February 29th, 2010

Blair, Nebraska

And run they did. They got into the car and they drove. After the first day, they drove with much less direction and intensity. Around lunch, they pulled into a small motel a few miles away from the main highway. Dean informed them they'd be staying there for the next few days, to Alex unpacked, making herself comfortable.

"Can we do something?" she asked, sitting up on the bed. She looked at Sam and Dean who were standing there, arms crossed. She rolled her eyes, falling back on the bed. "What?"

"You're going to have to tell us what happened with you and Lucifer sometime."

"No, I won't." Alex shook her head, sitting back up. "It was nothing, okay?"

"Fine. Then tell us."

Alex sighed. They'd been asking her about this for the past day. "Fine. He came to me in a dream. I knew he couldn't hurt me because it was a dream, so we talked. He saw the little card thing that said what motel I was staying at. He showed up the next day, I told him to go screw himself. Then Cas showed up and chased him off. End of story." She shrugged and fell back on the bed.

She heard them whispering, and knew they were talking about her, but she didn't care. "Can we go to the mall now?"

Dean rolled his eyes. "Fine, princess. Come on." He picked up his keys. "Sammy, you coming?"

"No thanks." Sam shook his head. "I'll start looking for some cases or something." He added jokingly, "Whatever to get away from Pip."

Alex rolled her eyes. "Whatever Samsquatch." She walked to the door. "Let's roll, Dean-o."

...

That night, Alex woke up shaking. Her breathing was shaking, and her stomach churned uneasily. Nightmarish images flashed through her mind, and she threw back the covers, rushing into the bathroom. She retched into the toilet, but nothing came up. She forced herself to turn off the bathroom lights and walk back into the dark room. She lay back down, shaking uncontrollably.

"Dean," Sam muttered, shoving his brother awake. "Alex had a nightmare."

Dean woke. "You okay, Pip?" he asked.

Alex didn't reply, her breathing still ragged. Dean groaned and staggered over to her, collapsing in the bed next to her. "Oh my God, you're shaking." Dean placed a hand over her forehead. "You feeling okay?"

"Cold," Alex shivered.

Dean tossed back the covers, sliding in next to her. "Come here." He pulled her into his chest, wrapping his arm tightly around her waist. Alex immediately relaxed.

Dean started humming quietly, and Alex rolled her eyes. "That's Metallica," she whispered.

"Mm-hmm."

...

All three slept well into the morning. Alex woke up when she heard voices. She didn't recognize them, which made her curious. "Looking for this?" one said. Something was tossed to the ground.

Dean, who was still laying beside her, sat up. "Morning."

Alex slowly sat up as well. Two men stood in their room, black ski masks covering their faces. Of course, that wasn't the first thing Alex noticed. Actually, first she saw the guns, pointed at them and Sam, who was already awake.

"Shut up," the first man growled. "Hands where I can see them."

Alex and Dean did what he said. Alex studied the two of them. They looked familiar. "Do I know you?" she asked, voice surprisingly stead considering the circumstances.

The gun swung towards her chest. "Shut up."

"Wait a minute." Dean narrowed his eyes. "Is that you, Roy? It is, isn't it." He turned to the second man. "Which makes you Walt."

Roy and Walt exchanged a glance, and Walt took of his mask. "It doesn't matter," he promised.

"Walt?" Alex shook her head in confusion. "What's going on?"

Walt didn't answer. "You think you can flip the switch on the Apocalypse and just walk away, Sam?"

"Who told you that?" Sam asked, shocked.

"We ain't the only hunters after you." He pumped his shotgun. "See you in the next life."

Sam looked over at Alex and Dean, petrified. "Hear me out," he begged. "I can explain, okay? Please!"

Walt shook his head, then he fired. "No!" Alex screamed. Sam was thrown backwards, shirt torn to shreds. Blood spattered everywhere. "No!" she whispered. "The hell?"

"Stay the hell down," Roy warned Dean, who had jumped up to reach his brother. Dean sat back down, staring blankly at his brother's corpse.

"Kill 'em," Walt instructed.

Roy hesitated. "Killing Sam was right," he began, "But Dean and Alex . . ?"

"He knows us and we just snuffed his brother, you idiot. You want to spend the rest of your life knowing Dean Winchester's on your ass? 'Cause I don't. Shoot 'em."

Dean turned to Roy. "Go ahead, Roy, do it" he challenged. "But I'm warning you, when I come back, I'm going to be pissed. C'mon! Let's get this show on the road!" His eyes burned with anger.

"Come on already," Walt grumbled. He shot Dean.

Alex flinched away as Dean flew back on the bed, chest ripped to shreds. Blood splattered. He shuddered once, then was still. Alex stared blankly at the two bodies, mind whirling. She turned back to Roy and Walt. "What the freakin' hell?" She started to stand up, but Walt raised his gun. She sat back down. "Are you going to kill me too? And you know they'll come back," she warned. "The angels need them to be alive, and when they're back? They'll be pissed."

"Walt," Roy began.

"What?"

"I mean, I get why we had to kill the Winchesters and all, but this is Bobby's girl-"

"She's one of them, Roy. Look at her. She's been sleeping with Dean, for God's sake-"

"I have not," Alex snapped. "Why the hell would you think -" She cut herself off when Walt spun the gun back to her.

"Dude, Bobby's going to kill us if he finds out we killed her."

"How do you think he's going to feel when he finds out we killed them?" Walt motioned to Sam and Dean's bodies. "Everyone knows they're like his sons. If we don't kill her, she'll tell him it was us."

Alex started to panic. While they were talking, she silently came up with a plan. "Castiel!" she suddenly said. "Quickwater Motel, Room 15. Ohio. Mayday, Cas! They've got guns-" She was silenced as the gun was fired. Buckshot ripped through her chest, throwing her backwards. Pain shot up her spine and into her brain, and she saw flashes of color. Then they faded.

...

It took Alex a few seconds to realize she was still conscious. Not dead. Then again, not good either. She vaguely heard a flutter of wings. "Alex?" Castiel appeared beside her bed. She heard Roy and Walt utter exclamations of surprise, and Castiel turned to them. He took a menacing step towards them, and they fled.

Alex painfully moved her hand. It was all she could do. Castiel turned back to her. "You're still alive," he whispered. "Thank God." He took her hand, placing his other gingerly on her chest. Something warm pushed through the pain, but it didn't help. Alex screwed her eyes shut. Castiel pulled back. "I can't heal you," he whispered. "I'll go get someone who can. Hold on."

"Sam . . . and Dean . . ." Alex wheezed out. "Help . . . them."

"I will," Castiel promised. "Don't move."

"Wasn't . . . planning on it." Alex's voice shook with effort. Her breathing was labored and wet. She knew it was a miracle she was still alive; most likely one of her lungs had been punctured and was filling with blood. And somehow this was more terrifying than when Zachariah had taken away her lungs. She breathed again.

Castiel disappeared, and Alex was alone. Now she was more than terrified. She knew if she had enough strength, she would be shaking with fear. But she couldn't.

...

She wasn't sure how long she was alone, but soon there were footsteps approaching the bed. "Alex?" Castiel stopped beside her.

Unable to form words, Alex just cracked open her eyes. Castiel stood there, and another man beside him. The man reached out, placing a hand on her chest. Then the pain was gone. Alex inhaled shakily. She lay there, closing her eyes. "Thanks, uh . . ."

"Emmanuel."

"Emmanuel," Alex repeated. She suddenly sat up. "What about Sam and Dean?"

"They're okay," Castiel promised.

Emmanuel turned to Castiel. "Am I still needed? Being seen with you is, unwise, at the present time."

"You may go."

Emmanuel disappeared.

Alex jumped up, pulling Castiel into a desperate hug, forcing herself to be calm. Which was easier with Castiel. The angel hesitated, then slowly hugged her back. "What about Sam and Dean?" Alex finally asked. Their bodies were still laying on the bed.

"They're in heaven, Alex."

"Can you bring them back?" Alex blinked. "They, they can't die! They didn't die in the show!"

"It's fine. I talked with them. They're trying to find their way into the Garden. They can come back whenever they want." When Alex made a questioning noise, he continued. "Zachariah needs to bring them back-"

"- so they can finish the Apocalypse," Alex finished. "Right." She let out a sigh of relief. "By the way, thank you. I-I thought I was going to die."

"I won't let you die," Castiel promised.

Alex smiled. "Well, thank you." There was a short pause. "What did Emmanuel mean by, 'it's unwise to be seen with you'?"

Castiel's eyes darkened. "I'm fallen, Alex. I rebelled. Any angel seen with me will be condemned of rebelling as well."

"Oh." Alex let out a sigh. "Sorry about that."

"It's not your fault." Castiel paused. "I have to go. Call if there is any trouble."

"Okay." Alex watched him disappear. She looked down. Her shirt was torn and bloody. "Damn," she muttered. She got up and changed.

...

Castiel did not return, but less than two hours later, Sam inhaled loudly, and his eyes fluttered open. He sat up. Dean sat up a few seconds later. Alex gave a sigh of relief. "Thank God."

Sam looked over at Dean. "You alright?"

"Define alright." Dean got off of the bed. Blood still covered his chest and back, but otherwise he seemed okay. He grabbed his phone.

Sam looked over at Alex. "How about you? You okay?"

"I'm fine."

"They didn't shoot you?"

"I didn't die," Alex corrected him. She glanced over at Dean, who was talking on the phone. He hung up and turned back to them.

"So they did shoot you?" Dean looked extremely pissed, and then confused.

"I called for Cas. He brought some angel to heal me up. Damn, that was painful."

"So he healed you, but not us?"

"You were dead," Alex reminded him. "I was still alive. Besides, Cassie said you guys being in Heaven was . . . a opportunity or something."

"That is correct." Castiel appeared behind them. "What did you learn? Can we find God?"

Dean shook his head. "It's a moot point, Cas."

"But you spoke to Joshua?"

"Damn right we did." Dean let his anger spill over. "And you know what? Apparently God told us to 'back off.' He knows what's going on, and he doesn't give a damn."

Castiel shook his head. He leaned up against the dividing wall in the motel, looking completely hopeless. Sam and Dean wordlessly began packing their things.

"Maybe . . . Joshua was lying." Castiel finally suggested.

Dean put on his jacket and turned to look at him. Sam turned as well. "I don't think he was, Cas. I'm sorry," Sam sighed.

Alex watched them, unsure what to do. She had already packed her stuff a while back. Dean zipped his bag close. Castiel walked over to the motel door. He looked up. "You son of a bitch," he said quietly, so quietly they had to strain to hear him. His voice grew angry. "I believed in . . ." He trailed off, still looking up. Dean stared hopelessly at the angel, and Alex resisted the urge to approach. Castiel turned back to them. He reached into his pocket and pulled something out. "I don't need this anymore." He tossed it to Dean.

Dean caught it, and Alex recognized it as his necklace.

"It's worthless." Castiel turned away.

"Cas, wait." Sam's plea fell on deaf ears. Castiel disappeared. Sam angrily threw his shirt into the bag. He turned to Dean, who was still holding the amulet in his hands. "We'll find another way," he promised. "We can stop all of this, Dean."

Dean looked up, his face tired. "How?"

"I don't know, but we'll find it." Sam looked over at Alex, who nodded. "We'll find it."

Dean looked disbelievingly over at them, then sighed. He grabbed his bag and walked over to the door, passing Sam without even a look. He stopped by the door, hesitating. Then he dropped the amulet into the trash can.

Sam let out a long breath, and Alex briefly closed her eyes. Dean left.

Sam walked over to the trash can, reaching inside. He picked up the amulet, staring at it, face unreadable. But Alex had a pretty good idea what he was thinking. "Sorry," she murmured, staying where she was. "He doesn't mean it."

"This is my fault." Sam didn't look over at her. "All of it. I, I'm sorry. I've cause more reasons for him to throw it away than for him to keep it." He dropped it back in the trash and left, shoulders dropping.

"Dammit!" Alex cursed loudly, kicking the nearest wall. It hurt, but didn't help. Why did this have to happen? She could have stopped this. She walked over to the trash can and took out the necklace. It was heavier than it looked. She shoved it in her pocket and followed Sam out.

...

They stopped for breakfast a few miles out. Alex watched Dean walk to the bathroom, then turned to Sam. She fished the necklace out of her pocket. "Sam."

"What?" Sam watched her open her hand, revealing the golden amulet.

"I, uh, I saved it," she admitted, not making eye contact. "I know how much it means to guys. About the whole Christmas thing, too."

She felt Sam stare at her, and he sighed. "Thank you." He took it and put it in his own pocket. "I'll, uh, I'll take care of it."