InsaneJournal

Who: Leon and Sam, with NPCs Chris and Jesse
What: Leon and Sam bump into one another and let the kids play
When: Today, July 22nd
Where: A coffee shop
Rating/Warning: Low/none
Status: Complete | Partner Thread


Sam wasn’t really one for going to the gym, and instead ran to stay in shape. He occasionally entered in marathons to push himself, but for now he was just out for a casual jog. He had nowhere to be, no predetermined destination or time line. He was just out for the exercise and the fresh air, taking advantage of the fact he wasn’t cooped up in a courtroom.

He eventually made his way to a coffee shop. Not for coffee, he only drank that when he had a case, and needed to focus. He ordered a refreshing drink that cost way too much for what it was, but whatever. He needed the hydration. And he was meeting his ex, so he could take Jesse for the weekend. They tended to meet in neutral territory whenever possible.

He headed outside, looking for a table to sit down and enjoy his drink for a bit before Jesse got there.

Leon enjoyed his afternoons with his brother. Most of the time when he spent time with him these days, it was either at D’s shop or at D’s apartment. Actually getting to spend some one-on-one time with his brother was rare these days. Even though he was eighteen years older than Chris, old enough to be mistaken for his father (which happened, often), he genuinely enjoyed spending time with his kid brother.

Chris was eating a muffin, his expression almost pleading.

“I’m telling you Chris, ghosts are out of my jurisdiction. I’m not going to try to arrest some ghost. It probably wasn’t even a ghost in the first place. They don’t exist.” At least, they didn’t exist so long as the county wasn’t having one of its phases.

Chris glanced away, and Leon sighed. “Yeah, sure, just make sure to wash your hands after,” he said, and Chris hopped down from his chair, and without looking where he was going, he ran right into Sam.

He looked up, eyes a little wide, and quickly signed Sorry, the first bit of sign language he had used the entire conversation so far, and Leon sighed heavily. “He says sorry,” Leon said, figuring it was unlikely the man knew sign language. “No harm done?”

Sam knew very little sign. A few random gestures, mostly greetings and pleasantries. ‘Sorry’ was actually one that he knew. He had learned a few basics in his work in the courts, but not enough to really respond, except to give a generic ‘ok’ gesture.

“It’s fine.” he said. His drink had a lid, so there was no spill. “No harm done,” he added with a nod. He watched Chris head off, but turned his focus back to Leon. “Kids, right? My boy’s a little younger but just as bull in a china shop when he’s on a mission.”

“I don’t know how he isn’t always hurting himself,” Leon grumbled good naturedly, rolling his eyes in mock exasperation. Truth was, Chris was a little clumsy and almost always wound up crying when he scraped his knees. At this rate, he’d be a terrible police officer.

He paused, peering at the man in front of him, his eyes narrowing a little. “I know you,” he said. “You’re that lawyer on the Network, aren’t you?”

“I know what you mean,” Jesse was a bit clumsy too. He was constantly bumping into things and falling down. That was just how kids were, he supposed. As long as there were only bruises and no broken bones, he wouldn’t be too worried.

He nodded at the question. “Guilty as charged,” he said. “Sam Winchester,” he added, offering his hand. He remembered the network conversation. “That conversation with you actually inspired me to volunteer at a local shelter.”

“Leon Orcot,” Leon said, standing up to take Sam’s hand. He wasn’t sure how he felt about a conversation with him inspiring someone to volunteer. Flattered, mostly, but also it reminded him that he never did any volunteering. Between Chris and work, he didn’t really have the time, but he was uncomfortably aware that he could probably make the time if he tried.

“You looking for somewhere to sit? We’ve got some space here if you wanna pull up a chair.”

Sam nodded. “If you don’t mind. I’m waiting for my ex to bring Jesse, since it’s my weekend to have him, so. He’ll be joining us too, if that’s all right?” He figured he should mention that because a five year old could be a deal breaker. Jesse was a fairly well behaved child, but he was a child.

“Not at all. Chris’d probably be happy to have another kid around anyway.” Sure, Chris was a few years older than five, but he still seemed to feel more comfortable around kids, even those younger than him, than he did with older kids or adults. “Shared custody, huh?”

Sam nodded. “Yeah. I work long hours, so it wouldn’t be fair for him to be with me during the work week. He’d spend most of the time with a nanny. I don’t want that for my kid. Luckily his mom and I are friends. Or at least friendly, and it’s more than just for his sake. We just didn’t work as a couple.”

If he was going to say more on the subject, he was cut off by Jesse’s arrival. His mom pulled up to the curb, leaned over to kiss him, then Jesse got out of the car with his back pack, and after slinging it on his shoulder made a bee line for Sam.

“Hey kiddo.” Sam caught Jesse in his arms. He lifted a hand to wave to his ex, and nodded as she pulled off, leaving Jesse with him. “This is my friend Leon.” At least Sam hoped they were friends. It seemed like they were on the path toward friendship.

"Hey Jesse," Leon said, offering the kid a hand. "It's nice to meet you."

It was at that moment when Chris came back from the bathroom, and he hesitated when he saw the newcomers sitting at his table. Leon smiled at his brother and waved him over, resting a comforting hand on the boys shoulder when he came to stand near him.

"This is Chris," Leon said by way of introduction. "This is Jesse and his dad, Sam. I met Sam on the Network a bit ago," he said to Chris, and Chris looked at Sam, a little curious, before giving Jesse a bit of a wave.

Jesse wasn’t shy, though he could be a little reserved. He stayed close to Sam, but waved in response to Chris waving at him. “I’m five,” he announced even though no one had asked him how old he was.

“Five going on sixteen,” Sam said half under his breath.

I'm eight, Chris signed, and then held up eight fingers.

Leon's lips twitched a little at Sam's comment. "Ah, already bringing home the girls and sneaking into your liquor cabinet, huh?" He teased. "They grow up so fast.".

“Oh man. So not looking forward to that day,” Sam said. Jesse thankfully didn’t really understand what the conversation was about. He was focused on Chris anyway. He didn’t understand why he didn’t just say he was eiht instead of using fingers, but he wasn’t overly concerned about it either.

He slipped his backpack off his shoulders and opened it, pulling out a couple of action figures. “Do you want to pay with them?” he asked, laying them out on the tabe. There were three total.

“It’s still a ways off,” Leon assured him, a bit of a laugh in his voice. If Chris ever got there, Leon would probably be more relieved than anything. At least it would be a little bit of a sign that his kid brother was making friends, even if Leon didn’t exactly condone underage drinking.

Chris started to nod eagerly, and then bit his lip, looking to Leon with a concerned expression on his face. Leon nodded encouragingly, and Chris turned his attention back to the toys. After a brief hesitation, he grabbed the middle action figure, and then turned to Jesse with a questioning look, as if asking if picking the toy was okay or if Jesse would rather him pick a different one.

Jesse didn’t mind that Chris chose the one that he had. He grabbed one of the other ones, and slipped the third one back into his bag. Sam watched the boys for a moment before turning his focus back to Leon.

“It is a few years off at least.” He was grateful for that. Jesse took after his uncle Dean a bit more than Sam wanted to admit. He was still young enough that could change, but if he continued on that path, he was going to be a handful in a few short years.

“They seem to get along well enough,” he commented, watching the boys play.

Leon hadn't noticed the tension in his shoulders until it melted away as he watched his brother playing. Chris had a wide smile on his face, and it was nice to see him with that expression with a new friend.

"Yeah," Leon said, leaning back in his seat and turning his attention to Sam. "You've got a good kid there. Not a lot of kids want to play with him once they realize he doesn't talk."

“Jesse will do enough talking for the both of them. I’m sure he’s noticed, or will notice, but it won’t phase him.” At least Sam didn’t think so. Even if Jesse asked Chris why he didn’t talk, and got no response, he’d just let it go and continue playing. “Honestly, I think he’s just happy to have someone who isn’t a grown up to play with.”

“Hey, listen,” Leon said, shifting in his seat so he could pull his phone from his back pocket. “Why don’t we exchange numbers? That way we could let the boys play together every once in a while. I know Chris is a little older than your kid, but they seem to get along alright and I think it’s probably good for Chris to spend more time around other kids.”

Other than Amycus’ girls, Chris didn’t have a lot of friends his own age, and Leon thought it probably wasn’t great for him to spend all his time outside of school with D and Leon.

“Sounds good to me.” Sam also got out his phone. He rattled off his number for Leon, and
Set Leon’s number into his contacts. “I have him with me every other weekend, and every other holiday.” Which wasn’t nearly enough, but it worked with Sam’s work schedule.

The boys did seem to get along. Jesse was chattering up a storm, with no expectation that Chris would join in. He was perfectly fine with that as they played with the toys.

Leon watched the boys for just a moment longer before turning his attention to Sam, chatting amiably with him for a while longer while he finished his coffee, and then he glanced at his watch. “I should probably get going,” he said. “But listen, it was nice talking to you in person. You’re not so bad for a defense lawyer, you know,” he added in a teasing tone.

“You know somebody’s got to do it. Might as well be me.” Sam gave Leon a little smile. He loved his work, most days. It was stressful, and more so when he was stuck defending someone he knew was guilty, but he absolutely believed in the system.

“I’m sure we’ll get together again soon so the boys can play.” Sam finished off his drink as well, so it was a good time to head out. “Pack up, Jess. Time to go, buddy.” Sam pushed Jesse’s backpack over to him to put the toys away.