Birthday Girl.

[realmrsreynolds]

Sallie's out at the main bar today, enjoying a cup of coffee and making her way through receipts and supplies that needs to be restocked behind the serving area --

When a red flashing alarm light goes off above her head, and a banner unfurls across the bartop.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SALLIE REYNOLDS!

"Ugh. Who told?"

[ooc: Open to anyone, and flexible as hell.]

Comments

[gavemea_45]

"... I don't know, but..."

Awkward.

"... is there anything you want to do?"

[realmrsreynolds]

Both palms face upward and they mirror her shoulders in a shrug.

"I'll think of something? Maybe there's a manual out there somewhere..."

[gavemea_45]

"Usually there's cake," Sam offers. "I mean -- where we're from, anyway?"

Even if not for the Winchesters personally.

"With candles?"

[realmrsreynolds]

"Well. Sure. But who do I know that bakes better than I do, Sam?"

While it's certainly a valid question, Bar is less than helpful, in that she provides a slice of Smith Island cake with a sparkler for a candle.

"At least she didn't try to do all of my years. Burn the place down for sure."

[gavemea_45]

Sam stares at the cake for a second, blinking at the many, many layers visible under the bright sparkler, before he looks back up at Sallie.

"Or those weird-looking number candle things, either. This is better."

[realmrsreynolds]

"Good. Then you get to help me eat it."

What? It's a lot of dessert right there.

Sallie acquires a second fork for Sam, after extinguishing the sparkler.

[gavemea_45]

"But it's your birthday cake," he protests, even as he accepts the fork. Sam gets a stubborn look on his face.

"... you first, at least."

[realmrsreynolds]

Sam's so cute!

"Fine," she laughs, cutting out a sizeable chunk for herself.

"Wo de ma that thing is sweet. I need the recipe -- "

[gavemea_45]

He takes a bite and blinks.

"Boy you're not kidding, it really is. 'S good, though. Bet Dean would like it."

[realmrsreynolds]

"Where is that boy anyway? Not like him to actually let you have all the sweet stuff," she jibes.

[gavemea_45]

"Back at the motel," Sam mutters, looking down at the cake.

Beat.

"... or maybe at the bar down the street from it."

[realmrsreynolds]

"Sam."

Elaborate?

Sallie nudges at him with the back end of her fork.

[gavemea_45]

"What?"

Reflexively said, as he glances up -- but he does look genuinely confused.

[realmrsreynolds]

"Everything okay? With you and him?"

[gavemea_45]

"Sure," he lies, immediately. "Why wouldn't it be?"

Beat.

"I mean, aside from the job, and stuff like that."

[realmrsreynolds]

"Anyone ever tell you you're not terribly convincing?"

[gavemea_45]

For some reason, this makes him grin a little.

"Only people who know me pretty well. Everyone else falls for it."

[realmrsreynolds]

Sallie saves room for one last note before another bite of cake.

"You don't have to tell me. But you can if you want."

[gavemea_45]

"Sallie..."

Sam ducks his head and sighs, then looks back at her, straight-on.

"... there's not much to tell."

Not much he can tell, anyway.

"And none of it's birthday stuff. There's just ... a lot that we're still cleaning up after what happened last year."

[realmrsreynolds]

"Fine. That's fine that that's what it is."

[gavemea_45]

"Please don't be mad," he says, after a second or two, barely audible. There's real worry in his eyes.

"I didn't mean --"

[realmrsreynolds]

"Oh, Sam - I ain't mad, sweetheart. Dong ma? And I'm sorry if I sounded that way.

"You're just one o' my favorites. So I ask too many questions."

[gavemea_45]

"... oh."

He ducks his head again, this time looking sheepish.

"You don't, just so you know. It's just -- there's not -- I'm not used to people asking, that's all."

A beat; and then, deliberately bright,

"We just had Christmas, not all that long ago -- I could tell you about that?"

[realmrsreynolds]

"I would love to hear about Christmas."

It's an effort, and it's an obvious distraction.

But it's Christmas stories over birthday cake. Sallie really can't complain.

[gavemea_45]

"Okay." Sam gives her a quick smile.

"... I guess first off I have to explain that the guy we ran into wasn't really Santa..."


* * * * * * *

A couple of days later, Sam ducks back into Milliways in order to leave a package with the bar.

The gas-station souvenir coffee mug's one of the more sturdy of its kind, and actually even somewhat appealing, printed with a colorful road map of the United States on one side and a picture of a sunflower on the other.

Attached to the handle with a piece of scotch tape is a plain white card with a picture of a balloon. Inside, in Sam's handwriting:

Happy birthday!

--Sam and Dean