When the books drive him to his wits end and he needs a break, Sam turns to fieldwork. Walking around the city, examining it, the people, the way they interact, talking to them...it's invaluable to figuring out where he stands on everything that's been happening to him now.

It's also a great way to avoid thinking of the things that truly haunt him.

He wraps his coat tighter around himself to keep the cold at bay, his chin lowered to hide in his collar. It's with the narrowing of his line of vision that he runs in -- quite literally -- into the other man.

"Oh -- sorry man -- you ok?" His hands instinctively reach out of his pockets to stabilize the other if he should need it.