Disclaimer: I own nothing in regards to Supernatural. I just love it.

"Look! You were higher than the friggin' net!" Dean said, pointing to the image on his phone.

Sam looked at the screen and couldn't hold back a laugh.

"Look at Cas's face!" Sam managed to say between laughs.

The self-proclaimed non-bouncer was only about a foot above the air, but his concerned facial expression would have you believe he was hundreds of feet up.

"We're going to have to get this one printed," Dean said. He shook his head and pocketed his phone. "October seventeenth, a day that will live in infamy! Sammy's first time on a trampoline."

Sam punched his brother's arm.

"Ouch! Man you gotta cool it with those little fists," Dean teased. He took another sip of his smoothie. They were back in the kitchen, after a nice bounce session. "You know what, this isn't as bad as it should be considering how you put full-on spinach in here. It doesn't even stink like vegetables."

"You know what does stink?" Sam asked. He looked at his sweaty brother with disgust.

Dean rolled his eyes in response. He slurped up the last of his smoothie and let loose a big burp right in his little brother's face.

"Gross!" Now it was Sam's turn to fake gag.

"Alright, I'm gonna hit the showers," Dean said.

"About time."

Dean casually flipped his brother off before setting down his empty glass and strolling out of the kitchen.

"Real classy," Sam called out after him. He finished his own smoothie and took the glasses to the sink.

After scooting over a chair to kneel on he got busy washing up the breakfast dishes. He had only been short for a little while, but it was like his old habits were kicking back in. His lips curved up in a smile as he thought back to all the times he had needed some sort of stool or aid in reaching something as a child. At least this time around he knew he would grow. When he was younger he worried that he would always be "little Sammy," the runt. Sam got the hot water running and got busy scrubbing.

Down the hall, in the Men of Letters locker-room, Dean was also busy scrubbing. He did his best to wash the grimy teenage-boy sweat from his body. He looked down at his forearm, which was starting to turn slightly pink from the hot water, and sighed in relief. He was still having a hard time believing that it was really gone. The Mark that had been weighing on his mind so heavily was really gone.

Once he was showered and changed, Dean strolled back down to the kitchen. Sam had already finished with the dishes, and was now taking inventory of the pantry.

"How's it looking?" Dean asked.

"Good," Sam nodded his approval and continued, "I think even with your appetite we shouldn't have to do a supply run for at least two weeks."

"Sweet." Dean plopped down onto a kitchen chair. "So what now?"

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"I can't believe this is your idea of a good way to spend the day. Well," Dean paused, "actually I can. Only you would suggest a library day. I mean, we already have a friggin' library at the bunker? What's so different about this one?"

Dean swung the driver door shut and made his way around the car to join Sam's side. Sam was getting pretty fast at removing himself from the horrid contraption that Jodie had insisted on.

"This library is just different." Sam shrugged and thought about how glad he was that he had procured a library card while in his adult form. There were only two librarians at their small local branch, and as long as he could check out with the sleepy old man, he was sure it wouldn't be a problem.

Outside the October air had a definite chill, and the leaves were orange and crunchy under the Winchester's feet.

"Maybe we should pick up some sturdier winter wear after the library. Just to be prepared." Dean suggested.

Sam nodded his agreement, and they briskly walked through the small parking lot.

Although the library was small, it was bright and upbeat.

Dean watched as Sam began his browsing process. It soon became clear why Sam had opted for a trip to the local library. While the Men of Letters' library was archival and impressive, it didn't have the range that a simple public library did.

Dean found a plush chair and flipped through the new issues of car magazines, while Sam perused the shelves. After some time, Sam took a seat in the available chair next to Dean.

"Find what you were looking for?" Dean asked in a hushed voice.

"I wasn't really looking for anything in particular," Sam explained, "but I did find a few things that look interesting."

"You ready then?"

Sam nodded and the two stood and went for the check-out desk. Nobody was seated at the desk, but that wasn't unusual. Sam knew the old librarian often retreated to the back to "catalog items" or perhaps close his eyes for a few minutes.

Dean cleared his throat, and the brothers heard a shuffling noise from behind a partition that separated the librarian workspace from the main floor.

Much to Sam's dismay, Holly came gliding out to the desk.

"How can I help?" Holly asked in a quiet but sweet voice.

Sam didn't frequent the library all that often, as he typically had bigger concerns than what the latest best seller was; however, when he did stop in, he enjoyed sharing a short conversation with the single, smartly-dressed, thirty-something librarian. He could tell through their interactions that she was equally glad to visit with and even flirt with him a little as well. He knew it would probably never amount to anything, so that's all it was. But this would make checking out with a Sam Campbell library card a bit difficult.

"Just checking a few things out," Dean said, after his little brother failed to speak for himself.

Sam set his books down on the counter..

"This is a great selection," Holly commented. "You have good taste."

Sam liked how even though he was clearly checking out books that were above the reading level of the typical ten-year-old boy, Holly didn't tease or suggest that it was unusual.

"Thanks," Sam said. He slid his library card across the desk and hoped she wouldn't read the name.

But of course...she did.

"Oh," Holly said with a mixture of confusion and concern, "are you sure this is your library card?"

"Well…" Sam now realized that he hadn't decided on how he would handle this situation should it arise.

"It's just that I know the man who owns this library card," Holly explained, "and I think he would appreciate it if we made sure it got back to him."

Dean laughed out a little snort. Of course the librarians would recognize his brother's library card. The little loveable nerd.

"Well…" Sam started again.

"Sam is his dad," Dean said, smiling and nudging Sam.

"Oh?" Holly was surprised by that revelation.

"Yeah," Sam shot his brother a look, but then nodded.

"Ok, well is he here to check these out?" Holly asked, recovering quickly from the news that the man she had been casually flirting with for some time now apparently had a young son.

"No," Dean answered, "he's sick, so he sent me into town with, uh, Tommy here."

"I'm sorry to hear your dad isn't feeling well," Holly said to Sam.

"He'll be fine," Sam said, "It's just a cold."

"That's good to hear. Well, I really can't let you check out books on another person's card, even if it is a family member. Do you have your own card with you?"

"He doesn't have his own yet," Dean supplied.

"Hmm, well I can give you the form for a library card, but you'll need a parent to sign it. Do you think you could get your mom or dad to sign off on that for you?" Holly asked Sam.

Dean was cracking up on the inside, and it took all of his willpower not to laugh outrightly as he watched his adult brother listen to a librarian telling him to get a parent signature.

"Yeah, I can do that," Sam said sheepishly. He wondered what Holly was thinking of "Sam" now. Apparently, he had a secret child and was not allowing him a library card.

"His dad can sign it," Dean jumped in, "but his mom is dead, so that would be tricky."

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that," Holly said. Her smile wilted showing her genuine sympathy.

"Tommy was a baby when she died," Dean continued, "so, it's been a while now. I think Uncle Sam should remarry, but what do I know?"

"Well, it's not easy to move on after you lose a loved one," Holly said, unsure of how the conversation had shifted from library cards to dead mothers so quickly. "Let me grab you a form."

Holly retreated to the back room, and Sam used the opportunity to kick his brother in the back of the leg.

"What the hell man?" Dean whispered.

"I should be asking you the same thing!" Sam huffed out. "Tommy? Uncle Sam? Now I'm some shut-in widower with a child that I am withholding books from?"

"Hey, at least I made sure she knows you're single," Dean grinned, "plus chicks dig the struggling single dad thing. Trust me."

"Yeah, because you would know."

"I-" Dean cut himself off as Holly popped back around with the form.

"So, just fill this out and get your dad's signature, and you will be good to go." Holly looked down at the pile of books on the counter. "I'll put these on hold for you in the back until you are able to check them out. That way you don't have to go scavenging through the library all over again; although, in my opinion that may even be more fun than actually reading the books."

Sam smiled weakly up at Holly and nodded.

"Thanks," Dean paused to read the librarian's name tag, "Holly. We really appreciate your help. I know Uncle Sam will too. He's been meaning to get Tommy a library card for ages, but up until recently this little dude has been too sick to leave the hospital for more than a few weeks at a time. You know, cancer sucks. So this will be really great."

"Wow," Holly sagged under the weight of the new information, "I'm so glad to hear you are feeling better Tommy."

"Me too," Sam could throttle his brother, "thanks again. I'll bring this back."

"No problem. Tell your dad I hope he feels better soon."

Sam nodded and turned and walked away before Dean could add anymore crap to the story he had concocted.

Sam waited until they were both in the car with the doors shut to let his brother have it.

"Seriously?!" Sam exclaimed. "You didn't want to also throw in how my dog died last week and how 'my dad' knits blankets for orphans?"

"Had I thought of that in the moment…" Dean trailed off.

"You are such a jerk," Sam mumbled. He fumbled with the seatbelt and let out a big heavy huff.

"Look, if anything," Dean said, putting the car in gear, "I just scored you so many points with your special librarian lady friend, that the second you show up as your real big-ass self she'll be jumping across that counter and jumping you."

Sam chortled, "Yeah, sure."

"Hey, I know women."

"You're terrible."

"But I'm also right," Dean grinned at his brother in the rearview mirror.

It wasn't long before Dean was putting the Impala in park in front of a local mercantile-type shop. It was the kind of business that sold dry foods, clothing, toys, and landscaping equipment. A mish-mash of items.

"You think this place will have what we need?" Sam asked as he held the door open for his older brother.

"Yeah," Dean said, "this'll do."

Dean was the one who did most of the supply runs, so Sam rolled with it.

It only took a few minutes for them to each decide on a coat. Dean also threw in beanies, gloves, and boots for both of them.

"Hey look," Dean said pointing to a Halloween display, "what do you think?"

"Think about what?" Sam asked.

"You want to do Halloween this year?" Dean was already picking up various masks and holding them up to his face.

"No." Sam's answer came quick and easy.

"Come on, why not?" Dean prodded.

"We've been over this," Sam sounded exasperated, "every day of our lives it's Halloween."

"Yeah, but not really." Dean stopped fiddling with the masks and turned back to Sam. "Think about it, when was the last time you did the honest-to-goodness Halloween thing where you eat candy til you puke and watch scary movies until you can't stay awake any longer? Huh?"

Sam paused to think. Sure, there had been a few years during his college experience where he went to the obligatory Halloween party, but that was really just a bunch of drunk coeds in costumes.

"I guess I was...eight?" Sam mused.

"Yeah," Dean beamed at the memory, "I remember that. You were dying for Dad to take you out trick-or-treating."

"But he was out on a hunt, and you were in charge. I don't know how I managed to convince you to take me."

"Are you kidding me," Dean laughed, "all it took was you looking at me with those big fat teary eyes. You wanted to be Superman, but the only costume I could make was a damn motel-sheet ghost."

"It was perfect," Sam said. He remembered how Dean had used his knife to cut out eye holes. Dean made Sam promise not to tell their dad. They were so close to getting away with it too. They ate all the candy before John came home and had the foresight to throw the wrappers in the big trash cans outside of the motel rooms near the ice machine. The only evidence was the ghost eyes in the sheet which John somehow managed to spot.

"So," Dean reached for a superhero costume, "what do you say?"

"I'd say I'm a little too old for that now."

"Ok, if you say so." Dean set the costume back down. "I'm just trying to score some free candy out of it."

They left the Halloween display, picked up a few more pairs of warm socks, purchased their items, and were back home with time to spare before dinner.

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