Chapter Text
"FORTY-FIRST FLOOR! FORTY-FIRST!!", Sam shouted into his phone. He wasn't expecting to get this worked up over Sarah not being able to follow directions but here he was being woken up by a phone call at 10 am first thing in the morning and doing just that. And on his birthday no less. He sighed and cursed as sat up, got off the couch, and stepped on some sharp mystery object that blended in amongst the other mystery objects that covered his floor. His blinds were closed shut, blocking out any light, and there was a hint of staleness lingering in the air.
"Well shit Sam, there's no working elevator in this bitch and there's no numbers on the doors in the staircase. I already have to climb all the way up here and you're expecting me to count too?", Sarah's little phone voice retorted.
"It sure would help you from getting lost! I warned you the elevator was down for repairs but you just had to come see the new place anyway!"
"This is my only free day from work and the kids and I wanted to see you and your fancy New York apartment! Sharon took the boys out for a day for me just so I could come all the way out here and get lip from my brother who doesn't wanna help his sister out!"
"Okay dam! I'm coming down to find you!" At this point, Sam was already pulling on sweatpants that hung out on the couch arm, grabbing his keys that pretty much lived on the kitchen counter, trying to hide days of accumulated trash, and rushing towards the door to see if he could find his sister. Only to open said door to see his sister alive and well standing in the door frame.
"Surprise!!!!", Sarah had a goofy grin on her face with her eyes crossed and her tongue sticking out. Her hand was hidden behind her back with what was sure to be a little surprise for Sam's birthday. "The maintenance person fixed the elevator a while ago and I've kinda been up and down this building five times whilst pretending to be lost. Gotcho ass didn't I?"
"Hah hah hah yes very funny", Sam dryly replied, the seriousness in his eyes and the way his lips were pinned showing that it in fact was NOT funny.
"Why's your face all made up? Here I brought you a gift don't be all huffy so early in the morning. Happy Birthday, Sammy!"
Sarah stepped into the room before closing the door behind her to pull a blue medium-sized gift bag with red and yellow stripes from behind her back and presented it to Sam. Sam held back for a second. This was his first birthday after the snap and he wasn't even sure his sister would have remembered, but of course, she did. That was probably the reason she came to see him on this day to begin with. It didn't click for him until that moment. He felt guilty for thinking she had forgotten but no one else had wished a Happy Birthday so far so he thought everyone had just forgotten. He didn't think he'd get so emotional over a dam present but here he was scared to even reach his hand out to grab it.
Hearing "Hey, are you okay?" from Sarah snapped him out of his thoughts.
"Uh... thanks..." He rapidly blinked as he came back into focus and finally took the gift into his now shaking hand and resting it on a nearby kitchen island. Unopened and unchecked
"Why don't you sit down and I'll whip you up a birthday breakfast?"
"Not hungry."
"Great! Didn't want to waste any daylight anyways. We got places to be and things to see!"
"What on earth do you mean?'
"Did you think I came all the way to upper New York to stare out these windows onto the street? Hell naw we're going out!"
"Now Sarah...."
"Let's go let's go let's go! No excuses! Go on and get dressed! Gone head now!"
Sarah was determined not to take a no for an answer, even pushing Sam towards his room and then going into his closet to pick out an outfit for him. Plain blue jeans, a white sweater, some typical black sneakers, and finally a baseball cap on top of everything and throw the outfit together. Sam simply watched her while she moved and made no move to change out of his current clothes.
"Come on Sam let's go!"
"Why are you making such a big deal out of this? It has nothing to do with you!" Sam finally shouted out. He didn't mean to but he was getting increasingly overwhelmed and frustrated. His original plan for the day was to eat a bunch of ice cream, check his phone over and over, and watch Slag Wars all day. He didn't want to be dragged around outside by anyone amongst people who probably never thought about him nor remembered him when he disappeared. He truly just wanted to hide all day. He didn't expect Sarah to want to stay around all day and remove him from his space. All he could do at that point was sit on his bed, rest his head in his hands and begin to cry.
Sarah stopped what she was doing and knelt down next to him, taking his hands in hers and wiping his tears away, "Nothing to do with me?? You're my BROTHER Sam! I didn't have you for 5 years! I didn't get to see you or wish you happy birthday for 5 whole years! I thought you were dead and gone forever. I will take EVERY chance to celebrate any birthday I can with you because I love you and I want to make sure you know that and that you're celebrated. Now get up! Get dressed! And let's go! I wasn't going to leave you alone on your birthday. In fact, I'll make sure you're never alone on your birthday ever again."
Now she was crying which made Sam cry even harder which made Sarah cry even harder. The two hugged for a long time before standing up and wiping their eyes.
"Thanks sis. I needed that. Thanks for trying to get me out of this head of mines."
"It's what I'm here for. Now get on and get dressed! Take a shower before though and I'll try to clean your mess of an apartment."
"Okay okay okay...." Sam finally gave in and made his way into the bathroom.