A/N: Again, thanks to LovinJackson for tireless help, reading this. And her mum, too! Love ya, Deb! HUGS Okay...on with the story...

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Denver, Colorado.

"Oreos, dude...these are the best!" Dean spoke in a tone that indicated he was passing on vital information from one generation to the next. He held the cookie in one hand to his captivated audience, before he carefully demonstrated how to twist the Oreo into two. "Now the key to remember with these babies? Is that the only way to fully appreciate them? Is to twist them in half and eat the filling first." Dean used his front teeth to scrape the sugary white cream filling into his mouth, and then popped one half of the cookie base into his mouth, then the other. "Mow shee? Thwat's de fway to emfoy pwhem." Tiny showers of crumbs slipped from the corner of Dean's mouth as he spoke with his mouth full.

Connor clapped a hand over his mouth and giggled loudly.

"I thought I taught you better manners than that?" John mused from his chair where he was taking the time to clean one of his shotguns.

Dean tossed an Oreo at his father, watching as John caught it without even looking up from what he was doing. A moment later, he'd opened his cookie like Dean had, winking at Connor as he ate it.

"See, Connor? Everything I ever needed to know, I learnt from my father." Dean grinned.

Connor looked at Dean, then over at John, nodded solemnly as though he was learning part of a rite of passage. The little boy took an Oreo from the pile stacked in front of Dean and opened it how he was shown, looking up with a proud smile on his face as he saw the way Dean was beaming at him in return.

"The kid's a natural." Dean informed his father proudly as he took another cookie for himself.

John glanced over as he continued cleaning his shotgun, a ghost of a smile on his lips. It was surreal, seeing his eldest boy bonding with Connor, yet it seemed so natural. Dean just had a way with children, always had done ever since he was a child himself. John knew a lot of it stemmed from Dean taking care of Sammy from the night of the fire. From always having to watch Sam's back. But there was a lot there that was just Dean. He was having a small taste of what life had always seemed to deny him. A child…a family.

But what made John smile even more, what made this moment all the more special to him, was seeing the way Connor watched Dean's every move. The little boy hung on every word that left Dean's mouth. John recalled a time when Dean was the same with him, how he was like a sponge, hungry to learn all he could from his father to be just like him.

Dean wasn't Connor's biological father, but the little boy couldn't have asked for better than what he'd been given by life's twists of fate.

"Hey…you know, I bet there's a toy truck or two around here with your name on it?" Dean scooped Connor up and slung him up on his shoulders, holding him by the ankles for safety. "Now you spot that truck? You make sure you holler out good and loud…they like hiding from little dudes. We have to go track them down…okay?"

" 'kay!" Connor shouted happily, resting his elbows on Dean's head and looking around for any trucks hiding in the shadows.

Sam emerged from one of the aisles, chuckling as he watched his brother gently bouncing Connor on his shoulders as they disappeared from view. He took a seat near his father and took an Oreo from the pile Dean had left, popping the whole cookie into his mouth and munching happily.

John shook his head and laughed, the sight of Sam frowning in puzzlement, only causing the hunter to laugh more.

"What? What's so funny?"

" Nothing, Sammy." John let his laughter ease, a smile still lighting his eyes as he watched his youngest. Sam was so very like him in so many ways, yet he was always his own person too. Something that John had found admirable and frustrating at the same time. "Where's Elise?"

"She went to see if there was anything in the women's wear section that she liked." Sam helped himself to another Oreo as his father put the shotgun away and picked up a Browning handgun instead, beginning to dismantle and clean the gun.

"How much further is she travelling with us?" John asked, looking up from his cleaning.

"I don't know. Just to Wyoming I think? Why?"

"Just curious…"

Sam caught a glimpse of a grin from his father and narrowed his eyes. "It's not like that, Dad."

"I don't know what you're talking about…" John struggled not to smile. He'd been the same way with Mary, oblivious to how much she liked him…until Mary finally made it abundantly clear. At the time, John had joked with her that he'd been too blinded by her beauty to see the signs. But the truth of the matter was, John had always wondered how a working class, ex-marine managed to capture the heart of someone as special as Mary. It was something he had always cherished.

"Shouldn't we be hitting the road?" Sam could still feel the pull from Southern Wyoming…like a siren's call. It spread through his body, leaving goose bumps in its wake. Sam knew that whatever the demons were being called for…it was happening tonight.

"Give Dean and Connor an hour. Let them forget what's coming….just for an hour." John's face was grim as he spoke, knowing that there was a good chance they might not get Skye back.

Sam thought about the smiles he'd seen on both Dean and Connor's faces. An hour wasn't too much to ask, really. Not when it came to giving Dean a taste of normal and of just having fun. " Yeah…sure." He glanced down at his hands, thinking, trying to find the right way to approach the conversation, when John spoke up again.

"What is it, Sam?"

"How?" Sam raised his eyes to meet his father's steady gaze, studying the man, searching him as if the answers were tattooed on his skin in plain view, simply because his father was alive and before him. " You…Dean…how…how did it happen? Dean was dead. You were dead…"

John had known this moment was coming since Sam had seen him at the church. He put the gun down and sat up a little straighter, because right now, Sam needed his full attention. "I contacted Skye through a dream. Got her to track down where Dean was….I couldn't have done it without her." He went on to explain to Sam what had happened at the barn, how he had given some of his essence, his demonic life-force to Dean to bring his son to life. It had been such a gamble at the time and John knew it had been a one-shot deal. By giving up part of that essence, he had condemned himself to a half-life. No longer a man and less than a demon. It had tainted Dean too, left demonic traces in his son that would never be removed and that hurt John, making his son part of what they had always fought. Part of what had taken Mary from them.

But it had meant Dean was alive and that was all that mattered. Anything else was secondary to his son breathing again, living again.

"Those dreams you've had, where you connected with your brother. It's because of the demon blood you both have in you now. It's made you stronger, Sam. Forged a stronger bond. But you're still yourself as much as Dean is himself. That blood can't dictate who you are, what you'll become. You're the only one who can do that." John said firmly. "You understand?"

" Yeah…yeah, I get it, Dad." Sam allowed a gentle smile to play over his lips. " I'm in charge of my own destiny."

" You always were, Sam.'" John nodded, glad to have this moment with his youngest. He'd lost out on so many chances to talk to Sam in the past.

"But what about what you said to Dean? About him having to kill me?" The smile was gone now, Sam's face becoming stony as he thought about the pain that had caused Dean. The fear and anger Sam had felt, the betrayal.

"Dean was the only one who could have saved you, Sammy. You know that as well as I do. When I told Dean that? I knew how he'd take it. It was a shitty thing to do, but I knew your brother had the strength to do whatever it took to save you."

"Cause you didn't?" Sam fought to keep the accusation and pain out of his voice.

"No, I didn't." John admitted quietly. There was no point in lying to Sam. Not about this. "When I found out what that Yellow Eyed Bastard planned to do, Sammy. I was terrified. You and Dean, you're all I have in this world. All that I have left of Mary. I couldn't bare the thought of that son of a bitch using you, turning you against me and Dean. Against everyone we care about. I knew if I had to kill you to save this world….I couldn't do it. I'd let it burn, Sam, rather than hurt you."

"And Dean? You thought Dean could kill me?"

"No." John shook his head. "I knew Dean would do anything to save you. He'd go beyond and above what he knew, what he could manage….because he couldn't lose you. I was tired, Sam. My back was against the wall, faced with losing your brother. If I lost Dean, I'd have lost you both and you know it. There would have been nothing to stop the Demon from taking you away from me….because you would have never listened to me. Would you?" He looked expectantly at his son.

Sam held his father's gaze for a heartbeat, and then nodded, allowing his smile to return a little as it sunk in what his father was saying. They had always locked horns, Sam rebelling against his father for most of his teen years until he left for college. Dean was the glue that held them together back then and Sam knew if his brother had died that day in the hospital….he would have turned his back on his father, probably gone after the Demon alone. He would have played right into the Demon's hands. "No… no, I wouldn't have. Dad…. I didn't mean…I wasn't trying to say you didn't…" He struggled to get the words out, his throat closing up.

"Its okay, Sam. I know you weren't. I'm your father, no matter what you've done. I love you. It's as simple as that. Always was, always will be." John let a warm smile curl the corner of his mouth.

"I love you too, Dad." Sam said quietly, his voice thick with emotion before he chuckled quietly, feeling awkward at the show of emotion and stood up, wiping his palms on his jeans. "I'd better go and make sure Elise is okay."

"Sure, I should really make sure we have everything we need before we hit the road anyway."

Sam nodded and slipped away towards the woman's clothing section with a smile on his face. A huge weight was lifted from his shoulders and Sam was never more grateful that he'd had that moment with his father.

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Dean felt like a kid. Literally. A big, giant kid with his knees somewhere up around his ears as he tried to peddle the trike he was on. And the craziest part about it all? Was that he was losing.

Connor was almost at the end of the aisle, giggling loudly as he raced ahead of Dean. The kid had a size advantage, that was for sure and Dean was beginning to wonder if he'd picked a faulty trike, because it couldn't be normal to have his ass kicked so easily by a little kid….right?

At the end of the aisle, Connor paused and looked back at Dean with a smile that was blinding with its open happiness. He giggled again and pushed himself around the corner, Dean still able to hear the little boy even when he was out of sight.

The earlier events of that morning came rushing back to Dean and he found himself trying to peddle faster as the fear began to prickle up his spine again. He rounded the corner…and was assaulted by a stuffed dinosaur to the head that knocked Dean off the bike in a tangle of limbs and wheels.

Connor laughed and clapped a hand over his face for a moment, before he edged forward with a tiny frown. "Dee 'kay?"

His answer was to be tackled and tickled mercilessly, the pair of them giggling and laughing until they were out of breath, lying on their backs, staring at the ceiling. Dean had an arm around Connor still and the little boy crawled up and snuggled into an easy embrace, his head on Dean's chest, listening to his heartbeat.

Dean remained still until Connor sat up and looked at him. "What is it, little dude?"

Connor didn't say anything at first. He simply leaned down and hugged Dean tightly again, little fists bunched up in the material of Dean's shirt. "Love you."

It was like a punch to the solar plexus, but in a good way. Dean hugged the little boy to him, smiling and feeling his throat closing up before he shook it off, fighting to regain control. "Me too, Connor." The words came out thick with emotion, but that was okay….there was no around to hear him. No one saw the walls crumble.

After a moment to compose himself, Dean got to his feet and held out a hand to Connor. "What do you say we go find some remote control cars? I'll show you how to make them do tricks…"

Connor grabbed hold of Dean's hand, wrapping his little fist around one finger. "Cars!" The grin on his face said it all and Dean was grinning himself in return. "Maybe we'll even find an Impala, huh?"

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"Elise?" Sam turned in a half circle, trying to see if he could spot her. There were racks of clothing everywhere and although Sam towered over Elise, he was pretty sure the racks didn't have the same height advantage.

Moving past a circular rack of ladies jeans, Sam suddenly found himself staring at Elise's bare back. She turned, holding a top to her chest and jumping in surprise. "Jesus, mate! You're going to give me a bloody heart attack if you keep doing that. What do I have to do? Tie a bell to you?"

"I…uh….that is…" Sam stammered. "I'm so sorry…I didn't…I mean…"

"Geez, Sam, what colour's red?" Elise giggled, before she called out. "Security! We've got a bloke here perving on the ladies! Security!"

Sam was turning redder by the minute and Elise couldn't help but burst out laughing. "Relax, Sam…I'm just having a lend of you."

"Huh?"

Elise laughed again, shaking her head. "I'm going to have to teach you to speak Strine, aren't I? Could prove interesting. Now turn around, will you? I'm still getting dressed here."

"Oh….right, sorry." Sam spun on his heels and turned his back. But as he heard the sound of clothing rustling and racks being searched, he found himself trying to peek over his shoulder. Sam caught a glimpse of a tattoo on the back of Elise's neck, just between her shoulder blades…and another lower down. Heat prickled up through his face and he snapped his eyes to the front again.

"Sam?" Elise had been watching him, a mischievous grin appearing on her face. It was beyond cute, seeing him so embarrassed and it made one hell of a change from most of the guys Elise had known who would have been hanging around, drooling like Pavlov's dog at the dinner bell.

"Yeah?" Sam kept his gaze firmly ahead of him.

"Can you pass me the pair of jeans just behind you on the left? Size 10?"

Sam swallowed. Was she serious? How was he supposed to hand her a pair of jeans without looking? "Seriously?"

"Yeah, just behind you on the left." Elise was fighting the urge to giggle. "Please?"

"Uh…sure." Sam tried to turn without looking behind him, his hand flailing out to find the jeans as he strained to look at the right size.

"Yup…yup…that's them, right there! Just hand them back here."

Fighting the urge to look, Sam held the jeans out behind him, feeling Elise take them a moment later and then hearing the soft sound of the zipper being opened and the jeans sliding on. His mind was running wild with all sorts of images and thoughts, making Sam flush an even deeper shade of red. This was wrong. He wasn't interested….at all. No way. Women and Sam just didn't mix.

Elise slipped a shirt on and walked up quietly behind Sam, placing a hand on the small of his back. "Hey…thanks for your help, mate." Her touch made Sam jump and once again Elise tried not to laugh. "You okay?"

"Yeah…I'm fine." But there was a crack in Sam's voice that said otherwise and it had Elise giggling. She clapped a hand to his shoulder and gave him a consoling pat before she walked away from the guy. "Sure you are…"

Sam frowned slightly, a bemused smile on his face. "Wait a minute….did you just play me?"

"Me? Nah, mate….I'm not that sort of girl." Elise feigned complete innocence. "Come on, we'd better go and get you some clothes while we have a chance."

Sam followed Elise, far from convinced and finding himself grinning like a fool. Okay…so Elise was cute and funny and kept him on his toes. It still meant nothing. He wasn't interested at all….no way. Sam just had to keep reminding himself of that.

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An hour later, John had organised food for the trip, spare clothing for himself and even a few changes for Dean, saving his son from having to interrupt the time he was spending with Connor.

There were even a few changes of clothes for Connor too. John had no idea if Skye would like what was chosen, but it was practical and hard wearing. After all, he'd dressed his sons for years as a single father; it wasn't something new to him.

By the time Sam, Dean, Elise and Connor all returned, smiling and joking, John was ready to hit the road. They had a three hour drive ahead of them and who knew what was going to happen after that?

"Poppy, look! Car!" Connor rushed over to John and proudly showed off the Mustang that Dean had found for him.

Sam quirked an eyebrow at his father. "Poppy?"

"What?" John demanded a little defensively as he picked Connor up. "Something you want to say there, Sam?"

"No…no. Nothing at all." Sam fought to keep a straight face and he lost the battle the moment he saw the grin appear on his father's face. "Poppy, huh? Nice. Much better than Grandpa."

"Shut up, Sam and start carrying the duffel bags to the car." John said with a chuckle as he held Connor. "You too, Dean."

"Yes sir." Dean grinned, the two brothers laughing as they walked away with the bags.

John rolled his eyes and looked at Connor. "You're not going to give me grief when you get older are you, kiddo?"

"Nup." Connor shook his head firmly.

"Good. Cause otherwise you'd have to suffer…..this!" John grabbed Connor by the ankles and flipped him over, tickling the little boy and making him laugh. Turning him the right way up again, John held Connor in his arms and nodded to Elise. "Let's hit the road…"

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Next Chapter coming soon...