Disclaimer: Anything you recognize is not mine. It all belongs to much more talented people than I.
Author's note: So the whole idea for this story is what follows and is based on a story told to me by my best friend. Who did the same kind of things with her nephews one year on Christmas.
Christmas Treasure
Chapter 3
By infinite shadow
Dean woke up slowly making his way up through layers of sleep then awareness until he was wide awake and looking at the ceiling. He smiled as he realized it was the first time since the car accident that he had woken up without his heart pounding in fear.
Slowly he got up and out of bed being careful not to wake his little brother. He went into his pack and pulled out a candy cane. Deftly he put it under Sammy's hand without waking him. "Merry Christmas Sammy," he whispered.
Dean quickly put on jeans and a sweat shirt and quietly shuffled into the kitchen. The house was still dark and the only sound was the clock in the hallway. He loved this time of the morning when he was the first up. He climbed up onto the counter and got the can of coffee out of the cupboard. He started coffee for his Dad and Bobby knowing it wouldn't be long before they were awake.
Going into the living room he curled up on the threadbare couch and turned on the TV. He surfed the channels before finding Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer and rolled his eyes at the claymation special but left it on.
Bobby was the first to appear a short time later and Dean watched him as he bypassed the living room and went into the kitchen.
Dean swallowed the giggle that threatened to emerge. Bobby was most definitely not a morning person as he heard a few thumps and banging of silverware before Bobby appeared again. His eyes were barely open and he scowled beneath several days of beard growth. Pretending to watch the Christmas special, Dean surreptitiously watched Bobby come into the room from where he was curled up into the corner of the couch.
Bobby plopped down onto the couch next to Dean and growled something before taking a sip of his coffee.
Having spent time with Bobby Dean knew it was his way of saying good morning. "Hey," he said in softly in return.
"It's five thirty in the morning Dean," Bobby growled a little louder.
Dean shrugged. "I was awake. You don't need to watch me. I don't need a sitter."
Bobby grunted, grabbed the remote and turned off the TV. "Back to bed Dean. It's too early to be up."
"Hey I was watching that and I was up this early yesterday," Dean said glaring at the man who turned off the cartoon.
"Yesterday ain't today. Back to bed," Bobby ordered.
"Fine," Dean huffed and stood up but didn't leave just looked at Bobby. "It doesn't matter. I know."
Bobby looked up from the coffee mug that was resting on his thigh. "Know what?"
Dean glanced at the hallway to make sure it was clear. "Santa's not real."
"Ok. But Sammy doesn't know that, does he?" Bobby asked.
Dean shrugged. His little brother was like four and a half. At times Dean wasn't sure what the kid knew.
"I don't think he knows Dean. And if he doesn't then why not give him a Christmas with Santa before bursting his bubble," Bobby said then took a drink of his coffee.
"We don't do Christmas. Dad doesn't have the money and he's always mad and sad at this time of year," Dean said.
"Dean go back to bed," Bobby said.
"No. Don't do this Bobby. It'll just upset Dad," Dean pleaded. "Isn't the tree enough?"
"Dean?" A voice said from behind him.
Dean looked over at the hallway to see his father standing there leaning on his crutches. "You make coffee this morning?
Dean shuffled his weight from foot to foot. "Yes sir."
"Good. Come join me in the kitchen. Maybe I'll whip up some breakfast?" John suggested.
Dean looked back to Bobby.
"Is Sammy still sleeping?" John asked.
Dean nodded.
"Well the smell of bacon usually wakes him from a dead sleep. Come on and give your grumpy old man a hand," John said with a smile.
"Yes sir," Dean said softer.
Dean walked away from Bobby, past his father and into the kitchen.
"John," Bobby started but paused as his friend just gave him a smile. "What?"
"On my bed there is a list of what's in the car and suggestions of what to do," John said.
Bobby gave him a look. "You sure?"
John hesitated for a moment then nodded. "Yeah I am. It's been too long."
"Fine. Fine," Bobby said as he stood up. "Just make sure my bacon's chewy not burnt."
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After breakfast Dean tried to clean up but nether adult would let him.
"Dean take Sammy and go wait for us in the living room," John said.
"But," Dean said looking around at the dirty dishes.
"Now Dean," John said.
"Come on Sammy," Dean said.
Sammy followed his big brother out of the room. "Can I watch Frosty this morning?"
"No," Dean said.
"Why not? I like Frosty," Sammy said.
"Yeah well he melts," Dean said grumpily.
John grinned at Bobby who was frowning at the fight brewing in the other room. "Frosty gave him nightmares for weeks. Kept asking if snow came to life then did it really die?"
"He was always a bright boy," Bobby said.
"Too bright," John said. "You ready for this?"
Bobby smiled. "Are you?"
"Yeah," John said.
"Bout freakin time. Dean's eight for christsakes,"
"Three lean and hard years Bobby," John said sadly. "I can't make up for lost time but I can start to do something right."
Bobby nodded. He got up and quickly put the greasy fry pan into the sink. "Envelopes are in place. Got the ones to start em off?" He asked as he turned and leaned back against the sink.
John pulled one small green envelope and one small red envelope out of his shirt pocket.
"Treasure map for Sammy?" Bobby asked.
John smiled wide. "Both of em."
Bobby chuckled. "All right. Let's get it started."
John struggled slightly up onto his crutches and hobbled out of the kitchen and into the living room.
"Sammy I am not watching possessed snow. So forget it," Dean snapped.
"Boys," John said softly. "That's enough."
"Sorry Daddy," Sammy said. "I just wanna watch Frosty!"
"Dean turn off the TV," John said.
Dean quickly got up, turned off the TV and went back to the couch.
"I have a separate mission for the both of you," John said.
"No way. We work together," Dean said immediately.
"Not today Dean," John said.
"What's the mission Daddy?" Sammy asked.
"What if he has to get something high?" Dean asked. "He'll pull out his stitches."
Bobby sighed. "He won't. Now shut up so your father can explain."
John reached into his pocket and pulled out the envelopes. He held them up and waited for both boys to look at them. "Your missions are in these two envelopes," he said cryptically.
Dean frowned as he eyed the envelopes suspiciously. Sammy was hurt. He was supposed to be resting not going on a mission.
Bobby took the envelopes and gave Dean the red one and Sammy the green.
"Before you open them here are the rules. You cannot help each other. You can ask us for help. Envelopes have clues and directions. Follow them and get the next clue. Dean yours will be in another red envelope and Sammy yours will be in another green envelope. Follow all the instructions and you will find your presents."
Sammy's eyes lit up. "Presents?" He repeated excitedly.
John smiled and nodded. "Yeah Sammy but remember you're hurt. Take it slow, ok little man?"
"Ok Daddy," Sammy said.
"Along the way you'll find some small presents but you are not done until you find a large box. Dean, yours will be in red foil wrap with a big green bow. Sammy, yours will be wrapped in green foil wrap with a big red bow."
"More than one present? Dean!" Sammy yelled as he grabbed his brother's arm and yanked on it excitedly. "Dean! We gots presents!"
"Yeah Sammy I know I heard Dad," Dean said pulling his arm free and pulling down his shirt sleeve. "But only if you find them and not hurt yourself."
"Bobby will shadow Sammy just in case he hurts himself. But Sammy you'll need to follow the clues on your own, ok?" John said.
Sammy nodded and smiled at Bobby.
"Ok," John said softly heartened to see how excited Sammy was. More like his old self. "Open your envelopes."
Sammy opened his envelope and frowned as he studied the pictures. There was a stick figure, dashes that lead upstairs to Bobby's library.
"Ok boys. Off you go. And when you find your present carry them back here so you can open them with us. Ok?" John said.
"Yes sir," Dean said.
"Ok Dad!" Sammy yelled and was up on his feet. He rushed towards the stairs and was half way there when he heard is brother's voice.
"Sammy!" Dean yelled.
The four year old stopped and looked back at his older brother with wide eyes. Dean hardly ever yelled at him.
"Slowly Sammy. You don't want to tear out those stitches. It'll hurt more than the accident, ok?" Dean warned.
"Kay Dean," Sammy said. "Can I go now?"
"Bobby make sure," Dean said pleadingly
"I won't let him hurt himself Dean. Now go have fun," Bobby said as he ruffled the eight year old's hair before turning to Sammy. "Where to?"
Sammy showed him the card. "Library."
They walked over to the long staircase and Sammy looked up the long staircase. He wasn't usually allowed up there with all those books but he usually snuck up there once or twice a visit. This time though the stairs looked like a really long climb.
"Up we go," Bobby said as picked up the boy and held him carefully until they got to the top of the stairs.
Sammy looked around as Bobby put him down looking for any presents but there weren't any. He walked over to a stack of books, looked them over and then over to a bookshelf. Not finding the clue he went over to Bobby's desk. "Can I open the drawers Bobby?"
"Yup," Bobby said.
Sammy went through the side drawers before opening the large bottom one. "I found it! I found it! And it has a box attached to it! Bobby look!"
"Well take off the envelope and let me hold the box for you," Bobby said.
Sammy frowned and held the package to his chest. He shook his head back and forth as he backed into the desk.
"Don't worry squirt. I'll just hold on to it and you can open all the packages at the end, ok?" Bobby said.
"Oh. Ok," Sammy said.
Bobby took the package from the four year old.
Sammy opened the green envelope and pulled out the instruction. It showed another stick figure with a question mark over his head as it pointed at what he thought was the porch.
"Well?" Bobby asked. "Know where we're goin' next?"
"The porch," Sammy said.
"All right then. Let's go," Bobby said picked him up and carried him down the stairs.
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Dean looked down at his card then up the stairs where Sammy had went with Bobby.
"Sammy will be fine Dean. What does your card say?" John asked. He had left the card writing up to Bobby and wasn't sure what been put on the clues.
Dean looked down at his card again. "It's a stick figure walking to the Impala."
"Then let's get our jacket and shoes on," John said.
Dean looked at his Dad. "You know I can do this by myself. You're supposed to stay off your leg. You don't need to come with me," he said.
"I'm coming Dean. Let's go," John said.
Dean slipped on his shoes and threw on his jacket. He knelt down and tied his Dad's shoe for him and helped him get his jacket on.
"Thanks buddy. Now let's go," John said.
Dean walked beside his Dad and glanced up at him while they made their way around the house in the cold morning air. "Dad? We don't need to do this you know. I know this is really for Sammy."
"It's for you too Dean," John said gruffly and cleared his throat. "I can't ignore Christmas just because I miss Mary. It's not fair to you boys."
Dean couldn't look at his Dad and tried to swallow around the sudden lump in his throat. He missed her but he had already started to forget things. Almost every night he dreamed about her or memories of things they had done together. He'd wanted to ask his Dad about them for a while but he knew it would hurt his father too much to ask him. He pursed his lips together and glanced up at his Dad.
"It's ok to miss her buddy," John said softly. "You know that right?"
"Yes sir," Dean said quickly and looked away.
"Avoiding things like holidays won't bring her back, and she wouldn't have wanted us to do that," John said.
Dean stopped and forced himself to look up at his dad. "No she wouldn't. But it's too hard on you."
John put his hand on his oldest son's shoulder. "It's been hard on you as well. Harder than it should have been."
Dean shrugged slightly and looked away.
"Do you remember Christmas with her?" John asked.
Dean dropped his head and stared at his shoes. "I've tried but I just get flashes, like pictures, and they're never in order."
John cleared his throat and blinked a few times. "Mary used to decorate the entire house and plan what I would do outside. The house would be full of fake evergreen boughs and lights. The Christmas tree had to be as tall as the ceiling and she spent days making the tree skirt and bows for the tree."
Dean nodded as he looked up at his dad. "I remember her sewing something red and green with gold around the edges."
"The tree skirt," John said and smiled enough for his dimples to show. "She was so proud of that. It had all of our names embroidered on it, the year that I proposed, our wedding date, and the years you boys were born."
Dean swallowed heavily as his father sniffed and clamped his jaw suddenly. "It's ok Dad," he said putting a hand on his father's arm.
John sniffed again and nodded. "Go on and get your next clue," he said gruffly.
Dean hustled over to the car and opened the door. He looked in the front and back taking a good visual check first. Nothing. He went in and opened the glove compartment and pulled out a small red box, wrapped in green ribbon with a red envelope attached to it. He ripped the envelope off the package, opened it and looked at the clue.
"Well what does it say?" John asked.
"It says What does the pentagram represent? It has three choices: Protection. Evil. Nothing. There's an arrow under each choice. Under protection it says Bobby's work bench. Under Evil it says Impala's trunk. Under Nothing it has the living room couch. So I guess depending on what I choose it has a location to go to."
John gave his oldest an expectant look.
"The pentagram is protection. So the next stop is Bobby's workbench in his shop," Dean said.
"Bobby's workshop it is," John said.
"Car's looking better dad," Dean said. "Bobby's done a really good job."
"Yeah he has and you can congratulate Bobby on a job well done later. Right now we're freezing our asses off. Let's go Dean," John said.
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Bobby put Sammy down at the bottom of the stairs. "Get your shoes and jacket on."
Sammy pulled on his jacket and sat down on the floor to put on his shoes. Bobby waited until the tyke was ready to go then opened the door and followed the four year old onto the porch.
Sammy looked left and then to the right. He didn't see anything so he started to run to the end of the porch. He got three steps before large hands grabbed him under his arms and he was lifted up into the air. He found himself sitting on the porch railing.
"Hold up there sparky. No running. No falling. Or I'll be re-stitching you little one," Bobby warned.
"Sowwie Bobby," Sammy said then looked around. "Put me down?"
"Promise not to run?" Bobby asked.
"Yeah," Sammy said.
"All right then," he said gently putting Sammy back onto his feet.
Sammy walked to the end of the porch. "Another package," Sammy said with a grin holding it up for the man to see.
"I can see that. Take off the envelope and give me the package," Bobby said.
Sammy tore off the envelope and opened it. "This one's gots writing on it."
Bobby took the paper. "Ah. Ok. What colour does the Hulk change when he gets angry? Red, green or purple?"
"That's easy! Green," Sammy said.
"You sure?" Bobby asked.
"Uh huh. Green," Sammy said.
"All right then. It's off to the dog house," Bobby said.
Sammy frowned up at him. "You told me I wasn't allowed over there or Harley would get me."
"I told you not to go to Harley's house alone. Two different things," Bobby said clarifying. Harley was just a pup and he wasn't sure what the dog was going to do with the little one.
"Oh right," Sammy said as he reached up and took Bobby's hand. They went down the steps and into the yard.
Bobby fought against the need to pick up the four year old. Part of this little exercise was to wear out the boys somewhat. With the exception of mailing the letters, they'd been cooped up in the house for too long and needed to stretch their legs. But the little one was beginning to develop a slight limp. He smiled as Harley barked from somewhere in the yard's maze of cars and bits of stuff.
The little house came into view and Sammy drew in a breath as he pulled on Bobby's arm. "I can see it! It's right on top. Bobby! Look!"
"Yes Sammy I can see it too. Let's go get it," Bobby said.
Sammy reached up and pulled on the box hanging off the side of the dog house on a bungee cord. He looked up at Bobby. "Heavy."
"Ok. I got it," Bobby said as he picked up the large thin package, removed the tag and handed the card to the four year old. "What does it show?"
Sammy tilted his head to the side as he studied the card. "It has a table with chairs, fridge and stove."
Bobby waited but Sammy didn't say anything else. "Where do you find those things?" He asked prompting the boy for an answer before he froze to death.
"The kitchen," Sammy said.
"Yup the kitchen," Bobby said and carefully scooped us the little boy.
Sammy giggled and snuggled into Bobby's warmth.
Don't forget to check out Heather03nmg's profile on how to get yourself heard by the networks during the writers strike. It not only affects the writers but all of the support staff on and off set. From the caterers, set builders, costume makers, the list is endless. Heather's in my favourite's author's profile. So head on over there and check it out.
