Chapter Fifty Six

Jasper

I heard the door open and Bella's scent as she joined us once more. She'd left for just a little while to give the others an update, they were all worried about our son.

"How is he?"

"Still asleep but he won't let me put him down"

"Let me try"

As she held her arms out to take him we both felt it, as if an invisible wall were suddenly between us. I looked at her but she looked as shocked as i felt.

"Did you do that?"

"No, Jamie must want to stay where he is."

I could see the hurt in her eyes but I couldn't help her, I couldn't touch or reassure her, Jamie had isolated us within our own little bubble.

Bella

I couldn't believe that Jamie would try to keep me away and it hurt, I turned away my eyes full.

"Bella, do you think he knows something? Maybe he has a reason for what he's doing."

I turned back allowing a small glimmer of hope to shine through.

"You think perhaps he knows how to heal himself? That he's keeping you close for some reason?"

Jazz shrugged,

"We can but hope."

A short while later Jamie woke and the wall disappeared as quickly as it had sprung up. Jazz put him on his feet and he rubbed his eyes,

"I'm hungry Mummy."

Relief flooded me as he came to me for a hug and I took him for breakfast leaving Jasper to his thoughts.

Jasper

I needed to speak to Carlisle about this latest development, it might give him a clue, something to work with. As I knocked I heard the end of their conversation, so Jamie was too young to try to change, we would be creating an immortal child to all intents and purposes, if we could just keep him alive a little longer, he was growing so fast he would be old enough, but how? They saw from my expression that I'd heard them.

"I'm sorry Jasper, if only we can keep him alive just a little longer."

"Is there a way to save him Carlisle?"

"Not that I know of, our discussion was hypothetical I'm afraid."

I told them what had happened and Carlisle jumped up.

"Provide me with a specimen of your venom and lets see what happens to Jamie's blood, maybe he knows more than we do."

"How is he Major?"

Caius sounded weary and defeated,

"Still hanging on in there and he's hungry since he woke up so maybe his body is fighting back"

"That would be a great help. Try to stay close Jasper I may need more venom from you to test."

I nodded,

"You'll find me with Jamie. I'm not going anywhere."

Bella

I noticed as soon as Jazz left Jamie became lethargic again but he ate something and I saw that as a good sign. After eating he went to play with Peter and Emmett who promised to keep a good eye on him and not tire him out. I watched as they assembled a board game Charlotte had bought him and started to play. As usual within minutes the grown ups were accusing each other of cheating much to Jamie's delight.

"You had two throws"

"No I didn't, you nudged the table first time so I did it again"

"That's not fair, you only get one shot"

"Well you moved two squares too many"

"You can't count, can he Jamie."

Smiling at his giggles I went to find Jazz and Carlisle but bumped into Felix in the corridor.

"I thought you should know Alice Cullen and her mate are here demanding to speak to Caius."

"What do they want"

"He is complaining of rumors regarding an immortal child"

I groaned, that was all we needed, more trouble, especially the kind that usually followed in Alice's wake and thanking Felix went off to tell Jazz the news.

Peter

The Major wanted to talk to me so I left Bella explaining the trouble to the others. He stood looking wearily out of the window.

"So the bitch is back in town!"

"Yes with Stefan. I think it might be our Stefan and if it is he wont give up easily, he hates me"

"Yeah well ripping a guys legs off because he refuses to obey a direct order will do that."

"It doesn't matter why he hates me just that he does. He's going to try to stop Carlisle treating Jamie using the immortal children law."

"But Jamie is a special case."

"You know that, so do I, but if he can get the law on his side our hands will be tied."

"Then we need to be as fucking difficult as he is. Does Carlisle have any ideas?"

"He's trying something with my venom. The way Jamie acts when he's asleep may give him a clue. I just don't know Peter."

"Right well you and Jamie go find a little hideaway and Emmett and I will run interference for you."

"Thanks Peter"

"Don't thank me, he means a lot to all of us, besides you know how I hate that fucking bitch."

Jasper

We went back together where Jamie was still playing with Emmett but he looked tired again and came straight to me, asking to be picked up. As soon as he was in my arms he wrapped his arms around my neck and rested his head on my neck with a sigh,

"Daddy I think I'm sick"

"Why do you say that?"

"I'm so tired and I hurt"

"Where?"

"My chest and my tummy"

I held him close and nodding to Peter took Jamie out, things were getting worse, the venom must be attacking his organs now. My son was quite literally dying in my arms and I had no idea what to do for him. As we walked I felt him relax against me and his breathing even out, he was asleep.

Caius

When Felix told us Alice and Stefan were here and wanted to speak to us I sighed heavily,

"As if we don't have enough trouble. I'll go Carlisle you keep working."

They were waiting in my study, Alice looking uncomfortable but Stefan leaning against the wall looking at my bookcase.

"Alice, this I take it is your mate Stefan"

He straightened out and glanced at her before answering in her stead.

"And you must be Caius. I've heard a lot about you"

I glanced back at Alice,

"All bad I'm sure. What can we help you with or is this a social visit?

"No it's not. We are here because we're concerned that you are thinking of breaking one of your own laws"

"Really? I wonder where you heard that. Which law is it you think I've broken?"

"Not broken yet from what I understand"

"Oh good, I'd hate to have missed it. Please explain further"

"We have spoken to Edward Cullen and his mate, they visited The Whitlocks and met their "child".

"So I understand, but what has this to do with me? Or the law? As I understand it their son was born while she was still human and not subject to our laws although she is now."

Alice

I knew this had been a bad idea and I wished I hadn't taken Stefan to visit Edward, none of this would have happened then. He couldn't wait to tell us all about Jasper's son, looking at me to get a reaction. What he expected I didn't know, Jazz and I were history and I'd given up on Bella a while back. It was too exhausting and I had to admit defeat although I did all I could to keep myself informed of their whereabouts. I didn't want to turn around one day and find either of them breathing down my neck but it seemed they were wrapped up in the boy and I was, maybe not forgotten, but certainly pushed to the back of their list of priorities. The good thing about being with Stefan was that he was a fighter and would do all he could to keep me safe from Jasper especially. Stefan seemed very interested in Jamie Whitlock and searched for any information he could find when he got the merest whisper of a problem. If Aro had still been leader of the Volturi I could have found out more but with Caius it was a different story, especially when he had Marcus and Carlisle standing with him. Marcus wasn't a great fan of mine and Carlisle had turned his back on me after all the things I'd done. Once he knew there was a problem Stefan dug until he heard the words Immortal Child then he insisted on coming here and I couldn't dissuade him. I didn't know the story but he had a real hard on for The Major.