Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns all.

Rated M for a reason.

Chpt 21 Uncle Sam

BPOV

"Vladimir." Gus reveals as we are all gathered around the dining room table.

"Stefan's own brother is lookin' for him?" Pete asks, surprised.

"Apparently so." Gus confirms.

"Have you met him?" Jasper questions.

"Yes." He answers. "Not long after I joined the Guard we went to Romania to renegotiate the truce. Vladimir wanted permission for he and his brother to travel outside Europe."

"Truce?" Jasper queries. "I thought The Volturi all but annihilated the Romanians?"

"Almost." Gus laughs. "But they were very keen to be seen to be compassionate and so they broadcast a truce of sorts. The 'negotiating' went on for at least a century, Aro enjoyed it immensely."

"If we can't find Stefan maybe we should talk to Vladimir." Jonathan suggests.

"Absolutely not." Gus responds, shaking his head for emphasis. "Vladimir is extremely dangerous, we should avoid him like the plague."

"We should stick to the plan." Jasper agrees. "I will set up the meeting with the Agent, Gerry Davis, and if Gus agrees, Bella you should set up another meeting with Alice. I think it would be useful for Rutilio to know you have joined Gus's coven."

"Agreed."

I reach for the laptop while Jasper pulls out his cell.

"When?" I ask.

"A few days." Jasper suggests. "I think we should meet with the humans first."

"Gerry Davis." A crisp voice answers almost immediately Jasper's finished dialling.

"Mr Davis, this is Major Whitlock."

"Major, thank you very much for calling me."

"Hmph."

"I would like to meet with you if I may? There is a situation the US government would like your assistance with."

"I will meet with you."

"Good, when?"

"Tonight. One am, Six Mile Run."

A gasp on the other end of the line.

"Come alone." Jasper adds, his lips quirking into a ghost of his sadistic grin.

"Alone?" The voice on the cell quavers minutely.

Jasper chuckles darkly. "Mr Davis, wherever and whenever we meet, an' no matter how many people you bring with you, you will be in mortal danger. What difference does it make?"

"Right." I can actually hear him shudder through the phone. "I will be there Major."

"So will we." Jasper responds before ending the call.

"That was evil." Jonathan laughs. "He's absolutely terrified of you now."

"So he should be." Jasper shrugs. "I'm a vampire."

"Do they know we can't be staked or frightened off with garlic or anything like that?" I ask intrigued.

"I don't know, it was never discussed." Jasper chuckles again. "If he brings a big ole cross with him I guess we'll have an answer."

Reluctantly I turn to Matthew, the only other vampire I know who has associated with the secret service.

"I don't know either." He shrugs. "Like Jasper's experience I don't think most of the people I worked with knew I was anything other than a hard ass Marine Corps lieutenant. And the ones that did know never discussed my nature with me."

Well at least he's home to Mr Sanity today. As if sensing my uncharitable thoughts he curls his lip at me.

"Okay." Pete says cheerfully before matters can escalate. "How many an' who is goin' to meet with the humans?"

"I think we should make a show of force." Gus suggests. "We don't know what Stefan has told them. If it were me I would have left them with their misconceptions about vampires because it may work to our advantage.

"But why a show of force?" Carla asks my question for me.

"Because" J answers quietly "he may have decided to be more truthful with them an' vampires can be killed by humans under certain circumstances."

I shudder, rememberin' Pete's booby traps. If Stefan has been free with knowledge of our weaknesses then there's no telling what an inventive human might have been able to devise an' that really doesn't bear thinkin' about, being a vampire is dangerous enough already as far as I'm concerned.

"Matthew should go, he is known already." Gus offers.

"As am I." Harry chips in, surprising me. "It was I who negotiated with the humans when Matthew had his little problem."

"The Davis guy has already met me." In for a penny, in for a pound.

"I want to go." Pete says firmly.

"I don't." Jonathan.

"Neither do I." Carla.

"I will go." Gus states. "I don't think it matters if they have met any of us before. If they were using Jenks they will know who we all are anyway."

"That leaves Char, Jonathan an' Carla in the house if it's a trap." Jasper considers. "Bella, you should stay here too."

I open my mouth to protest but Gus cuts me off. "He is not trying to protect you Bella, he simply wants someone strong here to protect the others."

"And who better than The Major's Mate?" Jonathan asks, beaming at me.

Shocked my eyes automatically fly to Pete, who is grinnin' like an asshole.

"You can't deny a man the right to tell a good story sweet thing." He defends takin' a step away from me.

With a growl I fling myself out of my chair an' chase him out the door and across the property until I can no longer hear the sound of the others laughing.

JPOV

To say that I am relieved is an understatement. I no longer feel totally alone an' exposed trying to make the right choices for the people I love in a fog of uncertainty.

I trust Gus an' his coven already. An' acceptance made easier by my gift, I have not sensed one dishonest or duplicitous emotion in any one of them. We have a great deal in common, in addition to a suspected mutual enemy, an' I have a healthy dose of respect for Gus. Bein' a keen student of all things military I of course know all about Gaius Ofonius Tigellinus an' this compassionate, lovin' family man is about as far from his reputation as it's possible to get. An' that gives me hope. If he can overcome all the terrible things he did in his past then maybe I can too.

It also sets my mind at rest to know that if anythin' happens to me Pete an' Char will always have somewhere to go. I have long since accepted that this will not be necessary for Bella. If I die she will not be far behind me. The very thought of it makes my heart ache but I can't change her mind, I have no viable argument to do it, because if she were to die I would follow her too. It is sad an' it is wasteful but it is what will be.

Mentally I shake myself out of my sombre thoughts an' scan my comrades.

Matthew is standing just behind my left shoulder, the others are stood further back where the human won't be able to see them clearly in the darkness. Gus an' Harry together, Pete about twenty feet to the left. Six Mile Run is a huge open space so we have good visibility all around which is why I am able to watch Gerry Davis with amusement as he jogs towards me at his tortuous human pace.

I read his emotions easily an' bite back a laugh, I think Jonathan's right and I went too far. The poor guy is absolutely terrified.

I turn my head back to Pete an' nod, immediately he flits off to do a perimeter check, gettin' back before the human has reached us.

Davis slows to a walk an' approaches me cautiously.

"Anythin'?" I ask Pete, knowing that Davis won't hear a word we say at vampire speed. I will only talk slowly when I want the human to hear.

"Yep, two of his little friends lurkin' about in the parkin' lot. They're under orders to check on him in an hour if he don't come back. This is their first vampire encounter, they were comparin' stakes an' wonderin' if silver bullets work."

"Agent Davis I presume." I enquire when he's close enough to hear me.

"Major Whitlock." He nods respectfully. He's a brave man, I only know how scared he is because I can feel it. His eyes slide to Matthew who is still hovering at my shoulder.

"This is Matthew."

"Pleased to meet you, Mister?" He asks turning to my companion.

"Matthew." He growls.

Davis recovers quickly. "Major your government requires your assistance in a matter of national security."

"Agent Davis I also require somethin'. Information. Let us save time by correctly assumin' that under the circumstances I will get what I want first an' you will have to wait to see if you get what you want at all."

"Major, I represent the government of the United States of America, I . . . ."

"And I am a vampire." I allow him to hear me sigh. "Agent Davis any disagreement we have will be very short, I can assure you. We will do this my way, or not at all."

"Very well." He concedes.

"Excellent." I favour him with a toothy smile an' he successfully fights the instinct to run home to his momma.

"Please tell me how many other covens you were usin' Jenks to spy on."

"Covens?"

"Groups of vampires."

"Yours, a group in the south, Jones. Two groups in the north, Cullens and Denalis."

"Any others?"

"No."

"You are lying."

"I am not." He insists.

"Very well, let me rephrase the question. How many covens in total is your government spyin' on?"

"Eight."

"And what method are you usin' on the other four?"

"Another human lawyer, also introduced to us by Stefan. I cannot give you his name."

"Does that matter?" I ask Gus.

"Not for now, we have other ways of finding out, let it slide." He answers.

"How many other vampires have been used by your government, other than Matthew an' myself."

"None."

"You are lying."

"Only one."

"And?"

"Name of Garrett, he's not part of any coven that I am aware of."

"Hmm."

"I know Garrett." Gus murmurs. "I am surprised he's ever had need of a lawyer though, he's a nomad."

"How did your government acquire Garrett's services?"

"Through Stefan."

"When was the last time anyone in your organisation had contact with Stefan?"

"About three months ago. His disappearance is part of the reason we decided to seek your assistance."

"And the other reason for seekin' me out?"

"Before he disappeared he warned us about a threat from the Italian vampires, The Volturi."

"What was the nature of this threat?"

"I have not been made aware of the nature of that threat."

"Again with the lying."

"Alright. I have managed to work out some of what the threat might be but no one has told me officially. As I understand it The Volturi are planning a direct attack against the United States."

Behind me the others snort with mirth. I manage to keep my amusement to a minimum.

"That does not seem like a credible threat Agent Davis. Vampires are very powerful but attackin' a nation such as this one is well beyond the capability of even The Volturi."

He shrugs. "I've told you. No one has officially told me what the threat is, just that your assistance is required."

"Who else are you attempting to contact?"

"Just you. Another team are looking for Lt Matthew Reardon. There's no way we can find Garrett without Stefan. As far as I am aware any other vampires known to us are not considered relevant to this situation."

"And why were you or your colleagues seekin' out Rutilio Asturias?"

"We are curious."

"About?"

"His connection to Stefan and his connection to the Italians."

"How did you find him?"

"Good old fashioned leg work. He's about as inconspicuous as Elvis."

"Stay away from him Agent Davis." Gus's voice floats out of the darkness startlin' the man.

"We will handle Asturias." I tell him. "You will get nowhere with him."

"You will help us?" Davis asks hopefully.

"Our interests appear to be parallel with those of your government at present."

"Great, when can you come in to see us and get started?"

I laugh. "Parallel interests do not mean that we will be working for you. Merely that we will do what needs to be done and you will stay out of our way while we do it."

"I'm not sure I can agree to that." He hedges.

"Then let us make it simple. We will meet here again in one week to discuss what we have uncovered an' durin' that time your government will take no further action on this matter because if we are bein' honest, there is nothin' your government can do. Is there?"

While he debates that I push a good dose of belief an' acceptance at him.

"Perhaps if I accompany you?" He offers eventually an' my respect for him edges up a few more notches. "My superiors are more likely to wait if we are at least appearing to work together."

"I do not see the harm." Gus comments. "He will be easy to control."

"I cannot guarantee your safety Agent Davis." I tell him sternly. "Humans who run with vampires are generally in a very precarious position, for one reason or another."

He nods.

"Pete. Check him over for bugs or trackers an' the like."

"Sure thing J."

He materialises out of the darkness in front of Davis suddenly, promptin' a fresh wave of fear from the agent who didn't know he was there even though we are all now talking at human speed.

"Matthew." Gus orders. "Take Agent Davis to the parking lot so he can tell his two friends where he is going and why."

Matthew nods an' darts forwards slinging Davis onto his back.

"And Matthew." Gus warns. "Be nice."

While they are gone I call Bella. "Darlin', we're on our way home an' we're bringin' a human."

"Lovely." She purrs. "Char's gettin' hungry."

I chuckle to myself as I end the call. Suddenly eager to get home to my . . . . An' I sigh. How much longer will I have to wait until I can call her my wife?