Sam: [so Sam knows this is not going to be easy. This is Dean and if it involves Elle, there's only so much wiggle room he can get. But there are ways to make Dean a little more amendable and part of that involves pie. So Sam gets Dean out of the hotel and to a diner down the street under the pretense of pie, but he's barely touching his and mostly drumming his fingers against the table]
Dean: [has eaten about half his pie by the time that he notices that Sam's not touching his. ... okay, well, that's not entirely true. he noticed, and he figured the whole pie thing was Sam trying to butter him up for something, but he was kind of hoping that whatever it is, Sam would at least pretend to enjoy his pie -- and let him do the same before -- they got around to whatever it is. so much for that idea. sighs, setting down his fork, and leans back in the chair] Okay, John Bonham ... you wanna tell me what this is all about?
Sam: [he tried ... but this is your brother the health freak. And he's got a lot on his mind] Sylar.
Dean: [makes a face] What about him?
Sam: [sighs and drops his voice a bit so that someone doesn't overhear him] We can't keep him in the cage forever, Dean.
Dean: Actually, yeah, we can. And that's more or less what I plan on doin'.
Sam: No, we can't. A) It's inhumane. B) It smells like a toliet down there. C) What if we need the cage for someone who actually is dangerous?
Dean: [mock nonchalantly] Oh, yeah, right. My bad. I forgot that gankin', like, half the friggen country was socially acceptable these days. [a beat, and then pointedly] Last time I checked, he fits the bill, Sammy.
Sam: He's trying to change. He wants to help and let's face it. There aren't a lot of people who are actually on our side here.
Dean: Okay, even assuming he doesn't change his mind and go cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs again? He's a civillian, Sam. He doesn't know jack about any of this, so he's just gonna get in the way and end up gettin' one of us killed. [a beat] You really want that?
Sam: That's why Buffy's going to train him. I've already talked to her, and she said she'd take him patrolling and teach him whatever she knows. She can also handle a lot of what he can dish out. And if he crosses us ... well, we stick him back in the cage, and he stays there. I hear he's got immortality. He could be stuck in that cage for a really long time.
Dean: [huffs out a sigh and scrubs a hand over his face, trying to buy time to scrounge for more reasons to say no. really, really doesn't want to let him out of that room in the first place, but Sam's being all logical and ... damn it]
Sam: [really. Sam would like nothing more than to do some serious damage to Sylar for what he did to Elle, but they need to be practical about this. And he's the one left to be practical, because he knows that Dean won't be -- he has no reason to. So long as Elle's okay with it, Sam wants to use whatever resources he can get.]
Dean: [can't seem to come up with anything. damn it. makes a face, both at the situation and Sam, and then] This is on you, Sam. He goes nuts again or does somethin' totally retarded and someone ends up dead 'cause of it? I'm kickin' your ass before I make Super Villain Swiss Cheese. [arches his eyebrows] You got that?
Sam: [nods] Yeah. I got it.
Dean: And you better not expect me to be nice to the sonovabitch.
Sam: If you were, I'd think there's something wrong with you.
Dean: Yeah, well. Just puttin' that out there. [and now that he has, he's just gonna sit here and frown, because really? he's so not happy about this]
Sam: [sighs as he watches him] It's one of the only moves we've got, Dean.
Dean: It's also complete bullshit.
Sam: You know, there are people around here who have done worse things.
Dean: And you think I'm completely thrilled about that a hundred percent of the time?
Sam: Redemption is possible. Just look at Angel or Amy or hell, Gabriel even. [okay, the last two probably aren't the best examples, but it's what he's got to work with] Or me.
Dean: [sighs] Yeah, I get it.
Sam: Good.
Dean: [is silent for awhile before finally cracking a thin smile that doesn't reach his eyes] Guess you get to go play good cop and give him the good news.
Sam: [nods] Ruby's almost finished working on the room upstairs. Once the wards are done on that, I'll let him know he's getting out of the cage.
Dean: Great.
Sam: [falls quiet for a moment, starting to pick at his pie again]
Dean: [does the same, half certain he's not gonna finish it now. that conversation killed his appetite]
Sam: [isn't really eating it, just sort of playing with it] For the record? I wouldn't bring it up if I didn't think he could help.
Dean: Yeah, I got that, Sam. [a beat] Can we just please drop it?
Sam: Yeah. Sure. Consider it dropped.
Dean: Okay, cool. [pokes at his pie. wants tequila right now. screw pie]
Sam: [they can have that when they get back to the hotel]
Dean: [the sooner, the better. pushes his plate away] Yeah, I think I'm done.
Sam: [sighs] I'll go pay.
Dean: Okay, dude.
Sam: [gets the check from the waitress and goes to pay at the counter]
Dean: [gets up after a moment, fishing his wallet out of his back pocket, and drops a couple of dollars on the table for the tip. moves to join Sam at the counter, stuffing his hands in his pockets, idly]
Sam: [pays the bill and then nods to his brother to start to head out to the car]
Dean: [follows, breaking away when they reach the car to get in the driver's side. starts up the engine, watching Sam, waiting for him]
Sam: [slides into the passenger's seat, trying not to look as tense as he felt]
Dean: [puts the car in gear and rolls out, heading back towards the hotel in silence]
Sam: [will sit there. uncomfortably. In the silence]
Dean: [what's he supposed to say? seriously]
Sam: [is not sure, but he just hopes he gets over it]
Dean: [if Captain McBatshit can prove that he's not going to murder them all in their sleep, he will. reserves the right to be pissy until then, though. buta t any rate ... pulls into his usual parking spot when they reach the hotel, kills the engine and moves to get out, still silent. didn't even bother to turn on the radio while they drove. that's saying something]
Sam: [yeah, that is. he just hopes that Dean will get past things in terms of Sam faster. They really can't afford to be on opposite sides of things right now]
Dean: [he probably will. probably. is definitely going to have that drink now, though, and he heads straight for the booze, that in mind]
Sam: [sighs, before glancing up the stairs] I'm gonna find Ruby.
Dean: F'you say so, dude.
Sam: [glances back, before sighing] Don't do too much damage to your liver.
Dean: I'll try not to. [pauses, looking like he might say something else, then gives up on it, shrugging as he pours himself a glass of booze]
Sam: [sighs and turns to head upstairs]