Safe Home [[Sam/Brandy]]

[Sam Merlotte]

The drive towards the duplexes that Sam owned was over fairly quickly. The entire journey his thoughts were on his new tenant, Brandy. A gorgeous, dark skinned, dark eyed woman who flirted with him mercilessly. He had to admit to himself he enjoyed it, it made him feel good. Who doesn't enjoy an ego boost like that?

The closer the truck got, he felt a little anxious. He hadn't told Brandy about the previous tenant, Dawn Green. A vivacious woman and a waitress at the bar, viciously murdered in the prime of her life because of her association with Vampires. Now Sam had no love for the undead, but to kill someone for it was unconscionable to him.
He'd definetly have to bring it up, at least be honest about that part.

At last the truck arrived on the long suburban street and he parked carefully and waited for Brandy to follow suit.

[Brandy Berry]

The drive over was filled with Brandy telling herself over and over to 'be a good girl, take a breath, be a good girl..' which had made the drive seem longer than it actually was.

It was nearing the duplexes that a weird feeling crept over her when she slowed the car down and put it in park. Sam had made it there first (well duh, she was following him) so she got out of her car and walked over to him.

The feeling was, soft - like a bothersome tickle on the back of her neck, so she decided to brush it off. Seeing Sam was enough to perk her up again and she stood just far back enough from the door for him to step out.

"So these are yours eh? They are nice and well kept up. I never really was a business person myself, but, it is nice to know someone who is"

[Sam Merlotte]

"So these are yours eh? They are nice and well kept up. I never really was a business person myself, but, it is nice to know someone who is" she said it in admiration, Sam beamed with pride. He didn't have much, but what he did have he earned.

"Yeah, all mine" he walked up towards the door and pulled out a keychain with a small tab hooked onto it. On it sat three seperate keys. Two seperate front door keys and a back door key. The tab had a name scrawled on it D. Green. Sam sighed but put the front door keys into there respective locks.

"You got everything you need?"

[Brandy Berry]

It was like a dreading feeling of doom as she followed close behind Sam. Her whole body was tingling the closer they got to that door. She was fighting her feet to keep walking, telling herself she was just being silly.

"You got everything you need?"

"Oh yes, in the car. I'll grab it soon, I wanted to check the place out first."

In truth, she wasn't sure why she left her stuff in the car. She chalked it up in her head that she just forgot about it. Yeah, that had to be it.

She watched as Sam turned the key, and the door opened. The moment that door swung open and the looming darkness inside seemed to reach out for her - Brandy turned as white as a ghost.

"Oh god..."

She felt it. She felt it, and it came crashing down on her all at once. Hatred, fear, evil - something evil had happened in that room and Brandy felt her hand coming toward her mouth.

"Oh god.. - - - - "

She moved away from Sam as much as possible, and preceded to get sick in the bushes. Not only overcome by embarrassment, but by her own confusement. That had never happened to her before.

Slowly she stood up and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand as she turned to look at Sam.

"I.. I can't stay in there Sam, I'm sorry. I just can't."

She went to her car, opening the back door so that she could rummage though her back seat and pull out some mouthwash to quickly rinse her mouth with. When that was done, she stayed by her car - but would not take a step closer to the door.

".. tell me I'm not crazy, Sam.. what happened in there? The anger... the energy.. I haven't felt anything like it"

[Sam Merlotte]

Sam turned the key in the lock and swung the door open, he could hear Brandy behind him muttering. The panic and distress in her voice growing more and more apparent. Hell, he sensed her fear on an instinctual level. Something about this place was giving Brandy real bad vibes. Only Sam knew exactly what those vibes would be.

Sam's thoughts were interupted by the distinct sound of someone heaving and vomiting. He spun round and saw Brandy hunched over the bushes that lined the modest front gardens. "Aw hell" he rushed over to her side, putting his arm around her waist.
"Sh*t" he felt sick himself, not from anything other than knowing he had to tell her the truth.

"I.. I can't stay in there Sam, I'm sorry. I just can't. tell me I'm not crazy, Sam.. what happened in there? The anger... the energy.. I haven't felt anything like it" her pained words stabbed at his heart.

He lowered his head, unable to look at her for a few moments. Before looking up to her, his face somber and a little bit guilty.
"There's something I should have told you before I brought you out here." he started, his voice soft "I didn't know...I just wanted you to have a roof over your head."

[Brandy Berry]

"There's something I should have told you before I brought you out here."

Brandy heard the guilt in his voice, she could see it in his eyes. She wanted to comfort him, but it wasn't what he needed right now. Plus, she couldn't hide that she was.. disappointed.. that he didn't tell her.

"I didn't know...I just wanted you to have a roof over your head."

A soft sigh had left her lips, and she only glanced at the door for a moment, then she looked back at Sam. He still hadn't told her what happened in the room, but she was leaning toward 'murder'.

"It's not your fault.. you didn't know, hell I didn't know - that I would have such a reaction to that place. I guess being a witch isn't all its cracked up to be. But you still - Sam, were you going to tell me at all?"

The disappointment in her voice, during that last sentence - it came out as clear as gold.

[Sam Merlotte]

Sam was feeling lower and lower by the minute, part of him wanted to find something small to shift into and get the hell outta there as fast as he could. But, no. He owed it to Brandy to tell her the truth. He looked into her eyes and wished he hadn't. He slowly moved from her eyes and walked over to the steps leading into the property.

Sam, were you going to tell me at all?" the words stung. Moreso because there was probably an element to truth in it. How do you tell someone the house you want them to live in had a murder take place in it about a year before?

He exhaled loudly, and draped his arms over his knees, clasping his hands together. "I don't know Brandy." he replied with complete honesty. "What happened here was tragic and brutal and I wish to God I had realised sooner what was going on so I could have prevented it. She didn't deserve what happened to her" Sam let it start to blurt out. His eyes were misty as he fought back tears. "I'm sorry Brandy." his head hung low again.

[Brandy Berry]

He was deep in thought, and he was feeling guilty - she could see it in his body language when he walked away toward the door. She stayed by her car, the fresh taste of mouthwash in her mouth was quickly becoming stale.

"I don't know Brandy."

He was opening up to her, and her expression softened. He couldn't see it, but already she was forcing herself to walk toward him. It had nothing to do with him, it was the place.

"What happened here was tragic and brutal and I wish to God I had realized sooner what was going on so I could have prevented it. She didn't deserve what happened to her"

He blamed himself? Oh god, no... no he couldn't do that. She could hear the sadness in his voice, but she wasn't as good at holding back tears as he was.

"I'm sorry Brandy."

Her slender hand was on his shoulder now, but she had stepped forward and without so much as another thought she had wrapped her arms around him from behind. With her body pressed warmly, and almost protectively against his back, she had lowered her head to rest her forehead against the nape of his neck.

"I refuse to let you feel guilty about this anymore. Let it go Sam. Just let the guilt go, it wasn't your fault back then and it isn't your fault now. D*mn, I'm getting the back of your shirt all wet."

She sniffled back the tears and slipped away from him, wiping the tears from her eyes with the back of her hand. Suddenly it occurred to her that she had.. been close to him.. without so much of his permission.

"There I go again, you think I would learn with all the times I scolded myself on the way here. Um.. I guess, I guess for tonight I can pull enough together for a hotel room. I think I have kept you tied up long enough eh? If I keep it up, I'm going to end up kissing you by the end of the night and then you wouldn't want to see me again! And then, with my luck, I would run into that girl again who would tease me all day and night about it. So uh.. yeah... is there a hotel close by?"

Rambling. Again. She hoped, at least, she was able to make him feel a bit better.

[Sam Merlotte]

Sam was deep in thought and absolutely racked with guilt. For his failure to protect an employee and for holding back the reason for the duplex to be unoccupied. So deep in thought was he that he didn't really hear what she said. Consumed with thoughts of what to do next he didn't sense her close proximity to him.

First a gentle hand on his shoulder. Then he felt two arms around him. It felt warm and kind and really good. She was gently sobbing, he was unsure why. Maybe just overwhelmed with everything she picked up from Dawn's old place he reckoned. She did seem awfully attune to things and sensitive. Part of her witchy nature to he concluded.

Sam positioned himself up a little straighter, trying not to slouch so much. It felt nice to have this moment, even if she was a virtual stranger. He reached up one of his hands and let it rest on hers. Brandy was letting her words take over again, talks of hotel rooms and imposing herself on him and of being unable to restrain herself from kissing him and embarassment.

As wrong as it may have been under the current circumstances he wouldn't have resisted her if she had attempted it. She was beautiful and attracted to him and as crude as it may be, he was a hot blooded man. He chastised himself for being so distracted. She needed his help more than anything.
"I could stay here with you." he blurted it out before realising the implications. "I'd crash on the sofa of course." he was glad she was behind him as his skin blanched ever so slightly.

[Brandy Berry]

"I could stay here with you."

She was surprised by his statement. Very surprised, had he had turned around he probably would of seen the expression on her face of just how surprised she was.

"I'd crash on the sofa of course."

She was silent for a moment, her eyes softened as she peeked over his shoulder to look into the room. She had some white candles in her car, it wouldn't be too much to clear the room for some of its negative energy.

"I... I would like that..."

It wasn't like anyone would find out, Brandy didn't know many people around town and she doubted that people kept 'tabs' on Sam anyway. And besides, he would be sleeping on the couch which meant she wouldn't have to be alone.

"Why don't you go pick up us some munchies from the store down the road? I will need a few minutes to.. cleanse the place. Get the negative out, for my own sanity or else I will be sleeping on that couch with you."

She laughed softly at her own joke. She just couldn't stop flirting with him, but it wasn't doing any harm if he was offering to make her stay a bit more comfortable by staying with her for the night.

"I have a couple bucks in my car, if you could pick me up some gummie bears and a pack of cards I'll challenge you to a couple of rounds of Texas' Style Poker. Does this place get HBO?"

Though, there were others way she could keep them entertained, laughing to herself she shook the thought away and was already heading to the car to grab her stuff.

[Sam Merlotte]

"I... I would like that..." Sam heard the words from just behind him. She wasn't uncertain but maybe a bit taken aback by his offer. Brandy seemed a little more positive, maybe even secure with his presence there. Sure he'd be on the sofa, but it was something. She asked him if he'd mind running an errand for her, while she performed well whatever it was she was gonna do to it.

"Sure" but he waved off the offer of money, "My treat. It's my fault you're having to do this. The least I can do is buy some snacks." he remembered that there wouldn't be any electricity on yet. "Just gimme a sec" and reluctantly he pulled away from her. She started chatting cheerily about games and television. He turned to face her as he stood inside the doorway. "No HBO I'm afraid, no cable installed. If you decided to stay on, you'd be more than welcome to set up anything you need. TV, phone, internet." he was sounding so much like a landlord it pained him.

"But the offer of cards sure sounds good. Maybe I'll buy some beer and chips instead?" he mused as he tinkered with the mains supply.
A blinking of lights later and he smiled.
"It's all yours. Now you sure you don't want me to stick around, just incase?" he offered, feeling very protective.

[Brandy Berry]

No HBO? Oh well, now she would have to stay in a hotel. She smiled at the thought, thinking she should of said it out loud to get another smile out of him. She just loved it when he smiled.

He talked about the extras as if he was already her landlord, and that only brought another smile to her face. How did she go so long in her life without knowing such a great guy? It didn't matter, she knew him now.

"But the offer of cards sure sounds good. Maybe I'll buy some beer and chips instead?"

"If your trying to get me drunk to take advantage of me Sam, you don't need alcohol for my permission"

She grinned cheekily, he was probably starting to get used to snappy comebacks by now. After all - he had left that wide open.

"But, if we are going that route, can you pick me up a four pack of some hard lemonade? I'm not really a beer person myself. And uh.. ketchup chips, they are for the win"

"It's all yours. Now you sure you don't want me to stick around, just in case?"

Brandy had looked at him, then back toward the room - which was now beaming with light but still looked (and felt) just as creepy.

"... I don't think you would be prepared for what is going to come out of that room Sam. Don't worry about me, I will be fine. I can handle this, and your handsome face would only distract me."

She had given him a knowing nod before she unlocked the back door, bending over to grab at all her supplies. Once satisfied she had everything she took a deep breath and stepped toward the duplex. With a thought, she stood in the door way and watched Sam leave for the store - catching him with a wave and watching him till he faded into the distance.

"Alright. You son of a b!tch, time to get your @ss outta dodge"

It was hard to push past the barrier, to take that first step into that duplex. She felt sick to her stomach, and the moment she pushed past that threshold the door had slammed shut behind her.

Armageddon, here we come.

The light, as if teasing her in all its simplicity, had flickered as a cold hush fell across the room. Brandy took in a deep breath, tempted to run but the thought of spending the night with Sam was just too tempting.

"That man is going to be the death of me.."

There was no deep voice warning her to not preceded further, it was more like a being, an energy that crawled underneath your skin like a thousand little ants. A left over... signature.

Quietly, she pulled out her white candle and lit it, its flame turning blue and flickered even more intensely than the lights were.

"Now you stop that right now, you know you don't belong here so consider this a favor."

The flame went out. Annoyed, Brandy lit it again as she mumbled underneath her breath about what a pain in the @ss this was and how scared $hitless this all made her.

She forced her feet to walk forward and toward the door, making her way around the room counter - clockwise.

"In the name of the Goddess and the God, I banish all negativity in
all time and in all space."

She kept chanting around the room, around every door opening, around every entrance way. But it wasn't strong enough, and annoyed she forced herself into the bedroom where the energy seemed the most negative of all.

"In the name of the Goddess and the God, I banish all negativity in
all time and in all space."

It was a rush. All the emotions and anger had flew over her and she was forced to stumble back and blow out the candle to prevent it catching flame before she landed on her @ss close to the foot of the bed.

"Alright, seriously now I'm just getting annoyed!"

Brandy reached into her pocket and grabbed the little baggie of blessed sea salt she had picked up at the supply store and stood up to her feet just as the lights went completely off and left her showered in darkness.

A dull roar had filled the room, and Brandy felt obliged to roll up the sleeves of her orange sleeves - only she had no sleeves to roll up. Bullocks. Things were about to get messy.


"By the elements of the air, water, fire, lightning, and earth. I, the witch Brandy, command that you leave this place at once! I release you from your earthy prison, to the other plain of existence to which you belong. I command you!

LEAVE NOW!"

She threw the salt into the air above the bed.

It sounded like a large explosion, and Brandy saw something that scared the $hit of her. You couldn't of seen it, had you of not been looking, but the black shadow was there and it was enough to chill your inner being right down to its very core.

It opened its mouth, preparing to swallow Brandy whole but at the last moment as quick as it came it was gone - and Brandy let out an exasperated sigh as the lights suddenly came back on.


"... I think I just made level 2"

She smiled contently and leaned over to brush the salt off the bed. The feeling of darkness was gone, and Brandy's signature was left instead of the evil which previously consumed the duplex.

That, and the faint smell of perfume. That was odd.

Content, Brandy picked up the candle and made her way to the couch - wondering how much longer Sam was going to be.

She missed him already, boy did she ever have it bad.

[Sam Merlotte]

Sam smiled and shook his head at her humourous flirting. She was relentless, but in a strange way he enjoyed it.
"Hard lemonade and ketchup chips, got it." he gave her a firm nod and made his way to his truck. "Be careful okay." he called back over as he climbed into the cab and slowly drove off. Checking his rearview mirror as the truck drove up the street.

Driving with purpose towards the Grab-It-Kwik, he parked the truck and disembarked. Striding in through the sliding glass doors. Sam grabbed a small basket and made his way through the aisle's. "chips...chips." he muttered to himself and grabbed a large bag of ketchup chips and cheese doritos. Just as he got to the drinks aisle, Bud Dearborne came out of nowhere.
"Oh hey there Sam." he smiled his jowly smile, "Having folks over?" he asked as he took note of the basketfull of chips.
Sam fidgeted uncomfortable by Bud's typically straightforward manner. "Uh yeah...something like that."

Bud raised an eyebrow at him, cynically. "Oh..that's nice. Anyone I know?"

"Uh no, I don't think so. New girl, moving into Dawn's old duplex." no point in lying to the Sheriff, Sam thought. "Just buying her in some supplies as there's no food there." okay so not totally truthful.

Bud nodded, "Well, be seein' ya Sam. Have a nice night." he waved and walked towards the checkout.
"You too Sherriff." Sam called after him politely and carried on to get the rest of the things. Some hard lemonade, as Brandy asked for and a 6 pack of Budweiser for himself. By the time he'd gotten the things and paid for them Bud was gone.

He looked up at the digital clock above the checkout and his mind wandered to Brandy. Hoping she was alright and that she was safe. He hated to leave her there on her own, but she was stubborn and determined. So no point in arguing with a woman when she's got it into her head to do something.

He got into his truck and put the bag of snacks and beer onto the passenger seat and headed back towards the duplex. He pulled up right outside and parked his Ram next to Brandy's car. He gave a sniff of the air as he got outside and walked towards the door. Seemed fine.
"Brandy?" Sam called out to her.

[Brandy Berry]

"Brandy?"

Well, it wasn't hard to hear her name being called when the only sound in the room you were listening to were your own thoughts. She had stood up and trudged across the living room, opening the door for him.

"Hey there"

She offered him a smile, stepping inside so he could come in. She was defiantly calmer now and any traces of anything happening in that duplex - at least in her mind, were gone.

"Did you need me to carry anything?"

She didn't expect she needed to, Sam was well, quite impressive in the lean muscle department. She assumed it was from being a bar owner and having to carry in all those heavy liquor cases. Hey, they were heavy!

She was also beaming from ear to ear, eager to tell him of her little cleansing adventure.

"The place is all clear now. I don't think you will have any problem selling this duplex anymore. Should of seen it Sam, I was really brave!"

Well, she had to boast to someone.

[Sam Merlotte]

Brandy opened the door with a huge smile. She looked relaxed and really pleased to see him. I could get used to this he smiled back at her, keeping his thoughts to himself. She offered to carry something. "No, thanks it's okay it's not much honestly."

"The place is all clear now. I don't think you will have any problem selling this duplex anymore. Should of seen it Sam, I was really brave!" she had a real look of pride on her face and I guess rightly so. "Well, I'm glad you're more comfortable here now.

He walked into the sitting room with the bag in one hand, carrier of beer in the other. Placing the bag on the beige faux fur rug that sat on the floor inbetween a long wooden coffee table and a 3 seater sofa. The beer onto the coffee table.
"So" he paused with a smile, pulling a deck of cards, "What was it you wanted to play?"