A/N

Freddi's back! Whoo! The boys got to her just in time. Keep reading to find out about her recovery.

Re-uploaded and edited for grammar errors, and time jumps

Chapter 19

"She's been sleeping for over a day straight," Sam bit his lip in worry.

"Let her rest," Dean stopped him. "Look at her. She's been through hell. Freddi is definitely a fighter; she'll wake up."

It still pained Sam, as he sat beside her in the evening, to trace his fingers and eyes over her countless bruises. How could someone hurt something so fragile? So beautiful?

Eventually, Freddi's green eyes fluttered, ever so slowly. The first things she saw was Sam nearby, resting his head in his hands in worry. How long had he been there? How long had she been asleep? Where was Dean? The next thing she noticed was her limp arm hanging on a sling. They must have done that to her while she slept.

She still felt weak in the aftermath, and she had to watch how deep a breath she took, but at least she'd live. She was so out of it, she didn't even feel embarrassment that both Sam and Dean have now seen her underwear.

Freddi let out a faint groan as she started to clear her head, trying to catch the twenty-three-year old's attention with a faint almost whisper, "S-Sam."

It should have been impossible for Sam to hear her soft voice, but with his eyes closed and his heart heavy, Freddi's voice somehow carried to him.

"Freddi," Sam croaked, dropping his hands to shift his gaze to her. He wanted to be closer, but the slightest movement caused the bed to shake for her.

"How…how are you feeling?" He asked, his voice thick with emotion.

Freddi's lips curled into a small smile as she responded the best she could, "Which answer do you want? Real or Bullshit?"

She watched Sam sigh, sending her wisps of hair flying as he very slowly laid of his stomach facing her, "The truth."

"You asked for it. Just, please don't freak out. I already feel bad for your birthday getting ruined."

"I'm in a lot of pain. I actually don't know where to start on the list," Freddi started with a subtle hesitance. "I'm pretty sure Pyro either bruised or broke my ribs. My muscles are sore to the point where I can barely move. I'm dehydrated from rarely getting fed or given water. You already know about my shoulder; thank you, by the way, for popping it back into place. I'm tired, but that's expected. It just…Fuck dammit, it hurts, Sam. It hurts really badly."

"Don't blame yourself, Freddi. Like you said to me in the car, if it's not my fault, then it sure as hell wasn't yours," Tears began to glisten in his eyes, and he didn't try to blink them away. He seriously wished he could take the pain for her. A shadow fell across them when Dean came out of the bathroom and made a bee-line in to the bed, kneeling beside it.

"You're going to pull through this," Dean said, like she didn't have an option, before adding grimly. "Kidnapper's dead."

"What…What happened?" Freddi asked, trying to put the pieces together of what she missed, "I must have passed out."

Sam and Dean exchanged looks, debating on how much to reveal.

"He tried to barbecue us," Dean said. "Then he tried to make a run with you, but we didn't let him get that far."

His Adam's apple bobbed, "Honestly, I'm surprised you're alive. You're tougher than you look."

"I think I've told you that before, haven't I?" Freddi chuckled, wincing in reaction on the slight strain on her ribcage, still chuckling. "Ah, don't make me laugh."

They were in a different motel that she didn't recognize; where were they? Did they abandon the case for her? Then, she saw the burns that got bandaged up. They risked their lives for her and she was visibly touched that they would do something like that. They saved her life and she loved them for that.

"You…Both of you saved me and I couldn't be more thankful."

Sam shook his head sadly. He wanted to comfort her, but he was certain his hands weren't delicate enough for the job. Even now, just breathing was blowing her hair gently. He whispered, "I'm…I'm afraid to touch you."

"I don't think you need to be afraid," Freddi sighed, shaking her head slightly. "It won't be long before the recovery is noticeable. Just you wait. I'll gain my strength back before you know it."

He smiled, but the sadness did not fade. The image of her like that would haunt him for years to come. He nodded and finally his back was sore from leaning over like that, "Do you…Do you want me to lie down with you?"

Freddi's blush was barely noticeable as she answered sheepishly, "I'm not against the idea. It actually sounds really nice."

That was Dean's cue to suddenly become busy, so he did what he did best; he went to the bar to drown in alcohol and meet chicks. He doubted either Sam or Freddi would notice him being gone.

Sam was more focused on the challenging task of laying down next to the tiny girl, without causing her to bounce around everywhere. Finally, he turned one last time to face her, resting his arm a few inches away from her. "This okay?"

"It's okay, but it could be better," She responded before warning him. "Do-Don't move."

Freddi didn't even wait for him to respond as she slowly drug herself closer to him. She used her less injured arm and ignored all of her stinging muscles that ached at the slightest movements until she reached next to his chest.

Freddi slowly tilted her gaze back up to his and she saw an unknown expression under his protesting concern.

"What?" She asked, before looking away with a blush, "Don't judge. You should know by now, hearing someone's heartbeat helps me relax, if I trust them."

"You're going to get worse…" Sam mumbled in half-protest, but the request was so sweet and innocent…and she had strained herself just to be near him. How could he deny her of that? Sam's expression softened into something unreadable as he curled his arm inward, large fingertips brushing her back and gently pressing her a little closer.

"Close your eyes," he suggested.

Freddi happily did just that as she felt herself getting closer to him, her head resting against his shirt. Her heart felt like it was going to burst as she grabbed a small clump of the warm fabric. God, she missed this gentleness Sam possessed as she listened to the deep, constant rhythm of his heart; despite the severe bruising she was sporting, Sam's touch didn't cause much irritation or pain as his fingertips met her exposed back.

Her eyes remained closed as she smiled, "Hey…scaredy cat, guess what…you're touching me."

Sam chuckled softly.

"Habit," he muttered, continuing to run his index finger up her spine, over the bump of her bra strap and back down again. His heartbeat must have been overwhelming to her. It was steady, but quickened at the sensation of cool, soft skin.

The vibration of his laughter went right through Freddi as she just lied there next to him, completely comfortable. Her muscles were relaxed and were giving in to Sam's massage. Her eyes remained closed as she sighed, "You know, this feels so nice."

"If you feel tired, don't fight it," Sam calmly advised. "You need to recover…and besides…"

He moved her hair aside to touch the sensitive skin on the back of her neck with the pad of a single fingertip, "I'll be right here when you wake up."

A subtle shudder erupted from her nerves when he moved Freddi's hair. She explained, slightly opening her eyes as she playfully whined, "But I don't want to go to sleep just yet."

Freddi asked, "I can recover being awake too. Can't you just talk to me, keep me up?"

Sam looked down, pausing with his hand on her back, "Okay."

He paused again to marvel at her size once more. She seemed bigger before she grew…Had she always been this tiny?

"This is going to take some getting used to all over again," He said, feeling her pull away a bit, her tiny grip beginning to loosen. Sam didn't let her shy away though; he kept a hand heavily behind her, preventing her to get away as he quickly added. "But I kinda like this size for you. You seem more…comfortable like this."

Freddi softly sighed, "I'm comfortable here and now, with you and Dean…where I belong. Sure, I'll miss being in my larger size and I can't wait until I'm able to shift without side effects, but this is all I want right now."

"…But there has been something on my mind since just now," she inquired curiously, looking up at him with fully opened eyes as she asked. "How did you find me?"

Those tiny eyes staring up at Sam nearly made his insides flutter with an unfamiliar feeling, "Oh...uh, we got access to the security cameras, got a face of the perp…but he didn't have property rented. It took us days to find something, anything…"

Then, Sam lied, neglecting the dream, "But we searched databases for credit card activity and found that he was renovating the school your grandfather started. We don't know how his name wasn't on the property, but it was a miracle that we found you."

Sam remembered the stomach-twisting worry he felt for her while she was gone, fearing of the worst. The graphic dream he had of what could have happened haunted him at the thought of not making it on time. He nearly hated himself for not grabbing that man when he had the chance back at the bar.

"I'm glad you did. I don't think I would have made it if it wasn't for you and Dean. I kept a small glimmer of hope that I would be found and then knowing you risked your life to save mine; you have no idea how much that meant to me."

She shied away from his gaze and hid her face in his shirt, poorly fighting back sobs. It took her a good ten minutes before she told him, "Sam, it was so awful. I was scared. He was so angry…and cold. H-He looked at me like I wasn't even human."

Sam let her clutch onto him as Freddi cried. He could barely hear her, with her already little voice muffled against his shirt. His heart lurched at her admission when she did start speaking, prompting him to shadow her under a cupped hand, his thumb gingerly pressing on the back of her head.

"He had more than a few issues, in case you didn't notice. The guy was barely even human himself," he reminded her.

"What he did… It's hard for me to swallow. He experimented on me every day. He was so desperate for what he wanted…that he thought hurting me would get it," Freddi said, hesitant to continue, but the hand that was resting against her back was giving her the support she needed. "Sam, he was…he was trying to steal my ability. He wanted something I can't fully control and he expected me to know the answers when I didn't. He just…made me feel small and worthless and…and insignificant."

Sam's brow furrowed deeply. That explained the needle bruises. He was taking blood from her. How much had he taken? Did he even know medical procedure? How that ratio would translate for someone her size? Sam was betting he didn't, and that made him want to strangle him…literally.

"That…wow," he breathed in disbelief. "I wonder if that's how he stayed young all those years, stealing peoples' abilities."

Sam paused, letting that train of thought drop. He lifted his hand off of her so he could see her face, "Freddi…you don't still hate being small, do you? I mean-not in the same way?"

His eyes implored her for an answer.

Freddi thought about it for a moment before weakly shaking her head in a no, "No, the difference is you don't look right through me. You acknowledge my presence and my words. He didn't. I don't feel small with you and Dean because you won't let me just disappear, like my instincts would want me to. The things you guys say…i-it's sometimes what I need to quiet this voice in my head that just echoes my deepest insecurities."

Sam felt happy that he wasn't making her feel small, but when he heard her say something regarding her deepest insecurities, he probed further with a slight hesitation, "What is it? Your insecurities? What does the voice talk about?"

Freddi bit back a small groan, knowing he was going to ask him that. She looked back up at him as she sighed, "Fine, but I don't want to hear you 'you're not leaving me speech.' I can't help what I feel."

It didn't help that he had this look on his face that he knew she couldn't lie to him with. She quickly explained her fear of never being enough, somehow getting the thoughts they wouldn't want her as much in her original size after seeing her more normal.

When she was done, she hid her red face again in Sam's shirt, "There I said it! Get the response over with."

Sam was still for a moment, saying nothing. Then strong fingers acted with a shocking delicacy to gather her into his hand. With her curled on her side like that, she fit perfectly into the curve of his fingers, where they met his palm.

"Freddi, I…I know I can't ask you not to feel insecure or pretend that this isn't what it really is, but you've got to understand that you mean something to us," Sam struggled to find the words. He was so bad at counseling girls, even though they tended to come to him at college too.

"Look, there's a lot of things out there that are small that are valuable too. Uhm…gold for one. Rubies and diamonds and other precious stones. They're priceless," he held her before his face as he spoke, looking at her eye to eye.

Freddi's blush was beyond red at his kind words, but it was barely noticeable mixed in with her bruising. She looked at him warmly as she responded, "I know these issues are in my head. You and Dean mean a lot to me too."

Sam could tell Freddi was flustered. Probably because she had his giant face in her way. Slightly embarrassed by his own size, he made gentle haste to embed her back over his heart.

Freddi let out a soft groan from the tenderness of her skin as she was placed back down, then she settled down like before. God, she loved the warmth he emitted against her chilled, exposed skin. It was heaven for her.

She still had question, so she asked Sam, "Could you tell me some things."

"Sure"

"How long was I asleep for? What time is it? Where are we..? Are we still in Salam? Did you give up the case for-?"

She definitely had questions, not really giving Sam enough time to answer. Sam had to cut her off to get her to shut up.

"Whoa, slow down there, Gonzalas," Sam chuckled. Where did all these questions come from? "It's one AM. You slept for nearly 36 hours…and yeah. The demon got away."

He admitted but quickly rationalized, "But there's always going to be ones that got away. We can't stop everything, just what we can manage. Plus, we had more important things on our minds, like finding you and bringing you back to where you're safe."

Then, he teased, "Satisfied, Winnifred?"

Freddi arched her eyebrows at his usage of her first name. Well, two could play at that game, "I don't talk that fast, Samuel."

"Excuse me?" Sam said with a mock sternness. The playful tension easily melted away when Sam and Freddi started laughing. He didn't even realize that Dean was long gone.

Freddi chuckled the best her chest would allow her to, even though she winced at the stinging sensation. She could feel the vibration of Sam's laughter before both of them settled down.

Silence settled over them. After a while, Sam's mind went to more contemplative places once more, "I'm not hurting you, am I? I saw that."

Freddi shook her head, genuine honesty lacing every word she said, "Not really. My skin is just tender and as long as I don't move, then my muscles are only at a numb throb; that's not the same as hurting. I do feel pain, but it's in my shoulder and ribs and that's natural with my injuries. YOU are not hurting me. If anything, you're distracting me from the pain."

Sam immediately lifted his hand away from the mentioned areas and resigned to staring down at her.

"I can't even begin to imagine how you feel…" He sighed, not just talking about her current start.

"You've been hunting for years," Freddi reasoned. "I'm pretty sure you've been hurt before."

Then, she added a little side note, "Besides, right now, the only thing I feel is the warmth you give off. I'm happy right now and I couldn't ask for anything better."

"Plus, I try not to lie to you or Dean very often, so you don't have to imagine. All you have to do is ask," she told him one last thing.

"I'd rather you didn't lie at all," Sam chided her gently. He could feel her tiny breast nudging his pectoral, and promptly blushed. Still, he carried on. "You're sweet though."

"It's not like I aim to lie, Sam," Freddi said in defense. "I'm mostly honest with you, but I'm still human. You, me, Dean; we all lie sometimes."

"I guess so," Sam shrugged, looking across the room and realizing Dean wasn't there. Where had he gone…and without telling him?

Freddi's weariness started to catch up with her as she rested her forehead against Sam's chest with her eyes fighting to stay open until she just couldn't anymore. She gave out a soft warning, a yawn erupting from her lips, "Sam…I don't…I don't think I can stay up for much longer."

Sam silently mouthed to himself 'oh my gosh,' closing his eyes and willing himself not comment aloud on how friggin adorable she was.

"Yeah…Okay. No problem."

"You should get some rest for yourself. I doubt you got any while I was unconscious," she murmured as she shifted into a comfortable position, basking in the warmth that surrounded her. Her current outfit did nothing to keep her warm, so Sam was like radiator to her. It didn't seem to take very long before she was completely gone.

"Too much on my mind," Sam said, lowering his voice to a decibel, even though it still vibrated through every bone in of her body.

"Just sleep," he stroked from the top of her head to the ends of her mussed hair on the sheets. He felt a strange new warmth, watching this tiny girl curl into him and easily fall asleep his embrace.

Dean didn't come back until morning, but when he did, he walked in on both Sam and Freddi passed out. Sam was laying on his side while Freddi was cuddled near his heart, Sam's hand protectively over her. It was an adorable sight…but it was also blackmail worthy for the future if needed.

With a swift click of the camera, Dean was satisfied and ready to crash for whatever time he could. That architect he met at the bar was more than she would have guessed at first glance. Before he fell asleep, Dean looked back at the sleeping pair and fondly smirked. Maybe Freddi's love life will turn up after all.

The days after the rescue were the toughest on Freddi; to replenish how much blood she had lost, she slept for a good portion of it, but that was expected since her body had to work harder to recover.

Being almost immobile left Freddi vulnerable; she needed Sam and Dean's help with some of the most basic things. She needed help getting dressed, fed, and even the most intimate portion…bathing. It was embarrassing to think that both Sam and Dean saw her naked. Despite the awkwardness, they were gentle with her and they still tried to reassure her that they needed to make sure she was taken care of. Nobody said anything during her baths, but Dean was the one to comment on her birthmark. She knew it was just because she needed the help.

It began to get normal for Freddi to be near Sam or Dean, whether it was napping in a pocket during travels, or staying with her as she slept at night. It was mostly Sam though who stayed with her during the night. While she was improving day by day, she was still having nightmares. She'd wake up in a panic in the middle of the night, thinking that the rescue hadn't happened and being with Sam and Dean again was just a dream, but the boys jumped at the moment to wake her up and remind her of her reality again, just like they did when they first met her.

(a week and a half later, new motel room)

Her recovery was coming along nicely by the time her birthday rolled around. Her nightmares dwindled down exponentially. Her mobility was improving and she finally was able to do some things independently, with limitations. She still had her bruising, but had died down in some areas.

Freddi woke up before Sam, for once; it was becoming a regular thing, him being the first thing she saw when she woke up when they slept like they did the night after the kidnapping. She looked up at the Big Friendly Giant and almost felt embarrassed with her attraction for him, especially seeing him in slumber mode. Sam just looked so visibly relaxed when he slept and as she heard and felt his deep breathing patterns.

She turned her back away from his chest with a faint groan as she whispered to herself, "Happy birthday to me."

Nearly twenty minutes later, the windstorm of breathing behind her became irregular. Soon after followed the increasing vibrations along the taut sheets as Sam begun to stir. She could have been terrified, if she was any other tiny person waking next to a giant, but instead, it was a comfort in many ways. The scale of simple movements would never wear off though.

Sam had long since learned not to roll over in the mornings Freddi slept so close to him. Looking down at her was the first thing he did when he opened his eyes. Then, he raised a self-conscious hand to straighten his mussed hair. He smiled widely at her as he said, "Happy birthday, Freddi."

Freddi stopped whatever she was thinking. That was the first time in fifteen years that someone said those words to her. She almost didn't know how to respond to that, but she realized she wasn't even looking at him so eye contact was a start. She slowly rotated onto her back with her ribs protesting at any chance they could.

"Mmmm…Good morning."

"You didn't think I forgot, didn't you?" Sam accused. Despite their insistence to the contrary, she seemed to find it difficult to wrap her mind around the fact that she was a priority to them. It was late in the morning and they were hoping no cases cropped up today so they could celebrate her birthday in peace.

"I did not," Freddi defended herself, crossing her good arm over her slinged arm. She was smiling, so she wasn't too serious about it. She knew he wouldn't forget about her birthday.

Then, she looked over at the sleeping older brother in the other bed. Dean was still passed out though, lying on his stomach and two empty beer bottles on the nightstand next to him. She laughed at the sight, "Think we should wake him up yet? He fell asleep before us and it's almost eleven."

"It's your day…but if you want to poke the bear, be my guest," Sam chuckled as he sat up, half rolling out of bed to set her on the other bed's edge, where Dean slept soundly.

Ignoring Freddi shrieking muscles, she slowly made it over to the pillow, near Dean's face. Man, she could smell the faint smell of alcohol on his hot morning breath…ew. She waited for a moment to contemplate how to wake up this easily hot-tempered giant.

"Deeaan…wake up," she tried to coo with a fake gentleness to her voice. When Freddi saw that method not working, she talked out loud. "Okay, new approach."

She walked up to his forehead and yelled before kicking it, trying not to hurt him at the same time, "It's almost eleven! Wake up! It's not like you're hung over here!"

A deep frown immediately crossed Dean's sleeping features. He slurred, reaching up to swat at the disturbance, "Mmmnothungover…"

His hand was fast. Freddi almost didn't move in time, but her reflexes were better than her because she jumped out of the way before she realized what she was doing; except, she jumped in the wrong direction and slid into the space in between the headboard and the pillow. She would have gotten out fine…if Dean hadn't turned around in his sleep, lightly pinning her down underneath. Freddi could feel the handle of his emergency dagger against her feet.

Freddi tried struggling, but her muscles weren't even at an eighth of her strength at the most; she was not budging at all.

"Mph! Dean…" She groaned with a faint growl. She could still see Sam and his amused expression if she turned her head in his direction, "Stop enjoying this and help me."

Sam got out of bed and got closer, grinning ear to ear, "Hey, you got yourself into this."

He went to pull her out, but Dean wasn't making this easy. His hand slid under the pillow and he turned on his side.

"Just give me a minute," he grumbled as he slid his hand under Freddi, pulling her out to safety.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I didn't think he'd swat at me like that," Freddi groaned back, blushing red with a smile.

With one last look at the eldest, she let out a sigh.

"Two beers are like friggin water for me," Dean finally sat up, giving her a reproachful look.

Sam ran a casual finger down her back, turning away to take her to the bathroom, "Here, why don't you get dressed and stuff while I go get some coffee for all of us."

Freddi softly thanked him and waited for him to leave before taking action. She quickly got out of her flannel pajama pants and black tank top and washed up. Once she was done, she got into something nice. She finally picked out this blue shirt, one of the sleeves hung off her shoulder and a pair of jeans, made from a pair of Dean's old jeans.

She took a short look in the mirror to see how presentable she looked. She was still painted like a picture, but it was mostly faint greens, browns, and yellows at that point. She could guess the bruising would completely heal within a week. She was still sporting a sling, supporting her arm and shoulder; it would be a couple more weeks until she was able to take it off. All things considered, she looked a lot better than the last time she looked in the mirror.

Thirty minutes after closing the door and after getting the coffee, Sam came back wearing a soft red plaid shirt and jeans. He looked like he had combed his fingers through his hair, trying to make himself look presentable.

"You look nice," he said, gently scooping her up into his hand.

"You do too."

When he carried her out, Dean was fully awake and holding something in his hand. Sam sat down beside him as Dean flicked the lighter, igniting the candle embedded in the gas-station pastry.

"Go on," Sam nodded at her barely concealing his pride in giving her the first birthday she's had in a long time, even though it wasn't much.

Freddi covered her mouth in partial embarrassment and responded, "God, you guys are being so cheesy!"

She blew out the candle the best she could, just barely able to do the task, more for their sake over her sake. This was so unfamiliar to her that it was inches away from being laughable.

"Birthdays are always cheesy. That's the fun part, right?" Dean nudged Sam, making him nearly wave her right into the cake.

"Sure," Sam rolled his eyes and gave Freddi a face to make her laugh, his efforts successful.

"Oh," Dean pulled out a tiny package, wrapped in newspaper. "Here."

Freddi chuckled softly as the present was dropped in her lap. When she looked back at them and saw the look on their faces, her blush just seemed to get deeper; Sam seemed the most enthusiastic out of the three, making her stifle another laugh.

"Fine," she sighed, playing along. "You win."

She focused back on the package in her hands and eyed it kind of suspiciously; she really didn't expected to receive any gifts for the world making another lap around the sun. Freddi slowly ripped off the newspaper to unveil her gift and was rendered speechless.

In her hands was this remarkable little dagger at her scale, sheath and belt right under it. It was gorgeous and it made her heart melt.

"Guys…" Freddi finally uttered, not even sure what to really say, "This is…"

She looked up at them, with her jaw still basically dropped, "How did you..?"

Dean was especially pleased by her reaction. He held up his hands, revealing fingertips freshly pricked and calloused, "Found a new talent, I guess."

Freddi bit her bottom lip as her gaze returned to the dagger. How long had he been working on this? It looked like it took a lot of time. The handle felt right in her grip as she was still trying to form a complete sentence.

"Oh, Dean," she finally sighed. "It's…It's gorgeous."

She looked back up at them, "Thank you."

They smiled quietly.

"Now, we just have to see you in action," Dean crumpled up the paper and set the cake aside.

There was a lot of open interpretation in his statement as Freddi arched an eyebrow at him, "Care to clarify, deadweight?"

Dean shot her a perplexed look, "I…wait. What did you call me?"

She laughed in reaction, flashing a pretty big smile as she remembered weight on Dean's head pinning her down under his pillow. She glanced at Sam; Freddi knew he knew exactly what she was talking about as she responded with a confident, smart-ass smirk. "You would know…if you had woken up this morning. Nice attempt at swatting me, by the by."

For a moment, Dean looked a little disturbed that the two were sharing amusement over a moment he recalled nothing about. Slowly, it came back to him in bits and pieces.

"Your own fault," he replied, vaguely apologetic. "What, it's a crime to sleep now?"

"You passed out early in the night and nearly had twelve hours of sleep," Freddi laughed at him with a big smile. "Did you really think you needed more time than that?"

"You think it's easy looking this good?" Dean shot back.

"Oh, put your ginormous ego in the backseat and just tell me why you can't wait to see me in action?"

"Huh?" Dean's smiled faded at the edges for a second as he retracted to their prior conversation. "Oh…y'know…if someone else tries to lay their paws on ya, you can give the what-for."

"That would be useful," Freddi agreed, flashing a confident smile. "I've been manhandled by strangers too many times without a weapon. Maybe, now they won't mess with me."

"Glad we're not among those numbers," Sam said, almost guilty though he knew they were no longer strangers. It made him feel slightly better that the weapon might buy her some precious time.

"If you guys were strangers, then I wouldn't be here or want to stay," She said, switching her gaze from brother to brother. She honestly couldn't slash at either one of them; well, unless they deserve it. "Nah, I wouldn't do that to either one of you without a reason. I can't just slash at someone I trust and care about. You got under my skin and I'm actually fine with that."

Dean grinned, then had to answer his phone. He had to walk someone through how to kill a windigo, while Sam encouraged Freddi to try on the dagger and belt.

Freddi felt a little bad-ass as the dagger hung off her hip after it was assembled onto the belt. She needed some of Sam's help since she could only use one of her arms for the moment. She wanted to ditch the sling, but her shoulder still stung and Sam was still in mother hen mode. All in all, despite her discomfort about it being her birthday and being able to celebrate with someone, she was happy.

(two hours later)

"God, twenty-one years and I'm just now having ice cream for the first time?"

Freddi was laying on one of the pillows on her back, almost staring at the ceiling. She still hadn't gotten close to healing, so she had to keep her movements limited, but it had been an interesting day so far. By some sheer chance of good luck, they hadn't found any cases that day, so they were free to relax at the motel.

What surprised her was when they heard she had never tried ice cream before; Dean was gone to the grocery store and back with a tub of Ben and Jerry's within forty-five minutes, claiming Freddi didn't know what she was missing. She didn't deny it when she had her first bite. It was creamy and cold and satisfying to her sweet tooth. Dean was right; she did love it.

"Birthdays always seem to slap me in the face every time it comes around. It used to feel like any other day before this one, even though I acknowledge I was another year older. I mean, right now, I don't feel any different than I did yesterday and yet I know I'm no longer twenty years old."

They each enjoyed their own type of happiness in the moment. Dean felt the satisfaction that had been waning since Sam grew up; he wouldn't let him do as many little things like for him anymore. It just didn't suit Sam, but having a day off, making her day…That was a gift for them, too.

"Mm. Just wait until you turn twenty-seven," Dean shook his head, finishing off the last spoonfuls. It still bothered him a little that he would be thirty in a few short years. Practically over the hill, and his life had never changed.

"You gonna show her the other thing you bought?" Sam encouraged after a few hours of all of them talking. Dean grinned, reaching into the paper bag and pulling out a bottle of vodka.

"I usually don't drink vodka, but…we're celebrating," Dean filled the cap to the brim for Freddi when they were moved to the table. The liquid splashed a tiny bit on her bare feet as he handed it to her. "Go on, kiddo. You're legal now. Might as well try the good stuff."

"You guys didn't have to spend all this on me. I would have been fine with beer."

This was Freddi's first time having vodka, so this was all uncharted for her. She slammed her eyes closed as she took a small swig. She was taken aback by the flavor and how much it burned down her throat. She coughed, "Shit, that stuff burns! Is it supposed to taste like how rubbing alcohol smells?"

Then, she asked, "Could we add something to it, like a juice or a soda?"

"Sure, I think we still have some coke."

Once the coke was added, the drink was so much better. Thirty minutes of talking and laughing with the boys, having a lot of fun with them, Freddi was done with her cap. Sam and Dean both had drunken plenty of alcohol, but they seemed fine. She was a lightweight, so it was only a matter of time before she went all loopy.

"Nice to be able to have a little fun without the cops on your ass," Dean said, knocking another shot back. He knew the same didn't exactly apply to Freddi, but it was an attempt to make her feel more equal all the same.

"Could still have the cops on my ass," Freddi giggled, already feeling the alcohol taking effect through her systems as she slowly sat down on the ground. "I'll have a collection of fake id's for the rest of my life when I'm done with my wonky situation."

"So what, four inches is a phase to you now?" Sam raised his eyebrows. After all the talk about making sure they still liked her at this size… He smiled just as widely as ever, clearly not seriously concerned about it, not tonight, "You're giving me whiplash on the size issue."

"I promise, there's logic in me somewhere about all this. It's all just smoother in my head," Freddi said, feeling bubbly.

"You keep saying that," Sam sighed, taking another small sip.

Dean, on the other hand, downed another shot like it was water and cupped the bottle. He placed the bottle next to Freddi with distinct thud, making her slightly jump in reaction. The bottle of clear liquid was nearly three time her size. He chuckled, "Guess this was a little bit of an overkill."

"Nuh-uh, who's the one with the eidetic memory here? I have never said things were smoother in my head, not even once," Freddi slurred. She was about a mile off the deep end at that point and somewhere in her cloudy mind know she shouldn't have drunken so much, knowing she was a lightweight. "If I ever did, then I would remember. Just because some girls are distracted by good looks doesn't mean I am.

Wait, what did she just say? Her sober self really wanted to kill her drunk blabbermouth at that moment.

"No, I'm positive you've said that…" Sam froze. "Uh, what?"

Dean's eyebrows shot upward, a small smile growing on his face. Pushing the bottle aside, he folded his arms on the table and rested his chin on them, smiling smugly.

Freddi shrugged, the word vomit flowing faster than she could really register, "I may be four inches tall, but I'm still a girl. I'm not going to lie and say you guys aren't both attractive."

"You ever have dreams about me?" Dean joked, tracing a finger along her thigh, making Sam lose his smile a bit.

"No," Freddi stated, laughing at the sheer notion and at the ticklish sensation. "You act too much like my brother, Jamie. AND keep your fingers to yourself! I'm still ticklish!"

"So?" Dean grinned, circling his finger over her midsection, and couple times "accidentally" brushing her breasts. He noticed how quiet Sam was. They both knew Freddi didn't fantasize about Dean, but Dean knew Sam wasn't an idiot and he also knew that she did have dreams about his younger brother.

He focused back on the tiny laughing girl, trying to drag herself from his hands, "S-Stop it! That tickles!"

And that was Dean's cue. He relentlessly pounced, tilting her into one hand and running his fingers up and down her body all over, avoiding her sling and her bad shoulder.

What was it about the alcohol that made her ticklish spots several times more ticklish? She erupted into a series of sheer laughter, tossing and turning in his hand. She couldn't exactly escape on her own as she screamed in chuckles, "You are so not fair!"

Dean stopped before his little brother could cut in, because he knew Sam meant business about this girl. He slid the four-inch girl into Sam's hand and sat back, "Here, have a turn."

Instead of tickling her, Sam watched Freddi catching her breath with avid interest as he held her a little closer than usual. There was still laughter in her breathing and it was intriguing to him. He gently laughed when she fell over just from trying to stand up, "Take it easy. You don't want a minor concussion on your birthday."

Sam offered her a finger from his free hand to steady her, "Freddi? Do you…actually think about me like that?"

The sober voice in her head was screaming at her not to answer, but her mouth was slipping out her word vomit of honesty again, "I don't know what I really think about you on things. I know you mean lot to me. I know you're smart; you're funny; you're kind; it's easy to talk to you. You're a great guy; but, once you've made your peace with Jessica's death and not haunted by your past, then any girl would be lucky to have someone like you."

Dean was no longer smiling. He wasn't sure how he felt about this union. He couldn't stand to see Sammy's guilt over a tiny girlfriend.

Sam drew back a bit, the buzz of alcohol not enough to cloud the face that she had basically said she was holding out for him. He flashed back to all the time they had spent together…how long had she felt this way?

"Oh…" he said shortly. He ended with a charming smile he knew would lighten the mood, but her words still lingered in his memory. "Well that…I…Thanks. You're not so bad yourself."

Freddi didn't catch any of Sam's social cues as she flashed a warm smile. The level of alcohol in her system was starting to take a toll on her consciousness and the yawn that came out of her mouth was proof of it. She mumbled tiredly, "What time is it?"

When she was told it was a little after midnight, she responded, "I don't think I'm going to last much longer. I need to crash soon."

"Yeah, I don't doubt. You can barely stand up straight," Dean quipped as Sam took her over to the bed they shared, even though she was asleep before she even hit the bed.

Sam and Dean talked for a while longer, then hit the hay themselves. Sam had settled down and was about to close his eyes when a tiny form bumped his arm. Freddi must have rolled when he laid down. Smiling softly in the dark, he gingerly curled his fingers around her and let her off onto his chest, "Happy 21st, Freddi."

A/N

Recovery! And Freddi's birthday. I just had to write another fluffy scene between her and Sam. She was vulnerable, what else can I say? Lol. Wanted to do something before duh duh duh! Sam knows! Let the awkwardness and the tension begin! I hope you liked this chapter and I'll update real soon. Bye!