A/N: It's almost Friday and as a special treat I am posting a chapter early for your reading pleasure. Enjoy... NC

Chapter 14

The next few days passed by slowly as Bobby and Sam waited for Missouri to contact them on news about how to change Dean back. Sam wasn't taking any hunts with Dean being this way. He knew he was responsible for Dean right now and couldn't let anything happen to him. Their roles were reversed; it was now his job to keep Dean safe and protected instead of Dean looking out for him like he had done all his life.

It was one afternoon after lunch that Sam decided to wash the Impala and clean her up, so she'd be all nice and shiny for Dean. He got out a bucket, rags, tire brush, soap, sponge, and drying towels. After moving the Impala down beside the garage into a grassy area, he hooked the garden hose up to a spigot at the garage and filled the bucket, adding soap to make suds. He sprayed the tires and rims with cleaning solution and allowed it to set before scrubbing them with a brush. He rinsed the tires before getting ready to do the rest of the car.

"Alright Dean, stand back a little so you don't get sprayed with the water," Sam cautioned him as he started wetting the car so he could wash it.

"Okay," Dean called back from the other side of the car. "Can't wet me!" Dean screamed as he ran around the car while Sam started hosing it down.

"Oh yeah," Sam said. He watched Dean and caught him as he rounded the car and lightly sprayed him with the chilly water making him squeal and scream. Sam laughed at him before laying the hose down and pulling the soapy sponge from the bucket. He plopped it on top of the car and started washing it in long, strong strokes. He dunked the sponge into the soapy water again before tackling the windshield and then moving to the back window. Without warning, Sam was suddenly sprayed in the face with the icy water.

"Hey!" Sam cried out, backing away as Dean screeched with delight that he snuck up on Sam and sprayed him. "Stop it Dean!" Sam ordered trying to dodge the water stream and get to Dean.

"I got you!" Dean yelled running backwards with the hose that he continued to spray wildly. He tripped and fell on his bottom, losing his grip on the hose, thus stopping the water spray.

"Now, what am I going to do with you?" Sam asked dropping down beside Dean and tickling him as he tried to squirm away from him.

"No! Stop! Stop!" Dean screamed at the top of his lungs laughing and gasping for breaths.

"Say uncle," Sam told him holding him down and letting his fingers play up and down Dean's ribs.

"Uncle, uncle," Dean laughed trying to get his breath. He lay on the ground panting hard.

"Okay, we need to finish washing the Impala," Sam told Dean helping him to his feet. "Grab the other sponge and start on the doors, but make sure you get it clean."

"Okay Sam," Dean huffed plunging his hand into the sudsy water fishing for the sponge. He went to the side of the car and began to wash the fender, using both hands to hold the sponge as he ran it back and forth over the black metal. Dean began to hum to himself as he helped wash the Impala.

Sam looked over at Dean listening to the humming and recognized the song. It was what Dean used to sing to him when he was young. It was an old Beatles tune their Mom used to sing to Dean and him when they were babies.

"Dean, be sure and soak the sponge between sections to clean it and get it soapy again," Sam told him as he washed the hood. He double checked behind Dean getting the spots he missed before taking up the hose to rinse it off. He walked around the car rinsing from top to bottom being sure all the soap was off the car. Sam inspected the car to be sure they didn't miss any places before grabbing a towel to start drying. He opened the door to do the doorframes and wipe the inside leather seats and dash to get the dust and grim from them.

"Rufus!" Dean called as the dog lumbered toward them. "You want a bath too?" Dean asked picking up the hose to spray water at him.

"Wait Dean, we'll wash Rufus at the house. He needs brushing good first," Sam told him to stop him from spraying the dog.

"Okay," Dean replied disappointed he couldn't wet Rufus.

"I'll be done in a bit, and we'll move the car back to the house. First, I need to put all this away."

"Where's Uncle Bobby?" Dean questioned.

"Don't you remember? He had to do a parts run and will be back by dinner?"

"Yeah, okay, can we get something to drink?"

"Drink? You want something to drink?" Sam teased giving the hose a short squirt in the air and raining the water down on Dean. He gave another spray as Dean ran around, waving his arms in the air as he held his head back to get it wet. "Okay," Sam laughed. "Enough playing around, let's finish up and yes, we'll get something to drink."

Sam dumped the soapy water and rinsed the sponges and bucket out before replacing them in the garage. He turned the water off and rolled the hose up on the holder attached to the garage side. Sam looked around to be sure he didn't miss anything before closing the garage door.

"Dean, head for the house, you're too wet to get in the Impala," Sam told him, motioning toward the house. "And take Rufus with you."

Come on Rufus," Dean called to the dog as he jogged toward the house with the dog lumbering along behind at his own pace ignoring Dean's urging to move faster.

When Sam was sure he was out of the way, he got into the Impala and drove it up to the house and parked it at the front door. Dean was in the swing on the porch waiting for him. He jumped up and followed Sam inside and to the kitchen.

"How 'bout we split a Gatorade and a pack of crackers?" Sam suggested going to the fridge for the drink and cabinet for the crackers. He grabbed a cup for Dean and headed for the back porch to share a snack.

"Okay," Dean agreed.

"Here you go, have a seat," Sam told Dean as he sank onto the swing on the back porch. He let Dean scramble up beside him before giving him a cup of Gatorade and half the crackers. Sam ate slowly as Dean crammed a whole cracker into his mouth at one time and started munching away, crumbs spraying from his mouth. Sam moved the swing with one foot as Dean settled back in the corner to relax.

"Dean, where did you learn that song you were humming when we were washing the car?" Sam inquired, curious to learn the answer.

"I don't know, just came to me," Dean shrugged staring out into the backyard. "It was playing in my head."

"I liked it," Sam told him. "It's a Beatles song."

"Who's the Beatles?"

"They're a band from England. They were a big hit when they came over here."

"Oh," said Dean with little interest. "Can we give Rufus a bath now?"

"Let me finish my drink and we will." Sam relaxed and watched Dean, still amazed with him being so young. He took in his features committing them to memory. He wanted to remember Dean like this when he was so young, carefree, and innocent. He rested a little while longer and finished his Gatorade before deciding they might as well give Rufus his bath. "You ready to bathe Rufus?"

"Yes," Dean perked up slipping from the swing to head into the yard. "Rufus!" he yelled. "It's your bath time!"

Sam laughed softly and pushed himself from the swing to head inside. He found the old towels in the laundry room and Rufus' shampoo and grooming brush to take outside. Sam unrolled the garden hose and pulled it inside to attach to the sink faucet. He started the water and warmed it before turning it off and attaching the hose. After turning the water back on, he headed out to find Dean scratching Rufus and loving him.

"Alright Dean, we need to brush him and get any loose hairs off his coat," Sam explained as he picked up the brush. He began to comb through the fur on Rufus' back, going down his legs. He stopped to clean the brush several times before continuing until he was satisfied all the loose hairs were off Rufus. "Now we need to wet his fur and shampoo it." Sam took the hose and changed the spray setting before wetting Rufus from head to tail. "You want to squirt some shampoo on his back?"

"Okay," Dean nodded picking up the bottle and doing as asked. He helped Sam massage the shampoo into the dog's fur until suds began to cover his body. Sam did his head to keep the shampoo out of his eyes, while Dean worked on the back part.

"Stand back and let me rinse him," Sam instructed Dean spraying the water and rinsing his hands and then Dean's hands. "Hold still Rufus," Sam told him as he began to rinse him off. He went over him several times, using his hand to run down his back to discard as much water as he could.

"Rufus no!" Dean cried out as the dog suddenly began to shake hard, throwing water everywhere.

When Sam was satisfied, he had gotten all the suds out of his fur, he went inside to turn the water off and came back out to find Dean trying to towel dry Rufus who wanted to play. He grabbed a towel to help, throwing the towel over the dog's head and rubbing quickly before Rufus could get away.

"Come back here," Dean called to Rufus as he started to chase him with a towel. Rufus pranced away before Dean got to him and fell to the ground to roll around in the grass, arching his back and wiggling back and forth. "Rufus, we just gave you a bath," Dean complained.

"That's what dogs do Dean," Sam laughed at him as he fell onto Rufus and began to rub his stomach with a towel.

"You smell good," Dean told Rufus as he lapped up all the attention.

"I think that's good Dean. I know someone else who needs a shower," Sam called to him before gathering the things from the ground. He hung the towel over the railing to dry and did the same with Dean's towel. "You smell like wet dog, come on, upstairs with you."

"Okay," Dean replied.

They headed upstairs where Sam shooed Dean to the bathroom, and he stepped into the bedroom to get him clean clothes.

"Okay, I'll get the water going, strip out of those wet clothes," Sam told him as he started the water. He glanced back at Dean to see him doing as requested. He couldn't help but smile to see Dean standing there in Scooby Doo briefs. "The water is ready," Sam told him. "I'll be in the bedroom if you need any help."

"Alright," Dean replied. He waited for Sam to leave before dropping his briefs and stepped into the tub to shower. He let the water run over his head and wiped his eyes before getting the shampoo to wash his hair. With that done, Dean picked up the soap and started soaping his body, washing away the smell of dog, sweat, and dirt. When he was done, he turned the water off and got the towel Sam left for him on the commode to dry his body and hair.

"Be sure you dry off good," Sam called to him through partly open door. "If you don't your clothes will stick to your skin."

"Okay," Dean replied going over his body again before getting out to put on his clothes. Once he was dressed, he walked across to the bedroom to find Sam. "All done."

"Good work, did you get all clean?"

"Yes, I don't smell like a dog anymore," Dean noted sniffing his arms.

"Let me grab a quick shower and we'll head back downstairs."

"Okay," Dean replied climbing up on the bed near the window to wait on Sam.

Sam got clean clothes from the dresser and strolled across the hall to the bathroom to get a quick shower. He wanted to get the sweat and dog smell off himself too. When he was done, he took his dirty clothes into the bedroom and dropped them in the dirty clothes.

"I'm ready," Dean piped up scrambling from the bed.

"Good. Let's head back downstairs."

"Will you read some to me?" Dean questioned as they went down the steps.

"Sure, we both could use a break," Sam agreed.

"Great!" Dean grinned running ahead to get the book from the end table beside the couch. He climbed onto the couch and waited for Sam to join him. "Here you go," Dean said holding the book out where the marker was.

"Okay, where were we," Sam sighed settling beside Dean and holding the book between them. He began to read about Tom Sawyer and his adventures. He remembered Dean reading this book to him all those years ago and looked down at him as Dean fought to keep his eyes open. It didn't take but a couple more chapters and Dean was asleep. Feeling tired too, Sam sat the book aside and eased Dean up so he could lay down on the couch and pulled him over his body between him and the couch. Dean grunted and complained for a moment before settling into Sam's side asleep. "Sweet dreams bro," Sam mumbled brushing his damp hair back and cupping his face for a moment. He closed his eyes with a sigh, content and happy to be able to share these brief moments with Dean.

A/N: I hope you are enjoying the story and a look at what young Dean could have had. Thank you to any guest who have left me reviews. I have posted a one shot called Just Seeing You, if you'd like to check it out. Reviews/Comments would make my day. NC