Hollowing Souls

Family Matters

September 12th, 2011

"Alex."

Alex jumped from where she was standing behind the sink, brushing her teeth. She pulled her wings in close with a startled cry. Then she slammed her toothbrush down on the sink when she realized who it was. "Dammit, Cas! Knock!" It was the next evening, and she was attempting to get ready for bed, but apparently Castiel had other plans.

The angel stood behind her, and blue eyes locked with grey through the mirror, but he said nothing.

Alex turned around, frustration sparkling in her eyes. "Really? Nothing? I haven't seen you in, in forever, and you —"

"Come with me." Castiel took her hand, and then they were flying. The world blurred by, and within the second they were standing in a darkened hotel room. Sam was in front of them, tied to a chair. He was grunting in pain, and upon closer examination, Alex could see why. His face was covered in blood, and he was still bleeding from his nose and a few cuts on his cheek.

"Sam?" Alex hurried closer, worried from his safety. Soulless or not, he was still her friend.

"Alex. Stay back." Castiel grabbed her arm and pulled her back.

"Let go." Alex brushed the angel away a little less than roughly, still pissed at him for not answering any of her prayers. "Who the hell did this?" She turned on Dean. "You did this?" It had to be him. The cuts on his face were the right size to have been done by the ring on the hunter's finger.

Dean grunted in affirmation, staring at his brother.

"Has he been feverish?" Castiel asked. He stepped in front of Alex, bending over slightly to examine the sitting man. He reached out, pulling up an eyelid to check his eyes.

"Have you?" Dean asked his brother sharply.

"No. Why?"

"Is he speaking in tongues?" Cas persisted. He turned to Sam. "Are you speaking in tongues?"

"No. What are you . . ." Sam stared up at the angel. "Are you diagnosing me?"

Dean moved closer, eyes flashing. "He asks, you answer, then you shut your hole. You got that?"

Sam held his brother's gaze, but didn't say anything.

Castiel continued. "How much have you been sleeping?"

"I don't."

"At all?" Dean sounded surprised.

"Not since I got back."

"We already know what's wrong," Alex told the angel. "He's soulless." She looked over at Dean. "You told him, right?"

"Of course I told him."

Castiel looked from between Dean and Alex. "I was told," he ensured them. "But I thought it best to make sure." He turned back to Sam. "Sam. What are you feeling now?"

Sam let out a dry laugh. "Like my nose is broken."

"No, that's a physical sensation." The angel's wings flicked in annoyance. "How do you feel?"

"Well, I think—"

"Feel."

"I, I don't know."

Castiel's gaze dropped. Then he undid his belt, pulling it out of his belt loops.

"Cas?" Alex watched him in confusion.

"What?" Sam shared her confusion. "Uh . . ."

Castiel folded the belt. "This will be unpleasant."