Hollowing Souls

Defending Your Life

"I might have a case if you guys are looking." Bobby kicked the cabin door closed behind him, tossing a newspaper at Dean's head. The hunter knocked it away before it could hit his face, where it landed on the ground with a flutter.

Alex looked up from where she was seated on the kitchen counter, her back resting comfortably against the side of the fridge. "What'd you find?"

"Dearborn, Michigan." Bobby pointed to the newspaper in Dean's hand. "A guy was crushed to death on the tenth floor. No one heard or saw anything. And get your ass off of the counter. It's unsanitary."

Alex stuck out her tongue in retaliation. "You're one to talk about sanitary," she muttered before reluctantly getting down when the older hunter's frown deepened.

Dean nodded thoughtfully as he skimmed the article. "Alright," he admitted, "sounds like it could be our kind of thing." He got up from the couch with a grunt and a limp. "Alex, you in?"

" should wait for Sam to get back though. He'll want to go." Before Dean could even begin to protest, she added, "Trust me. It's better to have him along than on his own."

Dean just grunted. "Then tell him to hurry up. I want to get there by tomorrow afternoon."

...

Dearborn, Michigan

Exactly twenty five hours later, like predicted, Dean pulled the Impala up alongside the curb of an apartment complex. Alex sat up straight, hand going up to check the collar of her shirt before straightening it one last time.

"Sam." Lucifer's voice rang through the car as the hunter threw open the door, but he didn't materialize. Alex got out, eyes flickering over to Sam's hands; his thumb was pressed against his palm once again, willing the devil away.

"Feels wonky," Dean muttered, and Alex blinked in surprise.

Sam stuttered out, "What?" He looked over at Alex, who shrugged, not sure what Dean meant either.

"Working a normal job." Dean circled around the car to stand next to his brother, staring past the line of yellow tape.

"Bobby'll call if anything flares up on the Leviathan front," Sam promised. "In the meantime, you know you want to work this case, Dean. Cope on the wire sounded dumbfounded." He led the way towards the crime scene, and Dean and Alex fell in step beside him.

Alex grunted in agreement, remembering Sam's earlier call to the Dearborn police. "Definitely sounds interesting," she added.

"No arguments. It's kinda nice, you know? We're due for a little cut and dry, and, uh . . ." He trailed off when the cop at the tape stopped them. Dean reached into his jacket pocket for his ID, and Alex followed suit, showing her fake credentials as the officer lifted up the tape. The three of them ducked their heads and they passed underneath. "You seem good," Dean finished, straightening back up. He tucked his ID back into his suit coat.

"I am," Sam agreed. "For me. By the way . . ." He slowed at the apartment complex door, holding out a hand so Dean stopped as well. "Thank you."

"For?"

"Amy." Dean seemed to shift nervously, but Sam continued right on. "I know you didn't want to let her go, but it was the right thing to do. So thanks." And with that, he turned and opened the door.

"No problem." Dean hesitated only a second before following. An officer directed them down the hall and into an elevator. Once the door had closed, Dean glanced down at the young angel. "And how are you doing? With, uh, the devil thing?"

Alex shrugged, shoving her hands casually into her pocket. "I'm fine." She paused, thinking she could stop there, but after a second decided to continue. "I mean, I don't really have a mate right now, so I guess being around him . . . it helps."