Hollowing Souls

Like a Virgin

A week had passed. The Singer house was filled with a dark, tense, silence. Alex tiptoed around Bobby and Dean, spending the majority of her time either hiding in her room or in the panic room with Sam. He was still unconscious, and showed no signs of waking up.

A crash woke her up. Alex's eyes flew open to see the familiar iron walls, and she blinked in confusion to find herself not in her warm bed upstairs. Her head rested on something warm, and as she woke up further, she realized that she had fallen asleep curled up beside Sam. She rubbed her eyes, tiredness still pulling at her limbs. "Sorry," she murmured, touching Sam's shoulder. "Didn't mean to fall asleep on you." She hopelessly pushed her grace into him, shoulders drooping when he didn't react. "Please wake up."

She reluctantly stood up and left the room, not bothering to close the door behind her. She ascended the stairs, nose wrinkling as she smelt an open bottle of scotch. She was prepared to walk into the room and remind them once again that they couldn't keep drinking like this before she realized they were talking.

" — of Buddy Hollys?" Dean was asking skeptically. "Doesn't really seem like News of Weird."

"Pilot was found seventeen miles away, flambeed. Girl's just gone. No body, no nothing."

Alex stepped into the room. "Did you find a case?" she queried, hoping so. "I think a case would be good right now."

Dean shook his head. "There's nothing that says this is a case."

"Did you hear a word I just said?" Bobby countered, slightly angry.

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean —"

"Dean."

Everyone froze. Alex spun around to see Sam standing there. He looked slightly unsteady on his feet, but his eyes were bright.

"Sam." Dean hurriedly set his glass down and jumped to his feet.

Sam unsteadily walked into the room and pulled Dean into a hug, holding on tight. Dean slowly hugged him back, his shock still evident. The chair creaked as Bobby got up and circled around Alex. Sam pulled the hunter into a tight embrace, eyes closed. "Good to see you," Bobby finally said, patting Sam's back.

"Wait." Sam halted in confusion before pulling away. "I saw you — I — I felt Lucifer snap your neck."

"Well, Cas is kind of —"

"Cas is alive?" Disbelief filled the Winchester's voice, but relief was evident across his face.

"Yeah," Alex confirmed. "He's alive."

Sam turned to her, an emotion Alex couldn't read flickering through his eyes. Then he turned away, leaving Alex slightly disappointed at the lack of a welcome.

"Sam, are you okay?" Dean asked, drawing his brother's attention to him.

"Actually, um . . . I'm starving."

"I have a couple sandwiches in the fridge," Alex offered, hoping to draw Sam's attention back to her. It didn't work. Sam nodded absently and moved towards the kitchen, Dean close on his heels. Alex trailed behind, wings drooping in disappointment. She watched as the hunter took one of her sandwiches and a beer before sitting down at the kitchen table. Dean sat across from him, and Alex pulled herself up onto the counter, letting her legs swing freely.

Sam unwrapped the sandwich and tossed the cellophane away, hurriedly digging in. Bobby handed Dean a beer, and the hunter accepted it gratefully. "So, Sam . . ." he began.

"Yeah?" Sam looked up, still chewing on a mouthful of roast beef and onion.

"What's the last thing you remember?"