Disclaimer: Not mine.

Chapter 6

Dean grinned as he tossed the ball to Sam who laughed as he caught it. Dean hadn't bothered aging them yet; Sam had improved a lot so far so Dean figured as long as that continued he might as well wait. He still didn't seem to be processing speech but he reacted to Dean's voice and would reach for him or crawl into his lap. Sam's physical abilities had improved a lot thanks to their games and Sam could walk fine on his own now but still stuck close to Dean.

"Hey Sammy, bath time?" Dean offered and Sam smiled, laughing and reaching for Dean who smiled and lifted Sam into his arms. Child sized or not Dean was still an archangel so carrying Sam was easy for him. Sam watched the tub fill, pulling at his clothes himself in his eagerness to get in the water. Dean helped Sam in and then got in as well, playing in the water with Sam.

"Mine!" The word had Dean blinking in surprise but then he smiled at Sam who was now physically eight years old. Sam was clinging to Dean's arm, eyes wide from the dream he'd just woken from.

"Yeah Sammy, I'm yours and you're mine." Dean promised him and Sam smiled, cuddling into him. He was just happy that Sam seemed to understand more than just their names now. He knew what Dean meant when he mentioned food, baths and several other simple things. His memory was continuing to improve as well. He still didn't remember anything past the age of about seven but it was better than before at least. Dean was beginning to think about bringing Bobby in soon since Sam had a few very hazy memories of the man. But he was worried about stressing Sam out and causing him to get worse.

"Hey Bobby." The hunter turned and had to choke back a laugh at seeing the miniature archangel who rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, go ahead and laugh but it's working!" Dean told him.

"Really?"

"Yep. Sam now says De, mine and no and he has some memories up to when he's about nine or so. At the moment he's ten and there are gaps in the memories but it's better than before. He uh, doesn't remember Dad at all but you've been in some of the newer memories so I was wondering…."

"I can see him?" Bobby asked and Dean grinned.

"If you want to. I'm not sure how he'll react though. Even though he's got the memories he's not acting like an older kid, he still acts like a little kid. At this age he used to be buried in books but now…..he just laughs and splashes in the bath, has fun pushing a ball back and forth…." Dean admitted and Bobby put a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"It may be his way of dealing with hell and hunting, as a kid he doesn't have to deal with it." Bobby offered and Dean nodded.

"I've been keeping the nightmares of hell and hunting away though."

"Which is probably a good idea until he remembers more, don't want to overwhelm him. So when can I see him?"

"When he wakes up tomorrow? It'll be easier to take you there now so I won't have to leave him during the day. He's rather…..clingy."

"Not surprising if you're pretty much all he remembers." Bobby agreed as he went to pack a bag. Once he had his things Dean took his hand and then they were in a bland bedroom.

"Here you go. Kitchen downstairs is fully stocked. I keep our room locked unless we're wondering the house to feel free to look around anywhere else. I'll get you when it's time." Dean told him and then vanished again.

Dean crawled into bed beside Sam, wrapping his arms around his little brother, smiling when Sam rolled over to cuddle into him, head on Dean's shoulder. Dean rubbed Sam's back and the kid settled down, one hand clutching Dean's shirt as he slept.

The next morning Sam woke slowly, yawning and cuddling for a while before finally looking up and smiling at Dean who grinned and kissed Sam's forehead.

"Good morning Sammy." Dean whispered, pushing Sam's hair away from his face.

"De!" Sam answered happily and Dean sat up, Sam cuddled up to him. Dean placed a bowl of cereal in front of Sam and Sam ate happily, managing the spoon easily now. Dean ate as well to keep Sam happy, not like he needed to eat anymore.

Dean watched as Sam studied himself in the mirror curiously. The kid was now sixteen and growing like a weed. Sam kept touching his tattoo, something he hadn't had the first time he was that age. He glanced at Dean and then reached out to touch Dean's as well and Dean smiled at him.

"What?" Sam asked him and Dean hugged him, helping Sam into his t-shirt.

"It's protection Sammy." Dean told him and Sam frowned.

"Prot'tion?" He asked and Dean nodded.

"Yeah Sammy, keeps you safe." Dean told him and Sam nodded, leaning back in Dean's arms. Dean kissed the side of Sam's head and Sam smiled happily. He turned in Dean's arms and touched his lips before leaning in and kissing him shyly. "What was that for kiddo?"

"Happy." Sam told him.

"Good." Dean assured him and then they left the bathroom, heading downstairs to the kitchen where Sam sat on a stool to watch Dean cook. Dean put the food down on plates and they ate quietly before settling on the couch, Sam in Dean's lap as Dean read to him. The book was nowhere near the level Sam had been reading at the first time around but it was getting closer to a normal teenagers reading level.

Dean held Sam as he screamed and thrashed. He hated it but Sam had to start remembering hunting, no matter how much it hurt to watch. It worried him that Sam still hadn't remembered anything about their Dad, even in his nightmares but there wasn't really anything he could do about that. He'd tried slipping some of his own memories of John Winchester in but Sam had never reacted to them. At least Sam had gotten better around Bobby, would even stay in a room alone with him now. Their first meeting definitely could have gone better but now Sam would smile every time he saw the hunter, would even call him by name occasionally.

Sam started awake, sobbing and Dean held him, soothing him until he calmed and cuddled into Dean, searching for comfort that Dean readily gave.

TBC….