Baby Fever [Jacob & Edward]

17

Jasper pops up with a cardboard box about an hour later, eyes following Quil, who'd let him into the house and up the stairs. Jasper gives Edward a quick once over despite his head being partially buried under Jacob's chin. 

"This might be solved by hunting, but," Jasper tilts his head to the side as he leans down to get a closer look at Edward, "I've never seen anything like it." 

He glances over at Quil, who looks just as curious, before cautiously leaning towards him to whisper something into his ear. Whatever he says, gives Quil pause as he eyes Edward and Jacob before glancing back over at Jasper. He seems to think on whatever it is for a moment before leaning over to whisper something back. 

"Hello?" Jacob calls over from underneath Edward, "You gonna tell us what's going on?" 

It was their first time meeting each other and they were already whispering like they knew more about him than him. 

"How long has this been going on?" Jasper asks, sitting the box on Jacob's desk. 

Everyone's eyes find Edward who dazedly peers up from where he's been lying.

"A little over a month..." Edward mumbles before going back to his original position of breathing directly into Jacob's neck.

Quil and Jasper glance at each other like they'd coordinated the move for this exact moment before glancing back over at the two.

"So, about the length of time you've been together?" Jasper asks and the expression on Jacob's face goes from clueless to 'deer caught in headlights' as he shifts uncomfortably.

His eyes find Quil's and he doesn't like what he can already hear before the man can even shoot him the message.

You have to tell him at some point. 

It wasn't something that needed to be said. If anything, if Quil and Jasper were correct, he'd caused whatever reaction Edward was having. He could be the reason for most of the things happening in between them. He's not going to force the man to be with him, especially if he's making him vulnerable and prone to being injured. Honestly, Edward would be better off if he didn't tell him. If he just got through this case, then let him walk out of his life the same way he'd walked in. He'd heal up and be able to have a normal life...a normal life for him anyway.

"For now, I brought this," Jasper says, opening the cardboard box and pulling out another one of those styrofoam cups, "it's fresh so it should help until you're able to hunt on your own." 

Edward groans as he sits up, humming as he brings the straw up to his lips. He looks absolutely exhausted as rests against the wall, sucking at the substance inside with his eyes glued shut. 

Quil spares Jacob one more glance before leading Jasper downstairs.

In his defense, how do you even explain this type of shit to someone who wasn't brought up with it happening regularly? He's sure vampires get to choose who they want to be with despite the setbacks of a limited dating pool. Edward wouldn't understand suddenly needing someone. Jacob doesn't even know what he'll do when Edward leaves, but he doesn't think Alice'll be able to fix Jacob when he does. Maybe he could understand the fact that Jacob was the one hurting him, but he'll want to know how.  What was Jacob supposed to say?

"Stop moping; I'm not dead." Edward mumbles, finally having opened his eyes to peer down at Jacob. 

"Not yet," Jacob sighs glumly before deciding to just spit it out, "they think I'm hurting you." 

Edward looks immediately amused by the statement.

"You? Do you even use your gun? You seem like a taser guy." Edward teases.