When the Lights Go Out

Reece nodded softly and walked back towards his room, to begin packing some things. He didn't know where to start, he'd never lived anywhere without his parents. He finished packing after a long time. He went to find Katie.

@ Jinx...

@ A Drop On the Window
Katie looked at Reece as he came down. He looked scared. She went through his things making sure he got everything he would need and added a few things before taking his hand and walking out with him. They where piled into a truck with others that were being evacuated from the area. Katie held onto Reece laying her head don his shoulder knowing this was the start of the longest part of their lives but selfishly Katie was glad she wasn't alone anymore.

Reece remained fairly silent, not really knowing what words to use. He sat staring out at the road as houses flew by, he was wondering, how he would cope with all of the change.

@ Jinx...

@ A Drop On the Window
Katie took Reece's hand sitting with him in his silence. This wasn't the kind of thing people expected from their lives and the silence was the beginning of the grieving.

Reece put his arm around her, "thank you," he whispered quietly

@ Jinx...

@ A Drop On the Window
Katie turned into his arms and wrapped hers around him and nodded. "Of course." she whispered back and closed her eyes taking in the easy ride. She knew when to take the rest when she could.

@ Jinx...
Reece wondered where they were headed, and hoped they'd have some level of privacy wherever it was. He kissed her cheek lightly.

@ A Drop On the Window
Katie sighed and sat with him through the hours it took to get to the refuge camp. She got out with him and they headed inside for processing. They where given two cots besides each other and a few necessities along with a sack lunch and water. She thanked the people and walked with him to their cots luckily at the edge of the building looking out at the huge room full of people. She looked at him seeing his worry. "Hey it's going to be okay. I know this is scary but you'll have to get use to little to no privacy. Unfortunately there are just to many people that need help in the world and not enough willing to help, especially for the right reasons." she said and sat with him on his cot and cuddled into him. "I'll walk you through it all." she said softly.

@ Jinx...
Reece nodded softly, "thank you," he said quietly putting his arm around her carefully. He didnt feel comfortable around this many people

@ A Drop On the Window
Katie nodded and rested into his arms and nodded. She wrapped her arms around him and closed her eyes. "It's going to be okay." she said.

Reece rested his head on her shoulder, they sat in silence just waiting for more information about their parents.

@ Jinx...

@ A Drop On the Window
Katie and Reece where in that camp for three days before a counselor and a social worker walked over to them. "Will you please come with us?" she asked and Katie look up from reorganizing their bags. She picked up the bags and then followed them. She left nothing behind knowing all o well not to trust people or that they would be able to get back to their things. They went into an office and sat down. It was quite in here for the first time in days she had some quiet and she frowned knowing. She set the bags down and took Reece's hand.

Reece stayed with her, remaining eerily quiet. He didn't have any words to express how he was feeling. He hated being this lost.

@ Jinx...

@ A Drop On the Window
Katie frowned once they where done telling them the awful news. They where going to take them to a group home in Michigan. Katie nodded and looked at them. "Can I have a moment alone with my brother please?" she asked them and they left them to the most seclusion they had had and would have in a while. She turned to him and then slipped into his lap cradling him to her. "Hey talk to me." she said softly knowing this was not easy for him.

Reece looked up at her carefully, "I just want to go home," he said quietly. He shifted in his seat.

@ Jinx...

@ A Drop On the Window
Katie nodded. "I know Reece and it's not going to get any easier. We'll get you through the next couple years and then we'll get the hell out of town and live better lives." she said softly and ran her hand gently through his hair. She kissed his head. "Let's get in the car and go to the group home. I'll talk to our social worker and we'll get this figured out." he said gently.

@ Jinx...
Reece nodded lightly "alright, but stay close please," he said quietly, he turned to her and kissed her cheek lightly.

@ A Drop On the Window
Katie smiled gently. "Of course." she said and then hugged him feeling his lips on her cheek. She took his hand and stood them up. She handed him his bag then they left. They got in the back of the car she she rested her head on Reece's shoulder knowing her presence was helping him and she hoped that it always did.

@ Jinx...
Reece smiled softly, "thank you," he said lightly. He put his arm around her, "I hope where we go is nice," he said

@ A Drop On the Window
Katie frowned and hugged him tight as she could in the car. "Don't get your hopes up Reece." she whispered and looked up at him. "It's just the two of us now. Always the two of us." she said and took his hand. She held onto him until they arrived at the group house. It was a nice house, old with those stain glass windows. It was well preserved. She bit her lip as she got out and moved to Reece's side. The maiden of the house walked out. She was a pretty little brunette with a ponytail that brushed the back of her shoulders. Katie looked her over seeing a baby throw up strain on her shirt and smiled. This would most likely be a structured place but at least one where she wouldn't have to worry about the adult. The social worker went and talked to the woman and then she came over and smiled at them sadly. "Hey there guys. I heard you had a long trip, how about some cookies?" she asked and Katie suspiciously narrowed her eyes making the woman look at her surprised and back up a step. So she was serene. Katie turned into Reece and hurried her face then looked at the woman with scared eyes and she softened again. "Aww you poor dears. Come inside." she said starting in. The social worker smiled gently. "Call me if you need me. I'll be looking for a family for you both." she said and Katie took the number slipping it into her pocket and taking her bag. Once they where inside she could see the kids sitting down at the giant table eating. Katie stood back with Reece until the matron of the house swept them into the kitchen. "Not ready to socialize huh?" she asked and Katie shook her head. "That's alright we'll just let you have a little while." she said and Katie sat at the kitchen table with Reece and they ate some cookies and milk. The matron left the room and Katie sighed. "Follow my lead with the kids Reece okay?" she said softly. "I have a bad feeling this woman doesn't know a lick of what's going on behind closed doors despite her good intensions."