Chapter Five: Questions, So Many Questions

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After creating a plan with Charlie for their hike the next day, the Winchesters exited the police station and climbed into the Impala. Dean rubbed his eyes as Sam drew in a deep breath. The information Charlie had given them about Bella's ex boyfriend's family didn't sit right with them.

"What do you think?" Sam questioned, breaking the silence between the two boys.

"What do I think?" Dean repeated. "It's weird! What kind of normal family drops everything and doesn't give anyone a form of contact? They're hiding something, Sammy."

"I believe it." Sam responded. "But until we figure out more about this family, we won't find out what they were hiding or where they're hiding."

"I'm starting to think this isn't like any other case." Dean mumbled as the Impala's engine roared to life.

"Yeah, I'm starting to think that too."

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The next morning rolled around and the boys arrived at the Swan residence just as Charlie was walking out the door. Bella was close behind him when the boys had climbed out of the Impala. They all met around Charlie's cruiser and greeted one another.

"You guys ready for the hike?" Bella questioned.

"Doesn't look like any of you are ready." Charlie voiced, looking the boys and his daughter up and down. The boys wore their usual flannels, leather jackets, jeans and boots while Bella wore a gray sweatshirt, jeans, and black converse.

"You aren't gonna see me in any hiker boots or shorts. My knees aren't a good look." Dean said with a smile.

"He's serious." Sam laughed. Dean nudged his brother, causing him and Bella to laugh even more.

"Yours aren't much better, buddy." Dean said defensively.

"Well, you boys be careful and keep a watchful eye on my girl." Charlie said, wrapping an arm around Bella.

"Dad." She said, gritting her teeth. "I can take care of myself."

"Sure, says the girl who got lost in the woods right behind our house and passed out." Charlie mentioned. Bella slid away from her father's embrace and the boys looked at Charlie quizzically.

"I'm sorry, what?" Dean questioned.

"Come again?" Sam's voice blended with Dean's. Bella rolled her eyes and drove her hands in to her sweatshirt's pockets and stared at the ground as Charlie began to speak.

"Oh yeah, the night the Cullens left town, she went missing. I hadn't seen her all day and we sent out a search party looking for her. Sam Uley finally found her in the woods, unconscious." Charlie explained. The brothers looked at their family member with furrowed eyebrows and surprised expressions etched on their faces. Bella's cheeks flushed red as embarrassment flooded her body. All she could remember is how ashamed she felt for disappearing after Edward.

Bella's heart raced and broke all over again as she thought about Edward. Her heart raced even faster as she began to think of his ice cold lips lingering on her forehead before he walked away and disappeared for good. She almost stopped breathing. She drew in a deep breath and kicked at a rock, trying to think of something else, anything else. She could tell Sam and Dean's eyes were still on her and she knew they would only ask questions and she wasn't ready for that. Charlie had already tried to ask questions about what happened that night and she couldn't talk. She would just focus. It would feel as if someone had grip of her throat and wouldn't let her go. As if their grip was tightening around it.

Bella regained her composure and lifted her head. She had been right. The Winchester's eyes were glued on her and it made her uncomfortable. It felt as it they knew something, but it was impossible. They were just two boys from Kansas whose lives got flipped when their mother had died in a house fire.

"Yeah, I really don't like talking about that night. Can we just go?" She asked quickly. The boys glanced at each other with furrowed brows as Bella made her way toward the car.

"Yeah, let's get moving." Sam said slowly, turning away from his brother and walking with Bella towards the car.

"Don't worry, Charlie. We will take extra care of her, we promise." Dean said. Charlie's body relaxed after being tensed up for so long.

"Thank you boys, I really appreciate it." He leaned in closer to Dean. "I think this'll be good for Bella too. All she's ever done is be around Edward and that Jacob Black out at the reservation. I like Jacob, but a change in face will be good for her." Charlie whispered. Dean nodded his head.

"We will be the perfect antidote."

"Well, that makes me feel better. And hell, I may see you out there!"

Dean shot Charlie a confused look.

"Harry Clearwater and I are probably going to go look for that bear." Charlie responded.

"If you do, please be careful Dad!" Bella shouted after her dad after hearing of his plans.

"I always am!" Charlie shouted back to her. "Again, thank you, Dean. I really appreciate this."

Once Dean had found the perfect spot to stop, he parked the car and turned the key, killing the Impala's roaring engine. As the three climbed out of the car and Sam and Bella prepared themselves for the hike, Dean stared at the overlooking trees ahead of him. All he had been able to see was Hell and all he could feel was the torture he endured there, this was a nice change in scenery for him and maybe for once he would be able to think of something other than the Hellhounds tearing him to shreds, the torture he endured each day, and the torturing he conducted. Dean shivered the thought off and regained his composure.

"Your ready, Dean?" Sam questioned he swung a backpack full of water and food around his shoulders. Dean looked at his brother with a fake smile on his face.

"Yeah, let's go."

The three set on their hike and for several minutes walked in silence. Bella watched as Sam and Dean would exchange looks with one another several times. It was like they were speaking with their eyes and it made Bella uncomfortable like they had been talking about her.

"So..." Bella began. The brothers looked at her as they weaved through trees and stepped over large plants. "What have you guys been doing since the last time I seen you?" She asked.

"Well..." Sam began.

"We've been on the road a lot." Dean interrupted. Sam shot his brother a displeased look. Dean shoved it off and continued on.

"Doing what?" Bella asked.

"Doing odd jobs here and there."

"What kind of odd jobs?"

"Pest control." Sam answered almost immediately, making sure he wasn't giving his brother a chance to tell her their whole life story. Dean shot a glare Sam's way and Sam shot one back.

"Oh, that is really..." Bella trailed off.

"Unexciting?" Dean questioned.

"Yeah." Bella replied.

"Oh, trust us-" Sam said with a chuckle. "It is far from unexciting."

"You wouldn't believe what is in some people's basements." Dean finished.

"I can only imagine." Bella laughed.

"So, this boyfriend of yours.." Dean began. Bella stopped in her tracks and wrapped her arms around her stomach, keeping her back turned on her cousins. "Why did he just up and leave?"

"Dean!" Sam exclaimed with displeasure.

"What? I'm just asking a question."

"And you can tell she's still reeling from it. Let. It Go."

"Well, if it's just a simple, normal boyfriend, then she should be okay with my asking, right?" Dean began to grow arrogant in the situation and made his way to the front of Bella. He could tell she was having a hard time breathing. Sam followed after his brother and watched Bella. Her eyes were closed tightly and her body was frozen.

"Tell us Bella, why did he just leave with no second thought for you? Was he hiding something? Was his family hiding something?" Dean continued to push and Sam watched her carefully waiting for a reaction.

"Please stop." Her voice quivered and was quiet like a child's. "I really don't want to talk about this or him."

"Why not?" Sam joined in. "Did he hurt you?"

No!" Bella shouted loudly. "He didn't! He just left town! Is that what you wanted to know?" She pushed passed the boys and continued on the hike.

The two brothers looked at each other and watched her for several moments as she disappeared within the trees.

"That was weird." Sam admitted.

"You said it."

"What the hell was that?"

"She knows something."

"Yeah, I know that Dean, but what?"

"I don't know, Sammy." Dean growled, growing irritated.

"Also, what the hell was that Dean?" Sam questioned.

"What the hell was what?"

"You poking and prodding her with questions like that."

"Hey, you joined in on it too."

"But you were getting to be an ass, Dean."

"Yeah, so what?"

Sam remained silent, watching his brother's eyes look at everything but him.

"Were you thinking of Hell?" Sam finally asked.

"Oh Jesus, Sam. Really? Why do we have to bring up Hell every damn conversation we have?"

"Because you haven't talked about it, Dean!" Sam exclaimed. Dean stepped away from his brother, running a hand through his head in frustration. He turned back to Sam and drew in a deep breath.

"Let's just talk about this later and go find Bella."

"Are we actually going to talk or are you going to shrug off my questions as usual?" Sam questioned.

"Well, if you didn't ask so many, I wouldn't have to." Dean began moving ahead and Sam followed close behind.