September 7th, 1988, Afternoon
Chicken Soup
Dean doesn't mean to fall asleep, but he's been looking after Sammy and he's tired too. When he wakes up, he's really hungry because he missed lunch (and breakfast as well, because Sam wasn't hungry and Dean had to be with him), but he's got bigger problems.
Sammy's asleep and his forehead's on fire. His long bangs are plastered to his forehead with sweat and he's moaning softly.
Dean shakes him gently awake. "Sammy," he says. "Sammy, wake up."
Sam blinks his eyes open slowly, and Dean can tell that he's miserable. "Hey," he says, and he kisses Sam's temple. "You want some chicken soup?"
Sammy stares at him for a moment like he's having trouble registering. He coughs weakly and then nods.
Dean makes him chicken soup and hand-feeds him until he falls asleep again.
And Dean falls asleep with him.
Bobby comes in later and watches the boys sleep. He smiles and goes to wash his hands by the sink. At bedtime he rouses Dean and scoops up Sammy. Dean follows as his brother is carried up to their room.
Bobby tucks them in and thinks, sadly, that if Karen were still alive, he'd tell her that maybe they could have children, that maybe he isn't such a bad father after all.
He understands now, why Karen wanted them. They make him feel warm and fill up a hole he never knew he had.
Sam mumbles something in his sleep and Dean whispers goodnight.
Bobby glows.
