Disclaimer: We do not own Supernatural.

*This chapter written by LadyWallace.

Home for the Holidays

Chapter Two

Winter Wonderland

Dean and Bobby escorted Josh back home, walking through the snow and freezing to death. This was the last thing Dean wanted to be doing that night. Not only had Sam dragged him here against his will to celebrate Christmas, but now he had to deal with the thought of a hunter's widow trying to take care of two kids, one of which seemed to be fast becoming a delinquent. And the kid's steady glare at him didn't make him any happier. Nor did the mixed emotions that were roiling through him.

He knew these kids had just lost their dad, like he and Sam had, and he should feel sorry for them, but what could he say? He was a little short of holiday spirit right now, and this only served as a reminder of his own grief instead of making him feel better to be able to relate to the kid. Yet at the same time, his heart gave a pang against his will though he did his best to ignore the stupid thing.

"This is it," Bobby said to Dean as they got up to a driveway and turned down it to a ranch-style house that looked homey and inviting if a little worn down. Warm light emanated from the windows and if possible, it made Dean a little jealous. The kids might have lost their dad, but at least they still had a mom to take care of them.

As they got to the steps, Josh, turned to Bobby. "Please, Mr. Singer I really didn't do anything bad, don't tell Mom. It will just make her angry."

"Sorry, son, but it's Dean's car you broke into, and I'd say telling your mom is a light sentence, considering what usually happens to anyone who touches his car without permission."

Josh turned a full glare at Dean and Dean just returned the look, putting the kid into his place before Josh turned around and folded his arms over his chest with a huff.

Bobby shared a look with Dean that was both amused and exasperated before he knocked on the door.

It was opened in a second, not by Josh's mom, but by a younger boy, about five who instantly ran to throw his arms around his brother.

"Joshie! I didn't know where you were, I thought you left me!" Several tears slid down his face and Dean watched with a furrowed brow as the older boy sighed and wrapped his arms around the younger.

"It's okay, Jamie, I wasn't going anywhere."

Mrs. Stevenson came to the foyer then, wiping her hands on a towel. "Jamie, what are you doing? Oh, Bobby. Do you…do you need something?"

"Hi, Stephanie," Bobby said, putting his hand on Josh's shoulder and pushing him inside. "I was just returning your son to you."

"Josh?" she asked with a frown. "What happened? What have you been up to now? Come in," she beckoned the men inside as she shepherded the boys, Jamie still clinging to his brother. "Come into the kitchen, there's some coffee, if you would like some. Boys, go play."

Josh beat a hasty retreat with one last glare at Dean as the two hunters followed Mrs. Stevenson into the kitchen. There were remnants of dinner on the stove and dishes in the sink. Mrs. Stevenson put the towel on the counter and reached up to a cupboard to grab two mugs for coffee before the men could stop her. Then they sat politely at the small kitchen table and Dean took a sip of the coffee, finding it not very hot, but he'd had worse.

"Thanks, Mrs. Stevenson," he said.

She seemed to notice him for the first time, and looked expectantly at Bobby.

"Sorry, Stephanie, this is Dean Winchester, him and his brother Sam are staying with me for the holidays."

"Oh, good to meet you, Dean, I met you father a few years ago when he was hunting with—with my husband."

Dean swallowed hard. "I'm sorry for your loss, Mrs. Stevenson."

"You as well," she said sympathetically, making Dean's chest hurt more than he was willing to admit. Stephanie seemed to see that and tactfully changed the subject.

"So, I'm sorry, where did you find Josh? Was he all the way at your place, Bobby?"

"He kind of broke into my car," Dean told her, deciding not to play around.

Stephanie put a hand to her mouth. "Oh heavens, I'm so sorry. I didn't even realize he had slipped out. I'm afraid to say he's been a bit wild after his father…"

"It's understandable," Bobby told her gently. "You can't expect him to adjust easily. It's tough on a kid."

Dean looked down into his coffee mug, feeling worse and worse about the whole situation. He didn't really want the kid to get into trouble; he knew that he wasn't acting out on purpose, but still, he had broken into Baby and that couldn't go entirely unpunished.

"Did he do any damage to the car?" Mrs. Stevenson asked anxiously. Dean knew what she was thinking. They didn't have enough money to pay for anything, and he wasn't going to make it any harder on her, already feeling bad enough about intruding.

He gave her a smile and waved a hand dismissively. "No, Mrs. Stevenson, everything's okay."

Bobby looked slightly surprised at his sudden change of mood, but Josh came into the room then, looking defiant, even though he swallowed hard.

"I didn't mean to do anything wrong," he said defensively, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Josh," his mother said firmly. "Even if you didn't mean to, that doesn't make it okay that you broke into someone's car."

"I thought it was one of Mr. Singer's old ones," Josh replied, obviously lying. "It looked like one anyway."

"Hey," Dean said defensively before Bobby kicked him under the table.

"But I don't understand, Josh, why did you do it in the first place?" his mother asked tiredly.

The boy shifted on his feet. "Just wanted to see it."

"You weren't trying to steal anything were you?"

"No," Josh said too defensively.

Just then the younger brother ran in, more tears streaming down his face as he threw himself into his mom's lap. "Mommy, Joshie isn't going to go to jail is he? I don't want him to go to jail!"

"No, Jamie, why would your brother go to jail?" Mrs. Stevenson asked.

"'Cause he—"

"Jamie, shut up!" Josh hissed.

"Josh!" Mrs. Stevenson admonished as she eyed her younger son who was clamping his mouth shut. "Jamie?"

"He tooked some coins!" Jamie blurted as his brother glared at him, then started crying again. "Don't let them take Josh to jail Mommy!"

Mrs. Stevenson stood up, Jamie on her hip as she turned to Josh. "Josh, what were you thinking?! You return the money to Mr. Winchester right now! What has gotten into you?"

Dean was about to open his mouth to say something, when Josh sighed, and reached into his pocket and pulled out a handful of coins that Dean realized must be from the Impala's ashtray—probably about ten dollars in loose change. He thrust his cupped hand out to Dean without looking at him, his lip quivering as angry tears he wouldn't allow threatened to fall.

Dean swallowed hard, looking from the older boy to his younger brother, a memory coming back to him of being so desperate when their dad was hunting that he had stolen bread and peanut butter just to feed Sammy. That had been the only time he had ever gotten caught but he never regretted it once.

He got up and crouched down in front of Josh, taking his hand and folding it back over the coins, squeezing so the boy would look up at him. "Why don't you keep this, Josh, but in return, you come over tomorrow and clean out my car and get the snow off her, and whatever else Bobby needs done, okay?"

Josh's eyes showed relief even through the flash of pride that still kept his shoulders straight. "Fine, I'll do that."

"Josh, say yes sir," his mother snapped.

Josh's eyes blazed, but he gritted out a less than sincere, "Yes sir."

Dean couldn't help a small smirk. Despite the fact that the kid had broken into Baby, he liked him.

Mrs. Stevenson put Jamie down. "Josh, get your brother ready for bed."

Josh, put an arm around his brother's shoulders as Jamie skipped alongside of him. "Can you read to me, Joshie?"

"Sure," Josh said, his voice softening again as he took his brother down the hall.

Dean watched them disappear with a fond smile before turning back in time to see Mrs. Stevenson slump back into her chair.

"I don't know what I'm going to do with him," she said quietly, running a hand over her face. "Josh adored his father, he was his hero, and he doesn't…he doesn't understand." Her voice caught and Bobby put a hand over hers kindly.

"I know it's hard, Stephanie, and it's going to take them a while to adjust, but you know I'm always there if you need."

"I'm just afraid they're going to suffer without a man in their life," Mrs. Stevenson said. "Especially with Josh acting out already. I'm just not able to do everything; to give them everything they need when I'm still grieving myself."

Dean swallowed hard and pulled a clean handkerchief out of his pocket to hand to Mrs. Stevenson. She accepted it, slightly surprised, and dabbed her eyes. He didn't know what to say, and he suddenly wished Sam were there. He and Bobby shared a glance before the older man stood up.

"We should probably get out of here, Stephanie, unless you need anything else?"

"No," she said, sniffing once before she steadied herself again. "Thank you for bringing Josh back. What time do you want him over tomorrow?"

"Somewhere around ten will be fine," Dean told her and shook her hand. "It was good to meet you. And don't worry about the kids, they'll be okay." Right, like he could say that with any conviction, but still, he managed to smile reassuringly even if it was a bit stiff.

"Thank you again for giving him a chance to make it up to you," she said. "He really is a good boy."

"I'm sure," Dean nodded, then he and Bobby left the house and made their way back down the street to the salvage yard.

After a minute or so, Bobby spoke up. "You know, Dean, it might be a good idea to get to know those kids better. You and Sam would be good influences on them."

Dean snorted. "Yeah, because we're such great inspirational figures. You might have noticed we're trying to work things out ourselves, Bobby, I don't think I'm fit for dealing advice to grieving kids right now."

Bobby gave him a look and Dean growled. "What?"

"Nothin'," the older hunter said. "But at least wait until tomorrow before you make any final decision on the matter."

Dean groaned and looked up at the sky. "I told Sam it was a bad idea to come here."

Bobby turned away to hide his smirk, but Dean saw it anyway. He muttered to himself as he followed the older hunter back home, shivering in the cold and knowing that he was going to do exactly what Bobby had suggested despite what he wanted to tell himself. Because that was just what he did.

To Be Continued…