Disclaimer: Does anyone else suffer from a case of Kripke-Envy?
8. The Clearing
Dean was a pro at convincing cell companies to turn on their GPS tracking systems. It worked every time. 'Please, my son is diabetic and he hasn't answered his phone in hours. I tried his friends and none of them have seen him. Please, he could be in shock, I have to find him... Of course I don't have the account number! I'm driving around looking for him! The phone number? Yes, it's…' Dean rattled off the number to the operator. His voice had gone from pleading to angry at just the right moments. He could have been an actor if hunting hadn't claimed him first – a ridiculously good looking and talented actor.
Sammy had logged onto the cell's website and a flashing red dot was blinking at them. Sam brought up the GoogleEarth site and switched it to satellite view, comparing it to the cell phone company's topographical map. Edward was in a clearing in the foothills of the damn mountains.
"How in the hell are we going to get in there?" Dean cursed angrily, taking in the forests surrounding the area on the satellite map.
"Look." Sam said, pointing to a thin line on the screen. "That looks like a dirt road. We can take the Impala as far as we can and we'll just have to hike it the rest of the way."
"I hate hiking."
Sam rolled his eyes at him but there was no other choice. "It's only a couple of miles. Dad used to make us run maneuvers longer than that with a full pack." He tried to persuade him.
Sam was right. John Winchester was a marine through and through and had taught his boys how to survive any environment the continental U.S could offer. He'd leave them on the side of a logging road with a map, a gun and a pack of jerky. Of course, John would make sure that the lunar cycle was right before doing that. Even Old John wouldn't send his kids out there if there was the chance for a werewolf to stumble on them – and he never did it in Wendigo territory – he wasn't insane.
Dean sighed, knowing there was no alternative. "Alright…Let's go get the girl."
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
They found a trail head. Dean absolutely didn't want to leave his precious car on the side of the road in this isolated area, knowing full well there were bears and cougars and elk, but he didn't have a choice.
They went in fully loaded. Scent amulets, crossbows with silver tipped arrows, the blessed machetes, and the dead man's blood. All of the arrows had been dipped in the blood, and allowed to dry, along with a couple of knives they tucked in their belts. Dean felt a bit like Robin Hood with the quiver strapped across his back, but as cumbersome as the crossbows could be, it felt comforting carrying in something that could bring a vamp to its bloodsucking knees at fifty yards.
Sam had his Blackberry tuned into the cell company's locator screen and they started up the trail. There was still a blinking red dot in the clearing about three miles north of where they were. It was dark once they got under the forest canopy – not like it had been very bright out on the dirt road, but at least they weren't so boxed in back there. The only good thing was that the drizzle had stopped, but the rain sodden forest floor absorbed all the sounds they made as they walked.
Finally something going our way. Dean thought scathingly.
It was difficult hiking in the dark through the thick forest. The path was little more than a deer trail, but it went in the right direction. They had to be careful. The protruding roots from the trees attacked their boots as their feet fell on the carpet of fallen pine needles. There was the soft hollow thump as they walked. It was a sound Dean associated with the woods, the way footsteps were absorbed by the thin soil – more tree roots than dirt – and the shock waves were eaten up by the forest. He didn't like the woods – never would – but he was as at home here as anywhere else. John made sure of that. It was also exhausting to constantly keep his blocks up. Doing it for a short time was relatively easy and necessary on occasion, but Edward had a range that far exceeded anyone else he'd ever met and it was mentally draining to concentrate for so long.
He glanced over his shoulder to look at his brother a couple of steps behind him. Sam had his 'determined' face on. His blocks were in place too.
On and on they walked, steadily getting higher and higher in elevation. The Rocky foothills would be considered mountains in themselves in some parts of this country. They went as fast as they dared, but silence was their most crucial weapon. If they could take the vampires by surprise, they could shoot them full of dead man's blood, get the girl (if she was even still human) and run like hell. That was the ideal plan. Sam was pretty adamant about not killing them if they could help it as there was no evidence that they had harmed anyone. Dean was skeptical of Sam's bleeding heart when it came to the supernatural, but was inclined to indulge him. Sam's gentle nature was something Dean admired in a weird sort of way – it was what made him Sammy.
Dean kept an eye on his compass, changing to another deer trail when the one they were on veered off to the right and away from the clearing. Sam periodically checked his phone to make sure the blinking dot was still there. Edward – or at least his phone – was still in the clearing, so that was playing in their favor.
A little over an hour after leaving the car, and they were almost there.
Only another half mile to go.
They had to go slower now though. The closer they got, the more careful they would need to be. Neither brother wanted to be taken by surprise by one of the vamps. Dean could tell they were nearing the clearing when the trees started to thin and he could catch a glimpse of night sky through the trees.
They crouched low and nearly crawled the rest of the way, taking great care to be silent. They eased up on the clearing, peering out through the ferns on the edge of the woods.
It was large, relatively flat, and had a great view of the mountain range behind it. Off to one end was the coven of vampires. They looked like they were wrestling or something. The females were standing back from the boys rough-housing, along with Carlisle who was laughing at Emmett's attempts to outmaneuver Edward. The mind reading thing was probably a great advantage for the creep, and Dean wondered how he would fare in a fight against someone who could block him mentally. From listening in on Carlisle in his office earlier, it didn't seem like they could keep him out of their thoughts. That would be severely irritating to live with.
They had heard lore that said that certain vampire's had extra abilities. Until now, they had never come across one, and Dean wondered what other skills were in the family other than Edward's mindreading and Alice's visions. He hoped to hell none of them had any telekinesis powers or could shoot laser beams at them out of their ass, or he and Sammy would be screwed.
Although the tall blond one might be able to paralyze a man in his tracks with a pouty look.
Dean shook his head. It didn't matter how hot she was – she wasn't human.
Sam tapped his shoulder and pointed at the opposite end of the clearing. Bella was sitting alone on an outcropping of rock, watching the vampires from a distance. It was certainly a relief that she was still human. She wasn't writhing in pain on the ground as the venom burned through her system – so score another point to them that they didn't turn her yet.
Dean made a few short and simple hand motions to Sam, meaning, we go around, we grab her from behind and we get the fuck out of there without them seeing us. Sam nodded and the two hunters started off in the other direction, working their way silently through the underbrush. It was excruciating to move so slowly when all he wanted to do was charge into the clearing, arrows flying and get the girl. But he couldn't risk her getting hurt, and that was likely to happen if they did it that way.
They had to stop part way. Dean held his breath as Alice danced her way up the outcropping to sit with Bella. The two were laughing although Bella's sounded a bit forced. Now that they were closer, Dean could see the worry marring Bella's pretty face. Alice pranced off to join the others, and Bella's frown returned as she watched the tiny vampire launch herself at Jasper's back. Alice leapt off, seemed to taunt the rangy vampire, and succeeded in evading Jasper's attempts to grab her. Alice laughed a tinkling bell-like laugh the whole time.
It was really creepy to watch.
Dean and Sam started to work their way around the clearing again. The vamps were too involved in what they were doing, and it looked too much like the grappling that John had made him and Sam do while they were kids. It was supposed to make them better fighters, and as Sam got older, Dean had to get more creative so that his little brother wouldn't whoop his ass. Damien would never let him live that humiliation down. But watching the vampires do the exact same thing on the other end of the field sent an ice cold shiver down his spine. It was like they were preparing for something – and that was a scary thought. Were the Cullens preparing for a rumble after all? Who would be the target – the Seattle bunch or the Volturi? Both?
Sam tapped him on the shoulder to get him moving again. He hadn't realized he'd stopped to watch the vampires.
They finally came up behind Bella's outcropping of rocks. The Cullens were still preoccupied and not paying attention to the brunette. There was about twenty feet of clear space between the rocks and the trees, so the boys were careful to use the rocks between them and the vamps as cover.
They reached the base of the rocks behind Bella. She was blissfully unaware of their presence. Dean rested his back against the rock, readying himself for the hard part – sneak up on her and grab her without her making a sound to alert the bloodsuckers. Sam was seated next to him, loading a quarrel into the crossbow. Dean loaded his as well and leaned it, along with the quiver, against the rocks next to his brother. His machete was strapped across his back so that he could grab it easily if he needed it. He took a deep breath and looked at Sam, who nodded at him.
This was honestly the stupidest thing they've ever done – and there was a long list of stupid things to compete with this one – and it was now or never.
Dean crept up the side of the rocks. It wasn't high, barely more than seven feet at the back, and it sloped right down to the ground in the front. He used natural notches in the crags to pull himself up. Whoever did this sort of thing for fun obviously never heard of beer and loose women.
His head crested the peak and he peered over the edge – no one was watching.
He pushed himself over the ledge, keeping low to the rock surface. She was several feet from him, her knees drawn up to her chest and her arms wrapped around them, watching the other end of the field. He could see little white earbuds in her ears and she was tapping her foot slightly. Dean placed each footstep exactly. He didn't want to alert her until he had a hand over her mouth and an arm around her waist.
Her hair was blowing gently in the breeze – Dean could smell her shampoo and fabric softener. He'd stopped breathing again and his heart was pounding as he reached forward. He wrapped his arms around her and clamped a big hand firmly over her mouth. He held her tightly against him, pinning her arms to her sides with his muscled arm. Her brown eyes were wide with shock and fear as she searched his face.
Dean bit down on the wire to the earbud and pulled it free with his teeth so she could hear him. He pressed his lips to her ear and whispered softly, "We're not going to hurt you…we're here to help you."
Her eyes went wider and she was shaking her head frantically, but Dean picked her up effortlessly and vaulted over the side of the rock, dropping down next to Sam. Sam had his crossbow ready, but seeing Dean trying to handle the viciously struggling girl, Sam slung the second bow and quiver across his shoulders and motioned for his brother to get going – he'd cover him.
Holding onto Bella was like trying to hold onto a wildcat. She sure made things difficult for such a little thing. Dean had to physically pick her up off the ground and carry her writhing body towards the trees. He still had a hand over her mouth, but her face was beet red with the screaming she was trying to do. All at once, Bella bit down on his hand and kicked back at his junk. She missed the goods by about an inch, getting him in the upper-inner thigh, but he'd let go of her mouth a bit when he'd reflexively tried to protect his unit.
"EDWARD!" She'd screamed.
A/N: I know, I know…this is a short update and a cliffie but we're getting to the good part now so please don't hate me for stopping here.
Fruitarian…*snicker*. I will give it to Sam – he looked good in those scrubs the other night. Did I call that or what?