NEVER LET ME DOWN AGAIN

[011] investigating like badasses

CHAPTER ELEVEN : INVESTIGATING LIKE BADASSES
season 1 episode 4

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ALICE JOLTED AWAKE, her heart racing and breathing coming in quick gasps. The remnants of the nightmare still clawing at her mind. The cold, hard floor of the motel room pressed against her back, helped ground her back to reality. However she felt herself still trying to fight off the images that haunted her.

Quick flashes would surge through her thoughts—her dad, Jim Colt, his body contorted and writhing like a grotesque puppet in the hands of something malevolent. Alice could hear the sickening blend of laughter and screams escaping his mouth. It echoed in her ears, a tormenting reminder of the night her family had been shattered.

A then nine-year-old Alice cried towards him, but she was met with the sight of his eyes—how they were once stern and protective but became dark and twisted, devoid of recognition. All she could see—remember, was the chaos he and the other demons wreaked onto their family. The image of him standing amidst the smoke and carnage, blood dripping from his hands would forever remain etched into her memory.

She could still feel the heat of his pain, the way his muscles strained against the force that was slowly killing him, the desperation in his voice as he fought to escape the demonic grip. "Alice, help me!" He'd shout, his voice laced with the torment he desperately tried to break away from.

Then, the sound of Peacemaker going off is what woke her up in the first place.

Her eyes darted around the room, seeing that Dean was still splayed out on his bed like a child. While the actual child, Jamie slept soundly on the pull out couch. He had been sleeping on one side as earlier Alice laid next to him. However, not that long ago now, after a nightmare before, she had taken residence on the floor in order not to wake the boy.

The sight of Jamie made her calm down and Alice would close her eyes, letting out a shaky breath, trying to let the steady rhythm of Jamie's soft breathing calm her. She put her hand on her chest, now feeling her heartbeat thunder beneath her palm, willing it to slow, to quiet down. The motel room was now quiet, except for the gentle hum of the air conditioner and the occasional creek of the floor from people walking to their rooms or around the area.

Yet the nightmare still clung to her, its claws still digging into her mind, but she forced herself to focus on the quiet, grounding herself in the process.

She was alive. She was safe. And Jamie was also alive and safe, he was here and breathing soundly a few feet away.

Alice didn't hear Sam at first as he emerged from the bathroom, his footsteps barely making a sound against the carpet. But when he stopped closer, Alice glanced up, catching the concern in his eyes. He didn't say anything at first, just gave her a small nod of understanding. He had been awake earlier as well when she first woke up, but he didn't pry much from her and she did the same. However, his gaze now softened when he took in Alice's position of her on the floor, the way her hand was on her chest as if holding herself together.

"Couldn't sleep?" Sam finally asked in a whisper, careful not to wake Dean or Jamie.

Alice shook her head, managing a small, tired smile. "No, same thing," she murmured out hoarsely, referring to how she briefly explained earlier that it was just a nightmare. "You?"

Sam nodded, sympathy etched across his face. He knew those nightmares well. They were old friends to him too, lingering on the edges of sleep, waiting to pounce whenever he closed his eyes, he saw Jess and other things he didn't feel quite comfortable talking about with her yet. He didn't push her to talk about hers though and she didn't do the same either; they just knew that sometimes having someone there was enough.