Thank you so much Blondie 50000 for all your support and feedback! I can't say how much I appreciate it! Sorry it's been so long between updates. I know where I want to take this story but I had such a hard time with this chapter. I'm still not happy with it but I have to suck it up and post it so that I can move forward with the story. I hope people like this part.

I wish I could get a better feel for little Sammy because I feel like he's being neglected in this story. I tried here but I just didn't think it clicked as much as I would like. I'll keep working on it though!

Thank you again and enjoy!

Chapter 17

"Wow!" Dean and Sammy said at the same time when Jo hit 10 out of 10 bullseyes with the bow and arrow that Gemma taught her how to use.

"Jo, Sweetie...you sure you never did this before?" Gemma asked shocked at the child's ability.

"No Miss Gemma, this is the first time. Uncle Bobby said I had to wait until he thought I was ready." The little girl said as she handed the bow to Sammy for his turn.

Dean laughed, "that's just Jo, you should see her fast ball."

Gemma cocked here eyebrow at that, and the way Dean wrapped his arm around the girl and the way she leaned into him. "Natural athlete hmmm."

"That's what our Dad says too." Dean said.

Gemma looked down at her watch. "Tom will be here in a half an hour. Why don't you kids go in and get cleaned up." She told them as the three children had used training as excuse to roll around in the dirt.

Jo smiled as she ran off as she chirped over her should, "okay."

The woman looked down at the boys who hung back. "Well?"

Dean looked up at Gemma. "Jo's probable gonna take a bath...she can be pretty girly at times." He said with a shake of his head.

"I see," she said trying not to laugh at the boy's obvious annoyance at Jo being 'girly'. "I think you two can wash your faces and hands in the kitchen sink and then go upstairs and put on some clean clothes that aren't covered in dirt."

"Yes Ma'am," Dean said as he nudges Sam's shoulder.

"Oh, and Dean can you please put yours, Sammy and Jo's dirty clothes in a basket and grab the laundry in the hamper in the bathroom and bring it down. I want to put a load of laundry on."

"Yes Ma'am," he said as followed his brother inside while Gemma gathered the weapons and arrows. She stopped off at the barn where Bobby housed the weapons before going into the house.

Gemma shook her head as she saw the boys had obviously rushed to wash in the kitchen sink by the puddles around the sink. Picking up a dish towel she cleaned up the mess before going over and putting the kettle on to make a cup of tea.

She finished tidying the kitchen and looked up as Dean came into the kitchen carrying the basket. "Thank you Dean," she said as she went over to take the basket. She would have sworn the boy sniffed her.

He sat at the table and watched as Gemma put the laundry on while he waited for his brother and Jo to join them. She finished and turned trying think of what to say to the boy, his gaze making her feel like he was sizing her up. "Hey, I was thinking, after you and Jo see Dr. Tom maybe we could go for a late lunch and a movie. How does that sound?"

Dean shrugged his shoulders as looked at Gemma. "Are you my Dad's girlfriend?"

Gemma choked on the sip of tea she had taken. "Girlfriend?"

"I'm not a little kid like Sammy...I know my Dad hasn't been researching every night before he left. That and my Dad hair smells funny like apples when he comes home...your hair smells the same."

Gemma blushed scarlet at what Dean was saying. John and her liked to take a bath or a shower together before he would leave at night. She would usually laugh when he would grumble about his hair smelling like green apples. Suddenly she didn't find it as amusing when his twelve-year-old son was asking point blank about her relationship with his father.

"Um well you're Dad and I are friends," she said tentatively.

Dean rolled his eyes. "I'm not stupid...I know what grown up friends do."

"Oh...umm...this really isn't appropriate for us to talk about." She said feebly. Gemma turned when she heard a loud knock at the front door. "That must be Dr. Tom," She exclaimed as she hurried out of the room and away from Dean's questions about her and John.

Dean followed Gemma out as she went to let Tom in. "Hello Dean," the man said as he came into the front hall.

"Hi Dr. Tom," Dean said as she stood by the stairs.

"You must be Gemma, Bobby told me you would be staying with the kids." The man said as he held his hand out.

"Nice to meet you," she said

"I know your Dad; we worked a case once."

"I thought Tom Standish sounded familiar." She with a smile before turning towards child by her side. "Dean can you please get Jo."

"Sure," he said as he turned and screamed over his shoulder. "JO, DR. TOM IS HERE!"

"I meant could you please go upstairs and get Jo." Gemma reiterate as she turned Dean towards the stairs and gave him a playful push.

"Ohhh," he said as he charged up the stairs to get Jo.

Tom chuckled. "He's a good kid, a bit of a wise ass but still a good kid."

"Can I get you something to drink?

"Thanks," he said as he followed Gemma into the kitchen.

"I can put a fresh pot of coffee on," she offered.

He nodded towards the mug of tea in her hand. "Tea's fine."

Gemma turned the stove on to bring the water up to a boil again as she grabbed a mug and busied herself preparing the drink.

"So, how's it going so far?"

"Umm good I guess. I made pancakes with Jo and Sam for breakfast and then the four of us did some target practice."

"Four…Jo participated?" The man asked slightly surprised.

"Participated…she had 10 out of 10 bullseyes. First time she ever used a bow and arrow too. I showed her how to hold the bow, line up a shot and expected it to go wild but bam bullseye. It was amazing." She explained still slightly awed from the child's ability.

Tom nodded his head as he took in what she told him. "Jo is very intuitive, very detail oriented for a child her age. I'm not surprised that she would take to something like target practice like a duck to water."

The man looked up when the three children came into room. "Hi Dr. Tom!" Jo said as she and Dean went over to the kitchen table.

"Hi Jo," he said before turning his attention back to Dean and the little boy standing next to him. "Hey Sammy, how are you today?"

"Good Dr. Tom," Sammy said as he followed Dean into the room. Dean came over and sat down next to Jo.

Tom smiled as he reached into his bag and pulled out some worksheets for the children to complete as Gemma placed the cup of tea down for him.

"Come on Sammy, why don't we go in the other room." Gemma said as she placed a reassuring hand on the young boy's shoulder and guided him out of the kitchen.

SPNSPNSPN

"So, what do you want to do?" The woman asked the child. "Do you know how to play any cards games?"

"Daddy taught me and Dean how to play poker." Sammy said as he looked down at his feet.

Gemma rolled her eyes. "Of course, he did. How about something else, would you like to learn how to play Gin Rummy?" She asked as she grabbed the cards off the mantel before sitting down on the floor.

"Okay," he said as he sat down across from her as she began explaining the rules and the scoring of the game. "Ma'am, will Uncle Bobby bring my Daddy home?"

Gemma gave the child a reassuring smile. "I'm sure he will. Sammy you don't have to call me Ma'am, you can call me Gemma."

"Okay Gemma," The youngest Winchester said as he graced her with a sweet smile that made Gemma's heart thump in her chest. She barely knew these children and she was completely head over heels in love with them.

"So, I was asking Dean earlier. How about after him and Jo are done visiting with Dr. Tom we could go into town and have a late lunch and then go to the movies. Would you like that?"

Sammy shrugged his shoulders non-committedly just like his brother had too as he looked down at his cards. She remembered that John had said Sam was his little reader and tried a different approach. "You know, we have plenty of time. We could go to the library first. Have you done your summer reading yet?"

The child looked up excitedly at the prospect at going to the library but that that excitement quickly ended. "We don't know where we're going to school…don't have a list to go by." He explained.

Gemma frowned at this and felt annoyance at John. "Well you and Jo are in the same grade so you should be able to go by her list. The library should have the reading list for all the grades and Dean can pick out his book for sixth grade.

"Okay," the child said happily.

Gemma smiled at the obvious joy that shone on the little boy's face and wondered how something so small could give him so much joy. These children have shoulder too many burdens in their young lives and Gemma swore to herself she was going to give them as much joy as possible while she could.

SPNSPNSPN

"That movie was funny," Jo said as she snuggled close to Dean. They had decided to get ice cream sundaes for 'dinner' after the movie since they had a late lunch.

"That old dude was a riot," Dean agreed.

"I wasn't sure you kids would like 'City Slickers'." Gemma said as she ate a mouthful of her butterscotch sundae. She smiled at Dean and Jo as they sat across from her and Sammy in the booth they had snagged when they had come into the diner. "Did you like the movie Sammy?"

"Yeah it was cool when they were trying to get the cattle across the water." He said as he scooped up some of his hot fudge.

"And you're happy with your books?"

"I am!" Sammy shouted happily as Jo nodded her head in agreement.

She frowned as Dean ducked his head. "Dean?"

"I don't see why we have to read on our summer vacation. Beside we should be training." He huffed.

Gemma nodded her head. "We'll still be training, don't worry. It won't hurt to read one hour a day, I promise you."

Dean sighed, "okay."

Gemma laughed at the dejected look on the boy's face at the thought of reading during his summer vacation. "Alright you three, let's finish our ice cream and head home."