Musician's Sanctuary

Sammy leaned over the sink in the bathroom, studying his reflection. Though it had been a few days since he had been returned to a nearly human form, Sammy still found himself wondering if it was all a dream. It had been so long since he even remembered what he looked like. He had long forgotten that his eyes had ever been green and now he couldn't help by be mesmerized by how there were traces of brown and gold in them, though the gold might have been a lingering side effect, like the pie cut in his pupil was. And his hair! It was nice to have his golden locks back and so much softer than he ever remembered. It was as long as he usually preferred, it there was plenty of time for that to change…

"I know you can be a little self-centered, but I never realized you were this vain," Henry said with a teasing grin, leaning on the door frame and checking up on the musician. "Thinking of going into modeling."

"Clearly as the world had been deprived of this gorgeous mug for far too long," Sammy countered with a small smirk before it dropped as he looked back at his reflection. "I… I had just forgotten so much of what I looked like… I hadn't even remembered the color of my hair…"

"I never realized the ink had taken that much from you…" Henry replied his shoulders shagging slightly in guilt and sadness."That you couldn't even remember the basics of being human…"

"And you're the reason I'm more human than I've been in decades," Sammy scolded, turning fully to the former animator. "It wasn't your fault what that Liar did to us, so don't go blaming yourself for it."

"But if ai had stayed and tried to keep Joey under control…" Henry began only to cut off when Sammy shook his head.

"Then you would have been sacrificed to the machine like the rest of us," Sammy replied with a scoff. "The Liar's lust for power and fame wouldn't have gone away just because you were there. You'd probably end up one of the first people sacrificed as the Liar would have known you'd never approve of his methods and then who would have saved us then? No… it's better that you left when you did and while the years we suffered were hard, we're free now and happy… and that's all thanks to you."

"Thank you…" Henry said sincerely before smiling ruefully. "Here I came to help cheer you up and you end up comforting me instead…"

"I'm just telling you your guilt is irrational and unnecessary," Sammy replied bluntly. "So just try and ignore those thoughts that say it was your fault because they're nothing but lies."

"I'll keep that in mind," Henry chuckled before turning more serious. "Now why don't you tell me what thoughts have been you."

"What makes you think something's bothering me?" Sammy tried to deflect casually. Henry didn't say anything, only giving the musician a look and Sammy eventually crumbled saying, "I've just… all the other former hybrids have moved on. Allison and Tom moved out to their own house only a few months after we were free and Norman's moved into the new house Mia bought with them and I'm still here!"

"Do you want to move out?" Henry asked with genuine curiosity.

"No! Yes. Not really…" Sammy said, wishing there was space to pace, but not wanting to leave the relative privacy of the bathroom. "I… I love being here with you and all the toons, but I'm not family and I don't have any excuse to stay hidden here. I don't want to be a burden to you and Linda any longer…"

"You're not a burden," Henry said firmly and confidently, placing a comforting hand on Sammy's shoulder. "You never have been and never will be. We love having you here and you've been a great help in taking care of the toons. As for being family… why don't you come with me…"

Though confused, Sammy allowed himself to be guided out of the bathroom. Henry took to the backyard and the old tool shed in the back, opening up the door and stepping aside to let Sammy see what was inside.

"Henry… what is all this?" Sammy asked in wonder asps he took a cautious step inside. The inside of the shed had been remade into a small office. There was a desk full of blank music sheets and fresh pens and pencils. Various smaller instruments hung from the wall and ceiling, including a clarinet and banjo.

"I'm not sure exactly how it came up but Bendy had mentioned to the others how you used to have a sanctuary in the Studio," Henry explained. "Some place quiet that you could go to focus on making music. Boris is the one that came to me and asked if there was any place we could convert as a new sanctuary for you here. Linda and the Butcher Gang all helped clean this place out while Boris and Tom worked on fixing it up. There are still a few minor repairs that need to be done, but it's pretty much ready for you to use."

"I… I don't know what to say…" Sammy said softly, ghosting his fingers over the desk and instruments.

"You don't have to," Henry replied with a kind smile. "We might not have ever said it, but you are a part of this family and always will be. If the day comes when do want to strike out on your own then we'll be happy to support you. But no matter what you will always have a home here…"

"Thank you…" Sammy said. He didn't cry or hug Henry because he just wasn't that kind of person, but he was sure the thickness in his voice showed how much he appreciated it.

"I'll leave you to explore," Henry replied, stepping back. "I'll send someone to get you for dinner if you get too wrapped up in your work to realize your hungry."

"I'm pretty sure you did that far more times than I did," Sammy snorted, getting a grumbled denial as the man finally left.

Now left alone, Sammy couldn't help but eagerly pull out the pens and music sheets, feeling more than inspired to create a new song or two, safe in his new sanctuary.