Family Don't End With Blood /Destiel//Sabriel//Michifer

Raining Cats and Dogs

"I brought you some flowers."

Elsa stood in the doorway to Alex's room, fiddling with the small bouquet in her hands. The other girl remained silent and, for all intents and purposes, looked fast asleep.

"Okay, so they're not actual flowers," Elsa continued, "They're marshmallows. Well, designed to look like them anyway. Fake multicoloured marshmallow flowers. If that doesn't brighten up this room, I don't know what will." She placed the bouquet down on the side and turned to leave.

"I'm not asleep, you know."

Alex, who had been lying flat on her back and breathing peacefully, now looked wide awake. It was odd, because the only thing she'd done was open her eyes, which were perhaps the only part of her that looked properly alive: light blue and fierce.

"Oh, I wasn't sure." Elsa hovered in the doorway. "It's just me today, though.  The others are busy. Sorry."

"Dean didn't want to come back, did he?"  Alex raised an eyebrow, the ghost of a smile flickering across her face as she again pictured the eldest Winchester having a little temper-tantrum.

"No," Elsa laughed.

"Why are you here though?"  Alex's tone was suddenly sharp, almost accusing as her expression fell back, now stern and unreadable. 

"It's Saturday."

"That doesn't answer my question.  Besides, I didn't text.  You said to text if I wanted any of you to come back."

"I know."

"Then why are you here?"  Alex tried to keep the impatience out of her voice.  Some secret part of her was actually pleased to have a visitor again, someone of her own age to talk to.  But she was also annoyed; she didn't like people doing things without prior knowledge.  She also quite liked being alone: even if she was stuck in a hospital.

"Alright.  It's Saturday and I was bored."

"Great.  I wonder what it's like to be bored."  Alex rolled her eyes.  It was only when she caught the other girl smiling that she realised what she'd done: openly admitted to boredom.  "You're not going to leave, are you?"

"Not any time soon," Elsa smiled, taking the seat by the wall. 

Alex huffed as she propped herself up, using the pillows as supports to get a better view of the room.  When she was comfortable, she sat still, allowing a silence settling over the room. 

She eyed Elsa curiously.  This girl hadn't heeded her hostility at all — she'd smiled. Genuinely smiled. As though she were happy; as if being stuck in a tiny hospital room seemed like a pleasant idea. 

"Right.  Let's get it over with," Alex grumbled. "The small talk.  Just get it out of the way."

"Okay, well, it's raining outside.  There's nothing new on the news.  I can't decide on my favourite colour, though I'm thinking perhaps a deep red.  Also, I'm feeling a little tired."

"Fine.  I haven't been outside in weeks.  I hate wearing this stupid hospital gown.  My favourite colour is violet.  And hey, I have a disease that's slowly killing me."  Alex had been about to add something else, but had decided it was a little too morbid. 

"Optimism.  I like it."

"In what way was that optimistic?"