-Author's notes: Hi guys, I hope you enjoy this longer chapter. I'm thinking that there's probably going to be about 1 or 2 chapter left, I haven't decided yet. Comment if you like it :)
Sam sat in the library, his head buried in a lore book. He was going to find a cure to this whether Dean liked it or not.
"Sammy?" Dean poked his head in the library, glancing warily at Sam. "Have you found anything yet?"
Sam sighed and glanced up, his hair falling in his eyes. He impatiently pushed it away, feeling out of place since it felt so much shorter.
"No, though I have figured out why I got aged down instead of aged up."
Now, Sam looked at Dean warily, debating how much he should tell him. Dean saw him looking and gave him an impatient look.
"Well, don't keep me waiting Sammy. How come you're 22 instead of 80?"
Sam focused on the book in front of him as he responded.
"Well, you know how I have angel grace in me right? It turns out that affected the spell and and sort of reversed it."
Dean eyed him suspiciously.
"Seems kind of like an abridged version there, Sam. Anything you're not telling me?"
Sam quickly looked up at Dean and responded, "Nope, that's all the lore book says."
Dean looked like he wanted to argue but decided against it.
"Well, Jody needs help with a hunt and I told her that I would drive down there and help her out. Seems like a nest of vampires. She doesn't want them getting too close to Alex."
Sam got up and stretched.
"OK, let me grab the gear and we can head out."
Dean put a hand on his shoulder.
"Woah, slow your roll there tiger! Somebody needs to stay here and watch Jack."
Sam looked at Dean with an incredulous look on his face.
"You're joking, right? I'm not letting you go into a vamp nest without me."
Dean sighed in frustration.
"I'll be fine, Sam! Jody, Donna, and Claire are all going to be there."
"I don't care" Sam replied resolutely. "Don't think how I haven't noticed you calling me Sammy more often. Just because I look 22 doesn't mean that I don't have 35 years of hunting experience. I'm coming with you even if I have to take a different car."
Dean threw his hands in the air in exasperation.
"Sammy, you could get hurt, and then what would I do? I already lost you once-" Dean broke off as his voice cracked.
Sam's face softened.
"Dean-" He started to say, but Dean left the room before he could get anything else out.
Sam sighed and went to his room and saw Jack sitting on his bed.
"Jack, what are you doing?"
Jack looked up at him with big puppy dog eyes.
"Sam, can I please come with you guys. I promise I have more control of my powers and I won't get in your way."
"I'm sorry Jack," Sam responded. "But we don't want you getting hurt. Try and practice your powers a bit more while we're gone and you can show me when we get back."
Jack's lower lip quivered, "Sam, I need to be there to protect you!"
Sam felt a zing of warmth shoot through his body, as well as irritation. What was it with everybody trying to protect him?
"I'll be just fine Jack, I promise. How about you start on a Harry Potter movie and you can tell me all about it when I come back?"
Jack thought about it and nodded.
"OK, I'll watch the Order of the Phoenix and make a summary of talking points that we can discuss when you get back. Be careful Sam."
With that, Jack left the room. Sam smiled fondly after him. Who knew that he could get so attached the the son of his torturer so quickly?
But Jack isn't anything like Lucifer. He's kind and actually cares about me.
After changing his clothes and grabbing the gear, he headed out to the garage to see Dean already waiting impatiently in the impala.
Sam started to say something, but Dean cut him off and started the engine.
After a while, they arrived at Jody's house.
Sam and Dean both got out and Sam knocked on the door.
It opened to reveal Jody's face, which quickly changed from smiling to shock.
"Oh my God! Sam, is that you?"
Sam smiled at her while he internally prepared himself for everybody's shock.
"Yeah, I got de-aged by a witch. Didn't Dean tell you?"
Sam glanced over at Dean, who was still resolutely not looking at Sam.
"No," Jody gave Dean the evil eye, which made him shift uneasily. "He didn't say anything about it. But, come inside boys, the girls are waiting to see you. Donna will join us later at the vamp nest."
They all walked inside while Jody closed the door and called out for the girls.
Claire and Alex ran down the stairs, only to stare at him in shock. Before they could say anything, Sam interjected.
"Yes, it's me, Sam. I got de-aged by a witch. I'm physically about 22." Sam put an emphasis on the word physically, looking pointedly at Dean, who loosened up and and gave him an apologetic smile. Sam gave him a small smile back.
"Wait, your 22?" Claire looked at him up and down. "Damn, you clean up good. Guess you're not as old of a geezer as I thought."
"Claire!" Jody, Alex, and Dean shouted while Sam's face burned.
"L-Let's just discuss the case." Sam stuttered.
Claire gave him a smirk and walked into the living room, where they all sat down and looked at the newspaper clippings.
"So," Jody started, "There's a nest of vamps living in this abandoned warehouse. They've been abducting young adults from a nearby college and turning them."
"Wait," Sam interjected. "Turning them? They aren't draining and killing them?"
Jody shook her head. "From the info we've gathered, they were a really small pack and needed to increase numbers, so they've only been turning so far. We want to wipe them out before the killing starts."
Now Claire sat up, alert. "That's why I had come up with an amazing plan, but Jody shot me down."
Jody sighed and said, "Claire, we already talked about this. You are not using yourself as bait!"
"What!" Dean exclaimed. "There's no chance in hell that's happening."
"But guys," Claire reasoned. "The vamps are going after young adults, so I fit that range perfectly."
Suddenly, a thought occurred to Sam.
"Sammy, don't you dare." Dean said warningly, but Sam paid him no mind. If this was the only option, then so be it.
"Guys, I'll be the bait."