Disclaimer: We do not own Supernatural.

*This chapter written by LadyWallace.

Home for the Holidays

Epilogue

Good Tidings We Bring

They ended up spending longer at Bobby's than they had planned to due to Dean's injury. They figured just to stay through the New Year and half of January since they wouldn't be hunting with Dean's broken collarbone (even though he tried to insist he was perfectly fine.)

But in that time, they spent nearly every day with Josh and Jamie, playing games and teaching them all kinds of things. And finally, by the next snow, Dean was healed enough to have the promised Nerf war.

Sam and Jamie were against Dean and Josh and went out into Bobby's yard where they worked first on building up forts in the fresh snow, creating little bunkers to hide behind.

"We are so going to beat you!" Josh called across to his little brother who was helping Sam scoop snow into a wall high enough to hide them.

"Nuh-uh!" Jamie giggled. "Me and Sam are gonna win!"

"I don't know, Josh, they seem pretty determined," Dean told the boy with a grin. "They may beat us after all."

"No way," Josh said, shaking his head. "I've got you on my team, you're a great shot!"

"Well, Sam's not half bad either, but don't tell him I said that," Dean said with a grin, packing the last of the snow into their fort. "There, that should hold for a while! Hey, you guys ready?"

"Think so!" Sam called over.

"We're gonna get you!" Jamie said with a giggle, aiming his Nerf gun at the others.

"Woah, gotta get into the fort first," Sam told him. "That way they can't hit us!"

Dean and Josh sat with their backs against the snow wall they had made, loading the foam darts into their guns. Dean couldn't help but grin continually. This was the first time he and Sam had really let loose and had fun in a long time; really the first time he had been able to do so. It was amazing what being around Josh and Jamie had done for them. He didn't want to think about where he would be mentally (or even physically) if they hadn't gotten to meet the two boys.

"Can we shoot?" they heard Jamie say.

"Fire at will!" Sam said with a laugh and popped up to shoot at Josh and Dean who were still loading their weapons.

"Oh, this is war now!" Dean shouted as he put his gun over the wall of snow and shot several rounds toward the other fort. He heard a "Hey!" from Sam and grinned.

Josh whooped. "You got 'im!"

"Your turn," Dean said as he reloaded.

Josh leaned around the side of the fort and aimed at Jamie's behind which was sticking out of the other bunker. He grinned and shot, causing his little brother to yelp and protest.

"Josh, don't shoot my bottom!" he complained.

"Get him back, quick!" Sam said and he and Jamie both turned to shoot at Josh who ducked behind the fort quickly, laughing.

Dean was returning fire and Josh joined him until all their bullets were spent.

"Okay, calling a time out! Truce!" Dean called as he stood up, hands in the air. "We need to collect the bullets!"

After the bullets were all collected and handed out again, they decided to leave the forts and went into 'stealth combat' mode, sneaking around the old cars on Bobby's lot.

Jamie got shot several times because he giggled, thus revealing his hiding place, and Josh had no mercy for his little brother, but Sam helped the younger boy by carrying him on his back and sneaking up on Josh and Dean from behind. A short running battle broke out before everyone dove for cover again, laughing breathlessly. Dean and Josh were sitting against an old car, and Dean peeked up to look through the window but there was no sign of Jamie and Sam.

"I think we're good," he whispered to Josh and motioned for him to move to the next car.

Before they got there, though, Sam and Jamie popped out and aimed their guns at them.

"Got you!" Sam yelled and went to shoot at Dean.

"Dean!" Josh yelled and jumped in front of him, taking the Nerf bullet in the chest. He grunted at he hit the ground and Dean quickly shot both Sam and Jamie who retreated, before he knelt beside the boy.

"Josh, you saved my life!" he said, gratefully, playing along, and helping the boy sit up.

"Yeah, well, that's what hunters do, right?" Josh said with a grin.

Dean smiled back. "Yeah."

"Truce!" Sam called, as he and Jamie came back over to them. "I think it's time for a hot chocolate break."

"I'm cold!" Jamie shivered.

"Then let's get some hot chocolate!" Josh said, and slung an arm around his little brother's shoulders, before leading him toward the house.

Dean watched them for a second with a smile before he stooped to pick up his gun and then slung his arm around Sam's shoulders as well.

"Why so suddenly touchy-feely?" Sam asked with a grin.

"Oh, no reason," Dean said then quickly slipped a handful of snow down the back of Sam's shirt and ran for the house.

"Agh! You jerk!" Sam yelled after him, wiggling as the snow slid down his bare back and into the back of his pants.

Dean laughed and sped up as his little brother barreled after him.

Bobby smiled at them as they came into the kitchen, stamping snow from their feet, all four boys grinning and red-cheeked.

"Well, it looks like you idjits had fun. I'm probably going to be finding Nerf darts out there for months."

Dean laughed. "Yeah, probably. Now do you have any hot chocolate?"

Unfortunately, Sam and Dean knew they couldn't stay forever. There were hunts to go on, people to save, and no matter how much Dean would have liked to stay, he was getting antsy; that was just who he was.

The hard part was breaking the news to Josh and Jamie. They told them a week before they were planning on leaving and Jamie instantly burst into tears, holding onto Sam's leg until the young man pulled him up to sit on his hip.

"Can't you stay?" he asked tearfully.

"We'll be back," Sam promised. "We come visit Bobby all the time, it probably won't be more than a couple months before we come back again."

Josh looked down at his feet, his hands shoved into his pockets. He didn't say anything, but Dean could tell he was disappointed too. He forced a smile on his face.

"Yeah, we'll be back before you know it," Dean said. "And maybe you can show us how to make more cookies."

They had a pizza party at Bobby's the night before Sam and Dean were planning on leaving, and they stayed up late into the night until Jamie fell asleep in Sam's lap. Josh sat by Dean as the hunter worked at the table cleaning his gun, getting ready for the trip.

Dean looked over into the living room where Sam and Bobby were talking to Stephanie before he turned back to Josh. "It's going to be okay, you know," he said.

Josh shrugged. "Yeah, I guess."

"Just remember, I'm always a phone call away. If you need anything, or just need to talk, give me a call," Dean quickly scratched out a number on a piece of paper. "This is my special phone only for other hunters so I'll know to answer it if it rings, night or day."

Josh took the paper and slipped it carefully into his pocket. He looked down at his hands for a minute before he turned back to Dean. "But what if I need you here Dean? What if something happens and I can't take care of Mom and Jamie."

"Then I'll come," Dean told him simply. "And Bobby's always here."

There was another long pause before Josh spoke again his voice wavering. "But what if something happens to you?"

Dean set down his gun and reached out to grip Josh's shoulder. "Look, Josh, I'm not going to promise you nothing will happen, that's just part of the job, but I will do my best to always come back. Especially now that I know you and Jamie are here waiting for us. Sam and I will make more of a point to come back now. Besides, we always have each other's backs and we've gotten through everything so far."

"Okay," Josh said, but then scowled seriously. "But stay together, all right? No more hunting alone."

Dean nodded soberly. "I hear ya, kid. Don't worry; I think I learned my lesson on that one."

Stephanie came into the room then and smiled gently at Dean and her elder son. "Josh, are you ready to go home? Sam and Dean need to get some rest and your brother is already asleep."

Josh looked up at Dean, hoping he would protest, but Dean smiled at him and tussled his hair. "Your mom's right, Josh, Sammy and I should get some sleep, and it's late. We're going to be leaving early. You need to get your brother home."

At the mention of Jamie Josh looked resigned and sighed. "All right." He went to see Sam and rouse Jamie to say goodbye and Dean was still watching him when he was surprised by Stephanie pulling him into a warm embrace.

"Thank you so much for everything you and Sam have done for my boys," she told him and gave him a motherly kiss on the cheek, wiping tears from her eyes.

Dean smiled at her, feeling self-conscious. "It's no problem. Sam and I needed someone to look after, it was kind of the best thing for us."

"Be safe, Dean," she said then turned to see Sam come in with a sleepy Jamie. She hugged the younger Winchester and pulled Jamie into her arms.

"Thanks again," she said.

Josh gave Sam a hug first and then turned to throw his arms around Dean. Dean held the kid tightly, long enough for Josh to get his tears under control before he pulled back.

"Thanks Dean. H-have a good trip," Josh said, his voice wavering.

"Thanks buddy, we'll see 'round," Dean told him, running a hand through his hair before reluctantly releasing him. He watched Josh take Jamie from his mom.

"I'll walk them home," Bobby said to the boys, grabbing a flashlight.

Once they were gone, Dean turned to Sam and clapped him on the shoulder. "I think it's time to go to bed, little brother."

"Yeah," Sam agreed smothering a yawn as they trudged up stairs.

The next morning, Bobby gave them coffee and breakfast before they loaded up the Impala and stood by reluctantly to say goodbye to their surrogate uncle.

"You idjits be careful and don't do anything stupid," Bobby told them fondly as he embraced them.

"Don't worry, we'll be fine," Dean said with a grin, clapping Bobby on the shoulder.

"Well, see ya later," the older hunter said.

"See ya, Bobby," Sam said, waving as he got into the passenger seat.

Dean reached into his pocket for the keys as he sat down, and frowned as he felt a piece of paper there. He pulled it out, closing the door and unfolded it.

"What's that?" Sam asked.

Dean smiled as he read over the few lines, before handing it to Sam, a lump forming in his throat.

To Dean:

Thank you so much for the Christmas and for taking care of Jamie and me. We were really glad to meet you and Sam. Hope to see you again soon.

-Josh

"I like those kids a lot," Sam said sincerely.

"Me too," Dean agreed. Then he started the car and flipped to a rock station, turning it up, feeling better than he had in a long time.

"Come on, Sammy," he said as he put his baby in drive and drove past Bobby off of the property. "We have work to do."

The End

Thanks so much for reading! Please take the time to review; we really appreciate it.