Disclaimer: Nope, not mine.
Betas: My dedicated and committed bia1007 and PsiChic (love them to bits)

Chapter 4

Sam heaved a grumble of dissatisfaction as he scanned the canned food section. Dean had made him shop for milk and food, while he got the privilege to shop for the kids' outfits – insisting that Sam's choice would end up with girly clothes and they could save time by shopping separately. Shopping alone wasn't the real problem though.

What troubled him the most was that Dean –little Dean – decided to tag along, saying he knew the right thing to buy because he cooked for the family. Bossy kid! Everything Sam put in the shopping cart didn't agree with him. This kid was fussier than Dean himself. Oh wait! He was Dean.

Sighing deeply, Sam wished he'd be shopping alone.

"Why didn't you stay with Dean?" Sam asked as he read the label on the canned tomato soup.

"Tomato? You've got to be kiddin' me!" Dean rolled his eyes, clearly disliking Sam's choice of food.

"Dude, you know what, that attitude…it's what keeping you short." Sam snarled but he put the can back to the rack anyway.

"Well, at least it spares me from getting my mouth stuffed with that cow food you're going to buy." Dean was quick with his response.

"Urgh!" Sam felt like strangling the boy at that very moment. "Why don't you go and stay with Dean?" Now Sam realized he didn't handle kids very well. Old women he could handle, but kids, he was terrible with them. He had less patience than Dean.

"He was no fun!" Dean folded his arms behind his head.

"And you think I am fun?" Sam asked, annoyed. But at the same time he enjoyed the thought little Dean regarded his grownup self as no fun when all the while his big brother insisted to be Mr. Hilarious himself.

"Sort of." The kid heaved his shoulders and started whistling as he continued walking down the alley.

"Hey! What do you mean sort of?" Sam called and pushed the trolley, going after the young boy. "Dean! Wait up!"

Sam was just about to reach the dairy section when he felt a hand grasping his shoulder. He turned around, half-expecting to see Dean and little Sammy.

What he saw made him jerk away from the figure standing behind him. Sam stumbled to the floor, knocking the trolley down with him as he fell. His heart was beating frantically, his chest hurt. Everything happened so fast he didn't have the time to think.

Sam watched with horror as it reached out for him. He cowered away, moving out of reflex. His mind was hazy with fear. 'Dean…Dean…Dean…' His heart chanted Dean's name. Never before he felt so scared like he was now. Hazel eyes frantically searched for the familiar face, the face nowhere to be found. So Sam stared at the bright colored guy towering above him.

The confused clown looked at him, feeling worried and guilty for invoking such a response. He was just trying to offer a balloon to that gangly guy's kid. But one pat on the shoulder and the shaggy haired man fell on his butt, dumbfounded – his face was white as a sheet and his breathing frantic. What the heck?

When the ever-smiling guy squatted ahead of the man, he was brought down to the floor by a sprinting kid that appeared out of nowhere. What?! The guy's kid? The boy looked at him with a deadly glare that sent shivers down his spine.

"Stay away from him!" Dean shook a fist, ready to strike if he needed to.

"You guys are nuts!" The clown mumbled before he got on his feet and quickly walked away, thinking of quitting the job as the mall's mascot.

Dean watched intently as the clown scrambled away. He hated clowns. They made Sammy cry. Sammy?! He turned towards Sam, who was still sprawled on the marble tiles, speechless and dazed. Dean's face fell seeing the terrified look on Sam's face. So the fear lingered on when he was grown up.

"You 'kay?" Dean knelt beside Sam, squeezing his little brother's - who was not so little anymore - knee, grounding him.

Sam looked at him wild-eyed, as if searching for something.

"Hey! It's gone." Dean's voice was gentle and soothing. The look on Sam's face made his stomach churn. Though he had seen worse, it was better to see Sam cry than to see sheer panic in his eyes. But when Sam's muscles relaxed under his touch, Dean smiled. The big guy was going to be okay.

Sam looked at Dean, confused. "What happened?"

"Twenty sumthin' and you're still afraid of some freakin' clowns huh?" Sarcasm was Dean's way of comforting. He didn't do well with sissy talk. Big or small, he was not going to start now. "Guess being tall didn't help much."

Sam shrugged and scrambled to his feet. That was embarrassing! He looked around and sighed with relief seeing it was just the two of them in the alley.

"Don't worry Sammy…it's only the two of us." Dean snorted.

Sam hissed. "Sam, it is Sam."

"Well, you're much like Sammy to me right now." Dean studied Sam. The big guy was gripping the cart, white knuckled. There was still a slight tremble running through his body, Dean could see. Snickering, he punched Sam's arm.

"Oww!" Sam yelped, rubbing the sore spot on his arm. "What's that for?"

"Nothin'." Dean wiggled his brows. "Just wanna' check if there's still any meat left in you." He continued walking, whistling a Metallica tune.

Sam just stood there, speechless. Somehow the punch had been able to calm his frantic heartbeat and bring him back from his fear. If he wouldn't have known better, he'd thought the little Dean was actually watching out for him – taking care of his little brother who was bigger than himself.

For the first time since his encounter with the kids, Sam felt at ease with the situation. Maybe having young Dean shopping with him was not really that bad.

…………………………

"It's okay Sammy…it's gone." Dean pulled little Sammy to his chest, hugging him tight. He kept his wary eyes on the clown, swearing if it turned around and gave them one last look, he was so going to knock him out for good.

Fortunately, that didn't happen. The clown was rushing away from them and was heading towards the manager's office at the end of the building.

"Shh…hush now Tiger." Dean shushed Sammy and brushed the little boy's back tenderly. Sam's screams had softened to tiny whimpers. He pulled himself away from Dean and looked at him with glassy brown eyes.

"It goed 'way?" The toddler asked, looking around warily, his hands clutching Dean's jacket with an iron grip, his little body still trembling.

"Yeah,I kicked his butt kiddo." Dean assured the little boy.

The feeling of being needed, of being a big brother who was capable of protecting his little brother, washed over Dean and warmed him from inside. It felt like forever since Sam had needed his protection, wanting him by his side to feel safe. Experiencing it all over again made Dean feel thoroughly contented.

"No, you didn't." Sammy shook his head.

"I did." Dean insisted, amused at Sammy's determination.

"You did not kick no one." Sammy's eyes were wide, determined to win.

"I kicked him when you weren't looking."

"I looked all da' time."

"But you were covering your eyes all the time." Dean was not willing to give up just yet. It was always fun to tease his little brother, letting him think he was losing and then let him win the argument. The end result was priceless.

"I peeked!" Sammy demonstrated the way he covered his eyes. Hazel eyes were visible underneath the chubby fingers, blinking with enthusiasm.

"Oh yeah?" Dean smirked. "Then you would see me do this!" He started tickling Sammy and the little boy giggled happily.

"Stop! Stop!" Sammy was breathless, panting between giggles. "Pweeasee stop!"

"Not until you say the magic word." Dean laughed.

"Pweasee…?"

The older Winchester looked at the toddler and shrugged seeing the puppy eyes looking up to him, switched on full blast. Dean swallowed dryly as he stared down the big round hazel orbs and the trembling lips, knowing immediately he could never win over those.

"You could never win over that."

Turning around, Dean almost knocked over two blondes and fell into their arms. Wait! Maybe that was not such a bad idea. Those girls were hot! Being a natural charmer like he had always been, Dean flashed the girls his best smile and muttered "Hi?"

One of the blondes bent over her cart and pinched Sammy's cheek playfully. The three year old giggled, melting the girl instantly. "Aww…you're such a darling."

"Is he yours?" The other girl asked. "He's a cutie."

"He is…just like me." Dean smiled cockily and wiggled his brows.

"You and your wife are so lucky to have such a sweet baby." The other blonde had already picked up Sammy into her arms. The little boy had the girl's curls twirled around his fingers.

'Boy, aren't you lucky?' Dean smiled proudly. Somehow little Sammy was more successful as a lady charmer than Sam. "Well…It's only the two of us." Dean corrected the kind young lady.

"What do you me…oh no! Don't tell me, your wife…she's…" She purposely didn't finish her sentence afraid of hurting Dean. Putting a comforting hand on Dean's shoulder she said "I'm so sorry."

'Thank you God!' Dean silently prayed his thanks for the luck he'd gotten without any effort. "Yeah, it was kinda' lonely sometimes ya' know?" Dean put on his best mournful face and continued "Little Sammy misses his mom everyday…sometimes he refuses to eat, wanting his mommy to feed him."

"I bet it's a hard work being a single parent." The one who was holding Sammy looked at Dean with a mix of sympathy and admiration. "Poor darlings." She kissed Sammy's cheek and the little one returned her gesture by hugging her neck.

"You know what, me and my sister here planned to cook for lunch, maybe you and your son could join us." The girl made an offer Dean would never reject. What a day!

"Hun!"

Just as Dean was about to gratefully accept the offer, his day was ruined. 'Crap!'

……………………………

"Will you look at that? He made us go shopping and there he is, hitting on girls!" Sam grunted disbelievingly. He was gone for barely twenty minutes and Dean had managed to hook himself up with some girls. And what was more annoying his brother was using him as bait! Well, his younger self that is.

The younger Dean looked around the corner, spotted his older self and little Sammy laughing and having a good time with a couple of blondes. "Way to go Sammy! And me!" He cheered and gained an elbow nudge to the shoulder.

"Sorry…but I have to admit, I'm so damn good." Dean said, clearly in awe of big Dean. "Those babes are hot!"

Sam rolled his eyes. He should have known. "Pervert!"

The younger one frowned. He studied Sam's face and realization hit. "Are you jealous?"

"Me? Jealous?" Sam was taken aback. "Pfft! No way!"

Dean snickered. "Admit it big guy, you are jealous!"

"Hell? No!! It was just…situation is…it's not the time for Dean to start hitting on girls." Sam couldn't believe himself. He was explaining to a seven year old, trying to get the little guy to stop teasing him.

"Well…if you are so worried, you should go and stop him." Dean jutted his chin over his shoulder, pointing towards Dean, Sammy and the girls.

Sam was stunned. Sometimes he thought Dean was way too mature for his real age. It was annoying but sad at the same time. Dean was only seven and he should live like a kid this age instead of acting like an adult. But he was annoying as ever.

"Watch me!" Sam was not willing to give up, not yet.

Straightening himself, Sam took a deep breath, put on his best affectionate face and headed towards his big brother, little Sammy and their new companions.

"Hun!" He called melodiously, and he did that on purpose.

…………………………..

'Crap!'

Dean looked at Sam who appeared out of nowhere. The look on Sam's face was what troubled him the most. It was the look of mischief but concealed with make believe concern and passion.

"Dean honey, told ya' to wait in the car with our baby…it's okay for me to shop alone." Sam sounded worried. He smiled to the blonde – the one holding little Sammy – bowed his head slightly and took the toddler from her arms. "Sorry dear, but these guys are taken."

Somehow Dean had seen it coming, but he was too dumbstruck to retort. So he stood there with his mouth agape and eyes wide, staring at Sam as if he was an alien from outer space.

If he wouldn't have tried so hard to act serious, Sam would have laughed seeing the look on Dean's face. The expression was priceless, he even thought of preserve it by taking a picture.

Dean's expression was also evident on the girls' face. They looked at Dean, at Sam, then back at Dean and exchanged awkward glances among themselves. Then they grinned uncomfortably before one of them said "Umm...actually, we just remembered that we're on strict diet…so, no lunch!"

And the girls turned, dashing away from the Winchesters without giving them a second look.

Dean watched them go with his jaw dropped. Then he looked at Sam with a deadly glare. His brother returned his gaze with an innocent grin. Dean was speechless but when he managed to get a hold of himself, a smack at Sam's shoulder was all he could manage as payback.

"What the heck Sam?" Urgh! Little brothers! Dean crossed his arms and stared at Sam with his eyes narrowed. "Now people are going to seriously think we're gay!"

Dean didn't bother getting mad. He had sold his soul for his brother before, so a couple of chicks wouldn't hurt much. After all, he could always get better ones, with or without Sammy.

"There's no way I'm going to let you use me to hook up with girls!" Sam rebuked.

"I did not…it was just Sam-my…"Dean's words faded as he remembered something. "Oh!" He had forgotten. The tall little brother and the baby were the same person. 'Darn!'

However, looking at Sam holding Sammy in his arms, Dean was amused. Two days ago, he had never thought he'd be seeing that. Sam holding his younger self…how normal was that?

"Yeah, that's right." Sam tightened his grips on little Sammy when he felt the toddler start to sway precariously in his embrace. One glance and he knew the kid was falling asleep. Maybe the fuss was taking a toll on him, being picked up, getting the cheeks pinched and kissed, having his hair tousled, yeah! Being cute was tiring sometimes.

"Are we done?" The young Dean tugged at Sam's hoodie. "I think Sammy's sleepy."

The oldest Winchester studied the three year old. The kid was yawning and rubbing his eyes continuously, showing how sleepy he was. Then Dean shook his head, decided "Let's get out of here," and pushed the cart, heading for the checkout.

Sam followed, patting Sammy on the back, lulling him. The kid was fast asleep, making Sam's shoulder his makeshift pillow. The little Dean was following the bigger one, mumbling something to his older self. Sam couldn't read lips, but he knew from the look on the older Dean's face, the kid was saying "Those chicks were hot!"

Nothing could make Dean grin like he was now if not for someone agreeing with him on his choice of women. Sam rolled his eyes but swallowed nervously when his big brother - the little version - turned to look at him. The kid flashed him a proud smile and winked.

Weird, but Sam felt his heart warming. There was this nagging feeling in the pit of his stomach, saying he was looked after by that kid. It was awkward, but Sam liked the feeling. It had been long since the last time he felt protected.

"You're so lucky Sam…" Sam brushed the back of Sammy's head.

……………………

"Dean…" Sam looked around as they walked past the toy section. Something was wrong with what he was seeing; there was something missing in the picture.

Both Deans looked at him questioningly.

"Tell me what's wrong with this picture?" Sam stood in the middle of the alley, cradling Sammy tightly. He had a gut feeling he should be protective towards the toddler.

Dean followed suit. Scrutinizing the surroundings, he immediately saw it. "There are no kids around." He stated - concern in his voice.

"Yeah! And this is the toy section…shouldn't it be crammed with kids?" Sam asked the same question floating in Dean's mind.

"And it's a weekend." Dean continued.

"You think something's wrong?"

Sam looked at little Dean who despite his young age was looking as alert as the older Dean.

"Nothing's wrong ma' dear." Suddenly an old lady appeared in front of them, smiling at them. "It's just that there was a flu outbreak and the authorities' advice is to keep children inside the house."

She seemed unaffected by the boys' shocked expression as she kept on filling her cart with candy bars. "You shouldn't bring your children here and risk them getting infected with the virus." Looking at the younger boys, the woman shook her head in despair.

"Flu outbreak?" Sam was confused. He didn't remember hearing it from the news before. He missed last night's news but there was no way flu could cause an outbreak in just one night. "Since when?"

"Last night, one kid fainted at the playground and was followed by many more…they were all diagnosed with the same flu bug." The woman kept on perusing for the best purchase.

"Which playground?" Dean smelled something fishy and he knew Sam felt it too.

"The city's playground two blocks from here." She informed, showing them the direction of the playground.

Dean and Sam exchanged glances, understanding immediately they had job to do. "Okay ma'am, we should be goin' now." Dean said, smiling.

"Okay…and boys, be careful." She warned. "You might want to have your boys wear masks as precaution."

Dean looked at Sammy and his younger self. "Thanks ma'am, we ought to be doing that."

With that, they left. Luck was so not on their side. With the kids around, they were already handful…now, an abnormal flu outbreak? What could be worse than this?

…………………………

"So you think it's a striga?" Dean asked with disgust. He thought they had banished that bastard years ago. "Seriously?" Somehow he was not in favor of meeting that life-sucker again.

"I'm not sure, but from the MO, that's our only explanation." Sam sighed. A striga in the middle of a city, it was like looking for a needle in a haystack.

The tallest Winchester looked out the window. Dean had parked his baby right in front of the playground. The area was not completely deserted – there were still some parents around, attending their kids playing. But most of the kids were wearing masks – which looked pretty weird.

"How are we going to do this?" Sam turned to his big brother who looked even more disturbed. No one could blame him for looking like that though. Glancing at the rear view mirror, he knew one of them had to stay with the kids.

At the backseat, Sammy was sound asleep in his big brother's embrace. There was no way they could move around - interviewing witnesses and checking out the public spots - with a sleeping toddler in their arms or a possessive seven year old tagging along.

"You watch the kids, I go." Dean said.

"Aww…no! No!" Sam shook his head. He had had enough of sitting around with the kids for one day. "You are so not running away from this dude!"

"I'm not running away…I was just being awesome, you know, being first in the line of danger." Dean smirked. Knowing Sam, he knew he could never trick his brother into staying with the kids. But it was worth a try. Who knows, Sam might start to bond with them on this occasion.

"Yeah right! Awesome my ass." Sam grunted. "I go! You stay!"

'Guess not.' Dean sighed.

"Let's flip a coin." Dean suggested, taking a coin out of his pocket.

The younger Dean who was watching the whole scene couldn't believe his eyes. "Grownups!" He muttered, feeling sick seeing the two brothers fighting over such trivial matter. Who needs their protection anyway? Dad didn't leave the two of them alone if he didn't trust in Dean to watch out for Sammy.

A slight movement beside him caused Dean to jump. He looked down to the shaggy hair brushing his side and smiled finding hazel orbs watching him drowsily.

"Deannie?" The little guy mumbled as he tiredly rubbed his eyes.

"Hi princess!" Dean greeted his little brother, wiping away the drowsiness from Sammy's face with his sleeve.

"Where are we?" Sammy asked, looking outside the window. His eyes went wide at the sight of the playground. Looking at the older brothers with a big grin plastered to his face Sammy shrieked "I wanna play!!" and started jumping up and down on the leather cushion – clapping his hands merrily.

"Play! Play! Play! Play!" Sammy was unstoppable.

"Aww man!" The coin was flipped and it was not Dean's lucky day. His sigh deepened seeing Sammy hopping gleefully at the backseat. He was stuck!

"Hah! You lost!" Sam did the dance and earned a smack on the head for that. "Oww!" It seemed to him Dean had recently developed a new habit; smacking him on his head. Grumbling, Sam opened the passenger door and stepped out.

"I'll be seeing you here in half an hour." Sam stated before slamming down the door.

"Half an hour Sam… don't go longer than this." Dean warned, giving Sam his glare that said 'I mean it!'

"Yeah! Yeah!" Sam jogged around the car and went to the backseat. He bent down and looked through the window. "Want anything?" He asked the emerald eyed boy.

"Ice cweam!!" Sammy sang happily.

"Okay, I'll be here later with your ice cream…but in the meantime, please look after my brother kay?" Sam ruffled Dean's hair playfully before the kid batted his hand away.

"Girly!" Dean muttered. Sam's gesture was too much like a girl.

"Grumpy!" Sam stuck his tongue out towards the kid.

"Sam?!" Dean called from the driver's seat. He swore Sam was acting too much like a kid around the little ones. It was unbelievable. Instead of having two kids, he had to look after three.

"Okay…okay, I'm going." Sam pouted before he crossed the road and disappeared into the nearest building.

Dean watched Sam go - making sure his brother reached his destination safe and sound. Then he turned around, meeting the doubtful gaze from a pair of green eyes and a hopeful one from the irresistible puppy dog eyes.

Taking a deep breath, he said "Looks like it's just the three of us, huh?"

TBC

a/n: So, what do you think? Tell me how I was doing so far. Anyway, thank you so much for sticking with me, and subcribing to this story - putting it in your favorite or alert list. You're awesome! And those of you who took the time to leave those wonderful reviews, you guys are fantastic!! Truly means so much to me, they're what keeping me going when I'm feeling like stopping. Couldn't thank you enough. Take care now! Love ya!