I don't own Twilight, Stephanie Meyers does.

Chapter 14

Bella had cried for quite some time and Jasper had held her close to him. She had thought he would be angry at her breakdown but he had kissed her and murmured words of praise. She was finally gaining control of herself and pulled back from him. She felt his disappointment as she moved to the other side of the seat.

"I'm sorry, I'll do better as I get used to it." She whispered wiping her eyes.

Jasper took his eyes off the road briefly and looked over at her in confusion.

"You were perfect Isabella. I am sorry you had to see that." He told her turning his eyes back to the road, but not before she saw the shame in them. What was he ashamed about?

She shyly moved her hand over the seat and laid it on his thigh. Trying to convey her feelings. She wanted to comfort him. He closed his eyes briefly before covering her hand with his own. His hand was so big compared to hers and it sent warmth through her body as she studied it. She noticed a scar on his hand running along the top and disappearing into his shirt. She reached with her other hand and traced the scar. She didn't want him to be scarred anymore.

"Well it always be like that?" She whispered.

She felt his muscles tighten and she immediately regretted her question.

"Yes, there will always be fights and I will have to kill but I do try to find other solutions Isabella." He told her painfully.

Bella was confused. Sure the fight bothered her but she trusted Jasper. She had been around him enough to understand that causing pain hurt him. She knew he did what he had to. What bothered her was his pain. He let that woman wound him and she suspected he let Vincent do it to, showing the others his strength by showing no pain and winning with one hand. She knew he didn't like causing pain and she was sure his subjects did to. It was probably the reason she saw such devotion for him from them.

"Jasper...I..." How could she say what she so desperately wanted to.

"Well I have to watch you be hurt and not allowed to help again?" She asked drawing in a big breath. It had been torture watching his pain and not reaching out with her shield. She didn't know if she could do it again. She didn't want to be asked to.

"When..." He stopped.

Bella was sure he was about to say when she was changed. It was the elephant in the room. The subject neither was broaching.

"I don't know." He finally said.

Bella closed her eyes. She wasn't sure she could do that. Maybe she should ask him to change her after they met with her father. She had desperately wanted to be a vampire before. Then she had seen vampires as the ultimate of perfection. She had been a child living in a fool's paradise. Living in the southern armies she had discovered that vampires were very different from humans. They were violent, emotional, sadistic. They weren't like the Cullens.

She had come to understand that losing a limb was not permanent for them so didn't hold the same horror for them as it did for her. It still pained them, though. She didn't want to become cavalier to pain as she had seen so many of them were. She also didn't want to hunt humans and she suspected being Jasper's mate she would have to.

"Jasper who was that woman." She asked not wanting to think about the change.

She saw a flicker of pain in his eyes and a flicker of jealousy ran through her.

"Nothing like that my Isabella." He said drawing her hand to his lips and kissing it. Damn empath! She thought.

"Remember when I told you of my battle to free Caleb?" He asked.

Bella nodded, he didn't turn to her but she supposed he saw because he continued.

"Her mate fought with me to free him and perished. She rightly blamed me for his death. I tried to help her. She was a kind person who I...I was genuinely fond of." Jasper choked out.

Bella moved closer to him putting her arms around his waist, trying to give comfort. She was glad the woman wasn't an old lover but saddened that her death hurt him so. The feel of his muscular chest made her feel a little out of breath and she couldn't help but let her hands wander to feel the wonderful contours of his frame. A picture of him shirtless yesterday entered her mind and she stopped.

"All those scars Jasper...What...what happened?" She asked quietly.

Again she felt shame from him and regretted asking. "Life in Maria's army was very... hard. Many of my people have scars." He told her shortly.

Bella looked up at him. Studying his features. He stared straight ahead, his jaw clenched.

"Do they have as many as you do?" She asked quietly, getting a different view of the vampires she had seen at the compound. Perhaps they were brutal not only because of their vampiric nature but because of the pain they had endured.

"No." He said shortly without elaboration. She resolved to ask Char about it but suspected he was often wounded for others. She had come to learn that he cared deeply for the people. It must be awful for an empath to be thrust into the position Jasper was in. Feeling the pain they felt, feeling every wound inflicted. Yet having to inflict them to keep order.

Bella's hand again began to trace small circles on his chest. She didn't think she would be able to change things for him but perhaps she could comfort him. She would try her best to care for him as he cared for others.

Bella watched the lights zoom by for a bit before succumbing to sleep. Her last thought wondering why the speed Jasper drove didn't frighten her as it had with Edward.

Alice was looking through a rack of designer jeans, not really seeing anything. Bella was gone and Peter would not tell her where she went. She was sure the smug bastard knew. He knew everything.

Why had God cursed a nosey person like her with the gift she had? Her temptation to look for Bella was hard to resist. She had promised Bella though. She picked up a random pair of jeans and stalked to the changing room.

"Sugar you know it's for your own good. They will be back soon." Char told her grabbing her arm.

Alice tried to smile for her but failed miserably. She really liked Char. They had a lot in common, both being more energetic than most and having sunny dispositions.

"I know it's hard but the Major wouldn't let anything happen to her." Char continued.

"I know it's just that we were so close and now I hardly see her. She used to tell me everything now she takes off to somewhere I don't know and doesn't tell me. I miss my friend." Alice finished on a whisper.

She did miss her. Bella had been so kind to her, so sympathetic and understanding. She had made her feel accepted when Alice often felt like an outsider. She had comforted her and not expected so much out of her.

She wasn't fitting in as well as Rose and Emmett. They had hardly talked at all since coming here. Rose had begun to train with the Major's guard. She had found she really liked it and had a talent for fighting. Emmett was having some major male bonding and was thoroughly enjoying being around males that weren't so...well sissy. She felt alone. Sure Char filled the gap some but she was a high rank in the guard and didn't have a lot of free time.

She was a good friend though. She had seen Alice's hurt over Bella's departure and took her shopping. That was one thing they did not have in common, Char didn't understand the sheer joy that was to be gained by trying on outfits and finding the perfect one.

Alice gave her a genuine smile. "I'm sorry Char, I'm just adjusting to this new life. I didn't mean to throw a tantrum." She told her, Char didn't deserve her childishness.

"It's alright sugar. Those jeans are real cute, here I think this top would look perfect on you." Char said handing her a very stylish silk blouse. Alice gave a slight gasp of admiration and squealed with joy before making her way to the changing room.

She quickly tried on the outfit and sighed with joy as she looked in the changing room mirror. It was perfect. Char may not like shopping but she had a good eye, Alice thought with a smile. She changed back into her clothes and decided to give Char a break and tell her she was ready to go home.

"You need to come with me miss." A man in a security uniform told her as he grabbed her arm and began ushering her out of the changing rooms.

"Crap." Alice said before she could stop herself. She turned to the man about to plead her case when she noticed his abnormally perfect features. He looked like a vampire but didn't smell like one.

She stumbled a bit on purpose and felt his arm. It was rock hard and cold. She tried to tug her arm from his grasp but found that he had a tight hold on her. She scanned the store for Char but was unable to find her. She was just deciding to throw a fit when the man hissed at her.

"Don't even think of it. Come with me or we will be forced to hurt Esme." He told her in vampire speech, to low for humans to hear.

Edward...She tried to scan the future but found her visions didn't come to her. She began to panic. Had not using her gift caused her to lose it? She paid only slight attention to where he was leading her as she pushed for a vision. Finally she saw a glimmer...A big man...Felix?

"Your taking me to the Volturi?" She whispered.

He looked at her in shock and growled softly. She didn't say anything else but she tried to struggle a bit. They were in the parking lot now and she could be a little more forceful.

"Alice aren't you happy to see me?" She heard Edward say and turned to see him getting out of a car.

"I never wanted to see you again!" She spat at him.

He just laughed at her. He turned to the man who held her. "Thank you Riley." He said.

The man she now knew as Riley nodded his head. Edward's eyes narrowed as he looked at the man.

"I thought you said you could stop her gift." He growled.

"She's stronger than you said." Riley replied unphased by Edward's venom. Edward narrowed his eyes more and turned to Alice. The smile returned to his face.

"You have had a taste of Riley's gift. He can negate any gift when he touches a gifted vampire. If he touches you long enough maybe he could get rid of that troublesome gift of yours...But then Aro wouldn't be very happy." Edward said his hand to his chin as if in thought.

"Here's the deal Alice. I need Aro's help to get my Bella back. Aro won't help me unless I deliver you to him and guarantee I will join the guard after we rescue Bella. He also wants Esme but that would break Carlisle's heart. If you cooperate maybe he will be satisfied with just you and I." Edward said.

"Why would he want Esme?" Alice asked not believing him for a minute.

"Carlisle didn't tell you?" Edward grinned with malice. "Esme has a gift. One that Carlisle has worked very hard to hide. He made the mistake of telling me though."

"What gift? Where is Esme?" Alice asked afraid for the woman. Esme was blinded by Edward but still Alice loved her. How could she not, she was the kindest woman she had ever met. She had opened her family to her, had loved her like a daughter.

Edward laughed. "Right now I have her trying to gain support from a couple of nomads. I didn't think she would appreciate me taking you to the Volturi. It might ruin her image of me."

Alice's eyes narrowed she really hated Edward. "Why Edward? Why go through so much to get Bella? You have to know she is the Major's mate."

Edward growled loudly. "She is mine. Her shield will be mine. Have you found out Alice? Have you seen her use it? She uses her mental shield without a thought but her physical shield. It would be better if I could change her but if I did she would be too powerful for me to control. She used it once to protect herself from me. I don't even think she realized what she was doing." Edward said his voice drifting in memories.

"I was going to drain her. I had enough of pretending...her sweet blood...but I was stopped. How many times did she let me hit her, bruise her...but this time she used her shield. I don't think she even remembers because she passed out right afterwards, blood dripping from her nose. You don't know how hard it was for me for resist that. I did though, what she can do is far more valuable. I can be the most powerful vampire in the world. I just need to train her to rely on me. It is good she found her mate. When I kill the Major she will rely on me." Edward finished with a smile.

Alice stared at him in horror. She couldn't let him do that to Bella...

"I think you won't have a choice but to let me. Aro wants you with your gift in tact but if I let Riley hold you longer he can eliminate it forever." Edward said. "What's it going to be? Are you going to come with me peaceably and save Esme? Or are you going to sacrifice your gift in a fruitless fight?" Edward asked.

Alice began to fight in earnest. Edward laughed and approached her. "Really you had no choice Alice but I wanted to see what you would do." He said before she felt an excruciating pain and then the disorienting feeling of not being in control of her body.

She could see her body in the corner of her eyes being loaded into the car while Edward pulled her head up to his face.

"I guess we'll just have to transport you this way. Do you think Bella would give herself up for you if I offered a trade? What am I thinking you can't see." He said laughing as he entered the car.

Alice narrowed her eyes at him before closing them all together. If he thought this was the end he had another thing coming. She would survive this and he wasn't getting anywhere near Bella. She would find a way to stop him.

Edward laughed at her thoughts and started the car.