Sam and Alison after the HeliX formal

[x-cannonball.livejournal.com]

Sam's sitting on the dock after the HeliX formal thinking and trying to come to terms with the fact that he was immensely jealous about Haroun taking Alison to it. (Another log in progress) Alison is still keyed up from the formal and happens upon the "down-home hot" and sits and talks to him for a while. After a bit, Alison gets antsy and heads off.

Sam swung his legs as he sat on the end of the pier and deftly sent
another stone skimming across the surface of the lake. He figured as
long as he didn't make too much noise, Mr. Marko wasn't very likely to
come be cranky at him. Not that Sam was in a much better mood
himself. Looking back, maybe he should have just begged off of the
formal, found some lame excuse not to go. Because watching Haroun and
Alison dance most of the evening...well, it had made him jealous, and
he still wasn't quite sure why. It wasn't like he had any claim on Al
anymore...

Alison was walking down one of the jogging paths, a halo of light
surrounding her, shining only enough to light her way. She'd been
unable to just go to bed, the dancing still fresh in her memory and
the music still curling in the back of her mind and humming under her
skin. The evening had been fun, more fun than she recalled having in a
long time – carefree and easy, without a worry in the world. And it
had been, she was honest with herself, nice to be a man's center of
attention for an evening. No saving the world, no image inducers, no
hiding, no looking for danger around the corner. Just plain old fun.

Blowing a shank of hair out of his face, Sam leaned back on his hands
and stared out over the lake, watching the stars as well as their
reflection on the water's surface. It seemed like no matter what he
did, he kept thinking about Al. Even now, he couldn't help
remembering nights stargazing with her...

The jogging path lead her out to the lake, and Alison blinked once,
looking up automatically as she paused right at the tree line. It had
been ages since she'd walked down here – of course it would happen
while she wasn't thinking of where she was going, just enjoying the
night sky. Looking down at her feet she took a few more steps forward,
concentrating on each one, moving her right foot to the side
meticulously at the last moment to avoid a dried branch on the ground.
Looking up however, drew an involuntary whisper from her. "Sam?" What
was he doing here?

Sam was too lost in his own thoughts to hear the quiet whisper, and so
he was oblivious to his silent observer. He continued to stare up at
the stars, occasionally tossing another pebble into the lake.

Tilting her head to the side, Alison looked at him for a moment. He
was still wearing his tuxedo, rumpled from the lying down in the grass
or so she assumed – not that it diminished how good he looked in the
least. Down home hot. I hate you Lorna. Wrenching her mind away
from that thought, she took a few steps closer and then paused,
pointing one hand towards the pebble. A brief moment of concentration
and light flickered around the pebble he threw in the water, turning
it into a miniature comet until it disappeared underwater.

"What the...?" Sam exclaimed, startled Turning around, he saw
Alison, haloed by the light she was giving off. ~Looks like an
angel...~ he mused, trying not to stare too openly. "Hey, Al," he
said in what he hoped was a normal tone of voice. "What're ya doin'
out so late?"

"Couldn't sleep," she grinned, pleased with the light trick and making
a mental note to mention it to Haroun - the light trail she'd directed
at it had been barely visible, leaving only the pebble highlighted.
"So I figured I'd take a late night walk." Rollerblading after all
that dancing would have been just too much, although she figured later
in the week would be a good time to resume doing that. She walked a
few more steps, pausing to look down at him. Rumpled and yes, she was
definitely going to kill Lorna. "Couldn't sleep either?"

Sam had taken his bow tie and cummerbund off almost immediately upon
returning to the mansion, and he wasn't really sure why he hadn't
changed into more comfortable clothes before heading outdoors, but
he'd needed the comfort that being out under the open sky provided too
much. "Not really, no," he responded.

"Mmm," was the only sound she made, looking down to make sure the
ground was dry before simply letting her legs fold under her, sitting
Indian style next to him. "Don't think I've seen the mansion or the
grounds this quiet in ages." She blinked, grinning a bit sheepishly.
"Course, it's a bit late."

Sam chuckled and reached a hand up to ruffle Alison's hair playfully.
"And the big party-mad rock star in ya's just gettin' started, ain't
she?" he asked, pretty sure of the answer after the time he had dated
her. That was Al for you, party till the break of dawn and beyond.
Sometimes it was hard to keep up, but Sam had always enjoyed watching
her having fun, dancing like she didn't have a care in the world.

She smiled at him sheepishly, resisting the old urge to lean into the
touch. No more of that. And she knew herself well enough to know why
the reflex was still there, even if they hadn't really spoken all that
much since the break-up. She liked being touched, even if it was just
a casual hug between friends, after all. Had it really been that long?

"It's been a while," was all she said, a bit wistfully. "Not that I
regret anything - settling Miles in had all my attention, after all,"
she specified, wanting to make things clear. Very clear. Crystal clear
even.

As Sam drew his hand back, he resisted the urge to stare at it and try
to figure out where the impulse to touch Alison had come from. In
that direction lay blurting out things that might be better left
unsaid, from the way she was talking. It was hard to guess, hard to
figure out the right thing to say. "Ah wouldn't expect anythin' less
of ya, Al," he replied. "Miles is a good kid, and he's lucky to have
a momma like you."

She nodded, only a touch tensely - being told she was a good
mother still echoed into less pleasant things for her and made her
wonder if she had any right to be doing this, every now and then. But
she thought she was doing well and Miles seemed happy and
content. Even though it was mostly something they kept for themselves
still, when he called her 'mama' out loud. Ever since Asgard.

"I try," was all she could manage to say, trying not to shrug too
awkwardly. "We're teaching each other a lot." Which was entirely true
and a safe thing to say.

That touch of tension probably would have escaped the notice of anyone
who didn't know Alison so well. "Aw, hell, Al, Ah didn't mean to make
you...all Ah meant was, it's plain to me he thinks the world of ya."
Sam shrugged his shoulders. ~Way to put your size ten in it,
Guthrie,~ he thought to himself.

"It's okay!" she said quickly, shaking her head a bit. "Really. You
know, I still just wonder sometimes. If I should even be doing that,"
she paused for a fraction of a second, steering herself firmly away
from what she had been about to delve into. "But we're doing okay.
Wouldn't let anything happen to him. Ever." The depth of that
conviction and what lengths she might go to in the process still
scared her, however.

Feeling ansty with the discussion, Alison rose to her feet, shaking
her arms a bit while trying to not actually twitch. "Gah. I can't stay
in one place. Why don't I leave you the peace and quiet and I'll go
run a bit?" She offered him a somewhat apologetic smile and backed up
a few steps. "Good night." And with that she turned, walking towards
the footpath, breaking into a job once she hit the treeline.