Sorry for the delay folks. This chapter was co-written by both me and my cyber-buddy, brittpage21. Half of the dialogue in this chapter came from her. Give her a cheer!
It had been a week since the accident and it was obvious that the incident itself had left a traumatic impact on Chrissie. The little girl wasn't as hyperactive and talkative as she used to be. She now clung to her eldest brother for everything, and whenever he wasn't around, Chrissie ventured to Sam for comfort. The five year old was choosing not to speak, although she murmured the odd sentence or question on occasion.
The moon had replaced the sun in the sky, and the moonbeams shone onto Chrissie's pensive expression as she scrawled onto a sheet of white paper, highlighting her facial features. She had been drawing pictures a vast majority of the day and hadn't moved from the kitchenette table. Her eyes would often search for her siblings, making sure they were still in her presence, then they returned to her patchwork companion, her teddy bear Goober.
From the grimy couch, her brothers watched her. Both studied her slouched posture, her sharp chin resting on the table top, her hand darting back and forth as she scarred the paper with her wax crayons.
"You'd think she'd have cramp in her hand," commented thirteen year old Sam in a hushed whisper. "She's been sitting there for hours, just drawing. Non-stop." The younger teen produced a drawing that the child had drawn earlier, he handed it to his brother. "Look at this."
The childlike illustration wasn't innocent. Harsh lines symbolized the lake which almost claimed Chrissie, a block of brown indicated the wooden jetty and a stick figure of Chrissie falling off it. Yet, it was a mysterious figure on the jetty that caused the elder teen to raise his eyebrows. The figure had a large head with it's arms outwards in a pushing motion, it's body was colored black, not only that, it's eyes were black too.
The eldest shook his head, almost crinkling the paper that was in his clutches. He knew two things, one, it wasn't an accident, and two, the culprit was a demon. A demon was responsible. A demon tried to kill his baby sister. After another minute, the brothers ventured over to the youngest, who was still occupied with her crayons.
An expression of sheer concentration was on the child's face, eyebrows arched into a frown as she stuck her tongue out as she scribbled. The brothers slid themselves into the empty chairs beside her.
"Hey, squirt," smiled Dean. "What you up to?"
The five year old shot him a quick glance but said nothing, only showing another completed picture in front of him. This time, it was of Chrissie and a soccer ball, with the addition of the demon standing next to her.
"Chrissie, who is that man?" probed Sam curiously, pointing at the hand drawn figure.
Chrissie moved onto another drawing, she sighed as she selected a green crayon and began immediately on her next piece of artwork.
"That bad man who push me in water" returned the five year old simply.
The brothers exchanged a worried gaze at each other. Sam grimaced at the image of a demon shoving the tiny girl into a murky and freezing lake.
"This is the man who took you and threw you in the water?" questioned Dean, secretly hoping it wasn't true.
Chrissie paused and nodded sadly in response to her eldest brother's question. The crayon became animated shortly afterwards, scratching into the paper with force.
"He push me," uttered Chrissie. "He nice. He gived me ball, then he kicked it away. Said I's had to go and get it."
Her frown furrowed further, her grip on the crayon tightened as the crayon became still again, hovering over the paper.
"He laugh when I fell. It not funny though," continued Chrissie. Her serious expression dissolved and was replaced with confusion. She whipped her head around, delivering her full attention onto her eldest brother. "Why he laugh? Why he push me?"
The brothers glanced at each other before returning to the youngest member of their small family. How could something so evil manipulate something so pure and innocent as a little girl. Chrissie's eyes were searching for an explanation on the situation, her siblings pained by her request.
"I don't know, baby girl," replied the eldest. "But I assure you we will find him and he will pay for hurting you."
The younger teenager patted the five year old on her shoulder in an act of reassurance.
"Yeah don't you worry" commented the middle sibling.
Chrissie blinked and placed the crayon down onto the tabletop. She wiggled her fingers, which had now became stiff due to hours of non-stop drawing.
"My hand hurts" said Chrissie, wincing slightly.
The older teen took her hand and inspected it, only to chuckle as he reached the conclusion of what had caused her hand to ache.
"That's cos you've been coloring all day, you silly girl" replied Dean, ruffling her fluffy hair.
"I not silly!" protested Chrissie, slapping his hand away as she was offended by his statement. She sulked and pointed an accusing finger at her eldest brother as she complained to the middle sibling. "Sammy, he call me a name!"
"He was just teasing sweetie," returned Sam with a smirk. "He didn't mean it. He didn't really call you a bad name."
Chrissie's pout didn't disappear however. She looked at Dean, gloomily.
"Yeah, your hand hurting from you coloring," explained the eldest of the litter. "You gotta admit, it is kinda silly."
Chrissie's pout began to wobble, salty tears began welling in her large green eyes.
"Please don't cry, baby girl, please," said the seventeen year old, taking a hold of her tiny hands. "I don't want to see you sad, because when you get sad, it makes me sad."
The idea and image of seeing her beloved hero in distress was too much for the little girl, and she burst into tears. Fat tears spurted down her freckled face and her bottom lip continued to tremble as her emotions were unleashed.
"Sweetheart, please don't, please," pleaded Dean, before getting up from his chair as the child was attempting to make her escape. He crouched down at her level, Chrissie gazed down at him from her chair.
"Come on. We will go out and maybe we can go to the park. What do you say? Huh?"
"That sounds like a great. Chrissie, you love the park" agreed Sam, trying to encourage his sister.
The little girl shook her head as she continued to cry, bringing up balled up fists to her streaming eyes, trying to hide her face from her brothers. She definitely had the ability to break her brothers' hearts.
"No. No. No" wept Chrissie, her breathe hitching alongside her shaking shoulders.
"Oh come on anything, please," implored the older teenager. "What can I do to make you stop crying, please."
"M-e-e w-want y-you!" she sobbed, holding her arms up like she did when she was a baby, hands reaching out for contact.
"C'mere sweetheart" the eldest sibling cooed, picking her up into his arms.
The little girl rested the side of her face against her brother's collar, winding her skinny arms and legs around his neck and torso as she clung onto him for consolation. Tears continued to roll down her cheeks, hiccups sounding from her throat. Sam observed the gentle nature in which his brother was acting with their baby sister. He had carried her to the couch, and was murmuring soothing words of comfort to stop her crying as he hugged her close.
"I want Goober" sniffed Chrissie, scanning about for her teddy bear companion.
Sam took Goober from the kitchenette table and wandered over towards his siblings, handing the little girl her toy to which she hugged it with one arm, whilst resting again her brother. The thirteen year old was thanked with a nod and a sad smile from his older sibling. Chrissie gazed mournfully at her siblings through her tears.
"Why are you crying?" her eldest brother asked, swatting the tears away with his thumb.
"I sorry I made Daddy mad at you" replied the distraught little girl, squashing her cheek against her brother's chest as she cuddled into him.
That statement caught the brothers off guard, and once again the youths shot each other a quick glance that expressed their sadness. The older teenager squeezed the child that was nestled in his arms before taking hold of her tear stained face.
"Sweetheart, you didn't make him mad," Dean remarked, gazing intently into his sister's watering green eyes. He added. "I should have been watching and taking care of you better."
Chrissie wiped her nose with the back of her hand, her face crumpling once again.
"But I bad" she whispered, her voice tiny as sobs threatened to overwhelm her again.
"No, baby, it was my fault, because I was in charge of you and I wasn't watching you and didn't see you wander off," replied the seventeen year old. "Come on, how about we lighten up the evening by going out for supper, and then I got a little bit of a surprise for ya afterwards."
The eldest bounced the child on his lap, encouraging her to smile. He only received a frown.
"I no like surprises" commentated Chrissie with a cute scowl.
"I guarantee you will like this surprise," said Dean with a smirk. "I'll give you a hint it is a sweetening surprise."
"Sammy says I not to get sweets," the five year old pouted. "He say I get hypie active."
Sam opened his mouth to protest but silenced himself as he knew his brother wasn't done talking with their sister.
"Well, I'm in charge and I say we are going out," the eldest pointed out, bouncing the child on his lap once again. "We will have fun tonight and Sammy has to go with what I say, and trust me we are gonna have fun tonight."
Chrissie gazed up at her idol with a wide eyed expression. The poor thing looked disheveled, her hair wild and untamed, eyes puffy and red from crying.
"Really? Where we go?" she asked, curiously.
"I told you it's a surprise," answered her brother. "You will find out soon enough. Don't worry it will be a night you will never forget."
The little girl became worried and held onto her teddy bear that was tucked under her arm.
"What if I forget?" Chrissie queried, eyes filled with adorable concern.
"Oh trust me you won't forget," assured Dean. "You are going to love it. We will stop first and get a camera, and we will take pictures of tonight so you defiantly won't forget, and have memories of it forever."
Chrissie's eyes widened with wonder and curiosity.
"Forever?" she said with a head tilt.
The brothers both smiled at her. Chrissie since finding her voice had always been extremely inquisitive, always asking endless questions. This offered the boys a glimmer of hope that their sister was still the same little girl they helped raise from six months old, and that the 'accident' hadn't traumatized her too much.
"Forever," repeated the seventeen year old, tickling her under the chin, making her squirm and giggle slightly. He added. "When you look at the picture, you will remember the happy times you had."
Chrissie's brain tried to stop her from smiling but the child's bright emotions shoved the dark emotions into the shadows, and allowed the five year old to grin.
"Wow! Me like that! We go now?," the little girl exclaimed, clapping her tiny hands in excitement. She glanced over at a grinning Sam before returning to the eldest, she titled her head again. "All of us?"
The boys' laughed.
"Of course, sweetheart, anything for you" stated the eldest of the trio, planting a kiss on her forehead, an action that made Chrissie giggle shyly.
Chrissie had never been to a carnival, and was literally dumbfounded with awe in her new environment. The five year old bounded around with excitement, giddy due to sheer glee and the obvious effect of several spinning rides. Sam had been cautious as she had turned an awful shade of green whilst he sat with her on a Teacup ride, yet there was no incident of projectile vomiting. Several rides later, the siblings paused for a break.
The trio stood at a ticket booth for 'The Love Boat Ride', the occasional couple appearing and disappearing into a dark tunnel on decorative swan boats.
"How about it, Sammy," smirked Dean, giving the thirteen year old a nudge with his elbow, indicating the ride behind them. "Wanna go down lovers lane with me?"
"Don't be disgusting, jerk" retorted Sam with a grimace as his brother laughed at him.
After the eldest had humored himself by taunting his brother, he returned his attention onto the youngest, who had been watching their conversation with deep interest, though understanding none of it.
"So let's see maybe we will get a big super chili dog and me and you can share," announced Dean, leveling himself with his sister. "What do you think of that, baby girl?"
"Me share with you?" repeated Chrissie.
"Yeah, baby girl," replied the older teenager with a grin. "You and me eat together. You ok with that?"
Sam rolled his eyes. 'Poor kid ain't gonna get anything if she's sharing with him. He'll devour it within a second' he said to himself.
Chrissie nodded, her wild brown hair bounced with the movement. Then a small frown developed onto her freckled face.
"I no wanna eat a dog" she said, appalled at the idea of her eating Snoopy.
"No, No, sweetheart, not a real dog," explained the seventeen year old, chuckling at the concerned expression on the child's face. "It's like a big sausage. You know what sausage is. We've eaten them for breakfast before."
Chrissie giggled sweetly, clasping her hands behind her back and swaying on her heels. Her eyes became saucers as she tilted her head in a cute manner. The brothers' smiled down at her.
Sam held an instant flash camera in his hands as his siblings purchased a large chili hot dog, recalling memories he had managed to capture. He had taken a photo of Chrissie trying to lift a heavy hammer at a sideshow, though obviously failing. Another of her against a height measurement sign, this image was to remind the boys' on how tiny their sister was during childhood. Who knows, maybe she would always be short? His favorite however was of the full trio behind a comical cutout stand, enabling them to poke their heads through. Chrissie's cartoon body was a strong muscle man with a bald shiny head, a pair of dumbbells in his meaty hands. Dean was a bearded lady with a overweight frame and plump feet, and Sam was a clown, his worst fear. They got a passing couple to take the photo.
"Look, Sammy," beamed Chrissie, balancing the food item in her hands as she toddled over to him as the eldest paid. "It nearly bigger than me."
To say the food item was large was an understatement.
"Everything is bigger than you, Chrissie" chuckled Sam.
The siblings were on the move again, Chrissie never left her eldest brother's side as she nibbled at the hot dog, wincing now and again due to the heat, making her brothers' laugh.
It had been raining the previous day, therefore huge puddles of mud and water had been churned up, making it slightly hazardous for walking. As the trio edged their way around a particularly giant puddle, their were disrupted by a gang of rowdy teenagers who found charging through the puddles amusing. One teenager, wearing a navy colored hooded sweater, and sporting a bad attempt at growing facial hair, careered right into Chrissie, knocking her into the puddle.
His friends sniggered at the sight of the five year old gasping with surprise as she looked around, mud soaking into her skin, hair and clothes. Her bottom lip trembled and she started to cry. Several females in the gang cooed at her as she wept.
Instinct kicked in and the brothers' were spurred into action. Sam dashed over to his sobbing baby sister, who was sitting on her bottom, balled up fists rubbing at her eyes.
"Hey, it's alright" soothed the thirteen year old, not caring if he got dirty as he pulled her into an embrace.
The eldest was seething with rage, he stormed over to the teenager, who he guessed was near enough his age. He clamped a hand on the teen's shoulder, startled him.
"Hey, dickface!" growled Dean.
"You talkin' to me?" started the smug youth.
"Yeah, I'm talkin' to you," returned Dean, anger flashing in his green eyes. "You get a cheap laugh outta picking on five year olds? Huh?"
The gang laughed at him.
"Who the hell does this douche bag think he is?" the youth asked his friends with a sneer. He returned his attention to Dean. "Look, pretty boy, my friends don't care about that kid. I don't care about that kid. Who the hell cares?"
The gaggle of teens squawked in shock as they witnessed their leader get punched in the nose by the kid in a leather jacket. Blood sprayed out of the kid's nose and he fell to his knees with the force of impact.
"I do!" thundered Dean, pulling the kid onto his feet and marching him over to his sister. "Apologize to her! Now!"
"Ok, Ok I get it! I'm sorry" the teenager apologized, before being shoved violently away therefore able to make his escape.
Chrissie gazed mournfully at her big brother and pointed at a soggy lump in the puddle.
"My hot dog" she said woefully, pouting.
Dean got down on his knees beside his siblings.
"Aw, it's okay, sweetie," he told the little girl. "We'll get you another one."
Chrissie sniffed nosily and rubbed her muddy cheeks, she pouted again, sorrow filled her eyes.
"I all dirty," she uttered sadly, picking at her soaked sweater. "I not pretty if I all dirty."
"Of course your pretty," replied Dean, scooping her off the ground and into his arms. He kissed her on the forehead. "You are the prettiest girl in the world." He glanced at the middle sibling. "Ain't that right, Sam?"
Chrissie whipped her head back and forth from brother to brother.
"That's right Chrissie," Sam agreed truthfully. "I've never seen a girl more prettier."
Chrissie wrinkled her nose and blinked several times before she shivered.
"I'm cold" she said.
"Don't worry, baby, we'll get you warmed up as soon as we get back to the motel," returned the eldest. "But first, what do you say we all get another hotdog or two each, and cotton candy, and popcorn, and," he said pausing dramatically. "Ice cream!"
The five year old's eyes lit up and she giggled and bounced in her brother's arms.
"I wanna cheeseburger," requested Chrissie, holding her brother's face in her filthy hands, grinning adorably at him. "Please."
"Then, you shall get a cheeseburger" replied the seventeen year old with a positive nod of the head. They rubbed their noses together.
As they departed for the food stalls again, Sam nudged Dean with his elbow.
"Your such a push-over" smirked Sam.
"Shut up," hissed Dean. "I am not."
The siblings eventually returned to the motel. Chrissie charged into the room, trampling her filthy boots onto the floor.
"I all dirty" giggled the five year old, grinning up at her siblings.
Her brothers' smirked, amused by their baby sister.
"Yeah, I know you dirty, silly girl," the eldest remarked, getting on his haunches so that he was level with her. "Now, it's time for a bath to get you all clean. Then we can eat and have ice cream."
Chrissie shook her head in a negative response.
"No" she said.
"C'mon," the seventeen year old returned. "How else do you expect to get all clean and get all that mud off of ya?"
The child frowned and shook her head once again, sticking her bottom lip into a pout.
"No" she repeated, stubbornly.
The brothers' glanced at each other and both sighed in unison, it was clear a battle was about begin.
"You have to get clean, Chrissie," Sam pointed out, joining his siblings. "You'll catch a cold if you don't."
The frown didn't vanishes and the scowl developed further as did the pout. She curled her hands into tiny fists, which trembled by her side, before pushing Sam away.
"Chrissie! Don't push!" the thirteen year old stated in a slight authoritarian manner.
"I no wanna bath," whined Chrissie, stomping her feet moodily. "No. No. No."
Dean was getting annoyed by his sister's attitude, however he tried to remain calm as getting angry would only make matters worse. He pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed in exasperation.
"I'm sorry, honey, but that's my final word," he stated. "Your getting a bath whether you like it or not."
The five year old wasn't listening to her peer's demand and let out an annoyed yell and stomped her feet again, expressing her aggravation.
"No!" she barked.
Dean's patience was now being tested, he placed his hands on her shoulders and shook her gently, his eyes glowing with frustration.
"That's it!," he said, his tone strict. "I said your getting a bath, young lady and I mean it. I'm not kiddin'."
Chrissie snarled at him and tried to shove him away. The child wasn't willing to co-operate and she was trying in vain to avoid the obstacle that she was confronted with. It meant that she had to conjure up a tantrum to get her own way, even though it made her brothers' cross. The older teenager rattled her by the shoulders.
"Enough!" he yelled. Chrissie then blew a loud and noisy raspberry, causing her brother's temper to flare even more.
Chrissie let out a yelp as she was roughly guided into the bathroom, and she started shrieking once the door was firmly locked behind her. The child furiously banged on the door with her tiny fists.
"Let me out!," she demanded. "Let me out!"
A petrified expression was now painted on her mucky face, eyes widening with fear as she could hear the bath tub filling up with water. The tantrum was getting worse and worse by the second, and Dean felt guilty in committing this act of authority. Yet he had to be cruel to be kind.
"Settle down, Chrissie," her brother said, feeling terrible for making her upset. "It's just a bath. Now let's start getting you undressed so we can get you cleaned up in the tub."
The five year old refused and began to struggle, regardless of her brother holding her in a vice like grip. Chrissie protested and battled with him as she was stripped of her dirty clothes. Her screams bounced off the tiled walls and echoed in the teenager's ears. Tears began to stream down her face as her tantrum reached it's pinnacle, her squeals being chocked by sobs.
"Please calm down," the youth begged, loosening his grip on her and taking her face in his hands. "Listen, how about I went in with you, do think that'll help? Huh?"
Chrissie wiped her running nose with the back of her hand, shoulders trembling as she cried softly. The distressed little girl shrugged.
"I dunno" she mumbled.
"Don't worry," assured Dean, swatting the tears with his thumbs. "I will make sure nothing happens too you, I promise."
The pout combined with the sorrowful expression broke the seventeen year old's heart. She was so young and vulnerable. He would do anything to stop any amount of suffering she was enduring, even if it meant trading places, then he would do so without hesitation.
"But you angry with me?" said Chrissie, her voice thick from crying.
She tilted head, waiting for an answer.
"I just got a little upset with you because you wouldn't listen," explained Dean. "But no, I was never angry with you, baby. I love you. Now let's get in the tub and get you clean as a whistle."
Chrissie curled her toes and stared at her feet, the pout quivered.
"But I fall again" she whispered.
"No, you won't, sweetheart," promised the youth. "I'll be right here with you and make sure your ok. So, come on let's get you into the tub."
The journey towards the bath tub was a terrifying sight for Chrissie. She could feel her heart beating at an incredible rate, slamming against her ribcage, her eyes wide with sheer fright as she was carefully lowered into the bath. The five year old merely stood in the centre of the tub, completely rigid, eyes like saucers.
"Close your eyes for a second, Chrissie" instructed her brother.
"Why?" asked a perplexed Chrissie.
"Deanie needs to take his clothes off, and so I don't need you to see this, so just keep your eyes closed" the seventeen year old explained.
As soon as Chrissie obeyed and squeezed her eyes shut, the teen stripped down to his boxers and climbed into the bath beside his sister. He tapped her on the shoulder, startling her as she snapped her eyes open again.
"Alright, Chrissie, you can sit down" said Dean.
"Nuh uh" replied Chrissie with a shake of the head.
"Chrissie, sit down so we can get you clean," commented Dean. "The faster we get you clean, the faster you get your supper."
Chrissie shook her head once more, shifting in her position slightly which made her panic. The five year old squeaked in fright as she slipped, only to be caught in her brother's arms.
"Are you alright, baby?" queried the youth, cupping her face gently as she howled. "Come on, let me wet your head and see if you hurt yourself."
"I no like this" sobbed the little girl, hugging her idol with all her might.
"It's okay, sweetie," hushed Dean. "It was an accident. Don't worry, big brother is here to make it all better."
He then rocked her in his arms until she calmed down again before he was able to wash her, though she fidgeted a lot. Throughout this ritual, Dean noticed his sister gazing at a large purple bruise on her wrist.
"What's this?" he asked, shocked by it's color and size.
Chrissie mumbled something under her breathe, though it wasn't very audible for her brother.
"What did you say?" he asked again, listening out for the reply.
"The bad man did it," stated Chrissie, wincing as he brother inspected it. "He tried to take me away and he hurted my hand."
The teen was horrified by the statement. It made him hate demons even more.
"Sweetie, why didn't you show us this right away after the accident?" he queried, gazing into his sister's eyes.
"Bad man say I not allowed," replied the child. "He come get me again if I say."
The bruise was badly swollen after being ignored for so long and was spread all around her wrist, the eldest knew it would be best to inspect it.
After the pair had been dried off and wrapped in towels, they exited the bathroom. Whilst Dean was getting changed, Sam comforted his upset sister. Once the eldest returned, the teenagers began fumbling around with a first aid kit.
"Will my hand fall off ?" asked Chrissie in a angst ridden tone.
"No," chuckled Sam. "It's just really swollen and needs a special lotion medicine on it to help the swelling go down for now."
Dean then started to use the gauze with the medicine then started to rub it down on Chrissie's wrist and hand. The lotion nipped and caused her to wince with discomfort.
"I know it hurts, baby, but it's almost over," assured the eldest. "It's almost over, hang on."
Dean then finished with the medicine then started to wrap up her hand.
"Thank God, Dad ain't here" remarked Sam, quietly.
"Yeah, thank God" agreed the older teenager.
"Where is Daddy?" wondered Chrissie, aware of her father's absence.
"He is working, sweetheart" replied the eldest.
Dean finished wrapping up Chrissie's wrist and hand and then taped it up and then told her to stay still while he got her pajamas. Dean got her pajamas out of her bag and then started to dress her.
"Owww" complained Chrissie, wriggling the fingers of her bandaged hand. Tears began spilling down her cheeks. "I want my Mommy."
"Aw, baby, I know you do," soothed the eldest, cuddling the weeping child. His heart breaking for her as he swallowed the lump in his throat. "We all miss Mommy."
A minute passed, and the little girl had settled down again, yet it was obvious that something could set her off again.
"Alright we got your shirt on, now let's get your pajama pants on" said Dean.
Chrissie then lifted up her legs and Dean put her pants on.
"There all finished," declared the seventeen year old. "Now lets get you something to eat. Let's warm up our supper and get your tummy filled."
The little girl then crawled across the bed away from her brothers' and curled up next to the pillow, she then popped her thumb from her un bandaged hand into her mouth.
"I no want supper" the five year old uttered sadly, tears gliding down her face again.
"Honey, what's wrong?" began Dean, traveling over with Sam towards the other end of the bed where she lay softly weeping. "Why you crying and sucking your thumb?"
"I want Mommy" repeated Chrissie, burying her face in the pillow.
"You know mommy went away when you were a baby," the eldest reminded her. "You know what?"
"What?" wondered Chrissie, turning her face to gaze at her brothers'.
"Mommy looks down on us everyday," the older teenager said. "She looks out for us from the sky."
"Mommy's an angel?" asked Chrissie.
"Yes, mommy is an angel," Sam replied. "Mommy is the most beautiful one up there."
"Why is Mommy with the angels?" Chrissie wondered, with a doleful expression. "Why she go away? She no like me?"
"Mommy loved you," said Dean, smoothing her fluffy hair. "You were the most precious gift from God that Mommy and Daddy got. The day you were born was a wonderful day. It was an accident that made mommy go away. But mommy will always love you no matter where she is."
Chrissie blinked, causing several tears to escape from her green eyes.
"Can she come back?" she enquired.
The brothers' glanced at each other, grief evident in their own eyes. Sam rubbed soothing circles on Chrissie's back.
"No, sweetheart," returned Dean, the lump in his throat bloated to golf ball size in his throat, his own tears stung at the back of his eyes.
"Mommy has to stay with the angels, but one day when you go bye-bye you will see her again. When you go up to live with the angels, you can talk to Mommy whenever you want to."
More tears streamed from the little girl's eyes, she pressed her face back in the pillow, sobbing gently.
"Oh sweetheart, don't cry," implored the eldest, placing a hand on the back of her head, attempting to turn her head to face him. "We all miss Mommy."
"If there is anything you want to know about Mommy, we will tell you" added Sam, tears threatening in his eyes too.
The little girl finally turned her head around to face her brothers', tears still streaming down her delicate face, hiccups jerking from her throat.
"I wanna go to sleep now" she sniffed.
"There is no need to cry though," Sam pointed out softly. "What's wrong?"
"If I went buh-bye, Goober would be alone," Chrissie explained, clutching her teddy bear to her chest. "He no like being on his own."
The stuffed toy stared blankly, unaware of it's owner despair.
"Well, if you ever went away I'm sure Goober would go with you in spirit," said Sam. "I'm sure God has lots of toys in Heaven for little kids."
Dean stroked the side of her face affectionately, catching several tear drops.
"Sam's probably right, sweetheart," he concurred. "Now how about we get something good to eat in that tummy of yours, huh?"
The five year old shook her head, she then yawned. The poor thing was exhausted.
"No," she mumbled, leaning into her brother's hand. "I wanna go sleep."
"C'mon, you need to eat something before you go to sleep," said Dean.
"You can't go to sleep on an empty tummy. You could get sick."
Sam nodded in agreement to his elder brother's statement.
"Dean's right Chris," the thirteen year old said. "You need to eat at least a little something."
Chrissie didn't move or make a sound, she curled up into a tight ball and closed her eyes. The pleading requests from her brothers' to eat something were ignored. Then again, Chrissie had went hungry before. During the times when she was left alone while her brothers' and father went out, she had to fend for herself. Being without food was almost second nature to her.
"Okay, baby," her eldest sibling said tenderly. "But if you get hungry just tell us, even if it's late. I still think you should eat now so you don't get sick. You want a story?"
The teenager didn't get a response. She just lay there in silence, tears falling from her closed eyes, her tiny frame trembling.
Sam ventured forward and kissed her on the top of her head and whispered:
"Love you, Chrissie, sweet dreams."
The middle sibling then wandered into the bathroom, granting himself and his brother some alone time. Dean watched his baby sister and carefully crawled over and lay beside her. He wrapped his arms around her as he pulled her into a protective embrace.
"Good night, sweetheart," he whispered in her ear. On planting a kiss on her forehead, he added with deep melancholy. "Angel's are watching over you."
*Holding box of tissues* Take one if needed
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