The Stockholm Syndrome

-E.M.-

I step out of the shower, grab a towel and start drying myself off in the bathroom. I try to not think about the fact that I just had a wank in the shower like a fucking teenager, while thinking about a woman who is completely unattainable. Am I attracted to her? Well, of course I am. But that doesn't mean anything, I mean, I'm a young, single guy, I'll get attracted to women.

I've just got to not let this attraction to Isabella Swan fuck up my job. I'll keep away from her. Keep my distance. Only touch her when absolutely necessary, because touching her is what seems to set me off –

I pause, the towel hovering over my skin, and frown.

I can hear laughing coming from the bedroom. Jasper's low chuckle, definitely, and – and the Swan girl?

I hastily pull on the new boxers, pull on the clean pair of jeans Jasper brought for me – and there's that laughing again. It's a soft giggling, so quiet I can barely hear it with Jasper's laugh over it. But it's definitely her.

What are they laughing at?

And how the fuck did Jasper manage to get her to a point where she's giggling? She was still scared stiff when I left the room.

I hurry out of the bathroom, topless, hair still wet, the towel slung around my shoulders, and I pause in the doorway of the bedroom, watching them.

I actually can't believe what I'm seeing here.

Jasper is on the bed, shoes off, sitting with his back against the headboard, a pillow propping him up.

The Swan girl, Isabella, is sitting up next to him, back also against the headboard, legs crossed.

And they're... talking.

They're actually having a conversation, like they're old friends or something. Like she isn't being fucking kidnapped and he isn't one of her kidnapper's accomplices.

And Jasper, that bastard, is flirting with her. He's subtle about it but I know him, I can spot his usual technique. He's using his hands a lot as he talks, so he can 'accidently' brush against her. He keeps turning his head to look at her, so her face ends up being only inches from his. He's leaning towards her, consciously I bet, so his shoulder is touching hers.

It's starts to piss me off.

I mean, what the fuck is he doing? She's my fucking delivery and he's trying to do what? Get into her pants? Not likely, mate.

I shuffle a bit where I'm standing in the doorway, clear my throat, and they both glance up, spotting me at the same time.

The Swan girl's smile drops immediately when she sees me, and her large, brown eyes become even larger as they widen, for fuck knows what reason. And it pisses me off even more that she can smile and laugh with Jasper and yet, she's still so terrified of me.

I mean, I want her to be scared because it makes things easier, makes her do what I tell her to do but if Jasper's being all chummy with her then she's gonna start getting comfortable and I can't have that. He's fucking up things.

Jasper keeps his grin intact as his eyes snap up to look at me.

Which makes me even more fucking annoyed. This is my job and he's taking the piss? Fucking flirtingwith my delivery?

"Jay," I say, trying to keep my face neutral, trying to keep my voice even.

He lifts his blond eyebrows in answer. "What's up, E?"

I jerk my head towards the living room, teeth grinding together at his nonchalant attitude. "I need to talk to you quickly."

He turns to Isabella and winks at her, still grinning, before swinging his legs over the side of the bed and reaching for his shoes.

I look over at Isabella Swan when he's bent over, tying his laces.

She's avoiding my eyes, I can tell, her gaze focused on her hands, her fingers fiddling about in her lap.

Jasper finishes tying his shoes and stands, walking past me through the doorway and out of the bedroom.

I give Isabella one last glance before I shut the door.

TTT

~B.S.~

I swear, this guy is trying to give me a heart attack.

First, he straddles me, and as if that isn't bad enough he has an erection while he does it, and then, he comes out of the shower, shirtless, hair all sexy and wet, towel around his broad shoulders, boxers peeking out of the top of his jeans.

And his body is just... wow.

No wonder he's so fucking strong, no wonder he was able to hold me down, all by himself.

I was fooled by his long, lean physique, fooled by the way he looks next to that other guy, the huge, burly one. Because, yeah, he is lean, but there is no hint of muscle about his body. He's actually very muscular, abs rippling his stomach, that sexy 'v' thing guys get at their hips, hard-looking pecs and bulging biceps when he bent his arm.

Jesus, I'm an idiot.

Why do I keep lusting after this guy? He fucking kidnapped me at gunpoint. He's taking me to someone who wants me for God knows what reason, for money. He beat up a guy so badly the guy's blood got splattered over the front of his shirt. I mean, God, what is wrong with me?

Stockholm Syndrome? Maybe I've got it.

Except, would I know I had it, if I did?

The bedroom door pushes open a little, and it's him – wearing a shirt now.

"Are you hungry?" he asks.

I am actually. I didn't realise until he just asked.

I nod.

He holds my eyes. "Ok. Well, Jasper's ordering room service."

I nod again.

He stays standing in the doorway, as if afraid to come into the room but at the same time, he doesn't want to leave.

He clears his throat, seeming almost... nervous? "There's some clean clothes for you in a bag. You can take a shower if you want."

I've probably lost my ability to speak or something because all I do, again, is nod.

"You wanna shower now or...?" he asks, trailing off.

Why is this awkward?

Um, how do you expect it to be, Bella, he's your fucking kidnapper.

I shake my head a little, to clear it.

"Ok," he says. "Well, you can shower whenever –"

"No no," I interrupt. "I'll err, I'll go now."

I get off the bed and brush past him through the open doorway. A quick glance around the living room and I see that Jasper is still here, standing over by the front door, obviously acting as security. He smiles at me when I meet his eyes though, and I smile back because, well, he's a pretty nice guy.

Well... apart from the whole, being an accomplice to my kidnapper as well as a bent cop thing.

I sigh. I so have Stockholm Syndrome.

"Jay!" Edward snaps in what seems like a warning, and I'm startled because his voice is right behind me. I had no idea he had followed me out of the bedroom.

Jasper laughs, lifting his shoulders in a shrug. "It was only a smile for fuck's sake. Chill out."

I glance over my shoulder at Edward – to find him glaring at Jasper.

"Jeez," Jasper continues, still grinning. "With the way you're acting I'd think you were jealous..." – he raises an eyebrow – "if I didn't know better."

Jealous about what? What exactly did he and Jasper talk about?

I look at Edward again – and whoa.

He's no longer glaring, in fact, his eyes are focused on the floor, almost like he's... embarrassed?

And he's blushing.

TTT

The next morning I wake up to the smell of toast and eggs and bacon and coffee.

I forget where I am for a moment, thinking I'm back in my own bed at home – before I remember that Renee's cooking never smells this good.

My eyelids flutter open; I stretch out my limbs like a cat.

And he's there, standing in the doorway again like he's afraid to get any closer to me.

"I got you some breakfast," he says, nodding at a covered plate sitting on the bedside drawer.

"Thanks." My voice is hoarse. Probably due to all the screaming I did yesterday.

He nods and turns to go back into the living room.

I sit up in the bed, pick up the plate of food and start eating.

I can hear him on his cell, as usual. He's talking pretty quietly though, so I can't hear what he's saying. Then, halfway through my breakfast I hear a knock on the front door. I pause, listening out for who it could be, but I only hear deep mumbles. I'm guessing it's a guy at the door. And then I hear a, "cheers Jay," and the door is shut.

It was Jasper. I didn't even know he was gone. Knowing that it's just Edward and I, alone again, makes me feel, I don't know, nervous?

Edward appears at the doorway of the bedroom again.

"Need anything?" he asks. "More food? Drink?"

I shake my head. "Um, no thanks."

He just about to say something else when there's another knock on the front door.

He goes to answer it, and this time I can immediately tell who's there once he opens the door. Her high pitched, New York accented voice is pretty hard to miss, and oddly, I'm glad she's here.

I hear her and Edward talking heatedly – probably arguing – about something, and then a moment later she appears at the doorway with an irritated-looking Edward hot on her heels.

She grins. "Hey, babe, miss me?"

I can't help smiling back because, yeah, I sort of did.

I totally have Stockholm Syndrome.

"Good to see Eddie boy's been taking care of ya."

"Of course I'm taking care of her, I'm not a fucking monster," Edward says, annoyed.

Alice rolls her eyes and walks over to sit next to me on the bed.

Edward, again, stays in the doorway, leaning against the doorjamb.

"So," Alice says, leaning against the headboard and stretching out her short legs on the comforter. "Did Jay manage to get the passport?"

Edward gives her a look I can't really interpret, glaring at her through narrowed, yet incredulous eyes before he says through clenched teeth, "yeah, he did."

Alice seems to ignore his look. She smiles. "Good. Well, like I said, I've booked the tickets. The flight's tonight."

Wait, what? Passport? Flights?

"Where are we going?"

Alice looks pointedly at Edward.

Edward grimaces.

"We're taking a flight."

"Well, yeah, I figured that, but where to?" My voice sounds slightly hysterical and can you blame me? I mean, we're taking a flight. We could be going anywhere. Being transported around America and not knowing where I'm going is bad enough, but if I was taken to another country, how on earth would I be able to get back? How on earth would I get found?

Edward sighs. "I can't tell you where."

Oh my God.

Alice seems to sense my rising hysteria. She touches my arm, stroking me with her fingertips in a soothing manner. "Don't worry, it's a short flight," she whispers. "If you know what I mean."

"For fuck's sake, Alice!"

"What? I'm not telling her anything." She shrugs. "It's a short flight. That doesn't give away much, does it?"

Edward looks at me. He sighs again, running his fingers through his hair. "Look, I'm sorry, alright?" he says, those bluish-green eyes of his intense. "I'm sorry I have to do this to you, but I'm only doing a job."

At that he turns from the doorway and walks into the living room.

Alice stares at the spot he just left for a few minutes, her lips pursed as if she's thinking about something.

"Hmmm," she murmurs thoughtfully.

"What?" I ask.

She shakes her head. "Nothing," she murmurs, turning to look at me with narrowed eyes. She smiles wickedly. "Well, nothing yet."

TTT

About an hour later, we leave the hotel.

Alice comes with us, thank goodness. I don't really want to be alone with Edward.

He's awfully quiet though, and barely even glancing at me or Alice. In the car he drives silently, and I look at him from the corner of my eye. He doesn't looks mad, like he did when he wanted to find out who blew up his car, he doesn't look irritated by Alice either, he just looks... contemplative.

"What are you thinking about?"

Alice's voice in his ear startles him. She's leaning forward in between the two front seats again like she was doing before, except this time she's whispering in Edward's ear instead of mine.

"Jesus, Alice," he murmurs – but he doesn't answer her question. Or even glance at her.

She strokes his face with the back of her fingers. "You're being very quiet today, E," she continues. "What's up?"

He shrugs, tilting his head away from her fingers, his eyebrows lowering in a slight frown. "I'm always quiet."

Alice pokes his cheek. "True. But you're not usually this quiet. What's on your mind?"

His frown deepens. He shrugs again. "Nothing."

Alice's eyebrows elevate. "Really? Nothing at all?"

"Nope."

Alice snickers. "Sure," she says, ruffling his hair. She then leans back in her seat. She yawns. "I'm gonna take a nap. Wake me up if you need me."

I'm confused. I hate these conversations they have that I don't understand, hate these loaded looks and private talks. It just makes me more nervous.

The silence in the car becomes slightly suffocating now that Alice is quiet too, and I just can't help feeling... awkward with him and I don't know why.

Might have something to do with the fact that you felt his hardened cock on your stomach, Bella.

I blush hard at that thought and my eyes automatically flicker to the side to look at him –

Only to find him doing the same thing to me.

I quickly look away, look out of the window on my side, try not to take a peek at him again.

He switches on the radio, turns it up, and we continue the journey in silence.