Just don't be all - chummy. Hopefully, he won't want, like, lunch. ( Cases and work and patients. Not friendship. ) Maybe uh, Mystic Grille tonight. Last hurrah? Game of pool? Old standards?
[She finishes off her stack, before grabbing both plates in one hand and scooping up the maple syrup with the other as she makes her way over to the coffee table.
She extends one plate out to him, and nods.]
Bon appetit.
[They truly are nothing special. They're just pancakes. But they're edible, and since they're basically Bisquick, they taste good and are better with syrup.]
( The banter is live and light, as it always is between them. He pushes down the burn around his heart, the fear that crops up behind his forced smile. Tells her a story about a rabbit's foot and Sam winning 1,000,000th customer at a Biggerson's.
He focuses on helping her with chores and errands during the day. Works on Baby in the late afternoon. And then changes, Mystic Grille ready (which is easy for him, or, anyone). He holds her front door open for her. The Impala's door. The Grille's door. They each order a beer. Before the waitress can leave, he gets her attention again, striking up an idea. ) And a round of shots. We're celebrating.
[Elena hesitates because her and her human liver do have to work tomorrow and she doesn't want to do it hung over. But this is Mystic Falls and drinking is one of their town past times so she doesn't think too much of this at first.]
( One stays one for about an hour, before Dean orders a second with his second beer, knowing Elena probably doesn't want one. He takes the shot and a sip from his beer in succession, letting it burn down into a settled sigh. )
The meal is nice. Dean's a little toasty, but having fun and it's easy. And maybe everything's going to be okay. But, Elena pays the check and reality crashes in. This is her last night. She's going back to work. He's now in this town. And she's going back to work.
She goes to the bathroom before they leave. Dean fidgets. Dean has been down this road before. And the last time...
He's brought out of his thoughts as she asks if he's ready, after she folds her copy of the receipt up and grabbing her purse.
Another beer arrives and Dean hands the waitress cash. )
I was, but, I hadn't tried the IPA. You should go back, do your night routine. I'll be right behind you.
( Be there for the important part. When the voices silence and he can distract the both. )
[Elena glances down from him to the beer and does her best to keep the judgement off her face. They haven't been back in each other's lives that long yet, but Elena does know addiction, if not personally, in the faces of other people. And it's always more complicated than it seems.
She's concerned, and she worries, but he's an adult and this is new so she doesn't push. Not yet.]
You sure you want me getting started without you?
[There's a tempting edge to it, the lure implicit, but she won't push him if he doesn't want to.]
[Elena takes the keys and wonders if Dean understands the risk he's taking by leaving her with his beloved car, but she won't contradict him. She just nods and gives his arm a soft squeeze as she goes.]
Okay. See you soon.
[And she does leave, but she can feel a sinking feeling in her gut that this night isn't going to go the way she thought it would.
She heads home, does her end of night routine, and waits, with the news on quietly in the background.]
( He does order one more beer and ends up falling into a game of pool. Well, he hovers during one, it ends and the guy looks at him, points the cue in his direction and who he is to turn down a challenge? Did he ask for it. Was it asked of him. Does it matter? He collects some cash for old time's sake. Didn't even need to do double or nothing.
He knows he should cut his losses.
So, he's not right behind her. He's an hourish behind her.
He lets himself into her apartment, the keys dropping as he opens the door. Oops. He leans forward to pick them up. Hands grasp them like he's been caught, even though he's just walked in. Bringing them back up, he looks down at them and sighs, leaning against the open door.
He fucked this up. It's her last night. And here he is. Late. Not drunk drunk. But, more drunk than he should be on a night like this. )
[It's not enough time for her to fall asleep, but enough for her to begin stewing, replaying the day over and over to try and find what she missed. Something had been off, just slightly, and she had ignored it in the interest of having a good day. But now as the clock ticks on, she finds herself in a position she knows all too well - waiting up to make sure the person she cares about who may have substance abuse issues comes home safely.
She did this with Jeremy, in the wreckage of her parents deaths. She did this with Ric, that year he lived in their house taking care of them - or trying. And she spent many sleepless nights when Stefan was off on a blood bender.
Elena is not unfamiliar with having people close to her who like to have one too many drinks, or are leaning on something to try and get by. But Dean was fine until he wasn't, so she can't help but wonder what it was that flipped the switch.
When she hears the fumbling of the keys, she turns off the news and climbs out of bed, moving so that she can see the door. He doesn't seem too sloppy - more drunk than usual but not to the point that she'd need to be medically concerned, just personally.]
Dean?
[She doesn't want to talk about this now, not until he's sober, but she is worried all the same.]
( He looks up, beaten down, suddenly. As if he hasn't been beaten down all his life. First by circumstances. Than his mom's death. His dad's parenting. The apocalypse. His trust issues. His anger. Chuck..
Holding himself up he steps into the apartment proper, closing the door behind him. As he turns back, he produces the cash in his pocket and drops it down on the kitchen counter. He removes his wallet next, his phone, and then drops her keys on the counter next, shrugging his jacket off next.
He hangs it on one of the chairs, then looks back at her again. )
[Her voice is soft as she makes her way closer to him, taking his arm gently to guide him back toward the bedroom.]
Let's go to bed. We can talk about it tomorrow.
[And they will talk about it tomorrow. She has the mid-shift, so they have some time in the morning. But she wants to wait until he's sober and they're both aware of the things they're saying.]
( He doesn't nod, but lets her guide him. He's not so fucked up that he can't undress enough to crawl into bed in boxer briefs and a t-shirt. He cradles the pillow in his arms as he stretches his legs out and succumbs to the alcohol. That is, lets himself fall asleep.
Her alarm wakes him as he groans, having thrown an arm around Elena in his sleep. He can taste what's left in his mouth, dry from the alcohol. He needs to brush his teeth. He smacks his lips a few times and sucks in a breath as he squints one eye open. )
[Elena was up a little before her alarm - not so much that she's out of bed, but enough that the sound doesn't jarr her awake. She shifts slightly, still feeling her own pit of anxiousness as she rolls over to face him.]
Do you want the bathroom first? I can start the coffee.
( He checks in with his body. He's not hungover, he's a professional. But, he does need to take a leak. Aforementioned teeth brushing. Yeah. He could hit the bathroom first. He nods. Smiles, because he woke up next to her. Guilt sags at his eyelids but she isn't giving him that look, which he knew she wouldn't. He presses a kiss to her shoulder before getting himself out of bed.
After he's finished in the bathroom, he pulls a pair of sweatpants on, looks at himself in Elena's bedroom's mirror. Drags a hand along his cheek. He could look worse.
When did he look this old, though.
He emerges from her bedroom, moving to the cabinet to get two glasses. Water, to go with the coffee. She's also a water woman. He fills the two glasses up, turns and takes a sip from one. )
[Because it is. She doesn't mind if he wants to hang out in the Grille.
She glances up from the bowl of cereal she's fixing herself and meets his eyes earnestly and without judgement.]
But I do want to talk about it.
[Which she knows is not his favorite thing to do, but Elena's a communicator, and she doesn't want to let this lie and fester.]
It's not the drinking I have a problem with, exactly. I'd be kind of a hypocrite if that was the part that bothered me. But ... you were a little off yesterday, and I shouldn't have let it go, but I did. I'd like to talk about it now, though.
( He sets his glass down to the side and rubs his palms down his face. He was, wasn't he. )
Yeah, yeah, I was off. I think, maybe after breakfast. And it wasn't ( he holds one hand up )breakfast. Breakfast was good. ( The pancakes were fine, but also better than fine because she made them. ) You're going back to work. Work means -- life. Routine. I'll occupy myself, or Sam and me, we'll catch - hunts here or there, unless he's with Allison ( And ) I did this once before. A long time ago, right after our first almost apocalypse. I lost Sam and I went to see this woman, Lisa, who - basically invited me to get my shit back together once everything went to hell. Sam, literally.
I was there for a year. Helped raise her kid. Lived this suburban life. ( But, no, he didn't stay there. ) Sam showed back up, which, isn't the point of the story ( But is a story in itself. ) but, after a year, I started hunting again. Tried to keep things going with Lisa, stay in Ben's orbit. But I got dangerous. And distant. And they deserved better. Demons ended up taking them to distract Sam and me and -- after, I... ( He doesn't say it easily. ) I had Cas erase their memories of me. They weren't safe anymore. The kid was traumatized and I never fit in. Half the time back in that town, I was drunk, or quiet, or working on my car until I couldn't anymore and I covered her for a few months. Got a real job but it wasn't really living. Lied to myself, lied to them, almost got them both killed.
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everyonelives2025-07-26 07:05 pm
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Just don't be all - chummy. Hopefully, he won't want, like, lunch. ( Cases and work and patients. Not friendship. ) Maybe uh, Mystic Grille tonight. Last hurrah? Game of pool? Old standards?
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[She finishes off her stack, before grabbing both plates in one hand and scooping up the maple syrup with the other as she makes her way over to the coffee table.
She extends one plate out to him, and nods.]
Bon appetit.
[They truly are nothing special. They're just pancakes. But they're edible, and since they're basically Bisquick, they taste good and are better with syrup.]
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He focuses on helping her with chores and errands during the day. Works on Baby in the late afternoon. And then changes, Mystic Grille ready (which is easy for him, or, anyone). He holds her front door open for her. The Impala's door. The Grille's door. They each order a beer. Before the waitress can leave, he gets her attention again, striking up an idea. ) And a round of shots. We're celebrating.
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Sure. Why not?
[She'll have one, probably and leave it at that.]
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That was a good one. How's your rabbit food?
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[Is it rabbit food when it's drenched in dressing and probably also has bacon? Elena doesn't think so, but she'll go with it for now.]
How's your burger?
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They make a damn good burger here. And I've had burgers in forty-eight of the fifty states.
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[Which makes them delicious in a new and interesting way.]
And he's very happy with the air fryer.
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[She nods as she reaches for the beer she's nursing.]
Not bad, right?
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The meal is nice. Dean's a little toasty, but having fun and it's easy. And maybe everything's going to be okay. But, Elena pays the check and reality crashes in. This is her last night. She's going back to work. He's now in this town. And she's going back to work.
She goes to the bathroom before they leave. Dean fidgets. Dean has been down this road before. And the last time...
He's brought out of his thoughts as she asks if he's ready, after she folds her copy of the receipt up and grabbing her purse.
Another beer arrives and Dean hands the waitress cash. )
I was, but, I hadn't tried the IPA. You should go back, do your night routine. I'll be right behind you.
( Be there for the important part. When the voices silence and he can distract the both. )
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She's concerned, and she worries, but he's an adult and this is new so she doesn't push. Not yet.]
You sure you want me getting started without you?
[There's a tempting edge to it, the lure implicit, but she won't push him if he doesn't want to.]
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( He means it, though, and he accompanies his sentiment with a healthy sip. See, he's always a third of the way through it.
He even takes his keys out of his pocket. )
Take Baby. I'll catch a cab or walk back. Right behind.
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Okay. See you soon.
[And she does leave, but she can feel a sinking feeling in her gut that this night isn't going to go the way she thought it would.
She heads home, does her end of night routine, and waits, with the news on quietly in the background.]
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He knows he should cut his losses.
So, he's not right behind her. He's an hourish behind her.
He lets himself into her apartment, the keys dropping as he opens the door. Oops. He leans forward to pick them up. Hands grasp them like he's been caught, even though he's just walked in. Bringing them back up, he looks down at them and sighs, leaning against the open door.
He fucked this up. It's her last night. And here he is. Late. Not drunk drunk. But, more drunk than he should be on a night like this. )
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She did this with Jeremy, in the wreckage of her parents deaths. She did this with Ric, that year he lived in their house taking care of them - or trying. And she spent many sleepless nights when Stefan was off on a blood bender.
Elena is not unfamiliar with having people close to her who like to have one too many drinks, or are leaning on something to try and get by. But Dean was fine until he wasn't, so she can't help but wonder what it was that flipped the switch.
When she hears the fumbling of the keys, she turns off the news and climbs out of bed, moving so that she can see the door. He doesn't seem too sloppy - more drunk than usual but not to the point that she'd need to be medically concerned, just personally.]
Dean?
[She doesn't want to talk about this now, not until he's sober, but she is worried all the same.]
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Holding himself up he steps into the apartment proper, closing the door behind him. As he turns back, he produces the cash in his pocket and drops it down on the kitchen counter. He removes his wallet next, his phone, and then drops her keys on the counter next, shrugging his jacket off next.
He hangs it on one of the chairs, then looks back at her again. )
It's not always like this.
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[Her voice is soft as she makes her way closer to him, taking his arm gently to guide him back toward the bedroom.]
Let's go to bed. We can talk about it tomorrow.
[And they will talk about it tomorrow. She has the mid-shift, so they have some time in the morning. But she wants to wait until he's sober and they're both aware of the things they're saying.]
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Her alarm wakes him as he groans, having thrown an arm around Elena in his sleep. He can taste what's left in his mouth, dry from the alcohol. He needs to brush his teeth. He smacks his lips a few times and sucks in a breath as he squints one eye open. )
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Do you want the bathroom first? I can start the coffee.
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After he's finished in the bathroom, he pulls a pair of sweatpants on, looks at himself in Elena's bedroom's mirror. Drags a hand along his cheek. He could look worse.
When did he look this old, though.
He emerges from her bedroom, moving to the cabinet to get two glasses. Water, to go with the coffee. She's also a water woman. He fills the two glasses up, turns and takes a sip from one. )
Sorry, I - stayed later. Wasn't planning on it.
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[Because it is. She doesn't mind if he wants to hang out in the Grille.
She glances up from the bowl of cereal she's fixing herself and meets his eyes earnestly and without judgement.]
But I do want to talk about it.
[Which she knows is not his favorite thing to do, but Elena's a communicator, and she doesn't want to let this lie and fester.]
It's not the drinking I have a problem with, exactly. I'd be kind of a hypocrite if that was the part that bothered me. But ... you were a little off yesterday, and I shouldn't have let it go, but I did. I'd like to talk about it now, though.
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Yeah, yeah, I was off. I think, maybe after breakfast. And it wasn't ( he holds one hand up ) breakfast. Breakfast was good. ( The pancakes were fine, but also better than fine because she made them. ) You're going back to work. Work means -- life. Routine. I'll occupy myself, or Sam and me, we'll catch - hunts here or there, unless he's with Allison ( And ) I did this once before. A long time ago, right after our first almost apocalypse. I lost Sam and I went to see this woman, Lisa, who - basically invited me to get my shit back together once everything went to hell. Sam, literally.
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It didn't work out the way you hoped?
[Considering he is here with her, and not back with Lisa, living that life.]
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