Chapter Text
“SAMMY!”
Sam Winchester rolled over in bed and groaned, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
“SAMMY!” The high-pitched voice came again.
“Dean.” Sam dragged out the word. What the hell time was it anyway? He glanced at the cheap motel clock on the nightstand. Six-thirty am. Great. He had stayed up half the night scared that Dean would stop breathing or something, and had gotten maybe three hours of sleep at most.
Taking care of his older, now younger, brother, was not something that fit into Sam Winchester’s normal routine.
Ganking demons and vampires? Sure.
Averting the apocalypse? Done and done.
Salting and burning ghosts? No big deal.
Taking care of a newly turned toddler-Dean and keeping him safe and protected?
Well. Sam wasn’t sure he had the cojones for that.
He sat up in bed, and squinted at the harsh, bright light that had been turned on above the standard hotel sink. He frowned when he realized the young voice was coming from a much higher height than it should have been.
That thought made Sam shoot out of bed.
He stumbled towards the sink, where Dean was precariously perched on his knees, studying himself in the mirror.
“Dean?” Sam stood in front of the sink that Dean was kneeling on top of, unconsciously placing his body in the spot that Dean could tumble down from. “What the hel- what are you doing up here?”
Dean practically went cross-eyed trying to study his own reflection so closely in the mirror, and almost lost his balance when he turned to look up at Sam. Sam’s arms shot out reflexively to steady him, and it was a testament to how much Sam needed coffee that he didn’t immediately lift Dean off of the sink; instead he merely braced Dean’s three-year old form so the child wouldn’t tumble off the porcelain.
“Sammy,” Dean said again, pointing to his own face. “Lookit my freckwes.”
Sam groaned again. “Dean. You got out of bed, climbed onto the sink, and hollered at me…at six-thirty in the morning…just so I would come look at your freckles?” Sam’s mouth curled up despite himself. He was exhausted, and he needed caffeine, but Dean’s focus on the little brown dots spotting his nose and cheekbones held the little boy fascinated, and Sam’s stomach flipped a little at the fact that his brother did not want Sam to miss out on this captivating discovery.
Dean pressed his fingers into his face, and when he spun around to smile at Sam he actually did lose his balance.
Sam caught him easily, and lowered him to the floor. “Climbing up onto high surfaces while I’m not around, or just in general…not a good idea, De.” The childhood nickname rolled easily off Sam’s tongue, and Dean pressed himself against Sam’s leg in apology before running back to the bed.
“Sowwy, Sammy.” Dean bounced up onto the hotel bed, and Sam rolled his eyes.
He really needed to call Bobby, or Garth, or Missouri, or anyone, anyone that might have a hope of helping him figure out why Sam had woken up the previous morning with a three-year old version of his older brother plastered to his body. Sam had tried praying to Castiel once he had discovered that Dean had been cursed back to being a toddler, both mentally and physically, but hadn’t heard anything back or seen Dean’s angel show up.
They had been on a hunt, Sam had remembered. He recalled sneaking up on the coven and taking out at least three witches. But one had remained, and Sam remembered green dust, and a short chant, and then everything after that was a blur.
Then he had woken up in their motel room, still wearing his grimy jeans and plaid shirt, a smaller, more vulnerable version of his older brother huddled in the crook of his arm, sucking on his first two fingers, Dean’s mouth halfway open in sleep.
“Come on, Cas.” Sam tried again now, muttering into the dawning light streaming through the window. He scooped Dean up to drag into the shower with him. “Could really use some help here, buddy.”
“Sammy!” Dean squealed. “Cold!” Dean huddled between Sam’s bare legs inside the shower, sheltering himself from the spray.
“Give it a sec, Dean. If you hadn’t kept flushing the damn toilet while I was starting the shower, you wouldn’t be cold right now.” Sam winced as Dean’s little fingers wound themselves in Sam’s leg hair.
Sam kept his boxers on, figuring that even though he and Dean had seen each other naked a ton of times throughout their lives considering the close quarters they had always shared, there was something off about being a bare assed adult in front of a three-year old.
Dean, however, had no such qualms. Once Sam had started stripping him down to get ready to bathe –a shower would be fine as long as Sam was in there with him- Dean had taken Sam’s cue and shed the rest of his clothes like they had been on fire, letting Sam lift him into the tub, giggling like a madman the entire time.
Dean stuck out a hand to let the drops of water fall onto his fingers. “It’s rainin’, Sammy!”
Sam ducked his head under the water, shampooing his hair quickly while Dean was distracted. “Yeah, bud, the shower is like rain.” Sam put a small dollop of shampoo on his hand and turned his body so Dean was under the spray. “Close your eyes, Dean. I’m gonna wash your hair real quick.” Sam scrubbed his fingers over Dean’s light brown hair, keeping his brother’s head tilted back so the suds wouldn’t get into his eyes.
Sam had no idea how long this curse, spell, whatever was going to last, so he hadn’t had gone out and invested in baby shampoo and all that paraphernalia. It’s not like they had been swimming in luxury baby products growing up; Dean would be fine following Sam’s lead for as long as this thing lasted.
After soaping them both down, he hustled Dean out of the tub and dried him off quickly, not wanting him to get chilled. Sam wrapped a towel around his waist and herded Dean out of the bathroom. He could toss an old tee-shirt on him for now.
Sam had resigned himself to the fact that until he could get help figuring this out, he at least needed to get proper clothes for Dean. They were somewhere in the Carolinas, and it was early September, so the weather was still relatively warm but Dean needed clothes his own size to wander around public in.
Sam grabbed a tee shirt out of Dean’s duffle and held it out. “Okay, Dean, come on. Put this on for now until we get you some regular clothes.”
Dean clutched the towel around his small body, and shivered. “Don’t wanna move. Cold.”
Sam held out the shirt. “I know, bud, but this is dry and warm. It’ll be a quick change, I promise.” He shook the shirt enticingly.
Dean stayed huddled in his towel, the precociousness he displayed earlier nowhere to be found, looking every bit the scared and nervous toddler that Sam supposed he now, at least temporarily, was.
Sam quickly traded his towel and wet boxers for dry briefs and jeans, and sat on the edge of one of the beds, spreading his legs, dangling Dean’s tee in between them. “Dean, come on. Come on, baby, you won’t even notice the cold. I’ll do it real fast.”
Dean ran in between Sam’s legs, and Sam drew the shirt quickly over Dean’s head at the same time Dean dropped the towel.
“There.” Sam’s hands completely dwarfed Dean’s shoulders where he rested them. He tugged Dean close and hugged him. “That wasn’t so bad, huh?”
“Tank you, Sammy.” Dean cuddled into the warmth of Sam’s chest, and Sam couldn’t resist scooping Dean up and setting him on his knee. “Guess we better go get you some pants.”
Sam placed Dean on the bed beside him so he could toss on a shirt before they went shopping.
Dean pressed a hand to his belly. “Hungwy, Sammy.”
Right. Shit. Breakfast. Sam could have been happy just grabbing some cheap motel coffee on their way out the door, but Dean needed some real food.
Sam sent out silent props to all the single parents in the world. This would be so much easier if he had another pair of hands. “Dammit, Castiel, where are you.”
Dean dove behind Sam on the bed when they heard a loud fluttering noise. “I am right here, Sam.”
Sam looked up to see Cas standing not two feet in front of him, Castiel’s gaze searching out the small lump hiding behind Sam on the bed.
Sam stood. “Cas, thank God, listen man, I need your help. Dean’s been, uh, well, Dean is-“
“SAMMY!” Dean cried, his little hands digging into the waistband of Sam’s jeans. He turned a terrified gaze onto their new visitor, his eyes wide with fear, darting between Sam and Castiel.
“Dean.” Sam reached down and ran a hand over Dean’s hair. Dean had stood up on the bed, and he leaned his little body against Sam’s bare torso. “Dean, it’s okay, bud. It’s Cas. Castiel. Don’t you remember Cas?” Sam supposed that even if somewhere in the back of Dean’s little mind he did remember his angel, that a person – celestial being, whatever- just appearing out of nowhere would be enough to freak anyone out.
Sam wasn’t really quite sure how this all worked. They had been hit with plenty of spells and other shit in their line of work, but being turned into a toddler hadn’t been on the list of Things We Know How To Deal With. Toddler-Dean had known perfectly well who Sam was, so Sam had only assumed he would recognize Cas as well. Apparently that wasn’t the case.
Or Cas’s sudden appearance had freaked Dean out enough to shut down other thought processes.
Castiel took in the small form huddling behind Sam. “Hello, Dean.” He issued his standard greeting.
“Dean.” Sam said softly, running a hand along Dean’s hair again. “Dean, it’s okay. It’s Cas.” Sam reached down and picked Dean up, settling him on his hip so Dean could be more at Castiel’s eye level.
Sam watched nervously as the two studied each other. Social interactions weren’t exactly Castiel’s strong suit, and he worried that one or both of them would fumble through this exchange and somehow make things worse.
So Sam was completely surprised when Castiel slowly lifted a finger in Dean’s direction, and he stepped unconsciously closer when Dean wrapped a little hand around it and held on.
A small smile graced Castiel’s face. “Hello, Dean.” He repeated, softer this time.
“Hi.” Dean’s voice was small, and he was still huddled against Sam, but he gripped Castiel’s finger tight.
Sam watched the whole exchange, eyes wide with surprise, and was only jolted back into the conversation when Castiel asked, “How long has he been like this, and how old is he?”
Sam shook his head. “Since yesterday morning, and I’m not really sure. I don’t have much experience with little kids.” He laughed sourly. “That’s always been more Dean’s department. But he’s younger than I’ve ever seen him.”
Castiel gave Sam a slight nod. Turning his blue eyes on the small child in front of him, he asked patiently, “How old are you, Dean?”
Dean unwound his fingers from where he had been holding onto Cas’s hand, and stuck some of them up. “I’m fwee.”
“Oh my god,” Sam said quietly. He pressed his forehead to Dean’s, and cuddled the little boy close. Looking over Dean’s head, Sam couldn’t help the words that left his mouth. “Cas. He’s so freakin’ cute.”
Castiel nodded. “I don’t think he is in danger.”
Sam looked at him, puzzled.
Cas corrected himself. “What I mean is, I do not think he has fallen to any harm due to this spell. Except for his tiny form, of course.”
Sam breathed out a sigh of relief.
“I won’t know for sure unless I am able to test him. But he appears healthy and unharmed. A bit nervous, perhaps, but he knows that within your arms, he is safe.”
Sam’s arms tightened around his brother. “He is.”
Cas nodded again. “Yes.” He looked around the room, then back at Sam. “I shall make some inquiries. This could be a simple matter of retracing your steps and undoing what once was done. Or it could be more complicated. This is not something I have seen, but I will ask the garrison what they think.”
Sam bit his lip. “Do you think that is such a good idea? I mean, Dean isn’t exactly persona non grata. Maybe the fewer people, angels, whatever, that know about this, the better.”
Castiel studied the little boy in question. “Perhaps you are right. Many hold grudges against Dean, and you as well. Knowing his current vulnerability, and likewise now yours, might not bode well for the Winchesters. I will be discreet, and do some digging on my own.”
“Alright,” Sam agreed. Something else stuck in his mind. “Wait, what did you mean, ‘test him’?”
“I can take a look inside, see what Dean does and does not know. I can see what kind of condition he is in overall.” Castiel reached out two fingers towards Dean’s forehead.
Sam swung his now little brother out of the way. “Uh, maybe later. Let me get some coffee, and food, and,” he gestured to Dean’s bare feet sticking out from the oversized tee shirt, “some clothes. Then we can talk soul-searching, okay?”
“Okay, Sam.”
“Great.” Sam thrust Dean against Castiel, the angel’s arms reflexively coming up to hold the little boy. “Can you watch him while I go get those things? Thanks.”
Sam threw on his jacket and darted out of the hotel, car keys in hand.
Castiel tipped his head down to look at Dean, who was studying him with big green eyes.
“Well, Dean.” Castiel looked around the sparse room, and sat down on one of the beds, setting Dean gingerly in his lap. “Tell me what activities human cherubs enjoy these days.”
Dean looked at him nervously for a moment, then grabbed Cas’s hand again. Dean brought the angel’s hand to his face, and said proudly, “I have freckwes.”
Sam spent the day shopping for way too many toddler clothes and supplies. He had always worn Dean’s hand me down old tee shirts growing up, and had no idea that kid’s clothes these days were so dang cute. He picked out batman pajamas, superhero tee shirts, and a bunch of Lightning McQueen clothing items and accessories, because Dean loved nothing more than his car. He stocked up on snacks, juice boxes, coloring books, markers, and even bath toys, because why the hell not. Also a car seat, because he didn’t have any desire to get pulled over for unsafe driving.
He only felt vaguely guilty for dropping over three hundred bucks at Target on a fake credit card. It was all for Dean, and how many people had Dean saved over the years? So Sam couldn’t find much conscience within himself to care about the fraud.
He texted Cas that he had better take Dean out for breakfast because no way would Sam be back in time if he was going to get everything he needed. No signs pointed to this curse being lifted anytime soon, and Sam would rather get everything in one shot.
Sam paid for his purchases and loaded everything into the car, then took another look at his wallet, pursing his lips in thought. Between the credit cards he and Dean both had, Sam figured they could stand to splurge a little. A week here, a week there, as long as they kept moving every handful of days, they should be able to afford better than the ratty motel sixes off the barest parts of highway.
Headed back to current said motel six, Sam vowed to haul Dean away to the nearest Marriot or something. Somewhere with hot breakfast, and nice rooms, space for Dean to play, and a pool they could mess around in. Sam ran back inside the store to grab a couple of swimsuits.
If his big brother- little brother, whatever- was cursed to live out life for now as a toddler, then Sam was gonna give him the best damn time he could.
Sam took Dean out for lunch while Cas skittered away on angel business. Cas promised to come back that night to really check Dean out, make sure there were no hidden side effects or downsides to whatever spell had befallen him.
Dean crashed around two, taking a three hour long nap which Sam was actually quite grateful for. Sam pulled up a local map on his laptop while Dean slept, deciding they would stay here one more night then head out in the morning. They were only three hours from the beach, and Sam picked a reasonably nice hotel right on the oceanfront as their next day destination.
Dinner was a sad state of goldfish crackers and turkey sandwiches, but Dean didn’t seem to care. He was seated at the little hotel room table across from Sam, perched on his knees so he could reach the table. He had pushed his food away in favor of working in one of the coloring books Sam had gotten him, and Sam was munching on Dean’s half-eaten sandwich when Castiel reappeared.
“Hello Sam.”
Dean yelped and fell off his chair, only saved from hitting his head on the floor by Castiel’s quick reflexes.
“Mean!” Dean pointed at Castiel. His face scrunched up, and Sam tugged him close before Dean started crying. “You scareded me.” He scrambled up onto Sam’s lap, glaring at Cas.
“My apologies, Dean.” Cas said sincerely. “I did not mean to scare you.”
“What’s up, Cas?” Sam asked, rubbing circles on Dean’s back. “Find out anything?”
“I tried to be as subtle as I could, but no, no one in the garrison has heard of this happening before.” Castiel glanced at Dean, then gave Sam a long look. “I really would feel much better if I examined Dean.”
Sam let out a long sigh but admitted reluctantly, “Yeah, I would too.” He didn’t like the idea of Cas going inside Dean’s soul, or his mind, or where ever Cas’s angel mojo targeted, but if there was a way to find any latent downside to this spell, Sam couldn’t really turn it down.
“Alright then.” Castiel stepped forward, fingers outstretched.
“Cas!” Sam held Dean close. “Wait. You’ve gotta. I mean. We need to , you know, prep him. You can’t just do it.”
Castiel waved a hand in a go on motion that clearly stated he had no time for Sam’s preliminaries.
“Dean.” Sam turned Dean around on his lap to face him. “Remember how I told you that Castiel is a friend? Well, he is a friend with some very special powers. And he needs to use those powers on you to make sure you are a healthy little boy. It’s like going to get a check-up, except you don’t even have to go to the doctor! Does that sound good?”
Dean eyed his brother warily. “Like…super powers?”
Sam smiled and nodded. “Like super powers. Like Batman and Superman, except Castiel is way more powerful than both of them.”
Dean looked excited for a moment, then took in Castiel’s serious expression and sank back against Sam. “I don’t wanna.”
“It will be very quick Dean, and you likely will not remember it.” Castiel tried to explain.
“I’ll be right here the whole time, De, okay?” Sam turned Dean around on his lap to face Cas, and tucked his chin against Dean’s shoulder. “Right here. It’ll be over before you know it. I just need you to be brave and let Cas check you, okay?”
Dean hadn’t seemed so small as he did in that moment when he shrank against Sam. He said in a small voice, “Okay, Sammy. I be bwave. For you.”
Sam gave him a quick squeeze. “Thank you, Dean.” He nodded at Cas to get on with it, quickly, before Dean could freak out.
Cas reached out two fingers and gently touched Dean’s forehead. Sam held his brother tight as Cas’s eyes glinted blue, and Sam squinted against the bright energy that flowed towards Dean.
Dean stiffened in Sam’s arms, his little body going completely rigid. Sam ran his hands down Dean’s arms and squeezed his little hands, willing Cas to hurry up and get out of his brother.
What seemed like minutes took only seconds, and with a strong exhale Cas lowered his fingers from Dean’s forehead, and Dean’s little body slumped against Sam.
“Dean?” Sam gave his brother a small shake, and leaned his head around so he could see Dean’s face. “Dean? You okay, buddy?”
“S’mmy.” Dean said weakly. He turned and climbed up Sam’s chest, trying to wrap his legs around Sam while his little arms wound around Sam’s neck. “Sleepy, Sammy.”
Sam squeezed his eyes shut in relief and held Dean close. “Okay, bud. Bedtime.” He raised his eyebrows at Cas.
Castiel nodded, a small smile spreading across his face. “He is fine, Sam. A bit small for the average human three year old, it seems, but completely healthy. His soul is clean, his mind uncluttered.”
Sam’s eyes welled up. Dean’s mind uncluttered? That hadn’t been the case since, well, ever.
Sam decided in that moment that he didn’t care how long Dean stayed little. He would keep looking for a reversal spell, sure, but for the time that Dean was a carefree toddler?
Well, Sam would give him all the love and good memories that his older brother deserved. Ones that Dean had always tried to give to him.
Sam tucked Dean in that night into Sam’s bed, kneeling at its side, because he was selfish and didn’t want Dean to be far away, even just the six feet of distance of sleeping in the other bed.
Dean yawned and tugged on Sam’s shirt. “Where’s Cas?”
Sam turned to look over his shoulder, and saw the angel standing awkwardly on the other side of the room. Sam figured Castiel still had things to talk to him about that he was saving for after Dean fell asleep. “He’s right there, bud. Wanna say goodnight?”
Dean nodded. Sam waved Castiel over to the beside, and as Cas approached Dean shot up in bed. “Where you come from?” he demanded.
Well then. Sam held back a laugh. Say goodnight, his butt. Dean may be small, but he wasn’t stupid.
“I…uh…pardon?” Cas asked, his gravelly voice carrying a note of confusion.
“You didn’t knock on the door. Or call Sammy. And I didn’t see you and then I saw you. And you always scare me. Where you come from?” Dean asked, his eyes drilling into Cas. “Are you magic?”
“Uh,” Castiel faltered a moment, then sat down on the bed next to Dean. “I suppose grace is a form of magic. I am an Angel of the Lord. My grace allows me to transport anywhere I would like.”
Dean’s eyes widened. “An angel?” He peered around Castiel’s body, looking for wings.
Castiel nodded. “An Angel of the Lord, yes.”
Dean studied him. “You choose to come see me? And Sammy?”
“Well, I have many people to see, Dean, but –oomph,” Cas grunted when Sam elbowed him in the side. “Yes, I choose to see you. I quite enjoy visiting you, actually.”
Dean bit his lip. “Mommy says angels are watching over me. You watch over me, Cas?”
Sam coughed to cover up the very unmanly noise that threatened to leave his throat, along with a tear that slid out the corner of one eye, damn these dusty motel rooms. He could see a hint of the masked vulnerability that adult Dean kept under lock and key, displayed here in his innocent toddler face as naked curiosity and want.
Cas laid a hand on Dean’s head, and Sam watched his brother’s eyes instantly start to droop. “I will always watch over you, Dean.”
“And S’mmy,” Dean said, half asleep.
“Yes, and Sam.” Castiel acknowledged. He ran his hand down Dean’s hair, and when he removed it Dean’s eyes were fully closed, his little chest rising and falling evenly.
“He will sleep through the night. Soul searching can be exhausting.” Castiel said quietly.
Sam reached out and grabbed Castiel’s hand without thinking, giving it a quick squeeze before releasing it. He watched Dean slip into sleep. “Thanks, Cas,” Sam said softly. The day had been tiring for both of them, and it wasn’t long before Sam crawled into bed next to his brother, getting as close as he could without waking Dean up.
It was only when Sam was just about to fall asleep that he heard the flutter of wings signaling Castiel’s departure.