Chapter 49
It had been seven years since Sam had been to Cassie's house, but he found it without any problem. As always, Amelia was impressed with Sam's ability to gauge the length of time their drive would take. Cassie must have had faith in Sam's ability, too. Not only had she left the porch light on, it looked like she was still up and waiting for them. By the time Sam had turned off the ignition, Cassie was standing on the porch waiting for them.
It had been a pretty quiet drive. It was like both of them were holding their breaths until they could safely lay in each other's arms; and talk about what was revealed to Sam, and whatever was bothering Amelia. The only thing they had discussed was Cassie's donation.
They both thought it would be a good idea to collect it now. Cassie had said she wanted to be there, for the ritual, and she could give her blood then. But life, especially anybody's life that was touched by a Winchester, had uncertainties. Sam and Amelia agreed Cassie could come for the ritual, but that they should have all the donations safely in their possession well before July 12th.
As Cassie watched them get out of the car and head toward the house, Amelia could hear her thoughts. Amelia couldn't tell if it was Cassie's women's intuition or her years as a reporter, but either way, she was sure Sam and Amelia's relationship now included sex. By the way she was smiling at them; Sam could also tell she knew the relationship between him and Amelia had changed. Sam avoided Cassie's gaze by looking down at the ground, and then headed back to the car, saying he'd get their stuff. Amelia embraced the young woman, and whispered in her ear. "I hope it doesn't affect your generous offer of hospitality?"
Cassie gasped slightly; she had forgotten Amelia could read her mind. But, then, she smiled at Amelia and replied. "Not at all." The women went to the car to help Sam bring in the bags and the cooler, and they had everything secured within minutes.
Once they were all inside the house, Cassie noticed how exhausted Sam and Amelia looked. "Listen, you two look wiped out. Why don't you go to bed, and we'll talk in the morning." She started up the stairs to show them their room. "Damn. I just remembered, I need to cover a story in town in the morning." She turned to look at the couple. "I should be back around noon. It'll give you a chance to catch up on your sleep."
All three of them heard the implied content in her remark; and neither Sam nor Amelia were offended, or argued. After they had set the gear down, and Cassie had shown them the bathroom; she turned to head back downstairs, calling over her shoulder, "There should be plenty of food in frig, help yourselves to breakfast."
Something suddenly occurred to Sam, and he ran out into the hallway. "Uh, Cassie? Where do you keep the salt?" It was a really big house, with lots of windows and doors; he didn't have nearly enough salt to line them all.
Cassie laughed as she stepped to the base of the stairs. "Don't worry, I've just got to get the front door then we're set. I started laying down the salt lines as soon as I knew you were coming."
Sam turned back to Amelia with a perplexed look on his face. "I don't remember telling her about salt lines." And then added mentally, 'You sure it's her?'
"Yes." Amelia replied as she scanned the memories she had of Cassie's thoughts. She laughed when she saw how Cassie had learned about the protective properties of salt. "She's a reporter. She's been researching everything she can since we were here last week."
He thought he should have been reassured by what Amelia said. But, instead his thoughts were about the two women in the house with him. Cassie, who, because he had brought their problems back into her life; now knew about needing to lay salt lines for protection. And Amelia; and how he'd come to depend and trust her so much; he hadn't even thought to test Cassie with holy water, silver or borax.
Amelia heard his thoughts. She agreed with him and regretted how they had changed Cassie's life. And, she understood why he was surprised that he had trusted her so instinctually. He had only ever trusted his brother that way. She had thought he had already crossed that barrier, and trusted her as completely as he did Dean. She searched his thoughts again, and smiled. He did trust her, completely. He just had never thought about; and it amazed him to realize that he could trust another that way. She let out a small sigh of relief; he was almost ready. There was only one more, small step and he would be able to perform the ritual and save his brother and repair the broken seals to Purgatory. She knew that piece was there, in his subconscious mind; Apsu had shown it to him. He just had to bring it into conscious thought.
X
As if reading each other's minds, they both slipped into their bed gear; too tired to do anything but sleep tonight. Even the long overdue conversation about what Apsu had revealed to Sam was put on hold. Sam climbed into bed as Amelia turned out the light. He was asleep by the time she had nestled her head on his chest. She listened to him breathe and felt the rise and fall of his chest for about a minute before she joined him in slumber.
Sam woke first to the morning light streaming in from their window. Amelia was awake and waiting outside the door when he came out of the bathroom. As Amelia came back into the bedroom, she saw Sam pulling his jeans on. "And what exactly are you doing?" She asked him as she closed the bedroom door.
He smiled to himself before he turned toward her, just in time to see her pull his old T-shirt off over her head. He let the jeans drop to the floor as she crossed the distance between them. He bent down and gently kissed her; they pulled back, their eyes meeting and she put her arms around his neck. He wrapped his arms around her waist, and as he straightened up, lifting her off the floor, she wrapped her legs around him.
They stood that way, wrapped tightly around each other; eyes locked together. There wasn't the urgency they had felt their first time; or the sense of discovery they had enjoyed in that room in Memphis. They knew each other. They were just enjoying the physical contact, skin against skin. After a couple minutes, she relaxed her legs; and he loosened his hold and eased her to the floor. As she slid down his body, she pushed his shorts down; removing the only barrier between them.
She pushed at his chest and he sat down on the bed. She squatted down, and pulled his jeans and shorts off his feet. Amelia started to kiss her way up his legs; but he grabbed her and pulled her to him when she was only mid-thigh. His sense of urgency was back; and by the time Sam had scooted them up in the bed, so was hers.
X
They tried starting to have their conversation about Apsu's instructions while lying together after coming down from their orgasms. It turned out there was only one thing either of them could think about, and it wasn't talking about preparations for an ancient ritual. There was a short discussion about favorite positions, and then a fair amount of crying out the other's name; but that was about all they managed to say to each other.
Amelia volunteered to find some food while Sam took the first shower. He got dressed while she showered. He stripped the sheets off the bed while she dressed; and they took them downstairs to the washing machine as they went to eat the sandwiches Amelia had made.
"It's almost noon, Cassie said should be back soon." Sam said after washing a bite of his sandwich down with the beer Amelia had found in the refrigerator.
"I hope we left her enough hot water to take her purifying shower." Amelia responded distractedly. And, as if taking it as a challenge, they heard the washing machine finish filling and start to wash the sheets.
"By the time we convince her to give her donation, there should be plenty." Sam replied. "But, that's not what I meant, when I mentioned Cassie." He gave Amelia a perplexed look. Apparently, she hadn't been reading his mind again.
"I know." She turned to him, a small sad smile on her face. "I was just trying to …..divert you."
"What?" Sam reached across the table and took her hand. "You don't want to talk about what Apsu showed me?"
Amelia stared down at their joined hands for a while; she didn't look at Sam when she answered. "I don't want to, no. But I know we have to."
"Amelia." He said as he reached up to tip her face up to look at him. "Talk to me."
As he spoke, they could hear a car pulling up to the house. Sam went to the window to make sure it was Cassie. As he pulled back the curtain, he was bathed in the bright summer late morning light. He stood there; shining in the sunlight, tall and strong; like the pureness of his aura was emanating from him. He turned his face back to her, smiling and nodded to indicate it was their friend. But, Amelia took it as a sign of so much more.
With only a minute, maybe two, before they were interrupted; a sudden sense of urgency to explain, well everything, possessed Amelia. "Sam. I'm sorry. I know, now, I was trying to put off talking about what you learned from Apsu. I was afraid, if we talked about it, you would figure out you were ready. That you didn't need me to show you the way; that everything you need to know is already inside you."
The words were pouring out of her, racing as she heard Cassie close the car door and her footsteps climbing to the porch. "I didn't want you to just need me as…, as Apsu's interpreter, as your possession detector, as the vessel to collect your donation to rescue Dean." As she stopped to take a breath, he crossed the short distance between them and enveloped her in an embrace; just as they heard Cassie put the key in the front door lock.
