[AU] two worlds, a lot of demons, and a new set of problems

[gavemea_45]

It's still hard to believe it's over; that the yellow-eyed demonic bastard they'd spent their whole lives hunting is finally dead.

Sam figures it'll sink in eventually. Given everything else -- right now he's still pretty numb.

He's also desperately tired, but that doesn't matter. There's something he needs to do, and he can't afford to delay.

He waits until they've settled in for the night, and then waits still longer. Once Dean's been asleep for half an hour, Sam picks up his messenger bag -- already stuffed with books and his computer -- and heads straight for the bar.

He orders black coffee and snags a table with a good view of both doors and the stairs, then pulls out the first of the old texts and starts to search through it.

There's work to do.

Comments

[gavemea_45]

"They're not supposed to." It's very, very dry.

[pacificator]

She sighs and rolls her eyes. "Right. Why take a night off from the evil-doing?"

[gavemea_45]

"Uh-huh." Sam downs a third of the water bottle, then sets it back on the table. "Anyway, figured you should know."

[pacificator]

Wynonna reaches for the whiskey, catches the gimlet glare of a nearby waitrat, and adjusts to grab one of the bottles of water. "Thanks for the heads up."

[gavemea_45]

“Sure.” Sam tips his head toward the rat and murmurs, “Better them than the bar herself.”

[pacificator]

"Yeah?"

She slides a glance over at the bar. "Why, what happens when she does it?"

[gavemea_45]

“She just doesn’t serve you. Until she decides you’re okay or whatever.” He sounds sour. “Sometimes she gives you other stuff instead that she thinks you should have. She fusses, I guess you’d say.”

[pacificator]

"You sound awfully familiar with it."

She considers him. Maybe he's not as good of a boy as he looks.

[gavemea_45]

Sam shrugs and gives her a blandly innocent smile.

[pacificator]

"Uh-huh."

She cracks the bottle and sips at the water, then lifts it, aggrieved, towards the waitrat, which squeaks and scurries off. "At least this place has rooms where you can sleep it off, not just an alleyway."

[gavemea_45]

“Comfortable ones, even.” Sam eyes her again. “Do a lot of sleeping in alleyways?”

[pacificator]

"Define 'a lot.'"

Say what you will about alleyways, but they're a closer stumble than the homestead is. "But a room for the night is looking better and better."

[gavemea_45]

“Not a bad idea.” Especially when compared to sleeping in the street. “That way you can beat the hangover before going home.”

[pacificator]

"I'll be nice and fresh for when I get back to drinking at Shorty's."

She reaches for some pretzels and crams them into her mouth. "Kinda nice to meet another demon hunter. Even if it also sucks that we're both demon hunters."

[gavemea_45]

“You got that right. Both counts.” Sam downs the rest of his water and sets the bottle aside, then reaches for his coffee instead. One sip and he grimaces at how cold it is.

[pacificator]

Probably she should apologize from taking him away from his coffee, his research. He'll need both to save his brother. And a lot more of each.

But the warmth fuzz of the whiskey and tequila is catching hold of her, and pretty soon she won't be good for much of anything. Unless there's a mechanical bull stashed away somewhere in this joint. She nods at his piles of books. "Want some help?"

[gavemea_45]

Sam scowls at them for a few seconds, then shakes his head. “Not tonight. I’m just going in circles now anyway. Besides…” He looks up at her. “You’re already helping a lot by offering to bring Peacemaker to force the issue. I’m going to tell Dean in the morning, and I should be able to summon the crossroads demon tomorrow night.”

[pacificator]

"Okie doke."

She sets her hands on the table top and stands, a little unsteadily. "Then I think it's time for me to go sleep this off."

[gavemea_45]

She’s not quite steady, he realizes, and Sam’s on his feet offering her a hand before he realizes. “Easy there, tiger.”

He’s a little tipsy himself, but not too bad, he thinks.

[pacificator]

"Holy shit, you're tall."

It takes a second for her glance to waver its way up to his face. "It's fine. I think the tequila got to the floor, though. It feels a little drunk."

[gavemea_45]

“That happens,” he agrees. “And yeah, I am, I know.” Sam shuts his laptop with his free hand. “Want me to walk you up?”

[pacificator]

She blinks and studies him, a little blearily.

For most guys, that wouldn't really be the invitation on the table. With him, she kind of thinks it is. "If you're going that way already."

[gavemea_45]

“Give me a second.” He shoves his stuff into his messenger bag and slings it over his shoulder. “Got a room already or need to grab one?”

[pacificator]

"Oh, heck, I should probably grab one instead of jostling every doorknob, looking for one that's unlocked."

She turns and swaggers over to the bar, her head fuzzier than ever, to do just that.

[gavemea_45]

He follows after her, and realizes that he probably needs to do the same, although his original plan of hiding his visit from Dean’s over now that he needs to explain meeting Wynonna.

That’s okay. It’s worth it. More than. Still, it’ll go better if he’s not still breathing whiskey fumes when he’s telling his brother about this. Sam waits for her to ask for a key, planning to do the same right after.