Chapter 7:

Dean parked the car and got out, shoving the keys into his pocket with a sigh, and took out the room key. Opening the door, he walked in. "Hey," he said softly, holding the door open for Sam as his eyes landed on the two sleeping children on the bed.

Jaz's eyes opened and looked to him. To their surprise, Trevor's eyes flew open at the sounds and he cried out in surprise, jumping off the bed and shoving his back into the corner, shaking, his arms folded tightly around the hospital gown.

Jaz's eyes widened at the sight. "Trevor! Trevor, it's okay," she said quickly, going over and crouching in front of him. "Trevor!" The young boy blinked a few times, recognition flickering in his eyes as he slid down to the ground, letting out a small sob.

"Jaz?" he whispered.

"Yea, Trev. It's me." Jaz leaned forward, cupping his face in her hand and taking his hand with her other. "It's me, honey. I said I'd come get you, remember? You told me where you were. I promised I'd come get you." Trevor's eyes slid uneasily to Sam and Dean, who had frozen in place, worried that they would scare the boy even more. Sam finally, slowly, closed the door. "They're with us," Jaz whispered, not moving her gaze from her brother. "That's Sam and Dean. They helped me. They got you out. You remember?"

Trevor swallowed and nodded, looking the boys over before he looked back to Jaz. "Hurt me," he whimpered, tears slipping down his face. "Black eyes…."

Jaz's face contorted in anguish as she blinked back tears of her own. "I know," she whispered. "I'm so…so sorry."

Trevor's lower lips quivered as his grip on her hand tightened. "In my head…in my head and I can't…I can't get them out. It hurt…. And Jaz doesn't love me. All alone. Trevor's all alone…."

Jaz let out a sob. "No…. No, Trevor's not alone. I'm right here, honey. I'm right here." She brushed some hair behind his ear, swallowing hard. "They lied. It was all lies. I love you…so much. So, so much." Trevor's eyes drifted up to meet his sister's eyes and she gave him a shaky smile. She saw a bit of acknowledgement in his expression before his eyes slid back down to the ground. "You hungry, Trev?" Trevor nodded. Jaz looked to Dean and he nodded, going over to the bag of stuff he'd picked up and taking out some crackers and the soda, bringing them over to the two kids. He approached carefully, not wanting to frighten Trevor any more.

"Thanks," she whispered. Jaz took the soda and put it on the floor before taking the crackers, keeping one gloved hand in Trevor's. She turned back and handed him the crackers, which he took and slowly ate. After drinking some soda, Jaz paused for a second. "You should take a shower," she said quietly. "Looks like you haven't in at least a week. Come on." She helped Trevor to his feet and led him to the bathroom, grabbing the duffle on the way, closing and locking the door behind them.

"Jesus Christ," Dean breathed, ruffling his hair slightly as he walked over and fell into a chair.

"No kidding," Sam murmured. He paused. "The demons are dead, but…."

"Yea. Assuming that last one was telling the truth, we didn't leave any loose ends, but they could still pop up on something's radar. They need to at least learn how to protect themselves."

Sam nodded, considering something for a moment. "You think…. You think Ellen could take them in? I mean it's just until Jaz turns eighteen. Then she can get custody. But like you said, they need to learn how to protect themselves."

Dean nodded, letting out a sigh. "It's not a bad idea," he said, pushing himself to his feet and taking out his cell. "It's a big favor, but it's worth a try to give her a call. Who knows? Maybe she's even got some hand-me-downs for Jaz."

Sam smiled slightly. "Yea."

Dean selected the number in his phone book and waited as it rang.

"Harvelle's Roadhouse," a voice answered after a few rings.

"Ellen. Hey, it's Dean."

"Dean, it's been a while since I heard your voice. How've you boys been?" she asked.

"It's not all lollypops and candy canes, but we're getting by," he replied. "How're things going at the new and improved Roadhouse?"

"Pretty good. Took a while to get money together to rebuild, but I had quite a few helping hands getting it up and running. It's doing fine these days. You guys going to be driving through? It'd be nice to see your faces."

"Actually, we might be. I ah…. You're one of only a couple people we'd trust with this. We wanted to ask if you could do us a favor."

"Yea, sure," she replied.

Dean smiled. "Well, I haven't told you what it is yet."

Ellen paused and Dean could almost feel her eyes narrowing. "What'd you boys go and do now?" she asked.

"It's kind of a long story. Short version is, there's this girl, she's sixteen, and she's got a younger brother who's ten. They got noticed by some demons and were snatched. The girl, Jaz, got away and we helped her find her brother. They're both here now, both safe, unhurt." Dean cringed slightly. "Well, her brother's actually real messed up. I don't know exactly what they did to him, but…."

"Jesus," Ellen murmured.

"Yea. Anyway, they need a safe place to be at for a while and learn how to protect themselves from future surprises in the middle of the night and such."

"Of course. I've got Jo's old bedroom; they can stay there. How long they need to stay?"

"Ah…like a year and a half?" Dean said, raising an eyebrow.

There was a pause. "A year and a half," Ellen echoed. Then she sighed. "You said she's sixteen," she said, understanding creeping into her tone.

"Yea. She'll wait until she hits eighteen and then get custody. She's a tough girl, made it the last two years with her brother, supporting the two of them, working under the table. I'm sure she'd be happy to work at the Roadhouse. You could probably use the extra set of hands."

Ellen paused again. "You said they got noticed by demons. There something you're not telling me?" she asked.

"Yea, actually. That's the reason I don't really trust anyone else with this. They both have, ah…abilities. Jaz's isn't something that causes her much trouble, astral projection and she has full control, but Trevor…. He reads minds, has premonitions…. And I don't know what the demons did to the kid, but he's…real skittish," Dean said quietly. "Scared of his own shadow. Took him a second to recognize his own sister." Ellen let out a long breath. "Look, I know it's a lot to ask and it's risky on your part, but I just don't know where else they could go."

"I know," Ellen murmured. "Of course. They're welcome here, Dean. The girl can work off $200 a month for me and save the rest up. That'll include food, rent, everything. They'll be as safe in my house as anywhere else. It's got a solid, built up threshold, plenty of wards, and plenty of weapons. And I can teach them the basics so they'll be ready when they go off on their own. Whenever that is," she added. "I'm not gonna be kicking them out on their behinds the day she turns eighteen."

Dean's lips twitched in a smile. "Thanks Ellen. I owe you one."

"Yea, yea. When should I expect you guys? You aren't out in the parking lot or something, are you?"

Dean let out a short laugh. "No, we're down in Texas. It'll be a couple of days at least."

"Alright. I'll see if I can get a bunk bed or something off freecycle. Put it in Jo's old room."

"Sounds awesome. I'll call you when we get close."

"Okay. Stay safe, Dean."

"Always." Dean hung up and exchanged a relieved smile with Sam before he went over to the bag of stuff he'd picked up that morning and took out a bag of peanut M&M's.