Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight nor the characters contained in this story.

Warning: This story is rated M for a reason. Language, Violence, Sex. You've been warned.

AN: Thank you so much for reviewing!

Sorry about the delay on this update, but in exchange this chapter is a bit longer!

I'll be having surgery on my arm next week. That, unfortunately, means that this will be the last update for ~3-4 weeks. I have to have it completely immobile for that amount of time and will not be even allowed to click a mouse button or type (with my right arm and I'm totally useless with my left). I'm sorry!

Anyway, let's continue...

Garrett made a show of dusting himself off after standing. He walked slowly, calmly, over to Bella and leaned over her shoulder to see where she was referring to. He was so close behind her, that Bella felt his breath on her neck – the bastard.

"There's nothing there," Garrett said matter-of-factly.

Bella's eyebrows furrowed. "Are you sure?" she asked, turning to look at him over her shoulder. The move put their faces inches apart and Bella quickly turned her head back to the map. Garrett knew exactly what the hell he was doing and Bella was not amused; Jasper's low growl was not unheard, either.

"I'm sure," Garrett insisted, taking a single step back upon hearing Jasper's growl. He had no desire to taste the ground again so soon.

"But it would be the perfect spot, strategically," Bella argued.

"There's nothing there," he repeated slowly, his tone exasperated now. "Just an abandoned gas station and a large, single story building that's being used for storage. No signs of anything out of the ordinary."

Jasper walked over and looked at the map himself, studying the spot that Bella had pointed to. "No scents nearby, new or old?" he questioned.

"No," Garrett all but growled. "I do know how to do my job, for fuck's sake."

"Your job," Bella repeated and shook her head in disgust. "Right."

"I could check it out, Major," Char volunteered, having moved closer to inspect the map herself.

Garrett scoffed and rolled his eyes. Did no one listen to him?

Jasper thought his options through before replying, "Fine. Char you check it out while the rest of us will start with the warehouse – you can meet us there afterward. Then we'll all head to the other building together."

"I want to go with Char," Bella stated.

"No."

"No?" Bella said, drawing out the word. "Why not? I'd be safe with Char..."

"This isn't up for debate or negotiation," Jasper cut her off, unwilling to give even a little this time. He refused to have his mate anywhere in the city without him by her side, not when there was a newborn army in the vicinity.

"I beg to differ," Bella gritted.

"You can beg all you want, but you will be staying with the group," Jasper told her, his tone full of finality.

"I'll check it out thoroughly, I promise," Char said, stepping between them and putting a hand on Bella's shoulder in reassurance.

Bella looked into her new friend's eyes.

"And I will be fine," Char added upon seeing the genuine worry and concern in Bella's eyes.

Bella nodded and squeezed Char's hand on her shoulder, though she didn't feel very reassured. She did, however, feel somewhat grateful that Jasper listened to her enough to send someone to check it out, even if she couldn't go with. Garrett obviously wouldn't even listen to a word she said.

"Peter, why don't you go with Char," Jasper suggested after a moment.

Peter raised a brow but didn't argue. He would be lying if he didn't feel a bit relieved to be going with his mate and making sure she was safe. He wondered if Jasper had picked up on any of his unease at her going alone in this situation or if he was doing it simply to calm Bella's worries – perhaps a mixture of both.

Peter nodded his acceptance to Jasper and Jasper returned a knowing look. Definitely a mixture of both, then.

The group split up and put their plan into motion.

Bella, Jasper, and Garrett circled around the warehouse, trying to find an ideal location to attempt to get a closer look inside.

"Bella, stay here," Jasper said, motioning for Garrett to follow him.

Bella glared at him but did as he said. They were too close to the warehouse and the newborns to strike up an argument; though that wouldn't stop her from calling him an asshole later.

Jasper peered through a small crack in a window at the corner of the building and then crouched low. Garrett took a quick look through the same crack and then crouched as well. Jasper motioned him forward and the two of them slowly moved around the corner to the opposite side of the building.

The newborns paced nervously inside, all fourteen of them, their snarls and growls increasing as they detected the smell of strange vampires nearby. Jasper sent two of them anger and thirst, causing them to begin to fight with one another. Hopefully that would be enough to distract the others from their presence as they made their way around the rest of the perimeter of the warehouse.

After inspecting all of the entrances and exits, they made their way back to Bella. Peter and Char were just arriving. Jasper motioned them to move and the group moved to a safer distance where they could talk and not be overheard.

"What did you find?" Bella questioned immediately.

Char rubbed her neck nervously before hesitantly answering her, "There wasn't anything there."

Garrett threw them a smug look and Char rolled her eyes.

"I don't understand. It doesn't make sense," Bella replied, looking in the direction of the location on the map, as if she could see the building from there.

"I swear we checked everywhere, Bella. There's nothing there," Char assured her.

"I know," Bella said. "I trust you did. Thank you for checking."

"I'm sorry, but it appears the asshole was right," Char sneered at Garrett. "But you know what they say? Even a broken, dickhead of a clock is right twice a day."

Garrett's smirk fell from his face and he scoffed, "I don't know how the hell Peter lives with you."

"Very happily, actually," Peter answered, giving Garrett a forceful clap on the shoulder as he moved past him. Garrett staggered from the force and Char smiled while Bella giggled.

"What's it looking like so far, Major?" Peter asked.

"Fourteen. Most appeared six months or less. Easily influenced and no gifts that were obvious," Jasper informed.

"That's not that many," Peter pondered. "How many did Garrett say were at the other building?"

"I didn't," Garrett interjected, moving to stand near them. "I never got a closer look before I had to leave to find Bella. But I believe there's more at that building than at the warehouse. I think they're keeping the older ones at the warehouse – but I can't confirm that, it's just a theory at this point."

"If six months are the older ones, then they're either doing a shit job," Peter suggested. "Or it's their first rodeo."

"I'm thinking it's their first," Jasper agreed. "The question is, why? What's their motive?"

Garrett shrugged and with a gleam in his eye said, "What was Maria's motive? Since you knew her best...Major."

Jasper's eyes turned black as night as his fingers quickly wrapped around Garrett's throat. "You think she'll protect you, don't you?" Jasper growled. "If you can provoke me enough, making her hate me even more for hurting you, she just might be able to choose you over her mate, is that it?"

Garrett's eyes shot over Jasper's shoulder and Jasper looked behind him...straight into Bella's very annoyed gaze.

"Are you two done over here? We do have another building to check, remember? And I want to get this shit over with, so that I can go home with Peter and Char," Bella said, effectively shutting them both down.

Jasper's eyes snapped to Peter's, who gave a small, nervous wave in return. "Oh, by the way, Major, I invited Bella to come home with us."

Jasper's fingers released Garrett's neck, taking Garrett by surprise.

It was obvious that Jasper's time with Maria was a vulnerable spot for Jasper, even if Bella didn't know all the details yet herself. And she really didn't like that Garrett had stooped so low as to try and use that information against Jasper, especially in some twisted attempt to win her back.

No. She didn't like it at all.

Bella turned to walk away but added, "Oh and Gar? I heard what you fucking said to him and you should know, I won't protect you next time. And I certainly won't blame Jasper for anything that happens to you."

Bella didn't see the small smile on Jasper's lips; but she did feel the warmth spread through her chest at having defended her mate.

AN: Share your thoughts?

See you all again in ~3-4 weeks!

**Thanks for reading!**