A Hiccup in Time Ch. 37
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Previously: "Sammy" John yelled with panic as he watched his youngest fall to his knees and cry out in severe pain as a white light enveloped him.
Dean and Bobby had been enjoying a quiet cup off coffee when they heard John's panicked shout coming from up above. Pushing themselves from their chairs, they ran up the steps with Dean taking the lead. They had just made it to the top when a bright light suddenly formed just outside their line of vision. "Dad, Sammy!" Dean called out in terror wondering what was happening to his family. Pushing himself around the corner, Dean could see his dad making his way towards Sammy by using the wall to guide him as he shielded his eyes from the blinding light.
John had just made his way to Sammy and knelt down beside him when the light abated and he was forced to rub the black spots from his eyes as they danced across his vision. Finally able to see clearly once again, he gasped at the sight before him. His youngest child had been returned to his adult form and now lay on the floor unconscious as seizures racked his body. "Oh God, Sam." John stated as he grabbed the towel that lay beside Sammy's body and covered his naked waist area affording him some dignity. Grasping Sam by the head, he tried to keep his baby boy from bashing his head against the wall and causing more damage.
"Dad, what the hell just happened?" Dean questioned fearfully as he finally made it to their sides just as Sammy's seizing stopped and he went limp in his father's arms. He was so happy to finally have his Sam back, but he was saddened in a way too knowing the he wouldn't be able to spend anymore time with little Sammy. He had gotten so used to having the little tyke around and would sorely miss him.
"I don't know." John stated anxiously as he placed two fingers to check for a carotid pulse in Sam's neck. Feeling a strong pulse, he sighed in relief as he placed a hand under Sam's knees and the other around his back and hoisted him from the floor with a grunt. Carrying Sam into the room that his boys always shared, John waited for Dean to pull down the blanket and top sheet and then gently placed his son on the bed.
"Dean, get me some clothing for your brother." John ordered knowing how embarrassed Sam would be if he woke up nude to find the three of them watching over him. Waiting for the clothes, he placed a palm on Sam's forehead checking for fever and was pleased to find Sam relatively cool to the touch. Taking the boxers, t-shirt and sleep pants from Dean as he neared, John dressed his son with care and then covered him up as they waited anxiously for Sam to awaken.
Sitting on the edge of Sam's bed, Dean carded his fingers lightly through Sammy's hair wondering when his brother would wake up. He could tell that Sam was hurting even though he was unconscious by the frown lines that were on his face. He couldn't even begin to imagine how much it must have hurt being forced to grow so tall so fast once again. Needing to do something to help, Dean slid in behind his brother and pulled Sam close to his chest with his uninjured arm. "Sammy, you need to wake up little brother. We need to know you're okay."
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As Sam lay on the brink of consciousness, he could hear his family asking him to wake up, but he just hurt too damn bad to even think about opening his eyes right now. He felt like every muscle in his body had seized up and was holding tight, refusing to let go. Suddenly, he felt someone, probably Dean, slide in behind him and pull him towards his chest making him feel safe, even if he was hurting.
Moaning as the cramps continues to assault his body, he heard his brother whisper, "Shhh, s'okay tiger, I've gotcha." All at once, he could feel coarse hands starting to massage his legs and his arms and was grateful that somebody seemed to know exactly what he needed at that very moment. Relaxing back into his brother's chest as the pain started to abate, he allowed those hands to lull him off to sleep.
Feeling Sam tense up before moaning, Dean looked ay his dad. "Dad, I think something's wrong with Sammy. Beginning to run his hands up and down Sam's arms in comfort and ignoring the pain it caused his own injured shoulder, he could feel the muscles knotting under the skin. "Damn little brother, that has to be hurting." Dean said as he began to massage Sam's arms with his hands. He could always ignore his own pain in a heartbeat, but Sammy's pain was something else entirely, something never to be ignored.
Taking his cue from Dean, John began to massage the muscles in Sam's legs, feeling the knots of tension there as he worked with them. He gently kneaded each area until it loosened and then moved on to the next. As he worked, he could feel his youngest beginning to relax under the ministrations and it didn't take too long before he and Dean noticed Sam fading off to sleep.
"He okay?" Bobby questioned as he watched the Winchesters taking care of their youngest.
"He will be." John answered as he finished massaging the knots of cramped muscle out of Sam's legs before stopping what he was doing. He knew the cramping would have only gotten worse if he stopped too soon. Glancing at his son, he couldn't help but miss the toddler they had been living with over the past few months. He had gotten to the point where he was looking forward to raising his youngest all over again and actually doing it right this time. He felt a little guilty for the ache in his heart that almost wanted the toddler back. Snagging a chair and pulling it close to the bed, John sat quietly to watch over his sleeping child.
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A few hours later, Sam blushed as he awoke to find himself held in Dean's arms. He couldn't remember what had happened to put him there, but whatever it was, it must have given his family a good scare since his dad was also in the room with them. He started to move knowing that Dean had to be uncomfortable, but he felt Dean's arm tighten around him. It was obvious his brother did it in his sleep since he could feel the soft even breaths Dean was emitting against his neck. Glancing at his dad, he smiled at the sight of his dad slumped down in the chair as his head lolled to one side. He, too, was asleep and snoring softly.
Lying there waiting for his family to awaken, he tried to remember what had happened to him. As he closed his eyes in concentration, he began to see fleeting images of himself as a toddler with his family and it nearly took his breath away. He witnessed images of them at the zoo and an orangutan getting fresh with Dean by grabbing his butt, his dad reading him the book Love You Forever and actually singing parts of it to him, him and Dean playing at the park, being bitten by a snake... The images continued to assail him until he remembered everything that had happened.
"Holy Crap." Sam gasped as he became overwhelmed by the images he had witnessed in his mind. He felt totally embarrassed knowing some of the things he had done and wondered how he would ever look his family in the eyes again, but then he also had felt more loved than he could ever remember being before.
"Sammy?" Dean questioned as he immediately became alert hearing his baby brother gasp.
"M'fine Dean. I uh, I don't….I can't….Did that…? Sam's mind was so overwhelmed that he had trouble putting a complete thought together.
"Calm down kiddo and try again." John encouraged as he reached out and squeezed Sam's knee after having been awakened by the sound of his sons voices.
"I don't know where the hell to start. I mean I have so many thoughts going through my mind that they're actually starting to make me a little dizzy. I don't know what's real and what's not." Sam sated as he sat up and ran his hands through his hair.
"Well, tell us about what you're thinking and maybe we can help you to figure things out." Dean voiced in concern for his brother.
Relaying everything that he could remember, Sam was flabbergasted to have his family confirm that it was all true. He had indeed been changed by a time demon into toddler form and experienced each and every thing just as he remembered it. Running a hand shakily across his mouth, he said, "I do-don't know what to say. You guys gave up so much to take care of me when I know you would have rather been out there hunting. Why didn't you just leave me? I mean I had to have been a huge pain in the ass to have to deal with."
"Honestly Sam, it was tough for the first week couple of weeks, trying to decide what the right thing to do was. But when it came right down to it, I could have never left you behind kiddo, especially not after the age lapses began. And yeah, it might have been a pain in the ass at times, but I wouldn't have traded those moments with you for anything in the world. Because of what happened, I was given a second chance to be a better father to you Sammy and not many people get that. Don't get me wrong, I am so glad to have you back son, but I also cherish the time I had with little Sammy too and that's all thanks to you kiddo." John stated as the words came tumbling out of his mouth trying to express his feelings coherently.
"Dad's right Sammy, we we're given the chance of a lifetime to be able to spend time with you in a toddler state once again. In trying to punish us, the Kupua demon gave us the greatest gift we could have ever been given. You had your innocence back if only for a little while and I will forever be grateful for that bro." Dean added letting Sam know how he felt too.
Hearing a knock at the door, the Winchesters all glanced over to see Bobby leaning against the doorway with his sleep mussed hair angling out in all directions. "I don't know about you guys, but I'm getting hungry from witnessing so many chick flick moments in one night. How about we all go downstairs and rustle up a midnight snack since you idjits found it necessary to have a family meeting in the middle of the damn night" Just before turning around and walking away, he turned tear glistened eyes towards the youngest Winchester. "It's good to have you back tiger."
"It's good to be back Bobby." Sam said with his own tear filled eyes as he pushed himself up from the bed to find himself swaying on his feet.
"Whoa there kiddo, you're body has got to get used to being adult sized again." John stated as he wrapped an arm around Sam's waist in support. "Just take it easy and let me help you." He encouraged as he placed one of Sam's arms around his neck and helped him out of the room with Dean following behind. They arrived in the kitchen to find that Bobby had already started the coffee and was making sandwiches to snack on. Chances were, they were going to spend the rest of the night talking.
TBC Only one more chapter to go.