DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN TWILIGHT OR ANY OF S. MEYER'S CHARACTERS… UNFORTUNATELY.

I JUST PLAY WITH THEM.

Blood In The Snow Chapter 32

Previously:

CPOV

"There was a syringe dangling from his IV line. Still had some liquid in it."

"Did you get it?" Charlie interrupts.

"Yes. I also had one of the nurses draw a vial of blood for testing." I hesitate. "Charlie, I think he was killed. There is no reason I can think of for him to die from the injury he had. None."

"I'm coming down there."

"I think that's a good idea. Come directly to my office."

"Seal off his room. Don't let anyone in there to clean up or anything else."

"You got it." We disconnect and I head up to the nurse's station. "Ladies… by order of Det. Swan, Hunter's room is to be closed up and sealed off. No one goes in or out until he arrives. Clear?"

CPOV

After Edward and I finish our talk, I sit back in my chair, running my hands through my hair. I have a strong feeling that the Volturi know where the boys are. They found out from Hunter and then killed him. I know it in my bones. Reaching into my pocket, I pull out the syringe. I stare at it for a minute, then slide it back into my pocket. I need to get this to the lab as soon as possible.

Closing my office door behind me, I stride quickly down the corridor to the lab. I hope Roger is working today. He'll test the medication while I wait. As I open the door to the lab, to my relief, I see Roger sitting at his worktable.

"Roger. How are you?"

"Carlisle… haven't seen you down here in a long time." He stretches out his hand for me to shake. "I know that look, Carlisle." He grins at me. "Okay, let's have it." He holds out his hand, palm up, waiting for me to give him the sample I need tested.

"You know me too well." Pulling the syringe out of my pocket, I carefully place it in his hand, mindful not to let the needle touch his skin. "I need to know what's in this."

Roger looks at the liquid sloshing around inside the barrel of the syringe. "This wouldn't happen to be the syringe found dangling in the IV of a dead man, would it?" He cocks an eyebrow at me.

"The very same. I need to know if this is what killed him and I need it kept between us."

"No problem." He swivels around to face his worktable, pulling out some testing materials. He squirts a small amount of the liquid into several small dishes. Then he squirts a small amount into a tiny test tube, which he then inserts into a machine that will run a multitude of test on the single sample. "Carlisle, you gonna wait for the results or do you want me to call you when I'm done?"

"I'll wait, if you don't mind."

"Not at all." He grins at me. "Could be just a couple of minutes or a couple of hours. Make yourself comfortable." He nods toward the chairs along the wall.

We chat about families, the gossip around the hospital and other inconsequential things as Roger runs his tests. The machine that runs the various tests begins to spit out its printed report. Roger tears the paper strip off when it finishes.

"This dead man… he have enemies?" Roger hands the report to me. "Its Potassium Chloride. Inject enough of it and you get a heart attack… looks like natural causes… perfect murder weapon."

"Roger… please… do not mention this to anyone." I hand the report back to him. "Make a copy of this to keep in your files, just in case. I need this one to show to a certain detective."

"Sure thing." He quickly makes his copy and hands the original back to me. "But, Carlisle, you have to promise to tell me all the details as soon as you can… right."

"As soon as I can." I pause in the doorway, my hand on the knob, turning back to him. "Thank you, Roger. You don't know just how important this is." Pulling the door shut behind me, I hurry down the corridor to my office. I need to call Charlie… now.

CHPOV

The red and blue flashing lights from the ambulance, the patrol cars and the fire engine create a scenario of pure chaos. The lurid lights reflecting off the terrified faces of the young boys in the scout troop caught my eye. Poor kids. This is not something a child that young should ever see. They barely look old enough to be out of the 'cub' level of scouts. As I parked my truck, a uniformed cop comes over, reaches out and opens my door. "Got a nasty one for ya Det. Swan." He nods toward the plastic bag holding the body. "Blood everywhere and those poor kids saw everything. They'll be seeing a shrink for a long time…"

"What's the story?" I interrupt him or he'll talk all night.

The officer blinks, shakes his head, then pulls his notebook out of his pocket. Flipping through a few pages, he reads it out to me. "Around 3pm, the scouts were taking a 'nature hike'. As they came up on these rocks", (he points to the large outcropping of rock off to the left), "they heard a vehicle, so they hid behind the rocks. The vehicle stopped and they watched as a man dragged the woman out of the vehicle holding a knife to her throat. They say she was screaming "No Demetri" over and over, but he cut her throat, threw her to the ground and drove away. That's when they called 911." He flipped the notebook closed.

Demetri. Damn. The Volturi. I walk over to the body bag, kneel down beside it, pull the zipper down and flip the black plastic away from her face. It's the pretty blond I've seen coming and going from the hospital several times… including today… right before James died. As I kneel there looking at the gash that nearly beheaded her, my cell phone vibrates in my pocket. Pulling it out, I snap. "Swan."

"Charlie… I need to see you… right away."

"Carlisle. What is it?"

"I got the test results on that syringe. Potassium Chloride. It can cause what looks like a natural heart attack and leaves no residual."

Rubbing my hand across my face, I think for a minute.

"Charlie? Are you there?"

"Yeah. I know who killed him. The Volturi… specifically, a blonde woman who has been to visit him several times. I saw her myself, I just never realized she was seeing James."

"So… I guess we can assume that they know exactly where the boys are."

"I think so. Have you called them yet?"

"Yes. They are determined not to run. They have weapons and the ammunition for them. What kind of a timeline do you think we have?"

"Don't know. I need to get back to the station and check with my guys to see if there's any movement going on. I'll call you when I know anything."

"Okay."

"What a way to end and start a new year, huh?"

"Yeah."

I flipped my phone shut, ending the call. After talking to the uniform in charge of the murder scene, I head back to the office to see if anything is going on.

Previously:

EPOV

I pick out the two 30/30s, the ammunition for them, the shotgun, the flare gun, several boxes of the shotgun shells, several boxes of flares and we head back upstairs.

JPOV

I feel guilty that I brought such danger to Edward's life. I should just leave, on my own… keep him safe. I watch him as he efficiently sets up our arsenal. The two 30/30s with their boxes of ammunition next to them… the double-barreled shotgun, with its boxes of massive shells and the flare gun (I still think it looks more like a rocket launcher) with its boxes of flares. My Edward… I never had the slightest clue what love was… until him. I should slip out… find the Volturi and just let them end it all. He will be safe. He sees me looking at him and gives me that sweet, crooked smile that melts my heart every time.

"Jasper? What is it?" He comes to sit next to me, wrapping me in his warm embrace. He buries his face in the crook of my neck, breathing in my scent. "We'll be okay." He whispers, then runs the tip of his tongue around the edge of my ear, nipping at the lobe… sending tremors down my spine.

My fingers tangle in his silky hair, gently stroking his scalp, eliciting soft groans from my love. "I love you, Edward." My lips brush across his cheekbones, the tip of my tongue peeking out to taste him. "I should go." I feel him tense. "You will be safe. They will follow me… away from you."

He pulls away from me, shaking his head. "No! You are not going to sacrifice yourself to try and save me. It won't work anyway." His hands cradle my face, gently lifting it to look me in the eye. "They know that I know about them. They have to assume that you have told me the whole story."

I can't argue with him. He's right.

"If you give yourself to them, they will just kill you and then come for me. All you will accomplish is to make it easier for them."

I know he's right. I nod. "I just can't bear the thought of you getting hurt because of me." A single tear makes its way down my cheek.

Gently, his thumb brushes away the lone tear. "Awww, baby. It will be all right. We are so much stronger together." His lips touch mine. His arms pull me closer as his lips move against mine, his tongue swiping across my bottom lip, asking for access.

We spend the next hour or so just comforting and loving each other. I am so thankful for Edward in my life. He is my everything… I will not survive if he is taken from me. I know this in my soul.

Edward suddenly pulls away, sitting up. "Hey! I just remembered… its New Year's Eve. We need to ring it in properly." He grins at me with that crooked grin that just melts me into a puddle of goo every time.

I agree with him, but can't help but think that it just might be our last. Leaning forward, I brush his lips with mine. "And just how do you plan to ring in the New Year 'properly'?"

"It's a surprise." He grinned wickedly at me. "Sit back, relax and I'll be back for you in a few minutes." He gets up and heads for the kitchen.

"Okay… sure you don't need some help?"

"Nope."

I can hear him rummaging through drawers in the kitchen, then I hear a door open and footsteps receding. Sounds like he's going down into the basement. What in the world is my love up to?

"Baby? Close your eyes for a minute."

"Okay?" I rest my head back against the couch with my eyes closed. I can hear him walking past, heading for the stairs.

"Okay… you can open them now." He calls to me from halfway up the stairs.

I look around, but nothing has changed. I guess he didn't want me to see what he was carrying. Hmmm… sneaky little dickens. I can't help but grin.

Leaning my head back, I close my eyes and contemplate this past year. What a horrendous year it has been. We lose our family business, then Aro has my parents killed, tries to kill me and now, they are going to come for my beloved… and me. Next year has got to be better. Certainly can't get any worse. Well… yeah it can. They can take Edward from me. I won't live in a world without Edward. Either they kill me, too or I will do it myself.

A soft caress to my cheek startles me and my eyes pop open to see my precious Edward smiling down at me. "Drifting off, my love?" He asks.

"No. Just thinking about this year and all the changes."

"It's going to be fine, love." He snuggles down next to me, holding me close, fingers running through my hair, gently stroking my scalp. My eyes drift shut, soft moans escaping me. "Dad and Det. Swan will get us help. And Jacob is flying in to help, too. We have plenty of fire power and… we have Alec!"

I can't help but giggle at the thought of Alec bouncing around in the snow, ambushing our attackers. He'll probably kiss them to death.

"Hey… he may be silly with us, but trust me… when it comes to any threat, he is not one to disregard. His protective instincts kick in and he can be deadly."

I look over at Alec where he lays, on his back, legs sprawled out, sound asleep in front of the fire and I have a hard time picturing him as a threat. But, I remind myself, he is a Doberman and they are known for being extremely protective of family.

Edward untangles himself from me, and stands, holding his hand out to me. "Come, my love. Your surprise awaits." He grins.

Taking his hand I rise and follow him upstairs and into our bathroom. I stop, my jaw dropping at the scene before me. Candles… tall ones… short ones… scattered around the room… perched on counters… windowsills… even on the back ledge of the tub. Must be twenty or thirty of them, flickering softly… reflecting off the mirror and gleaming tile walls. The huge tub, filled with bubbles, gently sends steam into the air.

"Beautiful", I breathe. Turning to Edward, I pull him close to my body, my lips ghosting over his jaw and down his neck… the tip of my tongue peeking out to taste his skin. Delicious. His soft whimpers encouraging me. We slowly remove the clothing from one another, worshiping as we go. He steps into the tub, reaching out his hand to help me in with him.

As we settle in, my back to his chest, I feel his lips caressing the nape of my neck. He send shivers down my spine and whimpers deep in my chest. My head lolls back on to his shoulder. He takes advantage and nibbles on my ear. Whispering sweet word of love in my ear, his hands caress my chest, drifting across my nipples, stopping to tweak them gently. Groaning, my back arches slightly, pushing my chest into his fingers. I twist around to face him and sit straddling him. My hands cup his beautiful face as I gaze into his glittering green eyes. Leaning in to him, my lips capture his for a sweet kiss. "I love you, Edward. More than you will ever know."

His smile lights up his face. "As I love you, Jasper. You are my life… now and forever." Motioning with his chin, I look and see a tray sitting on the corner ledge of the big tub. On the tray, two champagne flutes glitter in the candlelight. An ice bucket, droplets of condensation tracing down its side, holds a chilled bottle of champagne. "Pour us a glass, my love. It's nearly midnight."

Easing off his lap, I kneel and carefully open the bottle. A soft pop and I manage to pour into both flutes without spilling a drop. Twisting around, I place the flute in his outstretched hand, then ease back down to settle in beside him.

Edward raises his glass to me and softly toasts. "Jasper… my love… my soul mate… my life. When Alec and I found you in that snow bank, I never dreamed I was finding the other half of my very soul. But when you finally opened those crystalline blue eyes and gazed into mine… oh… how my heart raced. I've never felt anything like it. The more I got to know you, the more I realized that you are it for me. I love you, Jasper." He raised his glass and took a sip.

My eyes were filled with unshed tears at his beautiful and loving words. What in the world had I ever done to deserve such a perfect creature? I crooked a finger at Edward and he leaned close. My free hand wraps around the back of his head, pulling him close. I brush my lips across his, then press closer, deepening the kiss. Our tongues dance together, neither fighting for dominance, simply savoring each other. When the lack of oxygen forces our lips apart, I sit back, raising my glass to him.

"My beautiful Edward… when you found me, I was broken beyond belief. Yet you took me in, cared for me and miraculously… you loved me. I have never known anyone so selfless and good. How could I not love you? You call to my soul… I feel whole when we are together and when even just a room separates us, I feel like part of me is missing. I adore you… I need you in my life. I can not exist without you in my life." Peeking up at Edward through my lashes, I see tears running down his cheeks as he smiles so sweetly at me.

I set my glass down on the side of the tub and shift around to my knees. "Edward… I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you please marry me?"

He gasps and the tears flow like water. "Oh! Oh… god… Jasper. Yes… yes!" We lunge into each other's arms, crying, laughing, and whispering how much we love the other…

"As soon as we can get into town, I'm buying you a ring." I pull his left hand to my lips, kissing his ring finger.

Just then, the large clock downstairs began to chime. Midnight. A new year. A new beginning…

AN: I should be posting the next chapter in a couple of days. .Most of it is written, just need to tweak it a bit. Thanks so much for hanging around for my story! Means a lot to me.

If this story should disappear, you can find it over on The Writers Coffee Shop. .com (slash) library

I am shewoolf over there, too.