Broken {Supernatural Fanfic}

5. Exodus

"We're all sentenced to solitary confinement inside our own skins, for life."- Tennessee Williams

Morning found them all sitting silently around Becky's breakfast table doing no more than picking at their food. Dean noticed that the bruises around Sam's neck were fading away. "Time to move on," he told his brother and Sam nodded, actually taking a bite of the cereal that had turned into soggy mush in his bowl. Autumn didn't look up when he spoke but Becky did.

"You're taking her with you," she said motioning to Autumn.

"No," Dean replied shortly, holding back an exasperated sigh. "We're not." They couldn't take care of a little girl while hunting creatures that went bump in the dark.

"It wasn't up for debate," Becky said simply. Autumn still hadn't looked up but she pushed her bowl of cereal aside and stood, walking out of the room. "I can't take care of a child. She's your responsibility."

"We can't take care of a child," Dean said, glancing at Becky. "Come on Sam. Back me up here."

"I think we should take her with us."

Dean turned back to stare at his brother in astonishment. Sam stared back at him without flinching. "We're not taking her," Dean said.

"You mean you're not taking her," Sam corrected. "Fine. Then I'm not coming with you either." Dean gaped at his brother in astonishment, actually speechless for a moment.

"Are you kidding me?" he sputtered after a moment, still in shock.

"Absolutely not," Sam replied calmly. "The doors that way. Don't let it hit you on the way out." Then he stood and left the room as well, Becky trailing behind him.

~

Autumn understood what it meant not to be wanted. Nat hadn't originally wanted her and after their parents died Zoe McCallister hadn't wanted to take them in. Both times Autumn had learned these things she had felt rejected but she had moved on quickly. This time though everything was beginning to feel like too much. She held in a sob and lifted a hand up to the window in front of her, pausing it right in front of the glass.

She stared out the window at the few people walking by. A woman was leading a puppy down the street, her young daughter skipping at her side. The girl couldn't be more than two or three and when she saw Autumn watching she smiled. For a moment she felt a wave of irrational worry that Josiah would destroy that little girl's family next. Then reality sank in. Josiah was gone. This girl was safe.

She breathed out with a sigh and heard footsteps behind her. "Let's pack you some spare clothes before you go," Becky said when Autumn turned. She stood without a word and followed Becky, sparing only one backwords glance at the innocent little girl skipping  on down the street.

~

As Becky packed clothing, mostly long sleeves because winter was coming but some shortsleeve things also for when summer came around, she spared glances at Autumn. The girl was sitting on the edge of the chair Becky had told her to sit, staring with solemn eyes. Downstairs Sam and Dean were arguing again and their raised voices lifted through the floor, making Autumn flinch further in to herself. "Hey!" Becky yelled down at the floor. "Keep it down, down there!" Two sorries echoed up, something that would have made her niece giggle. Autumn didn't so much smile. Instead her eyes welled with guilt and then she looked down.

Becky dropped the piece of clothing she had been folding and walked over to kneel in front of Autumn, tilting her chin up so she could look the girl in the eyes. "This isn't your fault," she said. "None of it. Understand?"

There was a pregnant moment's pause and then Autumn whispered, "Yes."

"Good," Becky said and stood, kissing the girl on the forehead. She turned at the sound of footsteps and saw Sam standing the the doorway.

"She's coming with us," he said and Becky smiled. He smiled back and then turned to leave.

"Wait a minute," Becky said. "We're almost finished here anyway." Sam smiled again, not a full smile because she hadn't seen a full smile from him since Jess died, and waited, leaning against the doorway. She finished packing and motioned for Autumn to follow her, heading for the door. Sam moved for her to slip by and offered the tiny girl his hand. She hesitated a moment and then took it. It was the first time she had seen Autumn allow any kind of contact with the boys since they had come out of the sewer.

Dean was waiting downstairs looking as if he would rather be anywhere but standing in the middle of her kitchen. Becky couldn't help but laugh and he arched an eyebrow at her. She shook her hand and smiled wickedly once she controlled herself. "Door's that way."

"Yeah," Dean said rather sourly. "I was already informed of that." Becky couldn't help but laugh again as they all headed for the door. She did sober up enough to give Dean a hug and then Sam, ending up in front of Autumn.

"Everything will be okay now," she told the little girl. Autumn gave her a look that said she doubted that but said nothing and accepted the hug and backpack Becky gave her. Moments later watching the Impala pull away Becky was struck with the sudden realization that she might never see any of them again and she flung her arm up in a farewell wave as tears prickled her eyes.