Disclaimer: They are never mine and never will be *sobs*

a/n: All mistakes are mine and I'm proud of them…they are the reminder that I'm normal

alter ego Dean: That was just a silly excuse coming from cizi. She's on a therapy now and that's what the therapist wants her to do.

It Takes Two to Tango

Chapter 12

Dean yawned and glanced at his watch. It had been three hours since breakfast and he had been burying himself in piles of books that long. Bobby made him research their latest hunt; the wraith, while Bobby himself had taken over Sam's job scouring information from the Internet with young Dean sitting next to him watching him like a hawk. The boy hadn't said a word but Bobby was obviously restless.

As Dean watched his little self scrutinizing Bobby at work he wondered whether he was really that adamant when he was that age. The things he learnt from two decades of observing John, Bobby, Jim, and other older hunters doing the job made him a better hunter but he never really knew whether he should be thankful or the otherwise.

Looking at little Dean now, acting so much like an adult than a seven year old kid, made Dean's stomach churn. He wasn't going to blame anyone though. Dad needed to do what he needed to do; protecting the family…or whatever he had left after mom's death.

Sam came out the bathroom, pushing the wet-haired Sammy towards the bed while he reached for the towel. Sammy's once Mohawk hair was now plastered to his forehead, dripping wet and smelling of the peach shampoo. Sam had probably spent half an hour scrubbing off tones of hair gel from Sammy's hair, courtesy of his trip to the hairdresser.

Dean hated to admit it but Sammy looked better with his unkempt 'Sasquatch' hairdo. It was a good thing Dean didn't let the hairdresser cut Sammy's hair because Sammy didn't look good in Mohawk. However, watching Sam freak out humored him completely. Now they were even.

Locking Sammy between his legs, Sam toweled the boy's hair vigorously.

"See Sam," Dean snorted and continued "Told ya' the gel would come off…now you're back to being a Sasquatch again."

"You're a jerk Dean!" Sam huffed.

Sammy looked up to Sam with a baffled look and asked "Sam, what's a jerk?"

"Big brothers are." Sam simply answered without a hint of guilt.

"Deannie! You're a jerk!" Sammy happily announced.

"Hey! Watch it!" Young Dean snapped – shooting both Sams a murderous glare before he went back to watching Bobby work.

Bobby felt the need to butt in. The big boys' argument was bringing bad influence to the smaller ones. "Sam, mind your language." He said that loud and clear which usually meant he was very serious about it – which also meant the stupid argument should stop or both boys were going to be dead meats.

Dean ran a hand down his face and sighed tiredly. As if one pain in the ass little brother was not enough, he now had two of them to deal with.

"Boys," called Bobby. There was urgency in his gruff voice. Sam and Dean were on their feet even before he said the next few words "Come and take a look at this." Bobby tapped the screen, pointing to the news article dating twenty years back.

"There had been similar cases of kids falling ill in the last two decades and all of them had been diagnosed with an unknown flu virus that disappeared as soon as they were hospitalized." Bobby explained as he strolled down the news article.

"Dying today…healthy as a horse the next day." Dean breathed in. Suddenly there was a queasy feeling in his stomach.

"You think it's a shtriga?" Sam asked as he clicked the mouse, reading the next two or three articles briefly. "The M.O was pretty much the same."

"I've seen that thing…it's not a shtriga." Dean disapproved the theory. "After all…the kids were safe and sound the next day. No sign of pneumonia, lung infection…nothing." He rubbed his neck, suddenly feeling so tired.

Bobby nodded his agreement and continued gloomily "A shtriga's victim never survived."

Suddenly Sam snapped his fingers and announced "At least we know they went to the general hospitals…went there sick and came out healthy." He grabbed a chair and snatched the laptop away from Bobby then started clicking and tapping the keys. His eyes roamed wildly as he scanned the screen.

"There!" Sam slammed his hand to the table and turned the laptop towards Dean and Bobby. The screen flashed columns of articles from the last twenty years to date. "All of the victims had been hospitalized and all of them in the same hospital. The virus appeared twenty years ago in Oklahoma for two weeks, then continuing at Des Moines for another two weeks before appearing in Denver…and the strings of events continued and hit here…"

"Where all victims were hospitalized at the same place…" Bobby continued, understanding where Sam was going with his theory.

"St. Thomas hospital!" Sam and Dean announced at the same time.

"Have you ever considered that the culprit might be lurking in the hospital?" Bobby eyed the older brothers as he crossed his arms, giving the you're-the-biggest-idjits pose that he always gave the boys when they missed out a detail from their hunts due to carelessness. Dean and Sam fidgeted as they kept their head down.

"Whatever that thing is…it's luring its victims to the nest…in this case, the hospital…by inflicting them with the virus giving them no choice but to get a treatment there and…"

"…right into its mouth." Sam ended Bobby's deduction.

"So the wraith…like a shtriga…could be imposing as a human…" Bobby suggested as he continued reading the lore about wraiths. "…a human who's working closely to children and can gain their trust or their parents' trust without much effort."

Dean sagged onto the bed, already knowing where the suggestion might take them.

Sam's forehead scrunched as if a thunderstorm had just struck his brain. Then without words Sam looked at Dean through slivered eyes. There was rage in his eyes, filled with accusation. "I told you Dean…he can't be trusted." It was clear Sam put the blame on Dean.

"Sheesh Sam…" Dean pinched the bridge of his nose. He didn't need to be reminded of his foolishness. Especially not by Sam.

"Am I missing something here?" Bobby looked at Sam and then Dean and waited for any of them to enlighten him.

Sam was still glaring at Dean while the latter looked as if the burden of the world was weighing on his shoulder. Dean was slumping forward. His shoulder sagged and his face was marred with guilt and dejection.

"There's this guy Dean met at the playground." Sam looked annoyed.

"O—kay, I'm listening." Knowing the Winchesters, Bobby was aware more is coming.

"He's a pediatrician…works with kids in a hospital where all the flu victims were admitted." Dean said, almost whispering.

"Dean trusts him so much that he left Dr. Jekyll alone with Sammy." Sam was still giving the condemning look to Dean and didn't give Dean the chance to defend himself as he shot more accusation "…and that was when the wraith attacked Sammy."

"And neither of you had the thought of looking into the guy's – Dr. Jekyll's – background?"

Both brothers kept their mouth shut.

Bobby sighed wearily. He was almost afraid to die now. Not because he feared the death itself but because he feared the boys wouldn't survive without him.

"This wouldn't have happened if Dean doesn't trust that Steve guy so much." Sam couldn't put it out of his head. He kept thinking of the possibilities if Bobby didn't come and Dean still hung around the pediatrician.

"I just have the feeling in my gut that he can be trusted." Dean sighed. The words coming out from Sam's mouth hit Dean's head with a loud thump elevating his headache to the top notch. "Then I don't think it's a big deal."

"Not a big deal?" Sam's voice was fierce, challenging. "Dean! What happened to the not trusting the strangers until they are proved trustworthy?" Completely lost in his rage, Sam didn't realize the loudness in his voice caused fear in little Sammy.

Dean bolted to his feet and challenged Sam's fury by glaring at him sharp. "I didn't see you practicing that rule with Ruby." Dean's voice matched Sam's.

Sam rasped – something was choking him in the inside "This is not about that Dean."

"Then what?" the pounding at the back of Dean's head intensified tenfold, turning into an unbearable migraine.

"It's about you Dean…you trusted him and let your guard down …"

"How would I know that he's some kind of soul eating monster…and how do you know that Ruby bitch doesn't have her fingers in this case?" Dean retorted. "You trusted that demon so much you don't think she could be the enemy's ally?"

"How many times should I explain to you Dean…" Sam was not finished when Dean interrupted.

"Explain what Sam? That you trusted a demon more than you trusted me, your brother?" Dean's voice thundered over the room. He was not thinking clearly and he had forgotten that they were not alone in the room.

"Well…have you seen yourself in the mirror lately Dean?" Rolling his eyes, Sam returned the nasty look Dean gave him. "Have you for a moment trusted yourself?"

Dean plunged towards Sam and grabbed the front of his brother's shirt. His eyes flared with anger.

"You're going to hit me Dean?" Sam shouted angrily. His blood was boiling and his head was steaming with fury. He was angry. Not so much of Dean's carelessness though but on the fact that Dean was jeopardizing himself by letting his guard down and getting himself drown in his return-from-hell misery. Sam wished for once Dean would share what he'd been through his four months in hell to ease the burden he was carrying on his shoulder.

"You wouldn't understand!" Dean's face reddened and his heart was pumping at a break neck speed from anger, not towards Sam but of what he had done. He had let his family down by being reckless. Dean could almost see John's eyes glaring down at him as a punishment of what he had done.

"Then tell me…help me understand!"

The fight continued without any sign of it cooling off soon. Dean and Sam were engulfed in their fear and anger that they overlooked the fact they were being watched by the younger Winchesters.

The little ones had been watching the whole scene from the beginning and dared not say a word. Sammy curled his arms around Dean's and snuggled to his brother's side as he watched the big guys screaming at each other.

"Deannie…" Sammy whimpered sadly and buried his face to his big brother's side. "I'm scared."

Bobby immediately realized the fear in little Sammy's eyes. With his fatherly instinct kicking in hard he dashed towards the older boys. "Come on boys, stop this," Bobby urged as he pulled Sam and Dean apart, breaking the fight with the will of a drilling sergeant.

Young Dean hugged Sammy and hushed his baby brother as he glanced over his shoulder towards the older brothers. His eyes burnt with tears. Sammy's whimpers broke his heart bad enough and witnessing his adult self lash on Sam made it worse.

"Shut up!" Young Dean shouted at the top of his lung – his voice coarse and sparse with grief. It garnered the adult men's attention. "Can't you see you're scaring Sammy?" Tears were pooling in his eyes but he dried it with a quick swipe of his hand across his face.

Dean looked at the kids. Sammy was crying sadly at his brother's side. His skinny shoulder shook with every breath hitching sobs while his blanched white hands were gripping young Dean's shirt fervently. Dean's heart sunk. Turning his gaze to Sam he could see the anger in his little brother's eyes was slowly ebbing away.

Sam's senses returned to him as if he had just awoke from a long coma. Realizing the things he said and did in front of the kids he couldn't look young Dean in the eyes and every shaky breath Sammy took tore at his heart. "Oh shit!"

"Damn it!" Dean released his hold on Sam's shirt and turned away from his brother, breathing heavily.

They were being fools.

"You guys are jerks!" The seven year old shot out - hard and painful - before he took Sammy's hand into his and gently guided his little brother out the room.

Dean and Sam were speechless.

"Great boys…" Bobby grumbled – shooting a piercing glare towards the older Winchesters. "Just great."

Little Sammy was still sobbing and shaking as he let Dean lead him to the door. However, halfway there the toddler wiggled away from his big brother's grip and ran towards the older guys. He clung to Dean's leg and looked up to Sam.

"Don't fight." He sobbed. His eyes were glassy with tears and his lips quivered as he looked at Sam and Dean. The toddler reached out to Sam and grabbed his hand, squeezing it firmly. Shaking his head he whimpered sadly "Pwease?"

Sam was at lost for words. He stared into Sammy's eyes blankly, not knowing how to react and what to say. For once the ever sympathetic Sam Winchester didn't have the slightest idea on how to soothe a broken heart. Dealing with children was not his specialty. He turned away from Sammy with a hand brushing his face. Sam felt so helpless and pathetic.

"Hey little guy." Dean crouched down until he was facing Sammy. Rubbing the tears on the chubby cheeks with his calloused thumbs Dean said "We're sorry…we're not going to fight anymore."

Sammy looked at Dean suspiciously as if assessing him if he was telling the truth. Finding what he was looking for Sammy tried to find the same assurance from the second brother.

Dean could read the little one's mind and immediately knew what he had to do. "Right Sam?" swallowing hard Dean glanced up to Sam who looked back at him the moment his name was mentioned.

"Yeah…" Sam replied nervously. He looked at Sammy, found the courage to smile and repeated "Yeah!" without anymore hesitation.

The toddler managed a smile despite the tear rolling down his cheeks. "You pwomise?"

"Yeah kiddo, we promise." Dean smiled reassuringly. He looked at young Dean's way and sighed seeing the kid is still enraged. He refused to look their way and when Dean tried making a move towards him, the seven year old stormed out the room – slamming the door loudly behind him as he went.

Thrashing his hands in the air, Dean gave up.

Bobby shook his head. Just like their dad they were helpless at dealing with kids. How many times had he seen this scenario when John Winchester was alive? Too many. John was a genius when it comes to protecting his family but he sucked out loud when dealing with rebellious offspring. First Dean – who was a bigger rebel than Sam before the Shtriga thing - and then Sam when he was old enough to say no, John never succeeded in cooling off tantrums.

"Sammy," Bobby patted Sammy's shoulder and gently steered him away from the brothers towards the door. "I tell you what…let's go get your brother and we'll go to the nearest ice cream shop."

Sammy's face lightened up hearing the word ice cream. Gone all the fear and sorrow he had felt a moment ago. He took Bobby's hand into his and dragged the older hunter with him eagerly. "Let's go Uncle Bobby! Let's go!" but then he turned around and shot both Dean and Sam a suspicious look. "You pwomise?" he asked again.

"Yeah!" The brothers gave a synchronized answer.

A smile bloomed on the tear smeared face. "Okay!"

Bobby pushed the kid's back and gently nudged him out. "Go get your brother Sammy and wait for me at the car," he instructed knowing for sure young Dean was standing right outside the door, waiting. Dean never left his little brother and stayed too far from Sammy. Taking care of Sammy was a job he never trusted anyone to take in his stead.

When Sammy was gone, Bobby turned around and looked at Dean and Sam. "What were you thinking? You scared the kids when they already have a terrible life to begin with." His eyes were filled with sheer anger and the boys didn't have the guts to even look at him. Like father like sons. "Grow up boys…stop being selfish."

"Off the record," Bobby said before he stepped out the room. "You two fight like an old married couple."

"I'm going out with the kids," he informed them, as if that was news.

"I'll go to the hospital then to check on the staff record." Sam grabbed his jacket and was about to head for the door when Bobby pointed a finger at him.

"Oh no you don't!" The older guy said grumpily. "Neither of you is going anywhere…you two idjits are going to stay here and settle that thing between you. I don't care whether you have to renew your wedding vow or go for another honeymoon, I want to see you get this all done when I come back!" Bobby punched his order with a stress.

"And boys…" Bobby shot a glare to both Winchesters. "I mean it." The coldness lacing that remark was enough to send shivers up Sam's and Dean's spine. The senior hunter gave the boys a round up and closed the door.

It wasn't until they heard the engine rumbled and the sound of the truck leaving that Dean and Sam spoke to each other again.

"Married couple?" Sam huffed as he looked over his shoulder to Dean.

"I don't want to be the wife," was his big brother's reply.

…...

It was a dull Sunday at the Candy Bar – something uncommon for a soda shop said to be where the kids hung up after school – for there was no such crowd today. When Bobby set foot into the premise tugging Sammy and young Dean behind him, the owner was more than overwhelmed. He even took the liberty of ushering them to their booth and waited at their table.

Bobby's comment about the place being unusually calm caused Dave, the soda shop owner, to ramble about the flu outbreak causing fear among the parents for their children's health. There were no more birthday parties and no crowds of eager kids during after-school rush. Bobby could have sworn he was going to keep on rambling forever if Sammy whining for ice cream didn't stop him. Thank God for an impatient kid with quite an appetite.

Their order arrived just as Dean was about to lose his patience over Sammy's unrelenting whining. Any later Bobby might have to deal with another Winchester war. Thank God for perfect timing. Their dessert was then enjoyed in complete peace and silence except for the fusses Sammy made over how little amount of chocolate syrup he had on his ice cream or how his cherries were not as big as Dean's. The big brother didn't pay heed to the comment but thankfully he didn't lose patience either.

"Deannie…"Sammy whined as he licked his lips. His face was smudged with ice cream and chocolate syrup. His shirt, well, let's say it was not a pretty sight but Bobby couldn't help but found it adorable. He was looking at Dean's bowl longingly now that his was already empty. Bobby cringed – knowing what was coming next.

Dean looked at Sam and hunched his shoulders while sighing exasperatedly. Sammy shot him a sheepish grin in return, demonstrating pure naiveté. That kid sure had one hell of a sweet tooth.

"No Sammy…" the older kid answered firmly. "You gonna get sugar rush."It seemed that Dean already knew what his little brother had in mind. Things only big brothers know.

"Pweeaseee Dean?" Sammy flashed the bright puppy eyes – wide brown eyes shining with hope alongside with a faint quiver of the plump lips – that was a sure way to melt his brother's heart and win the case. Bobby would have surrendered his share if he had one.

"Aww Sammy!" Dean threw his hands up in the air - the look of annoyance on his face. Bobby snorted. That was a clear sign of defeat and it never quite left Dean till now. Dean rolled his eyes and pushed his bowl to Sammy, mumbling to himself words Bobby didn't want to know.

Sammy giggled and happily ate his new winning trophy.

It was fun to see how big Sammy's appetite was when he was a kid but grew up to be a man with not as much appetite. And to see how 'big' Sam grew up to be from a wee little Sammy was another wonder.

Then Bobby looked at Dean, immediately feeling sorry for the kid. Knowing that little guy since the first day the Winchesters seek shelter at his home Bobby knew Dean will do anything at his own expense to make Sammy happy. Damn well he did.

"We can order a new one Dean." Bobby was about to call the waiter when Dean stopped him.

"It's okay uncle Bobby, I'm not really in the mood for ice cream anyway."

That was the first sign that Dean was not in a bright mood today, not after he witnessed the fight between the older brothers. It was also a cue that Bobby would be dealing with some pissed off questions or even some bitchy remarks of a mad seven year old.

Bobby was almost afraid to start a conversation.

"Do we fight all the time uncle Bobby?"

Bobby took off his cap and scratched his head before putting it back. "Why do you think you do?"

Dean shot him a disbelief look and raised his brows. "Really?" was the unspoken question Bobby saw on the kid's face.

Sighing, he answered "Yeah, kind of…lately."

Looking at his little brother and thinking that one day they were going to end fighting each other Dean felt something tug at his heart. To be reminded of the loneliness evident on Sam's face the night he was sick and of the fact that they grew up to be hunters made his inside squirmed.

"But when you're not fighting you guys did okay," Bobby attempted to make the kid feel better but looking into Dean's eyes as he smiled sadly Bobby knew he had failed.

Silence crept in again as Bobby's brain fumbled for words. Silently he cursed John for leaving him to deal with his boys. He already had his hands full with the adult Winchesters and now he had to deal with the young ones too, alone.

"Uncle Bobby…?" Dean looked up to the older hunter with glassy eyes.

Bobby replied with a crease of his brows. He was ready for another killer question.

"Where's dad?"

Bobby's heart sank.

This was the one question that killed him thoroughly.

TBC

A/n: Hey love. Trust me when I say I'm almost afraid to leave a note here. I didn't know what to say. Sorry? Will you forgive me after that long delay from the last chapter? Some of you might have even forgotten the storyline and have to go back to page one. I might even give you the impression that this story ended halfway. I don't even know if I deserved your forgiveness. But here I am, humbly asking for you to forgive me. My life sucks lately, work and work…(*shouts* others worked too)…lame excuse but that's the truth. I will try my best to write the next chapter, please give me a boost by leaving me comments on this chapter. I think I'm losing the skill. If this one boring you, let me know and I'm open for suggestion. Again, thanks for waiting and thanks for keeping up with me even when I have let you down.