At the Council Library

[stilljustandrew]

Sam's been here before, a couple of years ago.

Very little has changed; it still has the timeless feel of most libraries, the central rotunda still vast and hushed and reverent.

Comments

[stilljustandrew]

Andrew shakes his head at the unspoken apology: it's okay.

And it strikes him again: even in the middle of his own work, of trying to collect information to save his world from a massive invasion of demons, Sam's still trying to save somebody else along the way.

[sunnydalealum]

Beth straightens, uncrossing her arms.

Her tone's a little apologetic. "I should get back to work."

[gavemea_45]

"Uh-huh -- "

It's only then that he realizes something.

"-- hey, what was it you came looking for in the first place?"

[sunnydalealum]

"Oh -- yeah. Ms. Harkness wants to know if you've got the second copy of Erhardt's Bindings."

[stilljustandrew]

Andrew glances down at the book in front of him. "I just took this one -- Sam, did you grab the other?"

[gavemea_45]

"Um."

He sorts through the piles of books in front of him, and comes up with a second copy of the volume in question.

"... yeah. Looks like." Sam holds it out to Beth. "Sorry about that."

[sunnydalealum]

"It's okay. I can bring it back here if Ms. Harkness finishes with it soon."

Beth reaches to take the book, holds it carefully in the crook of one arm.

"I'll let you get back to work," she says, and turns to go.

[gavemea_45]

"Thanks."

As Beth leaves, Sam turns to look at Andrew, evidently waiting for something.

[stilljustandrew]

Andrew looks back at him, a touch blankly. "What?"

[gavemea_45]

"Nothing, just--"

Sam shrugs, a little uncomfortably.

"--didn't mean to put you in an awkward position there."

[stilljustandrew]

"...What, by trying to help her?"

Andrew shakes his head. "Don't worry about it."

[gavemea_45]

He studies Andrew for a second or two, then evidently decides to accept that at face value.

"Okay."

Sam glances back down at the book he'd been trying without much success to read when Beth had approached, and sighs.

[stilljustandrew]

Quiet: "Wanna take a break?"

[gavemea_45]

"Probably should," he agrees, after a few moments' silence.

Sam's still staring at the book when he adds,

"I just hate to waste the time, is all."

[stilljustandrew]

"You got a deadline?"

He's only half kidding.

[gavemea_45]

Do I ever.

"I don't know, do I?" he counters, with a rueful grin. "I forgot to ask what time this place closes."

[stilljustandrew]

Andrew opens his mouth, and pauses.

"You know," he says, "I'm not sure when it does close. Or if. I could ask?"

[gavemea_45]

"If you don't mind?"

A beat.

"I mean -- I already appreciate that you're doing this, Andrew; I don't want to impose, or anything."

Not that he wouldn't impose in a heartbeat if it meant saving Dean, but it's still true.

[stilljustandrew]

"You're not," Andrew tells him, earnestly. "Don't even."

He pulls a sheet of notepaper into service as a bookmark, and starts to get to his feet.

"Be right back."

[gavemea_45]

"'Kay. Thanks."

As Andrew heads off through the stacks, Sam turns his attention back to the texts in front of him-- and then just buries his face in his hands, breathing a little unsteadily.

It's hard not to sink into disappointment. Despite the fact that what he and Dean had found here last time hadn't crossed over to their world in any sort of linear fashion, a part of him had hoped, given the size of the place and its resources, that the answer he so desperately needs would be there somewhere. Maybe even listed under "demonic contracts, escape clauses for," or something like that.

But it's not, and so far nothing he's found looks promising. Not really.

He takes a few seconds to get a grip on himself -- then swallows hard, wipes the back of one hand across his eyes, and gets back to work.

[stilljustandrew]

Behind him, in the aisle between two shelves, Andrew stands watching him with a stricken look on his face.

(He encountered another of the library assistants two aisles over, saving him the walk all the way back to the front desk. And clearly he's returned earlier than Sam expected.

He didn't mean to be sneaking back; it's just that they're in the library, and in the library it's important to be quiet.)



"Sam?"

[gavemea_45]

He spins around in his seat.

"Andrew."

Beat.

"That was fast." Sam's searching his face very carefully. "What'd they say?"

[stilljustandrew]

It doesn't take too careful a search to see the worry in Andrew's face.

"Officially they close at four AM. You can get a reading room kept open by arrangement after that, but...."

He trails off, biting his lip.

"You okay, man?"

[gavemea_45]

His friend's concern is visible, but there's only one way to answer it. Sam shakes his head at Andrew.

"I'm fine. Just been staring at the books too long. You know how that is; hard on the eyes."

[stilljustandrew]

"Sam --"

Instead of circling the table to take his own chair again, Andrew tugs over another to sit closer, leaning forward, hands flat on his knees.

"Come on. Don't give me that." The words may be brusque; the tone is closer to pleading.