There was that noise again. She swore on her teddy's life that she could hear something moving underneath her. Chrissie cautiously peered over the bed. The frightened four-year-old clutched Goober close to her chest, before huddling under her bed sheets, too afraid to investigate any further. Suddenly music started to blare from the wall next door, followed by noisy drunken laughing, and other more suggestive noises. Already on edge, the little girl stared to wail. She started to howl louder, when she heard banging sounds.
"Hey! Keep the racket down! We're trying to sleep!" roared Dean, disgruntled from being woken up by the clamour.
Sam grimaced, as he rubbed his tired eyes, when he figured out what was happening next door.
"I hate cheap motels" he grumbled, before sticking his head under the pillow.
He then sat up, as he could hear their little sister crying in the next room. Chrissie was sharing a room with their father for this pit stop, but John was finishing off a salt and burn. Judging by the lack of gunpowder and musky sweat in the air, their father hadn't returned yet.
Sam turned towards his brother, but found Dean to be one step ahead, as he had already went running to Chrissie. The little girl was very distressed.
"Hey. Hey. What's wrong?" consoled Dean, as he cradled the crying four-year-old, before gently rocking her back and forth. "Shhhh. Shhhh. It's okay. I'm here. Sammy's here too."
Chrissie clutched onto her eldest brother, as tears rained down her scarlet red cheeks. Her bottom lip trembled, as she tried to catch a breath.
"What's wrong, kiddo?" asked Dean. "What's with the tears, huh?"
The child coughed and spluttered, as Dean rubbed her back.
"Shhhh. Calm down. You're gonna make yourself sick" he added. "Now, are you gonna tell me and Sammy what's wrong?"
Chrissie started to hiccup as she eventually regained some composure. Sam dab at her eyes, using Goober's paws. The small child gave him and the bear a faint watery smile. Her eyes then blew up in fear, and she reached out for Sam and Goober. Sam grabbed onto her tiny hands, confused. Goober fell onto the carpet. Chrissie then burst into fresh tears.
"Christina! What's wrong?" Dean demanded, in a firmer tone.
Chrissie dramatically pointed to the floor, with another covering half her face. She was trembling all over.
"Sammy! Get Goober! The monster will eat him if you don't!" she declared, melodramatically.
Dean sighed heavily, as Sam rolled his eyes. Dean hugged his sister tightly, as Sam leaned over and picked the bear from the floor. Chrissie pouted as Sam held the bear in front of her. She hiccupped once again, before snatching her bear.
"Thank you, Sammy" she sniffled.
Dean then cupped the side of his sister's face, to make her look up at him. Chrissie's cheeks were still red from all the tears and screaming.
"Now, what about this monster? Where is it?" he questioned, playing along with Chrissie's overactive imagination.
Chrissie pouted, before pointing under the bed. Sam raised an quizzical eyebrow, and peeked under the bed, only to make Chrissie hysterical again.
"Get back, Sammy, it's under the bed!" she insisted theatrically, trying to reach for her twelve-year-old brother.
Sam reappeared, with his hands up in a defensive pose. Dean shook his head at him. Chrissie was still reaching for him.
"What? There's nothing there!" Sam stated.
Chrissie was offended. She threw herself back and cuddled into Dean, trying to act all cute to get him on her side. Sam rolled his eyes, at the smug expression on Dean's face.
"I'm her favourite" he mouthed, before pulling a face at Sam.
The younger boy grunted, too tired to put up with anything now. Dean continued to comfort their sister.
"I'll go check, because if the monster sees me, it'll go away. I'll scare him off" he told her, putting on his big brother bravado on full display.
Chrissie hiccupped, as Dean smoothed down her unruly hair. He the planted a quick kiss on her forehead before sliding off the bed.
"Really? Dean, c'mon it's school in the morning," whined Sam, as he rubbed his weary eyes. "There's nothing there, Chrissie."
Dean shushed his brother, trying to encourage him to play along for their sister's sake. Sam eventually gave in, hoping to get some sleep afterwards. Acting all careful and cautious, both boys crawled under the bed and yelled in unison.
"BOO!"
Chrissie was so startled by their shout, that it cured her hiccups. She gazed expectantly at her brothers, once they reappeared.
"Is it gone?" enquired the small child.
Dean gazed at Sam, with a raised eyebrow.
"Yeah," grumbled Sam, unenthusiastically. "It's gone now. Can we go back to sleep?"
Before she could even answer, Sam had already started to slog his way back to his bed. He was out for the count the second his head hit the pillow. Chrissie tapped Dean on the arm.
"De?" she asked, in a small sleepy voice. "Can I sleep beside you? I don't like this room."
Dean smiled endearingly at his baby sister, before slowly carrying her through to the main room where he and Sam were sleeping. He rubbed her back, a trick that had always worked ever since she was a restless baby.
There was always a rule when it came to his younger siblings. Sam and Chrissie had to sleep furthest from any door or window, in case of a surprise supernatural attack. However, Chrissie would always want to share with Dean, as she was afraid of the dark and of strange places. If they were to be attacked, then it would still have to get through Dean first. It didn't take too long for the remaining two siblings to fall asleep.
On John's return, he found his children safe and asleep in their beds. Just as he had left them.
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