(Untitled)

[gavemea_45]

Dean's changing the Impala's oil, which is more than fine with Sam, who's on a different mission entirely.

He's got a corner booth with a good view of the room, Dad's journal on the table in front of him, and a cup or three of coffee near at hand.

Looks like it's gonna be a long night.

Comments

[hadyougoing]

"Sam!"

Ava has shed her reindeer antlers in favor of her silver headband, and is currently bouncing her purple-sweater-and-sweatpantsed way towards Sam's booth.

[gavemea_45]

"Ava, hi."

He closes the journal and nods to her.

"How's it going?"

[hadyougoing]

Ava knows from hiding reading material, but gives the notebook only a down-and-up flicker of attention.

She's got bigger fish to fry tonight, kids.

"I'm great," she says pleasantly.

"I got you a Christmas present."

[gavemea_45]

"... you..."

Wait, what?

No, seriously. What?

"... it was Christmas?"

[hadyougoing]

"... Is it not Christmas for you right now?"

[gavemea_45]

"Not right now, no-- it's, uh, February," Sam tells her.

He looks more than a little surprised, even as a sinking feeling passes over him.

"I, uh... guess I've been gone longer than I thought..."

[hadyougoing]

Ava's expression is very sad.

Almost as if the chronology Grinch has just stolen her holiday mirth.

"How long have you been gone?"

[gavemea_45]

A few weeks.

A hundred Tuesdays.

Six months.

"... I honestly don't know," Sam tells her, with perfect truth.

[hadyougoing]

Ava slips into the booth across from him without asking, her frown now of the concerned rather than crestfallen variety.

"Did something happen?"

[gavemea_45]

"... yeah," he admits. "It's, uh, been kind of a weird few ... days. Weeks."

Months.

"Whatever."

Beat.

"Anyway, how are you?" he asks, at which point it strikes him again what she'd said before.

"-- wait, you seriously got me a present?"

[hadyougoing]

Ava will let this one slip, for now.

She's so not forgetting it.

"Uh ... yeah. I did." She smiles again, though sheepishly now that the mood has been totally wrecked. "It wasn't a big deal. I just, you know ... thought of you."

[gavemea_45]

Sam blinks in surprise, and then suddenly smiles, with real warmth of the kind Ava's not likely to have seen from him in a while.

"Thanks," he tells her. "Seriously."

[hadyougoing]

Ava's smile spreads.

"Uh ... not a problem."

He should probably wait until he sees it, but hey! She'll take the fuzzies where she can get them.

"Want me to get it?"

[gavemea_45]

"Um, sure, if you want?"

Beat.

"I mean, you don't have to or anything--"

[hadyougoing]

"Dude," Ava says.

"I did not make this present to then not give it to you. Wait here."

She slides out of the booth and vanishes into the evening shuffle, headband gleaming in the low light. A few moments later, she comes back, carrying a small red-and-white striped tin.

"Here." She sits back down; the box is presented with a flourish.

"Merry Christmas, Sam Winchester. Or I guess happy Valentine's Day!"

[gavemea_45]

"... uh, thanks."

He gives her a quick, uncertain smile, and turns the tin around in his fingers.

"Should I open it now?"