Camping Trip
Title: Camping trip
Author: Capricorn86
Characters: Dean Winchester, Dawn (10) Will (8) Sam Winchester, Emily (6) Alice (4)
Summary: The Winchesters go camping in the forest.
Disclaimer: I own nothing (apart from my OCs). No profit is being made.
Warning: Contain mild spanking and references to spanking
Beta: brassband777
Author`s Note: This was suggested by brassband777: A Winchester family camping outing - Sam and Dean take the kids camping, but while they're putting up the tents, Will and Emily wander off. Dawn meanwhile is keeping an eye on Alice.
Sam Winchester glanced in the rearview mirror. His two daughters were sitting in the backseat of the car. Four-year-old Alice was asleep. Her blonde head rested heavily against her car seat. Six-year-old Emily was awake, and very excited about the camping trip the Winchesters were all going on, but for the moment she had stopped her animated chattering, as her father had reminded her gently not to wake her little sister.
For Sam`s daughters, it was their first proper camping trip. They had had a few sleepovers in a tent before - in their own garden.
Dean, on the other hand, had taken his kids camping several times. Will especially loved outdoors activities, though Dean suspected the same wouldn`t be the case for Dawn - not when she hit the dreaded teens. Until then, he was determined to take her camping and bring her along on fishing trips. She did enjoy it, and Dean figured that if she got to do it enough, the enthusiasm might stick past age twelve.
Sam picked up his ringing mobile.
“Hey, Dean.”
“Dude, where are you?”
Dean had been driving ahead in the Impala. Sam had been following close behind for a while, but after having to make several stops so his daughters could use the bathroom, he`d fallen far behind.
“Small girls, small bladders,” he reminded his brother. “Besides, I`m not a reckless driver like you.”
“Oh, really? Driving while talking on the phone, what do you call that?” Dean teased.
Sam huffed. “You`re doing it right now too!”
“Whatever. Listen, pull up at the next gas station, OK? I`ll wait for you there.”
“How much further is it? I feel like we`ve been driving forever.”
It was a funny thing to say. Sam and Dean were practically raised in a car. Their children, however, had a tendency to get bored on long drives. And a certain six-year-old in Sam`s backseat was getting very impatient indeed.
“Not too far now,” Dean assured his little brother.
“Alright, see ya soon.” Sam ended the conversation and tossed his mobile down on the passenger’s seat.
--- SPN ---
The campsite was in a large, beautiful clearing, not too far from the road. Dean had been there a couple times before with his children, but it was the first time for Sam and his girls.
While Sam and Dean were putting up the tents, Dawn was busy entertaining Alice so she wouldn`t get in the way for her dad and uncle. The four-year-old had already tried to go inside the tents several times, too eager and excited to listen to Sam when he told her not to.
Everyone was so occupied that no one noticed Will and Emily quietly slipping away between the trees.
“OK kids, let`s get your sleeping bags in the tents!” Dean instructed when the second tent was up. He turned around and finally realized that two of the kids were missing. “Will?” he called, his gaze sweeping the campsite, searching for his son without finding him.
“Maybe he just went into the forest to pee,” Sam suggested as he too noticed his nephew`s absence and the mixed look of worry and anger that was creeping over his older brother`s face.
“And took Emily with him?”
Sam had been so preoccupied with the tent that he hadn`t noticed that his eldest too was gone. He was a watchful parent usually, but he hadn`t expected his daughter to just take off like this. He had assumed she could be trusted to stay out of mischief for a few minutes - apparently, he was wrong. Emily and Will always managed to get up to no good whenever they were together, both by accident and intent.
He couldn`t help but give a weary sigh. “Not again.”
Dean looked at him. “What, this kind of thing happens a lot?”
Sam didn`t answer. Emily had wandered off from him in public more than once, most recently at a trip to the zoo. It had earned her a firm scolding and an even firmer spanking. After that, Sam had been convinced she had learned her lesson, but now it seemed she needed a reminder that wandering off was not acceptable.
“Let`s just go find them,” Sam muttered. “Dawn!” he called to his niece, who was helping Alice get her stuff in the tent. “Can you watch her for a few minutes?”
Dawn nodded.
“Of course she can, Dawn`s the best babysitter around,” Dean said. He was proud of his children, and took every opportunity to brag.
The two men headed into the forest, Dean leading the way.
“They can`t have gotten far. Maybe we should split up?” Sam suggested.
Dean shook his head, saying he didn`t think that was a good idea. “With your lousy sense of direction? No, it`s better if we just stick together.”
Sam huffed, not exactly appreciating his brother insulting him, particularly not in a tense situation like this. The younger man could already feel a cold fear creeping into his blood at the thought of some harm coming to his eldest child. The natural threats of the forest was one thing, but the supernatural? Who knew what kind of creatures could be lurking, waiting to pounce on two small wayward kids. Sam gave himself a mental shake, hoping his anxiety didn`t show. He didn`t like the thought of appearing weak or out of control - especially not in front of his brother.
Dean muttered angrily to himself as they walked on. He barked out his son`s name, telling him to get himself out in the open and that he had a spanking coming.
Sam rolled his eyes. He didn`t think that was the best way to lure out Will!
They stopped for a moment, trying to listen for the sound of footsteps or laughter, some kind of noise that would indicate that the children were nearby. But the only thing they could hear was the wind softly rustling the leaves of the trees.
“Sonofabitch!” Dean exclaimed suddenly, breaking off a switch from a tree in his anger.
Sam eyed his brother worriedly. “Take it easy, Dean.”
“Don`t tell me to take it easy! It pisses me off when Will pulls a disappearing act like this.”
Sam nodded. “I get it. Emily has a track record of wandering off in public, I know how it feels.”
Dean clutched the switch in his hand. “You know, if this had been Dad taking us camping, and we disappeared…” he began, but Sam cut him off sharply:
“You`re not seriously suggesting I take a switch to my six-year-old daughter?”
“I`m not suggesting anything, I`m just saying, that`s how Dad would have handled something like this.”
“When did Dad ever use a switch?”
“Don`t you remember? That time we went fishing when we were supposed to be training.”
Sam pondered for a moment, and suddenly the memories came rushing at him. He recalled that summer afternoon when he and Dean had snuck away and gone fishing, only to be met by a furious John upon their return.
“Oh yeah. That time. Well, he only used it cause we were stupid enough to bring our fishing poles back with us.”
Fishing gear wasn`t on the Winchester inventory list, and so the boys had used a pair of switches. Upon their return to the rental house, John had tanned their backsides with them after giving a thorough warm-up with his hand. Even for more serious offences, a switch was not an implement John usually took in hand. He preferred the paddle or his leather belt, as he had had the displeasure of experiencing the cruel sting of a switch growing up, and was rather reluctant to make his own boys go through the same ordeal.
Sam wondered if Dean was considering using a switch on Will to punish him for wandering off, but when he asked, Dean didn`t give a proper reply. Sam took his brothers mumbling to mean that he hadn`t decided.
Feeling worried for his young nephew`s hide, Sam tried again: “Well, Dean?”
“What?” Dean continued walking briskly deeper into the forest, looking straight ahead and not meeting his brother`s gaze.
“Are you intending to use a switch on your son?” Sam pressed.
Dean stopped and took a deep breath before turning to Sam. His green eyes were darkened by worry, and Sam became convinced that his brother hadn`t honestly wanted to go hard on his little boy, he had just spoken in anger because of the seriousness of the situation. Two small children wandering alone in the forest was no minor offence.
“No, Sam. I`m not,” he said, sounding tired now. He tossed the switch to the ground. “But when I do find him, I`ll flip him straight over my knee and paddle his little butt good!”
The two men continued walking, calling out the names of the two kids.
--- SPN ---
At the campsite, Dawn was experiencing some difficulty watching her little cousin.
The ten-year-old was relieved when she saw her uncles, Will and Emily emerge from between the trees. She had no doubt that her little brother and cousin had been spanked - she saw signs that they had both been crying, and the two kids were clearly subdued.
When they reached the campsite, Dean told Will and Emily to unpack the food while he collected firewood and got a fire going. It would keep the kids occupied and out of trouble for a few minutes, at least. He gave his son a pat on the shoulder, knowing he needed the extra reassurance.
“It`s alright, Will.”
The boy sniffed a little as he threw his arms around Dean`s waist and hugged him. “I`m sorry. I won`t wander off again.”
You better not, Dean thought to himself. He had been so scared upon finding his little boy missing! He patted the boy on the back and stroked his hair. “I love you. Now go help your cousin.”
Will held on to his father for a couple more seconds before finally releasing himself and joining Emily. Dean went back into the forest to collect some sticks he could use to light a campfire.
When Alice saw Sam, she immediately ran to him. “Daddy`s back!”
Sam smiled and took the little girl in his arms, hugging her tightly. “Did you behave for Dawn?”
“Yes!” Alice replied, nodding eagerly.
Sam put her down and looked at his niece over Alice`s head, raising his eyebrows questioningly, looking for confirmation. He knew neither of his daughters could ever be trusted to be truthful about their behavior in their father`s absence!
Dawn felt torn. She usually had no qualms about ratting her little brother out, she and Will played the “blame game” all the time, much to Dean`s despair. But telling on her four-year-old cousin was different. Not wanting to be mean, yet also knowing that she wouldn`t do Alice any favours by allowing her to get away with bad behavior, Dawn simply shrugged and pulled a face.
Sam found his niece`s response a bit hard to interpret. “You know, Dawn, if Alice was naughty while I was away, you need to tell me.”
This got Alice`s attention, and she immediately declared in a loud voice that she hadn`t been naughty at all.
“Yeah, you kinda were, Alice,” Dawn said. “You tried to run into the forest and when I stopped you, you kicked me.”
Sam certainly wasn`t impressed to hear this! “Alice Marie!”
Three firm swats later, and little Alice was in her father`s arms with her own arms wrapped around his neck, crying into his shoulder.
Dawn looked on, worry and regret in her hazel gaze. It was hard to see her young cousin get smacked, especially since it was Dawn`s fault. If she hadn`t said anything…
“You did the right thing, Dawn,” Sam told his niece as he was gently rocking his crying daughter. He had guessed what Dawn had been thinking. “Alice? Do you have something to say to Dawn?” Sam asked the four-year-old once she`d calmed down enough to talk properly.
Alice sniffed hard as she turned around in her father`s arms so she could face her cousin. “Sorry, Dawnie,” she said, her voice barely audible.
Dawn hated being called “Dawnie,” but Alice was the only one who used that nickname, and the ten-year-old hoped she would grow out of it. In any case, now was not the time to give her cousin a hard time. She waved a hand and smiled at Alice. “It`s OK.”
“Why don`t you go help your Dad collect some wood for the fire,” Sam suggested.
Dawn nodded and walked off to find Dean.
Once Alice had calmed down completely, Sam wiped away the last traces of tears and placed her in the tent. He unpacked two picture books for her to look at (Alice couldn`t read yet). He wanted to make sure Emily was alright. He had offered plenty of comfort and reassuring words after the spanking and on the walk back to the campsite, but it hadn`t escaped Sam`s notice how subdued and uncharacteristically quiet his eldest had been. It was time to move on, put the punishment in the past. All he wanted right now was to see his daughter smile again. Making both his girls cry on the same day took its toll on the man`s emotions.
Will and Emily had just finished unpacking the food when Sam joined them. The boy glanced up, and Sam gave him a friendly smile. “Alright, Will?”
The eight-year-old nodded, and Sam gently ruffled his curly hair, then seated himself on a log that was placed in the middle of the clearing. Emily joined him immediately, and he pulled her close to his side. For a few moments father and daughter sat in silence, Sam gently stroking Emily`s soft, brown hair.
“I love you,” Sam whispered, dropping a quick kiss to the top of her head.
“I love you too, Daddy,” Emily answered at once.
“I`m hungry, Uncle Sam!” Will announced suddenly. “When can we eat?”
“Soon,” Sam promised. “Dawn and your Dad are just getting some wood for the fire, and once we get it going, it`ll be barbeque time.”
“Did you bring marshmallows?” Will wanted to know. “Dad let me and Dawn roast marshmallows on the fireplace at home once, it was cool.”
Sam smiled at his nephew, pleased to see that he seemed to be recovering from the spanking Dean had given him earlier. “Yes, I brought marshmallows. You hungry, Emily?” he asked his daughter.
She nodded. “I could eat four hot dogs!”
Sam smiled, knowing the girl was exaggerating because she was hungry.
“I could eat six!” Will bragged.
Sam chuckled at that and said that was something he`d like to see.
“I bet Uncle Dean could eat ten,” Emily said.
Will agreed. “Yeah, Dad always eats loads.”
Sam had to hide his grin at that.
“How many could you eat, Daddy?” Emily asked her father.
Sam smiled at her and caressed her cheek. “More than Uncle Dean, I`ll bet.”
Both Emily and Will giggled at that. The simple, joyful sound lifted a stone from Sam`s heart. His little girl was her cheerful, chatty self again.
Just then, Dawn and Dean emerged from between the trees, each of them carrying a bunch of sticks. They both dropped their loads and Dean took the opportunity to compliment his daughter on how strong she was. Dawn grinned. She always appreciated a compliment.
--- SPN ---
A few hours later, Sam and Dean were sitting together on the log by the fire.
Alice was sleeping in the tent where Sam and Dean would join her later. She had been allowed to stay up past her regular bedtime, as she had slept for most of the car ride, and with the excitement of the new experience of sleeping in a tent in the forest, Sam knew it would lead to a tantrum and more swatting if he tried to make Alice go to bed early. In the end, Alice had fallen asleep while seated on Sam`s lap, and he had carried her to the tent and put her in her sleeping bag.
The other kids had been told to get ready for bed and go to sleep a half hour ago. It was getting quite late for the two younger kids, as their dads had decided they could go to bed at the same time as Dawn usually did. Considering they would all be sleeping in the same tent, it wouldn`t do to make them go to bed at their regular times, they`d just end up waking each other up.
But in the tent, the noise level was rising steadily. Sleep seemed to be the last thing on the kids’ minds right now.
“They`re not getting a wink of sleep, are they?”
“Apparently not,” sighed Sam. “And neither will we if they don`t settle down. I just hope they won`t wake Alice up.”
“I wouldn`t worry about that. If she`s anything like you, the forest could come crashing down around that tent and she`d keep right on sleeping.”
“I`ll go talk to them,” Sam said.
He approached the tent. He couldn`t help chuckling as he heard Emily hiss loudly: “Shhh! Quiet! Daddy and Uncle Dean will hear us!”
Putting on a stern expression, he zipped the tent door open and peeked inside. “OK, guys. Playtime`s over,” Sam said calmly, but in a serious tone. “It`s time to go to sleep. It`s past your bedtimes already. Now lie down in your sleeping bags and close your eyes. No more talking.”
He watched quietly as the kids did as they were told, then smiled at them and wished them a good night.
He rejoined Dean by the fire, trying not to pay any mind to the hushed whispers and soft giggles coming from inside the tent.
A few minutes went by, and then Dean decided he`d better tell the kids in no uncertain terms that it was time to sleep, or else they`d be up all night.
As he came close to the tent, he heard Dawn whisper loudly: “Someone`s coming! Pretend to be asleep! Ow! Will! Your foot`s in my face!”
Dean heard Emily giggle, and the rustling of sleeping bags. All sounds mysteriously ceasedas he grabbed the zipper on the tent door and yanked it down.
“I know you`re not really asleep,” Dean said in a firm tone.
“Sure we are!” Will said.
Dawn made a loud snoring noise which had Emily and Will rolling over in their sleeping bags laughing.
“Very funny. Now go to sleep, I mean it. I`ll be back soon to check on you, and if you haven`t settled down, I`ll be coming in here.” He paused for a heartbeat. “OK?” he added, in a slightly more friendly tone. He wasn`t too pleased about ending the night with a spanking threat.
The kids each mumbled a reply, and Dean nodded, satisfied. He zipped the tent shut and walked back to the fire, noticing with a pleased smile that not a sound was heard from the tent as he moved away.
--- SPN ---
“Do you think they`re asleep?” Sam asked Dean.
About an hour had passed, and the forest had grown completely dark.
Dean nodded. “Sounds like it. I haven`t heard them make any noise since I went to talk to them.”
The brothers were silent for a few minutes, each lost in thought, gazing at the stars.
“Melissa would have hated this,” Dean said suddenly.
Sam turned his head and looked at him. “What?”
“This.” Dean waved a hand, indicating the forest all around him. “She was more of an indoor girl, you know? I have a hard time imagining her sleeping out here, under the stars, waking up with twigs and spiders in her hair.”
Sam chuckled. “I think Laura would have enjoyed it. We never talked about going camping, since the girls were so little, but she did love being outdoors.”
Dean got up. “I`ll go check on the children, shall I, darling?” he said, trying his best to sound like Laura.
Sam made a face. “Come on, man, don`t do that. Don`t do the accent, just don`t.”
Dean gave a crooked smile. “Sorry.” He knew the joke had been in rather poor taste, but he was glad Sam didn`t take offence to it.
“The kids asleep?” Sam asked when his brother came back after having peeked his head in both the tents.
Dean nodded as he sat back down. “Yeah, finally. It`s funny, they look so sweet and innocent when they`re sleeping.”
Sam smiled. “Don`t be fooled.”
“Oh I`m not, trust me,” Dean said. He reached behind himself to grab two bottles of beer out of the cooling bag. He offered one to Sam.
The brothers spent about twenty minutes more gazing at the stars, having quiet conversation and sipping from their bottles. Finally Dean gave a huge yawn.
“Well, I`m going to bed. You coming?”
“In a minute.”
Sam watched his older brother retreat to the tent, then turned his gaze to the fire that was slowly dying.
End.