Chapter Three

"Do you think that he's okay?" Maggie asked Sam quietly as she sat on the end of her bed, staring at Sam who was stood by the window, watching the rain flood the car park,

"He's probably at a bar…"

"Sam…this isn't good…" Maggie whispered softly, "I know that she meant a lot to him, but he's really hurting still. Do you think that maybe we didn't help him enough in the beginning? Do you think we were wrapped up in our own grief to see that he was slipping?"

"…maybe."

Knock. Knock.

The two exchanged confused looks as Sam moved cautiously to the door. Maggie jumped up to stand beside him as he pulled open the door. The pair stood in shock at the person before them, their mouths slightly open as they gaped at the doorway. Standing before them, soaked to the skin and shivering, her arms wrapped tightly around herself was Lola, her auburn ringlets flattened and plastered to her face, large blue eyes staring at Sam especially. He thought he saw tears roll down her cheeks, though she was so wet from the rain, he wasn't sure until she suddenly lunged forwards into his arms, pressing herself against his chest in her dark jeans and black button-up shirt. He hadn't quite been sure that she was real until he felt his arms move around her as she sobbed into his shirt. He looked at Maggie who looked down at Lola sadly.

The door opened and in staggered Dean, still feeling a little woozy from the bottle of Whiskey that he'd finished on the drive home. He stumbled against the wall slightly, slamming the door closed behind him; he looked up to see Sam and Maggie sitting side-by-side on the first bed, looking at him in sheer disbelief,

"What?" Dean asked with a slight slur.

Before either one could answer, the bathroom door opened and there stood Lola, towel drying her hair, her head tilted to one side. Dean froze for a second before rushing across the room and grabbing her in a hug, squeezing her tight as he buried his face in her wet hair,

"Thank God it worked…" He breathed, gently taking her face between his palms and holding it there, pressing his forehead against hers so that he stared into her eyes,

"Dean…" She began carefully, "Not that it isn't great to see you…but what on earth have you done?"

He frowned, moving his face back slightly,

"Has the romance died already?"

Lola choked slightly,

"With that breath…yes!" She gagged, "Dean…two words…tic tac. Seriously…you smell like a liquor store! Where've you been? You're soaking! And more importantly why the hell am I alive?"

"You did it, didn't you Dean? You helped them." Sam cut in seriously. Dean turned to him and was about to shout back until Maggie jumped in,

"Please don't fight!" Maggie begged, "It's been done now. There's nothing we can do…"

"No Maggie. Dean has to realize that what he's done isn't just having his way like he always does; it's got serious consequences! If the other hunters found out that Dean helped demons he'd be dead!"

Lola moved a little closer to Dean, tightening her grip on his arm,

"Dean…please tell me you didn't." She whispered. He turned back to her, sad faced,

"I had to. It was the only way to bring you back. I didn't want to lose you."

"…you're so stupid…" She whimpered, shaking her head as tears rolled down her cheeks, "How could you?!"

"Stupid doesn't even cut it! It was selfish and reckless! He's put us all in danger!"

"Selfish? You're just jealous that you couldn't do it for Jess!"

Lola cringed slightly, as did Maggie as the two brothers stared one another down, breathing heavily,

"You arrogant asshole…" Sam growled, shaking his head in disbelief, "You're pathetic and you've betrayed everyone."

"Sam…that's enough…just take five minutes and cool your head." She breathed, ushering him towards the door. Dean turned back to Lola and took her face again,

"I'm so happy to have you back." He said softly, planting a kiss on her lips, though she pulled away,

"You stink." She said flatly, "And I am furious with you! I mean…furious doesn't even get close…I'm…I'm…so angry it hasn't been invented yet!" She exclaimed, throwing her arms up in the air, "Everyone thinks I'm dead! All my friends and all the hunters think I'm dead…that means that all I have is you, Sam and Maggie…for the rest of my life! You three!"

"What's wrong with that?" Dean asked with a shrug,

"Come on Dean…" Maggie sighed, "You of all people should know that family comes first."

"Well here," Dean extended his phone to Lola, "Call your brother. Tell him it was a mistake."

"Yes…because that won't scare the crap out of the poor guy! Hey bro'! Lola here…just figured I'd let you know, I'm alive again! Chat soon! Kiss kiss!" Maggie muttered, "And like Sam said…if those other hunters find out you did what you did, they'll want your head."

"Your selfishness amazes me Dean Winchester." Lola murmured,

"Selfish? I watched you die!" He growled, pointing at himself in the chest, "I think that's enough to justify what I did."

"No it's not Dean…" Maggie said softly as Lola took a step back and away from him, shaking her head,

"And now I get to watch you die. Thanks Dean. Thanks a lot." She huffed before slamming the bathroom door in his face,

"God damn it…" He growled, pounding his fists on the door,

"I'm going to find Sam. I suggest you sleep it off." She told Dean sternly before walking out of the room. With a groan, Dean collapsed on the nearest bed, letting his eyes drift closed.

He awoke to bright sunlight and the smell of coffee close by. He opened his eyes slowly and cautiously to see Sam standing over him,

"How's your head?" Sam asked dryly,

"…it hurts." He groaned. Sam glanced around quickly before dropping to a crouching position by Dean's bed, "God…we're not gonna have a tender moment are we? It's too early in the morning…" He grumbled, rolling over so that his back was to his brother,

"Do you remember what you did last night?"

"Uh…" Dean licked his lips, struggling to recall the events through the haze of a hang over, "In a word, no."

"You're awake."

Dean sat bolt upright at the sound of the new voice that spoke from somewhere behind, near to Sam. He turned, his mouth dropping open,

"Oh God…" He murmured,

"Is it coming back to you now?" Sam asked as he stood up to stand beside Lola, who extended a polystyrene cup of black coffee to him,

"Drink up Dean. You're taking me to get my truck back."

Dean was still sat in shock as he began remembering the events leading up to his return the previous night. He sighed, shaking his head at his own stupidity, though another look of her told him that if he could go back, he'd still do it again,

"Did you hear me?" She asked, shaking the cup slightly in his face. He took it and she dropped down on the side of the bed, flopping backwards across his lap. He looked down at her, an eyebrow raised,

"I thought you were angry with me."

"I am." She stated simply, "But I can't be angry forever, right? And besides…I thought about it last night…and…" She took in a shaking breath, "as stupid as it was I'm glad to be back with you."

"It was stupid." Sam said as he came and sat beside Lola, "But Maggie's right, what's done is done and I understand why you did it."

Dean smiled weakly,

"Thanks." He mumbled before breaking out into a cheeky grin, "You see! You DO love me!"

"Don't push it, Dean." Sam said seriously as Maggie wandered in carrying a paper bag,

"Morning Dean!" She chirped loudly, causing the eldest hunter to cringe and duck his head slightly. He sniffed the air,

"Do I smell…Danish?" He asked hopefully,

"Maybe…" Maggie replied with a smile,

"You know…I drive much better on a full stomach."

"Get dressed Dean." Lola breathed as she sat up, "Maggie…my shoes are still wet…do you have any that I could borrow?"

"I think your feet are too big. Try Sam's."

"HEY!" Lola snapped, "They're not THAT big!"

"Hey!" Sam whined,

"People…people…" Dean whimpered, "Noise level…inside voices…"

"Ugh. Take an aspirin and suck it up." Maggie said sternly,

"Lola…" Dean began carefully, "Will you…?"

"Nope." She said before pulling on a pair of Dean's socks, "Looks like I'm going in my socks then, huh?"

"You mean my socks."

"My socks." Lola said plainly before turning to Sam, "So what's been happening while I was…uh…away?"

The three exchanged awkward looks before Sam pulled a lie out of thin air,

"There's been no activity at all."

Lola frowned,

"I find that hard to believe." She said,

"It was really strange." Sam continued, "It was all quiet until you returned."

"Huh. Odd."

Maggie and Sam looked at one another before Maggie cleared her throat,

"Sam…do you wanna come back to get another coffee with me? I just realized that I forgot mine."

"You drank it on the way back here." Lola said simply,

"Oh…so I did. I think I need another one. I feel like I haven't had anything yet! Can't get enough of those Mochas!"

"Okay." Sam said with a shrug, "So I guess we'll see you guys this afternoon once you get back from Bobby's place."

Lola nodded and Dean groaned, hiding his head beneath the covers,

"My head…" He mumbled, "Oh…and Sammy…" Dean called, pulling the duvet off of his face and looking over at his brother, who'd paused in the doorway, "Have a look around and find us a job, yeah?"

Sam smirked, knowing his brother was back on form. He nodded,

"Gotcha."

"I know what Dean did was really stupid…" Maggie began tentatively, "Could you of maybe said to Lola welcome back? I mean…you did make her feel pretty unwelcome. And she obviously cares for you very much, Sam, she went strait to you when she came through that door."

Sam brushed back a few stray strands of hair out of his eyes as he looked down at the ground glumly,

"I didn't really think about that." He said quietly, "God…I guess that was pretty bad."

"You think?" She smiled, "I'm sure she'll forgive you. God knows what attracts her to the Winchester charm." She joked before turning serious again, "Are you going to tell her about Dean's problem? God knows he's not going to and if he tries to hide it from her, she'll find out eventually. I think she'll be hurt if no one told her…I mean…he's practically killing himself!"

"Maybe he'll stop now that she's back."

"You can't just stop, Sam! And even if he does…she still has a right to know."

Sam nodded slowly,

"I'll tell her." He said, stopping and looking at Maggie thoughtfully, "Did you hear him as we left?"

"No. Why? What did he say?"

"He told me to find us a hunt while he's gone."

Maggie's eyes widened before she broke out into a grin,

"The Dean Winchester we know is back" She laughed, "Hide the pie!"