A/N This is my first fanfic, and I'm trying to stay as true to the characters from the show as I can. Let me know what you think.
Sam steps off the plane and the Georgia heat surrounds her. She hails a cab and dials her best friend.
"Andy, hey. I just got off the plane, I'm headed to a hotel right now. You ready to fuckin party tonight?"
"Hey Sammy. I tried to call you earlier, I cant hang out tonight. There's some emergency situation near the coast and my team got called to respond." Andy's voice hardly carries over the noise on his end. "I'm really sorry Sam. But it shouldn't take too long, we can party tomorrow."
"Alright, well you gotta do what you gotta do. I'll let you know where I'm staying as soon as I figure it out." a cab finally stops to pick her up as she ends the call "Can you take me to the nearest somewhat cheap hotel?"
"Sure thing sweetheart, but the cheaper ones are all outside the city, as long as that's ok." The older man greets her with a smile, "Visiting someone special?"
"Hopefully." she says, trying not to sound disappointed "My best friend is in the army, we were supposed to hand out tonight, but he's got stuff to take care of."
Andy and Sam have been friends since grade school, been through everything together. Sophomore of high school, Andy decided to go into the service, said it was the best thing for him. Sammy supported him every step of the way, and they were both ecstatic when he was finally stationed on the east coast again.
"Here you go sweetheart. Enjoy your stay."
Sam takes her bags to her room and tried calling Andy. After having no luck, she leaves a voicemail and a text with her hotel and room number. The sun sets as she towels her hair dry, which means the oppressive heat starts to subside.
"Well, I'm not staying here and sulking." she pulls a black t-shirt over head, slips her cell, id, cash and room key into her pockets and grabs a quick bite to eat before getting another cab, deftly navigating around the groups of people crowding the sidewalks.
"Hey," she slides into the cab "know anywhere fun around here?"
"Yeah, absolutely." the driver starts away from the curb.
"Damn it Merle. Why we gotta go out again?" Daryl griped, running a hand through his hair.
"Oh come one baby brother. I haven't had me a decent piece of tail in weeks." the older Dixon slaps his brother on the back.
"Fine" Daryl replies, shrugging into his motorcycle vest "but don't go doing me and 'favors'. An I get to pick where we go."
"Alright, alright. But I ain't going in that piece of shit truck of yours. Can't take no one home in that thing."
The brothers step out into the cooling night and set off for Atlanta.
Sam steps into the slightly crowded building, a little hole in the wall bar that, the cab driver swore up and down, was where Collective Soul played their first gig. The music coming from the speakers swallows her as she makes her way to the bar and orders a jack and coke. The more she looks around, the more she likes the place, she claims a table against the wall, propping her feet up on the opposite chair and surveys the room as she sips her drink. Her eyes are drawn to the sound of shouting near the door, a burly redneck in cargo pants, a wife beater and a leather vest walks into the room, shouting at the bartender over the music, even though he's still almost half way across the bar. Sam shakes her head at the guy and almost doesn't notice the guy that slips in behind him. His short hair is disheveled as he runs his hand through it, worn jeans with a hole in the knee tucked into work boots and his grungy plaid shirt is missing the sleeves and has seen better days. She watches as he orders a beer and takes up a spot against the back wall of the bar. Heading back up to the bar to order herself a beer she spots the redneck leaning on the bar, trying to pick up a somewhat attractive blonde.
"Hey there sugar tits, that's a nice little body you got there." she giggles at his advances "What saw we go outside and I show you my hog?"
Sam can't help shaking her head and rolling her eyes at the tactless pick-up attempt.
From his spot at the back of the bar, Daryl watches as Merle leads some dumb blonde bitch down the hall towards the restrooms, not really surprised, that's why Merle dragged him out tonight after all. They'll hook up back there, Merle will come back and brag about his conquest, pound a few beers back and try again with a different girl. No matter how old they get some things never change.
Daryl looks around, someone finally catches his eye at the bar. Long legs in a pair of tight jeans and a great ass. He takes a long drink of his beer and watches her walk back to a table, her wavy dark hair hangs down past her shoulders, she's pretty, real pretty.
"And so far out of your league." he reminds himself.
He continues watching her, some young buck, drunk and probably full of himself, goes over to her and, beer in hand she goes off to dance with him. Merle comes back soon, fresh beer in his hand and starts telling him about the blonde. Daryl grunts and nods at the appropriate places, but he keeps watching the brunette.
"She's a tasty little bit, ain't she?" Merle comments, nodding in the brunettes direction "looks like she's be pretty wild. Maybe I'll go home with her. Looks like you'll be home alone tonight little brother." Daryl just grunts and downs the rest of his beer. Merle pushes away from the wall as she sits back down, and Daryl goes to get another drink.
Merle places a hand on her table, she looks up at him, "Can I help you?"
"How'd you like to see my hog? Maybe let me take you for a ride?" those lines always work, women love motorcycles.
She laughs "Nice try buddy. Maybe try the blonde again though, she looks stupid enough to fall for it twice."
"Hey now girl, no need to get nasty. I was just being nice and offering you a ride."
She looks him up and down, "Look, I'm not interested. We're not hooking up in the bathroom, you're not coming home with me, and I don't want to go for a ride. So please, just stop, and let me enjoy my beer."
Merle walks away in a huff and meets Daryl at the bar, "Fuckin dyke. Gimme a shot of whiskey."
Daryl just watches him, trying to suppress a smile, he heard the whole thing, "Going out for a smoke, want one?"
"Fuck you, asshole." Merle takes the shot and grabs another beer before walking away.
Sam walks outside, needing some fresh air after the encounter with that damn redneck. She spots the guy from earlier walking back from the parking lot, lighting a cigarette.
"Hey," she shouts, getting his attention while walking towards him "Sorry, can I bum one of those?"
Without saying a word he tosses her a crumpled pack and a zippo and leans against the wall.
"Thanks man." she hands him the pack and lighter "been trying to quit, but that guy. Ugh."
"Mah brother." He says, exhaling. His strong southern accent catching her a little off guard.
"Shit, I'm sorry. I didn't know, I mean" she tries unsuccessfully to back track the conversation.
"Naw" he says with a shrug "he's a bastard sometimes. Not used to getting shot down." he grinds the rest of his cigarette under the toe of his boot and heads back inside.