Sam stood dripping from the downpour outside beside a complete stranger as the receptionist gave them the news. Not only had Sam's flight been cancelled due to inclement weather, but there were also no other flights for the next few days at least until the storm front was due to be gone. He'd asked the taxi to drop him off at the first place they found with vacancies, and he'd been left at a motel on the side of the road with a flickering light. The signs in the reception promised Wi-Fi, large comfortable beds and air-conditioning. There was another guy inside, waiting at the empty desk.

Sam walked up and dropped his carry on beside him, trying not to drip onto the desk.

"Unfortunately we only have one room left," the woman told them, her eyes darted between Sam and the stranger. "Our rooms filled up quickly when news of the storms came in," she explained, likely expecting one of them to go off on her for delivering the bad news.

Sam nodded at the woman and thanked her before preparing to leave again and find another motel. "W-Wait," a voice called out to him. Sam turned to meet eyes with the other guy at the counter. The guy paused before clearing his throat, "Look, I know this isn't ideal, but you don't exactly look like a Serial Killer," he said looking Sam's dripping form up and down, "so if you're up for it we could split the room? My guess is you're as desperate as me and can't get a flight until at least Wednesday."

Sam considered the offer, looking at the stranger, the receptionist and the rain lashing against the window before giving in to his reluctance and agreeing.

"Y-yeah, we can do that, it sounds good." He agreed.

They split the cost, and each paid their half before being handed a key each. They were lucky enough their room was on the ground floor and the route to it was under the cover of the upper walkway, preventing the stranger from getting wet and Sam from getting wetter. The stranger – Sam really needed to ask his name, his mama was probably working out how to smack him upside the head from beyond the grave – unlocked the door and stepped inside, stopping dead in the entryway.

"There must be some mistake," the guy muttered, "we must have the wrong room." He said louder for Sam.

"Why? What's up?" Sam asked, craning his neck in an attempt to see. "Sweet Jesus," he muttered as he caught sight of what made the stranger pause.

"I'll go back," the man offered, "wait here."

Sam watched his retreating form before scoping out the room for himself.

The room was huge, which was great if they were going to be stuck with it, but the space along the back wall was occupied by only one, singular, yet large bed. Damn. Now Sam understood. The room itself wasn't all bad. There was a kitchenette with a small fridge and microwave, a desk, a small TV and a small, lumpy looking couch that wasn't long enough for either one of them to realistically use for a few hours let along a few nights.

The look on the guy's face told Sam all he needed to know.

"At least it's big, but if you prefer we can switch out each night. I don't mind either way," the guy offered.

Sam looked at the bed, the stranger, the couch, and the floor. "I'm game if you are, like you said, it's pretty big." Sam said. "I'm Sam by the way, figure I should introduce myself if we're gonna be sharing a bed," he said, holding out his hand.

"James, but you can call me Bucky," he replied, shaking Sam's hand. "That's what my pals call me." He added quietly with an undertone Sam couldn't quite make out.

Sam eyed the bed and looked around the room. "I should probably go change and hang these up to dry before I drip all over the bed."

"Right, yeah, I should give my family a call, let them know what happened and not to go to the airport for me." James- Bucky told him. "My phone's dead so I'll use the room phone and settle it with the desk."

Sam nodded. "Good call, I should probably let my sister know I won't be making it this weekend," Sam thought aloud.

In the bathroom Sam changed into something clean and dry, hanging his soaked clothes over the shower rail to dry. When he was done he sent a text to his sister that he wouldn't be arriving due to the storms and that he would get to them as soon as he could. He decided to leave out the fact that he was rooming with a stranger and would be sharing a bed with a man he had just met.

It was late, the hour creeping towards midnight by the time Sam emerged from the bathroom. James- Bucky- The other guy, had changed into some lounge pants and a faded t-shirt and was lounging on one half of the bed, the half closest to the door and peeling apart the pages of a beyond damp book. Sam tried to be discrete as he checked out Bucky. He was tall and lean with a little muscle tone. Which unfortunately meant he was pretty much Sam's type, according to his sister. Sam really hoped he wouldn't get caught looking. They were strangers and he had no idea how the guy felt about sharing his bed with a gay man who found him attractive.

Sam approached the other side of the bed and plugged his charger into the outlet on that side and plugged in his dying phone. His sister was likely asleep and wouldn't notice he hadn't arrived until the morning, so he didn't plan to wait up for a response.

"Is it OK if I turn in?"

"Sure, go for it. I'm still on LA time so I won't be too far behind you." Bucky told him.

Sam frowned. They hadn't spoken much, but he was sure that Bucky had said he was from Brooklyn. "You didn't fly direct?"

"No, it was a last-minute flight, all they had. I was meant to connect but," Bucky paused and gestured to the window. "Where were you headed?"

"Louisiana for my nephew's birthday next week. I've been in DC for work but couldn't extend my hotel and hoped my flight would still be going," he shrugged. "It was worth a try. If the storm lets up by the end of the week I should still make it though."

"Here's hoping for you."

"Thanks," Sam pulled back the covers and moved his pillow into a more comfortable position. "I'm gonna get some rest. See you in the morning."

"Night Sam."