Doctor Sleep | Dan x OC

A Familiar Face

Amy stands up from her seat, figuring she'll get off at the next stop where ever it landed. Frazier, New Hampshire. Why not? She hauls her purse, stuffed with the little clothes she had. She passes a man a few rows ahead of her, and as she passes he stands up as well following. Amy steps off the bus. Tired, beat, and needed a shower, but the fresh air and sun felt just right on her pale cheeks.

The hairs on her neck rise as she takes her first steps into the new town. She looks back, noticing the pair of blue eyes following her as he stands at his stop. Amy stops as well, and the two just stare at each other waiting for one to say something, but they don't. Dan turns and walks away causing Amy to turn back around and continue on her path. She wasn't scared, she didn't catch a bad vibe from the man. She was just curious as to why he felt so familiar.

Amy walked into a small motel on the corner of the stip. The front desk worker looked her up and down before popping the bubble in her mouth. She stands looking Amy over. "I know, I look like shit," Amy says as she lays down $700 bucks. "How much is a long-term rental?" The girl took the cash, sliding it through her fingers as she counted. "This will get you 3 months here. What's your name?" The girl sits at the computer opening the system. "Amy Duvall." She punches in her name in one of the many available rooms. "Room 217." She tosses the key across the counter. Amy stares at the key in thankfulness. She'd never been this far out on her own in a legitimate way. "Hey, you know where I can find some work around here?" The young girl nods, "Sure. The diner is always looking for help. Most people don't stay because of the hours. Do you mind night shift?" Amy shakes her head. "I'm well adaptable. I'm sure you can tell." The young girl smiles kindly, letting out a small giggle. "Talk to Pop. He'll set you up."

Room 217 wasn't anything special. The beige carpet was patterned with many stains and the bed looked worn and depressed, but it was hers. After a shower, and a change of clothes, Amy made her way to the diner. Her black boots on the black and white checkered floor clicked as she made her way to the counter. "Hey. Can I speak to Pop?" A large man slaps his hands on the counter, a dishrag over his shoulder. "Speaking. What can I do for you, miss?" "You got any work available? I'm not picky about shifts." Pops lips grew into a smile. "You an angel or something? My girl just walked out. Come on back and we can find you a uniform."

~

After AA Billy had been craving a double cheeseburger. He made his way to the diner on the route to his apartment. As he sat at the bar, he noticed a girl wiping down the tables. A new girl he'd never noticed before. "Hey there." He tips his hat. "Hey." She mumbles as she continues. Tired eyes, struggling eyes, and a heavy heart. Billy had a way with people. It's like he could read them like a book. "You new around here?" She nods, flipping the rag over her shoulder. "I am. Three weeks as of yesterday." Billy could tell by the way her eye drifted to his pockets she was waiting for an offer. "I don't mean to offend, but if you've got time, there's a local AA group. No shame, just help." Amy was taken aback. She twiddles her thumbs. "That obvious?" "How long have you been off the sauce?" "Three weeks. It's hard as hell." Billy shrugs with a smile, "It ain't suppose to be easy." He writes down his number passing it to her as his order is called. "Give me a call if you're interested. There's several of us struggling." Amy stares at the paper, hope-filled her veins. "You don't even know me." "Then come to the meeting. We can all get to know you, and help you."

It wasn't two nights before Amy rang her newfound friend asking for directions to the next meeting. She was late, of course. Her boots knocked on the floor as she walked in, taking one of the open seats in the last row, holding her head down. She had admitted her faults, but never publicly to others. Would they trash her experience? It wasn't her fault where she ended up or what she had done. It was just survival.

"Anyone 3 months sober?" A few raised their hands. "What about 1 month?" No one raised their hand. "3 weeks?" I raised my hand, and all the eyes averted to my frame causing my blood to go to my cheeks.

The speaker smiles, motioning me forward. "Would you like to speak?" An unseen force drags my legs out of my chair, making me land in front of the whole group.

I nod with a small smile. "Amy, addict." a course of hellos, hi, and welcomes flood the room. "I was a happy kid, I guess. My parents took me everywhere on vacation. My dad was a drunk, and my mom used coke heavily. I didn't know when I was a kid. My mom left us after a while of my father's abuse. Once she was gone, he turned to me. I was 18 when I left home. I had a few friends that... helped me at the time. It wasn't until earlier, about a month ago I realized I could be better. Someone told me I could be better. So... Here I am." I smile at the floor feeling my cheeks heat up at the small applause from the room.

"Amy?"

I look up quickly hearing my name, but no one had spoken it aloud. It's been forever since I've heard it in my head. "It is you." Again, the voice speaks. I return to my seat with the golden sobriety coin in my grasp.

As I return to my seat Billy turns around from the row ahead. "Glad to see you came." I nod, "It was time. Glad you told me about it." "I've got someone you should meet. You two came into town around the same time." As others stand and make conversation, Billy ushers over a man, the man. The familiar man from the bus. I stand with them trapped in a trace. I know this man! His blue eyes pierced my soul. We share a history. Short and young, but we both remember.

"Danny?" I whisper, my hands shaking around the golden coin. His lips curve into a smile. "I knew it was you." Without a second thought, I threw myself into him. "It's been so long!" He smells the same as all those years ago. "I see you grew out of the ballet slippers." "And you're not on the big wheel anymore." Billy watches the interaction with wide eyes. "You two know each other?" "Long time ago." "We were kids." Billy shakes his head with a smile. "I'll be damned."

I meet Danny's eyes, staring into the dark sea. "You still do this?" I ask in his head. His eyes shoot to mine with compassion. "Not as much."

Billy looks back and forth between us as we stand silently. "Well, I feel like this is my exit." He walks away, leaving Dan and I to our worlds.

"What made you come here of all places?" I ask him as I play with my coin. "I just got on a bus." "And rode it until you felt right?" "You were on that bus." I nod, "I was a mess." "You should've seen me. Covered in vomit and shame."

What were the odds of us ending up in the same small town together? Destiny? Fate? Or were even bigger forces at play?