N: This is an alternate ending to Finding Sky, starting after the scene where Karla and Saul visit the Bright's home to offer their help with Sky's memories. It will largely focus on the parental relationships in the book, and offer an alternate back story for Sky, Sally and Simon.

*Trigger Warning*This story does contain themes/scenes of physical and emotional abuse and bullying. If you find these to be triggers please don't read - I don't want to hurt or upset anyone. I would also like to make it clear that the idea of abuse and bullying is not one I take lightly, so if you are or you find yourself to be in any of the situations mentioned, please seek help and advice immediately.

As always, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask, I hope you really enjoy this chapter/story no matter how un-canon it is and pleas do review, I really appreciate it.

Disclaimer - I don't own anything. All rights to Joss Stirling.

Chapter One

Sky stared despairingly after Karla and Saul Benedict, wincing as their car doors slammed. She felt tears prick at her eyes and she rubbed them fiercely. She didn't want Sally and Simon to see her crying.

"Sorry about that, love." Simon said as he and Sally returned to the living room. "Some people just won't give in; acting like they have some moronic claim over you, as if you were their own daughter."

"Mrs Hoffman said they were a bit odd, didn't she, Simon?" Sally wondered aloud. "That they keep themselves to themselves. Don't really integrate with town life, despite the fact that Saul was born and raised here. She blames his wife."

"I think they mean well," Simon added.

Sky ran her fingers over the highest notes on the piano keyboard, the pitch highlighting the distress she felt. Almost abruptly, she closed the lid and turned back to her parents, trying to breath calmly.

"Maybe we should think more about what Mr and Mrs Benedict said? Maybe they can actually help."

Simon shook his head. "Sorry, Sky, but I think we've dodged a bullet on that one. Especially after all that business with those gunmen."

But that wasn't true, Sky wanted to say, that was just a lie to keep their secrets safe. Her heart gave a thud and she gave another push.

"Please, can we just call them? Give them a chance to explain properly. I really think-"

"Sky, listen, love," Sally said calmly. "You're making really good progress with the doctor we've got you. I don't think it's the best idea for you to start hanging around the Benedicts again. You're not to see Zed and you're not to go over to his house. We don't want any setbacks, do we?"

"But I need them!" Sky cried, unthinkingly. Sally and Simon froze. "I need their help, I need whatever they're offering. Please!"

"We said no, Sky." Simon stated firmly.

"You don't understand!" Sky could feel the tears streaming down her face. "Why won't you just listen? The Benedict's aren't like Mrs Hoffman said, they're lovely and warm and kind and generous-"

"Sky, that's enough." Sally crossed the room and smoothed down her daughter's hair. "Maybe you should go up to bed and rest."

"No! Please, Sally, just listen. They really can help."

"Sky-"

"No, please, please Sally, Simon, please can we just call them and say we'd like them to help?" Sky begged. She suddenly found herself backed up in the corner of the living room, Sally and Simon towering over her.

"Sky, don't be dramatic." Sally rolled her eyes in exasperation. "You don't need the Benedicts. You don't need their help." She took Sky's hand, her smile shadowed with a hint of irritation. "I know it's hard, moving from one country to another and leaving all your friends behind, and I know that you haven't had the best time lately, what with everything that's happened but that's no excuse to throw a tantrum over these people."

"Love," Simon said, "maybe Zed's made you feel very special, said some things, made some promises, but it's all talk. I think things are going well currently with the doctor we've got you right now and I don't see why things should change because you want to spend more time with your boyfriend."

Sky stared between them wildly. They made her feel so stupid and small, like she wasn't in control anymore. They had said it was her decision, but now she was saying things they didn't like and they were angry. For some unknown reason a wave of of unease came over her, almost like she had been in this position before. Her heart began to thud in heavy, rapid beats and she began to feel rather frightened.

"I just think they can help," she said quietly.

"I disagree." Simon folded his arms. "Spending time with Zed and his family has always ended in tears, and just like now, they've brought out a side in you I don't like."

"Well, you brought me here!" Sky snapped. "If you hadn't brought me here, none of this would have happened!"

"Sky!" Sally said, cross now. "Now that is quite enough. Go to your room, now."

Sky hesitated, before sliding between her parents and heading towards the stairs. Foot on the first step, she turned back and said; "I want Karla and Saul to help. They'll do a lot more than you can."

There was silence for a moment, and Simon began to walk towards her. Sky's heart began to thud and she backed up, quickly moving up the first three stairs. But Simon came closer and closer until…

Simon's hand smacked across her face like a whip, and for a second her cheek went cold, and then it burned, hotter and hotter until it stung. The force of it knocked her sideways and she crashed into the wall. She stared up with wide eyes, frightened and trembling, first at Simon, and then to Sally.

"That's enough of your attitude, young lady." Sally said quietly. "I suggest you go to your room, for the rest of the evening, and think about what's happened tonight."

"He hit me," she whispered, too shocked to move. "You hit me! Why aren't you doing something? He hit me!"

"Sky, go to your room," Sally ordered firmly.

"Sally-"

With a snarl of rage, Simon had grabbed her by her hair, dragging her up from the ground and - while she shrieked and cried out in pain - led her up the stairs. He kicked open her door, shoved her inside and slammed it behind her, locking it.

What had happened to Simon and Sally? He had hit her… It had never happened before but she knew that parents didn't ever do that to their children. Almost unconsciously, Sky thought of Saul - he would never hurt his children. That she was sure of. Truly shaken, she sank to her knees and began to sob into her hands.

00oo00oo00

Sky didn't move from her curled up position on the floor for a long time, switching between sobbing and to the conversation between Sally and Simon downstairs. She heard Simon say he would come upstairs for a 'chat' with her - but she was frightened of what that meant and decided to make a plan.

She couldn't call anyone; her mobile and the house phone was downstairs. Sky scratched at her arms until they were a fiery red and sore and stinging. She couldn't bear it; her heart felt like it was being squeezed, her lungs felt crushed. She wanted to scream, pummel her head until it was back in shape. She couldn't pretend to be getting any better when in fact she was getting worse, and she couldn't stay here; what if Simon got angry again?

She had to do something. Fists clenched, she got to her feet and turned back into her bedroom, snatching up the first jacket she put her hands on and tugging her feet into her Converse. There was only one place she could think of to go to feel better, to feel safe and alive and sane again. Grabbing her bag, she slung it on her shoulder and snatched up her purse, just in case.

Slowly and carefully, Sky eased the window open and climbed onto the porch roof, slid down to the edge and dropped to the ground.

Sky started to run down the road, feet crunching in the snow, ignoring Mrs Hoffman's call after her. After a while she could no longer feel the cold wind biting at her, and by the time she was walking up the steep road behind the ski lodges that led up to the cable car, her feet were soaked and numb.

The snow here was stamped down, slippery and slick. When Sky looked at her toes, she realized that the soles of her shoes were in shreds and her feet were bleeding. Her cheek and arms stung, tears pouring down her cheeks.

As Sky approached the Benedict house cautiously, she felt a barrier - not as strong as it could have been as it was only early evening and visiting neighbors could still be expected - but pushed through it, slamming up what remained of her shields, and continuing on. Her push did not set off any alarms, perhaps the creators of the shield would think it was a neighbor or a friend.

She hesitated at the front door. She had never been here alone; Zed had always been with her. Slowly, she placed her hand on the doorknob and twisted, surprised when the door pulled open easily. Stepping inside quickly, she closed the door quietly, wondering if anyone was inside. With their freakishly good senses, Sky was surprised they hadn't sensed her distressed mind and been waiting at the door to greet her.

"Hello?" Sky rubbed at her eyes again, trying to remove any evidence of crying.

"Sky?"

The rich, Coloradan drawl wasn't quite what she was hoping for, but she'd take it all the same. Turning to give a weak smile to Xav, who was standing in the doorway to the kitchen. She had to bite her lip to keep the pain from showing on her face - even though she doubted he was fooled.

"Hi, Xav, are your parents here?" She asked, hating the weakness in her voice.

He nodded. "My dad is. Are you okay?" His dark eyes lingered on Sky's face, and she rubbed at her eyes again, self-conscious. Xav's confusion warred with concern as a taller, broader figure appeared in the hallway.

"Sky!" Saul's eyes lit up in happy surprise and he moved toward his son and the young girl. "I didn't think your parents would change their minds so quickly…" His tone at first was soft and welcoming, but the smile died on his lips as he took in the tears that fell down Sky's face and the way her hands trembled.

She opened her mouth, ready to explain, but her fears held her back. Would Saul be the same? Would he dismiss her with the same calmness of Sally and send her packing? She felt the sting of the slap again, and it stabbed her heart. Saul wouldn't think she was overreacting, would he?

"Sky?"

The young girl gasped, as though she had forgotten where she was and jerked her head upwards to look at Saul and Xav, who looked more concerned than before. Saul had moved closer, arm outstretched as though he wanted to take her hand, but didn't want to startle her. Sky forced a half-smile.

"I'm so sorry," she murmured, "I didn't mean to-" she glanced around nervously, hands trembling. "I'm so sorry to bother you, but you said I could come. I didn't know where else to go and I- um- please, I need your help."

Saul's eyes, already gentle, softened, and Xav smiled at her tenderly.

"It's okay, sweetheart," Saul said. "It's no bother at all."

Xav led them into the kitchen; Saul held back, making sure the fragile looking girl didn't collapse on her way through. A bar stool was pulled out for her, and the men waited for a moment to allow her to climb up. Used to accommodating tall men with long legs, the bar stool was raised too high.

Saul held out his hands. "May I?"

Sky nodded, and he lifted her, with ease, on to the stool. Gingerly, Xav cupped her cheek with his large warm hand. "This should take the sting away," he told her. "It's just bruised. It'll be sore for a few days. Your feet on the other hand…"

Xav eased off what was left of her shoes, closed his eyes and placed his palms on the soles of her feet. A tingling sensation spread through the lower part of her legs, and then pain as the feeling flowed back into her toes.

Saul reached into a cabinet, pulled out a glass and filled it with ice and water from the refrigerator. He placed the glass on the counter beside Sky.

"Thank you," she said quietly, taking a long sip. The cool water soothed her throat, which was sore from all the crying.

"Did you walk here all on your own, sweetheart?" Saul asked, eyes full of concern.

Sky nodded.

"Your dad let you? I wouldn't have, even small towns can be dangerous. Especially at night." Saul's concern made the pain stab at her heart again.

"He doesn't know I've gone. Or he probably does by now, but he didn't when I left. Sally didn't either."

"Sweetheart, I hate to ask; I know it's a horrible question, but did… did Simon do this to you? Did he hurt you?" He took Sky's stunned silence for reluctance, and gently squeezed her hand. "Because if he did, you can talk to us. Any of us. We'll protect you. You'll be safe here."

The front door slammed, and both Xav and Saul looked up as Victor strolled into the kitchen, eyebrows raising when he noticed Sky.

"I thought you were banned from seeing us, little one." The third eldest Benedict shrugged out of his leather jacket and watched as Xav finished up healing Sky's feet, before turning his eyes onto her face. For a brief moment, Sky was convinced she saw concern in his eyes. "A skiing accident? Mom will kill you both; she said earlier the weather was too bad on the slopes."

"It wasn't a skiing accident." Sky defended, "I walked from mine to here."

Victor looked at her again. "You walked here alone?"

"I needed help."

"I thought your parents had all that wrapped up for you?"

"Turns out they're not so nice."

"What happened, Sky?" Saul leaned back against the counter, arms folded across his chest. Xav let go of her feet, and cleared the empty glass away.

Shame pooled in Sky's stomach. What would they think if they found out what Simon had done to her? Surely, they'd think she'd deserve it too? Would Victor advise Zed against being with me again? Would Saul reject her as a daughter? She needed his and Karla's love and care almost as much as she needed Zed's.

"When you and Mrs Benedict left, Simon was so angry. He kept ranting about you guys interfering, he said I was nothing to do with you and that you should leave well alone." Her voice caught and her breath hitched. "I kept trying to explain that you could help, that I needed you too but he got angrier and angrier and so I - I just…"

"Just what, Sky?"

"I tried to make him understand!" Sky cried. "I kept telling him and telling him but he wouldn't listen and he got angrier and angrier and- well- he… he slapped me." Her voice dropped to an ashamed whisper.

There was silence in the kitchen, something Sky knew without asking was a rare occurrence. She didn't even have to look up to see that all three of the men were frozen in place. Finally, Victor spoke up.

"He slapped you?" He snarled, fists clenched. Sky glanced up, but didn't meet anyone's eyes.

"What?"

"That bastard slapped you?"

She glanced nervously at Saul, half-expecting Victor's father to jump in with a reprimand, but he was staring at the counter-top in a display of forced calm.

"Victor…"

Xav slammed a fist on the counter, the bang echoing around the room.

"I've met him, right?" He leaned toward Sky, eyes blazing with fury. "The skeleton guy?" He mumbled something Sky couldn't quite catch, turning towards the door.

Saul seemed to snap out of his stupor and reached out for his son, catching his shoulders and pulling him back. "And where the hell do you think you're going?"

"Skeleton hunting." Xav scowled. "It's suddenly become season."

"You can't," Sky breathed.

"You aren't going anywhere." Saul said firmly. "You're staying here."

"But-"

"What, you think you're going to go over there and teach him a lesson?" Saul pulled Xav directly in front of him. "Xav, he's about as tall as me, and I'm taller than you. If he slapped Sky, what will he do to you? You're my son; I'm not going to just stand and watch while you get hurt. You're staying here, and that's final."

"Call Sally?" Victor suggested.

"She already knows." All three men looked at her in shock. "She was there when it happened."

"So the police have been called?"

"No, she uh-" Sky swallowed hard against the ache in her throat and forced a weak smile. "She… she started to get angry too and Simon slapped me and she told me to go to my room." Tears filled her eyes and she blinked furiously. "She thought it was my fault."

"Your fault?"

Saul was not scary. Not to Sky.

At one point or another since meeting the Benedict's, she had felt the faint stirrings of fear; perhaps her common sense finally showing up. Zed appeared scary to anyone with a pulse. The fear had come back when she had heard about Yves' pyrotechnics, and Uriel's special spider sense. And although she knew Victor would never hurt her intentionally, his cool expressions, Savant abilities and razor-sharp mind terrified her. In fact, she had been terrified by Victor more times than anyone else, but would never mention it for fear of hurting Zed's secretly kind and generous brother.

Karla was another story. She was a beautiful but deadly ball of fire, who, on one occasion, had burned down any shields Sky had and had let her gifts loose, tearing Sky's mind apart. Now she seemed to be consistently careful with how she treated the young girl, obviously aware of how much she could hurt her if she wasn't.

But Saul was, in Sky's mind, not scary. His gifts were fairly unobtrusive, and he clearly loved his children, adored his wife and was generally well liked and respected by most of the township. He kept moody Victor, rowdy Zed and quiet but unpredictable Yves in line with patience and care, and would obviously forgive his children anything. In Sky's eyes he was a near perfect father, and a few times she had compared him to Simon; something she was ashamed of, but couldn't help when she considered her often absent, stand-offish father.

But now, as she looked up into his fierce eyes, she could fully appreciate his role as the head and protector of a family of Savants. His eyes darkened, cold with fury as he spat out the offensive words.

"I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have told you. This was a mistake. Please, I'm sorry. This was my fault. I should leave-" Sky tried to slide off the bar stool but Saul moved, and gently cupped her cheeks, shaking his head.

"Don't you dare apologize," he murmured, eyes blazing.

"It just happened," she cried, desperate for him to understand. "I needed them to understand. I know I was bad. But I needed help and I thought they'd say yes if I explained. Please, don't-" Dropping her head, Sky choked out sob after sob, cheeks flushing in shame. "I'm so sorry. I've ruined everything. Please, please… I just- I needed- I'm so sorry. I'm sorry."

Closing her eyes, Sky stiffened slightly as strong arms pulled her against a hard chest. She could smell a pine-scented aftershave and car oil and metal.

"Hey, it's okay, it's okay." Saul's soft voice came from above her head, which was tucked under his chin. "It's all okay, everything's okay, sweetheart." His assurances were welcome as his large hand rubbed up and down her back, easing the tension away.

"I'll kill him," Xav said, but Sky shook her head.

"Leave him alone," she whispered.

He snorted. "Are you serious? Honey, he assaulted you! He could have-" Xav broke off, choking on his words.

"He just slapped me." Sky didn't mention how he'd dragged her by her hair to her room and locked the door.

"And what if he did more?" Xav punched the counter, the force behind it breaking the skin on his knuckles.

"He did," Victor said coldly. Her cheeks flushed as she remembered Victor could read minds as part of his gift, and leaned her head against Saul's chest weakly. "The bastard slapped you, dragged you by the hair to your room, locked the door…" Victor was incredulous as he started to put things together. "You climbed out of your goddamn window, and you walked here on your own."

"I'm definitely going to kill him."

Sky looked up at Xav, eyes streaming. He grinned gently, and wiped the tears away with his thumb.

"Don't cry," he whispered. "You sure you don't want me to kill him?"

She gave a watery sniff and shook her head. "You'd get hurt."

"Not with my help," Victor said, "and I'm sure Zed and the others would tag along. Or better still, we could let Mom loose on him; she'd destroy him in seconds."

Saul's arms tightened around Sky. "While I love that you have so much faith in yourselves, I think we'll leave your mother out of your grand plan. And you boys aren't going anywhere either. I'm not risking any of you." He sighed, then released Sky, pressing a kiss to her forehead. His voice was a little regretful, and Sky wondered if a part of him wanted to hurt Simon too. A little embarrassed by their reactions, she couldn't help but feel warm and safe within their cocoon of protectiveness, something she'd never felt with her own parents.

There was silence for a long moment.

"He's probably on his way here," Sky whispered. "Mrs Hoffman saw me leave."

"He'd have a lot of nerve to come here, sweetheart." Saul hesitated, his eyes meeting Sky's. "If you'd like to stay here tonight, you're more than welcome. If not, I'll drive you home myself, or one of the boys will. Far too dangerous for young girls - any girl or woman to be walking alone at night."

"I'd like to stay, if that's okay," Sky whispered. "I don't want to go back."

"That's fine." Saul smoothed down her hair. "Dinner, a hot bath, a movie and sleep, I think is best." He ran a hand through his hair. "Karla and the rest of the boys will be home soon. Would you be okay with chicken and potatoes for dinner? I think that's what she has planned. She's grocery shopping at the moment."

Sky nodded; the idea of someone cooking her dinner felt strange, almost alien. All the same, she liked the sound of it.

"Great, we'll put a film on then." Saul helped Sky down from the bar stool. "You kids pick, and I'll grab you some dry clothes, Sky."

"Are you sure Mrs Benedict won't mind?"

"Karla," Saul said with a smile, "will be delighted."

00oo00oo00

Saul sat in his old armchair, a large book on philosophy open on his lap, only half listening to the movie the boys and Sky had chosen. Glancing up, he smiled a little in pride and contentment. Victor sat on the far end of the sofa, a half smile on his face as he watched the action sequence on the television. His chin rested in one hand while his other hand was tenderly curled around Sky's much smaller, fragile hand. Sky's head rested on a pillow next to his leg, her feet pushed into Xav's lap. A thick blanket had been pulled over her body, and both his sons glanced at the girl occasionally, as if she was their sister.

Saul held no illusions about his children. Neither Victor nor Xav had expressed any desire to protect Sky when Zed first showed an interest in her. In fact, Victor, on more than one occasion, made it clear that he considered the girl a liability and his brother's relationship with her a disaster. Xav, on the other hand, had tried to have sympathy for his little brother, but had encouraged Zed to ditch her when the situation surrounding them become more dangerous. Now they were sitting at either end of a couch, Sky lying between them, completely at ease.

Once he'd gotten to know Sky, Xav had become Sky's advocate and main supporter. Saul had seen it in his amused smile when she had stumbled through the front door and into the kitchen with Zed, when she'd complimented their home and teased Xav about his skiing. Saul had even over heard several instances of Xav complaining about some guys from Zed's football team and about a girl called Sheena. Apparently Sky held the interest of a couple of boys from the high school - something that mildly annoyed Zed, but flared up a protective streak in Xav. He'd even walked in on Xav arguing with his brothers about her.

"Why does it even matter, Xav?" Victor had snapped, irritation evident in his eyes he sat on the sofa watching Xav and Will play a video game. "She's nothing to do with us."

"Yes, she is," Xav had argued back. "She's Zed girlfriend and a part of our family."

Saul sighed; if only they knew the half of it. Sky was actually Zed's soulfinder, and while that fact was wonderful and he was overjoyed to see the change it brought about in his son, it made her more of a target and made keeping her safe that little bit harder. Still, he was glad Xav felt the same way about Sky as he and Karla did.

Speaking of parents, Saul's thoughts suddenly turned to Sally and Simon. He frowned at his book, thinking back to Sky's attitude and wondered if her life had always been like this. He wondered if Simon had ever hurt her before, and if not, why now? Having plenty of experience in raising teenagers, he knew they were prone to arguments and huge displays of temper and rebelling at any given moment. This couldn't just be a one off moment. It had to have happened before, Saul was sure of it.

Sky was clearly accustomed to taking care of herself, and he'd been surprised when, after being kidnapped by the Kelly's and resting for a long while in a hospital, he had overheard Sky comforting her distraught mother. While walking by her room with Zed one day after visiting, he'd heard the girl asking Sally how they were going to pay for the hospital bills and when she had last eaten. Saul had winced, the unnatural relationship tugging uncomfortably at his heart. Sally, like an exasperated teenager, had rolled her eyes and had assured her young daughter that she and Simon were 'fine'.

It was apparent that 'fine' was a favorite among Sky's family. But Saul continued to wonder, if Sky's relationship with Sally was the reversal of a child/parent relationship, what was the relationship between Sky and her father?

There was a low cry, and Saul glanced up at Sky and his sons, concerned. She whimpered in her sleep, fists clenched and her forehead creased. Victor's eyes widened, then narrowed, expression dark.

She's dreaming about Simon, he said coolly.

"Please," she mumbled, "please, stop… please…"

Saul placed his book on the table and stood, making his way to the sofa as Xav and Victor watched her helplessly.

Gently, Saul placed a hand on her shoulder. "Come on, honey," he murmured gently, "there's no need to be afraid, you're safe here."

Sky's body stiffened, and then relaxed, her breathing slowing. "Saul," she mumbled, eyes fluttering open. "What happened?"

"You fell asleep," Xav said quietly, "we were watching a movie."

Victor slipped off of the sofa, and disappeared into the kitchen; when he returned he held out a glass of iced water to Sky who took it gratefully.

"Thank you," she whispered, but he waved it off, kneeling in front of the couch, his eyes concerned. Sky drank until the glass was empty, and then placed it in Victor's waiting hand.

"Better?" he asked.

Sky nodded. "Sorry." Her cheeks flushed and she looked at the floor.

Saul shook his head. "You have nothing to be sorry for, honey. Did you want to go to bed, get some proper rest?"

"But we haven't even finished the movie yet!" Xav whined childishly. Victor snorted at his attitude and sat back down in his seat. Knowing he had won, Xav grabbed the remote and played the film, turning up the volume. Saul kissed the top of her head and went back to his philosophy book and Sky, realizing that no one was going to press the issue of the nightmare, gingerly laid her head back down on the pillow.

00oo00oo00

Sky managed to watch the rest of the movie, and when the credits started rolling Xav switched to a video game in which he and Victor spent a great deal of time shooting zombies and yelling insults at each other. Saul eventually grew tired of their antics, and, rolling his eyes in fond exasperation, stood and went back into the kitchen. An hour later, Sky made up her mind, and followed after him.

The door to the garage was partially open, and he invited her in before she had even knocked. Saul was leaning over the engine of an old faded red truck, an oily rag in his hands as he cleaned some metal. As Sky drew closer, he looked up and smiled at her, but his expression grew sober when he caught the expression on her face.

"Is this about the nightmare?" he asked softly, when she sat on the floor, cross legged. Her face flushed and she nodded. He sighed. "It was about Simon."

It wasn't a question, but Sky nodded again to tell him he was right. He waited patiently as she took a deep breath. It seemed like he'd already guessed part of what she was going to say, or perhaps even all of it.

Sky stared at the floor for a long moment before starting to speak. "Sally and Simon adopted me when I was ten. In the six years since I started living with them I don't remember either of them ever hurting me. I would never have imagined it, or even considered it. But what happened today… it-it didn't feel like- like a…"

"Like it was the first time?" Saul finished quietly. He tossed the rag onto the engine, and then lowered himself to sit in front of Sky.

"I feel like it had happened before. Like it was a routine, and for some reason I broke it." Sky swallowed. "The nightmare was similar to what happened today, but it was in our old house, in London. I was crying about something - I don't know what - and Sally kept telling Simon to make me stop. So he got his belt, the one with the metal on it and he- he…"

"He hurt you with it." Again it wasn't a question. Sky looked up at him, eyes streaming. She shook her head.

Sky began to talk about other things, the old nightmare. The one where she had been abandoned at a service station, the mantras that haunted her; Be quiet, freak, or we'll come back and get you, or I must be good, I must be silent, I mustn't make a fuss and her old favorite - I'm bad. Other moments where she'd felt frightened and scared spilled out of her head and off her tongue until her words ran away with her and all she could say was:

"I am crazy, aren't I?"

"No, sweetheart, you're not." Saul shifted closer, and took her small hands in his large ones. His eyes were sad. "I'm so sorry," he said softly, and Sky pressed her eyes and lips tightly shut, determined not to cry. Saul must have noticed because he gently pulled Sky closer, lifting her onto his lap, cradling her in a way that should not have been so comfortable.

This is what was supposed to happen, Sky realized, when Simon had hit her earlier. This was how Sally was supposed to react. Why couldn't she have done this?

"Sorry," Sky whispered, as she pressed her head against his shoulder, her tears making his jumper damp. He didn't answer at first, simply smoothed down her hair with one hand and rubbed her back with another, leaning back so she was balanced perfectly against him.

"She-" Sky choked out, almost as if it was against her own will. "-thought I was being dramatic… that I just wanted to spend more time with Zed… She thought I was making a fuss for attention… because I was angry we'd come here… she wouldn't listen." She sobbed harder, and Saul's arms tightened around her for a moment, then eased, as if he'd been close to losing control. "I couldn't make them understand… make them listen… and then he hit me! He hit me and she did nothing! She told me to go to my room and think about what had happened but he hit me! Why didn't she do anything? Why?"

"This was not your fault," Saul said firmly. "You should not have been forced to go through this. You mother should have listened to you and taken you out of that situation the minute it began. It was her job to protect you. Of course, Simon is at fault as well, but it was her job to protect you from him and she didn't."

"But she… my mum… she loves me. They both love me. And they couldn't do it on their own… I was the responsible one…" Her words now coherent, Sky thought of all the times she had taken care of the house, gotten the groceries and made the dinners.

"I know you were, Sky, and it was so good of you to do those things for your parents when they needed you too. But it should not have been you who had to be the responsible one."

Sky tried to remember the last time anyone had hugged her like this, and though she loathed to admit it, she failed. Of course she would get half-hugs from her father, and Sally would hug her when she was happy but… she could never remember anyone hugging her like this. She closed her eyes, relishing in the feeling and then jumped, afraid she was imposing on his free time and made to get up.

"Hey, it's okay," Saul soothed. Slowly, Sky relaxed and leaned back into his embrace.

"I'm sorry," she said, "I've ruined your jumper."

"I don't care about the jumper," Saul said softly. There was a soft buzz and Saul's phone lit up where it lay on the roof of the Jeep. Sky's eyes widened as it slowly lifted into the air and floated over to Saul's waiting hand. He shrugged. "Perks of telekinesis." He glanced down at the screen. "Just Karla," he explained, "she and the boys are on their way back."

"Are you sure she won't mind me staying here?" Sky asked anxiously.

"She'll be thrilled not to be the only girl in the house that's for sure." Saul chuckled. "I can picture it now, nothing but shopping and makeovers and whatever else it is she'll want to do with you. She won't mind at all, honey."

There was a loud crash from the kitchen.

"What was that?"

Saul sighed heavily. "I'd imagine it's my sons." Gently, he eased Sky off of his lap, stood and offered her his hand. "Come on," he said, pulling her up. "let's go and see what they've broken now."