Chapter Twenty Four

Bella

I stood very still knowing this was the same man I'd seen in the cage only even more troubled than he had been then. Peter made a move forward but was stopped by Charlotte's whispered words and Jasper's head moved fractionally so he could see me. In his eyes I saw recognition, he'd remembered me so I smiled and held out a hand very slowly so as not to startle him,

"Hello again Jasper."

He didn't answer but watched the others carefully. I could feel the danger thick in the air and knew I had to try to disperse it. I knew somehow that he would listen only to me, my voice, and that if I didn't do something there would be a fight. He had heard my distress even buried in the snow and ice and he'd come back to protect me. I had no idea how I knew all this but I was certain I was right.

"It's very cold out here, I think I'll go back in the cabin if that's OK?"

He still didn't speak but he moved slightly to allow me to get by and I walked very slowly to the cabin and opened the door, the others keeping perfectly still but looking worried.

"Why don't you come in too. I hate to think of you outside in this snow."

It was bizarre, here I was in a blizzard trying to encourage a thirsty, rage fuelled, naked vampire to follow me into his cabin.

"Bella what the fuck are you doing?"

Peter hissed at me and the snarls got louder, his crouch lower, and I knew if anyone spoke again he would attack. I motioned them to keep quiet,

"Jasper, come in the cabin, no one will hurt you, I won't let them. Please."

He hesitated, still watching the others carefully, then took a step towards me. I held my hand out and shook my head when Peter took a step too.

"Don't Peter. Please trust me, I know what I'm doing."

The crazy thing was that I did, I was certain that if I could get him to take my hand the danger would be over. He took another step, then another, and was almost close enough to touch my hand when Peter spoke.

"Bella he could easily rip your arm off if you let him get any closer. You have no idea what you are dealing with"

Jasper stopped moving, his eyes glowing with rage and his muscles bunching ready.

"Actually I think she does"

We all looked at Charlotte except Jasper who was looking at my hand,

"What the fuck is that supposed to mean Charlotte? You telling me Bella knows The Major better than we do?"

She nodded and smiled faintly,

"I think she does Peter and I think she's the only thing stopping him from attacking all of us right now. Keep going Bella, he'll listen to you."

I took a deep breath and stretched my hand out further,

"Come on Jasper, take my hand"

So swiftly he was a blur he pulled me to him holding my hand tightly, the snarls quietening as my touch, my closeness, soothed him.

"Fuck, now what do we do? If we try to get her away he'll rip her to pieces."

"No he won't but he'll kill anyone who tries to get between them. If you leave them alone for a while she can calm him.

"What the fuck are you saying?."

Garretts words came out very softly

"She's his mate."

I wasn't sure I'd heard right but I didn't care, I ignored the others and put my free hand against his cold cheek,

"Can we go inside Jasper? It's very cold out here"

He lifted me off my feet and walked slowly into the cabin kicking the door shut on the rest and carried me over to the now cold hearth. Setting me down gently on the couch he looked around then threw some twigs and small logs on top of the ashes and lit them using Garretts lighter that he'd left on the mantel. As the logs caught the room warmed up and I took my coat off throwing it on the floor and watching him. He crouched in place for a moment then ran through to the bedroom and back wrapping me in the thick blanket and holding me close, stroking my hair and murmuring.

"I thought you were a dream Bella. How did you find me?"

His words were jagged as if he hadn't used his voice for a long time.

I kissed his cheek,

"I found your friends and they brought me here. I knew you were here even when they told me I was wrong. I'm glad I found you"

He touched my cheek with his icy lips and I shivered, causing him to draw back but I guided him to the couch and he sat down still holding me tightly. He was so tense, so cold, with ice slowly melting from his hair and dripping onto the blanket, his hands shaking although I knew it was nothing to do with the cold. Doing what felt right I sat back and pulled his cold face to lay on my breast stroking his cheek.

"It's OK Jasper I'm here now, you can relax, no one will hurt you."

He sighed heavily and I felt the tension washing out of his body with my words.

"Bella"

He sighed my name and touched my face with one shaking hand,

"You are real"

"Yes I am and I'm here with you so you can rest and relax now. I'll look after you, just relax."

His body which had been so tense for so long began to relax, the muscles stopped jumping and his breath which had been fast as he snarled now slowed until it had almost stopped altogether. I pulled the throw off the back of the couch and wrapped it around him, giving an illusion of warmth and comfort. His skin was ice-cold, colder than Alice or Edward even and the ice in his hair still dripped so I rubbed it dry with the sleeve of my jumper.

"What have you done to yourself Jasper? What have others done to you?"

I couldn't imagine the amount of suffering that had gone into the making of the poor creature now in my arms but I vowed no one would ever hurt him again.

"I'd die before letting anyone else hurt you"

I whispered the words into his ear and he made a strange half laughing sound in his throat and thought he didn't believe me.

"I would"

He lifted his head to look into my face,

"Alice asked me once what love was and I told it was when you would give up your life for someone. Maybe I was right after all"

"Yes maybe you were right, there are very few things I'm absolutely sure of but one is that I would die to protect you. One glimpse was all it took, I can't forget you, I can't get you out of my mind, you're there when I wake and still there when I go to sleep. I think that's love."

"When I saw you last time you gave me something I never felt before, compassion. I'm not sure I deserve it though. I thought I would never see you again but here you are."

"Yes I'm here."

The door of the cabin opened slowly and Charlotte stepped inside.

"Sorry to bother you two but it's snowing heavily out there Bella and if we don't leave soon we won't get out, not with you anyway."

I felt Jasper's hold on me tighten slightly before he slowly sat up, pain in his eyes again. I smiled and stroked his face,

"I'm not going Charlotte. Jasper needs me"

The relief in his face was stark, I couldn't leave him like this.

"Well OK, but you do realize your father is going to want to know where you are soon and you have school to finish"

"Perhaps you should go Bella."

I couldn't stand the pain in his voice and I shook my head,

"No. Being here is more important, I'm staying, you go."

She shook her head,

"I think we'll wait around a while, make sure everything is OK"

"I won't hurt her Charlotte"

"I know Major."

She didn't sound totally convinced.