post season 4 finale ficlet
Title:
Author: fredsmith518
Beta: please tell me if I’ve dropped any major clangers, geography wise, I used a map...
Rating:tame
Disclaimer: Nothing owned.
Summary: So, last episode and I thought I was okay with that.
However, I loved all the potential in the last few scenes and finally could see where the show could have gone…I think I nicked this idea from someone.
Someone said Sandy having lunch with Ryan…if it was you, let me know please?
Thanks, Yessi:D that was a lovely idea you had. I 'm glad you didn't mind me running with it!
It was a beautiful day. The sun was high in the sky. Sandy stood on the steps of the library and scanned the area in front of him, the Memorial Glade. At was a relief that he wasn’t expected to teach in a shirt and tie. As it was, the shirt that he’d donned freshly laundered that morning, was sticking to his back moments after he’d stepped out of the air conditioned interior of the law building. Even so, it was pleasant to be outside despite the heat. Sandy loved teaching, no question. It was a buzz, a rush, better even than pleading a case before a jury. When he’d been given the opportunity to pick up a few classes along side his work for the P.D.’s office it had felt more like coming home than a career change. Nevertheless, he’d learned it was important to step away from the classroom every lunchtime to remain fresh and alert for the afternoon sessions.
The mass of students in front of him, going about their business, were like an ever- changing tapestry. It was hard to distinguish individuals as they moved around in animated groups, laughing, gesticulating, learning continuing way past the classroom. For some kids, maybe learning even more than they did in class, justifying their viewpoints, or perhaps having their eyes opened to another idea that would never have naturally occurred to them.
Finally he hit paydirt and found the one kid he was searching for amongst the masses. The physics lab always emptied out a few minutes later than his class and he knew if he timed it just right he could catch up with his kid without too much effort, but it was a good walk from the law building to his vantage point on the library steps and sometime he’d lucked out. He considered yelling, but decided against it. Keeping an eye on his target, he moved into the melée.
“Ryan!” He smiled as he came up level.
“Hey.”
Sandy looked the young man over. Considering he was doing his final term papers, the kid didn’t look too bad, a bit tired, a bit ragged about the edges - Ryan had looked a hell of a lot worse. “I thought we could do lunch?” Sandy jiggled his briefcase.
“Kirsten sent lunch?”
“She did.” Sandy admitted. No point in hiding that.
“She sent you to check up on me.” That was more a statement than a question. Ryan sounded more amused than aggravated, however. It had become something of a running joke over the semesters that if Kirsten thought Ryan hadn’t been around enough, she’d pack up a lunch and give Sandy instructions to locate Ryan eat the food and ask him to stop by at home.
They moved to sit down on one of the benches dotted around under the shade of some mature trees.
“So, last summer in Newport, Kirsten kept sending notes and care packages. This year she sends you with lunches. I don’t get why she doesn’t just call me direct when she wants to see me. I mean she does call, but then sometimes, well this.” Ryan was investigating the package of sandwiches, chips and fruit as he spoke. Obviously, any reservations he had didn’t extend to refusing free food. Smart kid.
“The truth?” Sandy was surprised Ryan hadn’t brought this up before and was glad of an opportunity to explain. Ryan, from the first he’d found, would most often take his time to raise his questions, but this last year he was changing. Ryan was much more likely to ask when something was bothering him. He’d be sure and tell Kirsten that he and Ryan had had this conversation. “I think, scratch that, I know, because she’s told me, she thinks if she asks you directly, you feel like you can’t say no to her. The intermediaries are her way of giving you a choice. I’ll not saying it’s best idea, but…”
“Oh.” Ryan said nothing further and concentrated on chewing on his sandwich for a few minutes before commenting, “This is good.”
“Yeah, she does make good snacks, it’s the full blown dinners she still has problems with sometimes.”
“So, Kirsten thinks I should come home? Let’s see, over the past month, Julie’s asked me if I wanna go stay with her in Newport to see Paul. Seth’s invited me to Rhode Island to just ‘hang, catch up’ even though I saw him at Passover. Summer’s invited me to go protest about factory farming and Taylor’s written me several emails about how beautiful Paris looks at this time of year. If it wasn’t for end of year papers, I could have gotten a frequent flyer certificate.”
“Okay, fair point. You have a lot of offers. More tempting than hanging out with the old folks. I can see that. What do you want to do?”
“Over the summer, I’d like to do all of them. But for now, I’m good here.”
“It’s been a difficult month for you, with the finals and the anniversary.” This was tricky ground, but Sandy had learned to address issues head on with Ryan, well, mostly.
“Honestly? The work has been a good distraction. I haven’t had time to brood. I want to do well. Plus, I have been home for meals, baby sitting and stuff. I haven’t shut myself off.” That last was added a little indignantly.
“I hear you,” Sandy said placatingly. “Don’t shoot the messenger, okay?”
“Yeah, sorry.”
“So, back to the thing. Could you stand spending next weekend at home? I know you have a few more papers and Sophie can be a distraction and you could have plans with your friends.”
“How much trouble will you be in if I say no?” Ryan shot him the patented sideways glance. Sandy laughed. “I can handle it.”
Ryan looked out over the milling students. “I have been invited to a couple of things. Some of my friends have finished with their papers. I anticipate a lotta celebrating. It’d be nice to be someplace else.” He grinned.
“You were coming home anyway, weren’t you?” Sandy accused.
Ryan scratched at his ear and then admitted absolutely unphased by Sandy’s mock indignation, “Pretty much, yeah.”
Sandy threw back his head, shaking it, as it sank in just how good Ryan was getting at playing him. He put his arm around Ryan’s shoulders and then pulled him in close to his side for a moment. “I gotta go. I need to prepare for my next class. You take care. See you Friday night.” A final squeeze of Ryan’s arm and he was off.
He turned back for a second and saw Ryan was already chatting with a couple of other students. Sandy resolved to call Seth later, see how he was doing and to be the one who would put Sophie Rose to bed that night.
He loved teaching, but it couldn't compare with being a father.
Author: fredsmith518
Beta: please tell me if I’ve dropped any major clangers, geography wise, I used a map...
Rating:tame
Disclaimer: Nothing owned.
Summary: So, last episode and I thought I was okay with that.
However, I loved all the potential in the last few scenes and finally could see where the show could have gone…I think I nicked this idea from someone.
Someone said Sandy having lunch with Ryan…if it was you, let me know please?
Thanks, Yessi:D that was a lovely idea you had. I 'm glad you didn't mind me running with it!
It was a beautiful day. The sun was high in the sky. Sandy stood on the steps of the library and scanned the area in front of him, the Memorial Glade. At was a relief that he wasn’t expected to teach in a shirt and tie. As it was, the shirt that he’d donned freshly laundered that morning, was sticking to his back moments after he’d stepped out of the air conditioned interior of the law building. Even so, it was pleasant to be outside despite the heat. Sandy loved teaching, no question. It was a buzz, a rush, better even than pleading a case before a jury. When he’d been given the opportunity to pick up a few classes along side his work for the P.D.’s office it had felt more like coming home than a career change. Nevertheless, he’d learned it was important to step away from the classroom every lunchtime to remain fresh and alert for the afternoon sessions.
The mass of students in front of him, going about their business, were like an ever- changing tapestry. It was hard to distinguish individuals as they moved around in animated groups, laughing, gesticulating, learning continuing way past the classroom. For some kids, maybe learning even more than they did in class, justifying their viewpoints, or perhaps having their eyes opened to another idea that would never have naturally occurred to them.
Finally he hit paydirt and found the one kid he was searching for amongst the masses. The physics lab always emptied out a few minutes later than his class and he knew if he timed it just right he could catch up with his kid without too much effort, but it was a good walk from the law building to his vantage point on the library steps and sometime he’d lucked out. He considered yelling, but decided against it. Keeping an eye on his target, he moved into the melée.
“Ryan!” He smiled as he came up level.
“Hey.”
Sandy looked the young man over. Considering he was doing his final term papers, the kid didn’t look too bad, a bit tired, a bit ragged about the edges - Ryan had looked a hell of a lot worse. “I thought we could do lunch?” Sandy jiggled his briefcase.
“Kirsten sent lunch?”
“She did.” Sandy admitted. No point in hiding that.
“She sent you to check up on me.” That was more a statement than a question. Ryan sounded more amused than aggravated, however. It had become something of a running joke over the semesters that if Kirsten thought Ryan hadn’t been around enough, she’d pack up a lunch and give Sandy instructions to locate Ryan eat the food and ask him to stop by at home.
They moved to sit down on one of the benches dotted around under the shade of some mature trees.
“So, last summer in Newport, Kirsten kept sending notes and care packages. This year she sends you with lunches. I don’t get why she doesn’t just call me direct when she wants to see me. I mean she does call, but then sometimes, well this.” Ryan was investigating the package of sandwiches, chips and fruit as he spoke. Obviously, any reservations he had didn’t extend to refusing free food. Smart kid.
“The truth?” Sandy was surprised Ryan hadn’t brought this up before and was glad of an opportunity to explain. Ryan, from the first he’d found, would most often take his time to raise his questions, but this last year he was changing. Ryan was much more likely to ask when something was bothering him. He’d be sure and tell Kirsten that he and Ryan had had this conversation. “I think, scratch that, I know, because she’s told me, she thinks if she asks you directly, you feel like you can’t say no to her. The intermediaries are her way of giving you a choice. I’ll not saying it’s best idea, but…”
“Oh.” Ryan said nothing further and concentrated on chewing on his sandwich for a few minutes before commenting, “This is good.”
“Yeah, she does make good snacks, it’s the full blown dinners she still has problems with sometimes.”
“So, Kirsten thinks I should come home? Let’s see, over the past month, Julie’s asked me if I wanna go stay with her in Newport to see Paul. Seth’s invited me to Rhode Island to just ‘hang, catch up’ even though I saw him at Passover. Summer’s invited me to go protest about factory farming and Taylor’s written me several emails about how beautiful Paris looks at this time of year. If it wasn’t for end of year papers, I could have gotten a frequent flyer certificate.”
“Okay, fair point. You have a lot of offers. More tempting than hanging out with the old folks. I can see that. What do you want to do?”
“Over the summer, I’d like to do all of them. But for now, I’m good here.”
“It’s been a difficult month for you, with the finals and the anniversary.” This was tricky ground, but Sandy had learned to address issues head on with Ryan, well, mostly.
“Honestly? The work has been a good distraction. I haven’t had time to brood. I want to do well. Plus, I have been home for meals, baby sitting and stuff. I haven’t shut myself off.” That last was added a little indignantly.
“I hear you,” Sandy said placatingly. “Don’t shoot the messenger, okay?”
“Yeah, sorry.”
“So, back to the thing. Could you stand spending next weekend at home? I know you have a few more papers and Sophie can be a distraction and you could have plans with your friends.”
“How much trouble will you be in if I say no?” Ryan shot him the patented sideways glance. Sandy laughed. “I can handle it.”
Ryan looked out over the milling students. “I have been invited to a couple of things. Some of my friends have finished with their papers. I anticipate a lotta celebrating. It’d be nice to be someplace else.” He grinned.
“You were coming home anyway, weren’t you?” Sandy accused.
Ryan scratched at his ear and then admitted absolutely unphased by Sandy’s mock indignation, “Pretty much, yeah.”
Sandy threw back his head, shaking it, as it sank in just how good Ryan was getting at playing him. He put his arm around Ryan’s shoulders and then pulled him in close to his side for a moment. “I gotta go. I need to prepare for my next class. You take care. See you Friday night.” A final squeeze of Ryan’s arm and he was off.
He turned back for a second and saw Ryan was already chatting with a couple of other students. Sandy resolved to call Seth later, see how he was doing and to be the one who would put Sophie Rose to bed that night.
He loved teaching, but it couldn't compare with being a father.