I really have to thank everyone or their reviews! They really keep me going! And just so you know, I sent Chapter Four over to my beta earlier toda, so it should posted within the next couple days. Thanks again so much for sticking with this! It's my first fanfic ever and it really is my baby!

The shifting of his bed and the excited shouts of his son woke Sam early Saturday morning.

"Daddy! Wake up! Dad!" Sam pried sleep-laden eyes open to peer at his bouncing son. Mikey's blonde locks were sticking up in all directions and his green dinosaur pajamas were rumpled. He was absolutely beaming down at his sleepy father.

Sam grinned at his son and climbed out of bed. "Morning, Mikey. Ready for breakfast?"

Mikey nodded and ran off in the direction of the kitchen while Sam brushed his teeth. Obviously impatient, Mikey had the carton of orange juice out on the table and was tapping his foot as he waited.

That morning, Sam made pancakes while Mikey talked nonstop about the day ahead. For the past few days, Sam and Dennis had been planning a trip to the Riverview Park. It was a cozy little park nestled right beside the Delaware River about thirty minutes away. Mikey was extremely excited about it; he always seemed to be most at ease outdoors.

Sam had just gotten Mikey situated with his clothes when he heard the front door open and shut.

"Sam!" Sam instantly smiled at the sound of Dennis' voice. He watched Dennis pocket his key and grab a few extra pancakes.

"Hey, Dennis. Enjoy your breakfast."

Dennis grinned over at him through a mouthful of pancake. Dennis continued eating, and Sam took the time to study his friend. He was Sam's height with expensively tended shiny black hair that hung nearly to his shoulders. He always managed to look both responsible and fun. His bright blue eyes were always twinkling with some untold inner joke and his mouth quick to smile.

When he was finished eating, Dennis actually cleared the table and went on to rinse the dishes and load them into the dishwasher.

"I knew you were good for something, Dennis. No wonder we've been friends so long."

"Yeah, yeah," Dennis replied good-naturedly.

At that time, Mikey came into the room and Sam had to stifle a laugh at his son's appearance. Mikey was at the age where he was itching for a bit of independence, and he had insisted on dressing himself that morning. His dark blue jeans were slightly twisted and unbuttoned. The blue and green stripped shirt Sam had laid out was on backwards and his little black sneakers were in the wrong foot, laces dangling limply. He was the picture of dejection.

The blonde boy had come trudging out a bit dejectedly, knowing he hadn't done something right. It just didn't feel the same way it did when his dad dressed him. However, his spirits quickly rose when he realized who had arrived.

"Denny!"

"Hey, Mikey D!" Dennis scooped him up. "Seems like you've got a little problem."

Mikey's bottom lip immediately poked out. "Gett'n dress'd is hard."

Dennis smiled. "I know it is," he glanced over at Sam and his plaid pajama bottoms and t-shirt. "Look, even your Dad is having a hard time."

Sam huffed playfully. "Fine. I'll go get pretty if you fix Mikey's clothes."

"Oh, sure thing. Come on, Mikey D."

He hopped in the shower, and then threw on a pair of worn jeans and a brown t-shirt. Upon returning to the living room, Sam found Dennis and Mikey sitting patiently on the sofa, looking for all the world like the picture of innocence. Mikey's clothes were straight, and he now sported one of his favorite baseball caps.

Soon, the three of them were in Sam's SUV and heading towards the Delaware River. Once there, Mikey and Dennis immediately grabbed a Frisbee from the backseat and ran off to play as if they were the same age. Sam laughingly shook his head as he spread out a warn blanket on the lush green grass, and settled in to watch his son and best friend run around.

Sam couldn't help but think of how lucky he was. The man had been a blessing, had befriended him at time when he was feeling most desperate and alone, but never tried to take advantage. He had listened when Sam finally opened up and told him of his past. Sam had told Dennis the reason he was pregnant and alone. And although Sam had confided a lot in Dennis, he never had the heart, or the courage, to tell him who Mikey's father was. It turned out to not matter, anyway. Dennis never pressured Sam for information. Whatever Sam shared, he shared because he wanted to. And Dennis had been a major part of Mikey's life from the beginning. When Sam thought about it, he really was the closest thing Mikey had to a father and they got along beautifully, anyone could see that.

Sam, sick of simply watching, stood and joined in the game of Frisbee. Mikey's Frisbee tossing skills were slightly less than good. More often than not, his passes landed just a few feet away from his small body, causing him to giggle uncontrollably.

The day wore on with them playing in the grass, leisurely strolling along the river and periodically snacking on the picnic lunch Sam had packed. It was an easy day and by the early evening, Mikey was looking tuckered out. Sam and Dennis packed everything up and, on the way to the car, Mikey grabbed hold of Sam and Dennis' hands.

As they pulled away, Sam looked back at his son in his booster seat. He was absolutely knocked out, head lolled to the side, small lips parted. He had dark grass stains on his knees. Sam grinned at the sight, and turned back around to glance over at Dennis as he drove.

Dennis caught his look and his mood. "Someone's feeling nostalgic."

Sam grinned and scoffed. It was true, though. Dean was never far from Sam's mind. His guilt was constantly weighing heavily on his heart. Sam still missed Dean like crazy. And while Sam would always regret never giving Dean and Mikey a chance to meet, he felt as thought he had done what he needed to. He justified his actions with the knowledge that Mikey had never ridden in a car for seventy-two hours straight, or seen the inside of cheap, grimy motel room.

Chapter Four

Inhaling the warm salty air, Dean grinned to himself. There was nothing better than cruising down a coastline in a sexy car with the windows down and a bit of good ole' Zepplin blaring from the speakers. Much as he loved the hunt, Dean loved more the times when he could drive aimlessly; go wherever the wind seemed to be blowing that day. At the moment, Dean was pretty darn sure the wind was blowing in the direction of the beach, may a bikini or two?

Suddenly, "Barbie Girl" by Aqua began playing loudly from the passenger seat. Dean chuckled to himself and didn't even bother to check the caller ID on his phone. There was only one person he had assigned that ring tone to.

"Yo, Padre," Dean said as he flipped open his cell.

"Dean," John's voice came clearly over the line. "I've got a job for you."

Dean rolled his eyes, but said, "Alright, Dad. What have ya?"

"An angry spirit wreaking havoc on the staff of an elementary school."

Dean scoffed. "A simple salt and burn? Dad, seriously."

John huffed out a sound of irritation. "Who else is going to do it, Dean? Just find out how it is, salt and burn the body, and be on your way."

"Yes, sir," Dean replied, deciding it was no good to push his father. "So where am I going?"

"Hopewell, New Jersey."

Being that his dad hadn't really given him a lot to go on, Dean began at the library. But there was nothing in any of the local newspapers. Of course, every small town had its urban legends complete with cheesy web pages and all, but there was nothing anyone in their right mind would give a second glance.

He decided to give the librarian a try. He smirked as he glanced over at her. She had long brown hair, bright blue eyes, and legs that went on for days. Her cleavage was a bit distracting as well. Nope, definitely not your average librarian.

Dean gave himself a mental shake as he made his way over to her desk. He was on a case; he had to stay focused. She flashed him a dazzling smile.

"Hey, I'm doing a term paper on current events in the area. I was wondering if you've heard of any strange occurrences recently?"

She cocked her head to the side and gave him a confused frown. "Strange? Like what?"

Dean sighed inwardly. Okay, so we all can't be smart and good-looking.

"Yeah, strange disturbances. Or, people disappearing," he glances out one of the windows. "Cows disappearing."

The girl stared at him for a few seconds, obviously trying to decided whether he was kidding or not. Saving her from wasting anymore brain cells, he lashed her a classic Dean Winchester smile.

"That's okay, sweetheart. Thanks anyway." With that, he walked out.

Obviously, he was going to have to go straight to the source of the problem. Hopewell Elementary School was like any other small town elementary school Dean had ever seen. It was a small brick building in the center of the town with a small preschool right next door. The walls inside were painted a sickly green color that reminded Dean of his days in school and the halls were empty. He found the spacious main office easily enough. But he left the school frustrated and annoyed. Either the townspeople paid absolutely no attention to what was happening around them, or his father led him to a dead end. Whichever the case, Dean was pissed.

As he made his way to the Impala, Dean noticed a man and a young boy exiting the preschool. The man was tall with jet black hair and expensive clothing. The boy was small and chubby with blonde hair. Dean found himself oddly mesmerized by the duo and he watched them as they approached. He tried to look inconspicuous while he listened to the little boy talk relate a something animatedly.

"And I said to her 'I don't care what you think' and she called me weird so I threw her cookie in the sand."

Dean smiled as he listened. He sounded proud, yet at the same time felt the need to defend himself. Dean glanced up to find them unlocking the doors of the car right next to his.

"Cute kid." He slapped on the most disarming smile he could manage. "Your son?"

The man smiled down at him as he let the boy into the car and proceed to buckle him in. The blonde kid offered him a wide grin through the open window.

"Thanks. And no, he's my friend, Sam's."

Dean sat there staring at the spot where the little boy had sat long after the silver car had pulled away. Sam. It made sense now why Dean would be drawn to a randomly little kid in the parking lot of a random school in an equally random town. He reminded Dean so much of Sam at that age. From the round cheeks to the defiant way he explained his side of the cookie-sand incident. It was all just so…Sam.

But, no, it didn't make sense at all. Sam was…God knows where doing…God knows what. He was not in barely-there Hopewell, New Jersey. He just wasn't and he definitely did not have a son!

That was what Dean kept telling himself the entire time he sped back to the library, snatched one of their phonebooks and flipped to the Ws.

Yet there it was: Winchester, Samuel…72 Oak Ave Apt. B-9…(876) 493-0746.

Hopewell Elementary School was like any other small town elementary school Dean had ever seen. It was a small brick building in the center of the town with a small preschool right next door. The walls inside were painted a sickly green color that reminded Dean of his days in school and the halls were empty. He found the spacious main office easily enough.

Dean fabricated a story of his house hunting in the area and his search of a good school for his son. This had the young blonde woman at the front desk, whose name tag read Angie, gushing about what a fabulous school Hopewell Elementary was. She gave him the perfect opportunity to express concerns about some rumors he had heard about the school being haunted.