Chapter Seven

Maggie walked confidently walked up to the reception desk of the local health centre. She held up her nurses ID card for the middle-aged nurse to see. "I've been sent by St Josephs hospital to fill the position in you're psych ward." She informed the nurse who merely glanced at the photo badge and waved Maggie away, returning to her cream filled pastry.

A few minutes later she emerged from a staff room, sporting green scrubs and a key card around her neck. She walked down to the hallway, following the signs toward the pharmacy. Maggie stopped short of the room full of patients waiting for their medication and ducked into a storeroom filled with plastic cabinets, pilled high with drugs, syringes and resuscitation kits. She pulled a white cloth bag she had retrieved from a laundry cart, then filled it with two syringes, two vials of adrenaline and one more of the death inducing drug.

Sam was just about to read a lads magazine he spotted under the drivers seat, when Maggie dove into the car, breathless.

"Did you get it?" He enquired, quickly tossing the magazine on the back seat.

"Yeah lets go." And with that, the Impala pulled away and off down the street.

Lola was growing weaker by the minute as she lounged a top of the bed, watching Dean as he sat on a chair by her side, his elbows propped o the edges of the mattress, his hands cupped across his forehead, his eyes closed, face pointing down to his shoes. She smiled ever so slightly, reaching out a hand and gently touching his arm. He looked up, rubbing at his eyes as he did, the usually sparkling green orbs dulled with fatigue and worry, the whites bloodshot as he struggled to hold his emotions back. He looked her in the eyes and forced a weak smile,

"What do you think it feels like to die?" She asked quietly. He shifted awkwardly,

"I don't know." He mumbled, "Don't think about it. You're not going to die."

"Dean…be realistic…my time's up."

"No. Do you honestly think that I'd let you go that easily?" He asked, smiling a little more convincingly now. She smirked back,

"Probably not. We have so many arguments left to have." She joked before falling into a comfortable silence again, "Seriously though…if…when I do go," She began, continuing quickly before Dean could interrupt, "promise me something?"

"You're not going, but I'll humour you."

"Tell my brother."

"Your brother?" Dean asked with a frown,

"Nate. He lives in Michigan. His address is in the glove compartment of my truck. Just…find a way of telling him, please?"

Dean nodded once. It was a short, sharp nod that signalled that he wanted to end this conversation topic now,

"I will." He answered softly,

"Thank you." She said before letting her eyes drift closed to little slits, "I'm so sleepy…" She mumbled, "I feel…really lethargic."

"Stay awake." Dean said seriously, "Stay awake until Maggie and Sam get back, okay?"

"I hate to sound dramatic…but I don't think I can."

"This isn't you. You're a fighter damn it! Start acting like the Lola that I l…know."

Lola smirked,

"I think that Lola's already gone to sleep." She joked, "Don't forget your promise, Dean."

"Damn it Lola!" Dean yelled, standing up suddenly, causing the chair to fall backwards, "LOLA!" He yelled again, "Wake up!" He instructed.

Just at that moment Maggie and Sam blew in from the cold car park. Still dressed in her scrubs Maggie headed strait for the table, emptying the contents of the canvas bag.

She glanced over at Lola, then at Dean, his eyes drawn and bloodshot. "How's she doing?"

"Not good." Dean answered keeping his eyes on Lola.

Maggie pierced the film lid of one of the vials with the sharp needle of the syringe. Walking over to Lola's bedside, she flicked out the air bubbles in the plastic cylinder.

"Dean, could you squeeze her arm, I want to make sure I get the needle in right." Maggie instructed as she sat on the edge of the bed.

He sat at he top of the bed. Resting Lola's head on his knees; he wrapped his hand around her upper arm, squeezing tightly.

Maggie pushed in the round of the clear liquid. "Okay, it's going to take a few minutes to take effect." The trio looked at their watches, counting the seconds that seemed like hours.

After a few tense moments, Maggie returned to the table and prepared another two syringes, these ones containing adrenaline. It was time to bring Lola back.

She injected the needle into the pale arm that was still within Dean's grasp.

Ushering him to stand aside, he moved over and stood at the end of the bed. Maggie tilted Lola's head back, pinching her nose and exhaled five breaths into her lungs.

She looked up, waiting for Lola's chest to fall, then moved to her side, placing two enter twined hands on the ribcage, Maggie began to push down repeatedly.

Dean moved a step closer the fear of loosing Lola growing even more intense and real. Sam held a hand to his face, biting on his thumb in hesitation.

"Come on". Maggie breathed, her arms growing tired and weak.

"It's not working". Dean stated.

"Sam, take over." Maggie instructed breathlessly. He did so, imitating his sister's movement. The exhausted former nurse grabbed the last syringe from the table and pushed in another shot of adrenaline. Replacing her hands above Lola's chest she resumed compressions. Still no change.

"Damn it Lola breath!" Dean begged, now knelt down at her bedside, clutching her hand in his.

"Come on!" Maggie cried as she held compressions. She lifted a fist up and brought it down on Lola's chest with great force. Sam cringed as her pale body jerked with the strike.

She hit again and a third time, tears filling in her eyes. A sick feeling of dread and guilt welling up inside. This was her idea; if Lola died it would be her fault.

Maggie raised her hand a fourth time and hit at Lola's chest with full force, cursing with frustration.

With a thud of Maggie's fist and a jerk; Lola took a sharp intake of breath, coughing as she tried to catch it. Maggie sat back, closing her eyes in relief. Sam put his hands on her shoulders, his face a mixture of disbelief and joy. Dean pulled Lola into his embrace, gently kissing the top of her head as she lay back in his arms. He looked up at Maggie giving a smile and a nod in thanks.

With a low rumble of it's classic engine, the Impala rolled up alongside of Lola's truck, which surprisingly was still in one piece. The foursome sat in an awkward silence as they stared at the black vehicle before them. It marked an end of an era and each one of them knew it as Lola grabbed her bag with her right hand and smiled at the others,

"Thanks for everything guys…" She beamed as she popped open the door, stepping one foot out, "It's been…well…not fun, but it's been…interesting." She added, "See you around."

"Bye Lola." Maggie said with a sad little wave, "Take care."

"You too. Bye Sam. Dean." She murmured, letting the door swing shut behind her as she trudged back towards her truck. The trio now sat in silence watching as she lifted the bonnet of her truck, fiddling for a few minutes before slamming it shut, looking triumphant,

"Dude…if you've been waiting for the right moment, this is it." Sam said to Dean without turning his head. Dean paused for a few seconds before opening the car door and stepping out,

"Dean…" Maggie called. Dean, who was halfway out of the car, dropped back into his seat and turned his head to regard her in the back seat,

"Speak from your heart…for once."

Dean nodded quickly,

"Got it." He said before climbing out of the car and jogging a little towards the truck. Maggie moved forwards as she and Sam watched as Dean touched Lola's arm gently, making her turn around and look up at him with a little smile. They watched as he chatted away, throwing his arms around as he did, explaining his point while she stood there, watching him attentively. All of a sudden, he leant down, pressing his lips to hers. Sam turned to Maggie and exchanged sly but satisfied smiles as they turned back, the pair were still thoroughly engrossed with one another,

"Does this mean we'll be seeing a new and slightly less uptight Dean?" Maggie asked,

"I wouldn't hold your breath," Sam replied with a cheeky grin.