You Can't Go Home Again - Chapter 1
The men are tall.
One of them is taller than the other, but they are both huge. Dean has to tip his head way back, almost fall over backwards, to see all the way up to their faces.
Maybe Daddy is taller than the shorter one, but he's definitely shorter than the taller one.
The shorter man is frowning, and he looks stern. Dean feels his chest fill and his eyes smart with tears because the man does not look happy and he's sure he's going to be in trouble.
The other man is smiling at him though, and there are dimples in his cheeks. He glances at his friend, shoots him an unhappy look like the one Dean's mother gives him when Dean has made a mess on the kitchen floor -- and then the smiling man is kneeling down in front of him, so Dean doesn't have to look up so far.
He's still twice as tall as Dean, though, and Dean still has to crane his neck to look up at him.
"Hey, Dean," the smiling man says. "I'm Sam."
Dean feels his face break into a smile.
"That's my brother's name!" he says excitedly, and the tall man's eyes crinkle and his smile widens.
"I know," he says softly.
Just then the baby makes a little fussing noise. Dean turns to the basket where his brother lies. He bends down and smiles at the baby, who looks up at him, starts to smile back, then fusses again, flailing his little arms and kicking his little legs.
"It's okay, Sammy," Dean says to the baby -- his baby, he thinks. Sammy is his baby brother.
Dean looks up at the tall man with the dimples.
"He's hungry," Dean says. "I need to feed him."
"Okay," Tall Sam looks around, glances up at Frowning Man.
"Baby needs to eat," he says to his friend, who frowns deeper.
"What do I look like, Mary Poppins?" Tall Sam's friend growls.
Baby Sam is starting to fuss louder now. Dean knows what to do, but he's afraid to leave his baby brother alone in the room with these strange men, even if the one kneeling in front of him seems nice. His dad tells him all the time, "Dean, don't trust anyone. You hear me?" so he's afraid, wants to go wake up Dad but he's afraid to leave --
"Hey, Dean," Tall Sam says to get his attention. He seems to understand Dean's distress.
"Where's the baby's food? Is it in the kitchen?"
Dean nods, relieved. "There's bottles in the refrigerator," he says.
Tall Sam nods at his friend and raises his eyebrows expectantly.
Frowning Man sighs, rolls his eyes, then stalks off toward the kitchen.
Baby Sam has worked himself into a serious fit by the time Frowning Man comes back with the bottle, and it's still cold.
"You have to warm it up," Dean says as Frowning Man hands him the bottle.
Frowning Man grabs the bottle back, glares at Tall Sam.
"Bossy," he mutters, and Tall Sam raises his eyebrows, shrugs.
Tall Sam is sitting back on his heels now, so he's not quite so tall, and Dean feels comfortable enough to reach into the basket and pull Baby Sam out. Tall Sam starts to help him, but Dean yanks the baby away instinctively. Baby Sam's gotten big in the the last month, since Mommy burned up in the fire, and now he's wiggly and able to sit up and roll around and it's getting harder for Dean to just pick him up like this.
But he does it. He will always be able to hold his baby brother. He's got determination, that's what Daddy says.
Frowning Man comes back with the warm bottle -- "Not too hot!" Dean thinks, and he's surprised when he tests the bottle and it's just right -- how does Frowning Man know how to do that when Dean didn't tell him? Dean has Baby Sam on his lap -- he's criss-cross-apple-sauce on the floor with the baby in his arms just the right way and Baby Sam grabs the bottle with both hands as Dean puts it into his mouth, takes long, hungry pulls as his eyes glaze over in contentment and his whole body relaxes in Dean's arms.
Dean looks up proudly and Tall Sam is smiling at him, but his eyes are sad.
"Where's your dad, Dean?" Tall Sam asks, and Dean feels defensive. Daddy's sleeping again -- he sleeps a lot since Mommy burned up. But he's afraid to tell Tall Sam that, because it might make Tall Sam take him away.
"Daddy says I can't answer questions about us," Dean says. "He says it's not safe."
Tall Sam frowns a little, and Frowning Man nods.
"Damn straight," Frowning Man says, and his voice sounds angry. "It's not. You shouldn't even be talking to us. You know better."
"Dean," Tall Sam rolls his eyes and looks annoyed. "He's four years old."
"So?" Frowning Man challenges. "He's got to learn. Fast. I had to learn everything right out of the gate -- how to lie and be secretive and never to talk to strangers or answer questions. How do you think we survived, Sam? How do you think we stayed out of foster care in those early years?"
"I'm starting to think we survived because we were there," Tall Sam suggests. "Us. Big us, I mean."
Frowning Man stops pacing, stares down at Dean and Baby Sam silently for a moment.
Dean stares back at him, trying to be brave. He doesn't like Frowning Man. Wants Frowning Man to go away and leave them alone.
"Is your name Dean too?" Dean asks, knowing he needs to show Frowning Man he's a big boy and he can be tough like Daddy taught him to be.
"Uh, yeah, as a matter of fact," Frowning Man says. "You got a problem with that?"
"Dean!" Tall Sam scolds. "This is a four-year-old you're talking to. Turn off the bad cop thing or take a walk! Now!"
Big Dean shakes his head. "Yeah, well the last time I talked to myself in another timeline the guy was a major douche."
"Yeah, but this one is a little boy," Tall Sam insists. "So tone it down."
Baby Sam has finished his bottle, and Dean knows what to do. He hauls the baby up to sitting and stars patting his back.
"Now he has to burp," he tells Tall Sam, who raises his eyebrows skeptically.
"Here, let me do that," Big Dean says, and Dean looks up as Big Dean squats down in front of him, reaching for Dean's baby brother.
Dean pulls away instinctively, clutching Baby Sam. Big Dean has a clean diaper cloth over his shoulder and he's not frowning anymore, just encouraging Dean with his deep voice and his big green eyes and his expression that's not mean after all, it's more like he's just used to being obeyed, he's used to being the boss, and he's being gentle all of a sudden, and Dean suddenly feels like he can trust him, like he wouldn't hurt Baby Sam no matter what.
"It's okay," Tall Sam smiles reassuringly at Dean. "He knows what he's doing."
"Well, it's been a few years," Big Dean mutters, "But yeah, I think I remember how to burp a baby."
Big Dean's big hands slip around Baby Sam, under his armpits, and lift him away from Dean, who feels suddenly cold and lonely and helpless. He watches with tears slipping down his cheeks as Big Dean settles the baby against his shoulder, stands, patting Baby Sam on the back, murmuring "That's it, Sammy, I gotcha. That's it, big guy."
"He needs his diaper changed too," Dean says helpfully.
Big Dean looks shocked for a moment, and Tall Sam chokes on a laugh. Baby Sam takes that moment to let forth with the contents of his last few mouthfuls, regurgitating all over Big Dean's cloth-covered shoulder.
"He's got a sensitive tummy," Dean explains. He lisps on the word "sensitive" and it makes him blush, ashamed he can't yet speak like a big boy.
Big Dean lifts his eyebrows, glances at Tall Sam.
"You don't say," Big Dean says, then reaches up and wipes the baby's mouth with a corner of the cloth, murmuring, "You got a problem tummy there, bud? Don't worry, you're doomed to a lifetime of salads and veggie burgers and being a real pain in the ass for your big brother, so you better start getting used to it."
Big Dean looks down at Dean.
"Where's his diapers?"
Dean scrambles up, fetches the diaper bag, spreads a pad on the couch. "I change him in here when Daddy's sleeping," Dean says.
Tall Sam and Big Dean exchange looks.
"So your dad's sleeping?" Tall Sam clarifies. "At 4:00 in the afternoon?"
Dean nods. He's starting to trust these tall men, probably more than he should, but there's something about them that feels familiar, and watching Big Dean take care of Baby Sam with so much care and gentleness is starting to win him over in a big way. Anybody who looks at his baby brother that way can't be all bad.
Tall Sam and Big Dean exchange looks again.
"Is there anyone else who looks after you?" Tall Sam asks. "A nanny, or a babysitter?"
Dean shakes his head.
"You know there wasn't, Sam," Big Dean says as he lays the baby on his back on the couch, holds him down as he unfastens his diaper, making a colossal face as he does it. But he soldiers on, doing a really good job of it in the end, and Dean is impressed, even a little relieved because yeah, he can do it all by himself, but Baby Sam is big and wiggly and sometimes Dean ends up making a mess and having to clean it up before Dad sees and gets mad.
Big Dean has Baby Sammy neatly diapered and dressed in a clean onesie and back safely in Dean’s arms before Dean can say “boo,” like Mommy used to say. Big Dean goes off to wash his hands, which is when the bedroom door opens and Daddy comes out. He’s got his gun trained on Tall Sam, and his face is mad, madder than Dean’s ever seen it.
Dean holds Sammy tight as Tall Sam raises his hands slowly, stays crouched on the floor. His eyebrows go up and his eyes get wet, like he’s gonna cry.
“Who are you?” Daddy demands in his gruffest voice. “What do you want?”
“Hey,” Tall Sam says. “It’s okay. We’re not here to hurt anybody. We’re here to help.”
“We?” Daddy takes a step closer, raising the gun and holding it tight, and Dean can tell he means business, so Tall Sam better watch out.
Tall Sam is looking over Daddy’s shoulder, behind Daddy, ‘cause there’s Big Dean, standing in the bathroom doorway.
“Hey, John,” Big Dean says quietly.
Daddy whirls around, starts to crouch, then lowers his gun.
“Dean?” Daddy’s lowering the gun all the way now, recognizing Big Dean, and Dean feels relieved because it means he was right to trust these men after all, and Daddy won’t get mad because he let Big Dean help him with Sammy.
"Wait -- you remember me?" Big Dean looks surprised.
"Course I do," Daddy says. "You helped me buy my car. How could I forget that? And last year, when you come to town looking for a job -- "
"Wait, what?"
Now Big Dean looks thoroughly confused.
"Hey, I'm sorry about that," Daddy says. "Are you still looking for work? Is that what you're doing here? How did you get in?”
He’s putting the safety back on the gun, locking it away in the box on the table.
Big Dean glances past Daddy, looks straight at him, and Dean feels like he’s gonna cry because Big Dean is gonna tell on him.
But instead he says, “The door was unlocked. We let ourselves in.”
And Daddy believes him, just looks upset, swiping his hand over his face.
“God, I really had too much to drink,” he mutters.
“Yeah, we heard about - about your wife,” Dean murmurs sympathetically. “We’re so sorry, man.”
Daddy looks at him, then over at Tall Sam, who is still kneeling on the floor next to Dean. Tall Sam looks like he's gonna cry, and Dean feels sorry for him.
“We?” Daddy says. “Who’s this?”
“I’m Sam,” Tall Sam says, rising awkwardly to his feet so he can stride forward, puts his hand out. He still looks really sad, but excited at the same time, like he'd really rather give Daddy a big hug, but he settles for grabbing his hand firmly and holding it for a minute. "It's so good to see you."
Daddy lets Tall Sam hold his hand for a minute, looking up at him a little dazedly, then he looks back at Dean.
“You’re - wait, you guys are - “
“We’re hunters, yeah,” Tall Sam nods. “We’re here to help.”
“Hunters,” Daddy repeats, looking confused.
“We think you know that what happened last month wasn’t natural,” Big Dean says. “We think you’ve probably already talked to Missouri Mosely, and you’re getting some sense for how crazy it is. How not normal. Am I right?”
Daddy swipes his hand over his face again.
“Yeah, I get that,” he agrees. “What I saw that night - what happened to Mary - “ Daddy’s eyes fill with tears and they start running down his cheeks.
"We hunt things that do that," Tall Sam says softly. "It's our job."
"So -- " Daddy hesitates, looks from one to the other man, frowning. "So you're saying that the thing that did that to Mary -- "
"It was a demon, yeah," Big Dean says. "An extra-special evil kind of demon. It made a deal with Mom -- with Mary -- ten years ago. Your life for hers."
"It did what?" Daddy looks shocked, and Dean wishes he could give him a hug, but Baby Sam has fallen asleep in his lap and he's heavy and Dean can't move now. "Don't wake the baby," Mommy always said when Dean got too rowdy in the house. Now he bends close and kisses the baby on his forehead, and Baby Sam's hand clutches reflexively around his index finger, holding Dean's hand tight against his little chest.
"Look, we can tell you the whole story, but right now you need to come with us," Tall Sam is saying, and Dean can see he's trying to stop Big Dean from saying something else that might hurt Daddy's feelings worse.
"What?" Daddy frowns. "Why?"
"You're in danger," Tall Sam says, his voice calm and reasonable, but Dean can see the serious look in his face, and it makes him feel scared and brave at the same time.
Maybe Tall Sam is a superhero, he thinks suddenly. Maybe he's here to save us. Maybe he can bring Mommy back.
Big Dean is nodding. "The thing that killed Mom -- Mary -- it'll come back," he says gruffly. "It'll come for you and -- your boys. It's already killed your neighbors, your friends, Mary's family, everyone you know or who might take you in after this."
Daddy's eyes grow wide, and he stares from one to the other of the men but doesn't speak. Dean thinks he looks like a little boy suddenly, like somebody Dean knows in his preschool class who's just found out he he's being left alone for the first time.
"Dean," Daddy says, and Dean looks up, thinking Daddy means him, but he's looking at Big Dean, looking at him like he's just now seeing him for the first time.
"You -- " then Daddy looks at Tall Sam, his eyes widening. "You two -- How do you know all this?"
His tone is demanding, and Dean wishes he could answer, wishes he could obey, but he knows it's up to Tall Sam and Big Dean to answer, and he's amazed to watch grown-up men act like little boys because he can see the way they blush and look away and act like they did something wrong, as if they're little kids and they're feeling caught and guilty, just like he felt last month when he was in the garage looking in Daddy's tool-chest when he knew he shouldn't be there, when Daddy said, "Dean, you stay out of the garage unless I'm with you, you hear me?"
Big Dean and Tall Sam are exchanging nervous glances, silently debating something. Dean can see the minute they agree, the second their faces go serious and their jaws set and they give each other a slight nod, then turn back to Daddy.
"We're from your future," Big Dean says. "From 2014."
He takes a big breath, then blurts out, "We're your sons."
Daddy doesn't look as surprised as Dean thinks he should. He raises his eyebrows, looks back and forth between Big Dean and Tall Sam, then looks down at Dean and Baby Sam.
Dean wants to blurt out, "No you're not!" because he and Baby Sam are Daddy's sons, not these grown up men.
But he doesn't want to wake Baby Sam, and besides, he's sure Daddy will say it anyway, so he's even more surprised when Daddy shakes his head a little, like he's clearing it, like he's letting go of a lot of his earlier conceptions of normal and ordinary.
And Dean can see it the minute Daddy decides to go with the weird and unnatural, the minute Daddy decides to accept what he's just heard.
Then he's looking down at Dean, smiling a little.
"It's okay, Dean," he says gently. "These men are family. We're gonna be okay."
Big Dean and Tall Sam seem surprised and grateful at the same time, and now Tall Sam really does hug Daddy, and Dean can see tears on his dimpled cheeks, hears Daddy say "It's all right, son," to Big Dean when he hugs him too.
"I've kinda lost my skepticism of all things crazy," Daddy says as he releases Big Dean, squeezes his shoulder. There are tears on Big Dean's face too. "Seems like after what's happened in the past month, anything's possible. So time travel, huh?"
Big Dean nods.
"And not for the first time," Daddy says, and Big Dean nods again.
"This is actually our third trip. Well, my third trip anyway," Big Dean says. "Sam and I came back a few years ago to try to stop an angel from killing Mom. Another angel wiped your memories, so you don't even remember that time. And I guess I'm gonna come back again, based on what you just said about me being here last year. 'Cause I don't remember that."
"Angels too?" Daddy raises his eyebrows. "But that's a good thing, isn't it?"
Big Dean and Tall Sam exchange glances again, and Big Dean shifts his feet awkwardly.
"Not so much," he says.
"Most angels are dicks, actually," Tall Sam says.
"Look," Big Dean looks serious and frowny again. "You raised us to be hunters, and we recently found out something that made us think we're supposed to be here now, to help you get out of harm's way and survive this thing that's happened. You've got friends in this timeline -- hunters -- who can help you stay under the radar, and that's what you need to do. That, and raise these kids. Us."
Big Dean looks over, meets Dean's eye, stares for a solid minute while Dean does his best to stare bravely back.
Then Big Dean winks at him. Dean hugs Baby Sam, leans down to kiss him again, then rocks back and forth, feeling better suddenly.
Daddy's looking back and forth between Tall Sam and Big Dean, trying to decide something, then he nods.
"Okay," he agrees. "We'll come with you. Can we swing by the house first? I want to pick up a few things."
"We wouldn't advise it," Tall Sam says. "We know for a fact there are spirits and other things there, drawn by the demon's presence there last month. It's not safe for you there."
Daddy nods. "That's what Missouri said," he agrees. "Okay, then. I'll just pack together the stuff we have here."
Which was when the bad thing happened.
* *
Dean thought about it later, when they were safely in the car and driving away fast, because at the time it makes no sense.
Three men burst into the apartment, and two of them try to grab Daddy while one heads straight for Dean and Baby Sam. Dean feels a scream rise in his throat but he's suddenly grabbed up by Tall Sam, who presses him and Baby Sam against his huge chest and carries them out the door, down the stairs to the car.
But not before he sees Big Dean grab those two men, twist a knife -- or maybe it's a small
sword -- first into one and then the other one of the men who have Daddy.
Then Tall Sam's putting him into the backseat of the car, kneeling down to meet his eyes.
"Stay here," he tells Dean, face serious and firm, and Dean nods.
"Daddy!" he squeaks out pitifully, and Tall Sam nods.
"I'm gonna go get your Daddy," he says. "You just stay here, okay, Dean?"
Dean nods, feeling tears smarting in his eyes as Tall Sam closes the door on him and runs back into the apartment building.
It's only a few minutes, but it feels like forever to Dean before Tall Sam comes back.
He and Big Dean have Daddy between them, and they're carrying him a little because he's hurt. There's blood on his shirt, and Dean remembers that one of the bad men was stabbed in the back right in front of Daddy; maybe it's the bad man's blood.
Big Dean opens the back door of the car, and he and Tall Sam hustle Daddy inside, gently laying him against the backseat, next to Dean and Baby Sam.
"You're gonna be okay," Big Dean is saying. "It's just a scratch. We'll get you to the bunker, get you fixed up."
Daddy nods, and now Dean can see he's clutching his chest, and there's a lot of blood there, all over his hand. Tall Sam is taking his over-shirt off, wadding it up and pushing it against the wound, puts Daddy's hand on top of it, scoots in next to him so that Dean is pressed up against the door, holding Baby Sam, and Daddy's pressed up against him on the other side. Tall Sam has his hand over Daddy's, holding it there.
Big Dean is in the driver's seat, starting the car.
"He needs a hospital, Dean," Tall Sam says, and his face looks worried. "He's gonna bleed out."
"No hospitals," Big Dean growls. "Gotta stay under the radar."
"Dean -- "
"You saw those demons, Sam," Big Dean growls louder. "They were hell-bent on killing. There'll be more. They'll be waiting for us at the hospital. The bunker is our only chance."
Tall Sam doesn't answer, just bites his bottom lip and frowns. Daddy's eyes are fluttering, like he's about to fall asleep, and he's breathing funny. Tall Sam catches Dean's eye, smiles a little at him.
"Everything's gonna be okay, Dean," he says. "We're gonna fix your dad."
Dean nods, trying to show Tall Sam how brave he is. He watches the back of Big Dean's head as Big Dean drives, watches his jaw tense when he turns his head.
"Dean," Daddy's voice is soft, and when Dean looks at him he's smiling a little, but he looks sleepy.
"Take care of your brother."
Dean hugs Baby Sam and nods.
"I will, Daddy," he says because he knows that's what Daddy wants him to say.
Daddy nods, takes a breath but starts to cough. Tall Sam has his arm around him.
"Dad?" Tall Sam's voice sounds worried.
Daddy doesn't open his eyes again, but the coughing stops and his whole body relaxes, his head falls over onto Tall Sam's shoulder and he goes still, like he's fallen asleep.
"Dad?" Tall Sam calls again, louder and panicked now. He presses his fingers into the side of Daddy's neck, under his ear.
"Dean!" Tall Sam barks at Big Dean. "Hospital! Now!"
Big Dean is glaring at them in the rearview mirror, half turns in his seat to check out the situation for himself, then he's stepping on the gas and turning the car around, speeding up and making Daddy press hard against Dean, so it almost hurts because he's being squished. Dean holds tight to Baby Sam, who is still sleeping and Dean is so glad of that because if he was awake he would be wiggling and Dean thinks he probably couldn't hold onto him with the car going so fast and rocking back and forth as they go around corners.
Then the hospital looms in front of them. Flashing lights remind Dean of the night at their house a month ago, and he feels chilly and scared. The car screeches to a stop and Big Dean jumps out, leaves the car door open as he yanks open the back door, helps Tall Sam pull Daddy out. Tall Sam is trying to pick Daddy up, Big Dean is calling Daddy "Dad!" and "John!" and trying to get him to wake up, and finally they're both carrying Daddy toward the emergency entrance. Big Dean calls back to Dean to "Stay there! Don't move!" and then they're all gone, through the sliding doors into the hospital.
Dean huddles in the back seat of the car with Baby Sam, trying not to cry. He wonders if Daddy will wake up, come out to get him, or if he'll have to sleep here.
His tummy rumbles and he has to go to the bathroom. He's trying to be good, stay where Big Dean told him to, but he's starting to think he has to go so bad he might pee in his pants, and that would get on the car and Daddy would be really mad, so he puts Baby Sam down carefully on the seat beside him and starts pulling on the door handle.
That's when Big Dean comes back. He's frowning and he looks tired, but he leans in the back door and raises his eyebrows at Dean, and Dean can see he's trying not to yell at him.
"You okay?" he asks, and Dean nods. "Good. You hungry? Need a bathroom?"
Dean nods again, vigorously this time, and Big Dean nods.
"Okay, here's the thing," he says. "I'm gonna park the car, then I'm taking you in with me, you and the baby. We'll get some chow, we'll hang out for awhile, make sure Dad's okay. Then we'll see what we're gonna do next. Sound good?"
Dean nods and Big Dean slaps the roof of the car, straightens and slams the car door shut, crosses around to the driver's seat.
Later, when Dean's gone to the bathroom and had a hamburger in the hospital cafeteria, Big Dean sits him down in a chair in the waiting room and he falls asleep with Big Dean's arm around him, holding Baby Sam and leaning against Big Dean's big, warm body that feels almost like Daddy's and smells like him too.
In his sleep he hears voices, hears somebody talking to Big Dean.
"So you're John's brothers," a strange man says. "Funny John never mentioned he had brothers. We tried to help him find some family to help him out last month when his wife died. He said he didn't have any family."
"We're his dad's second family," Big Dean says. "Half-brothers. Different mothers. We didn't grow up together. We just found out about what happened a little while ago. Got here as soon as we could."
"And you say these men attacked you -- right in front of John's apartment building?"
"Probably looking for drugs, money," Tall Sam says. "We surprised them, I think. They seemed pretty strung out."
"Okay, you two stay put," the stranger said. "We've got some guys going over to check the apartment out, then we'll need to ask you some more questions."
"Not goin' anywhere, officer," Big Dean says. "We just got here."
Dean can hear footsteps as the policeman walks away, then Big Dean and Tall Sam move closer, so they're standing right next to the chair where he's sleeping.
"Dean, we gotta get outta here," Tall Sam says, speaking in an urgent whispery voice. "When they check out that apartment and find those bodies -- "
"We can't just leave Dad here," Big Dean hisses back.
"We're gonna have to," Tall Sam insists. "He needs a blood transfusion and surgery. Doctor said the knife nicked his lung. He's gonna be in intensive care for at least a few days. We can't stay here."
"You go," Big Dean says. "Take the kids. Get to the bunker. I'll stay with Dad. I can stay out of the way, nobody will know I'm here. Then when Dad's well enough I'll bring him to the bunker."
"Dean, if they catch you -- " Tall Sam sighs.
"They won't," Big Dean snaps. "Here."
Even though Dean's eyes are closed he can tell that Big Dean is handing Baby Sam to Tall Sam, who scoops him up and holds him in one arm. Somehow Dean can tell Big Dean doesn't want to hand the baby over, does it reluctantly.
Dean can't really say he likes Big Dean, but he sure understands him.
"Now go," Big Dean says. "Before the cops come back. Get out of here."
Then Tall Sam is leaning down, murmuring,"Dean?" in his ear, and Dean rolls over, opens his eyes a little. He's so sleepy.
"Come on, big guy," Tall Sam says. "We're going home."
Dean lets Tall Sam pick him up, settle him against his shoulder while he's carrying Baby Sam in his other arm. Tall Sam's shoulder is big and strong and smells good, and Dean rests his cheek there, hooks his arm around Tall Sam's neck, fingers of one hand tangled in Tall Sam's long hair. It feels safe, pressed warm and snug against Tall Sam's massive chest, and Dean slips back into sleep on deep breaths of Tall Sam's spicy scent, barely even noticing when he's laid down in the back seat of the car with Baby Sam in his arms, the baby's familiar smell merely a slight mutation of Tall Sam's, so that Dean feels engulfed in Sam, Sam, Sam.
PART TWO - BACK TO MASTERPOST
One of them is taller than the other, but they are both huge. Dean has to tip his head way back, almost fall over backwards, to see all the way up to their faces.
Maybe Daddy is taller than the shorter one, but he's definitely shorter than the taller one.
The shorter man is frowning, and he looks stern. Dean feels his chest fill and his eyes smart with tears because the man does not look happy and he's sure he's going to be in trouble.
The other man is smiling at him though, and there are dimples in his cheeks. He glances at his friend, shoots him an unhappy look like the one Dean's mother gives him when Dean has made a mess on the kitchen floor -- and then the smiling man is kneeling down in front of him, so Dean doesn't have to look up so far.
He's still twice as tall as Dean, though, and Dean still has to crane his neck to look up at him.
"Hey, Dean," the smiling man says. "I'm Sam."
Dean feels his face break into a smile.
"That's my brother's name!" he says excitedly, and the tall man's eyes crinkle and his smile widens.
"I know," he says softly.
Just then the baby makes a little fussing noise. Dean turns to the basket where his brother lies. He bends down and smiles at the baby, who looks up at him, starts to smile back, then fusses again, flailing his little arms and kicking his little legs.
"It's okay, Sammy," Dean says to the baby -- his baby, he thinks. Sammy is his baby brother.
Dean looks up at the tall man with the dimples.
"He's hungry," Dean says. "I need to feed him."
"Okay," Tall Sam looks around, glances up at Frowning Man.
"Baby needs to eat," he says to his friend, who frowns deeper.
"What do I look like, Mary Poppins?" Tall Sam's friend growls.
Baby Sam is starting to fuss louder now. Dean knows what to do, but he's afraid to leave his baby brother alone in the room with these strange men, even if the one kneeling in front of him seems nice. His dad tells him all the time, "Dean, don't trust anyone. You hear me?" so he's afraid, wants to go wake up Dad but he's afraid to leave --
"Hey, Dean," Tall Sam says to get his attention. He seems to understand Dean's distress.
"Where's the baby's food? Is it in the kitchen?"
Dean nods, relieved. "There's bottles in the refrigerator," he says.
Tall Sam nods at his friend and raises his eyebrows expectantly.
Frowning Man sighs, rolls his eyes, then stalks off toward the kitchen.
Baby Sam has worked himself into a serious fit by the time Frowning Man comes back with the bottle, and it's still cold.
"You have to warm it up," Dean says as Frowning Man hands him the bottle.
Frowning Man grabs the bottle back, glares at Tall Sam.
"Bossy," he mutters, and Tall Sam raises his eyebrows, shrugs.
Tall Sam is sitting back on his heels now, so he's not quite so tall, and Dean feels comfortable enough to reach into the basket and pull Baby Sam out. Tall Sam starts to help him, but Dean yanks the baby away instinctively. Baby Sam's gotten big in the the last month, since Mommy burned up in the fire, and now he's wiggly and able to sit up and roll around and it's getting harder for Dean to just pick him up like this.
But he does it. He will always be able to hold his baby brother. He's got determination, that's what Daddy says.
Frowning Man comes back with the warm bottle -- "Not too hot!" Dean thinks, and he's surprised when he tests the bottle and it's just right -- how does Frowning Man know how to do that when Dean didn't tell him? Dean has Baby Sam on his lap -- he's criss-cross-apple-sauce on the floor with the baby in his arms just the right way and Baby Sam grabs the bottle with both hands as Dean puts it into his mouth, takes long, hungry pulls as his eyes glaze over in contentment and his whole body relaxes in Dean's arms.
Dean looks up proudly and Tall Sam is smiling at him, but his eyes are sad.
"Where's your dad, Dean?" Tall Sam asks, and Dean feels defensive. Daddy's sleeping again -- he sleeps a lot since Mommy burned up. But he's afraid to tell Tall Sam that, because it might make Tall Sam take him away.
"Daddy says I can't answer questions about us," Dean says. "He says it's not safe."
Tall Sam frowns a little, and Frowning Man nods.
"Damn straight," Frowning Man says, and his voice sounds angry. "It's not. You shouldn't even be talking to us. You know better."
"Dean," Tall Sam rolls his eyes and looks annoyed. "He's four years old."
"So?" Frowning Man challenges. "He's got to learn. Fast. I had to learn everything right out of the gate -- how to lie and be secretive and never to talk to strangers or answer questions. How do you think we survived, Sam? How do you think we stayed out of foster care in those early years?"
"I'm starting to think we survived because we were there," Tall Sam suggests. "Us. Big us, I mean."
Frowning Man stops pacing, stares down at Dean and Baby Sam silently for a moment.
Dean stares back at him, trying to be brave. He doesn't like Frowning Man. Wants Frowning Man to go away and leave them alone.
"Is your name Dean too?" Dean asks, knowing he needs to show Frowning Man he's a big boy and he can be tough like Daddy taught him to be.
"Uh, yeah, as a matter of fact," Frowning Man says. "You got a problem with that?"
"Dean!" Tall Sam scolds. "This is a four-year-old you're talking to. Turn off the bad cop thing or take a walk! Now!"
Big Dean shakes his head. "Yeah, well the last time I talked to myself in another timeline the guy was a major douche."
"Yeah, but this one is a little boy," Tall Sam insists. "So tone it down."
Baby Sam has finished his bottle, and Dean knows what to do. He hauls the baby up to sitting and stars patting his back.
"Now he has to burp," he tells Tall Sam, who raises his eyebrows skeptically.
"Here, let me do that," Big Dean says, and Dean looks up as Big Dean squats down in front of him, reaching for Dean's baby brother.
Dean pulls away instinctively, clutching Baby Sam. Big Dean has a clean diaper cloth over his shoulder and he's not frowning anymore, just encouraging Dean with his deep voice and his big green eyes and his expression that's not mean after all, it's more like he's just used to being obeyed, he's used to being the boss, and he's being gentle all of a sudden, and Dean suddenly feels like he can trust him, like he wouldn't hurt Baby Sam no matter what.
"It's okay," Tall Sam smiles reassuringly at Dean. "He knows what he's doing."
"Well, it's been a few years," Big Dean mutters, "But yeah, I think I remember how to burp a baby."
Big Dean's big hands slip around Baby Sam, under his armpits, and lift him away from Dean, who feels suddenly cold and lonely and helpless. He watches with tears slipping down his cheeks as Big Dean settles the baby against his shoulder, stands, patting Baby Sam on the back, murmuring "That's it, Sammy, I gotcha. That's it, big guy."
"He needs his diaper changed too," Dean says helpfully.
Big Dean looks shocked for a moment, and Tall Sam chokes on a laugh. Baby Sam takes that moment to let forth with the contents of his last few mouthfuls, regurgitating all over Big Dean's cloth-covered shoulder.
"He's got a sensitive tummy," Dean explains. He lisps on the word "sensitive" and it makes him blush, ashamed he can't yet speak like a big boy.
Big Dean lifts his eyebrows, glances at Tall Sam.
"You don't say," Big Dean says, then reaches up and wipes the baby's mouth with a corner of the cloth, murmuring, "You got a problem tummy there, bud? Don't worry, you're doomed to a lifetime of salads and veggie burgers and being a real pain in the ass for your big brother, so you better start getting used to it."
Big Dean looks down at Dean.
"Where's his diapers?"
Dean scrambles up, fetches the diaper bag, spreads a pad on the couch. "I change him in here when Daddy's sleeping," Dean says.
Tall Sam and Big Dean exchange looks.
"So your dad's sleeping?" Tall Sam clarifies. "At 4:00 in the afternoon?"
Dean nods. He's starting to trust these tall men, probably more than he should, but there's something about them that feels familiar, and watching Big Dean take care of Baby Sam with so much care and gentleness is starting to win him over in a big way. Anybody who looks at his baby brother that way can't be all bad.
Tall Sam and Big Dean exchange looks again.
"Is there anyone else who looks after you?" Tall Sam asks. "A nanny, or a babysitter?"
Dean shakes his head.
"You know there wasn't, Sam," Big Dean says as he lays the baby on his back on the couch, holds him down as he unfastens his diaper, making a colossal face as he does it. But he soldiers on, doing a really good job of it in the end, and Dean is impressed, even a little relieved because yeah, he can do it all by himself, but Baby Sam is big and wiggly and sometimes Dean ends up making a mess and having to clean it up before Dad sees and gets mad.
Big Dean has Baby Sammy neatly diapered and dressed in a clean onesie and back safely in Dean’s arms before Dean can say “boo,” like Mommy used to say. Big Dean goes off to wash his hands, which is when the bedroom door opens and Daddy comes out. He’s got his gun trained on Tall Sam, and his face is mad, madder than Dean’s ever seen it.
Dean holds Sammy tight as Tall Sam raises his hands slowly, stays crouched on the floor. His eyebrows go up and his eyes get wet, like he’s gonna cry.
“Who are you?” Daddy demands in his gruffest voice. “What do you want?”
“Hey,” Tall Sam says. “It’s okay. We’re not here to hurt anybody. We’re here to help.”
“We?” Daddy takes a step closer, raising the gun and holding it tight, and Dean can tell he means business, so Tall Sam better watch out.
Tall Sam is looking over Daddy’s shoulder, behind Daddy, ‘cause there’s Big Dean, standing in the bathroom doorway.
“Hey, John,” Big Dean says quietly.
Daddy whirls around, starts to crouch, then lowers his gun.
“Dean?” Daddy’s lowering the gun all the way now, recognizing Big Dean, and Dean feels relieved because it means he was right to trust these men after all, and Daddy won’t get mad because he let Big Dean help him with Sammy.
"Wait -- you remember me?" Big Dean looks surprised.
"Course I do," Daddy says. "You helped me buy my car. How could I forget that? And last year, when you come to town looking for a job -- "
"Wait, what?"
Now Big Dean looks thoroughly confused.
"Hey, I'm sorry about that," Daddy says. "Are you still looking for work? Is that what you're doing here? How did you get in?”
He’s putting the safety back on the gun, locking it away in the box on the table.
Big Dean glances past Daddy, looks straight at him, and Dean feels like he’s gonna cry because Big Dean is gonna tell on him.
But instead he says, “The door was unlocked. We let ourselves in.”
And Daddy believes him, just looks upset, swiping his hand over his face.
“God, I really had too much to drink,” he mutters.
“Yeah, we heard about - about your wife,” Dean murmurs sympathetically. “We’re so sorry, man.”
Daddy looks at him, then over at Tall Sam, who is still kneeling on the floor next to Dean. Tall Sam looks like he's gonna cry, and Dean feels sorry for him.
“We?” Daddy says. “Who’s this?”
“I’m Sam,” Tall Sam says, rising awkwardly to his feet so he can stride forward, puts his hand out. He still looks really sad, but excited at the same time, like he'd really rather give Daddy a big hug, but he settles for grabbing his hand firmly and holding it for a minute. "It's so good to see you."
Daddy lets Tall Sam hold his hand for a minute, looking up at him a little dazedly, then he looks back at Dean.
“You’re - wait, you guys are - “
“We’re hunters, yeah,” Tall Sam nods. “We’re here to help.”
“Hunters,” Daddy repeats, looking confused.
“We think you know that what happened last month wasn’t natural,” Big Dean says. “We think you’ve probably already talked to Missouri Mosely, and you’re getting some sense for how crazy it is. How not normal. Am I right?”
Daddy swipes his hand over his face again.
“Yeah, I get that,” he agrees. “What I saw that night - what happened to Mary - “ Daddy’s eyes fill with tears and they start running down his cheeks.
"We hunt things that do that," Tall Sam says softly. "It's our job."
"So -- " Daddy hesitates, looks from one to the other man, frowning. "So you're saying that the thing that did that to Mary -- "
"It was a demon, yeah," Big Dean says. "An extra-special evil kind of demon. It made a deal with Mom -- with Mary -- ten years ago. Your life for hers."
"It did what?" Daddy looks shocked, and Dean wishes he could give him a hug, but Baby Sam has fallen asleep in his lap and he's heavy and Dean can't move now. "Don't wake the baby," Mommy always said when Dean got too rowdy in the house. Now he bends close and kisses the baby on his forehead, and Baby Sam's hand clutches reflexively around his index finger, holding Dean's hand tight against his little chest.
"Look, we can tell you the whole story, but right now you need to come with us," Tall Sam is saying, and Dean can see he's trying to stop Big Dean from saying something else that might hurt Daddy's feelings worse.
"What?" Daddy frowns. "Why?"
"You're in danger," Tall Sam says, his voice calm and reasonable, but Dean can see the serious look in his face, and it makes him feel scared and brave at the same time.
Maybe Tall Sam is a superhero, he thinks suddenly. Maybe he's here to save us. Maybe he can bring Mommy back.
Big Dean is nodding. "The thing that killed Mom -- Mary -- it'll come back," he says gruffly. "It'll come for you and -- your boys. It's already killed your neighbors, your friends, Mary's family, everyone you know or who might take you in after this."
Daddy's eyes grow wide, and he stares from one to the other of the men but doesn't speak. Dean thinks he looks like a little boy suddenly, like somebody Dean knows in his preschool class who's just found out he he's being left alone for the first time.
"Dean," Daddy says, and Dean looks up, thinking Daddy means him, but he's looking at Big Dean, looking at him like he's just now seeing him for the first time.
"You -- " then Daddy looks at Tall Sam, his eyes widening. "You two -- How do you know all this?"
His tone is demanding, and Dean wishes he could answer, wishes he could obey, but he knows it's up to Tall Sam and Big Dean to answer, and he's amazed to watch grown-up men act like little boys because he can see the way they blush and look away and act like they did something wrong, as if they're little kids and they're feeling caught and guilty, just like he felt last month when he was in the garage looking in Daddy's tool-chest when he knew he shouldn't be there, when Daddy said, "Dean, you stay out of the garage unless I'm with you, you hear me?"
Big Dean and Tall Sam are exchanging nervous glances, silently debating something. Dean can see the minute they agree, the second their faces go serious and their jaws set and they give each other a slight nod, then turn back to Daddy.
"We're from your future," Big Dean says. "From 2014."
He takes a big breath, then blurts out, "We're your sons."
Daddy doesn't look as surprised as Dean thinks he should. He raises his eyebrows, looks back and forth between Big Dean and Tall Sam, then looks down at Dean and Baby Sam.
Dean wants to blurt out, "No you're not!" because he and Baby Sam are Daddy's sons, not these grown up men.
But he doesn't want to wake Baby Sam, and besides, he's sure Daddy will say it anyway, so he's even more surprised when Daddy shakes his head a little, like he's clearing it, like he's letting go of a lot of his earlier conceptions of normal and ordinary.
And Dean can see it the minute Daddy decides to go with the weird and unnatural, the minute Daddy decides to accept what he's just heard.
Then he's looking down at Dean, smiling a little.
"It's okay, Dean," he says gently. "These men are family. We're gonna be okay."
Big Dean and Tall Sam seem surprised and grateful at the same time, and now Tall Sam really does hug Daddy, and Dean can see tears on his dimpled cheeks, hears Daddy say "It's all right, son," to Big Dean when he hugs him too.
"I've kinda lost my skepticism of all things crazy," Daddy says as he releases Big Dean, squeezes his shoulder. There are tears on Big Dean's face too. "Seems like after what's happened in the past month, anything's possible. So time travel, huh?"
Big Dean nods.
"And not for the first time," Daddy says, and Big Dean nods again.
"This is actually our third trip. Well, my third trip anyway," Big Dean says. "Sam and I came back a few years ago to try to stop an angel from killing Mom. Another angel wiped your memories, so you don't even remember that time. And I guess I'm gonna come back again, based on what you just said about me being here last year. 'Cause I don't remember that."
"Angels too?" Daddy raises his eyebrows. "But that's a good thing, isn't it?"
Big Dean and Tall Sam exchange glances again, and Big Dean shifts his feet awkwardly.
"Not so much," he says.
"Most angels are dicks, actually," Tall Sam says.
"Look," Big Dean looks serious and frowny again. "You raised us to be hunters, and we recently found out something that made us think we're supposed to be here now, to help you get out of harm's way and survive this thing that's happened. You've got friends in this timeline -- hunters -- who can help you stay under the radar, and that's what you need to do. That, and raise these kids. Us."
Big Dean looks over, meets Dean's eye, stares for a solid minute while Dean does his best to stare bravely back.
Then Big Dean winks at him. Dean hugs Baby Sam, leans down to kiss him again, then rocks back and forth, feeling better suddenly.
Daddy's looking back and forth between Tall Sam and Big Dean, trying to decide something, then he nods.
"Okay," he agrees. "We'll come with you. Can we swing by the house first? I want to pick up a few things."
"We wouldn't advise it," Tall Sam says. "We know for a fact there are spirits and other things there, drawn by the demon's presence there last month. It's not safe for you there."
Daddy nods. "That's what Missouri said," he agrees. "Okay, then. I'll just pack together the stuff we have here."
Which was when the bad thing happened.
* *
Dean thought about it later, when they were safely in the car and driving away fast, because at the time it makes no sense.
Three men burst into the apartment, and two of them try to grab Daddy while one heads straight for Dean and Baby Sam. Dean feels a scream rise in his throat but he's suddenly grabbed up by Tall Sam, who presses him and Baby Sam against his huge chest and carries them out the door, down the stairs to the car.
But not before he sees Big Dean grab those two men, twist a knife -- or maybe it's a small
sword -- first into one and then the other one of the men who have Daddy.
Then Tall Sam's putting him into the backseat of the car, kneeling down to meet his eyes.
"Stay here," he tells Dean, face serious and firm, and Dean nods.
"Daddy!" he squeaks out pitifully, and Tall Sam nods.
"I'm gonna go get your Daddy," he says. "You just stay here, okay, Dean?"
Dean nods, feeling tears smarting in his eyes as Tall Sam closes the door on him and runs back into the apartment building.
It's only a few minutes, but it feels like forever to Dean before Tall Sam comes back.
He and Big Dean have Daddy between them, and they're carrying him a little because he's hurt. There's blood on his shirt, and Dean remembers that one of the bad men was stabbed in the back right in front of Daddy; maybe it's the bad man's blood.
Big Dean opens the back door of the car, and he and Tall Sam hustle Daddy inside, gently laying him against the backseat, next to Dean and Baby Sam.
"You're gonna be okay," Big Dean is saying. "It's just a scratch. We'll get you to the bunker, get you fixed up."
Daddy nods, and now Dean can see he's clutching his chest, and there's a lot of blood there, all over his hand. Tall Sam is taking his over-shirt off, wadding it up and pushing it against the wound, puts Daddy's hand on top of it, scoots in next to him so that Dean is pressed up against the door, holding Baby Sam, and Daddy's pressed up against him on the other side. Tall Sam has his hand over Daddy's, holding it there.
Big Dean is in the driver's seat, starting the car.
"He needs a hospital, Dean," Tall Sam says, and his face looks worried. "He's gonna bleed out."
"No hospitals," Big Dean growls. "Gotta stay under the radar."
"Dean -- "
"You saw those demons, Sam," Big Dean growls louder. "They were hell-bent on killing. There'll be more. They'll be waiting for us at the hospital. The bunker is our only chance."
Tall Sam doesn't answer, just bites his bottom lip and frowns. Daddy's eyes are fluttering, like he's about to fall asleep, and he's breathing funny. Tall Sam catches Dean's eye, smiles a little at him.
"Everything's gonna be okay, Dean," he says. "We're gonna fix your dad."
Dean nods, trying to show Tall Sam how brave he is. He watches the back of Big Dean's head as Big Dean drives, watches his jaw tense when he turns his head.
"Dean," Daddy's voice is soft, and when Dean looks at him he's smiling a little, but he looks sleepy.
"Take care of your brother."
Dean hugs Baby Sam and nods.
"I will, Daddy," he says because he knows that's what Daddy wants him to say.
Daddy nods, takes a breath but starts to cough. Tall Sam has his arm around him.
"Dad?" Tall Sam's voice sounds worried.
Daddy doesn't open his eyes again, but the coughing stops and his whole body relaxes, his head falls over onto Tall Sam's shoulder and he goes still, like he's fallen asleep.
"Dad?" Tall Sam calls again, louder and panicked now. He presses his fingers into the side of Daddy's neck, under his ear.
"Dean!" Tall Sam barks at Big Dean. "Hospital! Now!"
Big Dean is glaring at them in the rearview mirror, half turns in his seat to check out the situation for himself, then he's stepping on the gas and turning the car around, speeding up and making Daddy press hard against Dean, so it almost hurts because he's being squished. Dean holds tight to Baby Sam, who is still sleeping and Dean is so glad of that because if he was awake he would be wiggling and Dean thinks he probably couldn't hold onto him with the car going so fast and rocking back and forth as they go around corners.
Then the hospital looms in front of them. Flashing lights remind Dean of the night at their house a month ago, and he feels chilly and scared. The car screeches to a stop and Big Dean jumps out, leaves the car door open as he yanks open the back door, helps Tall Sam pull Daddy out. Tall Sam is trying to pick Daddy up, Big Dean is calling Daddy "Dad!" and "John!" and trying to get him to wake up, and finally they're both carrying Daddy toward the emergency entrance. Big Dean calls back to Dean to "Stay there! Don't move!" and then they're all gone, through the sliding doors into the hospital.
Dean huddles in the back seat of the car with Baby Sam, trying not to cry. He wonders if Daddy will wake up, come out to get him, or if he'll have to sleep here.
His tummy rumbles and he has to go to the bathroom. He's trying to be good, stay where Big Dean told him to, but he's starting to think he has to go so bad he might pee in his pants, and that would get on the car and Daddy would be really mad, so he puts Baby Sam down carefully on the seat beside him and starts pulling on the door handle.
That's when Big Dean comes back. He's frowning and he looks tired, but he leans in the back door and raises his eyebrows at Dean, and Dean can see he's trying not to yell at him.
"You okay?" he asks, and Dean nods. "Good. You hungry? Need a bathroom?"
Dean nods again, vigorously this time, and Big Dean nods.
"Okay, here's the thing," he says. "I'm gonna park the car, then I'm taking you in with me, you and the baby. We'll get some chow, we'll hang out for awhile, make sure Dad's okay. Then we'll see what we're gonna do next. Sound good?"
Dean nods and Big Dean slaps the roof of the car, straightens and slams the car door shut, crosses around to the driver's seat.
Later, when Dean's gone to the bathroom and had a hamburger in the hospital cafeteria, Big Dean sits him down in a chair in the waiting room and he falls asleep with Big Dean's arm around him, holding Baby Sam and leaning against Big Dean's big, warm body that feels almost like Daddy's and smells like him too.
In his sleep he hears voices, hears somebody talking to Big Dean.
"So you're John's brothers," a strange man says. "Funny John never mentioned he had brothers. We tried to help him find some family to help him out last month when his wife died. He said he didn't have any family."
"We're his dad's second family," Big Dean says. "Half-brothers. Different mothers. We didn't grow up together. We just found out about what happened a little while ago. Got here as soon as we could."
"And you say these men attacked you -- right in front of John's apartment building?"
"Probably looking for drugs, money," Tall Sam says. "We surprised them, I think. They seemed pretty strung out."
"Okay, you two stay put," the stranger said. "We've got some guys going over to check the apartment out, then we'll need to ask you some more questions."
"Not goin' anywhere, officer," Big Dean says. "We just got here."
Dean can hear footsteps as the policeman walks away, then Big Dean and Tall Sam move closer, so they're standing right next to the chair where he's sleeping.
"Dean, we gotta get outta here," Tall Sam says, speaking in an urgent whispery voice. "When they check out that apartment and find those bodies -- "
"We can't just leave Dad here," Big Dean hisses back.
"We're gonna have to," Tall Sam insists. "He needs a blood transfusion and surgery. Doctor said the knife nicked his lung. He's gonna be in intensive care for at least a few days. We can't stay here."
"You go," Big Dean says. "Take the kids. Get to the bunker. I'll stay with Dad. I can stay out of the way, nobody will know I'm here. Then when Dad's well enough I'll bring him to the bunker."
"Dean, if they catch you -- " Tall Sam sighs.
"They won't," Big Dean snaps. "Here."
Even though Dean's eyes are closed he can tell that Big Dean is handing Baby Sam to Tall Sam, who scoops him up and holds him in one arm. Somehow Dean can tell Big Dean doesn't want to hand the baby over, does it reluctantly.
Dean can't really say he likes Big Dean, but he sure understands him.
"Now go," Big Dean says. "Before the cops come back. Get out of here."
Then Tall Sam is leaning down, murmuring,"Dean?" in his ear, and Dean rolls over, opens his eyes a little. He's so sleepy.
"Come on, big guy," Tall Sam says. "We're going home."
Dean lets Tall Sam pick him up, settle him against his shoulder while he's carrying Baby Sam in his other arm. Tall Sam's shoulder is big and strong and smells good, and Dean rests his cheek there, hooks his arm around Tall Sam's neck, fingers of one hand tangled in Tall Sam's long hair. It feels safe, pressed warm and snug against Tall Sam's massive chest, and Dean slips back into sleep on deep breaths of Tall Sam's spicy scent, barely even noticing when he's laid down in the back seat of the car with Baby Sam in his arms, the baby's familiar smell merely a slight mutation of Tall Sam's, so that Dean feels engulfed in Sam, Sam, Sam.
PART TWO - BACK TO MASTERPOST