Chapter Seven

A/N: Words often times come so easily to me…but you all have me speechless. Every time I get a new alert or review I am in awe of your support. Thank you…sometimes your words are the brightest part of my day.

Melanie helped me get this chapter right, and again, there are no words to express how important she is. She actually put my stories ahead of the Sheviking's My Viking update Monday night. Don't worry...I set her straight…it will not happen again ;)

Can you find the shout-out to a very popular fic in this chapter?

Ready for Jasper to redeem himself? Wanna see what's wrong with Charlie?

Ummm… warning for the last half of the chapter. Yeah, might need those tissues.

Edward helped Bella off of the floor and sat down on one of the chairs, keeping her in his lap. Emmett sat across from the pair, holding a sheath of papers. Edward tightened his hold on Bella as Emmett set the papers down and looked up at them.

"Bella, I am just gonna tell you this straight out…your father has been shot."

Bella gasped loudly and reached for the papers. Emmett set his hand down so she could not pull them away and held his other hand up, asking for her patience.

"I haven't been able to tell if this is related to your disappearance or not. The details I was able to gather were sketchy at best. What I do know is he was shot investigating a tip, what that tip was I'm not sure. He is in a coma in Olympic Medical Center in Port Angeles." Emmett said before removing his hand and allowing Bella to take the papers. He knew she had found the crime scene information when she started to cry.

"He was shot in the head?" She sobbed as Edward took the papers from her shaking hands and read them himself. It appeared that he was taken by surprise or set up and his attacker got off one shot before fleeing the scene. Edward put the papers back down after seeing the pool of blood in one of the attached photos. Bella buried her face in Edward's shoulder, crying as she tried to imagine her strong, powerful father hooked up to machines and confined to a hospital bed.

"So you don't know if this has anything to do with the bastards that took Bella in the first place?" Edward asked quietly and watched Emmett rub his hands over his face.

"If I had to hazard a guess, I think it is likely that Chief Swan was asking questions that someone didn't want answered and decided to shut him up."

"So this is my fault?" Bella sobbed, turning her tear-stained face to Emmett. The big man blanched as he tried to figure out how to answer her. He knew that if it were his daughter that had been taken, he would have done the same thing that Charlie Swan did, damn the consequences. Edward turned Bella in his arms so she was facing him and held her firmly by the shoulders.

"The only people at fault are the ones who did this. If it turns out that your father was hurt by the same people that took you, well then it is twice their fault. You did nothing wrong." He whispered vehemently, praying that she would believe him. She dropped her eyes and nodded but deep down she knew he was wrong.

**()*()**

Edward pulled the muffins from the oven when it buzzed and suddenly the room was full of hungry people. The food processor buzzed as Edward whipped butter with honey and cinnamon to spread on the warm muffins. The French toast was served with fresh banana and mint whipped cream and chocolate curls. Bella sat with her knees pulled up to her chest as the table filled up with people. Emmett sat across from her and she was distracted for a moment as she watched him inhale his food. He barely stopped to breathe and she was amazed that he did not choke. She was startled when a plate was set down in front of her laden with food. Esme sat in the chair next to her while Carlisle took one across from his wife. A large hand placed a mug of steamy hot chocolate next to her plate and it took everything in her not to jerk backwards. She knew it was Edward, she could smell the cinnamon and spice and warmth that seemed to follow him everywhere, but over the last few months the only time a hand had come towards her, it brought pain. She took shallow breaths as she watched Edward sit in the chair next to her.

"I know you are upset about your father Bella, but can you try to eat something. Please, for me?" Edward spoke quietly to her, his hand wrapping gently around the back of her neck, fingers sifting through her soft hair. Feeling a bit more under control she nodded at him and set her feet on the floor and reached for her fork, thankful that everyone seemed to be engrossed in their own meals. Bella felt her eyes roll back in her head as the first bite of French toast slipped past her lips. Aside from the muffins and bagels Edward had snuck her yesterday; this was the first real meal she had had in months. While she was by no means overweight when she had been taken, her captors thought it would be beneficial for her to lose some weight, which was why at five foot four she had only weighed ninety four pounds when she snuck on the scale in Edward's bathroom earlier. She had been closer to one hundred and twenty before. A soft moan slipped unknowingly from her lips and Edward's fork halted in mid air as his eyes flew to Bella's face. Thankfully everyone else was completely absorbed by their own plates and no one noticed his stare. Her cheeks were flushed and her lips were slick with the butter and whipped cream that covered her mountain of French toast. When her little pink tongue peeked out to lap at the sticky substance that coated her lips Edward let his own groan loose. Bella's eyes fluttered open and she turned her head, taking in Edward's dilated eyes and slack-jawed state. She smiled shyly and pointed at her plate.

"This is really good." She mumbled around a mouthful of food. He chuckled at her as he quickly checked to make sure he was not drooling. He turned back around and started eating, his heart feeling fuller after watching her enjoy his food.

**()*()**

"So piggy piggy, you back so soon?" Mike smirked as he ushered Jasper into the hallway. Everything looked fairly normal, the usual array of mind altering substances were scattered across the coffee table in the living room and several girls in various states of undress were draped across the couches and chairs. His heart caught for a moment when he did not see the one person he was looking for.

****

When Jasper was assigned to infiltrate the house, his Commander told him to pick one girl and stay consistent. If he somehow managed to crack her they could use her as an inside informant. The first day he walked into that house, his eyes locked on the little dark haired girl sitting in the corner. Her gray eyes were too big for her face and she didn't look much older than 16. When Jasper picked her out Mike laughed.

"You get to break the new one in, you lucky bastard. I hope you know the price is double for that." He said as he held his hand out for payment. Jasper handed him the correct amount and Mike walked over and hoisted her up. Jasper held his hand out and she took it, her eyes trained on the ground.

"You enjoy little Maria there. Make sure you tell me how she was before you leave." Jasper tried to tune his crude comments out as he steered her into an empty room, locking the door behind him. The girl walked to the bed and started to take her shirt off. Jasper was quick to stop her and encouraged her to sit on the bed next to him. He spent his allotted hour asking her questions about herself and the other girls. It was easy to see that she had been brainwashed since she was unable to answer any questions pertaining to her life before she got there. He did find out her name was Maria, although he doubted that was her real name, and she was 22. When he balked at her age, she smiled and said that she always was mistook for someone much younger, she even got carded when she tried to get into an R-rated movie. As soon as the words were out of her mouth her eyes clouded and she looked confused, as if not knowing where that memory had come from. Before his time was up, Jasper looked around the dismal room, noticing the unsoiled white bedding and remembering Mike's comment about breaking Maria in. He knew there was no way he could leave the room the way it was and not arise suspicion. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his Swiss Army knife, the sudden movement eliciting a frightened gasp from Maria. Jasper smiled at her before pulling up his pant leg and dragging the blade over his calf. He swept his finger over the shallow cut and smeared the blood on the sheets, praying that his slight of hand would be enough to convince Mike. Cleaning up as best as he could, Jasper pulled Maria back down to the bed and explained that she needed to stay quiet about what really happened between them. Jasper hated to leave her, but when their time was up he led Maria back out to the main room and pulled Mike aside.

"I want her to be mine…just mine. You sell her to anyone else for sex and I'll know. I'll be here every night." He said. Mike smirked before holding his hand out once again and smiling when his palm was full.

"Whatever you want piggy piggy."

****

"Where's my girl?" Jasper said, turning towards Mike with his hand placed oh so obviously against his holstered weapon. Mike's bloodshot eyes scanned the room before flying open wide and all but running towards the kitchen. He came back in dragging Maria by her arm, her feet fumbling to keep up with him. He threw her down at Jasper's feet and smirked at him.

"There's your girl. She had a hard time earlier, so we were keeping her in the kitchen till she got back on her feet. Isn't that right baby cakes?" He laughed, using the toe of his shoe to push her over. Jasper had to bite his tongue from making a sound as he looked down at his girl. The entire left side of her face was bruised and bloody, her dark hair dirty and matted to her scalp. She was dressed in her usual boy shorts and tank top, but they were both ripped and ragged. He bent over and hoisted her up into his arms, easing his hold when she whimpered.

"I thought we had a deal man? She's mine. I'm gonna get her cleaned up before I enjoy her. You okay with that Mikey?" Jasper sneered, wishing he could just turn around and carry her out to the car. Mike laughed and waved him towards the back hallway before he went over to the couch and pulled one of the strung-out girls onto his lap. Jasper walked quickly down the hall and into the dingy bathroom, thanking God that there was a lock on the door. He set Maria down on the counter and turned on the water, but turned it off when he could not find a clean towel. Her head wobbled backwards, her eyes opening for a moment, but it was enough for her to see him.

"Jasper?" She rasped and he could see dark purple bruises wrapped around her throat. Someone had strangled her. He held her gently by the shoulders as he tried to get her to look at him.

"What baby girl, what's wrong?" He soothed. Her eyes were closed again as she answered.

"Tanya's gone. I couldn't find her anywhere and then Mike said I had to take her client since she was gone. He was so mean to me." She whimpered and he felt a tiny bit of hate that Maria was stuck here while Bella was safe at the Cullen's.

"You're okay darlin', I've got you. Are you hurt anywhere else?" He whispered, his hands searching for injuries. She surprised him when she started to laugh softly.

"I hurt everywhere Jasper. The only time I don't, is when I'm with you." She said as big fat tears started to run down her cheeks. She collapsed against his chest, sobbing quietly and he pulled out his phone and called his Commander. No way was he leaving there without her.

A/N: Poor Charlie…Poor Alice…Poor Jasper. Shit is gonna get heavy for a while now. See you Saturday!

Oh and…. Did you like my Unexpected Circumstances shout out? I am using my powers of suggestion to try and get Savage to update