Funny Meeting You Here (Secret Santa for Bongo - SPN, Sam)

[Anilkex]

Bongo! Happy Holidays! You were my first Secret Santa 2 years ago, so it's awesome that I get to return a gift to you. 

It's all done, but I'm posting it in sections because it's too long for one post. It's a Supernatural AU, but all characters are canon, I promise. No OCs, even if you think there are some. One. You'll see.

Hope you like it!

(Language as per me...nothing else to declare.)

xxxxx

Advanced Biology 204 was more a means to an end than the result of devout interest. I was more concerned with how body parts operated and were connected in the event something sharp and talony happened to puncture one.

With a sigh, I spun the hefty textbook counterclockwise, marveling at how the vessels formed an image very akin to the I-55/I-94 interchange in Chicago.

I was just about to map out an imaginary path to McCormick Place when a flurry of movement caught my eye. The glass door did a decent job keeping out minimal sounds in the library while still allowing a view of the numerous study carrels filling spaces between shelves of books. By the time I glanced up, a pile of books lie scattered on the floor, and a flustered, disheveled student scrambled to pick them up.

A couple tables full of grad students glared his way, as he set each book, one at a time, on the nearest table, which, I noted, was covered in notebooks and more books. They had to be grad students...no undergrad stayed on campus during winter break. But this guy...this...kid...had to be an undergrad. But...no undergrad stayed on campus during winter break. Well. Except me.

 

Hmmm...

 

Chewing on the cap of my highlighter, I narrowed my eyes, trying to suss out why the grads were being so openly hostile. When the last book was retrieved, I figured it out. The kid (he was probably my age, but he just looked like a kid), still on one knee, braced himself against the table. One wrist slowly made its way to his face, pressing against his nose. His mouth hung open, his eyelids fluttered closed, and in one swift movement, his head snapped forward.

 

A balding asshole nearby (apparently I was on the kid’s side) slammed a book shut and stalked off. Two others rolled their eyes, and a third visibly sighed dramatically. The kid, blinking rapidly as he fumbled for what turned out to be a miserable looking tissue, looked around and blushed the deepest red I’d ever seen on a face.

So that’s it. Poor guy’s sick, and probably disturbing everyone within earshot.

All that, figured out without sound. I rolled my eyes. Lookit how I can piece shit together.

My own textbook forgotten, I found myself watching him. Moppy brown hair hung just above his eyes; not long enough to be in the way, but definitely long enough to warrant brushing it aside. Shoulders hunched, he settled into a chair, dabbed at his nose which was, unfortunately, already twitching again.

He knew it, everyone around him knew it, and the entire group tried to pretend it wasn’t happening. I guessed he was making some noise, although I couldn’t hear diddly from my little room. He rubbed his nose on his sleeve and opened a book, his expression declaring to the world that he fully intended to read instead of losing control and disturbing thesis-stricken grad students.

But alas, that was not the case.

He’d turned two pages, clearly without reading a single word through watery, fluttering eyes. Mouth open again, he groped in his pockets for what I guessed were more tissues, came up empty, and just let two rip into the crook of his arm.

Glancing to the right, I saw two girls muttering to each other, causing the kid to blush even more. And...hold the phone...there was a Kleenex box on a ledge not five feet away.

No one gave him one.

Before I fully realized what I was doing, I was on my feet and opening the door. In a rush, the hum of the heating system, scribbling, page turning, and a ragged, hitching breathing sound hit my ears. The kid was sniffling miserably, and yeah, it was kinda loud.

But he couldn’t help it.

I stomped past the snippy girls and snatched up the tissue box, shooting a nasty glance over my shoulder.

So much for keeping to myself.

By the time I reached his table, his head reared back and without thinking, I grabbed a handful and shoved them against his face just in time. Also without thinking, as soon as he felt the cloud press against his face, he grabbed my hand, as if he himself were holding the wad of tissues, and sneezed, forceful, massive, and Jesus...loud as hell.

Cue an awkward pause as we both recognized what just happened.

Bleary eyes blinked up at me, most of his face still covered by Kleenex. I gave a sort of smile/shrug, somehow passing off the clump with a little dignity.

“Hi…” That was all I had.

He wiped his face and swallowed, utterly mortified. “Shit...I...uh...I’b...I’b so sorry…”

Christ, he’s cute.

I wet my lips and forced a bigger smile. I am the one who barged in. Can’t be anti-social now. Bending low, I nodded toward my study room. “Look, I, um, I have a study room over there. It’s warm, and fairly sound proof so...you can just...uh...study…there...” I did another one-shoulder shrug and stood back up.

He sniffled, peeked over his shoulder, a look of hope lighting up his face, but he ended up shaking his head. “Oh...I don’t...don’t wadda bother...bothe...heh...shhhi-TSCHCHHHh-uhh! ”

At least this time he had some tissues.

“Yeah, not a bother, trust me.” I shot another glare at the students nearby, who were sending Go Away vibes via hostile looks and shitty little body movements. Without waiting for a response, I started gathering up his stuff.

Ancient Eastern Asian folklore...Mythical Creatures of The Forest...Civil Procedure: Theory and Practice...Problems in Contract Law: Cases and Materials...Arcane Rites and Rituals from the Renaissance.

I blinked. That was quite a reading list.

He blinked, noting that I noted his reading list.

Let the stammering begin. “I...uh...heh...I have a...uh...hehhhh...a binor id...hiiiiihhhh...relig...religious…*sniff* ub...I like...dabbit--HETSCHIYUUuu! ETSCHHEW! HETSCHCH!”

“Oh, come on!” Bald guy exclaimed, returning from his little walk, arms in the air like someone just stole his prized parking spot.

 

The kid’s stuff now in two piles, I casually swiveled my gaze on the asshole. “Fuck off,” I murmured, loud enough to be heard, not not loud enough to make a scene. He heard me though, and just gruffly sat in his seat mumbling to himself. The kid heard me, too, and breathed a little chuckle.

I raised an eyebrow.

He shook his head, pushing the hair off his forehead and sniffling. “You rebind me of by brother.”

Memories of my own brother flashed through my mind. Knock it off, Moore. Focus on what’s at hand.

I flashed a quick smile, but he saw my expression change. Fending off further comment, I shrugged my eyebrows at his stuff. “That everything?”

He nodded. “Yeah, but...are you sure - “

I scooped up some books and motioned for him to do the same. “Come on.”

With one last sniffle, he slid the second pile off the table, shouldered a tattered backpack, and shuffled behind me into the small room.

[Anilkex]

Part 2

 

The door clicked shut, and he immediately muffled a grating cough into his sleeve. I checked the salt line, making sure it was still intact, even though I’d only been a few yards from the room.

Good habits are good habits for good reasons.

Despite being simultaneously surprised and proud of myself for taking the kid under my wing, I managed to check his reaction to crossing it. Not even a flinch.

Lucky for me, because I have no idea what I would’ve done if he did.

As I settled back into my chair, I passed the tissue box his way. Sniffling, he pulled a couple, hesitating only a moment before blowing his nose, finishing with an exhausted sigh.

I opened my book and resumed reading and tracing diagrams, which was apparently a disguise for studying this plague-ridden undergrad.

He kept glancing through the glass window, either looking for someone or checking out the relieved expressions on the patrons he was previously annoying. Speaking of which...one would think he’d sit with his back to them, so he couldn’t watch them peek at him while obviously talking to each other about him.  But he didn’t...he sat next to me, facing outward.

Huh.

The table vibrated from his constantly bouncing leg. A pink tongue darted out to wet his lips every so often, which was easy to do when you have to breathe from your mouth. Then the fighting began.

He’d shiver a little, swallow, adjust his book, press a wrist to his nose, and start an uneven, ragged inhaling that seemed to go on forever. It’d seem to reach a crescendo, then he’d furiously rub his nose, back and forth, until it abated. Then, without warning, “Hxgnght!  H’ghgnt!”

It all took about a minute before the whole process started over.

It was also stupid. The whole point of bringing him in here was so he didn’t worry about making noise. I reached into my backpack and pulled out some headphones, setting them on my head and turning on some music. A backhanded nudge inched the tissue box closer to him, and I made a show of nodding to the beat.

He didn’t need to know that the volume was practically nil.

“Hhhhh--hih--hehhhh--Hhh’TSCHYUUUuuu!”

Nice one.

“HETSCHIYUUuu!  TSCHCHHHh-uhh!  HETSCHCH!”

Impressive.

“Hehhhhh-Hhhhhh-hih-heh-heh-heh-HHeh’ETSCHCHYUUuu!”

Jesus Christ! What the hell was he doing in the library if he’s this sick?

More importantly, what the hell was I doing inviting him in here? I didn’t talk to anyone on campus, let alone play nursemaid to a stranger.

He sniffled again, rubbing an eye with the palm of his hand while the other swiped a Kleenex under his nose.

A cute stranger, with really interesting reading habits.

After about fifteen minutes, the sneezing and snuffling settled down. I stopped sneak-peeking, finishing a diagram of a cluster of blood vessels, and he actually made progress through one of his books. It wasn’t one about case law, either. It was the one on forest creatures. Clearly looking for something specific, he skimmed pages, checking different chapters and the index rather than reading it cover to cover.

Curious.

Studying continued, amidst some random sneezing and coughing. A half hour or so later, bright pink cheeks began to droop toward his chest, as a suspected fever dominated his body.

A loud knocking made us both jump. I automatically reached for the knife tucked into the back of my pants, and the kid had a hand inside his backpack in a flash. Our eyes met for barely a second before swiveling to the doorway, but not before both of us noting what the other just did.

Curiouser.

A blond guy stood at the door, giving my patient a What The Fuck look.

He called through the glass. “Are you seriously fuckin’ studying while on break, Winchester? How typical and tragic. I thought you were leaving.”

The kid, Winchester, shot me an apologetic look before clearing his throat. “Deand’s cobbig, Brady. He’s just ruddig late.”

Brady rolled his eyes. “Dorm’s closed, Sam, and you look like shit. Where are you stay--” He broke off when he realized Sam wasn’t alone in the room. Which was impressive, given the glass windows and doors. A lewd smile slid across his face. “Ohhhhhh...I see. Playing the sick card to get some action, huh?”

I arched an eyebrow. This guy was an asshole.

Sam was apparently thinking the same thing. I could feel the agitation from across the table. He motioned for Brady to open the door, glancing past him at the grad students freshly pissed at the new disturbance. “Shut up and get id here,” Sam growled.

With another eyeroll, Brady took hold of the doorknob and pushed open the door, only to immediately let go with a hiss, as if it burned him. Shaking his hand, he sucked on sore fingers. “Damn doorknob shocked me! Nevermind. I have two redheads waiting for me with a full bottle of tequila.” Pointing at Sam with his other hand, he waggled his eyebrows and said, “Have fun. I’ll see you in a few weeks.”

Sam sagged into his chair, shaking his head at Brady’s retreating back. “I’b sorry...he’s...he beands well, he’s just...a dick.”

I barely paid attention. How does a glass door shock someone?

When it opens over a line of salt, fixed to the floor with scotch tape. That’s when.

That guy was possibly more than an asshole…

“Hehh-ISHHH! Look, thangks for helpig be, really...I...I’b uh...godda go.”

Blinking, I shook myself out of hunter mode and watched Sam shove the law books into his backpack, tucking the lore against his chest while grabbing several tissues to go. “If you hadn’t let be sit here, I would dever have fiddished by research...so thangks...really.”

Oh...he was leaving. “You’re welcome. Not a big deal. Honestly.” I lifted one shoulder and smiled at him. “I hope you feel better.”

Sam stood, steadying himself on the table and huffing a laugh. “Be, too.” He made his way to the door, pausing at the salt. At least I think he paused at the salt. The scotch tape was barely visible, unless you knew what you were looking for. He peered over his shoulder. I’b Samb, by the way...although you already dknow that.”

“Jessica. Jessica Moore,” I said.

Sam glanced at his hand. “I’d offer to shake but I should wash these...:”

We laughed, he stepped over the line, waved, and was gone.

[Anilkex]

Part 3

I piddled for a little longer, mostly trying to decide if I was paranoid in a bad way or paranoid in a good way.

The “good way” meant Brady was stunned by the salt, which meant he was a Supernatural creature of some sort. The good way also meant Sam was researching lore for a hunt, and that he did notice the salt line on the floor.

The “bad way” meant now that my eyes were opened to that other side, I thought everyone and everything was evil and they all knew that I knew about them. The “bad way” made me anti-social and barely a student anymore, obsessively learning anything medical and biological so I could help people and never have to watch someone important to me bleed to death from a bunnyip’s claw wound again.

Pros and cons aside, both ways sucked because they meant evil had a true place in a world among humanity.

Blah.

Deciding I was just tired and ruminating on anything associated with the very good looking Sam Winchester (at least I was still human in that capacity), I shoved my things in my bag, retrieved my salt line which simply rolled up and tucked into a pocket, and left the room.

The first thing I noticed was a dull thudding coming from the ceiling. Probably that thunderstorm that was supposed to be here this morning. By the time I reached the exit, thunder boomed and I could see flashes of light through the front doors illuminating the glistening parking lot. I paused to put on my jacket and get my keys ready. It’d be a short jog to the car, and the less wet I got, the better.

I stepped outside, pulling my collar up once the cold wind struck me in the face. Rain pelted the ground, splattering me even though I still stood under the overhang. Taking a deep breath, I plunged into the wet and ran like hell for my car. It all took a matter of seconds, but I was still soaked through.

Heat on full blast, I checked my mirror and began moving, only to stop mid-backup, at a familiar giant sized undergrad illuminated by a streetlamp at the edge of the lot. I froze, watching him try to walk while his head pitched forward from a sneezing fit.

Shit. Shit, fuck, shit.

I couldn’t leave him out here. Was I supposed to take a stranger in my car? Was he technically a stranger? Where would I take him? As Brady said, the dorms were closed. Where was his brother? Wasn’t he supposed to get him?

I chewed my lower lip. He didn’t react to the salt, and I did suspect he knew about hunting, and I did commit to helping hunters by studying medicine after Mark died, and…

Sam stumbled, his backpack dropped from his shoulder into a puddle, and the look of dejection and defeat spurred me to maneuver right next to him. My window was down before I could even process what I was doing.

“H’ihshchch!”

“Hey, Sam…”

Sam shoved aside wet clumps of hair, squinting at me. “Hey, Jessica…”

“Get in.” I unlocked the door and motioned for him to enter.

Sam blinked, wiping rain off his face and tugging his hoodie closed. “Huh?”

“Get. In. You’re drenched, you’re sick, you’re not walking around in this.”

He stood up straight, clearly embarrassed. “It’s okay...I’b beeting by brother-Hehh-ishhh!” He glanced at the sodden mess of tissues in his hand, miserably stuffing them in a pocket.

“You can text him where you’ll be. Come on, Sam.”

Sam bit his bottom lip, torn about what to do. A bone-rattling boom of thunder, followed by a blast of cold air was the final straw. He hefted his bag, crossed to the passenger side, and climbed in.

In the close confines of the car, it was hard to ignore his chattering teeth, uncontrollable shivering, and incessant sniffling. Reaching behind me, I grabbed a box of tissues and plopped them in his lap the second he was buckled in. Without missing a beat, he grabbed some, blew his nose, sneezed twice, and blew it again.

I put the car in drive, and pulled away from the library.

“So...where are we going?”

I sighed. “My place. Text your brother that I’m at 307...”

xxxxx

We got back to my apartment without incident. I watched Sam cross through the doorway to triple make sure there was nothing hokey-pokey about him. Maybe having my fingers crossed helped.

“Wow…,” he said once inside. “This is...wow.”

I tossed my keys and purse on a table. “Yeah...rich parents help. Let’s get you into some dry clothes so you can warm up.”

I was in the kitchen making tea when he finished changing. Mark’s clothes were a little short on him, but not terribly bad. It was admittedly weird to see my dead brother’s sweatpants up and walking again, so I quickly turned my attention to the filled Stanford mugs.

“Thangks...this is, uh, a lot bet-Hhh-IHSCHCHuhh! *sniff* better.”

I smiled up at him, marveling at his dimples and the completely heartfelt sincerity on his face. He didn’t have the look of a hunter. But then again, every morning I told myself that I didn’t, either.

We sat down, each of us staring at our drinks, the silence broken only by his occasional sniffling. Until, “So...you’re a student here?” Punctuated by a cough, the question hung there for a moment before I answered.

“Yeah...kinda. Yeah.” Smooth, Jess. “I mean, I was a student full time studying art history, until my brother died. I’m taking some time off...auditing biology classes and stuff.”

 

I glanced up to see Sam’s gaze fixed on his mug, but his head was nodding, like he knew how I felt. “I’b sorry,” he murmured, raising his eyes to mine, forehead wrinkled in sympathy.

Ooof...I could fall into those eyes. “It’s okay,” I said. But we both knew it really wasn’t.

“Come on,” I said, “We can sit in the other room. It’ll be more comfortable.” Nodding again, Sam followed me into the living room, where I gestured for him to sit on the couch. “I have some cold medicine, if you want some,” I offered. I had no idea when this brother was showing up, and Sam was back to breathing through his mouth.

Still, he shook his head. “I’ll be okay, thangks. Deand should be here soo- Heh-Hih--Hp’TsCHCHYuu! Soond. Ugh...sorry!”

I set a tissue box near him and laughed a little. “I’m the one who invited you. No apologies. We can watch TV until he gets here, okay?” Sam settled into the corner of the couch, I turned on the TV, and we waited.

He watched a documentary about outer space. I spent the time watching him. He tucked his long legs under a throw blanket, resting his head on his hand. The pink of his cheeks was pronounced, even in the dim lighting, and a thin sheen of sweat coated his forehead.

Fever.

“Hhh-IHSCHCHuhh!  EHhh-TCHSHhuh!  Eh-TSCHYUuu!” He rubbed his nose, then his eyes, looking all of five years old. I automatically unfolded the blanket, lying it across his lap. Languid blinks were his only response, and I knew he’d be asleep in a matter of minutes.

Sure enough, his head began to nod, falling off his hand twice . Finally, he scooted lower so it could rest on the couch’s arm. I sat very still, watching him sleep, smiling when his leg twitched. I just met this guy, someone he knew may not be human, and his brother was showing up at some point to take him away. This was quite the day.

We probably should’ve engaged in more small talk so I could find out more about him. Was he a student? Was his brother? Was he being picked up for break? I had no idea. So much missing information...I still couldn’t believe I got involved.

Sam sneezed in his sleep, his whole body curling in on itself with a shiver. I pulled the blanket higher, sweeping hair off his warm face. He hummed a little in response to my touch, smacked his lips and fell back into a deep sleep.

Okay...I could believe it. He was fucking adorable.

xxxxx

Maybe an hour went by, maybe more, when there was a knock at the door. Sam didn’t budge, so I went to see if it was this elusive brother on my own. Peeking through the peephole, I saw a man with short hair wearing a slightly pained expression on his face...part worry, part actual pain. He was also quite attractive, but in a different way than the sleeping giant on my couch. His leather jacket hung off him a bit, and his hand was pressed to his side.

I knew in my gut it was Dean, but still kept the chain attached as I cracked open the door. “Hello?” I asked, trying to sound innocent.

He was the one who knocked on my door, but he still jumped at the sound of my voice. “Oh! Hey...uh...are you Jessica? I’m looking for my little brother, Sam...I’m Dean Winchester.” His voice caught in the middle of the sentence, making him suck in a breath.

Even without the first aid training, I would’ve known he was hurt. “Just a sec…” I shut the door, undid the chain, then opened it wide to let him in. No reaction to the salt or wards, so this was okay. It was totally okay to let a stranger in my home.

Because there aren’t human bad guys. Right.

Dean immediately spotted his brother on the couch and moved quickly to his side. With a gentleness I didn’t quite expect, he pressed the back of his hand to Sam’s forehead, frowning at the full blown fever. Okay, totally not a human bad guy.

I walked over. “He wouldn’t take anything, but the fever seems impressive.”

Dean dragged a hand down his face. “Yeah, they usually are. I got held up...thanks for letting him stay here.”

“No problem, really.”

I could see the struggle on his face - younger brother very sick, needing rest, fast asleep on a warm couch...but older brother was hurt, needing care as well, not wanting to impose.

Well. I was supposed to help hunters, right?

“Listen, how about I look at wherever you’re hurt, and you can both stay the night.”

Dean’s eyes slid toward mine. “Not much for small talk, are you?”

Wincing, I ran my fingers through my hair. “I’m not very good at this, but I know you need help. Both of you. And…” My eyes darted to Sam. “I’d really like to help.”

Dean pursed his lips, considering my words. “Okay.” He raised his shirt, revealing claw marks all along his right side. “According to Sam, you set down salt lines in libraries. Maybe you can fix a werecat scratch.”

We smiled at eachother. “I’ll see what I can do.”

 

**end**

 

[cherrishish]

OMG this is so very good! How no one else reacted to it yet? I love the hunter!Jess POV and sick!Sammy is just... yummy... full on combusting here! 

I also love the fact that Sam despite being sick and clearly unwell noticed the salt line and even texted Dean about it. Too bad about not noticing the thing with Brady... 

Any chance we get a bit more of this?

[Shamaël]

Well, I know I've already said it elsewhere, but I don't know this fandom (so I have absolutely no idea who this Jessica is... ) and yet I loved your story!!! I really like the point of view you have chosen here - and the sneezing parts are awsome. Thank you for sharing!

[Bongo]

I was definitely getting a nagging feeling it was Jess when I was reading it, which I loved, because I love Jess. And Hunter!Jess is awesome. I love how she's so paranoid she has the salt taped down around her library study room(John Winchester would be proud), but she had to ignore little demon dick so she could keep tending to Sam. I would ruminate, to use your word, over him any day too.

I loved your take on her And even though Dean was only in for a short time, I also very much enjoyed his appearance. And how he and Jess just hopped right to business. No small talk. Exactly how Dean rolls.

Sam though is all politeness and stifling and trying not to bother everyone even though it's not his fault anyway.

Awesome awesome Christmas gift. Thank you!