Sorry for the wait on this one, I tried doing a Castiel Chapter, but it just wasn't working, revealing too much too soon, you know. So we skip straight to Bella, This chapter is huge. To make up for the lack of updates. I'm warning you though, it may be a little rough in patches. :) hope you are still enjoying the story. read and review, constructive criticism is welcome, if I make a mistake, let me know. Thanks all of you who are following and reviewing, you rock.

Chapter 9

The Mechanics dull blue eyes flicked up at me briefly then away when he told me the bad news.

"The parts you need to get that truck running, they're gonna take a couple of weeks to get in."

I felt the tears well up as I looked back at the guys who brought me here. The shorter one Dean muttered, "Aw that's too bad, you sure you can't get them in quicker, just look at her, all crying and stuff, doesn't that move you?"

"I'm backed up as it is, would If I could, but without those parts I can't do shit."

"Have you tried Miralax?" grumbled Dean sourly.

I turned away, ignoring the last lame sorry and apologetic look that the mechanic gave me. "Thanks," I muttered wiping my face with my sleeve, "I'll just get a motel."

I saw Sam nudge Dean in the ribs, then a second time, before Dean relented, "oh alright Sammy, Jesus I was going to ask her OK."

He turned to me a serious look on his face, "Look we can see you are in a bind, if you want, you can catch a ride to Maine, just as far as Portland OK, we happen to be headed that way"

I stood there dumbly for a moment, thinking about their offer, I hadn't exactly felt unsafe with them, and I doubted the money I withdrew would last for 2 weeks If I had to pay for a motel every night, especially after the Towage fees. That would mean I would have to start using the card and they will know where I am. It would mean leaving my truck behind, would I ever get her back? I looked at the two men wondering if they could be trusted. I had overheard some strange things at that diner. Or miss-heard, I couldn't be sure.

I would have to keep the knife close to me just in case they were not what they seemed- However the thought of having the knife close to me aroused all manner of fears. The main one involving the mysterious attacker with the bright blue eyes. I shuddered inside.

Against my better judgement I agreed, there was something about them that I couldn't put my finger on. I left my details with the mechanic taking one last look at the red truck as the boys led me to their car. Dean insisted on driving the other Sam gave him a peeved look and swung open the back door for me before climbing in the passenger side. I sat stiffly in the backseat, looking nervously at the back of their heads. None of us said a word, and the silence stretched far beyond awkward.

Sam was the first to make some small talk, "So um, why are you going to Maine."

I was all panicky inside unsure how to answer at first. "I...um decided to go on a road trip."

I saw Dean glance at Sam, "Where's home?"

I debated whether to tell the truth, but nothing else believable came to mind, "Forks, Washington." I muttered.

Dean whistled, "Damn, now that's one hell of a road trip, what possessed you to do that?"

I struggled to say anything, the words spilled out unbidden, "Just needed to get away, clear my head, you know." I saw him nod as if he understood, then I caught them giving each other a cautious glance. I pleaded that the questions would stop there. I quickly took the initiative, "do you live in Maine, is that why you are going there?"

"No, we are just going to see a friend."

Again I caught them giving each other a meaningful look, Dean seemed uncomfortable. They seemed to share this wordless language. Curiously I opened my big mouth, "so how did you guys meet?"

I heard Sam chuckle and Dean glanced into the rearview mirror a frown on his face as he replied impatiently, " At birth, Sammy and I are brothers."

"Oh", I wouldn't have picked that one, although felt mortified that my question may have been taken the wrong way. "Your friend, is he in trouble?"

"Why would you say that?"

I blushed, "I overheard something along those lines in the diner"

The boys seemed frozen for a moment, Then Dean shifted uncomfortably in his seat, "Our friend Cas," he seemed to sigh, "Trouble is his middle name, I swear."

"Oh come on that's not true." Sam protested.

"Yea we are going to help him out, he's in a bind, he'd do the same for us." He added his voice trailing off slightly.

"You seem like good friends."

"You often make snap judgements about everyone you meet?" Dean bristled with irritation.

I was stunned, I caught a dark look on Deans face as my gaze traveled to the rear-view mirror. I quickly looked outside at the countryside as it sped by. "No... Maybe." God I wanted this conversation to end. I would rather be stuck in that armpit of a truck stop, than right here in this moment.

"Don't pay him any mind, Just... it's a crazy world out there, you can't take things at face value sometimes"

My heart pounded, He was preaching to the choir, I already knew how true that could be. I reached into my bag my fingers brushing the leather sheath. I didn't even know how to use a knife. I would have been better with a gun, Charlie had taught me the basics of gun use one summer. I had never told mum it would've freaked her out. What do you do with a knife?, 'stick em with the pointy end', I read that line in a novel one time, the memory made me smile. Dean reached over and turned on the radio, the music of a bygone generation becoming our soundtrack as we passed over state lines.

Winding into Vermont, passing Montpelier and it's lovely chateaus and elegantly crafted buildings. The world outside drawing me away from the tense world inside our motor vehicle. Our stops were few and far between, bathroom, food. We swapped seats occasionally. Dean was snoring in the back when I looked across at sam. He seemed the more approachable of the two brothers. " Should I be, worried?" I asked.

He kept his eyes on the road but a frown creased over his features. "Worried?"

I spat it right out, The lurking feeling I had been having since being in this car with them, "Am I really safe with you two?"

He looked taken aback, giving me a nervous sideways glance, as if...as if he wasn't sure how to answer. My stranger danger radar was bleeping.

When he answered, "Yea...Yea of course you are." I almost believed him, his reassuring smile was automatic, his soft brown eyes so understanding he put me at ease despite my doubts. I looked out the window.

"I get the feeling you're used to looking over your shoulder," he said.

I bit my lip, "Life's been interesting this last year."

"So interesting that you left home?"

" I'm 18, Old enough to live my own life."

"no arguments here. It can't have been that bad."

"It wasn't some of the time." I replied unable to keep the wistful tone out of my voice.

"Let me guess, Boy trouble." He smiled genuinely at me, as if he had it all figured out.

I gave him a slow nod and smirked slightly, " umm yea".

My hand drifted to the ring that I kept in my pocket at all times, Edward, I thought why is it that I don't miss you more. I really was a terrible human being, I professed that I loved two wonderful men, strung them along, and then made my choice. Only now I had walked away. I turned back to the window biting the side of my cheek determined not to give the tears of self-pity and disgust an outlet. I pulled out my phone and saw another missed call. Had my deception been uncovered, I didn't want to know. Anxiety travelling through me like a shiver on a frosty morning.

"Your friend Cas, Is he Ok?"

Sam adjusting his hands on the steering wheel gave me a quick uncertain glance. "We haven't heard from him for a while now, we hope so."

Something in his tone nagged at me, the worry. I was imagining Charlie and the Cullen's with that same uncertainty on their faces. How could it be possible that I could feel even more guilty. Maybe I should call them. I looked at the phone again.

Sam must have seen me, "You should give them a call, at least they will know you are alright."

Before I knew it I had selected the Cullen's home number, it rang and rang, no one answered, it went to machine. I thought about hanging up but something stopped me, I cleared my throat. "Er Hi, It's Bella, Just checking in, I'm going to the coast for a few days, I wish I had caught you... Edward, I ...Love you. Bye." When had I become such a good liar? it seemed the longer I was away, the less I felt for him, Like physical proximity was the crucial element of my infatuation. Could it be, that all this time that I had mistaken some sort of chemical magnetism for love? That I had been under some sort of spell woven by the Vampires innate charisma. I shivered and glanced across at Sam, he gave me another reassuring smile. "This Edward, is he the one?"

"Do you mind if we don't talk about it." I didn't want to cry anymore, I had shed enough tears over this, no more.

"yea, that's fine."

I shuffled down and made myself comfortable, My eyelids feeling heavy. I shouldn't sleep but...


"What the hell are you doing here?"

I was in a bar, Dean glared at me, beside him stood a man in a trench coat. I stumbled backwards, impacted by the other mans gaze. "You" I mouthed, my voice sounded strangely muted.

The man strode forwards cocking his head inquisitively, "You again." His voice was rough and raw in his throat. His skin seemed to glow. His hand reached out, pressing a finger against my chest. I looked down in horror as I felt a strange tingling sensation. "You have a soul, you are real?" such a strange thing to say after violating me, I was appalled. If this was just a dream I clearly wasn't right in the head.

"Course she's real Cas, But that doesn't explain what the hell she's doing here?"

You know that feeling when you walk into a room and you realize you've just interrupted a private conversation, then things get all awkward. damn it why couldn't I just wake up.

I was about to pinch myself, when strange shiny trench coat guy stopped me. "Good question, who are you?"

"Her names Bella, we don't know much else."

"How did you come to me in Silent Hill?"

"Wait, what...she was there?" dream Dean said incredulously.

I felt trapped, "I don't know what you are talking about? This is just a dream, I'm going to wake up any moment and you're both going to disappear." My voice was all panicky and high-pitched.

I had noticed something else strange about creepy trench coat guy, he had black shadowy things coming out of his back.

"Yes she was,"the man murmured.

"What's Silent Hill?" I asked dumbly.

The man lunged forward thrusting his face close to mine, " How are you doing this?"

"Whoa Cas, stop freaking her out man."

I skirted behind a table, "This..this is your friend." I sputtered angrily. Dean cast me another fiery look. "You better start giving us some answers."

"I don't know anything," Why didn't they believe me? "what the hell are you?" I yelled pointing at the one named Cas.

"I am.." he hesitated.

I looked at Dean expectantly. "He's an Angel." Dean finished. The plains of Cas's cheek twitched in irritation. He looked at me those blue eyes shining feverishly. Dean gave an awkward laugh trying to lighten the mood, "Jez Cas, you do look a little weird, what's with that?"

That seemed to perturb the angel even more, the great shadowy wings flapped in irritation, "I'm leaking." he replied curtly.

Dean shook his head, "you're what? "

"leaking."

"Isn't that supposed to be an old man problem." snorted Dean.

I gave him a withering look, "mature."

He raised an eyebrow and pointed a finger at me, " As for you Bella, I'm going to expect some answers when we wake up."

"She is with you right now?" Cas asked.

"Not for much longer, I'm gonna get Sam to pull over and let me out as soon I wake up from this damn dream." I snapped. What had I got myself involved in? This clearly was not just another stupid dream. So much for a normal life, a normal road trip. I gave the Angel in the trench coat a sideways look. he was doing the same to me, the exchange soon got uncomfortable.

Finally he spoke, "You can't come to get me, This gate it's not just an opening to hell, it's an entity, there is no escape, there is no closing it."

Dean stepped forward, "But we have the tablet, There has to be a way."

They had lost me, the conversation taking an even more surreal turn. The Look in Cas's eyes as he looked at Dean then turned away was the most tragic thing I had ever seen in my life. Despite everything I was moved by the blunt honesty in his expression. "There is no way, you can't come here Dean, we have said our good byes."

Dean looked panicked reaching out for his friend but Cas faded away and then they were alone. Deans shoulders slumped he was looking down at the floor where Cas had been standing. His face working as if he was trying not to cry. I felt for him, there was obviously a long history here that I was unaware of. I was suddenly being sucked away. Soon I was standing beside the Angel, watching in horror as the walls bled around us, pulsing as if we were in the belly of some massive beast. I reached for the Angel man grabbing hold of his sleeve. He looked down at me, "Do you see." he said softly. Then Blackness came and took me away, his words merely whispers in the dark.

eyes snapping awake, burning in the sunlight, tears falling, the sound that came out of my mouth was foreign to me, a strangled cry laced with despair. I pulled the knife out of my bag which was still resting on my knee throwing it on the dashboard and shivering violently.

So that's it. I had trouble with Dean, making him consistent in Bella eyes. I have to admit I struggle with the serious angst/moody stuff. Maybe I'm just too critical of myself but I'm sure this fic would benefit from a Beta, sadly I don't have one :(