November 19th, 2009
Baltimore, Maryland
"Bored!" Alex suddenly called, making Sam jump. It was the afternoon of the next day, and Alex was watching tv, and Sam was on his laptop. Dean had gone to keep Bobby company, leaving behind Sam and his car.
Sam turned to face Alex. "You're always bored."
"I know!" Alex rolled onto her back, head hanging over the bed. She looked up at Sam, who had returned to his work. "Sammy. Help me!"
Sam sighed. "Stop. You're being annoying."
"Ugh!" Alex rolled over, accidentally falling off the bed. She landed with a thump. Sam laughed. "Not funny," she grumbled. She stood up. "Hey. I remember seeing a mall a few blocks away. I'm going there." She dug through her bag, pulling out twenty dollars.
"No, you're not." Sam stopped her.
She turned to face him. "Why not? I'm bored, and I'm not staying here."
"Well, you're not going out. I got in enough trouble with Bobby for last night."
"You left me outside in the rain," Alex reminded him.
"You came back inside," Sam shot back.
"I'm going. Adios." She reached the door, shoving her bad hand in her jacket pocket. She heard Sam stand up, but didn't stop her. She started heading towards the road.
"Get in." She turned to see Sam getting into the Impala. When she looked confused, he explained. "You want to go to the mall, we're going to the mall. Get in."
Alex let out a broad smile, but did as he said. He drove them down to the mall, pulling the car into the parking lot. They entered through the Barnes & Noble. "So what do you want to get?"
"I don't need anything." Alex narrowed her eyes. "I just wanted to get out of the motel. Ooh. Look." She led Sam over to a bookshelf. "Zeus."
...
She and Sam walked through the mall. A lot of the stores were clothing stores, so they didn't go in very many. At one point, Sam's phone rang. He answered. "Dean?" Pause. "We're, uh, at the mall." Another pause. "Yeah, she's here too. No, she's fine."
Alex rolled her eyes and took the phone. "Dean," she said, exasperated. "I'm totally fine. Okay? Sam's with me. Couldn't feel safer."
"I know, but I don't trust him," Dean said slowly. "Not anymore."
"I know you don't. But I do trust him. With my life. Goodbye." She hung up before Dean could protest.
"You trust me?" Sam turned to her. "Even after all I did?"
"Sure. Why wouldn't I?"
"Well, first, I tried to kill you. Second, I freed the freakin devil."
"Okay, first off, yes, that was stupid of you. But I still trust you. Second, I knew Lucifer was going to be freed by killing Lilith. I could have told you, but I didn't. It's my fault as much as it is yours. Team effort. See, what I don't understand is why you still trust me."
Sam was silent, and Alex let out a breath. A good smell reached her nose, and her head snapped up. "Ooh. Yum." She grabbed Sam by the hand, dragging him over to a cinnamon roll stand. "Want one?"
"Are you going to make me buy it?" Sam joked.
"Yeah." Alex looked up at him. "Please?" She pulled her best puppy face.
"Fine." Sam rolled his eyes. "It's not worth the fight." He bought two cinnamon rolls, one for her, and one for himself. They found a table in the food court, and sat down. "You almost ready to go back?" he asked her.
"Go back? We've only been here an hour!" Alex exclaimed. "You can't expect me to sit in that dingy motel room for multiple days in a row." She swallowed the last of her roll, then reached for Sam's. He slapped away her hand. Alex laughed. "Come on. Let's go find some plaid store for you."
"Plaid store?" Sam asked, confused.
"Oh yeah. Everyone knows you Winchesters love plaid. You'll wear plaid over plaid, plaid under plaid, or just plain plaid."
Sam chuckled. "We don't wear that much plaid," he defended himself.
"Save it for the judge." Alex stood up. "You going to finish that?"
"Of course."
"Of course," Alex echoed. "A growing boy needs to eat."
"I think I'm done growing."
"I don't think you know when to stop."
Sam shook his head. "Come on." He shoved the rest of the cinnamon roll into his mouth and stood up, and followed Alex down farther into the mall.
...
The next day, Alex found herself back at the hospital with Sam and Dean. She sat in Bobby's room, running over the conversation they had had with Zachariah back in the storage unit three days ago. She turned to Dean, who was leaning against the wall. "Hey, you remember when Cas said he carved those sigils into our ribs?"
"Yeah."
"Do you think he was serious? Like, did he actually carve them into our ribs, or is it more of an invisible thing?"
Dean turned to look at her. "Dunno." His eyes lit up. "Be right back." Alex watched him leave.
She sat there for several more minutes, lost in her own thoughts. Her stomach growled, and she got up to leave, casting a glance at Bobby. He was sitting in a wheelchair, wearing a bathrobe and a baseball cap, looking out the window. He hadn't moved in a very long time. Alex left the room, slipping by Sam, who was watching from the outside. She quickly made her way down to the vending machine, buying two candy bars. She split open one for herself, taking a bite. She brought the second one back down to Sam. She wordlessly handed it to him. He wordlessly accepted it.
...
A few minutes later, Dean returned, holding a large manilla envelope. Alex nodded her head at him, giving him a silent 'hey'.
"It's been like, three days now?" Dean asked. Sam let out a loud sigh, and everyone's eyes were on Bobby. "We got to cheer him up. Maybe I'll give him a back rub."
"Have fun with that," Alex mumbled.
"Dean," Sam said at the same time.
"Well, what then?"
"Look. We might have to wrap our heads around the idea that Bobby might not just bounce back this time," Sam said quietly. Everyone was silent. "What's in the envelope?" Sam asked.
Alex looked down at it. It read 'X-Rays' in large red letters.
"Went to radiology." Dean glanced over at Alex. He opened up the envelope, pulling out several sheets of pictures. "Got some glamour shots." He handed them to Sam, and Alex leaned on his shoulder, trying to see. It took her a second to understand what she was looking at. It was obviously a x-ray of someone's ribs. Dean's, actually. But carved into every rib were strange symbols, stretching from the sternum all the way to the back.
"Wicked," Alex breathed. "That is so cool."
"Let's just say the doctors were baffled," Dean added.
"Holy crap."
"Yeah, well, Cas carved you one, too," Dean reminded them.
Right Cas. Right on cue, Alex's phone rang. She hesitantly answered it. "Hello?"
"Hello. Is this Alex?"
"Uh, yeah. Cas?" A small smile appeared on Alex's lips.
"Speak of the devil," she heard Dean say. She held up a hand to quiet him.
"Where are you?" Castiel asked.
"Uh. St. Martin's Hospital. Why? What's wrong-Cas?" She paused. The line was dead. She hung up, confused. She stepped closer to Sam as a gurney and several nurses went by. When she returned back to her spot in the middle of the hallway, Castiel was walking up to them.
He stopped when he saw Alex's bandaged wrist. "What happened to you?"
"Nothing." Alex looked down at it. "Just picked a fight with a lamppost."
"Cellphone, Cas?" Dean asked. "Really? Since when do angels need to reach out and touch someone?"
"You're hidden from angels now. All angels. I won't be able to simply-"
"Enough foreplay," Bobby interrupted him. Everyone turned to look at him; it was the first he had spoken in quite a long time. "Get over here and lay you damn hands on me." When no one moved, he glanced back over his shoulder. "Get healing," he commanded Cas. "Now."
"I can't."
Bobby turned his wheelchair to face them. "Say again?" he threatened.
"I'm cut off from heaven and most of heaven's power." Castiel pushed past Sam and Dean into the room. "Certain things I can do. Certain things I can't."
"You're telling me you lost your mojo just in time for me to get stuck in this trap the rest of my life?" Bobby exclaimed. Alex stepped past the two Winchesters to stand behind Castiel.
"I'm sorry."
"Shove it up your ass." Bobby turned back to the window.
"At least he's talking now," Dean pointed out.
"I heard that," Bobby called over his shoulder. Alex sighed.
Castiel walked back over to Sam and Dean. "I don't have much time. We need to talk."
"Okay," Dean agreed.
"Your plan to kill Lucifer."
"Yeah. You want to help?" Dean guessed.
"No. It's foolish. It can't be done," Castiel corrected.
"Oh." Dean blinked. "Thanks for the support."
"But I believe I have the solution. There is someone besides Michael strong enough to take on Lucifer. Strong enough to stop the apocalypse."
Alex frowned. "I don't think . . ."
"Who's that?" Sam ignored her.
"The one who resurrected me and put you on that airplane. The one who began everything. God." He paused. "I'm going to find God."
Dean looked skeptical. He ushered Sam in the room and closed the door. "God?"
"Yes."
"God?"
"Yes," Castiel repeated. "He isn't in heaven. He has to be somewhere." Alex had to agree with his logic there.
"Try New Mexico. I heard he's on a tortilla."
The angel looked confused. "No, I don't think he's on any flatbread." Alex laughed, but was silenced.
"Listen, Chuckles, if there even is a God, he's either dead - and that's the generous theory-"
"He's out there, Dean."
"- or he's up and kicking and doesn't give a rat's ass about any of us," Dean finished. Castiel glared at him, and even Alex felt offended. "I mean, look around you. The world is in the toilet. We are literally at the end of days here, and he's off somewhere drinking booze out of a coconut. All right?"
"This is not a theological issue," Castiel said quietly. "It's strategic. With God's help, we can win."
"It's a pipe dream, Cas."
Castiel stepped closer to him, blue eyes blazing. "I killed two angels this week. My brothers. I'm hunted. I rebelled. And I did it, all of it, for you, and you failed. You and your brother have destroyed the world."
"And what about Alex?" Dean challenged. "Because I'm sure she's totally innocent in all of this." Alex let out an indignant cry. "She could have stopped all of it!"
"You don't understand!" Alex snapped. "I can't change anything. I'll only make it worse."
Castiel turned on her, their faces only inches apart. "I lost everything. For nothing," he said quietly, so quietly everyone else had to strain to hear. "And you just stood there and watched."
Alex closed her eyes, hurt by his words. She wanted to say something, but couldn't.
"You didn't drop in just to tear us a new hole," Bobby broke in. "What do you want?"
"I did come for something. An amulet."
"An amulet? What kind?"
"Very rare. Very powerful."
"Right," Alex said under her breath. "Cas, are you sure this is a good idea?"
"Why wouldn't it be?" Castiel turned back to her.
"If God doesn't want to be found, he can't be found. Amulet or not."
"I have to try." Castiel turned to Dean. "It burns hot in God's presence."
"A God EMF?" Sam asked. Castiel nodded.
"Well, I don't know what you're talking about," Bobby told him. "I don't have anything like that."
"I know. You don't." Castiel looked at Dean, then down at his necklace. Alex followed his gaze.
"What? This?" Dean looked down at it as well.
"May I borrow it?"
"No."
"Dean. Give it to me."
Dean was silent for a few seconds. Realizing Cas wasn't going to back down, he sighed. He took it off. "All, right, I guess." He held it out to Castiel. The angel took it. "Don't lose it," the hunter warned. Castiel nodded. "Great. Now I feel naked," Dean grumbled.
"I'll be in touch." With that, Castiel disappeared. Sam sighed.
"When you find God, tell him to send legs!" Bobby yelled after him. They stood there for a few seconds. Then Bobby's phone rang. He answered it. "Hello?" A slight pause. "I can't hear you."
"Who is it?" Alex asked.
"Rufus." He turned back to the phone. "Where are you?"
Pause.
"Colora- Colorado?"
Pause.
"River Pass, Colorado?"
Pause.
"Rufus, you there? Ruf-Rufus?" After a second, Bobby hung up, looking over at Sam and Dean. "You guys up for a ride?"
Sam and Dean exchanged a look. "Uh, sure, I guess." Dean spoke for the both of them.
"Okay. River Pass, Colorado. Seems demons have the town on lock down. Rufus needs some help."
"River Pass?" Dean echoed. "Bobby, that's a full day's drive!"
"Then you better get going." Bobby shooed them out of the room.
...
They got out, they packed, and they drove. 24 hours straight. No stopping. Except for pie. They stopped for pie. Most of the drive was in silence. Until Alex spoke. "I have a question."
"Hm?" Sam, who was driving, looked back at her.
"Okay. So, you kill a werewolf by shooting it with a silver bullet."
"Yeah."
"Actually, a silver knife would be more effective," Dean piped up. "Pure silver bullets are nowhere near accurate. Silver plated bullets aren't too bad. But expensive."
"Ah, okay. Anyways." Alex cleared her throat. "Stab it through the heart with a silver knife. But. What if you cut off it's head? With a plain old, classic machete? What would happen? I mean, would the head even come off? Would the head still be alive? What about the body? Both?"
There was a short pause. "Is this what you've been thinking about?" Dean asked.
"It's a legitimate question," Alex defended herself.
"I'm not sure," Sam answered her. "I've never tried it."
"What, thinking?" Alex teased.
"Cutting off a werewolf's head," Sam corrected her, exasperated. "If you shoot a vampire through the heart, it keeps living."
"What about demons? Rougarous? Why can't we just cut off their heads?"
Dean and Sam say quietly, puzzling over it. "I don't know. Maybe it just keeps living, or something." They fell back into silence.
...
River Pass, Colorado
They arrived near River Pass around 4 p.m. Dean slowed down the car, and Alex sat up. "We there?"
"Sort of," Dean answered. Alex looked out the windshield to see a bridge ahead of them. Or, at least, part of a bridge. The rest was collapsed. Both Sam and Dean got out of the car, and Alex followed. She peered over the edge. It didn't look too difficult to get across. The river wasn't too deep, and there were hundreds of stones to walk on, but bringing the Impala across? Impossible.
"This is the only road in or out," Dean informed them.
Sam pulled out his cell phone, searching for something. "No signal."
"Rufus was right. Demon's got this place locked down." Dean kicked a rock over the edge.
"Looks like we're hiking in."
Dean looked pained. "And the hits just keep on coming."
"Ah, come on, Dean," Alex protested. "We've been in that car all day. Time to do a little walking." She watched Dean go back to the car. He propped open the trunk, rifling through. Alex followed him back, curious. He tossed her a bag, and she stumbled back, surprised. He handed a bag to Sam, then took one for himself. Then, he distributed the shotguns, along with several extra rounds. Alex and Sam stepped back while Dean backed the car into the nearby woods, covering it with fallen branches and shrubs.
"And, we're off." Alex followed them down the steep ravine. She quickly passed them, easily reaching the bottom. "Come on," she urged them. "Move faster."
"Shut up," Dean grunted. Alex ignored him, scrambling up the other bank. When she got to the top, Dean and Sam had only started climbing back up.
Alex rolled her eyes, dropped her bags and guns, and slid back down to join them. "You guys are slow," she teased.
"Don't leave your gun," Dean reprimanded her. "The demons might find it."
"Fine." Alex rolled her eyes. She scrambled back up the cliff, scooping back her things back up. She scouted the area, checking for demons. "All clear," she called to them as they pulled themselves over the lip of the cliff.
"Not if you keep yelling like that," Dean retorted.
Alex rolled her eyes again. "And I thought Sammy was the un-fun one."
"I'm plenty of fun," Sam told her. "And don't call me Sammy." He stood up before Alex could reply. "Come on. We're wasting time."
They skirted the road into the seemingly abandoned suburbs. Alex cocked her gun, looking around. Ahead of them, there was a blue sedan laying in the street, overturned. Dean stopped to examine it, kneeling down. Alex stood watching, gun poised. She could hear music, and looked around, trying to pinpoint it. Dean stood up, indicating the car was empty. They continued down the street. Alex stepped carefully, her footsteps sounding extremely loud. Farther down, a sprinkler was still running in a yard. Next to it, there was another car. It was still right side up, but the driver's door was open, the engine still running. Sam leaned in, turning off the engine. The music stopped.
The houses stopped, and they entered the town. Above the entrance hung a brown banner for the town's 75th Anniversary. In the center of the road were several old, rusty cars, but one caught Alex's eye. A gleaming red Mustang convertible. She nodded appreciatively. Dean saw it too, letting out a low whistle.
Something else caught Alex's eye. Something definitely not as nice. A silver car was in the street, driver's door open, windshield smashed. A trail of blood led out of the car, and Alex deduced someone had been dragged. The blood trail was visible down the street, and Alex started to follow it. She froze when she heard the familiar click of a gun being cocked. She spun around, gun poised. Then she lowered it. She recognized the woman. Name? Couldn't remember. But she had seen that woman before. Long brown hair, harsh face. What was her name?
"Ellen?" Dean asked, lowering his gun as well. Ellen. Right. Ellen Harvelle.
"Hello, boys." Ellen lowered her gun, stepping closer.
"Ellen? What the heck's going on here?" Dean exclaimed. He stopped when Ellen splashed him in the face with holy water. She immediately raised her gun, pointing it at Dean's face. He let the water drip down his face. "We're us." Alex approached, standing behind Sam.
Ellen turned to her, gun poised. Alex raised her hands. "Not a demon," she held out her hand. Ellen poured holy water over it. It didn't burn. Convinced, Ellen lowered the gun. She stepped between Sam and Dean and walked off towards the church. They followed, exchanging confused looks.
Ellen led them in. They walked to another door, which was lined with salt. Beyond the salt was a devil's trap. All three easily passed through. Ellen let them in, then turned to face Dean. "Real glad to see you boys," she said. She hugged Dean. Then she slapped him. "The can of whoopass I ought to open for you," she told him.
"Ow!"
"You can't pick up a phone? What are you, allergic to giving me peace of mind? I got to find out you're alive from Rufus?"
"Sorry, Ellen."
"Yeah, well you better be. You better put me on speed dial, kid."
"Yes, ma'am," Dean nodded. Alex snickered.
"And you are you?" Ellen turned to Alex.
"Uh, this is Alex." Dean stepped back to let her through.
"Hey." Alex strolled forward, extending a hand. Ellen took it.
"Alex?" she repeated. "You Bobby's girl?"
"Yeah," Alex sighed. "That's me."
Ellen turned, leading them farther into the church.
"Bobby's girl?" Dean whispered.
"Apparently. Been called that a lot, thank you very much." Alex left it at that. Everyone in Sioux Falls knew her as 'Bobby's girl.' Even the hunters who had never actually met her had heard of 'Bobby's girl.' Apparently that's what she got for living with someone like Bobby Singer.
"What's going on, Ellen?" Dean asked the hunter.
"More than I can handle alone."
"How many demons are out there?" Sam chimed in.
"Pretty much the whole town, minus the dead people and these guys." She stopped by closed double doors and turned to them. "So this is it? End times?"
Dean and Sam said nothing, but exchanged a glance. Alex decided to hold her tongue.
"It's got to be," Ellen added.
"Seem's like it," Sam admitted.
Ellen turned back to the door, knocking twice. "It's me," she called through it. There was a short pause, and then the door opened. Ellen entered, and Sam and Dean followed. Alex entered last, hearing the door close behind her. There were several people. Alex counted eleven. Three were female, one was pregnant. She looked rather nervous. Ellen introduced them. "This is Sam, Dean, and Alex. They're hunters. Here to help."
"You guys hip to this whole demon things?" A man with a rifle asked.
"Yeah. Are you?" Dean asked.
"My wife's eyes turned black. She came at me with a brick. Kinda makes you embrace the paranormal," another, older man explained. Alex grunted sympathetically.
"Okay." Dean turned to Ellen. "Catch us up."
"I doubt I know much more than you. Rufus called. Said he was in town investigating omens. All of a sudden, the whole town was possessed. Me and Jo were nearby-"
"You're hunting with Jo?" Dean interrupted.
"Yeah, for a while now. We got here and the place - well, the place is like you see it now. Couldn't find Rufus. Then me and Jo got separated. I was out looking when I found you."
"Don't worry. We'll find her," Dean promised.
"Either way, these people cannot just sit here," Sam added. Alex looked around. Her eyes kept going back to the older man. He was studying the milk jug sitting in front of him, playing with the golden ring on his finger. "We got to get them out now." Sam finished.
"No, it's not that easy. I've been trying. We already made a run for it once."
"Alex?" Dean asked the youngest hunter. "Any of this sound familiar?"
"Got a couple theories." Truthfully, she had nothing. Not yet. When Ellen made a questioning noise, Dean started to explain. Alex cut him off before he could begin. "What happened? When you ran for it?"
"There used to be twenty of us." Ellen left the rest unsaid.
"Well, there's four of us now." Dean promised.
"You don't know what it's like out there," Ellen interrupted. "Demons everywhere. We won't be able to cover everybody."
"What if we get everyone guns?" Sam suggested.
"What? Are you going to arm up baby bump over there?" Dean asked him, referring to the pregnant lady, who's nervousness was now very evident.
"More salt we can fire at once, more demons we can keep away," Sam reminded him.
Dean looked over at the civilians, then back to Sam. "There's a sporting good store we passed on Main on the way in. I bet they've got guns." As if on a cue, they both dropped their bags.
"All right. You two stay. We'll go," Sam instructed them.
"What about-"
"If Jo and Rufus are out there, we'll bring them back." With that, Sam and Dean left. The first man closed the door behind them.
Ellen turned to Alex. "What did Dean by, 'any of this sound familiar?'"
Alex looked down at the ground. "Sometimes I just, know, what's going to happen. Well, only happened once. Or twice. But it keeps him asking," she quickly lied. It wasn't a total lie, but it was better than explaining the truth. She walked over to the man who had opened the door. She studied him. Short brown hair, brown jacket, brown eyes. "Hey."
"Hey."
"I'm Alex." She held out a hand.
"Austin." He shook it.
"How long as this been going on?"
"Two days."
"Hm." Alex left him sitting by the door. She wandered over to the other people.
"Alex."
Alex turned at her name. "Hm?"
"It's Alex, right?" the pregnant lady asked.
"Guilty." Alex sat down at the large table. "What about you? What's your name?"
"Ashley." she told him. "This is my husband, Jason."
"Taylor," the young girl chimed in.
"Roger." The older man nodded in greeting.
"Hey." Alex dipped her head as well. "Hell of a day, eh?"
"Hell of a past couple days," Jason corrected.
Alex nodded. "Right. How are you guys doing?" No one really answered. "Well, don't worry. We'll get you out."
No one looked really convinced. "We lost nine people last time," Roger reminded everyone.
"We lost my brother!" Taylor exclaimed, eyes watering.
"I know, and I'm sorry." Alex said calmly. "But we'll fix it. Me, Sam and Dean, it's what we do." She stood up and walked over to her bag, lost in her own thoughts.
...
About ten minutes later, Sam and Dean came back through the door. Alex shot them a smile, standing up to help carry in the guns. They wordlessly distributed them to everyone. Alex settled down beside Taylor, showing her the basics. Ellen was helping Roger. Dean and Sam helped whoever needed it.
"Okay, all right." Roger nodded, trying to load his shotgun.
"Roger, hang on a second," Ellen tried to stop him.
Roger didn't listen, but ended up dropping the shell. "Sorry," he apologized.
"Here." Alex held out a shell to Taylor. "You try." Taylor hesitantly took it, but was successful in loading it. "Good job," Alex praised her. She smiled shyly. Αlex stood up and walked over to Dean, who was talking with Austin.
"You know your way around a gun at all?" he was asking.
Austin responded by quickly stripping the gun, laying down before Dean. Alex was impressed.
"Hm." Dean nodded. "Where'd you serve?"
"Fallujah. Two tours. Got back a little over a year ago. Takes one to know one. Where'd you serve?"
"Hell."
Austin let out an amused snort. "No. Seriously."
"Seriously. Hell." Dean walked over to Sam, who was sitting by himself.
Alex started followed him, but was stopped by Austin. "What does he mean by hell?"
Alex shrugged. "I don't know. He never talks about it," she lied smoothly.
"Come on, Sammy, you had to," Dean was saying. Alex walked over to them.
"I know, it's just - it use to be like-" he paused, searching for the right words. "I just wish I could save people like I use to."
"What, you mean when you were all hopped up on demon blood?"
"I didn't say that." Sam defended himself.
"I'll be back." Ellen broke into their small talk.
"Where you going?" Dean asked, looking up to see the hunter standing right in front of them.
"I can't sit here on my ass. My daughter's out there somewhere. I'm not back in half an hour, go. Get these people out of here."
"No, wait. I'll go with you." Sam stood up.
"Whoa, hold on. Can I talk to you for a second?" Dean dragged Sam away, leaving Ellen with Alex. She looked up at the older hunter, and shrugged.
"So how's Bobby doing?" Ellen asked, waiting for the two Winchesters to come back.
"Eh, he's, um, doing fine," Alex lied. "I think once he gets over the wheelchair aspect of it, he'll be okay."
"He's in a wheelchair?" Ellen exclaimed. "What happened?"
"He was possessed by a demon, who was trying to beat up Dean. Somehow, Bobby managed to get back control and stabbed himself in the gut with the demon knife."
There was a loud thump, and both Alex and Ellen looked through the open door where Sam and Dean had disappeared. Alex saw Dean stumbled back into the wall. Sam said something, then reentered the room. "Let's go," he told Ellen. They grabbed their guns, then left. Dean walked passed Alex, obviously not in the mood to talk.
...
Five minutes passed. Alex sat, watching Dean pace about. "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want," the pastor quietly read aloud. "He layeth me down in green pastures, and he raiseth me up again. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil." Alex looked around. Everyone was sitting quietly, nervousness evident on their faces.
Suddenly, there was a pounding on the door. Dean hurried over, looking through the peep hole. He opened it, and Ellen rushed through. Alone. Alex stood up, hurrying over to her.
"Where's Sam?" Dean demanded.
Ellen shook her head. She sat down next to Taylor, who silently handed her a bottle of water. "They took him?" Ashely cried out. "The demons took him? Oh my god. What if they're in here? The demons?"
"Sh," Alex soothed her. "Calm down. No demons can make it past that devil's trap."
"Could they get in?" the pastor asked Dean at the same time.
"No," Dean said curtly. He grabbed a shotgun and swiftly walked towards the door. "Everybody hang tight. I got to-"
"Dean." Alex stopped him. Dean looked back at everyone. "These people are depending on you," she mouthed to him.
He understood, and reluctantly walked back over. "Okay, we need to get a plan together. Tell me everything."
"Dean, one of them's in Jo. We got to get it out without hurting her." She paused, and let out a snort. "It called me a bitch."
"Bruise a little easy, don't you think?" Dean snorted as well.
"No, that's not what I meant. It called me a black-eyed bitch."
Alex narrowed her eyes. "So she thought you were the demon?"
"What kind of demons are these?" Ellen continued. "Holy water and salt roll right off. My daughter may be an idiot, but she's not stupid. She wears an anti-possession charm. It's all kind of weird, don't you think?"
"Oh." A bright smile lit up Alex's face. "Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh." She turned to the pastor. "Bible, please?"
"What's up?" Dean looked interested.
"Uh, Ellen. You said Rufus came here because of some omens? What specifically?"
"Uh, something about water, I think."
"The river. It ran polluted all of a sudden," the pastor spoke up.
"When?" Dean shot him a glance.
"Last Wednesday. The next day the demon thing started up."
"Anything else?" Alex asked, flipping through the Bible's pages. Where was it?
"Maybe, but it's pretty random."
"Random. Good. Random is very good." Alex didn't even look up.
"Shooting star. Does that count? It was big, same day."
"Found it." Alex could barely contain her smile. "Revelations 8:10-11: 'The third angel sounded its trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water - the name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the water turned bitter, and many people died."
"Revelations? So are we talking apocalypse?" the pastor asked.
"Ah, but that's not the best part," Alex crowed. "Here's what we are dealing with. Revelations 6:4: 'Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given the power to take peace from earth and to make men slay each other."
There was a short pause. "So what, we're dealing with the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse?"
"Nope. Just one. War." Alex looked around. "Wait. Where's Roger?"
Everyone looked around, realizing he was indeed missing. "What's Roger got to do with it?" Dean asked. His eyes narrowed at he put the two together. "He doesn't look like a horseman type of guy. Besides, it says he's riding a red horse."
"Oh, Dean-o, you can be so thick," Alex chuckled. "He's not riding a horse. Too old-fashioned. No. Remember that nice red Mustang we saw outside?" She let them connect the dots. "We are dealing with War."
"Okay," Dean seemed to wrap his head around it. "So, maybe War's here, you know, messing with our heads. He makes us think they're demons, and they think we're demons. So maybe there's no demons at all."
"Bingo."
"So we're just killing innocent people. How do we stop him?"
"His ring. We need to take away his ring."
"Wait," the pastor interrupted them. "So it's the apocalypse?"
"Sorry, padre," Dean nodded.
"It's Apocalypse Now," Alex added.
"Did you just quote Zachariah?" Dean asked her slowly.
"Uh, maybe. Hard to tell." Alex thought carefully. "I mean, half the things I say are quotes you guys just haven't heard or said yet."
"Uh, okay." Dean seemed slightly unnerved. "So now what?"
"So let me get you straight. Now, there are no demons, we're just killing our neighbors, and Roger is one of the Horsemen?" Austin asked.
"Uh, yeah."
There was pounding on the door, and Austin jumped to his feet. "Open up! It's Roger."
"Don't tell him he's War," Alex warned everyone.
"Why not? Because he might get offended and prove he's innocent?"
"Uh, no. Because he might kill you."
Austin opened the door, letting Roger in. Alex closed her mouth and watched him, not wanting to give anything away. She hoped the others would take her advice and do the same.
"I saw them, the demons. They know we're trying to leave. They said they're going to pick us off one by one."
"Wait, what?" Dean glanced at Alex. She mouthed, Liar, back to him.
"I thought you said there were no demons!" Austin exclaimed.
"There's not." Alex said stubbornly. "Roger, why were you outside?"
"I was keeping watch," he stammered out.
"And I don't suppose you were going to tell us this?"
Roger, unable to come up with an excuse, twisted the ring around his finger.
"Dean," Alex hissed, "the ring."
"Look, she's a demon!" Roger exclaimed, taking several steps back. Alex turned to look at Dean, who recoiled as well.
"Oh, please." Alex rolled her eyes. "We both know I can't be possessed. They tried, remember? With Meg?"
"There all demons!" Roger cried again, this time pointing to Dean and Ellen. The pastor reached for a shotgun.
"We should get out of here." Alex sped for the door, throwing it open and dashing up the steps. Shots were fired, but they escaped up the stairs unscathed. "Good thing we didn't teach them to aim," Alex said dryly.
"Now where?"
"Uh, let's go get Sam?" Alex suggested. Dean shrugged, letting her take control. "And where is he?"
"Uh, some house somewhere?" Alex didn't know.
"This way." Ellen led them down the street. There was smoke coming out of one chimney. "They're in there." Alex started going up the stairs. "Wait." Ellen stopped her.
"Oh. Thinking it's rigged?" Alex asked. When Ellen nodded, Alex nodded as well. "How do we check?"
"Go over there," Ellen told her.
Alex did as she said, going around the porch, out of view. She heard a large explosion, quickly followed by scuffling. She ran out to see Rufus and Dean fighting on the porch. Dean had Rufus pinned against the wall. "Listen to me," Dean said angrily. "I'm not a demon. Think, Rufus. All the omens."
"You go to hell," Rufus hissed. He kicked Dean in the crotch, then punched him several times in the chest and face. Dean fell away, and Rufus launched himself towards his dropped gun. Alex jumped in, pulling him back. Dean joined in, heaving Rufus backwards. He pinned him back against the wall, and Alex rushed for the gun.
"Rufus! The polluted water, the shooting star, the red Mustang? It's War! I'm telling you, it's War."
"You're damn right it is." Rufus punched Dean, looking for his gun. He saw Alex holding it, and charged her.
Dean tackled the hunter to the ground." The horsemen!" he explained.
"Horsemen?" Rufus repeated,
"Yes. He's turning us against each other. You're hallucinating."
Rufus stopped struggling, looking up at Dean. "The horsemen. War." His eyes cleared from black.
"Yes."
Rufus looked around. "Did you figure this out all by yourself, genius?"
"No. Alex did."
Rufus looked over at Alex. "Alex?"
"Yeah. Hey."
Dean let Rufus up, and he approached the girl. "I always knew you were smart," he said, letting out a toothy grin.
"I am very clever," Alex agreed, handing him back his gun. They heard struggling inside, and hurried in. They froze when Ellen raised a gun at them.
"Whoa, whoa." Dean held up his hands.
"We all on the same page?" Ellen looked at Rufus. All three nodded.
"Good."
"Hi Jo." Dean looked over at the Ellen's blonde daughter.
"Hey."
"Okay. We've got to find War before everybody in this town kills each-" Dean was cut off by a round of gunshots. They all ducked. "Dammit! Where's Sam?"
"Upstairs," Rufus told him. Dean rushed up the stairs.
Alex turned to Jo. "Hey. Name's Alex." She smiled, then took off after Dean. She saw Dean throw open a door. She hurried after them.
"It's War." Both Sam and Dean told each other at the same time.
"It's the ring." Sam told Dean as he was cut free.
"Yeah, I know. Alex remembered."
Alex gave Sam a little wave. "When he twists the ring-"
"-everyone starts hallucinating and goes hell-bitch," Dean finished.
"Uh, yeah," Alex repeated. "Hell-bitch."
There was noise from the front of the house, and Alex walked over to the window to see the people from the church. They stood outside, shotguns in hand.
Dean joined her. "Come on. We've got to move."
"Where?"
"To get the ring." Dean led them out the door and down the stairs. They ran out of the house, meeting no resistance.
"Where are we going to get the ring?"
"Mustang," Dean told him. "Still got the knife?"
"Uh, yeah." Sam motioned to his jacket pocket.
"Good."
They made their way down Main Street and to the convertible. "Still here," Alex noted. "We should probably hide." They quickly hid themselves behind the silver minivan.
After a few minutes, Dean motioned that War was coming their way. After a second's pause, he slipped out from behind the car and approached. Both Sam and Alex followed. They quietly walked up behind him. Suddenly Dean jumped at the horseman, holding his arms and head still. Sam drew the demon knife.
"Whoa, okay. That's a sweet little knife," War spoke. "But you can't kill War, kiddos."
"Oh, we know," Dean said, voice slightly strained as he held the struggling horsemen.
Sam grabbed War's right hand, slamming it against the car. He brought the knife down on his four fingers, slicing them off. The ring fell off, rolling on the ground. It came to a stop by Alex's feet.
Alex knelt on the ground, picking it up. When she looked up, both the horsemen and the Mustang were gone. Dean and Sam were just as surprised. Alex rolled the ring between her fingers. "We should get out of here."
"First we should make sure Ellen and the others are okay," Dean argued.
"Uh, yeah. Right." Right now, Alex didn't feel like confronting them again. "You guys go do that, I'll go get our stuff." Without waiting for a reply, she hurried off towards the church. She went down the stairs, repacking and slinging both her's and Dean's bag over one shoulder, and Sam's backpack over her other. The room was empty, but Alex didn't question it. She picked up their three shotguns, and, taking one last look around the room, left.
She waited up by the end of the road. A few minutes later, Dean and Sam walked up to her. She handed them their stuff. "How is everyone?"
"The pastor got shot, but he should be okay," Dean reported. "Everyone else just has minor scratches."
"Good," Alex nodded. "Can we go know?"
"Okay." Dean took the lead, and Alex trailed after him in silence. They climbed down the ravine, across the river, and then back up to their car. By that time, the sun was starting to set in the sky.
"That was a long day," Alex groaned after tossing her stuff into the trunk. She collapsed in the backseat. "So, food and a room?"
Dean looked back at her, starting the car. "Sounds like a decent plan. Sammy?"
"Fine." Sam slumped in the front seat.
...
Dean drove back down the road. They stopped at the nearest town, getting a quick meal before finding a cheap motel. The first thing Alex did was take a shower, loving the feeling of the hot water running over her sore muscles. Not much was said that night, and she collapsed in the bed, too tired to care.
...
They slept late that next day. Alex had woken up with nightmares, but now couldn't remember them for her life. They ate a quick breakfast in town before gassing up the car and heading out.
...
Around lunch, they stopped at a rest stop. They had tacos for lunch at a concrete picnic table, and afterwards, Alex remembered to give Dean the ring. "Here." She fished it out of her pocket.
"Thanks." He took it, studying it closely. "So, pit stop at Mount Doom?"
Alex laughed, but Sam didn't respond.
"Dean-" he finally began.
"Sam, let's not."
"No, listen. This is important. I know you don't trust me."
Dean looked away, and Alex did the same, feeling uncomfortable.
"Just, now, I realize something. I don't trust me either," Sam admitted. Dean looked up. "From the minute I saw that blood, the only thought in my head . . . and I tell myself it's for the right reasons, my intentions are good, and it, it feels true, you know? But I think, underneath . . . I just miss the feeling. I know how messed up that sounds, which means I know how messed up I am." Sam took a deep breath. "Thing is, the problem's not the demons' blood. Not really. I mean I, what I did, I can't blame the blood or Ruby or . . . anything. The problem's me. How far I'll go. There's something in me that . . . scares the hell out of me. Dean, in the last couple of days, I caught another glimpse . . ."
"So what are you saying?" Dean cut off his monologuing.
"I'm in no shape to be hunting," Sam explained. "I need to take a step back, 'cause I'm dangerous. Maybe it's best we just . . . go our separate ways."
Alex looked shocked, and looked over at Dean, who looked like he was actually considering this. "Well, I think you're right," he finally said. Sam looked shocked and hurt.
"Dean," Alex said sharply.
"I was expecting more of a fight." Sam admitted.
"The truth is I spend more time worrying about you than doing the job right. And I just, I can't afford that, you know? Not now."
"I'm sorry, Dean."
"I know you are, Sam."
Sam stood up to go. Alex watched, not wanting him to go, but not wanting to be in the middle of it. "And it's not like you'll be alone. You still have Alex."
"Yeah, I guess so." Dean looked over at her. She looked up at him. "Hey, uh, do you want the Impala?"
"It's okay." Sam started to walk away before turning to look back at Dean. "Take care of her, Dean. And yourself."
"Yeah, you too Sammy." Dean watched his brother walk away.
"See you around, Sam," Alex called after him.
Sam looked back, but didn't answer. He walked to the parking lot, and Alex watched him stop beside the Impala, pulling his bags out of the backseat. He walked over to a blue pick-up truck. He exchanged a few words with the driver before getting in and driving off. Alex looked over at Dean, seeing the sadness in his face. She leaned into his shoulder, trying to give him a wordless sense of comfort.
They sat there for a few more minutes before Dean stood up. "Let's go," he told her quietly.
Alex silently got up, grabbed the bag of pretzels, then followed him over to the Impala. She started to get into the backseat. Dean stopped her. "I guess you get shotgun now," was all he said. Alex nodded, getting into the front seat.
They drove off.