Disclaimer: Don't own anything except original characters. All material (c) to respective owners. I write these for fun and make no profit. They're just random plot bunnies that live within my strange mind.

Thank you to you for the comments, fav's reviews, etc. They are much appreciated and make me feel better about my writing.


Chapter 3: Unfortunate Revelation

Bella sat upright rubbing her eyes realizing she had dozed off; she had felt movement and noticed that the cat had walked to her door and decided to investigate what had stirred the oversized black cat. She as quietly as possible opened the door noting the cat rush out into the room and allowed her gaze to trace over the familiar mess of the room. Her gaze halted on the sprawled form on the bed sleeping noticing his glasses were laying across the floor along with whatever he had been reading, the light had been turned off and the shade was slanted indicating a half asleep attempt at doing so. Bella allowed a brief smirk of satisfaction before as silently as she could starting toward the door on the other side of the room, carefully maneuvering around the various objects making her feel like she was walking across a landmine field, any little noise could wake Corso and she did not need that. About halfway to the door she felt an odd uneasy feeling and chanced a glance over her shoulder noting the once sprawled form was no longer laying across his bed and suddenly was on alert for trouble.

"I thought I mentioned leaving here would be a bad thing?" Dean was suddenly beside her and watched her jump letting out a near silent yelp. "Word of advice…I'm a light sleeper." He caught her wrist and held it firm seeing her gaze narrow at this.

Bella did not like his tone or the grip he had on her wrist and was thoroughly ready to let him know it. "You can't keep me here and this is kidnapping." She noticed his eyes shift from amber and back again before hearing a small chuckle. "I'm not amusing!" she wanted to scream but decided against the urge to do so.

Dean thought a moment before allowing his smirk to broaden. "You can't kidnap the willing." He then released her wrist and pointed back to the room she had just left. That did not set well with Bella or the implication behind it and before he could realize what was about to happen her foot connected firmly with his shin. Something very verbal and violent escaped Dean's lips right then and his eyes had shifted back to the amber glow turning almost red with the irritation he was currently experiencing.

Bella crossed her arms and allowed a satisfied smile on her face. "Next time I might aim higher." She warned before all but stomping back to the room she was currently an unwilling guest of and slamming the door behind her careful to lock it.

Bella sat there in the dark room fuming silently for nearly an hour and then decided to investigate Corso's status wanting to make another escape attempt, once wasn't good enough for her she had always been stubborn and oddly enough Dean Corso was making that part of her personality more appealing by the minute. She again silently went to the door opening it a crack and discovering Dean again sprawled across the bed only this time a pillow firmly planted over his head and a glass of half finished scotch on the side table. "Smoke and drink, do you do anything else?" she wondered starting slowly around the danger zone of his room again and nearly getting to the door before hearing a loud yowl and turning quickly seeing Dean was again up and alert and had found the tail of the cat who suddenly vanished between her legs and into her room. She considered making a dash for the door and then noticed that odd eerie amber glow again, she silently cursed the friendly cat and crossed her arms ignoring the dark look she was receiving at the moment.

"Taking no for an answer isn't your style is it?" Dean stood slowly approaching her watching her gaze narrow irritably.

She rolled her eyes giving him a look. "Really what gave you the first clue?" she knew something was going to happen this time but wasn't sure what he could do really, except lock her in the room she was currently using.

"Do I have to handcuff you to that bed in there to get sleep?" He questioned no humor reflected in his eyes what so ever.

Bella's eyes narrowed at the threat and the possible implications behind it. "You wouldn't dare." She hissed determined to leave that apartment even if she had to resort to something violent.

Dean would dare, he also knew she wouldn't expect that move from him. He shrugged walking over to his nightstand opening a drawer tucking something hidden from her view into his pocket and caught her wrist upon another attempt at exiting the room on his way back. Ignoring the annoyed protests and attempts on his personal well being Dean marched a more then reluctant Bella back into her current room and made her sit on the bed keeping a firm grasp on her wrist. Dean then using his free hand pulled out a pair of handcuffs much to her concern and proceeded to do just as he threatened, he cuffed her wrist and then cuffed her to the metal headboard allowing a smug look.

Dean then left the room all but slamming the door behind him knowing full well his eyes were again a bright amber color. Bella stared after the exiting form flinching at the sound of the slamming door before her gaze found the silver handcuffs locking her to the bed. She couldn't believe it, Corso had actually kept his threat and now she was stuck, she didn't know how to pick locks and knew she couldn't do anything else but sit there and silently fume. Bella hated Corso more then he would ever know in that moment but her compassion ruled over that hate and she knew she would help him, even if she disliked him and would rather let him suffer. "What have I gotten into?" she wondered again before shaking her fist irritated at the cuffs locking her in place.

She wasn't aware of dozing off in an awkward position to sleep until she awoke the next morning to thin light peeking in through blinds on the window. Bella rolled over wrapping her arms around a pillow more then reluctant to wake up, suddenly her eyes shot open and she sat up investigating her current freedom. Dean had come into the room later that night and had freed her wrists once he was sure she was asleep, she felt slightly disturbed with the fact she hadn't heard him enter into the room or was aware of him freeing her. She stood stretching hearing noise outside in the adjoining room and hesitated briefly before walking toward the door and cracking it slightly. Dean was up and about wearing brown slacks, half buttoned red shirt and shifting irritably among a drawer full of ties that she observed flying one at a time over his head before he settled on a black one. He paused in his observation of the tie feeling the sensation he was being watched and turned seeing the door was partially opened.

"You're alive I see." He then buttoned his shirt and started to tie his necktie around before noting her open the door and step into the room looking far from amused. "Sleep well?" he smirked before turning his attention to the scotch glass sitting on his nightstand.

Bella was picturing many violent things to do to him in that moment; one included strangling him with his own tie. "Go back to hell and stay there." She then walked cautiously out into the room and started across figuring he wouldn't try and lock her away again since it was morning.

"Not a morning person." He thought quirking his brow before shrugging and following after her noting her pause turning to the sound of his familiar footsteps. "I'm taking you back to assess the damages to the store and so you can get clothing…as of now you aren't going to get rid of me." He walked carefully around her half expecting an early morning repeat of the damage to his shin from the night before, but all she did was give him an icy glare and walk over flopping in one of the chairs at the table.

"Oh goodie and I was so looking forward to having you attached to my hip." She stated dryly watching him quirk his brow an amused look dancing across his face. "You're damn lucky I don't strangle you with your own tie for that handcuff stunt." She noticed the rather plump cat come waddling into the room pausing staring between the pair as though watching a sparing match. "Traitor." She murmured noting the cat walk over to Dean and start moving against his legs in an attempt for early morning attention.

"Funny, I said the same thing to him last night." He pushed his glasses up ignoring the sour look he received both turning to a light tap on the door. Dean walked slowly toward the door muttering something irritably as he went before cautiously opening the door noting a mail carrier walking down the hall carrying his workload with him. He glanced briefly over the mail upon re-entering the apartment and shrugged tossing the biggest share into the garbage before glancing at his half empty scotch glass noting a preoccupied look on Bella's face.

"What are you running from, clearly you knew who or what was in my store last night." She noticed him go pale suddenly at that and nearly drop his scotch. Dean quickly recovered from her observation and slowly walked over sitting in the chair beside her.

He finished the drink in hand and allowed a wry smile. "You have a wonderful way with words." He sounded sarcastic which annoyed her at the moment, but she let it pass waiting for an explanation. "As far as I know it's who…they're after the book but I'm not sure why." He carefully left out any names and went to retrieve his coat noticing she was far from happy with his answer.

Against her better judgment and urge to fight with Corso so early in the morning, she followed him from his apartment and slowly down the dismal staircase to a cab waiting outside. The ride was silent except for a presence of smug arrogance about Corso which she was considering one of his less than appealing traits, once outside her store she froze spotting several police patrolling around her store and frowned seeing the main window had been shattered the night before. Bella paused at the entrance explaining she was the owner of the store and had been with a 'friend' the previous night disliking the reference but not as much as the haughty smile that crossed Dean's face.

The head of the investigation allowed her entrance into the store along with Dean and started to question her about the possibilities of anything missing finding most of the store remarkably intact. "They weren't interested in anything other then us and that book." Dean noted ignoring the curious glances he would receive from the officers during Bella's interrogation which appeared to be appropriate due to the sour look on her face. After nearly two hours of talking with police and waiting for them to finish their job, a board was placed over the broken window with a temporary notice of closure until she could sort things out and get in touch with her insurance company.

"This is all your fault." She turned away from Dean who was studying the familiar store almost curiously. She started up to her apartment ignoring the familiar padding of feet behind her deciding he was more like a tag along then anything else. "I wish I never met you." She paused at the entrance to her apartment wrinkling her nose in irritation disliking the fact that police had went through her home before walking in and heading straight to her own room shutting the door directly in his face. "Stay out." She warned hearing an annoyed curse before locking the door to further privacy.

Bella sighed miserably before walking into her closet and pulling out a black turtleneck, red vest, and black bellbottoms. She exited her room ignoring Dean on her way past the main room seeing he had already taken to vegetating in one of the chairs re-reading her notes for what she assumed was the hundredth time and then made her way into the bathroom shutting the door and quickly climbing into a warm shower hoping to wash away all the past two days events. Once she was content she exited the shower quickly drying and changing before hearing a hesitant knock at the door and glaring at her reflection in the mirror. Slowly she opened the door staring at Dean who surprisingly was offering her something other than alcohol and realizing he had apparently found her coffee maker and such while snooping in the kitchen. She offered him one of her first kind smiles in a while before nodding her thanks and watching him return to the kitchen nursing another glass of scotch.

"Is that all you do is drink and smoke?" she noted he was taking another drag on his cigarette before wrinkling her nose in annoyance.

Dean paused seeing she was back to being her ever moody self. "Just recently." He chuckled at her irritation and observed her walk over pressing a button on the answering machine listening over several messages before sighing rubbing her temples to calm her nerves. "Do you have a life or is it just this store and customers?" he didn't really want to know but thought that maybe he could get her to be less violent by attempting to care.

She gave him a threatening look before shrugging. "I liked my life…until you showed up." She turned to the sound of the phone ringing and hesitated seeing the number wasn't familiar for her private line and wondering who had gotten the number. She hesitantly picked up the phone. "Hello?" Dean sensed something was out of place the minute she hesitated with the phone very slowly Bella's eyes widened and she dropped the phone going a shade whiter then her already pale complexion.

On instinct Dean went over to the phone and murmured something in the phone, his eyes suddenly went to that almost red amber color again and he carefully but forcefully placed the receiver down. She was aware of his gaze returning to the normal brown color behind his glasses but didn't dare open her mouth worried whatever would come out would be incomprehensible in her current thought process.

Dean felt his eye twitch briefly before he carefully spoke. "You alright?" he sounded off to himself and wrinkled his face in annoyance before ignoring the ringing phone recognizing the number and seeing Bella again pale.

"You said that…

"I know." Dean didn't dare touch her, worried she would start beating him senseless and slowly turned to the kitchen grasping her coffee, and bringing it over to her watching as she sipped at the warm liquid her gaze frozen in intense thought.

"How?" she finally came back to reality staring at the man she had deemed a cocky annoying prick, until she noticed he had a somewhat softer side, underneath the layers and layers of sarcasm.

Dean took the question in slowly before shrugging in response. "No idea…don't even know how I come to be here, I was in hell literally remember." He took notice to the even glare he received for the sarcastic comment and placed his fingers to his nose in thought.

The answer wasn't good enough for her but she knew no more about the strange call then he did and it bothered her a great deal not knowing, she hated not knowing and always found it a peeve of hers. Sidetracked now with her own thought process she ignored Dean who had taken to pacing in the main room and walked over to what she deemed her office with the large desktop hidden among files, papers, and books. She sat down turning on the machine and went to instant research mode trying to learn what she could about the books Corso had gotten himself mixed up with and also doing more research on Black Temple: The Shadows.

After three hours of constant clicking on the keyboard only to refill her coffee every few minutes she noticed it had grown oddly quiet, she stood turning seeing to her surprise Dean was currently curled up on the couch his glasses half down his nose with her notebook laying flat against his chest. "Much more tolerable." She thought glancing at her empty coffee cup and shrugging walking over carefully placing the notebook and his glasses on the coffee table, she then walked to the kitchen getting another cup. Sometimes being a softy for Bella was a bad thing but at the moment she had too much on her mind to care if Corso noticed this or not.

Ring, Ring

"Shit." She glanced at the phone and noticed the number was again one she cared not to answer. "Ring until hell freezes." She snarled before walking back over to her desk noticing an email alert and opening it quickly. She smiled briefly seeing it was some information from her younger cousin in America that pretty much kept her in touch with the weirdness of the world and followed the link provided on her subject. "Sleep well?" she glanced up from her coffee seeing Dean was currently standing behind her noting his reflection in one of her dolphin figures with an attached mirror behind it. Her apartment had several dolphins and dragon knickknacks scattered about but this one was like a large plate taking up a small section of her desk.

Dean paused at the odd amused tone and wondered if she had been possessed while he had dozed off. "You sound almost civil." He noted her shrug before glancing over her shoulder at a website describing a book he would have rather had forgotten, he felt himself shudder recalling the thing that had turned his life upside down. "I heard the phone ring." He noticed her pause in her quick typing and turn giving him a look.

"Didn't answer…would rather not ever answer that number again." She then took another sip of her coffee ending the conversation and noticing another email alert, she opened the unfamiliar address and let out a startled shriek before nearly falling out of her chair.

He was instantly on alert and peered at the grotesque image of a group of burning people, and other things that would make a sane person shudder. "From our phone buddy." He assumed aloud before noticing she had gone again a deathly shade of white and sighing miserably. He reached over closing the window which promptly brought her from her stupor. "I think you've had far too much coffee." He walked over to where she kept all the alcohol and poured himself scotch and her rum. "Here." He handed her the glass with the amber liquid and saw her give him a curious look wondering what had gotten into him.

"Our 'phone buddy' has a sick sense of humor." She took a sip of the rum and placed the glass down on the desk studying the other links from her cousin. "She doesn't have much." She pointed to her screen and sighed surrendering in her search.

"She who?" He quirked his brow in thought noticing Bella was still studying the various links before shutting things down with an annoyed look.

"Nyx…she's my cousin, she didn't have anything else to help." She noticed his intense look and found herself oddly amused with the thoughtful expression on his face. "What?"

Dean noticed he was studying the now off computer and allowed his gaze to meet hers. "Nyx…odd name." he noticed her annoyed look seeing he had gotten on her nerves again.

Bella turned a withering look on Dean. "Corso…you're still a bastard." She sighed irritably before crossing her arms almost pouting in defeat.

He bowed his head in turn taking it as a compliment yet again. "Thank you…does Nyx have anything useful for you?" he saw her narrow her eyes at him for a moment before letting out an annoyed breath.

Bella wanted to swat that damn arrogant smirk off his face right then but decided against it. "Again…no." she stood from her chair taking her drink over to one of the couches in the room and sat down placing her drink on the coffee table rubbing her temples in irritation. "Everything I was told about you was true…only worse." She felt the cushion give beside her and glanced over seeing a puzzled expression on his face. "I stay in touch with a few people, your reputation keeps up with your lack of humility." She noted the amused snort and gave him another of her icy glares before curling up wrapping her arms around one of her many decorative pillows and ignoring him.

Dean shrugged stretching his feet across the coffee table taking in the apartment wondering if she ever had a life outside of the store and finding himself suddenly annoyed with his thought process. "She's getting to me." He groaned irritably disliking the fact she could fight right back with him and closed his eyes leaning back against the couch, he was startled when his feet were forcefully removed from the table and sat up seeing Bella giving him an annoyed look before returning to curling around a throw pillow.

Dean found this oddly amusing and decided it was another challenge, he returned his feet to their perch hearing her irritated snort before closing his eyes again and trying to get comfortable. Before she could repeat the process of forcibly removing his feet from the table she froze hearing an odd sound off past her bathroom where a very empty closet remained open for storage if she ever needed it. She sat up her blonde hair falling over her shoulder ignoring Dean for the moment she stood and hesitantly started toward the noise.