Burn It to the Ground

Maura’s POV.

Somewhere along the way, I started to feel the need to rip my little sister apart. What the hell? Even I knew that wasn’t good. Dear god, I needed alcohol more than ever. Whiskey, I needed whiskey. But where the hell was I going to get it? Ask Kassia? Oh great! Hey Kass, sorry about trying to kill you and all. Mind going to pick me up some booze?” That would just go splendid.

I was leaned against the motel room door, half sprawled on the cheap carpet in the dark with my head hung low, like in some very bad and very dramatic movie. The lonely silence was broken by the sound of metal clicking against itself; Sam was trying to open the door. But it was locked. Wonder why…

“Maura?”

I smiled grimly, tilting my head back against the cheap wood of the door and letting my hair fall in my face. “Yes?” I chirped.

The doorknob jiggled once more and Sam sighed. “The door is locked.”

“I know.” I said patiently, knowing he was probably worried I had gone off the deep end. Oh wait, I had.

Another sigh. “Let me in.”

“Get your own room.”

“It’s not like I’m going to molest you in your sleep!” He defended in an exasperated tone, earning a humorless laugh out of me. “That’s not what I’m worried about, I’m pretty sure I could take you.” My day was just getting more and more fucked up, so why not just topple headfirst down the crazy mountain?

Even though there was a long silence, I knew he was still standing there expectantly, like a dog. I decided to bargain, my need for relief overpowering my need to be alone.

“Bring me alcohol and I’ll unlock the door.” I offered childishly.

“Alcohol is the last thing you need right now.” He had a point, but it was something I wanted and goddammit, I was going to get it. “Have fun bunking with Kass and Dean.” I said, flinching at my sister’s name and hoping it wasn’t obvious in my voice. It was.

“I’ll get you one pack of beer.” I grimaced at the stinginess of the offer, but it was apparent that he was not going to budge any further. “Hurry back.” I called out sarcastically as I heard footsteps slowly fading down the parking lot and a car starting. Finally, I was alone to mope in peace.

I hauled myself up, wobbling slightly on my feet but somehow managing to make my way to the grungy bathroom and find the light switch; at least I had that going for me.

I stood in the small room, facing myself. The mirror was streaked and grimy, but I could still see my reflection- Which was also streaked and grimy. I had a long cut along my forehead, though thankfully not very deep, and it looked like my entire face- from my hairline to my shoulders- was going to be one giant bruise. And my nose was bleeding. Why hadn’t anyone told me my nose was bleeding? I fumbled around for a relatively clean looking towel and went to work at cleaning myself up, hoping that tomorrow I could pass for a human being. Aside from my face, which I was pretty sure had been Kassia’s main target when she was beating the crap out of me, I had made it out pretty well except for a dislocated arm and a shitload of scrapes and bruises. Meaning I was lucky as hell; most people don’t walk away from fights with my sister.

I thought about how much I didn’t want to face her in the morning, how I didn’t want to face anyone for quite awhile.

So why the hell did I have to?

I didn’t.

I took one last look in the streaked mirror and deemed myself almost fit for society before striding out the door, trying not to wince from the pain my sore limbs were causing me with every step I took. I guess I deserved it.

“Maura Valentine doesn’t sit around a mope,” I reminded myself in an agitated voice “She takes out her frustrations on the closest target.” Which, really, was what had gotten me in this huge mess.

But you know, why the hell not?

___________________________________________________________________________
Sam’s POV

So basically the two women my brother and I were enthralled with were acting like rabid, PMSing lunatics. Man, could we pick ‘em or what? And for some reason I was supplying my rabid, PMSing lunatic with alcohol; the world seemed to get crazier with every breath I took.

I paid the cashier for the two cases of beer, facing the fact that Maura probably wouldn’t share and I wasn’t sure I could get through the next twenty-four hours sober, especially if they continued on like this. The skinny middle-aged man behind the counter smirked at me as he handed me my change, “Got an exciting night planned?” He asked, I couldn’t hold back a wary laugh. “I don’t think I can handle anymore excitement.” He nodded as if he understood, which he did not. He couldn’t possibly.

I walked out of the run-down store and into the night. Somehow the mild weather we’d been having was turning dark, cold and rainy. Appropriate, if you thought about it. The motel was thankfully just across the road, about the only thing convenient about the place. Just as I went to cross the parking lot and make my way back I heard tires squeal; a black and gold Firebird pealed out of the motel parking lot like a bat out of hell.

-

I leaned my head against the doorframe, glancing into the dark motel room which my brother and Kassia shared. The exhausted looking redhead was passed out on a bed, drooling heavily. Dean looked at me with an incredulous expression, almost refusing to believe what I had just told him. “How do you lose a grown woman?” He asked, making a half-assed attempt to keep his voice down as Kassia stirred in her sleep, muttering something about China. “Never mind,” He waved his own question away “I forgot who I was talking to.” I resented that.

“I didn’t lose her. She’s just sort of…not here right now.”

He raised his eyebrows, inclining his head towards me. “Do you know where she is?”

I shook my head.

“Then you lost her.”