The Return of the Sea Huntress

New Wounds to Heal

Sam made Alex promise that if she ever had a nightmare that she would wake him or his brother up. His heart broke every time Alex woke him up after she had a nightmare. She would be pale, shaking, and looked downright terrified every time. The first time Alex woke Sam up after having a nightmare, she had been extremely embarrassed, no matter how much Sam told her that it was okay.

"Sam," Alex whispered quietly. "Sam, wake up, please."

"Huh?" Sam sat up and rubbed his eyes. He looked at the clock. 3:00 AM exactly. "What's up, Alex? Did you have a nightmare?"

Alex nodded, cheeks red.

"Hey, it's alright, no need to be embarrassed. We all have them."

"No one as much as me," Alex muttered.

"Really, Alex, don't worry about it. You'll be fine. Do you want to talk about it?" Sam asked patiently.

"Not really, no," Alex said.

Sam nodded silently.

"It was my mom again," Alex said finally, cheeks flushing a darker color.

"I see."

"It's one of the worst ones," Alex said, eyes filling with tears. "And it hurts more and more every time I see it happen."

Sam bit his lip. Dean was probably the better candidate for talking about mommy nightmares, but Alex had woken him up instead of his brother. He was going to help this girl. "I understand. Not having a mom is tough."

Alex stared at him, her eyes looking at him incredulously, "Um. Do you want me to go wake up Dean. I mean you did your best."

"No!" he said a bit too loudly. "I mean, no. I grew up without a mom, too, Alex. You knew yours longer than I knew mine but still. It's hard without a motherly figure in your life. I only had my dad and Dean. You didn't have anyone after she died."

Alex glared at him, some tears falling down her cheeks, "Thank you for reminding me about that, Samantha."

"Sorry," Sam shrugged helplessly. "But it's true. She is dead, and and despite having the God of the Underworld as your uncle you can't bring her back. But you know what? You aren't alone anymore. You have your creepy uncle-sorry-and you also have me and Dean."

Alex let out a tiny laugh, "You know, you kind of suck at this, but thanks. I think I'll be okay for tonight, but I probably won't go to sleep."

Sam winced. "Yeah, I know. We grew up with just our dad, remember? And he didn't exactly do the whole comfort thing." Shaking his head, he continued. "Are you sure you'll be alright? Do you want a book to read if you're going to stay up? I think I have a Harry Potter book somewhere."

"Sure, I wasn't really allowed to read at the orphanage but my mother was a writer so I grew up with books. Just tell me where it and you can get some sleep, you really need it."

Sam got up as quietly as he could from the creaky bed. "No, don't worry about it, I can get it. It's in my bag anyways, I don't want you going through my stuff." He pawed through his duffel until he found it, and handed her The Sorcerer's Stone triumphantly. "That's the first one. American edition. I don't have any of the others, just that one. I read the others in libraries in towns we passed through on hunts."

"It's fine," Alex said as she took the book. She stepped forward hesitantly and hugged Sam before turning and walking quickly back to the other bed.

Sam smiled as she crawled into her bed. The hug was nice. She had never hugged him before.

He'd have to work on that.

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Sam noticed that Alex was getting closer to Dean and usually woke him up when she had nightmares, not Sam. She often asked Dean if he could come sleep in the same bed with her. Sam found it adorable. Dean, however, was very hesitant at first until Sam argued with that it would be better for Alex if he did.

"Look, Dean," Sam sounded extremely frustrated and fed up with his brother. "All you have to do is sleep in the same bed with her, what's the problem?"

"Dude, no," Dean said. Alex was outside, talking to Cas about her situation. Their talks were usually brief, so Sam had to make it quick.

"Dean. There is nothing wrong with it. You just have to make sure she gets a good night's sleep. Come on."

"Sam, I can't."

"Dean."

"Sam."

"She doesn't have as many nightmares after she talks to you," Sam points out.

"So?" Dean leans back on the bed. "She seems okay after talking to you, too."

"But not as okay as she is after she talks to you, Dean. She likes you better. She can relate to you more. Just try it for one night, and if you still feel like a creeper and she's uncomfortable then you can stop."

"Fine," Dean grumbled. "One night only, you hear? One."

One night turned into almost every night. Sam thought it was even more adorable when he would wake up and Alex was snuggled into Dean's side. Dean would always have a protective arm around her, almost like he was protecting her from the monsters in her dreams. It also helped that as long as Dean was there, Alex would have no nightmares.

Sam was proud of himself. Alex was happier and less tired all the time. Dean even seemed to gain a bit more from it. He smiled at Alex more. She was definitely the little sister they never had.

Along with helping Alex with her nightmares, the Winchesters had begun to teach her about hunting. She was a quick learner and she was already learning how to set up demon traps. She once asked if she could go hunting with them. They protested loudly and claimed that they hadn't had a case in a long while.

"So," Alex said casually as she took a break from studying what she called 'Supernatural 101'. Dean and Sam turned to look at her as she put on an innocent face that usually worked on them.

"When am I actually going to put this to use, you know, when am I going to join you guys on a hunt?" she asked and was surprised by their reaction.

"No." was Dean's immediate response. Sam nodded his agreement.

"We can't have you getting hurt," he said. "Your uncle would have our heads. Literally."

"Oh come on, I'm a demigod. I've fought way worse and we are kind of made to take a lot and be warriors."

"We grew up trained to fight supernatural creatures, too, Alex. We're adults and we still get hurt by them. You're only ten. Please, just let us handle this. You can hunt with us soon, but you need to learn more first." Sam explained

"You're just saying that so I shut up. You said I needed to learn and I will, but you won't let me out there. My uncle taught me everything and he won't let me join the War. Instead I'm here doing nothing as people, my family, get hurt!"

Sam sighed. "Alex, we aren't saying that to shut you up. We're saying it because we care, and because we don't want to see you hurt. Yes, you learn by being out in the field, but that's not the only way to learn."

"And you can't do anything about the War," Dean added. "Even if you could, they'd probably make you stay out of it because of your age. Don't pretend that they wouldn't. Being here with us means you have a chance to fight, but you need to be more patient."

"You think they'll stop me because of my age? I may be a child but to the Gods, to my father," Alex spat out bitterly, "I am a pawn. My older brother Percy, was only twelve when they sent him on a quest where he almost died. I know you care and I'm thankful of that, but…you know what? Just forget it. I'll stay out of the field as long as you want. I'm done arguing, and my head hurts." She said and ran off to the bathroom before they could stop her.

Sam sat down and rubbed his temples. "I feel bad for not letting her hunt with us."

"Don't. She's too young for hunting," Dean said.

"Dean, she kicked hellhound butt while we cowered in a corner."

"We didn't cower!"

"And you were her age when you started hunting. Hell, you were younger when you handled weapons."

"Yeah, well, that's why I don't want her to hunt, Sam. I don't want her to end up like me," he said bitterly.

"She won't," Sam said gently. "Because she has us. We aren't Dad, we won't do what he did. By the time something easy comes up she'll probably know enough to help out. She can hunt then and we'll keep an eye on her."

"Fine," Dean grumbled. "But until then it's just research and learning the basics."

"Deal." A voice said behind them. They turned to see Alex, who was now out of the bathroom and standing behind them.

Eventually, they got a call from Bobby saying there was a possible case a few towns away in Bridgewater, New York. So they left their motel and found a new one not too far from where the Wendigo was at. Sam and Dean didn't know what they were going to do so that Alex wasn't harmed.

While Sam and Dean were working on the case they made Alex stay in the motel room, and have her on her guard at all times. They also made Cas keep an eye on her while they were out. Dean also had given her an old cellphone of his (she told him she couldn't use it because it'd attract monsters, but she took it anyway).

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Alex sighed as she stared at the computer screen that was currently displaying an article about the Wendigo's latest victims. Sam and Dean had called an hour ago to give her information, but it had only lead to a dead end. Now she had nothing to do and was completely alone. The frustration was getting to her. She started to rub her necklace, a force of habit that she couldn't break.

She wanted to actually be out there, she wanted to feel the rush and satisfaction of actually hunting this thing down. Alex decided she would hunt this thing down, Sam and Dean would be mad but they'd be proud of her. She'd never admit just how much she wanted for someone to actually be proud of her.

Alex started her mission and hoped that Castiel, who was now her part time babysitter, would not catch her. She tiptoed to the door, begging to the gods to help her, praying that Cas wouldn't drop in just yet.

"Alex, where are you going? Dean said that you are not permitted to leave this area," Cas said behind her in that emotionless voice of his. It used to drive Alex up the wall. Now she thought it was cute when he was all emotionless. Although, you could hear the love in his voice when he talked about Dean. Shit, focus Alex!

"Nowhere Cas, It's just I'm tired of being cooped up all the time," she told to him.

Cas raised an eyebrow.

"I'm tired of being in this little room for hours. I feel like I'll go insane and then I'll have to go visit my cousin, Mr. D."

Cas frowned. "Well, you can't leave. Just wait until Dean and Sam get back."

"I love how you say Dean's name first," Alex said before she sat down, "Sam and Dean could be gone for hours, they like to make stops along the way."

"Unfortunate for you," Cas said.

"Gods, Cas, can you lighten up a bit? Hey, what if you take me somewhere? I'm sure Sam and Dean won't mind since I'm with you and you're all Angel badass-ness," Alex said with a pleading puppy dog face.

Cas's emotionless mask fell for a second before it popped right back into place. "I'm not sure that's a good idea."

"Oh come on, please, pretty please! I can show you human customs so that you can impress Dean. Like going to a park or a movie."

Alex smirked as Cas's resolve fell. "Fine," he said grudgingly. "But only for an hour."

"Yes! You are the best Angel ever. Lucifer can go suck it!" Alex said with a fist pump before hugging Cas.

"Lucifer was an Archangel, actually," Cas said stiffly, standing stock still as Alex hugged him, effectively ruining the moment.

"He can still go suck it," Alex shrugged as she let Cas go and grabbed some of the mortal money that her uncle had given her. She turned back to Cas.

"To freedom!" She yelled as Cas used his angel powers to take them away.

Sam and Dean returned that night to see a sleeping Alex, who had a lightning bolt drawn on her face, courtesy of Cas, and a very tired, yet happy, Castiel. He was wearing a propeller hat, like the kind you got at carnivals and he gave both brothers a stuffed animal.

"Alex won these for you. I enjoy watching over her. We must do this again," he said simply before leaving. Sam and Dean just stood there, baffled.

After the incident with Cas, Alex had been forced to stay in the motel room, no exceptions which pissed her off completely. But luckily for her, the next time the Winchesters left, Cas was busy with heaven business, so he couldn't babysit her for once. Sam and Dean made Alex promise not to leave the motel as they headed toward the woods that Alex had told them about. Apparently, the woods were what connected all of the victims. Alex was, yet again, left to do research. Research that didn't even have to be done anymore, if she was right. Which she totally was.

A little while later, Alex heard a noise from outside the room as she researched. She got up and opened the door, not actually leaving the motel room. She stood there, looking around a bit when she heard Dean's voice telling her to come out and find him. Alex didn't even think as she quickly grabbed the extra flare gun that Sam and Dean left, just in case she needed it, and ran off into a wood-like area as Dean yelled, "Hurry, Alex! Sammy's hurt!"

Alex followed Dean's voice and ended up in a warehouse. Sam and Dean were nowhere to be seen. Alex smacked herself when she remembered that a Wendigo can imitate voices. She turned to run away and saw the Wendigo standing right there. She jumped, startled, dropping the flare gun. It slid away from her, towards the door. She cursed herself for her stupidity. She then screamed loudly, hoping to alert Sam and Dean, who should have been close by, or Castiel. The Wendigo attacked her as soon as the scream left her mouth.

Alex fought back as hard as she could, but it didn't help. The Wendigo slammed her into a wall, and as she crumpled to the ground she hit her head on a rock that had probably been thrown through one of the broken windows by a rebellious teen. She fell unconscious.

The Wendigo was about to eat her when Sam and Dean arrived with flare guns.

After defeating the Wendigo, the Winchesters took the still unconscious Alex to a proper hospital, as she had a concussion and needed actual stitches from a real doctor.

Hades came to the hospital to give the nurse all of Alex's medical information. After the nurse walked away, Hades turned to the Winchesters.

"I thought I warned you to keep my niece safe," Hades said in a dangerously low voice. The Winchesters paled. Hades glared at them.

"This is your final warning. If anything happens to my niece again, I will have to take action," he said as he walked toward the shadows. He glanced at Dean with a kinder look, "But I appreciate you helping Alex with her nightmares."

And then he disappeared into the shadows.

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Alex woke up to Dean holding her hand, Sam nowhere to be seen. Dean looked tired and worried, but smiled when he saw was Alex awake.

"Sam went to go get us some coffee," he answered the unspoken question. Alex nodded.

"You had us really worried for a moment there," he said after a moment. "We told you that you could hunt with us when you were ready. We had a deal. You broke it."

Alex's eyes watered, "I know, but it imitated your voice, I thought it really was you. It said that Sam was hurt...then I saw it wasn't you and I decided that I would try to fight it off. It was really stupid but I thought that maybe if I took it on by myself and won that maybe you…"

Dean spoke up as she faltered. "Hey, hey, hey," he said quietly. "You don't have to prove anything to us. We know you can fight. It's just-well, our kind of monsters are different from your kind. We just want to make sure you know what you're up against before we send you out to hunt."

Alex shook her head, "It...it's not that, I wasn't trying to prove myself. I just wanted to make you guys proud." Her voice was small and vulnerable as she whispered, "Thats all I ever wanted."

"Alex," Dean whispered. "We are proud of you. We are so, so proud of you. You don't have to worry about making us proud. We'll always be proud of you, no matter what."

Alex gave his hand a squeeze as a tear fell down her cheek. They're proud, she thought before her eyes began to droop and she fell asleep with a smile on her face.

(A/N) Hello my favorite people in the whole world. Here's another chapter for you lovely peopl. I hope you enjoy and don't forget to Review! Love you!

-A