AN: Bella's nightmare is overheard by Jasper. He checks on her, effectively calming her down with minimal effort. Bella and Jasper talk in the morning.

This story contains mature themes and is suitable for those eighteen and over.

Chapter five: Fiery Blue Eyes

Bella, December, 2010…

I was in bed; the same bed that Maria had left me in. A nightmare had startled me awake, and I sat up, wiping the sleep from my eyes. I glanced around the dark room, willing my eyes to adjust to it before giving up and lying back down, waiting for sleep to come.

When the drowsy began to pull me under, I sighed in relief that I wasn't in Sacramento with James. And when sleep loomed closer, I closed my eyes and welcomed it. But a hand stretching across my stomach made me gasp in shock and terror as I heard an all too familiar groan coming from behind me as the hand pulled me closer.

Immediately, I started to shake. This couldn't be. I wasn't there. I had escaped. The torment I had to endure for six years was over and I was welcomed to stay at the Whitlock ranch until I got back on my feet and could move on with my journey.

This was nothing but a bad dream. And all I had to do was wake up.

Bravely, I opened my eyes, but a tremor of horror raced through me when I watched the room I was in, morph into the bedroom I had shared with James.

No…No…No...No. This couldn't be happening.

My eyes welled up with tears and sobs threaten to escape my grief stricken throat as I trembled in fear. How would I get out of here?

"Hello, Marie." The sound of his voice caused me to stiffen as his breath hit my neck before he licked it, making me squirm. But something built inside me, I don't know what it was, but it willed me to scream and I did.

I screamed at the top of my lungs while trying to get out of his arms, but he held me in a vice grip, jumping on top of me and grabbing my throat. "Where the fuck do you think you're going, Marie?"

I struggled against James' hold, but he was steadily choking the life out of me while he glared down at me; his eyes filled with fury. "You can't leave me, Marie," he seethed. "I won't stop until I find you. And then we'll be together…" He tightened his hold while pulling me closer to him. "Forever."

When he pushed me back down on the bed, I felt like I was submerged in water. It was all around me and I was drowning.

I was screaming for help, but no one could hear me.

Suddenly, I stopped and shot up in bed, struggling to breathe while I could have sworn that I heard my bedroom door closing.

Jasper

What was wrong with her?

Horrific screams were coming from the room next to my old bedroom, and for a minute, I thought I was dreaming. But when I realized that my eyes were wide open, and I could still hear it, I thought otherwise.

I had decided to stay in the main house tonight after finally getting the chance to break up with Alice. I didn't feel like staying in my house. I wasn't ready to deal with Alice and her bullshit.

It was over between us, but I knew her. She didn't take 'no' for an answer. She was relentless, but I had no time for it. I had already said all that needed to be said.

Tomorrow, I wanted to devote my time to getting to know Bella Swan. I wanted to learn all I could about her situation. I was not averse to helping her, but I needed to hear her story from her own mouth.

Another horrifying scream came from the room, causing me to jump in panic.

Shit! She must be having a nightmare. I knew from enquiring from my aunt, who was a psychologist and studying a bit of it for myself, that abused victims tend to suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. And from the screams I was hearing, it sounded like Bella's PTSD acted through horrific dreams. There was no doubt that in my mind that her husband was the star of her nightmares and she was imagining a situation where she couldn't escape him.

Taking a deep breath, I got up and threw my shirt on. I hastily made my out the door. When I got to Bella's door, I tried the lock and was a little surprised to find it unlocked. Most PTSD victims were very insecure. She must have been extremely tired.

Slowly, I turned the knob and pushed the door open. When I entered the room, I almost breathed a sigh of relief at her calm posture on the bed. She looked peaceful as the pale moonlight streamed through the window down on her, making me think that her terror must have been over and I had wasted my time coming in here.

But when I turned to leave, another scream tore from her throat.

I drew closer.

Bella was begging James not to kill her when she wasn't screaming for help. Her pleas were breaking my heart as I watched her struggle.

She was clawing at her throat like she was underwater, and arching off the bed. So unlike the peaceful girl that laid there a minute ago.

I knew I had to do something or else she'd wake up the others if they weren't already awake.

So I moved closer while Bella mumbled something else about James, thrashing around, the sheets twisting around her legs as she tried to kick them free. I kept telling myself that I was only here as a doctor, but when she moved again and her shirt rode up, revealing a bruise the size of Texas on her side, it became personal.

That rotten bastard! How could a man be that cruel?

Bella needed medical help and I would see to it that Mom brought her to my office tomorrow. I really needed to talk to her.

Want her to stick around, huh? Noticed those big brown eyes, didn't you?

Shut up.

Bella threw a kick, hitting my bad knee and I jumped away, rubbing it.

"Please don't hurt me, James," she begged, continuously breaking my heart.

Ignoring the pain in my knee, I stepped close again, leaning in close, and whispering, "Calm down, Bella," while hoping like hell it'll work.

Miraculously, it does and Bella stopped thrashing.

When she turned into her pillow, and I was satisfied that she would be okay, I moved to the door. "Sleep well, Bella," I whispered to myself and exited the room.

Since sleep was shot to hell for me, I headed downstairs. The house was silent and it would give me the time I needed to think. Mom always said I was just like my dad, and sometimes, I could see it. We both love our silence. We were also always the first ones up at the crack of dawn, ready to work.

Walking into the kitchen, I went to the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water. I headed over to the breakfast bar while opening it and taking a seat, letting the questions overlap my mind.

There were so many questions I wanted to ask Bella. But I knew I would have to be careful and take my time if I wanted to get to know her because she was skittish and very afraid of me. I could see it in her eyes. She tried to put on a brave face, but beneath that, she was petrified.

Bella. It was a beautiful name; even the meaning was perfect for the frail girl upstairs. Everything about her melted my heart. I wanted to help her so bad, especially after hearing all the things Jenks had found out.

Bella had been trapped with a monster for six years. Which must have garnered a lot of scars, both physically and mentally. While I wanted to be careful in how we handled this, I also wanted to ensure that Bella never have to see the face of that asshole James Carter again.

There was something about Bella that tugged at my heart. When I was around her, when I held her in my arms after she had passed out, my heart skipped a beat like it never had before with any other woman; not even Alice, who I thought I wanted to spend my life with.

I had given Alice the world. Anything her heart desired, I gave it to her including the 2010 Porsche Spyder Concept, I had bought for her birthday.

But she spit it back in my face with her betrayal.

My water was finished so I got up to get another and turn the coffeemaker on. I'd head up for a shower and change my clothes to my usual shirt and jeans before heading out on the ranch for my morning chores. Yes, I had ranch hands just my dad did, but I loved to get my hands dirty. I wasn't the type of rich kid to sit around and let everybody else do the work for him. I was the type to jump in and help.

After I switched the coffeemaker on, a light turned on and I turned to see a surprised Bella gaping at me before she screamed and fell on her butt.

Bella

When I opened my eyes it was five am. The clock on the nightstand said it and I don't know if I was still on autopilot, thinking that I had to get up and get things in order for James's inspection, but I shot up out of bed and made it before rushing to the bathroom.

When I stopped dead in my tracks at the beauty that was before in the elegantly decked out bathroom, I reminded myself that it was just a dream and I had gotten away from James. He hadn't come back to drag me to hell.

I did it. I was free.

But while my body felt it, my mind was another story. I couldn't get over my fear and I doubt I would ever be able to. I would spend the rest of my life looking over my shoulder and doubting myself but at least, I wasn't with James.

That was the good part.

Leaving those thoughts behind, I decided to start my day after I got over how marvelous this bathroom looked. Maria must have had input in its design because I was enamored throughout it; from the sight of the bathtub that could fit three people to the shower that could fit six. The prestige finish of the room was a dream. The vanity and decorative tiled floor was fit for a princess. It was just gorgeous!

I stripped down and turned on the water, letting it heat up before I stepped in and jumped back as all the sprays hit me. They were coming from all sides! I loved this shower!

Lathering up in the sweet mango smelling body wash, I wanted to ask Maria as soon as I saw her where I could get some more. It smelled divine.

I got out of the shower with the intent on heading downstairs after getting dressed, and drying off and re-dressing in my jeans and t-shirt because my bag wasn't in my room, I did just that while reminding myself to ask Maria for my backpack woke she came downstairs. She must have picked it up after I fainted.

Outside my bedroom, the hall was long, empty, and silent. I made my way down it and got to the stairs; taking it down to the ground floor while I admired the décor with the morning sun peeking through the windows, and lighting my way.

When I got to the kitchen, I was ready to clean.

There was a party yesterday and with my arrival, maybe Sue didn't get the time to wash the dishes. So I thought I would do them for her as a sign that I would help out around here in any way I could.

I found the light switch next to the kitchen and flipped it.

When his eyes met mine, curious and probing, his fiery blue eyes made me freeze in shock.

Between the nightmare I had, and Jasper's searching look, I couldn't think of anything else to do but scream.

I tried to back away but I only fell flat on my ass.

Jasper rushed over while I attempted to frantically crawl away. "Hey, hey, calm down," he said in a calm tone. The way he said it, it reminded me of the voice I had sworn I heard earlier on, but it couldn't be him. I was dreaming.

"I'm sorry."

"It's alright, Bella," Jasper said, holding out a hand for me to take. "Come on, let me help you up."

I took his hand and he pulled me up without effort. He lifted me up, carrying me over to the breakfast bar like a child cradled in his arms. He sat me down on top of it and started touching my sides and my hands.

I trembled and flinched away. Oh my God! Was he like James? Did he want something else in order for me to stay? Because I couldn't do that.

I doubt I could ever touch another man again.

"I can't," I begged, hoping he would understand.

Jasper looked at me. His eyes, suddenly angry, as he seemed to comprehend what I meant. "I would never do that."

"I'm sorry." I had offended him.

"Bella, I would never ask that of you in exchange for anything," Jasper explained. "We don't operate like that around here."

"Okay, but I wasn't snooping around, I swear," I said quickly, causing his mood to change and making him chuckle. "I was just…I thought that maybe I'd do the dishes and get breakfast ready but I don't know what you guys eat, and now that I'm here, I'm not sure if Sue would want me invading her kitchen." I rambled on as he stared at me with a smile.

"It's alright, Bella," he drawled. "Sue won't mind. In fact, she'll welcome the help."

"Really?" I sighed in relief. I was thrilled to hear that because I loved cooking more than anything.

"Really," he smiled.

Jasper asked if anything hurt and when I told him no. He helped me down off the bar and told me to follow him into the kitchen area. There, he showed me around, pointing out where all the pots and pans were, surprising me that he knew so much. My eyes must have held a quizzical look because he let out a laugh and answered my unspoken question.

"I love the main house. I grew up here so I kinda know where everything is. I know this house inside and out, Bella."

"Oh, but you said main house?" I remembered that Maria said there was more than one house on the ranch.

"Yes, this is the main house," Jasper said. "The family house, and I live in the other house on the ranch. I wanted somewhere to myself without being too far from my family."

"Wow."

Jasper told me that the coffee pot was on and that he was leaving to my own devices. I had free reign and he looked forward to what I would make for breakfast after he again said Sue would have no problem with me making it.

"See you at breakfast," I smiled and meant it.

Jasper was different. He was something I only ever met once in my life.

Something I had lost.

I shook away the thought and got to work.

After the plates and pots were clean, I moved on to breakfast. While washing the dishes, I'd had the time to think about what I wanted to make and decided on Spanish omelets and waffles. The family would have their choice of coffee or juice to go with it.

When Jasper got back downstairs, he took my breath away. He was fresh from his shower, his hair wet and dark like his mom's and he was clad in t-shirt and jeans along with his boots, looking like something out of a magazine.

"Something smells really nice in here," he complimented.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome," he said. His eyes were peering into mine and I was positively shivering from their fierce gaze.

But not in terror.

No, I felt something else. Something I had thought I would never feel again. Desire.

Which was strange, because earlier on, I feared what his touch meant. But now, this strong pull was coercing me, influencing me, and just like last night, I told myself that it was just me acknowledging Jasper's beauty.

So I fought to keep my eyes on his and not on his body as I asked, "Would you like a four berry smoothie to take to work?"

He chuckled. "I've never had one of those. I'd love one! But can I ask you to make two because my best friend will want to devour mine, and with that sweet smelling breakfast coming from behind you, I doubt I'll be in a mood to share. He needs his own."

"I can do that."

"I'll see you when I get back," Jasper said, moving toward the entryway that led outside.

"Alright," I replied, while trying not to stare at his ass. What was going on with me?

Jasper smiled but stopped short before stepping outside. "Bella, I would like to see at my office in town. I know you might fear talking to me, but I can't let you stay here without knowing…"

"What happened and why I look like this," I said and he nodded.

I understood. I was frail looking and had bruises. I was running and if I wanted to stay, Jasper wanted to know the truth but he wanted to hear it from me.

"I'll be there."

He nodded again and smiled before going through the doors.

Jasper didn't return until the others were at the breakfast table and joined them.

Sue had complimented me when she tasted her omelet and promptly told Maria that she was taking a vacation. Everyone laughed.

I could hear my stomach grumbling but I ignored it, telling myself I'd eat later.

However, Jasper wasn't having it. He was seated beside while I watched everyone enjoy their breakfast. He pushed a plate in front of me, and though, I didn't want to eat it, his kind eyes were so cute while they were pleading that I had no choice. I was finding that I couldn't resist or refuse Jasper.

Sue and I washed the dishes after breakfast and when Jasper came to collect his smoothies, he reminded me that I would be seeing him later on.

"Mom will be taking to me, alright?"

"Yes, Jasper." I felt a little scared and Jasper seemed to know.

"Don't be scared, Bella," he told me. "I'll never hurt you."

It might not have meant a lot for him to say that, but to me, it was sweetest thing I have ever heard.

Next: Bella goes to the doctor.