A quick author's note! Hey guys this is my take on an AU version of season 4 of supernatural. I made this account many years ago and never really got into fanfiction like I truly wanted to. I just finished rewatching season 3 and began season 4 of supernatural so I figured I'd give it a shot. I know a read a story similar to this plot on here once before, so if anyone could send me a link to it I'd love to acknowledge and give credit to it, as well as message the author. I will try my best to give my own spin to the story but if it comes off too similar I will gladly remove mine. I would love any and all feedback, I hope everyone enjoys!
Everything is dark. The air is thick and it is hard to breathe. Her eyes flutter open- blinking erratically as they begin to slowly adjust to the lack of light. Panic surges through her when she realizes that wherever she is, she is trapped.
"H-h-help.." Her attempt to scream leaves her throat burning as her raspy voice permeates the silence.
Flashes begin to appear before her eyes; a call to Dean, the clock striking midnight, blinding pain as the claws of the hell hounds tear through her flesh. The taste of copper thick in her throat as she struggled to draw her final breaths. Awaking to more blinding pain- her body mangled and torn, chains wrapped so tightly around her that she could barely even move her head. The only thing she could do was shriek in terror and cry out for help.
As quickly as the visions assaulted her, they were gone, leaving her hyperventilating, still struggling for air. She began slamming her hands against the wooden boards currently confining her. Frantically, she began to claw at them, ripping and tearing her nails in the process. Pain. Pain. Pain. Pain is the only thought and feeling she can experience, the loss of her nails barely registering with her.
Finally, she discovers a dampened spot that had weakened the wood and began slamming her fist repeatedly against it until finally it breaks allowing dirt to seep through causing everything to go black- her eyes burning and mouth dry and as she tries to shut them both.
Her hands struggle against the dirt, valiantly fighting for her freedom. After what feels like eternity, one finally manages to breach the surface. Using the last of her energy and strength she begins a final effort to free herself, managing to pull her head above ground, her eyes blinded with searing pain when assaulted by the flooding light. As if on autopilot her body continues to pull itself to freedom as she crawls out and finally rolls onto her back, eyes firmly snapped shut and still burning from the sudden influx of light.
How much time had elapsed since she'd been laying there? Minutes, hours, days? She finally attempted opening her eyes again- squinting painfully as they again were assaulted by the light. Struggling to her feet her eyes finally began to adjust and she took in the sight of utter devastation surrounding her. As she stumbled forward it appeared as if a nuclear bomb had been set off- trees uprooted, lay strown around her and the ground was devoid of any grass. It appeared as if she had awakened in a nightmare. She gave a glance back to the ground where she'd managed to free herself from. A hole in the ground with a half visible wooden box buried in it. She had risen from an unmarked grave, buried in a cheap make-shift coffin. A strangled sob emanated from her as she realized the implications. She'd died alone and bloody. She'd had no one to miss her, to mourn her passing, to leave flowers on her grave.
She felt tears well up in her eyes, the wetness almost soothing them as they escaped and slid down her dirty face. Her mind still hazy she began stumbling out of the clearing, heading in no particular direction, with only one thought resonating in her mind, 'How the bloody hell am I alive'.
She had been walking for what felt like eternity. She had finally left the clearing and found a road that she started following. Her muscles ached in protest to every step she took. Eventually, she happened upon a gas station that seemed to have been abandoned by time. A tiny building with a few cars that looked as if they were from the 1960's parked around it and two old style gas pumps which she briefly wondered were even still operable.
As she came to the door she immediately became suspicious. The glass had been broken out of the window and the door was left slightly ajar. Cautiously, she entered and was not at all prepared for the sight that greeted her eyes.
"D..De..Dean?" She managed to choke out to the man before her.
Yes, it was indeed Dean Winchester who was standing in front of her. He was standing in front of a mirror with his sleeve rolled up starring in what appeared to be shock at something on his arm.
Upon hearing her voice he seemed to be shocked back to reality and quickly spun around to face her, his arm instinctively reaching down and picking up the nearest thing he could use as a weapon and raising it above his head.
"Bela? What the friggen hell is goin' on?" he questioned, confusion clear in his startled voice, as he took a step back from her- arm still raised above his head and poised, ready to attack should he have to.
Unable to articulate a response, Bela's eyes took in the sight of him. He was still the gorgeous Dean Winchester she remembered, although, he looked quite rough. He was covered and matted in dirt and bruises adorned his swollen knuckles but what really caught her eyes was the mark on his upper left arm. It looked as if a burning hot hand had touched him and left a horribly burned and bubbled scar upon his flesh. The faintest smile graced her lips as a thought crossed her mind, 'Leave it to Dean Winchester to appear this rough and disheveled but still have his hair perfectly styled.'
Her eyes finally leaving him,she looked down and began wordlessly rolling up her right sleeve, Dean flinched at the sudden movement, until his eyes were suddenly drawn to her arm as well. The same horrendous hand print was on her, an exact mirror image of the one on him.
"Instead of attacking me with that water bottle, how about offering a girl a drink instead?" Bela questioned, "Honestly Dean, such hostility, I'd almost think you're not absolutely thrilled to see me again." Her voice cracked as she managed to get the words out, her mouth still bone dry.
Upon hearing her words, Dean glanced up at his arm to realize his chosen weapon was the half drank bottle of water he'd had earlier. He lowered his arm and tossed the bottle to her, confusion still clearly apparent on his face.
"You're dead." His deep voice croaked. It was a statement not a question. "I'm dead too. This isn't possible."
She had eagerly brought the bottle to her lips, this stale off brand water, that in her previous life she'd never touch, was the most refreshing thing she'd ever tasted, she mused.
"Maybe this is your own personal hell, Dean, trapped alone in the world with me for all eternity." She coyly smiled at him, her words spoken before she'd even registered saying them. At the mention of hell, she suddenly froze. Flashes again assaulting her as the water bottle dropped from her hands and hit the floor. Chains wrapped around her. Searing pain. Glinting and malicious eyes. Familiar eyes. A dangerous smirk and a hollow laugh.
Panic evident in her eyes she stumbled away from him, knocking over a magazine rack in the process as she fell to the ground.
"What the hell Bela, are you okay?" Dean questioned taking an unconscious step towards her.
"Stop. Stay away from me Dean. Please stop." She hysterically begged, hauntedly dull and lifeless eyes gazing up at him in terror before finally fluttering closed.
Consciousness slowly began returning to her. She could hear the soft rumble of an engine and music infiltrating her ears.
''Cause I'm back
Yes, I'm back
Well, I'm back'
She could feel the ground beneath her moving as she sped towards an unknown destination. For the third time that day her eyes struggled to open as she realized she was curled into a ball in the passenger seat of a car.
"Yes, I'm back
Well, I'm back, back
Well, I'm back in black
Yes, I'm back in black"
"Honestly Dean, must you have such a horrible taste in music" She groaned as she rubbed her eyes, her head still pounding.
"What the hell was that back there in the gas station, Bela" Dean questioned as he spun the dial on the radio down, unbidden concern in his voice.
"I honestly don't know.." her voice trailed off as she sat up straight in her seat.
"I can't get a hold of Sammie, none of his numbers are in service and when I finally got a hold of Bobby and he just hung up on me twice. I need some answers and now."
"Well don't look at me, Dean, I'm just as lost if not more so than you."
"Bela I'm scared.. after you passed out in the station some crazy stuff happened.. There was a loud screeching, almost unbearable to listen to, windows were shattered and I thought my brain was going to explode." Dean's voice was quiet and Bela knew he must be truly terrified if he was confiding in her of all people.
"None of this makes any sense Dean.. Earlier, you said that you were dead too? What happened?" Bela questioned, looking at her companion next to her.
"lillth and her hell hounds happened." his voice was grim and his eye's shown with pain at the recollection.
"Where are we going?" she questioned, feeling the need to change to subject upon seeing the look on his face.
"I'm headed to Bobby's. He'll know what's going on, he can tell me where Sam is." he replied.
"Well that's all well and good, I wish you the best of luck Dean but I think it's time we part ways. You can go ahead and drop me off right here." Bela quipped as she looked out of the window and realized they must have been in the middle of nowhere.
"There's not a snowballs chance in hell that I'm letting you out of my sight until I figure out what is going on." Dean growled. "So if you don't have any answers just sit back, shut up, and enjoy the ride" and with that he reached forward and spun the dial back up on the radio.
"Back in the back
of a Cadillac
Number one with a bullet, I'm a power pack
Yes I'm in a bang
With a gang
They've got to catch me if they want to hang"
Bela growled in annoyance but remained silent as she started trying to gather her thoughts and make sense of the recent events, settling to watch the country scenery zoom past as her ears were filled with music she'd never admit in a thousand years she actually rather enjoyed.
The car slowed to a halt as they pulled into Bobby's place. As they both got out of the car and walked to the front door, Bela had decided to hang back and out of sight as Dean knocked on the door. As it opened Bobby was visible in the doorway looking as if he'd just saw a ghost.
"Surprise." Dean exclaimed rather lamely, eliciting a snort from Bela. 'No tact at all, something's will never change' she thought.
"I don't.." Bobby trailed off.
"Yeah me either." Dean chuckled nervously as he took a hesitant step forward. "But here I am."
"Like hell." was Bobby's reply as he suddenly lunged forward with a knife he'd had concealed behind his back. After grappling with him for a few moments and catching a fist to the face, Dean finally stumbled back.
"Woah woah woah." Dean exclaimed, his hands held out defensively in front of him, "You're name is Robert Singer. You became a hunter after your wife died and you're about the closest thing I got to a father."
By this time Bela had entered the doorway, keeping quiet as the scene unfolded in front of her. Upon hearing Dean's words it seemed as if Bobby had finally softened and slowly walked towards Dean until he finally lunged at him with the knife again. Another scuffle ensued and Dean finally managed to disarm Bobby and held the knife in his hand.
"I'm not a shapeshifter!" Dean exclaimed.
"Then you're a remnant" Bobby growled.
"If I was either of those, then could I do this? With a silver knife" Dean questioned as he rolled up his sleeve and hesitated for only a moment, wincing as he dragged the blade across his skin.
Bobby's demeanor visibly softened as he finally walked forward and embraced Dean. "But how did you bust out." He questioned "God, it's good to see you boy."
"I honestly have no idea, the only thing I remember is waking up in a pine bo-" Dean was suddenly cut off as water was splashed in his face. Spitting the water out he said, "I'm not a demon either ya know."
"Sorry." Bobby said, not looking at all apologetic, "Can't be too careful." He grinned sheepishly.
"What a heart-warming sight." Bela finally said, making her presence known. At the sound of her voice Bobby quickly spun around looking at her incredulously. "Bela..?" Bobby trailed off, clearly even more flabbergasted.
"Yeah join the club, I'm just as surprised as you are. I checked her out earlier, it's actually her." Dean said walking to stand next to Bobby.
At this proclamation Bela raised a brow, startled. "Earlier while you were sleeping, doused you with holy water. Got it from the toilet bowl at the gas station." Dean grinned.
"You're as incorrigible as ever, Dean Winchester." Bela said glaring at him. "Now if you don't mind, I'll be using your shower. I'm filthy and I stink." she directed at Bobby.
"Uh.. down the hall and to the right.. fresh towels are in the closet." Bobby replied still confused beyond belief.
Upon hearing this Bela left and started down the hallway hearing the two men begin their conversation again.
"It had to have been Sam.. What the hell did he do?" Dean questioned Bobby. "And why the hell did he bring her back too."
Whatever response Bobby may have had was lost to Bela as she closed the bathroom door. After turning the shower on she collapsed on the floor next to the tub pulling her knees close to her chest as she tried to muffle her sobs. That heartfelt reunion she'd just witnessed. She'd have no warm embrace. No caring pseudo-father figure to be relieved at her return. No one would be happy she was alive. Long ago she'd hardened her heart to feelings such as these, so just why were these thoughts coming unbidden to her now and affecting her so deeply to her very core. She was Bela Talbot. Long ago she'd shed weaknesses such as these and she'd be damned if they would surface and make her look weak in front of him of all people.
With that final thought, she pulled herself to her feet and finally stepped into the shower after shedding her filthy clothes and allowed the warm water to wash away the few tears that had managed to escape.
As the water in the shower finally began to grow cold, Bela knew she could no longer prolong rejoining the two men waiting outside. Drying off with a towel, Bela frowned. She would rather die than put her dirty clothes back on but she was in a pickle. She cracked the door of the bathroom open, fully intending on sending Dean to fetch her something suitable from a store when she saw something folded neatly on the ground. She pulled the door slightly more ajar and picked them up. It was a plain black shirt and black gym shorts. She shut the door and could vaguely smell the unmistakable scent of Dean Winchester on them.
A small smile forming on her lips she slipped the shirt on over her head and chuckled as it flowed down her like a dress. She pulled the shorts on and drew the drawstring out as far as it would go and securely tightened them around her waist. As she wiped away the condensation left by the steam she took in her slightly obscured image. She couldn't help but give a slight smile, 'Never in a million years would I have thought I'd be wearing Dean Winchester's clothes'.
After finally firmly setting her game face and preparing to face Bobby and Dean she walked out of the bathroom and wandered into the living room where Dean was sitting on the couch, a beer in his hand, and Bobby in the chair across from him grinning from ear to ear.
"Boys." She acknowledged to them, interrupting their conversation. Dean stopped midsentence, mouth agape as he took in the sight of her, his mouth finally settling into a light frown.
Bobby stood up and made his way over to Bela, placing a hand on both of her shoulders and was giving her the once over.
'Maybe he didn't take Dean's word for it, that it's actually me.' Bela mused, staying on alert should the knife from earlier come back into play.
What happened next was the last thing Bela was prepared for. Bobby had pulled her forward into his arms, as they tightly embraced her. "Welcome back to the world of the living Bela" Bobby whispered into her ear as she let out a startled gasp.
Her heart had never felt this heavy and tears once again came pouring out of her eyes, as she hid her face by placing her head into Bobby's shoulder, refusing to allow Dean to see her cry while accepting the embrace.
A sad, knowing smile eased onto Bobby's face as he held the quietly sobbing and slightly shaking girl in his arms and whispered soothing words to her.