Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

Behind Steel Bars

By Midnight Dreamer

Chapter 29: What Happens Next?

Esme returned to Jasper’s room with the photo of Alice taken from the security camera. She was pissed that with just a simple change to her daughters’ appearance could let her get passed the people on staff. Resuming her seat next to Jasper, she decided to let him know everything that was going on now that she knew he could really hear her.

“Jasper, hun – you’re right, it was Alice. She got past the people at the front desk by claiming to be your sister. She has dyed her hair and styled it differently. I know, it’s no excuse – they should have known better.”

Jasper’s blood pressure spiked.

“Now, calm down! You do that too many times and they’re gonna send Carlisle in here to see what I’m doin to ya! And I have a feeling your not quite ready to let them know you’re awake yet, are ya?”

Jasper sighed.

“Alright, then. Well, I have had copies made of the picture I got at the security office and had it handed out to the staff at the front desk along with the staff here on your floor. So she shouldn’t be able to get in again. Now from what I read of the log, you’re gonna have a room full of visitors here shortly. I will be staying, of course, to let everyone know what is going on and show them Alice’s new look.”

Jasper’s pressure spiked only slightly this time.

“Do you want to know who is all coming to see you?”

A soft sigh.

“Peter, Charlotte, ya Ma, Carlisle and I do believe Isabella is on the list now as well.”

Jasper’s heart rate picked up slightly at the mention of Isabella’s name. Esme chuckled loudly and said:

“Boy, you do have it bad don’t ya? Even her name sends your heart a flutter!”

A small rumble echoed from Jasper’s throat.

“Oh, don’t you growl at me, mister! I know young love when I see it! I think it’s the sweetest thing ever.”

Jasper huffed.

“Well, at least I’m getting more reactions then just sighs and pressure spikes. We might be able to work with that – it might mean your coming round.”

Jasper sighed once again and relaxed back to wait for everyone to show up. He too was glad that he could communicate a little more then before and maybe Esme was right – maybe he was starting to come out of it.

~BSB~

Isabella had spent the entire morning at her office making phone calls, pulling all the strings she could and calling in every favor she was owed. She was trying her damnedest to keep Jasper from having to go all the way to a prison in Houston. He belonged here with his family – with her. Not that she would admit that to anyone! Sure, Peter and Charlotte knew she liked Jasper… and they also knew that she might even be slightly attracted to him. Isabella knew it was more then that. She felt drawn to him. His voice called to her, his eyes saw through the walls she built up around her, his touch caused her skin to catch fire… She could only imagine what he could do to the rest of her senses.

She finally got the okay from the courts in Houston for Jasper to stay in Dallas. And to say she was thrilled would be understating her state of mind at that precise moment. Now all she had to do was prepare Emmett for his new companion. Isabella chuckled to herself at that one. He was whining about it being empty in his block now that two of his previous tenants had been released. She knew he was going to freak about this one though. She had yet to tell Emmett everything that had gone on with Jasper from the beginning so this was going to be one long ass conversation. She phoned the Cell Block A and Emmett answered. She asked him to come to the office and to leave one of the other guys in charge for a while – she needed to speak to him about a new occupant. Emmett said he would be right over.

Ten minutes later and Emmett was sitting in front of Isabella’s desk in her office. Isabella wasn’t sure how to start this conversation. She was fidgeting with her fingers when Emmett called her to attention.

“Bella, what’s goin’ on? You’re as nervous as a virgin on her first date.”

“Way to break the tension, Em.”

“You know it! Now what’s on your mind? And what’s this about a new tenant in my motel for the criminally stupid?”

“Well, Em – first off, I guess I should ask you what you think of Jasper?”

“He’s a good guy and his family is awesome. Why you got a thing for him?” Emmett asked, and Isabella blushed.

“I see. I knew ya were sweet on him since the picnic. Now, spill it!”

“Fine – I’m gonna start at the beginning. And no questions until I finish, okay?”

“Gotcha.”

“Okay – well, you know how I met Charlotte? Well it was the night Jasper first got back from overseas. I get this frantic phone call from Char saying that her brother-in-law got taken to jail ’cause he caught his two-faced hoe of a wife with another man in his bed. Yeah, I know – that’s fucked up. Anyway, so I rush to meet her at the police station only to find out that they won’t release him until the interrogator speaks to him and that he won’t be there till Monday.”

Emmett nods and waves his hand in a please continue type motion. Isabella takes a deep breath and continues.

“Well, when he got out on Monday he filed for divorce. He called Peter and Peter went over and stayed with him that night. I wound up staying with Charlotte in her guest room. The next morning Peter and Jasper come in just as breakfast was finished. Charlotte said those two could smell it half way across town and would show just as she finished. She was right. So we all sat and talked and showed Jasper the footage from his surveillance videos of his house – which, by the way, is probably as secure as Fort Knox! So, after that he got quiet. I being me had to break the silence and asked what he was gonna do next. He said he was gonna wipe her out of his house. So we all went over to his place and striped it down – all except for his office and the dining room table, which belonged to Gramma Whitlock.”

Isabella stopped for a minute to breath and take a sip of her coffee which was now getting rather cold. Emmett looked like he was absorbing everything.

“You ready to continue?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay well after all that we had one hell of a good time repainting every room in the place. Let me tell you, if you would have seen it you would have swore either a single woman or a gay couple lived there. There was no sign what so ever that a Marine was ever in that house! That was the night before you busted me in the parking lot. Now Jasper has an ex-wife who was cheating on him with one of their best friends, she was only ever married to him for his money, and now the friend is trying to get it anyway he can…”

“Wait. Jasper’s ex-wife cheated on him with his best friend? She only ever married him for his money? And what do you mean the best friend – whom I assume is no longer given that title – is trying to get his money? How the hell is he doing that?”

“Okay – yes, his wife cheated on him for two years while he was overseas. She was only after the Whitlock money ’cause, from what the lawyer said, when he gave her the divorce papers she was only worried about her stuff and what she was gonna get. As for the best friend – he is trying everything under the sun. He thought he could get some when they put Jasper in jail that first weekend cause Edward – aka the best friend – hit his head on the counter in Jasper’s house after he tripped over one of Alice’s bags when he tried to attack Jasper. When that backfired, he tried to sue him for personal damage in a civil suit but that too didn’t work out. Now I have a feeling that he is trying another way: he is gonna use this recent attack on Jasper to try and sue again for a chance to get his hands on the money.”

“And again – how is he gonna do that?”

“Tuesday of last week I was supposed to meet Jasper for a date, he never showed. I was pissed and thought he stood me up. I avoided all of Charlotte’s calls. Then, just the other day, she shows up here a blubbering mess and throws this file at me. It seems that Jasper was being charged with criminal mischief and reckless endangerment. He was sentenced to 5 years from a Houston court. I have spent all morning on the phone making sure that we could get him here and not anywhere else.”

“Wait! Are you tellin’ me that Jasper is the new inmate on my cell block?”

“Yes, Emmett. That Edward douche bag played hardball by using the police and a witness against Jasper. And since Jasper has been in a coma, he wasn’t there to dispute it.”

“Whoa – hold up! Jasper is in a coma? And I’m just now finding out about it?”

“Sorry, Em – I just found out the other day. I’m goin to see him later this afternoon and give them the good news that he will be staying here. Well at least I will be telling Peter and Charlotte.”

“Why just them?”

“No one else knows…” Isabella trailed off.

“You saying you haven’t told any of them besides Peter and Charlotte who you are?”

“I only just told Peter that night; right after we left the hospital when I saw Jasper.”

“Oh, Bella! What are you so afraid of? They all love you already and your keeping things from them!”

“I know and it sucks, but I don’t want them to be angry with me… I also don’t want them to run like everyone else always does.”

“I didn’t and Charlotte didn’t.”

“I don’t know why you both didn’t… there must be something wrong with you two.”

“What did Peter do?”

“Well, he got all huggy with me when I started to cry… I thought he wouldn’t let Charlotte be my friend anymore.”

“Bells, you know that would never happen. From what I have seen of little Charlotte, she would kick his ass and ask questions later!” They both laughed. Isabella knew he was right. She would have to tell everyone and maybe she would do so tonight…

“Your right, Em – I think I will tell everyone tonight. We are all supposed to meet there after supper cause Esme wanted to tell us something.”

“Well you tell the Jazzman that I will be there tomorrow afternoon since I have it off.”

“Sure thing… Wait no you don’t! You have to work tomorrow.”

“I have tomorrow afternoon off.” Emmett stared at her.

“Fine! But only cause your going to visit him…”

“Gettin’ soft on him, huh?”

“Oh, Emmett – we will talk about that some other time!”

“You are! Oooohhhhhh – Bellsy and Jazzman sittin’ in a tree…”

“You know you sound just like Peter.”

“Well, like you said, we will talk about this later. Meet me at the bar around say… 8ish?”

“Deal.”

~BSB~

Supper time had come and gone and Jasper was starting to feel crowded with all these people in his room. He knew that they needed to discuss this whole Alice thing, but did they really have to do it in his room? He listened as they all talked quietly amongst themselves. They were waiting for Isabella before they started the main conversation. Every now and then one of them would come talk to him for a while.

Once Isabella came in they all started in on the subject of Alice. Jasper was sure that Isabella’s head was spinning off in different directions… He could almost feel her anger radiating off her. She came over to Jasper and sat down in the seat next to him. Taking his hand in hers she began to whisper to him:

“Jasper, I’m sorry that she got to you and I promise it will never happen again. Esme told me that you were pissed about it – what did she do to ya that had ya pressure so high?”

Her breath across his skin was calming until he thought about Alice’s lips on his skin. His pressure spiked slightly, but enough to let both Isabella and Esme know that he was communicating. Esme came over to Isabella’s side and asked her what she wanted to know.

“I asked him what Alice did ta him that had his pressure so high when you got here yesterday.” Isabella whispered to Esme.

“Oh, Isabella, hon – I’m not sure I want to tell you that… You might wind up in a bed next to him cause your blood pressure will go through the roof with as angry as you are…”

“Esme, what did she do?”

“Well from what he told me; in his own way of course, she spoke to him and then she…”

“She what – Esme?” Isabella whisper growled.

“She kissed his cheek. I saw the red lipstick mark on his cheek and rushed to wipe it off. I knew none of us wore that color so that is what originally brought about my search to find out who was here to see him…”

Isabella squeezed Jasper’s hand harder then what she normally would and he groaned.

“Sorry, Jasper…” she whispered to him.

Suddenly Carlisle’s voice broke through the threesome’s almost silent conversation.

“Well, Ladies and Gentlemen – I got word this morning from the lawyers that as soon as Jasper wakes and is cleared to leave, he will be staying in a penitentiary right here in Dallas.”

“How did that happen?” Ma Whitlock asked.

Peter and Charlotte sent a covert glance to Isabella who smiled and gave a small nod. The grins that spread across their faces was almost enough encouragement for her to tell them all that she was the reason. But what Ma Whitlock said next pushed her to reveal it was all her.

“Well, once I find the person who made it possible for me to have my son stay so close to home, I may just kiss them…”

Charlotte and Peter bust up laughing, drawing everyone’s attention to them.

“And what has ya to bustin’ at the seems?” Ma asked.

Peter and Charlotte just shook their heads. Isabella knew that now was the time to come out so to speak.

“The person you may just kiss would be me…” Isabella said quietly.

Every head in the room turned to her. Isabella looked down not wanting to meet their eyes.

“Child, what are ya sayin’?” Ma asked.

Isabella finally looked up and met the eyes of Peter and Charlotte who nodded enthusiastically.

“I’m the reason that Jasper will be staying in Dallas instead of having to travel all the way to Houston.”

“How?” Carlisle asked.

“Yes – How?” Ma asked.

“Carlisle, did they tell you the name of the Penitentiary?”

“Yes, he’ll be staying in the Swan Penitentiary – why?”

“Well… my name is Isabella Swan.”

The room went silent. She knew they all knew about her family. The feeling of hands on her shoulders pulled her out of her thoughts. She looked up to see Peter and Charlotte standing behind her. Neither said a word but stood giving her silent reassurance.

“So… you’re saying that you own the prison that Jasper will be goin’ to?” Esme broke the silence.

“Yes, Ma’am.”

“How?” Carlisle asked once again.

“I spent all morning on the phone calling in favors and pulling any strings I could to keep him from having to go to Houston… I know what the prisons are like down there and they are no place for him to stay. At least this way you all would still be able to see him, and know he was well taken care of…” she trailed off as she caught the look on everyone’s face.

They were all in a state of shock. Well, all except for Peter and Charlotte who were standing with her.

“Charlotte? Peter? Did ya know about all this?” Ma asked

“I have known the whole time. Peter just found out the other day when we left the hospital after Isabella’s visit with Jasper.”

“How did you find out Charlotte?” Esme asked.

“Well, y’all know I’m a state prosecutor and, well, I also have the fun job of meeting with the wardens of different prisons in order to find placements for the criminals that are found guilty. Well, Isabella was one of the wardens I met with and we just sort of hit it off and have been friends ever since.”

“Well, that makes sense…” Carlisle said. He was always the logical one.

“So, how did Peter meet her?”

“The night Jasper came home I called Isabella to have her come to the police station with me. She could get more information then I could. She gave one hell of a show and made the whole station scramble like cockroaches from a flame. Peter and Mr. Jenks came out and Jenks’ jaw almost hit the floor when he saw her. They told us that Jasper would be staying the weekend so we gave Isabella a copy of the footage to look over after we went to dinner. Then she came over the following day and we hung out for the rest of the weekend.”

“So, when were y’all gonna tell us who she was?” Ma asked.

“Ma, that was my fault – I told them not to tell anyone because I wanted to do it when I was ready. I didn’t want y’all to shun me just for what my name means…” Isabella said, sadly.

The shocked gasps rang around the room as Peter and Charlotte squeezed her shoulders tighter. The room remained silent for a long time before Isabella spoke again.

“I’m sorry to have hid this from all of you. I understand if you don’t want me here… I will just be goin’.” Isabella leaned down and kissed Jasper’s cheek then whispered a goodbye to him.

Isabella then hastily made her way out of the room not looking at anyone. Once she hit the hallway she ran. Not knowing where she was heading, she just let her feet guide her.

~BSB~

Back in Jasper’s room it was still so quiet you could hear a pin drop. That was until Peter spoke.

“What the hell is wrong with all of ya?”

“Peter Whitlock, don’t ya talk to ya Ma like that!” Ma Whitlock said.

“I’m not sure that ya are my Ma! My Ma would have said something or done something wonderful for a one woman who in only a few weeks has made her oldest son smile more then he has in the last eight years… The woman who just guaranteed that ya son was stayin here in Dallas in one of the most prestigious prisons in the state instead of a warn down gutter house in Houston… The woman who I would love to one day call my sister, but that may never happen now.” Peter was pissed. You could here it when he spoke. He didn’t yell and he didn’t scream but his calm tone spoke volumes.

“But Peter – she lied to us.”

“No, Ma – she didn’t. She just left some stuff out, and I don’t really blame her. Just by the way ya’s acted, you proved her worst fears correct. She knew ya’s would cast her out if ya knew who she really was, so from the beginning she was always just Isabella. Our friend. Hell, I even made her cry when I found out who she was but then I thought about how close we are and that no matter what her last name was, she was still just my friend Bella. I have never in my life been disappointed in ya Ma… until now. You know how it is to be an outcast. The Whitlock name has always brought unwanted attention, glares, jealousy and many of the other unwanted emotions – that’s exactly why Jasper was constantly in fights all the time.”

“I’m sorry, Peter…” Ma said.

“Sorry isn’t gonna fix this! Char – I’m gonna go see if I can find Bella.”

“Okay, Peter – bring her back to the house I will meet ya there.”

Peter gave Charlotte a kiss and then glared at everyone as he left the room.

“I’m truly sorry, Charlotte – please give Isabella my apologies, but I must be getting back to my rounds.” Carlisle said.

“I will but I have a feeling she would appreciate it much more coming from you.”

He nodded and headed back out the door.

“Charlotte…” Esme looked sad.

“I know, Esme. It’s a shock, but you have to understand that Isabella has gone through this her entire life. Her only real friend until Peter and I was Emmett.”

“I’m so sorry – I didn’t mean to freeze up like that! Isabella is a wonderful girl and I hope she will forgive me…” Esme said.

“I’m sure she will once we find her… which could be hard. Seeing as if she doesn’t want to be found ,there are thousands of places she could go.”

“I hope Peter finds her.” Esme said, sitting next to Jasper.

Charlotte looked at Ma. The two women stood staring at one another until Ma simply turned away and walked out. Charlotte looked to Esme and Jasper.

“Esme, I’m gonna go have a few private words with Ma. If I don’t return be sure to give Jasper my love and tell him goodnight for me.”

“Sure will, Charlotte. Give Isabella my love also.”

“Will do.”

Charlotte left then leaving Esme alone with Jasper. Esme took the chance to talk to Jasper about everything that happened seeing as he simply just laid there taking everything in.

“Jasper, hun – what do you think of all this mess? Do you think Isabella did the right thing hiding who she was?”

Jasper had listened to the whole situation from beginning to end. He didn’t let anything show in his features or emotions the entire time. He knew either Esme or Isabella would stay and ask him about it. What he didn’t expect was what happened when Isabella told them her last name. After Isabella explained everything along with Peter and Charlotte no one said anything. Then Isabella ran. Jasper could almost feel her heartbreak as his own. He had never wished as hard as he did just then that he could talk to her, run after her.  He wasn’t sure how to answer Esme’s question. He understood how it felt to be an outcast. He protected himself and Peter from it everyday growing up. Coming from money, and not just any money but one of the more noticeable families in Texas was always a burden and a cause for others to ridicule you. So he knew how to answer her. Jasper spiked his pressure and groaned.

“Okay so I take it you aren’t happy about any of this either?” Esme asked

Again he groaned.

“What are ya tryin to say Jasper? It would be so much easier if ya could just wake up.” Esme sighed.

Just then Jasper clenched his fist. Esme saw and gasped.

“Jasper – ya moved your hand! Try that again.”

Jasper tried again and succeeded in clenching his fist again. Esme squealed like a young girl.

“Jasper, that is great! You’re getting closer to waking.”

Jasper sighed.

“Oh Jasper, don’t be so pessimistic.”

Jasper grumbled.

“So are you angry that Isabella keep her name a secret?”

Jasper sighed, then clenched his hand twice.

“So, you’re not angry?”

Again he clenched his hand twice.

“Wow, this hand thing is so much easier then trying to decipher your grunts and groans.”

Jasper grumbled again.

“Yeah, yeah – I know you would talk if ya could.”

Jasper sighed.

“Well, Jasper since you heard everything and I know your not angry, I guess I should be heading home. I will let Isabella know when I see her that you can now move your hands. It should make your conversations easier.” Esme kissed his forehead and told him goodnight.

Jasper laid there thinking over everything he had heard today. Isabella was a Swan – in more ways then one he thought. She was beautiful and graceful much like the majestic bird her name represented.  As well as the fact that her shortened nickname that Peter had given her meant Beautiful in Italian.  

The name Swan was respected and well know throughout Texas. Jasper knew all about it because of his bouts with the law before he joined the Marines. He was sure he was stopped and ticketed several times by Isabella’s father growing up. Texas Ranger Charlie Swan… He was the one who put the idea in his head to join the Marines and use his talents for something good instead of the trouble he was constantly using it for. Now all he had to do was wake up and tell her that her father may have very well saved his life, and given him something even more special: Her!