(Untitled)

[betagainstme]

The video camera is loose in her hands as she sits in the corner of the waiting room of the hospital. She's numb from head to toe and in retrospect it's lucky she does not need to breathe because at this moment, she cannotShe glances up, at the sound of voices in the hall. She can hear her family with Bella, talking to her in the room down the hall

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[keptherwaiting]

It takes Jasper all of a second to decide against giving her space and he follows her pain through the corridor and to the bench outside. Where he finds her just a shell of her normal self.

He wraps his arms around her tight with a kiss to the top of her head and fights against every instinct to calm her down. Part of him knows she needs this moment.

[betagainstme]

She's gasping, heaving against him, feeling like she was going to vomit, like she'd eaten human food and it was all coming back up again. Her hands press against her chest, against her stomach, even as her husband comes and holds her.

She can do nothing but lean against him, trembling, words refusing to come as she tearlessly sobs at him.

[keptherwaiting]

He sucks in a breath - it hurts him, her like this - and he holds like a rock against her. He rubs a lazy circle into her back, trying to calm her the best he can without forcing his influence on her.

[betagainstme]

She holds her breath as his power takes over her. As he is strong and capable to her sudden hysteria.

"I'm sorry--" She breaks, her fingers tight in his shirt as she finally manages to speak. "I just--it's so stupid but hurt."

She knows she needs to tell him what happened. What was on that video. Why.

At the moment, Alice just can't get over the fact her parents put her in an asylum.

Didn't they love her?

[keptherwaiting]

"You've nothing to apologize for."

His voice is a low murmur, almost as calm and soothing as his presence. He continues to rub her back and shifts away only to bring her into a tighter embrace.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

[betagainstme]

Alice curls into him, her breathing evening out slowly, but surely. Her shoulders stop shaking, and she sighs softly.

"I was in an asylum. Shock therapy and--" She breaks off again.

[keptherwaiting]

"Is that what he said on the video?" Jasper prods softly, knowing she's still working it out for herself. "Are we believing him?"

He has to ask. They have no real reason to, given the extraordinary coincidence.

[betagainstme]

"It makes sense." She whispers. "I mean, think about it. Why would he say those things to Bella?"

[keptherwaiting]

"He's sadistic. He wants to hurt someone. The whole point of him making that tape was for Edward, and us, to see it."

Though he says so, he doesn't say it with much conviction.

[betagainstme]

"Jasper." She whispers, looking up at him, shaking her head. "I don't think...it feels right. In a horrible, horrible way."

Her fingers loosen on his shirt. "Why didn't they--" She breaks off again. Some thoughts are still too painful to continue.

[keptherwaiting]

"Hey."

He turns her chin up to meet her gaze.

"Don't think that. You don't know they felt. Those people - Alice, they may have let their fear get the better of them. People do stupid things when they're scared. I love you and I'm an idiot sometimes."

He risks a smile, trying to coax one out of her.

"Maybe even a lot of the time?"

[betagainstme]

She manages a tiny smile for him. "I know and...but."

Her head goes back to his chest. "You'd never send me away."

[keptherwaiting]

"No," he murmurs, unable to find it in him to joke about that. "No, I'd never send you away."

[betagainstme]

"You're better than them. Everyone in this family is." She seems to grow stronger with these words. Sitting back up, Alice stares at her husband.

"I just...I'm sad about the one changed me. I don't remember him but...he died for me."

[keptherwaiting]

"Is that what happened to him?" Jasper asks, brushing back a strand or two of hair from Alice's forehead. He's grateful toward this mysterious vampire that saved her, not sure how else to feel about it. "I'm sure he'd have been satisfied that you had at least survived. I know I would."

[betagainstme]

"Yeah," She whispers, leaning against his hand. "I hope he had...a good life before me."

Alice curls against her husband again. "Just hold me for a minute?"