I don't own Twilight.

JPOV

I sat quietly as my fate was discussed between Aro and Agent Castillo.

"Listen, it's not like Whitlock affected your case at all, Eleazar. He hasn't worked on your case. The closest he's come is the corruption case and that's local." I listened as Aro pleaded my case, trying to keep the FBI from making a stink and claiming my badge. Not that I didn't deserve it, but all things being equal, I'd prefer keeping it. Agent Castillo drew a deep breath before speaking.

"This cannot be completely overlooked. The integrity of everything that's been gathered is going to be questioned. Did he have access? Could he have influenced anyone? And the answers are not easily accepted. Just because he wasn't working on the case directly doesn't mean that the suspicion won't be too great to overcome! Don't get me wrong, no one is questioning his motivation. Off the record, no one even really thinks what went down is all that bad. We just can't let it pass without demanding something be done. Also off the record, we would be willing to go with a suspension while the custody of all the evidence is verified and removed from the premises."

Suspension. Long-term suspension. It's better than not being a cop at all. I'll get my Star back. I'll get my Star back. I will get my Star back.

"I'm fine with that, Agent Castillo." If I said any more, Aro would throw me out of the room.

"Well, I guess it's settled then. I'll have the papers on your desk this afternoon." We all stood to leave with me following Aro out. Agent Castillo stopped me.

"Still speaking off the record, man to man, we all admire what you did to get your girl back. Not one of us wants to see that scumbag walk for what he's done. No matter what, we're all going to work as hard as we can to get him locked up."

"Thank you, Agent Castillo. Off the record, your understanding saved my job. I would have taken being fired, but not well." We shook hands and left in silence. My day was far from over. Now that the FBI was out of the way, I had to deal with how the Rangers were going to handle my actions.

"You know the Chief is pissed about being called in on this. The fucking Governor called him about you, Jasper. You are lucky the FBI wasn't eager to make an example of you." Aro's voice sounded weary and his head rested in his hands. It was very difficult to balance the guilt I felt for causing so many headaches for Aro with the absolute knowledge that I would do it again, the same way, without hesitation if Bella were ever in danger again.

"I know, Sir. I am also lucky that I have you on my side." Wrong thing to say.

"You're goddamn right you are, you smug son of a bitch! Of all the fool things to do! You risked your job. More than that, you risked the lives of your friends. One of them was shot, for crissakes! I know, know that you would do it again. And that's the part that pisses me off the most." Aro was pacing, running his fingers through his hair. I knew that I deserved whatever he had to say to me and I knew to keep my mouth shut until he was done.

"And, as pissed as I am about it all, I don't want to lose you as a Ranger. You are excellent at your job and this stupid… mission of yours proves that. At the same time, all the evidence collected at the scene is useless to Bella's case because you tainted the site! You're lucky we can still tie the physical evidence to those women who were found earlier this month. Argh! You idiot!" Aro slammed his hands down on his desk and sat in his chair with a huff. Still, he had said nothing that wasn't completely true, and so I remained quiet. Our silence was broken by the ringing of Aro's phone. As soon as he answered it, I knew my fate would soon be revealed. Aro's poker face remained in place as he listened, giving answers that revealed nothing of the conversation on the other side of the receiver. After what seemed all at once too short and too long a time, Aro hung up the phone and rested his forehead on his desk. With a deep breath, he revealed my fate.

"The Chief had a long conversation with the Governor. This morning he was calling for your head as an example of how Texas handles rogue cops. Since this morning, the national news has gotten wind of several abductees recently released by their captor. The reports are that the local police didn't give the cases the attention they deserved and because of that, the connection between the cases was never made. If it comes out that the police officer, who was willing to risk everything for the woman he loves and who had been kidnapped by the same man, was canned even after the new evidence was found, the press will have a field day. The Governor does not want the bad press. So, Whitlock, that makes you the luckiest bastard to walk the planet. Apparently the Chief also received a call from an Agent Castillo advising him of the FBI's demands for your suspension. He has decided that the demands are reasonable and that you begin your suspension, with pay, immediately. Please give me your gun and your badge. When you can return to duty, you will get them back." The relief in Aro's eyes betrayed his solemn speech. No part of me wanted to take the Star from my chest, and yet, I knew that this was by far the easiest treatment I could have wished for. I stood slowly, removing my piece and my badge and laying them on Aro's desk.

"Sir, I know that at the very least I should have lost my job. And I should be arrested and put in jail. Everything you've done for me, I appreciate it. Truly. Thank you."

"Yeah, well, Son, get your head on straight. You'll never get a chance like this again. Next time you screw up, it will be your last. I took a lot of risks for you. I know you are worth it and I know you won't let me down. Now, not another word about this. I'll call you when it's time for you to come back."

"Yes, Sir." As I walked out into the sun in front of the station, I realized just how much of myself I kept pinned to the front of my shirt.

***

BPOV

We were all so worried about Jasper. Everyone else was also worried about me. They were waiting for me to freak out about being kidnapped. In reality, I was more upset that I had disregarded everything Jasper told me and gotten in a situation where the abduction was easy. Jasper had training, had evidence, and had his instincts honed with years of experience and I still dismissed his concerns. Because of that disregard, everyone I knew had been affected.

Full of guilt, I waited for Jasper to come home from his meeting with Aro.

"I knew you'd make plenty of time to wallow." Edward's smile shone with concern and sympathy. Somehow, that managed to make me feel worse.

"You do know me so well." I patted the seat next to me on the couch. Edward wrapped an arm around me. I laid my head on his chest and listened to his voice rumble in one ear and soothe in the other.

"I have something to say and I want to be able to say it without any argument from you. I want you to answer my questions, but this is not a debate. Okay?" His fingers brushed through my hair, relaxing me even though his words made me feel very tense. He was going to light into me, similar to the parent who is so relieved to have their kid back and then screams at them for making the parent worry. I nodded, to afraid to say anything to upset him further.

"You know I love you, right?" I nodded. "How do you think I love you?" the question puzzled me.

"Uh, like a sister, I suppose. Like you love Alice." I could feel his chest vibrate with a low chuckle.

"No, I do not love you like I love Alice. It's so different, Bella. I love you like I love myself."

"I don't understand. Like yourself? Should I be worried about you?" Again he chuckled.

"No worries Bella. Here's the part where you listen and I explain. When I met you, I was the odd man out. No one liked me. No one got close to the strange rich boy who was too snobby to speak. People treated me as though I thought I was above everything. Do you remember that?"

"I remember hearing people saying those things, but I don't remember you that way."

"Of course you don't remember me that way. Besides my family, no one ever bothered to look at me. Before you, I was shy to the point of being paralyzed. I had no idea what to say and was so worried about being laughed at that it ended up being easier to let everyone think the worst because they just left me alone.

Then you came to Forks. When everyone else saw a snob, you saw me. Bella, you taught me how to be. When you were near me, I stopped being afraid of what everyone else thought of me. Do you remember holding my hand the first time I had to stand up and speak in front of the class? No one else saw you holding my hand on the desk, but that touch helped me focus on what was important." He stopped talking, but I could tell he wasn't done. Bringing up these old memories was nostalgic, but I just wasn't sure what he was getting at or what this had to do with my guilt. I was relieved that he didn't seem interested in yelling at me. At least not yet.

"Bella, when I told you that Sammi and I were together because of you, you thought I meant because you introduced us, but that wasn't all that I meant. Mom and Dad taught me manners and set good examples for how to be, but I just didn't know how to make it work in my own life. You, Bella, you are the one who taught me how put it all together. If you were not in my life, I would never have been the man Sammi deserves. Not that I am, no man will ever deserve Sammi, but I know how to work toward being that man. Because of you. So when I tell you that I love you like I love myself, I mean it. The heart I am able to give to Sammi comes from you. I could not live without my heart and I cannot live without you because you gave me that heart." His eyes were so kind and shone with the urgency of his words. I started sobbing.

"Why are you telling me this? Do you think I don't feel guilty enough?"

"Shhhh, love. This is not about making you feel guilty. Each one of us has a story like that. Emmett, Jake, Zach, Alice. And now Jasper. Each one of us has a story of which you are an intimate part. One does not exist without the other. Without you, Bella, none of us makes sense. You're like the damn Wizard of Oz." Both of us erupted in laughter.

"Okay, you're going to have to explain that one. I honestly don't see how I gave you your heart, since it was always there."

"Yeah, well, the Wizard didn't actually give anyone anything either, he just gave them a physical reminder for what they already had. You reminded Emmett that he had a brain. He heard 'dumb jock' so many times that he just started living into the role. When you came, you turned that upside down. He started making straight A's again. He started talking about the books he was reading and trying to catch up to you on the library list.

And what about Alice? She used to cry when people called her a pixie and only talked to her about fashion. We're still the only ones who can call her a pixie. The confidence she has in herself came from your silent support of her. Not to mention Zach. That boy was a cowardly as they came when it came to Alice. There was another silent encouragement and push in the right direction.

You gave Jasper a home. He had a wonderful home with his family, but that was what he needed as a boy. What he needed to grow up into the man he is today. Bella, you gave him the home he needs as a man. He has a love he would never have had without you. He knows that and would do anything to keep you safe.

You found two-dimensional stereotypes and helped show us how to be whole people. And not by pushing us around or showing us a mirror, but by loving us and supporting us. You would do anything for us, without hesitation, wouldn't you?"

"Of course I would, Edward. I love you."

"As we love you and so you must stop worrying about what happened to take you away from us. You must stop worrying about what we went through to find you. We all knew there would be consequences for our actions and each one of us made the choice to live with those consequences because the consequences of living without you could not even be entertained.

"I couldn't have said it better myself, Edward. You don't get to be the only one willing to sacrifice, Bella." Sammi wrapped her arms around me and pulled me to her. I felt relieved. I felt relieved of the weight of always being, as Sammi said, the one willing to sacrifice. With my brain, I knew my friends would do anything for me, as I would for them. When the opportunity came for them to show me, they did, without hesitation.

"Thank you. Thank you for sharing this with me and for putting it all in perspective. You'll never know how much it means to me."

"Always the martyr." Edward poked my ribs until I laughed and begged for mercy. Sammi was no help to me, since she decided to attack my feet.

Whatever happens with Jasper, we'll get through it together. All of us.

The three of us quited down after a while. Kerry and Jake came in and Jake sat in front of me with his head resting on my lap and held Kerry on his lap. More time passed while I ran my fingers through Jake's hair. Alice and Zach came into the room and lounged on the loveseat. Rosalie helped Emmett hobble into the room and sit on one of the chairs. The heavy silence was more than Emmett could take.

"Have you noticed the lengths some people will go to for attention? I'm just sayin." Emmett's laugh was always effective at breaking tension and this was no exception.

"Yeah, really, like getting shot!" Rosalie quipped. Everyone laughed and started talking about things besides Jasper's fate and my trauma.

"Sammi, I'm getting antsy, and who knows how long Jasper will be. Will you go to the store with me so I can get food to make supper?"

"That sounds like a great idea, Bella. Get your shoes on and we'll go." I knew I needed a distraction and I hadn't really done anything since I'd been home. I mean, really, it had only been a few days.

We drove in companionable silence while I made a list of things I wanted to get. We took our time shopping. We wandered up and down each aisle and commented on things as we passed. In her own way, Sammi let me know that I could take my time and if I wanted to talk she would listen and if I didn't want to talk about that, I didn't have to.

After what seemed like hours in line, we were checked out and heading to the car. Just like any other time I'd been shopping, until the car door behind me slammed. My whole body reacted and moved to a flight posture before my brain caught up to what was happening around me.

"Bella, you okay? It was a car door. See?" Sammi's voice held no hint of condescension, but I was pissed anyway.

"I know that! You don't have to talk to me like I'm a child!" I snapped at her.

"Bella. Don't." Her voice was quiet and calm. Much more than I deserved.

"You're right. I'm sorry," The words died on my lips when I saw the man walking toward us. His steps did not falter, his eyes were on me. Did he work for James? The panic rising within me took over.

"No! NO! I won't go back! Please leave me alone. Tell him you couldn't find me!" I screamed, grasping for Sammi and running toward the car.

"Bella, Bella!" Sammi shouted my name over my panicked pleas. "No one is coming for you. That man was walking toward the carts behind us. Shh, sweetie, it's okay." She pulled my shaking body into hers just as I broke down completely. I could not control the sobs nor hold back the tears.

"Oh, God, Sammi. What's wrong with me? Am I going crazy? Am I going to see demons everywhere now?"

"Oh, sweetie. No. You haven't processed anything you've been through. You're so worried about Jasper that you haven't taken care of you. Your nightmares are awful. It was just a matter of time before the stress manifested itself during your waking hours." She moved me to the passenger seat and loaded the groceries before driving me home.

I was never happier to see Jasper's truck than I was at that moment.

Special thanks to mrsalreyami for helping me with this chapter. During a late night chat, she was able to sift through the morass of my brain to pull out what I really meant to say. So, if you like this chapter, swing by her stories and leave her some love.

How many of you wish you had friends like these? Wish you had an Edward to tell you why you are wonderful?