Somehow, his little brother looked worse when he woke up again. He didn't know what happened, but Alec looked like he was going to be sick. "Hey, you want me to get the doctor in here?" Dean asked, sitting up and rubbing Alec's shoulder.
"I think I'm gonna be sick," Alec breathed out.
He tried to get up and get the trashcan in time, but he still wasn't moving as fast as he usually did. He heard Alec heave, and immediately changed directions. He walked to the door instead of the bathroom and opened it to see if any nurses were around. He caught one woman's eyes, and she stopped and asked, "Need something, honey?"
"My brother just got sick and we didn't get a trashcan in time…" Dean said softly.
She gave him a small smile and nodded in understanding, "Let me grab a few things and I'll be right back."
"Thank you," Dean said, closing the door and going back to his little brother.
"I'm so sorry, Uncl-…um, Sam," Alec said, his cheeks heating suddenly in embarrassment and he dropped his head down.
Sam stood up and put his hand on the back of Alec's neck and reassured, "It's ok, Alec. I'm just gonna go clean up."
He smirked seeing the puke in Sam's hair. "That's what you get for having girly hair," Dean teased as Sam walked by him.
"Shut up," Sam grumbled.
"I didn't even think about waking him up…" Alec said miserably. "I forgot he was sleeping on my bed…"
"Alec, it's ok," Dean soothed, walking over to his little brother. He carefully rolled up the blanket with most of the puke on it and set it aside before he walked over to the bathroom. "Sam, get me a couple wet washcloths," he said, trying not to laugh at seeing his brother washing puke out of his hair. Sam glared at him, but handed him what he asked for. He knew he was just giving him the washcloths to get him to go away, and because it was for Alec.
He cleaned Alec up the best he could, and the nurse helped him change and got him new blankets once she got there, and then he dabbed one of the washcloths across Alec's forehead and cheeks to try to lower his fever and to try to comfort him. His heart hurt knowing that he was only allowed to take care of Alec because his brother was letting him do this. If Alec was still his kid, he wouldn't have to worry about hurting Alec's pride by taking care of him. But he couldn't think about the 'what-if's'. Alec was here, he was hurt, he needed help, and that's what he was going to focus on.
It took him a few minutes to realize that he was soaking up tears from Alec's cheeks. He immediately pulled the washcloth away and asked in concern, "Alec, what's wrong? What happened? Are you in a lot of pain? Is it your stomach? Is that why you got sick?"
Alec drew in a shuddering breath and shook his head no. "I…I gotta talk to you…"
"Ok, what's up?" Dean asked, trying his hardest to be casual. He sat down on the edge of Alec's bed and tried not to panic. But what if Alec was weirded out that they'd taken care of him while he was a kid? Or what if he was mad that they didn't try to change him back? He might decide he didn't want to be here anymore, and then he really would lose Alec. He wouldn't have his little brother or his kid.
"Sam…Sam's gotta be here too," Alec stuttered. He took in another deep breath to try to collect himself.
"Ok, we can wait," Dean soothed, doing his best to keep Alec calm. Whatever Alec wanted to tell them, he was freaking out about it, and he'd made himself sick thinking about it. Which meant it was bad.
"What's going on?" Sam asked when he walked out of the bathroom, his hair damp from his sink bath. He looked between the two of them, and frowned when he saw Alec. Their little brother's face was sickly pale and he was shaking slightly with his nerves.
He didn't care if it was nerves that was causing him to shake, he grabbed Alec's pills and held two out for him to take. "It's not the seizures," Alec whispered.
"Just…humor me, ok?" Dean asked. Alec nodded and took his pills like he asked. "So…Sam's here now…do you wanna tell me what's going on?" Dean asked, his voice soft.
"Where's Bobby?" Alec asked back, stalling.
"I don't know," Dean said, looking to the corner where Bobby had fallen asleep and not seeing him there. "Maybe he went to the cafeteria?" Alec swallowed hard, looking like he was going to be sick again. "Alec…are you freaked out that we took care of you?" Dean asked. He needed to get to the bottom of whatever was going on so Alec could feel better. He wouldn't feel better until he got whatever this was off of his chest.
"No," Alec quickly denied. "No, it's not that…I get it now…I…" He had a weird feeling that Alec now remembered being a kid. It had sounded like he'd almost called Sam 'Uncle Sam', but he hadn't been sure. Now, he was pretty sure Alec knew. Maybe that was why he was acting weird. Maybe he was just freaked out that he remembered and wasn't sure how to tell them.
Sam walked over and sat at Alec's other side, putting a comforting hand against Alec's arm. "Are you mad that we didn't look for a why to change you back?" Sam asked.
"No…you won't believe me," Alec said, running his free hand through his hair before he rubbed the back of his neck in his nervous tell.
"Alec, you've been a little kid for 10 months and we found you magically grown up again…whatever you wanna tell us, we're gonna believe you," Dean said.
"Ok…just let me get it all out before you say anything, ok? Because if I stop, I don't think I can start again," Alec said.
He and Sam shared a look before he nodded, "Ok, just tell us what's going on."
Alec took a deep breath, and then said, "I remember everything." He immediately wanted to interrupt and tell him that it was ok, but he stayed quiet and let Alec keep talking. "There was this woman…she just appeared in the doorway over there, but she didn't seem threatening… she was beautiful, actually, with long red hair and pale skin…"
"You saw her?" Sam asked.
"Sam!" Dean snapped. He didn't want Alec to stop talking, especially since he had no idea where this was going.
"It's ok," Alec said. "That's not really the part that giving me problems…"
"Ok, so you saw this woman," Dean said. "Who, by the way, has been stalking you for a while…Maybe we should get back to Bobby's. We've been trying to keep her away from you, but…she's persistent…"
"She's not gonna hurt me," Alec said, sounding way too sure. "She's the one that changed me into a kid. She said she did it because she thought I deserved a second chance."
"Wh-"
"Wait," Alec said before he could ask him anything. "There's more…That's what she does, she changes people into kids to give them a second chance, but then changes them back after a while." Alec stopped and looked between him and Sam before he said. "She gives them a choice. I can either stay this age, or go back to being a kid."
He couldn't tell what his brothers were thinking. They both just sat there in shock after he said that. God, he didn't know what to do. He felt like he might throw up again, but he wasn't sure. He had no idea what his brothers would decide, and he didn't know what he wanted them to decide.
"What?" Sam finally breathed out.
"I have to choose between being me and being a kid again," Alec said miserably. "And I have no idea! She gave me all my memories back, so I know how awesome it was to be a kid, a real kid, with a future, and only knowing love and comfort instead of being scared and in pain all the time. But…I don't know…I don't know what to do!"
"Ok, calm down," Dean ordered, finally snapping out of his shock. "Just take a deep breath and relax, ok? Let's talk about it, and think everything through."
He nodded and took a deep breath to keep calm. "I only have until tonight to decide."
"Jeez, she moves fast, huh?" Dean said, trying to force a smile, but it didn't work. His brothers both had tears in their eyes, but they were trying to keep it together. This was too much. Maybe he should've just kept this to himself and decided when Mira came back.
"Alec, what do you want to do?" Sam asked gently.
"I don't know," Alec breathed out. "I wanted to find out what you guys wanted…"
"Alec, we just want you to be happy," Dean said.
"Either way I'll be happy, and that's why this is so hard," Alec said. "I'm happy now, having brothers, and Max…Shit…I forgot about Max."
"Alec, we didn't tell her that you're not a kid anymore," Sam said. "We went to visit her while you were a kid and she just wants you to be happy too."
He took another deep breath and said, "Ok, so, I have Max as a girlfriend now, but I don't have her when I'm a kid…for obvious reasons…" Sam and Dean both smiled a little and nodded. "So either way, there are good things and bad things…"
"Ok, think about this," Dean said. "And I'm not trying to sway your opinion, but think about Manticore." He nearly flinched just thinking about it. "When you're a kid, you don't remember as much because you haven't been through it."
"But it did help shape who you are," Sam said. "When you're a kid, who knows how you'll turn out. Unfortunately, you'll probably be just like Dean."
He huffed out a laugh, "Good point."
"Hey!" Dean said, pretending to be affronted.
"What would make you guys happy?" Alec asked, looking away from both of them so they wouldn't see how important this question was.
"Either way, we're happy," Sam said.
"Alec, you've been our little brother for over two years, and you were our kid for 10 months," Dean started. "If there's one thing I've learned, it's that we can't live without you. I don't care what age you are, we just need you in our lives. You're our family, no matter what."
He sighed, "I was hoping you'd just be able to decide for me…"
"Let's try some Pepto-Bismol," the doctor told him. "Maybe that will help settle your stomach…" He knew it wouldn't, but he took some anyway. "Does anything sound good?" the doctor asked.
"I'll just throw it up again," Alec mumbled. He'd thrown up six more times, and he couldn't keep anything down. He only had a few hours left before he had to make his decision and he still had no idea what to do. His stomach turned again just thinking about it.
Dean immediately moved, holding the pan for him to throw up again. There went the Pepto-Bismol…
"We'll keep you hydrated," the doctor said. "This could be a side-effect from you being dehydrated for so long. If nothing changes the next few hours, we'll try something else."
He nodded and waited for the doctor to go away before he begged, "Can we please go home? I'm not throwing up because of the dehydration…I'm throwing up because I'm freaking out. I wanna go home."
Sam and Dean shared a look, but then Dean finally nodded his agreement. "Ok kiddo, let's go home. But you're staying on the sofa and you're staying on an IV, ok?"
"Ok," Alec quickly agreed.
"Sam, go tell Bobby we're goin' home, and then bring the car to the side door," Dean said. "I'll find Alec's clothes and we'll sneak outta here."
Sam nodded and left the room while Dean searched for his clothes. He watched his brother, and tears filled his eyes again. How could he choose? How could he decide between having Dean as his brother and having Dean as his Dad? How could he decide for his brothers what their lives were going to be?
"Alec," Dean said, gently touching his shoulder. He jumped at the contact, making Dean tighten his grip. "Easy, kiddo, take some deep breaths, ok? We're goin' home, and we'll keep talking about this. We'll figure this out."
"I can't decide," Alec breathed. "I can't make this decision. This decision isn't just my life. It's your life, Sam's life, Bobby's life…How can I be responsible for this? I shouldn't be responsible for anything!"
"Hey," Dean snapped. "Stop talking and start moving. We gotta get you dressed and outta here before one of your nurses figures out you're missing." Dean helped him up and helped him get dressed. He was way too unsteady on his feet, and he knew throwing up multiple times hadn't helped his recovery at all. "You're takin' some more pills once we get home," Dean said as he grabbed his arm and looped it over his shoulders. "We'll get ya warmed up at home and figure everything out."
He nodded and let Dean help him out of his room, and they slowly walked down the hall.
"Ok, so, what're you thinking?" Dean asked softly after they had made it to the stairwell.
"I still don't know," Alec whispered. "That's why I keep throwing up."
Dean was quiet for a long time, but then he said, "Whatever you pick, I'll back you up."
"Even if I decide to still be me?" Alec asked. He thought back to how devastated Dean had been, that he wouldn't even come downstairs to see him. If he decided to not be a kid, would Dean hate him?
"No matter what," Dean said. "You're a Winchester…and I'll tell you what I told you when you were little…" Dean stopped to take a deep breath, and then said, "I will love you and protect you, no matter what."
He smiled a little and said, "And then I asked what love meant."
Dean chucked, "Yeah, and I'm not sure if I explained it right or not…"
"I think you did," Alec said. They were almost to the door now, so he had to say this before they got outside. "Dean…when she comes back tonight…I think I should be by myself."
"What?" Dean asked back.
"I just…I gotta do this by myself," Alec said. "I won't be able to actually make the decision if you and Sam are standing there looking at me."
Dean nodded in understanding, "You'll choose whatever you think me and Sam want you to choose…"
"But if I'm by myself, I can choose what I want to choose," Alec said.
"Alright, we'll be in another room when she comes in," Dean said.
"Outside," Alec corrected. "I don't want you listening in either."
Dean ruffled his hair, "Alright, kiddo, we'll be outside. But whatever you decide, we're good."
He wasn't surprised when Mira appeared in Bobby's living room. He wished he had more time, but at least his brothers and Bobby had listened to him and were outside right now. Mira gave him a small smile as she walked over to him. He was sort of sitting up on the sofa, propped up by pillows with a few blankets on top of him. He'd only thrown up two more times, but he wasn't feeling any better.
"Hey Alec," Mira said softly. She sat next to his hip and grabbed his hand. "Did you think it over?"
"Yeah…" He said, his voice shaky.
"Alec, relax, take a deep breath," Mira soothed. "This is a big decision. Do you want to talk about it first?"
"It's permanent, right?" Alec asked. "There's no more back and forth?"
"That's right," Mira said. "Whatever you decide, that's it."
"Will I still be sick, or hurt or whatever, if I decide to be a kid?" Alec asked.
"Unfortunately, yes," Mira said. "When I turned you the first time, I had to hit you on the back of the head so you wouldn't shoot me. And when I found you out in the woods, I had to change you back or else you would have died. You were too little to survive out there for so long."
"If I stay this age…will I remember being a kid?" Alec asked.
"Yes," Mira replied. "But you probably won't remember this life if you decide to be a kid. You might remember flashes or have dreams about this life, but I can't tell you how much that will be."
"What would you choose?" Alec asked, meeting her green eyes with his.
"I can't decide this for you," Mira said. "This is your choice."
"That's what my brothers pretty much said," Alec muttered.
"I usually don't do this, but do you need more time to decide?" Mira asked.
"No…no, I can't take this anymore," Alec said. "I keep throwing up and it's just gonna get worse until I make a decision."
"So, what's your decision?" Mira asked, giving his hand a gentle squeeze.
He paced. He hated that he'd let Alec talk him into waiting outside. He wanted to know what was going on, what Alec had decided. He didn't know what he even wanted Alec to choose, but he wanted to know what he decided. He just needed to know. So, he paced.
"Dean, you gotta relax," Sam said. "I'm sure we'll know pretty soon."
"What do you want him to decide?" Dean asked. "I wouldn't tell him…I didn't want him to choose what I wanted just because I wanted it, you know? I wanted him to choose what he wanted…"
"I'll be happy either way," Sam said.
"Well, yeah, but what are you leaning towards?" Dean asked.
"What are you leaning towards?" Sam shot back.
"You know what I'm leaning towards," Dean muttered. "I feel terrible for wanting my little boy back, but I don't think I'm ready to give up this life…"
"Me too," Sam admitted. "But if he decides to be himself, then you can't disappear on him."
"I won't," Dean growled. "I told him I'm with him no matter what, and I wasn't lying. I'm just happy he's alive."
"We could still have normal," Sam said. "We could stick around here, you can still help Bobby, and I can still go to school…"
"And what about Alec?" Dean asked. "What's he gonna do?"
"Whatever he wants," Sam said. "We could figure out something for everyone in town. Maybe baby Alec had to go live with his mother and our Alec came back from overseas. We could tell Jody and she can back us up if that's what we decide."
"Let's just wait and see what he chooses," Dean said. But he didn't think that was such a bad idea. He and Alec could still go on a few hunts if they wanted to, but this could be their home base. They could still have a pretty normal life, a life that he'd never thought he'd have.
"Boys," Bobby said, drawing their attention.
He and Sam whipped around to face the front door in time to see it slowly open. A woman with long red hair and bright green eyes walked out holding a sleeping, baby Alec against herself. Tears filled his eyes as he ran forward and reached out to take his little boy. Alec snuggled against his neck and everything just clicked. It just felt right.
Sam ran up beside him and rubbed Alec's back as he held him. "He decided to be a kid?" Sam asked, his voice choked with tears. They had both thought Alec would choose to be himself since that's what he knew.
The woman nodded and said, "He wanted me to tell you that this was his decision. He wanted the second chance, a chance to have a family and a life away from Manticore. He loves you both so much."
"You aren't gonna just magically change him back again, are you?" Dean asked.
"No, this is it," she said. "Take good care of him, please?"
"We will," Sam said.
He kissed the side of Alec's head and hugged him close. "Thank you," Dean whispered, looking at the woman again.
She smiled at him, "You make a wonderful father. And Sam, you make a wonderful uncle. You all will have a great life together. I think Alec made the right decision." She smiled at all of them one more time before she disappeared.
His knees felt weak with relief that he had his little boy back. He was going to be a dad for the rest of his life.
"Dean, let's get him back inside," Sam said. "It feels like he still has a fever."
He nodded, "Should probably get him on an IV again too…"
They all walked in and he got Alec situated on the sofa again, and held him close. Alec wiggled against his chest, and then his big green eyes were looking up at him. "Daddy?"
"Hey kiddo," Dean whispered, brushing his fingers through Alec's hair.
"I don't feel good…" Alec mumbled.
"I know, baby, but you're gonna feel better soon," Dean reassured. "And I'm not going anywhere. I promise."
"I love you, Daddy," Alec said.
"I love you too, Alec," Dean said, kissing the top of Alec's head. He had his little boy back.
I hope you guys are ok with this decision! I decided this story could go completely AU since the family series is for the brothers. This story has one more chapter left, and then that will be it. I don't have any plans for a sequel for this AU, but little oneshots may pop up in the future. Hope you guys liked it!
More soon...