Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns all.
Rated M for a reason.
Chpt 24 Aftermath
BPOV
As Pete once said, Jasper is not at home to callers at the moment so I sit quietly beside him an' gently rub his hand as he drives us to the rendezvous with Matthew an' Harry. With my other hand I absently massage my throat.
Gus finishes updating us on the secret service meeting an' something about it nags at my consciousness but before I can chase it down Carla speaks.
"How are you feeling Char?"
"Abused." Char whispers quietly.
"What are we gonna do about Vladimir?" Pete growls.
"When I've stopped wantin' to kill him we'll track him down an' ask him a few pertinent questions." The Major answers.
"Are you sure?" Gus asks mildly. "Vladimir is a dangerous enemy to make. Do not make the mistake of discounting him simply because of The Volturi's previous victory."
"He's already goin' to be pissed." The Major responds. "We have five of his men and he doesn't have what he came for. We may not have the information he seeks but he has was some of what we need."
"And you think he will trade what he knows for his men?" Gus presses.
The Major shrugs as if it's immaterial. "One way or another he will tell me what I want to know."
Gus settles back into his seat, clearly not happy with the idea of seeking out the Romanian an' asking him questions. I can sympathise, I only saw him briefly but there was something other about him which screamed 'stay away, far away'.
The Major must have sensed everybody's trepidation because he says firmly. "We need to know what the Romanians were trying to accomplish by telling the US government The Volturi were goin' to attack them. Any vampire would know what a pile of shit that is but perhaps the humans don't."
"But why would Stefan tell them something so ridiculous an' then disappear?" Pete wonders.
Before anyone can answer The Major screeches to halt in front of the hotel we're meeting at.
"The cabin they've taken is this way." Jonathan points down a dimly lit path heading away into the trees.
We hop out, each taking a garbage bag an' set off down the path while The Major drives the SUV away to hide it. I sigh as I watch his stony profile until it disappears from view, from experience I guess this will be one of those occasions when The Major hangs around a while, which is a shame because I really need a hug right now.
"Are you okay?" I ask Char as we walk through the trees.
"Getting' there sugar." She whispers.
"I'm so sorry . . . ." I begin.
"Bella it wasn't your fault. I seem to remember tryin' to let you know it was an option."
"But Char, I was supposed to . . . ."
"Sweet thing." Pete interrupts gently, reaching out to take my hand. "It ain't your fault. An' she's alive an' well. Don't beat yourself up."
I shake my head. The cabin is at the end of a line of eight, all empty but we can detect signs of movement an' a heartbeat from ours.
Imperceptibly Char an' I speed up until together we pass the others an' begin to close on the cabin quickly.
"Oh shit." Pete groans leaping forwards in pursuit as the two of us break into a run.
There isn't a sensible thought in my head as I race down the path, pulling ahead of Char, drawn by the scent an' sound of hot, wet blood coursing through a soft human body.
I burst through the door, Char hot on my heels but we don't even pause at the sight of Matthew an' Harry crouched protectively in front of the cowering human.
Growling and snarling we leap forwards.
Strong hands grip my ankles throwing me down to the floor, my fingers slicing through Matthew's shirt as I fall. I am gleefully aware of Pete bringing down Char beside me.
Before I can get up an' press home my advantage getting to the human first Gus hurls himself onto me wrapping me in a bear hug. I kick an' struggle still snarling an' droolin' venom but I cannot escape.
I don't know how long he was speaking before his calm words penetrate the red fog in my brain.
"You are a vegetarian. I know you are hungry but you do not want to do this. He is here to help us. He is an innocent man. You are a vegetarian. You have the control, you can resist. You do not want this."
Gradually my mindless snarling subsides into pitiful moans. "So thirsty, my throat's on fire."
"I know Bella, I understand." Gus murmurs comfortingly. "But you do not want to eat Davis."
"No." I glance up to see the secret service man gaping at me in terror. "But I'm so thirsty. Please Gus, don't let me up."
"I will not Bella, not until you are ready." He assures me.
With a sigh I drop my head down to the rug an' start obsessively counting the threads.
To my eternal shame after a few minutes Pete is able to let Char up slightly, holding her tightly in his lap as she moans hoarsely.
I continue to count threads as Jonathan quietly brings Matthew, Harry an' Davis up to speed. None of them have moved from their defensive positions.
Time ticks by.
"What genius let two injured an' drained vampires loose to attack our little government friend?" The Major drawls from the doorway accurately guessing why Char an' I are being restrained.
"I am afraid we are all somewhat guilty my friend." Gus confesses.
"I'm gonna take Char to hunt." Pete informs us, getting to his feet with Char still firmly clutched in his arms. "We'll be back in an hour two, don't decide anythin' without us. Sorry Davis my man, it ain't personal, just dinner."
The Major saunters over an' hunkers down in front of me.
"I leave you alone for five minutes darlin' an' I come back an' find you in the arms of another man?" He chuckles, amused.
Around me everyone else laughs, even Davis manages a nervous titter. Great, even my food thinks I'm funny.
"Gus is very kindly keepin' me from doin' somethin' I'll regret." I tell The Major stiffly. Enough things have gone out of control for me tonight that I don't need my mate's sardonic alter ego taking the piss.
The Major regards me silently.
"Jasper." Gus says quietly. "Your mate needs you. You can let it go for a few hours. You need to take her hunting."
The Major exhales a long breath, dropping his head down to his chest.
After a very long time he lifts his head again an' Jasper's golden eyes are staring back into mine. Jasper coma.
"You can let her up now." He tells Gus quietly. "And thank you."
"Your bond is very strong." Gus comments, trusting Jasper's word an' climbing off me. "But you should remember that she does not only require a strong protector. Sometimes all she needs is you."
Jasper offers me his hand an' I allow him to pull me to my feet, immediately he lifts me to his chest bridal style an' without breaking eye contact he crosses the room in three easy strides an' heads outside.
Two deer and an unidentified small mammal later, I really need to read up on what I eat, Jasper sits down against a tree an' pulls me back to lean against his chest within the circle of his arms.
"I'm sorry." He whispers into my hair.
"What for?" I ask.
"I needed The Major to help me deal with what happened an' what still needs to be done." He sighs. "I didn't think about what you needed."
"Jasper you don't need to apologise for that. The Major protects you, I would never resent that."
"It doesn't make things any easier for you though." He persists.
"If I'd wanted an easy life I'd have gone to college an' become a librarian." I laugh. "Or I would have left town when I saw you on that roof. Gus was trying to help but don't ever supress The Major at your own expense. Promise me."
"Maybe I should practise switchin' him on an' off the way you do." He chuckles.
"That's not somethin' I'd recommend." I shudder involuntarily. We've never actually discussed how I do that, mainly because I think it would upset him.
He tightens his arms again in response an' we lapse into silence for a while.
"My weddin' dress didn't make it, did it?" I ask sadly.
"No darlin'." He shakes his head slowly behind me. "It bought the farm."
"I was going to eat Davis." I admit.
"I know darlin'." He chuckles into my hair. "If it's any consolation I nearly had him back at the house when I realised you were gone. I did warn him it's dangerous to hang out with vampires."
"I thought that vampire was gonna kill me." I tell him quietly.
His arms tighten around me automatically. "Darlin', you're a lethal fighter don't ever doubt it. But a male vampire will always be stronger than you, that guy probably had years of experience on you too an' both those things together could be enough to give him the advantage."
"Char had her head ripped off." I murmur. "Because I wasn't strong enough to protect her." Echoes of my old pre cop human days are stirring in me. That feeling of helplessness an' not being able to protect the things you care about.
He presses his lips to my ear gently, understanding me perfectly as only Jasper can. "I can train you some more darlin', if that's what you want."
"Thank you."
"You know I can't wave a magic wand an' make you invincible. I'll meet someone stronger an' faster than me one day too."
"I know." I sigh heavily, that's really not something I want to think about. "But if nothin' else I want to know that I'm the best I can be so that next time this happens I'll at least know that I did everythin' within my power."
"You did that tonight."
"Yes an' no. I won't get any faster an' I won't get any stronger, I realise that. But I can get better."
"Alright darlin'." He kisses my ear again. "We'll ask Gus to work on your shields too, mental an' physical, we've been neglectin' 'em an' takin' 'em for granted and he's had lots of experience of gifts with The Volturi."
"Char wanted me to let them rip her head off so we could get the upper hand." I blurt.
"And?" He asks quietly.
"I couldn't do it, I knew it was a good thing tactically but I couldn't do it. While I wasted time that vampire realised my shield was slippin' an' made the decision for me but by then it was too late to use it to our advantage."
"Being ruthless takes time to learn too." He murmurs. "Not everyone can do it, there's no shame in it, either way."
"But I used them both when we faked your death, they could easily have been killed then."
"That was a lot less cold blooded darlin' an' in the end it was both of us made that decision."
"It's a weakness." I fret.
"If it is, it's one you're gonna have to learn to accept." He says simply. "The idea that Pete an' Char, or even you an' I, could die fakin' my death was abstract, a possibility. Actually havin' your sister in front of you knowin' her head was gonna be ripped off based on a decision you make is another matter entirely."
"But Jasper, the only reason I didn't do it was because my shield was failin' anyway an' it would have been a waste of time."
"Then you are capable of bein' selectively ruthless." He chuckles, kissing my ear again this time with a little less comfort an' a little more sex. "Chalk this one up to experience, next time that will help you make a quicker decision."
His lips begin working their way down my neck to my shoulder, his thumbs brushing across my instantly hard nipples. I lean back into him with a low moan.
"Knock, knock." A voice calls through the trees.
I giggle an' Jasper growls. "Pete."
"How's Char?" I ask as we walk with him back to the cabin.
"She's good lil' sister." He says happily. "A nice juicy drug dealer always cheers her up. She's makin' her peace with Davis."
Oh. How do you make peace with someone you tried to eat a few hours previously?
Jasper laughs, sensing my thoughts. "Same way I did darlin'. Open your mouth an' just say sorry."
Entering the cabin we find Davis wedged into the sofa between Harry an' Char. As soon as he sees me he edges closer to Harry.
"Agent Davis." I say with all my sincerity. "I am sorry I tried to, um, eat you. I wasn't quite myself at the time but that is really no excuse. I'm a vegetarian but I needed blood rather urgently."
He stares up at me, his face a mixture of awe an' fear.
"I won't do it again. I promise."
He nods slowly an' transfers his awe an' fear to Jasper who laughs lightly. "Same here Davis. Vampires mate for life an' can become quite irrational when their mates are threatened. I am sorry if I scared you at the house. I can't promise not to do it again but I can promise not to eat you. I am also a vegetarian."
Davis nods. "Harry and Gus explained everything while you were hunting."
"Good." Jasper says cheerfully.
Poor Davis, he seems quite nice but I can't help wondering how he's gonna survive this without becoming irrevocably dead, or a vampire.