Chapter 7

The next two days pasted by faster than Sam wanted them to. It was exhausted work keeping up with a five-year-old, but he was enjoying every minute of it. This was a side of Dean that he never got to see or that Dean got to experience when he was a kid.

They fell into a routine of breakfast, feeding Rufus, letting Dean play with him, teaching Dean to throw a Frisbee, reading the classics, going for short hikes, and showing Dean how to cook. Sam monitored the phones and did research if a hunter called in needing something. Dean would bring his cars and coloring book and crayons into the office and play in front of the desk while Sam worked. He was able to entertain himself for a while before getting bored and that's when he would get into trouble.

One time Sam missed Dean and looked around trying to find him, but he wasn't in the house. The next place he looked was outside, thinking Dean wanted to play with Rufus. He called for him but didn't get an answer from Dean or Rufus. Sam walked by the crushed vehicles hoping Dean wasn't curious enough to venture in there. There were all sorts of accidents waiting to happen in there.

Sam stopped near the outer buildings and listened intently for any sounds that would lead him to Dean. A soft giggle sounded nearby, and Sam tried to pinpoint where it came from. He cocked his head and took a few steps toward Rufus' doghouse. When he squatted and moved the heavy strips of plastic out of the way to see inside, he found Dean in the back of the doghouse cuddling with Rufus. He was half laying on him and scratching his tummy.

Sam chastised Dean for leaving the house and not telling him. He told Dean he was scared that he might have gotten hurt. Dean took it all in stride and apologized, giving Sam a perfect puppy dog look that melted his heart. Sam was finding he couldn't stay mad at Dean for long. He got him out of the doghouse, and they headed back to the house. He gave Dean a snack after having him wash his hands really good. While Dean was eating Sam went to make a phone call.

Sam listened to the phone ring and waited for it to be answered.

"Hello," a familiar female voice greeted him.

"Hey Jody, Sam Winchester," Sam replied.

"Winchester! Haven't heard from you in a while. How are you doing?" Jody asked in a pleasant, friendly voice.

"I'm fine Jody, and yeah we've been busy. Jody is there any chance you can come stay at Bobby's for a couple of days and watch someone?" Sam asked trying not to be too cryptic.

"Ummm…Sure, I can get someone to cover for one day and I'm off the next two days. What's this about Sam?"

"I don't want to go into it over the phone and honestly it's best if you see for yourself. Think you can come by after work today? Bobby's finishing a hunt but will be back after lunch. We want to head out early in the morning. We found out Dad had a storage unit about five hours from here and we need to go clean it out."

"That sounds like a job, Sam," Jody started. "Why haven't you mentioned your brother? Did something happen to Dean?"

"In a way. Please, Jody, just come over and I'll explain everything to you."

"Of course, Sam. I'll do what I can to help you. You're family after all."

"Thanks Jody," Sam sighed in relief. "I'll see you later today then. Bobby should be back by then too. You know, why don't you come for dinner?"

"Alright Sam. I'll see you later this afternoon after I get off work. Bye."

Sam hung up and sat back in the desk chair thinking he was one step closer to finding out what happened to Dean and hopefully getting him back to the right age. He got up to check on Dean feeling like some of his stress and worry was being removed from his shoulders.

spn

"Bobby will be back this afternoon," Sam commented as they finished their lunch.

Dean looked up from his food with the statement and eyed Sam curiously for a moment like he was waiting for him to continue. It was like he knew there was more Sam wasn't saying.

"Bobby and I have to run an errand when he gets back and will probably leave tomorrow morning."

"Am I going?"

"No, but a nice lady named Jody is going to come and stay with you while we're gone. We should only be gone for a couple of days, and I'll call you before you go to bed to be sure you're okay."

"I want to go," Dean whined as he pouted.

"I know you do buddy," Sam replied in a soft voice. "We're going to be working the whole time and it's something I don't want you around. You'd just get bored having to sit in a truck by yourself. I bet you won't even miss me."

"Will too!" Dean insisted with a huff.

"You don't know how much that means to me," Sam said as he hugged Dean. "Jody is going to come by this afternoon so you can meet her. I think you'll like her. She loves kids and is going to fall in love with you."

"You are coming back?" Dean asked in a serious tone looking at Sam with such serious eyes.

"Of course, I am Dean. I would never leave you. I told you I would take care of you and that is what I plan on doing. Like I said, I'll call you before you go to bed and when we get ready to head back. Is that okay?"

"I guess," Dean mumbled tearing his napkin into strips as he focused on it and not Sam. He was just getting used to him and Uncle Bobby and now there was going to be another stranger that's going to keep him. He wasn't happy about it, but there wasn't much he could do about it.

"I'm back," Bobby called as he came through the front door and sat his pack by the hallway to his bedroom.

"We're in the kitchen," Sam replied looking up to the older hunter as he strolled into the room. "Did you have any problems?"

"Naw, wernt too bad," Bobby replied glancing at Dean to let Sam know not to say anything else in front of Dean.

"I talked to Jody and she's coming by this afternoon after work to meet Dean. I told him we'd be leaving in the morning to run an errand. I've contacted a rental place to get the truck first thing in the morning."

"Sounds good, the sooner we get this done the better." Bobby went to the coffee pot and poured a cup to put in the microwave to heat. He took it to the table and sat down beside Dean.

"Do you want something to eat?" Sam asked.

"No, I got something before I got here."

"I fed Rufus," Dean chimed in making Bobby and Sam look at him.

"Good job son, did he behave himself?"

"Yeah, I played with him, and he chased the ball I threw."

"Guess he likes you then, that old dog won't do that for just anyone."

"I know," Sam snorted with a laugh remembering when he tried to get Rufus to fetch.

"I'm going to go take a nap before Jody gets here," Bobby sighed getting up to head for his bedroom.

"Okay Bobby," Sam told him. "I'll get the kitchen cleaned and see what Dean wants to do."

"Can we read some more?" Dean asked hopefully.

"Sure, I'm anxious to see how that book ends." Sam got up and gathered their dirty dishes to wash and let Dean wipe the table and counter. It didn't take them long to finish and they headed into the living room to sit on the couch. Sam found his place in the book he was reading and smiled as Dean cuddled into his side so he could listen and see the pictures. Sam began to read in a clear, calm voice, drawing Dean into the story once again.

spn

Sam checked the food in the oven to see it was almost ready. He heard a knocking at the front door and went into the living room as Bobby went to the door. He stood by the couch with Dean hidden behind him.

"Jody, good to see you, come on in," Bobby greeted her and led her to the living room.

"Hello Bobby," Jody replied following him. She looked to Sam for a moment, before smiling and approaching him. "Sam, it's good to see you," she greeted him giving him a brief hug that he returned. She hadn't noticed the boy standing behind him yet.

"Hey Jody, thanks for coming," Sam spoke warmly to her.

"Alright now, wanna tell me what's going on and where's your brother?"

Sam looked at her for a moment before reaching behind him and pulling Dean around where he could be seen. Dean clung to his side and buried his face into Sam's shirt.

"Dean, this is Jody, she's a close friend," Sam introduced them.

"Dean?" Jody asked in utter shock as she stared at the child that finally looked at her with familiar green eyes. She gasped when she realized it was true, the young boy was Dean.

"Can you say hello?" Sam encouraged.

"Hello," Dean mumbled looking sideways at Jody.

"Hi there, young man," Jody cooed squatting down in front of Dean. "My, aren't you a handsome one. I bet you're going to turn all the girl's heads when you get older."

"I need to go check on dinner," Sam noted. "Dean, why don't you sit down and get to know Jody while I get it on the table?"

Dean looked up with unsure eyes at Sam not sure what to do. He didn't want Sam to leave him alone.

"I'll stay in here with you boy, go ahead and sit down," Bobby told Dean as he sat in his recliner.

"It's okay," Sam assured Dean steering him to the couch to sit down.

"Is it okay if I sit beside you?" Jody asked Dean.

"Okay," Dean whispered watching Jody sit down near him but not too close.

"Are you having fun here at Bobby's?" Jody asked Dean trying to make him feel at ease.

"Yeah," Dean mumbled. "I get to play with Rufus."

"Wow, that sounds like fun. So, it looks like we're going to be keeping each other company for a couple of days. Is that okay with you?"

"I guess, maybe."

"What if I bring the ingredients and we make up a batch of cookies?"

"I like pie."

"Oh," Jody said smiling in amusement before looking at Bobby. Yep, this was Dean alright. "Then how about I bring the makings for an apple pie, and you help me make it?"

"Really?" Dean perked up.

"Why sure. It wouldn't be fun making it alone."

"Can we have ice cream too?"

"Of course," Jody laughed softly. "Can't have apple pie without a big scoop of vanilla ice cream on top."

"Okay," Dean nodded looking shyly up at Jody and giving her a small smile. "You can help me take care of Rufus too."

"I can. And what else can we do?" Jody glanced up at Bobby nodding slightly that she was making progress with Dean.

"Well, Sam has been reading to me…"

"I love to read. We can do that too and maybe I'll bring a few items to entertain us until Sam and Bobby get back."

"I gotta say, it sounds like you're going to have a fun time Dean," Bobby commented. "It'll probably be a good idea to stay here while we're gone Jody. We don't want the wrong people seeing Dean."

"Food is on the table," Sam announced from the doorway interrupting their conversation. "Come on and everyone get a seat. What do you want to drink?"

"Anything is fine with me," Jody told him standing and holding a hand out for Dean. She smiled at Sam when he took it and allowed her to lead him to the table and help him into the chair with the pillow.

"Same for me Sam," Bobby told him.

"Tea all around then, and I'll start a pot of coffee." Sam went to the fridge to get ice and the tea. He fixed the glasses and took them to the table and then poured Dean a glass of milk, adding a straw. "Alright," Sam told them once they were all seated. "Let's eat while it's still hot. I'll help you Dean."

"I want Jody to," Dean told Sam looking at Jody and batting his eyes at her.

"Sure, Jody, can you help Dean?" Sam coughed out trying not to laugh at Dean's flirting.

"Of course, I'll help you," Jody agreed. She served herself and fixed Dean's plate, cutting up his baked chicken for him. She was pleased that Dean had accepted her and didn't think there would be a problem when Sam and Bobby left.

"There's plenty of food in the fridge to fix while we're gone, so help yourself," Bobby told Jody.

"Don't worry, I think we'll manage just fine. Isn't that right Dean?"

"Y'h," Dean tried to say around his mouth of chicken.

"Dean, manners," Sam corrected him. "Chew and swallow before talking."

"Sorry," Dean replied after swallowing and wiping his mouth. He spooned some mac and cheese up and ate it before trying something else.

"If there's any problems while we're gone, you've got my number," Sam explained to Jody. "I'll keep my cell on me."

"You worry too much Sam; Dean and I will be just fine. We'll take care of each other."

"We're going to make a pie," Dean chirped happily.

"Really? Are you going to save me a piece?"

"Maybe," Dean smirked give Sam a mischief look.

They all laughed at Dean's antics as they finished their meal. Bobby and Jody cleaned up since Sam cooked and he filled her in on what they thought happened to Dean. While they were doing that, Sam helped Dean take a shower and put on his pajamas. He was going to let him stay up for a while longer and watch television before putting him to bed. Jody excused herself to head home and told them she'd be back early in the morning so they could leave.

A/N: Another familiar face joins the story and I hope you enjoy her part in this. Sam and Bobby are heading to the storage unit to empty it and find what Dean came in contact with. Thank you to any guest who left reviews. Thanks for coming along for the ride. Reviews/Comments make my day. NC