AN: Jasper's take on things.

Chapter eight: Good For Nothing, Part Duex

Jasper, December, 2010..

I was in the kitchen when I heard it. The smash of a glass. Alice's screeching voice and knowing her, I knew this couldn't be good.

Sue and I exchanged horrified looks when we heard Alice yelling and then the word 'Bitch' forced me to race from the kitchen.

Bella.

However, I wasn't prepared for the scene before when I entered the foyer. And what I saw, made me see red. I was mad as hell. Alice had gone too far.

Bella was on the ground, looking like a frightened kitten, and Alice was hovering over her, screaming and ready to hit her.

What the fuck?

"Alice!" I rushed over to them, stopping Alice's hand mid air before it could come down on Bella; who was cringing in the corner behind me. My heart was breaking but I had to deal with Alice first.

"Jasper," she screeched like she hadn't done anything wrong. "Can you believe this? Look at what she did!"

Bella was whimpering at the sound of Alice's voice, and I wanted to rip her apart. If it wasn't for the decency and respect my parents instilled in me from birth, I don't what I would have done. "What the hell do you think you're doing?!"

"That little bit..." she started, wanting me to take her side, but I cut her off.

"Don't you dare call her that!" I yelled as Mom and Sue joined us.

"What the hell is going on?" Mom demanded.

"Alice had a little accident," I seethed, keeping my eyes on Alice while she rolled her eyes and scoffed.

"Accident?" She turned to Mom and say. "That little tramp spilled that pitcher's content all over me!"

"No!" I shouted, causing all women to jump while I held Alice in a furious gaze. I was sick of her attitude. Was she always like this? Why didn't I see it?

I let go of her like it burned me and asked Mom to go get her checkbook. I ordered Sue to take Bella out of the room and I'd be with them in a minute after I talked to Alice.

As soon as everyone left the room, the decorators included, Alice started to act like we hadn't broken up. She was running her hand down the front of my shirt and giggling. "Oh come on, Jazz, really?"

"What the fuck are you doing?" What is she? Crazy or something? Is she bipolar? Wasn't she the one who was mad as hell a minute ago? Now she was being flirtatious?

My head was spinning, and I was deeply worried about Bella. But I wanted to know why Alice did this.

Mom came back, muttering in Spanish about what she wanted to do to Alice and handed a check for three thousand dollars before storming off.

But before Mom could get far enough, Alice spat. ''You did this, didn't you? You paid some slut to break us up. You fed your little whore lies about me and told her to do what she could to make me look bad, didn't you?!"

"You little tramp!" Mom shouted.

Mom was walking back to us, but I stopped her. "Go see about Bella!" Her furious gaze broke from Alice and she nodded and stomped off.

Alice started giggling like that shit was funny. "Hey!" She jumped at the sound of my fiery tone. "How dare you disrespect my mother. What the hell are you thinking?"

"But, Jazzy…" Alice whined.

"I don't want to hear it!"

Look at all the progress Bella had made today. And now this. Alice had fucked that up, but it was still my fault. I was the one who dated her.

"Someone is paying for this." Alice mumbled, moving away from me, looking down at her, barely soaked dress.

I handed her the check; which she took with a wide grin plastered on her face.

"What's wrong with you?"

"What do you mean?" she chuckled.

"Why the hell are you like this?"

She stared at me; her eyes falling into slits. "You're fucking her, aren't you?"

When I asked her that question a while ago, I actually felt a little sympathetic and was genuinely being concerned as to why she was like this. This…selfish.

But Alice fucked it up when she asked me that. And not only did she ask that infuriating question, she went on, to talk trash about Bella. Which further pissed me off.

"What was that disaster?" she asked snidely while attempting to laugh, but the cold stare I threw at her, stopped her.

However, there was no end to Alice's madness. "How in the hell did your mother think that could hold your attention?"

"Watch yourself, you're trying my patience and I want you out of here," I said to her. I wanted to help at first, but not anymore. This was over. "I don't want to see you. I don't want to hear from you. I told you the last time we spoke, that this…" I motioned between us. "…is done!"

She scoffed weakly, and stubbornly went on, "You are fucking her. You just won't admit it."

"Jesus Christ." I rolled my eyes. "Get out, Alice."

"Jazzy, you know you miss me," she said. "What is your problem? Is it because Rose is getting married?" Alice was fucking delusional. My sister's wedding had nothing to do with things ending between us. "I told you, we can get married but I'm not into the baby thing. I don't like them." The sneer on her face was enough to make me sick.

"Get…out." I didn't want to do this anymore. I had been away from Bella long enough. It was time to go help.

"Jazzy?" she whined.

"Get…OUT!"

I stormed off without another word, breezing pass Peter, Rose, and some of the guys, taking two steps at a time and ran to Bella's door.

I crashed into the room, only to see Mom and Sue outside the bathroom door.

"She won't come out and she locked herself in," Mom said.

I wasn't about to accept that. "Mom, go get my bag." She nodded and ran from the room. "Sue, get back."

Sue moved out of my way, and I kicked the door in. I walked in, the steam from the shower cutting off the visibility to the room, and I opened a window. I hoped it would work. I wanted the steam to get out of the room.

Bella was seated on the floor of the shower, rubbing her hands together.

Oh shit!

She was having a psychotic break. I made my way to her, opening the shower door, letting out more steam. Her small frame was rocking back and forth while she mumbled something about cleaning everything up before James got home.

It pained my heart to hear that. Fucking Alice!

She was irritating her wounds and I couldn't have that. She was making it worse.

"Bella?" I said softly, taking a step closer into the shower. Mom came into the bathroom while I turned off the water and took a seat next to Bella on the floor of the shower.

Mom showed me my bag and I nodded. Mom left the room. "Hey, Bella, why don't we get out of here? It's wet and I don't want you to catch a cold."

"No," she said shakily. "I can't go. I have to clean everything up before James gets back."

"James isn't here and I'm so sorry for what happened with Alice," I told her. I wanted her in the present. "It's my fault and I should've walked her out. I shouldn't have let her get the chance to hurt you."

She glanced at me through sad eyes. "It's my fault, Jasper," Bella said. "And James is going to be mad. He's going to kill me."

What a fucking monster!

"No, Bella, he can't hurt you anymore." It was a long shot but I had to try. I couldn't allow Bella to fall. I had to bring her back from the edge.

"What don't you let me look at your hands? I'm a doctor, remember?"

"You can't help me."

"How do you know that? Maybe I can."

"No," she said defiantly.

Bella's stare almost made me shiver from its intensity. "You can't fight James. No one wins James. I'm dead just by being here. I guess I should make the best of it. There's no coming back from this. He's going to kill me."

Bella needed to understand that I would never stand aside and let James hurt her.

"No, he won't," I said and Bella laughed manically, but I went on, "He can't hurt you anymore."

"No, Jasper, he can…with you," she grabbed my hand and pleaded. "Don't you see? You and your family have been so kind to me, it would hurt me if James hurt you."

She feared for us. "Bella, James can't hurt you or any of us."

"Why?"

"Because I won't let him," I said.

She looked at me, long and hard. "You're strong. You are nothing like before. You're different, Jasper. You're so strong."

"Well, since you believe that, let's get you out of here." I got up, placing my hands under her forearms and pulled her up with me.

Together, we walked out of the shower, leaving the bathroom behind. Sue handed me towels and I ran one through Bella's hair and threw another around her shoulders. I'd clean up after I help her.

Kneeling down in front of her, I held her gaze. "Bella, please, let me look at your hands."

She gave them to me and I could hear Mom and Sue collective sigh behind me. I took them and examined them carefully. She had splinters in them; embedded deep.

Bella would flinch and tremble as I fixed her hands up, but not in fear. She was in pain. "I'm sorry, Jasper," she said. "I didn't mean to. She just came barreling into me," Bella cried. "I'm so sorry."

"Bella, it's fine. It's all been taken care of." I didn't want her to worry about Alice. "Look…" I raised her newly bandaged hands to her. "All better."

"Thank you, Jasper." Her small voice was killing me and I couldn't find the strength to answer. I only nodded and left the room. Sue told me she would clean things up.

Mom followed me to my old bedroom, beside Bella's room, and Rose joined us.

"After the wedding, I don't want to see or hear Alice Brandon!" Mom seethed. "I love you, Jasper, but she sets one foot on this ranch and I won't be held accountable for what I'll do to her."

I ran the towel through my hair while answering, "I agree with you, Mom." I told her. "Once Rose's wedding is through or at least the planning, Alice will not be welcomed back here unless she can curb her unfortunate ways."

I think I made my mom speechless.

"Well," she stuttered. "That's good."

Rose and I laughed at her.

Rose reminded us about her dress and the chef flying in, then she went on to say that afterward, Alice would not be needed.

Rose hadn't initially intended for Alice to be a part of the planning for her nuptials to Emmett. Actually, she had only said 'yes' to Alice because I was dating her at the time.

But when Alice took over, she integrated herself in the wedding schedule, going as far as forcing Rose's hand until she made her a bridesmaid. Rose didn't like others trying to dominate her, but again, she kept quiet for me.

From here on out, Rose didn't need to worry about doing that again.

~~abt~~

The screaming started around four am. However, tonight, I couldn't blame Bella. After what she had been through today, I was astonished that she even fell asleep.

A blood hurling scream made me jump up, throw on a t-shirt, and race from my room.

Bella's door was unlocked again so I carefully turned the knob, but before I could open the door, Mom's voice startled me.

"I love you, Jasper Adam Whitlock, with all my heart, and I respect that you're a grown man. But if you have some weird tendency, I swear to God, I'll whoop your behind. Explain. Now." Her voice held that air of command to it that usually frightened most people and told you that she meant business. So I quickly told her about last night and how Bella's screaming woke me up.

"I figured that out from last night, but I was afraid to go in her room. Apparently though, you weren't," she said with an arched eyebrow and a smirk. "I saw you going in, you know?"

"Why didn't you come and help?"

"Because by the time you left, she was as quiet as a lamb," she countered as Bella screamed again. Mom looked saddened as she heaved a deep sigh. "Go. Help her, Son."

I smiled and nodded, opened the door, and walked in. Bella thrashed around, another scream leaving her as she arched off the bed.

I couldn't take this.

With a determined sigh, I approached the bed, shaking it and calling her name. "Bella, Bella, please wake up."

Nothing. She just continued to fight the covers.

"Bella, Bella…" I shook the bed again, this time a little harder, hoping that it worked this time. I could have touched her knee, but I wasn't sure what reaction I would get when she woke up and I wasn't about to risk it.

She let out yet another scream and shot up in bed. Her eyes popped open and she staring straight ahead. "Bella?" I said, wanting her to know she wasn't alone.

She looked at me, focusing on the sound of my voice as her deep chocolate eyes found mine. "Jasper?" she said in a panic tone, giving me her full attention. "Wha…what are you doing in here?"

"You were screaming," I said. "I was worried." It left good to admit that to her. But I had to beat down the feeling and strange inkling I was getting when it came to Bella.

I couldn't feel anything for her. Bella couldn't handle it.

At least, not right now.

"You heard?" she said worriedly.

"Yes," I replied. "Bad dream?" I didn't expect her to answer. I just wanted her to know that I was here for her if she needed my help.

"Yes," she whispered, glancing down at her hands.

She was playing with the hem of her tank top, but I wanted to know more. I wanted to know what made Bella tick.

So much for backing off.

This was just an observation.

Yeah, right.

I wanted Bella to elaborate, but I didn't want to push her. So I decide to offer up a lame joke.

"I get bad dreams sometimes too." I sat on the edge of the bed, not wanting to invade her space, but needing her to see that it was okay to be in a room with another man and not think that he was going to hurt her.

Her breath hitched from the move, but I pushed forward. This was a tiny step in the right direction and Bella has to see that.

So I folded my knee, and placed my elbow on it, making myself comfortable as I went on, "I wonder if it's anything like mine?"

"Was it horrible?"she asked, taking the bait.

"Terrifying." If only Bella knew how in sync we were when it came to the demons of our past. But that was for another time.

"What was it about?" she questioned, her interest peaking.

"Well, I was out in the field, and…" I sighed, wanting to add a little drama. "I don't know if I can talk about it."

"Please," she said, pleading with me to go on. I smiled internally. My little white lie was working perfectly. "Well, I was running…"

"Running?" she said. "From what?"

"Yep," Here it comes. "From a chicken."

Bella stared at me for a long while before a smile lit up her face and a loud scoff left her. She slapped her hand over her mouth as she tried to muffle her laughs. But it didn't help. It was good to see her smile and I couldn't help but laugh with her.

I went on, telling her that I found chickens terrifying and I was running around, screaming like a little girl.

When she couldn't fight it anymore, a loud guffaw broke from her mouth that could rival Emmett's.

"That was so lame," she said, shaking her head and smiling as our laughter died down.

"Yes, it was."

"Thanks for trying though and I'm sorry I woke you up." I didn't want her apology; I wanted her to be okay.

"It's fine," I said. "I'm glad you're okay."

I got up. "Good night, Bella."

I was walking away, wondering why my mind, body, and soul were screaming at me to stay when Bella called me back. "Jasper, can I ask you something?"

I turned to her. "Sure."

"You're always up at the crack of dawn, right?"

"Right."

She sighed and looked down, playing with the hem of her shirt again. "Was it you?"

"Your first night here?"She was smart. I liked that. I wouldn't have to beat around the bush with her.

"Yes, it was," I smiled at her in her dim lit room.

"Thank you," she said. "I should be freaked out by that, but oddly, I'm not. I'm grateful. Thank you."

"You're welcome. I should go." I nodded to the door, and then turned, and headed for it.

When my hand was on the knob, Bella spoke again. "Jasper?" This time her voice sounded so small.

"Yes, Bella?"

"Would you mind…"

She was afraid to say it, but I knew what she wanted and I wanted to hear her say it. If I were to allow myself to feel something for Bella Swan, then being as much as her friend would do.

"Could you please stay with me?" Bella asked, rocking back and forth. "I'm…I'm scared to be alone."

Letting go of the door, I walked back over to her. I climbed into bed, and she moved aside to give me room.

We stayed up, talking. We talked about everything that made us laugh. It wasn't the best time to delve into our respective life stories. It was the best time to relax, and try to forget. If it was only for a minute, we had to bury the horrors of our past and live in the now.

Bella left asleep with her head on my shoulder as the sun began to rise. And I had to smile, because not once, since I have been in the room, talked to her, sat with her, not once, has she flinched.