Title: Long Ride Home
Author: Aeryn Sun
Email: willowrose_98@yahoo.com
Feedback: Yes, please
Archiving: Ask, and ye shall receive. Just ask first.
Rating: G/ for fluffy goodness.
Spoilers: Any episode is fair game, I guess.
Series/Universe: None really, Strange Road I guess.
Summary: A song on the radio makes Sam think about the state of her life.
Couple: Sam/Brooke
Warning: If the idea of two women involved in a romantic relationship together disturbs you, run, run far far away and never look back. If it's illegal where you live, move quickly. Too young? Age quicker, it's fun here. Other than that, enter at your own risk, and enjoy.
Author's Notes: This was written for request as a birthday present. Carla, I hope it's what you wanted. Happy Birthday. :-)
Disclaimer: Shockingly, they are STILL NOT MINE! They belong to Ryan Murphy and like, Touchstone or someone like that. And the song, `Here Comes the Sun' belongs to George Harrison. Both are used without permission but with much thanks.
Sam checked her mirrors before changing lanes and deftly steered the car along the highway. It was early; barely 5 AM on Sunday morning so traffic was light making the drive somewhat peaceful. The steady hum of the engine had long ago lulled the cars other occupant, Brooke, into a deep if somewhat cramped sleep in the seat next to Sam. Sam would look over at her and smile every once in a while. The blonde looked so cute all wrapped around herself in the passenger seat in a position that seemed to defy body mechanics. Sam couldn't help but find her both adorable and breathtaking.
They were returning home from two weeks in Nevada, two very enjoyable weeks. They'd driven there, taking in the sights along the way. Sam swore that they must have stopped at every little tourist trap and watering hole along the way but Brooke insisted and Sam just couldn't say 'no' to her. They then stayed at a small hotel outside of Reno and took in the sights there. No home pressures and no family to worry about. It was just the two of them enjoying the other. It was something the two of them had needed. They'd had a blast together and neither wanted to return home. But, inevitably, reality and home life beckoned.
Sam stretched slightly and sighed, getting bored as she drove.
(Gonna need gas soon) she noticed.
Without Brooke to talk to, Sam realized she was getting tired. They'd stayed in Reno a few days longer than planned and had decided to drive straight home; taking turns driving and sleeping. Now as she yawned, Sam wondered if that was such a good idea.
She reached over and switched on the radio, keeping it low as to not disturb Brooke. She wasn't worried though. The former cheerleader had a habit of sleeping heavily and also sometimes slept with the radio on for white noise. When they first stared their relationship, it took a while for Sam to get used to that particular quirk. The radio helped Brooke to sleep but kept Sam awake. Eventually, she learned to ignore it though.
She hunted through the stations looking for something suitable, finally settling on an oldie station.
"This is Jumpin' Jukebox Jack bringing you those great oldies from the `50's, `60's, and `70's," the announcer chirped in that `wanna-be Casey Kasem' voice. Sam smirked and wondered who came up with DJ monikers.
"In the 5 o'clock hour, we'll be hearing from the Beach Boys, Grand Funk Railroad, the Eagles, Jan & Dean, and of course, Elvis!" Jumpin' Jukebox Jack informed his listeners.
"Of course," Sam snorted quietly. "What's an oldie's station without Elvis? Perish the thought."
"But first up, a classic tune from one of the greats himself. A member of the Fab Four who only recently left us. Here's `Here Comes the Sun' by the late, great George Harrison."
As the opening strains filled the car, Sam considered changing the station. She wasn't much of a Beatles fan, and by extension, not much of a George Harrison fan. But for whatever reason, she changed her mind and decided to listen to the song.
"Here comes the sun (du du du du)
Little darling
Here comes the sun (du du du du)
Here comes the sun
And I say
It's all right
It's been a long cold lonely winter
Little darling
It feels like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun
And I say
It's all right"
Sam frowned as she thought about that verse. She sometimes would try and apply the meanings of songs to her own life. Some fit, some didn't. She figured that made her something of a sentimental sap but she really didn't care. It was nice to see that other people at some point could relate in some way.
(It's weird. In a strange way, I do feel like winter's ending and spring is beginning for me, metaphorically speaking of course. It's almost like before I fell in love with Brooke and found out that she loved me back, I was in a deep hibernation, buried away under all this snow and ice and I couldn't get out. Brooke is my sun, appearing and melting away the cold and making me warm again. Either that or I'm terribly overtired and being mushy)
"Little darling
Here comes the sun
The smiles returning to the faces
Little darling
It seems like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun
And I say
It's all right"
And despite herself, Sam thought about that verse as well.
(Sometimes I feel like I never really smiled before Brooke. Or laughed. Or was truly alive before she loved me. My life was half lived in shadows and dark places before I felt what it was like to be loved so completely by someone like Brooke McQueen. God, I can still remember everything about the first time she told me that she loved me so clearly. The sights, sounds, scents. Like it only happened yesterday. I think I was reborn in that moment)
"Sun, sun, sun, here it comes."
(OK, that sounded incredibly cheesy. And I don't care. It's how I feel. She really does light up my entire world like the sun. I was living in darkness before. Brooke is my light)
"Sun, sun, sun, here it comes."
(Without her, I'd still be stumbling around, lost in my anger and confusion. I was so determined to be strong and independent that I didn't realize I was being cold and distant. She brought me back down and made me feel)
"Sun, sun, sun, here it comes."
(I love her more than I think she realizes)
"Sun, sun, sun, here it comes.
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes."
Sam smiled as ironically the first orange and red rays of daylight appeared in the sky. They streaked across the grey blue backdrop and cast their warm glow into the interior of the car, almost seeming to give the sleeping blonde a halo effect as she slept. It was one perfect moment in time for Sam.
"Little darling
Here comes the sun (du du du du)
I feel that ice is slowly melting
Little darling
It seems like years since it's been clear
Here comes the sun
And I say
It's all right"
(That's what she did for me. For so long my heart was cold and frozen. I was afraid to feel, afraid to let anyone close. I didn't want to get hurt like I'd been hurt before. But I left myself scared and lonely. And cold. But Brooke broke through all that, through all those walls I spent years building to protect myself. Her love melted the ice around my heart. No matter how hard I fought otherwise, she wouldn't give up. She loved me and she got through to me. Now I know what it's like to feel. For so long I thought I was incapable of feeling love. She made me see that I was afraid of it. I owe her so much)
Here comes the sun (du du du du)
Here comes the sun
It's all right
It's all right"
Sam pulled over to the shoulder of the road and switched off the radio as unexpected tears overwhelmed her.
"Damn you George Harrison," she whispered with mock bitterness. But she couldn't stop the sudden flow.
She never really realized until she felt Brooke's love for her how she wasn't really living. Moving, eating, breathing-yes-but not truly living. It was as if she lay dormant and Brooke was the spark that brought her to life.
"Sammy?" Brooke's groggy voice broke into Sam's thoughts. "Have we stopped?" she asked while unfolding her legs and stretching leisurely.
"Uhm…just for a sec," Sam responded, wiping her face to hide the evidence of her tears. Brooke blinked as she woke up and tried to bring Sam into focus.
"Sammy, are you crying?" she asked.
"I'm fine, Princess," Sam answered with a poorly hidden sniffle.
"Then why are you crying?" Sam shrugged.
"Just a song on the radio. Made me cry a little, that's all," she said vaguely.
"Must have been one heck of a song," Brooke commented with a small smile, reaching over to hold Sam's hand.
"You know, it really was," Sam said with a nod. "I love you, Brooke," she added with such emotion and conviction that it gave Brooke chills and brought tears to her own eyes.
"I love you too, Sam," she whispered as her voice caught in her throat. She leaned over and kissed Sam passionately, losing herself for a moment in Sam's love and letting it wrap around her like a warm cocoon. They sat quietly for a few minutes after, simply content in the others presence.
"We should probably get back on the road," Sam said sometime later.
"Probably," Brooke agreed. "Want me to drive?"
"Nah," Sam shook her head. "I'm OK now."
"OK," Brooke said looking out the window. She noticed the sun peeking through some early morning clouds.
"Here comes the sun," she said absently. Sam started the car and grinned as she pulled back onto the highway.
"And I say, it's all right."
The End