"EIGHT, NINE, TEN!" Dean finished loudly.

"Ready or not Sammy here I come!"

A faint giggle rang out from the big abandoned house that their dad had chosen for them to stay at. It was big and dusty and full of empty rooms. Dean didn't like it. No matter if he turned every light on, well the ones that had light bulbs, and opened every window it was still dark and depressing. It felt like a heavy, dark cloud hanging over his head the minute he walked through the door. Of course Sammy loved that it was so huge and spacious. Usually they would be stuck in some cramped little house or hotel room while their dad worked, which often caused Sammy to have cabin fever. At least here Sam can run around and play to his hearts content.

"Hmm where oh where could my Sammy be?" Dean said loudly, knowing that Sam could hear him.

Another giggle came from his left down the hallway but Dean decided to go right to make the game lasted a little bit longer. He rarely got to play with his little brother anymore. Between school and cleaning up after a rambunctious three year old, plus cooking dinner on top of that, it was hard to find time to play. In fact Dean couldn't even remember the last time he played hide and go seek.

Dean pretended to look all around the living room. "Well he's not behind the couch. Or behind the curtains…."

All of a sudden Dean felt something shove into his back. There was a moment of panic before he realized that the impact was too light to be an intruder and the tiny, little arms that where wrapped around his waist gave away his attacker.

Turning to look behind him Dean saw Sammy with his face buried in his back.

"Umm Sammy the whole point of the game is to let me find you, not the other way around," Dean chuckled.

Sammy looked up at his brother and Dean realized that he was crying. Tears where falling from his doe like eyes and streaming down his face. He hated to see his baby brother cry. It was his job to protect Sam and every time he cried it felt like Dean had failed at his job. He never wanted to see his brother cry ever again, but deep down Dean knew that he couldn't protect Sammy forever but he would die trying.

"Sammy what's wrong?! Are you hurt?!"

He quickly scanned his brother's small frame and noticed that he wasn't injured, at least not on the outside. Dean kneeled down and wiped the tears running silently down Sam's cheeks.

"Sam tell me what's wrong buddy. I can't fix it if you don't tell me what's wrong."

"Dean not find me!" Sammy wailed. "I thought you forgot bout me," he sniffled as he launched himself at Dean and wrapped his arms tightly around Dean's neck. Dean held his sobbing little brother close and rocked him gently. Lately Sam has wanted to be a big boy, and big boys don't cuddle with their brother, but Dean missed this. He missed being able to hold his little brother and being able to make sure he was ok. After several minutes of Dean rocking and stroking Sam's hair, he finally calmed down.

"Sam look at me," Dean pulled back and looked into his brother's eyes.

"I will always find you. No matter what Sammy, I will always find you and I will always be there for you."

Sam looked up at him and held up his pinky.

"Pinky pwomise?"

Dean smiled and hooked his finger with Sam's.

"Pinky promise."