After a quiet summer of long days spent together, Bella and Alice prepared to start back to school. I floundered for a few weeks, looking for something to fill my days. Nothing presented itself in Forks, but a youth shelter in Port Angeles was looking for someone to help out during the day. I went for an interview and to get more information.
They were pleased to see my psychology degree, though a bit skeptical that I had one. They were looking for someone to help organize outings, see to it that everyone got fed — but not actually cooking, they had a cook — and tutor with courses that the kids had fallen behind on. It would be like high school only worse. I'd have to talk to most of them. I would be closer to them than my classmates. Was I sure I wanted to do this? That I could do this? The whole drive home I contemplated it.
I had borrowed the Mercedes, dropping Carlisle off at work. If I got the job, I'd need to buy a replacement for myself. That wasn't a big deal. I'd probably want something less flashy,though — wouldn't want to put the kids off with really fancy wheels. Maybe something vintage.
Why was I thinking about a car? Had I already decided? I should talk to Carlisle about it. He always had good advice.
"Does Dr. Cullen have a couple minutes to spare?" I asked the receptionist at the hospital.
"He's in the ER right now, but he's scheduled for a break in ten." She smiled broadly at me, and I felt her lusty thoughts.
"Thanks. Can you tell him I'm here?"
"Of course, Jasper."
I took a seat in the general lobby. It would have been easier for Carlisle if I waited in the ER waiting room, but there was no way I could do that.
"Jasper? How'd the interview go?" He sat down beside me.
"Really well. I think they'll take me. I need a pep talk."
Carlisle chuckled and clapped my shoulder. "Jasper, if you can be as close with Bella as you are, I don't think you have anything to fear. You have come so far. I really am proud of you. Hopefully you don't run into any problems. It is possible you have a cutter in the shelter, but working days should help with that."
I froze at the mention of cutting. I hadn't thought of that. I'd worried a little about accidents, but intentional blood-letting?
"Ease up, Jasper. They won't be doing it in the open. If you catch it, and you will before anyone else, just tell one of the others and let them deal with it. That's beyond what they're hiring you for, isn't it?"
I nodded. "Yeah, there's a social worker and counselor on site. Right, just refer them. Okay. You scared me there."
"Be prepared, but I have no doubt you'll be great." He hugged me, and I clapped his back in return. This was huge for me. I'd always endured class for appearances and then for the benefit of knowledge. This was the first time I'd chosen human involvement.
"Bella and Alice have been great for you. You know that."
"I do. I wouldn't be thinking of doing this if not for them." My heart swelled with the pride that Carlisle was puffed up with. I knew Alice and Bella's would be no less when I told them after school. I looked forward to that now.
"Go on. I don't need you giving me those thoughts before work." Carlisle shoved me away, and I wondered if I had actually let my feelings spread or he had guessed. It didn't really matter. I waved and headed to the school, planning to meet Bella and Alice when they finished for the day.
We set up a routine after that. Alice and Bella would spend the day in class while I worked. I'd meet Alice at our house and go with her to Bella's in the evening, some nights publicly, others covertly. Charlie was pleased to hear about my job; it added some respectability to the boy chasing his daughter. He was always thrilled to see Alice. She hadn't eased up on her shameless flirting, but she kept it to our arrivals and departures. After Bella fell asleep, I spent the night with Alice, sometimes discussing her visions, sometimes watching Bella, sometimes visiting with Carlisle.
Alice's visions of the coming threat were becoming more and more concrete. Victoria had three newborns with her now. Maria would be joining her soon and together they would make many more. How many, and when they planned to attack, were still uncertain. Alice was sure they hadn't decided yet. The number wavered between fifteen and thirty vampires. I really hoped Maria kept to the smaller number. She had to know how difficult thirty would be to handle. We had never built an army so large while I was with her. A few over twenty was the biggest group Peter and I had been able to handle. Unless she thought between her and Victoria it would be easier. I didn't see how.
When was ranging between January and June. Once Maria came to Washington, it would be tempting to try to take her out. Victoria might be able to escape a steel trap, but Maria wasn't nearly so eely. I wasn't eager to destroy my creator, but I wouldn't hesitate at the chance either. Without her, this whole plan would likely fall apart.
I still didn't understand why Maria was taking this risk. Victoria might be trying to protect herself, or out for revenge, but Maria had no reason to leave Monterrey. Unless the reason was me. That didn't make any sense, though. I hadn't left amicably, I'd stolen away, but she had no love for me when I left. I was little more than a shell by that point, which was why Peter had no trouble convincing me to go.
I was walking with Alice to Bella's. We could have taken my Mustang, but this wasn't intended to be a public visit. We walked rather than ran, giving Bella time to eat and finish her homework before we arrived.
"Something bothering you?" Alice asked. "Work?"
"No, work is great." I smiled. I could feel the effect I was having on the stability of the kids around me. Several had even opened up and talked to me, ones that had a hard time talking to the counselor. It had been very gratifying to just listen and know that it was all they needed of me. To be able to listen, to sit face to face with someone who wasn't Bella, breathe their breath with their words, and not be crippled by the urge to feed — it was freeing.
"I was thinking about Maria again," I told her.
"Don't worry about her. She isn't our primary concern. You know she won't get into the fight unless it becomes necessary. She'll be hanging back with Victoria."
Alice was right. Maria had always been more of a General, a dictator, not a fighter. Not that she couldn't fight. She had taught me plenty about how to behead quickly and efficiently, how to watch your back, how to use your opponents and make them defeat themselves. If she did get into the fight... She wouldn't. Alice just said as much.
"You're really worried about it, Jasper? What can I do to ease your mind?" She stroked my arm and put her head to my bicep.
"Give me an army of my own," I muttered, not really meaning it.
"What about the vampires from Denali? They aren't an army, but I'll bet they'd be willing to help."
I smiled wanly. "Thanks. Carlisle is going to ask them. Kate's awesome in a tussle. She can knock you on your ass with a touch." I grinned remembering her doing just that to her sister when she busted in on us. I'd never had the misfortune of experiencing it myself. Tanya and Irina had both taken a try attacking me after learning about my past. Either one would be great to have on our side. Eleazar and Carmen were neither fighters, but I could train them up to take on newborns. "That still makes us eight against fifteen at the best. You see why I'm a little worried?"
She nodded. "Of course I do. We'll get you an army yet, Jasper." She fazed out for a second and froze. I stopped, stepping in front of her.
"We aren't going to Bella's tonight," she said coldly. "I can't even see Bella. Jasper! Why can't I see Bella? Where did she go?"
I felt Alice's panic and fear as keenly as she did. I pulled her tightly to me, hugging her. "We are. We are going to find her and make sure she's fine. It's all right, I'm sure."
She shook her head. "Dark, it's all black." Her fear was still there.
"Stop, Alice. Stop looking. Look at me. It's not dark. You can see fine. Look at me." Her eyes were locked in her vision that wasn't a vision. She needed to see with her own eyes again; everything was clear to us.
She blinked and focused on my face. "That was a bit of an overreaction, wasn't it?" she asked.
"Yes. Are you all right now?" Her fear had faded quickly.
"Yes. I - I think I'm scared of the dark," she admitted slowly.
I smiled. "Good thing it never gets dark for us."
She laughed. "Right. Now, let's check on Bella." She ran ahead of me. I caught up with her in Bella's room. She wasn't there, but we could hear her and Charlie talking with someone downstairs.
"Jacob and I are going upstairs, Dad, okay?"
"Sure, Bells. We'll let you know when the game's over."
"Give me a minute, Bella," we heard a male voice say. I recognized it. It took me a second to match it to my memory. It was Jacob, the wolf, the new Alpha.
"Take as long as you need, Jake. I'm going to talk to them first, okay?"
She came into the room, leaving the door open behind her.
Alice seized her as soon as she entered. "I couldn't see you. You scared me. The last time, you just disappeared, and I didn't know you, but this time..." She shuddered in Bella's arms.
Bella stroked her hair and kissed her head. "It's alright Alice. I'm fine. Listen, you can hear my heart, right?" She took Alice's hand and put it on her breast, knowing the steady rhythm would calm Alice. It calmed me, too. I could hear Jacob's outside as well.
He stepped through the door now. He cocked an eyebrow at the ladies. Then his eyes found me. "Jasper, right?" He extended a hand.
Impressed, I took it. It couldn't be easy for him to touch one of us. Even now the revulsion between our kinds made my stomach turn and my nerves itch.
"Damn, Bella. It reeks in here. What have you been doing with them?" He wrinkled his nose and looked disgustedly at the bed.
"Um..." Bella didn't really answer. Finally she got angry and backhanded his arm. "None of your business, Jacob Black."
"Okay, okay. Obviously they haven't killed you, yet. You know you're an idiot, right?" He smiled at her.
"Hello," Alice said, looking curiously at Jacob. "I don't think I've ever met anyone like you."
"Oh! Alice, this is my old friend, Jacob. We used to make mud-pies together when I was little."
"You mean last month?"
"Shut up!" She smacked him again. It made me smile to watch them banter. It reminded me how young and playful Bella was. It was obvious Jacob cared for her as well, even without my gift. "Now be nice or I won't introduce you to my girlfriend."
"Your g-girlfriend!" Jacob stuttered. "Okay, suddenly I'm willing to overlook the vampire thing." Jacob was letting his imagination run away with him, if his sudden arousal was any indication. "I'm Jacob and I'll be watching you tonight."
Bella smacked him again. "You will not."
"No, I won't." He grinned. I could tell he loved teasing Bella. "Alice, you are a Cullen?"
"I am now," she said happily, taking Jacob's hand as well. "Did you know that you smell very bad? Like a dog."
I snickered and Jacob laughed out loud. "You smell like rotting fruit, short stack. I don't think you should be talking. But if I smell like I dog that would probably be because I occasionally run around as one. Didn't Carlisle tell you about the treaty?"
"The werewolves," she said, suddenly realizing. "Of course. You're a wolf?" she verified, eyes wide on Jacob's large frame. "You must be a very big wolf."
He laughed again. "I'm not small, like you." His face twisted. "I'm sorry, Bells, I can't be in this room. That smell is killing me."
"Come on." I cocked my head and jumped out the window. Alice landed beside me. Jacob had Bella in his arms when he landed. He set her on her feet and took a deep breath.
"Much better," he said with a sigh.
"I can't see you at all," Alice mused, walking around Jacob.
"Are her eyes open?" Jacob asked Bella.
I chuckled. "They are. Alice can see the future, but not yours, it seems."
"It's less frightening when I look around him. It's like I can see the edges of the shadow." She was lost in thought as she continued to circle.
"Wow, you know how to pick 'em, Bella," Jacob teased.
She glared at him, but didn't retort.
"Are there more of you?" Alice asked.
Bella and Jacob both started laughing. Bella found words first. "Thank God, no. There is only one Jacob Black. I think the world couldn't handle more."
"Damn straight, it couldn't. I'm too much as it is."
I shook my head and answered Alice's real question. "Yes, there are more wolves."
"Oh, yeah, sure, Paul and Embry. Quil looks like he might join us too. He shot up at the beginning of summer."
"You hate vampires?" Alice asked.
"Yeah, why?" Jacob eyed her like she was nuts. I was starting to wonder myself.
"So if you heard that someone was bringing a group of them here, you'd have a problem with that right?"
"Alice, no," Bella grabbed her arm, trying to stop her.
"Of course we would. We'd rip them apart. We have a treaty with you Cullens because Carlisle doesn't feed on people, otherwise we would have ended him." He sneered a little, his aggression getting the better of him.
"Well, the vampire that attacked Bella is coming back, and she's bringing friends."
"Stop, Alice," Bella begged. "Two of them have died for me already." I felt her pain, her guilt.
Jacob must have seen it, too; he was closest to her after Alice. He pulled her from my mate and hugged her. "Don't blame yourself for that. That's what we're here for, Bella, to protect people like you. Sam and Jared knew they might not make it. I know I might not. But we have to try; we're all our people have." He stroked her hair and murmured to her. I felt her calming and was jealous of this boy.
It wasn't my jealousy, I realized. Alice was glaring daggers at the pair of them. I wrapped an arm around her. "Shhh. She needs this. We can't give her what he can. They were his brothers."
"I don't like it. He can take her too, Jasper. I don't want that. I won't be able to see her anymore." She was still angry and jealous.
"Thanks, Jacob." Bella sniffed and stepped back. "I don't want you to fight though."
"You need me, Bella. Otherwise she wouldn't have mentioned it. Am I right?" He looked to Alice and I.
"You're not wrong. I was telling Alice that I wished I had an army for this. Three of you gives our side eleven fighters." I sighed.
"Still out numbered, eh? Eleven! Who are the others?"
"There is another family of vampires in Alaska who feed like we do. We were going to ask them to come help us. There are five of them."
"When are they coming?" Jacob asked.
Alice looked at me, then back at Jacob before answering. "We haven't asked them yet, why?"
He chuckled. "Because we change in response to your kind. If you bring them here sooner, you'll have more of us as well."
A smile slowly spread across my face. That was good news. That explained how they got reinforcements; it supported Carlisle's theory. He'd be glad to hear it.
"Jacob? Time to go!" We heard a voice call from in the house.
"You have to go," I told Bella, grabbing her around the waist. "After you, Jacob."
He took a run at the house, far enough up the wall to grab the sill and pull himself in. I jumped up and set Bella on her feet. She followed Jacob down the stairs.
"I'll be back," she told Alice and me; Alice had just landed beside me again.
"Well, that was interesting," she mused.
Hi, I'm Kimmydonn and I'll be writing for you. Who doesn't love Jacob? I mean really? So... this wasn't the most exciting chapter of the set, but some things need to get lined up before I can lay down the big finale.
Thanks to Sharebear for continuing to read through and beta all the chapters I endless send her way.