Fic: We Pass in the Night
Title: We Pass in the Night
Fandoms: Leverage/Supernatural
Rating PG-13
Word Count: 759
Summary: A late night trip to a museum proves more interesting than usual for Maggie Collins.
A/N: Written for the gift-giving challenge over at leverageland. Gift for telaryn - I hope you like it!
Maggie was used to museums; her job meant that she had been lucky enough to visit most of the best ones -and, unfortunately, some of the worst ones - over the last ten years. She no longer found it creepy to be in a museum after hours, surrounded by dinosaur bones. In fact, it was one of her favourite times to be there; no tourists to hurry her as she tried to look at the exhibits, no noise to stop her from fully appreciating the art.
Nowadays, it was strange to hear people talking about getting the creeps in museums at night; for her, visiting after closing hours was an indulgence, an opportunity that she always tried to take for herself. And there was no way she was missing out on experiencing the Guggenheim at night.
She smiled at the security guard as he left her alone and then took a moment just to stand still in the presence of some of the greatest art in the world. Van Gogh, Miro, Braque; they were all around her and it was beautiful. Walking around the gallery, she hummed lightly to herself as she followed her usual pattern; a quick glimpse of each work on her first circle of the room and then closer inspections, appreciations, on her second.
Stopping in front of a Van Gogh, Maggie clenched her fists at her sides to stop herself from reaching out and touching it; she didn’t have the authority for that here. The spotlight above the painting flickered, buzzing noisily through the silence, and then went out. With her view of the painting spoilt, Maggie made a mental note to mention it to the guard waiting outside and moved onto the next painting.
She paused as the buzzing noise continued; surely, if the light was out, the noise should have stopped. Stepping back towards the Van Gogh, she reached forwards and tapped the light, frowning when the noise still didn’t stop.
Feeling a draught, Maggie turned to speak to the guard but the door was still closed. She moved into the centre of the room, craning her head back to look up at the windows that encircled the top of the walls.
They were all shut.
There had to be a rational explanation; there always was. Buildings like this were always full of creaks and quirks; she’d been in enough of them over the years to know that. Still, it was getting late and she still had to drive home. It was time to go.
She nodded at the guard as she hurried back by him, forgetting to mention the light. Outside, she leaned against the wall of the museum for a moment, out of breath, and then straightened up. It was silly, letting herself get scared of a few noises in the night. Next time she was in New York, she’d come again.
“Are you okay?”
Maggie jumped at the voice and then laughed nervously when she saw the woman standing in front of her. “I’m fine, just a little tired.”
“Are you sure?” The woman didn’t look convinced. “Because you look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“I - museums can be a little spooky at night, that’s all.”
“Tell me about it - a creak here, a cold spot there, right?”
She nodded, “Exactly. I’m sorry, I didn’t get your name.”
“It’s Mary Wi- Warton. Nice to meet you.” She held out her hand.
Taking it, Maggie relaxed slightly now that she wasn’t alone in the dark. “Maggie Collins - I’m usually fine in museums after hours, I’m not sure what got into me.”
Mary smiled. “Even just being more tired than usual can make a difference. You said you were tired, right?”
“I did. I guess I should be getting back to Nate, actually.”
“Nate?”
“My husband.” He’d tried to tag along tonight but she’d said no, stay at home and relax. Good job, too; he’d have laughed at her for being nervous after the way she usually complained about museum wimps.
“Mine’s waiting at home for me, too. I hope it doesn’t take me too long in there tonight. It’s John’s night off.”
“What do you do? With the museum, I mean.”
“I liaise with security about protecting the art. Which I should be getting on with.” Mary smiled. “It was nice meeting you and I, well I hope you don’t get freaked out next time you’re here.”
“Thanks, I’m sure I’ll be fine. It’s not like there’s a resident museum ghost.”
Walking away, Maggie was sure that she heard the woman laugh.
Fandoms: Leverage/Supernatural
Rating PG-13
Word Count: 759
Summary: A late night trip to a museum proves more interesting than usual for Maggie Collins.
A/N: Written for the gift-giving challenge over at leverageland. Gift for telaryn - I hope you like it!
Maggie was used to museums; her job meant that she had been lucky enough to visit most of the best ones -and, unfortunately, some of the worst ones - over the last ten years. She no longer found it creepy to be in a museum after hours, surrounded by dinosaur bones. In fact, it was one of her favourite times to be there; no tourists to hurry her as she tried to look at the exhibits, no noise to stop her from fully appreciating the art.
Nowadays, it was strange to hear people talking about getting the creeps in museums at night; for her, visiting after closing hours was an indulgence, an opportunity that she always tried to take for herself. And there was no way she was missing out on experiencing the Guggenheim at night.
She smiled at the security guard as he left her alone and then took a moment just to stand still in the presence of some of the greatest art in the world. Van Gogh, Miro, Braque; they were all around her and it was beautiful. Walking around the gallery, she hummed lightly to herself as she followed her usual pattern; a quick glimpse of each work on her first circle of the room and then closer inspections, appreciations, on her second.
Stopping in front of a Van Gogh, Maggie clenched her fists at her sides to stop herself from reaching out and touching it; she didn’t have the authority for that here. The spotlight above the painting flickered, buzzing noisily through the silence, and then went out. With her view of the painting spoilt, Maggie made a mental note to mention it to the guard waiting outside and moved onto the next painting.
She paused as the buzzing noise continued; surely, if the light was out, the noise should have stopped. Stepping back towards the Van Gogh, she reached forwards and tapped the light, frowning when the noise still didn’t stop.
Feeling a draught, Maggie turned to speak to the guard but the door was still closed. She moved into the centre of the room, craning her head back to look up at the windows that encircled the top of the walls.
They were all shut.
There had to be a rational explanation; there always was. Buildings like this were always full of creaks and quirks; she’d been in enough of them over the years to know that. Still, it was getting late and she still had to drive home. It was time to go.
She nodded at the guard as she hurried back by him, forgetting to mention the light. Outside, she leaned against the wall of the museum for a moment, out of breath, and then straightened up. It was silly, letting herself get scared of a few noises in the night. Next time she was in New York, she’d come again.
“Are you okay?”
Maggie jumped at the voice and then laughed nervously when she saw the woman standing in front of her. “I’m fine, just a little tired.”
“Are you sure?” The woman didn’t look convinced. “Because you look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“I - museums can be a little spooky at night, that’s all.”
“Tell me about it - a creak here, a cold spot there, right?”
She nodded, “Exactly. I’m sorry, I didn’t get your name.”
“It’s Mary Wi- Warton. Nice to meet you.” She held out her hand.
Taking it, Maggie relaxed slightly now that she wasn’t alone in the dark. “Maggie Collins - I’m usually fine in museums after hours, I’m not sure what got into me.”
Mary smiled. “Even just being more tired than usual can make a difference. You said you were tired, right?”
“I did. I guess I should be getting back to Nate, actually.”
“Nate?”
“My husband.” He’d tried to tag along tonight but she’d said no, stay at home and relax. Good job, too; he’d have laughed at her for being nervous after the way she usually complained about museum wimps.
“Mine’s waiting at home for me, too. I hope it doesn’t take me too long in there tonight. It’s John’s night off.”
“What do you do? With the museum, I mean.”
“I liaise with security about protecting the art. Which I should be getting on with.” Mary smiled. “It was nice meeting you and I, well I hope you don’t get freaked out next time you’re here.”
“Thanks, I’m sure I’ll be fine. It’s not like there’s a resident museum ghost.”
Walking away, Maggie was sure that she heard the woman laugh.