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Previously on Supernatural- Sam looked around once more before sitting back down. He was lost. He held Muffin tighter as he waited for his daddy and Dean to come get him.
Sammy sat on the log thinking about his daddy and big brother. Question after question tumbled through his mind. "Where are they? Are they even looking for me? Why haven't they found me yet? Are they mad at me? Is daddy gonna spank me?" replayed over and over followed by a new thought. "I wonder if they ate supper." That thought led his imagination to conjure up all kinds of delicious foods. Hamburgers, pizza, hot dogs, French fries, and Lucky Charms floated through making Sam's mouth water. Finally he couldn't take anymore. Jumping off the log, Sam made a big decision. He was lonely, hungry, and tired of waiting for his family to find him. He was going to find them! He examined his surroundings and formed a quick plan. Once that was done, Sam scooped Muffin up, picked a direction, and set out to find his daddy and big brother.
Dean was frustrated. They had been searching for hours with no luck. Even with all the police and the rangers, it was slow going. They hadn't gotten very far, and the woods seemed to go on forever. It was starting to get dark and to make things worse, the podunk police department didn't have any tracker dogs to help with the search. Dean looked over at Bobby, who'd turned his truck around and raced back when he got John's call. "Wish he'd brought Cristo and Max with him. They could have found Sammy by now." he thought. Hearing a voice, Dean stopped and stared at the officer hoping he'd found something.
It was taking everything John had not to fall apart. He needed to keep himself together and in hunter mode. His baby had been missing for hours, and it was up to him to find his little boy and bring him home. And he would bring him safely home. This was the most important hunt of John's life. It was even more important than the hunt for Mary's killer. Calling on his inner reserves, John locked his emotions down, shut out any negative thoughts, and focused on the hunt. John couldn't help the smile that appeared as he glanced at Bobby and Dean walking on either side of him. The three of them were the best team for the job. Together they'd find the youngest member of their family. John was pulled from his thoughts when one of the officers yelled for everyone to stop. Turning toward the man, John struggled to stay calm, hoping the officer was about to tell them Sam had been found.
Bobby was lost in thought as he searched for John's youngest. It felt like only yesterday that they had been in the same position. Looking for Sammy after he had run away from the school and a certain Mrs. Horton had been a nightmare for John and Dean. The time Bobby had spent waiting at the school for any word on the boy had been one of the worst times of his life. He had spent the whole time wishing he was out there searching and now here he was; Different town, different circumstances, but the same hunt. He had to admit to himself that searching didn't make him feel any better than waiting had. He just hoped this search ended as well as the last one. He didn't know if he could take Sammy being hurt or worse. Throwing that particular thought away, he concentrated on the woods around him. The increasing darkness was making it harder and harder to see. "Wish I had Max and Cristo with me. They'd find Sammy in no time." he thought. Bobby stopped dead in his tracks as he heard a policeman holler out. Hoping someone had found Sammy he turned toward the man and waited for news.
Sammy and Muffin walked for a long time. Exhausted he sat down to rest and examine his surroundings. All he saw were trees and bushes. One bush in particular caught his eye. It had several vines growing along the bottom and berries covered the vines. Stepping over to the bush to get a closer look, Sammy bent down to get a closer look. Sammy's smile lit up his little face when he recognized the treat. Carefully yanking several off the vine, he shouted "Look Muffin, blackberries! Try one they're really good." Muffin raced over at her friends call and soon both were sitting contentedly munching on their newly found snack.
Dean couldn't believe his ears. They were stopping the search because it was dark, and they wouldn't start again until tomorrow morning! What were they two? It wasn't okay for these grown men to be out in the woods in the dark but it was alright to leave Sammy out there? What idiot made that shit up? "Dad, we're not really gonna quit looking, right?" he asked staring up at his father.
"Of course not, kiddo. We'll go back to the impala for flashlights and other supplies and keep hunting. We're not leaving till we find your brother." John told him. Walking back to the campground, the hunter formed a plan for the night hunt. He listened to the policeman and ranger as they tried to convince him to take Dean and go back to their home for the night before putting the men straight. "We're not leaving" he declared. "If you're afraid to search in the dark then by all means go home. But my son, who is terrified of the dark, is lost and alone in these woods. So the dark's not gonna stop us. We're taking our flashlights and going back out to look. Sammy's out there somewhere, and we're staying here until we find him."
Sammy and Muffin ate their fill of berries before continuing on their journey. They walked for hours before they heard a noise. Sam listened attentively trying to identify the familiar sound. It took a minute but he was finally able to place the noise. It was water! Breaking into a run, he headed toward the sound. After a few minutes of running, they came upon a small stream. Sam stopped at the bank, scooped up some of the cool water in his hands, and drank. He repeated the action several times while Muffin stood at the edge and lapped up her share.
When they both finished their drinks, Sam inspected the area they were in. He decided to follow the stream hoping it would lead them to the campground or at least some houses. Setting off, the two friends trudged beside the stream looking for the way home.
"Mr. Winchester, I feel for you and your family and I know you want to find your son. But this isn't going to help. There are all kinds of animals that come out at night looking for food." Ranger Gates began.
John exploded. "Don't you dare tell me you know how I feel! It's not your son out there alone! And don't presume you know more than me just because you're a ranger. I know more about the kinds of creatures that live in the dark than you ever will. Now either help us or get the hell out of my way! I've got a son to find."
The deadly glares John and Bobby were throwing his way stopped any remark Ranger Gates might have had. He turned and walked away without saying another word.
Once Ranger Gates was out of sight, John opened the trunk of the impala and started handed out supplies. The hunters equipped themselves with flashlights, guns, knives, and flasks of holy water. Closing the trunk, they also grabbed a few bags of snacks and bottles of water out of the back seat before securing the car. "Let's go find Sammy" John told the others. The three hunters headed back into the woods to bring their lost family member home.