(Untitled)

[gavemea_45]

[OOM: Memories in the dark.]

He leaves Dean sleeping in the motel room. Sam slips through the door into Milliways, then shuts it quietly behind him.

He gives the place a quick once-over, then starts across the room toward the corridor that leads to the Security officeSome time after that he's back. Sam gets a drink and takes a seat at a table

Comments

[ever_noteful]

He passed her table, on his way to his.

Meg hesitates for just a second, and then goes over.

"Hi, Sam."

[gavemea_45]

"Meg. Hey."

He glances up at her with a small smile.

"How's it going?"

[ever_noteful]

"Things are good, thank you," she says. "Busy, and I'm trying to spend time outside before winter settles in, but good.

"How are things with you?"

[gavemea_45]

"Oh, you know," he evades.

"Cold sucks. Probably just as well to get the outside time while you can, right?"

A beat.

"Especially up there in the Frozen North."

[themysciradiana]

Diana, dirt-stained and sweat-damp once more, looks up from her own table as Sam makes his way past.

Her initial smile of welcome fades, and she leaves him time to settle himself before she stands up and approaches.

"Sam."

There's a softness to her expression, not sympathy but awareness. Understanding -- that may come later, or it may not.

"If there's a chance you would not mind company, I'd be pleased to join you, even if only for a little while."

[gavemea_45]

"Hi, Diana."

His smile is smaller this evening, but it's there.

"Um, sure, if you want."

[themysciradiana]

"I've had my fill today of sitting alone. Thank you."

She settles herself at the other side of the table, hands folded neatly in front of her. The barest edge of her bracers are visible beneath her shirtsleeve.

[gavemea_45]

"Long day?"

He can't help but flick a glance at her wrists.

"You know, my brother will be sorry he missed seeing you," Sam remarks.

[howling_laugh]

Funny thing about those dark corners, they still have a pretty good view of the front door.

She might not see Sam yet, though. It's been a while since she's been in, and you never know who's lurking in the corners.

[gavemea_45]

So they do, which is part of the reason why he chose this one.

Sam spots Coyote, and his jaw sets in a hard line.

[howling_laugh]

Coyote wipes her hands on the red bandana stuck in her pocket and makes her way to the bar. She heads back to a table and pops the cap on her Tecate. Looks like she has an evening of staring out the window planned.

[gavemea_45]

That's the thing about plans. A lot of the time they get screwed up.

"Coyote."

Sam's hand tightens on his glass.

"Long time no see."

[isaysimplewords]

Cal nearly leaves without seeing him, but happens to turn as he's putting on his coat, and spots Sam in the corner. He hesitates, debating briefly - there's something about sitting as far away from actual people as possible that does send a certain message - then settles on giving Sam a greeting wave, to see what response it gets before he heads over.

[gavemea_45]

Sam jerks his head back in a nod.

It's definitely a greeting.

[isaysimplewords]

Cal accepts it as such, walking over to Sam's table. He doesn't take off his coat just yet, but he doesn't start buttoning it up, either.

"Hi," he says. "How are you?"

[gavemea_45]

"Been better," he admits.

Might as well admit it, seeing as how he'd completely failed to hide it from Meg, or hell, from an artificially intelligent security structure.

"But that's how it goes sometimes. What about you?"

[stilljustandrew]

Andrew's passing by on his way to the couch, carrying a tray with a bowl of dry cereal and a bottle of milk on it.

"Hey, Sam."

[gavemea_45]

He glances up, pulled out of his thoughts by the sound of a familiar
voice.

"Andrew. Hey."

[stilljustandrew]

He pauses mid-step, as though someone's grabbed the back of his shirt.

"...You okay, man?"

[gavemea_45]

"You want the truth?"

There's a wry, bitter twist to the corner of his mouth.

The drink in front of him appears untouched.