Disclaimer: Supernatural and all its characters belong to Kripke and the CW. I own nothing.

Previously on SPN- Bobby and Mary stood back and watched with pride as their two boys played ball together. It looked like things were finally starting to look up.

SPN

"Bath time Sammy!" Bobby cheerfully announced as he strode over to the two playing boys and held out his hand. "Let's go buddy. You need to get all cleaned up and changed so you can go to bed."

Sammy stopped rolling his wooden truck and peered fearfully up at his foster dad. He'd already had a bath today and he knew that was a luxury that he wasn't allowed to have very often. So, the ball capped man couldn't possibly want him to take another one. Maybe bath time was code for something else; something like…the five year old shuddered. He didn't think he wanted to find out what the man had plan…

"Come on Sammy, I'll help you." Dean offered, throwing an arm around the frail boy's shoulder. "I've gotta go get my bath anyway." He patted the five year old on the back before ushering him out of the room.

John watched as his son led the five year old to the hallway. Dean had done a complete three sixty as far as his feelings about Sammy being there and the Winchester patriarch couldn't be prouder of him. His boy was not only engaging the kid. He was assuming the role of protector and comforter; the role of big brother. And that was just what the scrawny, frightened little guy needed. Maybe with enough time and patience Sammy would actually start looking and acting like a happy normal sized five year old instead of the tiny skittish child he currently was. Which reminded him…John checked to ensure the boys were out of ear shot and then rounded on the salvage owner. "Alright Singer, spill!" he ordered. "What happened to that little boy and why does he need a hunter to take care of him?"

SPN

"Here Short Stuff, pour a cap full of this under the running water." Dean instructed, handing the bubble bath bottle to Sammy. "It'll make your bath more fun. Trust me."

Sammy took the pink bottle from his friend and dutifully dumped the recommended amount into the water. Then after sneaking a peek at the older boy, he swiftly stripped off his clothes and jumped into the tub. Seeing bubbles beginning to fill the bathtub, the youngster timidly reached out and picked up a small handful. He grinned at the squishy feeling of the circular shaped orbs. Sammy brought his hand closer to his face, his smile widening when he noticed the rainbow colors reflected in some of the bubbles. Giggling, the five year old sat down in the slowly filling tub, scooped the bubbles into a huge pile in front of him, and, grabbing a dinosaur cup off the lip of the tub, started to play.

Dean went over to the cabinet to find the shampoo and other items needed to wash the boy's hair. While sifting through the various jars, bottles, and other containers, he struggled to swallow back the bile that had rushed up his throat upon seeing the scars that virtually covered Sammy's entire body. The toddler-sized kindergartener hadn't just been beaten once in a while; he'd been repeatedly tortured. The nine year old had never seen anyone with that many scars and with the life he'd led that was really saying something. Who would do that to a little kid? And more importantly how had Sammy survived all that? How did he make it through what had to be years of daily abuse? Dean glanced back at the happily playing youngster. He knew one thing for sure; Sammy was never going to be hurt again. He'd make sure of that. Nobody was going to lay a finger on that kid while he was around. Nobody!

SPN

John ran a weary hand across his face. "Why would demons keep a child? What could they possibly gain from it?"

"Maybe they planned on using him for leverage against someone?" Mary theorized.

"If that was true, why the wait?" Bobby questioned. "From what little Ms. Williams told me Sammy was in that house for at least two years. Why wait that long?"

"They wouldn't. They had to have been keeping him for another reason." John replied. "I don't know what it would be though."

Bobby took his battered cap off his head, ran a hand through his thinning hair, and then replaced it. "Hopefully Abe and Jed will have some answers for us once they've gone through that house. They were the ones that found Sammy. They found him hiding in a closet after they'd exercised the two demons living in the place. They said they usually don't check out the building but that the demons had kept repeating something about the hunters not getting their prize. They weren't expecting to find a kid though. Jed told me they weren't sure what to do with him at first but they talked it out and decided their best option was to call in CPS. So that's what they did."

"Thank goodness the agent that went out on the call was someone who knew about hunting." Mary muttered. "I'd hate to think what might have happened to Sammy if someone else had gone on the call."

Bobby winced. "That woulda been a big mistake." He said. "Those two demons had Sammy for a reason. He was worth something to them; he had to be. And you can bet your bottom dollar that if he was valuable to those two, he'll be valuable to any others that come along."

"Well, that's just too damn bad 'cause they're not getting their slimy hands on him." John adamantly stated.

"Damn straight" Bobby seconded. No demon or supernatural critter or human for that matter was going to take his son away from him.

SPN

Dean helped Sammy pull his Thunder cats pajama shirt on and then reached behind him for the comb lying on the edge of the rounded sink. He swiftly combed out the boy's wayward mop of hair being extra carefully when dealing with the tangles. Once he had tamed the tangled mess, he set the comb down and stepped back a little. "Looking good Sammy" he commented.

Sammy's attention however, was caught on his brand new pajamas. He was captivated by the colorful characters and the soft feeling of the clothing. He didn't remember ever having something this nice. Hugging his shirt to his chest, he grinned up at his new friend.

Dean gathered what he needed for his shower and then turned to find the younger boy smiling up at him. "Feels good to be clean, huh kiddo?" he quipped. He set his armful down on the toilet seat before ruffling Sammy's still damp hair. "Hey Sammy, why don't you go on back to the living room? I've gotta take my shower now."

Sammy vigorously shook his head. He didn't want to be in the room with all the grown-ups alone. It wasn't safe there. He wanted to stay here.

Dean frowned. "No, what Sammy? No you don't want to go or no you don't want me to take a shower?" he inquired.

Sammy cocked his head to one side and peered up at the older boy. He wasn't used to having a choice. He was always told how it was going to be. Seeing Dean looking at him expectantly, he knew he had to give him an answer. "I, I, I" Sammy stammered. "I w-w-w-ant to ssssstay wwith y-you."

Dean shrugged. "You can stay with me if you want." He told the youngster. He went over and got the new bag of bath toys that were on the shelf by the tub. "Here, you can sit on the floor and play with these while you wait. Okay?"

Sammy nodded. He took the offered toys and plopped down on the floor.

Dean watched his little friend play for a couple of minutes and then turned his attention to the bath. He had been planning on taking a quick shower but that would mean letting Sammy out of his sight and he didn't want to do that especially since he'd seen the kid's back. So he guessed he'd take a bath instead. Dean snuck a peek at Sammy and after assuring himself that the boy was focused on the toys on the floor, the nine year old swiftly stripped off his clothes and got into the almost bubble less water.

Sammy looked up at the sudden splash. He gazed at the older boy's smooth back. Cocking his head to the side, he curiously eyed his friend for a few moments before finally dredging up the courage to ask, "Dean, how come you don't have no boo boos?"

Dean almost jumped out of his skin at the question. He wasn't sure if it was because the kid had been checking him out or because Sammy had spoken; and not just a word or two answer but a whole sentence! Not about to cop to being startled Dean casually turned around and smiled at the little boy. "I don't have any boo boos 'cause mom and dad and Uncle Bobby have never hurt me Sammy." He explained.

Sammy knew he shouldn't keep prying but he just had to know how Dean had escaped punishment all this time. If he knew that, he might be able to stay out of trouble. So he pushed for more information. "Is that cause you're always a good boy?"

Dean chuckled. "Me? A good boy? Please!" he scoffed. He sighed at the look of confusion on Sammy's face. "Look Sammy it's like this. All kids do bad things sometimes. It's part of being a kid. Mom says that's how we learn. But unlike those morons that had you, when I get in trouble for doing something wrong, I don't get beat. Mom and dad and Bobby, they don't believe in that kind of thing. I mean sure they might give me a time-out *snicker* or ground me or take away my dessert or if it was something really dangerous dad might even land a few swats on my backside but they have never and will never hurt me. And they won't hurt you either."

Sammy glanced at the closed door and then back to Dean. "Are you sure, Dean?" he questioned.

"I promise Sammy." Dean assured the tiny boy. Seeing some of the tension leave the youngster's shoulders, he smiled. "Now turn around so I can get out."

"Okay" Sammy agreed. He turned his attention back to his toys and waited for his protector to finish.

SPN

A freshly bathed Dean and Sammy tromped into the living room a short time later. "Come on Sammy, it's story time!" Dean announced as he led the five year old over to the rocking chair Mary was sitting in. "Go over to that shelf right there and pick a book for mom to read." He instructed before climbing into his mother's lap.

"Dean" Mary worriedly whispered.

"It's okay mom." Dean quietly told her. "I'm just showing the kid the ropes."

"Oh" Mary replied.

Sammy shuffled over to the rocking chair and timidly held out the orange hard backed book.

Mary took the book from the little one and patted her lap.

Sammy hesitated unsure if he should climb up or not. He looked at Dean who motioned him forward. Still a little nervous the five year old glanced from Dean to Mary and back several times before screwing up his courage and climbing into Mary's lap.

Smiling, Mary wrapped an arm around both boys, opened the book, and began to read.