(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."

[ever_noteful]

"I'll be breaking my dog sled out of storage soon," Meg says, lightly.

The evasion is noted.

But not commented on.

"How's your brother?"

[gavemea_45]

"Sleeping," Sam tells her.

"Do you have the dogs to go with the sled?"

[ever_noteful]

There's a fraction of a second's hesiation, and then she says, "Of course.

"It's far more efficient than trying to convince cats to pull a sled, and reindeer aren't in fashion till December."

[gavemea_45]

"Right."

A beat.

"Sorry."

[ever_noteful]

Meg shrugs. "It was hardly my best joke ever."

She looks down at her hands for a second and then back up at him.

"Sam, are you okay?"

[gavemea_45]

"Not really," he admits, after a second or two. "But there's nothing anyone can do about it, either, so."

[ever_noteful]

"I'm very sorry to hear that," Meg says.

"Should I leave you alone, or talk about something inconsequential, or . . .?"

[gavemea_45]

"Inconsequential's good," he says.

"Though it's okay if you'd rather take off. I know I'm not good company right now."

[ever_noteful]

"How do you feel about jigsaw puzzles?" Meg asks.

[gavemea_45]

"... I haven't done much with them, honestly."

He shrugs.

"They don't travel well."

[ever_noteful]

"My roommate bought one that is a black cat lying on a black background. All the pieces -- all one thousand of the pieces -- are exactly the same shape. You have to match up the way the fur is going.

"I think it's going to be on our dining table until we all graduate.

"And we just started our second year."

[gavemea_45]

Sam gives her a small grin.

"You could try spilling soup on it, or something?"