Thank you so much Leann Nickerson, Secretwrittenword, Kathy and Blondie 20000 for all the feedback! I know baby Dean is just too cute. So we find out more about the spell here and I'm just going to saying in full disclosure I completely made all this up about the witches and druids in this chapter.

Okay so we have a bit of 'drama' here because well John is John and he doesn't take the news about the spell too well here.

Thank you again!

Val

Chapter 4

John pulled the Impala up in front of Jim's familiar house and cut the engine as Sam began to wake up. "Dad?"

"We're here," John said as he turned to look at his boys. "Why don't you grab the bags, I'll get Dean," he said as he tossed the car keys towards Sam.

"Yes sir," Sam said as he opened the car door and stepped outside and stretched while his father also slipped out from behind the steering wheel and stretched his tired muscles. Both men looked up when the front door opened and their old friend Jim stepped out onto his front porch.

"I expected you folks a few hours ago," the pastor called out.

"Forgot what it was like traveling with a little one," John admitted as he opened the back door of the car and leaned in and retrieved Dean from his car seat.

Jim's eyes widened when he took in the sleeping toddler in his old friend's arms. John had warned him but it still was a little disconcerting to see the strapping six foot hunter reduced to a small child.

He opened the door to welcome the small family into the house. They stopped short when they saw not only Bobby sitting in the pastor's living room but also saw their friend Caleb standing in the corner.

"What's with the welcoming party?" John asked as he eyed the other two men. He rubbed Dean's back and shushed him softly when he felt the child begin to stir.

"Wow," Caleb said as he stepped towards the father and son.

"Hey Caleb, why are you here?" Sam asked.

"He came because he helped me track down the spell." Bobby said.

"Really, already?" John said clearly shocked. John frowned at this news when he took in the other hunter's face. "What...what is it Singer?" John asked.

"Caleb had a contact who knew the spell based on the words Sam caught."

"And?" John and Sam said at the same time.

The older hunter sighed as he shot a look at Caleb and Jim before he began reciting the spell; "Anu, Máthair an Domhain, Bandia na torthúlachta, rathúnas agus compord. Cuirim an bheannacht seo ar fáil i d'ainm chun neamhchiontach an fhir seo a thabhairt go pointe ama a mhothaigh sé fíor-ghrá agus chothaithe. Chun leigheas ó phian an chaillteanais. Ar feadh bliain iomlán amháin ón lá inniu go dtí an oíche roimh an gcéad ghealach fola nua. Agraíonn mé an bheannacht seo don fhear seo i d'ainm Anu, Máthair an Domhain, Bandia na torthúlachta, an rathúnais agus an chompord."

Sam looked at his friend, "umm do you have the English translation?"

Caleb cleared his throat knowing the newcomers were not going to like what he was about to tell them, "yeah we do." He said the younger man before reciting the translation. "Anu, Mother Earth, Goddess of fertility, prosperity and comfort. I offer this blessing in your name to bestow the innocent of this man to a point in time he felt truly loved and cherished. To heal from the pain of loss. For one full year from today to the eve of a first new blood moon. I invoke this blessing for this man in your name Anu, Mother Earth, Goddess of fertility, prosperity and comfort.

"Bestow? Blessing? What that witch thinks she was giving Dean some kind of gift." Sam said as he sat down.

John went over and handed the sleeping child to his brother. "Okay it's a weird curse to use against an enemy but how do we reverse it?" John's eyes narrowed at the way the other three hunters looked at each other and groaned. "It can be reversed, can't it?"

"Only the one who cast it can reverse it," Jim said.

"That can't be right. All witch curses can be reversed." John argued.

"Curses yes but this spell isn't a curse John. It's a blessing." The other man explained.

"Bobby you must have it wrong," Sam said in disbelief.

Caleb sat down next to Sam, "he's not wrong. As soon as he called me I reached out to a Celtic high priestess I know who confirmed what Bobby found."

"Wait…did we kill a witch or a Druid?" John asked.

"I asked the priestess I contacted and she said it had to be an Irish witch. That they've been known to use Druid blessings since they are so powerful and begin working immediately."

Sam swallowed, "Dean collapse as soon as she recited the spell and I had to carry him to the car."

"You said he began burning up too?" Bobby asked.

"Had to put him in a bath to try and cool him down." John told him.

"And it was only a few hours before the change happened?" Caleb asked.

"Yeah," Sam confirmed.

"That's exactly what Eabha said happens when this blessing is cast."

Sam looked down at his brother as everything Bobby and Caleb really hit him. "One full year. Dean's going to remain a toddler for a year?"

"17 months and 8 days to be exact," Jim told the clearly shaken men. "the first blood moon one year from when the blessing was invoked isn't until August 28th next year."

"That can't be right!" John shouted angrily. The elder Winchester's outburst startled said child and suddenly Sam had a crying toddler in his arms. John turned and sighed as he walked over to his boys.

"Dada," Dean cried pitifully.

"Come here Buddy," John said as he took Dean from Sam. He gently bounced Dean in his arms as he shush him. Soon the child yawned and rested his head on his father's shoulder. John stopped bouncing him when he heard the toddler snoring softly.

"I set up Sam's old crib, why don't you three head up and get some sleep. We can discuss what we're going to do tomorrow." Jim encouraged the senior Winchester.

"Sounds good to me," Sam said as he reached down and grabbed the bags at his feet.

"Yeah…okay….we didn't get much shut eye last night," John agreed as he followed Sam up the stairs to the room the small family was sharing.

John looked at the crib and let his eyes drift over to the corner of the room and saw that his old friend had also brought down the old changing table too. Sighing he went over to the table and laid Dean down, "Sam can you bring over the diaper bag."

Soon John had put Dean in a dry diaper and slipped his pajamas back on. He lifted the little boy up and brought him over to the crib, laying him down.

Looking down at Dean, a sad smile tugged at his lips. Such a huge part of him actually loved doting on his son but selfishly he needed his adult son back. They were so close now to taking out of Yellow Eyes. He needed his soldier back.

He stroked a finger along Dean's cheek before turning around and saw the way Sam was watching him. "What?"

"Dad, if this can't be reversed what will we do?"

John ducked his head slightly. "We've got the Colt…this is what we've been working towards for over twenty years Sam."

Sam narrowed his eyes, "you said we were going to put Dean first. So all of that was just bullshit."

"Lower your voice before you wake your brother." John said. "Look when I said that I meant it but that was when I thought we were looking at a curse that we could reverse or worse case let it run its course for a few weeks."

"And now it's not convenient so Dean isn't gonna come first is he?" Sam said accusingly.

"Sam…we're in the home stretch here. This is the bastard that killed your Mom and the woman you were going to marry. If anyone would understand and say we have to move forward it is Dean."

Sam crossed the room and looked down into the crib and took in his sleeping brother. The same brother he spent all day remembering everything Dean had done for him during their childhoods. Now it was his turn to repay his brother and he be damn if he wouldn't. "No," he said simply.

John sighed, "Sam…"

"No," he said more forcefully. "This isn't a curse Dad, he was blessed. Bless to relieve a point of time he felt truly loved so that he could heal. My god Dad…do you not get that this was the last time your son felt truly loved and safe…two years old Dad. Two years old!"

John looked away, "I will do what I have to do. We're too close to take a year and a half off to…"

"To what… to put your son first?" He asked knowingly.

"Can we not do this. We're both tired and running on fumes. Let's get some shuteye and talk in the morning."

"Fine but I'm not going to change my mind. Dean deserves to come first and to feel safe and loved. Even if his own father doesn't love him enough to put his needs first."

John narrowed his eyes at his son and ground out through clenched teeth. "Hallway now."

Sam was no sooner in the hallway than his father had grabbed him by his shirt and pushed him up against the wall. "I'm sick and tired of your attitude! Don't you ever tell me that I don't love your brother or you ever again!""

"Prove it! Put one of your children first for once in your life!" Sam snapped as he shoved his father away.

John gaped at his son and without thinking grabbed Sam in a headlock as he slammed him back into the wall, causing several photos to crash to the floor.

Both Winchester's were so caught up in their anger neither heard the child in the room wake up suddenly and begin sobbing while calling for his father.

The three other hunters charged up the stairs. Jim shouted for the father and son to stop as Sam pulled back and punched his father in the nose.

Bobby and Jim rushed forward each grabbing one Winchester and pulling them apart as Caleb slipped into the bedroom and lifted a terrified Dean into his arms. The hunter shushed the child, bouncing him gently in his arms as he listened to the others. "I got you Dean," he whispered as he kissed the top of his head.

Caleb winced as the father and son began one of their trademark screaming match as Dean clung to him well crying out for his Dada. "Come on Dean," he murmured as he headed towards the hall.

Bobby was the first to notice the younger hunter carrying a clearly upset Dean. "Enough you two!" He growled at he nodded his head towards Caleb.

Dean had pulled away enough to see his father and brother. Both men looked at the quivering child and blushed in shame as they realized they had terrified Dean with their fight.

John took a step towards Dean, realizing Caleb, Jim and Bobby we're strangers to this Dean. He was shocked when his son turned away from him and buried his face in Caleb's neck.

"Well I hope that's a sight you don't soon forget. Your son turning to a man he never met before for comfort instead of to you." Jim said to the elder Winchester with a shake of his head.

Caleb held Dean close as he hiccup softly while he was calming down. He wrinkled his nose as it became apparent that the toddler had messed his diaper and that his sleeper was wet too because the diaper had leaked.

"Come on Dean, let's get you out of that stinky diaper and I'll give you a bath. Jim did you say you picked up some baby wash and shampoo?"

"It's in the bathroom. Mrs. Riley suggested a lavender one for at night…says it's very soothing. Should help settle him back down." The pastor told the other man.

"Right," Caleb said as walked past John and Sam.

"Caleb," Sam called out. "I…" he wanted to say he would do it but when he saw the way Caleb looked at him he ducked his head instead and said, "he doesn't like having his hair washed, especially when you rinse it so do it fast." He told him meekly.

Caleb nodded his head and continued to the bathroom. "Hey bud, just gonna put you down for a minute while I start running your bath and then I'll get you all sorted out, okay."

Dean sniffled as he whispered, "tay." The small boy looked around the room, wondering why they weren't home. "Mama home soon?"

Caleb smiled down at Dean. "You miss your Mama huh?"

Dean nodded his head.

Caleb couldn't believe he was actually grateful that if one of the Winchester had to be de-aged he was happy it was Dean and not Sam. He remembered Sam at this age and he knew that he never would have been so agreeable.

Soon Caleb had a lukewarm bath drawn and had stripped Dean out of his soiled sleeper and diaper, using the baby wipes Jim had placed in the room earlier to clean his charge.

"Ready for your bath Little Man?" He asked as he scooped Dean up and sat him in the tub. Thankfully, Jim had picked up a few bath toys and Dean entertained himself while Caleb gave him a quick bath.

He decided not to wash the litter boy's hair, he didn't want to get him worked up when he saw him yawning as he played with a little toy boat.

"Come on Dean, time to get out." He said as he grabbed a towel. He remembered a six years old Dean from when he first met the Winchesters. The child was already hardened by the world they lived in and was Sam's caregiver. He certainly never let him, Jim or Bobby cuddle him…he barely let them spoil Sam back then.

But man this little fella had already stolen his heart and he wasn't going to let John or Sam use him against each other and he knew Jim and Bobby felt the same way.

He had just finished drying Dean when he heard the door to the bathroom opened and John filled the doorway. "I brought you a diaper and a clean sleeper for you to put on Dean."

Dean peeked out from the towel he was wrapped up in. "Dada," he called out as he held his arms out towards him.

Celeb looked down at the child and sighed, "you want Daddy to finish getting you ready for bed?"

Dean nodded his head and Caleb smiled as he ruffled his hair. "Okay then go see Daddy and he'll help you." He said as he gently nudged him towards John.

Dean looked up at his father who gave him a smile and ran over to him. John lifted the toddler in his arms and said, "can you thank Caleb for giving you a bath," he urged.

"Tank you," he said as he turned and smiled at the other man.

John kissed Dean on his forehead as he carried him back into the bedroom to get him dressed. Once he had him dressed it didn't take long to get the little boy settled back down for the night.

John stood over the crib and watched his son sleeping. He sighed, he had convinced himself that this was a chance to show Sam that he wasn't always that man who raised him and his brother like soldiers.

That was when he thought this was a curse that would run its course in a few days…maybe a few weeks tops and then he could get back to tracking down that damn demon now that he had the colt.

He wasn't expecting a witch to use Druid blessings spells like that. That his Dean would be a toddler for over a year.

John stroked Dean's hair before he turned and walked over to the bed across from the crib. Sighing he sank down and kicked off his boots. He looked over at the other bed. Sam had opted to sleep on the couch instead of in the same room with him.

Tomorrow he would speak to Sam. They were too close to taking out yellow eyes. If this thing couldn't be reversed and they had to ride it out for the 18 months then fine but they would finish their mission first. Sam might not like it but it wasn't just what John wanted, it's what Dean wanted too.

TBC