Author's Note: Characters are not mine, the idea is. Second to last chapter I believe!

JPOV

Bella was in grave danger and hurting. I felt it down to the marrow of my unbreakable bones, in the very fiber of my being. I could not understand the how or the cause, but I could feel it as though she were tearing apart in my arms. I loved her deeply, and nothing was going to separate us now, but I could hardly consider having formed such a strong connection and affinity in the short time we had come together, it seemed not altogether impossible, but no one in my situation would hesitate to doubt its existence. It was improbable at best, yet nothing deterred me from my single minded thoughts as I ran the length of the airstrip at a careful human pace and went to board my plane back to the states.

What was pulling at my heartstrings and scorching my lungs this way? What had me terrified of coming home to Forks? I was answer-less and worried, and could hardly concentrate on anything else, even as I almost missed the plane, and rushed on at the last minute, scaring a young stewardess in the process.

Maybe I was going crazy, slowly, from the lack of blood in my system, and the stresses on my body over the past three days I'd spent in Italy. I only hoped I would return to Bella very much alive and healthy, and hopefully, not married to Edward.

I sat uncomfortably in my seat, though perfectly comfortable physical, my inner turmoil would not allow me to relax. I was acutely aware of a hidden happiness that at least I did not need sleep, as I knew that if I were so accursed, I would have suffered even more greatly. My thoughts were hurried and jumbled, and even graced with the ability to ponder several things at once, the situation at had punctuated and filled my head as though it would spill over the brim. I could not fathom how I would explain Alice's change of heart to the family...what was left of it anyway...and especially to Bella, who would be hurt the most. She had always trusted and loved Alice, and it was simply heartbreaking to know that she'd betrayed us all the moment she'd seen fit. And there was the problem of Demetri, I felt sure he would not cease his pursuit, even though I'd long left Italy, and as he was gifted greatly, he would undoubtedly search for us all. Not to mention Alice would try to render him unstoppable. However, we were smart to her abilities, and I was confident that we could evade her eyes as much as we dared. I simply had to keep Bella safe as soon as I arrived.

But how would Edward react to my story? Though I hoped Bella had told him the truth, something told me that even her repeated efforts would never get through his thick skull, and as he could not read her thoughts, he would never know just how true her woulds could be until I returned. I did not fear my brother, all the same I did not enjoy the prospect of a brutal fight over Bella. Though younger and faster, he could not override my talents and experience. It was a fight I'd surely win, though it would be dirty and murderous. I would simply end up having to provoke him with my own thoughts, and after a while, he would pounce me. Well, I would be ready when he did.

BPOV

I couldn't see anything. I could hear nothing but the roaring in my ears, a piercing, deafening sound I could not place within the rational confines of my mind. Oh, but could I feel. My body was on fire, and though I was screaming it with what I thought was all the strength my voice could muster, it seemed no one could hear me. No one was there for me, and I could not understand what the hell was going on. One minute I had been with Edward, trying to escape his iron grasp. The next I was no where, but it was quiet and peaceful, as though I were floating through white, clean light. Now, now I was absolutely positive I was dying. Where was Edward? Where were the rest of the Cullens? More importantly, where was Jasper?

It seemed he was never coming back to me. He had been too late, and now I was dying or dead, and he would find me like this. Would he even care? Had he ever cared at all? Or had he let his love be a figment of my imagination, the cause of this pain? I stupidly continued to believe in and trust him, and now I had no one and I regretted having ever let him pull me away. Not even Jacob had held such control over my mind, and if he knew what was happening right now, oh... there would be hell to pay. That is, if he still cared. I strongly doubted he did. I'd spent so long avoiding seeing him, and now I regretted that distance too.

I couldn't hear anything. Why couldn't I hear anything? I never thought that death would be such a lonely thing, I'd always been sure that someone or something would help me along. Then again, I hadn't expected it to be this painful.

Then, it dawned on me. I was changing. I was not going to be human when I woke up. But why was I changing? I was pretty sure my neck was broken. I was pretty sure most of my body had broken under Edward's crushing hands. Had I been remembered after all? Had Carlisle taken pity on me, and saved me? Had Edward? Was he aware of what he did? Did he care?

The questions swirled in my mind, until they were a blur of disjointed thought. I tried to scream for help again, wondering if I would be heard, if anyone would come, if it would even matter. I longed to be rid of this. But I knew I had three days...three horrible day ahead. And I was not sure how anything would turn out when they were finally over.

Suddenly, I heard voices, loud ones surrounding me. They came ethereally, muted and flowery. I struggled to focus on them. It sounded like Jasper. But that was impossible, wasn't it? I mentally smiled. I was going insane, I decided, due to the pain. There was no way this could be real; that Jasper could have come back to me.

Then came repeated crashes, low snarls, and a few angry screams. I heard the shatter of glass and a horrible screech, much like metal ripping metal, then I heard no more as the darkness encompassed my mind.

JPOV

As soon as the plane touched down in Seattle, I hurriedly grabbed my things, and fled the crowded terminal. I payed the dues for my car, retrieved it from the parking garage, and headed as fast as I could to Forks. I took the back roads to avoid traffic, and wound my way at a hundred miles an hour, anxious to get to Bella. My unease was growing unnervingly fast the closer I got to her, and I wasn't taking any chances. I stopped at her house, but neither her truck nor Charlie's cruiser was there, so I headed to the big house in the forest.

Winding down the driveway, I felt tension in the air, the emotional tumult focused upstairs in Edward's bedroom. With a sinking feeling, I noticed Bella's truck parked to the side; knowing that things would not go well with her here. At the sound of my engine dying, Rosalie appeared at the door, then swept away, probably to alert Carlisle. I ran into the house, at a normal speed for vampires, and suddenly the atmosphere of the whole house changed. Anxiety and anger was rolling off of Rosalie in powerful waves, while Emmett smiled and waved, then looked ashamedly at the floor, his own feelings not quite matching his greeting. I wondered to myself what was wrong before it hit me painfully.

I could smell Bella everywhere. Not just her scent, but her blood. Everywhere. The house was filled with it, and no one, it seemed, had taken care to open a window or get out the bleach. I snarled. "Where is she?"

Rosalie stepped behind Emmett swiftly, then nodded towards the stairs. Carlisle appeared there, a grave expression on his face. "Jasper, you're home." His tone was wholly unwelcoming, although it was obvious he was trying to be nice, his emotions that of worry, fear, and unease. Clearly, something was going on, and no one was volunteering to tell me.

"What is going on?"

"You must stay calm, son," he spoke softly, calmly, as he descended the steps to face me. "It will be alright." To the left, Rosalie gave a low hiss, and I could only glare.

"Where is she," I repeated, this time lacking any friendliness or curiosity in my tone. I could not help but growl at the end, as I moved slowly around Carlisle. "What happened?"

"Edward..." I did not wait for his explanation to finish, and bolted up the stairs and into Edward's room. The smell of blood was suddenly less concentrated, as Edward had opened the large bay window, as he sat by it, a stony look fixed upon his face. It looked as though he had not moved for quite some time. It took all my strength to drag my eyes to the bed that sat in the corner, where Bella lay, eyes closed, breathing stopped. Soft music echoed from the stereo, but I could pick out her tiny, frail heartbeat.

I went to touch her, but Edward stopped me. "Don't, don't touch her." I wheeled around to stare at him. "What are you doing here? You left. You have no business being here. You should leave, now."

"I have plenty of business being here. You, however, caused this. I should make you leave myself." I leaned threateningly towards Edward, flexing my muscles and baring my teeth. I pressed out my emotions and tried to strike fear in his un-beating heart. I refused to let him hear my thoughts just yet, I didn't want him to get angry yet; and I hoped he would leave on his own. Clearly, I was reacting under false hope. There was probably no reason to believe he might ever listen to me.

His stance was that of defense. It looked like he thought he was protecting Bella. I laughed coldly. He was clearly doing the opposite, as he was the threat.

"Get out of the way, Edward."

"No," he snarled. Well, I had no choice. I opened up my mind, and thought back a few months, remembering every moment I'd spent with Bella. Each kiss, each touch, the night I'd made love to her. The day I confessed my love. I looked at him triumphantly as he processed it all, pinching his nose in that pathetic way he had. He back up a little, visibly shocked. "No," he repeated.

"Yes," I taunted. The atmosphere changed vividly in the house the instant Edward slid into a low crouch, growling. I smirked.

"How could you?"

"I love her, in a way you will never understand. I would never hurt her. You're the biggest threat this whole world has to offer her, and yet you hold yourself up as the high and mighty Edward: the man who thinks he's protecting that woman over there," I pointed to Bella for emphasis," yet you're the only one she should be afraid of."

"That's not true," he replied, taking a cautious few steps forward.

"Going to attack me, brother?"

"I am no brother of yours."

"Of course not," I smiled. I realized I was probably savoring this more than was necessary, but it was just too tempting. I couldn't resist seeing Edward lose for once. "Come on then." I beckoned him forward, mocking him openly, then glanced at Bella. Hopefully this would be over quickly.

He snarled and launched himself at me. I fought him back, quick-stepping around the room, daring him to catch me. He took the bait, and barged through the bedroom wall, after me. I leapt over the stairs, moving lithely around the fine china. He ignored the china and smashed his way to me, and caught up. His hand wrapped like a vice around my ankle, and I twisted and kicked upwards, flipping him back over the railing. But he wouldn't let me go that easily, his resilience paying off. Downstairs, Esme screamed at Carlisle about how we were destroying her beautiful house, and I chuckled. Edward leapt up from wear he'd fallen and fixed me with an enraged glare. I smiled tauntingly, then frowned as he charged. I escaped his grasp fully then went back recklessly towards his bedroom. It was dangerous to take the fight in there, but I hoped to take advantage of the glass walls. I tripped him and ripped his shirt, digging in my nails, ripping off a small chunk of his granite skin with a screech. He screamed like a madman, but I dodged him once again, then threw him through the window, smiling as the glass exploded around us.

Then, I glanced worriedly at Bella, and seeing that she seemed untouched by the glass shards, jumped out the window and ran after Edward into the forest, following his trail of broken and uprooted trees. I planned to run him to the Canadian border when suddenly an all-too familiar scent caught my attention.

"No way...." I cursed, then back-tracked to the house. I came plummeting at full speed out of the forest and stopped within inches of a tiny vampire's triumphant smirk.

Alice was back. In Forks. The very last thing I needed to have happen.

"Hello, again, Jasper," she purred, taking Dimitri's hand as he flew to her side, glaring.

A/N: How was that? Sorry it took so long to update. I'm on holiday now though! So I hope to have the final chapter up very soon! R&R.