A/N: Hey everyone. Here's chapter three. I know, crazy. Three chapters in less than two day, but I'm excited about this story and where I'm going with it, so... anyway, here it is and enjoy. Also, I have Alex singing in this chapter but since we're not allowed to post lyrics that aren't ours, the music I was thinking of her singing was Footprints in the Sand by Leona Lewis. I was even listening to it as I wrote that part of the chapter. So, just so you all have an idea of what she's singing. Alright, again, enjoy!!

Chapter Three: Explanations and conversations

Alex lay in bed, tossing and turning in a restless sleep as visions filled her mind. Hellboy and the crew had been out on a mission for hours and she had no idea when they'd be back. So, out of boredom she went to her room, laid down on the springy mattress and fell into a deep sleep.

Now, visions were attacking her subconscious, screaming out for her to help. She saw Hellboy and her uncle in a struggle with a giant monster, a creature she had never seen before. It had long gray horns, black skin and razor sharp teeth with claws to match. Hellboy had shoved Manning out of the way as he tackled the monster, punching his stone hand into the creature's face. Alex whimpered in her sleep as Hellboy was thrown off, flying across the room to the other side.

The creature turned towards her uncle and lunged, bringing down a clawed foot towards his throat. Alex awoke with a start, screaming as she fell off the bed and scrambled towards a corner of her room. Hugging her legs to her chest, she rocked herself back and forth as tears flowed down her cheeks. Shaking at the memory of the dream, she silently begged for the alarm to go off, indicating the return of the team.

The team had been gone for over twenty four hours before they finally returned and they were all feeling more than exhausted. Hellboy was wrapped in temporary bandages as was Manning. Abe had managed to escape without a scratch and the rest of the members seemed to be holding up just the same.

"Simple mission, huh Manning?" Hellboy asked sarcastically as he rubbed a sore shoulder.

"That's what the report said," Manning replied as he checked the bandage on his hand.

"UNCLE!!" The team heard a girl shout and all looked down the hall to see a brunette in her pajamas and messy hair come running. She collided with her uncle, wrapping her arms around him and nearly knocking him over in the process.

"Hey, Alex. Thanks for the welcoming hug but…" Manning trailed off when he heard her small sobs.

"Whoa, hey. What's wrong?" He asked, pulling her away from him so he could take a look at her.

"No- nothing," Alex hiccupped. "I was just worried, that's all."

"So worried you didn't get any sleep?" Manning asked when he noticed her baggy eyes.

"Yeah, you lead a dangerous job. How can I not be worried?"

"No, I somehow don't believe that. What's going on Alex?"

Alex looked up in her Uncle's eyes and she could see something there that told her he knew something wasn't right, something was off. About her. She scanned the rest of the hallway and got similar looks from Hellboy and a fish man she had yet to meet.

"You wouldn't believe me," she mumbled as she turned to head back to her room, not wanting the kind of attention she was receiving.

"Wait a second. After meeting me and Abe, you're saying we wouldn't believe you? Maybe you should give us a chance," Hellboy piped up, finding it unbelievable that she would say such a thing to them. The most open minded people in the world and they wouldn't believe her? Ha!

Stopping in her tracks, she slowly turned to face him, tears streaming down her face once again. Scanning her surroundings, she looked at each of the other team members before looking back at Hellboy.

"In private," she said and then turned back down the hall.

"Great. Manning? You're office," Hellboy suggested and they all, including Abe, headed for the room. Sitting down in front of her Uncle's desk, Alex pulled her legs up and wrapped her arms around them before resting her forehead on her knee.

"So, honey, what's gotten you so scared?" Manning asked quietly as he leaned against his desk.

"Death," Alex replied, her voice muffled.

"What?" Hellboy asked, fully hearing what she said, but couldn't quite understand what she meant.

"I'm afraid of death. I'm afraid to see it and quite frankly I'm getting rather tired of seeing it. Especially if it has to do with my family or friends and I don't want to deal with it anymore!"

"Alex, sweetie, I don't understand what you're talking about."

"Will you stop talking to me like I'm fifteen!! I'm not anymore, Uncle! Or have you not noticed!?" Alex was now standing up and pacing around the room. She knew she was overreacting, but that was just the side effect from lack of sleep and the fear of what might've happened to her uncle.

"I'm getting tired of seeing people die before they actually do and then not do anything about it. I'm -- I'm just tired…" Alex said as she rubbed her eyes with the heals of her hands before clenching her hands into her hair, fighting back more tears but failing miserably. Hellboy watched everything unwind, making him feel helpless. He wanted to comfort this girl, but he hardly knew her and thought it might be awkward if he tried.

"Alex, I'm sorry. I don't understand," Manning said as he tried to wrap her in his arms, but she just growled out in frustration and turned her back to him.

"Uh, sir? If you don't mind, I believe I have the answer. If she'll allow me to tell you because I believe she cannot. She wishes to, but she cannot find the words," Abe finally spoke, both Red and Manning turned to face him with quizzical expressions on their faces. Alex turned a few seconds after and stared into the eyes of the man standing by the doors. She could feel a tingle in the back of her mind and for a reason unknown to her, she nodded her head in approval, giving him permission to say what she couldn't.

"Well, you're niece is actually gifted with the power of sight," Abe said with a bit of awe in his tone.

"What do you mean? Like premonition," Hellboy asked, his brow furrowed.

"That's one word for it, yes."

"I have to go… somewhere…" Alex said, not wanting to hear anymore. She hated conversations about her and she hated them even more when she was within earshot.

"Alex, wait. We need to figure this out," Manning tried to stop her but she held out her hand as an indication to leave her alone.

"She'll be okay," Abe reassured but Manning wasn't so sure.

"I don't know, Abe. I've never seen her like this. She's so distraught and lost. Even with her family she still held a sense of hope but now… I don't see it anymore."

"Hmmm…" was all Hellboy said before following her. If anyone could help her deal, it was him.

Hellboy wandered the halls as he searched for her. He first checked her room but she was nowhere to be found there so he decided to check everywhere possible and he finally found her in his father's office. Normally it would've angered him, but she was someone special. Different. He heard her at the piano and her voice filled the air and found his ears. He stopped at the doors and just listened, something waking up inside him at just the sound of her voice. It sounded so angelic to him and he wanted to rush over and just hold her. Though beautiful, he could still hear the pain dripping from her voice.

As she hit the last note, he quietly walked in and headed for the piano. She had her arms resting on the top of the piano with her head lying on them and he could hear her crying. That was all the motivation he needed and he sat next to her, placing a gentle left hand on her back. To his surprise, she didn't slink away or brush him off. Instead she wrapped her arms around him and rested her head on his chest, crying even harder than before.

Unsure of how to react at first, Hellboy slowly and hesitantly wrapped his arms around her. Gripping her to him tighter, he rested his chin on the top of her head as he just allowed her to let it all out. He wasn't real sure how he was going to comfort her, but at least he could lend her an ear.

"Why me? Why do I have to have this power and why all of a sudden, now?"

"Well, I don't have the answer for your first two questions, but I think I might know why you're just now getting your power. Sometimes it takes time for a power to manifest itself because of some sort of distress in the person's life. Once it has been overcome is usually when your mind finally has the ability to accept such a power. And it really all depends on the power and person. Sometimes it's distress that activates it."

"But, I've been away from home since I was sixteen. Could it really take so long to show up?"

"It all depends on how bad the situation was. If you don't mind me asking, what did happen?" Hellboy knew he was prying, but he was curious about her and her life.

Alex pulled away from him and looked down at the bench they sat on. She wanted to tell him, but she didn't want to relive those memories. Looking up into his eyes, she saw a look of concern and compassion in his eyes.

"I came from an abusive family. My dad died when I was just a kid and my mom got remarried to a drunk. He would beat me every chance he got and when I tried to tell my mom she wouldn't listen. She'd just tell me I was overreacting and to go to my room. She had picked up drinking as well and joined in on the beating. I would spend most of my time in my room and Uncle Tom was the only one who cared. He left for this job when I was fifteen and I ran away after I turned sixteen after…" Alex trailed off, not really wanting to go into what made her decision to leave.

"Hey, it's alright. You can tell me," Hellboy reassured, placing his finger under her chin to make her look up at him.

"I ran away after," Alex took a deep breath to prepare herself before continuing. "After my step dad tried to - to rape me."

She looked into Hellboy's eyes, fully expecting to see disgust but she didn't. She did see anger though, but knew it was towards her step dad and not her.

"You say, tried," Hellboy growled out.

"Yeah, I kinda kicked him where it counts and ran out of the house," Alex replied. "All I had was literally the clothes on my back."

After a moment of silence, Alex released a heavy sigh and sent him a small smile.

"Thank you."

"For?" Hellboy wasn't quite sure what he had to be thanked for.

"For listening and not criticizing me."

"Hey, I get enough of it I don't need to spread it," She smiled at his comment and rested her head on his shoulder, releasing a sigh of contentment.

"You're a good man, Red."

"Man?" He wasn't used to being called that. The only people who treated him like a human was his father and Liz. Liz. He missed her, but it was becoming easier to deal with it. He hadn't thought of her in awhile, Alex kind of reminded him of her.

"Yeah. It's not what's on the outside, Hellboy. It's what's on the inside and that's what counts the most. Especially when you think with this," Alex finished by placing her hand on his chest, just above his heart.

"You are a good man. Don't let anyone make you think differently."

Hellboy's lips twitched into a smile as he nodded his head. She was a special one and he had full intent on keeping her close. Anyone who dared touch a hair on her head was going to have to go through him.

"It's weird."

"What?"

"I've only just met you, yet I feel closer to you than I have with anybody. Even my uncle," Alex stated as she rested her head on his shoulder again.

"I know what you mean."

"Mmm… I'm tired," Alex yawned, fighting to keep her eyes open and finding Hellboy's shoulder a little more comfortable than it really should've been.

"Come on. Let's get you to bed."

Alex nodded her head in agreement and stood up with the help of Hellboy. Leaning into him, they walked down the empty hallways towards her room and when they reached the door, Hellboy opened it with his right hand and laid her gently onto the mattress. Lifting her legs, he pulled the covers out from under her and covered her up; smiling as she snuggled into the pillow.

"Goodnight, Alex," Hellboy whispered.

"Mmmm… goodnight."

Hellboy closed the door quietly and leaned into the hard wood, releasing a sigh as he tried to figure out the feelings that were beginning to grow inside of him. He was confused and didn't even know where to start with figuring out his feelings. It's like she said: they only just met, but he felt closer to her than he had with anybody; aside from Liz.

Grunting as he pushed himself off the door, he headed to his room in hopes of finding something there to distract him from his current dilemma.

In Alex's room, she once again tossed and turned as more images filled her mind; images of pain and death.