On Shadow.

[realmrsreynolds]

Sallie's accustomed by this point in her career in Milliways with bringing people through to her house.

Sometimes however, she does forget to mention that her door leads to the back end of her walk-in pantry.

"Mind the rice bags, please," Sallie throws out behind her. "I haven't had a chance to put them away yet."

'Them', here, meaning 'a stack of burlap bags waist high that restricts the narrow walkway of actual living space to about half of its original width'.

Sallie's concise like that; even she has issues navigating it all.

Comments

[gavemea_45]

"Take your time, ma'am."

Sam nods to Dorothy as well, then follows Dean out.

He waits until they're all the way outside before punching his brother in the shoulder.

"Claustrophobia? What the hell was that?"

[hopeitsworthit]

"Divine inspiration, what the hell do you think?"

Dean reflexively slaps the back of Sam's head.

"Now come on, there's gotta be something around here."

[realmrsreynolds]

More like someone, actually. Someone in overalls and a shovel.

Some things never change, five hundred years and change later.

"You two lost, or here to help?" It's rough and solid, even if the question comes from a man who doesn't look much older than Dean himself.

[gavemea_45]

"Not lost," Sam says. "We're here with Mrs. Reynolds."

[realmrsreynolds]

"Good -- the more someone's here with Missus, the better."

The shovel blade is stabbed into the dirt of the flowerbed butting up against one side of Dorothy's house, and the man leans on its handle.

"The Gaetanos didn't have much friends as they did customers or admirers, really. 'S nice o' Reynolds to come up as she does."

[hopeitsworthit]

Dean's eyebrow goes up.

"Don't tell me people find the whole 'doctor' thing creepy."

Dean does, but--

Never mind.

[realmrsreynolds]

"Sure, at first. He was so helpful to folk though, didn't charge 'em nothin' more than what they thought he was worth. Sometimes they'd bring him jewelry for Missus, or supplies for himself for his office.

"Hell, half that kitchen is filled with stuff ain't even his."

[gavemea_45]

"Really?"

Sam trades a look with Dean.

"It's a real shame what happened to him."

[realmrsreynolds]

"That it is - not fair for a woman to see her husband all cut up like somethin' you're cookin' for dinner."

Still leaning on that shovel, with an added glance downward to the unusual (for Sam and Dean, most likely) sort of yellow almost!peonies. The gardener is definitely trying to give the impression that he's got work to do.

[hopeitsworthit]

"Yeah."

Dean shoves his hands in his pockets.

"Here's hopin' no one was actually planning on making that dinner."

Uh.

[realmrsreynolds]

The gardener looks appropriately disgusted at the notion, but tries to change the topic quickly. It still comes off awkward as hell.

"Aren't you two supposed to be in with Missus Reynolds?" he questions, finally lifting his shovel out of his particular divot.

[gavemea_45]

"Not while she's visiting." Sam shrugs, watching the gardener. "She doesn't need us hanging around while they're talking, you know?"

[realmrsreynolds]

"Seems fair."

It's an awkward movement, especially since it doesn't seem to actually do any good, but the gardener kicks one boot against the other to knock dirt and mulch off. The result is sort of an accidental shuffle.

[hopeitsworthit]

Dean exchanges a look with Sam. It's a look that says Dude, does this guy have to piss, or what?

"Yeah. Uh. We keeping you from working?"

[realmrsreynolds]

"A little. Duibuqi," the gardener offers, "But if I don't get this done, you know the missus is going to [leave me out on the side of a road with my hand up my ass], you know what I mean?"

[gavemea_45]

He's got no idea what the guy just said, and even less intention of admitting it.

"Fair enough," Sam says. "We'll let you get back to it."

[hopeitsworthit]

Dean, who has learned some profanity from Kaylee, looks kinda cranky for a second.

He's not sure if the gardener was being a jackass, but he can guess.

Still--

"Uh. Yeah. You get right on that, dude."

[realmrsreynolds]

Finally.

"Thank you," and the gardener returns to his flowerbeds.

Once the new arrivals go away.

[gavemea_45]

They don't go far-- just around the corner of the house and out of sight.

Sam looks back toward the gardener, then raises his eyebrows at Dean.

[hopeitsworthit]

"He seem kinda nervous to you, dude?"

Dean's not really looking at Sam.

He's too busy scowling at the gardener.

[gavemea_45]

"Yeah. Not to mention -- the guy's got a good reason to stand around and talk for a bit, and wants to get back to digging around flowers in the dirt instead?"

He shakes his head.

"He knows more than he's saying."

[realmrsreynolds]

Hopefully that was enough time for the two boys to get anything they needed -- Sallie walks out the front door and move towards the hovercraft, confirming Sam and Dean's presence in her periphery.

"Anything useful?"

[hopeitsworthit]

"Could be, ma'am," Dean says, as he heads toward her.

"We'll see how it plays."

[gavemea_45]

He nods agreement, then observes,

"Looks like your friend's got some help around the place, at least."

Sam jerks his head toward the garden.

[realmrsreynolds]

Sallie turns to look in the direction Sam indicates, and her eyes narrow.

"Those used to be vegetable beds. Hunh."