A Hiccup in Time Ch. 9

Disclaimer. Still don't own them and still not making a profit from my stories.

Author's note: The Book that John reads-- Love You Forever belongs to Robert Munsch.

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Previously: Dean walked into the kitchen to find his dad peeling potatoes as Bobby was putting on some chicken to fry. Sitting down in the chair opposite of his dad, he said "Sam's back" as he reached over to pick up the other knife on the table to help his dad. "The brat just called me a big pervert."

By the time that Sam had finished his bath, he walked down the stairs to find Bobby just putting the food out on the table. Glancing over towards Dean, he felt the heat rise in his cheeks remembering the embarrassing moment that occurred between them only a short while ago. He slowly walked over towards the table and climbed into the chair with a booster seat on it without saying a word. Looking down towards his lap and fiddling with his fingers, Sam said, "I'm sorry for calling you a pervert Dean. It's just that things were uh…"

"Awkward, I know kiddo, don't worry about it" Dean said with a smile as he tilted Sam's head up. "There's bound to be lots more of them so let's just slip them under the rug as they occur and not worry about them okay little dude?"

"Thanks Dean" Sam replied with a twinkle in his eye, happy in the knowledge that his big brother wasn't mad at him for his earlier outburst.

"Hey there tiger, I made your favorites." Bobby touted as he placed a plate with a piece of chicken and mashed potatoes smothered in gravy in front of him.

"Wow, that's awesome, thanks Bobby" Sam replied as he picked up his spoon and began to eat. He couldn't remember the last time they had had such a fantastic home cooked meal.

"You're welcome kid" Bobby replied as he fixed his own plate and sat down. John and Dean could take care of serving themselves. The hunters then ate in relative silence until Bobby brought up what he knew was going to be a touchy subject. He knew that this thing with Sammy could go on for months and they needed to talk about his safety and going back to the hunt.

"Listen, I was just thinking about what's going to happen with Sammy once you decide to go back to the hunt again" Bobby stated with a direct look at John.

"What do you mean what's going to happen with Sammy, he'll go with us the same as he always has." John stated as he forked some green beans into his mouth.

"John, you know how dangerous that could be with Sammy's condition right now. What if he regressed in age just as you were facing down an evil spirit or a black dog?" Bobby asked with exasperation evident on his face.

"Then I would protect him the way I always have Bobby." Dean automatically stated. He had done it for years and it would be no different now.

"Damn it Dean, it doesn't have to be that way. You guys could leave Sammy here with me where you wouldn't have to worry about whether or not he was safe." Bobby retorted.

"Now wait just a damned minute," Sam shouted. "You idiots are talking about me like I'm not even here. I'd like to have some say so in what's going to happen."

"And you will kiddo" John informed him. "If it comes down to going back to the hunt while things are they way they are, then I'll make sure you have a say in what happens. We'll face that problem if and when the time comes, but until then, let's not worry about it okay." The hunters agreed to call a truce and the rest of dinner was passed with small talk about Bobby's salvage business and the fact that he could use a little help fixing cars while the Winchesters were staying with him.

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After dinner was over, John and Bobby retired to the living room while Dean and Sammy did the dishes. Dean had pulled over a chair for Sammy to stand in so that he could rinse the dishes. Of course he made sure the kid was blocked in by another chair and himself so that he couldn't fall. As he washed the dishes, Dean could tell something was on Sam's mind and waited for his baby brother to let him in on it.

"Dean?" Sam questioned hesitantly as he chewed on his bottom lip.

"Yeah?"

"You and dad wouldn't leave me behind would you, I mean if we can't fix this and dad decides to go back to the hunt?" Sam asked "I know it will be a hassle having me along, but I don't want to be left behind even if I am basically useless now." Sam hung his head upon finishing the last statement not wanting Dean to see the tears that were now glistening in his eyes at the thought of his own family abandoning him.

"Hell no, we wouldn't leave you behind tiger, don't even think that." Dean stated vehemently to relieve his baby brother's fears. "And don't ever let me say you're useless again or I'll kick your ass. And for your information, it isn't now or never has it been a hassle taking care of you bitch."

"Thanks jerk." Sam retorted with a smile knowing that Dean wouldn't lie to him, that he meant exactly what he had said. He just hoped his dad agreed too.

After finishing the dishes, Dean went up the stairs to take a shower leaving Sammy to fend for himself. Sam decided to turn on his laptop and research the net to see just how much lore was out there on the Kupua demon. He found that Kupua demons could take any shape they desired and that some were considered cannibals who devoured even their own kind at times which caused Sam to shiver just thinking about it. He had just googled another page when suddenly he began to feel funny. "What the…?" he started to question but soon lost his train of thought as he looked at the funny page on daddy's computer.

Knowing that his daddy probably forgot he had the computer on, Sammy walked into the living room where he could hear him and Uncle Bobby talking. He decided to wait to tell daddy about what he saw since his daddy hated to be interrupted when he was talking to other adults. As soon as there was a lull in the conversation, Sammy walked over and climbed up on his father's lap.

"Sam is something wrong son?" John questioned in surprise that Sam had actually decided to climb in his lap of his own free will.

"No daddy, nuffin's wrong, I just wanted to tell you that you left your pooter on in da other room" Sammy replied as he snuggled in to his father's chest and stuck a thumb in his mouth.

"I did huh?" John questioned immediately recognizing the fact that he was now talking to Sammy instead of Sam.

"Uh huh" Sammy said through a big yawn as he used a little fist to rub his eyes.

"Looks like my little man is getting sleepy." John said as he ruffled the curly brown hair on his little boys head. "You ready for bed kiddo?"

"First, can I have a story?" Sammy asked as he looked up at his daddy with a pleading expression in his blue-green eyes.

"Sure you can baby, what do you want me to read?" John replied unable to turn down his youngest with those puppy dog eyes of his.

Sammy climbed off of John's lap and went to grab a book off of Bobby's shelf that Bobby always kept for him on those weekends they spent with him during daddy's hunts. He quickly found the book he was looking for and wondered why it had so much dust on it. Returning to his father's lap, he handed the book over. "Read this one p'ease daddy."

As John held up the book, Bobby's eyes lit up with mischief. "Uh oh John, you don't know what you've gotten yourself into." he thought waiting to see the outcome, he knew exactly what Sammy would be requesting John to do.

As John situated Sammy in his lap, he opened the front cover of the Robert Munsch book and began to read in a soothing voice.

A mother held her new baby and very slowly rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And while she held him, she sang:

I'll love you forever,I'll like you for always,As long as I'm livingmy baby you'll be.

"No daddy" Sammy said as his dad read the part that said I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always. "You have to sing it wike Uncle Bobby does."

John looked at Bobby with a look of disbelief on his face as his cheeks tinged pink. "Daddy doesn't sing baby, maybe Uncle Bobby should read this one for you."

"No daddy, I wants you to read it. I's heard you singing in da shower. P'ease daddy."

John groaned inwardly knowing that he would have to honor Sammy's request. Sammy wouldn't be sitting there in his lap thinking he was three years old if he had listened to him in the first place so, taking a deep breath, John began to read again.

A mother held her new baby and very slowly rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And while she held him, she sang:

I'll love you forever,I'll like you for always,As long as I'm livingmy baby you'll be.

The baby grew. He grew and he grew and he grew. He grew until he was two years old, and he ran all around the house. He pulled all the books off the shelves. He pulled all the food out of the refrigerator and he took his mother's watch and flushed it down the toilet. Sometimes his mother would say, "this kid is driving me CRAZY!"

Sammy giggled at the face his father made a funny face as he read the part about the things the kid did to drive his mommy crazy. "I do's that to you sometimes huh daddy?" he questioned with a twinkle in his eye.

"You sure do tiger!" John replied as he tickled his youngest child's stomach before continuing with the story.

But at night time, when that two-year-old was quiet, she opened the door to his room, crawled across the floor, looked up over the side of his bed; and if he was really asleep she picked him up and rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. While she rocked him she sang:

I'll love you forever,I'll like you for always,As long as I'm livingmy baby you'll be.

John started reading more softly as he looked down to see Sammy's eyelids becoming heavier. He knew Sammy would be out in no time at all.

The little boy grew. He grew and he grew and he grew. He grew until he was nine years old. And he never wanted to come in for dinner, he never wanted to take a bath, and when grandma visited he always said bad words. Sometimes his mother wanted to sell him to the zoo!

But at night time, when he was asleep, the mother quietly opened the door to his room, crawled across the floor and looked up over the side of the bed. If he was really asleep, she picked up that nine-year-old boy and rocked him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And while she rocked him she sang:

I'll love you forever,I'll like you for always,As long as I'm livingmy baby you'll be.

Noticing that Sammy's eyes were closed, John whispered "Looks like he's down for the count" as he picked Sammy up off of his lap and cradled him to his chest. He wrapped his arms securely around Sammy as his youngest lay his head on his shoulder. He soon felt small puffs of warm air against his neck signifying that Sammy was in a deep sleep. "Bobby, I think I'll call it a night too." John informed his old friend knowing that he needed to get Sammy to bed. He placed a hand on Sammy's back and rubbed it up and down as he carried his baby boy up the stairs. He carried Sammy into his room and then gently placed him on his bed since Sammy was already dressed in his pajamas.

John didn't feel comfortable leaving a sleeping Sammy by himself while Dean was still in the shower so he stripped off his jeans and over shirt leaving him in just a t-shirt and boxers before sliding into bed with his youngest. He lay on his side and then pulled Sammy in close enjoying the comfort of having the small warm body beside him. He bent his forehead down and placed a light kiss on the top of Sammy's head. "I love you tiger." he whispered before closing his eyes and drifting off to sleep.

After climbing out of the shower and toweling off, Dean entered his and Sam's room to find his dad in the bed with Sammy who was softly snoring while being cradled to their dad's chest. He was startled for a moment but then figured Sammy had regressed in age again. "Way to go dad." he thought to himself as he reached over and pulled the bed comforter up and over them before climbing into bed himself.

TBC Little Miss Bump, I hope this chapter met up to your request for a sweet John/Sammy moment. Maxandkiz---I will put your request into the next chapter