“You sure Nic’s here?”
           Brooke looked around her in amazement. The thought of her friend Nicole being in such a shabby old building with its wallpaper peeling off was so absurd, she was beginning to think that Sam had made it all up to get her into a motel room – Not that she minded but for god’s sake, can’t she find someplace other than this dump…

           “This is Dean’s place…” Sam said.

           Even more absurd…! What would Nicole be doing in Dean’s place?

           They reached a door at the end of the hall. Sam knocked.

           “Nicole? Are you in there?”

           No answer.

           “Nicole… Open the door… It’s me Sam and Brooke…”

           Silence.

           Sam tried the door. It was not locked. She pushed it open.

           Brooke stepped inside the room and gasped. Nicole was lying on a mattress at a corner of the room. She was curled up in a semi-fetal position, hugging a pillow tightly in her arms.

           “Oh, god… Nicky…” Brooke ran to her.

           The voices sounded far away. Nicole forced her eyes open. “Dean?”

           “It’s me honey, Brooke…”

           “Brookie?” Nicole blinked a few times, adjusting her vision. “Did they find Dean?”

           Brooke winced as Nicole grabbed her arms fiercely. What happened to her? She looked terrible. “No, there hasn’t been any news about Dean…”

           “Nicole…” Sam sat down. “Come on, let’s get you home…”

           “No…” Nicole shook her head, arms still tightly wound around the pillow. “I want to stay here… In case she comes back…”

           Brooke looked over at Sam, she herself near tears.

           “Nicole…” Sam said more firmly. “You can’t torture yourself like this. I know you love her”

           Brooke raised her eyebrows but Sam ignored her. This is not the time for explanations.

           “But being holed up in here isn’t going to make her come back…”

           “Why did she leave?” Nicole mumbled. “Was it me…?”

           “No, Nicole…”

           “It’s because I can’t tell her how I feel isn’t it?” Nicole didn’t seem to have heard what Sam said. “You were right Sam…” Nicole started to sob. “I love her… I love her…”

           The two got hold of Nicole’s shoulder and forced her to get to her feet. Brooke tried to pry the pillow off but the more she tried, the tighter Nicole’s grip became. She gave up trying. Leaving Sam to support her, Brooke gathered Nicole’s things and together, they guided her out.