A/N: We are at the end of this short story, and I hope you have enjoyed the ride. It was fun writing it and letting Sam have a little spotlight when he was young. I should have another Storm story ready to post. It is called 'A Little Matchmaking'. I hope you will join me on the journey. Comments/Reviews would be great. NC

Chapter 4

The brothers had been at the salvage yard for three days and on the fourth Dean put his foot down and demanded Sam to stop being a mother hen and babying him so much. He let it go for a couple of days but enough was enough. Dean could tell he was getting better and wasn't having dizzy spells or blurred vision now. The headaches were almost gone now, and he was feeling like himself again. Dean tried not to hurt Sam's feelings with his fussing and softened toward the end when Sam turned on the puppy dog face. It got Dean every time.

Bobby was in the office doing some research for a hunter and the boys had gone on a walk in the woods out behind the salvage yard. They were going to the river that ran through the woods to check it out. He looked to his phone as it began to ring and reached for it.

"Singer Salvage," Bobby answered in a gruff voice.

"Singer," a familiar voice replied with a growl. "You have my boys."

Bobby didn't say anything at first when he recognized the voice on the other end of the line. He stiffened and drew in a slow breath trying to keep his rising anger in check.

"Are you there?" John asked, his voice showing irritation.

"You're damn right I have the boys," Bobby growled, anger showing in his voice. "Do you have any idea what you're putting those boys through dragging them across the country and leaving them alone in some rundown motel or rental as you continue your obsession on finding this demon? They are boys, not your good little soldiers who you can order around. Sam called me for help nearly a week ago when he found Dean hurt in some alley because they ran out of food and money and were starving. He tried some fool plan hoping to get some money. You have no right to call then your sons. You're not a father to them, you haven't been in a long time," Bobby berated him, stopping to catch a breath. "What the hell happened to you anyway?"

"You know how hunts go; there were complications and I got hung up longer than I planned," John answered in a clipped voice.

"And how many times has this happened lately? How many times have you left them to fend for themselves?" Bobby heard silence on the other end of the phone and knew his concerns were founded. "You selfish bastard. You need to get your head out of your ass and think about your boys," he growled. "It's a good thing you're not standing in front of me, or I'd fill you hide with buckshot."

"I'm doing the best I can," John finally said. "I can't take them with me on hunts, it's too dangerous, especially if I'm tracking demons."

"I'll make a deal with you," Bobby started, not believing he was offering this. "You let the boys stay with me this summer while you go trapesing off on your obsession and I won't shoot you when you come for them in a few months."

"What about if you need to hunt?"

"I've got an ex-hunter friend in town that would be happy to watch the boys if I need to leave. He was injured a while back and stepped down from hunting. I check on him regularly and he sometimes comes over to man the phones for me. He's a little set in his ways but is a good person. I think the boys would find him interesting. I can take them to meet him, so they'll be comfortable staying with him."

"I don't know…They need to continue training if they're going to be able to protect themselves from the evils of this world."

"I can take care of that. I showed you the ropes when you first started out. I think I can do the same for them. I'll make sure they earn their keep around here. They'll be safer and will have a roof over their heads and three good meals a day."

"Dean's hardheaded and stubborn…" John started.

"Just like his old man," Bobby interrupted.

"I don't know how he'll take it. He wants to hunt, and I can already tell it's in his blood. He's going to make a good hunter, maybe one of the best."

"I'll handle the boy. He'll do anything for his brother, and I think Sam won't put up a fight about it."

"I don't know…" John huffed a deep breath.

"Look at it this way, you won't have to worry about them and can concentrate on hunting. I would advise you calling the boys once and a while, so they know you're still alive. Dean was thinking something had happened to you and you weren't coming back."

"Damn, this is hard…You're right…Fine, okay, you can keep the boys this summer only if you continue their training," John huffed, giving in finally. "It would be doing me a favor."

"I'm glad you see things my way," Bobby acknowledged glad he wasn't going to have to fight for the boys. He was determined to keep them, at least for a short time. "I'll train them and make sure they are kept safe."

"Will you tell them this is for the best and I'll call when I can."

"You just don't be an idjit and do something stupid and get yourself killed. Them boys need a Daddy."

"I'll do my best. Look, I'll send you some money when I can…"

"I ain't worried about no money. I'll make sure they're taken care of."

"Thanks Bobby. I appreciate this."

"Yeah, well, I'm doing it for them, not you."

"Goodbye," John said.

The line went dead, and Bobby looked at the phone for a moment before hanging it up. He leaned back in his desk chair and wondered what he had gotten himself into. What did he know about raising kids? At least they were old enough to take care of themselves, not like years ago when John would randomly appear on his doorstep with the two boys in tow and drop them off for a week or more. Now the fun part was going to happen. He had to tell the boys they were going to be staying with him for a few months.

spn

Bobby heard the backdoor open and loud voices as the brothers trooped back into the house. He could tell they were arguing about something and got up to see what the commotion was about.

"You didn't have to push me in," Sam was complaining to his brother as he accepted a bottle of Gatorade from him.

"Well, yeah I did," Dean snickered giving his brother's head a light slap.

"What have you two hoodlums been doing?" Bobby asked seeing Sam was covered in dried mud, his clothes were damp, and his hair was wild and uncombed. He looked to the older Winchester with an arched eyebrow waiting on an explanation.

"It was too good to ignore Uncle Bobby," Dean shrugged to get smacked by Sam.

"I was trying to get this neat looking rock out of the river and Dean pushed me in," Sam explained giving Dean a bitch face. "On purpose."

"He wanted to cool off," Dean offered.

"I see," said Bobby in a knowing voice. He knew boys were going to be boys and these two were proving the point. "Sam, why don't you take your drink on upstairs and get a shower while I talk to your brother?"

"Okay," Sam smirked scooting by Dean but not before sticking his tongue out at him only to get the finger from Dean.

"Take a seat son," Bobby told Dean as he poured a cup of coffee and sat across from him.

"Am I in trouble?" Dean asked cautiously. "I mean, it was just a joke, and he didn't get hurt or anything just a little muddy and wet."

"No, you're not in trouble. That's not what I want to talk to you about," Bobby started as the older brother stiffened and frowned looking at him confused.

"I talk to your Daddy while you two were gone."

"Great!" Dean perked up. "When is he coming to get us?"

"He's not," Bobby stated.

"I don't understand," Dean questioned slowly.

"I suggested he let you boys stay with me for a few months since you're not in school. He can hunt and not have to worry about you boys. You'll be safe here and will have food and a place to sleep. I don't want another incident like what happened to happen again. If Sam hadn't found you it could have turned out totally different."

"He agreed to that?" Dean asked in an unsure voice.

"Yes."

"Can you get in touch with him? I want to be with him. I can help him on hunts. I could be his backup."

"You're too young to be doing that son. Give it a few years and I'm sure you'll be out there with him. I did agree to continue to train you and Sam while you're here."

"I'm not staying," Dean firmly stated, crossing his arms over his chest and clenching his jaw tightly. "I'm going to go find Dad."

"I can't let you do that Dean. You have no idea where he's at and he didn't tell me that information."

"I don't care! I'll find him."

"Aren't you forgetting something?"

"What?" Dean spat testily.

"What about your brother? You know he'll want to go with you, and how are you going to travel? You have no money and besides that, you don't know where to even start looking for your Daddy."

"We'll go back to the house. He may still be there."

"Dean, son, think about it," Bobby started hoping to convince Dean that was a bad idea. "What's best for Sam? Wouldn't it be better for both of you to stay here with me? You won't have to worry about food and can still train and I'll put you to work and will even pay you a little something for it."

Dean looked toward the backdoor as he mulled over what Bobby said. He jumped up from the chair and stormed from the house and stomped into the stacked vehicles heading for his thinking spot he had made. He didn't like this one bit. He wanted to be with his Dad and hunt. It wasn't fair. Why couldn't Sammy stay here with Uncle Bobby and Dad come get him? He was so mad, hot tears filled his eyes that he brushed away as he made his way through the maze of stacked, crushed vehicles until he was at the back corner. Dean climbed onto the truck bed and plopped down on the old car seat as he rolled everything around in his head.

spn

"Where's Dean?" Sam asked when he came back downstairs after showering and changing clothes.

"He's outside somewhere," Bobby told him. "He'll be okay."

"What's going on?" Sam asked sensing something had happened that he had missed. Even being young, Sam could seem to sense things, but no one really noticed it.

"Would you like to stay here with me for a few months while yer Daddy hunts?"

Sam's eyes grew wide, and a surprised look crossed his face.

"Really? Stay here?" Sam asked wanting to be sure he heard right.

"Yes, I talked to yer Daddy while you were gone hiking, and we came to an understanding. He's going to let you boys stay here, but you still have to train, and I'll give you some chores to do around here to keep you busy."

"I'd like that very much," said Sam in an excited voice. He was thrilled to be staying in one place for a while and not have to move from one ratty motel to the next and be trapped in the motel rooms not able to do anything but watch the television. He wouldn't have to worry about food or fear someone might break in and hurt them.

"I thought as much. At least one of you has some common sense."

"You mean Dean doesn't want to stay? But why not? It will be great, and I don't mind training with you or doing chores."

"Your brother thinks he should be hunting with yer Daddy, even thought he's too young for that. He's as stubborn and hardheaded as your Daddy. I know he had to grow up too fast and knows more than most adults, but he needs to let himself be a kid for a bit."

"He's not going to leave, is he?" Sam questions, a hint of concern in his voice. He knew he couldn't stay if Dean left, even if he wanted to.

"Not if I can help it. John didn't say where he was, if he was still at that house or had moved on, so Dean doesn't know where to go. Besides, I told him he needed to think about what was best for both of you right now. Staying here would be the right thing to do."

"Yeah, this will be great. But Uncle Bobby, what if you need to go on a hunt?"

"I have a friend in town that used to be a hunter that you boys can stay with. He'd enjoy the company and Dean could pick his brain on hunting. It would work well all the way around."

"Alright. I want to stay. I like it here."

"I'm glad Sam. I think your brother will come around, just give him a little time."

"I'm going to go look for him. I don't think he went far." Sam got up to head out the backdoor in search of his brother.

"Okay. I'll have dinner ready in a couple of hours so head on back before then."

"We will."

Bobby sat there and watched Sam disappear out the door and head across the yard to the rows of stacked vehicles. If anyone was going to convince Dean to do this, it would be his brother. He got up to go back into the office to call Rooster and confirm he would watch the boys if he caught a hunt or needed to go help fellow hunter.

spn

Sam walked into the yard and looked around hoping to find his brother brooding in some corner, but he didn't have such luck. He walked toward the stacks of crushed vehicles and looked cautiously at them, thinking they took on a whole new look in the light of day. In the darkness of the night, they reminded him of hulking monsters just waiting to snatch you up and devour you.

After walking to the end of the stacks, Sam looked toward the outer buildings that lined the driveway trying to spot Dean. He huffed in annoyance, wondering where Dean had disappeared to. Sam was sure he didn't head back to the woods since they had just come from there.

The only other choice was the stacks and Sam turned to walked slowly back by them until he came to an opening that led deep into the midst of the metal beasts. Sam shook himself and tried to pull back his imagination as he stepped into the shadows, looking quickly to each side to be sure there was nothing luring in them.

With cautious steps, Sam made his way into the maze, keeping a sharp eye out for his brother. He would pause to check hollowed out cars to be sure Dean wasn't hiding in there before moving on. He wandered aimlessly guessing on which way to go when he came to a place that branched off from the track he was on. Sam didn't know how long he wandered until finally after turned a corner saw a small clearing and an old truck that wasn't crushed. He sighed with relief when he saw movement in the truck bed.

"Hey," Sam called to Dean as he stepped closer and studied the structure Dean had made. "What ya doing?"

"Nothin'," Dean replied, not looking at Sam.

"Can I come up and sit beside you?"

"Go ahead, it's a free country."

Sam clambered onto the truck bed and moved slowly to the front to take a seat on the old back seat of a car Dean had wedged there. He leaned back and tried to relax as he thought of how to approach Dean about staying here. He didn't want to make him angry or make him decide to leave. He looked out in the same direction Dean was staring to see what had his interest but couldn't see anything that interested him.

"Did Uncle Bobby send you out here?" Dean asked his voice harsher than he meant.

"No, I came on my own," Sam answered. "Uncle Bobby did talk to me, and I wanted to talk to you."

"You don't need to, I already know what you want to do," Dean sneered bitterly.

Sam sat up straighter and gave Dean his best bitch face as he got angry.

"And what's so wrong with that?" Sam demanded. "Uncle Bobby wants us to stay with him for a while. Yes, I think it's great and you should too. We wouldn't have to worry about where our next meal is coming from or running out of food again. Or worry about someone calling the cops because we're alone in a motel. We've got all this to explore and play in and he's even going to continue training us," Sam rattled out throwing his arms out to wave at their surroundings. "I'm tired of those ratty, rundown motels where half the time the heat and a/c don't work and we're lucky to have water pressure. They're nasty and smell and are barely livable. Why wouldn't I want to stay here where I have clean sheets, plenty of food, and know I'm safe?"

Dean listened to Sam's rantings and could tell he was angry with him. He hated to admit but Sam was right. They would have it made here and not have to worry about safety and being turned into Child Protective Services for being left alone by their Dad. They would have food without having to hustle to keep their bellies full. But he couldn't let go of the hurt of being left behind by their father. It stung deep down in his soul and depressed him.

"Dean, are you listening to me?" Sam asked laying a hand on his bare arm and looked intently at him. "I think you know it'll be good for us. We can help Uncle Bobby and I know how much you like working on cars," Sam offered hoping to get Dean on his side.

Dean huffed out a short breath as he leans back against the seat. He knew he was being unreasonable about this and looked sideways at his little brother and saw the look of uncertainty and hopefulness. He knew it would be good for Sammy to be here where he could thrive and grow. He did have a point, Dean loved working on cars and learning how to take them apart and put them back together. He hoped to one day be given the 1967 Chevy Impala that his Dad drove now for his own.

"I guess it wouldn't hurt to stay here," Dean finally gave in.

"Yes!" Sam cried out wrapping his arms around his brother's body and hugging him tightly. "Thank you," said Sam in an earnest and happy voice. "You'll see, it'll be great and think of all the things we can do. I can't wait to read some of Uncle Bobby's books and study spells."

"Watch it Sammy, your geekiness is showing," Dean teased butting his shoulder into Sam's shoulder.

"Jerk."

"Bitch."

"Uncle Bobby said he'd have dinner ready soon so we probably should head back. Maybe if you ask him, we can grill out sometime."

"Alright, we should see if he needs help since we'll be staying here. We need to pull our weight around here and not be a burden."

"I agree. I know how to do laundry and can clean," Sam noted as they got up and jumped down from the truck bed. "I like this place you set up," he added looking back at the structure.

"It's my thinking spot," Dean shrugged. "A place to get away and be alone."

"It took me forever to find it."

"Yeah, I planned it that way. I figured no one will bother it here."

The brothers made their way through the maze, Dean leading them back to the border of the stacks and into the yard. They headed back inside to see if Bobby needed help with dinner. Sam was anxious to let him know Dean had changed his mind about staying now.

Staying in one place was going to be good for the boys and Bobby had a lot he could teach them. It would be an eventful summer and both parties would benefit from it. The boys would be safe and could be kids and do what other kids their ages did. Bobby would make sure they were given the love and attention they needed and keep them safe until their Dad came for them at the end of the summer.

The End