Nothing too exciting, just a bit of a filler. I have some ideas for this story but nothing concrete, so feel free to review and let me know where you want this to go. I'm happy to incorporate your ideas on this one.
Chapter Two.
"Are we there yet?"
Lindsay turned to the Cindy incredulously.
"You're like a child."
Jill giggled to herself as she turned off the freeway. They had been on the road for nearly four hours now, and they had all learned that the energetic reporter just did not like to sit still. Ever.
Poor Claire was stuck in the back with the cafeineted red head, Martha asleep on her lap. Jill was driving as she was the only one who knew where San Ferno was, and Lindsay had been in the back seat but Claire had generously offered to switch seats with her. It was her birthday weekend after all.
Cindy humphed and sank down in her seat, unwittingly cementing the child image in her friends' minds.
"As a matter of fact, we are there." Jill announced as they passed a small "Welcome to San Ferno. Population: 7" sign. The other numbers had been rubbed off.
"Thank the lord!" Cindy cried. "If I had to sit in the car for any longer I would have murdered someone."
"You would have murdered someone?" Lindsay snarled, rubbing her temple.
"If you two don't get along I swear Jill will stop the car and you can both get out and walk. If I wanted to listen to two "teenagers" squabbling I could have stayed at home." Claire said, exasperated. She gave both Lindsay and Cindy stern looks.
"Yes, Claire." The Homicide Inspector and Crime Reporter said softly, heads down in shame.
Jill laughed, breaking the silence and pretty soon everyone was laughing, their bad moods forgotten.
'This is going to be the best weekend ever.' Jill thought happily.
"This is going to be the worst weekend ever!" Jill cried, staring in dismay at the tiny cabin as Martha barked excitedly, doing laps around all four women.
Cindy walked past her, heading toward said cabin, hauling a duffel bag. "Hey, I wanted to go to L.A. You're the one who wanted to go to San freakin' Ferno." She said defensively.
"I thought you used to come here all the time when you were kids?" Lindsay asked as she got the last bag out of the car and slammed the boot.
"Yeah, but we stayed in the town, near the beach. Not in some hut in the woods! This is a joke!" Jill's head fell into her raised hands. Claire placed a comforting hand on Jill's shoulder.
"It's alright, sweetie. We'll still have a good time. It's not that far from the town."
Jill chose to ignore the conforting words and groaned. "We probably have to haul our own water from the river. There's probably only one bed!" Claire shook her head, hiding a smile as she placed her hand on the small of the blonde's back, pushing her slowly towards the cabin. Lindsay grinned at the drama, Jill's voice getting quieter as the two walked arm in arm to the holiday house.
"There's probably an outhouse, Claire. An outhouse! We're going to have to catch our own food and then cook it over a fire. I hope you know how to make a fire out of two sticks, cause..."
The door shut behind them, cutting off the rest of the words. Despite Jill's description of the place, which Lindsay knew was slightly exaggerated, the brunette was actually looking forward to spending some time in the woods with her girlfriends. Going for walks down by the small river that ran through the wooded forest, sleeping in and staying up late, drinking beer and playing cards with her three most favourite people. Sounded like heaven to her.
She felt a nudge on her leg and looked down to see Martha sitting at her feet, a slobbery stick on the ground between them.
"Good girl," Lindsay cooed.
She picked up the stick and tossed it into the trees, briefly watching Martha take off after it before turning around and grabbing the last few bags and heading towards the "hut".
Claire took a quick look around the whole cabin. The small holiday house only had one room, but it had comfy looking twin beds. There was also the couch, which pulled out into a double bed, so there was room for them all to sleep. The kitchen might have been small but it was well equipped, including a large fridge and pantry full of fresh groceries that Jill had had the foresight to order and have sent here. There was no TV, but there was a bar that looked newer than the cabin, fully stocked and a decent sized table and chairs. The bathroom had a toilet, sink and shower in there, with hot and cold running water. Outside there was a patio with a jacuzzi for crying out loud. Jill's fears were completely unfounded, Claire realised. In fact, the cabin was in very good condition. All it needed was a paint job.
Claire quickly claimed one of the twin beds as her own. It was decided that Lindsay would get the other bed, since she was the birthday girl, and Jill and Cindy would share the couch. All the bags however, were piled into the cabin's one room.
"Jill, do you really need three bags?" Claire asked, though not really that suprised. Jill nodded.
"Make-up, clothes and shoes." She said simply.
"You're lucky she didn't bring another one for hair, and seperate her clothes into casual and business." Cindy teased lightly as they all walked into the kitchen.
"Nope." Jill said with a firm shake of her head. "No collars, buttons or zips for me this weekend. I have a whole wadrobe full of unused "casual clothes" and I intend to use them." She jumped as Cindy squealed from behind the pantry door.
"Apple cinnamon Pop-Tarts!" She cried happily. "My favourite!"
Claire grinned at how easily exciteable her young friend was as she put away the fresh milk and bread they had picked up en-route.
Jill nodded. "I know, that's why I ordered them."
Cindy turned to face the blonde, face flushed with excitement, and pecked her on the mouth.
"Wow, what did I miss?" Lindsay asked suspiciously. She had walked in just as Cindy had kissed the ADA.
"Jill bought Pop Tarts."
Lindsay sniggered as she went to check out the bar. "Man, you're easy."
Claire snorted and Cindy whacked Lindsay on the arm, pretending to be upset.
"I wonder what I would get for two boxes..." Jill said slyly, causing everyone to crack up, even Cindy.
"I'll make you girls a deal," Claire said as she looked at her watch. It was nearly six O'Clock.
"You girls unpack the rest of the bags, and I'll cook dinner."
Claire chuckled as the three younger woman all ran off to the room, giggling and talking loudly, leaving the kitchen quiet and to herself. She loved those girls to bits, but a she needed a bit of peace otherwise there really would be dead bodies.
The medical examiner had just pulled out all the ingredients for a meal of pasta, salad and garlic bread when there was a loud crashing sound came from the bedroom followed by a raised voice.
"Cindy!"
"Oops, sorry." Came the muffled reply and Claire shook her head as she went to investigate.
"Worse than my sons." She muttered fondly to herself.