The Little Things Count More

The Little Things Count More

CHAPTER 4

Bobby watched the pain on Sam's face and was at a loss at how to comfort him except to share more memories with him, to give him as much of the Dean he knew to him. It was the only gift he had left to give.

"Perfectly understandable, Sam," Bobby said. "I remember him being pretty protective of you until he got to know someone. I remember when your dad first brought you boys to my place because it had been on the way to a hunt. You couldn't have been more than 5 and Dean, he wouldn't let me near you until he was sure I wouldn't hurt you."

Bobby laughed a little.

"He was fierce even then."

Sam snorted, "Yeh, I can see that."

Sam and Bobby heard Dean moaning in the background and Sam went over to check on him. As he got closer, he heard what Dean was mumbling.

"My dad told me to protect Sam so don't come any closer," Dean said, in a voice that was more like a little boy than his usual bass tone.

"What?" Sam said, confused.

"He'll be back to get us when the hunt's over," Dean continued.

"Is he hallucinating, Bobby?" Sam asked.

"Sounds like it."

"Bobby? You're the Bobby that Dad's always talking about?"

Sam turned to look at Bobby and saw Bobby smile.

"What? What is it?"

"He's remembering when we first met."

Bobby was both surprised and warmed with affection at the thought that Dean was remembering the same thing in his fevered dreams. Sam looked back to his brother.

"Should we wake him?"

"No need. I think it might be better to let Dean sleep. It's not a nightmare or anything."

Sam nodded, but had a concerned look on his face.

"What?"

"Nothing. Just tired."

"Why don't you get some shut eye? I can watch Dean for awhile."

"I know. I'm tired, but I just can't sleep."

Bobby shook his head at the dogged stubbornness that ran in the Winchester family.

"Tell me about Dean as a kid," Sam said.

"On one condition and that's if you sit yourself on the bed and try to sleep. The least you can do is humor an old coot."

Sam smiled and nodded as he headed to the bed. He got himself comfortable, almost as if getting ready to be told a bedtime story. It made Bobby smile in return.

"Well, Dean was a talker even then. Once he didn't think I'd be a threat to you, he started to tell me about how great your dad was and that it was his job to take care of you. He acted pretty proud of himself for that, by the way. He asked me about your mom and dad. If I had known your mom and how long I had known your dad, you know, things like that. I didn't know much about your mom. Your father wasn't very forthcoming as you can probably guess, but Dean took pleasure in telling me about her as if he was the only one who really knew her," Bobby related with a smile on his face.

"What did he say about her?"

"What most children say about their moms, that she was the best mom in the world, that she loved you and Dean, that she didn't want to leave you both…"

Bobby stopped himself, worried that saying more would cause Sam unnecessary pain. When he looked over, not surprisingly, Sam had fallen dead asleep. He then heard Dean moaning in his sleep. He went over and took the towel from the bowl of water, wrung it out and placed it on Dean's face. Once again, Dean woke up, looking pale and tired.

"Bobby?" Dean rasped.

"Yeh, Dean, how you feeling? You thirsty?"

Dean licked his lips and nodded. Bobby brought over a bowl of ice chips so that Dean wouldn't have to get up to drink from a glass. He placed a chip in Dean's mouth and he accepted with a sigh.

"That better?"

"Yeh, thanks…when did you learn bedside manner?" Dean joked, his voice sounding like he had gravel in his throat.

Bobby smiled.

"You get to be my age, you learn some things."

Dean nodded again.

"Did you have to do this for Dad too?" Dean asked.

Bobby was taken by surprise, but smiled.

"It went both ways," Bobby said.

"Why didn't you marry again and have kids?" Dean asked tentatively then realized it was probably too personal a question. "If you don't want to tell me –"

Bobby smiled again only it was tinged with sadness.

"It's okay, Dean," Bobby paused. "I guess I just couldn't put someone else through what my wife went through. I was selfish too. Couldn't bear watching someone else I loved get hurt like that again…and kids well…don't get me wrong, your father, he did right by you two boys. I won't lie and say that I approved of him bringing you into hunting, but truth be told, he did all right. You're both fine young men. He may have had his faults, but I know for sure that he was really proud of you both. And he loved you both. I just didn't think I could do the same."

Dean nodded then sighed and let his gaze wander to a random part of the room.

"Do you think he'd be proud at what I did?"

Bobby stared at Dean's shadowy profile then swallowed, a look of pride and determination on his face.

"I know he is, Dean. As sure I know he's free from Hell, I know that he is as proud as a father could be for what you have you done."

"I hope so…I hope I can…" Dean said, but stopped his train of thought.

Dean didn't need to continue. Bobby already knew what he was going to say, but didn't complete his thought. Some things were better left unsaid.

oooo

TBC