A Night Out

[hunter_returns]

Things had been quiet since he'd come home, since Ellie had started to grow a little closer to him. It wasn't easy and Sam still had his rough days, but they were working things out. An easy system - if Sam was hiding in the office, everyone kept their distance. Otherwise, they worked it out

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[loistheintrepid]

Lois Lane? On time? Nice try, Sam. She'd holed herself up in her office all day, surfacing only to grab another triple espresso and allow a fleeting birthday cake surprise from her officemates. She did manage, at least, to get home only an hour and a half after she was meant to, thanks to Clark's incessant pestering.

So home she goes, still engulfed in her emails from her phone, mind swimming too deep in police corruption research to really think of any plans for the night past dinner and being around the people she loved.

The missing Impala in the driveway should've been her first clue, had she been paying enough attention. But when she opened the front door and saw a very clean cut, very gussied-up Sam in front of her, a slow, tentative smile tugged at her lips.

"Sammy? Don't you look handsome."

[hunter_returns]

Self-consciously Sam tugs at his shirt before smiling, reaching to take the coffee out of her hand and the phone, setting them both on the table. "Happy birthday. I, ah, Dean's got Ellie for the night. I thought maybe we could have a night in? Just the two of us?"

And on the table in the kitchen, boxes of Thai carryout - the same restaurant they'd gotten takeout from the first night they'd had dinner together. Beside it? Stacks of video games he'd dug out. Her favorite. First person shooter games (no zombie games because he doesn't want to risk a flashback) and a copy of Indiana Jones.

There was also a small, slightly lopsided and clearly handmade cake with a single candle on it.

Dean had helped with getting the Thai and finding the games for Sam, giving his brother a grin and a tousle of his hair before leaving for the night. Slowly they were reconnecting and maybe tonight could be yet another step closer.

[loistheintrepid]

She watches him intently as he takes her things, biting down a grin as he speaks and then tearing her eyes from him to cast a glance at the table. She can feel her chest tightening at everything he's put together - all of it a nod to back then, back when things were... simpler. And maybe her eyes are starting to sting a bit.

She lets out a sputter of a laugh, taking his hand and walking towards the kitchen to inspect the cake.

"God, Sammy, look at this, this is... You did all this?" She glanced up at him, a grin plastered on her lips despite the tears welling up in her eyes.

[hunter_returns]

Really it's the closest Sam has felt to normal in weeks, months even. A few small gestures to surprise Lois - because she always appreciated smaller ones than big, grandiose surprises (kidney punch anyone?). Sam takes her other hand, drawing her in a little closer, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear.

"Yeah. I figure with everything you've put up with, you, ah, you deserved that much. A quiet birthday at home. With me."

Because God only knows why, but she still wanted him, still loved him and it was the only thing keeping Sam together some days. Lois wanting him around. A friendly shoulder bump, hearing her laugh at something ridiculous Dean was doing to amuse Ellie.