Pocket Critters

Bobby said it was just a phase that all little boys get at some age. Apparently Sam and Dean went through the same thing. That didn't mean the Winchester brothers had to like it. The past week while doing the laundry Sam and Dean would stick their hands into the pockets of the angels' clothes, making sure there wasn't gum or wrappers inside of them. Nothing like that was ever in Cas' pockets. Frogs and a tiny fish from the lake were though. Now every day when the angels came back in the house after playing outside Cas would get checked for any living creatures.

Dean walked over to the angels in the driveway. It had rained the other night so now the driveway was one giant puddle of mud and the angels loved it. The hunter dodged a flying mud pie on his way over and grinned at the messy angels.

"Charlie just called. She said she'll be home with burgers soon so you three need a bath," the hunter told them. The angels let out disappointed whines, but Dean ignored them. The hunter knelt down in the mud next to the angels and looked over the sculptures they had created. "What's this?" he questioned.

"Our old nests in heaven," Balthazar stated, slapping a handful of mud onto the already tall pile. Dean frowned raising a brow as he squinted at the mud pies. "It's a bit out of scale," the angel commented. Dean laughed softly and swiped a finger over the mud before dabbing it onto each angels' nose. The three squealed with delight and the hunter reached into the slimy mud and picked the three up

"Awe, Dean-o, not yet!" Gabe huffed, smacking a wing at Dean's arms in attempt to smack them away. Dean dug his fingers into Gabe's ribs, emitting a giggly cry from the angel's lips. The angel slapped his wing again, this time accidently smacking Cas. The little angel let out a loud humph and soon Gabe and Cas were in a wing battle with poor Balthazar stuck in the middle. Dean chuckled under his breath and hurried towards the house so he could split the angels up from their battle. He threw open the door on reaching it, carrying the angels back into the house and completely forgetting to check Cas' pockets.

The angels sat in their bubble bath, splashing at each other while Dean gathered up their clothes from the floor. They were pretending to be Valiant and the other heroic carrier pigeons from one of the old Disney movies Dean had picked up at the local movie rental. Apparently they were dodging a giant storm while crossing a huge mass of water. Dean chuckled as he watched them play in the corner of his eye. He reached to grab Cas' muddy trench coat, the last article of clothing on the floor, but stopped. Something was moving in it. Dean let out a sigh and glared at the little angel that seemed to stop playing the game and was currently watching him from the tub.

"Seriously, Cas? When is this going to end?" he questioned. The little angel stayed silent and Dean lifted the trench coat from its spot on the floor. "THE HELL!" Dean cried, jumping back and slipping on a bar of soap that had fallen to the floor. He skid backwards, falling into the tub with the angels.

"Dean?! I heard a scream!" Sam shouted, rushing through the doorway.

"What the hell is a snake doing in your pocket, Cas!" Dean cried, sitting up in the tub and glaring at the bubble covered angel.

"His name is Henry and he's cute!" Cas reasoned, reaching over the edge of the tub and grabbing the little snake. He set it in the water and the snake slithered laps around the angel. Dean's face turned white and he leapt from the tub, bumping into Sam.

"Dude, you're scared of a little snake –"

"Snakes are poisonous!" Dean tried to reason. Balthazar grabbed Henry and lifted him up so the hunters could see the little thing.

"Garder snakes aren't poisonous," Balthazar stated, scratching the scales on Henry's belly. Dean turned bright red as Sam burst into a fit of laughter, glaring at the little snake as it melted in Balthazar's hold. Apparently snakes liked a good scratch. Sam sat down on the rim of the tub and took Henry from Balthazar's hands. The hunter took over scratching the snake's tummy while giving his brother a teasing look. Dean refused to look at his little brother, knowing there was no way in hell he was going to live this one down.

"You going to make me put him back?" Cas' questioned, looking up at Sam, wet curls flopping into his big blue eyes. Sam smiled at the angel and handed the snake back.

"Well, it wouldn't be fair if I made Balthy get rid of his dragon and let you keep a snake would it?" Balthazar crossed his arms.

"Nope," the angel grumbled. He was still upset about the stunt the hunters had pulled. He had gotten rid of the purple fire breather for booze. Not apple juice!

"Okay," Cas mumbled, petting Henry gently. The little snake coiled around Cas' arms and let its tongue tickle the angel's fingers, emitting a small giggle.

"Put him in the garden," Sam suggested. "I bet he's a better scare crow than most." Cas' eyes brightened and Sam ruffled the angel's hair before getting up and handing Cas' coat to Dean. "Guess you're on laundry duty, Bro. Don't want you having a heart attack over a poor little snake." Dean wrinkled his nose and made his way out the door.

"Be my guest," the hunter grumbled, quickly exiting the room while avoiding the snake's glimmering gaze. Henry slithered off of Cas' hand once Dean left and swam around the tub. Sam sat back down on the rim of the tub and reached for the soap on the floor and a wash cloth. He went to finish rubbing off the mud from the angels when he noticed a wide eyed Cas staring at the door.

"Cas?"

"Umm…There isn't a tree fog sticking anywhere is there?" the angel questioned. Sam's eyes widened and he looked around, frowning. No sign of any frogs.

"Cas, I don't see –"

"I hope Dean checks those pockets," Balthazar muttered. Sam's eyes widened and he got up to his feet to run towards the laundry room to stop his brother from accidentally washing a poor defenseless from, but there was no need.

"Goddamn it, Cas!" Dean screamed. Sam's face split into a grin and he looked to the three giggling angels and Henry. Dean remembered.

Thanks One Happy Reader (Guest) for the request!