A/N: The established phone code: 1x18 (Something Wicked). There are other things I wanted to say, but I've got four minutes until Supernatural comes on, so I won't waste any more time.

Disclaimer: I would say that if I was a writer on Supernatural, I wouldn't be here, but that's a lie. I would come here more.

Left Alone

It was late when the phone rang. Dean already put Sam to bed. Hours ago. Dean couldn't sleep. He had tried, but it seemed like tonight, sleep wouldn't be reached. So he just sat on the edge of the bed watching Sammy sleep.

The ringing was loud and harsh, but other than plotting to kill the caller if he woke Sammy, Dean ignored it.

It only rang once. Dad, thought Dean, getting up, just as the phone rang again.

He picked up. "Dad?" he asked.

"Hi, Dean," he said. Even over the phone, Dean knew something wasn't okay. Something was wrong.

"Dad, are you okay?" asked Dean anxiously. "You're not hurt right?"

"No," said John softly. "Nothing like that. Just called to make sure you were okay?"

"Yeah, Dad," said Dean suspiciously. This was only the second night that John had been away. He'd left them alone longer than that without calling for days. "Me and Sam are okay."

"He's asleep?" he asked.

"Yeah," said Dean, not noticing that Sam had climbed out of bed and was standing next to Dean. He tugged on Dean's pajama sleeve. "Or not. He's awake now." He looked down at Sam. "It's Dad, Sam. Wanna say goodnight?"

Sam grabbed at the phone, but it was out of his reach in Dean's hands. "Hey, Dad," said Dean, holding up his hand for Sam to wait. "I'm gonna put Sammy on."

He handed him the pone. Sam held it in his right hand and held Dean's with his left. "Hi, Dad," he said. Dean couldn't hear his father's answer, but Sam looked up at Dean with his little puppy dog eyes. "I'm scared, Dad." Another pause, but Dean didn't try to hear what John told Sam, only straining his ears, to hear whatever it was making Sam scared, and how to make him feel safe.

"The monsters, Dad," answered Sammy, and Dean's heart stopped for a minute. He thought he knew one of two directions that this conversation could go. Don't tell him, Dad. Please, he's only four, begged Dean silently.

And before John had chance to answer, Dean grabbed the phone from Sam.

"Hey!" Sam protested. "Give! I amn't done!"

Dean held the receiver in his hand for a couple more seconds. He heard John calling his name, but Dean just wanted to hang up, put Sammy to bed and maybe grab a few hours of sleep.

But John's voice called him from the receiver. "Put your brother on the phone, Dean," he said, and Dean, being the consenting little soldier he was, shoved the receiver at his brother, a little more roughly than he intended to, and sat down , wrestling with his desire to protect Sam and his promise to listen to his father.

After a little while of a conversation Dean wasn't following, Sam handed the phone back. "Say goodnight," he said, climbing up and sitting on Dean's lap.

Dean held his brother close. "Goodnight, Dad," he said.

"There aren't any…?" started John cautiously.

"No, sir," said Dean quietly.

Dean heard John sigh through the phone. "I didn't tell him, Dean," John assured him. Dean let go of a breath hadn't realized he'd been holding.

"Thanks," he said.

"We have to tell him sometime, Dean," said John reasonably.

"I know," he replied sadly.

"You can't protect him from everything, Dean," said John. "Especially if he's going to be a hunter."

"I know."

Still though, thought John, because it seemed a little ridiculous at this point to tell Dean to look after his brother. It's good of you to look out for him.

"Dean," said John aloud. Dean didn't answer, as Sam rested his head against Dean's shoulder. He was too busy watching him precious baby brother drift off to sleep. "I promise I'll be home soon."

"I know, Dad," said Dean. "Goodnight. Sammy fell asleep again."