Zepheera regarded each person that entered with a thoughtful smile, quietly assessing their feelings about the situation. She tried not to get too deep, seeing as she was a stranger to all of them, and after everything they'd gone through they had a right to their privacy. To calm any nerves, Zepheera introduced herself.
"Hello! I'm Zepheera. I heard about what happened to you lot, and I understand you're in need of accommodations. I'd like to help with that. See, I've lived in this city for a long time, and I know the ins and outs better than anyone. I daresay that I could find anyone a place where they fit. We might be a tight community here in London, but there's always space for someone. So…what were we thinking? Anyone put any thought into this yet?"
The twins settled against a far wall while they listened to Zepheera, still deciding between themselves if they wanted to accept her help or attempt to make it on their own. They watched the others for their reactions, hoping to get a better read on the odd woman through her interactions with them.
Christian frowned, his hand on Kara's shoulder. "It's nice of you to offer…" he ventured tentatively, his voice as wound up as it ever was.
"We've found a place downstairs," Mikael interrupted, smoothly taking over for the timid father. "After Kara went through so much, we didn't want to put her through moving again, and this way she can stay near the few people she knows."
"Fair enough," Zepheera nodded, grin widening as her eyes fell on little Kara. It was a wonder that, after everything she'd gone through, the child still had such a warm energy that spread to those around her. "It's a good spot, this, especially when you've got friends and family around."
"I could use some help," Bree said, knitting her fingers together where she sat. "I don't have anyone else."
Zepheera's smile faltered, receiving much more from the young woman than she ever meant to as they locked eyes. Zepheera's heart ached as she grasped just how long Bree had been estranged from her own people, her family. The poor thing had been under the control of humans for over half her life, cut off from her own kind until now.
"Oh…" Zepheera slowly got to her feet and approached the blonde with shining violet eyes. "Sorry, I know this is probably weird, but… Do you mind if I hug you, Bree?"
Bree's lip trembled, a bit of her pent-up emotion threatening to spill over, tears on the edge of overflowing. "I-it's not… I shouldn't…" She blinked rapidly, trying to hold herself together.
"Bree," Sam said gently, leaning forward in his seat, "it's okay. You're safe now, and no one's taking you away again."
"I-I know, it just feels wrong! " she wailed, caught up in the mindset that came from years of living with humans, treated as a pet since she was a small child. She stumbled forward a few steps, and sank into Zepheera's arms.
Zepheera hugged Bree close, a few tears falling freely down her cheeks despite her breaths being as even as ever. Hugs like this weren't usually her area, but her conversation with Dean left her thinking about an old friend who never ever hesitated to dole out an embrace to people who needed or deserved one.
She closed her eyes as she supported the blonde, shutting her sense off completely from Bree's emotions and memories. Bree was in a weak place, it'd be rude of Zepheera to pry any further than she had already. Instantly, her tears stopped flowing.
"I know, sweetheart," Zepheera whispered, smoothing down Bree's hair. She pulled back just enough to meet her bright blue gaze. "I might understand better than anyone what you're going through." She might never have been a captive, but she lived with someone who, for all intents and purposes, appeared human. They were together for a long time, and adjusting to normal borrower life after all that…
"It's hard, getting used to being around people your own size again and finding where you fit in. But you can do it. You'll get there, and I'd be honored to help you do it." With a warm smile, Zepheera tucked a lock of Bree's hair behind an ear, completely confident in her words.
"I hope so," Bree mumbled, brushing at her eyes as she straightened. Water droplets clung to her long eyelashes as she stepped back, avoiding eye contact with anyone else in the room. She didn't consider her old owner Beth 'evil,' by any means, but now that she was free…
She could remember her family, and how they'd taken care of her for so long before she was lost to them, and knew now that she'd never see them again. They were worlds away from her old motel.
"And what about you two?" Dean's voice interjected over Bree's worries, the young man looking over at Mark and Anita. "Gonna take her up on her offer?"
Anita blinked, momentarily put on the spot as Zepheera turned to face them, casually wiping lingering tears from her face. The shorter of the twins stepped forward and hesitantly let go of her brother's hand. Zepheera's talk about adjusting to life without humans around dictating every aspect of their lives struck a chord deep inside both of them, Mark especially, and Anita's hand had been firmly clasped in her brother's much larger one since then.
"We'll follow you out," Anita stated, allowing none of her trepidation to show in her voice or face. "After everything, we really want to make it on our own, but… we could probably use some help finding our way around."
"That I can do," said Zepheera with a nod. She glanced around the room once more and then turned to Bree. "How soon would you be comfortable with leaving?" she asked gently, doing her best to not pressure the blonde one way or another.
Bree looked around the room in a fog, vaguely noticing Sam's encouraging smile as she tried to remember what she'd need. "I don't have much," she said shyly.
The only real possessions to her name now were the few things she'd gathered over the last few days while tagging along. There wasn't even a climbing rope to her name, and after all these years she wasn't the most adept at scaling the heights around them.
Moira handed off Bree's few belongings, then swept the older girl into a hug. "You should come visit my home when you're all settled!" she said, her excitement breaking through Bree's somber attitude. "We're only a few houses down the line!"
"Oh, ah, sure," Bree said, awkwardly patting Moira's back as she pulled away. "I'll see what I can do."
Moira beamed as Dean stood and followed suit. "Watch yourself out there, kid." He glanced at Anita and Mark. "All of you."
Mark stepped tentatively toward Dean and, once the other man pulled away from Bree, offered a hand to shake.
"Thank you," said Mark hoarsely. "My sister and I owe you our lives." He looked at Sam, bright green eyes round and shining and offering a clear path to his heart. "And… I know it can never make up for anything, but I'm truly sorry. For everything."
Dean clasped Mark's hand in a firm grip, looking up at the taller man and meeting those bright green eyes with his murky ones. "If anything like that happens again, you know where to come this time," he said. "We're always ready to help."
"And so are John and Sherlock," Sam put in, sitting forward on his seat. He gave Mark a far warmer smile compared to Dean. "You've got people who can help."
"But try and stay out of trouble, alright?" Dean finished dryly.
"No arguments from us," Mark assured with an abashed chuckle as he pulled his hand away to sheepishly rub at his neck as Anita moved to hug Moira goodbye. The taller, stronger woman briefly lifted the other off the floor in her excitement.
"You take care of yourself," murmured Anita, putting Moira back down with a wide grin. The girl had been a more than gracious host to her and her brother during the times that neither of them were willing to directly approach the Winchesters.
Zepheera put a comforting hand on Bree's shoulder. "Don't you worry about a thing, love," she assured. "Things are different over here than they are in America. We all help each other, and if you like, you won't ever have to deal with humans again."
Turning back to Zepheera, Mark informed her, "We were just about to grab some supplies to tide us over on our journey."
"Probably a good idea to stock up," Zepheera agreed, stepping back toward the table to retrieve the small rucksack she'd left there, snatching it up by its lone strap. "I can carry anything you need in here. It's roomier than it looks. Which reminds me."
Undoing the latch, Zepheera reached into the bag- perhaps a little further than she should have been able to- and pulled out a small square of card stock paper. Crossing the room to pick up a spare pencil lead, she scrawled out her name and a series of numbers as neatly as she could while using the wall for support.
"Anything else happens, if you need help at all or happen to find yourself with a full house again, call me anytime," she instructed, handing the paper and the lead to Dean.
Dean arched an eyebrow at the numbers on the paper before handing it off to Sam, who looked over it with far more fascination. A phone number was the last thing either Winchester expected to see when dealing with a person their own size.
"Got your own number?" Dean asked, bemused. "We'll be sure to remember that."
Bree made her way over to stand with Anita and Mark, keeping her eyes down out of habit, but just as ready for the chance to start a new life. Her pulse had slowed, plodding along at a regular pace instead of the rapid beats while she cried. She brushed off some of the remaining tears from her blonde eyelashes, flicking them away.
"Same goes for you," Dean said gruffly, continuing on. "If you ever have a… situation, we're more than willing to help. Us, and John and Sherlock." He gave her a tight smile. "I'm sure you can find Sherlock Holmes' number if you try." Having never had need to call Sherlock, Dean didn't have it himself, but he'd watched Sherlock field calls from his website (and John's, more often than not), along with the collection of clients that were drawn to the world's only Consulting Detective.
"I have my ways," Zepheera admitted with a smirk to match Dean's grin. "And I know where you live," she added in a false menacing tone, waggling her brow playfully at him.
Turning on her heel, she smiled at her small group. "Right then! We all set?"
Anita glanced at Bree and Mark, the former hovering quietly nearby and the latter nodding decisively. "Ready as we'll ever be," she answered for the three of them.
"Brilliant!" Zepheera shouldered her bag, straightening her clothes as she headed toward the entrance to Sam and Dean's home. She stopped for one last glance at the brothers and the small family who had decided to stay.
"Thanks for letting me steal your morning," she quipped. Then, to the brothers she said more genuinely, "And thank you again for all you've done. I'm sure we'll see each other again."
"Wouldn't have it any other way, bright-eyes," Dean said gamely, waving a goodbye to their erstwhile guests and visitor.
"Stay safe out there," Sam said warmly.
"And don't forget to knock next time!"
Zepheera rolled her eyes, the ones Dean insisted on commenting on and nicknaming her after. She had knocked, but he hadn't been awake for that. It would add to nothing to point this out, so she simply opened the way for Anita, Mark, and Bree to make their way out. With one last smirk and a two-fingered mock salute, Zepheera disappeared behind them, closing the door behind her.
Dean sighed, leaning heavily against the table. As sad as he was to see some of their temporary housemates leave, he wouldn't mind having some space back.
Speaking of, Christian scooped Kara up. "We'll be heading out now, too," he informed the brothers. "We found a good spot. Can't let it go to waste."
"Might as well leave at the same time," Mikael said in agreement.
Kara squirmed, and wouldn't settle until Christian let her give Dean a hug. "I'll come visit!" she promised.
A grin tugged the corner of Dean's lip. "I'll be sure to do the same, squirt," he said fondly, ruffling her hair. He looked between Christian and Mikael. "Take care of yourselves, and remember we're always around if you need anything."
"Will do," Mikael said, nodding solemnly.
The last guests at Baker Street filed out, on their way to pick up the supplies they had in Sam and Dean's former storage room that had substituted as a temporary home. Now, Dean would be able to move the clutter out of their home and back where it belonged.
Hopefully Sherlock didn't come poking around while Dean worked. That could be a distraction.
For now, Dean collapsed onto the other seat they had for the table. "I need a vacation," he groaned, and Sam smiled.
Things were going back to normal.
A/N
Zepheera and Dean, always getting along so swimmingly!
***After the next story posts, there will likely be a change in our posting schedule. We're still writing plenty, but have certainly slowed down, so we'll need to drop down to one update a week. Stay tuned and later on this month we'll be doing a poll to decide on the best day of the week to post on, getting everyone's input on it!***
Next: The Borrower and the Baker, coming soon!
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