Yikes I'm so sorry I've been MIA on this story. Thank you so much Leann Nickerson, Kathy, Long Live BRUCAS, Blondie 20000 and Allison for all the support and reviews with this story and thank you to everyone who has added this story to their favorites and following it too!

Okay I'm not too sure how many more chapters this will be. I'm thinking I'm running out of steam on this story. I love Dean getting his second chance as well as John and Sam getting their chance to mend their relationship and their relationship with Dean but I think we're coming to the point the blessing will be ending sooner rather than later.

Just too many stories going at once...including four I haven't even started posting yet.

Anywho John is still dealing with a sick Dean and Sam hears some family stories he's never heard before. Just some fluff because we all need fluff every once in a while, *grin*.

Thank you again and enjoy!

Val

Chapter 17

Sam woke up after sleeping what felt like a year but after a quick look at his phone, he realized he had slept fourteen hours. The first few hours after he got home, he was alternating between running up the stairs to get sick and trudging back down them to his get back into his cocoon of blankets.

John finally told him to stop using what little energy he had doing that and to just use the bucket he set beside him. It wasn't the first time he dealt with the unpleasant task but he would rather that than his 6'4 son taking a header down the stairs.

Sam slowly sat up, swallowing as he was hit with a wave of dizziness but after a few minutes the feeling passed and he was able to stand up. Finally, he turned his head slightly so he could check on Dean but his brother wasn't on the loveseat.

"I've got him," he heard his father's gruff voice say as he looked across the room and saw his father on the recliner with Dean sleeping as he laid across his father's broad chest.

Sam looked at his father, "did you sleep with him using you as his personal pillow all night?"

John grunted as he nodded his head slightly before reaching down to use the handle to close the chair and stand up, "how do you feel?"

"I'm actually a little hungry. I think I'm going to try some dry toast. How about Dean, is he still holding his food down?"

"Yeah, still a little warm. I think he.'s got a cold on top of the stomach bug." John said around a yawn.

Sam looked at his father and he could see the older man was exhausted. "Dad I think I'm over the worst. Why don't you tuck him back in on the loveseat and then go up and get some decent rest and I can take care of him. "John shifted Dean in his arms so that he could reach out and placed the back of his hand on his son's forehead.

"Seems the Tylenol help, you're not still running a fever," John murmured.

"I'm fine Dad," Sam said slightly embarrassed by the attention his father was bestowing on him.

"Why don't you have that toast and maybe take a shower. Then if you still feel up to it you can take over watching your brother."

"Fair enough," Sam said as he watched John lay Dean down before going back and settling back in the recliner again to rest.

SPNSPNSPN

An hour later Sam had not only managed the dry toast and tea but after his shower his stomach grumble in hunger and he went back into the kitchen and made some scrambled eggs.

They were plain and nowhere near as good as what his father would have whipped up but he managed to get through them without getting sick.

He was still a little weak but he figured he could handle Dean for a few hours so his dad could really rest so he made his way back into the living room to find his father sitting on the floor with Dean as the child played halfheartedly with his cars.

"Hey Dean," Sam called out. He smiled when his brother looked up and he saw the series case of bed head the child was rocking.

"Sammy!" Dean cried with as much enthusiasm as a sick three-year-old could muster.

"How do you feel?" John asked.

"Okay, just had some eggs and so far, so good," he reassured him.

"Good…good," John told him as he absent-mindlessly made a crashing sound when Dean ran his truck into the car John was 'driving'.

"Hey Dean," Sam said to distract the child so his father could get up. "How about a tubby?"

"Okay," he said as he dropped the truck in his hand and got up and ran towards Sam.

John sighed in relief, "I'm just going to strip the pillow cases off the pillows and throw them and the blankets in the washer then I'm going to hit the hay."

Sam nodded his head as he mentally went through what he would grab when they came back downstairs. "Come on Dean, "

John watched his sons as they headed upstairs before turning and gathering the linens to start a wash before heading upstairs and crashing on his bed.

SPNSPNSPN

John stretch as he sat up in bed. The four-hour power nap did the trick he thought to himself as he stood up. Making his way down the hall he heard the television playing downstairs and smiled when he heard Dean giggling at some antic the characters were up to.

He went into the bathroom and took an overdue and much needed hot shower. Twenty minutes later he was making his way downstairs. He heard a noise come from the kitchen and went in to see Sam closing the oven door.

"You cooked?" John asked as he studied his son.

Sam gave him a small smile, "Mrs. R. dropped off a pan of macaroni and cheese."

"I see," he said as he went over and felt Sam's forehead.

"Dad, I'm fine," Sam reassured the other man.

"Okay but I don't want you over doing it," the elder Winchester said as he went and poured himself a cup of coffee. "How's Dean feeling?"

"Okay, he definitely has a cold and a nasty cough but the stomach bug seems to have passed," Sam told him, unable to help smiling.

"What's so funny?" John asked.

"Oh, it's nothing…just never remember Dean being so clingy when he was sick when we were kids."

John chuckled slightly, "your mother use to call him her little cuddle bug when he was little."

"So, he really was like this? Why don't I remember?" Sam asked.

John blushed slightly and admitted, "because by the time your brother was six, I had told him only babies need to be cuddled and he wasn't a baby anymore…that he was a big boy and I expected him to behave like one."

Sam saw the shame in his father's eyes, "you're not that man…Dad…you've been doing right by Dean this whole time."

John nodded his head, "I'm going to check on your brother. Are you all set in here?"

"I'm fine, it should be ready in about twenty minutes."

"Okay," John said as he headed towards the living room. He stood in the doorway and smiled when he saw Dean sitting on the floor playing with the Lincoln Logs that Bobby had given him for Christmas. "Hey Ace," John called out.

Dean looked up at his father and gave him a smile, "Daddy."

John frowned at how stuffed up Dean sounded and winced when his son began to cough and heard the familiar bark, he hadn't heard in over 20 years. Sitting down next to the toddler he reached over and felt Dean's forehead and sighed.

"How you feeling Ace?" John asked as he reached up and pulled out a tissue, bringing it to Dean's little nose and urged him, "blow Buddy."

Dean leaned forward and blew into the tissue his father held to his nose. The action seemed to trigger another round of coughing. John wasn't surprised when Dean abandoned the toy logs and crawled onto his lap.

Reached down into his pocket John pulled out his phone and dialed Caleb's number. "Hey it's me…Sammy's feeling better…yeah Dean definitely got a cold but looks like his old friend the croup is coming for a visit…would you be able to stay at least until the end of the week and keep the shop open…great…thanks. Yeah, if you wouldn't mind going to the store and pick up a humidifier and a jar of honey…yeah I know…thanks see you when you get here."

"Was that Caleb?" Sam asked as he walked into the room.

"Yeah, I asked if he could stay a while longer and to pick up a couple of things for your brother." John explained as Dean began another coughing fit.

Sam winced at the cough that sounded like a seal bark, "his cough is getting worse."

"Yeah, he's got the croup," John explained as he patted Dean gently on the back.

"The croup," Sam repeated worriedly. "Should we bring him to the doctors?"

The elder Winchester chuckled, "trust me Sam this isn't the first time your brother had it. I know what to do…starting with dinner. He can't eat what Mrs. R brought; it'll just make the mucus worst. Is there anymore of her soup?"

Sam nodded his head, "right…yeah there's a whole second container."

"Okay, I'll heat some up for him," John said as he stood up with Dean still clinging to him as he wrapped his legs around his father's middle. He was glad he took Sam up on his offer to get some decent sleep because he had a feeling, he wouldn't get much rest over the next few days.

SPNSPNSPN

"The End," John said as he closed the story book, he finished reading to Dean who snuggled next to his father on the couch.

"Daddy we go outside please," the toddler asked.

"Sorry Ace maybe tomorrow," John told him as he grabbed the remote control. "Hey I think it's time for Mickey."

Dean perked up slightly at the mention of one of his favorite shows and John took advantage to settle the child on the couch, hoping he would relax since he had been up early this morning with a coughing bout that had John taking him into the bathroom running the hot water in the faucet and shower to help his son's breathing.

"Alright Dean you and Artie watch Mickey. I'm going to make lunch. Do you need anything?"

"Wolfie," the little boy asked around a yawn.

"Right," John said as he looked around the room and his eyes landed on the beloved stuff dog. "Here you go Baby," he murmured as he kissed Dean's forehead before heading into the kitchen.

John was finishing making ham and cheese sandwiches for him and Sam and some ham roll ups when he heard a knock on the back door before the door opened and Caleb walked in.

"Hey…what are you doing here?" John asked.

"I figured free labor earned me lunch." He teased as he went over and poured himself a cup of coffee.

John grunted as he began making a couple of more sandwiches. "Why don't you check on Dean, Sammy should be here in a few minutes."

"Sure," Caleb said as he put his cup down and headed into the living room. He stopped shot and grinned when he saw her former drinking buddy doing his version of the Hot Dog dance. "Hey Squirt," he called out.

Dean turned at the newcomer and gave happy smile as he shouted out, "Caleb."

Caleb returned the toddler's grin as he bent down to accept the hug the little boy came rushing over to give him. Grunting playfully, he lifted Dean up on his hip, "you're getting so big. What's your old man feeding you?"

Dean began to giggle at the over exaggerating look Caleb gave him as he pretended Dean was too heavy for him. Unfortunately, the laughter soon became a coughing fit and Caleb lifted he child so that he could rest his head on his shoulder as he gently rubbed his back while Dean finished coughing.

"You okay Buddy?" Caleb asked as he settled Dean on the floor next to him.

"Need to pee-pee," he announced as he wiggled slightly.

"Right," Caleb said as he reached down and took Dean's hand. "Come on Squirt."

"Hey," Sam said as he stepped into the doorway. "Lunch is ready."

"Just a quick bathroom break and then we'll be there," Caleb explained as Dean tugged on his hand. "Right, let's go."

Sam chuckled slightly as Dean 'dragged' Caleb towards the stairs. "Okay I'll save you some sandwiches."

SPNSPNSPN

Dean sat in the booster seat Sam had bought for him munching on the ham roll ups his father had place in front him with his carrots and broccoli.

"So, how's the shop?" Sam asked Caleb.

"Good, pretty much just routine stuff like oil changes, inspection stickers or rotating tires but a guy did come in earlier today who is looking for a price for a full engine rebuild on a 57' Bel Air Coupe that he's restoring."

"You shitting me," John said with a grin as he thought about the challenges of rebuilding the classic engine. It was the type of project he loved working on.

Caleb smirked at the older man, "thought that might interest you."

"Damn straight it does," he admitted as he took a bite out of his sandwich before looking over at his formerly eldest child and felt a tinge of sadness since he knew how much Dean would enjoy working on the engine with him.

Sam smiled as Dean as he picked up a 'tree' off his plate and began to eat it, "Hey Dean guess who I saw today…Ms. Jenny and she said all your friends miss you."

"You shitting me," Dean said as he happily munched on his broccoli to the three adults' chagrin.

Sam shot Caleb and his father a warning glance not to laugh because Dean was a born comedian and he would keep it up if he knew his father and Caleb would laugh if he said it again.

"Dean do not say that word. It's not a nice word." Sam reprimanded him.

"Why?" The toddler asked.

"Because it's a naughty word," Sam explained.

"Daddy you say naughty word?" Dean asked as he looked at his father.

Sam looked at his father who was trying to keep a straight face. As cute as it was to hear Dean cuss and really it was cute John knew he didn't need his three-year-old swearing in front of other people.

So, John put on his serious face and sat up a little taller as he said, "Dean Winchester…you know that's a naughty word for you to say and you know you're not allowed to say it."

"Why," he asked?

"Because you're a little boy. That's a grown-up word." John told him firmly.

Dean looked over at his father and announced, "I grow up!"

Caleb coughed to cover his chuckle as Sam quickly ducked his head so that Dean didn't see the amusement on his face.

John bit the inside of his cheek as he looked at the child across from him that was currently mimicking the way John was sitting back with his arms folded across his chest. John shot a look at the other two men and gave them a wink to follow his lead. "I didn't realize you were a grown up now."

Dean smiled at his father and said, "un-hun."

"Well, that changes everything huh Sam…Caleb."

"It sure does Dad," Sam agreed.

"Now that you're all grown up, we can get rid of those little boy toys," John said knowingly.

Dean's eyes opened wide at his father's announcement, "no toys?"

"Right and we have to tell Ms. Jenny that you won't be going back to school too," Caleb chimed in.

Dean pouted as he turned towards Caleb. His eyes began brimming with tears as Sam sadly shrugged his shoulders and added, "and you grew up right before Tommy's birthday party next week."

Dean turned to his father and whimpered, "Daddy I don't wanna to be grew up now."

John frowned slightly at his son, "you mean you're still a little boy and you're going to be a good little boy and not say that naughty word again?"

"Pwomise Daddy," Dean told him quickly.

John smiled at Dean and reached out to ruffle his hair affectionately, "that's my good boy. Now finish your lunch."

The rest of the meal went by peacefully and Caleb volunteered to help Sam clean up before the men headed back to work while John gave Dean his medicine before tucking the toddler in for a nap.

"Dean was a lot easier to get him to stop cussing than you were at that age," Caleb said with a chuckle as he finished drying the last plate.

"What?" Sam said a little surprised at his friend's remark.

"When you were three your dad and Jim spent many an afternoon trying to get you not to swear," Caleb explained.

"Would have been easier if you and Dean didn't encourage him. I dreaded every time you saw a truck or Kentucky Fried Chicken," John chimed in as he walked back into the kitchen.

Caleb burst out laughing," I forgot about that."

Sam looked at the other two men in confusion, "I don't get it?"

John shook his head, "you had a slight problem with certain words like truck and Kentucky because your Ts came out sounding like Fs. You used to say 'fruck' and 'Kenfucky'. Your brother and Caleb thought it was hysterical and would deliberately point to a truck and say, 'Sammy look' so you would shout out fruck."

"Oh man, it was so funny," Caleb laughed.

John chuckled at the memory, "it wasn't so funny when you boys went to services with Jim and during Jim's sermon you pointed out the window at a certain automobile and Sam shouted out clear as a bell, "Uncle Jim see the big fruck!"

Sam rolled his eyes, "God you two were so immature."

"Well yeah. Deans was six and I was twelve. Of course, we were immature." He said before delivering the final embarrassing story for the day. "We may have been immature but at least we weren't nudists in public."

John choked on his coffee as he realized what their friend was talking about. "Caleb," he warned with a smirk.

"What?" Sam asked as he turned to his father. "Dad, what is he talking about?"

"I'm talking about the time when you were three and spending the summer with us and we went to the church cookout and you decided you didn't want to wear any clothes and while we were playing hide and seek you went behind a tree to hide and decided to stripped yourself naked as the day you were born before running out when Jim announced hot dogs were ready." Caleb taunted.

Sam looked at his smirking friend and his clearly amused father before huffing, "you suck." The other two men laughed as Sam announced he was heading back to the library.

"You know he's gonna make you pay for that," John said with a chuckle.

Caleb grinned at his friend, "yeah, I know. So that guy I told you about was planning to come back around 2:00. How about I stay with Dean and you go talk to him."

John looked at Caleb before looking towards the living room where Dean was taking his nap. "You don't mind watching him?"

"Nah and guy has questions that I can't answer," Caleb told him.

John nodded his head, "okay, I shouldn't be too long."

A few minutes later John grabbed his jacket and the keys to the Impala and head out to the shop and Caleb grabbed a beer out of the fridge and made his way to the living room where his charge was napping in the loveseat with Artie sleeping at his feet.

Picking up the remote he flopped down in the recliner and started flipping channels, settling on a rerun of Streets of San Francisco.

Looking over to Dean he chuckled softly and said affectionately, "Dude you should have seen Sammy's face when I teased him about the time, he ran around naked at that church picnic…totally bitch face number six. Don't worry I'm covering for you in the big brother tormenting department until you can go back to tormenting him yourself."

Caleb sighed as he took a sip of his beer, he didn't mind watching Dean or helping take care of him until the spell was over but he missed hanging with his buddy.

TBC