civil court and pay dearly.

It was late after we finished our discussions, Edward Senior and Carlisle weighing in as we discussed the upcoming depositions. We worked through lunch; I noticed Jasper seemed distracted and barely touched any of the food Bella had brought in. Watching the video had deeply affected him. Good.

"Matthews is putting out not so subtle signals that he's going to question the parents' attentiveness. He's looked into their driving records and found that mom had a DUI in college. Dad's not around anymore…the guilt got to him and he committed suicide. Mom's an alcoholic mess so of course they'll try and shift blame to the parents, primarily her. It worked somewhat in the criminal trial but then it's nearly impossible to get a guilty verdict in a product liability case."

I chewed on an apple not really hungry knowing I still had dinner with Emmett to get through.

I watched as visibly shaken Jasper rose from his chair and gathered his things. I wanted to comfort him but could think of nothing suitable that I could say to soothe him.

He opened the conference room door and practically walked into Jacob. A jolt of jealousy flashed through me as I watched his usually smiling face turn serious as he observed Jasper's demeanor. Jacob placed his hand on Jasper's shoulder and they walked off together towards Jasper's office.

I need to get out of here…

Bella walked in smiling shyly ready to help me get the files gathered up. Why did my skin crawl when she did that…? She stood way too close to me leaning over and pressing her body against my side as she reached past to grab my files. I stepped back to give her room and her face dropped. Damn!

"Edward…Um…uh…um…the…"

Fuck! She makes me want to hyperventilate!

"Um…uh…the Company Picnic…food…planning…" she was wringing her hands; I was feeling twitchy with unexpressed irritation.

"Oh yes…why don't put some time on my calendar… " I gathered up my things.

"Bella, I'm going to head out to dinner…"

"D-dinner?" She said hopefully…

"With my brother." That was cold but necessary. Bella needed to get the hint and I was tired of feeling like the bad guy because she couldn't get over her crush on me. I wanted so badly to scream, "I'm gay, you idiot" but that would be rude.

"Thanks for your help today Bella, I'm sure you can get the rest of the room picked up without my help. I'll take my files and laptop back to my office." I was not about to encourage her in any way. Her lip quivered and I cringed knowing her eyes would start leaking soon. I couldn't get out of there fast enough, practically sprinting back to my office.

As I approached, I heard murmurs of conversation coming from Jasper's office. I was curious but couldn't bring myself to intrude. I texted Emmett letting him know I'd meet him at Monty's at 7 o'clock; as I did, I noticed that my phone displayed three missed calls; two from Tanya, one from my father. My pulse quickened but I chose not to check the messages at this point.

I rolled down my shirtsleeves and put my jacket back on. I decided not to bring my files home tonight; it was unlikely I'd get anything done as I expected to be out late.

I turned to lock up my office and as I did, out of the corner of my eye saw Jacob leave from Jasper's office. He turned and paused as I saw Jasper standing at the door talking with him. Jacob patted his shoulder and looked up at me with a look of disdain or was that jealousy…a challenging look in any case as he turned and walked away. What the hell was that all about? I worried momentarily that Jasper had been indiscreet about us with Jacob but I put that thought aside…for now.

I waved at Jasper smiling slightly attempting to maintain professional demeanor…I walked towards him…well I had to pass his office to get to the elevator. I stopped in front of Jasper, his sad eyes reflecting a multitude of emotions.

"I didn't get a chance to ask before but are you okay?" I said quietly, glancing around. We were alone. "That video is hard to watch and I really didn't warn you strongly enough beforehand…" I couldn't chance touching him as badly as I wanted to…

"I'm good Edward, I get why you needed for me to see the video, it's better that you didn't warn me; it would have diminished the impact. I know why you're working so hard on this now." He looked away, down the hall towards where Jacob had gone.

"Good luck tonight, Edward…give my regards to Emmett" he smiled wryly at his only allusion to what had passed between us. I couldn't resist and lightly brushed my fingers against his. His breathing hitched.

"Thanks, Jasper, I'll make sure to say hi from you" I rolled my eyes smiling at him feeling suddenly better about life.

"Oh and Edward," he whispered, leaning towards me conspiratorially "I think my sister has a crush on Emmett. I don't know if I mentioned that my sister is Rosalie Hale…it was weird when I thought he was gay but now…"

"No way!" I exclaimed catching Jacob's attention as he walked towards us. "Rosalie Hale the television personality and my goofy brother?"

"Yes, way" he responded raising his eyebrows and effectively ending our conversation when he turned towards Jacob.

"Ready?" Jacob asked Jasper as he looked towards me, his eyes hard; a glittering obsidian.

"We're meeting Rosalie and her friend Alice for dinner" Jasper said as if he needed to explain which he didn't but it did save my mood knowing it wasn't just Jacob alone he'd be spending the evening with.

"Have fun, I'm off to meet up with Emmett" I smiled as the two of them walked in front of me towards the elevator. We all rode down to the first floor together and separated as we walked through the garage to our cars. I reached mine first and waved goodbye. I turned for one last look and again it was Jacob looking back at me as he put his arm around Jasper's shoulder and they walked off. Was he trying to make me jealous? If yes, it worked!

I slammed my door shut and resisted the urge to squeal out of the lot. It was close to 7 o'clock so I headed out immediately to the restaurant.