Disclaimer: I don't own any recognizable characters, they are all the property of Stephenie Meyer and no copyright infringement is intended. But the plot is all me

Inferno ~ Chapter 37

"Chuck, no!" Bella screamed and Chuck immediately released Jasper's arm.

The damage was done, though. Chuck's sharp teeth had cut through the skin and Jasper was bleeding. Without thinking, and ignoring the tingle of their skin touching, Bella grabbed Jasper and dragged him in the house. Though she was less worried about Jasper's injury and more worried that he'd demand Chuck be put down. He was just a big enough asshole to do it, she thought.

"First aid kit?" She asked Rose.

"Downstairs bathroom."

Bella took Jasper to the bathroom and forced him to sit on the edge of the tub while she went to work cleaning up his injured arm. Chuck laid in the doorway, eyes watching Jasper's every move, ready to jump in and bite him again if he looked at Bella wrong.

"You smell so good," Jasper told her, the smell of alcohol wafting to her nostrils.

"You smell like a distillery," she retorted, refusing to make eye contact.

Jasper chuckled and used his free hand to touch her cheek. Bella moved away quickly.

"No, Jasper. We're not going there again," she warned.

"I could change your mind, you know."

His tone was cocky and it pissed her off.

"Fuck you, Jasper! I wanted there to be something with you, but you made it clear that you didn't want that when you told me to get the fuck out of your house."

Her eyes met his and he saw the fire there. He also noticed how much thinner she was. Had he hurt her that badly? From a distance the weight loss wasn't noticeable, but now that she was close, Jasper was able to see how much her figure had diminished.

"You aren't eating enough," Jasper ground out through clenched teeth.

"Not that it's any of your concern, but I forget sometimes. I've been keeping pretty busy."

"To keep from thinking about me?" Jasper asked. "Is that why you got the canine version of me?"

Her hand across his cheek was his answer. Chuck jumped to his feet ready to defend her if it was needed. His low growl rang out in the tiny bathroom.

"Piss off, Jasper. You know, I thought there was something good about you, but there really isn't, is there?" Tears clouded her vision as she spoke.

"No. I told you that from the beginning."

"But there was, wasn't there?" She asked, fully crying by then.

"Once, yes. But it died with her," he spat.

Bella felt as if she'd been punched in the gut. She knew that the woman in the picture existed, but hearing it from his mouth stung.

"And I'm not her," Bella stated.

"No. You're not."

With that Bella walked out. She apologized to Rose and Emmett, telling them she would call when she got home, but that she couldn't stay there with him. Chuck followed closely, growling quietly in warning to anyone that came near his distraught master.

Bella cried the whole way home.

A/N: Wow, you guys REALLY loved Chuck! I am a sucker for animals which is why my husband won't allow me to volunteer at the animal shelter. I tend to want to bring them all home. But no worries, there will be plenty of Chuck. He seems to have stolen the show, here, and I love it. And I love all of you! You guys are so unbelievably awesome! And Assper seems to be the name for Jasper that gets thrown out a lot lol. No sympathy for the devil, eh?

Demanding Reviewer we give the dog Benadryl, but that's mainly just to keep him more relaxed. He's usually really good in the car. But like Chuck, he likes to freak out any time another car comes too close to ours. Or if he sees people walking outside of our car. The older he gets the more protective he gets of his momma and his baby (my son).

Thanks so much for all of your reviews! I love you guys! And this story would never have seen the light of day if it weren't for Nostalgicmiss and Hevv99 who do lots of hand holding during my writing process. I love you guys, hard!