"Thanks.." Dean muttered, and then pulled up a chair bedside Nicole's bed, resting back in it comfortably. "So did you sleep okay?"
"Yeah, fine."
"No nightmares?"
Nicole glanced at him, at how serious he was. "No. No nightmares."
"Honestly?"
"Honestly, Dean. I think the drugs had me out too bad to have any nightmares."
He nodded slowly. "I guess that's good then."
"Sure." She stared down at the white blankets covering her.
"So, the doctors said they could have you out of here when you woke up, and since you've woken up..." He shrugged. "Unless you want to stay."
"Are you kidding?" Nicole sat up and swung around to hang her legs off the side of the bed. "I am so ready to be out of here."
"Wait, let's have a doctor check on you first, just in case." Dean stood, and tried to prevent her from getting up.
"I'm fine, Dean. I just got some stitches in my leg, it's not like I had a stroke."
"Yeah, well...ah." He smiled as a nurse walked into the room.
"May I help you, sir?" She asked politely and Dean just grinned, green eyes trailing down her body rather obviously.
"I hope so.." Nicole forced her foot into the back of the man's knee and he jumped, clearing his throat. "Uh, actually my friend here needs to be checked out. The doctors said when she woke up, she should be ready to go. We just wanted to make sure."
"Alright, let me check a few things." The nurse smiled politely and then lifted up the edge of the hospital gown to look at Nicole's stitches carefully. "You aren't uncomfortable or feel any problem?" She asked.
"No, I'm fine."
She nodded. "Okay let me get one of the doctors, and we can have you out of here." She smiled again, glanced at Dean who was smiling as well, and then left.
"Well you're subtle." Nicole grumbled, and slid off the hospital bed to stand on her own.
"Huh?"
"You honestly get chicks to sleep with you, after looking at them like that?"
"Like what?"
"Oh for fuck's sake." Nicole sighed and shook her head. "You're disgusting."
"You didn't seem to think so the first night we met." Dean grinned charmingly.
"Bullshit. Or do you not remember the rejection I threw at ya when you came on to me? I went and saw your little bro instead." She smirked. "I think that says something."
"Yeah, apparently for once I can get a chick that Dean can't." Sam appeared, smiling and playing right with Nicole. His brother blew them both off easily.
"Think what you want, bro, but I'm still the one that made out with her later." Dean grinned again and took a drink of his coffee, Nicole obviously fuming. Before she lashed back, a police officer walked in. The trio all stopped their conversation and stared at the officer.
"Nicole Grazier?" The elderly man asked and she nodded. "I'm Officer Cooper, I need to ask you a few questions."
"Uh sure."
"You were with these two, Mark and Nathan Hall, on a road trip for the last several days, correct?"
"Yes sir."
"Where did you go?"
"Uh.." Nicole glanced, panicked, at the brothers and while Dean shrugged, Sam mouthed Colorado. "Uh, Colorado, sir."
"Did you have any contact with your brother in that time?"
"No."
"No phone calls or anything?"
"Not that I specifically remember, no."
The officer nodded, and then wrote something down in a notebook. "You were at bar, where you hurt your leg?"
"Yes, sir. Cut it on some glass."
"Okay."
"Officer, may I ask why I'm being questioned?"
"We're just trying to figure out how your brother might have been kidnapped, and if it was anything related to your family, or just him."
"I see."
He sighed and looked up again. "I only have one more question, Miss Grazier."
"Okay."
The man reached into his back pocket, pulling something out. "Is this your brother?"
Nicole covered her mouth, her eyes filling with tears at the pale face on the picture in front of her. She could only nod, inhaling shakily.
"I'm sorry for your loss, miss." The officer put the picture away, and closed his notebook. "Thank you for your time." Nicole didn't reply and the man left, leaving her with the two Winchesters.
"Nicole, are you alright?" Sam asked softly after a few moments.
She took a shaky breath and covered her eyes with her hand for a moment. "I'm fine. It's just..hard to see."
"I know. It'll be okay."
Before Nicole could answer, a doctor walked in. "Alright miss, it looks like you're good to go."
Nicole removed her hand from her face and cleared her throat. "Really?"
"Yep. You said you feel fine? Not drowsy or anything?"
"No, not really."
"That's good. Your leg will start to hurt a bit later when the painkillers wear off, but we've got some pills here you can take for a few days. Just one every six or so hours, okay?" The man handed her a small container of white pills and she nodded.
"Thanks."
"Not a problem. Have a good night, miss."
"Thanks, doctor." He nodded and left and she glanced around. "Guys, where are my clothes?"
"Oh, uh, in the bathroom I think." Sam answered, ignoring the look from his brother.
Nicole hurried into the room and shut the door, before emerging a couple minutes later, dressed and looking uncomfortable. "Guys.."
"What's wrong?" The younger man asked her, cute features concerned.
"I'm gonna need some new clothes. These have still got dirt and blood on them." She winced and looked down at her leg. "Especially the pants."
"Oh. Right. Well you have some clothes in your bag right?"
"Uh no. I just brought a few small things, so I wouldn't be a burden."
"Oh, okay." Sam glanced at Dean. "We'll stop somewhere then."
"It's alright, if you can just get me back to my dad's, I can take care of myself from there."
"Won't your dad think it's a little odd for you to go visit an out-of-state friend for just a day?" Dean interrupted.
"I'll tell him the plane cancelled." Dean made a face, and Nicole raised an eyebrow. "Do you want me around longer?"
"What? No."
"Good."
"Alright, so we'll get you back to your dad's house." Sam interrupted before they started bickering again. "Come on."
10:33 PM
The Impala purred to a halt infront of Nicole's father's house and Sam climbed out to let her out as well. "Okay, here ya go." He smiled gently and she reflected it.
"Thanks, Sam. Thanks a lot for all of this." Nicole reached up and wrapped an arm around his shoulders, and he squeezed lightly back.
"Sure thing."
She smiled again and then leaned over to look behind him, at his brother. "Thank you too."
The man nodded, a faint smile on his sober features. "Stay safe, alright?"
"I plan on it."
He smiled a slight bit more. "Good."
Nicole nodded and then looked back up at Sam. "You guys gonna go look for your dad?"
"Yeah."
"Well good luck with that."
"Thanks, seems like we need it." Sam smiled crookedly, his puppy-like features tired.
"You're smart guys, you'll find him." She tried to reassure the man, but he just nodded with a forced sad smile. "Anyway, I should go. It's late and dad won't be happy I'm waking him up. Thanks again."
"I'm sorry about your brother."
Nicole paused. "It's not your fault. You did what you could." Sam didn't answer, because he knew she didn't want one. "Have a goodnight, Sam." She smiled briefly, and turned back to her father's house. And then she froze, her breath in her throat and blood cold. She counted her heart beats instead of the seconds, and the image before her didn't flicker within five of them.
"Nicole?" Sam asked curiously.
"Sam.." She breathed softly. "The window."
"Wh-" He stopped before he even finished the word. "Oh god. Dean!"
"What now?" The older man complained and Nicole heard the car door open, and then there was silence. "What?"
Nicole blinked and now saw nothing, then turned around to face Sam, to know she wasn't insane. "Sam..."
"Yeah, I saw it."
"Saw what?" Dean asked, expression confused.
"Nicole, I think you should stay with us for a bit." Sam opened the car door and gestured in. Nicole hesitated and Sam softened his tone. "Just for a little bit. We can talk this over." Nicole stared at his pathetic Puppy Dog Charm-look and then nodded, quickly ducking back into the vehicle.
"Sammy, what the hell is going on? What did you two see?" Dean demanded, deep voice harsh.
Sam slid back into the car and sighed, shutting the door. "Thomas."
