In many ways the Winchester Thanksgiving dinner goes over well; Sam shows up with Ruby and Carmen and Lucy follow soon after much to Mary's delight. Each of them share what they are most thankful for, pass around the food, and find conversation and laughter to be contagious. Save for Sam and John sitting on opposite sides of the table, the evening can be described as perfect. Of course they find out that they are snowed in at the end the evening and that nobody can leave but it's only a matter of how you looked at the situation.
Mary looks at it as if it's an opportunity. There's no one in the bunker that would argue that Sam needs to stay now that the chance has opened up. It's John that makes it the question of how they're going to do that. Her husband needs to be on board with whatever the solution. While everybody else puts their heads together on what to do with the extended evening, she pulls him aside. "You should talk to Sam." The think about what to talk about is why she's talking to him.
Somehow Lucy and Carmen managed to make dinner less awkward (John could focus on them and not on Sam or Ruby). However, it was still pretty damn awkward. They've had the discussion (that turned into a fight) about why Ruby eats at all when she doesn't have to, so John didn't bring it up again, but he'd kept his eye on her (she actually tends to eat less with John which just means Sam ends up feeding her more bites of his food which makes John even grumpier; it's a vicious cycle). Laughter and conversation are contagious and Lucy could convince a wall to engage in lively conversation, so it does turn out better than it started. The fact that they're snowed in adds a little bit of dread to the evening on Ruby and John's part, even on Dean's part. He doesn't want this Thanksgiving to end with John and Sam fighting without any other place for either of them to go.
Of course, Mary would look at it as if it's an opportunity. She's the optimist to John's pessimist. Even John wouldn't argue that Sam needs to stay. He wants the boy to quit being so stupid and trusting, not to freeze to death. John knows something is up when Mary pulls him aside and he's smart enough to suspect that she's got something to say about Sam staying there. He thinks it's going to be something about behaving himself and he's ready to defend himself when Mary speaks. His brow furrows and he gives Mary a slightly puzzled look. "What do you want me to talk to the kid about? I've said everything I can to him for months now. He won't listen."
Here's another opinion: Lucy and Carmen stole the evening with their presence. Thanks to them the awkwardness of John and Sam fighting about letting Ruby eat whatever she liked quickly shifted. Lucy's gift also worked on Sam, so for the rest of the evening it was as if normal conversation happened. Mary's concerned for the same reason. Pulling John aside also is to stall any fight that could happen with Sam and him in the same room for long.
Of course it is about behaving himself too. Mary thinks John is old enough and, in fact, bright enough to piece it together on his own. The problem isn't that. It's the months of neither of them moving to meet in the middle. Somehow she wants both of them to be able to reach the middle. She knows John's grouchiness this evening is not meant to be harsh and reaches for his hand. "I would like you to convince Sam to stay with us, and for you to somehow worry about the rest later."
If nothing else, it's an encouragement for him to try. She wouldn't have married him if he were anything other than stubborn.
Her opinion is certainly the nicer opinion. With time, John will learn to look at things a little more optimistically. He can't deny that Lucy and Carmen made the evening better. It was also a little exciting to meet Carmen. Dean doesn't bring girls home. There's never been time for that nor were the circumstances right. He'd known Carmen wasn't a demon because he'd asked Dean when he mentioned having her over for Thanksgiving. He also might have whispered christo when he passed the potatoes).
He is both of those things. Being a stubborn ass gets in the way of both his maturity and his intelligence. Sam and John have never been good at meeting in the middle. They're far too much alike for that. John softens when Mary reaches for his hand, sighs a little and squeezes her hand almost as an agreement. He's quiet a moment then speaks with weariness in his voice. "Mary...this can't be what's best for him." There's a touch of doubt in his voice though because at dinner (and every other time they've seen them) in those moments that Sam and Ruby weren't thinking too much about everything, when they weren't awkward, they were happy; Ruby makes Sam happy, and even John can see that. He's just having a hard time accepting it.
It was the first time Mary saw Dean bring home a girl so the the excitement was not lost on her either. Things have been so focused on Sam the last couple of months that the change is nice. From what Mary can tell Dean is happy to have brought her. Of course trust that would have to double check her non-demon status. Mary might have gave him a small look to let this just be Thanksgiving because his whisper fell in ear shot. She can relax when the rest of the evening goes well (no more tests) and Dean washed the dishes with Carmen.
Being stubborn is also why they continued to date even after he met her father. The irony that years later he would be acting the same way as Samuel is not lost on her. However, she would never say that aloud as his reason may be more valid. It goes without saying she isn't sure her son dating a demon is the right thing for him either but she can't deny the value of seeing the two love birds act happy at dinner again. Her attention goes to the hand which squeezes hers then to John's eyes with understanding. His silence communicates how wary he is before his own voice does and his concern spreads to her yet she still can't shake her own stance. "I know, John. It can't be good for him not be home." Her fingers finally squeeze his to let him know she's feeling the same.
It certainly makes John relax a little to not have to worry about Sam for a bit. Of course, Dean never was the problem child and Carmen seems nice enough. Though, Ruby had seemed nice enough when he'd first met her as well. It does win Carmen points in her favor that she cajoles Dean into doing the dishes.
Yeah, it hasn't occurred to John that he's acting like Mary's father. He's grateful that Mary picks up on all his silent cues and that she understands his feelings. Initially, her suggestion gets a hard no mentally from him. However, when she squeezes his hand, he sighs. "I worry, Mary. I don't want to lose you again and having a demon in the house..." He doesn't want to lose Sam, but he doesn't want to put Mary into danger because of Sam's decisions. "I'll put a devil's trap under the rug in our doorway and you'll be careful," John says. It's a question of her, but also a bit of a compromise. He's giving in with a few conditions.
The helpful thing is that they all will be able to worry less for Sam if he stays. Yes, both Ruby and Carmen have made decent first impressions. It is with a certain bias that Mary would agree that Carmen earned points tonight just for seeming to be a nice enough girl. Something about Dean being cajoled into a chore he would typically do makes her appreciate Carmen all the more.
For the sake of their relationship, she will never make the comparison either. It is not something she likes to admit to herself. Of course he's the same old John and she picks up his silent cues the same way as before. There's one tell for when John Winchester has hit a mental wall and it's the artery that becomes visible at his temple. Mary can see no other response than to keep her hold in his hand and wait. His concern becomes clearer when he lays it out like that. Sam only had some part to do with it then.
Her smiles half spreads to her cheeks, touched by the concern for her. But there is one thing he forgets. "You forget we're a team. It's not only you that worries." She squeezes his hand once more to reassure him and to not let him forget too soon. Maybe she isn't staying how it pains her to be reminded of how she was caught off guard by Azazel and killed, but that's a problem neither here nor there. Sam isn't one she can bare to lose either. "Okay, but then you talk to Sam," Mary reminds him of his part. She's on board with the compromise on her end.
So much has happened to John in the last couple of decades, but Mary turns him into the same head-over-heels kid he was when they got married. Yeah, that has always been a tell for him and Mary has always known how to deal with it. Sam had only ever been a part of why he is so against Ruby. John has been fighting since the moment his world fell apart to keep what he had left of their family, of Mary, safe. Of course, John wanted to see Sam happy with a family of his own, but it had been far from the only reason he didn't want Ruby around. John had even been mad at Dean for days because he'd let Sam bring a demon into their home. THey'd gotten past it because Dean could stand when John was mad at him and he'd done everything he could without betraying Sam to get back in John's favor. He'd tried to talk Sam into coming back to the bunker while Ruby stayed in her apartment just until John calmed down. Obviously that hadn't worked. In any case, yes, there's a lot more going on here than just Sam's future.
He does forget that. He takes a deep breath, holds it a moment then exhales. He doesn't like reminding her (or himself) of her death but clearly she needed to know that he was worried about her safety. Sam, Ruby and what to do about them had been the topic of many of he and Mary's private conversations. He's also talked to Dean a great deal about it. John doesn't have to ask Mary if she's certain about letting Sam and Ruby move back in. He knows that she's thought about this enough to be certain. She wouldn't tell him this if she weren't certain. Of course, when Mary says he has to be the one to talk to Sam, she gets a you're kidding...but really look. He starts to argue, to point out that the chances of he and Sam being able to talk without fighting were slim; however, he also knows that Mary has figured out the likelihood of Sam and John being able to have a conversation that doesn't end in a fight. He closes his eyes a minute then sighs and gives Mary an Okay, but only for you look before he takes a couple of steps backward away from her then turns and heads over toward Sam and Ruby.
"Hey, Sam. Can I talk to you a minute?" John says as he approaches.
Ruby's alarms go off the minute John starts toward them. She stops talking to Sam in the middle of a sentence and braces herself. Her interactions with John haven't been great. She looks up to Sam and squeezes his arm a second before she steps behind Sam a little and starts to give Sam and John a little space.
A handful of their conversations while Sam had been out of the home had to do with the time John was on his own with the boys and it helped her understand more. She didn't like either of them hurting or fighting for their view point to win over the other. She did not much care for how the blame was transferred to Dean either. Still, she could see John's struggle, similar to her own when she started a family with him and left behind a hunter's life, but the mirror opposite, which brought her to give John some leeway to blow off steam. However, she did tell him after a couple days to go easy on Dean. Of course by then her own fears had been sorted and she knew they had to get in the same boat. What was that saying? A step at a time.
It's her job to remind him as many times as he needs her to. Though from here on out he should remember they're a team. He isn't alone with this. It's not hard to forgive him for reminding her when the point is to make sure she remembers about her own safety. Perhaps at not the most appropriate time, it tickles her just to be cared for by him. She holds her gaze on him, aware that his facial expressions will give away some of thoughts. Her first guess is that he's thinking back to their conversations. What to do about them had more or less been agreed upon after a few sleepless nights. IE If Ruby was found to be lying about her intentions, the only choice would be to kill her. Maybe Mary was the only one that thought Sam and Ruby should move back in, but yes, she is certain of that. Thought she did tell John she had to be certain they were good together not that long ago. Don't you do that John Winchester. When she reads that look in his face, her head tilts with a firm enough 'go compromise' look. Weather John intended it or not, she feel the subtle pang of a headache at the back of her head. Oh, she knows Sam and John are too much alike to have a conversation. She's seen it first hand. Of course, she can hope maybe this time will be different, if not move the conversation forward more to the point where a resolution can be found. She mouths thank you when he steps back and squeeze his fingers for good luck. Sam and Ruby of course are not far from one another when John grabs his attention.
Sam looks at John surprised. And that's just to start. He immediately has to guess this is about Ruby so a guarded, wary and protective feeling all rush over him too. However, John is still his father so the instinct to step back is nothing more than a thought at the back of his mind. He glances to Ruby as his next instinct is to reach out to hold her hand to present a united front, but the squeeze she gives his arm lets him know the idea isn't right for the moment. His hand drops so that she can give them space. She gets a small apologetic look before John has his complete attention.
"Only a minute?" Understandably, he is resistant to talk at all.
John has always been an early riser and with Ruby sleeping in the bunker, he doesn't sleep terribly well. It's still the early hours of the morning when he decides it's late enough for him to get up without seeming suspicious. He leans over and kisses Mary on the temple. "Good morning for coffee and pancakes," he rumbles in her ear before slipping out of bed to get dressed.
Once dressed, he pads into the kitchen on sock feet to get the coffee started so that when Mary walks into the kitchen. Once that's started, he'll start gathering things to make the pancakes. Breakfast is one of the meals he's actually decent at cooking.
The passage of time hasn't really changed either of their sleeping habits. Mary finds sleep comes easier than John, but his troubles are the same as her own and thus she encourages him to try to sleep before nodding off. It's also comes with the same amount of difficulty for her to wake up. For his effort, she stirs in her sleep and turns in his direction. The best he'll get for his good morning will be a soft hum while she works on waking up.
Once out of bed, she washes her face with cold water and gingerly applies a rejuvenating moisturizer under her eyes. It's a small part of her morning routine. A short time later, she'll walk into the kitchen and feel welcomed by the smell of roasted coffee beans and pancakes on the stove. Obviously, John makes the finest breakfast in her opinion, second to none, and it's the reason for her smile when she crosses the threshold to join him.
"Good Morning, John," she tells him as his own good morning never fell on deaf ears. She can only guess he wanted to do this for her when he went ahead so she won't step up to help till the clean up. Instead she pulls a chair up to the counter and takes a seat, front row view to him at work and the fresh smell of her favorite berry to pull her attention in more.
"You remembered the blueberries?" she asks and guesses at the same time.
It's easier to sleep with Mary by his side. At least when he wakes up from a nightmare, he's got her there. He chuckles a little at the way she hums at him. He remembers the way she took her time waking up and he's had some time to reacquaint himself with that quirk while they've been here.
She's gorgeous no matter what she does to her face and her appearance earns her a smile of his own.
"Sleeping Beauty awakes," he teases her. He definitely wanted to do this for her and he's glad that she takes a spectator role. Clean up is what the boys are for. He pours the batter into a heart shape (a bit lopsided) and gives her a look. "Of course I remembered the blueberries. You're not dealing with an amateur here."
There's a lot to reacquaint to as they don't have the responsibility of one kid and one either. For her the easiest thing to fall back to is the way she used to sleep facing him, the same as when they were first nesting. The tricky part is getting up at his hours but she loves him enough to do it.
It's supposed to help her eyes remain youthful. Yet, he does make her feel gorgeous when he has a smile for her joining him.
It isn't as if she hasn't heard that one before, and her first instinct isn't to shake her head, but from John, the sentiment behind it is always charming. She feels every bit like a princess when romantic gestures and food are involved. "I see you weren't waiting long," she pokes fun with him. She watches him make the heart pancake and feels her heart beat right into her throat.
She meets his look with a wider smile, head at the slightest affectionate tilt. "Who am I dealing with then?" She remembers she once told John there were three sides of him that she loved - the man open about everything, the perfect husband, and the greatest father -- and she hopes he can recall as well.
She can always sleep in. They'll catch up when she does wake up.
She is gorgeous so it's only right she should feel it.
"Nope. Just long enough to have some coffee and get things ready," he tells her. He doesn't mind the mornings alone while she sleeps. Food is the way to a Winchester's heart. John knows that.
"Professional husband," he tells her. "I don't know if you've heard or not, but I've retired from everything else," he jokes with her. Oh he remembers. All of his moments with Mary were and continue to be important.
She will likely have a small nap later. Sleeping in would only made her miss the effort he effort he put into breakfast. She enjoys the odd morning when she can watch his skills of making breakfast.
He's the only one that can make her feel gorgeous and the only one that is also the apple of her eye.
"Smells heavenly already," she tell him. In fact, the part she could admit to appreciating most is the simple and familiar ingredients in front. She can't say she is a fan of the chemical stuff that makes her tongue tingle. Simple is best.
Of the three choices, she expects him to go for the obvious. Professional husband is a fourth she doesn't expect but it wins a smiles so big it is in her eyes. She lets the revelation sink in for a second. "It's the first time I heard about it. You have any idea what you want to do with one side?," she inquires because his joke has merit. It feels like they're only just talking about this right now. She feels the same about putting the moments they have to good use.
They can both nap later; it's a skill that Dean has mastered that John thinks he should give a shot now that there's time to nap. Plus, there's no one he'd rather take a nap with than Mary (never mind that it might turn into less of a nap).
John has had far too much fast food and road food in his life. He prefers this as well. "I'm just getting started, Sweetheart," he tells her with that charming grin of his.
"I haven't been doing it professionally for a while," he tells her. That's the sort of smile he was aiming for when he said it. He frowns a little, thinking about her more serious question. "I'm still working on that. There's not a lot of mechanic work to be done here. Maybe I'll get back to doing things like fishing, camping, some gardening." His brows raise and he flips the pancake. "Got any suggestions?"
An afternoon spent in bed with John wouldn't be the worst alternative to a nap.
There's something about John making breakfast that Mary prefers about this as well. Maybe it has to do with John not always having time with his work back at the garage. "Oh?" She won't assume he has something else in mind, but it sounds something like that. If he keeps it up, he could melt her like butter with that look.
It makes sense considering she wasn't around. Her smile slips, just briefly at what he admits, but softly returns because there's plenty for them here if they know what to do with it. "Do you want to go back to work? Or fish and camp again," she asks as it sounds like what he's getting at. Of course, she would like to help him get to the bottom of it too. She hums, finding it a little harder to give any suggestions for herself.
When Dean had first invited Carmen to the bunker for Thanksgiving, she had been nervous about meeting his parents. In her world, she and Mary were friends. From her experience with Itinere and Dean, she knew that it wasn't guaranteed that Mary would be the same here. Honestly, she was more nervous about meeting Mary than she was about meeting John.
Dinner was awkward at first (Dean had filled Carmen in on the drama with Ruby and Sam--she'd been curious exactly what a demon would look like, but she couldn't tell Ruby was anything except a woman), but things had gotten easier and dinner had become enjoyable. However, she hadn't been prepared to stay the night (she kind of figured that Dean would stay at her place that night after he'd taken her home). Getting snowed in had changed her plans.
She'd slept in one of Dean's tee shirts. She's short and Dean is tall and had they been around anyone other than his parents, she probably would have just worn that around the bunker. However, his parents are there, which means in the morning she puts Dean's robe on over the tee shirt she'd worn, ties it around the waist, and heads toward the laundry room to wash the outfit she'd worn for Thanksgiving (black leggings, knee high boots and a nice sweater). That's where she runs into Mary.
"I promise I don't normally run around in a bathrobe," she starts. "I didn't bring an overnight bag. I was kind of hoping to wash this stuff. Dean says it looks like we're going to be snowed in for at least another day and night."
Likewise, Mary was not sure what to expect of Carmen because of the little Dean filled her in on. However, nervous was the furthest thing she felt about meeting Carmen. What was more accurate for Mary was her looking forward to meet someone her son had decided to have over for Thanksgiving.
A plus would be the lack of drama around Carmen, as well. Dinner went as good as it could have. Sure there was interest in Sam and Ruby being so close to each other at the table, but the night didn't come to a close without some light on Carmen and vice versa.
Laundry is only a weekly thing Mary keeps up with, but the general assumption today is that they will be in for another day and that has her uneasy. Laundry is something useful to keep her mind off of it. Running into Carmen there presents an opportunity for a little one on one.
Her lips tug into an understanding smile. "Dean is right. It looks like another day at least," she assures her without bringing up the bathrobe. Maybe she could be considered old fashioned, but it doesn't bother her at all. "If I can suggest the simplest solution: we toss our things in together and I lend you a shirt and a pair of slacks... You look just about the same size as me."
Carmen and Dean are still new in Itinere and it's complicated. They're taking things slow and Carmen is still getting used to this world. He's told Mary about some of the complications (he thought it only fair considering Carmen knows Mary in her world). Dean hadn't wanted Carmen to spend the holidays alone even if they are still a new, undefined thing.
It will be nice, getting to know this version of Mary. Maybe Carmen will feel like she can get her feet under her here.
The bathrobe is preferable to running around in just a tee shirt. Carmen smiles a little at Mary's offer. "That would be great. Thank you. Do things like this happen often? Getting snowed in, I mean."
Mary understands slow, but a signal or feeling she has tells her that Dean and Carmen might just work out. Of course nothing was certain when she has been getting to know Dean for a short while as well. She's heard everything she has the right to hear about Carmen and it's appreciated. Carmen spending the holiday dinner with them was just the fresh air they needed from tense events.
It will make the two of them. Carmen shouldn't be more than a year younger than her either.
There is not a soul in the bunker who would not agree with that. Mary tilts her head, but does not have to think too far back. "You're welcome. It's the first time I've been around to see it happen, but you will have to ask Dean if it happens often." While they're talking, she'll get the detergent. Mary does not yet trust tide pod to have the same clean.
Carmen hopes so. She'd loved her life with Dean and it had been snatched away back in her world. This feels like a second chance even if there are ways that Dean in this world isn't like Dean in her world.
She nods. "I grew up in Wisconsin so snow reminds me a little of home. Though, we're rarely snowed in there."
Mary can't begin to imagine Carmen's situation. Two Dean. It's almost as crazy as learning angels are real and she lives with one in a bunker. In time she might come to realize Carmen and her have something in common there too. Their men aren't entirely the same (only for different reasons). Carmen offering a little bit of her history allows Mary to smile warmly. "It doesn't happen often in Kansas either. At least in my experience being snowed in only lasts a few days."
Two Deans that are very different and yet so much the same. Her Dean had grown up with a mother and a father. Sure, he'd gotten into trouble when he was young, but he hadn't had the commitment issues that this Dean has. The smile relaxes Carmen a little. Mary is different from the woman she knew in Lawrence, Kansas, but like Dean, she's also very much the same.
"I don't mind. It's nice. Having this much family around. I grew up with three older brothers so I've kind of always lived in a frat house," she joke. "I would have been more prepared if I'd known though. The weather forecasts here are a little scarce." As in non-existent.
It's nice that Carmen can compartmentalize them like that. Of course she
can't be the Mary Carmen knew from home but she would like to be a friend
anyway.
"Then you know what to expect. I grew up with an older brother and my
cousins were around often but Winchester men are something else." She
chuckles. "I wish we could be prepared all the time. Though, I do not
mind." She turns on the machine and head tilts for Carmen to follow her to
room 15. "Try these on." She hands her a purple flannel shirt and regular
jeans.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
closed to John
Date: 2019-11-26 03:52 am (UTC)Mary looks at it as if it's an opportunity. There's no one in the bunker that would argue that Sam needs to stay now that the chance has opened up. It's John that makes it the question of how they're going to do that. Her husband needs to be on board with whatever the solution. While everybody else puts their heads together on what to do with the extended evening, she pulls him aside. "You should talk to Sam." The think about what to talk about is why she's talking to him.
Re: closed to John
Date: 2019-11-27 01:19 am (UTC)Of course, Mary would look at it as if it's an opportunity. She's the optimist to John's pessimist. Even John wouldn't argue that Sam needs to stay. He wants the boy to quit being so stupid and trusting, not to freeze to death. John knows something is up when Mary pulls him aside and he's smart enough to suspect that she's got something to say about Sam staying there. He thinks it's going to be something about behaving himself and he's ready to defend himself when Mary speaks. His brow furrows and he gives Mary a slightly puzzled look. "What do you want me to talk to the kid about? I've said everything I can to him for months now. He won't listen."
Sorry, Mary. You married a stubborn ass.
no subject
Date: 2019-11-27 04:49 am (UTC)Of course it is about behaving himself too. Mary thinks John is old enough and, in fact, bright enough to piece it together on his own. The problem isn't that. It's the months of neither of them moving to meet in the middle. Somehow she wants both of them to be able to reach the middle. She knows John's grouchiness this evening is not meant to be harsh and reaches for his hand. "I would like you to convince Sam to stay with us, and for you to somehow worry about the rest later."
If nothing else, it's an encouragement for him to try. She wouldn't have married him if he were anything other than stubborn.
no subject
Date: 2019-11-28 02:45 am (UTC)He is both of those things. Being a stubborn ass gets in the way of both his maturity and his intelligence. Sam and John have never been good at meeting in the middle. They're far too much alike for that. John softens when Mary reaches for his hand, sighs a little and squeezes her hand almost as an agreement. He's quiet a moment then speaks with weariness in his voice. "Mary...this can't be what's best for him." There's a touch of doubt in his voice though because at dinner (and every other time they've seen them) in those moments that Sam and Ruby weren't thinking too much about everything, when they weren't awkward, they were happy; Ruby makes Sam happy, and even John can see that. He's just having a hard time accepting it.
no subject
Date: 2019-11-28 05:11 am (UTC)Being stubborn is also why they continued to date even after he met her father. The irony that years later he would be acting the same way as Samuel is not lost on her. However, she would never say that aloud as his reason may be more valid. It goes without saying she isn't sure her son dating a demon is the right thing for him either but she can't deny the value of seeing the two love birds act happy at dinner again. Her attention goes to the hand which squeezes hers then to John's eyes with understanding. His silence communicates how wary he is before his own voice does and his concern spreads to her yet she still can't shake her own stance. "I know, John. It can't be good for him not be home." Her fingers finally squeeze his to let him know she's feeling the same.
no subject
Date: 2019-11-29 10:59 pm (UTC)Yeah, it hasn't occurred to John that he's acting like Mary's father. He's grateful that Mary picks up on all his silent cues and that she understands his feelings. Initially, her suggestion gets a hard no mentally from him. However, when she squeezes his hand, he sighs. "I worry, Mary. I don't want to lose you again and having a demon in the house..." He doesn't want to lose Sam, but he doesn't want to put Mary into danger because of Sam's decisions. "I'll put a devil's trap under the rug in our doorway and you'll be careful," John says. It's a question of her, but also a bit of a compromise. He's giving in with a few conditions.
no subject
Date: 2019-11-30 03:34 am (UTC)For the sake of their relationship, she will never make the comparison either. It is not something she likes to admit to herself. Of course he's the same old John and she picks up his silent cues the same way as before. There's one tell for when John Winchester has hit a mental wall and it's the artery that becomes visible at his temple. Mary can see no other response than to keep her hold in his hand and wait. His concern becomes clearer when he lays it out like that. Sam only had some part to do with it then.
Her smiles half spreads to her cheeks, touched by the concern for her. But there is one thing he forgets. "You forget we're a team. It's not only you that worries." She squeezes his hand once more to reassure him and to not let him forget too soon. Maybe she isn't staying how it pains her to be reminded of how she was caught off guard by Azazel and killed, but that's a problem neither here nor there. Sam isn't one she can bare to lose either. "Okay, but then you talk to Sam," Mary reminds him of his part. She's on board with the compromise on her end.
no subject
Date: 2019-11-30 05:04 am (UTC)He does forget that. He takes a deep breath, holds it a moment then exhales. He doesn't like reminding her (or himself) of her death but clearly she needed to know that he was worried about her safety. Sam, Ruby and what to do about them had been the topic of many of he and Mary's private conversations. He's also talked to Dean a great deal about it. John doesn't have to ask Mary if she's certain about letting Sam and Ruby move back in. He knows that she's thought about this enough to be certain. She wouldn't tell him this if she weren't certain. Of course, when Mary says he has to be the one to talk to Sam, she gets a you're kidding...but really look. He starts to argue, to point out that the chances of he and Sam being able to talk without fighting were slim; however, he also knows that Mary has figured out the likelihood of Sam and John being able to have a conversation that doesn't end in a fight. He closes his eyes a minute then sighs and gives Mary an Okay, but only for you look before he takes a couple of steps backward away from her then turns and heads over toward Sam and Ruby.
"Hey, Sam. Can I talk to you a minute?" John says as he approaches.
Ruby's alarms go off the minute John starts toward them. She stops talking to Sam in the middle of a sentence and braces herself. Her interactions with John haven't been great. She looks up to Sam and squeezes his arm a second before she steps behind Sam a little and starts to give Sam and John a little space.
no subject
Date: 2019-12-01 03:42 am (UTC)It's her job to remind him as many times as he needs her to. Though from here on out he should remember they're a team. He isn't alone with this. It's not hard to forgive him for reminding her when the point is to make sure she remembers about her own safety. Perhaps at not the most appropriate time, it tickles her just to be cared for by him. She holds her gaze on him, aware that his facial expressions will give away some of thoughts. Her first guess is that he's thinking back to their conversations. What to do about them had more or less been agreed upon after a few sleepless nights. IE If Ruby was found to be lying about her intentions, the only choice would be to kill her. Maybe Mary was the only one that thought Sam and Ruby should move back in, but yes, she is certain of that. Thought she did tell John she had to be certain they were good together not that long ago. Don't you do that John Winchester. When she reads that look in his face, her head tilts with a firm enough 'go compromise' look. Weather John intended it or not, she feel the subtle pang of a headache at the back of her head. Oh, she knows Sam and John are too much alike to have a conversation. She's seen it first hand. Of course, she can hope maybe this time will be different, if not move the conversation forward more to the point where a resolution can be found. She mouths thank you when he steps back and squeeze his fingers for good luck. Sam and Ruby of course are not far from one another when John grabs his attention.
Sam looks at John surprised. And that's just to start. He immediately has to guess this is about Ruby so a guarded, wary and protective feeling all rush over him too. However, John is still his father so the instinct to step back is nothing more than a thought at the back of his mind. He glances to Ruby as his next instinct is to reach out to hold her hand to present a united front, but the squeeze she gives his arm lets him know the idea isn't right for the moment. His hand drops so that she can give them space. She gets a small apologetic look before John has his complete attention.
"Only a minute?" Understandably, he is resistant to talk at all.
(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2019-12-15 01:49 am (UTC)Once dressed, he pads into the kitchen on sock feet to get the coffee started so that when Mary walks into the kitchen. Once that's started, he'll start gathering things to make the pancakes. Breakfast is one of the meals he's actually decent at cooking.
no subject
Date: 2019-12-15 04:34 pm (UTC)Once out of bed, she washes her face with cold water and gingerly applies a rejuvenating moisturizer under her eyes. It's a small part of her morning routine. A short time later, she'll walk into the kitchen and feel welcomed by the smell of roasted coffee beans and pancakes on the stove. Obviously, John makes the finest breakfast in her opinion, second to none, and it's the reason for her smile when she crosses the threshold to join him.
"Good Morning, John," she tells him as his own good morning never fell on deaf ears. She can only guess he wanted to do this for her when he went ahead so she won't step up to help till the clean up. Instead she pulls a chair up to the counter and takes a seat, front row view to him at work and the fresh smell of her favorite berry to pull her attention in more.
"You remembered the blueberries?" she asks and guesses at the same time.
no subject
Date: 2019-12-15 11:29 pm (UTC)She's gorgeous no matter what she does to her face and her appearance earns her a smile of his own.
"Sleeping Beauty awakes," he teases her. He definitely wanted to do this for her and he's glad that she takes a spectator role. Clean up is what the boys are for. He pours the batter into a heart shape (a bit lopsided) and gives her a look. "Of course I remembered the blueberries. You're not dealing with an amateur here."
no subject
Date: 2019-12-16 03:53 am (UTC)It's supposed to help her eyes remain youthful. Yet, he does make her feel gorgeous when he has a smile for her joining him.
It isn't as if she hasn't heard that one before, and her first instinct isn't to shake her head, but from John, the sentiment behind it is always charming. She feels every bit like a princess when romantic gestures and food are involved. "I see you weren't waiting long," she pokes fun with him. She watches him make the heart pancake and feels her heart beat right into her throat.
She meets his look with a wider smile, head at the slightest affectionate tilt. "Who am I dealing with then?" She remembers she once told John there were three sides of him that she loved - the man open about everything, the perfect husband, and the greatest father -- and she hopes he can recall as well.
no subject
Date: 2019-12-17 02:55 am (UTC)She is gorgeous so it's only right she should feel it.
"Nope. Just long enough to have some coffee and get things ready," he tells her. He doesn't mind the mornings alone while she sleeps. Food is the way to a Winchester's heart. John knows that.
"Professional husband," he tells her. "I don't know if you've heard or not, but I've retired from everything else," he jokes with her. Oh he remembers. All of his moments with Mary were and continue to be important.
no subject
Date: 2019-12-17 04:15 am (UTC)He's the only one that can make her feel gorgeous and the only one that is also the apple of her eye.
"Smells heavenly already," she tell him. In fact, the part she could admit to appreciating most is the simple and familiar ingredients in front. She can't say she is a fan of the chemical stuff that makes her tongue tingle. Simple is best.
Of the three choices, she expects him to go for the obvious. Professional husband is a fourth she doesn't expect but it wins a smiles so big it is in her eyes. She lets the revelation sink in for a second. "It's the first time I heard about it. You have any idea what you want to do with one side?," she inquires because his joke has merit. It feels like they're only just talking about this right now. She feels the same about putting the moments they have to good use.
no subject
Date: 2019-12-18 01:01 am (UTC)John has had far too much fast food and road food in his life. He prefers this as well. "I'm just getting started, Sweetheart," he tells her with that charming grin of his.
"I haven't been doing it professionally for a while," he tells her. That's the sort of smile he was aiming for when he said it. He frowns a little, thinking about her more serious question. "I'm still working on that. There's not a lot of mechanic work to be done here. Maybe I'll get back to doing things like fishing, camping, some gardening." His brows raise and he flips the pancake. "Got any suggestions?"
no subject
Date: 2019-12-28 05:45 am (UTC)There's something about John making breakfast that Mary prefers about this as well. Maybe it has to do with John not always having time with his work back at the garage. "Oh?" She won't assume he has something else in mind, but it sounds something like that. If he keeps it up, he could melt her like butter with that look.
It makes sense considering she wasn't around. Her smile slips, just briefly at what he admits, but softly returns because there's plenty for them here if they know what to do with it. "Do you want to go back to work? Or fish and camp again," she asks as it sounds like what he's getting at. Of course, she would like to help him get to the bottom of it too. She hums, finding it a little harder to give any suggestions for herself.
"I'd settle for a real Christmas next month too."
(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2019-12-18 01:43 am (UTC)Dinner was awkward at first (Dean had filled Carmen in on the drama with Ruby and Sam--she'd been curious exactly what a demon would look like, but she couldn't tell Ruby was anything except a woman), but things had gotten easier and dinner had become enjoyable. However, she hadn't been prepared to stay the night (she kind of figured that Dean would stay at her place that night after he'd taken her home). Getting snowed in had changed her plans.
She'd slept in one of Dean's tee shirts. She's short and Dean is tall and had they been around anyone other than his parents, she probably would have just worn that around the bunker. However, his parents are there, which means in the morning she puts Dean's robe on over the tee shirt she'd worn, ties it around the waist, and heads toward the laundry room to wash the outfit she'd worn for Thanksgiving (black leggings, knee high boots and a nice sweater). That's where she runs into Mary.
"I promise I don't normally run around in a bathrobe," she starts. "I didn't bring an overnight bag. I was kind of hoping to wash this stuff. Dean says it looks like we're going to be snowed in for at least another day and night."
no subject
Date: 2019-12-18 04:14 am (UTC)A plus would be the lack of drama around Carmen, as well. Dinner went as good as it could have. Sure there was interest in Sam and Ruby being so close to each other at the table, but the night didn't come to a close without some light on Carmen and vice versa.
Laundry is only a weekly thing Mary keeps up with, but the general assumption today is that they will be in for another day and that has her uneasy. Laundry is something useful to keep her mind off of it. Running into Carmen there presents an opportunity for a little one on one.
Her lips tug into an understanding smile. "Dean is right. It looks like another day at least," she assures her without bringing up the bathrobe. Maybe she could be considered old fashioned, but it doesn't bother her at all. "If I can suggest the simplest solution: we toss our things in together and I lend you a shirt and a pair of slacks... You look just about the same size as me."
no subject
Date: 2019-12-20 01:44 am (UTC)It will be nice, getting to know this version of Mary. Maybe Carmen will feel like she can get her feet under her here.
The bathrobe is preferable to running around in just a tee shirt. Carmen smiles a little at Mary's offer. "That would be great. Thank you. Do things like this happen often? Getting snowed in, I mean."
no subject
Date: 2020-01-01 03:29 am (UTC)It will make the two of them. Carmen shouldn't be more than a year younger than her either.
There is not a soul in the bunker who would not agree with that. Mary tilts her head, but does not have to think too far back. "You're welcome. It's the first time I've been around to see it happen, but you will have to ask Dean if it happens often." While they're talking, she'll get the detergent. Mary does not yet trust tide pod to have the same clean.
no subject
Date: 2020-01-03 01:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-01-11 03:14 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-01-13 02:23 am (UTC)"I don't mind. It's nice. Having this much family around. I grew up with three older brothers so I've kind of always lived in a frat house," she joke. "I would have been more prepared if I'd known though. The weather forecasts here are a little scarce." As in non-existent.
no subject
Date: 2020-05-08 01:17 am (UTC)It's nice that Carmen can compartmentalize them like that. Of course she can't be the Mary Carmen knew from home but she would like to be a friend anyway.
"Then you know what to expect. I grew up with an older brother and my cousins were around often but Winchester men are something else." She chuckles. "I wish we could be prepared all the time. Though, I do not mind." She turns on the machine and head tilts for Carmen to follow her to room 15. "Try these on." She hands her a purple flannel shirt and regular jeans.
(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From: