Hollowing Souls

The Girl Next Door

Alex followed Bobby Singer down the brightly lit hallways of Sioux Falls General Hospital. "But Sheriff Mills is alright?" she reaffirmed, casting a glance down the hall. "You got her out?"

"Yeah. Sent her to recover back home." Bobby turned the corner, pausing when they distinctly heard a thud followed by a groan. He pushed open the nearest door. "You okay?"

Alex followed him inside to see Dean Winchester, laying on the ground. He was wearing a hospital gown, and his right leg was in a thick cast. Astonishment danced in his green eyes as he stared up at the two of them. "Bobby," he breathed out, "you're alive."

"Course I'm alive," the hunter snorted. "Why are you on the floor?"

"They gave me morphine. A lot." Dean grimaced as he pulled himself back up into a sitting position. Bobby stepped forward and helped the hunter up so he could sit on the edge of the bed. "Hey, look, a monster broke me leg," Dean mumbled as he got up. "Oh. Wait . . ." He looked up in confusion. "The house. We thought you were dead."

"Well, I ain't. Not yet. But we got to run. This place ain't safe." He looked around the room. "Where's Sam?"

"Uh . . . head scan, I think."

"Meet me at the ambulance dock, stat. We'll find Sam." Bobby turned to go.

"Wait, what?" Dean stopped him. "Bobby, I'm a gimp."

In response, the hunter handed him the pair of crutches that were leaning by the door. "Here." He moved back toward the door, but Alex stopped him with a hand. "What?"

"I'll go find Sam. You help Dean into the ambulance." She saw Bobby about to protest, and she held up a hand. "He's not gonna move that fast doped up on morphine. I'll find Sam, wheel him into the ambulance bay, you get Dean out of here."

"This place is crawling with Leviathan. Chances are they'll notice you long before they recognize me." Bobby tried to push his way past her, but Alex held fast. "Fine," he finally relented. "Just hurry up."

Alex nodded and ran down the hall. She glanced upwards at the signs, following the arrow that was labeled "CAT SCAN." On a second thought she ducked into the staff lounge and pulled on a white lab coat that lay across a folding chair.

It took several twists and turns, but eventually Alex came upon two doctors wheeling a stretcher down the hall. Alex hurried forward to intercept them, reaching for the patient's chart. "Yup, this is him," she affirmed, glancing into Sam's face. He still seemed unconscious, and she grabbed the steel bedrails, pulling him away before the doctor's could even protest.

"Wait. This man's suppose to get a scan."

"Change of plans. Family requested we ship him to County." Alex pushed Sam away, grunting at the effort it took to get the wheeled bed started. Before she could be asked any more questions, she pushed the Winchester back down the way she had come.

It wasn't hard to get him to the ambulance bay, but once there she paused, unsure what to do now. "Bobby?" Alex looked around, confused as to why the two hunters weren't there already. "Dean?"

The side door opened, and Alex jumped, wings flaring out defensively to protect Sam. She immediately relaxed, however, upon recognizing them. "About time," she muttered as Bobby pulled open the doors on the back of the ambulance.

Bobby just grunted. "Help me get him in there," he instructed, and together they lifted the stretcher. The legs folded up, and they rolled him into the back just as Dean climbed into the passenger seat.

The hospital door flew open as two doctors hurried through. Alex spun around, grace pushing out and immediately pulling back in. "Leviathan," she hissed, jumping up into the ambulance. Bobby was already in the driver's seat, and the vehicle purred to life. The two creatures gave chase, and Alex's wings flared out, feathers puffed out in anger. She reached out, pulling the doors closed as the ambulance drove away.