anoldgrouch | beer's waiting for you

Dean had given him advanced warning this time, so Sam had enough presence of mind to get his fix in just before his brother showed up to drive them to Ellen and Bobby's for dinner. It was a cookout, just like they used to do. Before everything went all to Hell. Or maybe just Sam. Either way.

Sam left Dean inside chatting with Ellen and carried a couple of beers outside to where Bobby was standing over the grill. He already had one, but he was probably getting low. "Hey, Bobby."

He grunted in acknowledgement, barely glimpsing up as he flipped the meat cooking away.

He looked up finally after he was done, taking he new beer when it was offered over. His other had been pretty much empty after all. He looked Sam over for a moment, studying him. "Should be ready in a bit."

They didn't talk much anymore. Hell, they'd never been the chattiest of families, but even Sam could tell the difference now. Dean ignored Sam's addiction and Ellen forgave it. Bobby wasn't quite so easy.

"Smells good. You always were the grill master." He flashed Bobby a slight smile and took a drink of his beer. So awkward.

Wasn't like Bobby didn't get it on some level... wasn't like he was without any damn vices too, but this? Went above just drinking too much. He shook his head though and tried for a more pleasant look. Well, pleasant as Bobby Singer ever got.

"How've things been? Anything interesting going on?"

Ellen swore Bobby had a 'sweet' expression. Sam figured it existed somewhere with the tooth fairy and bigfoot. Still, Sam knew Bobby's brand of friendly when he saw it and the tension in his shoulders eased.

"Um. Same old, same old." He shrugged. "How about you?"

Bobby did not do 'sweet'! Ellen had no idea what the hell she was talking about. That was his story. But this was Bobby being friendly and trying to push past some of the awkward... this was supposed to be like old times after all.

"Same. Can't complain, I guess." He paused, tilting his head a little. "How about you and Dean, getting along okay?"

"For the most part. He still hates my girlfriend and I still hate his music." As well as Dean's nosy need to get in his business, but that was not something he wanted to talk about tonight. They'd promised each other they'd try to get along and behave for Bobby and Ellen. "And he drives too fast and watches terrible television."

He rolled his eyes. "Same as ever. You still fight like you're five." Well, minus the girlfriend thing. "Seems like you'd be used to some of that by now."

"He started it," Sam answered right on cue. Their arguing was a little more vicious these days, but Bobby was mostly right. "Yeah, it's not too bad. Just... you know, gets old after a while."

"Yeah, well..." Dean was trying to watch his back... one of the most important things to Dean was doing that, no matter what. "Look, I ain't saying Dean's always reasonable, but you don't think he might be right about at least a couple things?"

"Yeah. Yeah, probably." It wasn't like Sam was unaware of how bad his situation was. Hell, most of it he'd done on purpose. Self-destruction was his main goal. Had been for almost a year now. Dean just never seemed to get that Sam didn't want to get better. "Don't tell him, though. You know how smug he gets."

"Secret's safe with me." He let out a sigh. It was frustrating, really... Sam wasn't really giving much an option other than sitting back and watching him self-destruct. The kid was just like his daddy, stubborn as a mule when he had an idea in his head.

After a moment's pause, he looked over and motioned to a plate near Sam. "Make yourself useful and hand me that."

"Huh? Oh, yeah." He put his beer down and picked up the plate. Stepped over closer to Bobby and held the plate out to him. "Hey, thanks Bobby. You know, for lunch." And everything.

He paused for a moment at that thanks, looking up at Sam, before shaking his head. "You really wanna thank me, you can stick around and do the damn dishes."

Taking the plate, he started to get the meat off. Smelled good and Bobby was suddenly really hungry by now. "And you know, wouldn't kill you to come around more either."

Just hopefully not messed up out of his mind.

Sam had to laugh at that. Trust Bobby to find a way to brush off any girly vibes. Sam knew he was a big softy deep down, though. "I'll see what I can do, Bobby. On both accounts."

A lot of it depended on him getting along with Dean long enough to get out here. God knows that didn't happen too often these days.

He can only feel his feelings for so long! Then it's time to stop. Sam got a smile though, briefly, and a nod. "You better."

He knew Ellen would like them around more too. "Hope you're hungry too, made a lot."

Poor Bobby. Those pesky feelings!

"Yeah, man. Smells awesome. I could eat a whole cow right about now." Those TV shows about stoners weren't kidding about the munchies. Sam was hungry all the time, these days. He just didn't always have the means to do something about it.

They are! So let's pretend they don't exist. At all, yep.

He snorted and handed the plate back over. "Go on then, let's get it inside. Wanna go tell everyone it's ready?"

"Aye, aye cap'n." He'd have saluted or something, but you know... plate full of burgers and all. He'd be very sad if he dropped them.

Sam carried the plate into the house and called for Ellen and Dean.

It would be a tragedy! Bobby made good burgers, if he did say so himself, and there was a house full of hungry mouths waiting inside. Well, two hungry mouths, but they'd be sad too if they didn't have burgers, dammit.

And dinner went okay, thankfully. Pleasant chatter and bicker Bobby could just roll his eyes at and block out. Learned awhile ago that when Sam and Dean started bickering over stupid crap like TV shows and movies, it was easier to just ignore. Harder to ignore the bigger stuff though.

Though dinner wound down eventually and the table was cleared off, dishes put in the sink to take care of later. Dean and Ellen were still running their mouths at each other, so Bobby excused himself with another drink and settled on the couch in the living room, getting himself comfortable.

Sam occasionally caught a glance from Dean or Ellen that suggested they might like to talk -- about him -- without an audience. Eventually, he grabbed himself another beer and followed Bobby into the living room. Wasn't entirely sure the man wanted company, but if not, he could always head outside.

"Hey, Bobby. You mind if I hide in here? They've started talking about Dr. Sexy MD."

He shook his head at the question. "Sit down. You know once they start talkin' about that, they don't stop."

But on the plus side, they weren't having to sit through it! He glanced over for a moment before turning his eyes back to the TV. "Remote's over there, if you want it."

"I know." The only thing Dean was worse about was Friends. Ugh.

Sam sat down and picked up the remote, not really interested. He didn't watch TV enough anymore to even know what was still running. All he knew was he wasn't fond of most of what Dean watched. He flipped the channels until he found something he thought he and Bobby could agree on and put the remote down.

It had been a while since his last fix. Hours. He was starting to get a little fidgety. If Dean didn't decide to leave soon and take Sam home, Sam was going to have to excuse himself somewhere private for a minute.

Bobby was mostly sideeying Sam. Wasn't like he didn't notice that he couldn't seem to sit entirely still right now... maybe it wasn't horrible yet, but it was a little noticeable. Slowly, his eyes turned back to the TV.

"You alright there, Sam?"

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject