T/W: Mentions apparitions and disembodied voices, along with wailing. Also objects flying through the air.

****

Two days later, Everly joins the paranormal team when they have a lighthouse lined up for investigation. Unfortunately, Avery is already regretting her decision to ask Nolan if Everly can accompany them. Especially when she's acting like total weirdo.

"Oh my gosh!" Everly bubbles. "I can't wait to hunt down some ghosts!" Sid tosses Avery a dirty look and instantly, Avery wants to find a rock to crawl under and hide.

"It doesn't work that way specifically," Sid tells Everly, scowling.

"It doesn't?" Everly asks, frowning.

"No." Sid stomps off before Everly can start firing more questions at him. Avery catches Everly by the arm, tugging her off to the side of the cargo van.

"You seriously need to button it," Avery hisses softly. She can feel a slight headache beginning just behind her temples.

"What'd I say this time?" Everly looks baffled.

"You're annoying Sid, which for the record isn't a good thing," Avery murmurs.

"Ah, he's an old grouch anyways," Everly says flippantly.

"You can't say stuff like that!" Avery snaps.

"Why not?"

"Because it's unprofessional. And if you don't act professional, Nolan isn't going to let you come with us." Everly pouts and Avery sighs.

"Can you be professional?" Avery asks Everly. She nods.

"Great. Now get in the van and keep your lips buttoned."

***

Fortunately Everly heeds Avery's advice and keeps quiet during most of the ride to the Westwater Lighthouse. Although Avery thinks the main reason for that, is because Lennox is recounting some of his tales from ghost hunting and Everly seems more than happy to sit and listen.

Avery breathes a sigh of relief, as she was afraid if Everly didn't shut up, Sid would start complaining about her to Nolan and he would have asked her to stay behind.

That was not what Avery wanted to deal with. If that would have happened, Avery feared there wouldn't have been any way to reconcile their friendship.

"So what information do you have about this place?" Avery asks Nolan.

"Not sure I should say." Nolan smirks, casting a devilish grin at Avery. Her face heats up.

"Hey. I'm a seasoned investigator now," Avery snaps good naturedly. "I think I can handle whatever you're going to throw at me."

Nolan laughs. He certainly had his doubts about Avery at first, but she really did turn out to be a valuable asset in his paranormal society.

"There's been the usual reports," Nolan begins. "Apparitions, disembodied voices and objects moving on their own."

"Cool." Avery glances over her shoulder at Everly, who's now making eyes at Lennox, who seems more fine with that.

Sid is leaning forward, trying to be cool and casual with Lola, whispering something in her ear that's making her blush and squirm.

"Looks like we might have our hands full," Nolan jokes, glancing in the rear view mirror at the four people in the back. Avery laughs.

"This time it might not be the ghosts we need to worry about," she adds in agreement.

"I second that," Nolan says.

***

When they reach the lighthouse, Avery notices that Everly seems to lost some of her enthusiasm. She's warily eyeing the lighthouse.

"Something the matter?" Sid asks Everly, his usual smirk back on his face.

"No!" Everly exclaims.

"You scared of heights?" Sid presses. Everly doesn't reply. She just starts biting her fingernails, a pensive look crossing her face.

"Hey, this'll be fun," Lennox tells Everly, smiling and touching her arm. She jumps.

"Yeah," Everly mutters. "Fun."

****

"Okay," Nolan says to everyone after they've gotten all their equipment set up. "Since there's six of us, we'll do two teams of three. I'll go with Avery and Everly, since she doesn't have any previous experience. Then Lennox, Sid and Lola will go together."

"Will we switch up halfway through?" Lennox wants to know. Nolan nods, smirking.

"Just like we usually do."

"Could I go with Everly at some point?" Lennox asks. Nolan gives him a stern look.

"I don't want any shit going down."

"Understood."

"Great! Let's get started!"

****

"Nolan, Everly and Avery in the lighthouse," Avery says into her voice recorder. Nolan is scanning the area for any signs of movement.

"Is there a Margaret Simmons here?" Avery asks. Almost immediately, there's a faint voice, coming from somewhere.

"What was that?" Everly asks, looking panicked.

"Possibly the spirit," Nolan responds. He sees what appears to be a human shaped figure on the thermal camera.

"Margaret, if that was you," Avery says softly. "Could you come closer?" A faint wailing sound seems to come from the top of lighthouse.

Everly freaks, bolting for the front entrance and running out into the dark. Nolan gives Avery a sympathetic look.

"Do you want to go after her?" He asks.

"I will in a minute," Avery replies. "I want to go to the top first." Nolan grins.

"Atta girl."

***

"Lennox, Sid and Lola in the light keeper's house," Lola says into her voice recorder as Lennox shines his flashlight around and Sid goes to set up some equipment which picks up movement from energy.

"Is there anyone from the Simmons family here?" Lennox asks. They all take seats around, just waiting for a while to see if anything shows.

The electronic meter beeps once, lighting up.

"Oh!" Lola explains. "It just lit up."

"I noticed that, too," Sid says.

"Is there anything you'd like to tell us?" Lennox asks. A faint knock sounds on the far right wall.

"We heard that," Lola says. "Can you do it again?" The knock sounds again.

"Who's here?" Sid asks. "Margaret? Or Natalie? Or John?"

Across the room, a framed picture falls over, crashing to the floor. They all look at each other. Lennox moves to set the picture back, then steps away, waiting to see if whoever did that, will do it again.

"Can you do that again?" Lennox asks. Almost immediately, the picture is down on the floor.

"Thank you."

"Who's here?" Sid repeats. "Natalie or John?" Another picture falls to the floor.

"Knock again when I say your name," Sid says. "Natalie?" Nothing.

"John?" A sharp knock on the wall. Sid grins.

"Thank you, John."

****

Everyone regroups after a few hours. Avery had spoken with Everly about what happened and asked if she'd be more comfortable just waiting in the van.

"Are you kidding?" Everly asks. "You want me to wait alone, in the dark? What if some freak shows up?"

"Well, what do you want to do?" Avery asks.

"Go home."

"You can't. Not until we've finished with the investigation." Everly pouts.

"You wanted to come," Avery reminds her friend. "So you're just going to have to make the best of it."

"Okay, okay, okay." Everly suddenly grins. "Besides, Lennox wants to investigate with me."

"You two just be investigating the paranormal and not each other," Avery warns. Everly laughs.

"No promises."

***

Against Nolan's better judgment, he allows Lennox and Everly to investigate together. They stay in the light keeper's house, though, as Everly flat out refuses to go back into the lighthouse.

That actually suits Nolan fine, as he wants to investigate the lighthouse further. Sid and Avery go to the top and check things out there, while Nolan and Lola stay on the main level.

"There was really a wailing noise?" Sid asks Avery, who grins and nods. She reaches the top and steps out, just gazing around.

"I'll have to return when it's light out," Avery murmurs. "I bet the view is incredible."

"I'll bet," Sid agrees.

"Margaret, we thought we heard from you earlier," Avery says. "Are you still here?"

Once more, there's a faint wailing noise. Sid grins, nodding. He's obviously pleased to be hearing this.

"Thank you," Avery says. "Is there anything you'd like to say to us?"

There's a faint voice that Sid hears, almost right in his ear. It sounds like, help.

"I think I might have picked that up on the voice recorder," Avery murmurs. Sid nods, giving her a thumbs up.

"This place is awesome," Avery says softly. Sid nods in agreement.

"Definitely."

***

"So you heard some wailing in the lighthouse, eh?" Lennox asks Everly. She nods.

"Yes! It scared the hell outta me!"

"This paranormal stuff can freak you out if you're not used to it," Lennox says.

"How do you deal with it?" Everly asks. Lennox shrugs.

"Guess I'm just used to it by now."

"How long have you been investigating the paranormal?" Everly asks.

"About ten years," Lennox replies.

"Wow. That's a long time." Lennox notes the admiration in Everly's tone.

"It is, I suppose," Lennox agrees. "Although there are people who've been doing this work for way longer than that."

"Cool." Lennox suddenly flashes a grin.

"How would you like to help me play a little joke on the others?" Everly's eyes light up.

"Sure! What did you have in mind?"

"Follow me."

***

Nolan and Lola are checking around the outside of the house when Lola hears a low voice. She frowns.

"Lolaaa," the voice whispers.

"Nolan." Lola motions him over. She puts a finger to her lips and gestures towards the house. Nolan nods, understanding.

"Margaret?" Lola says. "Is that you?" Nothing. "John?"

"Natalie?" Nolan asks.

"Nolan," the voice whispers. Nolan frowns. Something isn't setting right with him. He marches over and...comes face to face with Lennox, who's doubled over, laughing, while Everly films the whole thing.

"What the hell are you doing?" Nolan asks irritably.

"Just playing a little joke on you." Lennox wipes away tears of laughter, straightening up. Nolan scowls.

"Get back to work," he snaps. "And quit screwing around, before I decide to put your sorry ass on probation."

☆Fifteen☆

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