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Dean sat at the kitchen table in their current motel room, cleaning the guns.
John was off on a hunting trip, leaving Dean to take care of Sam as usual.
Sam was pretty mellow for most of the day; watching Scooby Doo or Looney Tunes or whatever was on, Dean wasn’t really paying attention, only looking up every now and then to make sure Sam wasn’t dying.
However, he knew that the silence wouldn’t last forever; cartoons could only entertain his little brother for so long.
He knew the time was up when he heard the pitter patter of little feet approaching the kitchen table before Sam was in front of him with an energetic smile.
He looked down at his little brother and set down the gun that he was cleaning.
“What’s up, Sammy?”
“Play with me, De!” Sam bounced on the balls of his feet.
“Sorry Sammy, but I’m kind of busy right now.”
The youngest pouted, the sparkle in his eye disappearing instantly.
“Please De?..”
He tried clinging to the fabric of his older brother’s jeans, giving him the best puppy eyes he could muster.
Dean took one look and could already feel his heart melting.
Surely he could make some time for his brother; especially if he was gonna keep giving him that sad puppy look.
Sam could get Dean to do whatever he wanted as long as he had those damn puppy dog eyes;
they were Dean’s biggest weakness and Sam knew it.
“Come on Sam…Don’t make that face..” He tried his best to look away but found it nearly impossible.
“Please play with me, De..”
And just like that, Dean caved.
“Okay okay… I’ll play with you Sammy.”
The sparkle in Sam’s eyes returned as he grabbed Dean’s hand and dragged him to the living room.
“Alright Sammy, what do you wanna play?” He watched his little brother think, concentration clear in his face.
Eventually, all Sam said was - “I don’t know.” - with a slight shrug.
Dean raised a brow.
“You’re telling me you broke out the puppy dog eyes and you don’t even know what you want to play?”
The exasperation in his voice made Sam giggle.
Upon hearing the adorable sound, Dean knew exactly what he wanted to do.
“Oh you think this is funny, Sam? Pulling your big brother away from his work? Is that funny to you, Sammy?”
Sam giggled even more, shaking his head and trying to cover his mouth.
Dean growled playfully, scooping his little brother up in his arms and dumping him on one of the nearby beds; heart melting at the childish giggles that fell from the younger’s mouth, despite not being tickled yet.
“Well Sammy, since you like to laugh so much, how about we pay a visit to an old friend~”
The elder growled in the crook of his brother’s neck, making him squeal and giggle helplessly.
“De!”
“Sorry Sammy, De’s not here, but d’you know who is?”
Sam’s giggles raised in volume and he shook his head.
“Well get ready Sammy, it’s..”
He paused for dramatic effect.
“The tickle monster!” He roared, raising his hands and making claws before digging into his brother’s sides.
Sam squealed, giggles turning to loud bubbly laughter.
“De, noho tihihihickles!” He pushed at the offending hands, a bright smile and rosy cheeks decorating his face.
Dean felt his big brother heart swell with love and affection for his precious little brother;
the brother he would give his life to protect.
“Yes tickles!” He tweaked his brother’s ribs, eliciting yelps and squeaks.
Sam kicked his little legs and squirmed about, unable to escape his brother’s clutches.
“What’s so funny Sammy? Does this tickle? I bet it does!” Dean teased and switched to spidering, smile widening at the little snort that escaped the younger’s mouth.
“DEHEHE!! N-NOT THEHERE!!” The little boy shrieked at the ticklish feelings crawling on his skin, his face reddening from all the laughing.
“The tickle monster tickles wherever he wants!”
Dean growled playfully.
“Lucky for you though, he’s bored of this spot and will in fact be tickling elsewhere…”
He looked at the sliver of exposed skin where the kids shirt had ridden up from the squirming and he grinned.
“How about…here?” He poked Sam’s tummy repeatedly and watched the kid squeak with each poke.
“EEK- It t-tihihickles!” Sam squirmed and batted at the hands.
Dean snorted. “No way, really? That’s crazy, Sammy.”
He stopped poking and formed claws with his hands, wiggling his fingers just over the sensitive spot.
Sam’s eyes widened comically and his laughter became more frantic.
The older Winchester laughed with his brother, finding the reactions adorable.
“Sammy, I’m not touching you.” Dean laughed fondly.
He dove his fingers down and retracted them at the last minute making Sam fall into helpless laughter.
“I’m gonna get your tummy, Sammy~” He sang teasingly, knowing just how to get his little brother worked up.
Sam covered his face with his hands, a snort escaping him as he squirmed helplessly.
“De, plehehease!”
Having decided that he shouldn’t keep the kid waiting any longer, he dug both claw shaped hands into the soft tummy, eliciting a loud squeal followed by bright bubbly laughter.
“DEHEHEHE! NOT MY TUMMEEHEHEE!!”
Sam bucked and squirmed instinctively.
His tummy had always been extremely sensitive; Dean loves to tickle him there because it always gets the cutest reactions.
Dean knew Sam loved getting his tummy tickled as much as Dean loved tickling it, so it was a win win.
“Aww, Sammy~” He rucked Sam’s shirt up to his ribs so his belly was completely exposed.
The older Winchester leaned down and nuzzled the boy’s stomach, growling against the sensitive skin while Sam screeched at the ticklish vibrations.
“Uh oh Sammy…I think the tickle monster is hungry.” Dean could hardly hold back his own soft chuckling, finding his brother’s bright laughter to be quite infectious.
“The tickle monsters gonna eat your tummy, Sammy!”
The younger brother’s squirming increased at the playful threat, anticipation growing in the pit of his stomach.
The eldest started nibbling along his brother’s sensitive tummy, heart swelling at the loud happy laughter.
“Mm.. ticklish bellies are my favorite snack! NomNomNom~”
“EEK! DEHEHEE NOOO!! DON’T EAT MEHEHEHE!!”
Sam squealed happily, arching his back, kicking his little legs, and wiggling about in his big brothers grasp.
Dean smiled against the little boy’s skin. He loved being able to play around with the younger.
Being 5, Sam didn’t fully understand why their lives were this way;
why they moved around so much, why they salted the doors and windows every night, why their dad was almost always gone, why they didn’t have a mom…
Dean at least understood most of it, but poor Sammy probably just thinks that it’s all for no reason.
Still, it’s better than if he were to know the truth.
Dean was just happy that he could be the one to put that sweet smile on the boy’s face.
When Sam’s laughter went silent, Dean pulled away, admiring the rosy cheeks and dimpled smile.
He leaned down and bumped their noses, nuzzling affectionately.
“Hehe!” Sam giggled.
Dean laughed and gave Sam a kiss on the nose, watching him scrunch it up momentarily.
Sam curled up in his big brothers lap, snuggling against his chest with a content sigh.
“I love you, De…” He yawned, tuckered out from the tickling.
Dean carded his hands through the soft brown locks, pressing a kiss to his forehead.
“Love you too, Sammy.”