Hollowing Souls

Time After Time

June 4, 2012

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

"You what?" Jody Mills stared down at the young angel, arms crossed. Her phone was gripped tightly in one hand, and Alex rolled her eyes.

The angle glanced towards her own phone, where the small blue light was earnestly flashing. She knew what it meant; Sam and Dean has left her at least a dozen texts and voicemails. It was painfully obvious they were concerned — or pissed. Alex hadn't looked yet. "What?" Alex turned her gaze back to the Sheriff and crossed her own arms. "I told them to leave me alone."

"That's not the story I heard."

Alex keep her face impassive. "What exactly did you hear?"

"That you burst into the warehouse and brutally slaughtered two monsters before you told the Winchesters to never call you again and stormed off."

"That's . . ." Alex shook her head, momentarily letting her anger get the better of her. "I didn't 'storm off,' okay? Besides, why do you care? You're not my mom!"

"Well maybe if you started acting like a responsible adult, I wouldn't have to pretend to be." The sheriff's eyes flashed, and then she shook her head, dropping her gaze. "You know what? You're right; I'm not your mom. So this is coming from a friend, okay? Don't be stupid enough to lose the only people you have left."

Sheriff Mills left the room, and Alex sunk down the couch, wings drooping. She pulled her phone close, and after a few seconds unlocked it to see the messages left.

5 voicemails.

16 texts.

The majority of them were from Sam, and she scrolled through them, eyebrow quirked in hesitant amusement. Several of them were from last night, but a few were from only a few minutes ago. Are you okay? Call me. Alex scrolled further down. Lucifer's been talking. Can't you come down here and tell him off? Her phone dinged, and she scrolled down to see the new message. He says you're only hurting yourself more by staying away.

Alex hastily typed out a reply, wings twitching in agitation. Don't talk to him! You're not talking to him, right?

The minute she sent that message, three more texts popped up. Sam's immediate response of, No. But it's been harder to get rid of him since Bobby.

Two from Dean also popped up. She speaks, and, I see who the favorite is.

Guilt trickled through the young angel at those words, but she pushed it away. Her thumbs, however, did a small dance over the keyboard as she took the extra second to consider a reply. However, realizing that it might lead to more persistent questions she didn't want to answer, Alex tossed her phone onto the pillow next to her. "Jody?" she called. "Want me to go get dinner?"

Jody Mills appeared in the doorway to the kitchen. "I'm making chicken," she told the young angel. "Wash your hands and get in here. If you want to stay you better start earning your keep."

Alex didn't protest.

...

The wind whispered through the moonlit grass as Alex slid forward, grace angrily flicking back and forth in search of her prey. The abandoned barn in the middle of the field leaned precariously to one side, the wooden rafters caved in on one side. A man crouched inside, and even from where she stood Alex could hear the sound of flesh tearing under sharp teeth.

Her head swiveled as she heard footsteps approaching from the distance, and a frown flickered across her face as she felt Jody Mills hurrying towards her, calling her name. "Alex!"