Chapter 23

(Please read and review please. I don't own anything only wish!)

Bella's brushing her hair and glancing upon the mirror. She gasps out at first as Cas appears in the mirror. Bella turns around.

"Cas…"

He nods and caresses her cheek.

"Cas? What's wrong?"

She couldn't help but to see certain sadness within his eyes.

"Nothing is wrong."

"Are you sure?"

He nods again. Bella pecks him on the lips and he runs a hand along her back. She heads out of the bathroom and places her gun and knife about her. Bella reaches for her bags and Cas grabs them. Still she had the sneaking suspicion something was wrong.

"Um thank you."

Bella opens the door and Cas loads up her things into the truck. Dean and Jo come out of their hotel. Dean's got their bags and tosses them in. He peers over at Cas and they nod to one another. Jo grabs Dean by the collar of his shirt and kisses him.

"Hmmm. We got about 15 more minutes babe…" He hints.

Jo laughs and gets in the car. Dean sighs.

"Worth a shot." He grumbles.

He makes his way over.

"Figured we'd get some breakfast and get talk about the case. You know make sure Cas and Jo have the run down."

"Sounds good."

Once Bella pulls out of the parking lot Cas turns to her.

"We will need to begin our search for the artifacts soon."

Bella nods.

"Ok we'll get started as soon as possible."

"Bella we may need to part."

She looks to him concerned.

"What do you mean Cas?"

"From your brother and Jo, I understand that these cases are important, that human lives depend on you and your brother. But a lot more lives could be at stake if we do not begin soon."

"You want me and you to go on without my brother?"

"If he continues to hold us back."

"Hold us back? Cas… I can't do that. Jo's never hunted before. She's only going to hinder him at first. He needs me."

"Then we will wait until she is ready then you and I will go on."

Bella shakes her head at this.

"Cas… I think this is something we should all be a team on."

"There isn't enough time…"

"Cas what's going on? What are you not telling me?"

Bella stops the truck and looks to Cas.

"You must choose, Bella. What is right or what is easy."

"Easy… I've a feeling nothing about this is easy."

"That maybe correct. But you serve a higher purpose. I was sent here for a reason."

"I thought my brother was supposed to come along for this so called journey?"

"Your brother doesn't seem to have the amount of faith needed. That and other lives depend on the both of you. You however…"
"Cas!" She says feeling ill.

"He's my brother!"

"I understand more than you would assume Bella."

Bella looks away from Cas.

"It's not all his fault… We've not been given much reason to believe such things. Our lives have always been surrounded by much darkness. Dean's never been given much reason to believe."

"But you do."

Bella closes her eyes for a moment.

"Maybe not as much as I should."

Cas turns to her.

"When did you stop praying Bella?"

She grips the wheel her eyes still closed.

"Not once did you pray when you were behind Hell's gates. Your faith had been lacking."

"I STOPPED OK! CAS IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR! I STOPPED! I PRAYED AND PRAYED AND NOTHING EVER CAME FROM IT. I WAS RIPPED AWAY FROM EVERYTHING FROM MY BROTHER FROM JOHN EVEN MY BIOLOGICAL FAMILY!"

"You stopped praying as a child?"

Bella nods.

"You would not pray… you stopped talking to God altogether. But yet you still believed even before I came into the picture. You were mad at him weren't you Bella? You somehow blamed God."

"YES I WAS PISSED AT GOD OK! PART OF ME STILL IS! BUT NO I DID NOT BLAME GOD! I BLAMED MYSELF! SOMETIMES I STILL DO! I THOUGHT I WASN'T WORTHY ENOUGH FOR MY PRAYERS TO BE ANSWERED. THAT I DID SOMETHING WRONG! I THOUGHT I DIDN'T DESERVE HIS GRACE!"

Bella's body slouches against the stirring wheel.

"Is that what you wanted to hear Cas?" She says behind her tears.

"No. It is what you needed. You need to make peace with God. Reconciliation within yourself."

Cas says nothing else. He places an arm around her and pulls her into his chest. Bella's cell phone rings and she tries to regain composure before answer. She clears her throat.

"Hello?"

"Hey you ok?"

"Yeah D we're on our way."

"Um ok see ya in a bit. You should be able to see the car outside the waffle house."

Bella hangs up and puts the phone back into her pocket. She starts the truck back up her hands unsteady against the wheel. She wipes her face clean and stares straight ahead. Once they enter the restaurant she heads straight to the bathroom. Bella washes her face and dries it off. She glances once more in the mirror thinking about what Cas said. With a new frame of mind Bella steps out of the bathroom. Without another exchange of words her and Cas nod to one another in understanding.

Dean notices this but wasn't sure what it was about.

"Trouble in paradise?"

"That outbreak of wing itch cleared up, and then the prevention of a civil war."

Dean rears back at Cas's words.

"Um yeah sounds peachy."

"I fail to see what produce has to do with this."

"You ok in there sis?"

Bella nods looking around. Jo was on the phone with Ellen. Bella clears her throat and looks to her brother. The words were on her tongue but she just hadn't the courage enough to tell him yet. She wasn't sure how. She leans back deciding to wait until the case was over. Cas takes her hand as they wait for their food. Something he learned from watching Dean with Jo. It was his way of letting Bella know that nothing between them personally had changed. But he had to remind her of the purpose they serve despite their personal affairs.

Their food arrives and Bella looks upon her plate like it's a death sentence. In fact this merely felt like the beginning of a damn funeral to her. Dean starts to give Jo and Cas instructions. She barely makes out half of what he's saying.

Bella however notices something about one of the man at the other table. He looks to be ill. He stands up and heads to the bathroom but grabs at his gut. Bella jumps out of her seat to catch the man before he falls. She takes his arm lifting him back up then turns watching the other people in the restaurant. Her eyes widen and she quickly grabs the table they were sitting out and flings it across the way.

"What the hell Bells?!" Dean snaps holding a piece of bacon in his hand.

She slaps it out of his hand. Bella turns to Jo in a panic as she's chewing on something.

"SPIT IT OUT JO!"

Cas comes to attention. Others in the restaurant become deathly ill.

"NO ONE ELSE TAKE ANOTHER BITE!" Bella yells and she rushes to the door locking it.

Bella begins looking around the restaurant. She turns her attention the cook.

"D!" Bella yells as she takes out her gun.

Her body starts to fly through the glass window Cas appears behind her. He grabs her just before she's about to hit. She looks to Cas. Cas turns to the cook. Before Bella can blink Castiel's behind him and strikes him with his blade.

Jo screams and they both turn. They see the man that Bella had tried to help had exploded. Bella rushes over to her brother and Jo.

"Did either of you consume the food!"

Dean shakes his head with his gun out looking around. Jo looks to Bella.

"No…" Bella and Dean share the same look of concern.

"Make her throw it up D!"

Cas appears before Jo and places a hand along her shoulder. He looks to Bella.

"She did not consume enough. She will live."

Bella looks to everyone's plates trying to figure out what it is. She covers her mouth as two more bodies explode.

"Jesus Christ!" Dean yells looking around.

Bella grits her teeth and leaps over the counter grabbing a waitress by the collar. She holds a knife to her throat.

"What the fuck is going on here?!"

"Um Bells?"
Bella turns to see more demons amongst them as the rise from their seats. The waitress starts to cry and beg for her life. Bella sighs and drops her hold but turns just in time to see the waitress's demonic smile and black eyes. She punches Bella in the face. Bella swings out her blade and Cas appears beside her as he wraps his hand around Bella's. The blade begins to glow and the demon's eyes light up and the body falls to the ground. He swings back around as another one comes their way. Bella watches in amazement as he puts his hand upon their foreheads and it has the same effect.

Dean fires his colt as him and Jo stand back to back. More bodies explode and Bella gags trying not to lose it. She leans against the wall with one hand. Dean turns to see his sister covered in body parts. Bella forces her way through the restaurant trying to gather anyone they can possibly save that didn't consume any food and that wasn't a demon. Castiel keeps his eyes on the 6 other demons about the restaurant. Bella starts to lead innocent people out of the restaurant as Cas, Dean and Jo cover her back. Bella's leading out this elderly woman when it happens again. Bella screams out looking upon her hands. She stumbles back trying to shake it off. She promptly leans over and pukes. She pulls at her hair knowing she has to get back inside but wasn't sure how much more she could stomach.

Jo rushes out to her and helps her to her feet. Bella covers her mouth as they head back to the door. That familiar cloud of black smoke however comes towards them. Bella tries to yell to Cas but it's too late. Bella shakes Jo as it begins to enter her mouth.

"NOOOOOOOOO!"

"GOD DAMN IT!"

Jo smiles her eyes black. Castiel comes out with his blade.

"NO! Cas you can't! Please!"

He nods and puts his blade back. He tilts his head looking to Jo. Jo sends them both flying back into the restaurant. Bella quickly grabs Cas by the arm as they go to raise back up.

"You can't take her life."

"What's going on?" Dean says as he's taking a demon's head.

He looks to Jo and winces.

"No…"

He shakes his head heading outside.

"NO D!"

He continues towards Jo and Bella grabs him shoving him back.

"Come on D!"

"We have to do something!"

"And we will but right now she'll kill your ass!"

Castiel vanishes as Bella continues to fight her brother back.

"Let me go Bells!"

"NO!"

"I CAN'T LEAVE HER!" He roars in his sister's face.

Dean knocks his sister down and rushes outside. Bella turns however to see Castiel appear back in the restaurant he slams Jo into a chair. He starts some sort of chant that sounded to be Latin. Dean dashes back inside and Bella grabs him. She holds him off best she can as he fights to get past her to Jo. He breaks free and Castiel cuts him a look as he finishes. Dean freezes. The cloud escapes Jo's mouth and disappears. Jo's body goes limp.

"What did you do to her!" Dean snaps grabbing at Castiel's collar.

"She will live! But now it finds another host!" Castiel barks shoving Dean off him.

Bella looks around the building. The room spins as she looks upon the bodies. She steps outside everything becomes a blur. She falls to her knees… they'd never lost this many before. She feels something in her hand and she yelps seeing a piece of intestine under it.

She comes to her feet and turns to the restaurant. Dean's carrying Jo out in his arms. Cas appears beside Bella. Bella makes her way to the Impala. She grabs a tank of gasoline and matches. She steps back into the restaurant and begins to pour the gasoline amongst the place. She steps out and just as John had always taught them. They rid of the evidence. She tosses the lit match inside and turns away. She and Dean hurriedly nod to one another and get in their vehicles escaping the scene.

Neither says a word as Dean comes out of the hotel office. He hands Bella a room key. He simply puts a hand to his sister's cheek and walks back to his car. Once Bella enters the hotel room she tosses her gun and knife on the table. She makes her way to the bathroom. She looked in the mirror thinking she looked like something that came out of a horror movie. Only the reality of it was much worse. She turns on the shower and steps in fully dressed. She braces herself with both hands as she leans into the water. Her hands clench into fists. She begins to punch at the tile of the shower. Her knuckles begin to bleed but she punches away with gritted teeth.

A familiar set of arms wrap around her. Her eyes become heavy, her body like jello. Castiel brings his body down along with hers. He begins to undress her and disposes of the clothes. He then scrubs her hair and the rest of her body. Once he's done he lifts her into his arms. He dries her off and carries her to bed, then takes off his shoes, jacket and tie. Cas crawls into the covers pulling her into his chest.

"Dean?"

"Hey baby." He turns to Jo and runs a hand along her waist.

"What happened?"

"You got hit by a bit of demon voodoo."

"What?" She raises up rubbing her forehead.

"You're ok now Cas rather saved you to be honest."

Jo shakes her head looking confused.

"Bella?"

"She's ok just looked like Carrie by the time we left."

"Jesus Dean."

"Yeah it seems you and her had the rotten luck."

"What the hell was all that?"

"I'm not even sure myself. It seems though our case found us before we found it. Ironically we were dealing with demon case. It seems we were closer to home than we thought. One of the bastards is still loose."

"I'm sorry Dean."

"Now why are you sorry?"

"I didn't feel like I was much help."

"You're still learning. Everyone has to start somewhere. Even Bella didn't know what she was doing at first. You'll get the hang of it. Besides you took out one demon better than most babe."

Jo sighs still not feeling all that confident in herself.

"Hey now don't do be doing that now." He pulls her into his chest.

"Are the cases always this…"

Dean shakes his head.

"No Jo, this was the worst we've had with the most body count. There was just no way to save them all."

He sighs thinking of his sister. He knew she'd be taking this the hardest of them all. Dean could only imagine what was going on in the other hotel. He just hoped Castiel was taking good care of her. Bella was never one to handle it very well when they lost a client. She took it personally always has.

Dean rose up and put his jacket on.

"Where you going?"

"We still got one of those bastards out somewhere."

Jo nods and starts getting ready.

"I think maybe you should stay here and rest."

"Don't do that Dean. When I agreed to come with you it wasn't so I could chill out in the hotel. I'm in this with you."

Dean nods with his arms about his waist.

"Ok then." He tosses Jo her gun.

"Let's go find us a demon babe."

Bella looks out the window for a moment. The morning events playing like a broken record.

"That's only the beginning." She hears Cas softly say.

"Cas I really wish you'd just spit it out."

"Spit?"

"Yes just tell me what's going on. What is it you keep trying to hint?"

"I'm not relatively certain myself."
"Tell me what you do know!"

Cas comes to a stand.

"Hells gates have been unlocked."

Bella stumbles back at his words.

"Wait… what? How's that possible?"

"We do not know yet how. But the demon infestation is only to get worse. That is why it is important we get ahold of the artifacts before they do… or even worse Crowley."

"Who is Crowley?"

"The King of Hell."

She rears back at this.

"I thought that'd be Lucifer."

"He was the ruler until he became locked away. Then Crowley rather took over."

"Locked away?"

"Yes Bella he's caged up. It is where he belongs. He wishes to eradicate humanity, and restore Earth to its original untainted glory. He believes humans to be flawed and not worthy of existence. If he's ever released there will be a war amongst mankind, Heaven and Hell."

Bella shakes her head completely taken back and confused.

"How the hell does one take over Hell and lock up Lucifer nonetheless."

"You've much to learn Bella."

They turn to the knock at the door. Bella answers to see it's Dean and Jo.

"We're heading out to find the last son of a bitch. You two joining us?"

Bella turns to Cas then back to her brother and Jo. Her heart breaks knowing the choice she's got to make.

"Not this time D."

He rears back at this.

"Um ok… Well next case then."

Dean goes to turn away.

"D…"

He looks back over.

"This is where we part ways."

He laughs a bit.

"Um yeah ok Bells."

She shakes her head.

"These people they need you D and Jo. This is the only way… There's just no way the four of us can get it all done we gotta split up."

Dean's hands ball up into fists.

"You're fucking kidding me right? After all these years this is it?"

"It's far from over D and you know that. Right now this is what needs to be done."

"How the hell is searching for a bunch of crappy artifacts helping?!"

"You've no idea D. You just got to trust me."

"This is insane! He comes into the picture and all the sudden you drop your hunter status and become TOMB RAIDER!"

"I'm still a hunter!"

"The fuck you are! You're more like a god damn missionary."

"This is something I got to do D."

"The hell you do."

"I'll find you again."

"Now who sounds like John!"

"Watch your tongue D. You haven't a clue."

"Yeah I don't so why don't ya let me in."

Bella wasn't even sure where to begin. How to make her brother believe such things. She could tell he still had his doubts about Castiel.

"A lot of people could die D."

"You seem to forget a lot of people did just DIE!"

"PRECISELY! Which is why I have to do this!"

"Nah… I'm not buying it. What's your game Cas? Huh what are your plans once you get my sister all to your fucking self!"

"To find the relics, guard Bella at all cost and save the world from devastation."

"Bells come on… we can do this together! All of us."

"How D? If you can tell me how we can do both at the same time then I'm game! Just tell me how!"

"Ya send the damn angel to do his own dirty work. You come with us!"

Bella's jaw drops at her brother's words.

"Let's go…" He demands.

"I'm not leaving him."
"But you'd leave your own brother!"

"It's not like that and you know that D!"

"Then prove it!"

"I can't obviously! You just got to trust me! I'm coming back D and you know that!"

"And what if you don't sis. Huh? What if you don't!"

"Perhaps it's time you listen to Cas. You gotta have more faith, if nothing else at least in me."

Dean's eyes close for a moment and he shakes his head.

"Ok."

"Ok?"

"Ok…" He nods opening his eyes again.

Bella wraps her arms around Dean's neck. His arms go around her as she breaks down against him.

"It's ok Dean's got ya." He pulls back and looks her in the eyes.

"You better keep your word Bells."

She nods and he hugs her once more.

"It's hardly fair." Jo says hugging her.

"We just got you back."

"I know. Trust me I know but this is far from over."

Dean yet again surprises Bella as he offers Castiel his hand.

"Please just take care of her. I can't lose her again."

Cas nods shaking Dean's hand. Jo hugs Cas as well. Bella watches her brother and Jo hop into the Impala, leaving his usual dirt trail behind as he turns onto the highway. Her eyes close for a moment her heart continuing to break. There were two she loved more than anything else in this world, the man that just drove away and the one that stood behind her looking on to her with admiration.