Chapter 2

Dean remained frozen in his spot, staring at the wailing child that had once been Sam Winchester. It was only the sound of Sam struggling to breathe through sobs that snapped him out of his shock.

"Sam! Sammy, it's okay!" He wriggled out of the loosened ropes that bound his wrists, scrambling to pick up the little boy. The clothes that had once fit an adult Sam no longer stayed up on his body. The plaid shirt Sam usually wore slipped down his tiny shoulders as Dean hauled him into his arms.

Then the kid really started panicking. Bony limbs swung and kicked desperately as he tried to launch himself away from Dean.

"WAN' DE! WAN' DE!" he screamed, tears streaming down his red cheeks as he managed to land a good kick in Dean's abdomen. Dean hissed in pain and let Sam drop to the ground as he wrapped an arm around his bruised stomach. Sam toppled to the ground, hitting his head on the cement floor. His cries began anew at the added pain.

Dean forced his discomfort aside and pulled Sam into his arms again.

"Sammy, it's me! It's Dean!" He tilted the little boy's chin up so that their eyes met. "It's me, bro."

Sam hiccuped slightly, rubbing a small fist against one eye. "De?"

The old nickname, caused by Sam's inability to pronounce the 'n' sound and long outgrown with time, sent a pang of nostalgia through Dean's heart and all he could do was smile in return.

"Big," Sam said blankly, staring at Dean with wide eyes. His hand reached up, small fingers probing at the stubble on Dean's chin.

"Yeah, well. You're small." It was a terrible comeback and Dean knew it, but it had the intended effect: Sam giggled quietly, his tears long forgotten.

"De," he repeated softly and Dean nodded.

"I'm Dean."

Sam huffed a sigh of what seemed like relief before flopping bonelessly against Dean's chest, having exhausted himself with his hysterical fit. His small head managed to tuck itself beneath Dean's chin, his thin arms winding around Dean's neck. Even before Dean managed to scoop Sam up and get to his feet, the younger Winchester was already fast asleep. His breaths came out in weak rasps from crying and screaming, his button-like nose mashed against Dean's shoulder.

Dean angled the boy's head so that his face was no longer squished before wrapping the now-oversized tan jacket around Sam's small form.

"We're gonna have to get you some new clothes," he noted as Sam shifted unconsciously closer.

First things first, though, he had to call Bobby and see if they could find a spell to reverse Sam's current state.

"So you're tellin' me the witch laid a hand on your brother and turned him into a kid before she flew the coop?" Dean had almost forgotten how sassy Bobby could sound when faced with ridiculous situations.

"Pretty much. Kid looks like he's about..." He glanced at the sleeping little boy on the seat of the Impala beside him. "Three. Maybe less. He could barely talk even after I'd calmed him down."

"Well, I've never heard of a de-aging spell before, but I ain't surprised they exist. You heading back here?"

"We're holing up in town for the night and coming over tomorrow. Sam kinda needs clothes and things. His old ones are too big for him now."

Bobby huffed a disgruntled "Idjit" at him before he could hang up, and the insult left Dean feeling more in his element than he had been since this whole crazy mess had begun. He shut his phone off and saw wide hazel eyes staring unblinkingly at him.

"Hey, Sammy." He tried to make his voice sound light. "Thought you'd be sleeping a little more." Sam shook his head, brown curls flopping into his chubby face. "You not tired anymore?" Sam shook his head again. "You wanna eat something?" Another shake of the head, and Dean was beginning to feel completely out of his depth once more. "C'mon, you gotta want something."

Silently, Sam shuffled sideways until his head leaned against Dean's arm. He looked perfectly content to stay there, his eyes still fixed on Dean's face. Dean was a little unnerved by all the staring.

"Knock it off, Sam." He immediately regretted the harsh rebuke when Sam flinched away, his gaze dropping to his tiny hands as he shuffled back to his original spot by the window. "Sam?" Dean tried hesitantly and felt like he could kick himself when Sam flinched again. With a weary sigh at his own idiocy, he returned his attention to the road.

Sam remained silent all the way until they pulled into the motel and Dean made to get out of the car to check in, at which point he made a whining noise of protest and latched onto Dean's arm. The older Winchester faltered.

"Sam, I've gotta go check in. They're gonna ask questions if they see you not wearing any clothes." Sam tugged on his arm insistently and Dean shook his head. "I can't take you." He forced himself to shake Sam off his arm and made himself not turn back when Sam wailed his name desperately after his retreating back.

When he returned, a room key nestled in the pocket of his jeans, Sam was huddled on the passenger side of the car, his small face buried into the material of the jacket around him. When Dean moved to pick Sam up, the boy flinched away from him and Dean saw the dark patch on the jacket where tears had fallen.

"Aww, Sammy, don't cry," he sighed softly, shifting closer.

"Wan' De," Sam sniffled, rubbing at his reddened, puffy eyes.

"I'm right here."

"No." Sam glared at him, frustrated. "Wan' De." Then realization hit Dean like a punch to the stomach, leaving him winded.

Sam didn't want him. He wanted his big brother.

"He's not here, kiddo." Dean held his hands out placatively. "I guess you're just gonna have to make do with me." Sam eyed him warily, probably expecting another rejection, before hesitantly inching forward. Dean met him halfway, scooping him up and letting him lean against his chest. Sam buried his face into Dean's shoulder and began to sob again, his entire body trembling with exertion.

Dean held him silently, unsure of what else to do as his shoulder grew steadily more damp with tears.

Really, I have no idea what the hell I'm doing with this story, but I've always wondered what would happen if Season 5 progressed like this and the muse refused to leave me alone. So here it is in all its glory. Happy now, muse?

Muse: Yep! -innocent baby!Sammy grin-

Me: The things I do for you...