hapter IX
Afloat

I put the phone to my ear, it was ringing. There was a click as it was answered, and then Carlisle's voice came on.

Even in his greeting, his stress was evident. "Hello." he said civilly, but nowhere near as kindly as I was used to hearing.

He sounded as if he'd been working very hard for far too long.


"Carlisle, it's so good to hear your voice." I said, relieved.


There was a gasp, and Carlisle exclaimed, "BELLA!"

"Thank heaven, is Jasper with you?" It seemed like he wanted to laugh.

"Yes, he's right here, do you want to speak to him?" I asked.

"Yes, but first where are you?" he still sounded pleased, but was more serious now.

"We're on a Coast Guard ship off the coast of South Carolina. We'll be arriving in the Port of Charleston late tonight." Carlisle asked me to give him exact details and by asking the coast guards I learned exactly where we'd be docking. As I gave him the last of the directions, Carlisle said, "Thank you Bella, I'll meet you there. May I speak to Jasper now." I said yes, and handed the phone to Jasper.

Jasper took the phone, and I had to smirk when he said, "Hi Dad." As he spoke his face became cautiously blank. He listened intently. Carlisle must have been talking to him about what happened when they realized we had disappeared, because Jasper was attuned. After quite some time had passed, Jasper finally answered.

"I understand. She's fine. Very." He looked at me, saw me watching him and smiled. "Yes, we will. Me too, bye Dad." Jasper handed the phone back to the coast guard who had brought us up. The guard turned to us and said, "Would you like me to show you someplace you can clean up and rest? I nodded, and Jasper said a crisp, "Yes please." from behind me.

We followed him down several flights of stairs below the deck and through many winding halls. We reached one turn in one of the halls, and to one side he opened a door. "Here you are, everything should be in there. I'm sorry we don't have anything you can change into for above decks, but there are robes for down below." I grinned, pleased to be facing a real bed. We stepped inside, it was terribly small, but did have everything we'd need.

There was even a small bathroom with a shower. Not much room, but at least it was there. I looked longingly at the shower, and then at Jasper. I wanted to check and see if he wanted to go first. I wanted to consider him first, I wouldn't even be here if not for him. I looked at him, and he turned then, meeting my eyes.

He grinned, "What?" his eyes twinkled slightly. I felt guilty for asking, but blurted it out anyway.

"Would you like to clean up first?" Jasper shot a look at the door to the bathroom, "No, of course not. Ladies first." I pulled my hands against my chest into fists, "YES!"

I went in and closed the door, and immediately peeled the jeans and t-shirt I'd been wearing for too many days to consider, in too many climates, off myself and turning the water to very warm, stepped in.

I moaned loudly at the pleasure of the warm water rolling down my back, and heard Jasper laughing. I laughed too. I heard him call my name through the door. I answered, "What?"

He replied, "Do you want me to leave so you can come out and rest?" I hadn't even thought of that. I'd grown so accustomed to Jasper's presence during the past couple of weeks, I'd forgotten that that wasn't how we normally were. It was comforting to have him close. It seemed strange that I was going to have to let this closeness between us go, once we got back to normal life back in Forks.

Jasper knocked on the door, startling me out of my thoughts, "Bella?" I decided I wanted to keep him close for just a little longer. "Of course not Jasper. I'll be done in just a minute, and then it's your turn. After that we'll just relax." I heard a faint "Okay." through the door.

I washed my hair with the shampoo and conditioner they had, no strawberries, but at least I was clean. I got out, and immediately opened the medicine cabinet and found the two items I wanted more than anything in the world; a toothbrush and toothpaste. I took the packaging off the toothbrush and scrubbed my teeth like a linoleum floor. Two robes hung on the back of the door. I pulled one on, and walked out.

Jasper looked at me and frowned. I said, "What? looking down to see what he was seeing that was wrong. Tilting his head to the side, and still frowning, he said, "You look human." and then smirked. I laughed and grabbed his hand attempting to pull him off the bed. Of course he didn't move until he wanted to.

When he stood, I said, "Ok, it's your turn. Go, wash the island off." He chuckled, "I think I did that on the swim here." I laughed and said, "Fine, then go wash the ocean back to where it belongs."

I turned around to the bed and walked towards it. I heard the door close behind me and the water turn on. I put a knee on the bed, and then tumbled myself onto it. An actual mattress, it was beyond wonderful.

I was lying there looking at the ceiling and thinking about the time on the island. The circumstances were horrendous, but it had been a nice little island really. I could hear the water turning off in the bathroom. Not a lot of amenities available, but it hadn't been that bad. I imagine if Jasper hadn't been there to make everything easy, it would have been the death of me. I shivered .

Jasper opened the door right at that moment, wearing an identical robe to mine. He frowned, "Are you okay? You feel...frightened." He looked concerned, and I felt a wave of calm wash over me.

"It's nothing Jasper, I was just thinking how unlucky my life would have been if you hadn't been there on the island with me. I'm sorry you were abducted too, but I'm glad you were with me. I know where I'd be right now if it weren't for you, so you can just forget about ever apologizing for my 18th birthday ever again."

He smirked, and then he looked at our robes, "We look like a honeymoon couple." I laughed at the image while scooting over so he could sit on the bed with me. I lounged across the pillows, lying on my side so I could face Jasper, who sat with his arms around his knees again. He looked at me and smiled, he looked so happy and pleased with himself that it made me curious. "Are you happy for something beyond being clean, and safe again, and back amongst civilization? Or as near as we can get to it in the middle of the ocean?" I grinned, and Jasper chuckled.

"Tomorrow, I will get to do what I've been hoping to do since the moment I realized Aro was taking us captive. I've kept you safe so I would be able to return to you Edward. I'm happier than I can remember feeling since I knew you were recovering from your fever. In fact, I think I'm in danger of feeling smug." he beamed.

I laughed and said, "You remind me of Jacob right now." His smile fell slightly, and a frown formed in his brows. I felt bad and tried to say something to recover his mood. "Jacob is always smug when he thinks he's getting his way. If you were Jacob, I'd kick you back off the bed right now, but with you, I'd probably just hurt my foot." Jasper chuckled and recovered his happy expression.

I pushed myself up, and laid my head on the pillow. I yawned hugely, feeling comfortable, clean, and content. Jasper uncurled himself from the bed. "You're tired, it's time for you to rest, we'll have things to do when we meet up with Carlisle later." he stood up and walked to the door.

"Where are you going to? I asked.

"I think I'm going to go look around the ship and let you rest. I'll wake you when we're nearing the port." he declined his head a little, "Good night Ma'am." he spoke with his earlier Texan accent again. I giggled and gave him an extremely lazy salute from the bed, "Good evening Major!" Smiling, Jasper opened the door and was gone.

I closed my eyes and fell to sleep thinking of seeing Edward again, tomorrow.

I awoke in unfamiliar surroundings, in near complete darkness with unfamiliar, warm hands shaking me. I became aware I was screaming and that someone was talking, "Miss, please calm down, it's ok. I'm not going to hurt you." I didn't know who it was, "Get off me. Who are you? GET OFF ME!"

The room was suddenly illuminated by the door opening and the weight of the stranger was removed from over me. I heard sounds of struggle, and then Jasper's familiar voice brought me back to where I was and how I'd arrived there. I heard a low growl, "What are you doing in here?" Jasper's voice was tense and authoritative.

The other voice, human, sounded terrified and defensive. "I'm sorry, I was asked to inform our guests that we were nearing the Port of Charleston, when I came near the door I realized I could hear screaming. Once I opened the door I could see nothing was amiss and that the young lady was only having a nightmare. I was trying to wake her when you came in, that's all sir, I swear."

Realizing my mistake I felt embarrassed, "Jasper." I whispered. I could hear the sound of him releasing the man, and the man's subsequent adjustment of his clothes. "I'm very sorry and thank you for trying to wake me. I didn't realize Jasper, I-I'm sorry."

The light flicked on, and I saw a young crewman standing there, "Your clothes have been cleaned and will be brought to you in a moment. I apologize for the confusion, if you don't need anything else..." The man had recovered his composure and no fear was left in his voice. He sounded offended and Jasper had the good grace to turn in my direction to keep the crewman from seeing his amusement. I had a hard time keeping a straight face, but said, "No, no. That's all, thank you." The crewman walked out, with one last glare in Jasper's direction and closed the door securely. Jasper and I both broke out in laughter as soon as the door clicked.

"I'm sorry Jasper, I just woke up in the dark and didn't know where I was, or who he was. He must have been horrified." I said through my laughter.

Jasper's amusement calmed and was replaced by a somewhat abashed expression, "It's not your fault Bella, I shouldn't have left you alone for so long."

"How long have I been asleep?" I asked, still feeling a bit drowsy despite the recent excitement.

"I think four hours. I knew we were approaching the docks, which is what brought me back. When I reached this floor and felt your fear...well, let's just say I hope no one saw me approach."

Another crewman soon brought in our clothes and I got dressed and prepared for our arrival. As I walked out to the upper deck with Jasper, the mystery of my clean clothes struck me. "How did they get our clothes, anyway?" Jasper laughed, "I asked if they could be cleaned. Alice would be offended to know how disgraceful we look right now, but we'll have to dispose of these before she can find out." He grinned conspiratorily at me.

We walked in silence for a moment. Then Jasper spoke, his tone had changed dramatically. "Bella, I'm curious to know your opinion about Aro, Jane, Felix and Caius. I feel that they must have been destroyed along with the plane in the crash. I've hesitated to speak of it because you've been so weak and I didn't want to upset you. Also, as you were recovering, I discovered being on the island felt similar to a vacation. I didn't want to interrupt the peace of it."

I remembered thinking this while on the island, and feeling the same way. "I thought so too Jasper, but since you didn't talk about it, I decided not to either. I agree, I think they must have been destroyed, the plane exploded. Still, I'm going to see Edward again soon. I don't want to think about that." I smiled, and Jasper smiled back, but it looked as though it was an effort. Tension remaind in the corners of his mouth. I was going to ask him about it, when we were questioned by a crewman who was assisting us off the ship.

When we finally came off the walkway from the ship, Carlisle was standing there next a big black car with tinted windows. I couldn't have been happier to see anyone in the world. He wasn't the gorgeous soap star like Doctor, he was Carlisle, my vampire Father. And not even Charlie could have been a more welcome sight.

Carlisle beamed at us, he stepped forward and hugged me, "Bella, it's such a relief to see you again." I smiled, "It's wonderful to see you too Carlisle, where's Edward?" I asked. His face became serious, "We have a lot to talk about Bella, I have a great deal of news. We'll talk about it in the car on the way to the hotel."