Author's Note: Today's prompt comes from Avalonemyst, who requested, "Sam learns goats can be more dangerous than chucabras." By far, this is one of the most challenging prompts I have gotten, but thank you for submitting. Sam here is 4 and Dean is eight. Also, I'm throwing in some Bobby for fun! Please enjoy!

"A petting zoo!" Sam exclaimed, bouncing up and down, eyes widening with sheer joy. Bobby grinned. Gruff façade aside, he adored the two Winchester brothers. He thought of them as his family and whenever he could play the part of an awesome uncle, he did. Case in point, taking the two boys down to the local petting zoo that some of the farmers that set up. They did one every year, after all the baby animals had been born, but Bobby had never imagined that he would go visit it.

"Sammy, they'll have lots of cool stuff there." Dean informed his little brother, excitement evident in his eyes as well. Even with main responsibility of caring for his little brother squarely on his shoulders—John did what he could, but the man was still too caught up in his own grief to truly be a father—Dean still enjoyed such things as petting zoos. Sure, he would grow out of them soon, but Bobby was pleased that that time hadn't come yet.

"Like what, Dean?" Sam pressed, holding his arms out as Dean helped him put on his jacket. It was early in Sioux Falls and the cool wind was chilling the town. It wasn't too bad, but it was better to be safe than sorry.

"Like baby animals." Dean replied.

"You'll like it, Sam," Bobby assured the kid while ruffling his hair. Sam giggled and Bobby beamed. "Let's get a move on boys." He grabbed his truck keys and the two boys followed behind him. He helped hoist Sam into the truck and then walked around to the driver's side. Buckling his seatbelt and checking to make sure Sam and Dean had done the same, he grinned.

When Karen had been alive, he had never wanted kids. His own father had been crappy and Bobby hadn't wanted to take the chance that he would end up the same. He had been content with his decision and it was only recently that he found his attitude towards kids softening. In his mind, Sam and Dean were just as much his kids as they were John's.

"Uncle Bobby?" Dean asked, staring pointedly at the keys that were in ignition.

"Oh." He turned on the car.

And then they were off.

It took all of five minutes for Sam to find a friend among all the baby animals—a little baby goat named Striker. He was only a few weeks old, yet he was the most energetic baby animal there. He bounced and leapt over anything he could manage. Sam fell in love with him and Bobby watched with minor amusement over how Sam babbled to the baby goat that seemed to be talking right back to him. It was quite cute actually, not that Bobby would ever admit that out loud. Dean, for his part, had fallen in love with a puppy. The dog's Mom was sitting in the corner of the petting zoo pen, watching over all the animals with a careful eye, much like Bobby was. It figured that Dean would bond with the future herding dog—they were bred to protect things after all, much like Dean's mission in life was to protect Sam.

"Uncle Bobby!" Sam exclaimed, waving with a dopey grin on his face. Bobby chuckled and waved back, a wave of happiness filling him. It had been so long since he had just taken time to sit back and enjoy life. His days were filled with research for other hunters and his nights were plagued with dark dreams about Karen. This moment—Sam smiling, Dean enjoying himself—made all the sacrifices worthwhile.

This is what he fought to protect.

The dog let out a menacing growl and Bobby stiffened. Dean was still absorbed with the puppy and didn't seem to be in immediate danger, but Sam—

A goat twice his size with horns to match was staring Sam down. The baby goat cowered behind Sam, but the littlest Winchester wouldn't back down. The mean looking goat—yeah, it was threatening his kid, so he would call it whatever he wanted—had somehow stumbled into the pen. The fence was low enough; he probably jumped in, and was now advancing on Sam. Instantly, Bobby was moving, but it was hard with the baby animals and little kids running around. Before Bobby could reach Sam, the goat charged and Sam went flying back as the horns connected with his tiny chest.

"Sam!" Bobby exclaimed. The puppy's mother quickly bolted to where the goat was and growling, she chased to the goat out while Bobby picked up Sam. The baby goat made distressed noises and Sam stirred. Tears shone in his eyes and Bobby smiled sympathetically at him. "Hey, Sammy, you alright?"

"Sammy!" Dean shouted, puppy at his heels. "Sammy, you okay?"

"My chest hurts," Sam wheezed and Bobby nodded. Lifting up the little boy's shirt, Bobby grimaced at the clear bruises that were already beginning to form. Poking the boy's side, he was pleased to see that nothing was broken. "S'okay?"

"Yeah, kiddo," Bobby answered. "You just got the wind knocked out of you." Sam nodded his head, but tears flowed down his cheeks and Bobby's heart broke to see him like this. Pulling the little boy to him, he wrapped Sam in a warm embrace while Dean placed a comforting hand on his back.

"You're good, Sammy," Dean assured his sobbing little brother. "Dude, you were so brave! You took on that goat by yourself! That was so cool!"

"R-really?" Sam questioned, wiping his eyes. Dean nodded enthusiastically.

"Yeah!" He shouted. "Even Uncle Bobby couldn't have done that."

"He's right," Bobby answered. "You stood your ground. I'm proud of you." And just like that, Sam was grinning again even through his tears. Confident that the boy was okay, Bobby placed him down on the ground while Dean steadied him. The little goat nudged him and Sam pet him.

Soon, Sam was running back around, the baby goat by his side.

The dog came to rest by Bobby; her eyes focused on Sam and a thought suddenly came to him. Heading over to one of the farmers, he asked,

"How much is that puppy?"

Years later, Sam was lying on Bobby's couch; a bandage on his arm after a chupacabra clawed him. Dean was out on a food run—the boy had been hovering ever since he had brought Sam and Bobby knew the older brother needed a breather—which left the older hunter alone with the now 14-year-old Winchester. Rumsfeld lay down on the ground, a one watchful eye open as she guarded the hurt boy and Bobby smiled.

"You feelin' okay, Sam?" Sam took a shuddery breath in. Dean had said he'd been knocked down pretty hard and it pained Bobby to hear how crappy Sam's breathing sounded.

"Remember when that goat head butted me?" A wave of nostalgia washed over the gruff hunter and his expression softened.

"That bad?" He ventured a guess.

"No," Sam replied. "That was worse." With that, the youngest member of the Winchester family smirked.

And God help him, Bobby laughed—a real, hearty laugh—for the first time since Karen died.

Author's Note: Yay for another Bobby-centric chapter! I really miss him . . . I hope you enjoyed! Please review if you have a moment!