Coincidences are Lies (Zee/Adam/Sam)

[Sam Winchester]

[sam]Because he didn’t really want to freak Adam out, he’d called Castiel some point after they’d crossed out of Florida and into Georgia on the I-75. He hadn’t really put any real thought into where he was going; he’d simply found the most direct route out of the state and taken it. Night had come and Adam was asleep by the time he thought to call the angel. Sam didn’t linger, simply got an idea of where his next destination was and politely let Cas get back to whatever he was doing. Settling in for a long drive, he only made pit stops for food and whenever one of them needed to relieve themselves.

It was odd, he mused at one point, to be the ‘big’ brother sitting in the driver’s seat while Adam drifted in and out of conscious beside him. He actually reached Des Moines, Iowa faster than he thought he would. Part of that was, obviously, due to the fact that he’d been speeding most of the way, but the larger chunk of it was that he hadn’t slept for most of the trip. Whenever Adam asked, he pulled into whatever fast food place was closest and got some coffee, murmuring something about not needing as much sleep. He hadn’t gotten into the whole soulless thing with his brother, but eventually, when he did explain that bit, he could fall back on that as some sort of excuse as he had with Dean in the first few months.

He got them a dinky little hotel room, collapsed on one of the beds at random and slept for a fitful four hours before he was up and working out where Zee would go. It turned out, she had apparently had the same need for sleep he had, because stepping out of his motel room revealed her car parked not fifty feet away. It took Sam about thirty minutes to deduce which door was hers and then he returned to Adam with breakfast.

Around noon, he and Adam headed over to the door he’d pinpointed as Zee’s and knocked politely. Coincidences, Sam no longer entirely believed in them and it bothered him to no end that he and the girl he’d been searching for had literally chosen the same motel to get a night’s rest. Unless she was on another hunt he’d stumbled across.[/sam]

[Zee Kerrick]

[zee]She'd done it. God help her, she'd called her parents. And it had been at least as bad as she'd been expecting, tears and demands and threats to send the cops after her, her mother asking why over and over again and her father explaining in a too-controlled gruff tone that they'd all thought she was dead, that she'd been murdered by her Geometry teacher.

And now here she was heading toward Couer d'Alene, albeit at no great pace, dawdling her way toward the confrontation that she wanted least in all the world.

Or rather, she immediately revised as she peeked out through the fish-eye in the motel room door and saw Sam Winchester standing there, the confrontation that she wanted second least in all the world.

The temptation was there to pretend she wasn't home or something, but the Challenger was right outside, he wasn't an idiot. After that came the temptation to go change clothes, but she shoved that down too and as punishment for even wanting it she refused to let herself check the mirror.

Instead she picked up a gun but opened the door and let Sam inside. She was all but glaring at him already, defensive because though at fifteen weeks Zee hadn't even begun to develop the baby belly she'd have at some point in this process, she was build short and small enough that the bulge under the cut-down Marley tee she was wearing over her jeans really couldn't be anything but what it was.

She gave Sam a hard look. "So. Someone tattled? Or did you guess?"[/zee]

[Sam Winchester]

[sam]Sam’s eyes widened and he, at first, literally didn’t know what to say. All sorts of thoughts raced through his mind, one of which was: ’Who’s the father?’ And yet, most of those thoughts never made it to his mouth, because he knew. Sam stared at her in open shock, gaze jumping from her face to her stomach¬ uncertainly. Slowly, he calmed himself and located his thoughts and his voice. “No one told. And I didn’t even…Why didn’t you tell me, Zee? Cas had to string me along in order to get me here, because I was so busy moping.”

He wasn’t angry, he was confused and overwhelmed. Mentally, he counted back to the last time he’d seen her, to the time they’d slept together. “About sixteen weeks? Or less.” Sam redid the math a couple of times, trying to wrap his mind around all of the facts. “Were you ever going to tell me?” Again, no real anger, but there was an obvious desire to know more and see if she would let him wiggle into her life. He had never had anything happy that he could keep and he was half-afraid that if he touched her, she’d spontaneously combust in front of him. The awe and hurt and amazement was all rolled into one; and it wasn't until it was presented to him that he realized that he'd always wanted this, even though he'd long ago accepted that he could never have it.[/sam]

[Zee Kerrick]

[zee]That actually seemed to break through her protective armor of irritation. "Of course I was going to tell you! I just...it's complicated. I had to decide some stuff first," the closest she could come to admitting that she'd spent a month trying to nerve herself up to an abortion, "and there's other stuff. Health stuff, and...and Castiel sent you? That bastard."

The angel had appeared to Zee a time or two, and he'd had definite ideas about what she was supposed to do with and about this pregnancy. She'd told him to go to hell, but as might be expected she'd also found herself thinking over what he'd said. A lot.[/zee]

[Sam Winchester]

[sam]“Health stuff? Yes, Cas sent me and I’m glad he did.” Happy, he was happy; and terrified. A child, into his world? “Do you think it would have been better if I hadn’t known?” He was serious now, contemplating the dangers he’d brought to her doorstep simply by showing up. The dangers that could now be present if anything realized that the child she was carrying was his. The angels had known, he realized, that was why Cas had sent him. It was probably only a matter of time before the demons figured it out, but could he have given her more time by staying away?

Shaking his head in an attempt to clear it, Sam focused on the here and now. “Okay. What health stuff? I’m sticking around, by the way. I’ve got Adam with me, you’ll like him.” There was no way in hell he could just leave after this. The reunion with Dean that Castiel had suggested was going to have to wait until Sam had everything figured out on his end.[/sam]

[Zee Kerrick]

[zee]"Who's Adam?" It popped out of her without thinking, but it wasn't a story she'd heard. Zee had known the Winchester brothers for years, but it wasn't like they'd told her their deepest pains and glories, or vice versa. She and Paul had worked with them on a couple of hunts, they'd once ended up recovering at Moran's place at the same time, but they weren't exactly BFFs. And this line of thought was severely depressing her all of a sudden, though not as badly as it would if she'd realized that there had been another person standing right behind Sam in the hallway and she hadn't even notice in her rushed need to get Sam inside before she could chicken out.

But she also moved over the top of the thing about this unknown Adam guy, dealing with the issue that had been totally consuming her life for the past two months, instead. "I've got a heart condition. Tetrology of Fallot," she hooked a finger under the top of her chopped-up t-shirt, pulling down the front a few inches to show the deep sunken scar between her breasts. "It's not a big deal, most of the time, but Tet can be dangerous during pregnancy, especially in later months. So I've got to get my real medical records, the ones that talk about the surgery, and I probably have to find somewhere I can come off the road for the last trimester. Somewhere not too far from a decent heart center."

She took a deep breath, determined to get this out before she lost her grip on rationality and started either crying (God she hated to cry) or accusing Sam randomly of shit that wasn't his fault. "But I can't get my medical records until I go see my parents and get them to sign off for it. They won't release medical records to a minor without parental consent."[/zee]

[Sam Winchester]

[sam]Her question had him realizing that Adam had not come inside with him. Sam was about to return to the door and invite his brother to join them when she answered his question. However, the conclusion of the explanation had him freezing in place and the blood drained out of his face. "Zee...How old are you?"

A hundred horrible thoughts started racing through his head. But a part of his mind was already doing the math and he'd narrowed it down to a few ages that were possible but still not the best of circumstances. He had impregnated a minor. For a moment, Sam actually lost his grip on reality and there was Lucifer and Zee's head was missing. His vision swam and he desperately wished for a knife, instead he clenched his fists until his nails bit into his palms, forcing his head to clear. Grasping clumsily, he clung to the image of Zee, alive and whole, in front of him. This was real. He had to deal with it.

"It doesn't change anything. Your age, I mean. I want to be involved." Sam's jaw set stubbornly, but god he felt like he was setting himself up for failure. First, he dragged Adam out of Miami and across the country and now he was attaching the both of their crazy asses to Zee's party. But he was damned if he was going to let Adam lose his fragile grasp on reality and he would be doubly damned if he was going to let Zee face this pregnancy alone.[/sam]

[Zee Kerrick]

[zee]For the millionth time in the past two months Zee wished desperately for a cigarette. Instead, she stomped over to her cooler and pulled out a bottle of that fruit juice with veggie juice hidden in it. "Seventeen. I'll turn eighteen in February, but that's not till after the baby will be born."

A sip of the too-viscous juice, she wouldn't look at him. "You don't have to. Be involved, I mean. If you don't want to be. I'm not...you don't owe me anything. I'm not trying to trap you into anything. When I decided that I was keeping it I promised myself that I'd be willing to do it alone. Other women have, I can manage it too. I'll...I just, you don't have to do anything you don't want to do. I won't be that chick."[/zee]

[Sam Winchester]

[sam]Sam very nearly growled. What was it with people thinking he didn't want to do things when he offered? Of course, Adam and Zee were two very damaged people and it was probably easy for them to believe he was just doing things because he felt he had to. He wavered for a moment on dragging Adam inside the room, but decided his brother could wait a few more minutes. Slowly, so she wouldn't hit him, he pulled her in against his chest. "You are not trapping me. I do not feel trapped. I am not offering out of some sense of obligation. If I were, I'd let you know. I want to be involved. This may be the only good thing I ever get to have in my life. And, if it kills me again, I want to do it right. Will you let me into your life, Zee? I'm asking a lot here, because I'm not just asking for myself. I brought Adam with me."

While he spoke, he turned over her age in his head. "Does this make me a rapist? Because I'm really not sure how I feel about that." In a way, legally speaking, he would be considered as such. He'd been studying pre-law. However, Sam wasn't so sure he could guilt himself over the legality of the issue when he hadn't exactly been following most of those laws for years.[/sam]

[Zee Kerrick]

[zee]She was stiff, clumsy as he pulled her toward him, like she wasn't sure what to do with it. But she didn't fight him, just wasn't very good at accepting it. When they were finally standing pressed together she slid her arms around his waist and rested her forehead against his chest, and that was....nice. Very nice, even. Felt kind of natural, like it was maybe even where she belonged. But that thought was just way too mushy for her, she couldn't let it stand.

"I'll try." She was being so honest it hurt. "I'm not good at bringing people in. I'm terrible at it. I'll try. And I don't know this Adam guy but we can see if we get along or whatever."

Zee lifted her head to look at Sam. "And you're not a rapist, don't be retarded. I haven't been a child since I was thirteen. Jesus Christ, Sam, we've hunted a Wendigo together, do you really think I'm in any way not an adult?"[/zee]

[Sam Winchester]

[sam]"No, I don't think of you as a child; I never have. I was thinking in legal terms." In reality, she was no more a child than he had been at her age. "Also, on the topic of Adam. He's my brother. Here, sit down." He ran through a rushed explanation of who Adam was and why Sam had picked him up and then got up and opened the door. "Hey, Adam? It's safe to come in now." Taking one bony wrist, he pulled his brother into the room. "Adam, this is Zee Kerrick. Zee, this is Adam Milligan."

Eventually, he'd tell them each more stories about each other; like as not, they were going to learn about each other just by talking. For now, though, he took a moment to get Adam caught up on what was going on. And really, was it so bad that it was Zee? He liked Zee, had harbored attraction for her for some time, because she was just so gigantic in her ferocity. Until the night they'd been together, he'd never thought of acting on it. Mostly because they annoyed each other so much.[/sam]

[Zee Kerrick]

[zee]A wobbly laugh. "Like I even know the age of consent laws in...God, where were we? Louisiana, wasn't it? I think in Louisiana you can legally have sex with a fetus as long as they're no closer cosanguinity than first cousin." She was babbling and she knew it. At least she managed to shut up while he brought in his brother and introduced them.

Adam and Zee smiled uncomfortably at one another, after a moment of awkward silence Zee just blurted out. "So you're going to be my babyuncle."

A harsh laugh. "I guess so. And you're my brother's It's Complicated."

"Looks like it. And then you and I have an awkward friendship with all loyalties being strictly subjective because if Sam and I fight, which is inevitable, you have to side with him or be a douche."

Adam nodded. "Am I going to have to find excuses to take walks or pretend that I really want to go to the next-door motel room and lie on my bed reading with my headphones on cranked up really loud while you guys have sex?"

Zee glanced at Sam, then back to Adam. "Not sure. But odds are in favor."

"I need to get a better pair of headphones, then. Earbuds are shit at blocking out the world around me."

A slow grin. "I'll buy you a pair. Like a 'Welcome to the Incredibly Awkward Family' present."

Adam laughed again, it sounded rough and unpracticed. "Shouldn't I be getting you one of those? What do you want?"

"Maternity shoulder rig."

He nodded solemnly. "I'll look into it. They sell that in Skymall catalogs, don't they?"

She grinned at him, "If they don't, try those websites that cater to those Doomsday Prepper types."

"I'm on it."[/zee]

[Sam Winchester]

[sam]Sam watched the entire exchange, both pleased and amused. "Just to interject my opinions. From my point of view, you guys are going to become a force to reckon with and I'm already quaking in my boots. And," he focused on Zee, "you're going to want to get him a really nice pair of headphones." Because, if he was going to do this, he was going to commit all the way. Besides, selfish or not, he would rather try and know than remain awkward friends and wonder.

"Zee's the leader of our expedition for as long as that lasts, because Adam and I had no other direction than find you and now we're joining your party." Of course, he was consciously omitting Cas's hint to find Dean. Finding two people in less than a week was a lot to do and Sam was tired. Besides, he really wasn't sure he wanted to force Adam into that situation yet and he had to figure out how exactly things were with Zee before he started worrying about yet another person.

Slowly, Sam sank down to sit on Zee's bed, mind going a mile a minute. "Were you hunting anything here? Or were you just passing through?"[/sam]

[Zee Kerrick]

[zee]"Mmm," Zee sounded disproportionately pleased. "I love being on top."

Adam sighed. "Really good headphones, please." The truth was that in a weird way he felt more steady right this second than he had in his entire (current) life. Parft of it was because after two days with Sam he felt like he had his brother to ground himself on, which he'd desperately needed. But part of it was because of the chatter back and forth, the leading edge of the three of them developing a pattern of banter. It was nice to joke and snipe and not feel like every word and silence was weighted down with emotional import. He sucked at deep, at least these days he did, and meaningless sniping picked up a certain appeal at that point.

Zee laughed, feeling more that a little twitchy as they took their entire lives and upended them over the couse of a nine minute conversation, but she was trying to roll with it. "I hate to disappoint you, but I'm not on a hunt right now. I'm, uh, on my way to go see my parents. Who, if it weren't clear, don't know that I'm a hunter, don't know what a hunter is, don't know anything about the supernatural world and sure as hell don't know why I ran away from home at thirteen. Nor am I going to be telling them why. But I need my records, so I've got to go talk to them."[/zee]

[Sam Winchester]

[sam]Sam tried not to smirk at Zee and managed to successfully remain neutral. Now that the adrenaline fading, he was steadily running out of energy. "To your parents it is. We'll hang back if you want. I'm sure Adam and I can find something to do." He wasn't going to press in on what could potentially be an emotional meeting for her. And he was pretty sure he could find something to kill in the nearby vicinity while she was busy, give himself something to do. Or teach Adam some tricks. Either way.

"Remind me, I'm not taking any more directions from Cas for a while. I'm done for the foreseeable future." Because he'd done at least two thirds of the work. He could take a small break, learn how to live in the new dynamic before he took on any extra work. Hopefully this whole meeting up thing wasn't going to inspire the entire supernatural community to go batshit. "Zee, did you ever find that fae? Is anyone hungry? I can make a run."[/sam]