Chapter 7
Feeling someone else's skin caused a strange mix of peace and nausea to collide in Thea's stomach. The warmth of his fingers at her wrists was alien to her. She had forgotten what touch felt like.
There was a fundamental connection between the brain and the body. Humans need touch just as they need water and food. It wasn't just mental, it was biological. Infants could die from lack of touch. People could lose their minds without bodily interactions.
She understood now the importance it held, because Dean's touch was paralyzing.
The Angel was speaking, but her ears were ringing with surprise and confusion and greed all at the same time. Surprise that her skin did not hurt him. Confused as to why. Greedy for more.
"...protect the Holy Mother." she caught the tail end of Castiel's sentence. "With Michael in the cage, that job has been turned to you." Dean was shaking his head angrily.
"No, you see that doesn't sit well with me." He looked up at the ceiling. "You hear that asshole? I'm not doing it."
Oh God, he's lost his mind. Thea thought nervously. A mentally unstable man was a dangerous man.
"Dean, this is a good thing." Sam tried to reason with him.
While all eyes were on Dean, Thea made her quiet exit through the back door.
The sun, which she hadn't seen in over a week, was bright. But the air around her was cold, which reminded her that they were in the beginning of November. The brightness caught her off guard and it took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the blaring light. But just as she readied herself to take her first steps through the threshold, something caught on to the back of her shirt, pulling her back into the old house.
Though the pull wasn't hard, she heard the collar of her shirt give way and tear under the strain. Afterall, it was so soaked in dried blood and sweat that she was surprised it hadn't happened sooner. She felt the cool air whisp around her exposed skin. It wasn't a huge tear, just to the middle of her shoulder blades, but it was enough to let the air sting the open wounds.
"No you don't." she heard Dean say from behind her. Of course, it had been him that had pulled her back inside. With as much speed as she could muster, Thea whirled around and went for him… well, went for his pockets that is. Earlier, she'd watched him stuff a phone into the front pocket of his jeans. If she could get her hands on it, dial 911 she'd be free. She didn't even need to actually talk to anyone, just calling and leaving the line open long enough would bring a squad car to the door!
Her hands frantically tried to feel for the phone. At last, fingers circled around the small cool plastic frame. Dean was so startled by her sudden energy that he took a second to catch on, giving her the time she needed to wrench the phone free and flip it open.
But that's as far as she got. Dean's hands came crashing down on hers. For a brief moment, they struggled with each other, each trying to wrestle the cell from the other. In the end, Thea was still weak, she was still no match for his superior size and strength.
"Fine." Dean was angry, the emotion was thick in his voice. "Fine, you wanna walk out of here, then go." He threw his hands towards the door. "Walk away. But don't think for second that we'll be there to pull your ass out of the fire when it catches." He stormed away, heavy footsteps echoing throughout the house.
Thea watched him go, watched his shoulders shift with annoyance as he left her by the door. Sam's eyes were pleading for her to stay, but he must have known it was useless because he did nothing to stop her as she walked out the door.
She hadn't realized how isolated they were. There was nothing. Not a single house, car or store for miles. Just long, straight stretches of woods along the sides of the gravel road.
Thea had no shoes, and after half an hour, the bottoms of her feet began to leave a trail of blood in their wake. Her legs wobbled, back seared with pain, stomach growled with hunger. She had to find help soon or she'd collapse right here in the middle of this God forsaken road.
If she prayed, would someone answer. Angels are real. Demons are real. So why can't God be real. And, she must be pretty damn important to him, right? Mother of God and all.
She didn't have to pray. A few steps later she heard the soft rumble of a car behind her. The lights were a dead giveaway that it was help, if the word Sheriff scrawled on the side wasn't enough of a clue. Thea waved her arms what little she was able.
The relief that washed over her at the sight was enough to make her knees weak and drop her to the gravel. In the back of her mind she was aware of the tiny pebbles digging into her skin. Tears swelled into her eyes, blurring her vision.
"Are you hurt?" a feminine voice rang out. It sounded so far away. Through the tears, Thea could see someone coming closer, running closer. She heard the crunch of rocks and dirt under the Sheriff's boots, but buzz of a radio, the hum of the idle engine. It's the sound of help, she thought groggily.
Between the pain, lack of sleep, hunger and thirst that ate away at her body, her mind was overwhelmed and disorganized. Like a puzzle before it's put together, all of its pieces jumbled in the cardboard box. Eventually, they'll form a picture. They'll create something that make sense. But right now, they're useless.
"What happened?" The voice asked, closer than Thea had realized.
In the back of her head she reminded herself, don't mention demons, or angels, or werewolves. Normal people wouldn't rambled about monsters. But her mind gave her no other words, no other thoughts to convey to this officer. To her own personal Angel.
Thea tried to clear her vision with the back of a dirty hand, no doubt smearing more dirt and dried blood across her face. The woman was kind faced. Large round eyes filled with concern. She wanted to say something more to her.
Help. Please. Make the pain stop. Give me water. Save me.
But all that came out when she opened her mouth was one simple word.
"Demons."
