Hey guys! A few things: One, this chapter is so un-beta'd it's ridiculous. I've run through it like ten times but my dialogue tags are a little iffy. No flames?

Also, I wrote the first seven chapters of this before I even started posting, so the story will not reflect the newest episode (11x08) and might not reflect next week's either right away depending on how much writing I get done. It will though at some point, though (hopefully).

Another side effect of me having written ahead is this chapter is still really short. I am remedying that as I write but…bear with me.

Also a massive thanks and a slice of pie for RangerHorseTug who left me my first review ever! :D

Ok without further ado…

Chapter 5

"Don't tell me you're actually considering this!"

"You heard her, Dean. She has no one and nowhere to go. At the very least we'd be releasing her back to Rowena but, with Amara out there…"

"But have her stay here? I still don't trust her Sam, not enough to live with her. She grew up with Rowena as her mom. I mean, look how Crowley turned out."

"Dean, she doesn't even eat meat, you seriously think she's capable of hurting us or someone else? With Charlie gone…maybe she knows enough about magic-"

"No. if she stays, she has no involvement in hunting."

"Oh, so now you care about her."

"I don't trust her."

"What more does the kid have to do?" The conversation lulled, and Sam ran his hands through his hair in frustration. "You saw that closet at the warehouse, same as I did, Dean. If she's telling the truth…"

Dean's gaze softened a bit. "If, and that's a big if, she's telling the truth, then I have even more reason to hunt Rowena down and put her out of business."

"So she can stay."

An image of Lily huddled on the floor with the rope around her wrists flashed through Dean's mind and he added it to the pile of things he needed to atone for. "I'm not completely heartless, Sam. If she has nowhere to go she can stay until we figure things out. We just need to witch-proof the Bat Cave."

Sam laughed and, argument over, the brothers made their way back to the table.

"Well, shit."

"Dean she took the food, she can't have gotten far."

"Left her jacket though, stupid girl." Dean picked up the scrap of paper covered with a careful but shaky scrawl and read it aloud.

Dear Dean and Sam,

I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked to stay. I'm not mad you kept me locked up, it was what you had to do. Thank you for the food, and for feeding me and being nicer to me than you had to. I'm sorry about what Mother took from you and I hope you find it and kick her ass.

Sam snorted and Dean raised an eyebrow before continuing:

I'm good at making myself disappear, don't worry. And I won't say anything to her about the bunker, I want you guys to win.

~Lily

Dean stopped reading and stared at Sam.

"You weren't super welcoming, you know." Dean resisted the urge to flinch and frowned instead. "Does this convince you?"

Dean didn't answer the pointed question and grabbed his jacket instead. "She'll never survive on her own, it's freezing out. Let's go."

Sam followed suite and they went out to the car, Dean grumbling all the way.

Once outside, Lily squinted in the sudden sunlight and looked around. She was in the middle of nowhere. Behind her was a large abandoned factory-like building rising up from the door she had exited. It dawned on her that it must be part of the bunker, as they called it. She turned away and started walking down the road, head hung and arms wrapped around herself. Dean had been right, it was getting cold.

As she walked, she decided she would be honest when Rowena found her. She would tell Mother that she had sold her out to the Winchesters happily and Rowena would kill her. It would be painful but then it would be over and she would be free.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a roaring sound, like a lion was after her. It's Rowena already! She couldn't be found yet, she suddenly realized. She was too close to the bunker still! Her heart leapt into her throat and she scrambled into the brush on the side of the road. The roaring stopped next to her hiding spot and she held her breath, praying to all the gods that be to keep her hidden from whatever was out there. Rowena had been keeping a rough crowd recently.

Heavy footfalls sounded in the gravel road and she covered her mouth to hide her breathing. Suddenly, a hand collared her tattered shirt and she was yanked out of the bushes and brought face-to-face with a scowling Dean.

"What in the hell do you think you're doing." Lily flinched and looked away. "Look at me!"

Behind Dean stood Sam, arms crossed and a similar frown on his face. No support there.

"Uh…well I…was just leaving?" she squeaked. The brothers' faces remained impassive. "I shouldn't have asked to stay, I'm sorry. I'll be fine. I didn't want…to…burden you? I left you a note…"

Dean's scowl had deepened as she spoke, and she finally broke off, avoiding his gaze. Sam spoke next, breaking the tense silence. He placed both hands on her shoulders and turned her towards him.

"Lily, you can't just go off on your own. Rowena, surprisingly, is not even breaking the top three of our to-do list. There are dangerous things out here. You could get hurt."

"So?" The word fell out of her before she could stop herself. Dean spun her back around.

"So, you're still our responsibility when you're under our roof! Wandering off was reckless and stupid. This little stunt is not making me trust you any more than I already do." Lily winced away from him at the harshness of his tone and Dean stopped and tried again. "Look, I know we came off as the Big Bad, but- help me out here, Sam."

"We care about you Lily, we do."

"And that's why we're pissed off. If you think-"

"Dean," Sam gestured at her shivering form.

"We'll continue this back at the bunker. If you're gonna stay, we're gonna need to go over a few ground rules, princess." Dean opened the car door and waited to help her in, but Lily was rooted to the spot, chewing his words over.

"Stay?"

"Yes, stay. Now get in before you die of pneu-"

Dean was cut off by Lily, who had flung her arms around his waist, the only thing she could reach, and was clinging to him.

"Thank you. Thank you." She said it on repeat, still in disbelief, almost afraid she would wake up back in the rat-infested hole at the warehouse. Dean stood frozen for a moment, making eye contact with Sam, who shrugged, before he lowered his arms awkwardly around her, smoothing one hand down her hair.

"It's ok, you're welcome." Dean's voice was gruff, but not unkind. "Now come on. Get in the car before you freeze to death." Lily complied, but not before hugging Sam and repeating the process.

They rode back, the radio set to rock and Dean and Sam bickering good-naturedly in the front; something about Dean farting on Sam's pillow when Sam was away. Lily basked in the glow of their voices. She had made it. She had found a family and a home and it was more than any of the fantasies she had ever dreamed up. She was finally home.