"We're sharing a room?" Lola asked as she dropped her bag down beside one of the two double beds,
"It was the only room the hotel had left." Maggie replied as she sat on the edge of the bed, "I'm sure Sam'll sleep on the sofa if you and Dean want this bed…or would you prefer the car again?" She asked with a smirk. Lola rolled her eyes as the two in question appeared. They stopped and looked at the two double beds with weary looks,
"This is going to be interesting…" Dean muttered as he dropped face first onto the other bed, "Sammy…couch is over there. You girls are alright sharing that bed, right?" He asked, not really listening to any answer that was given to him. Lola walked over to the window, swinging her arms back and forth idly as she did so,
"If you were REAL gentlemen…you'd both sleep in the car and let Maggie and me have a bed each."
"I'm not spending another night in that car…and besides…Sam's not s cuddly as you were." Dean shot back with a grin. Lola simply retaliated by sitting on his back,
"C'mon guys! We've got work to do! Save your flirting for later! I for one don't think we should go on a hunt on an empty stomach and there's a slice of cherry pie down stairs with my name on it."
"Just so long as we don't have burgers or deli sandwiches."
"Would you prefer caviar?" Dean remarked from beneath her,
"Now, now children…" Maggie teased, "If you don't behave, you won't get a Happy Meal toy."
Lola stood up with a great amount of effort, forcing all of her weight onto his ribs. Dean let out a loud, muffled groan as she did so, knocking the wind out of him,
"Awh Dean…I took your breath away…" She beamed,
"For the love of God," Maggie began, "Either shut up or get a room. We could ask if the Honeymoon suite's available."
"Whatever." Lola muttered as she walked out of the room towards the stairs.
Sam picked up the green duffle bag of ammo, closing the door behind him before joining the others in the car,
"Ready?" Dean asked as he started the engine, causing AC/DC to blare out from the four speakers around the car,
"My head…" Lola groaned, "Is this the trash you listen to?"
"I'm sorry princess…would you prefer Swan Lake?"
"Swan Lake's a ballet. Idiot. Oh dear Lord…they're cassette tapes…I never realised you're still stuck in the eighties. You are aware they ended almost twenty years ago, right?"
"That's what I said…" Sam mused a loud,
"Oh for the love of God, drive!!" Maggie exclaimed, "We'll never get out of here otherwise!"
Like most hospitals of the time, St. Edmunds was built set away from the main town, in this case, a top of a small hill, a winding road, littered with dead leaves and a frosting of snow, lead up from the open rusted gates at the foot of the hill. Overgrown trees lined the road, throwing it into complete darkness, savour for the Impala's powerful headlights. As the hospital loomed into view before them, the foursome felt uneasy at the sight of the shattered windows and tattered net curtains drifting in the cold night air. Boards that had once covered all doors and windows were scattered about the entrance, carpeting the gravel with the musty smell of time. Sam grabbed a flashlight, shining it up at the dishevelled double doors, barely hanging onto the hinges, that sat ominously wide open; it's once crisp white paint, chipping in such a way that it almost looked like it was melting. Lola stood beside him, shining her flashlight in the same direction. They exchanged looks before simultaneously stepping forwards,
"We'll take upstairs." Sam called over his shoulder, "You guys take the ground floor and the basement." He added, tossing his flashlight to Maggie, who almost dropped it, not expecting to have it hurled at her without warning. Dean rolled his eyes before commenting:
"Who gives the orders around here then?"
"Have fun!" Sam called as he and Lola disappeared into the hospital. Dean muttered something incomprehensible under his breath as he grabbed his shotgun,
"Come on then. Let's get this over and done with."
After walking in silence and darkness for a few awkward minutes Dean finally broke the silence,
"I've got to ask…how did you know what to do when Lola collapsed?"
"When Mom went into the hospital…I worked there for the while. Needed the money. So I had a crash course in nursing while I was there. It never really came in handy until now."
"Ahh. Cool."
"Oh, so you do approve then?" She mumbled,
"What?"
"Nothing."
"No, seriously, what?" Dean snapped,
"I think it's pretty funny how you only seem to want to talk to me when it's of use to you."
"Well if that's the way you feel then I just won't talk at all."
"Why ruin a habit of a lifetime?" She remarked, bitterly, "Mom said that Dad was like that."
"DON'T talk about him. You don't know him so don't even try!"
"Oh I'm sorry, you don't like me calling him Dad do you? Dad, Dad, Dad, Dad, Dad…"
Dean whirled around, raising his fist,
"Shut up! Or I swear to God Maggie…"
"What're you gonna do Dean? Hit me? Hit me like you did Lola? Wouldn't you rather put a gun to my head?"
"You're impossible!" He growled, storming off into the darkness. Maggie dropped her head with sigh. As she raised her head she was startled to meet the cold, black-eyed gaze of unfamiliar eyes. She let out a scream, as staring back at her was a little girl in traditional Victorian garb of dress and pinafore, her pale, vein-streaked face tilted eerily to the side without her eyes changing expression, her lips blue and cracked, parted slightly,
"DEAN!" She cried out, as the little girl's nose was less than an inch from hers. Dean came running back, wielding his shotgun,
"What?" He asked,
"Can't you see her?" Maggie squeaked in fear,
"See what?"
"Her! Right there! Right in front of me!"
"Maggie. There's no one there."
Maggie blinked and she was gone. She looked at Dean, who was staring back at her like she was a complete idiot,
"Come on! They've probably covered the whole floor upstairs by now!"
Shakily, Maggie followed Dean, unable to shake the feeling that she was being followed.