Disclaimer: You know what's mine and what's not, my wonderful readers, right? Sweet.

A/N: If you are reading this and going - Wow! Two updates in two day? Great! If not, you probably didn't receive yesterday's update, since FF was being difficult. You might want to back up and read the last chapter before this one. Also, I would not recommend reading this at work or around your kids. Just sayin'. ;)

Edward's POV

"I can explain," I began.

"Oh, please do..."

"...we'd be delighted to hear..."

"...what brought this all about."

I waited a moment, hoping to garner something from their thoughts to let me know which answer would be the most advantageous. I was surprised to learn what their impressions were, but decided to run with it. If I was being honest, it was more or less the truth these days anyway.

"You see... my wife, my brother and I share a rather, shall we say, unique relationship. Francesco has been stalking my wife rather inappropriately since we arrived and she had been thwarting his passes, but when he learned that Jasper had access to Bella which he had been denied, he threatened Bella's life, and I simply acted to protect my mate."

Maria started laughing. "Jasper always was a little on the kinky side, even for me." Behind me, I could sense Jasper's shaking getting worse.

Run...Maria...protect Bella...

Bella called my name and motioned for me to help with Jasper. Awkwardly, I stepped in to replace Bella, wrapping my arms around him, both to comfort him, and to restrain him if necessary.

"Yes, yes..."

"...we understand..."

Bella stepped forward and I held my breath. A door opened and closed behind us, but I dared not turn around. "Sirs, ma'am," she started, and the amount of time she'd spent with Jasper was obvious by the faint southern accent that showed through in that moment. "I apologize for what happened with Francesco. We are usually much more discreet in our affections. Jasper is...not feeling well at the moment."

"Yes," Maria asked, her voice soft and seductive as she appraised Bella's figure in her mind. Shit. Maria was definitely not a gold card member Bella was counting on. "What exactly is wrong with Jasper? He seemed fine just hours ago."

Bella turned around to look at me for support. Once again, the thoughts of those around us gave me the answers I needed. "As odd as it is going to sound, Jasper seems to have had a reaction to something he ate."

"It is not so odd, in fact. Different blood affects us differently, much the same way different food affects humans differently. The girl he fed from had been here for some time, and had been the subject of a number of experiments. It is entirely possible that something in her system would cause an adverse reaction in him. I apologize, I should have chosen her more carefully. Since she was one of the stronger humans we had in a while, I thought she would be a good choice for a reward. Bella, my dear, you are looking lovelier than ever."

"Thank you, Dr. Lee," Bella smiled demurely.

"You are indeed..."

"...most lovely..."

"...we envy..."

"...your husband and lover."

"Yes, most lovely," Maria purred.

Red flags went off in Dr. Lee's mind as he looked first at the twins, then at Maria, then finally to Bella. Could it be possible that she's done something to make us feel this way? No, not sweet, pure Bella. Still, it is so odd. I must think on this further.

I needed to get us out of there. Now.

"We like you, Edward..."

"...and your brother. Your viciousness..."

"...is unparalleled. We feel you could be very..."

"...useful to our efforts. We wish to make you..."

"...along with Maria, our commanding officers."

"We would be honored, sirs. If it would please you, I would like to meet with you and discuss strategy after my brother is feeling better. For now, we wish to take him home and care for him while he recovers. Dr. Lee, do you have any idea how long the effects of his recent meal may last?"

Luckily, it successfully distracted him from his thoughts about Bella. "I'm not sure. Could be a day or two, maybe longer. I wouldn't expect it to last longer than a week."

"Good to know. Thank you so much, all of you, for your understanding." I handed Jasper back over to Bella and led them to the door as quickly as I could manage without drawing attention.

"You are quite..."

"...welcome, Commander..."

Emmett and Adrian were waiting for us as we exited the hall. Bella and Jasper led the way, while I hung a little back a little so I could give them the breakdown without upsetting Jasper any further.

After I told them everything that had happened, from returning to the apartment to find Bella and Jasper on the couch to our narrow escape and promotion, Emmett and Adrian were both uncharacteristically quiet. It was unnerving.

Finally, Adrian spoke up. "So the only time Jasper calmed down at all was when Bella was holding him?"

"Yeah, I mean, he seemed alright when I was holding him in the throne room while she was working her magic, but he definitely is better when Bella's holding him. And he seems to need the physical contact. Holding her hand doesn't have the same impact that laying with her on the couch had. I've never seen anything like it. His mind is filled with terrified gibberish, but when he's with Bella, it's absolutely silent."

Adrian thought on it for a long time before finally caving and speaking, figuring I read it all in his head anyway. Which, of course, I had. "The thing is, when Bella was with Jasper, it really seemed like she was meant to be with him. She loved him with all her heart, and he her, and they seemed like they were perfect together. But then when you got your shit together and you and Bella ended up back together, it seemed like she was meant to be with you, and for all the same reasons. She loves you with all her heart, and you her, and it seems as though you are perfect together."

"What are you getting at?"

"I think what he's trying to say is that maybe, just maybe, as weird as it may sound, Bella is perfect for you both. And Jasper needs Bella right now. He needs you both, I think, but especially Bella. And we need him, bro. We're not getting out of this alive without him, and Bella can't save the world if she's dead, so I think you're going to have to suck it up and look the other way and let Bella do what she needs to do."

Emmett braced himself for the left hook he was expecting to come his way at the suggestion, but I didn't feel the need. Although I knew I should have been mortified by the idea, I found I wasn't. Emmett was absolutely right. Jasper needed us, and I knew without a doubt if the tides were turned he would do whatever it took to help me. And he would gladly give his life to help Bella. Could I really be so selfish as to refuse to help him when he needed it most? No, I couldn't. Plus, the fact that Jasper wasn't aware of what he was doing freed me in a way of any of the jealousy or anger I normally would have had. I had to give Bella permission to do whatever she felt was right, whatever she felt comfortable doing, to bring Jasper back. She wouldn't do it if she feared my reaction, if it felt like a betrayal.

"Did Rafael show you where our office is?"

"Yeah, he did."

"Alright, here's my key. You guys head over there. I'm going to help Bella get Jasper inside. I'll meet you there in a bit. Just stay there until I come get you."

I caught up to Bella, who had apparently given up on coaxing Jasper to walk and was just carrying him up the stairs. His arms were wrapped around her neck, his forehead pressed against her collarbone. Adrian was right. This was not the badass Jazz we love so much. He was broken, hidden so deep within his mind even I couldn't reach him.

I opened the door to let them in and Bella laid him on the couch. When she tried to stand back up, he clung to her neck and whimpered.

"Lay with him," I whispered. Bella looked at me quizzically for a moment, and presumably seeing no doubt in my expression, did as I suggested. As soon as she lay next to him, he pulled her under him and began nuzzling her collarbone again, his hand creeping up under her shirt. Bella looked uncomfortable, slightly panicked even, but I could smell her arousal. It gave me the courage to continue. I knelt next to the couch on my knees and started running my fingers through her hair, bending over to kiss her temple and whisper in her ear.

"Shhh, Bella...relax. Don't worry about me, I'm fine, love. Really I am. If you want to let him touch you, if you think it will help and you're comfortable with it, then let him. I love you, and I love Jasper. Give him what he needs. I know I won't lose you. Bring him back to us." I kept caressing her scalp and watched as she closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and relaxed. I sat on my heels, continued caressing Bella's hair and scalp, and waited. I wasn't sure what was going to happen, or if anything even was, and I wasn't sure if something did happen if Bella would want me to leave. I wasn't sure if I would want to leave. There was just too much to think about, so instead I chose to embrace the unique silence of not being able to hear thoughts from either of them, and just focused on the feel of Bella's hair between my fingers.

I watched with detached fascination as Jasper's hand kneaded Bella's ribs under her shirt. He kept nuzzling her chest, slowly moving his head lower until he managed to unbutton the top two buttons of Bella's blouse with his cheek, pushing the fabric away with his nose so he could rub his face against her breasts again. He sighed contentedly.

And softer, quieter, so did Bella.

I continued caressing Bella's hair, reinforcing my acceptance, and after a while Bella's arms wound around Jasper. One hand running up and down his spine, the other burying her fingers in his hair. Jasper hummed and nuzzled deeper between the swells of her breasts, the tip of his nose pressing just underneath the scallop of her bra.

The lace must have tickled his nose, because he turned and bit the small bit of fabric holding the two sides together, snapping it in two, then reached up and tore the blouse open, sending buttons flying. Bella gasped audibly, but Jasper didn't seem to notice. He simply pushed the two sides of both blouse and bra to out of his way so he could return to nuzzling her mounds without obstacles. This time, however, his hand was kneading her breast instead of her side.

The scent of Bella's arousal got stronger, and I found myself getting hard.

Jasper's lips, quite by accident, it seemed, found Bella's nipple and he enthusiastically took it into his mouth, suckling like a baby, worrying her with his teeth. I watched his jaw move, could see his tongue swirling around her peak, his fingers squeezing and caressing the underside. Bella's back arched to give him better access, which he took full advantage of. They both had their eyes closed, expressions of rapture on their faces. It was quite possibly the most erotic thing I'd ever seen.

My jeans were starting to become uncomfortable and I squirmed a little, and kept caressing Bella's hair while I watched the scene unfold. Jasper had turned his head away to face the back of the couch while he laved kisses on her other breast, and I found myself disappointed that the change in position impeded my view. The hand that had been kneading her breast was tracing random circles on her skin with his fingertips, slowly, agonizingly slowly, moving down her body. Releasing her nipple with a slight pop, his lips began to follow the path his fingertips had blazed.

And still, I petted Bella's hair.

Jasper kissed every inch of flesh he could find until he reached the waistband of her jeans. Once there, the almost overwhelming smell of her arousal caught his attention, and he dove between her legs, burying his face between her thighs and inhaling desperately.

Bella.

Jasper began radiating raw need. It swirled around us like a tempest. He bit the button off her jeans and tugged them off her legs along with her panties, leaving them around one ankle as he quickly returned to her apex. He spread her sex with his fingers and caressed her with his tongue from her entrance up to her clit, circling it and making her moan with need before returning back down to do it again.

Mmmm... Bella...

I couldn't take it anymore, and reached down with my spare hand to adjust myself, biting my lip to keep from hissing from the contact.

Bella turned her head to lean into my hand, kissing the center of my palm, even as her hips were beginning to undulate under Jasper's expert ministrations. Her hands flew to his hair and started scratching his scalp and pulling handfuls of hair, urging him along.

"Jasper..." she moaned breathlessly when he reached up and slid two fingers inside her core, pumping in and out slowly. I was riveted, I must admit. Bella had to teach me how to pleasure her, a talent I relished perfecting, but now I could watch as the master who had taught her made her writhe beneath him.

My mouth was hanging slightly open, tasting the scent of not only Bella's arousal, but mine and Jasper's as well, as I stared at the glistening moisture covering Jasper's fingers as he worked her to climax, her hips flying off the couch, lifting Jasper with her. He used the opportunity to reach underneath her with both hands, holding her suspended and kneading her cheeks as he continued to lick every drop of her juices he could find. When her quivering stopped, he set her back down, and lunged forward to cover her body with his, passionately kissing her.

As his tongue darted into her mouth, I found myself wishing that I could kiss her when he was done, taste her essence mingled with Jasper's venom in her mouth. I unbuttoned my jeans and pulled the zipper down quietly.

And still I caressed Bella's hair.

"Bella...oh God, Bella...I love you...I need you...Bella, please..." Jasper mumbled between kisses. It's working, I thought, and it filled me with joy.

"Jasper...yes..." Bella tore his clothes from his body and he lifted himself only enough to remove the offending fabric. Even though he was most definitely aware of Bella's presence, he still hadn't realized I was there. When he lowered himself back down, skin to skin upon Bella's naked form, I wondered if I shouldn't leave, give them their privacy. When he came to, he might be embarrassed to find me here.

I lost all train of thought, however, as I watched Jasper reach between them to line up his considerable length at Bella's entrance, then slowly disappearing within her with a groan. He dropped back down onto her then, his head buried in her neck on the opposite side of me, peppering kisses along the underside of her ear.

"Bella.. darlin'...oh, Bella...so good... Oh, God..."

He began slowly making love to her, sweetly, reverently. I wanted to touch myself but in an odd way it felt as though it would have sullied the moment, tainted its purity somehow, so I refrained. I started to pull away, in fact, but Bella caught my hand in one of her own and placed it back against the side of her head.

I listened with a smile at the return of his internal thoughts, limited though they were to a monologue of what he was feeling. So soft, so tight...I'd forgotten...Oh, Bella...

I knew exactly how he felt.

He was still kissing her, caressing her body as he slowly thrust. There was something almost beautiful in the rise and fall of his buttocks as they made love, the way his muscles rippled. Jasper reached up to cup her face in his hands, brushing against my hand before I could pull away. For the first time, he opened his eyes and his mind seemed rooted in reality again.

Edward? Oh God... Edward...

"Shhh, Jasper," Bella cooed at him, and he turned back to truly look at her. The love was so clear in their eyes. "It's alright." Jasper looked to me again and he looked confused, though his mind was still mostly blank. Then he did the most remarkable thing. He reached his hand up and threaded his fingers through mine, squeezing my hand and looking at me with the most intense look of gratitude I have ever seen. I smiled at him and nodded. He continued to hold my hand as he turned back to Bella, leaning down to recapture her lips, and resumed the slow pace of their lovemaking. With every upward thrust, he squeezed my hand. Bella reached up and surrounded our hands with one of hers. Jasper's powers kicked in again and I felt powerful waves of love and lust and gratitude and peace sweep over us in rapid succession, surrounding us with an influx of emotions, eventually settling on love.

This time I could not resist; the pressure of my erection and the intensity of the feelings Jasper was emoting were too much to take, and I began stroking myself in time with their thrusts. Bella wrapped her legs around Jasper's thighs, shifting her hips to allow him to pump deeper, and he sped up, pushing them towards a powerful orgasm. I came, almost painfully, right along with them, dropping my head to rest it on Jasper's arm as he collapsed on top of Bella.

No one moved. No one breathed. No one said a word. Jasper hugged Bella to him tightly, his thoughts repeating her name over and over, and for a moment I was afraid he was going to retreat once again into the annals of his mind, but he didn't. I raised my head and watched as he kissed her collarbone lovingly, his eyes slowly focusing to meet mine.

Thank you.

I squeezed his hand and released it, stepping away to quickly clean myself off before bringing them back a towel. Jasper was nuzzling her neck once more, but I could tell he was on the road to recovery. His thoughts were starting to form complete sentences again, at least. Bella looked up at me and smiled, mouthing 'I love you.' I mouthed back 'I love you too,' kissed her forehead and slipped out the door to go get Emmett and Adrian.

Thankfully, they didn't ask, and I didn't offer. When we got back, Jasper and Bella were dressed and, although he still seemed compelled to hold her hand, he was able to think more or less clearly. He told us the whole story of what had happened, and apologized for losing it.

"There's nothing to apologize for, Jazz. We're just thankful we were able to bring you back."

He smiled at me knowingly and nodded. "Thank you, Edward. I'm grateful beyond words for everything."

"You're welcome." There was nothing else that needed to be said.

"Well, now that that's settled," Emmett said as he clapped his hands and rubbed them together. "What's the plan? When do we get to go kick some ass?"

A/N: I can honestly say I had no intention of writing this scene when I sketched out this story, but that's the way it led, so I followed. I know some of you are squeeing for joy, and some of you are ready to hit me over the head with a stick. I want to hear all your thoughts - go ahead, I can take it! And since Emmett's peen thankfully survived the near miss with the flambe torch, I thought we'd try our luck with some Naked Adrian Cherries Jubilee!