His Fallen Grace

Chapter Five

Lawrence Kansas

November 2, 1983

8:30 PM

Mary Winchester pressed her fingers against the wall at her right to help guide herself down the hall, the floor cold beneath her bare feet as she took slow steps. She reached a door frame when her elder son called out, giggling,

"You're supposed to count Mommy!"

The corners of her lips pulled up into a smile as she adjusted the bandana around her eyes which acted as a blindfold.

"Alright sweetie. 1... 2... 3..."

She smiled to herself as her child attempted to stifle his laughter as she made her way down the hall.

"4... 5... 6..."

She pushed open a door which was slightly ajar, keeping her hands before her to refrain from running into furniture.

"7... 8... 9... 10..."

She felt around, finding herself at a window, hand pressed to the cool glass.

"Dean, baby, are you in here?"

No reply, which was to be expected, but she could hear him trying to keep in his laughter. She made her way towards his giggling, slowly pulling open the door to a closet. Her child screamed as she wrapped her arms around him, laughing as she pulled him close and peppered his cheeks with kisses. She placed one last kiss on his forehead as he pulled the bandana down from around her eyes, letting it loop around her neck.

"Alright, Dean. You promised me you'd take a bath after we played a game."

"Okay, mommy."

Mary sat her four-year-old in the warm, soapy water, humming as she squeezed a dab of shampoo in her palm and lathered it into his hair.

"Mommy?"

"Yes sweetheart?"

"Can you hum that song?"

Mary smiled at her son, taking the sponge from the edge of the tub and dipping it in the water, gently running it down his back.

"Which song, baby?"

He paused for a moment as if trying to remember.

"The one you sing when I go to sleep."

She gently splashed some water on his back to rinse off the suds, beginning to softly hum 'Hey Jude.'

"Is Daddy coming home soon?"

"He is, sweetie. He's going to be really happy to see you and your baby brother."

She wrapped her child in a towel, taking another and rubbing it into his hair. She helped dry him off and then gave him a fresh pair of pajamas.

"Go get dressed and I'll tuck you in, okay Dean?"

She made sure he went to his room, then waited outside the door before he opened it, stepping back out.

"I wanna say goodnight to Sammy."

Mary smiled down at him, reached down and picking him up, holding him close. She walked into Sammy's nursery, saying softly,

"Come on, let's say goodnight to your brother."

She set Dean down and flicked the lights on, approaching the crib as Dean leaned over, kissing his baby brother's forehead.

"'Night, Sam."

Their mother leaned over the crib as well, smiling at her baby.

"Goodnight, love."

She reached her hand down, brushing his small hairs from his forehead as she leaned down and pressed her lips against it. Her and her elder son then turned as they heard footsteps from the doorway and a,

"Hey, Dean."

"Daddy!"

"Hey, buddy."

He rushed towards his father, who bent down and swooped him off his feet. He grinned at his son as he pulled him close, bouncing him up a little.

"So what do you think? You think Sammy's ready to toss around a football yet?"

Dean shook his head, giggling.

"No, Daddy."

"No?"

Mary passed by her husband and son, heading towards Dean's room.

"You got him?"

"I got him."

John pulled Dean close as he flicked off the light, looking to his younger child before turning to leave.

"Sweet dreams, Sam."

"Night champ," John said, kissing Dean's forehead before giving Mary's hand a little squeeze and leaving the room. Mary seated herself on the edge of Dean's bed after tucking him in, taking his small hand in hers.

"Can you sing it to me mommy?"

"Sure sweetie."

She gave his hand a slight squeeze, brushing his hair from his forehead with her other, the room filling with her soft voice as she began to sing. As her son began to doze off, his eyes lids growing noticeably heavy, she lean forward, resting a hand on his small chest as she pressed her lips to his forehead, whispering,

"Goodnight, Dean..."

She arose, white night gown flowing behind her as she stepped towards the door, smiling at her boy one last time as she flicked the lights off, the words which she said so softly the last she would ever said to him.

"Remember love, angels are watching over you."