[AU] down to the Gulf

[feel_human]

Recuperating is a long, wearisome process, but she steadily refuses Bill's offers of his blood. "With everythin' that's been happenin', I just need to feel human for a while," she tells him, and he accepts it, if reluctantly.

Sam and Dean keep her swaddled in blankets, ply her with ice cream and soup and oatmeal and eggs, food soft enough not to hurt her bruised throat, and sternly keep her from doing pretty much anything at all but resting, eating, and healing. It feels like ages before her throat has healed well enough for her to eat solid food, but after that point, she gets better faster and faster. After a couple of weeks, she's nearly back to her old self, and the bruises have mostly faded away. She celebrates by baking Dean the long-promised apple pie and by telling Sam Merlotte that she's taking another week off.

There's no chance her little Honda could make it all the way down to the Gulf, even after Dean fixes what René had broken. Jason surprises her by offering his truck – she doesn't take him up on it, but she's touched – but a rental's a lot easier to manage when she's not the only one paying for it.

She leaves the house in Dean's care, warns him that Tara will be stopping by to make sure the place is still in one piece and asks him not to stake the neighbors, then slips into the passenger seat, her bag in the back with Sam's backpack. And then they're gone, gone, cruising southwards away from Bon Temps and vampires and everything that's happened. It's perfect, and that's even before they get to the Gulf.

She's not prepared for the crystalline water, the massive arcing expanse of sky, the soft white sand. It's the most beautiful place she's ever seen.

Comments

[feel_human]

"Well – "

She considers it as she looks around, blinking in the sun. "We could go get changed and spend some time on the beach. There's still a few hours before it'll start gettin' dark. And I bet you'd like a swim after that long drive, though I don't know how refreshin' this water might be, it bein' so warm."

[gavemea_45]

“I think that sounds like a great idea.” He turns their steps back toward the little cottage. “Later we can figure out if we want to go out for dinner or if we want to call for delivery or pickup.”

It’s kind of nice for that to be the only thing to worry about, at least for now.

[feel_human]

"Okay."

By unspoken agreement, they really haven't talked too much yet about the next few weeks and beyond, and she's not sure she wants to get into it right away here, either. For now, she squeezes his fingers and gives the stretch of beach around them a satisfied look. "And if you want to do any work or research, I won't tell on you."

[gavemea_45]

“Not today.” He squeezes her hand back. “Today’s just for us.”

Sam swings their hands a little as they cross the beach, consciously keeping his pace to hers.

[feel_human]

She smiles at that, sweetly content. "I like the sound of that."

When he goes – whether she goes with him or not – he'll be so busy, and so will she. Who knows when the next time they'll just get to luxuriate in each other will come?

[gavemea_45]

“Come on. I bet they’ve got some big beach towels in there.” The website had said so, anyway. “We’ll set up, and you can take a nap in the sun and salt air.”

[feel_human]

"That does sound nice," she admits. Even now, she still tires easily, her body building itself back up after the trauma René inflicted on her, and she really could use a nap after that long drive. She strolls with him back up toward the cottage, then leans down to pick up the sandals she'd abandoned. "Are you hungry or anythin'?"

[gavemea_45]

“Not yet, but I will be later. Maybe we can make a quick run for some basics after the beach,” he suggests. “Unless you’re hungry now?”

[feel_human]

"I'm okay," she promises. "But I did pack some snacks to munch on, since I wasn't sure when we'd be gettin' food. Pretzels and baby carrots and celery sticks, mostly."

It hadn't taken the last few weeks for her to realize how much he likes fresh vegetables, but she hadn't been in much of a position to provide them for him, either.

[gavemea_45]

Sam’s sudden smile is bright as summer sunshine. “Good idea.”

He slides the deck door open for her.

[feel_human]

"See, I knew you'd like that."

She heads inside and sets her sandals down near the door, then goes to retrieve a small insulated bag from inside the weekender she'd packed and holds it out to him with a smile. "Help yourself, honey."

[gavemea_45]

He chuckles a little ruefully, but takes the bag and pulls out a handful of carrots and celery sticks. “You’re always so thoughtful. Thank you.”

[feel_human]

"Well, I try."

She grabs her bag and moves into the bedroom, then searches through her clothes for one of the bikinis she'd brought, deciding on a sunny yellow polka dotted one.

[gavemea_45]

Sam wanders into the bathroom to search for beach towels, absently munching on carrots as he does.

A few minutes later he’s finished his snack, assembled a stack of towels, and is searching the kitchen for a picnic basket.

[feel_human]

She folds up her shorts and tank top and slips her sunglasses into her hair like a headband, then grabs her book and the small portable radio and heads back into the main room. The bikini's tied snugly at her back and hips and around her neck, and she smiles as she sees him puttering around.

"What're you lookin' for?"

[gavemea_45]

“Thought we might want something to carry—“

He turns around from the highest shelf over the cabinets and nearly drops the picnic basket when he sees her. “Wow.”

[feel_human]

She flushes and grins. "So I guess you like this suit, huh?"

[gavemea_45]

"Uh, yeah. A lot." Sam sets the basket on the table and comes to her. "You look amazing."

[feel_human]

She sets the radio down on the kitchen counter and puts her hands on his shoulders, grinning up at him. "Yeah?"

She'd felt so rotten for so long, and then it had been them and Dean in the house. It's nice to see him looking at her with this smacked-open look on his face.

[gavemea_45]

"Yeah." He settles his hands at her waist, resting his fingers lightly on warm skin, and smiles down at her.

She's gotten so much better in the last couple of weeks, but he can't help but still treat her as if she's a little more fragile.

[feel_human]

She shivers as his fingers land gently on her skin, and smiles back up at him before pressing up onto her toes to give him a kiss. "Good."

He's been so careful with her ever since he found her there in the graveyard, and it's nice, considering some of the deeper bruises still dust her skin, but it also feels impossibly good to be close to him. "Want to go get yours on?"

[gavemea_45]

"It'll just take me a moment." He gives her another kiss, sweetly lingering, then steps back to ease by her and into the bedroom.

[feel_human]

She watches him go, then pads into the kitchen to start loading the towels and radio into the basket he'd found, before going to the sink to fill a large jug of water.

"Will you grab the sunscreen, honey?" she calls. "It's in my bag."

Not that she uses it all that often, but he could probably use some on his shoulders.

[gavemea_45]

"Sure," he calls back. Sam strips out of his clothing, stashes the weapons he's carrying, and changes into his swim trunks. He wanders back out with the sunscreen in hand.

"Here you go."

[feel_human]

She takes the bottle and stashes it in the basket with the rest of their things, then gives him an appreciative glance. "You sure are easy on the eyes, Sam."