Chapter 18
"Come on Lina, stay with me," Sam whispers urgently.
He carries Lina out of the panic room and dashes out the front door. He rushes to the Impala and secures Lina in the back seat. Just moments ago, Sam and Dean returned from the graveyard. They were going to make some food for themselves and Lina, but after seeing her appearance they scrapped the food and rushed to save her.
As Sam fastens Lina's seatbelt he cannot help but cringe at her appearance. Her blonde hair has lost its sheen, and her skin is so pale that it appears translucent. Her bloodshot eyes can barely stay open, and dark circles rest under her glassy orbs.
"It's going to be okay, Lina," Sam says softly.
He reluctantly leaves Lina's side and moves to the passenger's seat next to Dean. Once he shuts the door Dean shifts into reverse and speeds out of Bobby's driveway.
"Is she saying anything to you?" Dean asks Sam after they have driven for a couple of minutes.
Sam knows Dean is referring to Lina's telepathic abilities.
"No, not a word," Sam answers truthfully.
Dean turns his head and checks the back seat quickly before focusing on the highway again.
"She's still alive, right?" Dean asks nervously.
Sam turns around and checks Lina's pulse. A slow, dull thud greets Sam's thumb.
"Her pulse is weak, but she's still with us. Don't worry Dean. We're only about a half hour away from her college. She'll make it."
Dean shifts in his seat uncomfortably and focuses his eyes intently on the road.
"I wasn't worried. I was just… curious about her present state," Dean replies nonchalantly.
Sam smiles to himself, but decides not to push Dean any further. Of course Dean cares, he is just too hardheaded to admit it.
Thanks to Dean's speeding they make it to the college in less than twenty minutes. It is almost one in the morning when they cruise into the campus parking lot. They decide to park in a spot furthest from the buildings.
"Okay, let's try to do this as inconspicuously as possible. The last thing we need is someone seeing us removing an unconscious girl from our car," Dean whispers to Sam as he steps out of the Impala.
Sam nods his head in agreement and opens the back seat door. He gently shakes Lina's shoulder, but she remains unresponsive.
"Lina, we're here. We're back at your college," Sam whispers.
Lina still doesn't reply.
"Shit," Sam whispers to himself. He unbuckles Lina's seatbelt and lifts her up.
"She's not responding to anything Dean. We need to get her to that lake now." Sam says urgently.
"Okay, okay. C'mon let's go," Dean responds.
Fortunately, Sam and Dean make it to the lake without running into any college students. They head to Lina's usual spot and place her belongings under a tree.
"So uh…" Dean starts, but then clears his throat and looks out at a point in the distance, "Do we have to, you know… undress her?"
Sam's face immediately heats up, and he looks down at Lina's unconscious figure. Crap, I didn't think about that.
"Uh, I guess so. We'll leave her shirt on. We just have to… take her pants off," Sam cringes has he speaks.
"Damn Sammy, I haven't seen you this flustered in awhile," Dean laughs.
"Shut up," Sam mutters as he turns his scarlet face away from Dean.
Just as Sam is reaching for Lina's pants she stirs slightly and coughs. Sam drops his hands and sighs in relief. Thank god.
"Lina, we're at the lake. Do you think you can undress yourself and go in the water?" Sam asks hopefully.
"Mhm," Lina mumbles as she immediately pulls down her pants.
Sam gasps and stumbles backwards. He quickly scurries a few feet away and turns his back towards her. Sam feels a slap his back and turns to see Dean's eyes laughing.
"You're such a saint, Sam," Dean whispers.
Sam shoves Dean in response and crosses his arms.
"I was being courteous," Sam responds. He is about to give Dean a lesson on morals, when a splash behind him grabs his attention.
"Lina?" Sam asks as he turns around.
Lina is not on the shore anymore though. Sam rushes to the edge of the water and looks over the lake.
"Do you see her?" Dean asks as he scours the lake too.
"No, I–," Sam abruptly stops and grunts in pain at the sound of Lina's voice.
Thank you, Sam. I'm okay now.
Sam shakes his head to clear the uncomfortable feeling and steps backwards.
"She's fine," He says to Dean, ignoring his brother's troubled expression.
"Well, we're good then, right?" Dean replies, "The case is solved."
"Yeah," Sam says slowly.
Dean stares at Sam for a couple a moments longer and then shrugs.
"Let's go then," Dean finally says. He grabs his belongings and walks away from the water. Sam follows his brother.
"It's over," he whispers to himself as he gazes at the lake. Though all his instincts scream otherwise.