First off, anyone at the Chicago Supernatural Convention - let's say hi! I'm the awkward chick with an orange pencil stuck in her hair carting around a Chromebook to write while waiting for Mark Sheppard's autograph time. (!)
Now the prompt! A story with some angst involving Jody and Sam. Not Jody/Sam. This was the scene that popped into my head.
Sheriff Jody Mills leaned against the counter while she watched her lunch slowly spin in the microwave.
"Gourmet and affordable eating" was making a comeback.
She snorted to herself.
When the timer showed fifteen seconds left, one of her deputies cleared his throat from the doorway.
"Uh...Sheriff?"
She groaned inwardly. It was a shitty day already, and it was barely noon. Still, she snarkily reminded herself, she's the sheriff. Jody bit back a sigh and turned around, a smile already on her face. "Yes, Cody?"
Cody shuffled his weight from one foot to the other, nervously fiddling with a Post-It note. "I, uh, got a call Marcy Ward…"
Jody's face scrunched up. "Who?"
"You know - she, uh, moved in next to Bobby Singer a couple years ago?"
Like a popped balloon, Jody's appetite disappeared. Cody sensed her mood shift and spoke faster. "Well, uh, she said she thinks someone's at Bobby's house. She heard some noises, and saw a light in the house."
Jody swallowed before answering. "Well, that's impossible. All the utilities have been shut down since he…" She swallowed again. "They're just shut down."
Cody's head bobbed up and down. "I know...I know you've been, uh, in charge of his estate and all. But that's what she said. Sounded real sure of herself, too." He hesitantly held out the note which had a phone number scrawled on it. In a soft voice, he added with a shrug, "I thought you'd want to know."
Jody took the note, staring at the numbers, which annoyingly started to blur. "Yeah, thanks. I'll, uh, I'll check it out."
Cody nodded again and backed out of the lounge.
She slowly let out a breath, cursing the hunter for still getting to her, months after his death. Then again, she still cries over her husband and son, so...yeah.
Jody knew damn fucking well that it wasn't impossible for something to be going on there, so checking it out was an absolute necessity.
Sighing, she tucked the number in her pocket and threw a look at her lunch.
So much for gourmet.
xxxxx
It was late afternoon by the time Jody could get to Bobby's. She had things to do, people to check on, stalling to accomplish.
Which she did spectacularly.
Jody let out a long breath as she pulled into the lot, sad eyes fixed on the house that was starting to show disrepair. She parked and just sat, staring.
After Bobby died, Sam and Dean needed to be off the grid, so all of Bobby's estate matters fell upon Jody to handle. She was still in the process of the legal shit, but it looked like she was going to get the house and the yard. She would hold it for the boys, and when things cleared up for them, she'd make sure it was there.
But she hadn't been here in a while, not since she packed up Bobby's things. It was just too...difficult.
Jody was tired of things being fucking difficult.
She wearily rubbed at her eyes and opened her door. As soon as it fully extended, she heard a crash in the garage.
A second later, she had her gun out and primed. She cautiously walked towards the building, eyes scanning the property. As she got closer, Jody noticed the side door was open. A quick peek inside revealed a 1967 Chevy oh, Jesus Fucking Christ.
Rolling her eyes, she shoved the gun back in its holster and walked inside. "Dean? Sam?"
The hood was open, and a flashlight propped against a toolbox shined directly onto the engine. Or whatever car parts they were. Something felt seriously wrong, and she contemplated drawing her gun again.
"Dean?" Jody circled the front of the car, resting her hand against the metal, noting it was cold. That meant it'd been here a while.
Wracking coughs startled the shit out of her, making her jump and knock over a box of crap. Without warning, she heard, "Don't move!"
She froze. Her heart skipped a few beats. "Sam?"
"Who are you?" The question's cut off with a cough, muffled yet harsh. She knew without turning around that the cough had been there a while, too.
"Sam...it's Jody. Jody Mills?" Taking a risk, she slowly held her hands in the air and turned around. She sucked in a breath. "Oh, my God, Sam…"
Hair all over and absolutely wild eyed, Sam Winchester leaned heavily against the driver's door, shaking hands trying to keep a gun trained on her. From the feeble light, she saw how pale his face was compared to the dark shirt he wore. He squinted at her, as if not quite believing she was who she said she was.
"Jody?"
She nodded, carefully lowering her arms.
"You...you're not dead?"
"No...no I'm not. Sam, what's going on? Where...where's Dean?"
Sam sagged against the car, coughing into his shoulder. When he got a breath, he mumbled, "Gone...he's gone…"
Jody's heart sank through the floor. "What do you mean?" She took a step closer.
Sam shrugged, and coughed some more. "I mean gone, like...gone. I dunno where he is. He just disappeared." His grip on the gun loosens as another string of coughing stole his breath. In one fluid movement, Jody disarmed Sam, quickly palming his forehead before he could say anything.
He was burning up.
Tucking his gun into her waistband, Jody moved around the door, shocked at how his clothes hung off his frame. "Come here."
Sam looked at her, confused and...more confused, his forehead doing that wrinkle thing. "How…?"
Offering a small smile that Jody hoped will have a calming effect on the sick, distraught hunter. "I eat my veggies. Now, come here." She held out her arms, and fuck her, it worked.
Sam's arms dropped to his side, like they were made of lead. A small sob escaped his lips as he stepped over and let her envelope him in her arms.
xxxxx
It didn't take too long to get Sam into the house. Maybe, like, half an hour. Or...more.
In any case, he was inside now, sitting on the couch, coughing endlessly into the crook of his arm. As she took off her jacket, Jody studied the young man, trying to figure out the best way to take care of him.
Because she was going to take care of him.
The question was...how?
The house had been empty for months. There was no food, supplies, nothing. All the furniture was draped in sheets, most everything was packed up and locked in a storage unit, and this man needed supplies and food.
Hands on hips, Jody muttered out loud. "Well. I am the sheriff, right? Someone's gotta owe me something." She pulled out her phone. "Sam...I'm gonna make a couple calls. Why don't you lay down for a little bit, okay?" To emphasize that she wasn't really asking him if it was okay, she gently shoved him until he leaned back. He tucked his legs underneath him and rested his head on the couch's arm.
She paused a moment, her worry increasing tenfold at the lack of communication accompanying the grief and desperation pouring off him. Sam was never this quiet. She had to get to the bottom of what was going on, and figure out Dean's whereabouts.
But first things first.
She scrolled through her contacts, choosing one and tapping her screen. As she waited for the pickup, Jody pulled a sheet off another chair and draped it over Sam's now shivering body. "Hey Sally, how are you? It's Sheriff Mills...Yeah, I'm good, thanks. How's Mike?"
As she listened, Jody snagged a pillowcase that sat on Bobby's desk, headed to the bathroom and wet half of it. "That's great. Listen, I need a favor…" Jody prattled off a list of supplies and food while blotting Sam's forehead with the cloth. His eyes fluttered closed and he actually sighed.
"Thanks, Sally...I'll pay you back when this passes over. … Yeah...yeah, everything's fine. ... Great. I'll see you soon." She tapped her phone and set it next to her on the couch. "Well, one thing taken care of."
Sam pulled the sheet tighter around his shoulders, trying to curl himself into a little ball buried in the corner of the couch. Jody raised an eyebrow. Did the kid not realize how big he was?
And just like that, the "young man" became a kid.
"Sam?"
Sam turned to look at her.
"Sam...I have some stuff being delivered, food and medicine for starters. While we're waiting, why don't you tell me what happened?" She's flexing her mom muscles which haven't flexed in a while, trying to be patient and calm while masking a need to push for answers.
Sam pushed a hand through his hair, sighing again. "Leviathan. Killed the leader...can't believe he did it...but he did...then…" He takes a really shaky breath. "Then Dean disappeared. Cas, too." Sam paused to cough.
Jody blinked and frowned and thought this over, patting Sam's back and rubbing it to help settle the horrible coughing. "Wait...disappeared? Like…"
"Like...Dick Roman exploded, and took Dean and Cas with him. I don't know where they are."
Well, that came out in a rush, but Jody heard something else. "Sam...if Dick Roman...you really mean Dick Roman?" Sam nodded. "Oooooo-kay, you boys have been busy. Anyway, if he exploded, wouldn't that mean - "
Sam burst off the couch, hands back in his hair, pacing back and forth. "No. No. He's not dead. He isn't. He's gone. Just gotta...just gotta figure out where - "
He didn't finish that thought, as another wave of body-wrenching coughs shook him, forcing a retreat to another chair.
Jody moved in, crouching in front of him, calming him down before a lung appeared on the floor. "Easy, Sam...easy." She didn't tell him it'd be okay, because obviously, that wasn't an option right then.
Finished, he wiped a hand over his mouth, eyes trained on the floor, breaths coming in gasps. "I've been...looking for a month. I thought maybe...maybe Bobby's books…" His voice broke. "Forgot you packed it all up."
"We can go to the storage shed when you're feeling a little better," she offered.
Wide eyes turned to her. "I don't have time to wait."
Her eyes narrowed. "You'll be worse if you don't. Will that help you find Dean?"
Wide eyes blinked slowly. He swallowed, lips pressed tightly together.
Thought so. "Now. Get back on the couch, and together let's figure out our next move."
xxxxx
An hour later, Jody had a pretty good idea of everything that'd been going on. At the end, Sam lie on the couch, head in her lap, passing for what could be considered asleep. Jody absently threaded her fingers through his hair, wishing Sally'd hurry the hell up and get there with the medicine for his fever.
From everything Jody understood, Dean was dead. Tears prickled at the corners of her eyes, and she cursed the universe for yet again, taking away a member of her family. She held Sam a little more firmly.
Not taking this one too, Goddammit.
Jody's hoping that when the fever gets under control, Sam would start to see things more clearly, that he now had to live a life without his brother. Wandering around the country, barraging hunters and doing endless research wasn't going to bring his brother back.
He had to move on.
Her head perked up at the sound of tires on gravel. Carefully leaning back and peeking out the window, Jody sees Sally's car in the driveway. Thank God. After a masterful extrication, she went to the door and stepped outside. The sun was almost finished setting, smearing deep reds and oranges across the sky.
"Heya, Sheriff!" Sally exits the car, along with her husband, Mike. Jody can see a pile of bags in the back seat, and wanted to give Sally a huge hug.
"Hey, yourself. Lemme help…" She headed down the porch steps, taking some bags from Mike.
"This sure is a lot of stuff," Sally started, neck already craning toward the house.
Jody waved her off. "Yeah, I know. Bobby's nephew needed some things." Vague would work, right?
"Had no idea ol' Singer had any family at all," Mike commented, also peering past her.
"Yeah...two nephews, actually. Anyway. Thanks so much for helping me out." Jody heads back up the steps. "Just leave the rest here on the porch. I'll bring them in."
She could see the disappointment on their faces. Too fucking bad.
"Sure thing, Sheriff." Sally and Mike set the rest of the bags on the weathered porch, then...stood there.
Jody fought the urge to roll her eyes. "Thanks, again. I'll get us squared away in the next few days." She put a hand on the door knob, clearly telling them goodbye.
They got the message, waving awkwardly and returning to their car. Heads turned and a last feeble attempt was made at catching a glimpse of the mysterious nephew, but Jody just stood in the doorway, a big fake smile plastered on her face. She watched them pull away, heads facing each other, already gossiping.
Whatever. Let them gossip. Not the first time Jody's been the subject of town gossip, and probably won't be the last.
She hauled everything inside, unpacking each bag onto Bobby's desk. She paused to run her hand along the gnarled wood, wishing it was covered in books and papers instead. Rough coughing pulled her out of the thought.
"Hey there - got some medicine for your fever." She waves a box at Sam, watching him stretch and run fingers through his hair.
"What fever? Who?" He smothered a cough in the sheet as he asked, the words sounding chopping and hoarse.
"Exactly." Jody ripped open the box and poured a couple pills into her hand. She sat down, holding them out with some water. "Down the hatch, Sam."
He blinked at them.
"Sam."
He jumped, nodding, and swallowed the pills without further comment.
She wanted to ruffle his hair, but settled on patting his shoulder. "Now it's time for some food to go with the pills." She knew the food should've gone first, but she figured the pills would be the easier sell, and she could deal with an upset stomach later if need be.
Sam shook his head, flopping back against the couch. He opened his mouth, only to be cut off. "Don't give me bullshit about not being hungry. Your stomach noises say otherwise." She got up and pulled a container of soup from the bags.
"Jody…"
Jody spun around. "Don't you Jody me. Do you have any idea how much you two mean to me? How...how worried I am when I don't hear from you? Especially since - " She stopped, their eyes locking, both swallowing. "You need this, Sam, especially now. Stop pushing me away." I need this, too.
She could see it - the fight on his face. It was devastating to know that he had no idea other people cared. Probably because...no one else was left.
He dug the heel of his hand against an eye, still coughing, still exhausted still...broken.
She needed him not broken.
"Yeah...yeah, okay."
xxxxx
They sat in the kitchen, focusing on their food, pointedly not looking around and trying like hell to keep memories from rising to the surface. But who were they kidding? The absence of both Bobby and Dean screamed from every corner, and both were sniffling and wiping their eyes by the end of the meal.
Jody pulled Sam back to the couch, arranging some of the other furniture so he could stretch out with her nearby. One of the bags had a blanket, which she laid on top of him. He huffed a little.
"What?" She asked, settling into a chair right next to the couch, well within arm's reach. He was much more 'with it', making conversation a lot easier.
"All this." He waved his hand around. "I dunno. It's weird."
Well, easier. Not necessarily better.
But she knew what he meant. "Yeah...it is weird."
They sat together for a while, saying nothing, just...being together. Sam was obviously lost in thought, and Jody was lost while watching him, not sure what to say, but knowing she didn't have to say anything.
When Sam started nodding off, she pulled the blanket up higher, resting a hand on his head. He sleepily opened one eye, as if making sure she was really there, before falling asleep once more.
xxxxx
The next morning dawned mostly bright, and Jody marveled at how she slept at all. Sam woke her twice - one yelling for Dean, arms flailing, eyes full of panic. The other was far worse - quiet sobbing, requiring her to give up the lumpy armchair and sit with him on the couch, crying with him.
Jody slid her hand from the back of the couch onto his forehead and neck, thankful that his skin felt much cooler, although he could use a shower. She smiled as he sighed in his sleep, and pulling the blanket up a bit higher.
By noon, they were up. Jody was ready with a dozen reasons why Sam needed to go back to her place...clean up, regroup, plan, get better, etc. She had it all primed and prepped.
After lunch, Sam cleared his throat. "So...Bobby's stuff is in a storage unit, right?"
She nodded, "Yup. I packed the books and papers myself, and anything else I could find that seemed…" She shrugged. "You know."
He nodded, coughing a little and taking a sip of water.
"You wanna go look at it?"
Sam shook his head. "No...not...not now. I'll, uh, I'll come back through and do it then."
Jody was in the midst of cleaning up and almost missed it. She'd been so sure of her plan and his agreement to it, that it took a couple seconds for his words to register. "Wait...what? Come back through?"
He ran his hands along his thighs, eyes on the table. "Yeah. I need to...to get going."
"But, Sam - "
"Don't you Sam me," He teased softly, now meeting her gaze with a small smile. "I have to keep looking, Jody. I know what you're thinking, and I know what you want to say. But...I have to."
Jody set the bag of garbage on the counter, leaning against it with a deep sigh. She knew this was coming. She hoped otherwise, but she knew. "Yeah...I know."
Sam stood. "I can't thank you enough, though, for…" He swept his arms around. "All this. Just knowing you're here, and that you...you took care of Bobby...it's…" He swallowed thickly. "It's everything."
Jody smiled up at him. "You can have everything, any time you need it, Sam."
He nodded again. "I know," he whispered.
Jody stood on the porch watching him drive away, the trunk full of all the supplies and extra food. She huffs to herself. That's why she got all the extra stuff.
xxxxx
A week later, Jody got a call from Sam.
"Jody…? I...I hit this dog…"
-end-