A/N: The final scene in the locker room between DB and Sara in episode 15. 15 Hero to Zero prompted this little titbit of dialogue to come to me. We haven't had much personal interaction between these two for a long while and it made me think. I don't know where these ideas come from but when they do they don't leave me alone until I've put them down on paper – so to speak. Unfortunately I don't have the time, or energy or inclination to get started on another long tale at the moment.
And so I thought: can you tell a story in drabble form? I mean not just one drabble, but a series of drabbles that would hopefully come together into some kind of cohesive and coherent whole. Does that make sense?
I don't know if it's going to work, but I hope you'll choose to give it a try.
The dialogue at the start (longer than the actual drabble!) is the final scene taken straight from the episode itself, and isn't mine. It's just a reminder for those of you who haven't seen the episode – you absolutely don't need to have done so to follow this story – and is a lead into the first drabble.
Don't Look Back.
SARA sits on the locker room bench packing her bag.
RUSSELL: There you are! Good work on this one by the way.
SARA: Thanks. It was good work all round.
RUSSELL holds out an envelope: Got a—a little something for you.
SARA: What's this?
RUSSELL: Take a look!
SARA laughs: Oh! Comic books.
RUSSELL: Yeah. I went through my collection. I put together a little greatest hits bag for you. I also plain-wrapped it so I won't blow your cover round here.
SARA: My cover?
RUSSELL: Yeah, you know, as the hard science, numbers person who has no time for fantasy.
SARA: I actually don't have time for fantasy.
RUSSELL: See? That's wrong. Everybody needs a little fantasy.
SARA: It's a lot of pressure, you know. What if I don't like them?
RUSSELL: Don't tell me. He turns away, starts walking out.
SARA: Hey, Russell? Thank you.
RUSSELL: Yeah, you're welcome.
Sara sighed and looked at the comic books in her hand, DB's words about everyone needing a little fantasy echoing in her mind. "Can I keep them?" she quickly called back to DB.
DB popped his head back round the door, his expression slightly puzzled, questioning.
Sara shrugged. "I was thinking I could take them to Gil. Next week when I visit him."
DB's face softened in understanding. "Keep them as long as you need. And there are plenty more where these came from, should you find you – or Gil – enjoy the genre."
Sara's smile was soft, grateful. "Thank you."
"Sleep well, Sara. I'll see you tonight."
"You will."
