Who: Sam, Gretel, OPEN TO ANYONE AT THE TAVERN. What: decompress. Try to deal. + alcohol. When: After everyone wakes up in Novi Grad as themselves. Where: The Tavern. Warnings: trauma, language, tbd Status: ongoing.
Hearing from Gretel did a little to ease Sam's mind, but he wouldn't really believe the scenario was over until he could see her. Until she was in his arms and he was kissing her then he remained on high alert. He'd been satisfied that no one seemed to be hurt so far, though he was a little unnerved to hear that Dean hadn't exactly gotten out of the whole thing unscathed - he was okay now but apparently hadn't come off so well against the opera ghost. Still, Sam's main concern had been that everyone was physically alright, his mental wellbeing still affected by Gretels spell left him not even considering that some were finding this much harder to deal with than others. Something he didn't fully realise until he'd found Gretel at the library.
When he did there was a strange sense of de ja vu, of having been there with her before. The thought made him slightly uncomfortable but he couldn't quite put his finger on why. The feeling was quashed pretty quickly as their lips found each other moments after that first heart stopping glimpse, crashing against each other frantically, affirming reality for both of them. Breaking apart it was easy to see that she seemed physically fine, but when they began talking about their experiences it was clear to Sam that Gretel was far more shaken than she looked. Her usual calm and level headed demeanour was absent and in its place one filled with fear and uncertainty, unable to fully put into words how she felt. Sam's instincts flicked into overdrive then, a fierce need to protect her washing over him - removing all else from his thoughts.
As it became clear just how deeply she was affected, Sam felt like talking things over might do more harm than good. He suggested maybe now wasn't the time to dwell on it and instead maybe some company might do them both some good, and a change of venue would certainly make him feel a little easier about the whole thing. What better way to cope than with copious amounts of alcohol?
He kissed her again, softly and affectionately, before taking her hand gently in his and leading her out of the library, through the streets towards the tavern.