Getting To The Bottom of This.

Summary: Tall Tales wasn't all it was cracked up to be. The majority of Sam's irritability came from the fact he was sick, and not only of his brother. The boy's stay at Ellen's to recuperate, but she ships them to an old family friend after she gets fed up with their bickering. As both brothers recall old memories of their so-called 'Aunt Mandy' more questions surface than answers; why does she move so much? Why did she disappear for such long periods of time throughout their childhoods? How does she know Bobby, Ellen and John? And what is with her fascination of water and local aquariums? As Sam gets better, neither brother can help but wonder what her secret is and why she hid it for so long.

Disclaimer: I don't claim to own anything belonging to the "Supernatural" realm. I will put my stamp of approval on all original characters, and hope they meet the fandom's high standards. All characters pictures can be found on my homepage. The restaurant Dean and Bobby went to is called Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches, and the Gargantuan does in fact exist on the menu. Cookies given if you catch the hidden shout-out to one if my biggest fans.


Chapter 9

"Dean? What do you feel like for dinner?" Mandy asked, looking over at the eldest Winchester.

"Doesn't matter," he said, swallowing thickly at the prospect of food. "Whatever you make is fine with me. I'm not that hungry after going out to eat with Bobby."

"Well Sammy's getting more soup, and I know you'll pitch a fit if I even think of offering that to you, so how about grilled cheese?"

"Fine with me." Dean repeated, taking a sip of water and allowing an ice cube to linger on his tongue, slowly melting. "Good thing too, grape jelly and I had a falling out recently."

Before Mandy could question Dean's comment, Sam shuffled his was down the stairs and into the kitchen, rolling his eyes as he caught Dean's smirk of amusement. Following closely behind him, Ellen made her way into the kitchen, gently hitting Sam's behind with a folded newspaper that she then threw at Dean. Sam blushed as he sat down, adjusting the fleece blanket he had wrapped around his shoulders. Ellen gave a quick wave to Mandy and announced that she was going into the living room to work on compiling dates for a new case.

"I don't know why-"

"We're not going over this again Sam," Mandy said from the stove as she stirred a steaming pot. "You've spent the last four days cooped up in that room doing nothing but sleep! You need to be up and about!"

"Yeah yeah, whatever." Sam grumbled as Dean tried not to snicker and went about reading the newspaper Ellen had brought. Mandy walked over to Sam, gently cupping his scowling face and kissing his forehead.

"Hey, stop being so grumpy. You're face is going to freeze like that." Sam cracked a small smile as she pulled away.

"Alright, so what are you forcing me to eat tonight?"

"You're getting soup and Dean decided on grilled cheese." Dean blanched, hiding his face behind the newspaper and tried to concentrate on reading it.

"Soup? Not again Mandy!" Sam said, pouting.

'Boy Sam is really putting on a show,' Dean thought briefly.

"You'll love it, trust me." Mandy walked over and placed the steaming bowl in front of him. "It's chicken and wild rice."

Dean's stomach decided now was the perfect time to cramp and give off a particularly painful sounding gurgle, causing Mandy and Sam to look at him expectantly. Dean cleared his throat, breaking the silence.

"Nature calls, I think I'll call it an early night," he muttered as he pushed his chair out and tried to calmly walk out of the room and up the stairs to the bathroom. Mandy turned to Sam as they both heard the door slam shut.

"He seems to be doin' that a lot since they got back, wouldn't ya say Sammy?"

"I don't know," Sam answered nonchalantly. "I haven't really been paying attention." He suddenly gave a wicked grin as he picked up the spoon and blew on the soup.

"What?"

"Well, at least we know which bathroom he's been using," Sam said around a mouthful of chicken and broth.

"What do you mean by that?" Mandy demanded.

"Dean's probably been in and out of your private master bathroom!" Sam said, bursting into laughter. "He said it's the only one with a proper lock, that idiot."

"My bathroom!" She screeched, scraping her own chair against the wooden floor and flying up the stairs. "Dean Winchester! If you're usin' my private bathroom I swear to God…"

As Mandy got to the top of the stairs and entered her bedroom, it was clear that Dean had indeed been in and out of her room for the past few hours. Her bed, which had been neatly made in the morning was now disheveled and had the covers thrown about. Trying to ignore the sounds she heard coming from behind the bathroom door, she winced and left the room until she was sure Dean was done.


Mandy walked into her master bedroom a half hour later to find the eldest Winchester curled in bed, asleep. Walking up to him, she immediately noticed his sleeping arrangement. Dean was the type of person who liked to spread out in a bed, stretching in every direction just because he could. At the moment though, Dean was curled into a tight ball, asleep on his side.

"What the hell is goin' on with ya Dean?" She muttered, causing Dean to slowly wake up. He blinked a few times before registering that Mandy was sitting on the edge of the bed, wringing her hands together. She gave him a small smile, now running her hand up and down the side of his face.

"Mandy?" Dean croaked; wincing as he heard how strained his voice sounded.

"Dean? What's wrong sweetheart? I know you're not feelin' good- hell, ya went to bed early!"

"Nothing's wrong Mandy."

"You've been in and out of my bathroom all evening." Mandy said, standing up to walk to the master bathroom, grabbing a washcloth and running it under the faucet. "Now why don't ya tell me what's really wrong before I kick ya out of my room."

"It's just an upset stomach," Dean muttered, shivering as Mandy placed the cool cloth on his forehead.

"Of course it is," she said sarcastically as she continued to wipe his face with the cloth. "So tell me what's wrong before I call Bobby to get your butt outta my bed." Dean sighed.

"I didn't want to tell you," he said as he uncurled from his ball and turned onto his stomach, allowing the washcloth to fall off his forehead as he smothered his face into the pillow.

"Dean?"

"It smells like you," he grumbled.

"Pardon?"

"Your pillow, it smells like you." Dean lifted his head to look at her. "And since I didn't want to tell you, I figured this was the next best way to be near you."

"You're one odd kid Dean," Mandy said laughing as she put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "What didn't you want to tell me?"

"Urg, it was that stupid sandwich shop," he muttered, now slowly turning to his side so he could look her in the eye. He quickly curled into a tight ball, arms wrapped around his stomach. "I got the Gargantuan- it has basically everything you could imagine on it. Salami, spicy ham, roast beef, turkey, ham, bacon, cheese. And then the manager coned me into getting extra tuna, avocado spread and peppers on it." Dean swallowed thickly as Mandy grimaced.

"Well no wonder you got an upset stomach sugar, sounds like ya ate everything but the kitchen sink," she said trying not to laugh.

"It's not funny!" He said indignantly. "The sandwich was huge, I mean I thought I was gonna need a bigger mouth. And then everyone was watching to see if I'd finish it, so I had to."

"Betcha you regret doin' that now."

Dean nodded as he bit back a groan, feeling his stomach turn yet again.

"I thought I liked it, but apparently my stomach has other ideas," he groaned as he pushed himself out of the bed and stumbled into the bathroom. Mandy thought her lip was going to bleed from biting it so hard.

"If ya need me I'll be downstairs makin' some tea for ya, okay?"

"You would," Dean said from behind the closed door. Mandy managed to make it half-way down the stairs before she burst into laughter, clutching her sides as tears trickled down her face. Ellen was the first to follow the sounds of amusement to the kitchen stairs, questioning why Sam was still sitting at the table, now swirling a partially melted bowl of orange sherbet with one hand. He shrugged.

"What on earth is going on here?" Ellen asked as Mandy finally took a seat on one of the steps, trying not to laugh as hard.

"It's Dean," she started before busting out into laughter again.

"Of course it's that idjit." Bobby said from the side door as he came in from grabbing a bunch of books from his car. "What'd he do this time?"

"We'll I'd say it has more to do with what he thought he was expected to do."

"Huh?"

"Why don't you tell Ellen about what Dean had for lunch."

"Oh, you mean that." Bobby put the texts on the counter and scratched at his head from under his trucker's hat. "You mean that huge-ass sandwich he demolished?"

"Yep!" Mandy's laugher echoed down the stairway as she thought of him eating that entire sandwich.

"What about it?"

"We'll he's been running in and out of the bathroom ever since y'all got home."

"Serves him right!" Ellen said. "That's what he gets for thinkin' he can just go around eating everythin' and anything!"

"Yeah well the poor kids been in and out of my personal bathroom attached to my bedroom!"

"That makes things even better!" Bobby said laughing. "Don't forget to open those windows Mandy."

"Oh I know; how many times has he done this before? Eaten himself sick?"

"Not recently," Sam piped up from the table. "He's been pretty good at the whole watching what he eats thing." Earning a glare from Mandy he quickly silenced himself with a large spoonful of sherbet, wincing as the cold overwhelmed his mouth.

"Well this is all fun and games but we actually have something to discuss with you, in private." Bobby said, lowering his voice. "Is our trip to the aquarium still on for this tonight?"

"Absolutely, lord knows I need to get in that water!"

"Just makin' sure."


Later that night Sam ran into the kitchen, his sock-clad feet skidding across the wooden floor, causing him to lose his balance for a moment. Flailing his long arms, he quickly grabbed the counter to balance himself.

"Whoa there Sammy!" Mandy cried, gently placing her hands on his waist. Taking a deep breath, Sam gave her a grateful glance. "What are you doin' up now? It's well after ten love."

"What are you doing up now?" Sam asked accusingly as Mandy put her hands on her waist, raising an eyebrow.

"Dishes- now spill. Why are you up now?"

"Dean wanted me to get something from the car."

"At this hour?" Mandy questioned, not fully knowing if she wanted to hear the answer. Sam thankfully didn't catch her hands shaking at each plunge into the soapy water and the way she held her breath afterward.

"Yeah…" Sam ran a hand through his hair nervously.

"What's the reason?"

"Don't judge Dean-" he blurted before he could catch himself. "Dean said he still has some indigestion or heartburn or something, but he wanted some Pepto and we have some in the car so he said just to get it and not bother you."

"Not bother me?"

"Yep, that's what he said." Breathless, Sam turned to leave as Mandy grabbed his shoulder.

"If Dean's still sick he needs to tell me, not have his brother doing a grocery store run for somethin' that'll just mask the illness!" She muttered as she scoffed at the mere idea of the bubblegum pink liquid entering the premise. "And not on my watch! Pepto, please!"

"Why not? Dean said not to bother you!"

"Who do you think I am? Don't bother me, yeah right! Y'all always bother me anyway," Mandy muttered as she began rummaging through her cabinets, pulling out a box of tea and setting it on the counter. "Can you put that kettle on to boil?"

Sam nodded, filling the tea pot up with warm water before turning on the stove and setting it on top of the flickering gold flame.

"Dean'll know I asked you for help," Sam said in a sing-song voice as he turned to look at Mandy, who was back to doing the dishes. Hands submerged in the hot, sudsy water, she rolled her eyes at him. "I would never make tea for him."

"Well too bad, because if I see that pink shit in my house I'll murder the person who bought it." Sam nodded solemnly, believing her with every fiber of his being, now picking up the hand towel and drying the dishes. Wordlessly, he dried them all and then put them away until he heard the tell-tale signs of the water boiling.

"Can I put it in?"

"Go ahead sugar," Mandy said as Sam picked up the box, opening it up. He sniffed the box before placing a bag into the tea pot- for some odd reason it was always his favorite part of helping her in the kitchen; measuring the proper amount of tea leaves into the boiling pot and allowing the leaves to fully immerse themselves in the water and allow their fragrance to wash over him.

"What is this?"

"What do you think it is?"

"Chamomile, and ginger… but it smells minty too," Sam looked at the box in his hands, though it offered him no answers as its blank sides mocked him. The only label was the letter W on top. "What's W stand for?"

"The obvious- Winchester." Sam gave her a sarcastic smile before putting the box back. "There's this tea shop down the street and I happen to know the owner. Lisa gives me a good deal because she knows I go through that stuff like nuts to a squirrel when y'all are around."

"Nice to know you care so much," Sam joked as he waited for the tea to steep. "Should I bring Dean anything else? You could finally teach me to make that toast water you forced down my throat back in Salem."

"Toast water is for nausea, so I doubt it'd do much good. Plus, he wouldn't drink it if we fed it to him intravenously."

"That's true," Sam said as Mandy handed him a cup and saucer.

"Give it another minute or so, but you can get your brother some crackers from the cupboard, or make him some toast if you feel up to it." Sam gave her a pointed look.

"Do you realize how late it is? Dean's lucky he's getting anything from me!"

"Well I only say that because Ellen and Bobby called, they need a little help on some hunt they're on." Sam's eyebrows almost hit the top of his head.

"Hunt? For what? Where?"

"We're not playing twenty questions Sam, and besides, I don't know. All I know is that Bobby needed some back-up and I'm available to help."

"Why didn't he ask us earlier? I can help-"

"No." Mandy said quickly as she cut him off. "You're still wobbly on your feet and wouldn't be any good on a hunt."

"But-"

"I said no! Now go take this tea up to your brother." Rolling his eyes and clearly upset that he had no final say in this, he yanked the tray from his aunt and stomped up the stairs.

"Son of a bitch Sam, why'd you tell her?" Dean spat at Sam as he walked into his bedroom carrying a tray of tea.

"A simple thank you would be nice," Sam said sarcastically as he put the tray down on his brother's lap. "And I didn't tell her anything; she caught me with the Pepto and confiscated it."

"Confiscated it?" Dean asked incredulously as he picked up the mug and sniffed the tea. "How the hell do you let your aunt confiscate something from you?"

"She said if she caught more of the pink shit in her house she'd murder whoever bought it." Sam sat down on a chair in the corner of the room. "And drink that tea."

"Who's gonna make me?"

"Mandy'll, and you know it." Dean took a quick sip, grimacing.

"Dude, come on! It's not even sweetened!"

"Mandy said no sugar for indigestion." Dean just rolled his eyes as Sam caught the rumble of an engine pull up into the driveway. He quickly pulled back the curtains to see Mandy locking the front door, carrying something large and furry with her. Whatever it was, she held it close to her chest; even after entering Bobby's car and beginning to chat with both him and Ellen, she never put it down. Sam cast a glance at Dean, eyes questioning what he just saw.