Thank you Shazza19 and C1B12 for your feedback! Sorry I'm late with this part. I hope people like it. Some more father son bonding going on here. Enjoy!

Chapter 9

Sammy and Jo came running down the stairs together and stood in the doorway to the living room. John looked up at the children and his eyes widen slightly when he saw that Sammy was holding Jo's hand. He was used to seeing Dean holding Jo's hand, but this was something new.

"Daddy, Dean's still asleep." Sammy announced.

"Well he didn't fall asleep until late last night." He told him. "You're Uncle Bobby is making eggs and bacon for breakfast. Sammy why don't you go in and see if Uncle Bobby needs help while I take Jo upstairs to clean her cuts."

Sammy looked at Jo who squeezed his hand. "Daddy can I stay with you and Jo?"

John's eyes widen slightly, was Jo afraid to be alone with him? He shook his head. "Nope Buddy, go see your Uncle Bobby."

Jo chewed on her lower lip as Sammy reluctantly released her hand. "Yes Daddy." He said as he started towards the kitchen.

John smiled at the little girl, "Hey Baby Girl, let's go upstairs and clean those cuts."

Jo turned and quickly ran up the stairs. When he got to the top of the stairs, he was surprised to see Jo turn down the hall towards her room instead of the bathroom. When he got to the room he smiled as the little girl stood next to his sleeping son and ran her fingers through Dean's hair.

"Hey, let Dean sleep." He said softly as he crossed over to the bed. He squatted down so that he could be eye level with the girl. "Jo, you know I would never hurt you."

"I know Uncle John." She murmured as she looked down at Dean again. "He saved me and Sammy," she whispered.

"Yes, he did," John agreed proudly.

The little girl looked up at the hunter. "Uncle John?"

"Yes Baby?"

"Please don't leave anymore."

John reached out to stroke Jo's hair as he realized what she was asking. "Sweetheart, you know I have to work."

"But why can't you, Dean and Sammy live here all the time?" She asked as she wrapped her arms around his neck and he gently stood up as she wrapped her legs around his middle.

"Jo, let me clean those cuts," he said as he carried her out of the room and down to the bathroom, hoping to distract her from her question.

John settled Jo on the counter before he reached down and picked up the cotton balls and Betadine to clean the cuts on her neck. He swallowed the curse he wanted to say about that prick Roy because he didn't want to frighten the little girl. Instead he gave her a smile as he dabbed at the cuts.

"They look good," he told her as he finished and tapped her nose affectionately and earned a smile from the little girl.

He lifted her up and as he was putting her on the floor, he heard his Dean call out a weak, 'Daddy'.

"Okay Baby Girl, you need to go downstairs and see your Uncle Bobby." He told her as he turned her towards the door and tapped her behind to usher her along.

"Can I see Dean?"

"No Jo, I need you to go downstairs to your Uncle Bobby like a good girl." He grabbed a glass and filled it with water as he heard his son call out a little louder, 'Daddy'.

"Okay," Jo said as she left the room and he smiled as he heard her little footsteps on the stairs before he went into the other room. He stopped suddenly and went back to grab a bucket and put a little water in it.

"Hey buddy, how you are feeling?" The hunter asked his oldest boy as he put the bucket next to the bed.

Dean whimpered as he tried to open his eyes before saying miserably, "Daddy, the bed possessed. It won't stop spinning."

John chuckled as he sat next to his son and rubbed the boys back. "Come on buddy, let's sit you up."

He gently helped Dean roll over and sit up. He swore softly to himself when he saw Dean's eyes open quickly as his hands flew up to his mouth. He didn't even need to ask, he reached down and barely had time to get the bucket in front of his son before he began throwing up. Well this was not a bonding experience he expected to have with his twelve-year-old son.

Finally, when he seemed to be done, he handed him the glass of water to rinse his mouth. "Hey Kiddo, why don't we go into the bathroom so you can brush your teeth and take a shower. That should help you feel better."

Dean let his father help him out of bed and walked him towards the bathroom. He stood and shuffled slightly. "Dean, hit the head while I get the shower going." John told the child when he saw he obviously needed to pee.

Dean blushed but went and did his business. His father stood there when he finished and flushed. "Okay, do you need help with the shower? Don't lie to me Dean, if you feel lightheaded and don't think you can stand up to take a shower alone you tell me. Nothing to be embarrassed about. We don't need you cracking your head open in the shower."

Dean chewed on his lower lip and nodded his head slightly. "Can you just sit here? I don't want you to wash me again." He said blushing beat red as he remembered his father giving him a bath last night and that his Dad had even washed his privates.

"That's fine. I'll sit here but if you think your legs are gonna give out, you tell me. Understand?" He said as he closed the toilet lid and sat down.

"Yes Sir." Dean said as he turned his back on his father and quickly stripped off his clothes and got into the shower. He had to admit, his Dad was right. He was beginning to feel better as he stood under the hot water. Once he finished scrubbing and rinsing himself off, he turned off the water and grabbed a towel to wrap around his waist before stepping out of the shower.

"How do you feel Dean?" His father asked as he handed him a small towel to use to dry his hair.

"Better but my head really hurts." He admitted.

"We'll get some food into you and then you can have some Tylenol." John said as he picked up Dean's clothes and put them in a basket before grabbing the rest of the dirty laundry. "Go get dressed and I'll see you downstairs."

"Okay Dad...and thank you." He said, blushing at how he seemed to be needing his father so much these past few days. "I'm sorry I'm being such a big baby," he mumbled embarrassingly.

John looked at his son and sighed when he saw the tears trailing down his cheeks. He reached down and took his son's hand in his and walked over and sat down with Dean standing in front of him. "Dean, I don't want to hear you say anything like that again. I'm proud at how you been handling everything. I know I tend to put a lot of responsibilities on your shoulders but what you did last night...oh Baby you never should have had to do that."

Dean looked up at his father. "But Dad," Dean said as he weighed his father's words. "How can you think that. You even been calling me Baby like you use to call Sammy when he was real little and last night...when I...when I pissed in my pants like a baby you gave me a bath and washed me."

John cupped his son's cheek. "Dean I'm going to tell you something I never told you about. When I went to Vietnam, the first time I was in actual combat...the first time I killed another man...I threw up and I was a Hell of a lot older than you Dean."

Dean stared at his father in shock. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. His father was larger than life. "Were you scared?"

"Scared to death." John told him. "And I still get scared, the first time I hunted a monster I was terrified and every time I go on a hunt I'm scared."

"Really?" Dean said.

John nodded his head. "Of course."

"Of the monsters?"

"The monsters...that I won't beat them and leave you and your brother alone." John explained.

"You worry about us?" Dean asked in awe.

John's heart broke at his son's shocked voice. "Oh Dean, the fact that you're surprised by this makes me think I've failed you as a father."

Dean looked at his father and quickly wrapped his arms around his neck and rested his head on his shoulder. "No Dad, that's not true." He whispered as he lifted his head and kissed his father's cheek.

John wrapped his arms around Dean and returned his son's hug. He felt Dean shiver slightly. "Okay Kiddo, you're freezing. Go get dressed and then come downstairs." He told him as he gave him a final squeeze.

John watched as Dean let go and hurried out of the room. Slapping his hands on his knees he stood up and grabbed the laundry before heading downstairs. When he went into the kitchen, he saw Sammy talking with Bobby while Jo pushed the food around on her plate.

He went over and sat next to the little girl. "Hey Sweetheart, come on and eat your breakfast."

"Yes, Uncle John," Jo murmured as she picked up a piece of bacon and began to nibble on it.

"Good girl," he said as he looked over her head towards the older hunter who gave him a wink. John got up and went over to the counter with the toaster on it, slipping two pieces of bread in it before grabbing a mug to make Dean some tea.

He was just finishing putting the sugar into the tea and the dry toast on a plate when he heard Dean coming down the stairs. He turned to see his son standing in the doorway and swallowed the lump in his throat when he saw the way Dean stood in the doorway. A look of horror on his face.

"Dean," Jo called out as hopped down and ran over to his son. She stopped in front of him and saw the way he stared at the spot where Roy died, shacking slightly. The young girl reached down and took his hand. "We're here," she whispered.

Dean slowly dragged his gaze from the spot to Jo's face. He nodded his head slightly as he let her guide him into the kitchen to sit at the table. John watched as Sammy went over and sat on the chair with his brother; the way Dean scooted just enough to accommodate his brother.

John sighed in relief. It amazed him the bond between the three children. Picking up the toast and tea he brought them over, placing them in front of Dean. "This will help settle your stomach." Dean nodded his head as he picked up a piece of toast and began munching on it.

"Daddy, what are we doing today?" Sammy asked as he ate the bacon snuck him.

"Sammy stop eating Jo's breakfast," John said as he and Bobby sat down with their coffee.

"Yes Sir," Sammy said as he reached down to hold onto Dean's shirt.

"Jo, you need to eat Sweetheart." Bobby told his niece.

"Yes Sir," she murmured as she scooped up some eggs on her fork.

Dean finished his toast and took a couple of sips of his tea. John grabbed the bottle of children Tylenol he left on the table and took two out and pass them with a glass of water to his son. "Here you go Kiddo."

"Thanks Dad," Dean said as he took the pills.

"Daddy," Sammy said as he looked up at his father. "Can we go to the zoo?"

Dean and Jo eyes widen at Sammy's request before turning eager faces towards the two harden hunters.

"The zoo," John repeated as he looked at each child hopeful face and sighed. "If your brother feels up to…"

"I'm feeling a ton better Dad!" Dean said quickly.

"Of course, he does," Bobby grumbled under his breath as he realized they were about to take three children to the zoo.

John saw the way Dean was looking at him and he found himself reaching out to ruffle his son's hair. "Jo needs to finish her breakfast while you take your brother upstairs to brush his teeth, wash up and get dressed."

"Yes Sir!" Dean said excitedly before turning towards the little girl next to him. "Come on Jo eat up. Sammy will be done by the time you finish and then you can get ready."

"Okay," she said as she picked up her fork and began eating the end of her breakfast as the boys jumped out of the chair they were sharing and ran upstairs. "Uncle Bobby can I have some milk please?"

"Sure Sweetheart," Bobby said as picked the milk bottle up and pour some into her cup. He watched as Jo began to eat with gusto much to the hunter's chagrin. "Funny how you have an appetite now that we're going to the zoo," he teased his niece.

Jo looked up and grinned at her uncle. "Can I wear my new dress that Mrs. O'Brien gave me today?"

"I don't see why not." Bobby said as she took a sip of her milk.

John winced when he heard a door slam upstairs and Dean shout down. "Hurry up Jo, Sammy's almost dressed!"

"Did I eat enough?" Jo asked hopefully.

Bobby looked at the plate and nodded his head. "Finish your milk and then you can go up to get ready."

"Just gotta finish my milk Dean!" Jo shouted back. A few moments later Jo put her empty cup down and jumped out of her seat and rushed out of the room.

"Zoo…we're taking those three to the zoo." Bobby stated as he narrowed his eyes at the other man.

"Hell Bobby, after everything they went through last night, how could I say no."

"Humph," he huffed before he stood up. "I'm gonna go feed Rumford, you can clean up the breakfast dishes and then we get to take three kids to the damn zoo."

John watched Bobby as he walked out the back door and chuckled. He knew the older man would have cave if Jo had been the one to ask. He was a sucker for that little girl as much as he was for his boys.

TBC