Disclaimer: I do not own the characters represented in this fanfiction. They belong to their respective owners. I only claim the adapted storylines.

Chapter 19: Running Out of Time

December 12, 2007

Bella POV

I couldn't remember much about my dream, thankfully, but this morning I woke up thinking about Dean. He couldn't have much longer left. It was getting harder to keep track of the days that were flying by, which was odd because my life had more order and structure to it now than it had since I was thirteen.

I tried texting him last night before I went to bed, but he hadn't answered yet, so I texted Sam for the twentieth time. Texting wasn't the best way to communicate with other hunters, it left too much of a paper trail behind. Phone calls were traceable, but they could only show you where the calls were made not necessarily what the calls were about, unless there was a wiretap on the phone. But texting was a way to get small messages back and forth to one another. Mine usually consisted of, are you okay, or something to that effect and his would be something like, everything is okay here, no problems.

Just checking in, hope everything is going well.

I hit send and got dressed for the day. I kept checking my phone and wondered what they could be doing now. I had opted for sitting by myself at lunch now, I couldn't keep up with the chaotic conversation between Jessica and her friends and I kinda liked the solitude that it gave me, besides it was easier to slip off if I had to. The remaining Cullen's sat at their regular table and neither of them looked my way. It was just like they had the first day they had filed in, except that the youngest member of the family was nowhere to be seen.

But when I walked into the biology class he was waiting for me at our table. Everything was so different now, he knew a little more about me based on my heated conversation with Meg and I was still angry at the words that he said at the restaurant. But my impulsiveness in attacking Meg probably would have gotten me killed. I sat down in my chair and pulled my stuff out. I looked over at him shyly. When he turned to look at me I smiled a little in response.

"Hello." He smiled back.

"Hey."

"I see you dressed more appropriately for the weather today." He looked down at my leather jacket.

I blushed a little. "Yeah I guess I did."

"That's good. We wouldn't want you to catch your death via hypothermia." He looked like he was joking but there was a hint of worry in his features.

I smirked, trying not to think about the last part and just treat it like a joke. "Least of my worries…."

"Hum…." His face was thoughtful for a minute. "We need to schedule our biology study session. We can't disappoint Mr. Banner."

"Sure." It was nice to talk about normal things with him, like studying for biology, or how nice his jacket smelled…. Stop it! I mentally slapped myself.

"What are you doing after school today?"

"Nothing really."

"Would you like to study with me?" He was giving me a choice that was different. Why did he have to be so nice? It would be a whole lot easier to see the monster in him if he would just be mean to me like on that first day.

"Okay…." I fought with my thoughts, trying to control my instincts. He hasn't hurt me yet, why would he now? "We could do it at your house…." I was pretty sure that if he was a monster that his whole family was too, but could I fight my way through seven vampires and make it out alive? Besides, I kind of hated to kill Dr. Cullen. He had been so nice that one time that we met.

"It's too crowded." He rolled his eyes and smirked.

"Okay…." So, confronting them on their own turf was a no-go.

"I think the school library is too noisy to have a private conversation." He mused.

"I guess." The library made sense, but if he wants to have a private conversation he must want to talk about something more than biology.

"So… where do you suggest we go?" He smiled politely.

I have a feeling that even though he was giving me a choice again, there was only one option left. "My house I guess. Charlie won't mind." Charlie would mind but I needed my answers.

"It's settled then. I'll follow you home after school."

I laughed at him "Sounds stalkerish."

He looked down and smiled a little "I'm sorry…."

"It's okay." It was so weird to see him struggle like this, he was usually so confident in his words and actions. Maybe he was trying to flirt with me, maybe he was just as new at this as I was.

"I told you I wasn't good at this." He looked back at me and grinned.

"Yeah." My phone went off in my pocket and I looked at the display, Sam had finally texted me back.

Sam: Dean is being a pain….

Bella: Why? What has he done now?

Sam: What else? Being an ass….

Bella: Spit it out Sam. I'm at school. So, hurry the hell up.

Sam: Sorry…. I got into another argument with him over his deal.

Bella: That bad?

Sam: Yeah. He took off about an hour ago.

Bella: Crap….

"Miss Winchester, are you texting in my class?" I looked up and Banner had his arms crossed and was scrutinizing me from the front of the class.

"Uh…. no?" I put my phone between my hands and rested them in my lap. Then the stupid thing started ringing. Banner turned back to look at me and I tried hastily to shut it off and ended up answering the thing, just great….

"I said shut up Sam!" I could hear Dean's angry voice from the receiver.

"Dean! We need to talk about this! You only have five months left!" Sam's angry reply sent a chill down my spine. Five months…? How could I have forgotten?

"You think I don't know that?" Dean spat back.

"And your still set on not doing a damn thing about it?!"

"I can't do anything. I'm gonna die and that's it…."

No…. he had to have more than a month left….

"I know you don't believe that!"

I was able to unfreeze my hands from around the phone and push the end button, but the damage was done. The rest of the class sat staring at me with shock written all over their faces. Banner was the only one who wasn't staring with shock but disapproval.

He held out his hand. "You can have it back at the end of the day."

"Fine." I handed it over, breathing slightly unsteady as I tried to hold the tears back. I could hold on till I got out of class. No need to cry and show weakness.

"Bella…?" Edward's concerned whisper reached me when Banner had returned to the front.

Of course, he had heard everything… I ignored him looking straight ahead and frowned. Then the whispers started.

"Her brother's dying?"

"Did you know?"

"No."

The whispers had a sneering edge to them, they didn't care that my brother was dying. They only wanted to know why I hadn't told them and why I had kept it a secret this long. I balled my fists up and tried to tune them out. But a tear escaped and was half way down my cheek before I wiped it away hastily. No tears, no crying Winchester.

The bell sounded shrilly, and I ran out before I could get intercepted by the waves of questions. But somehow Mike was the only one who kept pace with me and kept asking me questions.

"Just leave me alone Mike! Please! Get the hell away from me!" I growled at him. I had no intentions of going back into that room and dealing with that asshole of a teacher or playing the part of the innocent school girl.

"Why didn't you tell us you had a brother that was dying?!" He yelled back at me. I had never seen him get this upset before.

"It was none of your damn business!" I yelled. Why wouldn't he just leave me alone? I started walking and he grabbed my wrist.

"You shouldn't have to keep secrets from your friends!" he was right in my face at this point. I struggled against his hand, but he wouldn't let me go.

"Mike if you don't leave me alone I swear…." I started to pull my knife out but before I could use it to threaten him he walked off in a huff. I breathed a sigh of relief and relaxed a little bit then turned and started walking to my car.

"Bella, you forgot your things." Another voice called out to me and I halted, turning back to him I could see he had my things in his hands and his expression was completely unreadable.

"Keep them…." I shook my head sideways. "I'm not coming back." I turned my back on him.

"What do you mean?"

"I'm going to find my brothers'…. I need to be with Dean when…." I stopped short, Sam's angry words still ringing in my ears.

"When his deal comes due?" He had a resigned look on his face, he had figured it out. I guess that wasn't a surprise as much as Meg had been goading me. I just nodded in response; he didn't have to know all the gory details. "What kind of deal did he make?"

"I don't wanna talk about it, okay?" I sighed.

"Alright…." He came over and dropped my bag in my hands and walked off.

I sighed and went to gym. Hopefully I could play the charade long enough to last till the end of the day, and then I would put this town in my rear view and never come back. I got my phone off Mr. Banner and walked to the car and got in, then I called Sam.

"What?" He asked in an irritated tone when he picked up after the first ring.

"You do realize you called me, right? And the whole damn class heard your fight!" I growled at him.

"They did?!" He did a complete 180 and he was worried now. "What did they hear?"

"That Dean was gonna die, and that's about it." I paused to take a breath to calm back down. "Of course, no one knew I even had brothers… much less that one was dying…. So now everyone's either bothering me about it or bitching behind my back." The whispers in biology were enough to start a wildfire of rumors around the whole school.

"I'm sorry Bells…. He's just really pissing me off."

There was no point in arguing or staying mad at him. "I know." I rolled my eyes. "Where are you?"

"We're just finishing a case in Pennsylvania."

"Okay, don't move, I'm coming to meet you."

"No Bella, stay there." Sam was now using an authoritative voice that I didn't know he had. He wasn't going to convince me to stay here. I wasn't going to let him.

"After that little stunt you pulled do you think anyone's gonna believe a word I've said?" I asked rhetorically. "All those weeks of planning this hunt has been ruined…." Besides I was coming up empty on the vamp front anyway. "I'm more helpful with you and Dean then I am here."

"Screw the hunt. We're keeping you safe." Sam wouldn't budge… he couldn't just let me come?!

"Stop trying to shelter me!" My face was getting red from the anger. I heard someone knock on my window. I turned to see Edward smiling at me. "I gotta go." I hung up on Sam. I got out of the car and met him at the hood of my car.

"You forgot, didn't you?" He smiled politely, he was reserved, his public mask on full display. It looks like I wasn't the only one wearing a disguise.

"Yeah, sorry." I smiled a little out of embarrassment and shook my head.

"It's alright." His mask cracked a little and his expression became worried. "We don't have to study today if you don't want to."

"No, it's fine." Studying would be a good distraction from Dean. I still couldn't get it out of my head. One month left to go and he's gonna be dead. I was suddenly very aware of how alone I was.

"Okay I'll just follow you." He smiled.

"No, hop in." I went back to my car wanting nothing more than to not be alone.

"Are you sure it's alright?" He hesitated briefly before going to the passenger side door and slipped into the seat gracefully.

"Yeah, it is." I started breathing a little easier and started driving towards my house. It was silent in the car, but I was still grateful for the company, even if he was a monster, or not, whatever….

"Your house is lovely." He commented quietly when I pulled into my parking spot. I turned to see him looking up at the house with a small smile on his face.

"Thanks." I smiled. My phone went off again and I looked at the display, it was Sam, but I really didn't feel like talking to him, I was busy. I ignored the call and went up to the porch and opened the door. He followed behind me silently.

"Charlie isn't home?" He asked with an uncertain air about him, like he was nervous.

"He's working late." I took my jacket off and put my school bag by the front door. He always works late…

"Oh…." He picked at the hem line of his shirt sleeve, yeah, he was defiantly nervous.

"It's alright… jeez…." I laughed then I was worried if he had gotten offended.

"I'm sorry." He smiled a little.

"It's okay." I turned and went down to the hallway and into the kitchen. "You can go on up if you want to. I'm gonna make me a sandwich, do you want one?"

"No thank you." came his quiet response, he was still standing in the entry way.

"Of course, not…." I muttered why he didn't eat anything, it was so bizarre, but I guess if you only ate, or sucked, blood then the regular stuff wouldn't cut it. I fixed myself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and went upstairs to find him sitting at my desk and looking at the last picture that Mom Dad and we kids took as a family. Apparently, Mom had decided to mark the occasion and get a professional portrait done. Dad couldn't see why she wanted it, but he played along, now the photo had been our most treasured possession. I kissed it every night before I went to sleep.

"Hey." I announced myself as I hung by the door.

"Is this your family?" He continued to stare at the picture.

"Yeah…." I sighed as I crossed the small space between us and picked up the frame delicately. "That's me when I was a baby." I pointed out my little chubby face sitting on my dad's lap.

"They look very happy…." He smiled, looking at my parents.

"They were…." My smile turned sour.

"Is that your brother Dean?" He pointed to the little guy that was hanging onto Dad's back and had been caught mid laugh. Even then he had that mischievous look about him. He was so young and carefree, now he was going to die.

"Yeah it is." I put the picture down and went to sit down on the bed and I put my food down, suddenly not hungry. "It's been crappy, first Mom, then Dad." Everyone was dying around me; I was a curse, a disease.

"You said your mother died in a house fire… what happened to your father? If you don't mind me asking." He turned back to me with concern and the slightest hint of curiosity raging in his eyes.

"We were in a car accident a few years ago. Dean was badly hurt. It was touch and go for a while. I don't know if it was stress, but he had a heart attack soon after Dean woke up."

"I'm sorry. It seems like your brother has been plagued with bad luck." Edward noted quietly, looking back at the photo.

"Yeah." I rolled my eyes and huffed.

"But none of that is your fault." His voice was barely audible as he turned back to me. His face was too much to look at. His eyes were so intense with concern that I had to look away from him.

"I didn't say that." I looked down at my sandwich.

"You don't have to." He leaned over, putting his elbows on his knees and meeting my eyes.

"I guess." I replied quietly. "Go ahead and ask me about what happened the other night… I know you've been dying to." I frowned; we'd better get this private conversation over and done with.

"If you don't want to answer, I won't ask." He replied simply, I had been expecting the anger from the other night. His reply was a complete 180, caring and quiet.

"I want to know more about you, like what are you." I glared at him. I just wished he would stop lying and just come out into the open.

He leaned back into the chair and turned away from me. "I can't tell you."

"Why not?" I edged closer to him and swung my feet off the bed, my toes lightly scraping the bare wood floor. He looked at me out of the corner of his eyes and slid further away from me.

"My family would not be happy with me." he looked like he was admitting to a murder.

"They're already pissed at you. I'm guessing it's because of me for one reason or another." I knew he was having it out with them over something.

"No. that's not true." He slipped back into his mask; I was getting better at reading him, he was lying.

"I'm not dumb." I rolled my eyes. "Blondie's death glares are kinda a dead giveaway."

He chuckled at my nickname for his sister. "I guess…."

"I need to know…" I whispered, "what are you?"

"I can't. I'm–"

I cut him off. "I don't think we'll get much biology done." I pulled my feet back up onto the bed and pulled out my biology book. I turned away from him, letting my irritation show.

He sighed angrily and looked at me desperately. "I'm sorry Bella, I just can't…."

"I'll find out eventually." I didn't look up from my book as I replied.

"I wish you wouldn't try." His voice had a sad edge to it with underlying tones of irritation.

"What can I say? I'm stubborn."

"You won't like it." He sighed. "I don't even like it myself." I wasn't sure if that last part was for me or not.

"Just drop it okay?" I kept my eyes on the book, not really reading any of the words I was glancing over.

"If you want me to go I'll understand." He started to get up I was hesitant to let him leave I still hadn't gotten a straight answer out of him. But I also didn't want to be alone.

"If you want to." But I wasn't going to keep him as a prisoner here.

"Do you want me to?" He asked the same question he had asked in the car the other day, but this time there wasn't a teacher, or Charlie, to interrupt us.

"I don't mind." I looked up at him hesitantly and smiled. Maybe I should try the honey approach to get him to open up. I had no idea what in the hell I was doing but I tried to act like Dean. He gave me a smile in return and relaxed a bit more.

"Let's just get on with biology…." I ran my fingers through my hair and went back to reading my biology book. He picked up his book and smiled a bit.

A few hours later Charlie came in and we could hear him putting his keys in the door and walking through the door.

"Hey Charlie." I called down without moving from the bed.

"Hey Bell, what are you doing?" He called back.

"A friend came over to help me study."

Edward looked up at me and raised his eyebrows at 'friend'. I rolled my eyes and thought to myself well I couldn't really say 'my crazy stalker would-be boyfriend who happens to be a vampire. That would just be too long.

"Oh… okay." Charlie kept walking and I assumed he was in the kitchen by this point.

"It's getting late. I'd better go home." Edward snapped his book shut and put it back in his book bag.

I nodded and rolled off the bed landing on my feet. "Okay…."

We walked downstairs together. Charlie heard us coming and came down the hall to meet us.

"Goodnight Chief Swan, Bella." He nodded to us both and left.

Charlie's eyes were as big as saucer plates. "Was that…?"

"Yeah…." I sighed. "He won't admit what he is."

"So, you know what he is?"

I turned and closed the door. "I'm almost sure he's a vampire…."

"Your proof?"

"I don't have anything concrete but none of them eat at lunch, they stay away from the rest of us… he said he followed my scent the other day… he tried to kill me that first day…." Oh, and the fact that he just walked home because I drove him here.

"You'll figure it out." He put his hand on my shoulder and walked back to the kitchen.

I followed him in and started cooking dinner. "Something's different about him…." I mused over the pasta noodles.

"Yeah." He had picked up the paper and started reading it. "Sam called me at the office…."

My hands halted over the stirring and then I picked it back up quickly. "Oh…."

"He told me what happened. You wanna talk about it?"

"No, it's fine."

"He's worried about you kid." Charlie reminded me quietly.

"I know he is, but he doesn't need to worry." I went back to stirring the noodles and thought about what Sam had said about keeping me safe.

10 The Hunter and the Hunted

By: Silvertoungedpoet and iclethea