Hollowing Souls

Reading is Fundamental

July 24, 2012

Chicago, Illinois

The sky was dark when Dean finally pulled the Buick to a stop. Alex groaned, rolling over and burying her head into Sam's stomach, who was seated in the backseat behind her. She felt his hand come to rest on her shoulder, and she let out another, louder groan when the engine died.

She heard the front leather seats squeak as Dean shifted, and imagined him turning to look back at them. "How's she doing?" he asked his brother.

"I don't know." Alex felt Sam's shoulders rise and fall in a shrug. "I think she's awake."

"Damn straight I am," she muttered into the Winchester's shirt. "I hurt, but I'm feeling a bit better." She sat up and looked around, wings flicking in distaste as she saw the abandoned factory looming above them. "What's this?"

"Home." Dean threw open the car door and got out. "For now, at least. Come on, get out. Let's go see what Dick wanted so badly."

Alex reluctantly untangled herself from Sam's arms, running a hand down the side of her face as her grace whined in protest at the loss of physical touch. However, she dutifully slung her bag over her shoulder and pulled Sam's sleeping bag into her arms, carrying it for him while he took the suitcase. The angel's head dropped into the fabric, and she rubbed her face against it in a half-hearted attempt to wake up. "You should carry me up the stairs," she mumbled as she bumped into Dean. "I don't wanna walk."

"Sorry, princess. Hands are full." Dean nudged her back, forcing the angel to lift her head. The Winchester nodded towards the padlocked door. "You mind?"

Alex closed her eyes and flicked out her grace, visibly wincing when it connected with the iron. "Don't want to go upstairs," she muttered as she followed the Winchester inside. "I want Cas."

"I know, sweetheart."

They went up the stairs, and Dean led the way into a large, unfinished room. Dean dropped his duffle and sleeping bag on the cold, concrete floor, and Sam set the case on the old wooden table across the room. He set up the portable lamp and opened it, bathing the room in a bright LED light.

Alex dropped Sam's sleeping bag beside Dean's and walked over to the youngest Winchester, who was opening his laptop and setting up his wireless hotspot. "What's in there?" she asked, pointing to the locked case. Her grace snuck outwards, unlocking it, and Dean opened the lid.

"Not sure," he told her as Sam pulled away the pieces of cloth to reveal a large, rectangular lump of hardened clay. "That's a lot of fuss over a caveman Lego," he said with a frown, moving away and returning with a tool box.

"Yeah, well, whatever Dick wants is bricked up inside." Sam accepted a pair of safety glasses and put them on, moving back slightly so Alex could take a pair from Dean as well.

The eldest Winchester pulled out a hammer. "Alright." He motioned for Alex to take a step back as well, and the angel did so, pushing herself closer to Sam as Dean brought the hammer down onto the lump of clay.

Thunder clapped, and Alex's grace rolled unpleasantly as the air grew thick. Dean paused and looked around, and the angel wondered if they could feel the change in the room as well.

She guessed not when Dean hit the clay again, and this time lightning accompanied the thunder, flashing through the broken windows. Alex jumped as it felt like her grace had been zapped, and her wings curled nervously around her body. Dean looked over at his brother, a frown on his face. "That sound like someone saying, 'no, wait, stop' to you?" he asked.