Title: Homecoming
Spoilers: /
Rating: K
Disclaimer: All I own are the books and DVDs. Good enough, right?
Beta: GER!
Notes: It's been long since I've last posted, so here's a little drabble on Sara returning. I seem to love writing stories on her coming 'home', huh? :D
Please R&R and enjoy!
Homecoming
Gil,
I'm coming home tomorrow and well, it's been three long years. I will understand if you don't feel the same way anymore, but if you still do, please tie a red ribbon around that old tree by the lab. If it's there, I will come home, but if it isn't, I will understand.
Sara.
The bus journey was five long hours. The scenery flashed before her eyes through the window, the translucent curtain blocking out most of the dying light. Her sandwich lay untouched by her side, bouncing along with the bus.
Her heart was beating its irregular chorus, the one that only started whenever she thought about him. Resting her cheek against the cool glass, she tried to stop thinking about the things she needed to explain and tried to get some sleep.
Soon, she dozed off uneasily with ribbons dancing in her mind, heart racing faster than the bus that was headed to Las Vegas.
-X-
The old case in her hands felt solid, it was the only thing she took with her three years ago. It belonged to her father, and it was a lovely aged brown she had adored. This bus ride was bumpy, unlike the last one, and she could swear several uniforms sitting alongside her looked familiar.
The bus turned the corner and the case slipped from her clammy hands, making her gasp slightly. Reality was hitting her slowly, and she did not want to think about the possibility of the ribbon not being there.
Eyes closed, she concentrated on composing herself, bracing her heart against the prospect of a bare tree trunk. The steady deceleration of the bus and a blast of cool air announced their arrival, and she stepped down without looking up once.
With one final deep breath and several footsteps later, she looked up, the moonlight beaming down onto her. The darkness made it impossible for her to see the tree, so she had no choice but to step closer, the tension slowly building up with every step.
And with those steps, she could finally see the tree. She couldn't help it but gasp, the cold, dry air rushing into her lungs as the case slipped from her hands.
It was not tied with one red ribbon, but rather with hundreds of red ribbons. The tree, seemingly covered with streams of luscious whipping crimson, burst into sight.
She walked up to it disbelievingly, running her fingers over the rough bark and through the silky smooth ribbons. Her hand stumbled over a piece of cream paper wedged between the silk ribbons and rough bark, and pulled it out hesitantly.
Welcome home.
She could hardly breathe nor barely think as she stared at the familiar scrawl, but she did know one thing.
She was finally home.