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Sam gurgled as Dean handed him over. The Doctor looked at him quizzically, and shook his head. “No, I don’t think so.”
Dean watched suspiciously as the baby gurgled again. “No, Sam, I really don’t think you can- how old are you, seven months? Eight?” The man asked.
“He’s eight months old,” Dean thought. Like he’d heard, the man glanced over at Dean, but didn’t say anything.
“Eight months then,” the man said to Sam, and Dean started. “That’s certainly not old enough to be capable of unspeakable evils.” Dean’s eyes widened, and Sam whined like he was about to cry.
“No, really, as a human baby, you can barely walk, or talk, much less- you know, this is a very nonspecific accusation you’re launching against yourself, I’m really not sure what you think-“
Sam whined again, a little louder, and started to squirm. Dean stepped forward to take him back, but the Doctor held up a finger, telling to hold on, just a moment.
“Now really, I think I’ve been around long enough, I’ve seen many things about a thousand times more evil than you could ever think of being, and certainly none of them have ever been your age. Really, I’m just not sure what exactly you think you could get up to-“ Sam gave a little cry, surprisingly indignant for an eight month old, and Dean giggled.
“Oh yes, manipulation. You’re a very manipulative baby, you are, always getting people to, what, feed you? Change you? Blimey, even- okay, I find myself a mite forgetful on what it is exactly a baby requires. Whatever it is, it’s not exactly world domination. These are all very normal baby things!” The Doctor raised an eyebrow, and bounced a little, adjusting his hold on the baby. Sam burbled and waved a little hand.
“Oh, building up to it, are you? Right then, I’m sure world leaders will quake before you, as long as you meet them before nap time. Never conquer while you’re cranky, I should think. Or was that shopping while you’re hungry?” Dean giggled again, picturing his baby brother ruling the world from his crib. Sam scowled, and gestured vaguely.
“Yes, yes, I know full well you’ll get bigger eventually. But I really don’t think that’ll cause you to become an evil mastermind- evil being the key word there, mind you- because even just the fact that you’re so concerned about all this indicates you aren’t going to be evil. Only people with morals worry about going against them, yeah?” Sam squinted, unconvinced, and whined quietly.
“What, Lancelot? That can’t be what this is all about, can it?” The Doctor sounded amused, as Sam squirmed again. Dean wondered what the Classics Illustrated comics he’d been reading with Sam had to do with his baby brother trying to take over the world- wait if Sam was the Brain, did that make Dean Pinky? Dean frowned slightly, and looked back up at where the Doctor was bouncing Sam lightly, almost habitually, like he didn’t quite realize he was moving.
“Really, I knew the man, and he-“ Sam hiccuped. “Oh, don’t give me that, I did know him! And he was a bit of a- well. He really isn’t worth all this angst. And for what it’s worth, I get the feeling you’d do just fine on a quest like that. I mean, after you’ve grown up a bit.” The Doctor smiled faintly, as Sam seemed to absorb his words.
Finally, he handed Dean back his brother. Dean accepted his quiet, apparently thoughtful, brother, and looked up. The Doctor brushed off his jacket casually, and glanced around.
“Right then. This was a lovely talk, but I really must get back to- ah, I’m not sure where- but this was lovely, I hope to see you both again, sometime in the future, I’ve got to- ah, there you are!” And he raced off towards a blue box in another corner of the sunny park, leaving Dean wondering if he’d imagined the whole conversation.
As Dean watched the Doctor climb into the blue box, Sam cooed softly, drawing back his big brother’s attention. Dean turned to walk back to [motel room? impala? Bobby’s truck- maybe if he’s distracted with a hunter’s phone call, and let the boys out first]. “Just so you know, Sammy,” Dean whispered. “I think you’re gonna be a hero when you grow up. Even better than Lancelot, or any’a those guys.”
Dean adjusted his hold on Sam do he could open the door. Somewhere behind them, there was a sound, like a space ship on the late night movie they’d fallen asleep to the other night.