Jensenfan1978's playlist


MusicPlaylistRingtones
Create a playlist at MixPod.com

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

The Nursing Home



The sun finally came through the bedroom window and right onto the face of the elderly man sleeping in a wheelchair.  He slowly opened his hazel eyes and smacked his lips, licking them to moisten them.  He stared across the room he shared with another man and his eyes widened.

A shaky voice asked, “Where the hell is Sammy?”

Dean Winchester began to manipulate his wheel chair and slowly moved towards the door when he saw his brother slowly move past their room, leaning heavily on his walker.

Concern crossed the older brother’s face.  Sammy had been dealing with bouts of dementia.  Too many years of hunting had his brother thinking he was a vampire. Of all things to be, a toothless vampire.  Dean looked at the glass on the table between their beds.  Sam’s teeth were in it.  The hunter smirked.

He exited the room and called his brother’s name.  Sam had grown a very long beard and his hair was halfway down his back.  The younger man turned and looked at his brother and started moving faster. Dean began using his arthritic hands to turn the wheels of the chair faster, wishing he had a motorized chair. 

His brother turned the corner into the dining hall.  As Dean turned the corner, Sam was standing there waiting for him. 

“Hey, Sammy.  They got some good food for dinner tonight, but you’ll need your teeth,” the older hunter snickered as he teased his brother. 

Sam snarled and moved his walker closer.  Dean stared into a face he barely recognized. 

“I told you not to call me, Sammy!”  the younger man screamed at him.  “I’m Count Chocula!” 

“What?” Dean squeaked out as his brother walked towards him leaning on the walker.  Dean tried to turn his wheelchair around and got it stuck in a corner.  Sam grabbed him and leaned down, pushing the walker out of his way.  Dean hollered as he felt the wet, mushy feeling of his brother’s gums as he tried to chew on his neck. 

‘Eighty years old.  I’ve hunted almost all my life, and I’m going to be gummed to death?’  Dean started flailing and screaming for a nurse.

At that moment, Sam shook him and the Dean woke up from his nightmare, staring into the bright light of the lamp between their beds.

“What the hell were you dreaming, Dean?”

“Man, I gotta quit eating gummy bears at two in the morning,” the shaken hunter murmured as he rubbed his neck.

Snippets Seventy-Eight: New Year's Day



Bobby had stayed for the duration of the holidays and he and John were watching a football game on the television.  It was the fourth quarter and the game was tied between the University of Texas Longhorns and the Texas A and M Aggies. 

Sammy ran into the house yelling, “Dean needs yella mobbles.”

Bobby asked, “What?”

“Yello mobbles for da snowman.”

John looked at the television, sighed, and got up.   “Bobby, do you know what Dean did with that big bag of marbles Ellen gave him?”

“They’re in a drawer in the kitchen.  Only place to keep from tripping over them.”

John looked in the drawer and found two large shooters that were yellow. 

“Why in the hell does he want yellow marbles for a snowman?  Their eyes are black as coal.”

John shook his head, “I don’t know, Bobby.  Let’s find out.”  The two men walked outside and saw a large snowman in the front yard.  Dean had to have worked hard to get the balls of snow on top of each other. 

John handed his son the two marbles.  He watched Dean stand on tiptoes and reach for the face. Bobby and John exchanged glances.

“Son?”

“Yes, Sir?”

“Why are you giving the snowman yellow eyes.”

“I’m gonna put salt around it and keep him away.”

“Keep who away, Dean?  Who has yellow eyes?”

“It was the color of the eyes of the man in Sammy’s nursery.  He tried to take Sam at the door of the house at Halloween.”

Both men exclaimed, “What?!!” at the same time.

Monday, July 30, 2012

Snippets Seventy-Seven: Christmas Day



Sammy was up early and came running upstairs screaming for Dean to come see.  The blond stared at his little brother and wanted to turn  over and go back to sleep.

“Dean!”  The younger brother shook the sleepy one and yelled, “Gets up!  Sanna has been here!”

“Wha....,” Dean murmured and slowly rolled out of bed.

Following the younger boy, Dean noticed the Christmas lights on the tree twinkling.  There were packages on the coffee table and in the stockings John had insisted that they hang on the wall. 

Sammy was looking at the presents, while his brother went towards the kitchen where a light shown and the smell of coffee and donuts wafted on the air. John, Bobby, and the Harvelles were seated at the table.

Ellen smiled and told the boy, “Merry Christmas, Dean.”

The baby in her lap was making happy gurgling sounds.  Dean walked over to her and looked down at the dark eyes and blond hair.

“What’s his name?”

“Her name is Joanna Beth Harvelle.”

“A girl?”

“Yes, Dean…a girl,”  Ellen smiled.

“That’s a lousy present,” the boy murmured and walked back into the living room to enjoy Christmas with his brother.

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Snippets Seventy-Six: Christmas Eve



John had placed a small Christmas tree on the coffee table.  Dean stood, staring at it.  He shook his head and left the room.  Sammy stood and watched the lights, mouth open, eyes wide.  John came into the room and sat on the couch.  He had invited some friends to come on Christmas Day.

Dean had the soup and sandwich John served for supper.  Sammy did not want to go to bed, but finally dozed off when his big brother laid down next to him.  The older boy had tears in his eyes, remembering Christmas at Bobby’s. 

The boys had been asleep for several hours when all the noise broke out.  Horses were neighing and a sleigh could be heard.  Running down the stairs, Dean saw his Dad open the door and walk outside.  He followed his father, no shoes on, into a snow storm.  A large sleigh had stopped in front of the house.  People in old clothes walked up to the porch and sang Christmas carols.

Dean forgot the cold as he listened to the harmonies and the words of the songs.  They were beautiful.  Snow started falling heavily.  John looked down at his barefooted son and picked him up.  The Winchesters felt a magical peace coming from the music.  A golden head leaned against John’s shoulder, and the older Winchester smiled in contentment, all evil forgotten.

Castiel stood with the choir, granting peace to the men, women, and children who had braved the cold to spread Father’s cheer to their neighbors.  He looked at the father and son and felt joy.  There could still be times that Dean would remember with happiness.  This was good. He thanked Father and asked that the Winchesters would have peace for Christmas.  

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Snippets Seventy-Five: Santa Claus



John was home for a few days in December and decided to play at being Dad for the boys.  Dean stared at the new jeans, white shirt, green sweater, and tie.  Sam was in red.  John grinned and told Dean to get dressed and help Sam.

When they pulled into the local mall, Dean frowned.  He had told Bobby he didn’t believe in the story of Christmas.  He had not mentioned that it included Santa. 

John took both boys to the center of the mall.  Sam was fascinated by the lights, the moving mannequins, and the music.  They stood in line for Santa.  Dean watched the beautiful young girl dressed as an elf as she got candy canes and coloring books for the children.  The coloring book and candy would be nice, he thought.

Castiel watched the scene, smiling.  This was something American children did every year.  It was normal.  Dean needed normal.

Santa picked up Sam and placed him in his lap.  Sam had been looking at the candy and coloring book in the pretty elf’s hands.  He turned and looked at Santa, seeing the huge white beard.  The younger Winchester froze stiff and began to scream. 

Before John could say a word or move, Dean was on top of Santa, pulling off the beard that had frightened his brother. Santa was trying to beat Dean off.  There was no help from the young elf as she was staring in shock at the scene.  The beard was tied on and would not come off.  Dean reached into his pocket and pulled out a pocket knife Rufus had given him for his arsenal.  He cut off Santa’s beard and showed it to Sam.

“It’s okay, Sammy.  It’s fake.”

John grabbed Dean’s arm and placed him on the floor.  Picking up Sam, he told Dean to follow him.  Dean ran to the colorful bin by the Christmas tree and took two coloring books and candy canes.  He turned and ran after his Dad and brother.

Castiel followed the trio outside, striving not to laugh.  John put the boys into the Impala and sat in the driver’s seat.  Dean figured he was in big trouble when he heard a wheezing sound.  John had his head laid against the steering wheel, laughing harder than Dean ever remembered hearing him laugh.

“Well, Son, you have to be the first kid to ever give Santa a shave,” John said through bursts of laughter.  “Did you at least get your goodies?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Great, let’s go find a McDonald’s.  You earned it.”

Castiel, sitting in the front seat, said, ‘Father, with Dean, nothing is exactly normal.’

Father didn’t answer.  Castiel swore he heard laughter.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Snippets Seventy-Four: Winchester Thanksgiving



Dean and Sam were sitting in the living room of the small house John had rented for the winter.  The older Winchester was out on a salt and burn and Sam was watching holiday cartoons. 

The blond walked into the kitchen, trying to decide on what to have for Thanksgiving.  The stores were closed.  He looked in the refrigerator and saw a half package of sliced ham and some eggs.  He shut the door and went to the cabinets.  There was a half a loaf of bread on the counter.  He looked at the can goods and saw some pudding cups, a can of pork ‘n beans, and a box of oatmeal. 

Castiel watched the young boy sit at the table, trying to think.  The angel understood that Thanksgiving was a time to give thanks, but most Americans looked at it as a time to have family over and eat a lot of food.

Dean knew there was nothing he could do.  When his dad came home, there would be no nice meal for the holiday.  Maybe Dad forgot about it.  At three in the afternoon there was a knock on the door.  The young boy looked out the window and grinned.  He ran to the door and let Bobby Singer and Rufus Turner come into the house.

Both of the boys were given hugs and the two men headed to the kitchen to cook Thanksgiving dinner.  They did not buy all the regular fixings because of the lateness of the hour.  A frozen turkey loaf was put in the oven.  Three boxes of stuffing mix and instant mashed potatoes were set on the counter with a bag of frozen corn on the cob.  Bobby placed a pecan pie out to thaw and a pumpkin pie was ready to bake when the turkey was done.

John arrived at 5:15 p.m.  He smiled and thanked the men for what they had done for them.  At 6:30, everyone had a plate and was seated wherever they could find a place and had dinner together. Dean found a seat on the floor by the coffee table where he could see everyone.  The boy ate his meal with contentment.

Castiel, feeling Dean’s emotions, knew this would be one of his fondest memories.  He reached out in a hug to Father and received a special blessing.  It was a day of thanksgiving and Cas was thankful.

Monday, July 23, 2012

Snippets Seventy-Three: Horror Stories



John had a hunter friend who gave him a set of keys to his cabin.  The house was made of pine and was a simple place, but nicer then the motels he’d left the boys in. 

He told Dean he had hunts he had to make but the two boys would be safe here.  Dean looked up at his father and told him money would not help them here.  John took the boys into the nearest town.  He watched his oldest son buy food, clothing, linens, books, toys, and games.  Dean found a rack of used VHS tapes and grabbed a couple of packs.  John paid no attention to what the boy bought.  Dean wasn’t even sure.

John hugged Sam goodbye and told Dean to take care of him.  He was gone.  Dean watched the car leave and walked around the area outside.  They were near a lake.  He would have to keep a good eye on Sam.  Neither of them knew how to swim.

Sammy watched his brother clean the cabin and put away the food and other items he’d bought.  Hunters always added to the items in the cabin when they stayed there.  Sam was reading a new book while Dean looked at the movies in the packs.  One pack contained children’s movies but the other had “Re-Animator,” “Night of the Living Dead,” “Friday the 13th,” and “Nightmare on Elm Street.”  He looked at the covers and was pretty sure he should not have these.

After Sam went to bed that night, Dean had some popcorn and a coke and watched “Friday the 13th.”  He jumped at every sound he heard. He crept through the house, eyes wide, and looked out the windows.  Spanish moss hanging from a tree made him nervous.  He knew the cabin was salted but Jason Voorhees was not a ghost.  He was real.  Dean loaded a shotgun with real ammo and went to sleep with the weapon on the floor beneath the bed.

The oldest Winchester had a bad night and overslept in the morning.  He was wakened by the sound of Sammy laughing.  He walked into the living room.  Sammy was on the floor watching “Friday the 13th” and laughing at every scene.  Dean turned it off and stared at his little brother.

“Didn’t it scare you, Sammy?”

“No.  Not real.  Blood not like that.”

“How do you know that?”

“I seen it.”

“Where?”

“When you stuck the monster.”

Dean stared wide-eyed at his little brother, who would have been too young to remember the nightmare of that night.

Castiel looked on in concern and remembered Azazel’s comments about the second Winchester child.  ‘Oh Father, what are we facing with Sam?”

“Sam will be saved, my Son, but through fire.’

The angel watched the two brothers as Dean turned off the player and threw out the stack of horror movies.  He put in a movie his brother could watch and went to fix breakfast.

Friday, July 20, 2012

Snippets Thirty-Two: Attempted Kidnapping



John received a call about a hunt on October 29th.  He packed up the Impala and Dean put Sam in his car seat and buckled both his brother and himself in.

John found a motel outside of Lansing, Michigan.  He left the boys and headed into the city.  Dean sat in a chair, watching a movie on television, while he waited for his father.  The movie was over at 1:30 a.m. in the morning. 

Castiel looked at the clock and worried.  John had told his son it was a simple salt and burn.  The angel watched the boy double check the salt at the door and windows.  He yawned, went back to the chair, and looked for something he could watch that late at night.

He heard the noise at the door and thought it was John.  When the door didn’t open immediately, Dean looked out a window.  A man in black was picking the lock.  He ran and picked his brother up and laid him on the floor with the bed between him and the door.  Grabbing the pearl handled pistol, the boy ran back to the bed and slid down to the floor next to Sam.

Castiel watched and waited.  The door opened and the man entered.  Dean had turned off all the lights except the one by the door. 

“Okay, boy.  All I want is the young one and you can live,” a harsh voice whispered. 

Castiel could tell it was a demon.  He headed towards the creature when Dean spoke up.

Cas stopped as he listened to the boy read an exorcism from his Dad’s journal.  He spoke it softly.  The demon recognized it and left the body.  The angel looked over the bed where the older brother held a cigarette lighter over the journal.  He closed it and got up. 

Castiel watched the boy take a lamp and bind the man on the floor with the light cord.  He locked the door and noticed there was a scrape in the salt.  Dean frowned at that.  How had he missed it?  He looked outside and the wind had picked up with a storm front coming in.  The demon had counted on the wind blowing the salt. 

After he re-salted the door, Dean sat on the floor near his brother, with the lights turned off until John got home.

John Winchester arrived at the motel at 4:00 a.m.  He saw the man on the floor and found his sons.  Dean explained what happened.  John looked at Sam fearfully and packed up his family and left Lansing.

Castiel, in the front seat, looked at the older brother, asleep on the rear seat.  He sighed, grateful that John Winchester had been doing such a good job turning his son into a hero.

Snippets Seventy-One: Castiel's Point of View



Castiel thought back over what Dean had been going through for the last six months with no one there to stand up for him.  He decided to stand back and watch and see what affect the training and his father’s attitude were having on the boy.

John kept everything he needed for the training in the trunk of the Impala.  He would find a deserted area and put Sam in a day care for the time he and Dean would be working.  A rope net would be hung from branches of trees, two ropes would be hung between two trees, and an obstacle course would be laid out. 

The angel watched carefully.  John would encourage the boy when he did what he was told.  He yelled like a drill sergeant when Dean faltered or messed up.  Soon the older boy began to excel at the trials his father ran him through. 

After one workout, John ruffled Dean’s hair and smile at his son.  “You did good, Son.”

Castiel looked at the joy in Dean Winchester’s eyes and realized that somehow John had managed to earn the adulation of a six-and-a-half year old.  He wanted to mourn but knew that John was really all the boy had to look up to.  Bobby would be around but John was his father.  At least for now. Cas followed both of the Winchesters as they loaded the gear in the Impala.

“Let’s go pick up Sam and take some burgers home, Son”

“Yes, Sir,” the young boy responded

‘Father?’ Castiel asked from the front seat of the car.

‘Dean will worship John Winchester for many years, but he will need you, Castiel.  Do not leave.  Do not mourn.  He is becoming a hero.’

The angel looked at the satisfied face on the tired little boy in the back seat.  He smiled to himself and remembered the ruddy cheeks and small stature of David when he slew Goliath with a stone and a sling.  The boy in the back seat reminded him of David in a way.

“So, Dean,” Castiel spoke softly.  “You are a hero.  I wonder how many Goliaths you will face with a sling and a stone?”

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Snippets Seventy: Fall of 1985



Dean realized he was not going to school in September.  When asked, his father looked guilty, but said that Dean could wait until he was seven years old.  John intimated that Dean would need the added age to keep up with the students from preschool and kindergarten. 

Castiel was furious.  John had been pushing the boy hard all summer.  Dean could break down and clean every weapon in the trunk of the Impala.  He could fight with most of them if he were big enough.  John began running a boot camp for the boy every other day when the man was home.

Sam was getting bigger, growing fast.  John laughed about keeping the child in clothes.  Dean saved change when he was given money.  His little brother was smart and he was buying him books with the change.  In the evenings, while John was visiting a local bar, the older boy taught his brother how to read, count to twenty, and recite the alphabet.  Sam knew how to spell his name.  
 
Tired as he was, Dean waited up for his father.  He kept food for him and tried to get the man to eat.  Most of the time, John would be tired.  Sometimes he would be hurting.  Other times, he would be angry.  Dean took the brunt of the anger, making sure Sammy was safe and did not know the other side of his ‘Daddy.’

Castiel watched in horror and would touch the boy and let his peace fill him.  He knew Dean hurt inside, feeling everything the boy felt, but he had no idea how to help him.  The angel would cry out to Father and was always told the same thing:  Guard him, bring people into his life he can trust, and this has to happen to make him the man Father would need and Cas would trust with his life.

This became the time Castiel started something new.  When Dean laid down beside his brother to protect him and would fall sleep, he had an angel laying down next to him and covering him with his wings.  

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Snippets Sixty-Nine: Castiel


At the time John Winchester reclaimed his sons, Father called Castiel home. The angel fought to stay with his charge, but Father told him that it was important.

Castiel spent the next six months following the little girl who had accosted Dean on the sledding hill.  The child terrorized her family, disappeared for days on end, and two people were dead.

Tracking the child down took time.  When the little one left, she used Enochian symbols to ward off angels.  The yellow-eyed demon had warned her to do so.  He finally found her and drove the demon out but he had to fight several others and soon Gabriel came to his aide.  The two of them were able to vanquish the demons back to hell but could not get close enough to kill them.

Gabriel informed Castiel that he felt something bad was coming.  There were problems and arguments amongst the garrisons and he had had enough.  Castiel would not see him again.

The angel was heartbroken over the loss of Gabriel, but the thought of something bad coming worried him.  He asked Father if his job was done and could he go back to Dean?

‘Yes, my Son, but Dean has changed some.  Be prepared.’

‘For what, Father?’

Father gave the angel a vision of the past six months.  Castiel immediately found himself in a dirty motel room where John Winchester sat cleaning guns while his two boys slept.

Snippets Sixty-Eight: Summer of 1985



Dean spent his summer training.  The boy knew how to break down and clean rifles, shotguns, sniper guns and pistols.  John gave him the pearl handled pistol; one new addition to the boy’s small arsenal.

They stayed in Colorado for a while as John tried to get in contact with a man named Daniel Elkins.  Dean was taken on some salt and burns as John explained the necessity of salting and burning remains.  The first few times the boy vomited, but slowly acclimated himself to the site of remains in a coffin.

Much of Dean’s time was spent watching over his brother.  It had been ingrained for long enough that Dean would let no one else watch the little boy.  John would have to fight his older son to enable a babysitter to be with Sam while they did the salt and burns and the training.

In the back of Dean’s mind were the yellow eyed man and the little girl.  He watched his brother sleep when John was on a hunt and marveled at the thought that he might have to die to protect the sleeping child.  The only deaths he had seen were his mother’s and the wraith’s.  He winced at the thought, looked at his brother, and smiled.  He believed in Sammy.  It would be all right.

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Snippets Sixty-Seven: Life with John



Dean and Sam had been traveling with their father for four months.  John spent a lot of time with the boys, renting a home, working for a while, and training Dean.  Dean grew as a hunter under his father’s encouragement, but shrank within himself when John would yell and curse at him.

In late May, John got news of a hunt in Texas.  He quit his job, gave up the lease on the home, and packed up.  Dean was surprised.  He thought they were staying for the summer and he would start school in the fall. 

Several days later, John pulled into Texarkana, Arkansas.  The Texas hunt had turned into an Arkansas hunt near the town of Fouk.  He began his investigation and found out there had been a movie made about the creature.  Laughing, he turned to his son.

“I’m giving you some money. The motel is paid up for two weeks.  I shouldn’t be gone that long.  Protect Sammy,” John ordered as he laid a pearl-handled gun on the table.  Dean knew he was to shoot first and ask questions later.

John was gone for four days before the small amount of money Dean was given ran out.  Sam was feeling bad.  His throat hurt and he had a fever.  After several hours of delirium, Dean panicked.  He had no money, so he walked to the local pharmacy and read labels on medicines.  Watching carefully, he pocketed cough syrup, children’s Tylenol, chicken soup, and Seven Up in the military back pack Bobby had given him.  He managed to get out of the store and back to the motel.

Sam wasn’t getting any better by morning, so the older boy called Bobby, collect.
He was told to bathe his brother in lukewarm water and give him plenty of fluids.  Dean did as he was told.  At three in the morning, Sam’s fever finally broke.  Dean stayed up and kept an on him for the next three days.  He did not eat or sleep.

John finally showed up, drunk.  He brought some hamburgers.  Dean ate his and told him about Sam.  John nodded and went to bed, telling his son to keep an eye on his brother and he would get him some medical help in the morning.  Bloodshot hazel eyes stared at the man, but Dean obeyed.

Snippets Sixty-Six: The Return of John Winchester


Two days after Dean’s encounter with the little girl, the Impala was heard pulling into the salvage yard. Bobby cursed, but Dean remained silent.

John entered the house when his son opened the door for him. He picked up Sam and hugged him and turned to stare at the older boy. Dean saw tears in his father’s eyes and frowned.

“Son,” John spoke softly.

The boy watched his father intently.  John turned red.

“I’m sorry I missed your birthday.  I seem to do that a lot.”  The older Winchester looked at Bobby.

“I’ve come to get the boys.”

Bobby scowled, “Like hell you are.  The agreement was when he turns seven and he’s just six.”

“Well, I’m breaking the agreement.  Dean and I have things we have to do.  He knows it.  Don’t you, Dean?”

Thoughts of the yellow-eyed man and the little girl worried Dean.  He looked into his father’s eyes and knew he had to go.

“Unca Bobby, I love you.  This is home, but I gotta go with Dad.”

Castiel was fuming.

‘Father!’

‘It is time, Castiel, my Son.  Dean knows there is a home here, but he now has to train for Sammy.  I have put that need to do so in John Winchester. Dean will become the good son and the perfect soldier.  You will understand one day.’

Castiel stormed out of the house.  He could hear loud voices.  It took an hour, but Dean carried three duffels with him.  One was for Sammy.  One was for him.  The third held the blade Beau gave him, holy water, and salt that he took from Bobby’s supply.  Slowly, he was building an arsenal.

John exited the house with Sam in his arms.  Bobby had not convinced the man to leave the youngest boy with him.  Dean had said Sammy was his job, and both men stared at the young boy. 

Castiel sobbed, ‘Father, please?’

‘No, my Son.  Dean wants to go now. He knows that Sam is his job and he will do what is necessary to protect him.’

The angel went to his charge and looked into the hazel eyes and saw determination.  Sam was the main concern now.  Castiel shook his head.  Before him was a small boy with a man’s concerns on his shoulders.  The angel felt defeated.

Snippets Sixty-Five: Turning Six Can Change Your Life



Bobby took the boys sledding for Dean’s sixth birthday.  Castiel rode the sled behind the boy on every ride down the large hill.  After about six times, Bobby suggested they go and get warmed up and find something to eat.  Dean begged for one more time.

On his way up the hill, a young girl stopped and talked to him.  Dean smiled shyly and the two walked up the hill together.  When they reached the top, the girl turned to face him.

“I brought you a message.  Azazel said to tell you that Sammy is not worth fighting for.  He will turn his back on you, hate you, and try to kill you.  Azazel asks why die for him?  You will die for him?”

Castiel started to intervene but Father stopped him.

‘Let Dean answer, my Son.’

“We’re brothers.  I don’t think Sam will do that, but if he does, and if I die to save him and it will help him, I’ll die for him.  He is what I believe in.  He’s my brother.”

The little girl laughed and disappeared.

Castiel realized that Dean had just set his own course.

Monday, July 9, 2012

Snippets Sixty-Four: Dean's Christmas Memories


Bobby took the time to decorate the house for Christmas. Sammy watched all of the bright lights and ornaments being placed on the tree in the living room. His young face was gazing at everything in wonder. The hunter watched the young Winchester and smiled. He noticed the older boy standing by the window watching the snow falling.

Castiel knew Dean did not believe in Santa Claus and the child had a good enough reason. He worried that the boy would have no childhood at all, much less any memories of one.

It was Christmas Eve and Bobby followed an old family tradition and waited until the day before Christmas to decorate. He made hot cocoa and cookies and sat down with the boys to watch "Charlie Brown’s Christmas."

Dean mumbled, “He’s not real either.”

“Who’s not real, Son?”

“The baby in the manger. He’s like Santa Claus.”

Castiel closed his eyes in pain, ‘Father? What do I do?’

‘Be there. There is nothing you can do for him at this time. He will not believe for a long time. When he does, it will not last because I cannot help him with what he will need.’

‘What will he need that You cannot give?'

‘I cannot stop free will choices, my Son. Everyone will be making them. The angels in Heaven, the demons below, Ellen and her daughter, Bobby, Sam, Dean, and you will be making decisions. Not all of them will be good ones, but there will be incredible sacrifices and I will honor them. You will not hear from Me and you will believe that I am gone or do not care. Try to remember this.. I am seen and known through My actions not verbal responses. I love you, my Child. I love them.’

The angel turned his attention back to the man and the two boys on the couch. He hoped for a miracle. The hunter looked at the young boy sitting next to him.

“Dean, not everyone believes in Jesus or Santa Claus. They are ideals and beliefs of some people. Christmas is a celebration of a spirit of peace, love, understanding, and giving from deep within yourself. Now that should be something you can believe in.”

The blond haired boy looked up at the older man and thought about what he said. He looked at his little brother and smiled.

The angel watching him found comfort in the smile. He’d hoped for a miracle and he’d found one. Dean Winchester had found something to believe in.

Friday, July 6, 2012

Snippets Sixty-Three: Dean and Salads



Ellen and Bobby prepared for Thanksgiving the remainder of Wednesday.  The group watched a movie Ellen had brought for the boys. 

Thursday morning, Castiel watched the Macy’s parade with Dean while Sam played with a toy.  Bill watched the parade with the older Winchester, and would go into the kitchen and sneak cookies for them.

At 2:00 in the afternoon, Ellen called everyone to the table.  They put Sam in a high chair.  Ellen put a small amount of dressing, mashed sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, turkey, cranberry sauce, and a roll on Dean’s plate.  He was given a small salad in a bowl.

The hazel eyes stared at the lettuce and tomato in the bowl.  It had blue cheese dressing on it.  He took a small bite and started to spit it out.

“Don’t you dare, Dean Winchester.  That is bad manners.  Chew it and swallow it,” Ellen said forcefully.

Dean glared at her, but he swallowed the lettuce.  He made a face and pushed the salad away.  Bobby frowned.

“Dean, you need the fresh vegetables.”

“It tastes bad.”

Castiel could see a monumental argument starting and winced.

Also seeing an argument fixing to start, Ellen got up from the table.  She returned a few minutes later with a hamburger bun.  Bobby, Bill, Castiel, and Dean watched as she put a plate in front of the boy.  Opening the bun, she removed the turkey from his dinner plate and set it on the bun.

“This is the meat, and this goes on the sandwich,” Ellen said as she added the lettuce and tomato from the bowl.

“Don’t start, Dean.  The salad dressing has cheese in it.  Here, this is as close to a cheeseburger you are getting on Thanksgiving.  Just remember there is still other food on your plate.”

Dean looked into the woman’s eyes and nodded.  Castiel looked on in surprise when Dean picked up the turkey sandwich and took a bite.

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Snippets Sixty - Two: The Day Before Thanksgiving



The Harvelles arrived the Wednesday morning before Thanksgiving.  Sam was playing with a  toy in the living room and Dean was sitting at the coffee table making cards. 

Bobby was plotting times for everything that had to be cooked when the dogs started barking.  Dean ran to the window and looked outside. 

“It’s a truck, Unca Bobby.  There’s a man and a woman getting out.  He’s got a big box.  She has a suitcase.”

“Let them in, Dean.”

The boy ran to the door and had it open before either Harvelle could knock.

Ellen entered first, followed by Bill.  She knelt down and ran her fingers through Dean’s hair.  

“You have to be, Dean.  I know all about you, young man.  I am going to make several pies while I’m here.  By the way, I’m Ellen.  You just call me that.”

Bill smiled at the boy and said hi to him.  Dean just stared for a moment and followed the woman into the kitchen.  Sam followed him.  Bill set the large box on the table.

Ellen gave the older man a big hug.  She turned to make sure the box was where she needed it and she spotted Sam.

Kneeling down, she looked at the younger Winchester.

“Well hello there.  You have to be Sammy.  I have that right, Dean?  His name is Sammy.  Not Sam.”

The hazel eyes widened and Dean nodded, still speechless.  Bobby and Bill grinned and left Ellen with the boys.

Sammy reached up and hugged Ellen saying, “Mommy.”

Dean turned pale and closed his eyes.  The angel who had been watching felt the pain go through his charge.  He had not realized he could actually feel the boy’s emotions.  He usually just read his face. 

“I wish I was your Mommy, Sammy, but I’m not. I’ll be glad to stand in for her when you boys need one, though.”  Looking over at Dean, Ellen’s eyes watered.  She leaned over and pulled the older boy into her arms.

“I know, honey.  Sometimes you need that touch a Mama gives.  I know you miss her horribly.  You gotta be a big boy for your brother, but you can still be a little boy with me.   Remember that.”

Dean sobbed and shook a little but he nodded and said, “Yes, ma’am.” 

“Ma’am isn’t necessary.  You can call me Ellen.  Everyone does.”

Dean sniffed and nodded.  He noticed the small belly protruding beneath Ellen Harvelle’s shirt. 

“Did you order a brother or a sister?”

Ellen laughed, “I did not get a choice.”

“I did,” Dean said knowingly.  “I named him Sammy.”

Castiel got caught up in Ellen’s laughter, but he knew that Dean believed he would get a brother. Father planned just that.  The angel dared anyone to say Dean did not name the younger Winchester Sammy. 

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Snippets Sixty-One: Bobby Learns About Turkeys



A week before Thanksgiving, Bobby got off the phone with Ellen Harvelle, making plans for the holiday.  William and Ellen were coming to spend a few days.  William wanted Ellen to rest because she was four months pregnant.

The hunter stood at the foot of the stairs and called Dean’s name.  The older boy appeared at the top of the stairs.  Bobby smiled and told him to get himself and his brother ready. 

The two boys were downstairs when Bobby came out of his room.  He smiled and waved towards the door.  Dean grabbed Sammy’s hand and headed out to the car.

Once both boys were strapped in, Bobby started the car and pulled out of the salvage yard and headed towards town.  They pulled into the shopping center and parked close to the local super market.
He put Sam in the child’s seat of the buggy.  Dean walked beside him.

“We’re gonna have company for a few days.  You’ll like them.  Bill and Ellen Harvelle.  She’s expecting a baby.”

“Did they ask for a boy or a girl?” Dean queried.

“I don’t know, Dean.  You can ask her when she gets here.”

Bobby bought food for the holiday and the weekend.  He turned down the meat aisle.  Dean was looking over the edges of the refrigerated sections, eyes big.  He watched Bobby put different kinds of meat in the buggy.  When the hunter put a large turkey in with the rest, Dean frowned.  He stood on his toes and touched the big bird and asked, “What?”

“It’s a turkey, Son?”

“I don’t eat turkey.”

Curious, Bobby asked the boy, “Why not?”

“Cause it tried to kill me.”

“What?”

“Dad shot one and another came after me.  I won’t eat it.”

After the groceries were bought, Bobby put the perishables in a large ice chest in the trunk and drove over to the diner.  They went inside.  He ordered Sam’s usual and two turkey dinners.

“I won’t eat it, Unca Bobby.  It’s meat.  It tried to kill me.”

The waitress brought the meals.

“Are you telling me you don’t eat meat, Dean?”  Bobby asked, knowing the boy had no idea what constituted ‘meat’.

“No, I don’t.”

“Okay.  I’ll get you a salad.”

“I wanna cheeseburger.”

“A cheeseburger is meat, Dean.  It’s dead cow.”

“Really?” the boy asked.

“Yep. Cow.”

Dean thought about it for a few minutes, than picked up his fork and took a bite of the turkey.  Bobby was right.  The boy would not give up his cheeseburgers.

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Snippets Sixty: John Aftermath



Bobby took the boys to the local miniature golf course and taught Dean how to play while Sam hit the ball everywhere with his club.  Bobby was grateful they were the only ones playing.  By the time they were through with the eighteen holes, Dean was laughing at Sam and seemed to be having a good time.

They drove to a local diner and Dean had a cheeseburger, French fries, a coke, and slice of peach pie.  Sam had a hot dog and French fries, milk, and an ice cream cone.  Sam would ask lots of questions and Dean answered every one of them.  The youngest Winchester was showing a lot of intelligence for his age.  The older showed great patience.

Bobby always wondered why the older boy was so hesitant to ask questions.  The best he’d heard from Dean was the boy touching something and a soft what would be asked.  He felt there was something, but he did not want to approach that at this time.  There were so many major problems for a child not yet six.

After lunch, they drove to the local video store where Bobby purchased three new movies for his collection.  He bought “The Karate Kid”, “The NeverEnding Story”, and “The Last Starfighter.”   He looked at some new horror stories but thought better of it.  No nightmares that were unnecessary. 

The three headed home and Sam fell asleep during the first movie.  Dean enjoyed all three, eyes open wide, and very intent on what occurred in each story. 

After the last movie, Bobby carried Sam upstairs with a sleepy Dean behind him.  After both boys were in the bed, Bobby pulled up the rocker and sat by the them. 

Dean reached out a hand and sighed when he touched it.

“It didn’t get Sammy, Unca Bobby.  I carried Sammy outta the house.  It didn’t get him.  I protect Sammy.  I didn’t know it was today.”

“Your Dad is not a very nice drunk, Son.  He’s not dealing with this very well.  I’m sorry you had to hear that.  You’re a good son.  He has yet to realize that, but I do.  Your Mama would want you to be brave.  You do what you need to do.”

Dean hugged the man, “Thank you, Unca Bobby.”

Soon the boy was asleep on his stomach, one arm around his stuffed dog and the other around his brother.

Bobby sighed, moved the rocker back where it belonged and headed downstairs to his bedroom.  Castiel watched him leave and turned and looked down at the two boys.
“So Bobby agrees with Father, little one.  You are the good son, and You are an amazing charge.”

Snippets Fifty-Nine: November 2



Sam and Dean were watching cartoons after breakfast.  Bobby was outside talking to a hunter who had stopped by to ask some advice.  The phone rang and Dean ran into the kitchen and picked up the receiver.

“Hello?”

“Dean?” John’s voice queried.

The young Winchester froze for a moment. 

“Dad,” he replied.

“It’s good to hear your voice, Son.”

Dean was quiet, unsure of what to say.  He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. 

Castiel stood beside him and was thinking fast.  He went to nudge Bobby.

“You there, Son?”

“Yeah, Dad.  I’ll go get Unca Bobby.”

“I called to talk to you.”

“Kay.”

“Dean, I know I told you to protect Sam.  Today is double important.  It’s November 2nd, Son.”

“Kay, Dad.”

John’s drunken voice raised in anger, “Don’t tell me you don’t remember the day your Mom died!  What kind of son are you?  Whatever it was came after Sam.  You protect him.  You hear me?”

Dean dropped the phone and ran to Sam as Bobby entered the house.  He walked over to the boys.

“You boys all right?”

The expressive hazel eyes showed fear and tears were glistening.  Bobby knelt down and spoke softly, “What happened?”

The boy sobbed.  As Bobby reached for him, another line rang.  He got up and went into the kitchen. He saw one phone dangling and paused, picked it up and heard a busy signal.  He answered the other line.

“Yeah?”  Bobby listened, eyes getting wider and he turned and looked in the living room where Dean was holding his brother.

“You told him what!!?  John don’t call here drunk ever again.  You can’t expect Dean to do one half of what you’re wanting.”  Bobby listened.  “John you just messed him up again.  How can he heal if you keep doing this crap?  Forget Thanksgiving.  The boy won’t be ready to see you.”

Bobby hung up the phone and tried to think of what to do. A thought came to mind.  He walked into the living room.

“Dean, Sammy, we are going out.  I thought that maybe some putt putt golf and a cheeseburger and pie would be a good way to start the day.  We’ll pick up some movies and popcorn and snacks for this afternoon.  Let’s go.”

Castiel saw a small tremor of a smile on Dean’s face.  The angel closed his eyes and disappeared.  John Winchester came down with a virulent case of influenza.  The angel was satisfied.  Now to help Dean recover.