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“Hey Cas, we’re getting ready to head back to the bunker now. Yeah, he’s asleep. Yes, I made sure he put one on before we left. Should be back sometime around dinnertime. Ok, we’ll see you then.” Dean hung up the phone and got into the car, where Sam was already sleeping against the window.
The brothers were on a witch-hunt the next state over. They had killed the witch late last night and decided to stay one more night and leave in the morning, just to make sure she was the only witch and was actually dead. After getting breakfast they checked out of the hotel, and everything was as they left it so they deemed it safe to head back to the bunker. Dean could tell Sam was already starting to slip into his headspace after their call last night with Cas. Dean knew Sam didn’t sleep well last night, having heard him tossing and turning most of last night. Dean hoped that Sam slept most of the way because he was pretty sure that when he woke up he would be in his headspace. Dean has never dealt with Sam in his headspace alone, he’s always just been an observer while Cas took care of him. There’s been a few times Cas has left him alone with little Sam but never for long and Cas was usually still in the bunker; he just wanted the brothers to spend some time together.
“Daddy?” It was almost one and Sam just woke up, groggy and hoping they were home and his daddy was there.
“Sorry Sammy, just me. Are you hungry? There’s a town coming up soon and I’m sure we can find somewhere to eat.”
“Sure Dee.” Sam laid his head against the window, thumb slipping between his lips.
“Hey no, if Cas found out I let you suck your thumb he’ll smite me.” Dean gently pulled Sam’s thumb from his mouth, ignoring the whine his action produced. He ruffled around the glove box where he normally kept a spare soother and cursed under his breath when he couldn’t find one.
“Sookie Dee?”
“I can’t find one Sammy, just use your thumb for now. I’ll find one after we eat, just don’t tell your daddy.” Sam slipped his thumb back in his mouth and hummed contently. Dean changed his Zeppelin cassette for a Disney one; Sam happily sang along to all the songs. Dean pulled into a diner not long after.
“Alright Sammy, we’re going to go in and eat. I know you don’t like it but you have to try to be big Sam. Do you need anything before we go in?”
“I need changed.” Sam blushed. Dean didn’t change Sam often; he always found a reason to leave when Sam needed changed. Before they left the hotel Sam was still big enough to put it on himself, but he was definitely too far gone now to do it himself.
“Alright, we’ll start there then we’ll get food and get back onto the road. How would you feel about calling Cas when we’re back in the car?” Sam’s face broke out into a large grin and he nodded.
Dean grabbed the plain black bag Cas put in the back of the car full of supplies for Sam. Dean got them a table and ushered Sam into the large one-person bathroom. He was glad the restaurant was practically empty and the bathroom was tucked away in a back corner. Sam refused to lie on the ground so Dean had to figure out how to change him standing up. Dean was also very thankful that there were extra soothers in the bag for when they were back in the car. Dean washed his hands before leading them back to their table where their waitress was waiting looking confused.
“Everything alright gentleman?”
“Oh yeah, just been on a long drive and needed a pit stop.” Dean winked at the waitress.
“What would you guys like for drinks to start?”
“I’ll have a coffee and he’ll have an apple juice.” She nodded and walked back to the kitchen.
“What do you want to eat?”
“Nuggies.” Sam whispered to Dean. If Sam was normally shy and anxious it double when he was little. He refused to talk to anyone who wasn’t Cas or Dean when little.
“Alright here’s your coffee and juice. Are we ready to order?” She sat their drink down along with some cream and sugar packets. She pulled a pencil from her hair and a notepad from her apron.
“Absolutely. I’ll have the double bacon burger with fries. He’ll have the chicken nuggets and fries.” Dean handed the menus to the waitress and was thankful when she didn’t say anything about Sam.
Before long they had eaten and were back on the road. This time Dean made sure Sam had his soother and also grabbed his stuffed monkey from his duffle bag. Dean also called Cas and put the phone on speaker so they could both talk to Cas.
“Hello?” Cas answered the phone, not expecting a call from Dean at this time.
“HI, DADDY!” Sam yelled, his soother falling from his mouth onto his lap.
“Hi, honey. How are you?” Cas' voice immediately softened when talking to the little one.
“Good. Miss you.” Sam picked his soother back up and put it back into his mouth, the continuous bobbing soothing to him.
“I miss you too honey. But you’ll be home before you know it.” Sam sniffled, he really missed his daddy.
“Hey Cas, we’re making pretty good time. Might even get there a little earlier than planned.”
“Alright, I’ll let you go. Drive safe with my baby Dean.”
“Aye aye captain.”
“Bye, daddy. Love you.”
“I love you too honey. See you soon.” Dean hung up the phone and Sam deflated.
“It’s alright buddy. I’ll have you home before you know it.” Dean reached over and ruffled Sam’s hair.
“I know. Just miss him.” Sam leaned his head against the window and hugged his monkey to his chest. Before long he was asleep again.
***
Sam slept the rest of the way to the bunker. Dean wasn’t at all shocked when they pulled in and Cas was waiting in the garage. Dean called when they were just about 15 minutes away to let Cas know they were almost home. Dean got out of the car and nodded at Cas over top of the car. Dean grabbed the bags from the back, allowing Cas to take care of his sleeping little.
“Hey baby, time to wake up.” Castiel was squatting down outside of the open car door where Sam was still sleeping. He reached out and gently started to shake his shoulder, trying to rouse him from sleep.
“Dee?” Sam asked, his eyes still closed.
“Not Dee baby, it’s daddy.” Sam gasped and his eyes flew up, staring in shock.
“DADDY!” Sam flew out of the car, crashing into Cas. Cas was thankful he anticipated this and had already unbuckled Sam’s seatbelt. For several minutes the two sat on the garage floor, Sam curled up as much as possible between Cas’ legs.
“Why don’t we go inside? I started supper and I’m sure Dean has checked on it by now and it should be just about done.” Sam nodded and pulled back some from Cas. Cas stood up, then leaned down to pick Sam up and carry him inside. He’s learned the hard way what happens when he tried to stand with Sam still in his arms.
“Do you need changed before we eat honey?” Sam’s whine was enough to veer Cas’ path from the kitchen to Sam’s little room. Cas was quick to change Sam’s diaper and his clothes. Sam was still wearing his hunting clothes and Cas knew he couldn’t be comfortable, so Cas changed Sam into a soft onesie covered in little bees and grey sweatpants. Cas carried Sam to the kitchen where Dean was indeed finishing cooking supper.
“There you two are, food’s almost finished. By the time you get him strapped in, we’ll be ready.” Dean said from his position at the stove.
Cas nodded and started the process of getting Sam into his chair. Sam has a tendency to run off at meal times and once choked. That was enough for Cas to invest in a chair strap. It was a simple 5-point harness that was attached around the back and under one of the kitchen chairs. Sam absolutely hated it, and trying to get him in it was a fight. But Cas would take this fight over watching his baby choke again any day. By the time Cas got Sam strapped in Dean was coming over with his plate. Sam was pouting with his arms crossed.
“Oh my. Did I bring home a grumpy boy?” Dean said, ruffling Sam’s hair.
“No harness Dee.” Sam pulled the harness, trying his best to get out of it.
“Yes, harness Sammy. Your daddy said yes, so Dee says yes. Now daddy made you some mac-n-cheese and veggies, so eat up.” Dean also sat down a sippy cup of water. Sam picked away at his food while Dean also ate and talked to Cas. Sam quickly finished and started pulling on the harness again.
“Out daddy. Pease.”
“Sure honey. What would you like to do for the rest of the night?” Cas unbuckled Sam from his harness and pulled him onto his lap.
“Movie and snuggles?”
“Well, I can never say no to snuggles with you. Do you going to join us, Dean?”
“Nah, I’ll let you two have some time together. I think I’ll go out tonight, I’ll see you two in the morning.” He ruffled both of their hair before leaving to get ready to go out.
“What do you want to watch honey?” Cas filled a bottle with milk before carrying it and Sam to the room they had set up for Sam's play area. It was an extra room in the bunker with all of Sam’s toys, a TV and a couch for them to sit on.
“George daddy!” Sam said as Cas gently dropped him onto the couch.
“Of course honey. Didn’t expect anything different from my little monkey.” Cas sat down beside Sam and turned on Curious George. Sam was very much obsessed with monkeys in his headspace, and there weren’t many little days that went by without them watching Curious George.
“Where monkey daddy?”
“He must still be in your room honey. I’ll run and grab him. Wait here.” Cas quickly ran to Sam’s room and found monkey lying on the bed. Cas hurried back to find Sam still sitting on the couch with tears in his eyes.
“Hey, baby, what’s wrong?” Cas quickly rushed over and pulled Sam into his arms.
“Monkey gone.” Sam cried holding tight to Cas’ shirt.
“No honey, monkey isn’t gone. He’s right here. He was just having a nap on your bed.” Cas quickly pushed monkey into Sam’s arms. Sam pulled the monkey tight against his chest and started to relax. Cas got the two situated on the couch and turned the movie on. Cas lifted the bottle to Sam’s lips and he was quick to start sucking the milk down. When the bottle was empty Sam quickly replaced the bottle with his thumb.
“Uh uh, honey. No thumb sucking, I’ll grab you a sookie.” Cas grabbed an extra sookie from the bowl on the shelf. They had soothers stashed just about everywhere in the bunker, Sam had a tendency to lose them, so whenever Dean or Cas found one it ended up in a bowl or drawer in every room so Sam always had one.
Sam hummed contently around his soother and cuddled into his daddy. He tucked his head in the space between Cas’ shoulder and neck. Cas smiled and pressed a kiss to the top of Sam’s arm, and tightened his arms just the slightest around the little. Cas knew it was good for Sam and Dean to spend time together and go on hunts by themselves but Cas still worries. He doesn’t know what he would do if he ever got a call from Dean that something happened to Sam on a hunt, but now wasn’t the time to think about that. Sam was here and safe and happy in Cas’ arms, right where he belonged.