April 12th, 2010
Delacroix, Louisiana

Alex pushed her way through the double doors of St. Luke's hospital, her bag slung over her shoulder. Her gaze darted around the room, taking in the pristine white walls as she hurried over to the front desk. "Hi," she began, clearing her throat as the young nurse looked up in surprise. "I'm looking for someone. He, uh, showed up here a while back. Tallish, trench coat, dark hair. He might go by the name Castiel?" She tilted her head when the woman only looked confused, and, thinking back to her conversation with Dean on the way to the bus station, slowly added, "The doctors thought he was brain dead but he woke up yesterday."

"Oh." Recognition sparked in the nurse's eyes. "Yes, I know who you're talking about. Room 137, just down the hall."

"Great. Thanks." Alex hurried away, clutching her bag tightly against her shoulder as it bumped against her back. Her wings twitched against her back, uncomfortable with how the heavy duffle crashed through her feathers, and Alex shook them out as she turned the corner. Room 137 stood at the end of the hall, and Alex slowed down as she approached, apprehension twitching within her stomach. The door was open, and the young hunter drew in a deep breath, steeling herself for what would be inside.

Castiel lay in the hospital bed, dressed in a thin hospital gown. His eyes were closed, his breathing shallow, but that information passed through her mind without a second thought. Alex paused inside the doorway, her breath caught in her throat, as she stared at the angel. He really was an angel.

Large navy-blue wings unfurled from his shoulders, a dull, dark blue that faded to black at the tip of the primaries. One was folded beneath his back out of sight, but the other hung over the side of the bed, the long, dusky feathers brushing against the tile floor. "C-Cas?" Alex stepped into the room, and the angel's eyes flickered open at the sound of her voice.

"Alex." The name came out as a rumble, and the angel slowly pushed himself until he could sit up; a soft smile crossed his face, and his eyes flickered up from her wings to her eyes. "You're here."

"Y-Yeah. What the hell is going on?" Alex dropped her bag on the floor and moved closer, and Castiel's wings twitched. "I-I've gone absolutely crazy. You have — you have wings, too."

"Yes," Castiel agreed. "I'm an angel. As are you." Confusion flitted across his face, and his head tipped to one side as he studied her. "You seem surprised. Don't you remember?"

Alex's mouth hung open — she hadn't heard anything past, 'As are you.' "I'm an angel." The words came out as a hoarse whisper, her thoughts finally confirmed. "H-How long have I been an angel? Who —" Her hands came up, combing through her hair as she tried to wrap her head around it. "What?"

"I'm sorry." Regret lined Castiel's voice. "Perhaps you should sit down."

"Yeah, I-I think I should sit down." Alex sank down onto the edge of the bed, her wings drawn in tightly. Castiel's own wings extended towards her, but they quickly drew back when Alex pulled hers in even tighter, fear driving her actions. "Cas? What's going on?"

"I'm sorry. I thought —" The angel cut off with breath of expelled air, turning his head to stare out the window as he gathered his thoughts. "Had I known you didn't understand, I would have told you."

"Told me what?" Alex's trembling voice rose. "How long have I not been human?"

"Six months." Castiel's gaze turned back onto her. "Almost to the day. Wings … they don't come in until the six month mark."

"O-Okay, and — and you weren't going to tell me this?" The young girl fidgeted nervously, fingers toying with the hem of her shirt. "Six months, and you didn't think of mentioning it once?"

"I assumed you knew what I was asking of you. I requested your permission, and you accepted. I was quite clear about that." The puzzlement in his gaze was back, and Alex was momentarily distracted by how his wings twitched curiously against the sheets before she scoffed.

"Sure." She tugged frustratedly at the edge of the sheet. "No offense, Cas, but I think I would have remembered if you had asked me if I wanted to be an — oh shit." Alex's eyes went wide as the memory came crashing back. "Y-You were being serious? I thought you were being, I don't know — rhetorical or something!" The girl buried her head in her hands, overwhelmed by the confusion. "Okay, okay. So I've been a … an angel for six whole months? Since," She paused, thinking back to their conversation on the rooftop, "since that ghoul case back in Minnesota. With Adam." A realization hit her like a ton of breath, and she drew in a sharp inhale. "That's why that demon couldn't possess me."

"Couldn't what?" Castiel's eyes flashed, and he struggled to sit up straighter. "Possess you? Why didn't I hear about this?"

"Why would I tell you?" Alex shot back, and she flinched in surprise as the angel's wings flared high above his head, stretching towards the feeling. Even in his weakened, injured state, he still managed to look absolutely terrifying. "Sorry," she apologized, and she ran her hand across her hair. "Uh, it was back when Lucifer first busted out of his cage with, uh, Meg and Bobby. She tried to possess me, but couldn't."

She watched as Castiel sighed, and his wings sunk back down to his side, going limp against the hospital bed. "It's okay," he murmured. "It no longer matters."

He fell silent, and after a second or two, Alex leaned forward, reaching out to put a hesitant hand on his knee. "How, uh, how are you feeling?" she ventured to ask, and when Castiel's wings twitched, she added, "Can I … can I touch them?"

Castiel nodded, and Alex brushed her fingers through the course outer feathers. "I'm tired," the angel admitted, and his eyes fell closed as Alex's attention turned to the bruised and battered arches. "And everything hurts. It's been a long time since I've felt pain like this."

"I'm sorry." Alex pulled her fingers away, returning her hands to her lap, and Castiel's eyes flickered back open. "At least you'll be back on your feet soon." Her gaze flickered across the thin cuts across the angel's face, and her shoulders fell.

"I'm glad you're okay." He reached out, his hand hesitating before finally covering hers. "I'm sorry, Alex." His eyes met hers, weighed down by sorrow. "None of this was supposed to be this way. I wasn't supposed to be like this. I wasn't supposed to fall."

"It's okay." Alex gently squeezed his hand before she pulled free and pushed herself to her feet. "I'll tell you what. There's a motel just down the road. We can stay there for a bit, and once you're feeling up to it, we'll head back up to Bobby's, okay?"

Castiel nodded. "Okay," he agreed. "That sounds good." His mouth fell open as if he meant to say something, but the angel hesitated. "I'm sorry." He swung his feet over the side of the bed and looked up at her, and Alex tipped her head in confusion. "I know my grace is weak, so this may be unpleasant and unfamiliar at first, but …" Warmth pressed into her chest, and Alex looked down in surprise, but there was nothing there.

"What the …" She placed a hand on her ribcage, eyes narrowing, and after a second, the warmth pulled away.

"That was my grace." Castiel pushed himself to his feet, unsteady at first, and Alex reached out to keep him balanced as his wings stretched out to do the same. "Every angel has its own unique grace; I wanted to know what yours felt like."

"I-I have grace?" The words came out in a lame stutter, and Alex cleared her throat to hide it.

"Of course." Castiel sank down onto the bed with a low groan. "You're an angel. It will be awhile before it's strong enough to use and control. But before long …" The angel trailed off with a shake of his head. "It's difficult to explain. You'll understand when the time comes."

Alex was saved from responding by a knock on the door, and she turned to watch a doctor step into the room. "Mr. Novak." The elderly gentleman smiled warmly at the angel before it faded in concern. "I heard talk that you were planning on leaving."

"That's correct." Castiel pushed himself back to his feet, his gaze flickering down to his folded clothes that lay on the chair beside him. "I know it's your prerogative to keep me here, but I'm afraid I have to go. I believe you mentioned a prescription for the pain?" he added, ignoring how the doctor's frown deepened. "I believe I may need those."

"I can write you a prescription," the doctor slowly agreed, "but I must insist that —"

"I can't stay." Castiel's wings lifted slightly, feathers bristling as his voice deepened with authority, but his face retained its inscrutable composure. "Thank you for your help."

...

Half an hour later, Alex stepped through the motel door, dropping her bag on the floor as she looked around at the sunny decor. She sidestepped to let Castiel through, flicking on the lights before turning her attention onto the angel; he moved slowly, using his surroundings for support, and Alex watched in concern as he sank down onto the nearest bed. "How are you doing?" She kicked the door closed behind her as she joined him, standing in front of him so she could look into his face.

"I'll be okay." Castiel's voice was pained, in direct opposition to his words, and Alex frowned. "How are you?"

"Dude, I'm fine." Alex reached over to the kitchen table and pulled a chair close, swinging it around so she could straddle the seat. "I mean, I'm still in complete shock and denial, but otherwise I'm peachy."

Castiel lifted his gaze to meet hers before it fell back away. "You want more answers."

"If it's not too much to ask."

"It's not. You deserve them." The angel folded his hands in front of him, waiting patiently, and after a second or two, he prompted, "What is it that you want to know?"

Everything. "Why — how does a human become an angel?" Alex crossed her arms on the back of the chair as she leaned forward. "I thought all angels were … you know … not human."

"We're not." Castiel's eyes squinted as the difficult question. "You're not … fully an angel," he finally admitted, and his mouth fell open, but no words came out as he sought for the perfect explanation. "Perhaps I should begin this way," he said after a moment's thought, and Alex hummed in agreement. "Heaven has been at war for almost two years, and there have been many casualties. We've lost more brothers than we can count —"

"No." Alex felt herself blush, knowing what was coming next.

"I … haven't said anything yet." The angel's head tipped in confusion. "I don't think you understand. Heaven cannot simply create life, not without our Father. And because we have neither gender nor a physical form, we had no way to procreate. So the angels …they discovered a way to work around that flaw."

"Uh, okay."

"It was a slow progression that stretched back before the time of Noah. You've heard of the nephilim — our first attempt. The results, of course, were disastrous." Castiel shifted nervously, displeased at the memories that had returned. "After that, it took several millennia of trial and error. Most offspring didn't survive — the children of two angels and their vessels burned away within hours of conception. We found that by putting grace into a human female, it created something almost fully angel, but was able to create strong, sustainable fledglings born within a vessel with no harm to either. The method, is crude, of course, but … it's the best that our kind has."

"Wonderful. What does that have to do with me?" Alex tapped on the back of the chair, not waiting for an answer before adding, "So let me get this straight. You made me an angel … to get in my pants. To make more angels," she explained sharply when her euphemism resulted in a blank look. "Wow. Awesome. Thanks."

Castiel looked around the room, eyes flitting about as if he was searching for a response. "I don't follow," he finally said, and his eyes squinted as he scrutinized her. "What is it that you're upset about?"

"I'm a babymaker."

"You're a … female." The confusion in his eyes intensified. "Your biological purpose hasn't changed. Are you displeased about the misunderstanding? If you don't want to be an angel, the process can be reversed, but it's painful, and I would rather —"

"Okay, hold that thought because I want to come back to it, but, um, no." Alex cut him off, squaring her jaw in frustration. "No, no, you — you made me an angel so I could 'repopulate heaven' —" Her fingers went up, forming air quotes " — I'm assuming with you —"

"That was the intention," Castiel agreed.

"— and I'm supposed to just be cool with being reduced to, what, some sort of bitch?" She watched Castiel open his mouth, but she cut him off, anticipating his reply. "Yes, I know — I'm a woman, I have ovaries, thanks, I know. The point …" she pinched the bridge of her nose, drawing in a deep breath as she centered her thoughts. "The difference is, as a human, my job isn't to keep earth populated. Look at me, Cas. I'm a hunter." She spread her arms out, and her wings fluttered. "I can be whatever I want."

"I never said you couldn't." The confusion hadn't disappeared, but as Alex watched, realization flickered deep within the ocean of blue. "I don't think you understand." The angel leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees as he studied her face. "Yes, you're expected to have fledglings, but there are other ways to serve heaven until you're ready."

"So I could be a soldier? Like you."

"No." Castiel gave a firm shake of his head. "You wouldn't be strong enough. But there are other positions in heaven. There are guardians and messengers." His eyes darted across her face, searching for any sign of disappointment. "You once told me you wanted a normal life; this is what I offered you." His shoulders fell, and his gaze dropped onto the floor. "But I didn't expect to fall and rebel. None of this should have happened this way."

Alex's anger faded at his forlorn tone, and she leaned forward, reaching out to touch the angel's knee. "Just … why choose me? I don't understand."

"Alex." Castiel's gaze lifted. "From the moment that I watched you fall from the sky, I knew that you were special. Yes, perhaps your obstinate temper frustrated me at first, but as time went on … And when heaven gave me the opportunity to choose a mate, you were the only one I wanted to ask." His hand came up, resting on her cheek, and Alex's mouth went dry.

Whoa. Red lights. She instinctively jerked away in surprise at the foreign touch, and the chair legs squealed loudly against the floor.

Emotions flittered across Castiel's face, too fast to read, but Alex caught glimpses of hurt and confusion deep within his eyes. She turned her head away, unsure what to say, and she heard the angel sigh. "I'm sorry; this may be too much take in. You need some time to clear your head. If you need to go take a walk, I understand." He pushed himself to his feet with a groan, and Alex watched him move further up the bed to lie down. "I'm going to take a nap. If there's anything you need, please wake me."

Alex didn't respond; she didn't even move until Castiel's breathing had slowed, a sure signal that he was asleep. She pushed herself to her feet, casting a quick glance at the slumbering angel as she made her way to the bathroom. He was one his stomach, his wings covering him like a blanket. They twitched slightly as he slept, and the young girl paused momentarily to marvel at their size and power.

She flicked on the bathroom lights and turned to the mirror, examining her own feathered limbs; each feather was tipped with gold, sending flaxen waves rippling through raven black. Overall, they were smaller than Castiel's, the primaries stretching halfway down her calf while folded against her back, and when extended out, they were sleek, clearly built more for agility and speed, unlike Castiel's, whose thick muscles and large feathers were designed for power.

Castiel. Alex cast a glance back towards the door, and she awkwardly massaged the back of her neck as her gaze returned to the mirror. So much had changed in the past day that she wasn't sure what to think anymore. Was it really only a few days ago that she had been sitting in the Impala, insisting that Dean was wrong about her and Cas? So much had changed since then.

She drew her wings in close with a small shake of her head. Back then, she hadn't dared imagine that Castiel had any sort of feelings for her, lest she get her hopes to high, but now … now as a reality, it felt weird.

She stepped back out into the main room, her eyes returning to the sleeping angel. He looked peaceful, his dark hair framing his narrow face that wore the same calm, expressionless look. There was no denying he wasn't attractive. So why had he chosen her? Her of all people?

Castiel shifted in his sleep, and Alex hurried over to the door, not willing to risk another conversation until she had time to clear her head. Perhaps a walk would do her some good after all.

...

Light drifted through the window, and Alex's eyes flickered open. She was lying in a motel bed, that much she knew, but something lay at the bottom of her vision, something blue and feathered and — oh shit.

Alex half jumped, half flung herself out of bed, but her movement was arrested by an arm, strong band of steel across her midriff. It shifted in surprise, and Alex scrambled up into a sitting position, eyes stretched wide. Wings. That's right; she had wings. And so did Castiel. Her gaze turned onto the angel who lay at her side, and blue eyes blinked open to meet hers. Concern flooded inwards at the sight of her, and he pushed himself up onto an elbow. "Are you okay?"

"Y-Yeah. I'm an angel." Alex's wings fluttered nervously on her back, and she ran a hand down her face to wake up her mind — so yesterday hadn't been a dream. "Sorry, I — this is real." Her gaze flickered over to the second bed, tracing the array of messy sheets before it returned to her companion. "You … when did you move over here?"

Castiel pulled himself up into a sitting position, grunting at the pain, and Alex shifted slightly away; if the angel noticed, he gave no sign of it. "You were calling out in your sleep," he informed her. "I know you dislike sleeping alone when you're having nightmares. I apologize if I made you uncomfortable."

"No, it's, uh, it's fine, I guess. I just wasn't expecting it." Alex's fingers played with one of her feathers, brushing against the grain of the barbs as she uncomfortably dropped her gaze. "How … how did you sleep?"

"I dislike sleeping." Castiel followed her lead, his own attention turning down onto his lap. "The pain kept me up, but," he added in a quieter voice, "having you beside me seemed to lessen its impact."

"Huh. Well, I guess that's good." Alex slid out of bed, and her wings flicked nervously as she felt the angel's gaze upon her.

"You're still uncomfortable." The bed creaked as Castiel got up. "If there's anything I can do …"

"I — I think I just need some time —" Alex cut off in surprise as arms enveloped her waist, holding her tight, and her wings pressed tightly against her back. Her muscles tensed in surprise, but as the warmth persisted, she relaxed. "I just need some time to wrap my head around it," she repeated. "It's all a little …"

"Confusing?" the angel guessed before he corrected, "Unnerving. It's odd to find yourself experiencing new things. I understand, although my experiences have been opposite that of yours." His chin rested against her head as he spoke, his breath stirring her hair, and Alex shifted uncomfortably as his wings curled forward. The closed around her, blocking out the light, and Alex felt her chest tighten as the world disappeared from view.

She suddenly broke free from the angel's hold and stumbled away, drawing in a deep breath as she emerged back into the room. She pulled wings in tight as she spun around, and Castiel's wings fell back to his side.

"Alex."

Alex's face flushed at Castiel's soft, hurt tone, and she pushed her way past the angel, feathers ruffling defensively. She flared her wings out, angry at how her wings echoed her mood — she hated them!

"Alex." Castiel's voice grew sharp, tone dropping down as it took on a note of authority, and a hand wrapped around her wrist, yanking away her hand from where it had buried itself in her feathers in an attempt to rip them out. "Stop it!"

"Leave me alone!" The hunter tore herself from his grasp, wings flaring out in anger, and she spun around to face him.

Castiel took a step forward, and his own wings stretched out high, meeting her challenge. The feathers puffed out, blocking the light from the window, and Alex felt her wings drop low at the intimidating sight. "Don't take that tone of voice with me," he warned, and for a moment he reminded Alex of when she had first met him, strong and powerful.

She stepped back, tripping over her bag, and she hit the ground with a loud thud. Tears filled her eyes at the painful jolt, but she grit her teeth to hold them back as she scooted backwards to press her back up against the wall. Her arms wrapped around her knees, drawing them tightly into her chest as her wings enveloped her, closing her off from the outside world.

She heard Castiel approach, and her wings lowered slightly to watch as he knelt down in front of her. One hand snaked its way past her feathers, which withdrew at the touch, until it came to rest on her knee. "I'm sorry." The angel's voice was low. "I know this is a lot to take in at the moment, but you need to stay calm." His free hand came up, gently grasping the arch of her left wing, and Alex jumped slightly in surprise at the contact, trying to tug free, but Castiel's grip was firm. "Your wings are delicate," he began, and after a second he released it, smoothing down the stygian feathers. "If you pull too hard, you'll damage them, and healing is slow, even for us."

His hand pulled away, and Alex wiped away her tears, nodding to show that she understood. "Maybe … maybe I'll go and get us some breakfast." She let her legs unfold slightly, wings dropping down to her side and stretching out across the motel floor. "I can go pick up your prescription as well, if you think you'll need it." She pushed herself to her feet, watching with a frown as Castiel groaned in pain.

However, determination danced within his eyes as the angel followed her up. "I'll come with," he insisted, but the pain of his actions had his words catching in his throat.

"Uh, yeah, I don't think so." Alex pointed back towards the bed, her lips set into a thin line now that her confidence was returning. "There's no way you'd make it there and back. You stay here and rest; I'll be fine on my own."

"I don't think it's wise." Castiel turned to face her, and Alex reached out to steady him as his legs wobbled. His wings twitched nervously, and Alex frowned, perplexed. "Alex, to be chosen to take a mate is a privilege. There are seraphs, those working directly under Michael, who haven't been given this opportunity. I don't know what heaven would do now that I've rebelled."

"Oh." Alex's lips twisted into a frown. "Well, even more of a reason for to stay here and stay hidden." She flicked her wing in disinterested as she added, "Don't worry about me. They can't make me do anything."

"You're an angel now. They can make you do anything they want." However, Castiel sank down onto the bed, the dark threat in his voice lost by his wearied actions.

"I won't be gone long." Alex crossed over to her bag to pick up her wallet, sparing the angel a worried look on her way back towards the door. "I promise. Just stay here and stay safe until I get back."

...

Alex stepped up onto the curb and looked around, shifting the white plastic bag to her other hand as she glanced around the parking lot of the motel. A father was helping his daughter out of a silver minivan, but the two paid the young angel any attention as she hurried over to the line of doors. She shoved her hand into her pocket in search of the room key, and her fingers brushed against the plastic bottle that held Castiel's pain medication before they wrapped around the small, silver key.

"Ah. Alex." A voice from behind her had the girl turning around in surprise, wings ruffling distastefully at the sight of Crowley. "There you are."

"Yeah, here I am." Alex crossed her arms the best that she could with her bag, and she looked the demon up and down. "I'm sorry — what do you want? I thought you were still deep underground after we fucked up that thing with the Colt."

"I was." Something flashed in the demon's eyes — amusement? Displeasure? — It was gone too fast to tell. "But now I'm back. And you've changed quite a bit."

Alex bit back a snap, choosing instead to narrow her eyes. "What do you want? You sounded like you were looking for me. Why?"

"You were a human, and now you're an angel." Crowley motioned vaguely towards her wings, and Alex drew them in tightly, doing her best to hide them from the demon's view. "You surely can't blame me for being curious."

"Crowley." The motel door swung open, revealing Castiel, whose blue eyes flashed angrily at the sight of the demon. "What are you doing here?"

"Ah." Crowley turned, surprised at the sight of the angel. "Castiel, right?" He didn't wait for confirmation before he added, "I suppose that clears everything right up, then."

"Go away." Castiel's voice rumbled deep within his chest in a burst of anger, and energy crackled through the air as his wings flared out, feathers puffed out in a display of blue and black.

The demon vanished, and Alex's shoulders relaxed as she turned to face Castiel. His anger had faded, and with it went the facade of his strength. The angel leaned against the doorframe with a groan, and Alex gently nudged him into the room, kicking the door shut behind her. "Hey, go sit down before you collapse, alright? You're supposed to be resting."

"What was Crowley doing here?"

"Dunno." Alex gave a small yet firm shrug. "But don't worry — I was handling it. You didn't have to get involved."

"I didn't like the way he was looking at you." Castiel sunk down into one of the chairs, and Alex dropped her things onto the table. "I don't trust him."

"You and me both." Alex pulled Castiel's medications out of her pocket and placed them on the table beside him. "Here. You should take one of these. I got you some food to wash it down with, since otherwise you'll feel nauseous."

"Thank you, but I don't eat." Castiel began to rise to his feet, but Alex spun around, her wings flicking out angrily.

"I said sit down." Her lips set in tight line, her voice leaving no room for argument, and the angel slowly sat back in his seat. "You want your meds, then you're going to have to take them with food. I bought you a sandwich." Alex dug into the bag and pulled out a cellophane-wrapped sandwich and dropped it in front of the angel. "Eat as much as you can. I'll get you a glass of water or something."

"Thank you." Castiel slowly unwrapped his meal, and as Alex moved off to the sink she heard him add softly, "Nourishment does sound quite good right now."

"Yeah, I bet." Alex filled up a paper cup with water and brought it over to him, but before she could comment on her choice in food, a knock sounded on the door. The angel hesitantly reached back for her gun, eyes flitting between Castiel and the closed door as she slowly made her way towards it. She withdrew the weapon and placed it against the wood as she unlocked the door and peered through the crack, and then suddenly she threw it open. "What? What are you guys doing here?"

Dean stepped into the room, followed closely by his brother, Sam. "Hiya, Pip." The Winchester lay a hand on her shoulder in greeting as his eyes traversed the room, finally landing on Castil, and his eyebrows lifted in surprise at the sight of the angel. "Cas? You okay?"

"I'm fine." The angel looked down at his sandwich, and after a second, he set it back down onto the table as he rose to his feet to greet the Winchesters. "Although I suppose that I could be better. Nothing has turned out the way that it was supposed to." His words were accompanied by a look over at Alex, and the young girl's wings prickled as his gaze dropped down to the ground.

"Huh." The interaction was lost on Dean, but his lips turned down into a frown. "And that's supposed to mean … what, exactly? What the hell's wrong with you?"

"I'm an angel." Alex jumped in before Castiel could respond, and both brothers turned to her in surprise. "And Cas … Cas isn't so much an angel."

Dean's head recoiled in shock, and Sam managed to stammer out, "You — an angel?" He frowned, and his eyes ran up and down her small frame. "Like —"

"Like full on angel of the Lord. Yeah." Alex spread her wings out, momentarily forgetting that the two couldn't see them. She made her way over to Castiel, who was now resting his weight against the table. "And apparently it's his fault."

Castiel's eyes narrowed in hurt at her words, and pain roughed the edges of his words. "I wasn't supposed to fall," he insisted. "And you weren't supposed to find out that way."

"You know, it's about time you two got a room together." Dean's joke had Alex shooting him a low glare, but the Winchester refused to back down. "I mean, seriously."

"Okay, yeah, yeah. I get it." Alex waved him off with a sharp shake of her head. "You saw it coming, I'm an idiot who got blindsided."

"I totally called it, right?" Dean added, turning to face Sam before glancing back at Alex. "Which makes you a whole hell of a lot dumber than you look." He ignored the offended noise that rose in Alex's throat. "I mean, Pip, he's been flirting with you for like a year. I mean, flirting in his own … weird angel way."

Castiel's eyes squinted, confused at Dean's words, and Alex brushed a wing across his arm to draw his attention away from the Winchester. "Anyways. Ignoring that. Why are you guys here? I mean, don't get me wrong — I'm glad that you are. But why?

"Crowley's given us a lead on Pestilence." Dean exchanged another look with his brother as his face darkened. "We were wondering if either of you had heard anything."

Alex shrugged, and Castiel shook his head. "No," he agreed, "I have found nothing useful as of yet."

"And a call would have sufficed," Alex put in. "Why the drive down?"

"We just wanted to make sure that you were alright." Dean shrugged as if the comment meant nothing. "You went off on your own, so we figured we'd come check up on you to make sure you were safe."

"She's fine." Castiel's wings flared outwards, offended at Dean's insinuation that he was not protection enough, and Alex blushed slightly at his frustration.

"I'm fine," she promised, hoping her words would soothe Castiel's hurt. "I have Cas with me, so I'm not alone anymore. He wouldn't let anything hurt me." The look in Dean's eyes showed his apprehension at the angel's current state, and she was quick to add, "He'll be back to his old self in a few days. He just needs some time."

Sam nodded, understanding Alex's meaning. "Well, we're going over to Nevada if you two want to come with for a bit," he suggested. "It would be faster than taking a bus."

"Uh, sure." Alex looked back at Castiel, and when the angel nodded, she turned back to Sam. "That would be great. Give me a minute to just pack up my things, and then we're ready to go."

"Great." Dean clapped her on the shoulder with a grin. "I'll meet you out at the car."

"Yeah, sure thing." Alex hurried over to her bed to grab her bag, casting a look back at Castiel. "Hey, is there anything you need before we go?"

The angel shook his head, and Alex slung her things over her shoulder. "Hey, Sam, can you go check us out, please?" she asked the brother. "I just need to get the last of my things together."

"Sure thing." Sam left, and Alex shoved her phone into her pocket before she waved Castiel after her.

Dean was standing by the Impala, and Alex hurried over to him, holding out her bag for him to place in the trunk. "So, you're actually an angel, huh? No joke?" Dean glanced over at Castiel, who was hanging back by the front of the car, and Alex followed his gaze momentarily.

"Uh, yeah. I guess." Alex's eyes flickered over Dean's face before they dropped back to the ground. "Yeah," she repeated lamely, unsure of what else to say. Dean's eyebrows lifted, clearly expecting more, but she took the opportunity to step back to where Castiel stood. "Hey, angel boy. How long do you think it'll be before I can start teleporting, huh?" She leaned up against the hood beside him, fingers splayed across the warm metal.

Castiel blinked in confusion, turning to face her with a tilted head. "Teleport?" he repeated. "We don't … teleport." He blinked again as he contemplated her question, and he added, "It's difficult to say. You should be capable of flight in eight to twelve weeks, but for some it takes longer. Not all souls develop at the same pace."

"Huh." Alex nodded, satisfied with his answer. "Okay, cool."

She watched as Dean circled around to the trunk, and she shifted on the hood as Castiel's wings brushed up against hers. The angel's lips turned downwards into a frown. "You're still hesitant around me," he noted softly.

"Well … yeah, a bit." Alex shrugged, drawing her wings in closely. "It's all still a bit weird, the whole 'wing' thing. And it's just … I don't know. I like you — I just wasn't expecting this to come on so suddenly, I guess."

"I understand." The angel's words sounded superficial, a formality at best, and he drew his hands into his lap. "It's my fault. I'm still unaccustomed to human interactions, and you're unaware of angels' culture. The sudden transition may seem overwhelming." He let out a quiet noise similar to a sigh, and his gaze dropped to the ground. "I apologize if I've done anything wrong."

"I don't know. It's not … it's not wrong. It's just weird." Alex awkwardly reached out to put a hand on his shoulder, her fingers digging into the coarse fabric of his trench coat. "If I had known — back at that motel — I still would have chosen this." She met Castiel's gaze as he lifted his head, a small, reassuring smile upon her face. "It's okay. I just need some time to get use to … to everything."

...

They drove for the whole day. The sky grew dark, and the highways emptied, leaving only the Impala amount the corn-filled fields. Alex's head rested against the glass, eyes mindlessly focused on the horizon ahead. Castiel lay beside her, his head in her lap, and the girl's fingers slowly combed through his soft brown hair. The angel's eyes were closed, his breathing slowed as he drifted between wakefulness and sleep, and his wings were curled up at his side, made awkward by the cramped back seat. Every few minutes they twitched, brushing softly against Alex's leg.

The music changed, the guitar riff picking up, and Castiel's wings twitched a little more forcefully, forcing Alex to brush his feathers out of her face. "Hey, Dean." She spoke up, breaking the long lull in conversation, and both Winchester looked back. "Can you turn down the music? Cas is sleeping."

Even in the dark, she could see the concern on their faces. "Uh, sure." Dean reached for the volume dial with a frown. "How's he doing?"

"Dunno." Alex's hands ceased their movement. "He says he's fine, but … I've never seen him like this. It's almost like … like he's human." She felt him shifted beneath her hand, and she rested her fingers on his warm neck as she lowered her voice. "I'm worried."

"You're telling me." Dean's voice grew tight. "Michael has Adam, and Lucifer — who knows what he's planning. We've got one shot at popping him back in the box, and we can't do it with one man down."

"I know. He's doing his best." Alex fell silent as she felt Cas' breathing change, signaling his return to the waking world. "Hey, Champ." She looked back up at Dean as she added, "Is there any chance we could stop for the night?"

"I'm fine." Castiel pushed himself up into a sitting position "You don't need to stop for me."

"Yeah, well, I'm tired." Alex set her lips in a firm line. "So I say we stop and sleep." She lifted her chin when Dean glanced back at her, unsurprised when he nodded. The car turned off the highway, and within a minute or two it was rolling through a small, darkened town. A single motel sat off to the side of the road, dim, flickering lights illuminating the crowded parking lot, and Dean pulled the Impala into a spot at the end of the row.

"Alright." He turned in his seat as the car died, his gaze moving between Castiel and Alex. "You guys want to bunk with us, or do you want a second room?"

"Uh, second room … if it's even available." Alex looked around at the array of cars, surprised at how such a small-town establishment could be so crowded. "It really doesn't matter. It's only one night."

She watched as Dean nodded and disappeared off towards the office, and she shifted as Castiel returned to resting her lap, his eyes already fallen closed. "Is he okay?" Sam's words were whispered, little more than a silent moving of his mouth, and Alex looked up in surprise.

She answered with a shrug before murmuring back, "I don't know." She placed a hand over Cas' forehead, and she shook her head in frustration. "He doesn't feel sick but … I think being cut off from heaven is really taking a toll on him."

"I can hear you, you know." The angel spoke without opening his eyes, and Alex lifted her eyebrows as she looked over at Sam, a silent gesture of exasperation.

The door to the Impala swung open, and Dean peered back inside. "Lucky for us, they only have one room left." He held out the key, letting it swing back and forth for a moment before he pocketed it once again. "Cas doesn't look so good."

"He can hear you, you know," Alex quipped, earning a soft snort of amusement from Sam before her humor faded back into worry. "Hopefully a good night's sleep will do him some good. Come on, Cassie." She nudged the angel up, leaving the two brothers to get their bags from the trunk as she led the way over to their room.

Dean unlocked the door and stepped inside, flipping on the dim lights to show off the cramped interior. "Well, at least they gave us two beds," he remarked dryly as the other three filed inside. Castiel sunk down into one of the chairs, determined not to go directly to the bed, and Alex watched him with a frown. She felt Dean's eyes sweep across them before the eldest hunter announced, "I think I'll go brush my teeth first."

Bags thumped to the ground as he dropped them at their feet, and Alex heard the bathroom door swing shut. "Alright" She held out her hand to the angel. "Let's get to bed. I assume the two of us will be sharing," she added over to Sam; when the Winchester only shrugged, she cleared her throat. "We'll share. Come on, Cas." She scooped her bag up off of the ground and made her way over to the furthest bed. "You're, uh, probably gonna want to take some of that off," she began when the angel sat down on the mattress, and she motioned to his trench coat and tie. "Might be more comfortable. "

"You're probably right." With a great deal of effort, Castiel pushed himself back to his feet and stripped out of his coat. He laid it carefully across the chair, pausing only momentarily before he kicked off his shoes. "Is this adequate?"

Alex ran her gaze over his white button up before she shook her head. "Here." She crossed over to him and reached up, loosening his tie before she pulled it off from around his neck. "Oh, and, uh, this too." She reached into her bag and pulled out one of Dean's old tees. "This is Dean's — it should fit you. It'll be more comfortable than that shirt."

"Thank you." Castiel slowly changed, his fingers working the buttons open with an unfamiliar slowness. "What about my pants? Should they come off, too?"

"No." Alex answered the question all-too-quickly, eliciting a snicker from Dean, who had just stepped out of the bathroom. "Pants are fine. Belt might be uncomfortable, though." She turned her gaze away while the angel pulled the leather strap free, choosing instead to focus on extracting her own sleepwear from her bag. "Done with the bathroom?"

"All yours, princess."

It took Alex all of thirty seconds to change, slipping into a pair of shorts and an old t-shirt before she shut off the lights and stepped back into the room. Sam slipped past her into the bathroom, but Alex barely noticed, her attention on Castiel who was already under the covers, his eyes focused on the ceiling. "Hey, uh," she heard Dean start as she slid in next to Cas. "And no couples stuff, you know?"

Alex rolled her eyes, ignoring the blush that slipped across her cheeks. "As long as you and Sam promise to keep it down," she retorted, grinning at the light-hearted glare the Winchester shot her.

"What?" Sam reappeared at the sound of his name, dressed in a white shirt and sweatpants, and his eyes narrowed in confusion at the grin on Alex's face. "What did I miss?"

"Nothing." Alex settled herself under the sheets as Sam climbed into bed, and the lights flickered off. After a second or two, she rolled onto her side, her wings uncomfortable with her laying on her back.

She heard shifting on the other bed, soft at first before growing in volume, and she squinted her eyes to see through the dark at Sam's sudden and loud exclamation. "Dude, are you taking off your pants?"

"What?" Dean protested sharply, and the rustling stopped, followed by a thump as his jeans were shoved onto the floor. "You're not wearing any."

"Yeah, well at least I had the decency not to take them off in bed," Sam shot back. Alex heard the sound of a shove, followed by a loud thud as Dean hit the ground in between the two beds.

"Hey," she scolded, leaning down to where Dean was grumbling out a response. "I told you two to keep it down." A hand shoved itself into her face, Dean's wordless retaliation, and Alex grunted as his palm connected with her chin. She shoved his hand away, pulling the sheets tight as Sam muttered out an apology.

The mattress creaked as Dean crawled back into bed, and Alex felt Castiel shift, rolling onto his side. A hand encircled her waist, holding her close, and the young hunter immediately tensed, surprised by the move. However, after a second she snuggled closer, wings pressed tightly against her chest. She could feel the angel's chest slow as he drifted back into sleep, and, comforted by his solid presence, she closed her eyes, focusing on his breathing and adjusting hers to fit in time with his.

...

Alex was back in the motel. The smell of blood and death was everywhere, permeating her clothes. She wandered down the winding hallways, carefully maneuvering around the bodies that lay on the floor. Panic rose in her throat, as thick as blood, until she felt that she was choking on it. Her pace quickened until she was running, her feet slipping on the pools of blood as she rounded every corner until she slid to a stop. She was back in the main dining room, and someone was waiting for her.

Lucifer.

The burn-like wounds still covered his forehead, stretching down towards his neck. The devil had his arms crossed, and his pale blue eyes watched her intently, dark with malice. The young hunter froze, surprise rushing down her spine like a cascade of ice. The archangel's arms unfolded as he approached, stalking towards her in an almost feline manner. His footsteps were silent, his eyes never blinking, never leaving hers. He didn't stop until he was right in front of her, until Alex could feel the coldness of his skin. She couldn't move, trapped like a cornered rabbit.

The spell was broken when the devil grinned. A flash of teeth had her running, fleeing the room and back down the blood-soaked halls. She heard Lucifer's laugh, and the sound followed her down the winding corridors, causing her hair to stand on end. The corridors kept turning, and Alex pushed herself faster and faster, but she was unable to escape the haunting laugh.

She glanced behind her as she rounded a corner, and she was unprepared for the solid object in front of her. The force knocked her back and into the bloody floor. Her head hit the ground, and horror contorted her face at the sight of a bloodied trench coat —

She woke up screaming Castiel's name. The darkness pressed down on her, constricting her chest, and she struggled to sit up against the restraints that held her down. The lights flickered on as Sam and Dean jumped to their feet, and something wrapped itself around Alex's waist, drawing her back into a warm, solid presence.

Alex watched as Dean froze, halfway to her side, and the arm around her tightened its grip. "It's okay." Castiel's low murmur sounded next to her ear, and his wings folded around her possessively as he looked past her to Dean. "I'm right here." His voice was pointed, a firm response to Dean's earlier insinuation of his weakness, but Alex couldn't bring herself to rebuke him. Her dream was clear in her mind, the taste of blood still burning into her mouth. Dean stepped closer, and Castiel's chest rumbled in warning as he held her tighter.

"Cas." Her voice shook, but Alex forced herself to intervene before Castiel's need to prove himself became physical. "It's okay. I'm okay."

"I'm sorry." Castiel's grip relaxed, and Alex gently extracted herself, shifting so she was off of his lap. "Did you have a bad dream?"

"Y-Yeah. It's okay, though. I, uh, I have them all the time." Alex looked over at Dean, an apology in her gaze. "Sorry to wake you guys."

"You probably woke up the whole motel," Dean joked, and he cast a quick, tight-lipped glance over at Castiel. "You gonna be okay? Need something to drink?"

The bed creaked as Castiel got to his feet, pushing himself between Alex and Dean, his wings flared out in anger. "Cas …" Alex drew her own wings in tightly, unsure of what was about to transpire.

"I can take care of her." The angel's voice was a low growl, bordering on a threat, and he place a hand on Dean's chest when the Winchester peered past her. "Dean."

"Hey." Dean batted the angel's hand off of him. "I never said you couldn't. I'm just making sure she's okay." Castiel's hand returned, and the Winchester roughly pushed it away. "Don't touch me —" Dean flew back from Castiel's shove, barely avoiding careening into his brother before he hit the motel wall.

"Hey!" Alex launched herself to her feet, almost tripping over her wings as she scrambled to get in between Castiel and the brothers. "Cas, what the hell?" She lifted her wings up and out, feathers ruffling out in anger in a display of anger that refused to bend to the older, stronger angel before her.

"I don't need his help." Castiel's eyes glittered with his grace, and he tore his gaze away from Dean to look down at Alex. "I might be fallen, but I'm still capable of protecting you."

"I know." Alex squared her jaw as she heard Dean push himself back to her feet, and she forced her voice to grow soft. "I know. Dean's just worried."

"Geez, man." Dean rubbed his head with a scowl, and Castiel's gaze snapped back to the Winchester. "What the hell's your problem?"

"Cas." Alex put a hand on his chest, keeping her voice firm. "Don't. Lower your wings and get back in bed. No one here thinks you're incapable, no one here thinks you're useless." She felt a growl rumble through the angel's chest, reverberating in his chest, and she gave him a small shove to draw his attention back onto her. "Whatever your problem is, you stow it until the morning."

"It is morning," she heard Dean mutter from behind her, and she glanced down at the clock: 6:15 am. "Come on." He slapped his brother in the arm as he jerked his thumb towards the door. "Get dressed. We'll wait in the car." A finger was pointed towards Alex, and the young girl reluctantly turned to face face him. "He hits me again, I hit back."

"Yeah, I understand." Alex heard the two brothers leave, speaking again only once they were out of the room. "Okay. What the fuck?" She jabbed a finger into Castiel's chest. "You — you just attacked Dean. Who are you, man?"

"He provoked me." Castiel's jaw twitched in frustration. "Why are you defending him?"

"Why — because you could have killed him, Cas! All because he wanted to make sure that I was okay? He's my friend — that's his job!"

"Friend? Is that all he is?"

Silence met his words as Alex's jaw fell open, caught by surprise by the accusation. A half-strangled noise emerged from her throat before she coughed, trying to get her voice under control. "What?" She felt her wings drop, her anger dissipated only to be replaced by confusion. "You mean like — what? No. Dean's my friend, Castiel. Only my friend." Her wings folded forward as she asked, "Is that … is that what this is about?"

Castiel's own wings fell down, and Alex ran a hand through her hair, surprised by his insecurity. "I'm fallen, and I'm weak." The hesitancy disappeared, replaced with cold anger. "Dean's not to touch you."

"Don't tell me what to do!" Alex's fist flew out, connecting with the angel's stomach in a sudden burst of frustration. Castiel grunted in surprise, and the next thing Alex knew, her back was up against the wall, pinned there by a sudden push of the angel's wings. Her wrists were held above her head in one strong hand, and Alex hissed out her pain.

"Don't hit me." The angel squeezed her wrists tightly before he dropped them and stepped away. Alex's eyes narrowed in a glare, but her wings fell down to her sides.

"Sorry." Her half-assed apology came out as a mutter, and she ducked her head to cover the flush in her cheeks. She brushed past the angel and grabbed her bag off of the floor. "But if you're done acting like a fucking child, I'm going to take a shower to cool down."

"I'm sorry." Castiel's apology caught her by surprise. "I shouldn't have snapped at you."

"At Dean," Alex corrected, but Castiel gave no sign of acknowledgement.

"My lack of strength has made my temper short," he continued, "but I shouldn't have let it get out of control."

"Yeah, whatever." Alex flicked her wing to show she accepted his apology. "I'm going to shower. Go ask Sam and Dean if we can grab some breakfast afterwards, okay/" She dropped her bag and added, "Oh, and if you so much as touch Dean, I'll skin you, alrighty?' Castiel didn't respond, and she kicked the door closed.

...

Alex followed Dean into the diner, brushing her damp hair out of her face. She felt Castiel behind her, crowding her back, and she pushed her wings out to keep her distance; the angel's possessive behavior had only increased since the fight. Dean slid into a booth, and Alex followed, sitting down across from him as Castiel followed; Alex threw an elbow into his side when he tried to move closer. A brush of cold air had her shivering, and Castiel shifted even closer, his curling around her back. "Dude. Since when are you so cuddly?" she teased, ignoring how Sam and Dean exchanged glances.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Castiel's persistence ceased, and he shifted away slightly, but his wing didn't move from where it rested between her and the booth. His attention turned down to their silverware as he sought a distraction from her words, and Alex watched amusedly as he curiously studied a small tarnish on his fork.

"Hi, how are we doing today?" Their waitress flounced up to them, and Alex bit back a grin at how Dean's eyebrows lifted, his interest peaked. "What can I get ya?"

"Well, uh, Tracy." Dean flashed the brunette a smile. "I can't really decide. What would you recommend?"

The waitress blushed slightly, and Alex turned her head away as she rolled her eyes. "Well, today's special is pancakes with a side of bacon and sausage."

"Sounds great." Dean's grin only grew wider, and Alex exchanged an amused glance with Dean. Starting early, she mouthed over to him.

"I'll just take the pancakes," Sam told the waitress, and Alex pulled one of the menus closer to give it a quick glance over.

"And how about you, honey?" The waitress looked over at Castiel, who seemed confused by the woman's flirty behavior.

"He'll take the same." Alex spoke up for him, folding up her menu.

"But I'm not hungry."

"Then we'll share." Alex stuck the menu back in its place with a nod towards the waitress, waiting until she had scribbled down their order before she let her gaze drop back down to the table.

The waitress walked away, and Dean finally let out a chuckle. "Well, aren't you the ladies man," he teased, and Castiel's head tipped in confusion. "Dude, she was obviously flirting with you." Dean turned to look back towards their waitress, and Alex kicked at him under the table to draw his attention back onto them.

Castiel didn't respond, and Alex drummed her fingers on the table. "So, uh, how are you doing?" she asked Dean, and her face darkened into a small frown. "You okay?"

"I'm fine. I've already gotten an apology." Dean's words were pointed, and Alex watched as Castiel tensed, but thankfully the angel had the decency to let the Winchester's words pass. She reached up, her fingers brushing against his neck as she straightened the collar of his shirt. She let her hand linger there a moment longer, a silent gesture of thanks, before she pulled away.

"So," she began, turning to look over at Sam, "you guys have a new lead on Pestilence from Crowley? What's that about?"

"Crowley says there's a demon who's been working for the horsemen. He thinks that he can give us information on both what Pestilence is planning and, if we're lucky, where he is." Sam slid his menu in beside Alex's as he finished up his explanation. "He's currently in western Nevada."

"Be careful." Castiel's warning were accompanied by a deep frown. "And why exactly are the two of you chasing after him?"

"We need his ring," Dean explained. "Before Gabriel died, he told us that we could put Lucifer back in the cage using the horsemen's' rings." He reached into his pocket and pulled out two of them. "We already have War's and Famine's. That just leaves —"

"Pestilence and Death," Castiel finished, his displeasure obvious. "And you said … that Gabriel was dead." He looked over at Alex, a question hanging in his gaze.

"Yeah." Alex gave a small nod, the barely perceptible lift of her eyebrows the only sign of her plea for him to play along. "Lucifer, he, uh … he killed him."

"Ah. I'm sorry to hear that." The angel fell silent as the waitress returned with their food, and Alex let her gaze fall to her lap.

...

The brunette waitress made several excuses to stop by their table throughout the course of their meal, often asking Castiel how his food was tasting while ignoring the other three. Alex felt her irritation grow with each passing visit, something akin to jealous brewing in her stomach — it couldn't really by jealousy, could it? The young hunter pushed away the possibility. However, despite her inner protestations, she could feel herself responding; a lingering touch of the hand here, a murmured comment in the ear there.

Castiel, on the other hand, seemed oblivious to the brunette's attention. When the bill was slipped to him, a folded slip of paper with a phone number tucked in the corner, the angel handed it over to Dean. "I believe this is for you," he began innocently.

The waitress laughed, intercepting the note before it could reach Dean's hands. "No, honey." She placed it back in front of Castiel, who accepted it with an unsure frown. He held onto it until she walked away, Dean's credit card tucked in beside the bill, before he handed it back to Dean once again.

The Winchester dropped it onto the table with a shrug, and Alex reached forward, crumpling up the number and tossing it over the counter. "There. Good riddance." She innocently looked away as the waitress returned, and once the card had been handed back to Dean, she nudged Castiel's hip. "Come on. Let's go."

Castiel rose to his feet, letting her slip out onto the checked linoleum floor, but before he could follow her, the waitress grabbed onto his arm. "I don't believe I caught your name," she began, and Alex narrowed her eyes, displeased at the woman's clear and brazen move.

Castiel leaned away, uncomfortable by the woman's direct flirtation. "My name is Castiel," he slowly began, and Alex clenched teeth.

"Castiel?" The name rolled off of the brunette's tongue, low and sultry. "That's a nice name. So, Cas, I'll see you around then."

Castiel's gaze swept the room, and he managed to get out, "I don't know. I suppose that it is always possible —"

Alex snorted and pushed her way between them, purposefully shoving the woman out of the way on her trajectory towards the door. Her fingernails dug into her palm, almost to the point of drawing blood, but the young hunter didn't relinquish her grip; if she gave up the slightest amount of control, there was no promise that the waitress would remain alive. She slammed the door behind her and pressed her head into the concrete wall, ears strained to catch remnants of the conversation inside. "What?" she could hear Castiel's confusion weighing down his words.

"Dude. That's no way to talk around your girlfriend," she heard Dean say, and she drew in a deep, sharp breath.

"Wait — she was your girlfriend?" Faux-confusion lined the woman soft voice.

"Mate." Castiel's correction came quick and sure, and Alex relished in the awkward silence that followed. She turned away as she heard footsteps approach, and after a second, she felt Castiel stop beside her. "Alex?" Soft navy wings folded around her, hesitant and confused, and Alex did her best to quell the anger in her chest. "Alex, look at me."

"What?" The young hunter spun around, her words coming out as a snap.

"Apparently I did something wrong in there." Confusion still flittered through his eyes, but worry crowded the emotion out. "Dean said so." He watched as Alex scoffed, and his wings fell back to his side. "I don't understand what I did," he admitted. "I'm not sure I understood anything that happened in there."

Alex laughed scornfully. "Yeah. No shit." She glanced back towards the restaurant as she kicked at a loose rock on the sidewalk. "No, I, uh, I'm not mad at you, Cas. I'm just trying not to go back in there and strangle her." Her jealous rose back up in her throat, as thick and bitter as bile, and she drew in a deep breath to force it back down. "I think I just need a minute to walk it off and cool down. I'll meet the three of you back at the motel down the street, alright?"

She took a step a step back, watching the torn look that spread over the angel's face. "Okay," he finally relented with a small nod. "Be careful."

"Yeah." Alex stalked away, finally letting her anger overwhelm her. What the hell was happening anymore? One day she was convincing herself that it was all in her head, and now … this? The jealousy was roiling in her stomach, a cold, angry boil, and she shoved her hands into her pockets. It was all Castiel's fault. He's the one who fell in love with me, she insisted to herself. He's the one who turned me into an angel. Her gaze went back to her wings, and some of her anger relented. No. Her mind went back to the diner as she began to cross the field behind the motel, replaying the events over and over, and she felt herself blush — it was such a stupid thing to get angry over. She had no reason to be jealous; Castiel had no eyes for the woman. But the very idea … a growl rumbled in her throat.

"Excuse me?" Her anger was interrupted by a voice, and Alex spun around to see a young man standing behind her.

"Uh, me?" Alex looked around, but she was the only other one standing in the long grass. "Can I help you?"

"You're Alex, right?" The man's question sounded innocent, a genuine inquiry, but something prickled at the back of the hunter's neck.

"Yeah." She shifted backwards, fist balling warily as her wings lifted, curling over her head in a display of defensive warning.

"Good." The man blinked, and his eyes flashed black. Alex felt three pin pricks in her skin; one in the back of her neck, and two in her arms. Her hands swung upwards, ripping out a small dark, and her feet spun her around to find two more demons at her back. Rage boiled inside of her, and she lunged forward, colliding into the nearest one. Her palm collided into its forehead, and somehow, suddenly, white light exploded out of the demon's eyes. He crumpled to the ground, dead, and Alex staggered, her vision starting to swim. Black, fuzzy dots crept along the sides of her eyes, and time suddenly began to slow. She felt herself reaching out for the other demon, energy pulsing up through her arms. Light poured out of the demon's face, but it fizzled and died as the world began to spin. Her legs gave out, and the ground collided roughly with her back. "Cas?" The word sounded muffled in her mouth, her tongue thick and dry, and the darkness closed over her eyes. She distantly felt someone pick her up, lifting her from the hard, rocky ground, but the last thoughts were of her angel in a trench coat before the blackness overtook her.