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

[gavemea_45]

It slams into him, even though he knows what Andrew's doing -- hell, he's even using the same words, and Sam's sure deep down that he's doing it deliberately.

But what Andrew doesn't know, can't possibly know, is that there's something else, too.

"Looks like I was right... Andy's a killer after all."

"No, he's a hero. He saved his girlfriend's life, he saved my life."

"Bottom line, Dean-- last night, he wasted somebody."

"What's your point, Sam?"

"Right circumstances, everyone's capable of murder. Everyone."

He looks down and away, back at the book, and doesn't say a word.

[stilljustandrew]

"Neither did you."

He wants to reach out and put a hand on Sam's arm.

Doesn't. It's hard to say what stops him.

"And even if you did. Which you didn't. Even if you did -- that's not the same as not deserving to have anyone care."

[gavemea_45]

"I know that."

His gaze is still fixed on the book. A beat of silence, and then Sam sighs, and finally glances back up.

"I'm not saying I deserved to die, Andrew. And it's sure as-- it's not like I wanted to, either."

"But what I'm trying to get through to you is that it's my own fault that I did."

[stilljustandrew]

"Nope."

Quiet, and steady.

"Sorry. Not buying it."

[gavemea_45]

Sam shrugs, and looks away again.

"Anyway."

After a moment.

"You didn't have to send someone else. Is what I meant."

[stilljustandrew]

A long beat.

"Okay." Soft. "I'll know that for next time."



"...You know what, let's not have a next time."

[gavemea_45]

He glances back at Andrew, and cracks a small, wry smile.

"Right there with you on that one."

[stilljustandrew]

Andrew returns it, with a touch of hesitancy that dissipates mid-gesture.

"So, uh." Half a beat. "...where were we?"

[gavemea_45]

"Um."

He has to think back.

"... library closes at 4 AM," Sam recalls.

[stilljustandrew]

"...yeah." A bit rueful. "And right now it's only about ... five-thirty in the afternoon. So we're good for time."

[gavemea_45]

"Looks like."

A beat.

"Maybe we should take that break?"

[stilljustandrew]

"Probably a good plan -- you want to get something to eat?"

[gavemea_45]

"Probably a good plan," Sam echoes, dryly.

"Looks like it's gonna be a long night."