Jasper
I had watched Bella sleeping for almost five hours as I spooned myself against her, when Peter appeared in the room.
"Major, this is kinda weird…" He smirked at me, and I rolled my eyes.
"She's beautiful when she sleeps," I said quietly, so Bella wouldn't wake up.
"Come on, Char and I need to talk to you for a minute," he motioned for me to follow him and he disappeared.
"Love you," I breathed softly, kissing Bella's hair before rolling away.
She sighed in her sleep, "Love you more."
I laughed quietly – even in her sleep she had to have the last word.
I followed Peter's scent outside, to the back garden, and flitted to his side where he stood talking with Char quietly. I picked up on their anxiety and I frowned.
"What's wrong?" I asked, and Peter sighed, but Char answered.
"We have…a bad feeling," she grimaced, and instead of laughing as I would have done to anyone else, I listened attentively – Peter and Char were never wrong. "We think that you have been followed."
"How do you know?"
"I can feel something rolling in – it's hell-bent on driving you and Bella apart," she said quietly, looking off into the, now, slightly clouded sky.
Peter groaned, "Man, I know you said you were careful, but I can feel it – they're coming."
"The Cullens?" I growled under my breath, and they both nodded.
Peter and Char had always had gut feelings, and they had never had one lead them astray – the Cullens must be coming, and I knew that Carlisle, Emmett and Esme would not be among them. So, I would be dealing with Alice, Edward and Rosalie – the worst opposition. They were all ruthless in their own way, and I knew instantly that they would do whatever they could to break me from my Bella – they didn't understand.
"Have you got somewhere we can go?" I asked, thinking through every possibility I could.
Peter nodded, "We have a place in San Antonio."
"That's where we're going then," I said firmly, heading back into the house to get Bella.
Edward
We were in Las Vegas, and I was sure that we had lost the trail – there was nothing much to go on and we all needed to relax. The sun was hidden behind thin clouds, and we were able to move from our hotel – we drove through the city, looking out for anywhere that seemed a good place for Jasper to stop.
"He must have stopped here somewhere!" Alice hissed, exasperated.
"I'm sure he did, but you need to calm down," I said softly, trying to cool my own impatience.
Shut up, Edward… She thought angrily, and I backed down a little bit.
Rose seemed awfully quiet, but her thoughts told me nothing – when she had covered up something she was thinking earlier, I was sure she would let it slip later. Obviously I was wrong – I didn't give her enough credit.
I sighed as we passed through the outer-parts of the city, when suddenly Alice sat up straight in her seat and started flapping her hands around uselessly.
"He's here, Edward – I know it, I can feel it," she murmured, and I felt a new sense of urgency fill me – I needed to find Bella and wherever Jasper was, she would be.
"Come on, Alice," I coaxed, and she smiled brilliantly.
"I still can't see him, but I know that there's a house here somewhere where he is staying – and don't ask me how I know," she added.
I looked about quickly – we were on some kind of inclining road, and trees were lining our way. Alice seemed to get more excited the closer we got to…wherever we were going.
Suddenly, a house came into view and as I opened the car window, I could smell very fresh scents. I took them in, and my eyes instantly darkened and venom pooled in my mouth – Bella. I would recognise that scent anywhere, and I felt fury bubble up within me as I caught Jasper's scent mixed in with her fragrance. There were two more scents, and I didn't recognise them, but both were vampires.
"Shit!" Alice cursed loudly, jumping out of the car when I stopped. "No!"
She ran into the house through the open front door, and Rosalie and I were on her tail. The scent trails in the house were frantic and, seemingly, random, but I could tell that they left in one hell of a hurry. Things were scattered everywhere and some were broken, like an empty picture frame shattered on the living room carpet – they had taken the photos, so we didn't know who else there was with Jasper and Bella. A credit card lay cut up on a nearby table, and there was a completely destroyed cell phone next to it.
Alice was suddenly at my side, "This isn't good, and I can't see them still. But we can't give up."
Rose and I nodded – if anything, all this made us want to find them more.
"If there is anyone who knows where Jazz is, it's his oldest friend," Alice hissed. "We need to find Peter."
Bella
"Okay, so are you going to explain to me why we're driving all the way to Texas?" I asked with a sigh – they were all remaining quite close-lipped until we left Las Vegas.
Jasper pulled me into his side in the back seat of Peter and Char's truck, as Char drove and Peter sang along to the radio.
Jasper sighed, "I am sorry, Bella. Edward, Rosalie and Alice were close-by."
"Okay," I said neutrally, "Fair enough, but why can't we talk to them?"
Peter chuckled, "Bells, they aren't the talking kind – at least not while they think the Major's gone nuts and kidnapped and drained some young, sweet thing."
"Why can't you call?" I asked Jasper.
"We could, Darlin', but I'm not sure if they would listen and it could make things worse – it might set Alice off and have a vision or something," he smiled, kissing my forehead sweetly.
"That reminds me," I said quickly, "I need to call Charlie – I said I would."
"Sure, Hon'," Char said sweetly from the front, "Next pay phone we see."
I sat back in the seat, considering our hasty exit from Char's lovely house. I had been woken up by an insistent Jasper – which wasn't the worst way to be woken, but wasn't the best when he said we had to leave like greased lightning – to find my new clothes, and everything else that was mine, packed. He had me get dressed and then we left – taking Char's truck and leaving the stolen SUV behind, among other things. Jasper had me glued to his side for the trip out of Las Vegas, and didn't stop holding me even after we left the city limits.
"How close were they?" I asked, and Jasper grimaced.
"Very – I saw Alice's car start up the road to the house just after we left," he sighed, pressing his cheek to the top of my head.
"That is close," I breathed, and Peter chuckled.
"Not the closest of scrapes that the Major has gotten out of," he said proudly, and my own pride swelled – I could feel Jasper grinning against my hair.
"So, is there a plan?" I asked, and Jasper nodded softly against my head.
"Sure is, Darlin' – though I'm sure you'll think it's a little…boring," he said quietly.
I rolled my eyes, "I won't know until you tell me, but I doubt anything is boring with you three."
Jasper chuckled, and his sweet breath gave me the shivers, "We're doing what we were doing originally – we're laying low."
"That doesn't sound boring – it sounds like something out of a spy movie," I grinned.
"Glad you think so," he whispered, kissing the tip of my nose.
I lifted my head, pouting slightly, and he grinned and gave in, kissing my lips softly. I twined my arms around his neck and kissed him back, harder. I felt a growl rumble in his chest and he crushed me to his magnificent body.
"Can I join in?" Peter said seriously, breaking the mood.
"Damn you, Peter," I hissed, and Jasper and Char laughed at me trying to sound menacing.
"Little Lady, you are one of the least scary girls I've met," Peter smirked, and I gave him an evil grin.
"You haven't seen me angry," I chuckled, making Jasper laugh.
"My Bella has claws," he grinned.
"Oh, I don't doubt that," Peter smiled suggestively.
This was going to be a long trip.
Charlie
I had driven over to Dr. Cullen's house without calling, and I was surprised to find him there, rather than at the hospital.
He looked taken aback when he opened the door, "Chief Swan. To what do I owe this visit?"
I grimaced, "Cut the bullshit, Dr. Cullen. I have proof that Jasper Hale was seen taking Isabella, my daughter, and stealing a car."
I didn't have definitive proof, but he didn't know that – this lead felt right, and I wouldn't let it go.
Dr. Cullen sighed, "Chief, any evidence is immaterial – I will tell you what I know, as I was going to do eventually."
He waved me into the house and into the living room, and I tried not to gawp at how huge the place was. Then I remembered Bella and my poker face was back on. I sat down on the luxury couch, as did he.
"What do you know, then, Dr. Cullen?" I asked firmly and he sighed, raking a hand through his blonde hair.
"Jasper has taken Isabella away for her own safety," he said cryptically, and I shook my head.
"Explain," I almost growled.
He nodded, "I will. Chief…they are in love."
I stared at him, "What? Isabella hasn't been here long enough to fall in love, and she is definitely not old enough to run off into the sunset – she was taken!"
Dr. Cullen shook his head, "I assure you – Jasper would not have taken her with him if she were unwilling."
"What do you mean 'for her own safety'?" I asked, and a grimace crossed his face.
"Some members of my family are not glad that Jasper and Isabella have found each other – they wish to break them apart."
"Why is her safety in danger?" I asked, wide-eyed.
"I did not mean her physical safety," he said, and I could see he had let something slip which he wanted to take back – you didn't become a cop without learning something. "I meant her well-being in general. They will be broken apart if they do not follow their own course – it's up to them, Chief. All I know is that they are both happy with each other – I know nothing else, and that is enough for me."
"You don't care?" I very nearly shouted.
He shook his head, "Of course I do, but Jasper is old enough to make his own decisions. If he loves Isabella enough to keep her with him and protect her, then so be it."
"But this is my daughter! You can't condone him taking her!" I yelled.
"Chief, I have already pointed out that she did not go unwillingly, but I am not her guardian. As far as I am concerned, I condone everything Jasper has done."
I stared at him disbelievingly, "You've got be joking – she's seventeen!"
"Sir, in all due respect, age makes no difference in love," he smiled, and I felt my hands clench into fists.
"I could charge you for withholding information – I assume you truly do know nothing else, like their whereabouts?" I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
"I know nothing else – Jasper contacted me once to make me aware of the situation, but that is all. I have heard nothing from him in a long time."
"I would appreciate you passing on the number he called you from," I said with a false smile, and he nodded.
He went to a nearby table and wrote down a number on a piece of paper.
"Here you are, Chief," he said amiably, and I glared at him.
"You'll hear from me again," I said, taking the paper from him and leaving the house.
I got a call from the station then, "Chief! We've found the stolen vehicle."
"I'm on my way," I growled, snapping my cell shut.
I was on my way to finding Bella – at last.
(A/N: Sorry for the shortness (: I'm just setting up the next part of the story, so don't hate me. I promise that the next chapters will be longer – there's D-R-A-M-A ahead.)