Chapter 8

Other than hibernation due to damage in battle Jasper had never slept before there hadn't been a necessity too. She had really only started the odd behavior because her human slept. With nothing to do and not being to be far from her at the time, Jasper just laid in her resting area and waited.

Soon she grew curious to this 'Sleep' habit humans had. She would close her eyes and hope Jennifer would stop talking because at the time she didn't want to talk to her. When Jennifer fell asleep Jasper would open her eyes and sit up watching her. Jasper through studying Jennifer saw that it was a form of light hibernation that humans needed ever solar cycle. If it wasn't for a certain amount of time their energy reserves, mentality, and emotional levels would suffer. Jasper thought for a little while it was a ridiculous necessity and left them extremely vulnerable. So during the night she was struck by Jennifer's side seeing as how she was helpless is something happened to her while she was sleeping.

Soon Jennifer would reach out for her during the night and Jasper humored her. Jennifer would twine her fingers in her hair and mold her body to Jasper's. As usual, the touch was nice but nothing came of it other than Jennifer continuing to slumber. This irritated Jasper because unless they were coupling they had no need to touch one another. Her patience was running thing from it until one particular evening Jennifer had a bad dream. Jasper had tried to push her off as she started clinging desperately to her. Jennifer would let go on her own though and any more of an attempt to shove her off could harm her. Jasper grumpily grasped the woman to her chest knowing she would get no peace otherwise. Jennifer immediately settled and Jasper continued to hold her. Soon a queer feeling would rise inside of Jasper as she stared down at the frail and pathetic human whom she was bonded too.

Jennifer's soft pink lips were parted softly and she breathed slowly and evenly. Jasper watched a few moments more before rolling her eyes and sighing thinking what would it hurt to try this sleeping thing humans liked to do. Jasper closed her eyes that night and from there slept for the first time. Soon following she realized she enjoyed sleep and felt the need to hibernate more often. With Jennifer and her's improved bonding and new sleep schedule Jasper started to feel stronger. She decided she liked this sleep.

The thing she didn't like was waking and finding her bonded nearby. Jennifer had said she would go to visit Martin but other than that would come back to the beach house. Jasper climbed down the stairs from the loft bed and looked around. She scowled not sensing Jennifer nearby. Her human knew better than to go wandering off. Jasper started outside looking around before she saw a figure in the distance. Jasper squinted a bit looking against the setting sun until the figure's identity dawned on her, it was Garnet. Her amber eyes widened and she saw that Garnet was carrying Jennifer in her arms.

Several emotions roared to life in Jasper first anger than hurt and finally fear. Her anger was the strongest of these emotions and soon it roared to a thundering fury. She clenched her fists and let out a feral roar. All the intensity and the sleeping warrior inside of her crashed through and she summoned her crash helmet and her traditional Homeworld attire and soon hurtled off the porch and dashed towards her enemy.

Garnet saw the little house in the distance and looked down at Jennifer. She was quiet and had kept to herself the twenty-minute walk back down the beach. Garnet knew that she was deep in thought a lot had happened to her in a short amount of time.

"Are you in pain?" Garnet asked

"A little. I'm more worried about Jasper. She never told me a lot just a little here and there about Homeworld and gems. I didn't know there was more of you." Jennifer said

"Yes, there are a lot more from Homeworld. However I and my friends, we are gems, but at the same time not the same." Garnet explained

"I'm confused," Jennifer said looking up at the large woman perplexed.

Garnet smiled "We are essentially from Homeworld, however, we have made Earth our home for the last few thousand years."

"Y-you're thousand of years old!" Jennifer cried

"Yes." Garnet chuckled

"Oh my god..." Jennifer said covering her face.

"Its a lot to take in for a human but you'll get used to it soon enough. We, as gems, have had many humans a part of our lives." Garnet instructed

Jennifer nodded but the worry didn't leave her. Jasper was thousands of years old! Jennifer was thirty if she was lucky and lived a semi-healthy lifestyle she could live to be maybe 80 years old on average? That wasn't even a sixteenth of a gem's lifespan and she didn't even know the official stages of a gem's life. What age were they children, adults, elderly? Did they even get old?

"Try not to worry so much right now Jennifer. First we need to get you and Jasper taken care of." Garnet offered

"You're right. Thank you for your help Garnet." Jennifer said smiling thankfully

"No problem." Garnet returned the sentiment

Jennifer watched as Garnet suddenly stopped and tensed and the next thing she knew she was sailing through the air and hit the sand. Then there were an explosion and her chest constricted with pain as what was only the fury of Jasper burned through her body. Ignoring the pain she coughed sitting up and seeing Jasper and Garnet locked in a stalemate. Garnet's hands that had been holding her only seconds before were now gloved it what could only be large gauntlets and had caught hold of Jasper's head. Jasper's head was encased in a large helmet. Jennifer watched in shock as they soon locked in the battle throwing kicks and punches.

"Jasper! Calm down!" Garnet growled blocking her punch only to receive a sharp kick to the face.

"I'm going to destroy you!" Jasper snarled ducking a punch and coming up with an uppercut only to have Garnet duck down before vaulting up on one hand and aiming a kick at her head. Jasper stumbled back at the hit and charged forwards again.

"I'm not your enemy anymore Jasper!" Garnet cried

"Any enemy of Homeworld is my enemy!" Jasper replied her eyes burning with fury. Garnet suddenly caught her in a choke from behind and Jasper grunted dropping onto one knee.

"Think clearly Jasper! That is just your programming."

"JASPER STOP!"

Jennifer's shriek cut through her fury like a knife. She looked up from Garnet's hold and saw Jennifer standing. The young woman was shaking and grasping her chest and obviously had an injury to her leg not too mention the blood on the right side of her head.

"Jennifer don't!" Garnet cried in warning. Jasper growled in reply and reached up grabbing Garnet's arm and with all of her strength slung the Gem into the ocean.

Jasper stood staring Jennifer down before stomping up to her. Jennifer gasped trying to step backwards but her ankle gave out. Just as she was falling to hit the ground Jasper caught her wrist. Jennifer winced as she was yanked back to her feet looking at a glaring Jasper.

"J-Jasper that hurts," Jennifer said in a croak at the iron grasp on her wrist.

"Pathetic human!" Jasper said baring her sharp teeth

"Wh-what? I don't understand..." she was cut off as Jasper gripped her wrist tighter squeaking in pain.

"Catch me off guard then turn me over to them?!" she roared incoherently.

"No! Jasper, it isn't like that. I got hurt and they were helping me..."

"Jasper! Let her go! Your fight is with me." Garnet yelled having walked out of the water facing the two

"Garnet no wait please..." Jennifer pleaded

"Jennifer she's going to hurt you!" Garnet argued back

"N-no she won't. Jasper looks at me, not Garnet...look at me." Jennifer pleaded

Jasper turned facing her once more her face still set in a snarl when a gentle hand touched her cheek. Jennifer's watery blue eyes stared deep into her face. Jasper's cat-like pupils were slitted and severe much wilder and feral than Jennifer was used to seeing.

"Jasper. It's me...Jennifer." Jennifer pleaded and tried to control the pain in her body and she didn't know how but tried to project her feelings onto Jasper. The beast before faltered slightly wincing as Jennifer tried to break through. While Jasper was distracted she found her footing again with a little strength she had left she jumped up grabbing Jasper's neck and planting a desperate kiss on her lips.

With the shock that verberated through Jasper her walls came down and all the emotion Jennifer was trying to push through their bond slammed into her. Between the emotion and the kiss the intense fury that had taken control of Jasper faded instantly and her grasp on Jennifer's wrist dropped. Even her crash helmet faded away. Jasper stood still not knowing how to respond suddenly confused about what was happening. As Jennifer felt her fury fade she pulled back from the kiss. Jennifer smiled at her for a couple of seconds before her smile faded and her eyes rolled into the back of her head. Jasper watched in continued shock as Jennifer's grasp fell from her neck and she slid backwards towards the ground.

"Jennifer." Jasper gasped grasping her human as she fell towards the ground. Jennifer fell limp in her outstretched arms.

Garnet watched the scene cautiously but was surprised to see Jasper's fury fade. In fact, it seemed to be induced by her presence alone to the fact she barely had any coherent thought other than to fight. Garnet was right in her assumption it was her Homeworld programming. Not lot after Homeworld had started mass producing Elite Quartz Soldier did they instill them with failsafe programming. At least, it was supposed to be failsafe looking at Jasper now that wasn't the case. Was it because she bonded with Jennifer or maybe it was her time trapped in as fusion that wasn't at balance. Either way, this was peculiar.

"Wake up.," Jasper said desperately shaking Jennifer

"I wouldn't do that if I were you. Humans are fragile remember?" Garnet said chancing approaching a few feet. As soon as Jasper realized she was still there she snarled at her.

"GET AWAY FROM HER."

"Easy. I can help if you'll let me. I know a little about humans especially medical stuff." Garnet explained continuing her way over to the two.

Jasper glared at her and Garnet sighed "Look if I wanted to hurt you, Jasper, I would have done so already when your guard was dropped, you're a warrior you know that." Garnet said hoping to appeal to her tactical mind.

Jasper's snarl dropped to a tight frown and she narrowed her eyes at Garnet. "Fine. If you try anything I will end you."

"Fair enough," Garnet said nodding.

Jasper didn't let go of Jennifer just extended her arms out a bit so Garnet could check her and the whole time her amber eyes never left her. Garnet first touched her forehead than with her gems on her palms glowing she lightly ran them down her body without touching her. When she came to her ankle she hesitated a moment but otherwise sat back and motioned for Jasper to stand.

"Well?" Jasper snarled

"She's alive just unconscious. Her wrist is bruised from you, a hit to the right side of her head, and a fracture in her ankle." Garnet explained

"So she'll just hibernate and heal?" Jasper asked

"Humans body's don't work that way its a bit more complicated than that. She needs to go to a hospital to be healed, other humans in charge of healing but that will take time. If you let us take her to Steven's house then he may be able to heal her much faster. It's your choice, although I don't think you going to a hospital, is a good idea other humans don't know about us and they may not let you see her." Garnet said honestly

Jasper growled low in her throat "This Steven, that human who has Rose Quartz's gem can heal her?"

"Yes," Garnet said simply

"If she goes I go with her." Jasper snapped

"Of course." Garnet agreed

"And then we leave afterwards." Jasper added

"That all depends on you, Jasper. You were living peacefully with Jennifer and you're bonded but I cannot allow you to hurt any other humans." Garnet warned

"As if you could stop me." Jasper snarled again

"If I have to I will," Garnet warned in a low voice

Jasper had to respect her Garnet was not as foolish and emotional as she remembered. The Gem had gained more strength since their hibernation and honestly Jasper felt she was at a disadvantage due to her unknown bond with Jennifer. Without putting herself or Jennifer in danger, she was unfortunately at their mercy but she wouldn't let them know that.

"I suggest a truce then. Until my human bonded is healed." Jasper suggested

"That sounds fair." Garnet agreed.