Reality Crisis

Selina had made it back to the Sanctuary safely a few days ago, after leaving Sam and die Festung behind her. She had been exposed to many things, new places, people and information. It was almost more than she could readily process with her mind. She had to sort through what was fact and what was fiction. How did she know that Sam wasn't just making things up? Well, he didn't seem to be lying to her. But that didn't mean he wasn't good at hiding the truth. She wrestled with the things Dinah, Belia and Sam had told her, and of course with the discovery of a new city and the fact that there were books about her life.

Over the course of the few days, since her arrival back at the hut she share with Jonathan and the present moment, Selina had been getting very little sleep. Her mind worked over the facts relentlessly and it wouldn't let up. Thus she slept very little. She was concerned about the other city and why the others were here in this one. Apparently there was protection here. She had yet to meet the one responsible for creating this small colony but perhaps she should make the effort. She wondered of he would cast her out like Belia did at the mere mention of starting a new colony. Perhaps Selina had been a bit forward with the information, but she didn't like to waste precious time. Especially when it seemed they didn't have a lot of it to begin with.

She lay on her cot, curled up in a fetal position, staring blankly out at the room. Her mind raced and she was exhausted, but she knew she wouldn't sleep. This world had changed so much since she'd ventured out of the sanctuary, and she wasn't sure what exactly to make of it. She did know that she had stability here. She didn't believe Jonathan would abandon her, and she knew she could count on him to be there just in case anything happened.

The night was warm, and inviting. And just when Selina closed her eyes to try to make herself sleep the ground itself began to shake violently. Her eyes opened and widened, and before she could get up to see what was going in she was literally thrown out of her cot and onto the floor.

Earthquake.

Dinah hadn't seen much of anyone lately, besides Bruce. Even Bruce... well, he was Bruce. There were days when they occupied the same space and yet felt worlds apart. She was starting to get used to that and she accepted that it was part of who he was. Maybe with time, it would change. Or maybe not.

There were days when she needed the space as much as he did. She was still trying to make sense of the vision of a future that she still didn't understand or want. Trying to figure out ways to avoid it. And she couldn't help reflecting on what this world had already changed about her.

Not that it was all bad. It certainly wasn't. There were good things about this world. Good things about the Bruce that had landed in this world.

But for today, she needed to get out and reconnect with some of the others. Clark especially. If anyone could keep an eye out and keep her from stepping too far over the line that shouldn't be crossed, it was Clark.

She had some idea about his usual routes thanks to Bruce's need to keep tabs on everyone. But mostly, she just started to head in the direction of die Festung in the hopes that she would run into a certain Kryptonian.

For now, things were quiet and tranquil. If she had any clue as to what was to come, perhaps she would have stayed closer to the cave or perhaps she still would have headed toward the nearest settlement to help as she could.

(Takes place just a bit before the Earthquake)

Mag had no idea that all of die Festung was set for quite the surprise. The day started like any other, and just like in any usual day of her life (because you definitely couldn't use a term like normal to describe her day) she went out to help the people. The sun was warm on her pale skin, and her brown eyes shimmered with it. After the nightmare future glimpse, Mag had been reluctant in joining back into the group of people. She had been unsure where she really fit after that point but something in her demanded she get out and continue to help as best she could.

That was the voice she'd listened to and that was how she made it back out into the city and back to her existence before the glimpse.

She wasn't going to allow her spirit to be broken by a mere dream, and she knew Carlos wouldn't want her just hiding in her apartment with nothing to do. She decided it was best to assist until all of the work was done. At least she hoped that the people would remember all of the good things she had done when that time came. If it ever did. The glimpse wasn't specific as to exactly when (if it would happen at all) something might occur. But she wanted to at least make herself known that she wanted to help the people and didn't have any ill will against them.

As the day wandered into the afternoon and then he evening, Mag found herself diverting her path from the usual route she took. After entering the Chosen building, Mag walked through the first floor to the apartment that Carlos had mention he lived in. Mag had yet to visit his place, usually they went to hers or out somewhere. It was a little exciting, the prospect of seeing Carlos' apartment for the first time. They hadnt really established what they were as far as a label, but Mag didn't feel that they should rush into any sort of an official title. She wasn't even exactly sure where Carlos stood in terms of them being together. She wasn't opposed to anything, welcomed the company and the interaction, but she didn't want Carlos feeling pressured so she simply didn't bring it up.

Mag paused outside of Carlos' door, waiting for a moment. She hoped she wasn't intruding. What if he wasn't even home or didn't have time to visit? It wouldn't matter. Even seeing him for a brief second was enough. She missed him dearly while he was gone. Slowly, Mag lifted a hand and knocked gently on Carlos' door. Her eyes flashed and shimmered, swirling as she waited anxiously to see if he would open his door.

The tremors started around sunset. They were subtle at first. Dishes and doors rattled inside buildings. Then they became more violent. In die Festung, in Sanctuary, in New Troy, in every populated area-and even the sparsely populated wilds-the Earth heaved and shook and split open.

In die Festung, a crack spread through the streets and straight down the wall. One of the pathways between die Festung and Sanctuary all but collapsed.

Screams filled the streets as people tried to find cover, tried to find missing loved ones, tried to get to safety.

Once the first wave hit, there was about half an hour of stillness before the aftershocks began.

This pattern continued well into the night-tremors and then peace followed by more tremors. Finally, a couple of hours before dawn, all was still again. The survivors were given their chance to pick through the wreckage for the injured, to lick their wounds, and hope that the Earthquakes were over for good. By daylight, it would become clear that the cities were in need of rebuilding.

Castiel knelt on the curbside, coat splayed around himself, squinting intently at a bug crawling slowly across the sidewalk. He'd seen bugs before, of course, but this one seemed to be a bit deformed, with a large growth on one side that made it difficult to walk. Castiel had been watching the bug for a few days, now, having found it in the forest on one of his makeshift pilgramages.

The growth had been smaller then, but it still impeded the bug's ability to take care of itself. So Castiel had brought it here, into the city, and laid it out near the grass. Still it had come over this way, away from the environment that should have offered it shelter.

He tilted his head, trying to work out just what would make a sick insect run around in the open daylight.

Enigma had fun with Eric, but the sun was setting and Enigma was eager to see her lover, having missed him even while enjoying her time with her new friend. She hoped Damon was in the hut when she returned, smiling as she saw the flickering candles, humming in happiness and blurring her way to the hut, eager.

"Hey Sexy," Enigma said as she came back into the hut, straddling Damon's lap, smiling down at him. "Did ya see the steaks I brought us? Freshly killed and everything," she purred, nuzzling his neck, her fangs running lightly over the flesh. "Missed you when I went to the lake...we had so much fun last time," she purred, before sitting back, wiggling on his thighs, but keeping a space between their bodies.

"So what'cha doing?"

The idea that she had helped to kickstart a future in which Dean Winchester lost two people who were really close to him had never quite gone away. It had caused Michonne to be broody. More than usual. Which was saying something, since that was generally her constant state of being. She secluded herself more often, rarely leaving the small apartment.

Though she did wonder once or twice about the dog.

It did seem to be too well fed to be a stray, but she couldn't help but consider every now and again if she needed a dog in her life. It might have just been because he was about the only social contact she'd had in a while. Or maybe because he'd been such a good listener, which was absurd, cause... dog.

She worried that she would see those two little girls, those sweet things, in her future, because of what she and Dean had done. She wasn't sure that she wanted kids again to begin with, and she sure as hell didn't want them as a substitute for something that was lost. She didn't want them based on the idea that the only way to have them was for Dean - or anybody else - to go through a huge tragic event.

But she had seen their beautiful faces, and she had felt her own love for them. And that was something that Michonne could not let go of, either.

While she wasn't really a drinker, and not usually one to go get wasted to escape things, Michonne decided that today was a good day to start being. Or a good day to make an exception. Whichever. She gathered her things - her sword never being far from her side - and left the apartment, keeping an eye out for the dog as she made for the front doors.

( Read more... )

Rumors had come to Erik's attention about one of the young women in Sanctuary. They were saying she had fangs or could have fangs and Erik knew that she hadn't been that way in the beginning when she came here.

There were too many things that could go wrong with that if she was what it sounded like. Erik couldn't leave something like that without investigating it. He nodded to one of the men that had brought him the rumor. "Tell her to come to me."

Once the man left to go tell Enigma to come see the leader of the settlement Erik poured himself a drink and sat down to wait in a deceptively casual pose.

Aidan couldn't say exactly why he was in the ruins. Eric had not told him to be. Ever since he'd helped to destroy the wendigo, though, he'd felt the need to come back out. Perhaps he was looking to be a hero again, save somebody again, make sure that the citizens of New Troy didn't have anything more to worry about. This was the lie that he told himself. The reality, and he knew it, deep down he knew it, was that he was looking for Dean. He wanted to know if his friend was his friend again. He wanted to know if he could return to die Festung and start the process of rebuilding what he had broken.

If not Dean, then maybe he would see Sam. He could ask the taller Winchester about his brother, find out how he felt now. If the saving had done anything to lessen the anger that Dean felt about the betrayal. If maybe Dean were relaxing a bit more on his kill-on-sight stance, or if it had just been that day. If saving Sam had bought Aidan just that one day of peace and familiarity.

They were hunters. They couldn't stay in the city to kill off the things that they didn't want to see in this world. They would have to venture out. Aidan just hoped that they wouldn't be venturing out for him, specifically. He didn't think that Sam would do anything to help. He didn't think that Sam would even accompany Dean on a task like that. He didn't seem to want to, and Fred wouldn't want him to, either. That didn't mean that Dean wouldn't. He knew that. It made his heart ache to know, but lying to himself might just end up with one of them dead.

Out in the ruins, he could escape. He could run. He didn't have to risk Pam or Eric, or even John, seeing the confrontation and aiming to kill Dean because he'd attacked not only another vampire, but somebody they'd given their protection to. In the ruins, Dean would remain safe past his expressed anger. It would make Aidan sad to know that was how his friend still felt, it would crush him to see the backslide into the hurt and determination that had mixed in Dean that day in his apartment. But at least then, he would know.

He heard the sound of a pack of wild dogs, not having any fear of them for himself, just noting where they were so that he wouldn't have to deal with them. He didn't think there was anybody else out here. Not now. As much as he hoped to turn a corner and run into Dean again, Aidan didn't think that was going to happen today.

Eric wandered between places, through the trees and over rocks and limbs without a real direction or purpose. He moved like a shadow as he crossed from one place to the next, feeling as if his whole existence up to that point was utterly useless. He want fulfilling his purpose, the reason why he was allowed to move freely around on the Earth again. Death had brought no solace, no peace for his pain and neither did his resurrection. He had the Crow to keep him company, but a bird could only be so much of a companion.

He missed his fiancée. The air he needed, the light of his life and the reason he'd died. He had never blamed her, it wasn't her fault. It was their fault. And they'd almost all paid for it too. He had one name left on his list and until he could find a way back to his own world, his own time, and make the wrong into a right he would never be happy. He would never be at peace and he would never really or truly be set free. His existence here meant nothing in terms of the bigger picture, but he was valuable in this realm and he knew it. He was quite aware the power he'd been granted, slowly having figured out some of what he could do. The Crow offered some insight, but most of it was rationalizing and having the time to think things over.

Eric approached the Sanctuary, a place he had been to a few times and seen more than a hundred. The Crow perched from his shoulder as he walked, boots crunching over the foliage. The air was warm and the sun shone bright, but he couldn't feel it. He preferred the rain, honestly. But it couldn't rain all the time, could it? With the sun, Eric could feel Shelly's warmth trying to shine down upon him, but he just couldn't feel it, no matter how earnest it was.

The Crow cawed loudly, almost in a warning, black frame shifting to better adjust itself on Eric's shoulder. He looked at the ground as he walked, entering the Sanctuary after a moment, relying on the eyes of the bird to see. His guns fit snug against his hips, nestled in the holsters, and there was a short sword strapped to his back. These were mainly for Netvore's, which Eric had an entertaining time killing when it was necessary.
He tried not to harm anyone or anything without a just reason. He was a killer, and there was a lot of metaphorical blood on his hands, but he wouldn't hurt anyone innocent. Not like he had been harmed already.

Eric was finally fed up and annoyed with himself and the way that he was avoiding the progeny he so desired to save. He had kept his distance from her because he hadn't known what to say, and he had no idea how to stop the future that he had seen in the dream. It had made him very cranky, turned his mood dark and foul, and made him snappish at the staff. But all his searching had turned up no hint of what might be coming, why, or how he could stop it.

He realized that he was going to have to just stay vigilant and make sure that he was there to help her when she needed it. If she called for him, he would appear, no matter what he was doing or when she called. He would not lose her. He refused.

The first step in that, however, was talking to her and letting her know exactly what had been going on. He was sure that Pam would know that it was not her that he was upset about. At least, not her directly, not something that she had done or said to make him angry. He always let her know right away if that were the case.

She deserved to know the truth of the matter. If that meant he had to reveal what he would seen, then he would. If that meant that he had to ask for her forgiveness, he would do that, too. While Eric was a strong man, and often a bullheaded man, he could admit when he was wrong, and he could apologize.

"Find Pam. Tell her I would like to see her." He could have, of course, called to her silently and she would have come. But he wanted her to be here of her own choice, and the call was not something she could ignore. If she decided that she would see him, then he would be glad. If she was still not ready, he would have to understand. Either way, he would not be using the bond they had of maker and progeny to facilitate his need to talk.

Selina had been officially kicked out of the city of die Festung. She had never been kicks four of any place in her life. It was frustrating but she hasn't exactly been expecting the welcome wagon when she set out with the idea of starting a new colony burned into the forefront of her mind. She was determined, always had been, but she was exactly where she had been before she reached the city itself. She had basically made a sidestep instead of moving forward. Was creating a new colony worth the trouble? Perhaps things were better left as they were. She was now aware of the two colonies of people, ones in the smaller Sanctuary and now the bigger die Festung. She wondered if it was even worth the risk of competing blindly against Belia. Not that she saw the other woman as competition exactly.

Selina wondered what Jonathan would think if she went back to the hut they shared and told him about the city she'd found. Would he want to move? Belia had allowed Selina a return on the basis that she would be residing within the walls. Selina had a lot of thinking to do. She would stay on track for now and focus on the task at hand. Getting to know the land. At least if she knew the layout she could weigh her options. All of her options seemed to be pretty heavy. And she still felt so out of place. Would a city change that for her? She had skills that were completely useless. Her life was about stealth, stealing and getting away with whatever she wanted. Here it seemed that there wasn't anything of value to take. Whichever rendered her useless and she hated feeing like she had no purpose.

She leaned against the wall just outside of the gate of die Festung, not yet ready to make up her mind on what she ultimately would do. She knew she would have to go back to Jonathan at some point. That was only fair. Especially if she decided to relocate. She wanted to give him the option to come with her. If he wouldn't, then that was fine. She would do it alone. That was how she liked things anyway. Other people tended to complicate things.

She breathed out, arms folded together across her chest as she pressed her back against the weathered outer wall. Her chin was tilted upward slightly, so her eyes could look into the sky. Having options in a place like this was strange. But she had to focus. It was focus and have something to live for, or waste away into nothing. And she wasn't about to do that any time soon.

Sam was finally back on his feet. It was a good feeling, even if there was a small part of him that had enjoyed having Fred nurse him back to health. The much bigger part of him that always needed to be moving and contributing-that part was relieved to be back up and about.

Besides, Sam had news to share. Dean had been over to visit but Sam hadn't wanted to tell him in front of Fred. It wasn't that he was embarrassed so much as he wanted to protect her from whatever reaction his older brother might have at first. He thought that Dean would be happy in the long run, but his knee-jerk reaction might be less happy.

Sam wanted to start working on a ring for her. He knew that she might say that she didn't care, but he really did want to do that for her. The trouble was just finding time in the lab when Fred wasn't there. He didn't want to give her the chance to say no to having an engagement ring.

Once he was upright, he headed up to Dean's apartment with a bottle in his hand (one of the bottles he'd managed to spirit away from the stash of 'good stuff' in the basement) and knocked on the door.

Piotr was a man of the people. He made friends easily. They flocked to him. He was giant, but he was gentle. A happy guy. And happy to help them with whatever they needed, pretty much whenever they needed it. He did take some time for himself so he could spend it with Kitty and the dragon. Or just Kitty. But most of the time, he was in the street, doing things that needed to be done. Big or small, there was nothing that he wouldn't do if it was within his abilities.

It just so happened that on this day, somebody had found an old letter written in funny symbols. They had brought it to Piotr not for him to translate, but to see if he had seen it before, anything like it, or if he thought that it should go to Belia. It could be spy code, after all, or alien messages. Piotr had laughed and said that it was nothing so spectacular. Just Russian.

"No, you see..." He pointed at a line on the paper, indicating it to a man who held a look on his face akin to a deer in headlights. He had not expected to get a language lesson out of this, and was suddenly thinking about regretting his choice. "It is a love letter. This line here, it says it all. Pomni, ya vsеgda ryadom, remember, I am always next to you. Vsyo pad kontrolem, everything is under control. Ya tebya lyublyu, I love you. This man was very fond of this woman, my friend. It is no spy letter or a warning of any kind."

"Oh. Uh, that's great, thanks."

"Do you mind terribly if I keep this?" Piotr didn't want to take anything from a citizen of die Festung, but it had been so long since he'd last seen his language written down anywhere. And the sentiments behind the letter were the sort that he thought Kitty would like to see. They were hopeful. Loving. Joyful.

"No, that's fine. I should go, though. I'll talk to you later."

"Da. Have a nice day!" Piotr looked at the letter again, then glanced around for a place to sit so he could read the rest.

Aidan left die Festung with a heaviness that was just a little bit lighter than it had been before. Dean hadn't killed him. Had not, in fact, seemed like that's what he wanted to do. Had, in fact, let him speak to Fred to relay the instructions of what to do for Sam instead of them being written down.

While he knew that he wasn't going to be able to go back to life the way that it had been, probably ever, or even go back to something resembling it any time soon, Aidan was okay with it. Dean was recovering from the shock of what Aidan was. They would need to have a talk about it, maybe. A long one. Maybe a fight. Probably not a physical fight. Not now that Dean knew what Aidan was and was aware of the strength. Or maybe there would be.

The vampire knew that he couldn't put his life in New Troy on hold while he waited for Dean to come around. He had responsibilities at the hospital, and he had friends that he had made here. It would be rude and a disservice to everybody if he let it fall to the wayside.

Briefly, he wondered why New Troy and die Festung didn't pool resources and become one city. Given the power between the two, they could be a formidable army of sorts. And who knew what was out there in the world, beyond the ruins and the forest?

One of the most important tasks that Aidan had was dispatching the thing that had been taking citizens of New Troy. He still didn't know exactly why he hadn't been allowed to take Pam or John with him, which would have made the job easier, but he knew better than to question the older vampire on such matters. Eric had his reasons, and those were not for Aidan to hear. Apparently.

He waited in the living room of the grand house while the sun set. It was still a bit strange for him to be on this schedule with the others, but if he wanted to talk to Pam or John at all, he had to be awake when they were. Mostly that meant overnights and swing shifts at the hospital. Sleeping where he could catch a nap. Not having a set routine.

The life of a nurse, really.

( Chatty vampires )

Eric stood amidst the people that dwelled in dieFestung. He usually didn't spend much time in the city itself, preferring to wander. It was easier to keep tabs on things going on in the other sections of the world when he was out wandering, as well as trying to find a way back home which had always been his primary mission. Since he didn't require sleep, or food of any kind Eric never really stepped foot in the apartment Belia was kind enough to offer when he'd first arrived. But he knew that everyone needed a place of solace, some small area to call their own so he had asked Belia for the smallest place in the complex that held the living area for the Chosen. Considering that he didn't require much space, nor would he really utilize it.

He stood next to the chosen building, eyes cast down at the ground as he leaned against the wall of the exterior of the holding itself. One could tell he was of the Chosen rank because he was armed. Two guns rested at his hips, one on each side and he'd managed to acquire a small blade which rested gently against his back. Mostly the blade was for the Netvores. He had such fun killing them out in the Wilds. He wasn't honestly any different than they were save for the lust for flesh. He had no cravings except for the one to get back. To complete his mission.

His eyes were closed. He was seeing what the Crow saw as it soared over the city. Belia's city. If only she knew just how powerful he was maybe she would find her people more valuable. But that wasn't for him to decide, nor was he going to be anyone's slave. He was a vital asset to anyone that needed his service and he was willing to help anyone that needed it. Most didn't approach him, and he didn't blame them. He was probably one of the most dangerous of the Chosen that resided in this city but he certainly wasn't going to advertise it. He didn't want to let on that he had value. That he was an asset. That the Crow could see, and therefore he knew more than he should.

It was his burden. And he would bear it.

Mostly he didn't hang around because of the unrest. He could feel it. And it didn't sit well with him, but this wasn't the only place that unrest was felt. The Crow could feel it too. It was present in all of the communities. He wasn't going to tell Belia, or anyone. He didn't trust many so easily. Damon, the vampire, he knew but didn't know well enough to trust. He didn't have friends in this world, and didn't need them. He was quite alright being on his own, taking things as they came. But he wasn't opposed to the idea either. He just wasn't sure that anyone would understand.

With a shrill caw the bird swooped to the Earth, landing on a balcony above where Eric stood. Eric smiled a little, and opened his eyes, lifting his head as he peered out at the street. These people had no idea what he had seen. Maybe that was for the best.

Erik had been unaware of the attack on Bruce Wayne from Bane. As little as he liked Wayne the man had clearance to be in his settlement. It disturbed the peace to have another with permission to be in the settlement attack another. Bane might not have known that Wayne had clearance to be there. Or it might be that he didn’t care.

That was the first thing that Erik would find out from him.

Bane was nothing if not easy to find. His mask and equipment created a unique magnetic signature when Erik looked for him. Bane didn’t try to hide. He wasn’t the hiding type but that wasn’t a drawback to Erik who also wasn’t the type to hide.

“Bane, I need to speak with you.” Erik waited until he wasn’t working or busy with anything to approach.

( Read more... )

Dinah had mentioned finding the city of die Festing and seeking out a few people in hopes of starting her own colony. A place where people could trust others around them. A place they could be safe and feel safe. She knew that she would never feel safe being under the watch of a stranger, and she wasn't sure how everyone else in this place (or the Sanctuary) dealt with that. There had to be something, considering people stayed. What it was though, Selina wasn't quite sure. She was a loner. She acted as she pleased and did what she wanted. Obeying rules wasn't in her set of skills.

However, scaling walls was when she was properly equipped. This world had left her without the basic essentials to her trade save for her bullwhip, which wasn't doing her much good at that point. So, instead of the usual silent infiltration Selina decided to walk right in through the gate and past the guards. She hadn't any trouble finding the city but the forest itself was vast and a little frightening. She was used to being on her own, however, so she didn't let it get to her that much.

Her eyes widened a little at the city, looking at everything. She stopped to absorb the atmosphere and almost collapsed at the sight. She had been living in a forest when there was clearly a city here with people, and proper housing. What was she thinking? She should've been out scouting before for decent places to stay in a world like this. If this place was here, she wondered to herself what the rest of the world was like. What it held. What was out there. She had yet to meet any real danger but she wasn't going to take any chances either.

Finally regaining herself, Selina pushed through the city. She watched the people. They made her a little nervous but nobody seemed to be paying her any mind despite her being armed. She breathed out an exasperated huff and finally began asking around. The people here seemed nice enough. They told her that Belia was the leader and that she would be the person to see if Selina needed anything. Belia seemed to be the one that made all of the decisions. Maybe Belia and Selina could be allies. Maybe not. The Cat would just have to wait and see.

There was a place where this leader of the people resided and it was there Selina went to look for her, unsure of what to expect. When she reached the place where the few folks had told her Belia was, Selina stepped inside and looked around for any sign of life.

Pam had been quiet. It wasn't normal, but it wasn't abnormal either. She'd pulled away from her Maker in the past, as well as those in her nest. She was much like her Maker in that she needed to find her place in the world, on her own, and thankfully Eric had never pushed or pulled hard to keep her with him. It wasn't as if she were going to go far far away, not this time.

She'd not necessarily avoided her brother, or their human. The necromancing mutant had become theirs in a way, even if Pam hadn't voiced it. Given Pam's easy going ways; she may have allowed the pastor to claim the human completely, if it seemed that was what the dark woman wanted. Pam had lived too long to become that attached to a human, no matter how long lived he or she may be.

The petite vampire wasn't afraid of death, but something about that blackness had not been comforting. It was so empty, and empty was not what she had expected. She was curious, and as she wasn't prepared to experiment to find answers, not knowing if something she did would be permanent even if it were possible, she thought. She also hid away in the library, looking for some answer while she worked on the collection.

But, nothing gave her the solace. Had she slipped into a deeper sleep than she thought possible? Or had she contracted a disease much like narcolepsy? Had she been dead? It was hard to know anything, but she didn't wish to talk to anyone. Not at first.

Finally, she slipped from her quiet place within and without, and started hunting. She never denied herself blood, that was a waste of time. No, she hunted the female human. She needed to know had the dark woman made a choice.

Fred was starting to wonder if this was how it was always going to be. She would worry about the hunter boyfriend, and he would come back in bits and pieces. Some part of her thought it was romantic, but another small part wondered if maybe there was a better way to go about all this. There had to be, maybe one that didn’t end up with her boyfriend covered in his own blood. Other people’s blood as long as it wasn’t family or friends was okay with her, sort of.

She’d paced back and forth in the lobby, never roaming too far, just in case. Then when they showed up, she'd smiled. Dean had told her about Aidan, a living Aidan, or an undead one who wasn't dust. Well, that was a step in the right direction - if Aidan had been to help. She had helped get Sam back to their apartment, and she had let Dean play the part of big brother, for a little while anyway; she’d needed to go to the gate to talk to Aidan. Aidan told her what she needed to know, and she'd do her best to follow his directions because he was a proper nurse after all. Soon, she returned to shove Dean out, with the promise that she'd let him visit again soon; Dean had to get rest as much as Sam did.

Fred sat quietly beside the bed as Sam rested. They were lucky that Aidan had been around, for more reasons than one apparently. She had managed to find a comfortable spot, curled up on the chair. Her hand rested near Sam’s, and she’d slipped into a doze. She would be there when he woke up. She had a bottle of water and crackers nearby. See? She could look after a hunter.

( ----- )