Gingerbread Intimidation
Title: Gingerbread Intimidation
Author: my_sam_dean
Rating: R
Warnings/Spoilers: None
Wordcount: 676
Challenge: siriuslyyellow, Sam, gingerbread house, chocolate frosting, picture, "I don't remember it looking this shabby."
Disclaimer: I own nothing Supernatural.
Summary: Sam's first attempt to make a gingerbread house.
Downtime at Christmas meant spending Christmas with Bobby. Sam and Dean helped haul the huge boxes of decorations down from the attic. Each year, they put up about half of them, but they were still to precious to give away. They represented memories.
Bobby still had his usual grimace under his cap but there was a twinkle in his eyes, even if he was still Bobby. Sam thought that maybe Bobby had spent too many Christmases alone before the Winchesters came into his life. Dean just shrugged it off and began to untangle the ball of lights.
"I think we should make a gingerbread house this year," Sam's face lit up like it did when he had his heart set on something. "They are having a display in town where they are going to judge them."
"Have you ever even made a house out of gingerbread or gingerbread at all?" Dean set the enormous ball on the floor, giving Sam his full attention.
"I can learn. Bobby must have a recipe for gingerbread somewhere."
"I'd go ask him before you start tearing his kitchen apart." Dean sighed. "Maybe I should have started with stringing popcorn. That's so much easier."
***
After a strange look from Bobby, Sam took a drive into town and got the information he needed to enter the contest. There was also an easy recipe for gingerbread included. After a trip to the grocery store Sam was hyped up about what his house was going to be like. He'd also bought some steaks for a treat on Christmas Eve.
Sam waved at Bobby as he brought his purchases in. Dean was concentrating on stringing popcorn and kept sticking his finger.
After hearing a few too many "Ouch!" calls from the living room, Sam yelled back, "No one wants red splattered popcorn on the tree. There should be a thimble the same place you found the needle. Use it."
Grumbling was all Sam received as a response but it was quieter in the living room after that.
Ingredients were flying and the kitchen was a mess. Sam was so involved in the gingerbread house that he forgot about supper. Dean walked out to the shop and told Bobby he was doing a burger run.
"Oh. And don't go in the kitchen," Dean said with a smirk.
"Do I dare ask why?"
"Hurricane Sammy has gone though. I'm sure it's just temporary."
Bobby shook his head, turned, and went back to the car.
***
Sam was working like a crazed person. He had the chocolate icing and it wasn't just on the house, it was up his arms, on his shirt and on his face. He was putting his heart and soul into it. He saw this as an opportunity to do something that a normal family would do at Christmas.
When he finished, it needed to dry. Sam stepped back and cleaned up the kitchen. Dean came in with burgers and fries. Bobby wasn't too far behind.
"Nice house," Bobby nodded. "You should have your picture taken by it."
"I don't have a camera."
"I do," the old man said. "Wash the frosting and flour off yer face, get down by the house and I'll get a snapshot for ya."
Bobby snapped a photo with Sam smiling, dimples and all, pleased as pie with how his gingerbread house turned out.
Two days later, they had the show in town. Sam was nervous. He tried not to show it but Dean knew all of his tells. Walking into the room stole the air from Sam's lungs. The houses in their were huge.
Dean spotted Sam's name and put his house down.
"I don't remember it looking this shabby," Sam whispered to Bobby. "It's an outhouse compared to the other ones."
Bobby put his arm on his shoulder. "It's a damn fine first try at a gingerbread house. And, outhouses have their own importance too, ya idgit."
Sam laughed and felt so much better. Bobby had a way of just saying what needed to be said.
.