Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns all.
Rated M for a reason.
Chpt 37 Humans
BPOV
Using up a large chunk of our cash Jasper checks us into a very upscale hotel. Mutely I follow him around as he checks out the suite, orders us some new clothes an' runs piping hot water into the overly ornate tub.
Casting me worried looks he helps me out of my clothes, strips off his own an' guides me into the tub, hopping in behind me an' wrapping his arms and legs around me as tight as he can. With a sigh I lean back against him grateful for the familiar feeling of his face buried in my hair.
On one level I know I'm traumatised but I can't pull myself out of it. What the hell happened to sweet idealistic little Bella Swan. The girl who would have wrapped Edward in cotton wool an' done everything she could to help him an' screw the consequences for everyone else, even herself.
It's too much. The horror of it will live with me forever. Or until I meet the same fate.
An' jeez. Pete an' Char. I don't know how to feel. Hope? As far as we know they're still alive. Fear? Hell yes, its gnawing at my insides, the fear that they could be killed at any moment.
Fuck. Here comes the rage again. If desire could triumph on its own the world would be littered with dead vampires right about now. What a neat gift that would be. Who the hell came up with the ludicrous idea you should respect your elders? As far as I can tell now the older you get the more venal an' twisted you are an' the more you need your fuckin' ass spanked.
Charlie, Pete, Char, Gus, Harry, Jonathan, Carla, Matthew, the Cullens, poor ruined Edward, fuckin' Davis.
I start to breathe, deep ragged breaths. Fighting for control.
FUCK! It's like standing on the edge of precipice an' having no idea what happens when you step off. This much anger, it paralyses you, no wonder people explode an' do insane things when they can't hold it in any longer.
"Let me in darlin'." Jasper's soft voice penetrates the swirling fury in my brain an' I lower my mental shield.
"Oh Bella." He groans pressing his lips into my scalp.
God knows what he's seen on the carousel of emotion whirring around me. I'm surprised he isn't dizzy. But he's a strong man, despite our rampaging feelings he manages to focus on one thing an' push it out at me.
The magnitude of his love washes me away, eclipses almost everything else in my overloaded head. But not quite.
"I love you." I growl. "I'd do fuckin' anythin' for you."
"I know." He answers quietly, his lips dropping to his mark on my neck.
Several hours later, an' after I've made him wash my skanky hair three times we curl up, naked, on the massive bed and I tell him my idea.
He laughs his ass off.
I explain the plan.
He rolls on top of me an' renders me senseless. Twice. And then once again, for good measure.
Like a typical man he finally decides we need to get a move on to catch everyone before the end of the business day an' before I know it I'm being bullied around by a Jasper in full commanding officer mode.
Dressed in sober Washington power suits, his n hers versions, we make our way across town to the secret service field office.
We pause outside the door, settling into our 'taking care of business' personas an' then we step inside, holding hands.
I don't know if it's the hand holding thing but the Agent on the desk regards us warily as we approach.
"Good Afternoon." The Major says pleasantly. "We'd like to talk to someone senior about a matter of national security."
You can almost hear him thinking 'doesn't everyone who comes in here'. What he says is "If I could just take some personal details from you I will see if there is an Agent available to help you."
"Name?"
"Major Jasper Whitlock."
"And you are?" He enquires looking me over.
"With me." The Major growls not happy with the Agent's full length appraisal of my appearance. The skirt is a little short.
The Agent shrugs an' enters Mrs Maj Whit (?) on his computer.
"And can I ask, what is the nature of your issue?"
"Vampires." The Major answers with a broad grin.
"Okay then." The Agent says brightly, adopting his happy, smiley we're dealing with the crazy people face.
On the computer he enters TW / C (?).
"If you'd like to take a seat I will see if we have anybody available to assist you."
The Major nods an' turns, leading me away, but instead of sitting down he positions us in the center of the lobby an' just stands there, completely immobile as only a vampire can be.
The Agent is busy with his work but after about thirty minutes it dawns on him, as it does eventually all humans, that there is something wrong with us. To help him along we don't fidget, we don't blink and we don't breathe.
The Major chuckles quietly beside me an' I realise that he is really going to enjoy this.
After another ten minutes or so I can see goose bumps breakout across the Agent's exposed flesh an' he picks up his phone an' murmurs into it.
We both smirk as within minutes three more Agents enter the lobby an' start making themselves look busy around his desk.
The smile dies on my face. Pete would have fuckin' loved this.
A few moments later another, older, more grizzled looking Agent rushes into the lobby and approaches us.
"Major Whitlock?" He asks, extending his hand.
The Major smiles an' shakes hands with him just long enough for the man to register the coldness an' firmness of his skin.
Surprised he jerks his hand back an' turns to me. "And you are?"
I take his hand an' shake it delicately, giving it a final hard squeeze before releasing it. "A vampire."
"Ah ha, yes, well, um . . ." He laughs nervously.
The Major an' I smile, showing all our teeth. Now we have everyone's attention an awkward silence ensues.
"You said there was a matter of national security you wanted to discuss?" Grizzly asks, recovering his composure an' mentally dismissing the evidence before his eyes. "About, um, vampires?"
"You don't believe in vampires?" The Major asks raising his eyebrow.
"Ha, ha. Well, no, of course not. But I enjoy True Blood as much as the next person."
"Really?" I ask, feigning surprise. "Vampires that bleed? Isn't that a little bit pathetic?"
Poor Grizzly is as confused as hell now so The Major helps him out. Reaching out he quickly snags the firearm from his shoulder holster examining it closely.
"Nice gun." He comments crushing it into a little ball an' handing it back. "Fits in the palm of your hand."
Unsure how to react the other Agents draw their own guns.
"Don't move!" One of them orders.
The Major laughs an' steps towards him.
"I said don't move." The Agent commands. "I will shoot you."
"You're not gonna shoot me son." The Major drawls.
Giving this statement the lie the Agent aims for his shoulder an' pulls the trigger.
The Major catches the bullet deftly between his thumb an' forefinger.
"See." He says, carefully throwing it back to the surprised man. "I told you you weren't gonna shoot me. Please tell whoever is in charge that Major Jasper Whitlock is here with information concerning Gerry Davis."
One of the other Agents hunches over the desk speaking rapidly an' quietly into the phone.
After a while four more men in imposing business suits arrive in the lobby area looking distinctly nervous.
"Director Mattherson." The Major extends his hand. "I am Major Jasper Whitlock, I believe we have some business to discuss."
And so begins, what I have dubbed in Pete's honour, Operation When The Entrée Turns.