Disclaimer: Supernatural and all its characters belong to Kripke and the CW.
Previously on Supernatural- Seeing the hotline number he clicked off the television and slammed the remote down. Things had just gone to hell in a hand basket.
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Wide brown eyes turned to stare at Dean the moment the television switched off. "Why are the police looking for us, Dean? Are we in trouble for taking the pony?" Sammy asked fearfully.
"We're not in trouble, Sammy." Dean assured his little brother. "They just want to make sure we're okay. Somebody must have told them we were at the apartment yesterday."
"Who told on us?" Sammy asked dropping his spoon onto the table.
"I don't know. I didn't think anybody saw..." Dean replied stopping as a memory flashed through his mind. "That witch in 3A! She was standing in her doorway when we came back, remember? I bet she's the one that gave us away, the old bat!"
"Mrs. Cobb's not a witch, Dean." Sammy corrected. "I think she's nice."
"Right, Sammy and Ronald McDonald's just a guy in a colorful suit." Dean sarcastically responded. "Now finish your breakfast so we can go back to Matt's room."
"I still think she's nice." Sammy mumbled as he picked his spoon up and stuck it in his bowl. He silently stirred his cereal for a few seconds before voicing his next question. "Dean, what's abandoned mean?" he asked.
"It means you leave something like when we had to leave the apartment last night." Dean explained as he carried his bowl and glass to the sink. "Why?"
"The man on the news said daddy abandoned us." Sammy replied eyes widening as a sudden thought struck him. "Daddy didn't leave us forever! He's coming back to get us, isn't he Dean?"
"Of course he is Sammy. He just has to finish his job first." Dean reassured as he walked back to the table. Looking at Sammy's half eaten bowl of cereal he frowned. "Quit playing with your food and eat, Sammy."
"But I'm not hungry, Dean." Sammy whined pulling out the puppy eyes.
"Look, I'll make you a deal. If you eat two more spoonfuls of your cereal and take your medicine without a fuss, you can pick out a game for us to play. Any game you want. Deal?" Dean asked.
Sammy thought for a minute and then grinned up at his big brother. "Deal!" he agreed. Picking up his spoon he ate two huge spoonfuls of his cereal before handing the bowl to Dean. He watched his brother take the bowl to the sink and then return with the dreaded bottle of medicine and pour some out into the measuring cup. Sammy took the cup, shut his eyes, and quickly downed the syrupy glop in one gulp. Grimacing at the taste he grabbed his milk and took a big swig to eliminate the medicine's foul after taste.
"Good job, Sammy!" Dean praised taking the measuring cup from his little brother. "You go ahead upstairs and find us a game while I wash the dishes."
"Yea!" Sammy cheered as he dashed out of the room.
At the police station
Mrs. Cobb walked up to the front desk and stood patiently waiting as the officer at the desk talked on the phone. Once he set the receiver down she knocked on the desk to get his attention and said, "Please tell Officer Bellows that Mrs. Cobb is here to see him. I believe he's expecting me."
"I'll let him know you're here." Officer Hartley told her. "Why don't you take a seat on the bench over there while you wait?"
"No thank you. I'd rather stand." Mrs. Cobb replied. She stood staring at the officer as he made the call.
"Ma'am, Officer Bellows said for you to take a seat. He'll be out in a few minutes." The officer said pointing to the bench across the hall.
"I'm fine right here young man." Mrs. Cobb informed the officer. She continued to stand and stare at the man as he attempted to complete his paperwork. After a couple of minutes, Officer Hartley mumbled something about going to see what was keeping Officer Bellows and walked away. "Works every time." Mrs. Cobb thought smiling sweetly as the young officer gestured at her.
Officer Bellows walked up to the front desk and held out his hand. "Mrs. Cobb, I'm Officer Bellows. What can I do for you?"
Mrs. Cobb shook the officer's hand. "I wanted to know if you had found those two poor boys yet. I've been worried sick about them." She explained.
"Not yet, ma'am. But don't worry. We have a search party out looking for them now and we've been running an announcement on the local station about the boys. It won't take long to find them." Officer Bellows confidently stated.
"I hope so." Mrs. Cobb said. "I hate to think of those two boys out in this weather."
Matt's house
Dean walked into Matt's bedroom and froze staring at the game sitting in front of his little brother. "Umm, Sammy, what's that?" he asked pointing to the box.
"That's the game we're gonna play Dean." Sammy happily replied.
Looking at the box in disgust Dean shook his head. "Not that one! Come on Sammy! Pick a different game."
"But Dean, you said I could pick any game I wanted and I want this one." Sammy reminded poking out his bottom lip and crossing his arms.
"No way, Sammy. I am not playing Pretty, Pretty Princess with you." Dean declared. "That's for girls."
Sammy bottom lip began to quiver and his puppy eyes filled with tears. ""Please Dean? I wanna play this one. It's really fun! You get to dress up and everything."
"Oh, alright." Dean replied rolling his eyes. He sat down on the floor and reluctantly grabbed the lid of the box. "But only once and if you ever tell anybody I played this, I'll kick you're a$$."
"Thanks, Dean!" Sammy squealed.
"Yeah, yeah" Dean muttered taking the lid off the box. He glanced into the box for a moment and then turned to his brother. "Sammy, what's this?" he asked holding up a large blue rectangle and a small gray ship.
"It's Battleship, Dean! I just switched the tops of the boxes." Sammy explained grinning from ear to ear. "I got you! I got you!"
"You little sneak! I'm gonna get you!" Dean shouted as he grabbed Sammy and began tickling him mercilessly. He dodged Sammy's arms and legs as he continued his tickle attack laughing right along with his little brother.
Sammy laughed as he fought against the tickling hands. He swatted and kicked at Dean attempting to throw his brother off long enough to gain the upper hand. He laughed and laughed as Dean continued to attack his most ticklish spots. After a couple of minutes, his laughing suddenly turned into a coughing attack.
Dean immediately stopped tickling as soon as he heard the first cough. Pulling Sammy into a sitting position he rubbed his little brother's back while the youngest Winchester continued to cough. Once the attack finally subsided Dean ran into the bathroom and poured a glass of water. He handed the glass to Sammy and helped him take small sips until all the water was gone. "You okay, Sammy?" he asked.
"Yeah" Sammy croaked. "Can we play now?"
"Sure kiddo." Dean replied ruffling Sammy's hair. "But don't think I'm letting you off the hook. Soon as you're well I'm finishing this."
"Bring it on big brother!" Sammy challenged.
On the hunt
"Thank you for your help, ma'am." John said before turning and swiftly walking down the walkway and to the waiting impala. Opening the door he plopped down in the driver's seat and rubbed his forehead in an attempt to ward off the impending headache. He really hated this part of the job. Interviewing people was more Josh's cup of tea especially ladies like Ms. Burton. In the short time he'd talked with the town gossip he learned what everyone in town was doing and who they were doing it with. On the bright side she had been able to tell him where Vic Nelson was buried. Now he could take care of the spirit and get back to his boys in plenty of time for Christmas. Shaking his head to clear his thoughts John started the engine and headed for the hotel. He had a salt and burn to plan.
Matt's house
Dean glanced at Sammy's half eaten hot dog and sighed. It had taken another game deal to get his little brother to eat that much. He wished he'd been able to bring the casserole with them for Sammy. Throwing the trash away he decided to check and see if the kitchen had the ingredients he needed to make another one. He had to get Sammy eating somehow. Dean quickly washed the dishes and set them on the counter for supper before walking to the stairway. He was just starting up the stairs when he heard a car pull up in the driveway. Cursing under his breath he sprinted up the stairs and raced into Matt's room and over to the window. Peeking out the curtain he noticed a strange woman walking up to the house. "Sammy, come here a minute." He ordered.
"What's wrong, Dean?" Sammy asked as he ran over to Dean.
"Nothing kiddo." Dean lied. "I just want to know if you've ever seen that lady before."
Sammy peered out the window at the woman. "I don't know her. Why's she coming here? Is she coming to get us?" he asked.
"Not if I can help it." Dean muttered. "C'mon!" Dean quickly snatched up their duffles and book bag and threw them in the closet. He then led Sammy into the small closet and shut the door. Sitting down in the back corner he wrapped an arm around his brother and pulled him in close. "Alright, Sammy, I need you to be very quiet for me. Can you do that?"
Sammy nodded his head into his big brother's shoulder. "I'm scared, Dean." He whispered.
"Its okay, Sammy. I'm not gonna let anything happen to you." Dean assured running his fingers through his little brother's hair to calm him. He listened as the woman made her way around the first floor of the house before climbing the stairs. He heard her go in and out of the master bedroom and then walk down and stop at Matt's door. He held his breath as the door creaked open and the stranger stepped inside.