Dean turned off the coffee machine as he poured his homemade latte into a travel cup for his morning trip to work. He pulled his suit jacket over his shoulders and grabbed his briefcase, before heading out of the newish apartment and down to the garage.
Getting into his silver Prius, he blanched as rock music came over the radio. Quickly setting it back to a business station, he smiled and headed off on his way.
He arrived at work and got into the elevator with a yellow-shirt-wearing tech guy from about ten floors down. He was looking at him strangely.
"Can I help you?" Dean's eyebrows rose.
"Do I know you?" the giant guy asked.
"Don't think so," Dean shook his head.
"Sorry, you just seem really familiar is all."
"Save it for the health club, pal," Dean scorned, then left the elevator as it got to his floor.
Sam watched after him, confused.
Faith
Faith parked her convertible Jaguar in the spot they'd allocated for her. She opened the door, and her black stillettoed feet touched the ground. She gracefully lifted herself out of the car, closing the door behind her and as she walked away, she held her keys up over her shoulder and locked it.
She walked into the building, hips swaying side to side, her suit skirt hugging her curves in all the right places. Her hair was long and curly, falling down her back, and she held a briefcase in one hand, handbag in the other.
The first stop was the IT department, and in the lift, Faith pulled the form out, glasses perched delicately on her nose.
The elevator doors opened, and she stepped out, glancing across at the layout of the floor as she walked through the office.
Sam
Sam settled into his cubicle for the morning, turning his computer on and waiting for it to warm up. He happened to glance up as he put his headset on, seeing a young woman enter and look around.
He squinted a little, recognising her as well but not remembering where from.
"This is insane," Sam sighed.
"Tell me about it," Sam jumped as his comrade Ian rolled his chair over, "what's insane today?"
"I know her," Sam indicated the woman as she walked through.
Ian nodded and patted him on the shoulder.
"You're right. That is insane. She's a fox!"
Faith
Faith conversed briefly with the IT manager, before she broke away from him and wandered around the office to conduct her own inspection.
She stopped a few cubicles away from Sam's, to talk to one of the other helpdesk consultants.
Sam
"Maybe you should talk to her," Ian joked.
"Maybe I will," Sam smirked.
"Maybe you dreamed about her," Ian grinned.
"Shut up," Sam blew him off as Ian went back to his own cubicle.
Faith
"Thanks for that," Faith said, before moving away.
Her eyes swept over Sam and she headed in his direction. She paused next to his cubicle, and gave him a friendly smile.
"Hi there."
Sam
Sam jumped a little.
"Ah... hey. Ms...?"
Faith
"Padalecki," Faith replied.
"I'm just here to conduct an audit of your department."
Sam
"Oh ok," Sam nodded somewhat nervously.
"My name's Sam. Sam Wesson."
He noticed Ian smirking at him and glared for a moment.
"What can I help you with, Ms. Padalecki? That's a nice name by the way. Unusual."
Faith
"I get that a lot," Faith smiled. "It's Polish. I think it was originally Padaleski."
She shrugged, and leaned back against his desk, ankles crossed delicately.
Sam
Sam couldn't help but smirk at 'Padaleski'.
Faith
"Hey, don't laugh, it's exotic," Faith joked.
Her eyes swept over his body, as if it were normally a habit.
Sam
Sam smiled back, eyes falling to her chest as he tried to shake off the familiarity.
Ian was holding back laughter.
"What can I help you with?"
Faith
"I just need to ask you a few questions about what you do and how long you've been here," Faith replied.
"We're just trying to assess your working conditions and make them better for you."
Sam
"Ok," Sam nodded.
"Well... most of us in this room are just technical help. We answer incoming calls for people needing instruction on our products. If you're after a personal opinion? I think it's a good working space, but for people like me it's definitely a little cramped as you might tell."
Faith
"I noticed that," Faith commented, looking him in the eye again. "I'll see what I can do about that, it's definitely not good to be cramped for eight hours a day."
She paused for a moment.
"So, on average, how many calls each day do you take?"
Sam
Sam shrugged.
"Maybe one hundred to a hundred and fifty? But it varies depending on how many people need help at what time of the day and such," he explained, "and of course, what their problems are. Some take longer than others."
Faith
Faith nodded.
"Of course," she replied. "And how's the system you're working with? Could you see any room for improvement?"
Sam
"Not to talk too down about the company," Sam assured, "but these computers do crash all the time, and we often lose a lot of work that way. The program itself could only be improved on by additional memory and RAM so that it can move faster and thus save us and the customers more time."
Faith
Faith wrote a few notes down on her notepad, leaning forward a little bit while she did so.
"I'll definitely put that in my report," she told him. "I have to go check out a few other sections, but I'll give you my card and if there's anything else you can think of, feel free to let me know."
Sam
Sam smiled a little.
"Thankyou. And I will. Call, that is."
Faith
"Well," Faith smiled back. "I should let you get back to work."
She moved away from his desk.
"I'll look forward to hearing from you then."
She tossed her hair over her shoulder as she walked away, heading for the elevator.
Sam & Dean
Ian rolled his chair over again as Sam watched after her.
"Dude. You are so in!" he exclaimed as Sam turned back.
"Yeah right, I haven't got a chance," he scoffed.
"Dude," Ian hit him on the shoulder, "video tape it!"
~*~
"Lemon, cayan, and... maple syrup? Are you kidding me? How much did you lose?"
Dean blanched as a message came over the intercom.
"I'll call you back," he assured before hanging up.
He pressed the intercom button.
"Alright. Send her up."
Faith
Faith walked down the hallway, heels clicking on the tiled floor. She knocked on the side of Dean's open door.
"Mr Smith?"
Dean
"Yes," Dean looked up.
"Ms. Padalecki I presume. Come on in, take a seat."
Faith
"Thank you," Faith said.
She stepped into his office, and sat down in the chair in front of his desk. She crossed one leg over the other, briefcase by her feet.
"Having a good morning so far?"
Dean
"Oh the usual. Working long and hard," Dean shrugged, putting down his PDA and pulling his headphones off.
He sat down opposite her and opened his laptop.
"What do you have for me this morning?"
Faith
"I'm just here to conduct an audit on your department," Faith explained.
"The guys upstairs want to know how they can make things run a little more smoothly."
Dean
"So I heard," Dean nodded.
"And what can you do for me?"
Faith
"Well, I just need you to run me through how your department works and any improvements you can see that might need to be made," Faith explained.
"I'm here just to listen to any glitches you might outline, that's all."
Dean
"Great," Dean nodded.
"Let's start with the towels in the washroom. They run out within the first one or two hours of the day and with the hand dryers going on the fritz every second day? It's just downright unsanitary."
Faith
Faith nodded slowly, and took a few notes.
"I was more... referring to your specific department."
Dean
"I have no complaints about my department," Dean nodded with a smile.
"Everything is running on track just the way I like it, and I get on with my superiors and subordinates just fine."
Faith
"That's great," Faith smiled back.
"I'll leave you my card and if anything comes up, feel free to get in contact."
Dean
"I'm sure I won't have to, but thankyou nonetheless," Dean nodded, standing and offering his hand.
Faith
Faith stood as well, and took his hand and shook it.
"Well, sorry to have taken up so much of your time, I'll let you get back to it."
Dean
"Thanks," Dean nodded, before indicating the door.
He put his headphones back on and called his friend back.
"Hey Joey," he grinned, walking around his chair to lean on the back, "where were we? Oh yes, detox. Are you sure about the maple syrup?"
Faith
Faith pulled her phone out of her briefcase as she walked down the hallway.
"A problem? Sure thing, I can be down there in a second, I'm just on my way now."
She head for the elevators, stepping on when the doors opened. She smiled at the older gentleman who was already in the lift, and she pressed the button for the IT floor.
After a few minutes, the doors opened and she stepped back out onto the floor, heading for the manager's office.
Sam
Sam and Ian were walking down the hall towards the lunchroom.
"Hey, there's that hot chick again," Ian nudged Sam.
Sam looked up and froze a second, before Ian pulled him onward.
Faith
Faith ran through the forms with the manager, making sure he understood them completely this time. After a few minutes, she realised she might be there for awhile, and she excused herself to go get herself a cup of coffee.
She walked into the lunchroom, nodding and smiling politely at the staff as she passed them.
Sam
Sam saw her walking in to where he and Ian were, and Ian purposely ducked around him to stand by the door.
"Hey," he greeted as she walked in, "coffee break?"
Faith
Faith looked over and smiled warmly as she saw Sam.
"Yeah," she replied, going straight for the kettle. "Something tells me it's going to be a long day."
Sam
"You're telling me," Sam sighed.
"But in all honesty? It's gotten a little shorter now."
He smiled as he handed her his coffee so she wouldn't have to wait for the hot water.
Faith
Faith took the coffee gratefully.
"Thanks," she said, a little surprised. She stirred in a sugar and added a little bit of milk.
"Your boss is struggling with the forms I gave him."
Sam
"Sorry to hear that," Sam's eyebrows rose as he readied another cup.
Faith
"It's not so bad," Faith said, pulling out one of the chairs at the table.
"There is a lot he has to go through, and it's better than he is absolutely certain on it, rather than oblivious. Ultimately, it will work out better for you guys."
Sam
"Glad to hear that," Sam amended, leaning back against the bench as he waited for the kettle to boil.
"But it can't make your day any easier. How long are you here for?"
Faith
"A few more days," Faith answered, sitting down in the chair. She crossed her legs and turned slightly so she could still keep eye contact with him.
"I'll be talking to a few more departments tomorrow, and then talking to the big guys upstairs and we'll be devising ways to make things easier for you."
Sam
"Do you live nearby? Or are you holed up in a city hotel?" Sam showed empathy.
Faith
Faith shook her head. "No, not a local unfortunately. Though, you get used to the hotels."
She shrugged slightly.
"My job keeps me on the road most of the time."
Sam
"That's a shame," Sam shook his head.
"I bet you haven't had a good homecooked meal in years. Or do you have a fiance to do that for you?"
Faith
"No, no fiance," Faith smiled slightly.
"So no one to make me homecooked meals."
Sam
Ian was giving Sam the thumbs up over her shoulders.
"Well... maybe, if you're in town as long as you say, I could offer you one one night," Sam shrugged innocently.
"I don't mean to brag, but I do make a mean roast pork."
Faith
Faith smiled, knowing exactly what was happening, but she nodded, nonetheless.
"Well, seeing as I'm making your work life a little easier, it's only fair you repay the favour."
Sam
"Sure. Exactly," Sam agreed as the kettle boiled.
He debated whether he should turn his back to make the coffee or not, but he was too enthralled in the moment.
"So... perhaps I could make your trip a little easier for you."
Faith
"That would be greatly appreciated," Faith told him.
She gestured to the kettle.
"Feel like joining me? Or do you have to get back?"
Sam
"Oh, no, I'll join you for sure," Sam spared a glare at Ian who then decided to leave the room.
He quickly turned and made his coffee, accidentally spilling some boiling water on his hand. He flinched, careful not to make a sound so she would know what happened, and just subtley ran his hand under some cold water before putting in the sugar.
Finally he took the cup and made his way over to sit with her.
"So... how long have you been a consultant?"
Faith
"About four years now," Faith told him, watching him casually.
"And you, how long have you worked in tech support?"
Sam
"I just transferred here three weeks ago," Sam shrugged.
"But before that, yeah. About four years. It's not exactly the best paid job around but I was in a bit of trouble and..."
He shrugged.
"It was there."
Faith
Faith nodded.
"Same kinda thing with me," she told him. "Messy break up and I just needed to get away. So here I am."
Sam
"Yeah, I guess it's kinda the same," Sam shook his head.
"My girlfriend Maddison left me. I mean I guess she did. She just disappeared one day, and whenever I called her number all I got was an animal shelter. It was weird."
Faith
Faith paused.
"Come to think of it, the last time I tried to call my ex, I get a music shop in Tulsa."
Sam
"That's strange," Sam nodded.
He hesitated, wondering if he should bring up the next subject or not.
"Something else that's strange is that the first time I saw you, I felt like I knew you somehow," he'd gone for it, "and that was in no way a come on, just a fact. Same thing happened to me this morning with someone else too."
Faith
Faith tilted her head slightly.
"That is a little weird."
Sam
"I - I'm sorry," Sam backed off a little.
"I wasn't sure. I guess I was the only one."
Faith
"No, no," Faith shook her head.
"I just meant that... well, I approached you this morning because I felt like you would be completely honest. I just figured... well, in my work, you get pretty good at reading people, I just thought it was me reading your body language."
Sam
Sam's eyebrows rose hopefully.
"Does that mean... you felt kinda the same?"
Faith
"Maybe," Faith shrugged.
"I'm not sure, I mean... something about you makes me feel comfortable, sure."
Sam
"Yeah same," Sam nodded, before glancing around.
"And being alone with you... just feels kinda right. I don't know why. But it also feels like there's something missing. Maybe... I don't know. I don't know what I'm talking about. How are you?"
Faith
Faith looked up at him, and nodded.
"I don't know, this does seem... familiar. But I don't know. Maybe it's just a coincidence."
Sam
"Maybe it is," Sam smiled a little.
"But hopefully this means that dinner won't be so awkward."
Faith
Faith smiled back, and leaned forward a little bit.
"Well," she said teasingly. "If it is awkward, we can always just strip down."
Sam
Sam face blushed bright red.
"So umm... I gotta get back to work," he stood, leaving his coffee on the table half drank.
"But I'll see you around, right?"
Faith
"Sure," Faith grinned at his awkwardness.
"I should head back and explain things to your boss."
Sam
"Great, sounds good," Sam smiled, before leaving the room.
"See you."
Ian was waiting behind the door, and made Sam jump as he suddenly grabbed his arm.
"Hey! Are you in?"
"So in," Sam grinned.
"Score!"