It Only Takes a Second
Chapter 13
Disclaimer: see chapter 1

Dean remained quiet through breakfast, watching Sammy without really looking at his baby brother. Since panic had filled him the day before at the realization that his little brother was missing, the six-year old wouldn't accept his father saying it was the older man's fault that Sammy went missing, it had been Dean's responsibility to watch the toddler and he had failed.

Sammy seemed to stay close to John throughout the morning, following his father from room to room. The toddler had also let Atticus in the house when his father wasn't looking; the canine shadowed every step the small child made. Sammy would only have to hold his hand out and Atticus would walk up to him, allowing the small hand to curl into the short fir on the animals back. Dean watched this, some how feeling that maybe Sammy didn't need him anymore to feel safe, after all he had let his brother get lost in the woods and Atticus had protected him where Dean could not.

Around mid-day John put Sammy down for a nap, allowing the dog into the small boys bed, not being able to deny his youngest much after the scare of the day before. When the father had changed the toddler that morning he had noticed the array of purples that covered the child's torso, adding to the guilt that he felt at having not kept his child safe, at not protecting him.

As John exited the boys room he found Dean sitting in the hallway, next to the door, "Hey Ace, is something wrong?" the father felt bad looking his eldest, seeing the fear and guilt in his eyes, but not fully understanding why it was there, he had told Dean that what happened with Sammy hadn't been his fault.

"Sammy doesn't need me anymore." Tears filled the small boy's eyes.

John sat down beside the six-year old, putting his arm around his small shoulders, "What makes you think that?"

Leaning into his father's side, Dean tried his best to control his tears. "I couldn't take care of him in the woods and Atticus could. He would be better off with Atticus then me."

This was one of the times that John remembered that Dean was only six and would still sometimes see things in illogical ways. "Sammy's always going to need you, just because Atticus helped keep him safe doesn't mean he doesn't need you." Moss-green eyes looked at John as the father tried to explain all the things Dean does that Atticus couldn't. "Can Atticus help get Sammy dressed or help him with breakfast?"

"No." Dean watched his father.

"Can Atticus help get Sammy ready for bed or teach him to tie his shoes?" John watched as realization seemed to be dawning on Dean.

"No." Dean's eyes got big as he understood there were so many things that Atticus couldn't do for his brother.

John gave a hint of a smile as he leaned over and whispered, "Can Atticus hit a target at twenty paces with a shot-gun?"

"Course not Daddy." Finally the hint of a smile that John was hoping for showed as the small boy said 'Daddy', a word he heard less and less as his oldest son continued to grow.

John pulled Dean into his lap, "Of course not, so see, Sammy's always gonna need you to help take care of him, especially when we're on the road and Atticus isn't around." Dean leaned back against his father's chest as John wrapped his arms around the small boy. "Do you want to come downstairs with me? I've got some research to do in Jim's library."

Looking up at his father Dean glanced at the door, "I think I'll sit right here, in case Sammy needs me."

Kissing the top of his son's head, John lifted the boy, sitting him back beside him. "Okay Ace, but you know where I am if you need me."

John got up and made his way toward the stairs. Turning he looked back as Dean leaned against the wall, listening for his little brother.

It was dark and scary; the shadows were trying to catch him as he ran. He had heard the howl of the monster he was sure was chasing him. Tears filled his eyes as his legs carried him as fast as they would go. Why had his Daddy and Dede left him alone in the woods with all the scary monsters? "Daddy!" his voice called out, "Dede!" He continued to run; his little heart filling like it would jump out of his chest. He could hear the monster getting closer, he was afraid to look, afraid it would get him. He continued to run, until he was falling, "DEDE!"

"DEDE!" Sammy sat up in bed; his eye's wide in fear as the sound of the monster that was chasing him faded. Atticus had jumped when the small boy did and began to whimper. "DEDE!"

It had been nearly a half an hour since Sammy went down for his nap, but his little brother's panicked cry had Dean bolting from his spot in the hallway, into the room. Seeing his baby brother breathing hard, his eye's filled with tears, Dean raced across the room just as the second "DEDE!" escaped the small boy's lips.

Jumping onto the bed, Dean wrapped his arms around the small boy, pulling him close. "Sammy, wake up. Sammy, I got you!" the six-year old started to rock the toddler, "Shhh, Sammy, Dede's got you, you're safe now." Dean continued to rock the sobbing boy, until his breaths were coming between hiccups.

Once Sammy calmed some his little voice tried to speak, "Whys you leaves me in the woodes Dede?"

The question pulled at the older boy's heart. That last thing he ever wanted to do was hurt his brother. "I'm sorry, Sammy. I didn't mean too. I tried to find you, but I couldn't…I'm so sorry." tears again fell from the older boy's eyes.

"Promises no do it again?" Sammy whispered out as his face stayed buried against his brother's chest.

"Never Sammy, I'll never leave you again." Dean continued rocking.

"Okays…" Sammy's voice started to drift off as the adrenaline from the nightmare faded and sleep overtook him again, "wuvs you Dede."

"I love you too Sammy." Within a few minutes Dean felt the even breaths telling him his baby brother had fallen asleep again. Laying the slightly smaller boy over, Dean laid down beside him, placing a protective arm over the sleeping toddler. Soon sleep found Dean as well.

John had rushed up the stairs after hearing his youngest cry out, but stopped just outside the door as he heard Dean trying to comfort his little brother. Listening to the exchange John knew that whatever had been broken inside his eldest had been healed by the words of his youngest. The boys were too close to allow anything to come between them. Dean needed to forgive himself, but John knew that would only happen if his son thought his little brother had forgiven him. Hearing the muffled 'love you' between the boys told John that all was forgiven. Smiling slightly, the older man returned to the library, waiting to hear from Jim on how Caleb was doing.

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Jim and Mac were sitting in Caleb's room, the teen was asleep. The fear, panic and exhaustion from everything that had happened in the last day had won over and pulled the older boy into a restless sleep. The doctor had offered to give the boy something to help him rest, both Caleb and Mac vehemently refused. Mac knew, after seeing what he was looking for in the scans that his son would rest better once they had returned to the farm.

Both men looked up when the door opened, admitting a middle-aged doctor. "Dr. Ames, Pastor Murphy, I'm Dr. Buchanan, the neurologist." The man shook hands with both the Scholar and Guardian as they stood.

"Do you have Caleb's results?" Mac asked, pretty much guessing what the doctor would say.

"Yes and as far as I can tell, there is no neurological reason for what your son has experienced. I looked over his chart before coming in, I'm not sure if his attending has talked with you, but it looks like your son may have contracted a virus that is causing the exhaustion and headaches. I would recommend bed rest for a couple days, acetaminophen for any aches or pains and if he develops a fever. Of course if any of his symptoms become worse, or if he looses consciousness again bring him back immediately."

Mac reached out to again shake Dr. Buchanan's hand, "Thank you doctor. I know my son is anguish to head home, do you know about how long it will be?" normally the psychic wouldn't rush his son's release, but finding out what he needed to know, he was just as anguish to get Caleb back to Jim's, so his son could relax and rest, Mac had been picking up on the total state of panic the teen had been in since arriving.

"I'll talk with the attending, but I would think with all his test back, it would be within the hour or so." Giving a nod to Jim, Dr. Buchanan left the room.

"Was the scan's what you expected?" Jim asked as he returned to his seat, Mac following suit.

"Yes, as I watched them being taken, I didn't see any indication that what he did with Sammy had any adverse effects, other then just exhausting himself that much more." Mac reached over and took his son's hand.

"Just what did he do with Sammy?" Jim asked, watching as Mac ran his hand through his son's hair.

The Doctor's eyes not leaving the sleeping boy, he answered the Pastor. "Honestly, I don't know."