Chapter Fifty Three

Jasper

Suddenly I couldn't feel Jamie's emotions any more and I turned just as we heard the crash, he was laying across the table, eyes closed and a trickle of blood running down his face from a cut in his forehead but before I got there the cut was healing. I picked him up in my arms holding him close while Carlisle took his pulse. His heart beat seemed a little slower than usual to me, but that could be panic on my part.

"What happened?"

"I don't know Bella he'd already fallen as I turned."

"That's the second time"

"Its happened before? When?"

Carlisle snapped the questions out brusquely,

"He tripped as he ran to see Felix, or we assumed he tripped, but he told Jazz that the ground went wobbly"

Carlisle

I didn't like the sound of this, two collapses in a matter of a couple of hours and this time Jamie had lost consciousness. I directed Jazz to take him to one of the Guest rooms so I could examine him properly, Bella hovering at his side. When he put him on the bed Jamie still hadn't woken and both his breathing and heartbeat were slower than I remembered.

"What's wrong Carlisle?"

I touched Bella's arm to steady her,

"As soon as I know anything you will. For now you need to keep calm and sit with him. I'm going to take some blood and see if we can work out what's ailing him"

Jasper was already on the bed holding his son in his arms cradled close to him and was murmuring in his ear. The words meant little, it was the sound of his voice, Jasper was hoping would bring Jamie back to us. As he rocked slowly Bella joined him and I turned to get the necessary equipment for taking blood when my old black bag was handed to me by Felix.

"Thank you."

I took the blood quickly without a murmur from Jamie and went with it to my lab.

Caius

I wasn't sure whether to stay with Jamie or follow Carlisle but worry and curiosity sent me following in his footsteps, leaving Felix with my niece and nephew and their boy. Carlisle tested the blood quickly and sighed, looking at the results of samples he'd taken in the past as Jamie developed.

"What is it Carlisle? What's happening? I thought he was doing well. Something has gone wrong hasn't it?"

"Calm down Caius or you wont be any help to the others. There is a problem but one I hadn't expected or foreseen. Jamie's body has started producing more venom than his human tissues can deal with and I'm not sure why or what we can do about it."

"Why suddenly? Has something changed in his diet or...?"

"No, I think its more fundamental than that. He has Vampire Genes as well as human ones and the Vampire one's have now developed to the stage when they do what they are designed to do, produce venom."

"There must be something you can do, can you switch them off?"

He laughed wearily,

"If only it were that simple, but no. There's no way to stop his body producing the venom, the vampire cells in his body need it in any case. Its the human cells that are being attacked and overwhelmed."

"Won't he become a full vampire if you just let it run its course?"

He turned to me rubbing his face,

"I don't know Caius but I'm not sure we can stop it whatever the outcome"

"You don't mean he might die?"

"Its got to be a consideration Caius and I'm going to have to break the news to his parents."

"Will he wake up?"

"Oh yes I think so. His collapse was just a symptom of the battle going on in his body."

Bella

I knew when Carlisle returned it was bad news although Jamie had woken up and seemed no worse for his collapse, in fact he had no idea what had happened. He was playing on the computer with Felix as Carlisle gestured for us to follow him,

"Jamie will you be OK with Felix for a little while?"

Jamie nodded without turning round,

"Sure Grandpa"

Carlisle took us into his study and motioned for us to sit down. I held Jasper's hand tightly bracing myself for bad news.

"I've tested Jamie's blood and I know what the problem is but I'm not sure there is any way to treat him, which isn't to say that it wont resolve itself. His body is producing venom in such quantities that it is beginning to overwhelm his human cells"

"You mean he's transforming himself? Will it take long? Will he be in a lot of pain? Can we help him Carlisle?"

I knew I was babbling, but terror was moving my mouth, not my brain.

Jasper

I knew it wasn't going to be as simple as that or Carlisle wouldn't look so concerned but I sent as much calm as I could muster to Bella.

"Please Carlisle, tell me?"

Bella looked at me then back at Carlisle,

"Tell us Carlisle please. Are we going to lose Jamie?"

"I don't have the answer to that question Bella. There is a problem, if Jamie were human then I would say yes he will transform into a vampire using his own venom but its more complicated because his human cells are already mutated because of his vampire Genes. I can't predict how they will react to more venom but I will try to save him Bella you know that."

"If his own venom won't work how about a blood transfusion? Would that work?"

He shook his head,

"I'm afraid not, because his venom would just attack the fresh blood but we're still left with his mutated tissues. It might slow things down a little but I doubt even that. No, let me try a few things in the lab, he's not in any immediate danger"

"How long Carlisle?"

He looked at me and shrugged,

"I honestly don't know Jasper but I'll work as fast as I can. In the meantime he'd better stay here where I can keep an eye on him"

Bella

Carlisle was telling us he didn't know if he could save our son but I believed he would try to the bitter end and if Jamie had to stay here then we would make it special for him.

"Caius, its almost Christmas, I'd like to bring the others over to make it special for Jamie. A surprise, would that be OK?"

"Of course Bella, anything you need just ask."

We went back to Jamie trying to act as normally as possible but my frozen heart was breaking and I knew Jazz was equally as devastated.

"You ring the others and send the Jet for them. I'll see what we can rustle up in the way of food and decorations here and get Jamie to help me. Say that Grandpa and Caius really wanted to see him for Christmas. What are we going to do Jazz?"

He put his arm around me,

"It's not over yet and Carlisle will keep on fighting, now come on, we have a son to amuse."

Felix

When they came in I looked up and could see there was a problem,

"Jamie, Grandpa Carlisle and Caius have asked us if we'll stay for Christmas. What do you think?"

He smiled then frowned,

"What about the others? Won't they be sad if we're not there?"

"I tell you what, why don't you and Daddy ring them and see if they'll join us?"

He went out holding Jasper's hand and grinning widely.

"What's wrong with him Bella? Why did he collapse?"

She told me what Carlisle had discovered,

"So we're trying to make Christmas special for him."

I nodded and smiled

"I happen to know where we can get a big tree and I'm sure we can arrange for decorations and lights. Give me a couple of hours"

"Thank you Felix, for everything., You've been a good friend to us and Jamie"

"Its not over. I expect to have many more years with Jamie. He's still got a lot to learn and I have much to teach him."

She nodded but I could see the venom pooled in her eyes.