You are Now Entering Guilt City, USA...(OPEN)

[Sam Winchester]

Where has Sam been physically? All over the place. Where has Sam been mentally? All over the place. The last time he saw his brother, he was quitting hunting for the second time in his twenty-five years of life. The last time he spoke to his brother, he was telling him that he wanted back in. Dean said no. And Sam broke his phone after that. So, any calls Dean made to him went unanswered.

To be honest, Sam kind of liked the separation from the universe that he had helped destroy. He didn’t have to think about Lucifer and the end of the world every day. Sam didn’t have to carry the weight of the world. After Dean hung up on him, Sam had decided to start hunting alone. He went to the majority of states, excluding Hawaii and Alaska. He had even participated in a hunt for an Okami. That’s right. A Winchester actually got on a plane, went to Japan and hunted. Didja ever think you’d see the day?

But, Sam missed the scents of home. He missed seeing Dean every day. As annoying as his older brother was, he missed the guy. To go from seeing and talking to him all the time to no contact whatsoever was somewhat devastating. This was the same guy that had taught him how to do…everything from threading his shoe laces to threading a stitch. Plus, it was still so soon after losing Dean--the emotions were still raw and festering from that.

When it occurred to him, why not go to South Dakota--where he assumed he’d be and just pummel the big lug into forgiving him? It had seemed like such a good idea that he packed up the car and started driving. That was a few nights ago and he was in Florida. Now, he’s in South Dakota--mere miles from the house he had spent most of his formative years.

Is he scared? Of course, he’s scared shitless of Bobby and Dean both. Nothing more terrifying than having Dean and Bobby gunning for you. Except having Lucifer after you too. Oh wait, Sam has that looming over his head too. Sam is so lucky he can hardly stand it. He sleeps probably two to four hours a night lately because the nightmares of Lucifer are so strong. Standing over Dean’s dead and rotting corpse is still the worst case of the nightmares lately.

Sam drove past the “WELCOME TO SIOUX FALLS” sign, and smirked. Not too much longer now. Soon, he’ll be home to stay.

[Ruby]

She had no idea how or why she was back, two weeks ago she woke up in the middle of the rubble of what was the church where Lucifer had been raised. At first her hand went to her abdomen, checking to see if the knife wound was still there. It took her a few days to make her way out of the ruin that was left over after the devastation that the opening of the cage had left. Of course she knew that Sam was Lucifer’s vessel and that the Devil would not allow him to die. Of course as much as Ruby loved Sam she loathed Dean, it was boarder line hatred….okay so it was pretty much hatred, especially now since he’d been the one to stick her own knife in her and end her life, not to mention the other things that had happened previously, things he may not even remember or realize he had done. Well never the less Ruby still blamed Dean for every problem she’d had with Sam since the moment he’d come back to life and hated how he’d come between them so easily and made Sam doubt her intentions while she was fighting to try to keep him safe. Yes, true, she wasn’t telling him the entire truth, but she knew if she did tell him everything that she would have lost him and that was an outcome she was unable to live with.

She turned as she saw the lights from the oncoming car behind her, sure she had just passed the “WELCOME TO SIOUX FALLS” sign, sure Bobby’s wasn’t far away but she also wanted to get there quickly. Of course she was sure that if Sam wasn’t there that Bobby wouldn’t give her time to explain what had happened, okay she wasn’t sure Sam would either but she felt she knew him enough to predict that he’d at least give her a moment to blurt out an I’m sorry and let me explain. So she turned and put out her thumb and it wasn’t till the driver in the car came into view that she realized fate had other plans for her, she wouldn’t make it to Bobby’s before seeing Sam, he was driving the car.

[Sam Winchester]

Sam saw the thumb and for some reason, he stopped. That wasn't something he did every day. In fact, he often drove faster if he saw a hitchhiker. But, something told him that it was important that he stop. He pulled his Ford Explorer over to the side of the road, and didn't roll down the window. He just unlocked the door.

He saw no faces. He offered no explanations. Sam just hit the unlock button and waited in the warmth of his vehicle. It had been raining earlier in the day, and the weather was a little chillier than usual. Even by Sam's standards.

He had no idea of what was about to enter his car and reenter his life.

[Ruby]

Always one to seize opportunity when it presented itself Ruby was more than happy to put on a smile, wipe the rain from her face, and start to climb into the car, until her senses were flooded by a familiar scent. She froze right there, half in and out of the car and looked over at the driver, he was so damn close and fate had shoved them together so soon. Well honestly she hadn't time to think of even how to start to talk to him but it seemed that didn't mater anymore since he was sitting right there and looked to be caught unaware that the demon who had walked him right into letting the Devil out of his cage was so damn close, well she was sure he'd be in motion across that seat after her. Taking a step back out of the car she stood there a moment more just making note of what had changed. He looked like a wounded puppy and where was Dean? Honestly she expected her death to bring them back together so she felt somewhat okay letting him go, he'd be safe, Dean would never let Sam get hurt. Now though alone, no, she wouldn't stand that.

"Hi Sam."

Those two words, the best place to start really.