Chapter 23

By the time the trio made it back to Bobby's it had started to snow. Dean shivered in his jacket, "Remind me why I like the winter."

Harmone chuckled, "Isn't your birthday coming up? Is that a viable reason to like the winter?"

Dean shook his head, "Hell no."

I think things look prettier when it's covered by the snow.

Dean chuckled, ruffling his brother's hair as they went to get their things, "That's because you're a freak."

Normally, Sam had no problems with Dean teasing him and calling him a freak, but after what the demon told him…

Dean saw Sam's eyes fill with tears and he froze, "Hey Sammy," Dean stopped and forced Sam to give him his full attention. "You're not really a freak you know that right?"

Sam's lower lip trembled and he tried not to cry in front of his big brother. He shook his head. He didn't want to be a freak. Dean sighed and knelt down not noticing how Harmone had left the two alone.

"Sammy," he said speaking slowly. "You're not a freak. No matter what anyone says."

"But, the…" Sam started then swallowed.

Dean shook his head, "You think that makes you a freak? Please, Sam. Just because we found out that some demon gave you demon blood doesn't mean you've changed. You're still my little geeky, brother who I'll protect forever."

Sam blinked back his tears and hugged his brother and whispered, "I love you."

Dean smiled and signed back. I love you too.

The two brothers went inside and Dean immediately went to the fireplace and rubbed his hands in front of it. Bobby chuckled.

"You really that cold, boy?"

Dean flushed a little and moved back. Sam chuckled and headed upstairs to his bedroom. Bobby watched him go and then turned back to Dean.

"Harmone said you guys found something out about Sam."

Dean sighed a little, "Yeah. Apparently the demon that killed mom was after Sam. We don't know why. What Sam told us was that the demon told him that when he was baby, the night mom died, he bled in his mouth."

Bobby looked shocked, "That boy got demon blood in him? Hold on a sec, the demon had Sam and let him go? Why?"

Dean shrugged as he sat on the couch, "I don't know. None of this makes sense, but it doesn't matter. He's still the same Sam. And we'll fight this just like we've done everything else in the past. Together."

~~~ADTH~~~~

Sam was pacing the bedroom. Dean's birthday was coming up in a few short weeks and although they never really did birthdays before, he really wanted to get his brother something. He even knew what he wanted to get him. Something really cool that would make up for that cheesy necklace that he had given him for Christmas two years ago. The only problem was he was going to need help getting it. He sighed and headed downstairs. Dean was out back working on a car for Bobby. Harmone was sitting in the living room reading. She looked up when Sam approached.

I need your help.

Harmone put down her book and frowned, "With what?"

Sam looked around; making sure Dean wasn't near them. There's this gift I want to get for Dean, you know because his birthday is in a few weeks and I don't want to chance that it is gone, but I need help.

Harmone nodded, "Sure. Hey Dad? Sam and I are going out for a little bit be back soon!"

Bobby came in the living room grumbling, "I'm not deaf Harmone."

Harmone chuckled, "You sure about that? I mean you are kinda old."

"Who you calling old? You two better get outta here before I really show you who's old."

Harmone laughed and took Sam's arm as she headed outside. She tapped Dean on the ankle and he slid out from under the car.

"What's up?"

"Mind if we borrow the car? Sam and I are going into town to run a few errands."

Dean sat up and handed her the keys, "There better not be one scratch on my baby or…"

"You'll skin me alive. I get the idea. Come on Sam."

The drive into town was kinda quiet. Sam didn't talk and Harmone didn't make him talk. Sam was preoccupied with the knife that he was going to get his brother and imagining the look on his face when he got it. Harmone tapped Sam on the shoulder and he turned to look at her.

"Exactly where are we going Sam?"

Sam wasn't exactly sure where the knife store was. He swallowed, "Knife store," he said softly.

Harmone nodded and drove. Once inside the store Sam's eyes bugged out. He never realized how many types of knives there were. How was he going to find the right one for Dean? Harmone chuckled and ruffled his hair.

"Need any help?" the man behind the counter asked.

"No thanks. We're just looking right now," Harmone spoke as she led Sam to the front.

He looked in one of the cases and he spotted it. The perfect knife for Dean. He looked at Harmone and pointed. She nodded and asked the clerk if they could see the knife.

"This here's a beauty. It's one of the best survival knives around. 9 1/2" overall. 4 1/2" partially serrated black TiNi coated AUS-8 stainless blade with spine rasp for notching, filing, and thumb placement. Injection molded glass reinforced handle with finger grooves and scored with grip lines. Black Kydex® sheath," he told them like they understood what he was saying.

Sam held the knife in his hands and inspected it, turning it over in his hands before grinning. He looked at Harmone. She grinned.

"That's the one you want?"

Sam nodded. The clerk frowned, "He's getting the knife? I think he might be a tad young."

Sam pouted but Harmone shook her head, smile still on her face, "It's for his big brother. It's a birthday gift."

The clerk nodded taking the knife back and ringing it up and boxing it for them, "Eighty-four even."

Sam swallowed as he took his wallet out and counted the change before handing the clerk four twenties. He took the bag and walked out. He really hoped that Dean would like this gift.

~~~ADTH~~~~

The day of Dean's sixteenth birthday Sam was up early. He woke up Dean by lying on top of him and blowing in his ear.

"Sam!" Dean grumbled. Sam laughed.

Morning birthday boy. Bobby made breakfast.

"Dude I'm trying to sleep."

Sam shook his head. Dean. Bacon. And coffee.

Dean grumbled but he got up, "Fine. You owe me. What happened to letting the birthday boy sleep in huh? Just you wait when it's your birthday I'm going to wake you up at the crack of dawn."

Sam shook his head and led the way to the kitchen. Not that he really needed too. Once Dean smelled the bacon he seemed to rise up and drift all on his own. Bobby and Harmone laughed.

"If there's anything that can wake Dean Winchester it's the smell of bacon," Bobby laughed.

Dean just grumbled as he was given a plate of pancakes and bacon and a steaming mug of coffee. He glanced at his brother who was a tad jumpy.

"Sam," he called, waving his hand in his brother's face to get his attention. "What's wrong?"

Sam shook his head. I'm fine just excited. So what do you wanna do today?

Dean cocked his head, "I'm perfectly content to staying in and doing nothing."

Sam frowned. Dean, I mean come on; I know we haven't really celebrated birthdays before. Dad…he stopped and shook his head. But I think we should do something. It's your sixteenth birthday.

Dean was now sure more than ever that something was going on and he had a feeling he knew what it was. He gave a smirk, "Why Sammy, did you get me a present?"

Sam blushed and nodded. Dean laughed, "That's why you're so excited huh?"

Bobby smiled, "How about I go into town and rent a movie? We'll have cake and ice cream and presents."

Dean shrugged, "Sounds good to me."

So that's what they did. Bobby went into town and rented Pulp Fiction knowing it was Dean's favorite movie. Harmone baked a cake and they had cake and ice cream as they watched the movie. Once the movie was over Sam was handing him a box as he bounced on his toes. Dean eyed his little brother and opened the box.

"Sam. Wow."

Sam blinked as he studied his brother's expression, "You like?"

Dean nodded, "Dude! This knife is awesome," he picked it up and pulled it out of its sheath.

I wanted to get it engraved but I didn't know where to go and I thought you'd think it would be cheesy.

Dean pulled his brother into a bear hug, "Thanks Sammy. This is the best."

Harmone gave him an IPod full of his favorite music and Bobby gave him a journal. "So you can start your own hunter's journal," he said.

Dean was, for the first time in his life, really happy.

TBC...