Chapter Twenty Six
Bella
Garrett's phone ringing made Jasper uneasy but I held him tight and whispered in his ear, comforting him.
"Don't worry Jasper I'm here and you'll be fine."
Alice spoke to him first telling him my dad was on the hunt for me. Much as I knew it would cause problems for the Cullens I wouldn't leave Jasper, I couldn't. Then Carlisle tried and after speaking to Garrett for a while the phone was thrust into my hands by a fuming Peter.
"You talk to the stupid fucker he won't listen to us."
Jasper tensed and his snarl was ear shattering, Peter moved clear quickly, his hands out to reassure,
"Sorry Major. I didn't mean to get so close. Its OK."
As he quieted again I put the phone to my ear,
"Bella, its Carlisle. We have a problem. Charlie is looking for you, he thought you'd gone away with Alice then he saw her so Esme thinking on her feet said you were with Rose. He thinks you're in Seattle with Rose but he won't wait much longer. He wants you back in Forks and if you don't come back it puts us in danger."
"I'm sorry for that Carlisle but I can't come back, not at the moment. I'll speak to Charlie though."
"I don't think a phone call will cut it the mood he's in. I have a helicopter on standby to bring you back. Leave Jasper to his friends and come home please."
"I can't Carlisle but I will speak to Charlie tell him I left Rose in Seattle that should get you off the hook."
"Bella I'm worried about your present company, they aren't really the sort of people you should be associating with."
"Really? Well its a good job you aren't my parent then isn't it Carlisle? I won't leave Jasper and I have to go."
I rang home and Charlie picked up immediately,
"Chief Swan"
"Dad"
"Bella where the hell are you? You told me you were going to Seattle with Alice, now Esme tells me it was Rose. What's going on? I want you back in Forks now young lady."
"I'm not with Rose any longer. I left her in Seattle and I can't come home dad. There's something I have to do."
"All you have to do is get home now. Before I set the Seattle Police looking for you. Where the hell are you and what's so important and so secret? Is it a guy? Edward? Jake?"
"It's not Edward or Jake, dad. I just can't explain but its nothing to do with the Cullens, They don't know anything about it. Just me."
"Are you telling me you won't come home?"
"Sorry dad I can't. Not yet."
"Is he really worth getting me mad over?"
"Yes."
He ranted on for a few more minutes but I stood my ground, I couldn't go home and that's all there was to it. As his voice got louder and the threats more vivid Jasper's hand came up and took the phone from me throwing it against the hearth where it shattered.
"Great! Thanks Major, that was a new phone."
Garrett knelt down to retrieve the sim card and throw the other bits of shattered plastic in the bin.
"Well I guess that's it then. We are now officially at war with the Forks Police department, at least until he makes it state-wide"
"Fucking nationwide if his last words were anything to go by. Still look on the bright side Garrett, we'll have snow for Christmas."
I had to laugh at Garrett's look of disbelief.
"Peter you are seriously warped."
The others got the supplies out and Charlotte made me hot soup and rolls but I was still cold. Jaspers icy body was making my teeth chatter even through the blanket and throw.
"You're gonna get fucking pneumonia if you don't warm up Bella."
I nodded at Peter,
"Charlotte would you run a hot bath for me?"
She nodded and went through to get the pail and balance it on the fire, when I saw steam coming off it I touched Jasper's face.
"I'm cold Jasper, so are you. Will you come through to the bathroom with me so I can warm up?"
He hesitated then got up with me in his arms and walked through to the bathroom while Peter stacked more logs on the fire and Garrett muttered something about chopping more wood.
Jasper set me down gently on my feet and I started to smile at him before seeing his face properly for the first time, his eyes were black as night, the shadows under them like terrible bruises. I dropped the blanket to the floor and the wrap from around his shoulders then pulled his hands until he stepped in the tub and I picked up the sponge washing his body gently as he held my hand tightly afraid I might disappear. When his skin felt a little warmer I guided him out and wrapped a towel around his frame then slowly and self-consciously undressed before stepping into the welcome heat of the tub myself. As I reached for the sponge with difficulty his hand came and took it from my outstretched fingers and he washed me as I had him then lifted me out. I ran my hand over his now clean face, it was so beautiful even though gaunt and still tormented.
"It's OK Jasper you can relax, I'm here and so are your friends."
He looked into my face
"Why are you here Bella?"
"Because I can't stop thinking about you. Now no more questions, let's just get dry and into warm clothes. We won't need the blanket between us then."
The door opened and Charlotte dropped warm towels and clothes on the floor,
"I grabbed the warmest of your clothes Bella"
"Thanks Charlotte"
She nodded, winked, and went out as I looked at Jasper again, he really was magnificent in his nakedness, muscles sculpted his frame although the skin stretched over them was terribly disfigured by scars. I looked closer and could make out their shape then looked at the mark on my own arm. They were the same, he'd been bitten over and over, his skin tattooed with the shape of human teeth. He watched as I traced the shape of a few waiting for some kind of response but I just kissed the most prominent one on his neck as I dried him before picking up my clothes and pulling them on. Once out of the hot water I was cooling rapidly, there was no heating in here. Seeing me shudder he pulled on his own clothes very quickly and picked me up, taking me back to the fire, the couch pulled up closer and dry blankets folded over the arm. The others were gone, where I had no idea, nor did I care at present. My whole attention was taken by this man beside me.