Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight, any of the characters in Twilight, or anything related to the books and/or movies. If I did, I would be way too busy- doing dirty things with the Cullen boys- to sit down at my laptop and write this story. The scenes that I did borrow from Stephenie Meyer have been revamped to fit my story.

Learning to Live Again

Chapter Twelve: Jasper's Protective Side

Before I could even register what was happening, Jasper had set me back onto the ground and was standing in front of me. He was crouching, ready to fight against the other vampire who had found us. The haze of lust finally left me and I could focus my eyes on the dark skin of the vampire in front of us who had just threatened my life. I was becoming jaded really, with all these vampires constantly wanting to drink my blood. Get over it.

"What the hell are you doing back here?" Jasper said, growling in emphasis just to make sure that Laurent understood what he was prepared to do to him.

"I was sent here by an old friend. You know her as Victoria, James's mate." Once he said this, Laurent turned his attention from Jasper to me. I could see that his eyes were dark as night, obviously a side effect of the blood running through my veins. "You remember James, don't you, Isabella? The vampire that lured your idiotic human self to your near demise."

"Well, duh," I said, surprising myself and Jasper. It was rare that I could form coherent thoughts in a crisis situation, but Jasper was sending waves of strength toward me, and it must be helping. "As I recall, he bit off more than he could chew."

Laurent laughed at my pun. I knew that he hadn't been fond of James. I was under the impression that he had joined the Denali clan, though. What would bring him back here to kill me? "Could you please get to the point? You interrupted us."

"Of course, dear Isabella," he replied with a snarl. "Victoria sent me here for reconnaissance. It is her intention to kill you for what your own mate did to James." Laurent paused for a moment, glancing between Jasper and me. I did the same and noticed that our clothes were disheveled, our lips were swollen, and Jasper was protecting me like territory. It wasn't hard to understand.

"I see that her plan was not without its own glitches, though. But still, what is one less human on the earth?" he asked, taking a step forward. Jasper bared his teeth and growled, but Laurent only laughed at him. "Last time, I did not make a move because I was outnumbered by your and family. The odds are even now, and I am prepared to fight for my dinner."

"I wouldn't count on those odds being even, Laurent," I stated. I could feel the familiar feeling of anger boiling in the pit of my stomach as I stood behind Jasper. If there was going to be a fight, I was going to be able to help this time. There was no way I was letting Jasper get hurt because the psychopathic vampire's friend decided to stroll back into town.

"And what will you do to help your lover, young one?" he asked, stepping to the side of Jasper, looking for a way to get past him to me. Jasper immediately repositioned himself between the two of us and crouched lower, ready to lunge when he needed to.

"You would be surprised at all the things that have changed since you've been back to Forks." I stood up straight and took a quick glance around us, looking for anything that could be used as a weapon against him.

"Well, as lovely as it would be to catch up with you both, I've been making my way back here for over a day now. I'm quite thirsty and would like a bite now."

Without notice, Laurent lunged for me, trying to reach around the handsome vampire standing between us. Jasper caught Laurent by the throat and threw him backwards. Laurent fell against a tree but wasn't down for long. He was crouching again, looking for another opening.

"You're not going to fucking touch her," Jasper threatened. I had never heard his voice so deep and dark before. I noticed him clenching his fists and standing on the balls of his feet, ready to strike first this time.

Jasper lunged for Laurent and tackled him to the ground. He punched Laurent in the face, and I could hear the familiar sound like thunder when the Cullens had played baseball. Hopefully no one would be close enough to hear and get suspicious. And just like that, my prayers were answered and it began to rain. The perfect cover story.

Jasper was punching Laurent again, but the other vampire was struggling from underneath him. Laurent managed to shove Jasper off of him but not very far. Jasper quickly stood, pulling Laurent to his feet with him. Jasper hit him again, causing him to fly backwards onto the forest floor. Laurent was getting angry now and flew towards Jasper, shoving him hardly onto the ground and landing on top of him.

"Jazz!" I felt helpless standing there, watching Laurent hit Jasper. I could hear growling, but I didn't know who it was coming from. My emotions built up inside me again and I screamed as I let them out, aiming them towards Laurent.

I was satisfied when I saw the darker creature go flying backwards, deeper into the forest. I knew he would be stunned for a moment so I ran towards Jasper, kneeling beside him and helping him into a sitting position. "Are you okay?" I leaned down to kiss his forehead. "Please tell me that you're okay."

"I'm fine, Bella," he replied as he stood, gently pulling me up with him. "You have to get out of here. He won't be down for long, and I can hold him off long enough for you to call the others to protect you."

"Hold him off?! Jasper, I'm not leaving you here alone with him! I can help you fight him." Jasper was looking at me like I was a ghost. I knew that he was about to protest, so I pulled him into a quick kiss. "Please let me help. I couldn't bear it if anything happened to you because of me."

"Bella, we don't know enough about your power yet to rely on it. It's managed to do some good, but we can't risk it not working or it wearing you out too much. We don't know the side effects yet." His head snapped to look behind him where Laurent had been thrown. "He's getting up. Run, Bella, please!" Jasper shoved me aside as he ran toward Laurent, colliding with him again.

Jasper was able to smash Laurent's head against the ground and then take a bite out of his neck, but Laurent kicked him off before he could do any more damage. Laurent turned towards me and I noticed that his eyes were blood red now, obviously thirsting for me and pissed that I had thrown him back with my powers.

He lunged for me but fell to the ground when I pushed back at him with my mind. "You little bitch!" He stood up again, stalking toward me. "You better taste as good as you smell." I looked to my left and tried to concentrate on the tree that Jasper and I had been pressing each other up against before Laurent had interrupted.

I screamed as I pushed as hard as I could with my mind and my emotions. I was rewarded when the tree came out of the ground and smacked into Laurent, burying him underneath it. Hah! Edward wasn't the only one that could throw a tree. I smiled as I fell to the ground, weak with having used so much power at once. I could feel my eyes beginning to close when Jasper's cold, strong arms wrapped around my waist and cradled me to his chest.

I looked up to see that he was now kneeling next to me, smiling into my face. "You are so amazing, Bella." He planted a chaste kiss on my lips and held me closer to him, sighing with relief when I wrapped my arms around him. "We have to get out of here while we have the chance," he stated.

"Don't leave so soon, please. Stay for dinner."

We both looked up to see that Laurent was now standing over us, blood coming from his head and arms from having been pinned underneath the tree. There was no way we were going to get out of this now. Jasper would have to try twice as hard to protect me, because I was so weak. What had I done?

"Hey, douche bag! Get away from my brother and sister!"

The cavalry had arrived.