Spooky Scary Skeletons

-Andrew Gold

There's a young man that I know, the radio played. Mary lifted her head up as she recognized the song. Someday Soon by Judy Collins. One of her favorites. She shifted Dean, holding him in one arm so she could turn up the volume. He protested with a soft moan before snuggling back into her shoulder, arms tucked to his chest. Mary brushed her hands through his hair, knowing that tomorrow she'd be dealing with a rambunctious, trouble seeking four-year-old, not a sick, cuddly one.

A few days ago Mary had awoken in the dead of night to Dean tugging at her arm, tears streaming down his face. His tummy hurt, and he'd thrown up all over his bed. The next couple of days were absolute agony for Dean with what turned out to be a 48 hour stomach bug. It hadn't been made better by his lack of contact with Sam, as Mary had enough on her hands dealing with one sick child, thank you very much. He was cranky and sick, and the massive, almost seismic tantrum he'd thrown did not help his road to recovery. But now, the worst had past, and he just needed a day to rest and cuddle with his mother.

"I would follow him right down the toughest road I know," Mary sang softly into his ear, adjusting his cape so it draped over her arm. It was Halloween, and while he'd lost the battle to go out trick or treating, he'd settled for wearing his costume (sans the mask) and helping his mom give out candy whenever someone who was braving the raging storm outside came to the door. "Someday soon, going with him someday soon," Mary cooed gently. She could have turned the radio station to a channel that was playing some sort of appropriately spooky tunes, but figured her favorites had a better chance of keeping Dean relaxed. She pulled one of his hands out from under him, holding it in her own as she began to two-step slowly around the kitchen with Dean as her partner. Feeling Dean smile ever so slightly into her shoulder, pressing his nose further into her, she started to sing again.

"So blow, you old blue northern, blow my love to me." Mary took their dance into the front room when she heard the door unlocking. John was home from work. "He's driving in tonight from California," was his greeting as she pressed a quick kiss on his lips.

"How's he doing," he asked, smiling at the beauty that was his wife, rubbing a comforting hand on Dean's back. Dean responded by twisting around and reaching for his father, who readily took him.

Mary shook her arms as the weigh was lifted from them. "Mostly tired and clingy. Wouldn't even let me put him down when I had to take care of Sam. I need a raise," she joked.

John chuckled, saying, "What would I do without you?"

"Oof, I don't even want to think about it." She tilted her head towards the stairs, her Mommy Radar triggered. "I think Sam's awake."

As she walked upstairs, she heard John ask Dean, "Who are you dressed up as?"

To which an exasperated Dean replied, "Batman, Dad. See the cape? And the bat sign?"

Sam was all smiles by the time she reached him, those adorable dimples sinking into his chubby cheeks as he reached his arms up towards her. "Hey, big guy, how was your nap?" she said, taking him in her arms and heading back downstairs. He gave an excited, grinning, "Ah!" in reply.

He gave another excited noise once they'd walked downstairs and he'd spotted his big brother lying on top of his dad on the couch.

"Sammy!" Dean called when he heard him, rolling over and reaching out so Mary could place him on top of him. "Oh, Sammy, I missed you so much," he said, patting the top of his head.

"You saw him an hour ago," Mary reminded him as John adjusted to accommodate having both boys piled on him. Dean ignored her as he sighed contently. Sam lifted himself off his tummy, giving a little Oh! sound, his mouth rounded in curiousity. Dean giggled and resisted the urge to squirm as his brother's hands clenched and unclenched his shirt.

"I'm going to make some soup. You have fun with them," Mary laughed, kissing the top of John's head.

"There isn't anywhere else I'd rather be," he replied with a grin.

Mary glanced briefly down at the newspaper on the end table, reading again the headline that read, Multiple Cattle Found Dead, Cause Unknown. It had very much alarmed her at first, her hunter instinct instantly on red alert, but a quick call to her cousin who lived a city over assured her that he'd already looked into it, and there was nothing to worry about. Still, she felt uneasy as she began preparation for the only thing she knew how to make: tomato rice soup. Her mom had made it for her when she was sick, so Mary was at least passing on one family tradition. But as she measured the rice, she couldn't help but think that she was forgetting something. Not an ingredient, but something... else. She couldn't put her finger on it.

She was soon distracted by the task at hand, the radio playing softly in the background, and the joyful noises coming from the living room. Dean was making Sam, and by extent John, laugh uncontrollably. A few songs later, the soup was done and she was about to call her boys to dinner when the doorbell rang. Instantly she was on high alert again, before remembering it was Halloween and that some brave souls might be desparate enough for candy to risk the storm.

"I'll get it!" she called, turning the burner on low, walking over to the front door, and opening it. Her worrying had been unnecessary, as she was greeted by Mike, Kate, and little Jay when she opened the door. She invited them in out of the rain as Jay squeezed past her and skipped on over to where Dean was.

"Jay, at least say hi to Aunt Mary!" her mother insisted.

"Hi, Aun' Mare!" she called as she pounced full force onto John's face. Mary laughed at the nickname the little girl had taken to calling her, who'd been confused when calling her "Mommy" the way Dean did had earned her heart-felt laughter. So Aun' Mare and Unca John it was.

"I'd better go save John... and probably Sam," Mike surmised, and he made his way over to the couch.

Mary turned to Kate. "I'm surprised you're out trick or treating!"

"Oh, God no," she quickly assured. "We wanted to check on Dean. Let me know if Jay is too much for him and I'll reel her in."

Judging by the shrills of laughter coming from the other room, everything was a-okay. "Oh, he's much better. And he'll probably sleep through the night if she tires him out anyway. Poor kid's had a rough weekend."

"Well, we'll get out of your hair then, we just wanted to drop by. And by the smell of it, you guys are about to have dinner." She raised her hand before Mary could invite them to stay. "We already ate. Just have a nice, relaxing night with your family." And as soon as they'd came, they were gone. Once Kate had managed to pry Jay away from Dean, that is.

I've been walkin' these streets so long, the radio played as she served the soup. "Singin' the same old song," Mary joined in.

"Rhinestone Cowboy?" John teased. "Really, Mary?"

"You knew what song it was awful quick for someone who's trying to dispute the greatness of Glen Campbell," she shot back as she sat down to eat. She had barely lifted the spoon before Dean crawled onto her lap, milking every second of sick-clingyness there was left.

And nice guys get washed away like the snow and the rain,the song continued. Mary sighed. It was unlikely that between her two young boys and her overgrown one that she'd be having a warm meal tonight. There's been a load of compromisin' on the road to my horizon. Not that she often did anyway. Ah, the joys of motherhood. When Dean insisted that Mary feed him "like she fed Sam" her fate to a cold meal was assured. John rolled his eyes at Dean, but laughed it off. The tiredness in Mary's eyes told him he'd be in charge of bedtime tonight. But I'm gonna be where the lights are shinin' on me. By tomorrow, Dean would feel better and play with Sam all day, and Mary could go back to not cooking dinner. And John? Well, he'd just do the best he could for his family that deserved the world.

Author's Note: Hope you enjoyed. :) I know you guys are loving these happy times, but I'm going to use the same excuse the Supernatural writers use: You got way more chapters than I had originally planned to have Mary in (which was 4). There's still some more story to tell before she goes away though. Also, the chapters following her death won't be all depressing material, although they might be getting longer(!). I have so much in store; some Teen!chester chapters have already been written (but I haven't even started the next chapter, lol). I hope you guys are willing to bear with me for the long haul, because I'm prepared to keep on going, just like the show it's based on. On that note, Ah Season 13 is official! On another note, AH ACKLES TWINS!