Sam's Reality: Cape Canaveral, Florida - Kennedy Space Center

[teh-rest.livejournal.com]

Leeroy wasn't too sure how the night guard at the Kennedy Space Center had acquired Sam's name. He assumed it was the Internet - everything's the Internet's fault these days - but he couldn't be too sure, as the guy looked to be about sixty and the type who wouldn't touch a computer to save his life.

"They're freakin' out the dogs," he said in a Southern accent. "And we ain't been able to photograph 'em, either." He pointed to the large behemoth of metal that could be seen a few miles in the distance. "They're always there."

It was, Leeroy recognized, launch pad 39-B. Jeimu had launched from there not even a year ago.

Why freaks were hanging out around launchpads, Leeroy wasn't certain. He turned to Sam and asked quietly, "What d'you make of all this, eh?"

Comments

[i_salted_dean]

"There," she breathed as fingers fumbled at the back door catch and she reached back to unlock it. Her face set into an expressionless mask as their lanky grandson tumbled in and shut the door behind him.

"Uhh?" He noticed her glower in the rearview mirror.

[teh-rest.livejournal.com]

"Shh." Leeroy didn't say it aggressively, but rather, gently.

"Now where?"

[i_salted_dean]

She bowed her head and forced herself to relax. "Somewhere out of town where we can start a fire."

"I didn't tell him," said Rob softly. "He only knew you were in the hospital. I didn't tell."

[teh-rest.livejournal.com]

"I know a good place." He turned toward an old, abandoned camp ground on the edge of town.

[i_salted_dean]

Sam nodded to both of them, then took a deep breath and bit off another apology, knowing that it would only make Leeroy feel worse.

[teh-rest.livejournal.com]

When they got to the place Leeroy turned off the engine and sat in the driver's seat, completely spaced out.

[i_salted_dean]

Sam sat in silence for several minutes, just listening to the birds and the scolding of a squirrel and feeling the Spirit moving softly over her heart.

-You've got him, right?- she thought, biting back tears.

The silent song whispered a reply and she rocked a little and drew her knees up.

-I'm sorry I didn't take better care of him.-

The song deepened, and she remembered Leeroy's words when he had told her that it hadn't been her fault.

-I'm not taking good care of him either.- She lay her face down and wept a little. -The poor guy. Lord, help me.-

Her pained cry was answered by a soft flow of peace, and she took a deep breath, then unfolded and leaned over to put her arms around her husband as her tears flowed.

[teh-rest.livejournal.com]

He'd heard it all, but still wasn't sure what to say.

So he just hugged Sam right back.