Thank you so much Leann Nickerson, Kathy and Stormysea-breaks for your feedback! Oh don't worry John has his moments but this is definitely a redemption story for him.

Stormysea-break, yeah John and Sammy have a very volatile relationship so I could see them coming to blows pretty quickly because like Dean said, Sammy was more like his father than he ever was. Caring for Dean is going to bring them together as a family, which I hope people like.

I hope people like this next chapter. Quick author's note at the bottom ?.

Thank you,

Val

Chapter 5

John stretched as he got out of bed, wincing at the kink in his lower back. He looked over and smiled as Dean was sitting up and playing with his stuff dog.

His smile turned into a full blown grin when Dean looked up at him and said, "Dada me miss you!" he said as held his arms out towards John.

"Silly, I was right here." John told him as he went over and lifted Dean out of the crib. He quickly changed his diaper and brought him downstairs. He found Sam, Jim and Bobby were already in the kitchen.

"Down Dada," said as he began wiggling out of his father's grasp.

"Okay, stop squirming Ace," John said with a chuckle as he put him down and Dean quickly ran over to his brother calling out, "Sammy…Sammy!"

"Hey Dean," Sam said as lifted his brother up and sat him on his lap.

John went over and poured a mug of coffee for himself before taking the sippy cup out of the strainer.

"Apple juice in the fridge John," Jim told the elder Winchester.

"Right, thanks." John said as he quickly filled the cup and handed it to Dean. "Here you go Little Man."

"Tank you," Dean said as he wrapped his little fingers around the cup before lifting it up to take a sip.

Sam didn't say anything as he watched his father look in the pot on the stove. "Oatmeal?" The elder Winchester asked.

"Yup," Jim said as John took the little plastic bowl he had bought and ladled a generous portion into the bowl before adding a little brown sugar, cinnamon and cream.

"Aren't you going to feed him?" Sam asked when John put the bowl down and went back to drinking his coffee.

"Just letting it cool down so he doesn't burn his tongue." John explained. A couple of minutes later, after testing the bowl one more time he went over and took Dean from Sam before securing him in the high chair and placing the bowl and baby spoon in front of him. "You want Daddy to feed you?"

"Me do Dada," Dean said as he picked up the spoon.

"Okay Ace," John said as he ran his hand over his baby boy's head.

John sat in the chair next to Dean and kept one eye on the toddler while chancing a few quick glances at Sam. He looked up when Caleb joined them.

Dean looked up at the newcomer and grinned, "Aleb!"

"Hey Deano," said the hunter as he walked across the kitchen and ruffled the tike's hair. "Are you eating your oatmeal?"

Dean eagerly nodded his head as he put his spoon into the cereal and scooped up some and awkwardly brought it to his mouth and getting as much on him as in his mouth.

Caleb laughed as he walked past to pour a cup of coffee. He turned and leaned against the counter and watched the other men.

Sam was glaring at his father and John was doing his damnedest not to yell at his formerly youngest son. He caught Bobby's and Jim's eyes and nodded his head.

Jim cleared his throat, "John we need to talk about what your plans are and I do mean talk and that goes for you too Sam… I don't want to see Dean being upset again like last night."

John narrowed his eyes at the other man, "why does this feel like an ambush." He hissed.

Little Dean turned wide eyes towards his father. Even at two he knew that was John's angry voice. "Dada," the child called out as he held the spoon out towards his father.

John turned back towards Dean and saw the toddler holding a spoonful of oatmeal out towards him and his face softened as he smiled at the child, "you want to feed Daddy?"

Dean grinned when he saw his father's smile and held the little spoon higher and with a chuckle John leaned forward and let the child feed him. "Dada happee?"

John frowned as his inner 'toddler translator' registered what Dean was asking. "Oh Ace…yeah Daddy's happy."

Sam watched the way Dean smiled at their father and had to swallow the lump in his throat when Dean said, "love Dada."

"I love you too Dean," John said as he leaned over and kissed Dean's forehead. "Now eat your breakfast like a big boy."

"Tay Dada," Dean said as he scooped up some more oatmeal convinced he had just solved all of the problems in the world by making his Dada happy.

John sighed as he watched Dean messily feed himself before looking over at the other men. "Let's wait to talk when he's done and I set him up in the other room in the playpen with some T-O-Y-S to keep him busy."

The other men all nodded their heads in agreement as they continued to drink their coffees.

SPNSPNSPN

"Okay Dean Daddy needs you to be a good boy and play nicely while he talks to the others. Can you do that for Daddy."

Dean grinned and nodded his head eagerly.

"That's Daddy's good boy." John said as he ruffled Dean's hair. "I'm just in the other room okay."

"Tay," Dean said as he picked up a small car and began running it over Woofie's paw.

John watched him for a few seconds before heading back into the kitchen to discuss their next steps.

SPNSPNSPN

An hour later the five men were still arguing in hush whispers so they didn't upset Dean.

Sam glared at his father as he hissed, "you don't care about making sure this demon is stopped so that he can't hurt anyone else…you only care about killing him yourself for revenge!"

"What's that supposed to mean?" John snapped.

"It means that's Bobby and Caleb said they could handle taking that yellow eye bastard down and you refused to listen." Sam argued.

"This is our fight Sam…we need to finish it." John grounded out.

"And what about Dean? What happens to him if you and I don't make it?"

John sighed, "Sam your brother would be the first one lining up for this fight."

Sam looked at his father, "you're right he would because since he was four years old he has known nothing but revenge but not that little boy in there. That little boy has so much love and happiness in his heart. He's nothing like the brother I know." He said with a shake of his head. "How can you even look at him and not feel guilty for completely crushing that innocence. Did you even consider trying to let him be a child at all after Mom or did his childhood…our childhoods not matter? Four years old and you dumped all that responsible on his tiny shoulders. Yet he took it because 'Daddy' depended on him. Well now it's time to let Dean depend on Daddy!"

John slammed his fist on the table as he stood up. "Sam…" he said through clenched teeth but stopped when he heard Dean calling for him in the other room.

The elder Winchester shook his head as he went to walk away from Sam and the others, stopping when his son grabbed his arm. "He could have called for anyone but he only wants you…Dad if you're killed…he would be lost. Put Dean first Dad…please let Bobby and Caleb finish this for us." Sam begged.

"I need to tend to your brother," John said as Sam dropped his hand.

Sam watched sadly as his father walked out of the kitchen. "I hate him," Sam cried as he bowed his head.

Jim put his hand on the young man's shoulder, "no you love him and your brother…that's why this hurts so much."

Neither men realized that John had stopped when he had walked out of the room to get his emotions under control and that he had heard his youngest make that declaration.

Swallowing the lump in his throat he went into the den and saw Dean standing up holding onto the side of the playpen. "Hey Ace, you okay?"

Dean looked up at his father, tears glistening in his eyes. "Mama!" He cried pitifully.

The innocent hopeful look the child gave him broke his heart. He reached down and lifted Dean into his arms. "Oh Baby," he murmured as the child sobbed against his shoulder.

John rocked Dean in his arms as he shush him softly. He turned and saw Sam watching them with sadness in his eyes and sighed. "I need to go over my research with Bobby and Caleb…they need to know what they're up against."

Sam nodded his head as he crossed over and kissed Dean on the top of his head. Thankful that his father finally agreed to let Caleb and Bobby go after that yellow eye bastard and to put Dean first for once.

TBC

A/N: Okay I probable had John give in a little too easy here but I don't really want this story to be about hunting Yellow Eyes, it really is more about them coming together as a family. So sorry if John is OCC here.

Thank you again!

Val