peaceonearth | In the Beginning

The plan had shifted the minute Lilith held Sam down so her Hellhound could drag Dean's soul to Hell. Much of the aftermath was a blur but Ruby had found Sam where he had buried Dean's body as the sun was going down. He'd thank her for pulling him out of there but there was a silent understanding between them both that he wasn't doing very well.

A month had passed since then and they weren't any closer to any real answers on how to break into and out of Hell. The only thing that has changed is Sam's willingness to be open with Ruby and work with her. The city lights were hours behind them and the stars as visible as day. Sleep didn't come easy to him under the circumstances. What she hears is a sigh before he turns to sit up straight, glancing towards her curls and attention on the road. He knows just as well as she that she has no more answers right now. Still, he needs that strand of hope to stay the course.

"Run it by me one more time. What's the plan for riling demons on our side? And the exit plan is just one demon blade, I got that right?"

The plan had shifted when Dean had trapped Ruby in that devil's trap so that Lilith could force her the fuck out of her body and into Hell. Ruby had only found her way back to her body later when Lilith was dead and Hell was in an uproar. Once she'd possessed a body again, it wasn't hard to find Sam with a good location spell. She'd had to literally drag him away from that grave and shove him into the Impala. Things had gotten marginally better since then. Honestly, she'd never expected him to be doing well. She takes care of him, but she doesn't baby him. She doesn't think that's what Sam needs right now.

That willingness and openness is a big step. She wishes she had answers for him; she wishes she had answers for herself. "Hell is an uproar. Lilith was a bitch and I'm banking that they'd like a different party to take the top dog position this time. At one point, you had quite the following, Samuel. If we can rally those demons and get them to rally a few more, we might be able to march into Hell with an army." She glances over at him. "You're our exit plan, Sam. The King of Hell hands out day pass and expulsions. If they don't want to cooperate...the knife is just a tool, but it's a good one. There's not much demons are afraid of. Real death, that's the big one."

No. He really did not need someone to baby him. Of course Ruby dragging him away and feeding him the cold truth didn't feel any better at the time. He had some words for her but they were past that now. In a number of ways, it did him good to have company and someone to keep his desperation in check. He wouldn't have been half as put together without her no nonsense approach in keeping him to pay attention.

That may be what Ruby was calling it, but a desperation fell under his willingness too. He lets out the heaviest of sighs at something she said. More than likely he morally dislikes hearing the idea of acting as the King of Hell said out loud or he's learned Ruby never will listen to calling him Sam only. Either way, the rest of her run down was sound. He couldn't find any holes in the plan. They just needed demons to side with them, he thought.

"And you? Whose side are you on?" Obviously, he knows he can't trust any demon that they recruit but some doubts from Dean about Ruby were lingering. "Let's put it this way, when this is over, what's your plan? Do you want the seat in Hell?"

She makes sure he eats and sleeps whenever she can get him to do so, promising him that she's not going anywhere while he does sleep. She stays true to her word, taking the other bed or other side of the bed, depending on their room situation, and spending the evening reading her trashy romance novels or knitting. She's got half a blanket done already. She doesn't expect him to be happy or to function, but she does expect him to listen to her and to do what she tells him, even if that's 'eat' or 'go shower. you smell like ass'.

Yeah, she knows, but if he's going to take the position even temporarily, he's got to accept the title that goes with it. Everyone calls him Sam. Ruby likes being a little different.

She gives him a dirty look. "I've been betting on you for a long time, Sam." It's not an answer about which side she's on exactly, but it's close enough. She's Team Sam. She snorts a laugh. "Fuck no," she spat with an immense amount of disgust. "I'm going to find a little cottage on the outskirts of a small town with a diner that has really great fries and a fantastic used book store. I'll sell minor magic spells and trinkets to people who think magic can solve their problems and genuinely magic face creams and soap to people who know it can't. I'll hunt demons on the weekends. Maybe I'll get a cat and wear dumb-ass victorian nightgowns everywhere. I'll be the crazy witch lady that doesn't age and I'll tell everyone it's because of the face cream I sell."

Most of the reason he looks put together is thanks to her. Just the other day he was sitting in clothes he had worn for three days until she pushed him to go do his laundry. Honestly, he had fallen into listening to her fairly easily. On the other hand, they had gotten in a fight about exactly that. Sam claimed she was smothering him and Ruby had threatened to show him what smothering really looked like. Ruby had walked and told him to call her when he was done being a whiny bitch and wanted to go to work. Eventually, he did make that call after cooling off. His peace offering came at the diner nearby and a full plate of curly fries.

She is right about one thing; his mind had to be in the game.

He didn't react much to her look. Much of his trust was built on what she could do for him (initially). Of course her reaction was something he was gauging. "You've said that before but you never say why. What makes me special to other children with demon blood? You could start by telling me what you've heard about me in Hell." If she thought he wouldn't want her to elaborate, she was wrong. Her laugh throws him for a loop as his question is quite serious. Her story of a cottage on the outskirts of a town surprises him more. "I have a hard time picturing you living that way besides finding a place with the greatest fries in all the States. Maybe you do seem a little like a cat person too."

He does know how to make a proper peace offering.

She's pretty sure that she's right about a lot of things, but that's an argument for another time.

Ruby didn't expect him to react much. He gets enough of those looks for things like sitting around in the same clothes for three days. To be fair, much of her trust had been built on the same thing initially. Now...she's not sure what's going on between them. "I don't know, Sam. The same thing that makes anyone different. You're stronger. Maybe it's genetics. Maybe it's the way you were raised. Maybe it's coming back from the dead. Personally, I like you better because you're taller and prettier than the others," she quips. Ruby finds it hard not to lighten the mood. "I think there was so much chatter about you in Hell because you're a Winchester and a special kid. You're the Boy King. At least that's what Hell says." She doesn't believe in Lucifer so she's not even going to dignify the rumors she'd heard about Sam being Lucifer's vessel. If she has anything to do with it, that's not going to happen.

She glances over at him when he says he has a hard time picturing her in that life. "If I hadn't made that deal with Astaroth, my life would have been a lot closer to that." She pauses a moment. "Of course, I probably would have died of the black plague before I was sixteen if I hadn't made that deal. And, you wouldn't have had the pleasure of my company. It would have been tragic."

God, or rather Sam, knows they don't need to argue about anything else on this road together.

Grief wasn't known to be an emotion that made sense. Ruby hadn't caught on yet but in many ways Sam was actively trying to emulate what Dean would do in every scenario since he lost him. It had actually nothing to do with Ruby herself beyond the small doubt Dean had left in his mind about trusting her. On the other hand, he was struggling to cope with it too. "That's great." He pinches the bridge of his nose because it was in fact the opposite of what he said. The reality of being chosen for whatever B movie cosmic reason never satisfied him to getting to the root of the issue. The humor on Ruby's part earns something of an ill gotten laugh. "Right... I'm sorry for going in circles with you." He stops there, shaking his head unable to say anything else which would portray him in a vulnerable light. Anything like saying he was mostly sure Ruby could be trusted and he did trust her in case he was wrong. Where they were going from here was the biggest lingering question.

He fixes eye contact with her in that split second and listens to her closely. What she says sounds like it comes from a place of truth and he searches himself for how to take some of his word back. "I was wrong to assume. You don't seem like an innocent girl from the mid 1300s, if I have that correct, who would resign herself to a simple life. I guess, what I pictured is you bothering people in diners and taking pleasure in experiences as a result of human innovation."

Ruby would rather not argue unless, of course, the other option is for Sam to sit like a bump on a log. Arguing is a lot closer to alive.

No, grief doesn't make sense and it's one of the human emotions that Ruby has a hard time grasping. She's read and observed a lot of grief in her lifetime, but she's never experienced it firsthand. Ruby was far too busy watching Sam to notice what Dean was doing most of the time, but she has noticed that Sam is acting very Dean-like in some ways. Ruby isn't taking it personally. She's aware that Sam mostly trusts her. She doesn't miss his sarcasm and responds to his apology by lifting one shoulder in a shrug. "I'd probably do the same thing if I were you. I get it. The Chosen One rarely wants to be chosen. Except maybe Harry Potter, but his life sucked balls before Hogwarts." Theoretically, Ruby knows where they're going, but so much of it depends upon what happens along the way.

She snorts at his words. "I am far innocent. But I was. Once upon a time. Who says I can't drive into town to annoy people in diners. Also, I freaking love running hot water, bubble baths and Netflix. And fries. And fast cars." She presses the gas pedal down a bit further as she says it. "And the beds now." She almost moans with the idea of it. "You have no idea how good the beds now are."

She texted him in the middle of the night with "Hey, Tall Man. What's up?" and he wasn't a sleep yet -- the nightmares and dreams he had made it difficult to trust he would sleep at all -- so he picked up his phone when it buzzed. It surprised him to see it was something so casual from Ruby. Right away, his first thought was to question if she had a lead on something.

Stepping out of the motel room, he texted her back:

Firstly, it's Sam.

No. Is there something I should know?

To which she replied with "No. I finished my book. The store isn’t open and I don’t need another blanket."

At this point, he wasn't sure the point of her texting him. However, he was invested in whatever it is was going on between them. He asked her where she was and searched Google for the quickest solution to her problem, giving her an address in his follow up text.

Here. All the books you want at the 24 hour library.

I'm aware She'd be very pleased that he'd stepped out of the motel room to respond to her so there were no spying eyes. She's currently lounging in a motel room not far from him. She'd taken care of some demons behaving badly a few hours away then started driving his way. A little over three-fourths of the way there she'd decided she needed a shower and to check up on her favorite Boy King.

Puppy! Careful. I'll start thinking you care. You know where I'll be for the next couple of hours. Where are you going to be?

Then use it. Please. If she could see him now she would see by her next text the sigh that comes pouring out of him because he is aware that he can't win with her. He noticed the address she gave him was only a few miles from his current location.

Are you asking me to come over? It's not that big of a deal. I went there all the time as a child. I wanted to know it was still there. He can't possibly care that way for her. Save for the fact he wouldn't think he'd dignify talking any other demon, much less sharing a fond memory.

Sorry , Sam (not sorry). Pet names are par of how Ruby shows affection. He's stuck with the few she's come up with for him. She'll undoubtedly come up with more for him over time. She doesn't dignify his request with a response since she has no intention of complying and they could argue about that all day. She'll use his name when things are serous.

I'm asking you what you're doing for the next couple of hours. If you'd like to browse the stacks with me and walk down memory lane, you know where I am. If not, the question still stands. yes, she uses punctuation and correct spelling in her text messages. Wait until he sees her handwriting. She actually remembers when he went to that library and the crush he had on the librarian, but she doesn't mention that because he's not ready for that plot twist. Does it help him to know she's in the same boat that he is?

Nothing. I wasn't sleeping. Some nights he has little to no success getting more than four hours worth of wink. It's a discussion for another time. I might be able to use the change of scenery. But I'm not really looking to walk down memory lane with you. ~~It just~~ The text crossed out is deleted and the rest is promptly sent before his mind is made up to continue his thought anyway.

There's not a lot to do in town. You probably can guess that I read in my free time. If you promise not to make this weird, I don't see why not.

Ruby is a stalker. She's well aware that Sam isn't sleeping much, hence the text message and invitation to join her for a distraction in the middle of the night.

Ow. Puppy has bite. I like a little nibble every now and then.

Honestly, she's a little surprised he agreed, but pleasantly so. I'll be in there in ten. It won't be weird. No lollygagging on memory lane. You can help me pick my next book.

And as soon as she sends the message, she grabs a clean pair of jeans to pull on, shoves her feet into boots and starts toward her car. Her hair is still damp when she gets to the library. She will start without Sam. Part of the fun is in him finding her (Spoiler alert: she's in the romance section).

That makes two things he isn't ready to acknowledge. It's best that he continues to believe that she gets more information of his whereabouts from him directly.

Don't pretend I hurt your feelings. Of course he won't address how she had to make it weird by making it sound sexual. That would only open the door to more antagonistic teasing.

Rather than tell her he's fifteen minute out, Sam pockets his phone and makes his way to library on foot. When he arrives, the door creaks into the greater hall and he steps into the familiar setting with the sections arranged no differently than memory. His hands smooth his hair down from the wild comb of the wind outside. His first guess is Ruby would be in between historical and fiction. He isn't too far off when he eventually finds her perusing the smaller romance-smut section. Part of him does not realize his gaze lingers on her as if trying to solve a puzzle for the first time before he speaks up.

"I'm not going to be any help assisting you with finding a book if you read this stuff." Perhaps a part of him thought she was jesting about the books and wanted to inform something in person. The other part of him was drawn to show up whatever the case.

He's an adorable, delusional, puppy.

I do have a couple of feelings, you know.

Even if he had told her that he was fifteen minutes out, she would have made him find her in the library. She knows when he walks into the library; she can hear, smell, and feel him. She lived history and she generally gets annoyed when they get it wrong, though she does like historical romance. Getting the history right isn't important with that genre. She doesn't acknowledge him while he studies her, giving him a chance to look and puzzle her out all he wants. It's only when he speaks that she turns to look up at him, an amused look on her face.

"I devour this stuff, but I'll make you a deal: you can pick something out for me to read and I'll pick something out for you." Nothing to inform; she just wanted to see him.

The day he finally does clear the haze from his eyes will be the same day he confronts her about how she tracks him. Other demons following her suit would be of concern. Her text is left on read. Addressing that note would only get sticky.

He was used to finding her to a degree, but had hoped his previous conversation about meeting etiquette wouldn't have fallen on deaf ears. His heartbeat has a distinct irregular rhythm of a man come back to life; he had a similar aura to the demons around him in part due to the demon coursing his veins; he smelt clean with the faint smell of cheap motel soap and shampoo. Sam could tell her that they get a lot of things wrong because most history books are white washed. He could tell her the same romance novels she reads were likely based on the historical facts of those same textbooks and anything worth reading would usually be imported from another first world country. To the untrained eye, all Ruby looked to be doing was that simple. But he had a feeling she knew he was standing there already.

He gives her another puzzled look, but accepts by the simple fact he doesn't turn around to leave. "Fine. I'm here anyway and it would be a shame to leave without something to read over the weekend. I have one ground rule. It can't be anything with a problematic author or theme." As odd as it is, this makeshift book club wasn't the worst thing he could be doing in the early hours of the morning.

Oh, Samuel. She's the one that's been making sure no other demons stalk him. Sticky is her middle name.

One of these days Sam will learn she has little regard for etiquette. She had enough of that when she was human. History is written by the winners and they don't always tell the truth, but then there's more than one side to any story, historical or otherwise. If she cared about the historical facts of her romance novels, she wouldn't be reading them. She's not sure what she'd read since crime novels bore her most of the time and true crime, while interesting, can tend to make her lose whatever little faith in humanity she has so she has to be careful how much of it she reads. In this case, his feelings are correct.

She laughs a little at his condition. "Sam, you're in a library. It's all problematic to someone," she tells him with a wink. "I'll do what I can," she promises as she runs her fingers along the spines of the books, attention half on Sam and half on the books. "So tell me what you like a novel."

Clearly, he hadn't thought about how she would be looking out for him like that. Sticky isn't his ideal situation.

Somewhere down the line they will come to compromise, but more than likely it will be him accepting the way she is as long as it continues not to cross lines he can't live with. Sam is partial to history as told by neutral parties or countries like Germany that own up to their mistakes. True crime appeals to Sam because it gets into the psyche of the most twisted humanity has to offer. He was raised to believe monsters all had that same psyche so his interest was purely in a know your enemy sense that at some point became its own form of 'hot news, cool reads.'

Even though she had him there, he gives a telling look of being unimpressed. "Let's just stay away from the more problematic storylines including racist themes. I'm not worried what other people think." His attention is entirely on her and while she trails her fingers along the spines of the books, he steps forward every so often with a step or two to keep pace behind her. "A little of everything. To name a few genres: History, true crime, fantasy, magic." He is careful to watch where her attention falls on the rows of spines though a piece of him is distracted by the feeling it isn't so bad talking casually with her like this.

Sticky can be fun.

Ruby fought too hard to be allowed to be the person she is so it's unlikely she'll change much, but she will compromise some over time. Humans are often the real monsters. At least the monsters have an excuse. Ruby understands true crime and sometimes, even the fascination with it. She's rarely surprised or shocked by it though. She's experienced the worst Hell has to offer. Earth can't touch the tip of that iceberg.

Ruby shoots him a look. "I'm not the racist here," she quips without any real bite behind it. "How do you feel about Persphone Hades mythology?" she inquires as she stops in front of one of the shelves, considering the books there. She is an excellent conversationlist, thank you very much. At least, she's never a boring one.

Yes, most likely Sam will have to compromise the most. There's no denying humans are monsters. Sam already has a feeling he will have to overlook possession of human beings to work the demons they're looking for. Still, he will lay ground rules, such as said humans are kept alive.

He sighs, but nods because she sort of has him there. He's working on his "demons are all evil" bias. "Okay, I'll give you that." He is well versed in Greek mythology because of its heroes. However, Hades is far from a hero. "Personally, I would consider the elements of kidnapping and forced marriage in poor taste." Among other things. "Truth is, all the Gods have messy love lives. I'm more partial to Greek heroes." It speaks for her conversational skills that she has him opening up to her.

He definitely will. After all, their army won't be much good if it's incorporeal, at least until they get into Hell. She's relatively sure that's a rule most of the demons they'll want on their side can abide by. She'll even tell them to make sure the humans don't remember anything.

His acquiance curves her lips with a slightly smug smile. "Hmmm Hades has his faults, but Persphone falls in love with him," she points out. She chuckles a little at his comment. "All love lives are messy in one way or another." She continues to stroll through the shelf, pausing and tapping her fingers against her lips. She pulls out The Deep End of the Sea and holds it out to Sam. "How do you feel about Medusa and Hermes?" He did say Greek gods. She notices that he is opening up to her and she's glad for it.

He won't work with them if they won't even abide by that wish. It could be conceded that Ruby knows him extremely well at this point.

For all his bias about demons, Ruby is the first that inexplicably opens him up to conversation. He frowns with his brows half threaded together but exhales and decides better than listing his reasons. "No. Hades and Persephone aren't exactly the best example for normal love lives out there. What else do you have?" His eyes don't leave her while she peruses further, but he finds himself blinking to not stare so hard at her tapping her lips. "Individually, I feel they have tragic stories. Together, there isn't much myth about them." He flips the book over to read the back when he accepts it from her. Scanning the summary, followed by a nod, "The premise comes across... as relatable to most people. There's potential here."

Some day soon, he'll realize that.

In her words, she's a freaking unicorn. She arches an eyebrow at him, listening. She smirks a little in response to his challenge, not skipping a beat as she peruses the shelf again. That wasn't actually a planned gesture, but she's pleased he's watching her. "But there is a romance novel about them," she says with amusement as he reads the back of the book. "You'll have to let me know how you enjoy it," she says. She takes a moment and looks him over. Her voice dips a bit lower and rounds into a purr. "Your turn."

He shrugs, not having an answer for the author's more romantic imagination. "You'll have to stick around for that." He means his thoughts will be better shared as he reads through it. But there's no denying that he's asking if she is staying close by for the next while.

She never ceases to make him pause with the way she looks him over and react rather abruptly in his next movement, turning toward another section of the library. He hesitates over his options (The Once and Future King by T. H. White) but eventually pulls The Wheel of Time book one to hold out towards her.

She arches an eyebrow and smirks. It's almost a real smile. "You know how to find me," she says in that tone of voice that somehow manages to make everything sound dirty.

The abrupt movement confuses her for a moment before she follows him. She watches him hesitate over the options, attention entirely on him rather than the books. When he pulls out the book and hands it to her, she flips through it first, then turns it over to read the back cover. "Magic system held by mostly women. I think I can get behind this one," she says as she flips it open and studies the first few sentences.

Naturally it does come across a little dirty. This is not something new with Ruby. It does, however, never cease to have Sam pause and examine her meaning. He sighs or half scoffs immediately. "Sure." He knows she has a habit of showing up just as he considers needing to call her. He's never had trouble getting her to answer either.

Suppose it could have come across as abrupt. Honestly, this meeting with her in the middle of the night is far from a date or any normal social experience. Oftentimes he still doesn't know what to make of their secrecy and time together. Patiently he waits for her to give her opinion on the book, pleasantly remembering the part she summarizes with a nod. "Reincarnation, magic, and friendship. Women do hold a big role in it." He studies her keen interest in the book and decides it's genuine; he smiles at the corners without realizing it.

"Shall we sit?" It would make more sense than standing to read.

It's sort of her speciality, at least when talking ~~flirting~~ with him. His reaction is half of why she does it. The list of people she makes herself that readily accessible to has exactly one name on it.

Maybe she'd been a little too preoccupied with how he had been looking at her. She considers these meetings a little like dates even though she knows she ought to consider them strictly business. Sam is a means to an end; a world that isn't Hell and a Hell that isn't quite so...hellish. He's also perma-get-out-of-hell-free card. Making this anything else is only going to end in heartbreak for her and yet....

She looks up at him and her lips curve in a geniune, soft smile. "Yeah," she agrees and walks in front of him, taking the more comfortable seat on one end of the small love seat. There's a chair that's less cozy, but she'll leave him to decide where he wants to sit.

Not that he isn't grateful that she keeps contact with him. There's only so much teasing he can take before he wishes he turned around. Sam does his best to compose himself. ... Yet it is as difficult for him as it is for her. In their encounters thus far, it never does seem as simple as being strictly business with her. A glance traded here, the smell of perfume there, the occasional touch where she updates him with her number or vice versa. Ruby should be a means to an end, but that isn't so easy to think about until after he parts ways from her.

He meets her eyes and smiles partly with genuine relief. He half expected her to say they should move elsewhere. That isn't the case. He allows her to sit first because as much as he'd hate to admit it, they're closer than they started. He ends up sitting next to her but choosing to keep a modicum of space. For a while it is enough for him that they read in silence next to each other. He looks over at her curiously after the first two chapters of his novel. Suffice to say, her choice of book is agreeable with him.

She'll try to keep the teasing to just the right amount. She's managed to strike the right balance so far. After all, he keeps coming back. It helps that he's having the same issues that she is, though she can't know that for sure. She can only guess.

They're both reasonably comfortable here; she doesn't see any reason to leave. She's slightly surprised he chooses the sofa, but manages to cover by winking at him before turning back to her book. For a little while, she's distracted by watching him read, but gets involved in her book, devouring the words. It's only after a few seconds of feeling his eyes on hers that she look up, gaze meeting his. Her lips spread in a wicked grin as she rakes her eyes over him before her eyes meet his once again. "I've got to say, as much as I like the book, I think I'm enjoying the view more."

Comfortable is subjective, but he grows more comfortable the longer they sit in silence. He almost finds himself thinking she's rather normal while watching her. Of course she has to spoil that thought by her mouth. Even so, his look doesn't particularly change with any bewilderment. "Sure. You're entitled to your thoughts. The library isn't a bad place to be either."

Rather, he doesn't mind the company himself either. He's a lot more relaxed in her presence than he had been when he first came in.

Okay, so comfortable is subjective, but he's not trying to get away from her, so she'll take it. She'll be happy to spoil other things with her mouth if he likes. She chuckles softly and bites her bottom lip as she watches him. Finally, she looks back to her book.

After another chapter, she asks "do you do this often? Visit libraries in other cities and sit and read their books?" She doesn't look up from reading when she asks it.

The trouble with that mouth of hers is, Sam goes over her words in his head rather than continue to read for a moment or two. He has to admit that this is still unusual for them. The strange part was that her mouth of hers wasn't completely off putting. He shook his head and went back to the pages of the book, reading only a few pages when she spoke again.

"Um, if I have time, yeah. It's...hard to explain. I feel at peace when I'm somewhere like this." He can't remember a time he's had a proper home, but he can remember libraries throughout his childhood. Ruby might even recall Sam at the age of ten once telling her something similar yet more descriptive to why libraries are special, second worlds.

She doesn't happen to think that's a problem at all. Rarely does Ruby talk just to hear her own voice.She wants her words to linger with Sam, some for different reasons than others.

One corner of her mouth quirks up into the slightest, softest smile. "Libraries are familiar. They don't change over the decades or even the centuries much so if the whole world is burning and seems crazy, you can count on libraries to be the same." He did, in fact, tell her something much like that a long time ago, but this is not the time to reveal to him that she's been watching over him for most of his life in one form or another.

He can't pinpoint the reason that smile is vaguely familiar, but it is reminiscent of librarians he's met in the past. Mentally, he shakes himself out of it. "No, not really. Sometimes things move around, perhaps the current events section stays more relevant, but the atmosphere is the same. This library... I've been here before and it's not changed much." But they spoke of this before, he calls. The smile that renews behind his eyes and mouth both come from the memories and this moment in this place.

One of these days she'll tell him why. "Churches and libraries tend to remain the same. Maybe it's because historically, they're both meant to be sanctuaries." She glances around the books. "Do you ever take books with you? Or do you just pick the same book up where you left off when you move to the next town?"

His gaze follows hers half expecting someone watching them and he relaxes when he realizes no one cares. "It's easier to pick up the same book in the next town." He lowers his head, guilty of one thing. "But I can't tell you there are some I've taken out that never got returned." Right now, there's a small stash in the trunk of the impala. He returns his gaze to her. "And you?"

At this time of night, very few people do care, especially when one is in a brightly lit, public place. She knew he'd be guilty of that for at least a few books. She smirks and bumps his shoulder lightly with hers. "Don't sweat it. The libraries plan for a certain number of replacements a year." She raises both shoulders in a shrug. "I have a lot of time to read. Most of the time I read things in one sitting or I can pick it up at the next library. I have to travel pretty light; however, I've been known to take one or two that I didn't think I could find somewhere else. I consider it liberating them. I've a librarian a few times, if a book doesn't check out at least once or twice year, it gets trashed."

His look changes to one of interest and mild disbelief. "Okay, putting that aside. You have to tell me the story behind why you were a librarian."

(He doesn't make a connection with the librarians he knew in the past. All it sounds like is there might have been a book important enough to take.)

She laughs softly at his disbelief and question. "It's a very short story. I was watching someone. Protecting them, actually. Strictly do not interfere. Do not touch. Depending on the person being watched, a librarian is a perfect person to be. Besides, I get to be around books, and not talking is encouraged." She looks very fondly on her time as a librarian for several reasons.

"The person moved on and so did I. The librarians always thought that they were just being forgetful. One or two of them might have gone to the doctor about it. No harm done to anyone. Scouts honor," she says holding up her fingers in the boy scout salute.

The story could apply to anyone but for a moment it strikes him as something familiar before he shakes it off. "I've never heard of a demon that protected anyone," he acknowledges with curiosity. But he knows Ruby has lived longer than himself and deserves the benefit of the doubt. He notices her fond look. "I take it you would go back to being a librarian? You never did share what you wanted to do once it wasn't possible for Hell to be on Earth."

After a moment, he agrees that there is no point in reflecting on misdoings in the past. "Promise you won't take anymore books without returning them." He won't actually hold her to that.

That strike of familiarity is what she's going for. She lifts one shoulder up in a shrug. "I'm a fucking unicorn," she responds then sighs. "I'm sure there have been a few others, but it tends to get you killed or tossed in supermax torture cells. It doesn't get advertised." What she won't tell Sam is that she knows the supermax part from experience. That's where she'd been when the Winchesters opened the gates of Hell for precisely that reason. They'd given her a fight-your-way-out-of-hell free card. She hesitates at that. "You know...I haven't given myself the chance to think much about after. Assuming someone doesn't knife me with my own knife or shoot me with the Colt-" she might be talking about Dean or Bobby or both there-"I think I'd like being a librarian. Or a bookstore owner. Badass demon hunter by night. Librarian by day. It's got a ring to it," she smiles a little.

She laughs a little and nods. "Girl scout's honor. Though, full disclosure, I've only been a girl scout's mom once. It's creepy to possess little kids."

It's his own fault that he can't fit together the connection. He agrees with her unicorn statement in the way his head tilts slightly and lips curve into a smile. Something about what she is saying helps him see a whole new side of her. "There was someone worth protecting?" he asks, meaning more the deep question of if there was someone she wanted to protect at one point. She can thank Jake for that. Sam had just been there to help close the gates so the world wouldn't have been overrun by vengeful souls, ghosts or demons. "You seem like the type that will survive." He's being honest here but also hopeful that no one will snuff her out. He worries about what Dean might say or do about Ruby when his brother gets back. The last thing his brother would recall is leaving Ruby in the trap. As for Bobby? There is a reason Sam has left him out of this by going no contact. He chuckles, but her vision is charming. "You think I can come see what that looks like when it happens? It's hard to picture right now." But not impossible. Little by little he enjoys learning about her.

He relaxes at her promise. "Since we're being honest with each other, I'd say that's a good thing. You have an idea what girl scouts stand for." He jests. It also helps him to find out that she draws a line with adolescents. He has strong personal morals and would only have to take a step back if she didn't see an issue with possessing children.

He will one day, if he can handle and process the fact that she's been stalking him for most of his life. If he doesn't put it all together, that's okay too. Her smile turns soft at his question and she nods. "There was someone worth protecting." She hesitates and tilts her head slightly toward him. "There still is." She won't ever be thanking Jake for anything. If she weren't so unpopular downstairs, she'd pop back and spend some time torturing him herself. "Surviving is one of the things I'm very good at," she agrees. His question makes her smile genuinely. "I promise not to change my cell number and I'll have a list of recommendations for you, but you'll have to bring all the books back." Thus guaranteeing she'll see him again.

"I was also catholic when I was human or...catholic-ish considering I was also a witch, but that came later in life." Later as in when she was 13, but semantics. Her brow furrows a little. "Not that a lot of Catholics have a strong moral code. I think I'll stick with girl scouts. Besides, have you tried the Thin Mints?" She makes a soft, almost indecent sound of pleasure at the thought of the cookies.

One day he will be able to handle that revelation, but not today. He might end up putting it together on his own when the subject comes up again. For now, he famously is being slow with the connection between someone to protect and her motion to him. He does however watch her smile for a moment and decide with some certainty that this is another surprising bit of humanity in her. "My number doesn't change often," he offers. He half grins at her choice of words being the same he used earlier. "Bring them back here?" She'll see him again, that much is guaranteed.

He lifts his eyebrow up at her story, intrigued that she could remember more of her human life. Her growing up catholic doesn't surprise him as much as Ruby has indicated she is much older than nineteen. In fact, had he been willing to guess, he would have no trouble believing she was born during a time when religion wasn't a choice. He shakes his head, doing his best to ignore the dramatic sound of pleasure. "I suppose not. It's up to the individual to decide if they want to uphold a moral code. What's yours? I haven't tried the thin mints, sorry."

She'll answer his questions honestly when and if he does put those things together. She would say there's just a shred, but there's probably more than that, and spending time with the right humans cultivates her humanity (though she's really not aware of that yet). She notices that guarantee of seeing him again. "That works."

It's taken her a long time to recover what memories she does possess and those are fuzzy with key points of general focus like why she made the deal and broad overreaching facts about her family. Religion definitely was not a choice during her human life. Everyone in the village was catholic or they were burned for being heretics and witches. "My moral code?" she asks, eyebrow arching as she considers it. After a moment she shrugs. "Don't make the world suck any more than it already does." She gives him a look of disbelief. "I'll bring some next time I'm here. They're best if they've been in the freezer overnight, but neither of us have reliable access to that."

Anyone that's known him for long knows that Sam prays but his childhood has allowed him to explore all kinds of religion and lore. At the core of the family business, not educating himself on multiple religions would have made him more of an outsider. In a way, these two are opposites but similar. Sam sees the benefit in Ruby's answer, shaking his head. "I suppose that's a start. There's worse things you could aspire to hold yourself to." They both know most demons thrive on chaos. He raises both brows as if to ask that he said something he shouldn't have. Unfortunately, he never has been anywhere long enough in his childhood to come across girl scout thin mints. "I suppose not," he answers. "You don't have to make a big deal out of it." Big deal of what? Bringing them to him, of course. Suppose he does feel subscious about her reaction too.

She shrugs a little. "I'm an overachiever," she quips dryly. Clearly, by most standards, she's not, but by demon standards...it's a little overachieving. She laughs softly. "It's not a big deal. I'll even pay for them." Rather than scare the girl scout into giving them to her.

She stands up. "Come on. Let's go get a milkshake and you can buy fries I'll steal from you."

In the Beginning

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