Chapter 25: Jealousy

Jasper looked out the window, tense. He had to take it upon himself not to rush to Harry's house, but the dark-haired man trusted him to stay away, and he wanted to prove to him that he deserved it. He knew that the dark-haired man needed proof, that he needed to have by his side someone who respected him and his wishes, someone who let him be the decision-maker of his life. The vampire was a born commander, a leader of men, but his empathy allowed him to understand these needs that Harry felt and he was quite ready to respect them as long as he did not compromise himself. He was willing to wait until the dark-haired man was ready to see him... even if his nerves were being tested.

When Charlie had arrived at Harry's house and the dark-haired man had texted him to ask for the privacy he had promised him, he had felt jealousy overcome him. He had not been able to move from his tree, fearing that the slightest movement would cause him to go and slit the throat of the man. An anvil had lodged in his stomach as he had watched them back up to the bed as they stripped each other, the pleasure, happiness, and lust they exuded reaching him. He'd felt like he was seconds away from walking into that room and ripping the redhead's arms off before claiming his soul mate... He'd inwardly struggled not to let his vampire take control and do the unforgivable. He was literally shaking with rage when Alice, Emmett, Edward and Carlisle had surrounded him.

"If you lose your control now you will lose Harry," Alice's surprisingly serious voice had told him.

Jasper had had to take several deep breaths with his eyes closed before he could respond, his jaw clenched.

"Don't leave me…"

He couldn't finish his sentence, afraid to say what he might do to the most important person in his life.

"We're here son, we'll help you," Carlisle had replied as Emmett and Edward had grabbed his arms.

He had nodded, closing his eyes so as not to risk resting them on the couple he knew were having sex given the emotions they were giving off at the time. His brothers had tightened their grip on his arms and taken him hunting several hundred miles away to regain control. They had stayed for two days in the far north of Alaska, just long enough for him to be sure he was in control and not to cause a massacre. When they had arrived at the Denali house, he had locked himself in his room, trying to calm his need to rush to Harry's house.

So he had been staring out at the snowy landscape for several hours when Carlisle's phone rang.

"Hello?" the doctor asked as he picked up.

"Hello Carlisle, I need a favor…"

Jasper could hear Andromeda's voice coming out of the phone. Curious that she was calling, he concentrated on the conversation so as not to miss anything.

"Harry's hurt, I need to go to Anchorage to get something to help him…"

Jasper felt like he was falling into a black hole when he heard this. He rushed out of his room to Carlisle's side.

"Sure, sure, can I examine him first?" the doctor asked.

"Yes, you can come and check him out, but…"

"I'll do that before I take you anywhere you want to go."

Jasper was dying to go with him, to reassure himself about Harry's condition, but he was waiting for the right moment to let the doctor know.

"Okay. We also need someone to look after Teddy…"

"I'm coming!" exclaimed Esme and Rosalie immediately, who were also listening to the conversation with concern.

"Esme and Rosalie?" asked Andromeda for confirmation.

"That's right," confirmed Carlisle.

"Yes, perfect…"

The empath signaled to Carlisle that he too wished to come.

"Jasper will come with us too," the doctor added immediately, understanding his concern.

"No, not Jasper…"

He felt as if he had been stunned by this answer, and without meaning to he let his anxiety out, making everyone in the room with him feel it.

"Andromeda, he needs to see him now, he is very worried…"

"I understand his concern, but this is a complex situation. It's better if he doesn't come…"

"Okay," Jasper cut in dryly, hurt at being left out when Harry wasn't well and his vampire and human sides were screaming at him to be with him so he could protect him.

"Thanks, see you soon," the witch concluded, obviously having heard him.

The empath fled the room to return to his room. He didn't trust himself enough to leave the house. He was hurt by this refusal, especially since he suspected that it was because of Charlie that he was not allowed to be with his soul mate. Disappointed, angry, worried, he sat on the ground, took his head in his hands and tried to recall his emotions inside him, to regain control. He heard Carlisle join him.

"Jaz, I know this isn't easy for you…" he said as he opened the door.

The empath looked at him skeptically, he doubted anyone in his family had had to prove to their soulmate that he was the one, none of them had had to see him with another and accept it, none of them had had to see him vulnerable and not be able to do anything about it, to know he was hurting and not be able to be there for him. No, none of them could understand what he was feeling. In frustration, he let his emotions hit Carlisle for a few seconds, let him get a glimpse of what he was going through. The doctor recoiled from the impact of the emotions, but Jasper recalled his feelings before they had time to influence his real emotions.

"I'm sorry, but I can only imagine how you feel. I promise we'll keep you posted, okay?"

Jasper nodded, regretting using his power on Carlisle in that way, but his mind was already back on Harry. He listened to him go back downstairs, and join the girls in his car. He huffed, he wanted to follow them, even if it was just to stay out of the house... no he knew that if he got any closer he would lose control.

He heard Edward ask Emmett to be on guard. Obviously Edward was watching his thoughts and he was ready, along with their brother, to step in if he ever decided to join Harry...and Jasper was grateful to his brothers for making sure he didn't do anything stupid.

He soon received a message from Rosalie that Charlie wasn't there. As much as Jasper still wanted to be with the dark-haired boy, he was relieved to hear that the redhead wasn't there either. The next message, however, did not please him at all, it even made him angry.

"Charlie heard about you, his brother hit Harry in retaliation, he blew out his shoulder."

Emmett and Edward immediately arrived in the room, sitting on either side of him, each with a hand on his arm.

"The brother is part werewolf, he has tenfold strength. Carlisle has asked Andromeda to put Harry to sleep while they go get something to treat him."

Rage filled Jasper, he wanted the head of this almost werewolf who had dared to strike his soul mate. He wanted to hunt him down, he didn't know where he lived, but he was sure he would manage to find him.

"Stop it, get a grip," Edward whispered, having followed his thoughts.

He and Emmett had tightened their grip on his arms.

"He hurt him," Jasper growled in response.

"Think of Harry," the telepath insisted, "he'll blame you and himself if you hurt the redhead."

"I don't think he likes red eyes," Emmett joked, not knowing how true he was.

Jasper's anger subsided instantly, realizing that he could scare and lose Harry if he killed the almost-wolf. He huffed, swinging his head back and cracking the wall. He ignored it and relied on Emmett's calm, nonchalant demeanor to calm himself. Very slowly, with great effort and over several hours, Jasper managed to regain complete control of his emotions... until Rosalie arrived in his room. He looked up at her questioningly, stingy with any information she could give him.

"Andromeda made him a potion and ointment to heal his shoulder. He's been sleeping ever since. She said he'd probably sleep between twelve and thirty-six hours."

She paused. Jasper stressed, he knew that his sister had also become attached to the wizard and now he felt that something was upsetting her.

"Is he going to be okay?" he asked anxiously.

"Yes, he'll be fine, it's just a bad time," she reassured him immediately.

"What is it then?" he finally snapped, concerned about what he felt about his sister.

"Rosalie, no," Edward interjected, giving her a warning look.

"He has a right to know," the blonde snapped.

"Rosalie," Jasper growled, eager to know what Edward had read into her mind.

"Ro…"

"Charlie's back, Andromeda's agreed to let him spend the night with Harry."

Jealousy exploded in Jasper again. He tried to stand up, but his brothers held him down. He tried to struggle, but sitting down, he was no match for Emmett's brute strength combined with Edward's, he didn't stand a chance. He spent many minutes trying anyway until he was finally perfectly immobilized.

"Getting in there won't help you with Harry," the telepath assured him.

Stuck, he had no choice but to slowly calm down. He wasn't released until Edward felt he was sufficiently in control. The jealousy and anxiety were not gone, just under control.