Song Remains the Same

Chapter 146: Riders on the Storm

Song Remains the Same

146 / Riders on the Storm

"Now I think I understand, how the world can overcome a man."
— Avenged Sevenfold

The Bunker
Two Days After Molly's Disappearance

With a drowsy moan, Alex shifted under the bedcovers. What she wouldn't give to sleep just a little longer, but the most recent mad bout of kicking taking place in her womb wasn't something she could doze through. Right behind her, cuddled close to every curve, Cas dropped a kiss onto her shoulder.

"Good morning," he greeted quietly as Alex turned her head toward his, a soft smile relaxing her face.

"Mmmfff," she muttered sluggishly, as good natured as she could be given the karate gymnastics happening inside her body. She pulled Cas's hand against her belly, letting him feel. The angel, who didn't sleep anymore since his powers had been returned, still preferred to lay together at night. He nestled his face into the crook of her neck and shoulder. She could feel the contented, gentle smile on his lips. Together, they shared the tenderly expectant, fleeting feeling—because around here, the shelter of quiet moments was getting harder and harder to find. It felt more and more important to seize any meaningful moment and lean in before it evaporated into the ether.

Cas's arrival to the bunker two days ago had helped return a much needed sense of stability and reassurance to Alex's chaotic, painful day-to-day. His presence was a salve that made the unbearable a little more bearable. Because other than his return, things remained bleak: her father was still missing, a demonic version of Dean continued to be on the loose, and angels were still trapped on earth engaging in civil war that was affecting innocent humans. The rolodex of problems only seemed to grow by the day: Now with Molly's kidnapping, Sam plus Bobby were out there trying to find any kind of lead on where Metatron had taken the girl and why. So far, the endeavor remained luckless.

Harrowed day and night by worries for her brothers, her father, her unborn son, her circle of allies and friends here in the bunker... Alex just wasn't in the best place mentally. Who would be? To make matters more compounded, the pregnancy was getting difficult. Gone were the days of feeling great. That had all been slowly replaced by back and leg aches, hot flashes, acid reflux, swelling feet, restless legs, upper rib pain, and the constant barrage of intensifying Braxon Hicks contractions. Sleep was either uncomfortable or nonexistent and god—the tiredness. She was so, sooo tired all the time. From what she'd read in the parenting and infant care books, she had just better get used to the feeling of constant exhaustion because what was ahead was a whole lot of no sleep. But in some moments, despite her resolve to weather the storm, she was so fatigued and overwhelmed by circumstances that she just wanted to plop down and cry.

Nearby, Alex's phone began to ring loudly, startling the nesting couple out of their tranquil cocoon. Alex rolled out of Cas's embrace and scooped her phone up. Sam Calling, the screen read. Brief, desperate hope for good news soared despite Alex's own self-cautioning ways and she answered, putting it on speaker as she sat, hauled her legs over the side of the bed, and rubbed a weary eye. "Hey Sammy, any luck?"

Cas came to sit beside her, listening intently. "Nothing," Sam's dejected, tinny voice replied. Alex shut her eyes in let down frustration. Not the news she'd been hoping to hear. "Saint Louis is a bust." Sam gave an aggravated sigh on the other end of the line. "Why would he just take her then just go radio silent?" he asked, not bothering to hide how discouraged, guilty, or worried he felt. "I can't figure this out."

Not knowing what to say because they'd theorized about why Molly had been taken several times ad nauseam already, Alex opened her eyes and looked to Cas. Grim, he offered what little he could. "My angels are still searching for any sort of lead on this, Sam. So far however, there's no signs of Metatron anywhere."