Authors note: So I actually wasn't going to have this chapter as part of the story but thought, hey why not? It's just a little short one to show some brotherly banter! Happy reading

Chapter 16 – We Will Kill You

I was confused when I awoke. Someone was lying beside me; it was the same person I'd woken up next to nearly every morning for a month and a half, Alice. But this wasn't my bed, it wasn't hers either. The cogs of my brain were slowly turning as I tried to open my swollen, sleepy eyes.

Where was I? How did I get here?

I squinted at the clock on the bedside table; the bright numbers burned into my eyes. 3:17am. Suddenly a gust of wind rattled the skylight. Ah, we were still at Esme and Carlisle's house, Alice's parents house, my brain was still wrapping itself around that. I remembered now, the storm got so bad last night that Carlisle and Esme didn't want us all driving home so we'd stayed the night. This was Alice's old room compete with dusty pink walls wallpapered in pictures of a younger Alice. I'd looked at them last night poking fun at her ever-changing fashion sense. She also looked so strange with long hair. My favourite had been of her and Emmett, he was holding her above his head like she was a set of weights, her hair was in his face but you could just make out Emmett's boyish grin of triumph while Alice's face was frozen mid laughter.

Alice twitched beside me and I was afraid I woke her. I turned to check but she was still fast asleep. The movement made my head spin. Oh dear. My body felt heavy, I clenched and unclenched my fingers and the movement felt sluggish. I almost rolled my eyes; I hope this didn't have anything to do with staying out in the rain. Rose had been very upset with be about that one...

Rosalie walked down the hall toward me, the expression on her face changing from surprise to something else, as she looked me up and down. As Emmett greeted his mom Rosalie pulled me in for a hug, she scowled as she pulled back.

"Why is your hair wet?" She questioned, her tone accusatory.

I glanced down toward Emmett and Esme, I didn't want Esme to know about my illness, there was no need for her to know. "Rose it's fine, leave it."

"You were out in that, weren't you?" She snipped. Thankfully she kept her tone low so only I could hear.

"I'm not so fragile I can't get wet Rose, give me some credit." I whispered. "Besides, I know how to look after myself, I've had plenty of practice."

She visibly flinched as I said it, I immediately regretted it, like always. I was about to voice my apology when Rose spoke. "I just want to you to be healthy Jas."

I'd told Rose a little rain wouldn't hurt me. I prayed I wasn't wrong. I slowly sat up on the edge of the bed being careful not to disturb Alice. My head was thumping. I was probably just a bit dehydrated, nothing more serious. I tried to think through what I'd had to drink recently. I had to be careful with my fluid intake because without functioning kidneys my body had no way to regulated water content and if I drank too much it wasn't good. But human bodies are unpredictable and so what was a perfect water consumption one day could leave you dehydrated or overhydrated the next.

It was dehydration, not staying out in the rain, I'd decided. So I'd go down to the kitchen and get a drink, I'd be fine in the morning. I pulled on my jeans and t-shirt as quietly as possible. I didn't think I'd bump into anyone at this time but if I did I'd rather not be caught in nothing but my boxers. After all I hadn't thought to bring pyjamas to a materials consultation. To be fair, a heck of a lot happened at my materials consultation...like discovering I practically already knew my girlfriends entire family.

I tiptoed out of the room. If Alice woke up she would worry, I didn't want that. The house was a bit creaky and I cringed every time the floorboard beneath my foot cried out. I felt like I was waking the whole house. Half way down the stairs I realised the kitchen light was already on; I was suddenly very glad I had put clothes on.

"Aw hey dude!" Emmett greeted me as I walked into the kitchen. It was amazing how he could still sound 'loud' even when he was speaking softly. A mystery. "What you doing up?"

"Ehh..I was just gonna get some water?" I suddenly felt like I should ask permission. Like of been caught in the middle of a guilty act. I also cringed at how hoarse my voice was.

"Oh yeah, sure man." He sprung up from the stool he was sitting at. I told him I could get some myself but he dismissed me and offered me to sit at a stool at the breakfast bar.

"Thanks," I said as he sat the glass down in front of me. "What are you doing up?"

"Just couldn't sleep because the storm is so loud so I decided to come down here and do a bit of work," he said gesturing to the iPad sitting in front of him. "I didn't want to disturb Rose with it, though I think that woman could sleep through anything."

"Yeah, when we were on holiday as kids we used to have to share a room and I would stay up late playing video games full volume and she would be snoring six feet away," I laughed at the memory now. That was when things were good, when mom was still alive.

I picked up the glass and took a few sips; it felt good sliding down my dry throat. The glass was shaking in my hand, I didn't even realise my hands had been shaking. I hoped Emmett didn't notice.

"Man I still can't believe you're here!" Emmett said. "First you're working for my parents and then you're going out with my sister!"

"Yeah I know; I'm still wrapping my head round it myself." I said softly.

"Did I miss my invite to the party?" A voice questioned from behind me. I turned to see Edward standing in the doorway.

"Aw hey dude! Couldn't sleep cause of the storm, you?" Emmett asked.

"Been on night shifts recently," he said. He moved over to the sink and poured himself a glass of water before pulling himself up to sit on the kitchen counter opposite us. "It really messes with your sleeping pattern."

"We were just talking about how weird it was last night that everyone seemed to know each other," Emmett aid to Edward.

"Aw yeah! To be honest I was more surprised to hear that Alice finally found a boyfriend than anything else." Edward said, smiling in my directions.

I kind of laughed and looked down at my water and still slightly shaking hand, damn it. "Yeah she is a picky one!" Emmett said lightly punching me in the shoulder. "You know Japer, Edward and I really should give you our rehearsed 'we're really protective brothers and we could beat you up' speech."

I laughed, "It's rehearsed?"

"Oh yeah," Edward said in mock seriousness. "We aren't messing around here."

"If you hurt her," Emmett said in...what was that accent? English? Australian? "We will look for you, we will find you...and we will kill you."

I smiled and Edward laughed. "Okay so maybe it's kind of adapted from the movie 'Taken'" he confessed. I couldn't help but laugh.

"Yeah well that was one hell of a speech," Emmett smiled.

"Point taken," I said raising my hands in surrender. "I'm scared...even if that was the worst Irish accent I've ever heard."

"Wait," Emmett said turning to me with a very serious expression. "I thought Liam Neeson was Scottish!"

"No, you idiot, he's Irish." Edward said.

"Aw, well who's Scottish then?" Emmett asked.

"Umm...I'm pretty sure there are lots of Scottish people." I said. We all laughed at that. It was nice, just sitting having a laugh with them. I really did feel like part of the family. It was a nice family to be a part of. Edward and Emmett were so easy to get along with and they really made me feel like I was welcome.

"Well the point is," Edward finally said. "I'm happy for you and my sister, you seem good together."

"Yeah dude, I'm stoked for you two!" Emmett said putting his arm around me and squeezing me in a quick side hug. "Still can't believe Rose was talking about Alice all this time."

"Oh yeah," Edward said shyly. It was like he really wanted to ask a question but felt awkward asking it, I think I knew what was coming. I was suddenly very aware of how my hands were still slightly shaking. "Alice was your doctor?" He asked tentatively.

"Um...yeah...well she's not anymore obviously but yeah..." I started to say. I always felt weird telling people, not for my sake but for theirs. People didn't really know how to react to it. I guess he was a doctor though...and Emmett already knew.

"You don't have to talk about it I mean..." Edward started.

"No no, it's fine honestly!" I reassured him. "I have stage 5 CKD, nothing too exciting."

Edward got that look on his face, that look people got what they knew what you were talking about. It wasn't a look I liked to see because...it just made it seem so much more serious. Obviously I knew it was serious but I lived with it every day, it wasn't nice to see your worries reflected in some else's face.

"Well," Emmett said, maybe sensing my uneasy. "At least you're not another doctor." We laughed. Emmett did seem to have a strange ability to lighten up the mood.

We chatted for another hour or so, I slowly stared to feel better as I sipped at my water. Just dehydration, thank god. It was so easy to chat to them. They really did feel like family already, it was a nice feeling. For the first time since mom got sick I felt like I had my life together. I had a family again. But it didn't take long for the other shoe to drop. I was sick and I wasn't getting better, if I didn't get a transplant pretty soon then…I wouldn't make it.

I had found the love of my life.

I didn't want to die.

Authors note: I didn't mean for it to get so dark at the end but Jasper has a dark mind! Hope you enjoyed it! Let me know what you think...please?