Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Twilight or Shadowhunters/Mortal Instruments. With the possibility of cameo appearances from shows like The Vampire Diaries and Supernatural. Those rights are reserved for Stephanie Myer, L.J. Smith, Eric Kripke, and Cassandra Claire. I do own the original characters made up for this storyline. Thank you.

Writer's Notes: Thank you Siobhan, Roxhall, and Guest for your reviews! I hope that everyone enjoys the next few chapters. There will be some inner turmoil for Bella, some struggles for Alec, and some surprises. As always, I appreciate all the support and don't forget to follow, favorite, and review!

[Pandemonium]

Bella called Magnus while searching for Clary, and he told her that she was there, and was safe. She was thankful for Magnus, even if he did keep what he was from them. She understood, and while she knew that Magnus was the reason that Charlie and Renee thought that she was their daughter, she couldn't blame him. She blamed the Clave, and she blamed Valentine. Since he was alive, and had Jocelyn, she was making it a mission to find him, and end him the way he should have been years ago. Maybe she wouldn't have lost so much time with Clary as her sister, and while she loved Renee, and was grateful for her support growing up, she always felt disconnected with her. She now understood why. She understood why she didn't connect with Charlie at all, even though she tried, and cared about him greatly, even loved him because that was her dad, and she felt weird thinking that there was a different possibility of a different dad, but she wasn't going to focus on that. She had to focus on Clary now, and had to help her. She had to remain strong for her. Her sister.

"Clary," Bella called to her, finding Clary sitting at the bar with Lu.

Clary looked up at Bella. "Sorry."

"Why are you sorry?"

"I ran off. You were worried about me…" she murmured.

Bella smiled at her friend and sister. "I just want to help you. I know this was a lot to take in. I'm still trying to process but we- "

"I'm just upset that I'm just…I'm not special at all Bella. So, what if I can recite runes that I've never seen before. You're obviously the stronger one. What if I can't be a Shadowhunter? What if I fail at it?" Clary was worried about failing.

Bella sighed and sat on the stool next to her. "Listen. You're stronger than you think, and you don't give yourself enough credit. You won't fail. When have you ever failed Clary?"

Clary looked at Bella. "I didn't get my black belt."

Bella laughed. "Karate isn't for everyone. It's not something that you really failed at. Just life caught up. It's okay. You're thinking about it all too much. We're really sisters. We joked about that remember?" she said with a smile.

Clary gave a half laugh. "Yeah, in the dorms at University. When the new roommate asked if we were sisters and you were like 'Duh, isn't it obvious?'" She laughed again, looking at her drink. "We look nothing alike."

"Siblings don't always look the same. I don't know what Valentine looks like, but I'm willing to bet he has dark hair. Just like Jocelyn has the red hair, like you." Bella reached out and tucked a strand of hair out of Clary's face. She smiled. "I'm older."

Clary laughed again. "I have a real big sister. I always wanted a sibling. "

"I did too." Bella said and then hugged her. "Finish that and lets go back before they send the entire cavalry out to get us."

Clary downed her drink and stood with Bella. "Thank you."

"Of course." Bella said and they left Pandemonium and went back to the Institute.

[The Institute]

Bella and Clary stepped off the elevator and was met with Alec.

"Good, you found her." Alec said to Bella. "Bella you're with us, Clary, I'm sending you with Dean's team. Get you some field experience. In the event there is a battle of any sort, you stay out of the way."

"But your mom said- "

"She left to go back to Idris. She doesn't understand how important it is to get both of you acclimated to this way of life. I was going to hold you back, but Jace convinced me that it was necessary, and I see his point."

Bella raised a brow. "Jace said that."

Alec looked at Bella. "He did. Gear up, we're starting first patrols in the city. The object is to find Jocelyn, so we need all the leads we can. Jasper and Pete will meet you at the docks with Jace, Izzy, and Sam. Clary, you're going to go with Dean, and the two Salvatore brothers. They just arrived."

Clary looked at Bella and then back at Alec. "You don't want to stick us together?"

"I think it's a bad idea to put both of you in the same team with Valentine out there and yes. Mother told me everything, after. I swear I had no clue." Alec said, his blue eyes landing on Bella.

Bella wanted to believe him, but she couldn't. She just nodded, saving that for a different discussion, a different day. They walked further in command and her eyes landed on Stefan and she stopped.

"Stefan?"

Stefan turned, looking at Bella. "Bella…" he murmured.

Clary blinked a few times. "Wait, you two know each other?"

Bella nodded. "Yeah, we were kids, but…you look the same."

"Yeah, Mystic Falls, right?" Stefan asked.

Bella nodded. "Oh god, it's been…. fifteen years? You're a Shadowhunter."

Stefan nodded, guilty. "Yeah."

"Did you know?"

"I did. I'm sorry." Stefan said, and looked at Damon. "This is Bella Fairchild." He introduced. "She was the assignment that mother got, and she made me go to school for a while until she moved away."

Bella looked at the man that Stefan spoke to. He was a tad taller than Stefan, his dark hair licked down right about his shoulders, tousled in light waves. His eyes were extremely unusual. A piercing blue like ice, and he had a perfect jawline.

"Damon," He introduced. "Stefan's big bro." He studied Bella. She was beautiful. Her dark hair was tinted slightly with red, and it hung right above her shoulders and her eyes were big and brown.

Bella nodded to him. "Nice to meet you Damon." She said and looked over to her sister. "Good luck out there okay? And be careful."

Clary nodded. "You do the same." She smiled.

Bella looked back at Damon. "It really is nice to meet you." She said and then Dean approached her and she focused her attention on him. He was standing a bit close to her, but she made no move to shift away.

"Let's get you geared up. Come with me." Dean said, his deep voice still sent shivers through her. She followed him down into the training room. "Make a few selections. I'm going to grab your other gear." He said and disappeared into a side room.

She looked around at the weapons and picked up a staff, it was one of her favorite weapons to handle when she was doing Karate. That and kali sticks. She turned the staff in a wide arch, the whoosh in the air becoming a comfort to her, and she did a few stances with it, going into a weapon kata known in Karate as a Bo Kata. She was an expert with the staff, and Dean returned, watching her move flawlessly around with the staff.

"Hmm. Suits you well." He commented, and walked over when her attention turned to him. "Here are some clothes, it looks like tight leather, but I assure you, you can move in these. They stretch."

Bella smiled. "Well, as long as I'm not restricted."

Dean cracked a small smile back at her, then it dropped. "I want to apologize for earlier."

Bella shook her head. "No, it's okay. I'm a very one tract-mind kind of person. I had to find her, I did, and it's okay now."

"It's not okay. You're…I don't know what Maryse said to you, but I know now that Clary and you are sisters, and that means that Valentine is your father." Dean said and sighed. "Valentine killed my father….and I made a vow. I broke that vow this morning." He said and looked up at her.

Bella was confused, but saddened at the same time. "I'm sorry you lost your father…I made a vow too, and that vow is to take Valentine down, even if it means…. even if it means my own life." She said, thinking about Clary, thinking about everything that has happened.

Dean was quiet a moment and then nodded. "I understand that anger you're feeling, but your life is worth more than him. I used to say…that I would destroy everything that came from him, but I'm looking at you now, and Clary, and I just…it was an empty vow."

Bella saw the pain in his eyes. She walked over to him, and reached up, her cool hands framing his face. "I'm sorry that this happened to you. I'm sorry that Valentine took from you something that you can't get back. Nothing I do is going to change that, but I'm hoping that together, we can take him down, and that will be the end of this tyranny."

Dean looked into her eyes. She was so wholesome, so untouched by the dark ways Valentine bred. She was an angel in this dark world, and that did something to him inside. He didn't want to let himself actually…feel. He couldn't afford that, not now, but Bella, since she walked in just yesterday, broke through his reserve. He didn't know how, or why it was possible, but she did. He leaned in, his lips brushing hers softly.

Bella's eyes fluttered shut, and she kissed him back gently as well, before pulling away. "Now, I'll get dressed. Your team is mostly ready. Clary should come and pick out something, and get changed as well."

Dean nodded. "You should get the two short swords. It'll suit you as well." He said and then he was gone.

Bella blew out a breath and slid the staff on her back in a holster, and then grabbed the swords, and rotated them around to feel the weight. She slid them into their spot, and then she joined the others in command.

Izzy looked at Bella. "You look badass. Like you're meant to be a Shadowhunter." She smiled brightly.

Bella smiled at Izzy. She hadn't interacted with her much, but she liked her. She had spunk and that was something Bella could get used to.

Alec looked at her and had to blink a few times. She looked amazing, he admitted to himself. She was born for this, and that was something he was banking on. "Okay, if your team is geared up, go ahead and hit your quadrant. Be careful. I'm staying behind in command. I'll be your eyes and ears." He said and Jace nodded.

"You look good." Jace commented.

"Hmm. Thank you. And…thank you for Clary." Bella said with a small smile.

Jace nodded. "Well, I'm not normally an asshole. You caught me at a weird time when we first met. I apologize."

Another man joined them. He was roughly the same age of Dean, if not a little older. He had dusty blonde hair, and steel blue eyes. "Alaric Saltzman." He introduced to Bella.

Bella nodded. "Bella…Fairchild." If felt weird to say the name, but she figured she should get used to it, and the more she said it, the more it would come natural to her.

Jace looked at Sam. "Are you going to feel okay being separate from Dean?"

"Yeah, I'll be alright. We don't do everything together. We're meeting the Whitlock brothers at the docks, right?" Sam said.

Jace nodded. "That's the plan. Let's get moving." He said, and everyone followed Jace out to the elevators.

Dean jogged up. "Wait." He said and Bella turned. "Here." He handed her a stele. "I know." He said before she could say something. "Just in case you can't draw runes without one. Be. Careful." He reminded her again. He brushed a hand over her cheek, tucking her hair. "See you on the other side." He said with a grin and then he turned and walked away.

Bella looked at the Stele in her hand and then she slid it into her pocket that zipped. Sam was looking at her a little, feeling a bit sorry for her and what was the charms of Dean Winchester. He was known to sleep around from time to time, but she was new here, and was already falling victim. He kept quiet though, not wanting to upset anyone. He would talk to Dean later about it. For now he would focus on retrieving Jocelyn.

6 hours later…

[The Institute]

Bella burst in off the elevator, half carrying Jace with Sam on the other side, helping. Alec was over to them in an instant. "Move move," Bella said quickly, and they got Jace situated in a chair.

Jace was clearly in pain, his teeth grit together. Bella ripped his shirt down the middle with her hands, to assess the damage.

"Jace hang in there." Bella said and found his healing rune and activated it with her touch. "He has poison in him. I need you to find the antidote for reaver venom, and bring it here fast." She ordered Alec.

Alec nodded, sprinting to the elevator and taking it down to the hospital floor.

"Bella." Jace groaned his hand was on her shoulder, and he tried not to grip her hard. The poison that was the reaver venom was burning his veins and his heart felt ready to explode.

Sam had his phone to his ear. "Dean! Reavers are crawling the docks, and are surrounding the-"

The elevator opened, and Clary stepped off with Dean, Damon, and Stefan, but Dean was clutching his side, and limped a little.

"Bella, Dean…he's hurt." Clary said, not sure what to do.

"I'm fine." Dean grumbled.

"You're not fine, you got a barb in your side. Don't pull it out." Damon said coolly.

Bella glanced over at Dean. "Sit him down." She nodded, and her hands moved over Jace's chest feeling the heat that was flooding him. Clary watched and then she leaned down, her stele in her hand. She reached her hand up on a bare spot and drew a rune. It wasn't a rune that anyone else recognized but Bella.

"Oh, that should help." Bella murmured, as she watched Clary draw the newly invented rune.

Jace felt the cool relief, and he sucked in a breath, his heart rate coming down. "What…." He murmured and looked at the new rune as it faded away.

Alec got off the elevator, running over with the antidote. "I got it…What?"

"It's okay." Bella said and reached up, wiping Jace's hair out of his face. The sweat was still clinging to him, so his hair clung to him as well. "It's okay." She murmured again. "You…saved me."

Jace looked at her, his golden eyes calm now, the pain subsiding. "Yeah, it was instinct."

Bella nodded, and stood going to Dean.

"I'm okay."

"You're not. Hold still." Bella said and she looked at the barb. The barb of a reaver. It was in there deep. "Alec, you're stronger than me. Can you help wedge this out? I'll activate his healing rune, and Clary, inscribe the deadening rune once we get done." She looked at Dean. "When he pulls this out, it's going to flood you with a lot of pain. I need you to try and hang in there okay?" Her voice wavered just a bit, seeing him like this.

Dean made a hmph sound. "No pain, no gain. Bring it." He said and Alec pulled the barb out. Dean groaned, the pain shooting into him like he was being speared over and over again, the heat of the venom rushing up towards his heart. His face was red with the pain, and Sam looked worried, but Bella pulled his shirt open, finding his healing rune, from memory of his naked body from that morning, and activated it.

"Clary, now." Bella said and Clary drew the rune on a blank part of his skin.

Dean relaxed as the pain subsided. His breathing coming back down to even breaths.

Bella felt relief as she stood. Dean caught her wrist and pulled her down into his lap and just hugged her. Bella hugged him back. "You're okay now." She murmured, and then she got up off his lap and looked to Alec. "Jasper and Pete are in trouble. I have to get back out there and-"

"There are far too many reavers." Alaric said from the sidelines. "There is no way you-"

"I'm going." Bella said, her voice stern. "I'm not leaving them out there and-"

"I'll go with." Clary said quickly.

Alec shook his head. "No. Both of you can't go running off getting yourselves killed."

"I'll go." Damon said. "I'm faster than twinkle toes over here." He jabbed a thumb over his shoulder at Dean. "I'll go, and make sure she doesn't get herself killed."

Bella glared at Damon. "I'm more than capable of helping myself."

"Don't doubt it, but there were at least 20 reavers coming into the institute. So far, they can't breach. How are you going to get through 20 reavers to get back to the docks, where there were how many?" He looked over at Jace.

"A couple dozen." Jace responded. "Jasper and Pete didn't retreat with us because they stayed to distract so we could get out. I was hit at that point and Bella needed to get me back here."

Alec pursed his lips. "I'll go with Damon. Alaric, call Elena, and see how they're holding up, if they're having similar issues. Izzy, stay here in command. Call Magnus, get a status update with him, relay it back to me."

Clary frowned. "Why can't you just portal to the docks?"

Alec looked at Clary. "We don't have a Warlock."

Clary raised the stele in the air, and drew a rune. Everyone watched and then she reached out her palm connecting with it, and then a portal blew open, red sparks flying.

Everyone looked stunned and Bella looked at Clary. "You are special." She said with a smile and then looked at Alec. "Let's move." She said and she went through the portal, Alec followed, with Damon and Stefan right behind them.

Jasper and Pete were still standing as the others burst through a portal.

Bella's staff came from her back and she swung it around expertly, and knocked reavers away from her upon her entrance. Suddenly the reavers started retreated, and this stunned everyone as they watched as they retreated going over the side of the dock and disappeared into the murky bay below.

"You two okay?" Bella called to Jasper and Pete.

"Of course, darlin'. Their stings don't hurt vampires." Jasper said with his Texan drawl, and a lazy smile.

Bella nodded. "We'll regroup later. Let's get back to the institute." She said with a sigh. She turned looking at Alec and he nodded. She then reached up in the air, and drew a rune with her finger, and activated it, a portal opening. Alec was surprised, even when he shouldn't be surprised anymore at her abilities. She was born for this, made for being a Shadowhunter, he hoped that eventually she'll settle all the way.

The group went back through the portal into the Institute. Clary went to Bella. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah, the reavers started retreating into the bay. I think if Valentine is anywhere, he's on the water, making it hard for any of us to find him. He could be anywhere out there." Bella said and sighed. She had to think about this. Her phone rang then, and she pulled it from her pocket. It was her dad. Charlie. She answered immediately. "Hey dad."

"Hey kiddo, I haven't heard from you in a while. How's the new job?" Charlie's voice echoed in her ear.

"Going great. Love it here." Bella said with a smile.

"That's good. I was thinking about visiting sometime. Jake was wanting to have a visit too I-"

"Now's not really the best time dad, I'm so busy…with deadlines for the paper. I miss you and Jake too, I just…I don't want you to come all the way here and then we can't spend time together. I'll come to you when I'm available okay?" She hated lying to him, hated that she was hiding another part of her life from him yet again. Jake would probably be the one she told because of his own secrets, but she couldn't tell Charlie.

Charlie was quiet a moment. "Okay kiddo. That's fine. Just call me once in a while so I know you're okay, yeah? Oh tell Clary I said hi."

"Will do dad."

"Love you." Charlie said, a little emotion in his voice.

"Love you too dad." She said and hung up. She blew out a breath and looked at Clary. "Charlie says hi."

Clary smiled. "I heard. I'm sorry Bella."

Alec felt sorry too. Her father that she grew up with, wasn't really her father, and that had to be hard on her. Hard on her to process, but she was holding her own well.

"Okay, leads fill out your reports, I'm going to report back to Idris." Alec said and left to his office.

Bella sighed, and looked over at Jace, who was still sitting. "How are you feeling?"

"A lot better. Just a bit tired. It's expected. "Jace blew out a breath and stood. Dean was missing, which she could only assume was because he was in his room, nursing his wounds. He winced, a little sore. Bella went to his side, taking his arm and looping it around her over her shoulders.

"Come on, let's get you laying down. I'll fill the report out." Bella said and looked to Clary. "I'm taking him to his room, Jasper and Pete will be heading here later." She said and Clary nodded.

Izzy frowned. She hated seeing Jace hurt like this, but she stood in command, and waited for the other teams to check in. So far, they were waiting on Sebastian's team check in.

Bella helped Jace into his room, and over to the bed. She stumbled a bit with him, she managed to get him laying on the bed, but she was on top of him now. "I'm sorry."

Jace winced at the weight. The wound was closed up, and healing, but it was still sore.

Bella's cool hands connected with his skin as she traced a hand over where the wound was.

"That feels good." Jace murmured. Her touch seemed to make the throbbing go away.

"My hand?" She asked, and he nodded. She lay her hand flat over the area, and he sighed in relief. "That's better?"

Jace nodded again. "It is. Thank you." He was calm, and he appeared to not be in pain. His arm came around her then and he pulled her down to him, in an embrace. "Thank you." He murmured in her ear.

Bella was glad that she could help, and heat rose to her face as she blushed. "Uh. You're welcome." She felt him relax fully, his arm falling away onto the bed, and he was asleep. She leaned back carefully, looking down at his sleeping face. She carefully brushed his hair out of his face, and then she shifted, standing up. It was good that he was resting now. She sighed a little and then left him to sleep.

She went out into the hall, closing the door quietly and turned, nearly running into Dean. He steadied her. "I'm sorry."

Dean nodded, looking at Jace's door. "Is he okay?"

"Yeah, he passed out as soon as I got him on the bed. He's heavier than he looks." Bella commented. "How are you?"

"I'm fine." He said and moved towards her, his hands positioning them on her hips. "Do you want to disappear for a bit?" He asked lowly.

Bella smiled. "Tempting, but I have to fill out the report for Jace since he's down for the count."

Dean grinned. "I turned my in already, I had some spare time while you were galloping off to save the day."

"Well, some of us can't slack off yet." Bella smiled. "Go rest. You need to." She said and reached up and patted his cheek before walking away.

Dean watched her walk away, pausing briefly before going back to his room.

In command, Izzy was still there while Alec was in his office, she was staring at the screen, frowning.

"What's wrong?" Bella asked, coming up beside her and standing.

"Sebastian's team hasn't checked in." Izzy murmured; her arms crossed in worry.

Bella looked at the screen searching for the quad he was in. "I'll go."

Izzy nodded. "Take Alaric with you."

Bella looked over to Alaric and nodded. "Come on."

Alaric didn't hesitate walking over to Bella, but Bella was already using the portal rune, drawing the rune in the air without a stele. A portal opened. "How…"

"I'm not sure, but this is the way." Bella said and she walked towards the portal, and then reached a hand out to Alaric. He put his hand in hers and then they went through the portal. They entered what looked like a forest area. Weapons were drawn and Alaric was on high alert. They were silent as they walked, and then they heard a struggle. They found Caroline tied up, and Sebastian unconscious. Alaric went to Caroline and started untying her.

"What happened?" He asked in a hushed voice.

"Ambushed by some men. They weren't normal men. They were….like possessed." Caroline said, wincing, rubbing her wrists.

Bella went to Sebastian and leaned in pressing two fingers to his carotid. "He's alive."

"Where are the others?" Alaric asked, looking around.

Caroline's face looked dark. "They…they took Daren and Popper. Luke went after them."

Luke came sprinting up. "Bella, it's you." He was panting.

"Luke what happened?" Bella asked.

"They're men of Valentine's. They disappeared into a portal. They have a warlock on their side. They took Daren and Popper, and I couldn't get them." Luke felt like he had failed. "We need to get back to the institute."

Bella nodded and opened the portal quickly. "Grab Sebastian." She ordered Alaric, who went to Sebastian and picked him up with ease, activating his own strength rune. They all disappeared through the portal, Luke being the last. He stopped, looking at Bella. "What is it?"

"Valentine has a man with him. He refers to him as Jonathan. He's….he's the eldest child of Jocelyn." Luke murmured. He knew that Bella was Jocelyn's other daughter. Jocelyn had told him that she had another daughter, one that was hidden, and when Bella came to New York, Jocelyn had told him in secret that Bella was that daughter, so he knew, and he tried to keep watch over her, to make sure that she would not get hurt. It was fate that brought the Fairchild girls together.

Bella didn't understand. She frowned. "I thought he was killed in the fire?"

Luke shook his head. "I thought so too, and so did Jocelyn. We need to talk to Alec, and Alec only."

Bella understood that. She looked at Luke. "Thank you." She said and Luke nodded to her and then stepped through the portal, with Bella right behind him.

Clary went to Bella immediately. "Are you guys okay?"

"Yeah. We found Sebastian and the group. Daren and Popper were kidnapped. Where's Alec?" Bella asked, looking around.

"He's in his office." Clary said.

Bella nodded. "Luke, go brief Alec, I'm going to check Sebastian out." She ordered again and Luke didn't hesitate, he went to talk to Alec, while Bella went to the sick bay to look at Sebastian and Caroline. "How is he?"

Alaric had put Sebastian on one of the beds, and Caroline was sitting in a chair, she was okay, it appeared, but Sebastian was still unconscious. "He's still out."

Bella went and looked at him, looking him over. She pulled open his shirt, looking over his chest and sides, and her cool hands moved over him, looking for any sort of wound. She didn't find out, which meant he wasn't hurt on the outside. She looked at her own arms, the blank canvas wasn't marred with any marks. Clary walked into the room then. "I have a rune." She spoke softly and everyone turned and looked at her.

Bella nodded and held her arm out to Clary.

"You've never received a rune." Alaric said. "You- "

"I'll be fine." Bella cut him off, and Clary nodded, taking the stele and then drawing a rune on Bella's arm. The pain was a burning sensation, but Bella only grit her teeth, and bear through it. When the run was done, Bella looked at it, recognizing the rune. She nodded to clary, and then she moved her hand over Sebastian, closing her eyes one moment, and then opening them again. The world around her shifted, changing as if she could see a thousand times better and then she was looking at Sebastian, and seeing through the outer layer that was his shell, and into him, like she had the ability to see what ailed him. The inflicted areas were glowing to her, and her hands slid over his body, and then a light shone from her hands as a dull glow, as her hands literally healed the afflicted area, faster than his healing rune could heal.

When she was done, she sat back, blinking a few times as the rune's ability faded from her vision, but the rune remained on her arm.

"That was incredible." Caroline murmured.

Sebastian's eyes fluttered open, and he looked around the room, his eyes landing on Bella. "Thank you." He knew that it was her. He felt her presence in him as she healed him. She was like an angel herself.

Bella nodded. "No problem. Get some rest." She said and patted his shoulder. She stood, feeling a little lightheaded, but she shook it off, and walked out of sick bay with Caroline and Alaric stunned.

She made it into the hallway before she leaned against the wall, to steady herself. Her head was starting to pound a little. Bella. She heard a voice in her head and she wasn't sure if it was coming from somewhere else or not. Suddenly her head stopped hurting, and she was able to steady herself. She felt weird, like someone was watching her. She looked around and then started down the hall again, bumping into Alec. His hands steadied her, looking her over.

"Hey, you okay?" Alec asked, his voice low as he took in her appearance. She looked exhausted, pale, and her eyes were darker than normal.

"Hmm? Yeah, just got to finish that report for Jace." Bella murmured.

"Don't worry about it. Finish in tomorrow. You need rest." Alec said. "A lot happened today."

Bella sighed. "Alec…" She looked up at him, seeing his concerned eyes. His eyes were a pretty blue, a simple blue. He looked genuinely concerned for her. "I'll sleep when I know what's going on. We have too many questions and not enough answers."

"Bella…"Alec murmured again. "You've been going nonstop since you've been here. You got thrown into this world, and you haven't missed a stride yet. It's okay to rest. The world does not rest on your shoulders alone."

"What happened to not being soft?" Bella questioned with a small smile. Alec had told her that he wasn't usually the helpful one. He was stricter, and harder on others than he was on her for a weird reason.

Alec sighed. "I don't know. Something about you just…" he looked at her, studying her, and then he was pulling her into his arms. It was a weird feeling. He cared about her for a strange reason, one that he couldn't explain because he had never felt any feelings. None since he was a kid, and those feelings…were wrong. He couldn't have those feelings for his parabatai. He couldn't have those feelings for anyone of the same sex at all. It would shame his family. So why was he feeling, something, for her?

Bella's head rested on his chest and she heard his heartbeat, the slight uptick in the rhythm as he held her to him. She wasn't sure what to say, or do. She tilted her head up to look at him and he looked down at her, and then his lips brushed her forehead gently. It was a subtle gesture, but it was one that made her feel like maybe she could trust him. "Alec…" she murmured.

Alec released her carefully and let out a shaky breath. That was the first time he wanted to kiss a woman. He swallowed and then looked away. "Um. Go and get rest." He said, his voice a little more firm.

Bella nodded. "Okay. Thank you." She said and then turned and walked back down the hall, heading to her own room. Her head started feeling dizzy again and she leaned against the wall, pressing a finger to her temple, rubbing in small circles as the headache came back full force. Bella. The voice said again, and then it faded away again.

"You good?" Dean said as he approached her. He had saw her and Alec earlier, but he turned away. He didn't want to interrupt, or let Alec know that he saw them.

Bella's eyes focused on Dean. "Yeah. Just tired, small headache." She said, and offered a smile.

"Hmm. So you rescued Seb and the others." Dean mentioned. "Heard about your rune, had to look for myself." He nodded to her arm.

Bella looked at her arm. "Yeah. It was nothing."

"That's not nothing. You don't have the angelic rune on you yet, and you should. There could be side affects. Like headaches." Dean said, raising a brow. He pulled her closer to him, his hand gripping her other arm, the blank arm. "Take in a breath." He warned as he took his stele out, and drew the angelic rune. The one that was usually given after training was complete, but this was a different situation.

Bella felt the slight unease of the burn, but she stayed still, not making a move. When he finished, she looked at her arm. "Thank you."

Dean pocketed his stele. "Well, don't mention it. There's a long road ahead, so don't get discouraged."

"Is this some sort of pep talk?" Bella asked, lifting a brow.

"Maybe." Dean said with a grin.

Bella smiled. "Thank you, then. I think I'll be okay. I'm adjusting. It's not the life I thought I would have, or wanted, but I'm adaptable. I appreciate you being kind to me. Some of the others sort of look at me like I'm a walking freakshow."

"You're not a freakshow, you're just different. They're trying to figure you and your sister out." Dean explained.

"Perhaps."

Dean smiled, and then his hand reached for her again, landing on her waist. Her skin was smooth where his hand lay. His hands were hot against her skin as well, and then he pulled her closer to him and she didn't resist. "Do you want to come to my room?"

"My room is closer." She mentioned, looking towards her door.

Dean grinned and then they moved together to her room, sliding in and closing the door. The moment the door shut, his mouth was on hers and they were pulling their clothes off. Bella felt a new wave of energy hit her as their mouths battled with each other for dominance, and his hands touched her all over in just the right places. She moaned against his mouth when his hands found her hot, moist center. They landed on the bed, and he moved over her, his mouth drinking her in, kissing her on her neck, her shoulder, her breast, her stomach, and then finally, his mouth went to her hip before nibbling down to her clit. She gasped in pleasure; her hands fisted in his hair as he drove her towards ecstasy. When she peaked, he slid back up her body, his mouth capturing hers again, and then he moved his long, hot shaft to her core. His tip was already wet when he pushed against her, sliding inside her, fitting her like she was the glove. He thrust in fast, even strokes, his tip hitting her center every time, shattering her from the inside, out. She moaned again as she clung around him, feeling every bit of his length, pushing her towards a second and third orgasm. Her essence hit him like a wave, and he swelled harder, pushing faster and faster, slamming a little hard inside her as he was ready to pop, nearly reaching his end. Sweat formed on both of them, as they climbed together, her reaching a fourth orgasm just in time for him to reach his. He pulled out almost all the way, her fluid sliding over him, making it extra slippery, and then he managed to empty himself on the inside of her leg again, hot spurt after hot spurt hitting her, coating her with his release.

They were both breathing heavy in the end, and he did the same as he did before, retrieving something to help clean her up, but this time, he slid back in bed with her, pulling her against him, in his arms, and she settled, resting her head on his chest. She felt elated, her body feeling fully satisfied from head to toe.

Her eyes fluttered shut, and she felt the darkness envelope her. Sleep took her and she felt at peace for once since arriving here.

Dean stroked her back, feeling her body relax fully against him, and he knew that she was asleep now. Her phone started ringing, and he looked around the room, sliding out from under her carefully, and found it in her pants pocket, and pulled it out.

Simon.

Dean raised a brow and answered. "Hello?"

Simon thought it odd that someone would be answering Bella's phone. "Uh…Bella's phone?"

"Yeah. She's asleep." Dean said, his deep voice sounded deeper on the phone.

"Ah. Well, tell her to call me when she wakes up." Simon said, wondering who this guy was.

"Sure, who's this?" Dean asked, know the answer already.

"Simon. Clary isn't with Bella, is she?" Simon asked.

"Clary is around yes." Dean said and looked for his pants, pulling them on.

Simon could hear the jingle of what sounded like a belt buckle. He was the guy that Bella must he seeing. "Well, I'll just give her call then. Thank you?"

"Dean." Dean supplied his name. "I'll tell her you called." He said and hung up. He looked over at the sleeping Bella. Simon was a friend of hers he gathered. The kid sounded off a little, like he was shocked to hear someone else answer her phone. He sighed, grabbing his shirt and pulling it on. He set her phone on the nightstand, and took another look at her. Her body was extraordinarily beautiful. She was beautiful. He sighed and then he opened the door and walked out into the hall. He saw Clary walked towards him, phone to her ear.

"Yeah, Dean is a new friend Simon. I'm sure Bella is really asleep." Clary said and looked at Dean. "Is she asleep?"

"I just told him she was." He grumbled.

Clary nodded. "Yes, she's asleep."

"He's there with you too?" Simon asked.

"Yes. We're at a friend's place. Simon, I'll have to call you back later, okay? I'll remind Bella of Battle of the Bands tomorrow night." Clary said and then she hung up. She looked straight at Dean. "You."

"Yes. Me?"

She shook her head. "Bella doesn't sleep around a lot."

Dean raised a brow. "Oh?"

"Simon is just a friend." Clary clarified.

"I wasn't worried about Simon." Dean said with a small grin. "However, this thing," he motioned between himself and the door. "Doesn't leave this circle. Maryse can't know." He supplied.

"Oh really? How come?" Clary asked, crossing her arms.

"Because. She's a bitch, and I don't feel like explaining myself to anyone." Dean said and then looked at the watch on his wrist. "I am headed to command. This was a…nice chat." He said and moved past Clary.

Clary looked at Bella's door, and sighed. She hoped that her sister, knew what she was doing.