Previously on Chapter 11: Trust The Expert…

Dean mumbled incoherently for a bit more and then finally, he is quiet.

The last chapter for the main story~~! I wasn't planning for it but it's awesome that this just happens to be the 12th chapter which is where this story is set in~ ^^ (There will be a short sequel chap next which is really the last last chap for this fic)

Didn't expect it to be this long when I first started, but then - God is in the details! Had several scenes that only came to me while writing and it made the story flow so much better~

Ps: I was thinking of Samantha's tweet when I wrote the furniture line XD


Chapter 12
Dean Is… Back?

"Mum, why don't you get some rest? I'll wait for Dean," Sam suggested as Mary's eyelids droop for the third time.

Mary stretches her back wearily and glances at her elder son, who is currently sleeping like a drunk baby.

"Alright then. Call me when he wakes up," Mary yawned as she stood up from her seat.

"Sure," Sam agreed easily.

Mary smiled at her younger son and rested her hand on his shoulder momentarily as she got up and goes to her room.

Sam lays back on his seat and his eyes naturally fell upon his unconsciousness brother.

It had been such a bizarre experience. The two of them have sticked together almost their entire life and Sam would have thought that he has seen practically every side of Dean, and vice versa. Never did he expect that there was still a whole new facet of Dean that he knew absolutely nothing about.

Thinking back, after excluding the life-threatening aspect of the curse, he is really glad that he got to know young Dean - the Dean as a child, before he had to shoulder the weight of his family legacy; of the supernatural world; and of the billions of lives on Chuck's green earth. He got to see Dean in his purest form; in his essence, before the dark side of the world invaded his consciousness...


Flashback

"I'm gonna be like Batman when I grow up! I'm gonna save the world from a~ll the bad guys!" Dean declared while jumping around doing his Batman moves. Sam smiled a knowing smile.

[I guess your childhood dream came true then.] Sam thought to himself. He already did save the world.

"What do you wanna be, Sammy?" Dean then asked. Sam thought about it for a second. Despite all the terrible price that came along with saving the world, he knows that, in the end, they will still choose to do what they are meant to do.

"I'm gonna be Superman. We'll be a team and save the world together." Sam spoke the truth.

"Yea! We do that!" Dean grinned widely at the thought.

Ends flashback


Sam lingered in the room for a while longer before leaving for his laptop outside. It also seems like a good idea to check out on more spell books, now that he knows what to look for. Although he does (somehow) trust Rowena's expertise in the area, it is always good to plan for a backup - just in case.

In the library, a spread of items littered the desk where Sam sits: his open laptop; phone; beer; and a heavy-looking book. He is flipping through the yellowing pages of the aged spell book when he hears footsteps approaching - familiar footsteps.

Anticipation rises up within Sam and he looks up just in time to see Dean strolling in.

"Dean!" He called out.

"Hey," Dean greeted back.

Sam stood up from his seat, his eyes never leaving his brother as he checks him out from head to toe.

"How... how are you feeling?" He asked testily.

"A good night's sleep and I'm ready to roll!" Dean replied offhandedly.

Sam takes it that, seeing as how Dean has not literally started rolling on the ground, he is really back - the badass, adult Dean Winchester.

"Thank god," he sighed in relief as he went to give Dean a brief welcome hug.

"Uhh... Ok... What was that for?" Dean eyed him funnily after he released him.

"... You don't remember?" Sam caught on to Dean's cluelessness.

"Err.. remember what, exactly?" Dean inquired.

"The witch. She cursed you, remember?"

"Ya, and then we killed her, end of story," Dean said.

Sam stared at him as his mind started reeling. Rowena had not mentioned about amnesia associated with curing of the curse, but then she may not know it too, as this wasn't just your average typical witch curse.

"Do you mind?" Dean said, breaking Sam's train of thoughts.

Sam looks at him blankly, and he lifts up his left arm to which Sam is unconsciously holding on to.

"What's the last thing you remember?" Sam asked, after awkwardly letting go of the arm.

"Err... We ended the witch - came home - got knocked out a couple hours - and now we're up," Dean told him. "And I'm starving," Dean added as he plops down on one of the chairs and lifted the glass of beer hopefully, pouting in disappointment when he finds it near empty.

"I think we still have some spaghetti meatballs up for cooking. - Thanks," Dean grinned expectantly at his brother.

Sam raises his eyebrows. So Dean wants him to prep for their food today, huh. Well, he can do that - it can be a "welcome back" gesture for Dean.

"Alright, wait here," Sam told him and then heads towards the kitchen.

Dean's gaze follows him till he's out of sight. He waited a few more seconds before turning his eyes to the table, fixing them on a single object...

As Sam heads for the kitchen, he remembers his promise to Mary. He then halts and turns around, going in the opposite direction where Mary's room is. He was just thinking of having to tell Mary about Dean's amnesia when he passes by the entrance to the library again. He throws an idle glance inside and spots Dean hunching over, looking intently at something.

"Dean?" He called out. He wasn't planning to make a stop but there seems to be an aura of secrecy around Dean that triggered his senses.

He watches on as Dean jumps at his voice and attempts to indiscreetly hide the object by his side. A memory of young Dean attempting to hide his sliced fingers appeared before his mind's eye. The curiosity within Sam kindles further at his suspicious act.

"What are you doing?" Sam asked as he walks to his side.

"Nothing. Where's my spaghetti meatballs?" Dean tried to steer the conversation.

Sam raised his eyebrows briefly before swooping down and snatching the object from his hand.

"Hey...!" Dean shouted in protest.

"Why are you on my phone?" Sam accused and moves it out of reach as Dean makes an unsuccessful nab at it.

"Just looking up stuff on the internet," Dean quickly said.

"Uh huh," Sam eyed him suspiciously as he turns on his phone.

"You were in.. my Gallery. Why?" Sam questioned out loud.

"I wasn't. Must have got in by accident," Dean replied nonchalantly.

Sam looks down at his phone again and the first thing in his album is the video of young Dean doing his forfeit dance and then he finally realises...

"Wait... You do remember, don't you?" And a smile starts to form at the corner of his lips.

"No, I don't," Dean denied too quickly.

"Were you trying to delete your videos? The er.. Batman moves tutorials and..."

"I don't know what you're talking about. Show it to me..." Dean said while reaching out for the phone.

"I'll send you," Sam smiled while keeping it out of his reach.

"My phone's dead," Dean said.

"Go charge it then," Sam countered.

"Alright.. ok, give it here." Dean curled his fingers in beckoning, dropping his façade as he got seen through by Sam.

"You were cute," Sam grinned.

"Shut up," Dean snapped back, as though it was an insult rather than a compliment.

"What! You were!" Sam said as he played the video of kid Dean.

"Ok. That's it." Dean rises from his seat, along with the heat to his face, and he tried again to grab the phone that contains some very unsightly contents that should be erased from the face of the earth.

Sam held the phone high above his head beyond Dean's reach.

"Stop it..." Sam pushes at the in-coming Dean.

"Give it to me!..." Dean demanded, nearly climbing over Sam in order to get to the phone.

"Get off me...!" Sam refused to relent while trying to throw off his persistent brother.

Unnoticed by either of them, Mary has just walked into the picture, and her heart sinks at the scene before her.

"Oh no... It didn't work, did it? Sam, we have to call Rowena back!" Mary naturally assumed when she came across the childish fight display by her two huge sons.

"What? No... mum, I'm really me! Not... young me..." Dean finally steps away from Sam as he assured Mary of his full recovery.

"... Dean?" Mary took a minute to take in that information.

"Hey, mum," Dean greeted, lowering his voice intentionally to sound like the grown-up he said he is.

Mary stared at him for a second longer, and then a bright smile appears across her face as she goes forward to embrace her older son.

"Thank god... Thank god you're back," Mary sighed in relief.

Dean smiled and hugged her back.

"Really? I thought you like me better as a kid," Dean said half-jokingly.

Mary pulls back to take a good look at him.

"You are a kid," she replied, "You're my kid," she raises a hand and gave a light tug on his ear while lifting one end of her lips in a possessive smile.

"You may be taller, and stronger... and older than me," she said with a start, "but, I'll always be your mum," she told him irrevocably.

"Ok, mum," Dean rose his hands in mock surrender.

Mary smiled at him and then she suddenly remembered something.

"Wait... if you're back then.. what were you guys doing before...?" Mary trailed off in confusion.

And that reminded Dean. He turns to glare at Sam, who has his phone wrapped securely in his fist.

"I mean, I know I said you can play when you wake up, but..." Mary continued jokingly.

"Sam's got something of mine," Dean snarled. "Now, hand it over," he stretches his hand out demandingly.

"Actually, it's mine," Sam refuted.

Dean makes a sudden swiping movement but Sam swings his phone out of his reach again.

"Ok... we can do this the easy way, or the hard way..." Dean threatened as he turns his whole body around to face Sam, cautioning him with his hands held up in between them.

"Tough. Sure you won't be kicking the floor, screaming when I take you down?" Sam gibbed.

"Wow, winning a fight against a 4-year-old, you must be so proud!" Dean exclaimed sarcastically, though, it is easy to see the embarrassment on his face. "Give it before I break your hand," he said again.

"Sorry Batman, no deal," Sam said while casually tapping the play button on the Batman video.

"Sam Winchester you...! Give it to me!" Dean lunges forward to reach for the phone.

But somehow, during the struggle, the volume button got pushed, and hold, and the kiddy-talk got louder.

[...Get this! Aaand this! Ha, you can't run from me! I'm Batman!...]

"Turn it off!" Dean yelled in chagrin.

"... Stop it...!" Sam shouted back and the two of them nearly stumble over the chairs as they hit the furniture.

Mary stood in awe while they fought. She had seen the two of them wrestling just hours ago, but that was with young Dean. She is definitely not expecting the same thing to play out with her two completely adult sons. But nevertheless, that's what's happening. And this is yet another new side of them that she only just gets to see.

"Guys! Guys...! You're destroying the furniture...!" She eventually came forward to pull them apart. Dean finally relinquished at Mary's request, the both of them panting a little from the struggle.

"You know, I hate you so much," Dean said it calmly to Sam's face.

"Mmm... No, that's not what you said," Sam reminded with a smirk.

"That's what I'm saying now! For Chuck's sake..." Dean growled and runs his hand down his face in annoyance.

"Hey, alright, let's put this conversation on hold," Mary suggested, seeing as how they won't be coming to an agreement any time soon.

"Anyway, I need to get back to that "Roadside" motel before they throw my things out. Wasn't expecting this long a visit when I drop by with those pie and beers," Mary informed them.

The look on both their faces fell a little at Mary's words. She's leaving. As they knew she would. Like what Sam had thought, the pinky promise with young Dean was just to placate the boy - it didn't mean anything. And they shouldn't have expected anything in the first place. Dean is cured. Everything is back to normal now, whatever normal means to the Winchesters.

"Oh. Right. Yea, of course," Dean said hastily, keeping his expression light and neutral. Both Sam and Mary noted the change in Dean's reaction. It is the most pronounced yet - the way that this adult Dean responded as compared to the little one.

If it was the young Dean before, he would have whined and cried and demanded Mary to stay, or to go with her, either way as long as his family stay together. Maybe he'll even throw in a pair of puppy-dog eyes for luck. But Dean doesn't have the excuse of being a four-year-old right now, and the pride of a full-grown adult male forbade any of those childish and immature demonstrations. Mary had told them she needed time, and space, and they should accept and respect that, like the sensible and independent grown-ups that they are.

But Mary knows better now. The suppressed longings of her sons for her presence in their lives... The thoughtfulness behind those unsaid yearnings - to get to know her better; to build a relationship that they never had... Despite their own needs and wants, they never try to force it upon her, or pressure her into their world. All they did was kept the door open - wide open, welcoming her, any time that she's ready, to come back. To come home. Truthfully, even now, she can't say for certain that she is entirely ready, though the talk with Sam before did help a lot. It is time - to be a mother again.

"Good thing I booked the place for an extra day so we'll get there in time," Mary said.

"... We?" Sam noticed her choice of word. And both boys look at her in confusion.

"Guess I don't have to worry about having my stuff thrown out if I move back to my own room," she said with a shrug.

"Mum, you're coming back?" Dean asked in surprise.

"I did promise," she raised her right picky, "and also, if you still want me to..."

"Of course we do," Sam answered immediately.

"It's settled then, you're stuck with me again," Mary joked.

All three of them smiled.

It wasn't the same unconcealed glee like kid Dean, but it still put on a boyish feature on his adult face.

"So Dean, sweetie, wanna give mummy a ride?" Mary asked in a tone, her lips lifting into a mischievous smile.

"Wha... Mum, not you too!" Dean changed his expression at once, to one of controlled irritation and outrage in protest to Mary's teasing, while Sam grinned even wider. He shares a "high-five" look with Mary for their spontaneous camaraderie in messing with Dean.

"Let's just go," Dean rolled his eyes in defeat as he turns towards the exit while Sam and Mary follow suit. A hand moves up to hold on to Dean's arm as though guiding him the way.

"Dude, I can walk on my own!" Dean snapped as he throws the hand off.

"Right…" Sam muttered. It was only for a few hours but he had already made it a habit to watch out for young Dean. He even managed to get used to how much clingier the kid Dean was, constantly holding or pulling at his or Mary's hand. Also, the kid loves to substitute walking with running and skipping, hence the need to hold on to him while he's on the move, and stop him before he touches something dangerous. And that reminded Sam…

"You alright with driving?" Sam asked as they walk towards the garage.

"Why not?" Dean said incredulously.

Sam looks down at his bandaged fingers in response.

"It's fine," Dean replied with a twitch of his hand.

"Cause, you know, I can always go get my Batmobile," Sam teased again, making both him and Mary laugh while Dean held back a punch.

"Stop it, seriously!" Dean exclaimed.

"Why so serious?" Sam quoted and Dean looks so done.

"Thanks for these by the way," Dean said sarcastically while he raised his injured hand into the air.

"What?! I didn't ask you to grab the sword by its blade!" Sam said ridiculously.

"Yea, I should be glad you didn't let me shoot myself!" Dean complained.

"You can talk! You let me jumped off a shed once and broke my arm," Sam countered.

"How did that happen?" Mary asked curiously.

Dean: "Oh, don't get me started…"

And from that, the two of them began to flood Mary with their childhood stories, mostly in a way that would embarrass the other. Mary listened with great interest, laughing away at the boys bickering and story-telling as they got in the car and on the road.

And that's the way it's supposed to be.

~ The End ~


I've been wanting to read this since end of last sem~ I prefer reading more than writing my own stories but unfortunately, I can't just do the former without the latter›‹ *Sighs*

I'm gonna go read this story in one shot now - from the beginning! Woo!~ Finally~^^ No patience to wait till after the short sequel chapter~ ;p Why am I excited to read my own story?! Silly me! XD

Writer's Random Rant: I'm ok with Season 12 but Season 13!~!~! XD XD XD Absolutely love all the episodes so far and can't wait for more X)

Spoiler for sequel chapter: It will be focussing mainly on Sam and another character that hasn't appeared before in this story~ I'm not saying who but y'all probably guessed it alr since I'm so predictable~ ^^

Ps: I'll probably only post (or even start writing) that chap in December, after all my finals… If I survived till then ›‹

Coming soon… Sequel: A Phone Call Away