To Please the Monster Inside [Carlisle/Jasper][Chapter Eight]
Title: To Please the Monster Inside [Chapter Eight]
Pairing: Carlisle/Jasper
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Fiction
Summary: The monster inside Jasper lusts for human blood. When the desire is too strong to resist, there is only one who can help. Carlisle tamed this monster once, and now he must try again.
Carlisle followed Edward outside, finding him sulking at the left end of the porch, staring out into the night blackened forest.
The doctor approached cautiously, hands tucked into his pockets. "Why does this bother you so much, Edward?"
The boy vampire sighed irritably, hands clenching tight around the porch railing.
Carlisle stood beside his son, placing one gentle hand on the boy's tense shoulder. "I want you to talk to me. Tell me what's wrong."
"You can't figure that out on your own?"
Carlisle shook his head once. "I have a fair idea. But still, I would very much appreciate you telling me for yourself."
Edward sighed again, this time for dramatic effect. He turned his head to look Carlisle in the eye. "You found me when I was dying. And you saved me when I was almost dead. You recreated me, gave me strength and immortality. And you gave me your love, Carlisle. I began a new life with you, I gained a new family from you. I gained a father..."
Edward turned his gaze back to the forest.
Carlisle waited for his son to continue.
"I understand that you did much the same for Jasper. You tamed the monster inside him - taught him how to control his hunger. You gave him back his humanity. You gave humanity to us all Carlisle. Becuase you are gentle and compassionate and so beautiful, so loving, you have saved us all from a destiny of murder and evil - not to mention the thousands of human lives you also saved in the process."
Carlisle slipped his arm around Edward's body, pulling him in close. "You have always been so intense, Edward. Sometimes its hard to keep up."
"I am not being intense, I am being reasonable, sensible. After all that you've done, it seems so wrong for you to let Jasper hurt you in order to satisfy his own desires. It makes me angry that he is still unable to control his bloodlust. And it makes me angrier still that he believes he has the right to feed from you! Every member of this family makes the most massive effort to control their hunger - but Jasper is too lazy, too pathetic..."
Edward's voice trailed off into silence. He took comfort in the strength of his father's arms around him, breathing deeply, trying to calm his anger.
"Edward, I appreciate what you have said. I am flattered to hear all that you think of me. But you are too harsh on Jasper, too quick to judge. Your conclusions are unfair. And you should know better than all of us how hard he tries. Don't you see the struggles in his mind?"
"I barely see anything in his mind nowadays - he blocks every thought."
Edward pulled away from the doctor's embrace, moving to head back inside. Carlisle stopped him with a hand on his bicep. "I want you to stop this now. I accept your explanation for your anger, but your concern is unnecessary. I have given Jasper permission to drink from me because it gives him relief from his thirst. I will always do everything that I can to protect an innocent human. Just as I will always do everything that I can to protect a good vampire from doing evil. I doubt this will be the last time that Jasper feeds from me. It would make me happy if you could accept that."
Carlisle let Edward go, dropping his hand back down to his side. He stared after his son as he walked away, praying that his anger wouldn't last.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Sitting in his office, Carlisle read a book by the light of a small lamp. His body curled against a leather couch, legs tucked comfortably beneath him. His honey eyes flickered over each page with unnatural speed. When he crossed his favourite parts, he sucked his bottom lip into his mouth, biting the hard flesh without notice.
Jasper sat at the doctor's desk, feigning interest in using the internet. Every few seconds he would hit a few random keys or give the mouse a couple of clicks. Apart from these absentminded actions, Jasper gave no focus to the sleek laptop in front of him. His attention was directed wholly toward the handsome vampire on the other side of the room.
He felt his eyes become glazed as he watched the doctor chew on his lip. He had to grind his teeth together every time he heard the soft, wet sounds Carlisle made as he sucked his lip into his mouth.
Jasper knew he shouldn't be in here. He was only tormenting himself, and possibly annoying Carlisle with his pointless clicking and tapping on the laptop. His body was urging him to act instinctively, to prowl over and claim the snowy skinned temptation curled up innocently on the couch. But his mind was telling him to run, to get up and leave and close the door behind him.
Just as he had decided to walk out, Carlisle put his book down, leaving it open against his chest. He turned to look at Jasper as he ran a hand through his hair. "What are you doing over there?" he asked, obvious curiosity in his voice.
Jasper was quiet, no idea what to say. He cleared his throat and folded his hands into his lap. "Umm... Nothing, in particular. I was just... surfing the net?"
Carlisle stared at him for a minute, amusement in his golden eyes. The he chuckled softly, a melodic sound that reminded Jasper of all the reasons why he needed to leave right now.
"Why is that funny?" Jasper asked defensively.
"Becuase you never use my computer. When did you become interested in 'surfing the net'?"
"I... a few hours ago."
Carlisle chuckled again. "Alright. Well I hope you are using my internet responsibly then. I don't like malware clogging up my system."
"Malware?"
"Viruses, Trojans, viral advertisements."
"Oh. Okay. I'll avoid the malware then."
"I would appreciate it." Carlisle smiled.
"Hmm." Jasper looked away from the doctor, staring into a dark corner of the room. "What are you reading?"
"The Divine Comedy, by Dante Alighieri."
"Oh, yes, I've heard of it."
"But you have never read it?"
"No. I haven't."
"You should. It is exquisite. I'm sure you would enjoy it, Jasper."
"Yeah. Well, when you're finished with it maybe I'll give it a go."
"You can start it right now if you'd like. I've already read it sixty-three times."
Jasper turned to stare at the doctor, eyebrows raised. "Hmm."
Carlisle held the younger vampire's gaze, amusement still playing in his eyes. "Something is distracting you, Jasper. I can tell. What is it?"
"Nothing." Jasper answered, too quickly.
This time Carlisle raised his eyebrows, "Are you sure?"
Jasper nodded.
The doctor frowned then, his beautiful face suddenly masked by concern. "You're not... hungry again? You must let me know if you are."
It was Jasper's turn to chuckle. "I'm not hungry, Carlisle."
"But you are distracted. By something." It wasn't a question.
"Yes, well, eternity does have its distractions." And with that, Jasper stood and moved toward the door, not even bothering to switch off the laptop.