Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

Behind Steel Bars

By Midnight Dreamer

Chapter 25: Where the hell was he?

It was now Friday. Three days had passed since the accident and Jasper still hadn’t woken up. Esme, Carlisle, Charlotte, Peter, and Ma Whitlock had all been to see him. Isabella had been unreachable since Tuesday night and Charlotte thinks that Isabella believes that Jasper stood her up, so she is not answering anyone’s calls. This was not something you leave in a voice mail or on an answering machine, so Charlotte didn’t leave any messages.

~BSB~

Edward had woken up the next morning. He had been taken to a hospital in Houston instead of Dallas since the police decided it was best to move him closer to his home. Edward had told the police that the other driver was trying to run him off the road and that he was merely trying to drive pass. The police asked if they should call anyone for him but he said no, he’d take care of it. Once the police left, he called Alice and told her where he was. She said she’d be there in a couple of hours.

~BSB~

“Oh my lord,” Alice thought. “What has that crazy son of a bitch gone and done now?” she already knew that Jasper was in the hospital, and had yet to wake up. She was almost to the hospital in Houston. “Why would they bring him all the way down here?” Alice wondered.

She entered the hospital and asked for his room. The nurse on duty told her the room number but told her to wait outside – he already had visitors. Alice said that was fine and started off toward Edward’s room. As she got closer, she could hear voices but the door was too thick to make out the words. Alice sat in the chair outside the door and waited. She didn’t have to wait long before the door opened and a tall, beautiful strawberry blond woman walked out with two children next to her. Alice’s mouth opened in shock. The woman must have caught movement in her peripheral and turned to Alice as the door closed:

“Oh, hello! Are you here to see Edward?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Who might you be?”

“Alice. Alice Cullen. And you are?”

“Alice. Oh yes! The friend Edward said was coming to see him. Cullen, you say? You would be related to Dr. Carlisle Cullen, would you?”

“Yes, he’s my father. But you still haven’t told me who you are?”

“I’m sorry, where are my manners? My name is Kate. I’m Edward’s wife. These are our children, Tanya and Irena.”

“Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you, I’m sure.”

“Yes, you too but I must be going – the children need to return to school.”

“I understand. Take care!”

“You as well.” Kate said and then disappeared.

Alice was fuming. So all his business trips to Houston were actually to come see his real family! She thought she had meant something to him but she was a fool. Entering the room, she was startled when he called to her:

“Ali, Baby, I’ve missed you! Come here.”

“No,”

“What do you mean, Ali? Come here!” Edward was getting angry.

“NO!” Alice said, more determined this time.

“What the hell is you problem Alice?”

“Your wife is lovely.”

“You met Katie? When? What did you say?” he growled.

“Yes, just now outside your door – I didn’t say anything.”

“Good.”

“Did you do this?” Alice asked pointing to him.

“Yeah and Jasper will get all the blame. He won’t even be awake to argue!”

“How could you be so stupid?”

“I’m not stupid, you useless whore! I’m getting the money from him that you couldn’t.”

“So, I never meant anything to you did I?”

“Hell no! You were just a means to an end – and an occasional fuck. I was always after the money!”

“Your a worthless piece of shit, Edward Masen! I hope you rot in hell.”

“I’ll save a spot for you honey – adultery is also a sin.”

Alice ran from the room as Edward laughed behind her. There was nothing she could do either – Jasper would pay the price, and she would feel guilty about it the entire time knowing the truth. But even if she told someone, no one would believe her because she burnt all her bridges with her actions towards Jasper.

~BSB~

It didn’t take long for the courts to find Jasper guilty. With Edward’s statement and the eyewitness and police only seeing the part where Jasper’s truck ran the other car off the road, poor Jasper was railroaded. He was sentenced to five years by the courts in Houston but with good behavior, he could be out in two years.

Since the court proceedings took place in Houston no one knew about it until the papers came across Charlotte’s desk back in Dallas. Charlotte didn’t know what to do, so she went to the only person who would.

With Charlotte’s emotions on high, the normal hour drive to the prison only took her 40 minutes. After parking she rushed inside and then up the stairs to Isabella’s office. Angela waved with a sad smile on her face; Charlotte returned it with a nod and went to Isabella office.

The atmosphere inside the office was somber, unlike it’s usual joviality. When the door closed Isabella looked up, seeing who it was she almost screamed at her to get out – that was until she saw her face.

“Charlotte, what is it? What happened?” Isabella asked.

“Jasper…” was all she got out.

Charlotte’s emotions over took her at that point and she fell to her knees sobbing. Isabella stood from her desk and went to comfort her friend. Only Charlotte pulled away.

“What? Charlotte why…” Isabella started but was cut of by Charlotte.

“Don’t ya dare act like ya care now! Where have ya been the last week and a half? Why won’t ya answer my calls? Don’t ya even care about Jasper?” Charlotte couldn’t finish. Isabella was mad and yelling back at her.

“Don’t ya talk to me about Jasper! He’s the one who stood me up, not the other way around! So right now, no – I don’t give a damn about Jasper Whitlock!” as the last word left her mouth Isabella felt a sting on her cheek. Charlotte had smacked her.

“How dare ya say those things about Jasper! If ya’d pick up the damn phone ya’d of known that Jasper was run off the road Tuesday night on his way to see ya! He’s been unconscious since then. He still hasn’t woken up! And now this.” Charlotte said, throwing the file she held in her hands at Isabella.

Isabella was shocked. She didn’t know what to say as Charlotte broke down once again. Isabella picked up the file and read the court reports. She hissed when she caught Edward’s name in the proceedings; seeing the verdict and sentence made her even more angry. Her emotions were a mess – she was angry at this whole mess, angry with herself for not picking up the phone, upset and worried about Jasper. How she ever thought he would do something like standing her up was just stupid. She once again reached out to Charlotte. She didn’t pull away this time, instead she leaned into Isabella and clung to her.

“What…are…we….gonna…do?” Charlotte sobbed out.

“Well, first things first – I have to go to see him.” Isabella said. “Then I’ll make sure he is brought here to serve his time. He’ll be in with Emmett.”

“Are….you…sure…that’s wise?” Charlotte questioned with a small smile.

“Not really, no. But we don’t have other options.”

Charlotte nodded her agreement. The two women then cleaned themselves up and made their way to the hospital. For Isabella, it was to see Jasper; Charlotte, on the other hand, had to tell everyone about Jasper’s sentence.