A Hiccup in Time Ch. 24
Disclaimer. I do not own anything recognizable in this story, nor am I making a profit from it.
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Previously: "Damn it Bobby, what the hell am I supposed to do now?" John questioned not really expecting an answer feeling as though he were between a rock and a hard place.
"I'm sorry John, I really don't know what to tell you. Basically you're in a situation where you're damned if you do and damned if you don't. Either way, something could go wrong and you will have to live with the consequences of your decision." Bobby stated as he rubbed a hand across his face. He really didn't want Sammy to go on that hunt, but the thing with the snake had proven that he wasn't entirely safe anywhere.
"Exactly! I can't take the chance of losing either of my boys Bobby. I know Sammy shouldn't go on this hunt, but if I make him stay, then Dean will never forgive me for it either.
"What if we leave them both behind John? I could go with you on this one and Dean could stay here and watch over Sammy. At least that way he wouldn't be put into outright danger." Bobby stated as the idea clicked in his head.
"Forget it Bobby." Dean stated after over hearing the hunter as he walked down the stairs carrying Sammy in one arm and their duffle bags with the other. "This concerns us and we're not being left behind. I'll do whatever it takes to keep him safe."
"That's what I'm scared of." John replied as he glanced up towards Dean. "I know you well enough to know you'll throw yourself in front of any danger to keep Sam safe. Hell, I would do the same thing myself. But what would that do to Sammy? We can't leave him alone to fend for himself Dean should something happen to us."
"Shit, I didn't think about that." Dean exclaimed as he wrapped his mind around the words that his dad had said. On one hand, he knew Sam deserved the right to go on the hunt since his life was the one that had been most affected by the demon's spell, but then what would happen to him if the spell couldn't be broken and he ended up losing both members of his family. He knew Bobby would raise Sammy as though he were his own, but Sammy could still suffer from feeling of abandonment. "Damn it, I freaking hate this." Dean stated vehemently knowing what he had to do.
Dropping their duffle bags onto the floor, Dean said "You and Bobby go find that son of a bitch and teach it what happens when you mess with the Winchesters. I'll stay here with Sammy. I don't want to chance him coming back to himself and thinking we've abandoned him for the hunt."
"You've made the right choice Dean. I know you want to go, but at least Sammy will be safe here." Bobby stated before going to get his own gear for the hunt.
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An hour later found Dean and Sam sitting on the porch swing watching as John and Bobby pulled out of Singer Salvage Yard on their way to Bigfork Minnesota. Dean had Sammy sitting in his lap as they swung back and forth gently on the porch swing.
"Deanie, where daddy and Uncle Bobby going?" Sammy questioned as he watched the Impala until it drove out of sight.
"Dad had something really important he had to do kiddo." Dean answered as he ran his fingers through Sammy's hair. "Don't worry tiger, he'll be back soon.
"Deanie, is sumfin wrong?"
"No Sammy, why would you think that?" Dean questioned as he spun Sammy around so he could look him in the eyes.
"Cause you acting all funny and Bobby said I be safe here." Sammy answered as he placed his thumb in his mouth and began sucking on it. He could sense something was going on, but he just didn't know what.
"Damn, we've got to start watching what we say in front of you." Dean thought as he pulled Sammy to his chest and embraced him in a hug. "Of course you're safe here cause you got me and I'm a superhero right?" Dean stated as he started tickling Sammy on his side to distract him.
"No, 'top Deanie." Sammy giggled as he tried to bat his brothers hands away.
"Not until you say I'm the greatest superhero there ever was." Dean replied with a laugh himself as Sammy squirmed about in his arms.
"Otay, otay, you da bestest superhero ever." Sammy agreed as he threw his arms around Dean's neck and planted a kiss on his cheek. Taking a few calming breaths and settling back into his brother's lap, he asked, "Deanie, will you tell me a stowy?"
"Sure munchkin" Dean answered with a smile. "Once upon a time there were three little pigs named Sammy and Deanie and Daddy. They were the most brave little pigs in all the world and they weren't scared of anything. So one day Sammy, Deanie, and Daddy went off on their own to find a ghost."
"Deanie, I not wike ghosts." said Sammy as he snuggled further into his brother's embrace for security.
"Don't worry Sammy, Deanie pig won't let the ghost get anywhere near you." Dean said as he went on to tell the story which of course would end happily. By the time that he had finished, Sammy had fallen asleep in his arms and he carried his baby brother back inside the house and placed him on a quilt on the floor so he could start dinner for the two of them.
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After arriving at their destination of Bigfork Minnesota late into the night, Bobby had hacked into the local police computer database to find out that an usual sulfuric smell had been reported by the farmer and his wife just before they had lost their herd. Looking for other signs that a demon had indeed been in the area, John searched weather reports to find that an electrical storm had also occurred in on the night in question. Deciding that they would need to get an early start the next morning, the hunters bunked down for a few hours of sleep.
Early the next morning, they set off towards the farm carrying badges proclaiming them to be FBI agents who were researching reports of cattle rustling in the area. Gaining permission to search their land from the farmer, Bobby and John set out toward the pasture where the cows had disappeared and the calves appeared. They had just started their search for demonic signs when they heard the sounds of laughter coming from a nearby tree.
"Well, well, if it isn't the big bad demon hunters John Winchester and Bobby Singer." The Kupua demon chimed in a sing song voice. "I've been waiting long enough for you idiots to figure things out and get here. So how is little Sammy, did he and his Deanie recover from their snake bites?"
"You son of a bitch" John stated as he and Bobby started forward only to find themselves frozen in place.
"Now, now, let's not start calling each other names." The demon chided as he shook his finger back and forth at the hunters like they were little children. "I was hoping you would bring Sammy boy so I could talk to him, but I guess I'll have to make an appearance back at the salvage yard once we finish here.
"Don't you go anywhere near my son." John snarled as he clenched his fists in anger. "If you harm one hair on his head. I'll frigging kill you."
"Well, there's something you should know Johnny boy, If I die by your hands or those doing your bidding before the curse wears off, then your sweet little Sammy will stay that way for all time."
"You're lying!" John stated vehemently as he glared at the demon who held them in place.
"Maybe I am and maybe I'm not. But do you really want to take that chance?" questioned the demon as it snapped it's fingers and appeared directly in front of John. Taking on a superior tone, the demon then said, "Listen you idiotic moron. I am a god, and as such, I could very easily change you and your friend here into toddlers just like Sammy and there would be nothing you could do about it. Sam will remain a toddler until I have had my fill of fun and I think you have learned your lesson about messing with us demigods. If you chose not to leave me alone, young Sammy will pay the price. Do I make myself clear?"
"Perfectly" seethed John, hating the fact that there was nothing he could do right now. The demon very well could have changed him and Bobby without them being able to do anything about it. Until they could come up with a better plan, or find a way of reversing the spell, they would have to do things the demon's way.
As the demon disappeared from view, John and Bobby found themselves released from the hold the thing had on them. "Shit Bobby, what in the hell are we supposed to do now?" John queried as he ran his fingers through his hair in agitation. "You heard that demonic piece of crap. If we kill it, Sammy could stay a toddler forever."
"Like you said John, demon's lie. Somewhere out there somebody, has to know a way of breaking this curse, we're just going to have to keep searching or hope the demon finally tires of his little game and changes the kid back." Bobby replied as he placed a calming hand on John's shoulder.
"I guess we better get back to the boys and break the news to them." John said with a sigh as they started walking back towards the Impala. He had hoped to resolve things today.
"I know you're upset John, but if there is a bright side to this, I guess it's that we still get to spend some time with little Sammy." Bobby remarked trying to ease John's worried mind.
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Later the next morning as he prepared breakfast for himself and Sammy, Dean wondered how his dad and Bobby were doing with the hunt. It irritated him not to be out there where the action was, but at least he knew that Sammy was safe and being well taken care of. He thought a few times about calling to see how things were going, but he didn't want to give the hunters away at an inopportune time. No, he would just have to wait until his dad or Bobby called letting him know how things had went.
As he finished scrambling the eggs, Dean heard his baby brother walking into the kitchen and turned around to smile at him. "Breakfast will be ready in a few minutes munchkin." He informed him as he watched Sammy walk over towards him in his Transformer pajama's.
"I'm not a munchkin" Sam replied as he ran his hands through sleep mussed hair. Looking around but seeing no signs of his dad or Bobby, Sam asked, "Dean, where's Dad and Bobby?"
"Damn I was hoping he wouldn't ask that." thought Dean as he placed the scrambled eggs into some plates on the table for him and Sammy. He knew Sam was worried about eventually being left behind, but then he didn't want to lie to Sammy either. "Dad and Bobby got a lead on the Kupua demon Sam. They went to see if they could find a way to reverse the spell the demon put on you." Dean answered truthfully as he watched Sam's face intently.
"Oh" Sam replied as he hung his head in sadness. "Guess dad finally got tired of putting up with things they way they are. Is he even planning on coming back?" He mumbled before turning around to walk away dejectedly.
"On no you don't" Dean said as he swooped up Sam before he could make it very far and placed him in his booster seat. "You listen to me. Dad loves you Sammy and he's coming back. I promised you before that we would NEVER leave you behind for the hunt and I meant it. If it comes down to us hitting the road again, then you'll be going with us. This is just a one time thing Sam. We couldn't pass this lead up because it meant possibly getting you back to regular squirt. So just quit your pouting and eat your breakfast." As he watched Sam play with the eggs instead of eating, Dean made a mental note to make sure that he talked with their dad about reassuring Sam.
TBC It has been stated that this story is losing it's edge. Please be honest and let me know if you agree. I will end it sooner than I had planned if everybody is losing interest in the story.