Title: "Down the River"
Author: Rebecca Bradstreet
Rated: PG
Archive: Sure
Summary: Sarah and Thomas at the end of a case.
Warnings: Language, imagery.
Disclaimer/Notes: This is an original work of fiction.  The content is all mine except for the lyrics to "Ever The Same" by Rob Thomas which beeej gave me.  It was written for the lyric2lit community.  I'm using :: for telepathy.  It's not beta'd so all mistakes are my own.


"Down the River"
by Rebecca Bradstreet © 2005

"Are we alive?"  Sarah asked Thomas uncertain.

"Pretty sure.  I'm too cold and wet to be dead," he answered, lying on his side in the tall grass that grew along the river's bank.

"You could be cold and wet in Hell," Sarah pointed out as she rolled onto her back the ground and her clothes making wet sounds.

"Maybe, but I'm pretty sure we were drawn from the weeds by some of Seth's wolves," Thomas explained.

"Oooh," Sarah smiled.  She lay on her back quietly for a few moments, trying to decide if she wanted to sit up and see just what they looked like.  Sarah was quiet too long, and Thomas rolled towards her.

"You sorry we acted as the bait for this one?"  He asked by her ear.

She sat up before she shook her head and answered, "I'm not sorry, not as long as we got the bad guy.  But...  letting go when you said 'Fall on me' ...that was hard to do."

Thomas snorted, "It wasn't much fun for me either, even in human form you're not light."

Sarah squeezed his shoulder, "If I could've sprouted wings and flown away I would've.  Ground rules for the bait were no shapeshifting or spellcasting in front of the perp."

He nodded, "Yeah those were the rules.  I heard...  I heard the sorcerer say you were beautiful falling down under the pale moonlight."

She sighed, "I was suppose to be plunging to my death.  He liked that."

"Ben's probably making him discover whether he fancies the idea of his own death.  That giant is awfully fond of you," Thomas smiled sitting up.

"It's my half form between human and dragon, still girlie but giant sized," Sarah told him, leaning against him their clothes making wet noises as she did.

"Ah, well as long as he doesn't forget I saw you first," he wrapped an arm around her.

"That feels so good," she breathed.

"What does?"  Thomas asked.

"Having your arm wrapped around me," Sarah answered.

He laughed, "I've always got an arm for you.  We can be floating in a river in October working on pneumonia, or lying under the warmth of the sun in June.  You want me there I'll be there for you."

"You'll be right there, hu?"  She questioned, looking up at him.  Sarah noted how his short brown curls were flattened under the weight of the cold water clinging to them.  She looked in his blue eyes, searching for a sense of whether he was being serious.

Thomas met Sarah's pale green eyes.  Another time he'd have stroked her long auburn hair, hanging in limp strands, holding tangled in it some of the weeds from the river they'd been carried by, he didn't stroke it.  Thomas nodded, "Sure, just call on me."

::I'll remember to call, wizard,:: Sarah responded, pressing her lips to his.  They were chilled, but there was a warmth that spread between them.

::You do that.  I'm forever with you, lizard,:: he pointed out before breaking the kiss.

"Look at us, cold, wet, and miles down stream.  If Seth couldn't follow us with his ravens," Thomas didn't finish the thought.

She finished it, "If Seth hadn't been able to follow us with his ravens a magic/counter-magic team would've had to actually resort to using some science."

"You think Daniel would've broken departmental rules like that?"  He asked.

Sarah nodded, "Oh Hell yes!  If it was putting homing devices on us, or fishing our drowned carcasses out of the river before they floated to the surface he'd have broken the rules."

"You put it so comfortingly," Thomas grinned.

"I survived the fall, you survived my landing, but we wound up in the water.  Neither of us breathes the stuff.  Daniel knew what could happen when he sent us in.  He's our senior agent, and we can trust him to look out for us," she told him earnestly.

"I got it.  I got it.  The elf may be old but he isn't rule bound," he assured her.

"Good.  We going to get up and go find some dry clothes?"  Sarah questioned.

"You think the elf will approve of us getting dry before we write up our reports too?"  Thomas teased as he stood, pulling them both up from the damp earth.

"I think Daniel will approve our avoiding catching pneumonia," she responded.

"Fair enough.  You taking us home, or am I?"  He asked while checking his pockets for his wand.

"I think your clothes might freeze to your skin if I take us home," Sarah answered, drawing his wand from the pocket he'd put it in.

"Portal then," Thomas decided, taking his wand from her, drawing a portal in the air, and pulling them through it.


"Ever The Same"
by Rob Thomas
Lyrics used are denoted by *

*We were drawn from the weeds
We were brave like soldiers
*Falling down under the pale moonlight
You were holding to me
Like a someone broken
And I couldn't tell you but I'm telling you now

Just let me hold you while you're falling apart
Just let me hold you so we both fall down

*Fall on me
Tell me everything you want me to be
*Forever with you
Forever in me
Ever the same

We would stand in the wind
We were free like water
Flowing down
*Under the warmth of the sun
Now it's cold and we're scared
And we've both been shaken
Look at us
Man, this doesn't need to be the end

Just let me hold you while you're falling apart
Just let me hold you so we both fall down

*Fall on me
Tell me everything you want me to be
*Forever with you
Forever in me
Ever the same

*Call on me
*I'll be there for you
And you'll be there for me
Forever it's you
Forever in me
Ever the same

You may need me there
To carry all your weight
But you're no burden I assure
You tide me over
With a warmth I'll not forget
But I can only give you love

*Fall on me
Tell me everything you want me to be
*Forever with you
Forever in me
Ever the same

*Call on me
*I'll be there for you
And you'll be there for me
Forever it's you
Forever in me
Ever the same

*Forever with you
Forever in me
Ever the same
(Ever the same, ah yeah)