A/N: As a treat, I am going to post another chapter for this story for your reading pleasure. NC

Chapter 15

After a lunch of gooey grilled cheese sandwiches and chicken and rice soup, Dean headed back to the living room and started setting out the decorations so he could start on trimming the tree.

"Bobby, can you help me string of lights on the tree?" Dean asked him, holding up the lights.

"Sure, you stay on that side, and we'll pass them around starting at the bottom and working upward," Bobby instructed.

"Alright," Dean nodded. He had only help decorate Christmas trees the few years he was with George and Beverly. A wave of sadness rushed over Dean for a moment when flashes of him doing the same thing with them filled his mind.

"You okay Dean?" Bobby asked when he saw the haunted look that filled his eyes for a moment.

Dean shook his head dispelling those thoughts and looked over at Bobby's concerned face.

"Yes, I'm fine," Dean replied passing the string of lights back around to him and waited for him to return them. They continued that until they ran out and attached another string wrapping them to the top of the tree. Bobby plugged in a breaker bar, positioned it behind the tree, and let Dean plug the lights in. They stood back and watched the lights come on outlining the tree.

"Now that's a right nice picture," Bobby commented as the lights got warm enough to start blinking on and off.

"I'll start putting the ornaments on now. I've got a surprise for you," Dean told Bobby as he pulled a small box from the bottom of a bookcase and opening it. He held it out for Bobby to see. Dean had found emblems from all kinds of vehicles that were light weight and put fishing line on them to hang as decorations for the tree.

"Well, ain't that inventive," Bobby told him taking one and holding it up. It turned slowly in the air reflecting the lights from the tree. "Go ahead, start hanging them."

Dean smiled happily and began to randomly hang his homemade ornaments on the tree. Once they were hung, Dean added different colored balls and then opened the tinsel to drape it over the limbs one piece at a time. Stepping back every now and then to cock his head and study it so he'd be sure he was putting it on evenly.

Bobby watched Dean as he worked on the tree, carefully placing each ornament in just the right spot. If one didn't seem in the right place, Dean would take it off and reposition it to a better spot. He had never seen anyone being so meticulous in decorating a tree. Dean's face was bathed by the lights of the tree, and he looked so happy and content.

"All we need is something for the top," Dean spoke as he stopped back from the tree.

"I think I can solve that," Bobby said. He stepped to the closet and looked up onto the top shelf, way in the back and pulled down a box, blowing the dust off it before taking it to Dean. "See if this will work."

Dean took the box and sat it on a chair so he could open it. When he parted the tissue paper, inside was an angel. It's wings and dress were yellowed with age and had a couple of tears along the hem. Dean carefully and reverently lifted it from the box and looked at it for a moment.

"It was my wife's. She bought it the last Christmas we were together," Bobby said softly as tears filled his eyes for a moment.

"It's perfect," Dean mumbled going to the tree and standing on his tiptoes to gently place it on the top. "Would you like to plug it in?"

Bobby moved to the tree, found the plug, and attached it to the end of the lights. After a moment, the angel glowed with a soft, white light.

"Now, that's a perfect looking tree there, Dean. You did good son."

"Thanks, Bobby," Dean smiled as Bobby lay a warm hand on his shoulder and squeezed it. "I say this calls for some eggnog. Why don't you go pour us a couple of cups and I'll go stir the fire and get it going good so we can sit by the fire and enjoy it?"

"Okay, sounds good." Dean headed for the kitchen to get the eggnog while Bobby went into the library to stoke the fire and get it blazing again before replacing the screen and sitting down in his desk chair. He looked up when Dean came in carrying two cups partly filled with eggnog. He handed one to Bobby and pulled a chair over by the fireplace near Bobby.

The warmth of the flames spread heat throughout the room, making Dean's cheeks reddened slightly. He wrapped his hands around the cup and sipped on the cold eggnog staring deeply into the flames. Something in the corner of Dean's mind flicked a memory that caused a small pain to echo in his head and then it was gone. He rubbed his eyes and winced slightly pushing whatever that was down into the corner of his mind and out of sight.

"You okay Dean? Maybe you should move back a little from the fire, so you don't get so hot."

"Okay," Dean agreed pushing his chair back so he could lean an arm onto the desk to prop on it. He watched Bobby sigh softly as he drank his eggnog.

"You'll need to check the water for the tree every morning to see if it needs any."

"I can do that. I won't forget."

The phone on the desk started ringing and Bobby pushed his chair back behind the desk and answered it.

"Singer Salvage," Bobby answered as he listened for a moment. "Okay, what's your location?...Okay, I'll be there in forty minutes." Bobby hung the phone up and pushed up front the chair. "That was a tow job. Will you be okay here alone?"

"Yes, I'll read or watch some television."

"I shouldn't be too long. You know the drill?"

"Don't answer the door for anyone and if something happens get into the panic room and lock the door," Dean recited.

"Alright then. I'll be back as soon as I can."

"Bye Bobby." Dean finished his eggnog and went back to look at the tree again. He wandered into the kitchen to rinse his cup and grab an apple from the fruit bowl. Dean a bit off a chunk of apple and chewed thoughtfully trying to decide what he wanted to do. He had a book in English to read and was partway through it. Dean headed upstairs to get it and went back down to settle on the couch and pick up where he left off.

The house was so quiet with Bobby gone and Dean would glance up when it would creak and settle as the wind hit the side of it. It wasn't long before Dean startled when something crashed at the side of the house. He went on high alert as he got up from the couch and tried to see outside.

The wind hit again, making the house shake for a moment causing Dean to look around him. He cautiously moved to the kitchen and slipped through the door to the basement. He raced down the steps and moved quickly into the panic room pulling hard on the heavy door. Once he got it shut, he looked around the dimly lit room for a moment before moving to sit on the cot. He pulled a blanket around him for warmth and hoped Bobby would be back soon. He didn't think the noises were anything but followed the rules to keep himself safe, like Bobby told him to do.

spn

Bobby let himself back into the house and shed his coat and hat, hanging them in the hall closet before heading into the living room. He stopped and listened to the quietness and glanced around for Dean but didn't see him. He went upstairs to see if he was in his bedroom and found it empty too. A sense of dread ran through him as he hurried back downstairs and checked his office and then the kitchen. With only one place left to check, Bobby went down the stairs to the basement and saw the panic room door was closed. He opened the small window and looked inside to see Dean curled up on the cot asleep.

After knocking on the door and calling out to Dean to get his attention, Bobby grabbed the handle to open it when he heard the lock on the inside being thrown. He pulled the door open to see Dean staring bleary eyed at him as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes.

"Hey son, was there a problem while I was gone?" Bobby questioned carefully.

"Thought I heard something outside," Dean replied. "I did what you taught me, come down here and lock myself in."

"That's right, you followed orders like you were supposed to. And what you heard was the wind blowing over the trash cans outside."

"Need to use the bathroom," Dean insisted running from the room and hurrying up the steps.

Bobby chuckled to himself and followed slowly behind the boy to the kitchen. He poured a cup of coffee and put it in the microwave to heat. He waited for Dean to come back downstairs and join him in the kitchen.

"Are you okay now?" Bobby asked looking Dean over from head to toe.

"Yeah, it was just the wind, right?"

"Probably, there's a storm heading this way that'll hit tonight. As cold as it is, we're looking at snow."

"Cool, can't wait to see it."

"Let's hope those idjits stay at home and don't get stuck out there in it and I have to go pull them out."

"I doubt you'll be that lucky. Those idjits will be hitting the road for the holiday this weekend," Dean smirked trying to sound like Bobby.

"Funny, ha, ha," Bobby scowled at him for a moment. He turned to hide his smile from Dean and his antics, then turned around and grinned and winked at him.

"Since you fixed lunch, I'll do dinner for us," Dean decided rubbing his hands together as he turned to fridge to see what was in it. He looked into the freezer for a moment and decided to do chicken tenders with mac and cheese, rolls, and fried apples.

"I'll let you do your thing then; I've got some research to do," Bobby told him leaving Dean in the kitchen and heading for his office. He knew Dean could handle the meal and liked when he took the initiative to do things without being asked.

spn

It snowed off and on the entire week leading up to Christmas making the salvage yard look like a winter wonderland. Dean waited until the snow was deep enough and went out to make several snowmen as big as he could. He couldn't stay out long because of the dipping temperatures and Bobby didn't want him sick for Christmas.

Christmas morning rolled around, and it was snowing lightly again, making it picture perfect. Dean was up early and ran downstairs to find gifts, beside what he snuck under the tree, sitting under the branches of the tree. Bobby was up and was drinking coffee and reading the paper that was surprisingly delivered by snowmobile.

"Merry Christmas son," he greeted Dean.

"Merry Christmas Bobby," Dean replied happily.

"How 'bout a quick breakfast before we open presents? We wanna have room for Maggie's lunch."

"Okay, how about a fried egg sandwich?"

"You know that does sound good, you wanna toast the bread and I'll get the eggs cooking?"

"Alright, can I have hot chocolate to drink?" Dean asked.

"I don't see why not, with marshmallows?" Bobby questioned.

"Yep, it's the only way to have hot chocolate," Dean said.

"You got it. I'll heat the water for you."

The sandwiches were ready in no time, and they sat at the table to eat. Bobby had turned on the radio and Christmas music was playing softly in the background. They talked quietly and when they were done, went into the living room. Bobby took a seat in his recliner and Dean dropped down in front of the tree to start pulling gifts out. He took some to Bobby and was surprised with the ones that had his name on them.

"Go ahead Bobby, open your gifts," Dean excitedly said. "I hope you like them."

"Alright," Bobby replied. He started opening his gifts from Dean. "Now these I can use right now," Bobby smiled pulling out a pair of fur lined gloves. He also got a leather belt, watch cap, and wallet. "These are all great Dean. I can use them. Now see what you got." He sat his gifts aside and leaned forward to watch Dean open his gifts.

Dean started opening his gifts to find wrench sets and screw drivers, American and metric, an assortment of clothes, since Bobby found a good sale at a thrift store, bedroom slippers, a couple of mystery books by his favorite author, puzzle books, model car kit, and a new winter coat, since his old one was getting too small.

"This is great Bobby! I love it all," Dean told Bobby, getting up to give him a brief hug that Bobby relished.

"I thought you could add the tools to what you already have."

"Yeah, those will come in handy. I love the books and model car, it'll give me something to do while I'm out."

"Well, I guess we should get ready so we can leave to get to Joe and Maggie's. It's still snowing, and we'll need to take the tow truck so we can get through."

"Okay, I'll go shower and change," Dean told him stacking his gifts by the tree for now. He headed back upstairs to get ready so they could leave in plenty of time to make it to Joe and Maggie's and have a little time to visit before lunch. Dean planned on helping Maggie again with the meal where he could.

spn

Dean was holding the fruit basket and card with the gift card in it in his lap as Bobby made his way cautiously down the icy roads toward town. The snowplows had been out the day before and plowed the roads, but snow was slowly building back up on them. It took twice as long for them to get to Joe's, but Bobby finally pulled into their driveway and parked. Dean got out carefully and slipped toward the porch, trying to keep his balance, while Bobby followed slowly behind him, staying more in the snow, covered grass than walkway.

"Merry Christmas!" Joe greeted them cheerfully. "Get on in here out of the cold."

"Merry Christmas to you," Dean replied wiping his feet before stepping inside.

"Bobby, Dean, I'm so glad you made it. I was concerned with the weather we've been having," Maggie said.

"Merry Christmas Maggie. This is for you and Joe, from Bobby and me," Dean told her holding out the basket and card.

"Why Dean, thank you so much," she gushed taking the gifts. "Honey, why don't you open the card and I'll put the fruit basket in the kitchen."

"Sure thing Mags." Joe accepted the card and opened it to read it and pull out the gift card. "Bobby, this is nice and so thoughtful of you guys. Look Mags, they gave us a gift card for your favorite restaurant."

"Bobby, I love you! And you, young man," Maggie thanked them as she pulled Dean into a warm hug. "Are you going to help me in the kitchen?"

"Yes ma'am, I am," Dean beamed as he walked with Maggie to the kitchen.

"Come on Bobby, I've got the parade on we can watch until lunch is ready,"

"Sounds good to me," Bobby agreed following Joe into the family room taking a seat on the couch.

Maggie tied an apron around Dean's waist making him giggle and then had him wash the fresh green beans and string them. She was going to steam them for lunch. The kitchen was filled with the smells of food cooking, making Dean's mouth water in anticipation of the meal.

"How was Christmas morning Dean? Did you get some nice things?"

"Yes, tools, clothes, books and a model car kit."

"It sounds like you made out rather good. After we eat, I'm sure there's some gifts for you and Bobby to open under the tree."

"You really didn't have to do that."

"We wanted to Dean. You and Bobby have become like part of our family, I hope you know that."

"Yes ma'am, we do."

"After you finish with the beans there, why don't you set the table for me. Everything is on the table in the dining room."

"Alright." Dean finished the beans and put them on to steam before stepping into the dining room to set the table. He made sure everything was positioned perfectly before joining Maggie to help her carry bowls of food to the table.

It wasn't long before everything was ready, and they took their seats at the table. They bowed their heads as Joe said grace. He started passing the food around the table and they filled their plates. They carried on light conversation, praising Maggie for the delicious food and Bobby thanked them for inviting Dean and him for the meal. Everyone ate too much but couldn't help themselves. Dean helped Maggie clean up and load the dishwasher, while she fixed food for them to take home with them. Once the kitchen was clean, they joined Joe and Bobby in the family room where they had a football game on watching it.

Maggie handed out the gifts to Bobby and Dean. She had made them both warm, soft scarfs to wear during the wintry weather. Bobby got a gift card for his favorite place to eat in town, along with a large can of mixed nuts. Dean got a tin of popcorn, sweatshirt with his school mascot on it, another model car kit, and a small set of sockets to add to the tools he was collecting. Dean and Bobby left before the game was over since the weather started getting worse. They thanked Joe and Maggie for their gifts and food and set out of home while it was still light and before the roads became impassible.

"So, did you have a good Christmas?" Bobby asked Dean on the ride back.

"I did and I loved everything I got, thank you."

"My pleasure. Balls! I don't think we'll be going anywhere for a few days the way this is coming down."

"I think we've got plenty of food to get by; Maggie made sure of that."

"That she did. I don't know 'bout you, but I may just take a nap when we get home. Too much tasty food has got me sleepy."

"Yeah, that does sound good." Dean tried to stifle a yawn as he watched out the window at the falling snow and sleet. He could feel the tow truck slip once and a while and was relieved when the salvage yard came into view. They made it home in one piece and could enjoy the rest of the day doing nothing.

A/N: Dean has a nice holiday with Bobby and friends. He's starting to fit in and feel like it is home. Hope you enjoy these glimpses of Dean's life. Thanks for coming along for the ride. I do like reviews/comments. NC