Again I had problems writing this, but I suppose I can blame that on me trying to work on two different stories at the same time... I'll try to make this one my priority though.

I merely borrowing Sam, Dean, Bobby and any other recognizable characters for my amusement...and yours. Nothing better to start the day than a bit of familial fluff.

Thanks to everyone who reviewed so far. Feedback to a writer is like oxygen. Keep me alive!

Chapter 5. Hidden Dangers

Sammy awoke to the enticing smell of homemade cheese omelets and hurriedly threw back the covers of the bed and dashed down the stairs.

"Whoa there," Dean said as Sam nearly ran into him in his haste to get to the dining table. "Slow down, kiddo."

Sam hopped into his chair and Dean scooted him in, ruffling his hair affectionately before taking his own seat. "Sleep good?"

"Yep!" Sam looked expectantly towards the kitchen where Bobby was making their breakfast. His Uncle Bobby made the best food!

"All right, boys." Bobby came out carefully balancing two plates in one hand and two glasses in the other. He set the dishes down in front of them. "Here you go."

Sam grabbed his fork up and began wolfing down his omelet.

"Sam!" Dean admonished.

Sam slowed.

"What can you expect, Dean?" Bobby asked the young hunter while watching the kid eat. "He missed out on dinner last night 'cause he was all tuckered out—he's hungry."

"True." Dean dug into his own meal, face lighting up at the delicious taste. "Thanks, Bobby."

"No problem. Nice to know I'm good for something." He headed back into the kitchen.

Dean rolled his eyes at the comment and looked back at his brother. "Sammy, close your mouth."

Sam stopped displaying his mouthful of half-chewed food.

Bobby returned with his own plate and sat down between them. "Well, eat up, Dean, before it gets cold."

"Yes, sir," Dean said, smirking.

"Smart-ass," Bobby grumbled in turn and began eating.

The rest of breakfast was spent in idle talk and light-hearted humor, with Sam having another giggle-fit. The sounds of the boy's happy-go-lucky attitude put the older men at ease, especially Dean. It was like a light in his dark, depressing life.

"Hey, kiddo," Bobby said amidst the cheeriness. "How about you come help me fix up that old Buick out back? Would you like that?"

"Uh-huh." Sam nodded his head excitedly.

Bobby grinned. It was a job he needed to do anyway, and it would keep Sam busy and out of trouble.

"Mind if I join you?" Dean asked.

Bobby cast him a stern look. "Don't you have something to do?"

Dean opened his mouth to ask what the older man meant, then remembered. "Oh. Right. Heh…" Research Sam's problem. Gotcha. "I'll get right to it." He gave Bobby a thumbs-up and headed into the living room to grab Sam's laptop.

Bobby shook his head and reached down to take Sam's hand. "Come on, Sammy. Let's go fix that truck."

"Deanie's not comin'?"

"No, Dean's got work to do." Bobby smiled down at the boy as they headed outside. "But don't worry. You can hang out with him later."

Sam grinned. "Yay! Can we tickle him again?"

Bobby chuckled. "Only if you want to, kiddo." He could imagine little horns sprouting up from Sam's hair dark from the mischievous look that came over the boy's face. "All right then."

They went behind the house to where the rusted old Buick sat, looking like it would never run again, but Bobby was determined to make sure it would. It was his job after all.

He popped the hood and frowned at the mass of twigs and grass that sat on top of the engine. "Well shit."

Sam wrinkled his nose. "Ewww. Rats."

"Yep," Bobby agreed.

Sam looked up at him. "Hey, Unca Bobby? Think Dean still wants to help?"

Bobby cringed. "Sammy, believe me, your brother wouldn't touch this truck with a ten mile pole if I said there're rats in it."

.x.x.x.

Crap. Trash. Nope. Nothing there either. More garbage…

Dean clicked through the various internet links looking for something, anything that would give him a clue to help him change Sam back. Unfortunately his brother had always been the research geek, while he was better at blasting monsters away. Well, until Sam went all freaky with his Jedi mind tricks, but that wasn't the point.

Dean leaned back in the rickety wooden chair he was sitting in and stretched his arms, yawning at the same time. He absolutely hated research. Give him a gun any day…

A loud rumble split the silence, making Dean jump in his seat. Bobby and Sam had finally got the truck up and running. He pushed back his chair and headed out the back door.

"Dean!" Sam called from where he sat on the open tailgate at the same time as the engine died down and Bobby jumped out of the cab. "Dean, we fixed it!"

"Good, Sammy," Dean praised, walking over to him. "But now you have to paint it."

Bobby ruffled Sam's hair. "He's already volunteered to help me with that too, haven't you, champ?"

"Yep! It's fun!"

"I'm glad you feel that way, kiddo." Bobby turned to Dean. "So, ya find anything?'

Dean shook his head. "Nothing worth mentioning. Just a bunch of crap."

Bobby sighed and looked at Sam, who was staring up at the clouds in the sky in wonder. Was there anything they could do, or would Sam have to grow up all over again?

"Look, Unca Bobby! That one looks like a bird!" Sam pointed up at a puffy cloud. "And there's a bunny!"

"Yeah, I see 'em, Sammy," Bobby said sadly.

Sam lowered his head. "Wha's wrong? Why're you sad, Unca Bobby?"

"It's nothing, kiddo." Bobby gave a small smile. "I'm alright." Bobby glanced at Dean.

"I'll keep looking, Bobby," Dean assured him. "Hell, I'll even take Cas' advice and pray some more if I friggin' have to. It's the cause of this whole mess anyway."

Bobby snorted softly. It was difficult for him to see Dean praying to begin with; the young man believed in things he could see with his own two eyes and nothing else. Since God had never actually been seen, to Dean He didn't exist. "If you hadn't prayed in the first place, this wouldn't be such a mess." But he quickly regretted saying those words at the sudden crestfallen look on Dean's face.

"I know…"

"Unca Bobby! I wants a ride!"

Sam's squeaky little voice broke through the gloomy atmosphere that had begun to build up and the two men refocused on him.

"What?" Bobby asked, thoroughly confused.

"I wants a ride!" the boy said again.

"I think he means a piggy-back ride," Dean guessed.

"Yes!"

Bobby scratched the back of his neck. "Oh boy… Ya sure you don't want your brother to—?"

"No! I wants you."

Bobby gave in and turned around. "Get on." Sam scooted forward on the tailgate and wrapped his arms and legs around Bobby. Bobby slipped his hands under Sam's knees so the boy wouldn't fall off and lifted him off the truck. "Hold on, Sammy."

Sam wrapped his arms around Bobby's throat. "'Kay." And they took off.

Dean couldn't help but laugh as Sam made Bobby jog around the junkyard, not giving the old hunter a break. Bobby panted, but he didn't stop, happy that Sam was having so much fun.

"Yippee!"

Bobby tried to catch his breath. "I'm…getting too old…for this…"

Sam only laughed and held on tighter.

"Gah! Gotta breathe, kiddo." Bobby wheezed, but kept running.

"Yippee!" Sam said again, his hair bouncing up and down with each step Bobby took.

"Come on, Sammy," Dean called. "Time to give Uncle Bobby a break."

"But, Deeeeaaaaaannn," Sam whined.

"Not 'buts,' Sammy," Dean said. "It's time for a break."

Bobby stopped and knelt down, thankful for the reprieve and Sam reluctantly let go. He turned to his brother. "I wants a ride, Deanie!"

Dean blinked. "Aren't you tired of rides now?"
"Nope!"

"Geez, you're just a bundle of energy today, aren't you?" Dean bent over and poked Sam's stomach gently. "Beside, it's time for lunch. Aren't you hungry?"

Sam shook his head, but a sudden rumble from his tummy said otherwise. He cringed. "But I wants another ride!"

"Maybe later," Dean said. "Let's get you fed first."

"How's a grilled cheese sandwich sound, Sammy?" Bobby asked, pushing himself to his feet. His face was still rather red from running.

"Okay." Sam hopped between them and grabbed each their hands, pulling them towards the house. "Then 'nother ride!"

Unbeknownst to the happy trio, a fourth presence was not far away, watching them from where it hid amongst the junk piles, its pitch black eyes full of hatred and malevolence.

Sorry, not much going on here, just trying to build up a bit of suspense for upcoming chapters. Did I do okay?