"Come in, Jasper," Carlisle softly called as his son knocked on the solid heavy study door.

The Major hesitantly entered the room and closed the door behind him before glancing at his father sitting at his desk with a stack of paperwork at hand.

"Take a seat, Son."

"I think I would prefer ta stand if it's all tha same ta ya, Sah."

"I would feel better if you sat down and tried to relax. There is no need to be anxious, Jasper. Sit and take a breath. You'll feel better."

Doubt that. "Yesh, Sah."

Reluctantly, Jasper settled into the high-backed leather chair in front of Carlisle's desk and laid his folded hands in his lap as he fought the nervous energy that welled up inside. Drawing a breath he held it for a moment before slowly exhaling in an attempt to release a bit of the tension that threatened to consume him.

"The others can't leave," the boy remarked quietly.

"No, they can't."

"Good thing it's not Edward in trouble, huh?"

Carlisle smiled slightly. "That is a good thing, but I would have preferred that you not be in trouble either."

"About as much as I would prefer it."

Carlisle pushed back in his chair and crossed his legs as he interlaced his fingers and sighed.

"Jasper, would you care to try to explain what just happened downstairs?"

The soldier swallowed back the venom that flooded his mouth as his anxiety suddenly increased.

"I don't think that is really necessary, Papa. You were there. You witnessed the whole sorry scene. Jacob insulted Rosalie and I couldn't just stand by and let that happen." Looking down at his hands, Jasper sighed. "I'm sorry that I lost control and slapped him. That was my undoing. I should have known that he would phase at being threatened and I take full responsibility for the damage caused, but I am not sorry for defending my sister. His remarks were crude and entirely unnecessary and I believe that Jacob should feel some repercussions for that."

"That's not your decision, Son."

"No, Sir, it's not, but it is my opinion and since it's my butt on the line right now, I feel that I have the right to express it."

Carlisle could feel some of Jasper's frustration lapping at him as the Major's confidence grew from the perceived righteousness of his actions.

"We are not discussing Jacob at this moment."

"Well we should be since this is all his fault!"

Jasper slammed his hand down on the polished surface of the desk causing Carlisle to raise a brow at his son's outburst.

"You will control your temper and behave in a civil manner or I shall be forced to control you myself."

The younger blonde took a shaky breath and when he spoke his voice was thick with emotion. "I'm sorry, Papa, but try to see it from my perspective. Here I am called on the carpet while someone who was just as much a part of this as I was gets off with nothing more than a lecture. That doesn't seem fair, does it?"

"Jasper, things are very different in this age than when either one of us was growing up. Disciplining another person's child is frowned upon, to put it mildly. Even parents are afraid to punish their own children for fear of being viewed as abusive and a lot of youngsters know that and use it to their advantage. That wasn't the case years ago.

When I was a lad I found myself in a bit of trouble down by the docks when I took a liking to a couple of items on one of the merchants carts. Not being very skilled, I was easily caught while trying to nick them. The merchant thrashed me quite soundly and then proceeded to drag my thieving carcass home to my father.

I doubt that I need to tell you what happened to me when my father got his hands on me. He made certain to impress upon me the fact that stealing was a sin that would never be tolerated in the Cullen household."

The Major snickered a little causing his father to look at him in confusion. "It was a lesson well learned seeing as stealing still isn't tolerated in the Cullen household to this very day."

"True. It was a hard lesson, but well learned, however that really wasn't the point that I was getting at. The point is that this was common practice. It didn't bother my father in the least that some stranger from the streets had taken it upon himself to chastise me. In his eyes I had been dealt a bit of justice at the hands of the man who I had wronged. The whipping I got at home was to reinforce the merchant's lesson as well as a touch of retribution for having embarrassed my father since now people would know that he had raised a thief for a son."

Carlisle ran a hand through his hair as he turned silent while previously suppressed memories came to the forefront of his mind.

"It didn't bother him, but it did bother me and the idea of that practice still bothers me to this day. The thought of anyone laying a hand on any of my children fills me with rage. If you misbehave to the point of deserving punishment, it's my job to carry that out, not anyone else's. I know you. I know what you can handle and what would be considered going too far. A stranger has no concept of this and could inadvertently do more damage than they intended. This is true of Jacob and I as well. While we aren't exactly strangers, I haven't a clue where the line falls between punishment and abuse when it comes to that boy and it's not worth the risk of possibly blundering across it."

Jasper sat back a little in his chair while contemplating his father's words before he gently inquired, "Carlisle, who was the first person that you ever felt the need to physically punish?"

The patriarch crossed his arms and leaned his head back as he sighed softly. "Edward."

"Did you know what you were doing? Did you have complete and total faith in your abilities the first time you disciplined Edward."

"Of course not and I hated taking that step, but I didn't feel that I had another choice. I had to regain control over him so I reverted back to what I had learned from my father."

"Did you abuse him?"

"It felt like I did."

"Did. You. Abuse. Him?" The words were spoken slowly and very carefully.

Carlisle shook his head slowly. "No. I erred on the side of caution and wound up having to punish him again for the same thing, which was nearly as bad as having been too harsh. It took a while for me to find out what was effective with Edward. I made many mistakes along the way."

"By the time Alice and I came along I take it that you had all of the kinks worked out of your methods for keeping the peace within your coven. You had perfected it?"

Carlisle opened his eyes and stared thoughtfully at his son. "You know better than that. You were my biggest challenge, Jasper. You surrounded yourself with a wall that didn't allow for me to really get to know you at all. I felt like a blind man fumbling around when it came to you. That went for praise as well as punishment. You were impossible to read. I was stunned the day that wall finally came down and I discovered that your sensitivity rivals Edward's, but you have always demanded much more from me than what should be necessary. A heavy hand should never truly be necessary to make an impression upon you, but that was often what you required of me. Your history makes you difficult to correct in a way that isn't completely uncomfortable for me."

"So even though you knew us all very well before we ever gave you cause to punish, you still didn't know where the line between correction and abuse lay. Every one of us is different and there is no cookie cutter method that works across the board. If you really fear crossing the line, wouldn't it be better to simply not entertain the idea of corporal punishment."

"That would be ideal, but unfortunately we don't live in an ideal world. Without rules and the consequences that go along with them when broken, we would have chaos. Teen vampires are not exactly the easiest creatures to control and I refuse to stoop to traditional methods of keeping order in a coven.

I try to be as fair as possible, Jasper. I only punish behavior that threatens the security of our family or the safety of the individual. As the head of the family, I am responsible to make certain that everything runs smoothly and that the members know that they are safe. Regrettably, occasionally that requires punishment of those who break the rules."

"I broke the rules. I disobeyed a direct order and I broke a long standing rule that reads to the fact that if we must argue, we do so with words instead of physical altercation. To make matters worse, that altercation took place within our home, showing a great lack of respect for the safety of the other family members as well as a disregard for their property."

"That's correct."

"I should be and take it that I will be punished for my actions."

"Yes."

"Did Jacob not take the exact same path with an added offense of being grossly disrespectful towards a certain member of this family?"

"Jasper, that is different. If Jacob was a member of the family, he would fall under the same rules, but he isn't. He is a guest in this house and has his own family that is responsible for him."

"Would you correct Bella for misbehavior?"

"Of course. She is Edward's mate and a therefore a member of our family."

"What about before Bella and Edward were wed? Would you have brought Bella back in line when she strayed?"

"No. That was up to Charlie. While I may have questioned the effectiveness of his methods of rearing Bella, it was never my place to step in."

Jasper leaned forward and placed his hands flat against the desk top as he gazed deeply into his father's onyx eyes. "If Bella had decided to continue her hobby of cliff diving, can you truthfully say that you would not have done everything within your power to the point of tanning her hide, if it would have discouraged her from partaking in that foolish activity?"

Carlisle held his son's gaze for several moments before he glanced down with a sigh.

"That's because you considered Bella family from the moment you met her. You knew that she and Edward were meant to be together and you were immediately protective of her. You expected her to mind for her own good." Jasper gave a nod knowing that he was correct.

The patriarch rubbed his forehead as he considered the boy's words. "I fail to see how this relates to our current topic of discussion."

"Papa, you considered Bella family long before she really became such. I know for a fact that you've considered Jacob family for better than a year at the very least. He might be the cousin twice removed who the rest of us try to hide in the basement, but you care for him every bit as much as you care for Bella.

You respected Ephraim Black. I can tell by the emotions you feel when you speak of him or hear his name. You see him in Jacob and you respond to that. Jacob did this family a great service the day he saved Bella from that near drowning during her cliff diving lunacy which luckily also eventually saved Edward. I'm not sure if you accepted him at that point, but I do know that when that newborn injured him at the close of our battle, you felt concern and sorrow for his pain. Those were not the emotions of a doctor towards a patient. No, Sir, they were much stronger than that. The feelings that you were experiencing were the feelings of a father for his child."

Jasper laid a hand on Carlisle's arm as it rested on the desk.

"Jacob is family. We all feel it and we accept it though it still might come as a bit of a shock to him. There will be some growing pains as we learn to accept each other, but he is a part of this family and family must adhere to the rules or suffer the consequences."

Carlisle switched his gaze from the hand on his arm up into his son's eyes as he slowly exhaled.

"Am I wrong, Papa?"

The elder remained quiet for several minutes before he shook his head. "No, Jasper, you're not wrong. I do see Jake as another son, but the fact remains that he has a father to answer to and that man is not me."

"Call Billy. Talk to him and let him know what happened. See what he has to say. What harm can it do?"

"I have every intention of doing just that, but first you and I have unfinished business to attend to. While I appreciate your input, it seems that we have jumped track just a little. Back to my original point; I did not ask you in here to discuss Jacob's behavior."

For the briefest of moments Carlisle found himself feeling extremely nervous then the jitteriness vanished as his son softly replied, "No Sir, you didn't."

"Jasper, there are no words that exist which could convey just how disappointed I was with that display downstairs. I know that you were coming to Rosalie's defense and that is a very noble gesture, but when you are told to stop you need to listen. You need to stop and walk away the moment I tell you to. I shouldn't have been forced to raise my voice to get you to comply."

"I know." Jasper's foot began to tap a rhythm against the hardwood floor. "I'm sorry, Papa. I was..."

"Caught up in the moment. Yes, I know, Son, but you can't allow yourself to lose control like that. You must control your temper instead of letting it control you. You're better than this, Jazz."

Jasper lowered his head and shook it. "No, I'm not. I should be, but I'm not."

Carlisle quietly got up from his chair and walked around to lean against the front of his desk. Gently he tapped the soldier's chin until Jasper once again raised his head to meet his eyes.

"Yes, you are. Your heart was in the right place; you simply went about things the wrong way. Jasper, listen to me and listen well. There is a world of difference between you as an individual and your behavior. It seems that you have a tendency to forget that."

The boy turned his head away, but his father quickly caught his chin and drew him back.

"No, you don't. I want your full attention, young man. I want you to look me in the eye when I say this so that you know I'm telling you the truth. You, Major Jasper Whitlock Cullen are a good man. If that wasn't the case then it is likely that we would not be in this situation right now.

Jasper sighed. "We've been down this trail how many times now, Papa? Alright. Fine. I'm a good man, but I'm a good man that completely lacks self control which tarnishes my sterling personality. It's a short coming that causes situations like this and will always prevent me from being the man you delude yourself into thinking that I am."

Carlisle closed his eyes and groaned in frustration as he turned away from his son.

See, I was right. He just refuses to admit that I can't be taught and trusted like everyone else. "Papa, it's just something that we have to accept; or rather you do because I already have. I just don't have the same potential."

The elder crossed his arms and shook his head before his left hand automatically went to the bridge of his nose to pinch it firmly.

Now you've done it, cowboy. You went ahead and pissed him off when your ass is already in a sling. Smooth move. Should just go ahead and chalk stupid up right there next to that loose cannon title.

With his back still turned to his son, Carlisle inquired quietly. "Jasper, just how thirsty are you right now?"

"On a scale of one to ten?"

"Sure."

"Fifty seven."

"How enticing is the scent of Bella's blood?"

Jasper dropped his gaze to the floor, but didn't answer.

"Jasper?"

"She's Edward's mate." He shook his head. "She's my sister."

"That's not an answer, Son."

Jasper's jaw tightened and Carlisle felt a wave of frustrated desperation before the faintest of whispers reached the patriarch's ears. "I've never in all my years wanted anything more."

Carlisle turned back around and looked at the miserable boy cradling his head in his hands.

"For someone with no self control, I would say that you are doing a tremendous job of resisting your most basic drive."

"Carlisle..."

The elder cupped the soldier's chin and raised his head. For several seconds Carlisle did nothing but stare intently into Jasper's eyes until he felt a wave of nervousness wash over him.

"You use this excuse as a crutch and it's not going to work any longer. I refuse to believe that you can control your blood lust in the face of starvation, but you can not control your temper. Only a fool would accept that."

Jasper closed his eyes, but a light shake of the hand that still held his head up caused him to open them once again.

"You are lying to me and you are lying to yourself. I don't appreciate being lied to, Jasper."

The boy swallowed hard, but remained silent.

With a quiet sigh, Carlisle released his hold on his son and was pleased to find Jasper willing to maintain eye contact of his own accord.

Leaning back against his desk once more, the doctor crossed his arms over his chest and studied the Major for a moment as his mind raced. Finally drawing a breath, Carlisle continued as he held Jasper in his stern gaze.

"I am willing to make some concession at this time. I know that you are struggling right now; we all are. I'm willing to allow your show of temper based on the fact that the majority of your focus has to be on controlling your thirst. We all have our limits and when they are reached something is bound to snap."

Jasper closed his eyes as he released a held breath and began to relax at his father's declaration.

"Son, please look at me."

When the boy opened his eyes his father shook his head.

"That is only a partial reprieve. I don't want to mislead you. You are not off the hook by a long shot, Jazz. While I'm willing to over look the basic argument between you and Jacob, I can not allow the fact that you disobeyed your mother and I several times. If you had walked away when asked the situation would not have escalated and the house would still be in one piece. I know for a fact that you understand how to follow a directive so I will accept no excuse for this gross disobedience."

"Yes, Sir. I understand."

"You will make an apology to Jacob. Regardless of how any of us view him, he is still a guest in this house. His appalling behavior is not an excuse for yours."

Jasper nodded once accepting a fate that he had already known awaited him.

"I expect both you and Jacob to clean up the mess that you caused. You will mate his speed so it will take you longer to accomplish."

The boy groaned at the idea of working at the punitive human pace and began to protest, but a raised hand from his father quickly quieted him.

"The slower speed is in part as punishment, but I also want to make sure that the work gets done with equal effort by both parties. If you speed through and do all the work there is no punitive value for Jacob, so I'm sorry Son, but you will work slowly."

"Yes, Papa," Jasper muttered as he glanced down at his feet in annoyance.

"Now as far as your disobedience goes..." Carlisle sighed as he pushed himself away from his desk and extended a hand towards his boy. "You know what to expect, Son."

Jasper ran both hands through his hair before taking his father's hand and allowing himself to be brought to his feet.

"Let's get this over with."

"Yes, Sir."

Jasper followed his father over towards the loveseat, but remained standing as Carlisle took a seat.

Looking slightly away to give the boy some privacy, Carlisle held out his hand as he made a soft request."Give me your belt, Jasper and unfasten your pants."

"Ummm."

Carlisle looked over at his son only to realize that he was wearing dress slacks and had forgone with a belt. Suddenly the elder's eyes narrowed as an anomaly caught his attention. "Jasper, are those my good Irish linen slacks?"

"Um. Well..."

"That are now covered in wolf spit?"

"I'm afraid they got a little torn as well." Jasper fingered a rip near his hip as he fidgeted.

"Of all of my pants that you could have borrowed, why...?"

"They looked best with my shirt and the charcoal color nearly matches my waistcoat as you can see for yourself."

A muscle twitched in Carlisle's jaw before he closed his eyes and shook his head. "Just take them down and come here."

"Yes, Sir."

Jasper's hands shook slightly as he freed the button and reluctantly lowered the zipper of his pants. "I can see why you like these pants, Papa. They're very comfortable. Couldn't I just keep..."

"Jasper."

The pointed stare that accompanied the warning tone was all the encouragement Jasper needed. Standing at Carlisle's right side, the Major quickly lowered his slacks and sighed before draping himself across his father's lap.

"You know you would gain better leverage to be able to deliver a harder whipping if you would let me bend over the desk instead of having me across your knees. You really shouldn't restrict your range of motion like this."

Shifting his son forward a bit until he was in a position more to the doctor's liking, Carlisle wrapped his left arm around Jasper's waist as he shook his head slightly while a light smile tugged at his lips.

"Thank you for the recommendation, Son, but I think we'll stick to my way for now. You might want to consider that I may prefer my range of motion restricted."

"If you say so, Papa. I just wanted to help."

"I appreciate your thoughtfulness and your concern has been noted." The patriarch sighed inwardly as he rested his hand upon the boy's bare thigh. "Ready?"

"Not really."

"So sorry."

Jasper yelped before regaining control over his vocalizations as his father's hand rapidly set his backside ablaze. Burying his face in his folded arms, the youth knew that he was fighting a losing battle to remain as silent against the stinging pain, but his pride was not ready to give in.

Have to take it like a man. Don't want Jacob to hear. DAMN IT BUT THAT HURTS!

Carlisle felt his son tense as a particularly sharp blow caught the sensitive undercurve of his left cheek and sighed.

"Jasper, stop fighting. You're making this harder on both of us," the elder gently commented before ramping up the speed and strength of his strokes.

"Sorry, Carlisle," the Major hissed through clenched teeth, "Can't. Help. It."

Blasted stubborn pride. Carlisle shook his head as he concentrated his attention on the most impressionable area of Jasper's backside drawing the faintest of gasps from the boy. Come on, Jazz. You have to let go.

As the stinging soreness increased, the soldier found it impossible to stay still. Self preservation caused him to squirm in an attempt to deflect his father's blows, but Carlisle managed to stay on target while tightening his grip on his son.

"Jasper, stop now or you'll lose the boxers."

"Not doin' any good...anyway," he gasped.

"Oh? So then you won't mind if I get them out of my way." Carlisle suspended the spanking for a moment as he hooked a finger under the waist band of Jasper's underwear only to have his son suddenly protest loudly.

"NO! Please, Papa don't."

The elder was overcome by a crippling feeling of humiliation which vanished nearly as quickly as it had set in. Drawing a deep breath to settle his nerves, Carlisle landed several strong solid smacks against his son's battered bottom.

"Then stop fighting me."

"Yesh, Sah." Jasper hated the weakness that he heard in his tone, but he hated the tears that welled up in his eyes even more. Damn it, Whitlock. It's just a little spanking. What's wrong with you?

Feeling his son teetering on the brink, Carlisle made up his mind to give him the push that he needed secure in the knowledge that he would catch his son when he fell.

Carlisle resumed the spanking, but his strokes fell a little lighter and slower .

"There are very few things in this world that we can always count on to remain true. Everything we know is in a constant state of change, but there is one thing that will never change, Jasper. Do you know what that is?"

The boy gritted his teeth as he shook his head.

"The one thing that remains constant is how proud I am of you."

Jasper became very still despite the burning in his hind quarters and he mentally cursed the held back venom tears that stung his eyes.

"You were born into this life in the midst of a darkness and violence that the rest of us have can only imagine. That sort of life would have consumed the heart and spirit of a weaker man, but you made it through the mire without having lost yourself. You've remained a kind and just young man who is noble to a fault."

Carlisle stilled his hand and placed it very gently on his son's back.

"Knowing these things about you, I tend to expect a great deal. I believe there are times that I expect too much. I have to admit that I hold you to a higher standard because I see such potential in you, Son and want you to live up to that. I'm sorry if I have put undue stress upon you because of this. I suspect that this is also the reason that I become so disappointed when you misbehave. It almost feels like being betrayed and that hurts a great deal. In reality though, the person who is truly betrayed in these instances is yourself because you turn your back on who you should be and I find that unconscionable."

The patriarch lightly rubbed the boy's back soothingly and felt Jasper shudder as the first quiet sob escaped. A wave of inwardly directed hatred and self pity blanketed Carlisle under its suffocating weight.

The comforting hand vanished from Jasper's back and in an instant came down sharply on his sore behind. The soldier's head shot up with a cry as a new round of tears rolled down his cheeks.

"No, Jasper. I did not tell you these things to make you feel sorry for yourself and I sure as hell am not going to stand by and allow you to beat yourself up."

"I can't help it."

"Yes, you can. There is no reason for it."

"But, there is," Jasper whimpered faintly. "I let you down. No matter how hard I try, I will always let you down. That is what's unconscionable, Carlisle. You don't expect too much; I expect too little. You're right in thinking that my behavior should be better than what I'm showing you. You shouldn't have to hold me to a higher standard, because I should be the one to hold myself to it, but I haven't."

Jasper covered his head with his arms as he buried his face against the cushion. With the tempest of emotions threatening to drown him, the gentle hand that had returned to its place on his back became the soldier's lifeline.

Carlisle remained silent while he lightly rubbed his son's back allowing his touch to provide comfort to the wounded boy. As Jasper slowly regained control, the elder loosened his hold around his son's waist, but was surprised when the soldier made no move to get up.

Sniffling quietly, Jasper spoke in a hoarse voice. "There was a time when you told me that I focus too much on my failures when I should focus on my success. At the time I didn't really believe you, but I do now. I've been willing to accept my own excuses for failure when I should have been striving to do better. I've become complacent."

Jasper shifted around enough to allow him to look over his shoulder to catch Carlisle's eye.

"Don't expect miracles, Papa, but I'll try to change that."

Carlisle smiled as he sighed softly. "I never expect miracles, Jazz and I know that it will be hard to retrain the way you think, but I know that you can do it. I'll be with you every step of the way to offer whatever help you need to make that change."

Sniffling back the thick venom, Jasper smirked as his eyes twinkled. "Including tanning my hide when I need it."

The elder rolled his eyes. "Let's hope you don't need it." He tussled his son's wheaten locks before gently helping him up to sit in his lap.

Jasper laid his head against Carlisle's shoulder as he soaked up the much needed comfort of the elder's embrace.

"Just so you know, I don't feel an ounce of remorse about defending Rose, but I am sorry that I slapped Jacob. My first order of business should be to work on controlling my temper."

Carlisle tipped the boy's head up with a knuckle pressed lightly under his jaw allowing him to meet the boy's black eyes.

"Your first order of business will be to apologize to Jacob and then the two of you will get down to putting this house back in order. You really should consider yourself extremely lucky that your mother didn't skin the both of you alive right there in the middle of the living room."

"Maybe my first order of business should be an apology to Momma."

"I believe that would be the actions of a wise and very brave man."

"Is she really that angry?"

"Hurt is more like it. Hurt and worried, but there isn't a doubt in my mind that you can ease all of that."

With a sigh, Jasper slid off of Carlisle's lap grimacing slightly at a spike of pain brought on by the friction. Briskly rubbing at the reignited sting, he quickly redressed before giving his father a nod. "I think I'll go see Momma and try to set things right."

"And after you have taken care of that, I want you to go to your room and rest for a bit. I'll call for you when I'm ready for my two trouble makers to get to work on the living room."

"And you call Billy Black."

Carlisle raised a brow as he held his boy in a steady gaze. "Are you telling me what to do, buachaill?"

Jasper held up both hands in surrender."It was just a suggestion."

"Then allow me to offer you a suggestion in return. When you go talk to your mother, grab a change of clothes, but stay away from my suits and dress clothes. For comfort's sake, I think sweat pants or a wind-suit would be your best bet."

"These are actually really comfortable, Papa. They are light enough that they aren't bothering my rear like my jeans tend to." Jasper narrowed his eyes thoughtfully for a moment before adding, "Of course that wasn't the worst tanning you've given me either."

"I'll be happy to correct that if it will make you happier."

"Oh, no, Sir. I'm good. I don't want to put you through any more trouble."

Carlisle chuckled quietly. "I'm glad to hear it. Now go on and check in with your mother. I have a phone call to make and would like some privacy."

"Yes, Sir." In a flash, Jasper was gone.

Leaning back, Carlisle rubbed his eyes as he moaned. Good Lord, but I don't want to do this. It would be different if he was mine. I still wouldn't want to, but at least I would know it was for his own good. With this there are just so many things that can go wrong. This is something for his father to handle, but it's too dangerous to risk sending him home or trying to take him there myself. The patriarch gave a little snort. Take him there myself. Sure Carlisle, just take a Sunday drive right into the wolf's den. What could be safer? Oh I don't know, pissing Caius the hell off, maybe?

Can't take him to his father without risk of life and limb. Can't just send him home on his own for the very same reason. Could ask Billy to come get him, but then he will be at risk when he tries to return to be with Bella... and you know that he will.

Fishing in his pocket, Carlisle pulled out his cell phone and scrolled through the numbers. When the name 'Billy Black' showed up on the screen the patriarch's breath ceased. With a press of a button, the elder held the phone to his ear while his other hand worried the pressure point at the bridge of his nose. Silently he prayed for a reprieve. Maybe he will be away from his phone.

"Hello?"

Damn.

"Hello, Billy. This is Carlisle Cullen. I was wondering if you have a few free moments to talk. We've had a little incident with Jacob and one of my boys that I would like to discuss with you. I could really use your advice."

AN: A bit more angst then I was going for, guys. Sorry about that. It just sort of happens when Jasper's in trouble. The first part of the chapter was easy, but the second part... not so much. I've even managed to lose my crutch for explaining Jasper's slip ups. Apparently I can't claim lack of control any longer or he will be lying to Carlisle and that's a whole other issue that the Major does not want to get into.

Alrighty, what should we do with Jacob? Honestly, I am open to suggestions here because quite frankly, Carlisle is giving me heartache. It seemed pretty simple when I started with it, but for a story that should have ended in the last chapter, this sucker keeps turning around on itself.

Thanks for everything, guys. Y'all are awesome. Thanks to my tireless beta, Splinter. I would be in a rubber room by now without her.

I think I need to head back to Denali and take care of some business over there, but we will deal with Jacob's issue soon. ;-)