Disclaimer: None of the Winchesters are mine but I love to think they are! *winks*
Beta: My lovely bia1007 (who had been the light to darkest hours)

Chapter 8

"So…how long have you been working here?" the customer quirked one of his brows as he leant over the counter, raking his spiky light brown hair as he did so.

She blushed, handing him his takeaways and taking the cash with shaky hands. Today was her first day working as a cashier and her first customer already tried hitting on her. What was making her nervous though was the fact that the guy was heart meltingly cute! His eyes were glorious green and his lashes, wow! His lashes were rich!

"Err…" She was just about to flirt back when suddenly a honking sound blared in the air, coming from the sleek black Impala parked farthest from the diner. Stretching her neck to look out the drive-thru counter, she could see a toddler jumping fervently at the back seat of the Impala. A tall brown haired man reading a book occupied the passenger's seat and at the driver's seat a little boy was hooting the car horn so impatiently she could see him furrow his brows.

"Damn!" the gorgeous guy with the green eyes grabbed his change and meals and dashed out the diner without giving her a second look.

She sighed, thinking 'there goes my lucky strike…a guy tried hitting on me, and he's a bisexual with two kids' as she watched him walk towards the Impala, his other half and his two kids.

…………………………….

"What are you doing?" Dean half jogged half walked towards the car, carefully balancing the meal boxes and the drinks on one hand while using the other one to frantically shove his wallet into his jacket pocket. He stooped over the driver's window and glared at his little self, who grinned back at him innocently. "Told you not to touch the wheel," he gestured for the door and waited for the boy to open it for him.

Dean tilted his head to the backseat, showing the kid his place in the car.

"It's going to be my car anyway," the seven-year-old rolled his eyes and climbed his way back over the seat and settled himself next to bouncy little Sammy.

"Not in another ten years dude…suck it up!" Dean put the kids' meals on the young boy's lap and wagged one finger, putting up a warning "One drop of that soda on the cover and I'll make you eat greens for two days."

Young Dean scrunched his face in return. "Yeah yeah!" he got the message clear. He didn't have to be told. Since this was going to be his car anyway, he wouldn't want anything to smear its rich leather cushion either. "Grouchy…" he muttered under his breath.

"I heard that!" Dean sent him a glare that he fended off by pretending talking to Sammy.

The big Dean turned towards Sam who tried looking as innocent as his little self. He rolled his eyes and shoved Sam's lunchbox onto his lap and grunted "Sam…what did I tell you about keeping the kid away from the wheel?"

Sam looked up from the book he was hogging and gave him a questioning glance. "Oh! You were talking to me…I thought when you mentioned Sammy, you meant the little Sammy," he grinned and pointed his thumb to the toddler, who was jumping and rolling happily in the backseat as he sang the ABC song.

An amused snort from the backseat echoed Sam's response. Young Dean laughed "Nice one Sam," and high fived Sam, who winked back, earning both of them another death glare from the brother in the driver's seat.

With his eyes squinted in dagger-like slits, Dean snapped at Sam "Next time we stop at McDonald's, you're buying."

The grin on Sam's face vanished instantly. Guess there would be no more Strawberry Triple Thick Shakes for him for the week.

As he revved up the engine, Dean looked out the window, to the human sized statue of Ronald McDonald grinning at the diner's door – the reason why he went into the diner alone in the first place and why he parked the car at the farthest parking lot and also why Sam never took his eyes off the promotion booklet from the nearest mall. The car had long left the fast food outlet but still a smile played on Dean's lips.

"Shake! Shake! Shake!" Sammy bounced on the seat, clapping excitedly at the sight of strawberry shake his Dean was holding. When his big brother handed him the shake, he flopped down to the seat and quietly enjoyed his beverage.

"Geez! Why can't you like chocolate …I could even tolerate vanilla, but strawberry?" Dean cringed seeing how much his little brother was enjoying his drink. The toddler looked like he was drinking an elixir and the sight was almost horrifying – for Dean at least.

"I like scobewi." Sammy ignored Dean's mocking and licked his shake smeared lips. Dean had tossed the straw because the tot preferred drinking his shake straight from the container – thinking it was more macho that way because dad drank straight from his cup, and sometimes Dean too.

"Strawberries are for girls!" Dean scoffed and shook his head.

Listening to the banter between the younger Winchesters at the back, Dean glanced at Sam. He remembered having the same conversation a lot of times before but Sam never gave up on his Strawberry Triple Thick Shake – the only reason they never stopped going to McDonald's even when Sam ended having nightmares every time they made that stop – in spite of how much Dean was making fun of him. Dean on the other hand never complained for being the one buying it because the look on Sam's face – like the one he had now - while he was enjoying that drink was priceless.

But regardless of how much he enjoyed seeing the satisfaction on Sam's face Dean couldn't help teasing his little brother. "Hear that Sam? Strawberries are for girls."

"Shut up Dean." Sam took a sip from his container and turned around, checking on the little ones. His lips curled with satisfaction seeing the little one and the mess he'd created. Sam poked Dean's shoulder, getting his brother's attention, and pointed to the backseat. "I don't think any girl could make that kind of mess."

Dean looked over his shoulder and gasped with horror "Holy…!" He made a quick swerve to the left and stopped at the roadside. Dean looked around frantically for something and spotted Sam's hoodie draped over the seat. He grabbed it and tossed it on the cheese drips smearing the backseat cover, courtesy of Sammy's cheeseburger.

"Hey! That's mine!" Sam complained but Dean couldn't care less.

"Kiddo! I told ya to take care of that seat," Dean looked at his younger self accusingly.

"It's not me who let us eat in the car," the boy shrugged, unaffected by Dean's rage. "Much less a moving car," he rolled his eyes.

Dean frowned. Come to think of that, dad never really let them eat in the car when they were young because then they were too sloppy – unable to keep their food in the container or in their mouth. After all young Sammy was really a messy eater. It was a wonder how he grew up being a hygiene freak.

"I don't care!" Dean growled. "Clean it!"

"Gee! You're such a mom," young Dean muttered. Using the hoodie, Dean wiped away the traces of cheese on Sammy's chubby cheeks, earning him a disgruntled look from the little one. The tot pouted a little before biting into his cheeseburger which was a little too big for his mouth – smearing his now clean face with new traces of cheese. Dean rolled his eyes. Why had he even bothered in the first place?

"Where are we anyway?" Dean asked Sam, who was looking out of the window, and noticed his little brother pouting. "What?" he raised his hands, with one of them still clutching Sam's hoodie – now stained with cheese.

Crossing his arms over his chest, Sam grumbled "It's my jacket Dean."

"This?" Dean held up the jacket and tossed it on the backseat, which landed right on top of young Dean's head. "No big deal, I'll get you a new one."

Sam's face was so sour he looked like he was sucking on a lemon. "That's my favorite!" he glowered and stormed out of the car. "And we're here by the way." His eyes were fixed on the big entrance signboard announcing 'Shelby's Petting Zoo' while he opened the door for Sammy and maneuvered the kid out of the car.

"I can't believe I let you talk me into this." Dean was sure Sam had drugged him by putting something in his beer because there was no way he would agree with a trip to the zoo while he was sober. Or maybe he did this to himself because he couldn't compete with Sammy's puppy dog look that he remembered was flashed on him before he fell asleep during Godzilla – especially not when the look was flashed in full force by two pairs of big brown eyes. 'Damn promotional leaflet!'

Dean was about to make more personal comments about the zoo but decided to let it be, seeing Sam, Sammy and his little self already were on their way to the entrance. He jogged to the ticket counter and bought four tickets, joining them at the gate. "Hey Sam, do you think there'll be any Sasquatches in here?" Dean elbowed Sam's ribs and smirked teasingly.

Sam dismissed Dean's mocking by glaring at him and marched into the zoo, tugging the kids with him. Dean ran a hand through his hair and sighed. He could read a sulking Sam anytime and today he hit big time. The silent treatment was the proof. 'Some things never change.'

Dean smiled, shook his head and followed Sam's lead – keeping in mind to pay a quick visit to the Laundromat as soon as they got back to the motel.

"Balloons!" Sammy squealed when they walked past a balloon cart. He grappled at the empty air, trying to reach the colorful balloons, and pulled Sam towards the cart. "Balloons?" The tot looked up to Sam, flashing him the puppy eyes.

"I'll take two for my kids here." Before Sam could say anything Dean took out his wallet, retrieved two balloons from the vendor and paid for it. His big brother held up the balloons, grinning.

Eyeing the balloons little Dean cringed with disgust "I don't want no balloons… they're for kids." He was so not going to hold any balloons when they were so many cute girls around. That would be embarrassing. He was seven for God's sake.

Dean snorted "Who's talking about you?" and gave one of the balloons to Sammy. The little one squeaked with delight, his eyes bright as he marveled at the red balloon. Smirking with satisfaction, Dean looked up to Sam, said "It's for Samantha here," and handed Sam the other balloon.

"Okay Sammy, you've got your balloon, now stop sulking."

Sam, as if charmed, took the balloon and stared at it with disbelief. Then suddenly he was snapped back into reality. Shooting a deadly glare down Dean's way, he hissed "I am capable of murder you know?"

Dean crossed his arms behind his head and shrugged indifferently - his laughter trailing off behind him as he walked away. Sammy, contented with his threats, happily made a beeline towards Dean – chuckling mischievously as he tried mimicking the oldest Winchester.

"Dean, you're a friggin jerk!" Sam shouted.

Waving one of his hands, Dean's laughter intensified.

"Idiot!" Sam mumbled, still holding the balloon.

Dean looked up to his gargantuan little brother and smiled. Despite the cusses escaping his mouth, the look on Sam's face was just the opposite. For two days he'd been with the older versions of him and Sammy, he had never seen Sam look so happy like he was now. Dean was not really a zoo person, but seeing the happiness the trip had brought to the younger Winchesters, it maybe had not been such a bad idea after all. Or maybe it really was the big red balloon doing its work of wonder.

Balloons, zoos and little brothers, they came together well. Dean had to keep that in mind – for future purposes.

……………………………

"What's keeping him so long?" Sam looked over his shoulder, to the direction where Dean had gone twenty minutes ago. His smartass big brother needed a quick tour to the men's room - blaming it on too much cheese in his Big Mac – and Dean had gone so long Sam started worrying that something might had happened.

Young Dean looked up to Sam and rolled his eyes. Sam could overreact sometimes, despite his calm personality. Couldn't blame him though, simple things could become pretty messy when it involved Winchesters. But this time Dean was sure it's nothing. "Relax Sam…that's me you're worrying about, I bet he met one hot chick and was hitting on her," his eyes lingered on a blonde passing by them clad in pink top and tight jeans, winking when the girl turned and smiled at him.

Sam shook his head. Seeing how young Dean was flirting around he realized he was worrying over the big Dean for nothing. He gave the boy a push making him hiss.

"What's that for?" Dean asked, rubbing the sore spot on his shoulder.

"Dude!" Sam spread one arm, signaling at the blonde with the pink top. He mocked "I don't think she's your type," what was Dean kidding? The woman was old enough to be their mother.

"What? Why?"

The woman might be old, but she was smokin'!

Sam scoffed "She's as old as mom was," and bit his lower lip, regretting the remark he'd just made. What was he thinking? Dean was just seven, having lost his mom only three years earlier. The pain of losing her – which had never really subsided anyway – should be haunting him in his sleeps or even when he was awake.

The kid smiled wryly. "Well…she's not mom right?"

And Sam thought he could go and volunteer himself to be eaten by the crocodiles. "Dean…"

"After all…I like older women, they don't need Barbie to play with…they are one," Dean grinned cockily, trying to sound as calm as possible. He looked around and spotted an ice cream cart. "Hey Sam? Why don't you make yourself useful and go buy us some ice cream?"

Knowing his big brother for almost three decades now, Sam saw Dean's wall coming down and he was aware his brother – even though he was only seven – was trying to ward off the guilt that was fast overtaking Sam. He looked at the ice cream cart and sighed "Okay…I'll be back in a minute, watch out for…" Sam nodded at Sammy's way "…me."

Dean responded by dismissing Sam with a wave of his hand and walked over to Sammy. The little one was talking to the parrot perching on its stand – impersonating almost everything the bird was saying Dean wondered which one of them was the real parrot. His baby brother was having so much fun doing bird talk he attracted more visitors than the parrot did. People gathered around him mumbling aww…oh how cute…isn't he a sweetie Dean was damn sure they'd start throwing Sammy candies and sweets in a moment or two.

Well, maybe that wouldn't hurt at all. Dean shrugged and shoved his hands into his jeans pocket, heading for the nearest bench. Sammy was not going anywhere for the time being.

'Mom…' the word crossed his mind and Dean had to hold back the tears. Watching the crowd around him, Dean saw children holding hands with their parents. There was a mother cooing her little baby crying in the stroller. There were fathers walking around with their boys sitting on their shoulders. Dean watched as a family of four with two young boys about his age and Sammy's were taking a family picture by the monkeys' cage. His eyes burnt and he quickly rubbed them with the back of his hand.

If only mom hadn't…then the family in the picture could be his family. The boy refusing his mother messing with hair could be him and the tot desperately wiggling down from his father's arms could be Sammy. If only mom never…

And Dean cried over this.

……………………..

"Here ya go, two vanillas and two strawberries," the ice cream vendor gave the cones to Sam, smiling brightly when Sam ushered him to keep the change.

Sam smiled back, turned around and flinched away just in time before he could bump into a brunette standing behind him. His eyes went wide and his mouth agape as he muttered "Ruby?" Anger was building fast in him. The bitch really could appear at the complete wrong place and time.

"Sam? Ice cream? For me?" Ruby snickered, snatching one vanilla cone from Sam.

"Hey?!" That was for Dean. He watched with disgust as Ruby licked the ice seductively.

"It's been long since I last heard from you Sam." Ruby's eyes lingered on Sam's face. "You know it's not nice to turn a girl down."

You're not a girl. "Back off Ruby!" Sam shoved the demon aside and walked ahead of her, hoping that she would get tired of him and vanish.

"So…that's it? You're just going to walk away and abandon all of our efforts of hunting down Lilith?" Ruby snapped and dashed to block Sam's way. Sam ignored her and once again shoved her aside.

"Maybe I don't want to carry on anymore." Sam mumbled, uncaring and uninterested. There was no reason for him to hunt Lilith anyway, he got back what he'd lost and he wouldn't risk losing it again.

"A couple of kids…and you turned soft, how pathetic!" Ruby jeered, crossing her arms, and waited for Sam to retaliate. She was rewarded when Sam darted towards her, grabbed a fistful of her jacket and pushed her away.

"Just go away Ruby!" He revolted. The rage in his brown eyes was clear. He had no time for this.

"Don't come crawling to me if anything happens to the kids Sam!" Ruby stormed off, angry and humiliated.

"Anything happens to the kids, you'll be the first to die Ruby!" Sam had had enough. Ruby had always gotten on his nerves and he was sick of sucking up the anger. Maybe Dean was right, hell! Dean was right. Ruby's a bitch!

Sam stood watching until Ruby finally disappeared in the crowd.

"Sam?" a hand patted Sam's back, making him jump. Sam swatted the hand away and get ready to strike when he realized it was only Dean. "Hey! Chill…it's me." Dean raised his hands in a soothing motion.

"Dean?" Oh God! Did he see me with Ruby? Sam searched Dean's face, looking for the tiniest hint of anger or annoyance. He found none.

"Yeah…it's me," Dean rolled his eyes. "Where are the kids?" He looked around and found neither Sammy nor his little self around.

"Right where you left us…I came to get ice cream," Sam showed Dean the ice cream, now melting and dripping in his hand. Sam licked his hand and grinned childishly when Dean cringed with disgust.

"Gross!" That was the least he would expect from a cleanliness freak like Sam. When Sam wiped his hand on his jacket, Dean flinched away defensively. "Don't come near me you abominable snowman!"

Sam laughed. "It's payback."

Elephants never forget and neither did Sam. There was no way he's going to let go off Dean so easily for messing with his hoodie. Now he would only need to think of a way to avenge the balloon joke. Maybe next he could convince the little ones to talk Dean into going to a carnival, where there was a Ferris's Wheel – that would be nice.

Suddenly Sam's laughter turned into a coughing fit, causing him to double over and gasp for air. Dean quickly got to Sam's side, thumping his little brother's back to help ease the congestion in his lung. Sam's face had turned eerily blue and he was wheezing in between the hackings. The fit lasted for a couple of minutes before it finally subsided.

When Sam tried standing up straight, a severe vertigo hit him so hard he swayed precariously. If not for Dean holding him he might have stumbled to the ground like a log. His chest was tight and beneath it his heart pounded so hard he thought it was going to explode.

"Hey! Hey!" Dean squeezed Sam's bicep and studied his face.

As rapid as it came, the pain vanished like it was never there. Sam shook his head to clear his vision and blinked at Dean owlishly. 'What the heck?'

"What's up? You still sick?" Dean was worried all right. It was less than 24 hours ago that Sam had been sick. Though he was doing much better, his brother still looked awfully weary.

"I'm fine…just a little dizzy." Sam looked at the cones he was holding. "Shit! I need to buy new ones." The ice cream had melted and was dripping all over his hand.

Dean cringed at the way Sam was studying his ice cream smudged hand and groaned "If you ever lick that I'm so going to kick your butt!"

Sam snorted. "You're gross!"

"You started it."

"Guys!!" Suddenly young Dean came dashing at them - looking frantic and urgent. By the time he reached Sam and Dean, he was panting and wheezing – almost breathless. The kid's face had lost all colors and was as white as a sheet. The green eyes were brimmed with tears, showing sheer fear. The moment he gazed up to them it appeared as if he was going to break down.

"I've lost Sammy."

And all color left Dean's and Sam's face too.

………………………………

"How could you lose Sammy?" Dean's eyes ran over the crowd, searching for the familiar mop of brown hair – praying silently that he would see it somewhere. Young Dean was standing close to him, looking at the other side and was desperately calling out Sammy's name.

"I…I was not looking," the young boy fidgeted with his shirt. How could he lose Sammy? He'd been in charge of his baby brother since forever and he never lost him, never! But today…he was so engulfed in his misery he became careless. "I should have kept my eyes on him…I'm sorry."

"You should have thought of that before you lost him!" Dean's voice boomed with rage and worry. The search for Sammy had been fruitless and now he was close to a panic attack.

"Go easy on him dude!" Sam tried to cool Dean off. His big brother had let all the steam off on his younger self, all because Dean was freaking out and worried like hell about Sammy. Nobody knew worried Dean like he did. This was when Dean would turn furious and frantic all at the same time. Anything that got into his way now would suffer terrible consequences.

"Shut up Sam!" Dean snapped back, glaring at Sam, making him shudder. "I trusted you to look after them and you neglected your duties Sam." It was obvious that Dean was losing it. He had lost all his composures and now he was all fragile and vulnerable, another mishap would bring him to the edge.

"Get yourself together Dean…he shouldn't be far," Sam said calmly, not wanting to provoke his big brother. He would try being calm for as long as he could. There were enough freaked out Winchesters in the zoo, they didn't need another one.

Dean turned around, his eyes meeting Sam's with a piercing glare. "This wouldn't happen if you were not so engrossed with that bitch of yours." Shit! He saw her! Sam saw so much hatred in his brother's face he hoped it was not meant for him.

"You don't know everything Dean…" Sam really didn't want to provoke Dean's anger and cause another fight. Ruby was the least they should be worried about right now. And he'd been into so many fights about Ruby with Dean before that he couldn't care less of whatever Dean accused him of.

"Tell me what I didn't know?" Dean grabbed a handful of Sam's collar and shoved his brother to the nearest wall. Despite his frantic breathing, Sam's breath on his face was calmer and more even. "Tell me Sam!"

Sam studied Dean's face. His big brother had already reached the edge. He had never seen Dean this upset before, not since their father's death. Sam was a little bit thrown off track seeing the fear in Dean's eyes. Sammy was not dead, he was just lost. All kids got lost at least once in their lifetime. So why was Dean so upset?

"Take a swing at me if that would make you felt better," Sam remembered the last time Dean was so lost, he'd found his way back by punching Sam right in the face. If sacrificing him would make things better – at least for Dean – then he'd sacrificed everything, even his life and soul.

"Guys! Guys! Please…" suddenly the seven-year-old burst between them, hands gripping their jackets in a dead-like grip. His face showed thousands of emotions - anger, fear, confusion and sadness – all at the same time. The kid reminded Sam so much of the peacekeeper Dean used to be. How many times had he seen Dean in this position? – standing between him and their Dad, urging them to stop fighting. "Stop it!"

"Please stop…please," the boy pled. He was on the verge of tears, feeling all hopeless and useless. Sammy had gone missing and the only adults he could rely on were fighting against each other – forgetting their biggest problem that was yet to be solved. "We need to find Sammy…please."

Dean let go off Sam's jacket. Looking into his younger self's pleading eyes reminded him of his old self – the one before dad's death. He wondered how much of this person he was now. Guilt was rushing through him, Dean couldn't look the boy in the eyes. "Okay kiddo, let's go and look for Sammy," he patted the kid's head and dragged him away with him. Then he looked over his shoulder, saying "Let's go Sam."

Sam looked around. There were two paths leading to different parts of the zoo. "I think we better split up Dean…I'll search over here," Sam didn't wait for Dean to nod his agreement and took the path on the left. Ruby better shouldn't meet him anytime now or she'd be his punch bag because he really needed to let off some steam.

…………………………..

Sam raked a hand through his hair. The path reached the apes section – ending the trail. Thirty minutes had passed without any sign of Sammy anywhere. He was panicking himself, fearing the worst had happened to that little kid. Praying silently that Dean's search had been more successful, Sam turned around to head back to where he started.

"Oh my God! Somebody save him!!" A loud shriek pierced the air and was echoed by more screams of fright.

"A kid fell!" Someone shouted over the crowd.

"Get the keepers!"

The screaming caused a big crowd to rush to the gorillas' cage and Sam's heart to skip a beat. Something told him he'd found Sammy. Wasting no time, Sam darted towards the cage, crept his way through the human barrier and without thinking leapt over the wall – jumping into the cage. Thanks to his years of practice and dad's drilling, Sam made a perfect landing though the wall was more than fifteen feet high.

"Sammy?" Sam called desperately as his eyes ran all over the den. When he spotted Sammy curling in the drain, sobbing and shaking with fear, Sam sighed with relief. At least he had found the kid - that was so much to be thankful for.

Hearing his name called by a very familiar voice, the little boy uncurled himself and looked up to where Sam was standing. His lips shook, calling over for Sam in desperate need of comfort. He tried standing up but everything seemed to hurt.

"Hey! Hey! Stay put!" Judging from how high the kid had fallen, Sam was sure the little one must have attained some injuries. He couldn't risk the kid worsening his condition by moving around too much. "I'm coming over."

As he moved slowly towards the toddler, Sam studied the area anxiously. He was aware he was being observed by defensive eyes – big apes' eyes – and he was also aware if he made any movement that resembled threat, it would endanger both him and Sammy.

"Deannie…" the baby cried painfully and Sam felt something crawling under his skin. If Sam wouldn't have been too worried about intimidating the apes, he'd have snatched the little one and just ran.

"Sam!!"

Sam looked up, finding Dean slouching over the wall. All color had drained from his brother's face. The look on Dean's face sent a shudder through Sam's spine. But he braced himself and crept his way over to Sammy. He was afraid. Ghost, spirits, and monsters he could handle. He could read them like a book. But humans and animals were unpredictable. Instinct was the main reason making humans and animals the most dangerous living beings and Sam was well aware of that.

"I'm going down." Dean looked around and spotted his younger self bending over the wall, trying to climb his way down into the cage. He grabbed the kid just in time before he jumped and shoved him into the arms of the nearest onlooker. Knowing very well that the boy would jump if he ever escaped from the man's grasp, Dean told the man "Whatever happens, please don't let go off him."

The man watched in awe as Dean jumped over the wall and into the cage, landing right in the drain, not far from the curling toddler. He unconsciously nodded - grasping the seven-year-old tighter in his arms though the boy retaliated by shoving and punching, screaming out Sammy's name.

"He's my brother…I have to save him!!" the boy's cry touched the hearts of everyone in the crowd. "Let me go!!" When he realized there was nothing he could do, Dean sank to his knees and wept sadly. If anything happened to Sammy, he didn't want to live either.

"Sam?" Dean looked around for the occupants of the cage.

"Slowly Dean…they're watching us," Sam held out a hand, warning Dean not to get excited with the rescue mission. He didn't want Dean darting towards Sammy and risk getting them ambushed by the gorillas – which had gathered around them, suspicious and doubtful of the intruders.

Dean wouldn't fight over that. He wasn't going to intimidate the gorillas anymore after Sam had warned him not to. Calculating the distances, Dean saw that he was nearer to Sammy than Sam so he leapt once - closing in towards the toddler - and crouched over him. Sam approached them a little later, standing over and shielding both brothers from the vicious prying eyes – keeping his wary ones for unexpected attacks.

"How is he doing?" Sam asked over his shoulder.

Checking for fractured ribs or broken bones on Sammy's small frame, Dean sighed with relief when he found no severe injury that was beyond repair. The kid had a huge gash along his hairline that was oozing blood and a couple of bruises on his body but those were about all the injuries he acquired, nothing more severe they had to be worried of.

"He's okay…SAM!!" Dean shouted as a huge silverback – the leader of the pack - grabbed Sam by his waist and tossed him to the wall. His brother was practically flying through the air, hitting the wall with a sickening thud before falling to the ground with a loud crash. It took some horrendous efforts but Sam managed to get back to his feet though he was practically wobbling and swaying like jelly.

"Get him away from here Dean!" Sam rubbed his nose with the back of his hand and it came back bloody. Black dots were dancing before his eyes and his vision was blurring. 'Damn!' he didn't have the chance to evade as the ape lurched towards him, picked him up over its head like a winning trophy and dumped him to the ground, hard.

'Shit! Shit!' Dean scooped Sammy into his arms and hopped to the nearest anthill – high enough for him to hand Sammy over to the crowd. One of the good Samaritans had leaned over the wall, reaching out to Dean asking for Sammy.

During any other times, Dean would never trust anyone than family to take care of his little brother but he had no time to worry about that now. Not when he had another little brother fighting a silverback gorilla for his dear life. No! Dean had to trust anyone he could get his hands on. So he handed Sammy over to the man and lunged towards the battlefield.

……………………….

"Oh God! Sammy! God!" Dean wriggled out of his keeper's arms and dashed towards Sammy, who was cradled in a stranger's arms. He grabbed Sammy from the man and lowered his brother to the ground with him, cradling the little one in his lap.

His shaky hand ran over Sammy's face and he cringed when his hand came away sticky with blood. "Sammy…open your eyes little brother…please," he pled as he buried his face in Sammy's hair and hugged his baby brother tight.

"Deannie?"

Dean pulled his little brother away softly and smiled with relief seeing the little one looking at him with bright brown eyes. "Oh Sammy…" he kissed Sammy's forehead and carded his fingers through his brother's sticky hair.

"I saw gowillas." Sammy beamed up proudly.

"I know Sammy…I know." If only Sammy knew how his admiration for gorillas had frightened his big brother out of his wits. Dean pulled Sammy into another tight hug and prayed silently that his other Sammy would be okay too.

……………………………….

"SAM!!!" Dean rushed over to Sam. "Sam!" he called again and again, checking whether his brother was still alive when Sam hadn't moved an inch after he met the ground. Sam didn't respond and that increased Dean's fear tenfold.

At the same time he reached his little brother, a couple of keepers jumped in and stood ahead of them. One of them shot the silverback with a tranquilizer while the other one stood guard, watching out for other gorillas.

The alpha male ran around its den like crazy before it finally stumbled, all stoned from the tranquilizer. The keeper with the stick turned around and jogged towards Dean and Sam. Dean was cradling Sam's head in his lap when the keeper approached them. He checked for Sam's pulse, looked at Dean and said "We should get him to the clinic."

"Yeah! Okay," Dean looked down to Sam – who just started to come around. His brother stirred and then jackknifed from the ground with a bolt. "Hey! Hey! Easy there dude!" Dean's hands hovered over Sam's shoulder, ready to catch him if he was going to lose consciousness again.

"Dean? What happened?" Sam cupped his forehead with one hand, beginning to be aware of the severe vertigo that made his world spin.

Dean snorted. He grabbed Sam by his armpit, slung one of his brother's arms over his shoulder and put his arm around Sam's waist – supporting most of Sam's weight. "We're going to talk about the stunt you'd just pulled after we patched you up," Dean said, stern and serious.

"Am I in trouble?" Sam asked, feeling a little woozy but sober enough to sense the tension in Dean's tone.

"We save that for later," Dean assured as he guided Sam towards the cage door. "But now…" snickering Dean continued "The gorillas were really into you Sammy!" He was close to losing Sam but this was one thing he would never let Sam get away with.

"What?" Sam's face scrunched.

"Dude! Why else would the ape man felt threatened by you?" Dean grinned. "I bet the females were ogling at you he got jealous...guess you are a sasquatch after all."

Though Dean was laughing, Sam could still feel his big brother's body shaking against his. He didn't know what was running through Dean's mind now but he realized Dean was trying to calm himself by mocking him. Sam's lips curled slightly as he felt Dean's hand on his waist pressing slightly deeper into his muscle. He couldn't do anything to lessen Dean's fear but at least there was one thing he could say to make it better.

"Jerk!"

"Gorilla's bitch!"

Sam smiled. He would worry about the explanation for his crazy stunt later.

TBC

a/n: I really couldn't thank everyone enough for taking the time to read this fic and to have you reviewed it mean so much more. You are amazing! Those who had put this in your favorite and alert lists, you too are awesome!! I had a very bad writer's block these few days I almost gave up on this chapter. But thanks to you, I found the will to keep writing and here's the chappie, just for you! Love ya so much! And Bia, thank you for your dedication. *hugs you all*