-I always get emotional reading fics, where Dean gets turned into child and Sam learns a bit more about his brother. I'm known for my obsession with using Sam to make Dean's life better, so naturally, I had to write one too. But I'm not a fan of abusive John, so I focused on Dean's self worth issues instead. I hope you'll enjoy it.-

This hunt had gone downhill from the moment they discovered, who the witch they hunted was and where was she living. Of course, Dean had to go first into the cabin in the forest and the door slam right on Sam's face as he tried to follow. He heard his brother's surprised yell and then a thump of something hitting the floor and then silence. He'd be furious with Dean for being so stubborn about putting himself in constant danger on Sam's behalf, if he hadn't been so terrified for him.

When he finally broke the massive wooden door down, he found himself in a quite regular looking apartment. Then he heard his brother cry out from upstairs and without thinking, he ran after the sound.

Dean was there; his face was scrunched in pain, as a young, black-haired woman was gripping his short hair tightly to expose his throat. It was their witch. And she held a knife against Dean's pulse point.

Sam stopped dead in his tracks. The horror of seeing Dean so close to death and the fear of losing him got the better of him and he dropped the gun he'd been holding immediately.

"No," he more begged than anything else, as he approached the witch and his brother with his hands up to show he was unarmed. "Please, don't. Don't kill him. We'll leave you alone, just let him go."

Dean shot him a What the fuck are you doing? look and the witch darted her eyes between her knife and Sam nervously.

"I don't want to kill him," she said in a quiet voice. "I don't kill people!"

"Good, then don't," Sam answered and took one step closer.

"But you won't leave me alone!" She quickly pulled back, dragging Dean with her. The knife scraped the skin on Dean's throat and a few red droplets were sliding down to the collar of his shirt.

"No!" Sam yelled and felt his eyes start to water. His mind was supplying him with images of Dean already dead and dropping down to the floor with the light in his green eyes gone. It hurt too much to even think about it.

"Sammy..." Dean managed to rasp out. "It's okay," he smiled reassuringly.

"Fuck you, Dean!" Sam yelled. This was not the right time or place for Dean's nonchalance and willingness to die. "Please, you have my word. Please," he pleaded.

She quickly looked around the attic, and then reached for something in a drawer of one of the tables.

"I'm sorry," she said, glancing at Sam one more time. "You wouldn't let me leave."

She drew back the hand that was now gripping a small flask from the table and smashed it into Dean's chest. Sam jumped to stop her, but it was too late. Dean let out a gasp as the air left his lungs on the impact and fell on his knees, his eyes wide and surprised.

There was a bright light coming from Dean's chest. Sam tried to go to him and find out whether he was harmed or not, but he had to cover his eyes and then duck his head, because the light almost burned his eyes out.

When the light finally faded and Sam blinked the blindness away from his eyes, there was a heap of Dean's clothes in the centre of the room. And under all the clothing was an unconscious body of a ten-year-old boy.

-xXx-

Sam drove back to their hotel room as fast as he could. He placed Dean on their bed and that was when he realized, that while sharing a bed with a 27-year-old brother might escape the unwanted attention, sharing bed with a ten-year-old was just gonna get him arrested. He didn't even know whether Dean would know he had been cursed, when he woke up.

So, as quickly as he could, he went to the lobby to change his room for one with two queens. Then he moved Dean there. He deliberately took the back route and hoped no one noticed him carrying around a limp body of a little boy. Then he realized, as he watched Dean in what appeared a peaceful slumber, still wrapped in the oversized clothes, that he had nothing to offer him once he woke up.

He checked the time and figured that if he set out right now, he might still make it to a mall to buy some clothes. He hesitated for a while, because he wasn't sure if leaving a child-Dean all by himself was the smartest idea. After a moment, he decided it was the dumbest idea ever, but that he still had to go through with it. He quickly pulled the Impala out of the parking lot, grabbed the first bunch of t-shirts and pants that he hoped Dean would like and hurried back to their motel room. He wasn't sure whether to feel relieved or worried that Dean hadn't woken up.

He took out Dean's clothes out of his duffle and hid it in his. Then he put the clothing he'd bought earlier into the bag. He checked Dean's pulse and breathing and it all seemed normal, except for the fact that he wouldn't wake up, not even when Sam shook him. So he just plopped onto his own bed, waiting for Dean to wake up on his own terms. The stress and emotional distress caught up with him and he fell into a restless sleep.

-xXx-

The first thing he noticed, when he finally started to regain consciousness again, was the small soft voice. He couldn't make out what it was saying, but the voice was strangely familiar, even though he couldn't place it. Then he managed to crack his eyes open and then he sat bolt right up, when he saw the barrel of a gun pointed at his forehead.

"What the hell?" he raised his eyebrows, when he found out that the person behind the gun was a little boy. Then he remembered the events of the previous day.

"Dean?"

The boy was obviously surprised that Sam knew his name, but his hand never even wavered.

"Who are you? How do you know my name? What am I doing here? Where's dad?"

Shit. Sam thought.

Dean obviously didn't remember anything. He thought he was a ten-year-old self and-shit.

Sam sighed and forced his sleepy brain to its full speed to come with some believable cover story.

"My name is Sam. You...you were cursed last night. Your dad dropped you off, because I was close and I'm supposed to look after you."

It sounded pretty good in Sam's head, but Dean didn't look too convinced.

"What about Sammy?"

"Sammy's with dad. We didn't know what kind of a curse it was, so he's driving him to Pastor Jim's. He'll be back in a few days to deal with the curse."

With that, Sam made a mental note to call dad as soon as possible and drag his ass here, because there was no way, he could tell Dean the truth and have Dean believe him. Especially since Dean thought, his brother was six years old.

Dean lowered the gun and blinked in surprise.

"I...I'm dangerous to Sammy?" his head snapped up and there was a sheer horror in his eyes for a moment. "Did I hurt him?"

"No, of course not," Sam took the gun from him and his reflex was to comfort Dean with a touch to his shoulder, but the boy pulled away. "It's just a precaution."

"How come I've never heard of you," he eyed Sam curiously.

Sam never thought of Dean as stupid, but he was too perceptive and bright for Sam to get away with easy lies, and that wasn't very convenient now.

"I and John aren't really close," Sam had to smile sadly at how true that statement actually was. "But he's a hunter and so am I and we help each other. He trusts me enough to put you into my care, but if it'll make you feel better, feel free to run the tests on me."

Dean shrugged. "He'd put me into anyone's care if he thought I was a danger to Sam." He looked away, but he was unable to hide the sadness from his face.

That was when Sam realized, he was left alone with a Dean, that had their childhood still fresh in his memory and that hadn't managed to build his walls up just yet. Maybe it was a chance for him to understand the man he loved so deeply. Maybe he'd be able to love him even better and give him what he needed.

"Hey, that's not true," he tried smiling reassuringly. "I almost had to kick him out of the door, or he would be still here, telling me how to and how not to take care of you."

When he saw the honest surprise in Dean's eyes, he couldn't even bring himself to regret lying to his vulnerable brother.

"I can take care of myself, you know? You don't have to...I mean, you sure want to move on and go on another hunt...and not babysit some stupid kid that got itself cursed..." he looked down again.

"If I didn't have the time, I wouldn't have said yes to John, don't worry."

It scared him a little that already at 10 years, Dean thought so little of himself. As far as Sam could remember, Dean was the poster boy for awesome and doing everything right, when they were little.

"So, since you've so kindly woken me up," Sam said sarcastically. "How about you let me take a shower?"

"I-I'm sorry," Dean took a step back, as though he was scared that he pissed Sam off. "I just...I woke up and I couldn't remember how I got here and you were there...and Dad wasn't..."

"It's okay, Dean, really. I'm still up for the tests, if you'd like."

Dean hesitantly searched his duffle for a small bottle of Holy water and poured a few drops into Sam's palm. Then he took out a silver knife and cut Sam's skin so softly, it didn't even hurt.

"Now I feel like an idiot..." Dean bit his bottom lip, when none of the tests he put Sam through caused any reaction.

"You'd be an idiot if you hadn't done those tests," Sam smiled. "I'm taking the shower now." He got up, but stop in the bathroom door. "Don't go anywhere, you hear me? You're not a prisoner, but we still don't know what that curse did to you."

Sam closed the door, got into the shower and sighed. He knew damn well what the curse had done to Dean. He just didn't know if it was a temporary thing or whether it could be reversed or not. And he had to call dad. He brushed his teeth quickly and when he walked out, Dean was sitting by a table, eating a sandwich. There was a plate with one for Sam, too.

"You made me breakfast?" Sam was taken aback.

"Yeah, that a bad thing?" Dean asked with his mouth full. Sam had to chuckle at how some things seemed to never change.

"Nah, just didn't expect you to," Sam said as he sat down and took a bite. "Mmm!" he exclaimed. "This is good! Better than the things I buy at fast foods, that's for sure!"

Dean smiled and lowered his eyes in humidity that was definitely not false.

"I make food for Sammy all the time. I try my best."

"Your brother's lucky to have you," Sam smiled.

He was surprised, when Dean's face darkened and he looked away for a moment. But then he blinked and the expression was gone. Sam decided to let it slide this time, because he really needed to make the call.

"I'll go buy some food into town. You want anything?" he said, standing up and grabbing his jacket.

"Pie?" Dean looked up at him.

"Sure, I'll get you a pie," Sam laughed and walked out.

He dialled their father's number and was actually surprised, when the man picked up after the fifth ring.

"Hello?" said a gruff voice.

"Hi dad, it's Sam. Happy to hear from me?"

"What do you want, Sam?"

Yeah right, because Sam had to want something to call the older man. Well, he kind of did, so he wasn't about to argue.

"It's about Dean. We were hunting a witch. He...he got cursed and..."

"Is he alright?" Wow, that actually sounded like genuine concern.

"Well, yes and no," Sam said.

"Sam..."

"He's ten year old now, dad. Both body and mind. He thinks we're still hunting together and that his brother is six years old. I told him I was watching him, because you took Sa- me – to pastor Jim's and that you'd come back. I need you to come here, dad. If I told him the truth, he would just run away and...he's just a kid. I can't keep an eye on him and try to reverse the curse at the same time. Just come here, please."

Dad sighed on the other end of the line.

"Where are you?"

Sam gave him the directions and John promised that he would come in a couple days.

"You said he was what, ten?"

"Yeah?"

"Sam, your brother had a quite strong allergic reaction to garlic. It went away, when he was fifteen or so. So watch out for that. And don't shower him with pie. He has a way of making people do his bidding, but believe it or not, I tried to get you both to eat properly, as long as you were still growing up, actually," John said and Sam's mouth just fell open.

All he remembered about John from when he was six was the absence of him. How did he know all this, when Sam himself had no idea? John rambled on for good ten minutes, trying to remember as much about ten-year-old Dean as possible.

"And get him to sleep early. No late TV. And absolutely no hunting. Just...just give him a better childhood than I ever have, even just for a few days. And take care of yourself." He didn't wait for Sam to answer and cancelled the call. There was a strange note of underlying sadness and regret to their father's voice and Sam wondered if he regretted the way he'd brought Dean up.

Sam grabbed the pie as promised with the rest of the food and went back to the motel. Dean was obviously bored out of his mind, but waited obediently, surfing through the channels of the old motel TV. But at this time of day, there was nothing that would catch his eye.

"I've been thinking," he said, when Sam closed the door behind him.

"About?"

"The curse."

"Yeah?" Sam sat on his own bed and raised an eyebrow, encouraging Dean to go on.

"Well, you said I was out of it, when dad brought me here, right? And since I can't remember hunting any witches...I actually don't seem to remember past few days at all, maybe it was something that erased my memory of the hunting in general, to prevent me from hunting it, you know?"

Sam blinked. That made absolute sense and if Sam didn't know better, he knew he would have gone for Dean's theory in a heartbeat. He was also struck by Dean's way of talking. If his voice wasn't appropriate to his age, he might as well be speaking to an adult.

Dean obviously mistook Sam's silence for an answer.

"Well...it just occurred to me...it's probably wrong, yeah. Let's wait for dad, he'll know better," he said quietly, looking down at his hands again.

"No, it's actually brilliant," Sam said truthfully. "I'm kind of ashamed I didn't think of it myself."

Dean's freckled cheeks turned a soft shade of pink.

"I'm sure you would, it's the only thing that makes sense."

"Well, but I didn't. You did." Sam stood up and opened the fridge. He almost grabbed two bottles of beer, but then he took the orange soda for Dean instead.

"Hey, when I was in town, I saw flyers that say, that there's a carousel fair. You feel like going? It's not like we have anything better to do."

There was a light in Dean's eyes and for a second Sam was sure the answer was yes, but then Dean bit his bottom lip and the light was gone.

"That's probably not a good idea. You know, because of the curse. We still don't know what it is."

"I thought you just figured that out."

"It was just a theory."

"Well, I liked it. And if something should go wrong, I will drag you back here myself. Promise."

"I've never been to an actual carousel fair..." the light was returning slowly in Dean's eyes.

"Then grab your stuff and come on!"

Fortunately, the fair wasn't that far, so Sam didn't have to worry about a car. He didn't know how to explain to Dean that he was now the one to drive the Impala.

-xXx-

Dean was enchanted by the sounds and the colours. And the food. Sam bought him a piece of everything. Not that Dean had asked. But whenever Sam found him staring at a food stand with the certain hopeful expression, he just pretended to casually mention that they might grab a bite. The way Dean was gleaming as he stuffed his mouth with everything Sam bought him was warming Sam's heart.

"For someone who eats so much, you sure are thin," he teased Dean. "Where do you put it all?"

"I don't always eat this much," Dean shrugged. "You should see my brother, he eats enough for the both of us," he grinned.

"You don't actually let him eat your food, do you?" Sam narrowed his eyes.

"Sometimes," Dean shrugged again, like it was the most natural thing in the world. "I don't need to eat as much, so when we're alone and low on food, I let him eat my share, so that he's not hungry. But he doesn't know; he wouldn't let me do it. He's really kind, you know?" he smiled.

Sam's heart constricted a little. He didn't even want to know how many times he had eaten and left Dean hungry.

"I think you are kind. You shouldn't starve yourself for someone else's sake."

Dean gave him a hard stare. "This isn't someone. This is my brother."

Sam raised his hands in pretend-surrender and changed the topic, but it still left him feeling rather uneasy.

Dean completely fell in love with the rollercoaster and Sam had to pay for three rides. He himself only took one, because it was enough to make his stomach twist and he definitely didn't want to puke in front of a kid. Dean's stomach didn't even seem to notice it should feel sick.

Dean was gleaming, when he got off the ride, but decided not to go for round four in favour of exploring some other attraction.

"Hey, can I get you a picture?" The fair's photographer asked them and Sam looked down at Dean curiously.

"You wanna?"

"Sure," Dean shrugged. It didn't go unnoticed by Sam, that he was trying to seem all indifferent about it, but he definitely wasn't.

Sam put an arm around his shoulders and pulled him close. He smiled to the camera and the man parted with them, telling them to buy their photo at the photo booth, before they leave.

Dean fixed Sam with a curious stare, when he wasn't pulling away immediately, so Sam quickly withdrew his arm.

A man dressed as clown gave him a balloon and Dean glared at his back, when he walked away.

"Do I look like a balloon-kinda kid?"

Then he looked up to Sam and obviously spotted the way his face was pale.

"What's the matter?" he asked.

Sam just shook his head and swallowed.

"You're not afraid of clowns, are you?" he chuckled.

"Don't ever take your brother into a place full of clowns," Sam answered seriously, wishing it would actually change anything. "They're evil."

"Whatever you say," Dean laughed and then they heard a heart-wrenching cry.

Few steps away, there stood a little blonde girl in pink dress, pointing at a balloon that was flying toward the sky and crying her eyes out. Dean ran toward her and Sam quickly followed.

"Hey, girl?" Dean said softly. "Here, you can take mine," he handed her his balloon with a smile.

Sam's heart leaped. His brother was such a sweet, selfless creature. He actually felt his eyes water slightly at the sight.

The girl gaped at Dean for a few moments, then she slowly took the string that was tying Dean's balloon.

"Thank you," she smiled warmly at him and without a warning, she launched herself into Dean's arms.

Dean was completely unprepared and just stood there shock-still, begging Sam with his eyes for help.

Sam had to laugh, because this was an one-time-only opportunity to see his brother uncomfortable around the opposite sex.

"Get away from her!" he heard a high pitched scream from a woman in her early thirties, that appeared by the girl's side in a heartbeat.

"I-I'm sorry, ma'am, I just-" Dean tried to explain himself with wide eyes.

"Save it, I don't care. Get lost before I call the police," she all but spat out. Then she kneeled down to face her daughter. "Are you all right, Lily? Did he hurt you?"

The unfairness of the woman's behaviour was making anger boil in Sam's gut.

"Listen, lady," he approached her. "The boy did nothing wrong. He only tried to make your daughter smile, while you were god-knows-where, when she was crying."

The woman rose on her feet and glared at Sam.

"How dare you-" she stopped and looked down at Lily, who was pulling at her skirt.

"He gave me his balloon, Mama," she said, as if trying to back Sam and Dean up.

"Well that's really nice of him," she said, snatched the string from her daughter's hand and forced it back into Dean's. "But we don't need charity from people like them."

She grabbed Lily's arm and dragged her away.

"Bitch," Sam muttered.

Dean smiled sadly, but his shoulders were slumped and he seemed to be on the verge of tears.

"Dean?" Sam kneeled down. "Don't worry about it, okay?" he squeezed Dean's shoulder reassuringly.

"Did I-," Dean took a deep breath to contain himself. "Did it look like I was hurting her?" he finally looked up to Sam's eyes.

"What? Of course not, it looked exactly like what it was. You giving the girl a balloon, cause she lost hers."

"D-do you think...that maybe...when I'm with Sammy, it looks like I'm hurting him? Like he doesn't want to be there with me?" Dean continued as if he didn't hear Sam and his lower lip started to tremble. "Do you think maybe Sammy doesn't want to be there?" He whispered and the tears finally spilled. Dean quickly ducked his head and wiped them away.

Sam just gaped at him. The way Dean was treating Sam all their lives, no one could ever accused him of hurting Sam. And Sam definitely never wanted to not be with his brother.

"Dean..." he tried to hug him, but Dean backed away and tied the balloon to a railing, saying that maybe someone will want it. If hatred could kill, the woman's insides would be all over the fair, Sam was sure of that.

After that, Dean said he was too tired to continue their carousel exploration. It was a lie, but Sam didn't call him on it. He just shrugged and looked around for something to buy Dean, before they go. He noticed a stand with gingerbread hearts.

"Hey, want to buy one for your dad and brother?" he nodded towards it.

If possible, Dean looked even more saddened and shook his head.

"Dad doesn't like hearts. I bought one for him on Valentine's day. He laughed that it was something only girls do. I never gave Sammy his, I didn't want him to laugh at me too," he bowed his head.

Sam really tried not to get mad at their dad for this, because he was almost certain, the man didn't mean to ridicule Dean's attempt of showing love. He most definitely didn't want to hurt his son. But he was sure that Dean's reluctance to celebrate the day came from that moment in his life.

"I'm sure Sammy would have loved it," he sighed. "But as you wish."

He bought Dean at least some cotton candy and didn't forget to pick up their photo, before they left.