So far, it had been a dog's dream of a summer's day.

That morning Dean had indulged in a randy encounter with the sexy poodle he'd winked at the other afternoon; he'd eaten his fill at the back door of a nearby Mom and Pop diner; and now, after an ecstatic series of scratches at his nether regions, he was settling down for a monumental nap.

Even the puppy Sam had caved under the gorgeousness of the weather, curled up in a chestnut ball, soft purrs coming from his snout, more reminiscent of a cat than a canine.

Of course, there was nothing like a series of positives for it all to come crashing down into one huge negative!

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Before Dean had even posed his head on his paws, the sky had taken on a gun-metal hue and huge drops of rain began to fall heavily onto the warm grass, turning it from a soft bed to a muddy puddle in an instant. Factor in the strokes of lightening and rolls of thunder, and the day was well and truly spoiled.

In a second, Dean was drenched from his tail to the tip of his nose, and from what he could see through the now thundering rain, Sam had taken on the appearance of a wet sponge, the purrs morphing into frightened yelps.

'Dean. Help! The rain's gonna wash me away.'

'I'm here, pup,' Dean assured him, gathering up his friend and hustling them both out of the park towards the first alleyway he could find.

'Why don't we take shelter under the trees? ' Sam asked, throwing a glance back at the little copse they'd been resting in.

'No, Sammy. I've seen lightening strike trees and if you're unlucky enough to be caught under one, you're fried. Better going for something more solid.'

By this time both dogs were soaked, the rain sliding down their coats like so many miniature waterfalls.

'Come on Sammy,' Dean urged. 'We need to get under cover.'

'I can't go any faster,' Sam yelped.

With a woof of exasperation, Dean caught the back of the pup's neck carefully between his teeth and with Sam dangling like a Christmas tree ornament from his mouth, he raced down the alley to where a sort of brick shelf butted out from the wall.

:

He set Sam down and made to squeeze under the protruberance when he felt a huff of hot breath on his head.

'This spot's already taken,' a deep, hoarse voice wheezed. 'Find yourself another.'

Dean almost jumped out of his skin. The last thing he expected was to find another occupant. A grumpy one at that!

'Sorry, dude. Didn't think there would be anyone else under here.'

'Well, now that you know there is, idjit. Vanish.'

''Please, sir,' a small voice piped up. 'It's raining so hard out there that it nearly swept me away. Can we stay just until it stops?'

'Well, I never. There's two of you!'

'Yes, sir,' Sam said. 'Dean was protecting me under his belly. That's why you couldn't see me.'

'Harrumph,' The dog barked. 'You're truly a wisp of a thing.'

'One day, I'll grow up big and strong and I'll be even taller than Dean,' the pup said earnestly, blinking up at the stranger.

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The grumpy dog huffed and moved over. 'I guess you can stay until the rain stops.'

'Thank you….?'

'Name's Bobby,' the bloodhound offered, his long ears and sagging jowls vibrating as he spoke.

'Bobby. I like your name,' Sam chirped cheerfully. 'Do you want to be our new friend. Dean's very good at finding food and we can share.'

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Their new acquaintence eyed Dean. 'Is he always like this?' he grunted, nodding at Sammy.

'Fraid so,' Dean replied his tongue hanging out like a grinning exclamation mark.

'Will you be our friend, Bobby. Will you?' Sam repeated.

'You're an insistent little tyke aren't you? Well, now,' the bloodhound mused. 'I suppose we could travel a stretch of road together.'

'Thank you, sir. Dean's like my big brother. Can I call you Uncle Bobby?'

:

The bloodhound was taken aback by the puppy's forwardness but there was something so innocent about him that the old dog knew his words were without malice.

'Why not? I've been called worse things.'

'Uh, listen-Bobby,' Dean interrupted. 'Sam can be a little pushy at times. You don't have to say yes to whatever he asks.'

'I think I'm still in possession of my faculties, boy,' Bobby growled. 'But if you don't want me along…'

'No, no. Whatever Sammy wants, Sammy gets!' Dean stated with a wry nod .

'That's settled then,' Bobby declared.

:

But Dean knew nothing of this dog Bobby. He could only hope Sam's intuition was sound!

tbc