Pulling to the side of the road, Jasper shook Bella awake. "Bella, wake up darlin"
Crawling out of her cocoon of jackets, Bella rubbed the sleep from her eyes and looked around. Nothing seemed familiar to her but it was dark out, "Where are we Jasper?"
"A few miles out from where Alice last saw my friends…" pausing, Jasper was uncomfortable with the position he was about to place Bella in, but he saw no alternative. If he left an opening, Edward would take advantage immediately.
"Darlin, I need you to listen to me carefully. We were are going, it's a tourist attraction by day, but by night it's become a popular drug spot. My friends…they come here to hunt. If they are still in this area, it's unlikely any other vamps will be around, but if Peter & Char have already moved on…"
"Then others might be hunting here tonight," Bella finished for him.
"Yes. I'm sure you understand why I can't leave you somewhere safer?"
"Of course Jasper, Alice would see me alone and send a rescue party. Or rather a kidnap party since I don't exactly want to be rescued."
"That's exactly right darlin. I won't give them that chance, so you're coming in there with me. I need your word that you will do everything I say, the moment I say it, no matter what it might be."
Showing her trust in him, Bella replied, "You have my word Jasper."
"Alright then, we're in Boise, Idaho; a few miles from the Old State Penitentiary site. When we get there, I'm going to put you on my back. Keep your head down – and keep your grip tight. If I have to make any fast moves, I don't want you falling off. I may not have the luxury of holding you to me either."
Taking a deep breath and processing all this, Bella nodded. Jasper looked her over. She didn't seem thrilled with this turn of events, but neither was she wilting. After all, this was hardly the worst she'd seen of their world. Hopefully Peter and Char were here tonight, he didn't want to linger in the area, or have to expose Bella to this repeatedly.
Turning the truck off, he chose to go on foot. If there were any vamps other than Peter or Char there, the truck wouldn't have a chance to outrun them. Crossing to the passenger side, he waited as Bella put one of Alice's jackets on, then turned his back to her.
"Climb up darlin, wrap your legs around my waist and hook your ankles. Same with your arms."
Turning in the seat, Bella did as instructed. She knew from experience with Edward carrying her this way that she could squeeze her arms as tight as she liked and Jasper would barely notice. Once she had a good grip, she ducked her head and said, "Ready."
Clasping a hand over her ankles to insure they remained hooked; Jasper locked the truck up, and then took off running. In just minutes he was outside the penitentiary grounds. He ran around the exterior wall looking for a trace of his friends. He came to a sudden halt at the southeastern lookout tower.
"What is it Jazz?"
"I just caught Char's scent. It's fresh, so she's likely still here. Peter won't be far from her either. Listen Bella, I should have mentioned this earlier… vampires are vulnerable when we are feeding. You know how protective mates are of each other. I don't want you to say a word until Peter especially recognizes it is me. If I make the mistake of stumbling near Char when she's feeding, he will attack first and ask questions later. I'm sure you can imagine what that would mean for you?"
Laughing feebly Bella replied, "Yeah, a Bella flavored pancake."
"Exactly."
"No worries Jasper, I'll keep my head down and my mouth shut until you say it's safe."
"Good girl. Now hold on tight; I'm going to jump up the tower and down inside." As soon as he felt her grip tighten, Jasper crouched and jumped. In the next moment he was on top of the tower itself. After taking a moment to look around the grounds, he jumped down inside the perimeter. To Bella's credit, he could feel her suck her breath in and tighten her grip with both jumps, but she didn't let so much as a squeal pass her lips.
He hadn't exaggerated when he warned Bella of the dangers to her. If anything he understated them. It didn't matter that Char's fighting skills were almost as good as his and Peter's. Peter would still be guarding his mates back like a mother grizzly guards her cubs. Only there would be no warning growl before the attack came. With that in mind, he chose to lap the interior perimeter in the hope of finding Peter's scent. If he could follow his trail in rather than Char's, he would be able to alert Peter to his identity.
He was almost back to Char's trail when he finally found it. Midway down the eastern wall. Peter must have ran the perimeter from the top of the wall itself, as there had been no trace of his scent on the outside ground. Moving at a human pace to avoid running up on his friend, Jasper began to follow the trail inside.
Thus far Bella had been as good as her word, she hadn't made a sound, allowing them to pass unnoticed by the occasional group of humans. Peter had taking a winding trail around the buildings, sometimes up on the roofs. It was clear he must have been allowing Char the freedom to hunt, while keeping close tabs on her surroundings. Finally, the trail led them inside one of the buildings. Jasper knew Peter was likely to be in a higher position than Char if she was still hunting, so he kept his eyes peeled and his head on a swivel as the trail lead them down a back staircase to the basement. At the bottom of the stairs, Jasper paused. He could hear a scuffle up ahead and had smelled both Peter and Char's scents on the stairs. The slight smell of blood permeated the air. Instantly he stopped breathing. Damn, Char must be feeding! Exactly what he hoped to avoid.
He froze in a half crouch, ready to run at the slightest hint that Peter had realized he was there. Of course, it wouldn't be long before he picked up on Bella's heartbeat…
He scanned the area he could see carefully. He needed eyes on Peter before he spoke. Sure, Peter would recognize his voice, but with Char feeding he would be in the air flying towards the perceived threat before that happened.
The basement had been dug deep, with high rafter ceilings. Jasper paid particular attention to those rafters. Not wanting to feel the human's emotions, he was keeping a tight rein on his ability. Yet he could still detect undercurrents of emotions that he knew belonged to his two friends. He felt a sudden spike of awareness. Shit, Peter had realized another human was present. Where the hell was he hiding…
Suddenly, Jasper spotted him. There was the smallest movement on the rafter just over the L bend in the basement. Being the perfect spot to watch both the entrance and Char, Jasper should have looked there sooner. The old boy hadn't lost his touch either…only the tip of one boot was visible. Keeping his eyes locked on that boot, Jasper focused on the sounds of Char feeding. The last thing he needed was a turning drug dealer screaming the house down.
Mentally checking the grasp Bella had on him (he couldn't afford the sound any movements would make) he planned out each evasive move he would make. When the sound of something heavy hit the floor, Jasper called out, "Char honey, you missed a drop…" what happened next felt like a roller coaster ride to Bella.
As Jasper spoke, his eyes never left that boot. The second it moved, Jasper sprung to the left wall. He kept moving, stopping only when he heard two stone bodies colliding together followed by, "dang babe, I almost had the idiot!"
A growl was followed by, "That idiot is Jasper!"
"Hell babe, I know that! He deserves a thrashin' for sneakin up on us like that!" Peter's whine was followed up by the sound of a stone hand slapping Peter in the head, "Ouch! What was that for?!"
"That was for the human you missed hanging onto his back!"
"Missed? Me?! Char babe, you know I don't miss things. I just figured he finally wanted something sweeter for desert than Yogi Bear."
At this Jasper let out a furious growl that Bella felt in her bones. When Char had tackled Peter, Jasper had stopped right where he was – upside down with his boots and fingers dug into the brick ceiling. Bella had a death grip around his body, not that he could blame the poor girl.
"Peter, I'm only going to say this once. This human is Bella. Bella is family to me. If you so much as breathe on her without my permission I will tear you into pieces, scatter you across the globe, and mail a map to Char after several decades have passed. Do I make myself clear?" Jaspers voice was low, to Bella it was a far deadlier message than if he had screamed it.
Strangely enough, as frightening as Jasper's message was, she felt safe. Here he was, putting her ahead of his century old friendship.
"Keep your boots on man, you know I wouldn't have truly hurt her. Now, why don't you stop impersonating Spiderman. Poor girl looks likely to fall off."
Jasper let go, twisting in midair like a cat; wrapping an arm around Bella at the same time. He landed on his feet, using his legs like shock absorbers so Bella wouldn't feel the force. He felt her flinch when she realized they were free falling, but warning her had not been an option. He had used the last of his air telling Peter off.
Char stepped up to him, "It's good to see you Jazz." She hugged him, careful not to crush Bella.
Jasper just tipped his head to her.
"Well, I'm guessing you used the last of your air on my husband here. What do you say we go topside?"
Jasper nodded in agreement.
"I'm assuming you have a vehicle nearby since you have Bella here with you. You lead the way and Char and I will take care of any druggies who get too curious."
Jasper had felt Bella's grip loosen once they were on the ground again. He kept his arm around her back and at full speed ran up the stairs, through the prison yard, over the stone wall and to the truck in a matter of minutes. He then settled Bella into the truck and handed her the keys, taking a step back, he took a breath of fresh air and apologized to her.
"Sorry Bella, being near you is too much after smelling that fresh blood. Start the truck and roll the windows up so you can warm yourself. Lock it just in case, but I'll have Peter and Char stay to guard you."
"It's alright Jasper, of course I understand." Jasper scoffed. He should have expected no less from her.
He turned to Peter and Char who had come up behind him. "Please, guard her with your lives. No one, not even a Cullen is to get near her, especially not Alice."
"Consider it done, Jazz" Char promised while looking quizzically at him.
"Thanks, I'll explain everything later; right now I really need that hunt." Waiting only long enough to hear the locks click in the truck, Jasper sped off into the surrounding terrain to see what animals he could find.
