Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight nor the characters contained in this story.

Warning: This story is rated M for a reason. Language, Violence, Sex. You've been warned.

AN: Thanks to my reviewers, you keep me typing even when it hurts! I go back to the doctor next week and most likely surgery in my future since it's not any better and we've tried every other option. Ah, well, it was worth a try. :(

Back to the story...

Bella and Jasper ran silently to meet up with the others. Bella's thoughts continued to go over everything she had learned in their time alone together earlier.

So Jasper could feel human's emotions as they died – as he killed them? She wondered how horrible that must be, though part of her vindictively thought it was fitting that he felt her parent's terror and horror in their final moments. However, he wasn't in the barn that night of his own accord, since he was being held captive by Maria, and she wasn't sure what to do with that bit of information. Was he still at fault for their deaths? Absolutely. But did he have a choice that night? And if he did, would he have acted differently? She wasn't sure. There was obviously much more she needed to learn about Jasper.

When they finally caught up to the others, just outside of Seattle, Peter eyed Jasper critically; his gaze inspecting Jasper's clean t-shirt and yet still dirt covered jeans.

Jasper felt Peter's assessment of him and cut him off before he could question, "Don't."

"Later, then," Peter replied, not willing to let his friend and sire off the hook quite so easily.

Jasper glared but said nothing more. It was pointless trying to dodge Peter when he was so determined. He would deal with Peter's questions later, there was more pressing matters to deal with now.

Garrett unfolded a map on the ground, covered in notes from his previous surveillance.

"This," he said, pointing to a large 'X' marking on the map. "Is where most of the newborns are being held, as far as I could tell. It's a two story, old abandoned factory."

"Most?" Jasper questioned.

"There's a warehouse here," Garrett explained, pointing to a smaller 'x' marking a few miles north of the other location. "It appears they are keeping some of them here, as well."

"Why split them up?" Peter asked, turning to Jasper.

"Fighting," Jasper answered immediately. "If there's only two or three of them running the whole thing, they would have a hard time keeping them from fighting with one another; even killing one another."

"They will kill each other?" Bella asked in horror.

"Remember when you were a newborn?" Garrett snickered. "You wanted to kill me a few times just because you didn't get your own way."

Bella nodded, pretending to think back. "I did, you're right. My instincts, apparently, were right on. Who knew?" she sneered at him.

"You weren't thinking that way when you were screaming my name with my head between your legs," Garrett shot back. He knew the minute the words were out of his mouth that he wished he hadn't said them, but he was hurt by her comment and he had lashed out.

Jasper ground his teeth together and clenched his fists to keep from attacking Garrett. Bella on the other hand, didn't use the same restraint and launched herself at him. "You fucking asshole!"

Char stepped between them and caught Bella, her arms encircling her while whispering frantically into her ear. "He's not worth it."

Char turned to Garrett once she felt Bella's body relax against hers. "Next time, I will gladly let her tear you the fuck apart. And when she's done, I'll hand her this," she growled, pulling her lighter from her jean's pocket and holding it up to his face for him to see. She flicked it and the flame flickered brightly before she snapped it closed.

Bella breathed heavily and tried to distract herself by examining the map.

"What's here?" she asked, refusing to look at him.

"I'm sorry, Bella. I shouldn't have said that," Garrett apologized instead of answering her question.

"What's here?" she repeated, her finger now pressed more firmly to the map.

"Baby, please look at me. I said I'm sorry. I love you and I hate that I'm losing you to him," Garrett continued.

"Is that what you have told yourself? Your excuse, your reasoning, for each fucking lie over the years? To try to keep from losing me?" she spat, turning toward him.

"Well it clearly doesn't matter now, does it?" he countered, gesturing to Jasper.

"He has nothing to do with this!" Bella shouted. "You are the one who lied to me. You are the reason. You."

"Bullshit. If it wasn't for your damn mating bond with him, you would be on your knees right now for me at our home," Garrett growled, his anger taking over his words. Jasper had fucking ruined everything. They could have had it all, if she would have just let herself love him and forgotten about Jasper.

This time Jasper couldn't restrain himself, and he had Garrett pinned, his face pressed hard into the ground with his strong hand on the back of his head, before Garrett could even attempt to counter.

Bella let out a shuddering breath as she watched Jasper press Garrett further into the earth.

"You okay?" Char asked her softly.

Bella nodded shakily.

"Do you want this?" Char offered, holding up the lighter to her. She hadn't been joking earlier. Hell, she would help Bella light him up, if she asked. Garrett had crossed many lines, but this was the final one in Char's eyes.

Garrett struggled and Jasper growled dangerously, tightening his grip further.

"Bella?" Char asked.

Bella shook her head, her eyes filling with venom. "No. That's not what I want."

At Bella's words, Jasper released Garrett with one last shove into the dirt and stood. Jasper approached Bella and stood silently in front of her, blocking her view of Garrett. He didn't try to touch her, but she felt his gift tentatively reaching out to her and she didn't attempt to fight it. Instead, she welcomed it. Calm and comfort; what he sent her felt like a blanket wrapping softly around her, and perhaps, a much needed stiff drink. He was such an enigma to her and she simply couldn't reconcile the monster she knew him to be with the man standing in front of her wordlessly comforting her now. Could it really be due to their mating bond like Garrett suggested? Bella wasn't so sure she believed that to be the case. After all, Peter and Char certainly thought highly of him and her instincts still told her she could trust them completely.

When Jasper felt her calm down enough, he nodded, to her and himself, and stepped aside.

"All those years with you, and I never really knew you, did I?" Bella asked Garrett quietly.

Garrett said nothing, his head still hung in defeat while wiping dirt from his mouth.

"After this is over, I never want to see you again," she stated before turning away from him.

As she turned to the map once more, a lone venomous tear escaped her eye and fell to the thick paper, landing in the exact spot that Bella had asked about earlier.

She gently wiped the map with the pad of her finger, and asked again, "What's here?"

AN: Garrett is his own worst enemy. And he isn't handling losing her well. The question is, what lengths would he be willing to go to try to keep her?

Thoughts?

**Thanks for reading!**