#long distance

ndiecity:

I think that the absolute worst thing, hands down, about long distance relationships, platonic or otherwise, is when your friend feels bad and you can’t just be like “I’ll be there in 20 with a pizza and a shoulder to cry on”

I do wonder how a modern - AU Sam would deal with this. Probably by doign something right but not entirely practical

OK I’m on a completely fluff-waffle, please expect little plot and suspend all practicality and disbelief.

500 miles & More

“Andrew… are you sure you’re OK?”

On the screen, his dark head bobs slightly, but it seems to have more of a weary sag to it. “Yeah. Yeah, I’m fine Sam it’s just-” He drops his head again, running his fingers through the sides of his hair “there’s a lot been going on… And-”

Andrew’s eyes wander off away from hers, beyond the side of the screen, listening maybe. She waits.

Eventually he turns back to her, his eyes hollow holes of bleakness “-I miss you, and Dad too, but esepcially you.” He heaves a really deep breath, eyes starting to gleam and glimmer horribly “Maybe I would have been better if we weren’t together, then I wouldn’t miss you so much.”

“Andrew!”

He shakes his head quickly, or as quickly as he can manage “I don’t mean it that way. Sam I could really do with some of your sunshine- more than just over these screens.”

He glances away again, and this time, over the speakers, there’s a squeak that is probably a quite loud background voice.

Andrew’s posture slumps another notch, “Duty calls – I have to go.”

Sam makes herself nod. “Alright.” It isn’t alright – I can’t just leave you like this. You’ll put on a smile for the other lads and pretend you’re fine. She affixes a careful sunny smile,“Take care, please?”

Andrew appears to force one too, but it doesn’t reach his eyes, not even close “Of course.”He blows her a quick kiss- a child’s kiss then he holds his fingers up towards the camera. “Love you.”

Sam ‘catches’ the kiss, and reaches out as well, as if they could actually touch “Love you too, Andrew.”

There’s another flash of his weary face, then the screen flicks back to the plain white of the Zoom operations screen.

I don’t like this… leaving him like that, but we’re hundreds of miles apart. What can I do?

———

[Phone camera clicks on, awkwardly angled upwards at a rather dishevelled haired Sam, camera joggling as she moves in a strange neautral indoor building] "Hi Brookie- Right as I’m recording this it is-” [Camera shifts wildly,- muttering off -screen.] -can’t be right [Sam reappears] I have no idea what time it is, because I haven’t changed my watch, [Rueful smile] I’m too tired to calculate. Anyway, it’s sometime in the morning, and I’m sorry not going to be there for the picnic today, something came up, I’m not in the area. Sorry, I’ll see you when I get back. Sorry again.” [Camera clicks off.]

——-

The phone rings loudly against her ear. Once, twice, three times. Come on Andrew, pick up. Answer.

There’s a squeak, then a click, and Andrew’s voice on the other end, utterly confused, “Hello- Sam?"

“Hello Andrew.” She speaks quickly, tries to keep her voice normal “Look, I know everything’s rough, I managed to find you something that might cheer you up.”

“Sam, you didn’t have to.” He still sounds drained.

She cuts across him “Well, Someone needs to, why not me?”

There’s a silence, then, in a warmer tone, he says “Thanks.”

“It should be arriving about now, if you go down and see.” Breathe Sam, she thinks, speak calmly and normally, best undercover and poker face on.

“Ok”There’s clattering, rustling, the clumping of doors and the pattering beat of feet on stairs across the line “What is it Sam?” Andrew asks

“A Surprise- a niceone.”

She watches the doors, sees a figure crossing the lobby, all shadow and shape through the frosted glass. He comes closer, then opens the front door.

Frantic searching, Frantic packing, rough sleep and now no true physical sense of what time it is. It’s all worth it when he opens the door. There’s a moment of complete statue-stillness, then his eyes go wide, and his jaws slowly goes down.

“Wha- “

Sam feels her face split into a smile, “Sunshine delivery.”

“You.” Andrew says slowly “Here. You here. You Here.”

She holds out her hands towards him. That seems to unfreeze him, and he stumbles forwards into her arms. He’s barely standing, and she has to brace against his weight. He presses his head into her shoulder, shuddering slightly as he breathes- relaxes at last.

“Yes- I’m here. I’m here.” Always.

Eventually, eventually Andrew draws back, looks at her. And now his eyes dance again, at least a little. “You’re a daft,wonderful thing, Sam Stewart…Thank you.”