Chapter 5

"It has been a long time since a spell this ancient has been used on anyone," Castiel noted, surveying Sam with mild curiosity. The toddler had finally ventured out from Dean's shoulder, staring back at the angel with wide hazel eyes.

"No kidding, that's why they call 'em ancient, Cas." Dean couldn't help the sarcasm and earned a reprimanding look for it.

"What did the witch say before she cast the spell?"

"She didn't say any Latin or incantation, if that's what you mean," Dean answered. That fact alone confused him; shouldn't spells usually have words?

"Not necessarily." Dean gaped at Castiel as the angel added, "Spells can be nonverbal. In fact, the most powerful ones are."

"Dude, stay out of my head."

Castiel frowned. "It is difficult to do so when you think so loudly."

"I am not! How does someone think loudly, anyway?!"

Bobby interrupted before Castiel could reply. "That's enough squabblin', you two. Like an old married couple, I swear." Sam giggled at Bobby's grumbling and Dean didn't have the heart to complain that Castiel and he were not an old married couple, thank you very much.

"I meant that the witch may have given a hint as to what spell she cast whilst speaking," Castiel explained at last.

Dean thought back. "She said something about there still being innocence in him or something, but that's just her rambling, not-" Castiel disappeared even before Dean could finish speaking. "What the hell?"

"Hell!" Sam echoed and Dean looked down at him, startled. Sam grinned back innocently.

"Watch what you say 'round him," Bobby cautioned. "Kids that age pick up the worst things to say."

Dean grimaced as he shifted Sam in his arms. "Well, cr-" Sam looked up and Dean amended quickly, "Darn." Sam settled down again and Dean tweaked the boy's nose. "The things we do for you, Sammy." The toddler giggled as Bobby rolled his eyes, clearly in agreement with Dean.

"Have you two even eaten anything today?"

"We had breakfast before driving down here," Dean said, but Sam's stomach chose that moment to make its emptiness known, grumbling ominously. Sam's mouth opened slightly in surprise as he poked his own stomach, giggling. "Guess that means the kid's hungry again." Dean lifted Sam against his shoulder. "C'mon, kiddo. Let's get you some food."

"Chili's on the stove," Bobby called after them as Dean carried Sam into the kitchen.

"You're a regular Martha Stewart, Bobby," Dean called back, grinning as he set Sam down long enough to retrieve two bowls from the cabinet and ladle out chili into each one. He gave one to Sam, along with a spoon, and sat down to eat his own.

"Yeah, yeah, don't expect it too often, boy," Bobby muttered as he wheeled in. Dean got him a bowl, too, and received a glare for his efforts. "You oughta tell Sam that you can't eat by pushing the food at your face."

"Huh?" Dean looked and saw that Sam was doing exactly that, mashing the spoonful of chili against his mouth in frustration. The food was smeared around his cheeks, barely entering his mouth. "Aw, sh - shoot." Dean reached out to take the spoon from Sam. "Here, Sammy." Sam scowled petulantly, but relented, handing Dean the spoon. Dean scooped some of the chili onto the spoon and gently placed the food in Sam's open mouth. Sam's irritation disappeared as he chewed and swallowed, a wide smile of delight forming instead. He reached for the spoon and Dean gave it up, watching as Sam now carefully ate the chili on the spoon.

"Been a while since you've had to take care of him like this," Bobby noted as Dean returned to his own food.

"It's like riding a bicycle." Dean shrugged. "It's comin' back to me." The rest of the meal continued mostly in silence.

By the time Dean cleared away the table and washed Sam's face clean with a wet rag, Castiel had returned to the study with someone else in tow.

"Just don't lose your temper," Bobby warned Dean as the older Winchester carried Sam past him.

"Why, who's-?" Dean froze in the doorway. "You."

"Your hospitality's heart-warming," Gabriel deadpanned. "I wouldn't even be here at all, but Cassie here stole my book."

"I borrowed it," Castiel corrected, thumbing through the book in question.

"Without asking."

"You were the only one with the resources I required aside from Heaven's library, and I obviously cannot return to Heaven." Castiel glared at Gabriel briefly and the archangel gave in with a shrug.

"Anyway, I wanted to see the baby moose in action," he told Dean, craning his neck to get a glimpse of the toddler hiding against Dean's shoulder.

"Knock it off," Dean said sharply, pulling Sam back slightly.

"Hey, relax, it's not as if I'm gonna hurt the kid."

Sam chose that moment to look up, his hazel eyes finding Gabriel's face. He screamed suddenly and buried his face into Dean's shoulder again.

"BAD MAN! BAD MAN!"

"Whoa, whoa, Sam!" Dean tightened his grasp on his brother, startled. "What's wrong? Why's he bad?"

"Tuesday!" Sam sobbed into Dean's shoulder.

If Sam's outburst was shocking, it was nothing compared to Gabriel's reaction. The color drained from the archangel's face as his hand, which he had stretched out to touch Sam's shoulder, dropped limply back to his side.

"Sam-" His voice cracked slightly and the toddler whimpered, clutching Dean even tighter. Gabriel took a step back, clearly shell-shocked, and Dean actually felt a pang of pity for him.

"Hey, Sammy, he's not that guy anymore," he murmured to Sam, who shook his head against his shoulder. "He's not gonna hurt you."

"Hurt you!" Sam cried and Dean squeezed his tiny shoulders.

"I know, but that was a long time ago. He's sorry, right?" Dean looked up at Gabriel, giving him an opening, and the archangel took it.

"I am." Sam sniffled and lifted his head to look at Gabriel, who managed to look as contrite as he could. "I'm sorry, Sam." Sam rubbed at his teary eyes before nodding in acceptance.

"No hurt Dean no more," he ordered and Gabriel fought back a smile.

"No, I won't. I promise." Sam held out his pinky and Gabriel raised an eyebrow. "Pinky swear? Seriously?"

"It's the ultimate vow," Dean supplied, grinning.

"You'd better not take pictures," Gabriel warned before reluctantly hooking his pinky with Sam's.

Dean snapped a picture on his cellphone, anyway.

With one more final down, I have this chapter typed up and finished. We'll find out what the curse on Sam is in the next chapter.

Toddler!Sam: Bow to me, minions!

Me: -obeys- Yes, adorable overlord.

Toddler!Sam: -cackles-