Hi guys, so I'm really sorry about the wait and normally I wouldn't give excuses but as chapters for this and all my other stories now will be as and when I think you deserve a reason. Recently I've been hospitalised a few times with chronic pain, doctors were unable to figure out what was wrong with me till recently. I won't tell you all about my illness, I'm sure your not that interested (lol) but it is a degenerative illness (means it gets worse over time not better) that will cause me pain for the rest of my life. So as I say, due to this updates will be as and when, I'm sorry about that but I promise I haven't given up on any of my stories and hope that you continue them with me.
Anyway, enough of my belly-aching right? On with the story! Hope you enjoy! :)
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Don't Hold Back
"But I don't wanna..." I moaned and pouted like a small child.
"You think I do sweetheart? Believe me I'd much rather spend all day here ravishing your sexy ass. But I'm pretty sure that Charlie will come after us, gun in hand if we're not back soon. That was the seventh phone call." Dean said with a sigh as he was getting dressed for the first time since last night.
Last night, had been without a doubt the best night of my life. Four times. Four. Dean was... Well amazing, loving, caring. And an animal as well.
But our bubble was being burst from the constant phone calls wanting our return to Bobby's. Sam, Bobby, Ellen and of course Charlie had tried ringing us, we hadn't answered any of them, too caught up in each other. But to save off our 'rescue party' Dean had sent a text to Sammy telling them that we'd be home soon enough.
I was loath to leave this little, crazy and almost scary room, Dean and I had taken so long getting here. But he was right. We needed to go and be responsible, especially as armageddon was almost upon us and everything.
"Fine..." I sighed again sounding really immature but eliciting a chuckle from Dean, which made my heart soar.
Dean stood waiting for me fully dressed and keys in hand as I reluctantly dragged myself from the bed.
"Speed it up B and I'll buy you some breakfast before we head back." Dean smirked at me.
"Oh! Can I have pancakes!?" I mocked him in an excitable girly voice.
"Sure. Just hurry up." Dean said, his beautiful green eyes rolling in his head as he did.
I finally got ready and headed out of my own little slice of heaven to join the real world. My real world which included the mother of all evil wanting me dead, my missing father suddenly back in my life, the end of the world. Yeah, I wasn't sure I was looking forward to leaving this room where for one night we'd forgotten all of that shit, where we'd been safe just for a small while.
Still, duty was duty. And I'd chosen this life, I'd asked for it. It was time to face the firing line. It just hoped it wasn't a literal firing line.
~0~
Dean gripped my hand as he slowly pulled down the driveway to Bobby's, the drive back had gone too quick, true to his word Dean had brought me pancakes for breakfast. But now we were back and real life was making an appearance.
As he stopped outside of the house that was so familiar but now felt foreign and scary Dean sighed and squeezed my hand once more. "C'mon then B, time to face the grumpy old men."
I nodded, afraid that if I spoke I'd start doing something embarrassing, like crying. I needed to figure out what I was going to say to Charlie, but my head was so wrapped up in Dean that I couldn't work out how to even say hello.
I took a deep breath as we stepped up the porch before reaching out my hand and pushing the door open. The gratifying smell of freshly brewed coffee hit me, making me feel instantly at home. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad after all?
"There you igits are!" Bobby growled as we stepped through the door, his face looking over both of us intently as we did. His skilled eyes taking in Dean carrying our bags, and our fingers still entwined.
"Hey to you too Bobby." I smiled at the hunter. "That coffee?" I asked.
"No it's moonshine, what d'ya think." Bobby replied with a roll of his eyes. Apparently someone wasn't impressed with us.
"You want one?" I asked Dean as he dropped our bags near the door and as I moved further into the kitchen that felt like home.
"Sure." Dean replied before looking at Bobby. "So what did we miss?" He asked his father figure.
"Same shit. Charlie's going ape, Ellen's scared and Sam's... Sam's... Hell I don't know. He's quiet, and he's lonely and he's lost." Bobby said, his voice holding hurt.
Deans shoulders instantly tightened at Bobby's words. "Yeah, well." He started saying angrily. Ah, the real world, how glad I was to be back. Not.
"I know. I know. Lucifer, not saving Bella, going off the deep end. I know. And I know that ya can't forgive him, not yet. But I also know ya still love the boy." Bobby said before letting out a deep sigh. "Besides you should go find him before Charlie finds you. He's after your skin boy, and I don't think he'll stop even if Bella throws herself in ya place. He's crazy ass mad." Both Dean and I winced a little at that. But Bobby's eyes grew softer as did his words for once. "I get why ya needed to go. Damn we all do, but Charlie, he ain't seeing things through our eyes. Just bare that in mind."
I shared a look with Dean, who just sighed before facing Bobby once more and taking the mug off me as I passed it to him. He must have been worried, he didn't even realise I'd given him one of my mugs that said 'princess' on it. I was sure Sam would though. "Where are they?" Dean asked, his voice pissed and sad at the same time.
"Sam's out at the old barn." Bobby said to Dean before looking at me. "Charlie's out back in the garage."
I gave Dean a lingering kiss and a whispered declaration of love before topping up my coffee and heading outside for the garage.
I took my time walking down the dusty aged track that had been worn into the grass with centuries of use, trying to figure out what I could say, what I wanted to say as the garage loomed ominously in front of me. I was pretty sure though that this talk wouldn't end in a hug and some campfire songs in the garden.
I looked into the old garage, my eyes taking time to adjust from the bright sunlight outside. It was dusty, dirty and full of tools along with car parts. It also held my dad.
I took the time to watch Charlie, properly watch him and take in my dad really for the first time as his back was facing me. His profile showing every once in a while as he turned for tools. He was ageing, that much I could see. His once deep black hair and moustache was lightening with age, the lines on his face were becoming caverns rather than rivets. The spark in his eyes that I'd seen while I was growing-up seemed to have disappeared and suddenly his numerous scars were thrown into a new light for me. Every one was a testimony to how close he'd come to death, and each one showed how hard he'd fought to prevent it. My dad was a fighter, a hero. Unfortunately he'd been a hero to other people when they needed him, not to me when I needed him. That was the crux of it.
"Ellen, stop gaping and get in here and help me if you're gonna stay out here." Charlie growled, sounding a hell of a lot like Bobby as he did.
"It's Bella dad." I replied quietly.
"Bella!" Dad spun around and looked me over in relief. His eyes shone with gratitude for a brief second before they became hard with anger. "Where the hell have you been?" He asked me, his dad voice prevalent.
"Out with Dean." I replied easily, maybe not smart, but this was the way it was gonna be now. I was twenty, I was a hunter, and I was in love with Dean, dad would have to accept that.
"Let's get somethings straight here Isabella Marie Swan! You ask me before you go out. And you do not stay out all night with that man." He spat out the word man as though it was an off taco. Which in my experience was pretty much the nastiest thing in the world. The thought still had my stomach churning.
"Hang on a second." I said, my voice even as I tried to keep my own anger at bay. "I appreciate that you were worried dad, but I'm twenty years old, I've been going out when I want with who I want, where ever I want for the last six months. I'm not giving that up now." I tried to be reasonable.
"Well that stops. And it stops now. I'm your father, and I say that you ask. I also say that Deans too old for you and..." Okay, now I lost my temper.
"No he's not. No your not." I said, my voice deadly in it's calmness and softness.
"Excuse me!" Charlie roared out at me.
"Deans been my best friend for months, he's taken care of me for months, I get on with him, I get him. Just as he gets me. He's not too old for me. And you Charlie. You aren't my father. You weren't my father when you left me six months ago on my own, no money, hardly any food, in a town riddled with supernatural creatures and more out there gunning for me. You lost the title of dad when you found out that mom had been killed but still didn't come for me. You lost that right when Bobby had to tell me instead of you. So please, for both of our sakes, don't come here using the daddy card now. Cause it's not going to work." At no point did I raise my voice, I just let the sadness and the hurt that I'd felt fill the void my anger left instead. I knew that would sting, that would get to Charlie more than my anger ever would or could.
I turned to walk away, I had nothing more to say. Sure I had questions; why had he left me? Why did he entrust my life to someone else? Why didn't he care enough to come back? But they seemed unimportant now, nothing he could say could take back the last half year of my life. Nothing he said could take back the pain, the hurt, the anger, the scars. Sam, Dean, Bobby, they were the ones who made this time bareable, they were the ones who were there for me time and time again. Not this man who called himself my dad. And right now I wasn't prepared to get over that. Right now I was incapable of getting over that.
"Bells...?" Charlie whispered from behind me making me stop in my tracks. "What happened? To you? I need to know. What happened?"
"You want a play by play?" I asked my voice holding amusement.
"I need to know, how you... You got like this..."
"Got like what exactly?" I asked, my anger rising yet again.
"You turned from this shy independent girl, into a confident, independent, world weary woman." Charlie embelished, and I could hear the sadness creeping into his voice.
I slowly turned and walked back into the garage, trading my now cold coffee for one of the beers that my dad had on the tool bench I was perched on. I cracked it open on the side, ignoring his look of displeasure as I did.
Taking a swig I began to talk. To tell him how I'd turned from naïve, protected, weak Bella into who I was today. A hunter.
"I was scared. I was on my own my graduation was coming up and you weren't there. Money was running out, so was the food. I was scared to eat too much incase it all ran out. I rationed myself. But what scared me the most was that you wouldn't come home. That you'd been hurt. Or worse.
Eventually I got my shit together enough to look for something, a hint as to where you'd gone. Maps, co-ordinates, anything. Then I found your letter. Thanks for the details by the way." I stopped talking as anger swept through me again. Taking another sip of beer and trying to find my calm once again before I carried on with my story.
"I rang John's phone, only Dean answered, you know now that John's dead. Has been for a while. Dean and Sam dropped everything to come and look for me. I owe them. Hell, scratch that. We owe them." I looked pointedly at my dad so that he knew I included him in that.
"The day of my graduation, you weren't there, then I really got scared, but Edward didn't care. He'd pissed me off for the last time. When he dropped me off home I finished with him." I said before drinking deeply from my bottle again. Time to move this show on. I'm sure Charlie didn't need every single detail.
"Two men knocked at my door that night, thinking it was your friends who could help me find you I went to let them in. Too late I realised they weren't you friends. I didn't have a clue what they were. Only I knew they weren't human by the way their eyes were completely black. Dean and Sam chose then to ride up. Luckily. Otherwise I might have had a complete melt down.
Well after that Dean sat me down and gave me the whole truth is out there speech. Told me they'd find you and that they'd crash for the night before heading out. I tracked your cruiser, it was easy enough and gave them the information. When I was asleep Edward came into my room like he'd done every night." My dad went to speak then but I held my hand up to stop him.
"Shh, it wasn't like that, you heard Eve, I was still pure.
Anyway he came into my room and tried to rape me. Once again Dean and Sam saved me before taking me away."
I took a deep breath.
"Next were the satanists that tried to make me into one of their sacrifices. That was fun. Gotta tell ya. I got free, just. But I had a gun to my head when Dean and Sam once again turned up to save my ass. That's when I asked them to train me. Neither of them wanted to. And Bobby sure as hell didn't."
I smiled fondly at the memory.
"Anyway, let's fast forward a bit shall we? So they trained me. I became a hunter. And the things I hunted? Almost everything in your journal. I got scars, broken bones, dislocated joints, gashes. I was scared, hurt, pained. I even died once. But at the same time I enjoyed myself more than I've ever done. I finally found where I fitted. With those boys. They get me, I get them, they make me laugh even when I am so scared I feel like I am gonna cry. They saved me in every way. They were there for me when mom and Phil died, when I found out I was Eve's vessel and when I found out that you were running from me. They and Ellen were there when I found you again, only to have it be a shifter, to have to kill something that made itself look like my dad." I skimmed over the bit where at that time Dean hadn't cared so much, he didn't need to know that. I didn't want him to know that. And to be honest I didn't want to go over that again.
I let the silence take over for a minute or two before speaking once more. "So yeah. That's why I am the way I am now Charlie. And I like it." I said before placing my now empty beer on the battered, used bench next to me and jumped down. Without another word or another glance at the man who called himself my father I headed back towards my family.
~0~
I was in my room, the one I always used here, beer bottles, both empty and full propped up on my bed as I had my Ipod plugged in, taking out all my anger and all my frustration on the punch bag that still hung in the room.
Once more I found myself beating the crap out of the punch bag with tears steadily weaving themselves down my face. It was getting to be the norm here.
I spun and did a vicious rear leg roundhouse kick to the bag, surprised when it didn't rock like usual, but stayed motionless and heavy against my leg. Looking up I found Dean leant against the other side, his face expressionless as he took in the sight of me. Tears and all. What a way for your boyfriend to find you, right? Luckily he'd seen me in worse states.
I pulled the earphones out, brusquely wiped the tears from my face while trying desperately to stop more taking their place.
Dean didn't say anything for a moment and through watery eyes I studied him, just as he was doing with me. He looked as wrecked as I felt, he was just hiding it a hell of a lot better.
"So good talk?" I asked in a raspy voice.
"Oh yeah, the best." Dean replied sarcastically. "Good talk?"
"Wonderful!" I responded with my own sarcasm. "What happened with Sam?" I asked softly while moving over to the bed.
"We rehashed everything again. He apologised, I tried making him feel a bit better I guess but... Damn... I can't. I can't forgive him yet. I know you aren't dead, but that's not through any of his doing, and Lucifer's been released. How do you forgive that after a couple of days?" Dean asked me looking very worn as he rested still against the punch bag.
"I don't know D, but it's Sammy." I knew it was going to take a lot to get Dean to forgive Sam, but he had too, those two were one of the same. Yin to yang, they wouldn't function without each other.
"Yeah." But Dean didn't say anymore on the subject, not that I really expected him too. "So what about you and Charlie? What happened there? I'm guessing it didn't go so well." He adopted a soft, caring tone that he only ever used when we were alone.
I gave Dean a brief play by play of Charlie's and my conversation, tears jumping unbidden once more into my eyes. After I finished I sat in silence waiting for the opinion I was sure was to come; I think for a moment I forgot who I was speaking with.
"You gave it to him both barrels then?" Dean said, his tone surprised but his face blank, so emotionless that even I couldn't read him.
"You think I shouldn't have?" I asked surprised.
"Hell no sweetheart! If anything I think you went too easy on him." Deans face was set in a frown now, easy to read; he was pissed, pissed at my dad.
"Then why do I feel so shit?" I asked pleadingly.
"Bad Taco?" He suggested with that crooked smile that made my heart leap.
I leant over and kissed him so softly our lips barely brushed. "Not the taco then, eh?" Dean said with a soft, yet mischievous smile as I pulled away.
"Not the taco." I whispered with my own smile as I leant back in towards the one person who could possibly make me feel any better right now.
~0~
Bobby's P.O.V.
The sounds coming from my spare room were enough to make even me lose my lunch. And I don't lose ma lunch easy. I just hoped to God that Charlie didn't blunder in now. Though God didn't seem to be much on our side at the minute. In fact if he was up there he had a lot of explaining to do. Dick.
With a grunt and a groan I clambered out of my chair, deciding that if God wasn't gonna help me and mine then I'd damn well do it ma-self.
Stiffly I started walking out to my garage, my bones weren't what they use to be, that was for damn sure, though there'd be no way I'd ever admit that to Sam or Dean, never hear the end of that one and they ragged on me enough as it was. I was pretty sure that people used to respect their elders in my day.
When I reached the garage that damn fool Charlie was stuffing a duffle bag into an old banged up Ford that until he started playing with it hadn't even had a working chassis. Could have done with him working with me if it weren't for the dramatics. But then that was why I worked alone, much less hassle.
"And where d'ya think you're going?" I asked as I helped myself to one of my beers that Charlie had pilfered. Man was old enough to know better, all I'll say is there better be a six pack tucked under his arm next time he decided to visit.
"Thanks for the hospitality Bobby but I've gotta book." Charlie said to me, his voice gruff.
"You got a job waiting?" I asked, only reason I could think for him leaving Bella and Ellen behind.
"Nah, just time for me to move on. A rolling stone and all that." Well now the fool was just talking crap and he knew it, what's more he knew I knew it.
"Balls. You gonna leave ya girl and Ellen here? Without so much as a bye, bye? Again?" Man was all types of crazy if he thought I was letting him slide this time; Bella and Ellen would have my hide, and those chicks were all types off scary when they were pissed. Just ask Dean.
"Bella isn't my girl anymore. She made that one perfectly clear when she came out here Bobby." Ah, a pity party, that shit I could deal with.
"She say that?"
"Yup, said I wasn't her father any more."
"And your gonna listen to that are ya? Christ Charlie, she's twenty years old, she's hurt, she's scared and she's been through more in the last week then most go through in their life." I growled out trying to make the idgit see sense. What was it with these damn men, all hunters, it was like they were cut from the same damn cloth. All whingers and moaners, they needed to man up and deal with their shit instead of moping about it like a teenage girl. Hell Bella hadn't given me this much shit and she was a teenage girl when I met her.
"She's old enough to know where to strike Bobby, she knew what buttons to press. She got me good."
"Are you under the impression that family's suppose to make you feel good old man?" I asked incredulously. "You seen enough to show you otherwise. They're supposed to make you feel like crap, supposed to say the shit to you that know one else has the balls to say. They're supposed to know exactly where to strike, shows they know you. You're damn lucky you've got a daughter at all and you know it. Stop acting like a brat and sort it." I was all but shouting now, but seriously, the man should have known better.
"You didn't hear her Bobby."
"Don't need to have. I know Bella, know she's got a mouth on her, wouldn't have lasted this long if she hadn't. But I also know how scared she's been for you Charlie, I know she's lain awake at night crying over ya, worrying about ya. I know how heartbroken she was when her momma died. You gonna do this to her Charlie? Really? You're the parent. So grow up and be one. You've got half an hour before I come back out here and kick your damn fool ass up to the house and do as I say. Foot up ass or not. Your choice."
~0~
Bella's P.O.V.
Dean and I had taken comfort from each other in a way that was still new to me, but damn was it good. He was so... Tender, so loving, so pure, yet so rough and anamalistic at the same time. He was everything I needed to make the hurt disappear for half an hour. But when we'd finished sweaty, naked and laid out in each others arms the pain was still there waiting for me.
"You know that you're going to have to speak with him again, right sweetheart?" Dean whispered into my hair, his hand stroking soft and small circles on my arm.
"Hmmm?"
"Charlie? Well I'm guessing that's the reason that ya've suddenly gone all tense on me? Either that or I'm losing my touch." I could hear the smirk in his voice.
"Can't I just stayed wrapped up here with you forever?" I asked content with my lot despite the ache in my chest that my subconscious was trying to tell me would only go away when I'd sorted things with my dad.
"Nope. I'm going to get hungry soon, and I have no desire what so ever of turning into a Wendingo. I can rock a lot of looks sweetheart but that ain't one of them." I had to giggle at that. No matter what the situation Dean always managed to make it better some how.
After a few minutes of silence a sort sharp rap at the door made Dean grab the covers and wrap them tightly round me, making sure that even my ankles were hidden.
"Charlie's gonna be in to talk to you in about ten minutes girl, so get your ass up and dressed before then. I don't want any buck shot left round my house for me to clear up if he catches you with Dean, ya got it ya igit?" Bobby's low, gruff growl echoed round the room perfectly clear, my blush making its way to my face at his words.
"Got it. I'll be down in two. Thanks Bobby." I called back while feeling mortified.
"Come on then sweetheart. Show time." Dean said with a grimm smile as he hopped down from the bed.
"Er..." I started saying, worried about Deans reception if he met Charlie with me.
"You said Charlie would have to get use to us right?" Dean asked solemnly, the effect ruined slightly by him hopping to put some pants on. I nodded in response anyway whilst trying not to laugh. "Then he'll have to start from now, I ain't leaving your side again B, I've seen what happens when I do."
~0~
I really hope that you enjoyed this and I'll try to get another chapter out soon - no promises though. Tell me what you thought, as always, until next time;
Tametiger x