DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of The Royals characters, however I own some original characters that you'll get to know them one by one.
Hi everyone!
I can't believe how long it's been since I updated this story. And I definitely can't believe it's been a year since the Captured update. Time passes way too quickly. I had a pretty crazy year. But of course after seeing the promos for the new season I couldn't stop typing. I hope the old readers are still out there and I hope you'll like this one. It's pretty emotional.
And the song used in this chapter is "Look At Me" by Damien Rice.
Enjoy!
Chapter23_The Protector
Jasper opened his eyes as if he was waking up from a usual nap on a Sunday. For a moment he was surprised to see the plain ceiling above him but the beeping of machines and the fact that a tube was currently occupying his mouth made him realize where he was.
He had survived the gunshot. He wasn't married to Samantha and Eleanor was hopefully alright. He turned his head slowly to the left and smiled even though the slight movement had drained his energy. She was sleeping on a chair next to his bed with her hand resting near his. She was wearing the same dress she wore to the ball so he figured not much time was past.
He slowly moved his hand near her and clutched it gently. He was just so happy to see her, alive and well, with her hair messy and covering most of her face. He wanted to move out of the bed and pull her into a tight embrace but he knew he wasn't capable of that, not yet.
He squeezed her hand as if that was going to replace what he was planning to do but the sudden movement made Eleanor frown and slowly open her eyes. At first she looked at him and closed her eyes again but a second later, she opened them with shock and cried out loud.
Jasper couldn't express his enthusiasm as much as she did but tried to smile as widely as he could. Eleanor threw herself over him but moved away quickly as she heard him groan with pain. She let out apologetically: "Sorry, babe."
She kissed his face over and over again and Jasper was quietly giggling at her anxiousness. She let her tears of joy fall on her pale cheeks as she said: "God, I'm so happy you're alright. You heard me, didn't you?"
Jasper frowned and motioned to the tube and Eleanor hissed: "Fuck! Doctors!" Jasper wanted to laugh as she hurried to the door and shouted for the doctor to come in. She was nervously watching as a doctor and a nurse rushed in and examined Jasper thoroughly.
After two painful minutes the doctor turned to Eleanor and explained: "Seems like everything's fine and he can leave in a few days. But he needs at least a month of rest for his wound to heal properly, Your Highness." Eleanor smiled and thanked the doctor as he was removing Jasper's tube.
They left after another minute and Eleanor rushed back to his side. Jasper called her name with a hoarse voice and she only replied with another fresh set of tears. Jasper clutched her hand tiredly and said: "I'm so glad… you're alright Len…"
Look into my eyes and you'll know that I truly love you
Look into my eyes and you'll see that no one will harm you
Eleanor whimpered: "I can't believe you did that for me… If something…" She couldn't finish her sentence and Jasper squeezed her hand and hushed her gently. He took a deep breath and started talking: "Princess, I wouldn't wanna live… in a world where you're not around… Trust me…"
Look into my eyes and you'll feel that I will protect you
Look into my eyes and you'll feel that you belong
She wiped her tears away and bent down to slowly put her lips on his. Jasper closed his eyes and felt the life itself coursing through his veins once more. She pulled back, afraid she was going to hurt him, and whispered close to his face: "These past few hours made me imagine living without you and believe me when I say… I don't want to live like that. Not ever…"
Look at me, look at me and little by little be sleepy
Look at me, look at me and you'll see that the dreams will come
Jasper smiled, it was the only thing he was physically capable to do, and said: "I love you, Princess…" Eleanor kissed him lightly and whispered: "I love you too, Bodyguard…" He felt his eyelids getting heavier and let out: "I think my body's forcing me… to sleep."
Then close your tired eyes, so wet from crying
Close them and you'll see that no one will hurt you at all
Eleanor chuckled and said: "Then rest. We're gonna have all the time in the world." Jasper nodded slowly and felt his eyes close with the movement. Eleanor sniffed and watched as his face relaxed like all those times she watched him in his sleep. She smiled from ear to ear and sat back down on the chair.
Close your tired eyes and you'll feel that I will protect you
Close your tired eyes and you'll feel that you belong
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Do you like it?!" Eleanor asked excitedly and it made Jasper chuckle out loud. She gave him a look and then he nodded his head in a hurry saying: "It's great!" The nurses exchanged a look of amusement and waited for an order from the Princess.
Eleanor tried to smooth the pillows in an obsessive manner that Jasper intervened: "Len, they look perfect. Can I please lie down already?" Eleanor finally noticed how tired his face looked and let out: "Shit! Alright." She turned to the nurses and said: "Do your thing."
One of them rolled Jasper's wheelchair forward and together they helped him up and on the bed. After Jasper gave them the thumbs up, the nurses looked to Eleanor and one of them asked: "Anything else, Your Highness?" Eleanor shook her head and said: "I will call you if something happens. Thank you."
Eleanor sighed after the door was closed and asked Jasper: "Are you really comfortable?" Jasper chuckled and tried to joke: "I'm lying on the best medical bed in England that's currently occupying Her Highness's room, so I guess you could say that!"
Eleanor beamed and bent over the bed to kiss him. Jasper put his hand on the back of her head and kept her busy for a moment until the need to breathe appeared out of the blue. He let go and Eleanor slowly pulled back, still smiling.
He let out: "But I'm still wondering how you managed to pull this off. The Queen must've given you a hard time." Eleanor pulled a chair and sat next to him saying: "Well, she did try to interfere but dad… convinced her." Jasper raised his eyebrows and Eleanor laughed explaining: "He did threaten her that he might give you a knighthood or something like that."
Jasper burst into laughter imagining the look on the Queen's face. His laughter turned into a loud groan when his wound started to hurt. Eleanor pulled his shirt up in a hurry, fearing she would see blood covering his bandages, but everything looked normal.
Jasper whimpered: "Fuck. Doctor did say not to laugh or cough hard. Well, he said don't do anything physical." Eleanor nodded absent-mindedly and slowly pulled the shirt down. Jasper noticed the usual fear in her eyes and took her hand to reassure her: "Hey, it's alright. You know I'm gonna be fine."
Eleanor bit her lower lip and tried to stop the tears that were slowly forming in her eyes. Jasper frowned and asked: "Len, didn't we have a deal?" She nodded and whispered: "No more tears." Jasper repeated: "No more tears."
She sniffed and let out: "I know it's been five days already but it's still so surreal… I fucking did this to you…" Jasper pushed his elbows on the bed and tried to sit up but the pain rushed through his body like wildfire. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath and then looked at his beautiful girlfriend torturing herself.
He started quietly: "Eleanor, this was my choice. My fucking choice. And never, ever, doubt that I wouldn't do it all over again…" Jasper gave her a determined look and hoped she would understand that he wasn't afraid of dying. He was more afraid of losing her.
Eleanor wiped her tears away and looked at him breathlessly. The man that was once like a closed vault was wearing his heart on his sleeve. Ready to die for her. Fuck it, he almost did. Emotions overwhelmed her and she couldn't help but wonder if words could actually make you high.
She felt her own heart skip a beat or two as she bent down to kiss him once more. The moment their lips touched she felt electricity sparking between them. She was sure she was going crazy but she didn't mind. She lost herself in him.
Don't forget to let me know what you thought about this chapter.
Xoxo,
S