It was dark, damp and dirty. Sam could feel her hands sticking to the furniture that she touched. But it was quiet, so that's what mattered most. Any loud noise would set this unstable building off. However, the silence didn't last long. Rattling and scratching of metal shattered it, as if somebody was trying to unlock something, but what? And why were they up here? The owner said this site was out of bounds…
'' I'm telling you Sam. ''
A familiar voice… Deanna? But she was supposed to be speaking with the mother… More rattling and shuffling noises ensued.
'' She was something. Beautiful Fiona. Perhaps not as great as our, or my, friend Kelly from Iowa, but damn. ''
Kelly? Iowa?
'' Are you even listeni- Sam! ''
Deanna threw a pillow off her bed at Sam. '' Get up! It's 10, you're supposed to be looking into this ghost case. ''
Blinking, Samantha pulled herself up into a sitting position.
Right. The case.
Yawning, she began rubbing her eyes during Deanna's announcement of taking a shower.
Looking around, Sam realized that the rattling noises were caused by the car keys and the shuffling- Food.
After chugging down some breakfast and changing out of PJ's, getting information about the vengeful spirit took an unusual short time. Any other week Sam would have dug deeper, searching for some sort of catch that this ghost wasn't actually a ghost. However, during this strange peaceful week Sam came to accept that the cases they would take up this week would be that – strangely peaceful. Simple find the bones, salt and burn them.
'' Well, Sammy? '' Deanna asked, walking out of the bathroom and rubbing her wet hair with a towel.
'' We're really gonna need to invest in a blow dryer. '' She mumbled under her breath after sitting down.
'' Or just chop it all off… '' Sam mumbled before sighing and answering the question.
'' Seems quite simple. The building is quite old and was turned into a residential place for the elderly after the eighth owner took over. Supposed hauntings have been happening ever since the first owner died, but only recently have the ghost interactions been more violent. Probably due to the officially unofficial plans to add onto the building. ''
'' Yea? '' Deanna commented, a glass of water touching her lips.
'' Yea. I mean, I'd probably haunt their asses too if they wanted to add onto my historic building. It's pretty nice the way it is.. ''
'' Wait. '' Deanna chuckled. '' Are you sympathising with the ghost? ''
'' Maybe. I mean, I know where he's coming from. If it is him. The accounts speak of seeing a rather short man with one of those stereotyped French moustaches. That matches the first owner's basic description… ''
'' Alright. '' The blonde shook her head a little. '' And the body? ''
'' Yea, here's the tricky part. It's buried behind the house in the garden. Or a small park, would be a better term. The grave is in a small meadow at the very edge of the garden. So, the only thing for us to do is get in, do the deed and not get caught. ''
Nodding, Deanna tapped her feet before shooting the next question.
'' So what's the plan for checking the area out first? ''
Smirking, Sam only looked at her sister in response.
'' You cannot be serious… '' Deanna complained, looking at herself in the mirror's reflection. She was wearing a nurse's outfit, and not the Sexy Nurse costume they sell on Halloween. This one had an ugly light blue shade and it was appallingly long, according to Deanna. The job also forced her to clip her hair up in an unflattering manner.
'' This blows, Sam. ''
She turned around, defeated, to look at her grinning sister.
'' And why don't you have to glam up?! ''
Giggling, Sam shrugged her shoulders.
'' Because I'm not going. I'll be forced to re-stock our small wardrobe whilst you check on the residents. ''
'' Oh you poor soul. '' Deanna narrowed her eyes at Sam.
'' Get in the car. '' She ordered, sharply gesturing her hand to the door.
Chuckling, Sam led the way out.
Once they parked outside of the house in question, Deanna took a peek into the house before lowering herself in her seat.
'' I can't go in. '' She said in a gravely serious tone.
'' What, why?! '' Sam questioned, confused.
'' That's Rachel in there. Rachel from last night. I can't go in. ''
'' What? Your hook-up from last night?! ''
'' Yes, my hook-up from last night!''
'' Well, I can't go in?! What am I supposed to do?!''
'' You'll figure it, you're a smart kid!''
Sighing, Sam opened the car door.
'' You're awful, you know that?''
'' I owe you! '' Deanna called once her sister left the car.
'' I really do. '' She mumbled, grinning once she was left alone in the car, driving into town.
'' Will teach you to listen to your older sister when she's speaking to you. ''
Sam only realized that the hook-up was a Fiona and not a Rachel when she walked into the residential home.
Sam walked up to reception desk and fumbled for words. What am I supposed to do?! Rachel my ass...
'' It's me, Harriet! You've got to take your meds!''
'' Hello? How may I help you? ''
Sam flicked her gaze away from a nurse who towered over an elder woman on a wheelchair to the receptionist who greeted her.
'' Oh yes, hello. '' Sam smiled at the receptionist in front of her. For a second, she thought of passing herself off as an inspector that came for an unexpected inspection, before she actually realized what she was wearing.
'' I'm here to see my great aunt Harriet. Sorry, I couldn't call before… ''
Sam finally announced, flicking her eyes away from the short receptionist and towards the nurse and the woman on the wheelchair again.
The receptionist turned her eyes from Sam to the clock before flicking her eyes back to the brunette before her before responding.
'' I'm sorry Ms, but visitation doesn't start until 1… ''
Sam furrowed her brown in a sorrowful manner.
'' Oh I'm really sorry... It's just that my plane leaves at 1 and I really wanted to speak to her before leaving… ''
Smiling a little, the receptionist scanned Sam, judging whether or not she should be trusted.
'' Oh, alright. '' She smiled.
After taking all of the necessary precautions, the short woman gesturing for Sam to walk into the room in which Harriet was in.
During Sam's interaction with the receptionist, the nurse continued speaking with Harriet. Most importantly, she kept repeating Harriet's name and explaining where she was.
'' May I take her outside? '' Sam asked the receptionist after seeing the nurse walk away, who simply nodded.
Slowly, Samantha approached the elder woman and crouched before her, smiling.
'' Hello Harriet. '' She said.
'' Who are you? '' The woman questioned.
'' I'm Nancy. '' Sam introduced herself before lowering her voice. '' That nurse wasn't really pleasant… ''
'' None of them are! But I'm used to it. Forcing me to take the pills. Let me tell you honey, if your family ever tries to shove you into one of these homes one day, you tell them where they can go. ''
Sam chuckled a little.
'' I'll make sure to. '' For a second, she wondered if her and Deanna will ever get a chance to actually debate where they'd like to spend their last years.
'' Why are you here though, honey? Folks in here don't get visited very much. You know, because of the stories. '' The elder woman question in a gentle tone.
'' Stories? '' Sam repeated.
It seemed that the case was simply willing itself be solved. Harriet seemed quite lonely and willing for company from a seemingly harmless woman who proclaimed herself as her friend. Oddly enough, Harriet believed her.
Before answering, the lady looked around in case of listeners. Apparently she thought the place not safe enough, for she spoke up a little too loudly.
'' Oh Nancy, how lovely it is to see you! Why don't we go and enjoy the weather and you can tell me all about it, huh? ''
After speaking, she eyed the receptionist before smiling a little at Sam and motioning for her to wheel her out.
The garden looked even bigger in person, complete with little ponds and bridges here and there.
'' It's lovely, isn't it? '' Harriet mumbled.
'' The only thing I like about this place. ''
After a few more seconds of silence, Harriet motioned for Sam to stop and began speaking again.
'' The stories aren't really stories. They, the nurses I mean, call them that so that the people don't get scared. But its real – plenty of us have seen him. ''
'' Him? '' Sam repeated.
'' Oh sure. It's the first owner, looks exactly like him – mind you! Complete with the glasses and all! Brought in some extra cash for the house. Documentaries and the sort - we even had a feature on this ghost programme! Faceghosts… Ghostfaces… ''
'' Ghostfacers? '' Sam proposed, sighing into herself at the memory of their idiocy.
'' That's the one! So the owners didn't really mind the ghost talk. Some even encouraged it, can you believe it? But now since he's been more violent… '' Harriet shook her head a little before looking up at Sam again, this time speaking in a much lower tone.
'' Some even say he killed the current owner's son when he came to visit. ''
After speaking with Harriet a little longer and helping her out with some stuff in her room, Sam walked out into the garden again – this time alone. She wondered around for a little while before stumbling upon the grave of the first owner. It was a rather well preserved tombstone, placed at the centre of a circle of trees. Trees that proposed nice shelter for tonight. The only problem would be getting in… The house and garden were both fenced off with security present…
'' Security?! '' Deanna stammered once Sam explained the entire situation to her once the two got back to the motel.
Deanna managed to spoil herself to a number of clothes and generously granted Sam with a pair of shirts and jeans that just about fit.
'' You know, '' Sam started, picking up the ugly pair of jeans that Deanna picked out for her – complete with little butterflies at the sides. '' Next time, I'm doing the shopping. ''
'' What?! Those are adorable! '' Deanna took the jeans and held them out in front of Sam.
'' Wittle Sammy loves wittle buwerflies! ''
'' Right, what are we going to do about the security though? ''
'' Oh, that's not going to be a problem. '' Deanna re-assured, winking.
Once midnight hit, the two were already at the site and, as Deanna promised, the security really wasn't a problem.
'' See? Me and mum caught a case at a residential home way back. Security – of a different sort, perhaps – was also an issue until we got there. All sound asleep. These days people don't really care about residential homes. Say it's where you go to die. ''
'' No need to be such a prick about it… ''
Deanna shrugged, before climbing over the fence to continue heading for the grave.
''Since there's no way for one of us to be in there, we'll take turns digging and watching here to make sure this psycho doesn't kill anybody else. ''
Deanna was about to continue walking, before hearing her sister's protest.
''Nah-ah. You get to do the digging tonight and pay for your little Fiona-Rachel mix-up. ''
'' Awh, so you do listen. '' She touched her chest in a comforting manner. '' That's really touching Sammy. ''
In the end the job was quick and well-done. Sam ended up giving in towards the end and helped her sister dig. Soon enough the two were back in the motel room quite ready to crash for the night. It was decided that they would stay for another day or two to make sure that the case was really dealt with and that the first owner's ghost hasn't re-appeared.
Due to Deanna's casual snoring, Sam couldn't exactly sleep. She even contemplated sleeping in the impala, but in the end was saved from it all by Cas who give her a mild heart attack.
'' You can't just appear like this in the dead of night!'' She whisper-yelled at the angel once they were both outside.
'' I'm sorry, I wasn't aware of how late it is. ''
The angel looked warn out, truly tired despite not needing sleep.
'' Are you okay? We could lay off this for a day or two… ''
'' No, I'm afraid that that is not an option. ''
Sighing, Sam rubbed her face, briefing herself for the news that would follow.
'' So, what did you find out? ''