Shades of gray- Story 2 {BtVS/Supernatural}

9. Getting out of dodge

A/N: Ok from here the remaining chapters are obviously AUish, cuz I took out the bus scene in the end of Becoming part 2. Characters aren't mine. 

Dean carried Buffy out to the garage to an empty car, placing her gently in the seat, and got in on the other side. She leaned against the door and looked out the window, not saying a word and not crying. Dean hot-wired the car and drove it back to their hotel, stopping on the way for some medical supplies at a gas station. Once back in their room, Sam let Dean tend to him, and Buffy went into the bathroom for a hot shower. Dean kept glancing at the bathroom, concerned for her, but let her have her space. Sam started to pack and take down the crosses once he was all set again, and tried to make some semblance of order out of the trashed room. After a silent look at Dean, he went out to load the Impala, leaving the two alone. Dean knocked gently on the bathroom door, and after not hearing the water running; he opened it to lay some clothes on the counter. The jeans and shirt were his, and would probably be too big for her small frame but they’d have to do until she went back home.

He tried not to glance at her, but when he heard another sob, he forgot about modesty and found her curled up in the tub, her legs drawn close, her hair plastered to her head. He got a towel off the rack and handed it to her, then turned so she could wrap it around herself. He heard her get up and the rustle of fabric as she put on the towel, then felt her hand on his arm. He faced her, holding her close and kissing her forehead gently, wishing he could do more to ease her pain.

“Here are some clothes, okay?” He said softly, and he felt her nod. “They might be too big, but they’ll do until I can get you home.”

“No,” she whispered, and her voice came out as a hoarse sounding croak, so she cleared her throat and tried again. “No, I can’t go home.”

“Why not sweet?” He asked, cupping her face in his hands and wiping away her tears with his thumbs.

“Mom knows, and she...” She trailed off and he sighed, and then leaned forward to kiss her temple.

“Get dressed; we’ll talk about the next step after alright?” He told her and she managed a half-smile that he returned before leaving her alone in the bathroom again. She let out a shaky breath and looked in the small mirror over the sink. He’d given her some of his casual clothes, she noticed, but also a belt in case the jeans were too big. She combed her fingers through her wet hair, trying to pull herself together and thought about what she should do now. She could go home, but not to stay, and she’d been expelled tonight. She didn’t want to stay in Sunnydale: there were too many memories of Angel and Angelus everywhere she turned. She also knew that Dean and Sam would be heading out again, probably the next morning in fact, and thought maybe they’d agree to take her with them. She pulled on Dean’s clothes and, after taking a moment to breathe in his familiar scent, she towel-dried her hair and attempted to get the blotchiness from crying out of her face.

When she was done, she opened the door and found Sam and Dean talking in hushed tones; Sam on his bed, while Dean was packing a bag on the other. Sam smiled at her and went over to give her a comforting hug that she gratefully returned. After he let go he went back to his bed and sat down, and she saw Dean give her an once-over to make sure she was okay. He did that a lot and not just to her but to Sam as well, she’d noticed, but she found that she didn’t really mind; it meant that he cared. She sat on the edge of his bed and he watched her, none of them said anything for a moment or two.

“Dean said you can’t go home?” Sam asked her quietly, and she nodded. “What about Giles?”

“No, I don’t want to do that to him. I um, wanted to know if maybe I could come with you guys.” She answered hesitantly. The two brothers shared a look, but neither said no right away.