A Witch Hunt

Chapter 5

They pull into the local hospital and get out of the car. They walk inside the main door and are immediately welcomed. 

The nurse behind the desk says "hello, welcome to Cascade Medical Center. What can I help you gentleman with?" 

"I am Agent Douglas and this is my partner Agent Nicks. We are here to look at your pneumonia patients," Sam says as he and Dean flash their badges at the nurse and puts them away. 

"Oh, agents. Yes, please follow me and I'll take you to the doctor in charge of the cases" she says as she come from behind the counter to walk the boys down the hall. 

They turn several corners and walk down some hallways when the nurse stops, gesturing to a door. 

"He is doing his rounds, he'll be with you in just a minute," she says and walks back to her station. 

They both thank her and wait outside the patient's room for the doctor. Dean peeks through the door window and sees the doctor and a nurse talking to the lady in the hospital bed. The doctor shakes the patient's hand and heads to leave the room. 

The doctor walks out of the room and notices Sam and Dean lurking in the hallways. "Hello gentlemen, I am Doctor Gill. Can I help you two?" 

Sam steps forward towards the doctor who looks about 55 years old, with black hair and eyes that look like they have seen death before. 

"Yes actually. I am Agent Douglas and this my partner, Agent Nicks," gesturing at Dean as they both show their badges. 

"We wanted to talk about your pneumonia patients." 

"Federal Agents in Leavenworth? Wow, never thought that would happen. But yes, the patients. Unfortunately, we have had six people come in with breathing troubles. By the fourth hour, it gets positively diagnosed as severe pneumonia and by the eighth hour, they are dead. I've had no luck curing it with medicine or even slowing it down. It happens every year for a month and then it's over until the next year. Poor Ms. Redpath has been here for seven hours, but she is strong. She might actually make it past the eight hours." 

Dean nods his head, "well, we are going to be looking into thi-" 

"Doctor we need you in here now, she's seizing!" the nurse from inside the room yells. 

Doctor Gill turns to the boy, "excuse me gentlemen," and runs to the bedside of Ms. Redpath. 

Sam and Dean slip into the room behind the doctor and no one tries to remove them because everyone's focus is on Ms. Redpath. 

"Clear!" yells Gill as he shocks the patient with the paddles. "Again. Clear!" he yells again. 

"Doctor, she's gone. Time to call it," says the redhead nurse standing next to Doctor Gill. 

He stands over the patient as he says "okay call it. Time of death is 2:37 pm." 

The nurse writes the time down on her clipboard and looks at the doctor. "I'm so sorry Owen. We all thought she was going to make it, she was very strong." 

He shakes his head in disbelief, "well not strong enough. Go fill out your paperwork. Thanks Amber." 

The nurse pats his shoulder, nods at Sam and Dean, who are in to corner of the room, and walks out the door. 

Dean walks towards the bed, "this was the eighth hour, wasn't it?" 

"Eight hours and two minutes" says the doctor as he unplugs all the machines and turns to the boys. "That leaves six dead in only two weeks" 

"I'm sorry for your loss. Please call us if someone else comes in showing the symptoms," Sam says as he hands his business card to the doctor. 

"I will. Thank you Agents," Doctor Gill says as the boys turn and leave the room. 

They exit through the front door and stand by the Impala for several minutes. 

"Any idea what we have here?" Dean asks Sam as he leans on the Impala. 

"I've not sure yet. Maybe a haunting? A witch?" Sam says, questioning himself. 

Dean nods and tries to think of what else it could be, "this would one seriously strong and pissed off spirit. And I never saw a coin or anything belonging to a witch. Is there a pagan god of pneumonia sickness or something?" 

Sam smirks and nods his head, "I'm not sure. It's possible, I guess. Let's head back to the motel and research some of this." 

Dean agrees and they hop into the car. Dean starts the car, turns on the radio, playing AC/DC and they head back to their motel.