Chapter Fourteen
Jasper
Bella slept better that night than she had done since I first saw her in the hospital. The slow return of her memories had somehow comforted her even though they had been frightening and sad in places. She still insisted that I stay with her so I pulled a chair close to the side of the bed and she stretched out her hand to grasp mine. I think she was frightened I might leave her when she was asleep.
This was fine in the short term but if it went on too long I'd have to call in help so I could go hunting. The last thing I wanted was to attack Bella because my thirst got out of control, I doubted she would trust me after that.. if she survived!
In the middle of the night, she rolled over and only then did she finally let go of my hand. At the same moment, I heard a slight noise from downstairs. Had the people hunting for Bella somehow found her again? I moved silently to the head of the stairs ready to attack when I heard another sound followed by a familiar voice.
"Fuck me, Major, if I make any more noise I'll have the police forces for the whole fucking state here. Are you deaf or something? It's us, now cut the crap and come down here."
I ran quickly down the stairs to confront my intruders.
"Peter, what are you doing here? I told you she was scared of men," I hissed.
Charlotte rolled her eyes in long-suffering resignation.
"I told him we should call first, Major, but you know Peter. Anyway, having a woman around might be good for the girl if she's as traumatized as you say."
Peter flapped a hand at her to stop her talking.
"Yeah, yeah. The thing is Major, I felt trouble brewing around here and you know I hate to miss a fight. It'll be fine, we'll just stay out of sight."
We all jumped as a piercing scream rent the air and I was back with Bella before she could go into hysterics.
"It's OK Bella, I'm here."
I struggled to calm her, she was trembling and biting her nails in terror.
"I heard a man's voice."
The tone of her voice told me she was close to hysterics even with my calming influence it but I decided to take a chance.
"Remember I told you about my friends, the ones who helped me?"
She nodded breathing rapidly.
"Well, they're here. They want to help me protect you but they don't have to come into the house."
Her eyes were full of tears as she struggled to choke out words.
"I'm... sor.. sorry, I just p-p- lost the word sorry.
. Do you trust them?"
I nodded, "With my life, and I have done in the past."
She worried her nail a little more reminding me of a child then whispered,
"Are they vampires too?"
I nodded again, "Yes. Peter and Charlotte."
"Can I see them?"
Her eyes darted to the door as if she feared they might be lurking just out of sight on the landing.
"Yes, if you want to, but they'll stay outside if you prefer."
She grabbed my hand tightly.
"Will you stay with me?"
"Yes, Bella, I will".
She moved until she was almost hidden from sight behind me.
"OK" she whispered.
There was no need to call them; they'd heard our conversation just fine and seconds later Charlotte appeared. She stood just inside the door and smiled at Bella.
"Hi Bella, I'm Charlotte."
Bella peeked over my shoulder and whispered hello then darted back as Peter came into view. Like Charlotte, he stopped just inside the door but unlike Charlotte, he couldn't keep his mouth shut.
"Hi there, I'm Peter and I think that might be my bed you're sleeping in."
Just fucking great, Captain! I thought.
"Peter, you asshole" Charlotte growled.
Bella looked over my shoulder again,
"Your bed?"
He nodded,
"Oh sorry, but the others were all occupied, lots of other bears here tonight."
Peter laughed nodding his head in acknowledgment of the joke returned.
I couldn't believe it, Bella had just made a joke with a strange male vampire. This was a big step forward for her.
Having found some confidence or bravery from somewhere she wriggled around until she was sitting next to me like a little child and held out her hand.
"Hello, I'm Bella, I spoke to you on the phone, didn't I?"
He smiled, nodded, and walked forward to take her hand and shake it.
"How you doing honey?" He asked, still holding her hand.
"I don't know, I can't remember what happened to me but there are people looking for me. Jasper is doing his best to keep me safe but it's a big job all on his own so I'm glad you're here."
Peter
I knew that I couldn't do the soft shit, it just wasn't me, and the others knew it too even if they expected me to try, but I needed her to trust me fast so I went on instinct and it worked. If it hadn't, I think The Major would probably have ripped me a new one, Charlotte certainly would.
Bella was one scared little girl at the moment in big trouble with more on its way if instinct was anything to go on and she needed all the friends she could get.
How could anyone hurt a little thing like her? Well, they wouldn't get a second chance, not if we had anything to do with it. Charlotte had looked horrified at the way I spoke to Bella but she'd calmed down once she saw that my way had worked.
I still held Bella's shaking hand in mine.
"Honey, we'd like to help the Major, if that's OK with you? If the men who are hunting you come here he might need a bit of help don't you think?"
Her eyes went dull suddenly and she shrank back a little pulling her hand free of mine.
"I.. I don't do that...I don't like it... Do you want me, Peter?"
I wasn't sure quite what had just happened to change her behavior but I smiled at her reassuringly.
"You're very beautiful but no honey, I have Charlotte, besides she'd have my dangly bits for earrings if I did."
Bella's eyes cleared and lit up with a smile and I realized I'd just been tested and passed although the inference of the question made me want to shudder.
"Thank you, Peter. I'd like you and Charlotte to stay and help Jasper."
I nodded,
"Good as done honey."
I glanced at the Major and shook my head seeing the dark bruises under his eyes.
"Bella, I think the Major could do with a break. Would that be OK, if we stay with you while he's gone?"
She turned to look at him with a frown and I expected her to protest but then her face cleared as if she understood what I was referring to.
"Yes, that will be fine."
Then she studied him for a moment.
"It must have been hard for you, Jasper. I should have realized. You go, just don't be away too long, please."
Jasper
Peter never ceased to amaze me, he always knew exactly what to say to anyone to get the response he wanted. It was just unfortunate that the reaction he usually wanted was an aggressive one! I was still wary about leaving Bella until she smiled and pushed me from her side waving me to the door.
"I'll be fine, your eyes are getting very dark and I know that means you need to hunt."
I looked at her in amazement, it appeared that was something she'd known without having to think about it.
"OK, but I won't be long."
As I left I felt her become nervous once more but when Peter took his place beside her she relaxed again. I don't know why but that unsettled me, I wasn't sure what I disliked more, him being that close to Bella, or the fact that she didn't protest.
Peter jerked his head,
"Go now, Major, I'm not sure you'll have another opportunity if you waste this one. I can feel something in the wind if you know what I mean."
I did, when Peter got one of his feelings trouble wasn't usually far behind.
So, I left, scanning the ground for tracks, any prey would do, deer, elk, fox, squirrel, I'd take anything I could get at the moment. It was my lucky day, or should I say night? A few miles from the cabin I crossed the trail of a brown bear and dined well. In truth I could have hunted again, it had been some time since I had my fill but I felt the need to return to the cabin and Bella.
When I got close to the house I heard a wonderful sound, Bella was laughing. I wondered what had caused such a lift in the spirits of my charge until I got close enough to hear Peter.
He was telling Bella how he single-handedly saved the seven dwarves from Prince Charming who it appeared was the Wicked Stepmother's henchman who had the Three Bears running a poisoned apple concession in Sleeping Beauty's castle.
I lost the thread after this but Bella seems to be enjoying the story and by the time I walked back into the cabin he was explaining how he used a Yo-Yo and some bubble gum to scale the tower and save Hansel and Gretel.
"Don't you mean Rapunzel?"
"Rewho? Nah, she was busy stealing the tarts with old Rumpelstiltskin. Don't you know your fairy tales, Bella?"
She stopped laughing when I walked in, jumped from the bed and ran to me, beaming.
"Jasper, I'm so glad you're back. I missed you. Peter was telling me a story, did you know he's one of the original Ninja Turtles?"
I raised my eyebrow at him questioningly but just shook my head.
"No, it must have happened before I met him."
She looked at me sternly.
"Oh no, it couldn't because you made him and Charlotte, he told me."
I looked questioningly at Peter but he just nodded and mouthed,
"I ain't gonna lie to her."
She had got under his armor just as she had mine. Charlotte meanwhile, was sitting in the corner just observing them.
"You OK Char?" I asked.
She smiled.
"Yes, just watching Bella wind you two round her little finger."
Bella looked at her suddenly very serious.
"No Charlotte, I'd never do that to Jasper or Peter. They are my friends, the only ones standing between me and the people looking for me. I'd never do anything to hurt either of them."
Charlotte nodded.
"Fair enough, Bella. Just as you say."
There was something going on between the two women, Charlotte wasn't usually this prickly. She rarely sat so quietly watching someone without comment, something was quite obviously bothering her.
Charlotte
I watched Peter and Bella's interaction once the Major left and felt saddened. The poor girl was totally out of her depth. She had no idea how to handle Peter as a woman so she reverted to childlike behavior and he went along with it. I suspected that being a woman around him was far too scary, it had only brought her pain in the past and she was protecting herself in the only way she could. If he saw her a child he would treat her as such and that was safe in her eyes.
The Major had mentioned her physical condition when she was admitted to the hospital and it was clear that some bastard had done a real number on her. I suspected that this was all a brave front but inside she was terrified and screaming for help. Bella was in deep trouble but I had the strangest feeling that she had remembered more than she was willing to admit. I didn't know why but I thought she needed to talk to someone about it and I was her only choice. I wasn't a psychiatrist but I'd learned a few things growing up and since. It was clear I wouldn't get anything out of her while the guys were here so I shooed the two men out to check around and make sure the house and grounds were secure. They didn't like it but the Major understood I wanted time alone with Bella even if he didn't know why and dragged Peter with him promising to be back shortly.
Bella glanced at me warily once we were alone and lay down closing her eyes and probably hoping I would leave her alone. Instead, I made myself comfortable beside her and waited until she opened her eyes to look at me.
"Charlotte?"
"Bella, we're on our own now. Why don't you tell me what you remember?"
"About what?"
"About what happened to you."
She tensed,
"I don't know what you mean. I don't remember what happened or where I was. Only little things about before I went missing."
"I don't believe that. I think you remember more than you are willing to admit."
shook her head and started to cry so I took her hand in mine and squeezed it gently.
"Bella, I know this is hard for you but it will be better if you can tell someone. You'll feel better and we can get through it together. You can't keep it all bottled up. It will destroy you in the end."
She wiped the tears away but they returned immediately so I gave her a tissue and she blew her nose.
"I can't Charlotte. If I tell, you'll leave me. Jasper will go and I'll be on my own again. I can't be on my own again, Charlotte, I'm so scared."
"You can tell me and I promise you whatever it is I won't leave you and if you don't want me to tell the guys then I won't but I think it would be far better if they knew. We could help you if you'll let us."
She looked at me worrying her lip, a sure sign that whatever she had remembered was bad.
"I'm so scared, Charlotte."
I put an arm comfortingly around her shoulders and spoke very softly.
"I know honey, but you have to tell someone. You can't keep it all buried inside, it will destroy you in the end. I know honey, I've been there."
She shook her head but didn't pull away, her voice only just above a whisper.
"Not where I've been."
"Yes, right where you've been, so you see I do understand."
She looked shocked,
"Really?"
I nodded.
"Yes, honey. I was just like you, a girl with nothing more on my mind than finding a boy and falling in love, maybe get married but then… well, I was on my way back home after walking into town to get some cotton for my mama. She was sewing me a dress for the annual Harvest dance. And on the way, I met two men riding in a horse-drawn wagon, strangers who asked me where I was going. When I told them they laughed and grabbed me by the arms. They threw me into the back of the wagon and while one drove on the other tied me up and gagged me so I couldn't call out for help. They kept me for two weeks just driving that wagon around the county before I managed to escape."
"What happened then? Did you go home?"
I shook my head,
"I was too ashamed, I just kept running and finally I ran into the Major and Peter. I didn't tell them either. I was so ashamed I decided I would never tell anyone because they would blame me, or hate me, or laugh at me for being so stupid, but the secret ate away at me until I couldn't stand it any longer. One day I started to shake and I couldn't stop. Peter found me hiding up a tree and persuaded me to tell him what was wrong. When I did I felt better, like a weight had been lifted from me. You need to tell someone, me, or the Major, or a doctor, but you need to tell someone your secret before it destroys you."