But you're bound to stay, for you've lost your way in the twists of Babylon Wood...

[best_is_past]

There is an angry woman stalking through the Organization headquarters, looking for a certain sociopath in a sweatervest. She just woke up. Or... woke up isn't exactly the right term. She was already awake, standing and fully dressed and all, she just suddenly had no idea what just happened or how she got there. And after a little investigation,

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[riversodeep]

Andy is coming to terms with the fact that her ward is single-handedly trying to prove the British "stiff upper lip" stereotype correct. Yes, it kinda sucks from the perspective that her ward is in pain and not letting her do anything about it, but she just has to keep reminding herself that things could be worse. She could be her sister.

Still, she's also coming to the realization that the best way to take care of her ward is to not give him a choice in the matter. To that end, as soon as he steps off the street and into the Kashtta itself, she attaches herself to him with a hug. Which he will accept, God damn it, because she is pretty sure she can beat him up.

[definitivestep]

Sam was not expecting that. He stops and just stands there for a moment before he registers that it's Andy - not exactly a surprise - and hugs her awkwardly back. It seems the only appropriate things to do. After all, telling her he's fine isn't going to do him any good.

"You haven't been just... waiting here, have you?" He'd feel bad about that. He feels bad about the whole situation, but there's... not a lot he can do about most of it.

[riversodeep]

Andy exhales, letting go of him to better look up at his face with an expression of fond exasperation. "No, Sam, I haven't," she says. She can sense where he happens to be. Staking out the lobby isn't necessary. "I was up in my room, watching Star Trek, until I knew you were nearby and I headed down."

To be similarly useless. She'd almost wish he'd get attacked by something just so she'd have something to address which she knew how to deal with, but she's not about to make that sort of wish in Chicago.

"I take it you haven't had much to occupy your attention recently," she says. "Aside from the glaringly obvious."

[definitivestep]

Sam sighs, shaking his head a little and rubbing at the bridge of his nose. "I... Not exactly. It's alright. I don't need... I really can-"

He cuts himself off with a grimace. Anything he was going to say is pretty much disproved by the fact that he needs a guardian angel. A second time. And it's not like arguing ever gets him anywhere with Andy.

[riversodeep]

Andy will give him a knowing look for a moment, because it's hard not to when he keeps cutting himself off like that.

"All right. Would you like to? There are a few Christmas movies playing at the IMAX, predictably. There's a RetroFuture Con coming up this weekend in Schaumberg, I'm sure there are residential districts around here still wealthy enough to put up Christmas displays just to have people drive through at night and gawk at them, and if all else fails, I left half a library's worth of golden-age sci-fi and quirky literature at my dad's house I keep meaning to have him mail over. Or I could teach you how to make a Baked Alaska, assuming you don't already know. Or recommend a very good jazz bar, assuming they haven't closed. Or."

She shrugs. He may or may not want to do anything, either solitary or communal, but at the very least finding something to distract himself from the brooding might be healthy. It's not as if being very sad all day is going to bring Gene out of his coma any faster.

[definitivestep]

"That's..." Sam smiles a little, though it's one of those awkward, slightly confused smiles like he's still not sure what to make of Andy. "Thank you. I'll think about it. I've just been..."

He shakes his head a little. He's been doing what he's always done, dealing with it on his own until it doesn't... hurt so much. Eventually it works out for him.

[riversodeep]

Andy is here to discourage that sort of behavior. Ideally it'd be in a way which doesn't make Sam feel like he's being handled, but she'll take results however they present themselves.

"You do that," she says. "Let me know. I'm always around."

You know, like he didn't know that.