Title: Time to face the music
Author: [livejournal.com profile] starrylizard
Rating: Teen, Gen
Spoiler Warnings: Pre-season (Sam at Stanford), so no spoilers
Summary: It’s Halloween at Stanford and Sam is unwillingly drawn into working a case
Author's Notes: Written for [livejournal.com profile] stars91 and [livejournal.com profile] spn_thur_nights. The prompts were: “Sam, Pre-series, One time Sam had to work a case while at Stanford, milk, wooden stake, crayons.” Beta by [livejournal.com profile] rinkle. All comments, including constructive criticism, welcomed! Also for prompt #21 cemetery/mausoleum on my Paranormal25 table.
Words: 1855


A quiet, yet persistent bell pervaded the silence of the library followed by a deliberately gentle announcement. Please be advised that the library will be closing in half an hour.

Sam sighed, closing the book in front of him with a snap and stretching backwards. That was it then, enough stalling; time to face the music… of the Halloween party. Sam shuddered gently, wishing he could just spend a quiet night in, but this thing with Jess was pretty new and he didn’t want to ruin it by refusing to go with her. With another sigh, he packed away his things, slung his backpack easily over one shoulder and headed back to the dorms.

A shower and a change of clothes (no costume, just a clean shirt) later, Sam left his building and headed toward Jess’ dorm. Outside the evening was clear except for a few wisps of cloud, white smudges against the dusky red sky. A chill breeze played over Sam’s skin and he unconsciously pulled his jacket closer around him as he walked, quickly and deliberately, ignoring as he did so the squeals and drunken laughter of the costume-clad groups of people that passed him by.

Jess answered the door – hair in pig-tails, tight red leather pants hugging the curve of her hips and accentuating long legs, a cute black camisole showing off what Dean would have called her best assets. She bounced forward, brandishing a long wooden stake and yelling, “Die, you fiendish vampire.”

Sam stepped back, hands held up in a sign of surrender, a slight grimace gracing his face, before he managed to smile. “What makes you think I’m one of the undead?”

“You didn’t wear a costume. You were supposed to come as one of the Scooby gang, Sam. Remember, Buffy theme party?”

Sam shrugged. “I’m dressed as Riley on a normal college day.”

“Uh huh.” Jess crossed her arms, attempting to look annoyed, but only managing cute.

“A much more dashingly handsome version of Riley,” he added and Jess gave up all pretense of anger, pulling Sam into the common room where a few other girls were already gathered in various Buffy-related costumes.

A large bottle of Baileys Cream had already been mostly consumed, mixed into milk or poured over ice cream from the looks of it, and Sam attributed this to Jess’ extra-bouncy mood. When he kissed her, he could taste it on her lips.

“Sam, you’ve met Sally and Clara. And this is Jean.”

Sam ducked his head, slightly self-conscious as Jean, a dark-haired girl who was scantily dressed as Faith, wolf-whistled her approval. He was saved from further embarrassment though, as the rest of their party showed up. Two guys strolled through the open door, fake blood and fangs apparently the extent of their costume design, and Sam found himself suddenly engulfed in manly greetings and excitable chatter as the guys scooped up their girls. A slab of beer thunked ceremoniously onto the coffee table, joining the girls’ empty bowls and glasses.

“Aren’t we going to the party?” Sam asked, confused eyes on the beer.

“We had a better idea.” Steve smirked; his beer-laden breath brushing Sam’s face as he threw an arm around Sam’s shoulders in a gesture that always came before trouble. Steve was good at finding trouble. “Trust me, Sam. This’ll be much more fun than a party. We’re going to check out a real haunted building.”

Sam’s stomach lurched, the blood pounding in his ears so hard it was like white noise. Oblivious to Sam’s apprehension, Steve continued on.

“Everyone bring supplies?”

A giggling Jean held up some black candles and a lighter. Sally produced several thick white crayons and Clara held up a packet of incense sticks. Jess just pointed to the Baileys and Steve laughed, nudging Sam’s shoulder.

Jess moved to Sam’s side, one arm snaking around his waist. “You all right, Sam?” she asked.

“Yeah, yeah, just need some water.” Sam gently shouldered Jess aside and headed for the kitchen, pouring himself a glass of water before opening the various cupboards and drawers one by one. Jess followed him in.

“Are you really all right, Sam? What are you looking for?”

Sam turned to face Jess, leaning back on the kitchen bench. In his hand was a large pour-pack of salt. “They say ghosts don’t like salt; I just thought…” He shrugged.

“You goose.” Jess crossed the distance between them to lean up against Sam, quickly kissing his cheek. “Seriously, though, what’s with you tonight?”

“I just don’t like Halloween. It’s creepy and it just brings up some stuff. I don’t really want to talk about it now. My Dad was pretty superstitious.” Sam figured something close to the truth would be easier than a lie. “You sure we can’t just talk them into going to the party?” He rested his chin on Jess’ hair and she squeezed him around the middle.

“Hey, don’t worry. Steve just wants to scare us all a bit: light some candles, make some noise. Then we’ll go to the party, okay?”

Sam nodded, squeezed Jess back and hoped like hell the place wasn’t really haunted.

*

The “haunted building” turned out to be a nearby house which had burnt down years earlier. Tales of a badly burned woman haunting the ruins had so far kept new developments away.

The small block of land was fenced in; three brick walls singed black and touching at right angles were the only solid reminder a house once stood there – the surrounding ground now covered by grass and weeds.

Steve led the Scooby gang through a large hole in the fence and strode toward the framework that had once housed the front door. With the group’s whispers and giggles and bouncing flashlights beams, it reminded Sam more of the childish break-and-enter stunt that he and his brother had once pulled, rather than anything close to a hunt. If anything, the party atmosphere only served to ratchet his apprehension levels even higher.

Inside the ruins the walls were strangely free of graffiti, something that was never a good sign in an abandoned building of any kind, let alone one with such easy access. James began passing beers out to the guys as Sally and Clara lit candles. Jean and Steve seemed content to grope each other against the far wall.

“So, we came, we saw. Should we go to the party now?” Sam asked no one in particular. He held Jess close to him, arms wrapped protectively about her in what he hoped looked like a simple hug, rather than a need to ground himself.

“Chill, dude.” James chuckled, making chicken noises, before handing Sam a beer.

When Sally brought out the crayons, Sam spurred himself to action. “Hey, let me help with that.” Sam took the crayon and used it to sketch a large protection ward on the floor of the house and then ringed it with a circle of salt.

“Cool!” Sally smiled, nodding in approval as Clara moved the candles so they were artfully placed around the symbol’s edge, and then everyone stepped inside its boundaries.

They stood silent for a few moments, all except for shuffling feet and muffled giggles, and then Jean and Sally started reciting something out of a notebook.

“Unknown spirit, we call to thee
Those who wish to set you free
Cross on over, so we may help
Come to us, Reveal yourself.”

“That’s from Charmed. And here I thought it was a Buffy party,” Jess whispered to Sam. Sam smiled and held her close, starting to feel safer by the minute.

Not every student prank ended in tears, or angry spirits. The place probably wasn’t even haunted and… Sam’s thoughts petered out as a sudden wind doused the candlelight, the flashlights all flickered simultaneously, and Jean screamed. Sam spun around in time to see a shape disappear as it hit the salt line he’d so carefully drawn.

“What the hell was that?” Jean asked, her voice shaking slightly. “Steve, if this is one of your pranks…”

To their right, it appeared again: a young woman of perhaps twenty. Her thin nightgown was stained with soot and singed at the edges, a teddy bear clutched in her right hand, one glass eye hanging from its fuzzy face. She cocked her head and then turned – slowly yet quickly, as if a camera was skipping frames on playback – to reveal the other side of her face, burnt beyond recognition.

“Have you seen my baby?” The voice, when it came, was a raspy whisper. Air forced through ruined vocal chords, burnt beyond repair.

Sam was relieved to see the group pull closer together, unconsciously shifting closer to the center of the circle.

“On my count, make for the door and don’t look back.” Sam’s voice was commanding, perfectly steady and the others seemed content to follow. “One, two, three.”

Sam brought up the salt container, flinging what was left of its contents in an arc toward the ghost, before following the others as they bolted for the door. It wasn’t until they were halfway down the street that the adrenaline wore off enough to let them pause… and giggle.

“Oh my god! That was freakin’ cool!” Sally and Clara bounced and squealed, grabbing Jess as they did.

James muttered something about going back for the beer, but he didn’t seem serious and Sam shook his head, laughing at them all in disbelief. Steve and Jean, usually the life of any party, were quiet. Jean nestled into Steve’s arms, face hidden.

“That was not cool, man,” Steve whispered harshly at Sam. “You went too far; scared her to death.”

“Whatever, okay. This was your idea, man. I didn’t even want to come,” Sam spat.

Jess stepped between them, a gentle hand on Sam’s chest. “Leave it. We’re all tired. Let’s skip the party, okay. Take me home, Sam?”

“Yeah, sure.”

*

It took just two hours to track her down. Darlene Everett, aged 22, died in a house fire while trying to rescue her baby girl from an upstairs bedroom. Police arrested her boyfriend, accused of lighting the fire in a rage after learning of an affair. The baby wasn’t his.

She was buried in the local cemetery and, even in the dead of night, the grave had been easy enough to locate. Grave dirt and gasoline brought back far too many memories; a way of life Sam had abandoned and refused to return to. Yet, here he was. If he was caught, it would be the end. No more college. No more scholarship. No way he could explain this to Jess.

He let himself briefly enjoy the feel of firelight, warm on his skin, like a sacrificial burning of what he once was. When he turned and walked away, it was with a renewed determination in his step.

Sam never saw the dark shape of a man, leaning casually, blending in comfortably with the darkness and the graveyard; watching quietly, completely unnoticed as he acted as both guard and look-out. Sam never saw him return to a black Chevy Impala and drive away.
Tags:

From: [identity profile] stars91.livejournal.com


THAT, was freakin' amazing!

I loved the blend with the Buffyverse! The absolutely ONLY thing that could have made that bit better was for Sam to say he was going as God instead of Riley! Remember Oz's costume in the season 4 Halloween ep? *G* I can't complain though, that was just brilliant!

Loved the case-file part of it! Great job with that!

And the mysterious dark shape of a man....oh yeah baby! LOVED that!

You did an absolutely amazing job with this prompt! I can't say enough how much I love this fic and how perfectly you wrote it!

THANK YOU!

From: [identity profile] starrylizard.livejournal.com


The absolutely ONLY thing that could have made that bit better was for Sam to say he was going as God instead of Riley! Remember Oz's costume in the season 4 Halloween ep? *G*
Oh, that would have been cool. I only watched Buffy on the TV a long time ago, so I can't say I remember that, but it totally sounds like an Oz thing to do. *G*

Thank You for the cool prompt and lovely comment. I'm so chuffed you like it! I am currently sporting a HUGE GRIN!

From: [identity profile] stars91.livejournal.com


Oz was in plain clothes with a "Hello My Name Is" sticker on his shirt!

It's the best screen cap I could find, but I had to share so you'd know *exactly* why that's what came to mind with how you wrote Sam here!!!

http://www.buffyworld.com/buffy/vidcaps/060/60_37.jpg


And again, I just loved this fic! THANK YOU!

From: [identity profile] starrylizard.livejournal.com


Hee! Now that I see the screen cap, I do remember that episode vaguely! :D

When I next have some cash, I must buy me some Buffy. It was on fairly late at night here and it saved me from uni study boredom on many occasions. I also never saw the last season of Angel for some reason. Hmmm.

From: [identity profile] gwendolyngrace.livejournal.com


Lovely. I like how the guys assumed Sam had taken the prank to a new level, since he was the one who could get them out of it. Also liked that his relationship with Jess is fairly new - the symmetry there is quite satisfying.

And "Aw" at the end there. Heh. It's funny how we all write these things about Dean and/or John checking on Sam while at Stanford and he never picks up on it. (Some day I'm going to work that into something.)

Poor Sammy, can't let it go once he realizes there's a real case out there. And his immediate "Lemme get the salt" reaction to hearing about a haunted house? Priceless.

(One of my other "Sam works a case at Stanford" favourites is an AU, where he's under zombie attack. It's a good one.)

From: [identity profile] starrylizard.livejournal.com


Thank you! :D I'm glad the Jess relationship seemed alright. I'm never sure when I write these things. :)

It's funny how we all write these things about Dean and/or John checking on Sam while at Stanford and he never picks up on it.
Yeah, ages ago I had a case fic plotted for a drabble prompt, in whcih Sam works out the problem, only to find the beasty already dead and finding a secret message from Dean to do his homework college boy. Reminds me I should write that. I think I got stuck thinking up a beasty. :P

his immediate "Lemme get the salt" reaction to hearing about a haunted house? Priceless.
Yep, that one's inbuilt, I think. :D

(And, yeah, I read the zombie one. I think it's in my memories somewhere. That was fabulous!

Thanks for your comments!! :D

From: [identity profile] pinkfinity.livejournal.com


Oh, this was fantastic! You've made a terrific case-fic and your Sam is perfectly done!

From: [identity profile] starrylizard.livejournal.com


Thank you so much! :D

(That icon is so precious. I keep watching it!)

From: [identity profile] exposed1.livejournal.com


DEAN!!! *points to last paragraph* DEAN!!

Wow! This was just a wonderful job and you deserve a BATCH of cookies for making it a Buffy themed party!

From: [identity profile] antigonesgift.livejournal.com


I love love love the way you write! Your attention to detail is fantastic. The ending *flails* too perfect. I love how you were able to say so much in such a short piece of fic. Really loved this! :)

From: [identity profile] saberivojo.livejournal.com


Great job. I love Sam taking contol. Yeah commanding Sam!!

Hmmmm was it John or Dean in the Impala?

From: [identity profile] starrylizard.livejournal.com


Commanding Sam is love! :D

Hmmmm was it John or Dean in the Impala?
I left it deliberately open. Most people seem to be assuming it's Dean, but I swap between them happily! :)

Thank you for commenting! :D

From: [identity profile] charis-kalos.livejournal.com


I was having fun all the way through with the Buffy stuff - and the Charmed spell actually working made me giggle, but that final paragraph was just a stake to the heart. I cannot tell you how much I love John/Dean acting as Sam's guard and lookout!

And I keep remembering Dean's advice to the kids in Asylum - if you hear a building's haunted, don't go in it!

From: [identity profile] starrylizard.livejournal.com


Thank you so much! :D
I'm really glad you enjoyed it. I was reading a page of Charmed spells (http://users.pandora.be/charmedfans/spells.html#season3) and they are just so bad, they left me giggling. I'd forgotten how silly the spells really are.

if you hear a building's haunted, don't go in it!
Best advice ever!! I love Dean's practical advice. :D

From: [identity profile] aliaseverus.livejournal.com


Awesome! I loved having Dean there keeping lookout - still protecting Sammy even after he left. And I love the for all his wanting a normal life, Sammy is who he was raised to be - he couldn't leave the spirit to maybe hurt someone next time.

Very nice. Thanks for sharing!

From: [identity profile] brigid-tanner.livejournal.com


That was so cool! loved the Buffy references ;) Sam should have known he'd always feel responsible for this kind of thing, no matter how he tries to ignore it. Loved Dean keeping an eye on him from a distance.
ext_1310: (i've got second sight)

From: [identity profile] musesfool.livejournal.com


I enjoyed this. I always like stories where Sam can't turn away from the hunt when he's at Stanford.

From: [identity profile] erinrua.livejournal.com


This is great! I love this look at Sam at Stanford. He's still kind of the outsider, but he's not miserable that way, he's just Sam, doing what he does, being the straight man to Jess' silliness, and I love him with Jess. It so matches the little we see of her. Then Sam getting all commanding and in charge, and shrugging off the accusations of others? Spot on. Loved this very much, very in character and a terrific take on the Sam-at-Stanford story. And the ending? Perfect. :-)
Cheers ~

Erin

From: [identity profile] starrylizard.livejournal.com


Thank you so much! I'm really delighted it came across so well! :D
ext_11786: (saaaaaam)

From: [identity profile] dotfic.livejournal.com


That was a fun read. I liked this look at Sam at Stanford on his own. His nervousness about the house came across well, how he's the only one in the group who really knows what's out there and while he's capable and competent to handle it, it's not anything he wants to be mixed up with. Competent!Sam taking charge, yay.

Nifty ending, too.

From: [identity profile] starrylizard.livejournal.com


Thank you so much for taking the time to comment! I'm stoked it came across well! :D

From: [identity profile] girlfan1979.livejournal.com


I loved this, like an awful, awful lot.

Really nice work on the details:

With the group’s whispers and giggles and bouncing flashlights beams, it reminded Sam more of the childish break-and-enter stunt that he and his brother had once pulled, rather than anything close to a hunt. If anything, the party atmosphere only served to ratchet his apprehension levels even higher.

Inside the ruins the walls were strangely free of graffiti, something that was never a good sign in an abandoned building of any kind, let alone one with such easy access.

She cocked her head and then turned – slowly yet quickly, as if a camera was skipping frames on playback – to reveal the other side of her face, burnt beyond recognition.

“Have you seen my baby?” The voice, when it came, was a raspy whisper. Air forced through ruined vocal chords, burnt beyond repair.


And the characterisation is so plausible:

“I just don’t like Halloween. It’s creepy and it just brings up some stuff. I don’t really want to talk about it now. My Dad was pretty superstitious.” Sam figured something close to the truth would be easier than a lie.

When Sally brought out the crayons, Sam spurred himself to action. “Hey, let me help with that.” Sam took the crayon and used it to sketch a large protection ward on the floor of the house and then ringed it with a circle of salt.

Sam was relieved to see the group pull closer together, unconsciously shifting closer to the center of the circle.
“On my count, make for the door and don’t look back.” Sam’s voice was commanding, perfectly steady and the others seemed content to follow. “One, two, three.”

“That was not cool, man,” Steve whispered harshly at Sam. “You went too far; scared her to death.”
“Whatever, okay. This was your idea, man. I didn’t even want to come,” Sam spat.


And as for this:
Sam never saw the dark shape of a man, leaning casually, blending in comfortably with the darkness and the graveyard; watching quietly, completely unnoticed as he acted as both guard and look-out. Sam never saw him return to a black Chevy Impala and drive away.

I would love to see a follow up - some drunken, sad, painfilled or just plain honest moments when one of the boys brings up the story. Some little moment in the season 3 "year".

From: [identity profile] starrylizard.livejournal.com


Wow! I've never had such a comprehensive comment. Thank you so much! :D

As for this: I would love to see a follow up - some drunken, sad, painfilled or just plain honest moments when one of the boys brings up the story. Some little moment in the season 3 "year".... Ask and ye shall receive.

*clicky* (http://starrylizard.livejournal.com/321939.html). It got too long for this comment box! Hee!
skybound2: (SPN Sam lost his shoe)

From: [personal profile] skybound2


Oh, how did I miss this one when you posted it before? Excellent way to yank Sam into a case. *off to read the next part*

From: [identity profile] iamstealthyone.livejournal.com


Poor Sam just can’t escape hunting. I like that he so quickly took care of the ghost. He hasn’t lost his touch even while at college. :)

Nicely done.

Favorite lines:

a teddy bear clutched in her right hand, one glass eye hanging from its fuzzy face.

Good detail.

“Have you seen my baby?” The voice, when it came, was a raspy whisper.

Creepy!

Sam never saw the dark shape of a man, leaning casually, blending in comfortably with the darkness and the graveyard; watching quietly, completely unnoticed as he acted as both guard and look-out. Sam never saw him return to a black Chevy Impala and drive away.

Aww. :) Sam’s still got his family even when he doesn’t think he does.
.

Profile

starrylizard: Headshot of Ruby from Demons smiling (Default)
starrylizard

Most Popular Tags

Powered by Dreamwidth Studios

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags