III – The Astoria Motel

"This place is...in such poor taste," I comment, wrinkling my nose.

Since I've somehow been accepted into this trio, we've been crashing at motels that have god awful taste. This latest one, the Astoria Motel...it's a place that stinks like sex and alcohol. Believe me when I say that. Angels can smell a lot more than humans can.

"Hey, you can go anytime you want," Ruby tells me. "You can poof away somewhere. We won't miss you."

"Nice to know I'm liked." I twist my hair into a bun. Sam is currently hogging the shower, I can feel the faint heat from the water through the bathroom door. The steam relieves the pain in my head. Angel radio had gone wild pretty recently, all with one thing being shouted: Dean Winchester is saved.

Now, why haven't I told Sam Winchester that his brother is out of Hell? Well, I don't think he'll believe me, even if I am an angel and can give him proof. I can't just magically poof myself to Dean and bring him at Sam's doorstep. I still don't fully trust my powers since my last incident.

Besides, that's not my priority. I'm not about family reunions, I'm about saving the world as all beings know it from being destroyed by a very powerful demon.

"Something catching your eye, feathers?" Ruby waggles her eyebrows at me. She's wearing a tank top and underwear, both matching. I'm the only one of the two of us who's dressed normal.

"When are you giving me my blade back? You still have it."

"It's stashed somewhere. Finders keepers."

"You didn't find it, you took it from me while I bled out."

Ruby scoffs. "Someone doesn't like to share."

"That blade doesn't belong in the hands of the likes of you." I narrow my eyes.

"Just for that, you're never getting it back." She pulls out a phone, dialing a number. "You up for some pizza, feathers? Do you even eat food?"

I tilt my head. "Um, no. I haven't. I don't."

"You're missing out. You're trying food today."

Alona, I try again as Ruby is talking through the phone. Please, hear me. Tell me where you are. Or just that you're alright.

I've been...better, comes Alona's weak voice through the angel radio.

So you're not demon chow. Good.

Since when do you talk like that?

I've been...busy.

So have I.

Doing what?

What you're trying to do, only I'm following the rules and the leader on this one.

Things don't get done fast if you follow rules.

They get done efficiently.

That's not how I operate.

You're right. You've always wanted to be the first to do something great just to prove yourself worthy of any acceptance.

My brows crinkle over my eyes. I'm just an Angel of the Lord, like you, doing her civil duty.

I always knew you were eager to help out, but I didn't realize you were going to be a handful.

"Does it matter what toppings?" Ruby cuts my conversation off. I shake my head at her. I honestly have no idea what she's talking about, and I really don't care right now.

You've never thought like this, Alona, I scold her. Something's changed you. Has being in the garrison done that? Or are you Uriel's most trusted?

Uriel has nothing to do with this. You know I've always followed protocol.

And I think of you highly, but I've always despised that about you.

Just like I've despised your brashness and sudden disappearances to go and do whatever you please.

I'll do things my way, and you can do yours by the book. We'll see if we can meet again.

I'm not sure you'll like the confrontation.

"You zoning out on me, feathers?" Ruby snaps her fingers in front of my face, and I look at her, startled. "You were pretty lost there for a few minutes."

"I was thinking," I state blankly.

"About what?"

"Nothing you need to know about."

"Angels, always secretive."

"Why are you standing so close to me?" I scoot away.

"Trust me, it makes me uncomfortable to do so. We got to play nice though, for Sam's sake."

There's a loud knock on the door, and Ruby moves to open it. I peek over her stature to see two men in the doorway. The one I have a feeling is Dean Winchester, Sam's older brother. I don't recognize the other, bearded man, however.

"So where is it?" asks Ruby.

"Where's what?" asks Dean, looking to the other man with a confused glance.

"The pizza...that takes two guys to deliver?"

"I think we got the wrong room."

As if on cue, Sam enters, wearing a fitting gray shirt and jeans. "Hey, is..." He halts when he notices his alive older brother. He looks like a deer in headlights, eyes going between the two men. I watch this with interest.

"Heya, Sammy," Dean says quietly.

Sam doesn't say anything back. Dean, ignoring Ruby and I, steps into the room. She and I exchange looks of our own. When Dean gets close enough, Sam reacts, pulling out a knife and lunging for his older brother. Ruby screams, something out of her character. I back away and restrain myself from breaking the brothers apart.

In the meantime, the bearded man comes into the room. Dean blocks Sam's attack, and the bearded man pulls Sam off of his older brother, grabbing him by the shoulders.

"Who are you?!" Sam shouts at his brother.

"Like you didn't do this?!"

"Do what?!"

"It's him," says the bearded man to Sam. "It's him. I've been through this already, it's really him."

The struggle leaves Sam's body as he processes the words. "What..."

Dean advances cautiously. "I know. I look fantastic, huh?" he jokes.

The bearded man lets Sam go. I see tears glint in his eyes, and I'm waiting for Ruby to make a sick gesture or fake gag or something. Sam pulls his brother in for a desperate hug. He pushes Dean back at arm's length.

"So are you two like...together?" asks Ruby.

Sam looks at her, remembering that we're here. "What? No. No. He's my brother."

"Uh...got it. Look, I should probably go."

"I probably should too," I squeak. I have no idea what's going on here, but I feel like I'm intruding on a crucial Winchester brother moment.

"Yeah," Sam says. "Yeah, that's probably a good idea. Sorry."

It's a rather awkward silence as Ruby pulls on some clothes. I wait by the door, tapping my foot.

"So, call us," Ruby says in a fake voice.

"Yeah. Yeah, sure thing, Kathy."

"Kristy."

"Right."

"Come on, Veronica."

I give Ruby a strange look but go with the fake name anyway. We leave the motel room, leaving Sam, Dean, and the bearded man inside. "Okay, 'Veronica'?"

"I wasn't gonna say your name," Ruby says.

"Why did you give a fake one?"

"Here's the thing, feathers...It's complicated to explain right now."

I roll my eyes. "I figured as much."

"Look, as far as Dean Winchester is concerned, he thinks Ruby is dead, when really I'm right here. I was in a different meat suit the last time we saw each other. With what Sam and I have been doing, it's best to keep it hushed up for a little bit."

"Ah, typical behavior. Lying to save your skin."

"Dean got pulled out of Hell, this is the least of his worries." She gives me an inquiring look. "You wouldn't happen to know what pulled him out, would you?"

She doesn't need to know. "Not a clue."

"You sure?"

"Positive."

"Look, you don't need to keep following me. You can go do your angel thing, whatever that is."

"And what are you going to do?"

"Whatever I plan to. You can go running off back to Heaven."

Yeah, only I don't think I'll be allowed back. Or welcomed with open arms. "So then I guess this is the end of the road for our 'partnership', then?"

"You could say that, but I got a feeling that we'll butt heads again."

**[cringes] Seems like things are a little hostile. Yikes.

But, question: anyone shipping things already even though we're only three chapters in? (If you aren't, you're probably fooling yourself.)**