Lex stands at the old wooden counter, looking around nervously. She rings the bell, and waits.
The screen door in the front of the motel office swings open, a young boy sprints in, and around the counter.
"Hi, how can I help you?" He asks cheerfully.
"I need a room." Lex replies anxiously.
"No problem." The boy replies. "How long will you be staying?"
"Indefinitely." She says.
The kids blue eyes give her a once over, eyebrows raised. "Are you running from the cops or something?" he asks.
Lex does a double take, and cannot help but to laugh. "No, I just need a place to crash for a while."
"Oh…because you look a little shady. Also that looks a lot like blood on your clothes…" He says honestly.
"I am a little shady." She agrees, "So you should probably not ask questions. The less you know, the safer you are."
"Okay…But if the police ask me where you are, I ain't gonna lie." He sighs, running his hands through his blonde hair.
"I wouldn't ask you to." Lex says, still chuckling under her breath at the boy's boldness.
"Well then I guess I trust you." He decides, running Lex's card, and handing it back to her with the room key. "My name is Elijah, by the way. Just call if you need anything."
"Thanks, I'm Liz." Lex lies. She walks outside, and down the sidewalk, to the room number on the keys.
She opens the door, and looks inside. The room is bare, and she has none of her things with her. She is overcome with a strong desire to run home; to fall on her knees and beg Dean and Sam to forgive her, and take her back. Instead, she kneels next to the bed, and lowers her head.
"God, if you can hear me, it's Alexandros. I could use your help. I am alone down here, and I've really messed shit up. Sorry, I know I shouldn't curse. It's just… why did you even make it possible for me to drink angels grace? That's kind of messed up… Anyway, I'm hooked on it now, and it made me hurt someone I love very much. I can't go home… what do I do now?"
She looks up at the ceiling, and sees only herself looking back, from the crummy mirror suspended there. Tears well up in her still ice-blue eyes, and fall silently down her cheeks.
"Okay then. I'll handle this myself." She says, standing up and walking to the bathroom to shower.
When she is finished, she looks at her bloody clothes with dismay, and decides not to put them back on. She wraps up in a sheet from the bed, and walks down the sidewalk, carrying her clothes with her. She follows a rusty sign to the laundry room, and tosses the clothes in the washer. The washer does not react when she pushes the button, and she stares at it, confused and frustrated.
"You have to put a quarter in." Elijah says from the doorway, causing Lex to jump.
"Oh, I don't have any cash." Lex sighs, opening the lid to get her clothes back out.
"Here." Elijah says, putting a quarter into the slot, and pushing it in. The washer groans to life, and Lex sighs with relief.
"Thanks." She says. "Hey, I could use a job, are your parents around?"
"My mom isn't around anymore…my dad isn't in much of a position to do the hiring. I mostly run things around here. We do need someone to clean the rooms…" He says hesitantly.
"You run the hotel? How old are you?" She says incredulously.
"I'm sixteen. Almost seventeen." He replies.
"What? How do you run a hotel and go to school?" Lex asks.
Elijah's eyes inspect the floor, as he admits: "I don't go to the school. I had to drop out."
"Why?"
"Well… my mom got killed in a robbery a couple years ago… and my dad drinks… a lot. He isn't really able to do anything because of that, so I have to help him."
His hand drifts to an antique locket on his chest as he talks about his mother, and Lex feels sorry for him. "I'm sorry to hear that. You're just a kid… you shouldn't have to deal with that kind of burden."
"I don't mind." Elijah replies, his tone suddenly lightening. "I like running things."
"Okay… well are you hiring?" she inquires.
"Yeah, if you promise you aren't a serial killer." Elijah grins.
"I'm not, I promise." Lex smiles. "When do I start?"
"When your clothes are done, if you want. You can man the counter while I take a break to check up on dad." He says.
"Sounds good." Lex replies, hopping up on the washer to wait.
"K, see you in a few." Elijah answers, drifting out of the room, back toward the front desk.
As Lex waits on her clothes, she thinks about Dean. She thinks about how much he loved her, and how he probably doesn't anymore, after seeing what a monster she has become. Her heart breaks a thousand times. She curls up in a ball on the top of the washer, and sobs.
An hour later she strolls up to the counter, looking refreshed, and wearing clean clothes.
"I'm ready to work." Lex says to Elijah.
"Good," he replies brightly. "Now I can go make dinner! Do you like tomato soup and grilled cheese?"
"Oh you don't have to-" Lex starts, but is interrupted by her growling stomach.
"Do you like tomato soup and grilled cheese?" He repeats firmly.
"Yes," Lex smiles sheepishly, "Thank you."
Elijah shows her how to work the cash register, and then heads out the door, leaving her to it.
She fiddles with the bell absentmindedly, when a burly man staggers in. "So you're the new 'mployee, huh?" He slurs.
"Yes. My name is Liz." Lex stands up.
"Pleasure. My namez Beau." He takes her hand, and kisses it sloppily. "I gotta give it to 'Lijah, he knows how to pick the pretty ones."
"Uh...thanks?" Lex says.
"How would you like to earn some extra cash on the side beautiful?" He grins stupidly.
"What do you mean?" Lex asks, as Elijah walks into the room behind his father.
"I would pay a pretty penny to have a woman like you under me." He smirks.
"Dad!" Elijah says angrily.
"WHAT BOY?" The man turns, "Can't you see I'm busy?"
"Don't talk to Liz that way. She isn't one of your trailer trash whores." Elijah growls.
The man swings his fist hard, whacking Elijah on the jaw.
Lex jumps over the counter, and swings her leg behind her, kicking the drunken man hard on the back. He stumbles forward, landing on his hands and knees.
He stands back up, and lunges at her, but she jumps back on the counter, and pushes against it, using the force to propel her forward, and slam into his chest.
He flies backward, and she lands on top of him. She punches him hard in the face, knocking him out cold.
She looks up at Elijah, who is backed up against the wall with a terrified look on his face.
"I'm sorry kid. I'll leave." She says softly.
"No!" Elijah says, stepping forward. "Don't worry, he won't remember this in the morning. He'll just think he got in another bar fight."
"I'm sorry this happened." She sighs.
"I'm not. He is an asshole." He replies, picking up the thermos of soup and carefully wrapped sandwiches he had dropped, and handing them to Lex.
"Thanks." Lex smiles.
"No problem."
...
Over the next few days, Lex's strength wanes, as the angels grace wears off. She begins to get sick, but she hides it well, helping Elijah as much as she can.
She enjoys his calming presence. He is a good kid, and he makes her laugh.
He watches her worriedly, as she scrubs down the counter.
"You don't look so good."
"Gee thanks. Just what every girl wants to hear." She grumbles.
"What I mean to say is, if you need to take a sick day, that's okay by me." He backtracks.
"Oh, no I'm okay." Lex says, trying to focus all her attention on the task at hand.
Suddenly she feels dizzy, and nearly falls behind the counter. Elijah catches her by the waist and steadies her.
"That's it. You're taking a sick day." Elijah decides. "Let's go."
He laces his head under her arm, and helps her to her room, and to her bed. "Stay." He commands. "I'll be back to check on you in a bit."
She watches him walk out of the room, and sighs.
During the next 24 hours, Elijah stops in several times to check on Lex. Her body begins to burn and ache, and Elijah threatens to call an ambulance. Lex refuses vehemently, stating it is only the flu.
After that, she tries to fake that the pain is lessening, but in reality, it grows worse by far. Her body shakes with the agony, and finally, when she can bare it no longer, she blacks out.
When she comes to again, Elijah is standing over her.
"What happened?" She asks him.
"You killed a guy." Elijah says, hands on his hips.
"WHAT? HOW?" Lex exclaims, sitting up.
"Well, I came to check on you, and you were out cold. This guy kicks in the door like he owns the place, rambling about vengeance, and you killing his brother…and you strait up Chuck Norris him. Then you… uhhh…"
"What did I do Elijah?" Lex says, feeling her head spin.
"You went kinda vampire on his ass… you sucked something bluish out of his neck… listen, I just buried a body for you… so I think maybe you owe me an explanation…" he points out.
Lex can't answer, she feels an unspeakable fear rise up in her. "What did he look like?" she asks soflty.
"What?"
"The guy… I killed… what did he look like?"
"Oh… uh, bloody…"
"BEFORE I killed him."
"Uh…. Tall, kind of a weird, far off look in his face, blonde hair…"
Lex breath's a sigh of relief. It wasn't Cas.
"Sit down Elijah." Lex says, patting the bed next to her.
Elijah sits stiffly, watching Lex out of the corner of his eyes.
"I'm about to tell you something you probably won't believe." Lex sighs.
"Try me." Elijah says softly.
"This world is full of things that people with any common sense would call legends. But they aren't legends. They are real. Vampires, Werewolves, Demons, Angels, and so many other things you have never heard of, they are real. I am one of those things you've never heard of. I am the angel's judge. God created me with a special purpose, to destroy rogue angel's who want to hurt humans. I am thousands of years old." She stops for a moment, to gauge Elijah's reaction.
He stare's strait ahead, and asks: "Ghosts?"
"Yeah. Spirits." Lex replies.
"Oh."
"What?"
"My mom."
"Elijah, not everyone who passes comes back as ghosts…"
"My mom did. I've seen her."
"Oh." Lex replies, looking down. "When?"
"The other day, after dad hit me. I was cleaning out the shed, and she was just there… I thought I must have imagined it…" He looks down at his feet.
"That's not good, Elijah."
"Why not?"
"Because spirits who choose to stay behind often become malevolent."
"Not my mom. There is no one in this world kinder than she was."
"Okay, I believe you." Lex says, and then continues: "Anyway, I am an angels judge. The person I just killed, he was an angel. But I have a problem. See, I found out a few weeks ago that I can drink their grace, that bluish stuff, and it gives me powers. I discovered it when my boyfriend and his brother were in a lot of trouble, about to die, and since then, I haven't been able to stop. When I try I start having withdraws, and I get really sick. That's why I was so sick the other day. I can't keep doing it though, it makes me really violent. My boyfriend's brother tried to convince me of that, and I accidentally hurt him. That's why I ran away, and that's why I came here." She finishes.
"Wow. So you're addicted to angels grace, and you have to stop before you can go home?"
"I don't know that they even want me to come home. I'm a monster, and they are hunters." She says sadly.
"Hunters?"
"Yeah. People who hunt monsters, and save life's... Heroes." She smiles sadly, "They accepted me as the Judge, but now..."
"If they have any brains they will want you back. Anyone can see that you are trying, and you're obviously not a monster." Elijah comforts her.
"I'm glad you think so kid." She says. "You're pretty special. Most people would hear what I'm telling them, and freak out."
"I'm not scared." Elijah says. "I am hungry. Wanna join us for dinner?"
"Sure." Lex smiles.
They walk around the back of the hotel, and into Elijah's house. Lex and Elijah work side by side, preparing dinner.
They finish up, and Lex sets out the dishes. Elijah walks into his dad's room to wake him for dinner.
Everything is quiet for a moment, and then Lex hears a shout, and a dull thud.
Elijah walks back out of the room, tilting his head back to keep blood from pouring on his shirt. Lex marches toward the room, but Elijah stops her. "Just leave it. It's not worth it. I don't want you to get fired, you're the only friend I have."
Lex backs down upon his request, and instead wets a washcloth to hold against his nose. After the bleeding stops, they sit down to dinner, and eat quietly.
...
Over the next three months, Elijah becomes accustomed to Lex's cycle:
Try to quit, black out, disappear, reappear juiced up again.
He helps her during the down times, and she helps him during the up.
The way Beau treats Elijah gets progressively worse, and Lex finds it hard not to kill the man.
On Elijah's seventeenth birthday, Lex shuffles around his tiny kitchen busily, baking him a cake.
Suddenly she hears a commotion outside.
She rushes out to find Elijah's dad beating him mercilessly. Elijah refuses to fight back, although he is certainly big enough.
"Beau!" Lex screams, storming toward him.
Beau turns toward her, "I'm getting mighty damn tired of your meddling, bitch." He says, lifting his fist up. Before he reaches her, he suddenly stops, and claws at his chest, falling to the ground.
Standing over him is the flickering form of Elijah's mother. Her hand is buried deep in Beaus back, as she squeezes the life out if him.
Lex races back into the kitchen, and pulls a box of rock salt out of the cabinet. She flings it at Elijah's mom as she dashes back out the door, and her form vanishes, reappearing behind Elijah.
Lex is too late, and Beau lies dead on the ground.
Elijah scrambles to his feet, and turns to face his mother.
She holds out her hand, beckoning Elijah forward. He walks toward her, and his whole body trembles.
"M-mom?"
"Elijah, there is something I have to tell you, and it's going to be very hard to hear. Your father killed me, not a robber. He has always been abusive. I tried to keep you from it, from him, while I was alive. I told him I was leaving him, and he snapped, and killed me. When I died, I couldn't let go. I was too afraid for you. I stayed behind, and waited for the inevitable day when he started to lash out at you too. Your father was a bad man, and he deserved to die." She smiles, and rests her hand on his face. "I have to let go now, Elijah. I need you to burn the locket."
Elijah's hand grasps the antique locket, and he sobs. "Don't go momma. Please don't leave me alone."
"I do not believe you will be alone son." She looks up at Lex. "Your friend knows the supernatural world. She knows how to protect you. Stay with her. My work is finished. I know now, you'll be okay. It's time."
Lex walks behind Elijah, removing his locket gently. "It's going to be okay." She promises softly.
She pulls the lighter Dean gave her out of her pocket, and lights it, holding the locket over the flame. It melts into silver droplets on the ground, and Elijah's mother evaporates.
Elijah turns to Lex, and buries his head in her shoulder, weeping.
She hugs him tightly, and cries with him.
...
Lex sits at the table, reading Beau's obituary. "Heart attack" was the official cause of death.
She has moved into the house with Elijah, and together they run the hotel that Elijah now owns.
She smiles as he sits a plate of scrambled eggs on the table. It's only been two weeks since Beaus death, but Elijah seems to be handling it okay.
He sits at the table, and looks at her seriously. "Lex, we have to get you clean. You're content here, but I don't think you'll ever be really happy until you can be with Dean again."
Tears well up in Lex's eyes, as the truth of Elijah's words take her by surprise. "I know kid." She replies. "I need your help."