Disclaimer: I do not own Supernatural. It belongs to Eric Kripke.

Author's Note: Thanks to LadyWallace for the help and support!

"Sometimes being a brother is even better than being a superhero." –Marc Brown

Chapter 1

As Dean parked the Impala next to the curb across the street from the Child Services building, he took in the foreboding appearance of the weathered brick building. It looked as if too many years and even more budget cuts had taken their toll on the old red structure.

He leaned back against the cool leather of the driver's seat and left his hands clenched around the steering wheel. He savored the familiar smells and textures of the Impala. Dean felt the need to surround himself with the known just as he was about to plunge head first into the unknown.

Dean knew next to nothing about children except that he had been a child once. His mother's death and his father's driving need for revenge had caused him to grow up fast. The idea of raising a three-year-old terrified him more than hell's most evil demon.

Samuel Winchester, his father's pride and joy. Even though things between John Winchester and Laurie Buchanan hadn't worked out, John had loved and adored his son. He was forever mailing the little tyke things he saw that he thought Samuel would like and he visited whenever he had the chance.

Dean had only met his little brother once, soon after he had been born. He'd held the tiny bundle and wondered how you could hold something so tiny and delicate without breaking it. His dad had mailed sent him a picture of the moment in the mail, and Dean had tucked it into the Impala's glove compartment for safe keeping.

He reached for it now, fumbling past old gas station receipts to find the photo. He pulled it out and rested it on the steering wheel. In the photo, Dean was forcing a smile at the camera, but looked more like a deer caught in the headlights. Samuel was a red, squalling little bundle wrapped in a blue receiving blanket.

Dean sighed. What was he going to do with a child, and a little one at that? He glanced at his watch. It was five minutes to one, and he had promised to meet Sabrina Adams in her office at one o'clock. Sucking in a deep, calming breath, Dean placed the photo back into the glove compartment and exited the Impala, shutting the door firmly. His life would change forever once he entered this old brick building, and he knew for a fact that he wasn't ready.

Slowly, he trudged up the uneven brick steps and placed his hand on the cold, brass door handle before pulling the door open and stepping inside of an overly warm, slightly musty building. Glancing at the placard on the wall, he noted that Sabrina Adams' office was on the second floor.

Dean followed the narrow hallway until he found the elevators. He pressed the button and listened to the rattling of the doors opening before him. Stepping inside, he pressed the button for the second floor and watched it light up. His stomach twisted nervously and he wished more than anything that he was behind the wheel of the Impala driving down the open road.

Instead, he found himself entering a second floor waiting room and announcing his presence to a graying secretary with her hair pulled back in a messy bun. She peered at Dean through purple-rimmed glasses perched on a roman nose.

"Family of Samuel Winchester?" she asked in a very businesslike manner.

"Yes," Dean answered, his mouth suddenly feeling as dry as cotton.

She nodded. "Have a seat. I'll let Ms. Adams know you are here."

Dean shifted nervously in the uncomfortable mauve chair in the waiting room. The room was too hot and a tiny fan buzzed continuously on the secretary's desk. The pictures on the wall looked like the artwork he saw night after night in the cheap motel rooms he rented.

"Mr. Winchester?" A door had opened and a young woman stood there dressed in black slacks and a gray business-like sweater. Her long brown hair had been swept back from her face with a sliver clip. She looked over-worked and stressed.

Dean stood and wiped his hands nervously on his jeans before offering the woman one of them. "I'm Dean Winchester."

She shook it firmly. "Sabrina Adams. We spoke on the phone about Samuel. I have him with me now. Come on in."

This was it. Dean took in a deep breath and released it slowly before he stepped over the threshold and into Sabrina Adams' office. There, curled in a navy blue chair in the corner, was his little brother. The boy's head was topped with a mop of brown floppy hair that currently looked like it had a severe case of bedhead. Wary, red-rimmed eyes gazed at him from beneath a forehead that was wrinkled in a frown. A slightly too big sweatshirt hung on the boy's skinny frame and Dean could see that Samuel had something clutched tightly in his right hand.

"Samuel," Sabrina began softly, "your brother is here to take you home."

Dean watched as his little brother shrunk back even farther into the chair. He cleared his throat. "He hasn't seen me in a long time," he explained to the woman. "I doubt he remembers me."

He knelt down in front of the chair so that he wasn't towering over the frightened child. Dean's cheeks felt hot and his palms were sweaty. He was really out of his element here and had no idea what he was doing. "Hey, Sammy," he smiled. Samuel was a mouthful, and besides, the kid looked more like a Sammy than a Samuel.

The child didn't speak or smile; he just continued to stare at his big brother.

"Whatcha got there?" Dean nodded toward Sammy's hand as he spoke softly, much like someone would speak to a frightened animal.

Sammy studied his big brother carefully before he just barely held his pudgy fist in front of him. He opened up his hand to show a black car nestled there before he closed his fingers around it again and clutched it to his chest.

Dean's eyes lit up. Sammy had a black Impala in his hand. "Hey, Sammy, I bet our dad gave you that car."

Sammy's eyes widened and he nodded.

"Wanna know how I know?" Dean asked with a grin. Sam cocked his head to one side and Dean took that as a yes. "Dad used to have a big Impala like that, a real one. He gave it to me when I was old enough to drive."

Sammy's eyes held a hint of interest now and his attention was focused on his big brother.

"Do you want to ride in my black Impala?" Dean asked. "You're going to come and stay with me now."

The little boy's face quickly crumpled into a scowl. "I want Momma," he managed to gulp around a broken sob.

"I know you do," Dean managed as he felt his eyes began to burn with tears. He blinked them back and continued. "And I know you miss our Dad, but you can stay with me. I will take care of you and keep you safe." He may not have any clue what he was going to do, but he did know that little Sammy would be safe while in his care.

"I have his things here," Sabrina Adams murmured, pointing to the small, child-sized suitcase and two blue duffle bags in the corner. A cardboard box with the lid taped shut sat beside the bags. "Samuel's toys are in the box."

Dean nodded. "I can go load these in the car and come back for Sammy if that's all right with you."

She nodded, so Dean scooped the duffle bags up onto his shoulder before he hefted the suitcase and the cardboard box. "I'll be right back, Sammy," he told his little brother before he exited the small office.

When Dean returned a few minutes later, Sammy was still curled in the chair with the black toy car clutched in his fist. Moving to the window, Dean beckoned the little boy over. "You can see my car from here," he told the anxious tyke.

Sammy heaved a sigh and wiped the tears from his eyes with the back of his hand. The sleeve of his sweatshirt was used to wipe the snot from his nose.

Dean winced. "Dude, use a tissue."

Sammy just stared at him and wiped his nose with the sleeve once again.

"Here, Samuel." Sabrina handed the small boy a tissue. He stared at it a moment before taking it and half-heartedly wiping his nose with it.

Dean managed to sigh. All of the snot was already on the kid's shirt. He didn't really need the tissue anymore. "Your little car looks like my big car, Sammy. Come see."

Hesitantly, the little boy slid out of the chair and approached Dean carefully. Moving slowly so as not to spook him, Dean pointed to the street below. "See, there's my Impala."

Sammy pressed his nose against the cool window glass and stood on tiptoe to peer down into the street below.

Dean heard the boy's breath hitch when he spied the classic car. "Do you like her, Sammy?" He glanced down at his little brother and smiled when he caught the slight head nod. "Then are you ready to go ride in her?"

Sammy looked up at him this, his eyes wide and scared. He looked as if he was thinking about crying.

"All right, kiddo, how about if I carry you?" Dean asked softly.

Sammy considered this for a moment before he gave a slight nod.

Dean bent down and scooped the little boy up with one arm surprised at how light he was. Sammy gasped and one arm wrapped tightly over Dean's shoulder.

"You're a natural, Mr. Winchester. Are you sure you haven't been around children before?" Sabrina Adams asked.

"Kids usually take one look at me and run," Dean stated as he shifted Sammy to a more comfortable position.

"Do you need to borrow a booster seat for Samuel?" she asked him.

Dean looked a bit surprised. "Booster seat?" he echoed.

She nodded. "It's the law, Mr. Winchester."

"Then I guess I'll need to borrow one until tomorrow," Dean admitted, feeling lost with his little brother in his arms.

Sabrina found a booster seat and then followed Dean downstairs to show him how to install it in the Impala. Sammy stood behind Dean on the sidewalk gazing at his big brother's Impala even as he fingered the tiny car in his hand.

Dean finally turned to the child behind him. "You ready to roll, kiddo?" he asked.

Sammy nodded, so Dean lifted him up and awkwardly strapped him into the booster seat.

"It will get easier, Mr. Winchester," Sabrina assured him kindly.

Dean nodded. That was easy to say when you weren't the one becoming solely responsible for a child for the first time in your life. "Thank you for your help," he told her, nearly stumbling over the words as his tongue clung to the roof of his mouth.

"You are very welcome." Dean moved to turn away and Sabrina stopped him with a hand on his arm. "Mr. Winchester, your brother is going to need a lot of reassurance and care. He was in the car with his mother during the accident. He barely had a scratch on him, but I believe he watched his mother die before help arrived."

Dean nodded and swallowed hard around the lump that formed in his throat as he thought about the horror his little brother had suffered.

Sabrina leaned down so she could look into the car at Sammy. "Good luck, Samuel," she smiled as she waved at the youngest Winchester.

Sammy only stared back solemnly.

Dean moved to the driver's side and climbed into the Impala. He glanced over his shoulder to where Sam was strapped into the backseat. His belly churned and bile rose in his throat as he thought of the unknown stretching out before him. It would be so much easier to abandon Sammy to the system. Maybe, given Dean's lifestyle, it would even be the best choice for the child.

Dean shook his head as if to clear his thoughts. It was too much to take in right now. Over the next few days he would give the idea careful thought and consideration before making a decision that would affect the rest of Sammy's life.

It didn't take long to drive back to the hotel room he had rented, so Dean decided to stop at the diner across the street and pick up supper. He parked the Impala in a spot in the back of the lot and then walked around to the other side of the car to release Sammy from his booster seat. Dean reached for the little boy's hand, but Sammy snatched it away and backed toward the car until he was pressed against the shiny black Chevy.

Dean knelt down before his brother and raised his eyebrows questioningly. "What's up, Sammy?" he asked.

"Want Momma," the little boy muttered as tears welled in his eyes.

"I know you do, buddy," Dean sighed as he lifted Sammy and settled him on his hip. He could feel the child tense in his arms, but he didn't put him down. Sammy had lost everyone he loved and anything that had ever been familiar except the clothes and toys in his small bags. The little guy was allowed to feel scared and unsure of himself.

Dean ordered himself a burger and fries to go and a grilled cheese for Sammy at the suggestion of the waitress when his little brother clamped his mouth shut and refused to talk. Taking the bags when the food was ready, he trudged back to the car and buckled Sammy into the backseat. He figured they would have an early supper and then he would tackle giving his little brother a bath. The thought filled Dean with dread.

Sammy only nibbled on his grilled cheese even after Dean had a revelation and pulled the crusts off. He hadn't like them as a kid. Sammy ate a circle out of the middle of the sandwich and drank his milk. Then he silently pushed his toy car back and forth in front of him on the table.

Once Dean finished his food and cleaned up their trash, he moved to Sammy's bags and rifled through them until he found a faded pair of red and blue Spiderman pajamas. "All right, little brother, time for your bath."

Sammy's eyes snapped up toward Dean and his lips were set in a thin line. "No," he stated as his attention moved back to the car.

Dean's eyebrows nearly rose into his hairline. "It's bath time, Sammy. You can play with your car when you're all clean."

"No." This time Sammy didn't even look away from his toy.

Dean bit back a sigh as he went into the bathroom and began to run the boy's bathwater. He placed a folded towel on the sink within easy reach and placed Sammy's clothes next to it. Returning to the other room, he called his brother once again. "Come on, Sammy. Let's go."

"No," the little boy answered vehemently.

Unsure of what to do next, Dean walked toward Sammy. If the little boy was going to stay with him, at least for the time being, he had to learn to do as he was told. Dean knew their dad wouldn't have let Sammy talk back if he was around. "It's bath time," Dean announced once again. "You can play later." He reached over and grasped Sammy under the arms and lifted him up. Dean was unprepared for the kicking and screaming that began immediately and he nearly dropped the kid.

He hauled his flailing brother into the bathroom and wrestled him out of his clothes. It was like the three-year-old had suddenly grown an extra pair of arms and legs, and who knew a kid this size could be so strong. Dean grunted when Sammy elbowed him in the stomach and took a moment to rest with the boy held tightly in his arms once the last item of clothing had been removed.

He had no idea how he was going to get Sammy to stay in the bathtub, and he wished he had thought to look through Sammy's box of toys to see if there was anything in there that the child could play with in the tub.

Sucking in a fortifying breath, Dean stood and tried to place Sammy into the bath water. The screaming and kicking began once again. Dean couldn't believe how slippery a three-year-old was when wet. He had to work hard to hold Sammy in the tub with one arm while he hurriedly scrubbed using the washcloth with his free hand. Sammy's hair was washed in the same one-handed manner.

By the time Dean had finished washing Sammy, he wasn't sure how clean the child was, but Dean himself was soaking wet and exhausted. He wrapped the small boy in a towel as he lifted him from the tub and then sat on the toilet lid with Sammy in his lap. The little boy still had tears running down his cheeks and he hiccupped around a sob. Dean toweled the child's head of brown hair dry and then helped him into clean underwear and the Spiderman pajamas.

Sammy was still crying when he was finished, but now the tears were punctuated by giant yawns. Dean helped the little boy brush his teeth and then tucked him into the bed farthest from the door. He sat down on the bed beside the child and watched as Sammy curled into a ball beneath the blankets. Dean rubbed circles on the boy's back and was surprised when he didn't pull away.

"My car," Sammy sniffled in a raspy voice.

Dean glanced over to see the black Impala still on the table. "I'll get it, kiddo." He retrieved the car and handed it to his little brother who grasped it tightly in a pudgy fist as he burrowed under the covers once again. It didn't take him long to drift off to sleep after his tantrum at bath time.

Dean was exhausted. Without even cleaning up the bathroom or changing out of his wet clothes, he dropped onto the room's other bed and closed his eyes. He would rest for just a minute and then he would tidy up the giant mess in the bathroom and sort through Sammy's belongings. His body, however, had other ideas, and soon he was fast asleep.

To Be Continued…