Thanks so much to all the amazing reviews! I have not done a chapter fanfic in soooo long that I cannot even believe I'm posting chapter two here! So nothing too exciting here, just fluff, but I'm thinking we'll have some drama next chapter (if there is a next chapter? I don't know, guys!) I apologize for any errors and I hope you enjoy this little trip the boys take. It made me smile.

Disclaimer: I do not own Supernatural.


As far as Sammy knew, they hadn't heard from John in a week. In reality, it had been twice that.

Whenever Sam asked in the past seven days (which was everyday, several times) Dean had told him that dad had called when he was in the bathroom, during Power Rangers, while he was sleeping.

"He said he misses you, Sammy. He's just real busy and can't stay on the phone too long."

Sam would look up at brother with big, trusting eyes and nod. "Oh. Didja tell him I misseded … that I miss him, too?"

"Duh, dude."

And that would make a tiny-toothed grin flash across Sam's face. "Good!"

But things were different this morning. Dean was coming out of the bathroom, combing water out of his hair, when he noticed Sammy was awake.

"Good morning to you, good morning to you," Dean crooned grinningly. "Whaddya say to breakfast, Sammy? Chocolate chip pancakes, strawberries, ice cold milk, the whole shebang. Then we can wander around a little? Maybe go to the zoo?"

Sam fiddled with the bed covers. "'Kay."

Dean put his hands on his hip, assessing this disinterested Sam. "'Kay'? That's all you can say? You've been begging me to go to the zoo ever since we drove by it."

Sam rolled his eyes and copped an attitude. "What-ever," he said, dropped off the bed and throwing himself on the floor in front of the TV. "I wanna watch more Jumpstreet."

Dean hated it when Sam walked away from him. "Cut it out the Valley Girl act and come here." Dean stood his ground in the kitchen, ten feet away from Sam. Another eyeroll from Sam. The kid kicked his feet on the floor furiously. "Okay, dad."

Then Sam visibly cringed and Dean knew. He sighed heavily and made his way over to his little brother. For a moment he towered over Sam before thinking better and crouching down beside him. "Spill."

"I just thought maybe … maybe when I opened my eyes, he'd be here," Sam said softly.

That's what John told Sam on short hunts, things like burning bones or stake-outs.

Sam would dance around his dad, tugging on his sleeve. "Daddy, where you going?"

"Nowhere important," John would respond gruffly, shaking Sam off. "I have a gun in my hand, be careful. What have I told you about guns?"

Sam would recite dully, "Always pretend a gun is loaded."

"Exactly. And what happens when a gun is loaded?"

"It shoots things and hurts them and sometimes kills them," Sam would repeat, like he had so many times before. Then, his head would tilt curiously and he would say something like, "But daddy, pretending ain't real. Pretending means it's not for real."

Then maybe John would stop for a moment, a flicker of fear licking in his belly. "Sam, guns are real. If you don't follow orders, guns will hurt you. Do you understand that?"

"Yes, sir," Sam would say miserably. "I just wanted to know." And, Sammy being Sam would go and crack his dad and Dean's heart both why doing something like sliding his hand into John's and whispering, "I just miss you when you're not here."

John would crouch down and plant a kiss in Sam's curls. "I'll be home when you open your eyes, kiddo. Be a good little man for your brother or I'll hear about it."

He wouldn't. Hear about it, that is.

Then he'd sling a bag over his shoulder, nod curtly at Dean. And just before shutting the door he might say, "And Dean?"

"Yeah, dad."

"Teach Sam that "ain't" isn't proper. It's sloppy."

Sam would frown at his dad's disappointment.

"Yes, sir," Dean would say.

But that was not the conversation of two weeks before. Two weeks before there were reminders of Uncle Bobby and Pastor Jim's numbers, of how much money would be allotted for what, lists of tasks to be carried out. So as bad as Dean did feel for his little brother, he couldn't help pointing out, "Hey, dad didn't say he would be. So you need to forget it for now, okay?"

Sam frowned miserably. "But Dean I just-"

"Nope, come on." Dean went back to their room, opened a duffel, and started throwing clothes in the hall. "Be a big boy and get dressed."

Sam hesitated then, with a heavy sigh, started changing into some jeans and a long sleeve shirt.

"Good job, Sammy," Dean praised, coming out of the room. It wasn't exactly something that typically warranted praise but the smile Sam gave him as he shoved his head through the neck hole of his shirt was worth it.

"Hey, Dean!" Sam held tight to Dean's hand, hopping on his toes. The air smelled of clean hay and wet fur but it was a surprisingly nice smell, Dean noticed, it reminded him of going to the zoo as a kid. Quick memories flashed of climbing on smooth wooden fences, leaning in as close to Tiger enclosure as he could, separated by a gulch and some nets and held back by Mary's gentle hand. He felt warm sun, despite it being fairly cold, and the awe of such a fierce animal being so close.

Dean grinned down at him. "Yeah, Sammy."

"This is so cool!" he shouted in excitement. He turned shining eyes on his brother. "I ain't never been to the zoon before."

"Zoo, Sammy, not zoon." Dean chuckled. "And yeah, I know. I'd of been there."

Sam's forehead wrinkled in concentration. His lips moved as he silently repeated the word to himself, etching its pronunciation in his memory.

"Hey," Dean said, tugging Sam's hand. He pointed and squinted into the distance. "Hey, Sam, I think they're feeding giraffes over there!"

Sam's mouth dropped open. "Can we do it? Please, Dean, please?" he begged.

"Hell yeah!" Dean crowed.

The two of them rushed forward to where, in fact, people were hand feeding two nineteen-foot-tall giraffes. When they reached the area, there was a line that they quickly hopped into.

"Wow," Sam tilted his head all the way back to see the top of the giraffes. "Wow, it looks like they got clouds on their heads! Do it, Dean."

"Oh, yeah, Sammy, it does! Good eye, dude."

"That girl got to pet it!"

"Look, look. That kid wimped out and now the giraffe's lookin' at him all like, 'Give me my lunch!'"

"Ha, yeah! That's funny, Dean."

"Of course it was, I was the one who said it."

"Are you gonna feed one?" Sam asked.

Dean had been shifting excitedly, peering around those in front of him. "Of course! It's a freaking giraffe."

"Hey, Dean, they have black tongues!"

"Aw, yeah, Sammy! Innit awesome? It's so they don't get sunburned."

"Wow."

A curly haired kid with glasses turned around and said to Sam, "Do you know why a giraffe has such a long neck?"

Sam shook his head wordlessly, unable to imagine what more mind-boggling information he might receive about these animals.

"Most people say it's just so they can reach the leaves really high on the trees but it's also because they fight by swinging their necks at each other. Their necks are really strong."

Sam tried to picture it. Finally he said, "Like … like a mace?"

Several adults turned and eyed Dean suspiciously. Dean laughed awkwardly. "He's going through a medieval stage," he said. Sam looked up at him, confusion clear on his face. "Watches a lot of … Disney, you know? That Cinderella is some good family fun, whoo boy, but full of violence."

Sam wrinkled his nose, sure Dean was teasing him. "I don't watch Cinderella, Dean. Uncle Bobby told dad that the best way to kill-"

"Kill misbehavior is with a good time out!"

"TO KILL AN OBOUR is with a mace and that he did it three years ago."

The spectacled boy gaped at Sam and remained with such a look on his face as his mother dragged him forward. "Peter, hurry up and feed the giraffe. Quickly."

"Sammy," Dean hissed. "Don't talk about that, it's not real world stuff."

"Yes it is, Dean, daddy said-"

A young woman in safari gear called out, "Next!" and Sam forgot his argument immediately and rushed forward. Dean followed, shaking his head and taking note that he and Sam would have to talk later. "This is gonna be swee-eet!" Dean sang.

The girl explained to Sam how to hold out his hand flat and how he could pet the giraffe if he was very, very gentle. Excitement flared up in Dean again. He held out his hands grinning, "Leaves, please!"

"Oh, usually we only allow the children …" She said regretfully. "Just for time reasons."

Dean pulled his hands back immediately, rubbing one hand through his hair casually. He took a few steps backward out of line. "Of course," he said nonchalantly. "You go ahead, Sammy."

Sam didn't move. He was quiet for a moment before looking up at the girl. "I want to give my brother my leaves," he said firmly, and he held them out to Dean. "I know

The girl couldn't help it. "Awww," she cried. "That is so sweet!"

"Sammy, you go on …"

"Don't give up your turn, honey, your brother can feed them, too," she said, waving Dean over. Her face flushed red as she realized suddenly what a total fox the guy was. If it had been the beginning of her shift and she was feeling more alert, no way would she have sent him away.

Sam beamed, hopping around. "Dean, come here! Come on, hurry!"

Dean came forward and grabbed his leaves. He hitched Sam up on his side. "Let's do this."

Sam giggled when the giraffes licked the leaves off his hands and was amazed by how soft they were. Dean had to admit, he'd seen a lot of things, but this was pretty cool. The animals stared at them, blinking the big sleepy eyes. They had long eyelashes that reminded him of Sammy.

And all too soon their turn was over.

"Pretty awesome, huh, Sam?"

"Super awesome!" Sam cried. Then, "Hey, Dean! Look at that playground!"

It was one of the coolest playgrounds Dean had ever seen and in the past five years, he had seen a lot. It was a huge wooden structure with big trees over head and nets and everything a kid could want.

Dean placed Sam on the ground. "Well go for it, dude."

He was happy to see Sam so happy.


Reviews will fuel me to write, despite having a college and dance career that's calling me to do otherwise! Thanks for reading :)