(Untitled)

[badblood_rising]

Earlier that day, Sam Winchester had freed the Devil himself from Hell, and now he needed a drink.

There was something called the Hub and something called the Catscratch, but the Winchester was closest and after everything he'd gone through that day, Sam could somehow accept a mysterious bar practically named after his family more than a long walk

Comments

[loaded_wolf]

Dean was still pretty shaken up by Sam's reappearance and news from the future. Angua thought it might help to get him out of the house, and led him down the path toward the Winchester with the promise of pie. Working there part time had it's perks, no one would mind if she used the small kitchen to bake. Or, hopefully there'd be some left over from the last batch Jess had made.

When they came in, the first thing Angua saw was Sam alone at the bar. There was no mistaking the broad shoulders and the way they hunched. His hair was longer and he seemed bigger somehow, but she recognized him.

She paused in the threshold and looked to Dean, waiting for him to decide what to do.

[weary_head]

Dean was a little buzzed, and gratefully so due to Roger's quick thinking, but he was still rocked by the familiar sight of Sam at the bar. That it was something he could get used to again was, well, going to take some getting used to, but Dean squeezed Angua's hand, for once not at all perturbed that he probably looked like a pussy for having needed it threaded through his own.

He raised his eyebrows. Want to say hi?

[badblood_rising]

It was habit that had Sam glancing up towards the door. A creak of floorboards, the swing of hinges-- you looked or made some note of your surroundings, or you just might end up dead. Especially if you were working alone.

Everything about this place was just a little too much Fantasy Island, and looking up to see Gwyneth Paltrow waltz through the door just kind of sealed the deal. And then he saw Dean walk in, slip his hand into Gwyneth Paltrow's, and Sam knew he wasn't in his fantasy world, he was in Dean's.

He nodded a greeting to Dean and took another sip of his drink.

Gwyneth Fucking Paltrow. What the hell?

[loaded_wolf]

Angua's smile said sure, then she turned it on Sam. No matter what had happened, this was still Sam and he was still Dean's brother, and she was glad they had each other again.

She led Dean over to the bar, keeping her hand in his. "Hi Sam," she said, and paused. This was awkward, now that it was actually happening. "I'm Angua."

[weary_head]

Dean's weight shifted from foot to foot, fingers curled tightly with Angua's. He wondered if Sam could see it, how beautiful she was, how amazing, knowing full well that Sam probably only saw Gwyneth Paltrow. He himself had cracked a few Apple jokes on their first meeting, but it seemed important now that Sam was seeing her for the first time that he get it. She was perfect, and Dean loved her.

"Sammy," he said, finishing the greeting Sam had begun a moment ago.

[badblood_rising]

Oh, wow, there were so many things wrong about this situation that Sam wished he could fix, for his sake and Dean's and Angua's. Dean picked up sluts in bars and had a good time, but he wanted a life just like Sam did. He wanted it at the completely different (and in Sam's opinion, wrong) time than Sam did, but it wasn't hard to see from the way they held hands and the way Dean had talked about her before that this woman was special to him. Like maybe start a life special. And Sam was just finishing off one of the worst days of his life with some truly questionable alcohol. Not the time to meet the in-laws.

"Hey, Angua," he said, setting aside his drink and sliding off his stool. It wasn't the easiest of moments, but Sam could smile politely and offer her his hand and make the best of this for Dean. "It's nice to meet you."

[loaded_wolf]

Angua took Sam's hand and gave a firm, copper's shake. If she had to make an impression all over again, might as well make the right one.

"You too. I know this must be strange for you, it was for everyone when they showed up," she said, her smile sympathetic. "But I'm glad you're back. We're glad."

[weary_head]

Dean smiled too, nerves apparent there at the edges for all that it was genuine. "Guess you found the Winchester. It's not actually named after us, but we got it colonized pretty damn well. Angua and Jess both work here, and Dad and I bring in meat sometimes."

He nodded at the stools next to Sam. "Can we, uh..." Join you. It sounded strange and formal, and Dean couldn't quite force it out of his mouth.

[badblood_rising]

Sam almost wanted to say no. It was too soon after everything to sit there at a bar, sharing drinks with his brother and his girlfriend as if nothing had happened. As if Dean hadn't sworn to kill him when he had a chance.

But how could he say no to Dean right now?

"Yeah, yeah," he said, nodding quickly and then pushing his hair back. "So uh..." The ghost of a smile flickered across his face. "You and dad do honest hunting now?"

[loaded_wolf]

Angua sat down and ordered herself and Dean a drink, asked if there was any pie left from earlier in the week. She wondered what honest hunting was, and gave Dean a curious look.

[weary_head]

Dean took a seat, grinnng down at his hands as he settled. "Guess so. Boar mostly, and the occassional Island Chicken Thing." Which only served to remind him...

"There's dinosaurs, by the way, if you head too far north east. Manly as the scar looked on you when you were here before, I'm not anxious to see you get another one."

[badblood_rising]

"I had a run in with dinosaurs? Not you?" Sam questioned, dubious. Shaking his head, he took a seat and looked to Angua, a polite but not entirely there grin hanging on to his face. "I'm guessing the only reason he's in one piece is because of you, so thanks for that. He needs a keeper. A lot."

[loaded_wolf]

Angua's answering grin was crooked. "Now I remember why I like you so much, Sam. Because you recognize that I am even more badass than him," she said, motioning to Dean. It was, of course, Dean's fault entirely that she even knew what the word badass meant.