peaceonearth | Collision Course (S5 2014 future) 5 Years Gone

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Collision Course (S5 2014 future) 5 Years Gone

The whole morning had felt a little off to Ruby. Dean yelling her name across the entire damn camp like there had been a murder only convinced her the day would get worse. She couldn't have been more wrong.

Dean had wanted to throw him in a cell and lock him up. Ruby had tried to convince him that this wasn't Lucifer. She was only mildly successful because another crisis needed Dean's attention. She hauled Sam to her room, locked the door, and searched his bag. She sniffed his clothes and rifled through his things. She put his gun in one of her drawers. She made tea to help the inevitable headache that he was going to wake up with and set it on the side table.

When Sam woke up, she put her knitting to one side and perched on the edge of the chair. "Hey, Puppy. Everyone but me thinks you're Lucifer. You're locked in here because of that, and I'll be happy to show you around, but I'm officially your bodyguard slash chaperone while you're here. Also, how the fuck are you here?"

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It didn't seem it was going any better for Sam. One moment Dean had just hung up on him and the next he was sitting in a vehicle that hadn't been in operation for some time. It was only one thing after another. Eerily, the croaks let him pass without so much as a chase. His search for people in town eventually led him to the outskirts where something blunt hit the back of his head. The world blurred around him and he was out.

He could have sworn he heard two people arguing when he started to rouse, but couldn't yet fully wake. His body felt like a sack of potatoes, heavy and tousled around for a while after. He had no way to stop what was happening to him. He was mildly comfortable where he was placed until he could push past his headache and wake fully. He sat up, groaning, hand holding the back of his head where it hurt, eyes locking on the leather of the woman that sat close in front of him.

It took him a second to recognize Ruby. There was a lot that was different about her. It was her hair most notably. There's a lot to digest with what she's saying. He hasn't found, or been found, in this case, by, anyone to tell him anything before now. "Ruby, Hey."

Please, let's just start with the beginning. What's going on here? Where are we? Lucifer?" A lengthy pause. "I wish I knew how I was here. I've been... I was walking for a day before I ended up here."

The arguing had been about the past versions of Sam and Dean showing up, about what to do with them, and about the fact that it could be Lucifer infiltrating their camp. Ruby knew it wasn't Lucifer; she could see it wasn't Lucifer, but Dean was a stubborn asshole who refuse to listen to her. Dean would never admit it, but Ruby thought it also had something to do with how much it hurt Dean to see actual Sam. She understood that at least, but being with Sam trumped the hurt.

Her attitude and body language are probably a little different as well just because of everything that she's been through in the last five years. The hair was easier to take care of at this length, especially when the only bath available was the river nearby. Unfortunately, he's going to find a lot of people here that aren't willing to talk to him.

Ruby moves to sit on the bed, her brow furrowing a little."Let me see your pupils and drink the tea on the nightstand. It will help." She pauses because answering his questions is a harder thing to do. "Kansas City. 2014. The end of humanity if you believe the assholes without any hope," Ruby answers. "That end of humanity thing...that's Lucifer's fault and he's wearing your body."

That would make some sense. Sam hadn't actually seen Dean before being carried off by Ruby but it did nag him at him why the other voice he had heard sounded so familiar. The notable differences aside, it helped to talk with Ruby.

If she counts as all the people that are willing to talk to him, somehow, as he will soon find out, that would be enough. He would understand their reasons once he wraps his head around it being 2014 and Lucifer wearing him on D Day.

Sam sits up fully and slides his legs over the side; it's a small bed and there isn't much room for her to sit otherwise. He turns to her so she can look closer at his pupils for a moment. "I can't say no to tea." He whiffs the tea once he has it in hand, the aroma not suggesting anything untoward. Part of him assumes there could be drops of holy water in it. He has a sip after blowing on it. He does usually ask the hard questions. He gives her and himself time to answer and process the information. He's still not a fan of being Lucifer's vessel if his thin lined reaction indicates anything. "I haven't agreed to anything yet," he says stubbornly. "I think I know what's going on here... I just can't be sure yet." One word: Lucifer brought him here, if he were to guess.

"I'm from 2009, Ruby. None of that happened." He can trust Ruby even with the differences. How does he know? It's just the feeling he gets with how she looks at him. A brief pause before, "The dreams only just started." The ones about Jess that turned out to be Lucifer playing with him. At this point of time, he's set on not giving Lucifer that yes.

Eventually, other people may talk to him, but for now, it's just Ruby until he gains some trust.

Ruby obviously doesn't mind the closeness. She can't help but reach out and touch his cheek when she looks at his pupils. She tells herself that it's because she's trying to get a good look at his eyes. They're so Sam that it makes her tear up. She lets her hand drop so h can drink the tea that doesn't have holy water in it. It might taste a little bit medicinal, but she did sweeten it with honey. "What do you think is going on?"

That makes Ruby pause. She hesitates, reaching her hand out to his cheek again, fingertips grazing across his cheekbone and his temple. "I thought you looked younger." She watches him a moment longer before she leans in to close the space between them and kisses him.

That's too be seen. Those five years between their timelines, Sam wonders how Ruby is affected by that. The signs of her being another person only clue him into so much. He would have noticed if she pulled away; on the other hand, he doesn't make himself overly comfortable like he might have if it was simply Ruby of 2009. Sam is surprised by her touching his cheek, but doesn't pull away as it's not unlike anything she's done before. His eyes grow softer when hers tear up. He doesn't drink another sip right away. "Is this upsetting for you?" He shakes his head in response. It's too soon to say what he thinks is going on. There is one thing more important that anyhow. "Where's Dean?"

Once he has that answer, he relaxes more. It helps just a little bit to know Dean didn't say yes or wind up dead. The world is still over though. "Is it too much to ask to have a look around? See what's happened." Maybe then he can bring himself to say what he thinks. The tea isn't cutting it for him either. He thinks about how he hasn't had a bite for a while now and reluctantly adds, "If not, that's fine. I don't know if you have anything to eat. Do you?" There was no blood on the back of his head when he checked so needn't ask for alcohol, too. But he sure could use a sip.

It would be unbelievable had Dean not told him before that he was sent back to when their parents were young. The same idea is floating across his mind, but rather it was his turn to be sent forward in time to believe there is no escape from fate. The only thing that he's not intent on stopping here is her from exploring how real he is. "I'm not sure what to say to that. You don't seem any different yourself." For starters, he hasn't seen Lucifer in his suit and Ruby never aged. It's not something he should crack a smile at and it fades almost as quickly as it comes out. The kiss is familiar to all those before them and he melts right into her soft lips. His sixth sense doesn't feel anything different about Ruby now as she was then.

Ruby probably doesn't recognize it, but she's a lot more feral than she used to be. She actually growled at someone the other day that said something nasty about her, black eyes and all. It's common for her to walk away in the middle of someone else's sentence if she doesn't want to talk to them. She's reverted to simply surviving and trying to keep as many of the humans that she hates alive simply because if they disappear so do all the things about humanity as well. At his question, she presses her lips together, eyes still teary "Don't be dumb, Puppy. I'm happy to see you." She swipes at her eyes and addresses his question. "Probably in his room. He's here. He's fine. The same stubborn jackass he's always been." Dean didn't say yes to Michael.

"Besides the haircut...I'm always the same," she tells him. Ruby lets herself stay in the kiss a moment longer before pulling away and nodding. "I don't have anything to eat in here, but I'll take you to the cafeteria, get you something to eat, and show you around." If he asks about alcohol, she will steal some of Dean's stash for him. Since she has to drink far too much for it to do any good, she doesn't keep any around. She stands up and holds out her hand. "Come on. Just be prepared for the stares. I'm not anyone's favorite here," she winks at him, though he can probably guess that they'll be staring mostly because of Sam.

Her Sam would be proud of her even if it is surviving. The whole hope of humanity looks to be on her and Dean's shoulders. Sam breaths a sigh of relief at knowing is in camp. He would like to see his brother but he notices the distinct lack of offer to see him. It is possible that they will run into each other later. For now, his hunger gets the better of him and nods positively at the offer to go to cafeteria.

One thing that isn't different is how she comes on to him unexpectedly. "Tell me more." He could listen to her for hours but whatever she wants to tell him will do. He pushes himself up with one hand only but takes hers with the other anyway. He isn't sure what she's emotional ready for but they can hold hands where ever they go. She has the lead. He might ask later about alcohol but it could be a sleep aid or add up to something more romantic in nature. "Warning received." He knows very well that she doesn't mean only herself.

As they move through the camp, he gets a better taste of how uncomfortable the eyes locked on him are. It's clear that they're not ready for eye contact much less conversation so he keeps his eyes forward or on Ruby until they reach their destination. Respectively, he waits for Ruby to indicate what food to take as it is clearly no buffet. While he watches and stays steps behind her, another question comes to mind. "What else can you tell me about camp?"

She hopes so. It's one of the few things that keep her trying to do good rather than just letting it all go to hell in a handbasket. Sometimes she lets herself think about getting Sam back, but most of the time, she knows he's gone for good, at least in her world. Ruby is certain that Dean would kill both of them without batting an eyelash if he thought it would do any good at all. She will talk to Dean about Sam at some point though. For the moment, Sam is going to have to make do with just having Ruby in this timeline.

"About me?" Ruby asks then shrugs, talking to him as they walk through the camp. Occasionally she points things out. It's mostly a collection of tents with a few cabins. It had been a campground once upon a time. "I do a lot of scavenging in hot areas because the Croaton virus doesn't affect me. We've lost enough people to it." They'll lose more too. Ruby honestly isn't sure if it's better to lose them to Lucifer or to the virus. She grabs him a plate and starts putting more food on it than most people get. If anyone dares to say anything, she glares at them with black eyes. There's a medley of things on his plate: some rice, some canned vegetables, and a couple of slices of meat. "Vension. I also do a lot of hunting for food," she tells him. She leads him over to a table in the corner a little bit away from the prying eyes of the rest of the room.

Once they're seated, she continues talking. "You saw most of the camp on the way here. It's not big. It's warded and we have twenty-four-hour guard shifts. After lunch, I'll take you down to the hot spring where we bathe. It used to be one of the tourist attractions of this campground, and it might be my favorite thing about this place." She hasn't changed so much in some ways.

Ruby is all he has by his side in his time; he's good if it's just her now.

He hasn't forgotten how Ruby doesn't talk much about herself. He takes a moment to look around her space before they step out to find something. "You still knit?" He makes note of the hierarchy with the cabins belonging to the fighters and the tents belonging to everyone else. Everyone is at work so they don't stop to gawk at them walking by for long. Honestly, he takes that as a small relief. "I'm sorry. I'm glad you're helping these people. You're doing a good job here." He doesn't feel he has to convince her of this. People are alive because of her and that's what counts. He puts his hand over the plate about where she starts packing on the meat. "I'm fine. I only need a little. Honest." He knows she's only thinking about him. It's his first day here so the least he can do is not upset the way things run. "How about I go with you next time? I don't expect anything for free." He sits beside her at the table and pushes the plate between them while not even realizing it.

Most of the people here know she's a demon and she was with Sam when he said yes to Lucifer. They don't want to know anything more about her. They've already cast her in the role of Jezebel. It doesn't help that most people in camp know she's sleeping with Dean on and off. It certainly cements the Jezebel image for them. Of course, that mold couldn't be further from the truth for her, but no one wants to hear it. She nods in response to his question. "Sometimes it's hard to find yarn, but people need warm clothes and blankets. It gives me something to do at night." At Sam's apology, Ruby stops and shakes her head. "No. You didn't do this, Sam. You don't have anything to be sorry for."

Ruby gives him a doubtful look when she says he's fine. "I do the hunting. If I want to give you the whole damn deer, I will so if you're hungry, tell me," she implores. Her brow furrows a little. "I want you to be okay." She needs him to be okay; she's lost one of him. She doesn't want to lose him again. Her somber mood turns a little more positive when he says he wants to help. She knows from their previous run-in with the virus that Sam is immune as well. "I usually go in the mornings." She presses her lips together. "Just be you. These idiots will figure out that you're a good man."

It's unfortunate that they've cast her in that role. It goes without saying that Sam has every intention to find out why he ended up in 2014 and what he can do to change it. Whatever happens, he wishes Dean and Ruby have a future. He looks down briefly then at Ruby straight. "Where can we find some more? I meant it when I say I want to help. Can we make it?" His knowledgeable but not so knowledgeable that he knows what full capabilities are of the camp. It's just like Ruby to give it to him straight. Still, he can't let it go exactly. "What about you? Is there anything I need to feel sorry for?"

He shakes his head at her logic. "I'll be fine with this," he changes the phrasing. "I'll just end up sharing the whole deer if you give it to me. Thank you, though. I know you're worried about me, but I promise you my stomach only needs a little to settle down." With his free hand, he takes her and squeezes it lightly. She won't see him vanish into thin air just from rationing like everyone else. He lets go when her attitude looks more positive, casting a smile to help keep things positive. "It's a date? The morning doesn't bother me." Though she might have to nudge him awake, as she might remember, is the usual without an alarm clock. His head nods this time, his tongue licking his lips. "So, that's a yes. We're going? I'd be lying if I didn't want more time alone with you, too."

"If we could find plans to build a spinning wheel and a loom, or find them in a shop somewhere, possibly, but we'd also have to farm sheep, llamas, or alpacas. Our best bet is to scavenge and find either more clothes and blankets or more yarn," Ruby answers. "You and I can see about getting into town to do that. We have to be careful of Lucifer's minions though." She hesitates and then shakes her head. "No. You haven't done anything to me and neither did my Sam," she assures him. "You've been incredible. Easily the best thing to happen in five years."

She squeezes his hand back, an acceptance of his assurance. The way he calls it a date makes her smile, a real, bright smile that fades into something quieter and softer within moments. "It's a date." She leans in closer to him. "Puppy, you can have as much alone time with me as you can handle. Just say the word."

"I built one of those in the tenth grade," he mentions, but shrugs it off almost as quickly because he hadn't seen any farm animals in camp. "I'm all for scavenging or any other ideas you have." He raises his brows. "We can deal with them. I'm not afraid of a demon or two. What do we need to go into town?" That little bit of hesitation doesn't go unnoticed. "You can tell me anything, you know that right?" He's not entirely convinced but he believes her to be incapable of lying. "I want to say thank you for showing me around today and looking out for me." He wishes he could have been beside her all this time.

He doesn't let go of her hand once she accepts it. He recalls how she used to call all of their meetups dates to tease him and it only feels appropriate to return the favor. "We're alone right now, Nebraska." If he were to choose a word, it'd be where they first met.

"Of course you did," she says with a soft, fond tone of voice. From what Ruby understands, they tried to keep some farm animals for a while, but they were killed or died. "We can definitely handle a demon or two," she agrees. "Weapons. We can probably take one of the jeeps since we're scavenging for the whole camp. We'll stop by the garage and grab one." She nods a little at his assurance. "I know. Lucifer did some horrible things to me, to other people, but you didn't." Not this Sam or her Sam. She's not incapable of lying. She does it all the time, but she's always tried not to lie to Sam. "Best guard duty I've ever been put on."

She remembers they were in Nebraska when they first met. She bites her bottom lip and looks around. it's true; the dining hall has emptied out. "Nebraska is a very good code word. Let's put your plate away and stop by my place to get soap then I'll show you the hot spring."

"Were you there?" He raises his brow inquisitively. They've already had a conversation or more about the people in his past that had helped him thrive and ended up to be her. It's really too bad. Sam had always theorized that some animals would be able to survive. Maybe it was the climate. The United States was very open. "Definitely no match for us." He nods agreeing weapons are a priority, but at the same time maybe they don't even need them. They both have their own juice to fight back with a weapon or not. "Since you're on guard duty, I better drive. I can't expect you to multitask." Even just a little bit, he wants to drive once. He can't imagine how much else she does for the camp. "Let me make your job easier."

He had thought about who she was for weeks after that. Nebraska left an impression on him. He draws in a little bit of air. It was both nice and unnerving that it was just them. Ruby didn't have to say it twice. "You'll have to show me where to put it; then we'll go." He stood up, plate in hand, eyes making his first guess of the plates going behind the service counter. The walk back to Ruby's cabin wasn't too far. He sniffed the soap knowing she would not mind and held up the one his nose agreed with more. Something tropical. "I like this scent."

She hesitates then nods. "When you said yes to Lucifer. I stayed for over two years afterward. I was trying to reach you." She furrowed her brow and then shook her head. "I--never did." Not after he said yes to Lucifer. As for the animals, it was back when Ruby was still with Lucifer, so she's not sure how the animals died. She'd just been told it was a mess and to leave it. Dean had also added that before long there wouldn't be enough people left alive for it to matter. She suspected some of the croats had gotten to the animals, or maybe some of them had even been infected. She doesn't hesitate to agree to let him drive. "That works for me. I can sit back and enjoy the view." She can also watch for danger.

He picks the right place for the plates. Once back at her cabin, she grabs a couple of towels, wash clothes, and a clean change of clothes for them. She smiles at his choice. "So do I," she agrees and opens her bag so he can drop the soap in. She adds a bottle of shampoo (she still makes her own) and some conditioner before shouldering it and holding her hand out for his. "It's not much of a walk, but it's relatively private and warm."

The path is well worn from so many feet walking up and down it. They can smell the sulphur smell of the hot spring before they get there. Ruby takes the soap, shampoo, and conditioner out to set on a flat rock near the spring just for that purpose. "We usually just hang our clothes up. I thought you might want clean ones to slip into," she says and she unfolds the clean ones and places them on another rock further from the spring so there's no chance of knocking them off. The water is steaming and bubbling just a little. It's cloudy with minerals. A creek can be heard babbling not far from the spring as well.

He maintains eye contact while she speaks about the ordeal. He doesn't nod, instead offers an affectionate touch at the side of her shoulder. "Thank you for staying as long as you did." It's not that he expects his words to be a comfort to her but it's the least he could do.

The town is somewhat familiar as he explored it only a few days ago. All towns typically follow a certain logic to them as well. Suffice to say, it wasn't hard to find everything they needed. He thanks her for grabbing what they need and takes it all from her, dumping his backpack to use it for the necessities. He holds his bag out for the rest as she offers it up. "How private?" Weather it is a joke or a tease is completely up to her. He nudges her to indicate he's ready when she is.

The path is wide and discloses that Ruby isn't the only one aware of the spring ahead of them. Sam welcomes the smell by inhaling it in. He doesn't expect Ruby will take her time dipping into the ripples of warm water and neither will he. He takes her advice and hangs her shirt where she suggests it will be safe, from whom he assumes is critters or pranksters. In no time at all, he's wearing nothing at all and in the depth of the spring. "You don't have to ask my permission," He teases, catching her staring almost like shes lost in the moment.

They're not a comfort and she feels guilty every single day for not staying. She feels like she failed Sam when he was counting on her. A crooked, half-hearted smile tugs at the corner of her lips before falling. "Most days I think I should have stayed longer. He wasn't going to kill me. I don't think anyway."

His question, whether meant to be flirtation or not, gets a flirty response. "Private enough," she tells him, a little bit of that familiar twinkle in her eyes. "You can also see the tree we hang our clothes on from the top of the path." It's the hot springs equivalent of a sock on the doorknob.

Ruby actually does hang back, not sure if this Sam is going to be comfortable with her being naked around him. Of course, once he starts stripping, she's got something to watch. She doesn't realize she's staring until he says something. She ducks her head, and if she could blush, she would. "Just enjoying the view," she tells him, peeling her own shirt off, and then shucks her boots and jeans. She hangs them alongside his, going up on tiptoe to do so. Once she's naked, it doesn't take her long to slip into the hot water beside him with a soft groan of pleasure.

It's clear from her response that his gesture had no meaning. However, he rubs her shoulder more just for trying to smile. "You're safe is what matters to me." She ought to hear that much just so she can stop doubting herself. It's hard to speak for himself more when he hasn't lived it and he has every intention to change it.

Whatever the case, the twinkle in her eye is what tells him that they're on the same page emotionally. "I'll take your word for it." He always has. (Except that one time with Dean... Shh.)

Somehow, Sam sees her pause to join him, similar to the first time he kissed her and they landed into bed with each other. What was similar was the feeling he put too much on her at once. it was too late to turn back though and waited for her, smiling when she finally spoke up. "You're welcome to join in. I don't bite." That's a lie. But it's irrelevant. He'd wait all day for her to join him if that's what it takes, but modesty isn't something he knows Ruby cares too deeply about. They've seen each other nude before. Maybe just not lately. There's a few new scars he sees on her as she dips into the depth and stands in front of him. He's too distracted by her to spare it more than a moment's thought. He remembers to breathe (noisily.) As far as he's concerned she's not different at all. Shorter without her heels on but that's easily fixed when he gently moves his hands under her arms to raise her to his level, turning to find somewhere that matches her ability to stand at his height. "I'm starting to like the view better right here." It's a rock where he half releases her to, fingers lingering down her sides.

It had meaning and she appreciates it, she just can't let it absolve her from everything; that's not his fault, but her issues. It does help to know that this version of Sam, who doesn't even know the gritty details of what she went through, doesn't blame her for leaving. "I am," she nods. "As safe as any of us can be anyway." She doesn't remind him that she's hard to kill because she knows that being safe doesn't always mean not being in mortal danger.

Likewise, that flirtation lets her know that he's, at least, open to the idea of something with her. (Dean deserved to be scarred that one time; they'd been telling him to knock for months).

He didn't put too much on her at once, but she's pausing and hesitated to make sure she doesn't put too much on him right now. She knows that if his timeline is the same as the one she came from, he's involved in a relationship with her and she wants to make sure that he isn't weirded out by a future her. While she may never ask the question 'is this okay', consent is important to her and she asks that question with her actions, her pauses, her expressions, and her touches. When he strips without pause, that gives her permission to strip as well, but she gets a little distracted by all of him. At his assurance, she smirks. "That's a shame because as I recall, I like it when you bite," she flirts. No, modesty isn't something Ruby thinks a lot about. It's a body. Everybody has one(if they're lucky) and she once changed hers the way humans change clothes (though she's quite attached to this one now). Besides, as much as she appreciates Sam's body right now, bodies have nothing to do with the person inside them.

There are a few new scars, some from Lucifer, some from fighting. They're old enough that she doesn't think much about them. At some point, after she left Lucifer, she started caring enough (again) to not be reckless. Maybe it was because as awful as they are to each other, she knows Dean needs her.

Remembering to breathe is more than she's doing. Luckily she doesn't have to breathe as often as he does. It's almost instinctive when he moves to pick her up, her legs wrap around his waist and her hands go to his shoulders. She bites her bottom lip at his words and when she speaks her voice is low and husky. "I think I need a closer look," she tells him, legs wrapping tighter. When he places her on a rock, she keeps her legs wrapped around his waist, leaning in to kiss him. She speaks again when she's close enough for her lips to brush his mouth. "This is a good vantage point."

She's beautiful in her current state and that's as far as he thinks on that. He anticipates her staying glued to him and adjusts his hands to better keep her close to him. All he would say if asked about how he feels about her is that he accepts any version of her. "Good with me," he responds with his hands clasping together around her waist. He takes advantage of her lips brushing his by pressing his to her bottom lip and following that with another. It tempts him to trail some kisses down her neck. Breathly, "This is a good spot."

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Collision Course (S5 2014 future) 5 Years Gone

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