Sorry for the horrendous delay folks. I've been working on publishing my own website and it's taken a bunch of my time. On that note, I'd be forever grateful if you'd mosey on over to craftyrivers dot com and check out my site. I'm going to be posting my original fiction there as well as some other crafty projects I'm working on. First chapter of my novel Dreamland Café is published there.

Thanks and enjoy this chapter!

Chapter 14

Bella PoV

"What are you going to do, Ms. Remington?" Henry asks. He's not being condescending or sarcastic, he's truly curious.

"Well, as you know, I'm related to the human that Abaddon is wearing. We found a spell that indicates I can kill her simply by touching her." We haven't fully vetted the fact that this is indeed Henry, or if a demon is wearing him, or that a shapeshifter is mimicking him, or some other thing I haven't yet heard about. Just after I think this, Dean splashes holy water in his face while Sam slices at Henry's hand with a silver blade. Then Dean cuts his other hand with an iron blade.

When he simply looks annoyed by the water and howls in pain at the silver and iron, but does not burn, we know he's himself. "I also have to recite an incantation while touching her."

While in the Fairy Realm, that incantation became my mantra. The words took on new meaning and like Arya Stark in Game of Thrones; I began repeating it quietly to myself every day, multiple times a day.

Caro de carne mea

Sanguinem sanguine meo

Tollite me, et disperdet in malum

Exsilium equitis inferni unde venistis

Eques ex inferno, quia omnia in illo perbit

Over and over I repeated it until it became as familiar to me as my own name.

Charlie kept asking me what it was, but I always told her that when we got out of the realm, she'd learn firsthand what it was for.

"Is that what you were repeating a million times over every day?" Charlie asks, catching on. I simply nod at her. "Good, guys, Bella can recite those words in her sleep. In fact, I've heard her do it. We got this."

"So where do we find her, then?" Sam asks. "Henry, do you know where she's holed up?"

He nods. "Yes, she's in the old asylum. It's been closed down for years, but she's summoned all the ghosts of everyone that's died there, and they're guarding her. I've tried to get in three times now."

"Well now you're not alone," Dean tells him. "We all go in together. Armed to the teeth with rock salt and iron."

"Think we can get the records from the place? Burn all the remains of the patients that died, so we can get in?" Sam asks.

Henry shakes his head. "That was the first thing I tried when I learned who she had guarding her. The Asylum had an in-house crematorium. They were all cremated."

"If Abaddon summoned them here, then it's not that they were still tied this plane with their remains or some other object. She called upon other powers to bring them back."

Dean looks thoughtful. "The only person I know that can do that is… Death." Sammy's eyes go wide with realization.

I shake my head in disbelief. "Death? You mean Death is a person?"

He nods. "One of the 4 horsemen. He likes deep-dish pizza and has an affinity for black suits. If Abaddon has collared Death the way Lucifer did, we got a whole 'nother issue on our hands. But the one thing we have going for us is we know that Death does not like to be ordered about. He likes being his own boss. So if Abaddon has him, I know he's itching at a way to get out from under her thumb. We just gotta figure out how to do that, then those ghosts should go back to where they belong, and we'll get at Abaddon all the more easily."

"Okay, so… how do we summon Death?" I ask.

"You already did," I hear a voice call out from behind me. Now far used to being surprised, I don't jump out of my skin. Turning around, I meet the eyes of the man called Death. He's an older gentleman but has a head of jet black hair. Like Dean said, he's wearing a black suit. Rather thin and lanky, he stares at me, a hollow stare that just tells me this guy is very dangerous. "Ms. Remington, how pleased I am to make your acquaintance." He holds his hand out in greeting. I shoot a look at Dean wondering if this is safe. Will I die by simply touching Death? "Fear not, child. My touch is not deadly. Well, only when I want it to be."

Oh sure, that reassures me. Reluctantly, I place my hand in his. "Hmm, seems you have power. How interesting."

"You're probably referring to my shield," I reply. "For whatever reason, other supernatural creatures' tricks and magic don't really work on me." I'm reminded of Jasper's ability to manipulate my emotions, and Castiel being able to burn the vampire venom out of my body. I'm clearly not immune to everything.

Death hums in thought. "Yes, it would seem you are protected in the mind. No creature can use your mind against you."

"Then what about the Fairy Realm?" I ask. "They were able to pluck the entire realm right out of my own head. If I'm a shield, how were they able to do that?"

"Your imagination lies in a different part of your brain," Death explains. "The Fairies or Fae as they are correctly referred to, can access your imagination, but no other part of your mind."

Well that's news. It may also explain why Jasper is able to influence my emotions and Alice able to see my future. Speaking of Alice, I briefly wonder what she's making of the visions she's likely seeing of me. I can only hope that whatever she is seeing is going unseen by Edward. I don't need him interfering in my life.

"So what brings you by, D?" Dean asks Death. I don't think he should be so informal with the Horseman, but hell, what do I know. I only just learned about twelve seconds ago that Death is a person.

Death purses his lips, which only makes him look even more gruesome. "You're correct in your assumption that I am bound by Abaddon. She found that blasted spell that Lucifer used. You already know how to break it. Do that, and you'll be able to get to her. Promise me one thing though, Dean."

"What's that?"

"End her."

I snicker. "Oh, Death, that'll be up to me."

He cocks his head. "How do you mean?"

"Annndd…. That's a story for a different day," Dean replies, not letting me answer. I realize then that if we reveal our plan to Death, he may be forced to tell it to Abaddon, depending on how deep her hold on him is. Smart, Dean. He then pulls out his cell phone and dials someone. "Yeah, Cas, I need your help. We're in –" Before Dean can reveal our location on the phone, Castiel appears. He stands next to Death, looking him over.

"How'd you know where we were?" Sam asks. "I thought you couldn't see us."

"I can't," Castiel replies in his husky voice. "I can see the demonic omens in the area and ventured a guess as to where you were based on your affinity for cheap motels. Clearly I was not wrong, and you are predictable."

Sam chuckles. "Guess it's time to change our habits. Can you break the bond between Death and Abaddon?"

"Yes," Castiel states simply. He places his hand on Death's head and a bright blinding light shines out of his palm, causing us all to shield our eyes. Death shakes his head but then thanks the angel.

Death takes a deep, refreshing breath. Something I wish I could do, but I know I won't be able to until my Grandmother is rid of the demon inside her. "I am free. You can approach Abaddon without interference from the dead. They have been sent back to their places of peace."

"Is it just me or was that way too easy?" I ask. "Abaddon must have a failsafe for this very occurrence, right? Or is she really that arrogant to think a bound Death would stop us?"

Death turns to me and eyes me closely. His black eyes bore into mine as if searching for something that my shield wouldn't reveal. "Abaddon has no idea of your secret weapon. Or shall I say… your primary weapon." He winks at me and disappears.

"Death just winked at me. I feel like I should be more creeped out by it than I am."

Dean smirks. "Yeah, he can have that effect on you. Next time, bring along a deep dish pizza. He might even flirt with you, babe." I shake off the shiver that crept up my spine. Now that's a creepy thought. I'd rather not be courted by death. I'll leave that to Thanos.

"I still don't think this is going to be as easy as suggested. We need to go in armed to the teeth. Prepared for anything and everything."

"Smart thinking, babe," Dean says, smiling proudly. In the past, I would have blushed at the compliment, but my six months in another realm have hardened me to such childish reactions. We head out to the car and pop the trunk where there is a veritable smorgasbord of weaponry available. I simply nod and begin strapping as many weapons as I can find to my person while running through my incantation silently as many times as I can.

Dean, Sam, Henry, and Charlie follow suit. Castiel stands in the corner awkwardly, clearly needing no more than his own angel power to fight any demons or other faux we may cross in our crusade to end Abaddon.

I see Henry taking a knife to some bullets. "What are you doing?"

"Demon's trap carved onto bullets. Freezes them in place and there's no breaking the trap," he explains as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. Dean and Sam and explained the demon's trap to me, as well as a few other entrapment and warding symbols, but nothing about carving them into weapons. Now that I think of it, it should have been the most obvious thing in the world.

Sam and Dean stare at him dumbfounded. "Why didn't we think of that?" Dean grunts.

Henry hands us each a few bullets with the symbols and we load up our guns. "If you shoot a demon, try for a non-lethal shot if you can," he says. "If we can save the humans they're inhabiting, that'd be for the best."

The look on Sam and Dean's faces tells me that they traditionally haven't tried to save the human. Or maybe in many cases, the human meat suit was already dead.

Once we're all loaded up, we head out on foot. The warehouse she's holed up in is not far from the hotel we chose. "Another factor of my knowing where you were," Castiel whispers. "You're never far from the danger."

Truer words… Danger was always around the corner or down the street in this life. Something I've come to accept. As we near the warehouse, we see a few people milling about conspicuously. "Demons," Castiel confirms. We aim our guns and take shots, wounding them. Castiel starts spouting the exorcism incantation as we pass and we see several clouds of black smoke escaping from the humans.

"The fact that neither of you are reacting in a negative way tells me that's normal," I say to Dean and Sam as we pass by the billows of smoke. They both turn to me and nod, explaining that when you exorcise a demon, they leave the human and head back to hell. All right, fair enough.

Inside the warehouse are more demons. We shoot as we go, making our presence known as Castiel expels the demons from each human. We don't have time to wonder if any of them are still alive, but we can hope that once the work is done, we can check for survivors. Dean had said to me once that many demons kill their meat suit while wearing them just for fun. The thought makes me sick and I can only hope that Abaddon hasn't done that to my great grandmother.

Entering the last room, we see her standing in the corner. She seems surprised and angry to see us. Angry that the army of the dead she's created had failed, and angry that her demon pawns were no match for us. "The Winchesters, I presume," she sneers, eyeing Sam and Dean. "And here I thought all the talk about you two was just hype. Shame on me." She doesn't seem threatened though, so she thinks she still has power on her side.

"And Henry… oh poor Henry. How hard you tried to save them. But you couldn't, could you? Your entire order slaughtered by yours truly." Laughing maniacally, her eyes land on me. "And who are you? My next meat suit, perhaps? This one is getting rather boring."

"She's preparing to smoke out," Dean says. He shoots at her, but she dodges the bullet. His next shot misses as well. Then we all start shooting while Abaddon darts about the room with inhuman speed. This is something I'm used to though. I keep my eyes on hers and shoot where her line of sight is just before she moves. By the time her body has reached the intended destination, the bullet has met her there. It hits her right between the eyes, stopping inside her skull.

Damn… no way I can save my grandmother now. "Why can't I move?!"

"Bells…" Dean rasps.

"It's okay. She's been long dead to me anyway. It's fine," I say, putting on a brave face.

Approaching her, I allow the incantation to come to the forefront of my mind. With my knife in hand, I draw it along my hand slowly, cutting open the flesh and allowing the warm red liquid to flow from it. Abaddon is seething before me, livid that she's immobile and utterly confused as to what I'm doing. "Josie Higginbotham gave birth to Marie Higginbotham. Marie would then get pregnant out of wedlock and give birth to Renee Higginbotham."

"What does this have to do with anything?"

"You're wearing Josie Higginbotham, yes?" I query, cocking my head as I look into the demon's eyes.

"What of it?" she hisses, fighting against the demon trap in her skull. I swipe my blade along her throat and let the blood flow. "That does nothing! You've already killed Josie! What good is that going to do?!"

"Renee Higginbotham gave birth to one child. Isabella Marie Swan," I continue. "And that's me." I slap my cut hand against her throat, feeling the mixed blood sizzle beneath my fingers, burning my flesh. I know I cannot let go until I've completed the ritual. Then I begin to recite the incantation that's become my mantra over the last six months.

Caro de carne mea

Sanguinem sanguine meo

Tollite me, et disperdet in malum

Exsilium equitis inferni unde venistis

Eques ex inferno, quia omnia in illo perbit

I see Abaddon begin screaming out as I repeat the words. I know I have to say them three times without stopping or it won't work. While her head is immobile, the rest of her body is thrashing about. Swiping at me, and sometimes her sharp nails cutting into my flesh. Al the while, the place where our blood meets, continues to burn.

At the end of my recital, I yank my hand away from her throat just as there's a huge blast of blue fire and the smoke of Abaddon is consumed within it. The flames lick up Josie's body and suck in the smoke like a vacuum. Within seconds, there's nothing left.

I exhale in relief. Josie would have died anyway, it would appear. Saving the lives of many by sacrificing the lives of the few, or in this case, one Josie Higginbotham. Then it hits me. I just killed my own great grandmother. "Holy shit!" I rasp. I'm swaying on my feet. I can tell a faint is imminent.

"Is it really over?" Sam asks, looking around for any evidence that Abaddon survived. "No way it was that easy."

"I… I don't know if 'easy' is the word I'd use," I say before my feet give out and I'm losing my consciousness.

"Bella!" Dean yells as my head connects with the concrete and I know no more.

Dean PoV

"Bella!" I yell as her head hits the concrete floor hard. A loud crack sounds through the room, and landing straight in my heart. "NO!" Running over to her, I cradle her head in my lap. She's non-responsive. "She's not breathing!" I put my finger to her neck and feel for a pulse. Sighing in relief, I know she's not dead. Giving her a once over, I see that she's covered in burns and deep gashes. The whole thing happened so fast, I didn't see what all it was doing to her. "Cas, can you do something?!"

He flashes over and touches his fingers to her temple. Instantly, all her visible wounds are healed, including the nasty crack in her skull. She starts breathing again which lets my heart start beating again, too. I hadn't noticed it had stopped. "Physically, she's fine now, Dean," Cas tells me. "But mentally, she may take some time to wake up. Give her time." And just like usual, he disappears without another word. I gather Bella in my arms and start carrying her out of the building.

"Um, where's Henry?" Charlie asks, looking around the halls. I honestly couldn't recall the last time I knew where he was.

"He's with me," I hear Death say behind me. "His existence went against all the rules of balance when he appeared in this time line. As you all knew, he couldn't go back to his own time, lest he disrupt history rather adversely. I figure you don't want Fate to deal with again, so I took matters into my own hands. He understood that and discreetly asked me to take him when this was done. The moment Abaddon's life force was extinguished, I reaped him."

"When did we deal with Fate?" Sam asks.

"You won't remember of course, because everything was set right again, so your dealings with Fate were erased. But in an alternate history, an idiot Angel un-sunk the Titanic. When it reached its destination without hitting that fatal iceberg, the one-thousand-five-hundred-and-three that were intended to perish survived. Then Fate stepped in and ensured that everyone that was supposed to die in the disaster, and their descendants were well and truly dead. Everything was put back the way it was supposed to, so you have no memory of not driving an Impala, but a Mustang instead."

"Well, I for one am glad of that. I love my baby," I joke. I know it's not funny, but joking is a defense mechanism. It's my own attempt to keep my worry about Bella at bay. So Bella lost her Great grandmother, and we lost our Granddad. Well, I wish I could say that wasn't par for the course, but in our life, losing people is about as common as killing creatures.

"And your angel friend is right, Dean. Young Bella will awaken. It is not her time yet. I would know." And the Death disappears. Again.

I carry Bella back to the hotel and lay her on the bed. She's breathing evenly and her heart is steady. It's as if she's asleep. I have to trust Castiel's words that she'll wake in her own time.

"Do we stay here or should we head back to the Bunker?" Sam asks. "Or do we take Bella to a hospital?"

"There's nothing a hospital can do, Sam. Cas healed her wounds, she just has to heal her mind. What she did today was nothing small. Huge compared to the cases she's dealt with up to now. At least, from what we know."

"In all truth, it was worse in the fairy realm," Charlie tells us. "But at least there, we were never battling anyone we really knew. Bella just killed her own ancestor. She's going to need time to come back from that. And I think she'd do best in somewhere that's somewhat familiar to her. Like the bunker. Sure it's a new home to you all, but she's spoken fondly of it. Told me all about the shopping trip to supply it and your birthday party, Dean. If anything, that's going to be home to her. I say we take her there."

And so it's settled. One of the shortest cases in history, but with possibly the worst outcome. Bella will wake up, that much I know, but she may not be the same Bella that she was before smiting Abaddon.

"Abaddon's dead," Sam said. "But I don't think this case is over." I simply nod in reply.

My thoughts exactly, bro. My thought's exactly.

We pack up the car and head back the way we came, back to the bunker. Only this time we're making double time. Charlie volunteers to sit in the back seat with Bella, caring for her while I drive like a bat out of hell to make it back to the bunker as fast as possible.

Not bothering to stop for sleep or food, we only make quick gas and pee stops, having plenty of cash to get us back home. Bella does not stir once all the while; she simply remains asleep.

Once we arrive back at the Bunker, I carry her down to our room and make her comfortable. Her pulse is even and her breaths steady. But she does not wake up for anything. Not even the smell of sizzling bacon that Charlie made. I lay next to her and stroke her hair. "Bella, please wake up. We need you. I need you." With my forehead resting against hers, I will her to open her eyes. Nothing happens.

In just the few short weeks I've known her, she's become the most important thing in my world. She's equal to Sammy in my heart. I know my father would tear me a new one for letting someone this close to me, for allowing her to capture my heart and change me. But I'd take every lashing if it meant she'd come back to me.

Sammy and Charlie come and go as the days go by, checking on the two of us and bringing food. We're able to pour small amounts of water or broth into Bella's mouth, but I know it isn't enough. She should probably be in a hospital, getting her nutrients through an IV, but we'd have no way to explain why she's in this state. I take an ice cube out of the pitcher and run it over her dry lips. I know I should eat, but I can't. Not as long as she can't. "It's been almost a week. Dean, you have to eat," Sam said, holding my very favorite thing… Pie.

"I'll eat when Bella wakes up," I say. "Not even pie will sway me, Sam. Unless it's Bella's that she makes herself once she's well again."

He leaves again, sighing. I know I'm being unreasonable, but I just can't bring myself to leave her side, even to eat a pie, let alone a bacon cheeseburger.

"There's pie?" I hear a soft voice ask beneath me. I turn my head and see Bella looking up at me.

"Oh Bella," I cry, pulling her into my arms. "You're awake."

"So it would seem," she replies. "I repeat… there's pie?"

I chuckle and get off the bed to call Sam back into the room. "Sammy! Charlie! Get in here and bring pie! Bella's awake!" Hearing their feet scramble down the hall, I back into the room and sit next to her on the bed.

"Jeez, I stink," Bella complains. "How long was I out?"

"Nearly a week," I reply.

She snorts. "And you never thought to give me a bath?" She then gives me a once over. "You haven't showered either, have you? Have you at least been eating?" I look down, breaking eye contact. "Dammit Dean, you have to take care of yourself! What if you were the one out for a week and I didn't eat or bathe? You'd be pissed right?" I nod. "Well, this is a two-way-street, bucko, so you're going to have to work with me on this."

Sam and Charlie come in the room then, each holding two slices of pie. "Blueberry or Apple?" Charlie asks, holding out one of each slice to Bella. She takes both plates. "Both then. Alright." Not even bothering with a fork, she picks up a slice and shoves nearly the entire thing into her face.

"Holy shit, Bella. Hungry much?" Bella merely glares at her and continues stuffing her face with both pies.

"I haven't eaten in a week. I'm starving," Bella mumbles, crumbs falling out of her mouth.

Once she finishes the pie, she starts to get out of bed, but realizes she's very weak and is soon falling to the floor. Sam is there first and catches her before she can crack her head on the cement. Again. "Ugh, I thought I was done being clumsy."

"Not clumsy, weak," I answer. "You've been asleep for a week, Bella. No food, no water but what we could barely pour into your mouth. Sometimes chicken broth to get you some nutrients. But mostly just wetting your lips with ice cubes."

"Well, I want a bath. Wait, we don't have a bathtub, do we? Just the shower rooms. Well, then I want a shower." She goes to stand up again, but her legs come out from underneath her. Sam catches her again. "Dammit, I can't even stand up?! What kind of bullshit is this? Kill a knight of hell and lose consciousness for a week, then the ability to stand?"

"I'll help you shower," I offer. "I need one, too, y'know." She smiles and reaches out for me. I scoop her up into my arms and leave the room for the first time in six days. Once in the shower room, I undress first and then help get her out of her week-old clothes and under the hot water. "You've lost too much weight," I tell her. "Time for some Biggerson's, I think."

I hear her stomach rumble, but her face wrinkles in disgust. "Anything but Biggerson's."

Seeing her fully naked for only the second time has a vastly different impact on me. She's thin and weak, hell so am I after stubbornly refusing food all week. I hold her up as she runs her head under the water and lathers shampoo into her hair. She then pours another small amount into her palm and reaches up to my scalp. Her fingers running through my hair is pure heaven. I can feel her delicate fingernails scratching at my skin and it feels wonderful. I'm groaning with each scratch of her nails. We turn around so I can rinse my hair and she can apply conditioner to her purple strands. She then goes to put some in my hair and I yank my head away from her. "nu-uh, I don't need that crap."

She giggles. "Yes you do. Even short-haired people need to use this once in a while. Now stand still." I glare at her as she rubs the crud into my hair. Yeah, it feels pretty damn good, but I'm not going to let on that it does.

Next we need to wash our bodies, which may be a challenge considering I have to hold her up. "Let's sit down," I suggest. It's a clean floor. Charlie washed it the other day. Bella quirks an eyebrow at me. "Don't ask me. She said she nests when she's worried."

I reach for the wash cloth and pour some of her vanilla body wash on to it. Then I proceed to wash everywhere I can reach with it. She just sits there quietly, keeping eye contact with me as I care for her. Unlike when we were caring for each other's tattoos, there's no unresolved sexual tension right now. Yes, I want her, but this is about making her healthy again and making sure she's safe.

She then helps to wash me with the same soap, even though I'd held out my old spice for her to use. Great, now I'm going to smell like a candle. Once we're done, I carry her to the sink area and sit her on the counter while I get towels to dry us off. Wrapping her in a robe that's much to large for her, I put on my own, and carry her back to the bedroom. "What do you want to wear?" I ask.

"I want to say you, but I don't think I have the energy for that right now," she replies.

"Yeah, I don't think I do either, doll face. How about one of my t-shirts and a pair of your stretchy pants?"

"Yoga pants. And yes, that'd be fine," she agrees. I find the items and help her into them. "think I can try walking again? Maybe you and Sam could take a side and help me? I don't want to be an invalid for a second longer."

I chuckle. "Sure thing, babe. Sammy! Get in here!" My brother appears and together we help Bella out of the room and down the hall to the kitchen. Charlie has made some soup and a small sandwich for Bella, stating she should only eat a bit at a time so she doesn't get sick.

"I know, but I want to completely empty the entire contents of the fridge into my face," Bella complains with a gleam in her eye.

The only thing that mattered to me was that she was back and she was okay. Sure it'd take a few days for her to get her strength back, but we had all the time we needed now that Abaddon was taken care of. Sam and I agree that we should take a break from any new cases until Bella's back to 100 percent. "Let's convert one of these rooms into a home theatre," Bella suggests. "I mean it's not like we're ever going to need all of this space. Plus, there's a bunch of rooms we haven't even looked at yet. I'll bet we have more stuff than we know about."

"Good idea, Remi," Sam agrees. "Let's check it out tomorrow."

Author's note: This felt like a good ending. No drama, no cliffies, just the gang hanging out in the kitchen, talking about stuff that doesn't involve their hunting jobs. Up next will be a further exploration of the bunker and a visit from a Supernatural character that we haven't seen yet in this story. Thank you for reading and for reviewing!

I put the below into google translate to use for the Latin incantation that Bella recited. If there are any Latin enthusiasts out there, I apologize for any errors.

(Flesh of my flesh

blood of my blood

Bind with me and expel the evil within

Knight of hell be banished to whence you came

Knight of hell perish for all of time)