The Tree of Dreams (And Death And Doom)
Wordcount: 1,227
Summary: Written for this magical prompt on the hoodie_time comment-meme: The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and de-aged Dean or wee Dean or maybe kitten Dean (idek) gets stuck in a treeeee. There are tears.
Warnings/spoilers: ANGST. Um, spoilers for the pilot.
Disclaimer: these beautiful people, although I am full of feelings for them, are not mine.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“That’s it, just grab that branch by your head now. Great job! Now that branch; can you reach it?”
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Dean looked down anxiously. Mommy’s big yellow head was level with his own smaller one, Daddy was somewhere behind him calling instructions, and the ground seemed awfully far away.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Can you reach it?”
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">I’m gon’ fall!” he exclaimed.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“No you won’t.” Daddy told him reassuringly. But he still couldn’t see Daddy without turning around on the branch, and if he did that he was DEFINITELY going to fall.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Mommy and I will be right here to catch you.” minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Daddy added.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Dean looked around anxiously. Sammy was lying on a blanket on the grass right next to Mommy’s feet; he was going to fall on the baby!
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Wan’ ta come down.”
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Okay. Mary, can you get him?”
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Of course.”mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:
minor-latin"> Mommy reached up and picked him out of the tree just like a ripe piece of fruit in the pick-your-own farm. Dean pushed up against her and hid his face in her soft chest.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“It’s okay, Dean.” Mommy said, and Dean sniffled. Mommy always understood him without him even having to say anything. “We can try again another time, okay?”
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Okay...” Dean answered.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">But they never do try again.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Because the world ends.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">And everything changes.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Dean wakes up.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Sunlight is streaming through the crack in the curtains, and the sound of birds twittering is so constant it might as well be a cassette tape or something. Sammy’s not in his bed, and downstairs he can hear the unwantedly familiar clanking which means the baby-sitter, Ms. Pike, is making her awful watery oatmeal. AGAIN. This is either the third or fourth time in a row, and Dean wonders when Dad is going to get back and make this particular brand of unhappiness END.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Dean sits up. He pushes open the flowery curtains and looks consideringly at the giant tree outside their window. He could probably reach it, if he stretched his arms way out...
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">And he can!
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">He heaves himself out the window and manages to sit on the closest branch. He pants for a moment before reaching up for another and heaving himself up, muscles straining.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">He’s doing it.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">He’s climbing.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Up and up and up and---
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">And what for?
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Mommy’s not here.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Dad isn’t here.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">A wave of nausea rolls over him.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">There’s no one here to catch him if he falls and--- god, he’s really really high.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">He can’t move. (Looking down was a really bad plan.)
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">But he has to get down. Doesn’t he? Maybe he should just stay here forever... it might not be such a bad life...
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">It’s certainly better than trying to move. His hands are fixed to the branch like magnets hold them there, and when he tries to pull one off it shakes.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">So he definitely isn’t moving.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">At least here, he doesn’t have to eat watery oatmeal.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Or look after Sammy all the time.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Where is Sammy?
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">He’s hungry.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Not for watery oatmeal though.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">The birds are laughing at him.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Yeah, okay, even for watery oatmeal.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">He needs to pee.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">He’s never gonna see Sammy again.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">The sensible thing to do, of course, is scream “HELP” until someone hears him and gets him down. But he can’t. His mouth is stuck shut and he only just started talking again anyway and he can’t get air and he just can’t.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Is he crying?
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">He can’t be crying, big boys don’t cry, and he’s been a big boy ever since Mommy died, at least that’s what Dad says. Obviously he isn’t crying.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Only it’s really uncomfortable up here and he doesn’t know where Sammy is... Mommy is never coming back.... and he really needs to pee.
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">He clenches his legs around the branch as hard as he can.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">It was really sunny and warm when he started this.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">He’s covered in shadows, the layers and layers of the tree above him shifting around in the wind.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">The pee is almost blessedly warm against his skin.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">And that’s really gross.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Even if he does get down somehow---which he never will---Dad won’t take him back after this.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">He can’t even wipe at his eyes or the snot dribbling out of his nose.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Maybe it would be the solution, to fall.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">He still can’t make himself move.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">A noise comes from somewhere down the street. A growling purr. A really, really familiar growling purr.
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">And then it’s the Impala, coming around a bend, and Dean does his best to shrink into the leaves. (Dad can’t find him like this, he can’t.)
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Dad parks in front of Ms. Pike’s house, gets out, and comes up to knock on the door. Dean can’t help but watch, even though looking down is making him sick and dizzy and knowing that Dad’s going to leave without him is making him cry more.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">The door opens and Dad disappears into the house.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">After a moment, he hears feet coming up the stairs from inside. Voices, slowly becoming intelligible.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“...huh. Well, I thought he was asleep.”
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“In other words, you don’t know where my son is.” Dad’s voice is dangerous and low. Dean shivers a little. He’s heard THAT voice, and it never means well for the person being talked to. But then Dad whirls around and yells, “DEAN!” in a different sort of voice. Ms. Pike joins him.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Dad raises a hand to stop her. “Window’s open.” he says, and strides over to it. Now Dean can see all of him, enough to see that he’s got Sammy, face still messy with oatmeal, curled up around his hip.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">He breathes a little sigh of relief.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Dad looks up.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Dean! What are you doing up there?”
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Dean presses his face against the tree trunk and tries his best to disappear into the wood.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Dean!”
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Dean?” Sammy repeats, and Dean sighs. Or, sort of sighs. Instead, he ends up choking on a sob.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“It’s okay son.” Dad says, and his voice is gentler now.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“What wrong, De-- No! I can too!” Sammy protests. Dad has set him down on Dean’s bed. Despite himself, Dean is glad to see them. Even if it’s just for one last time.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Dad shoves the window the rest of the way open, inspects it (Ms. Pike going, “oh dear, oh dear.”) and then walks back out of the room.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Dean doesn’t know what’s going on. He guesses this is supposed to be goodbye.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“What wrong Dean? Why crying? Why up tee? ... Why not talk? ... DEAN?”
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Come on kiddo. I gotcha.”
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Dean clings weakly to the tree even as Dad pulls him off. His pajama legs chafe against the motion. He finally lets himself relax when he’s in Dad’s arms, holding on to his shirt, face buried in his hard chest, as Dad carries him down.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Dad takes him inside, cleans him off, and then settles him and Sammy in the back of the Impala. Sammy babbles the whole time, but Dad barely says a word. Dean doesn’t really take much of it in; too exhausted from this morning (how can it STILL be morning?).
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">It’s when the Impala roars to life and starts moving down the street that Dean realizes he really isn’t being left behind for this. He turns and gives Sammy a shaky, reassuring smile.
It’s okay. He can learn to climb trees another time.
Summary: Written for this magical prompt on the hoodie_time comment-meme: The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and de-aged Dean or wee Dean or maybe kitten Dean (idek) gets stuck in a treeeee. There are tears.
Warnings/spoilers: ANGST. Um, spoilers for the pilot.
Disclaimer: these beautiful people, although I am full of feelings for them, are not mine.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“That’s it, just grab that branch by your head now. Great job! Now that branch; can you reach it?”
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Dean looked down anxiously. Mommy’s big yellow head was level with his own smaller one, Daddy was somewhere behind him calling instructions, and the ground seemed awfully far away.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Can you reach it?”
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">I’m gon’ fall!” he exclaimed.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“No you won’t.” Daddy told him reassuringly. But he still couldn’t see Daddy without turning around on the branch, and if he did that he was DEFINITELY going to fall.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Mommy and I will be right here to catch you.” minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Daddy added.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Dean looked around anxiously. Sammy was lying on a blanket on the grass right next to Mommy’s feet; he was going to fall on the baby!
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Wan’ ta come down.”
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Okay. Mary, can you get him?”
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Of course.”mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:
minor-latin"> Mommy reached up and picked him out of the tree just like a ripe piece of fruit in the pick-your-own farm. Dean pushed up against her and hid his face in her soft chest.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“It’s okay, Dean.” Mommy said, and Dean sniffled. Mommy always understood him without him even having to say anything. “We can try again another time, okay?”
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Okay...” Dean answered.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">But they never do try again.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Because the world ends.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">And everything changes.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Dean wakes up.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Sunlight is streaming through the crack in the curtains, and the sound of birds twittering is so constant it might as well be a cassette tape or something. Sammy’s not in his bed, and downstairs he can hear the unwantedly familiar clanking which means the baby-sitter, Ms. Pike, is making her awful watery oatmeal. AGAIN. This is either the third or fourth time in a row, and Dean wonders when Dad is going to get back and make this particular brand of unhappiness END.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Dean sits up. He pushes open the flowery curtains and looks consideringly at the giant tree outside their window. He could probably reach it, if he stretched his arms way out...
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">And he can!
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">He heaves himself out the window and manages to sit on the closest branch. He pants for a moment before reaching up for another and heaving himself up, muscles straining.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">He’s doing it.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">He’s climbing.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Up and up and up and---
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">And what for?
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Mommy’s not here.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Dad isn’t here.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">A wave of nausea rolls over him.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">There’s no one here to catch him if he falls and--- god, he’s really really high.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">He can’t move. (Looking down was a really bad plan.)
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">But he has to get down. Doesn’t he? Maybe he should just stay here forever... it might not be such a bad life...
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">It’s certainly better than trying to move. His hands are fixed to the branch like magnets hold them there, and when he tries to pull one off it shakes.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">So he definitely isn’t moving.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">At least here, he doesn’t have to eat watery oatmeal.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Or look after Sammy all the time.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Where is Sammy?
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">He’s hungry.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Not for watery oatmeal though.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">The birds are laughing at him.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Yeah, okay, even for watery oatmeal.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">He needs to pee.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">He’s never gonna see Sammy again.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">The sensible thing to do, of course, is scream “HELP” until someone hears him and gets him down. But he can’t. His mouth is stuck shut and he only just started talking again anyway and he can’t get air and he just can’t.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Is he crying?
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">He can’t be crying, big boys don’t cry, and he’s been a big boy ever since Mommy died, at least that’s what Dad says. Obviously he isn’t crying.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Only it’s really uncomfortable up here and he doesn’t know where Sammy is... Mommy is never coming back.... and he really needs to pee.
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">He clenches his legs around the branch as hard as he can.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">It was really sunny and warm when he started this.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">He’s covered in shadows, the layers and layers of the tree above him shifting around in the wind.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">The pee is almost blessedly warm against his skin.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">And that’s really gross.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Even if he does get down somehow---which he never will---Dad won’t take him back after this.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">He can’t even wipe at his eyes or the snot dribbling out of his nose.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Maybe it would be the solution, to fall.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">He still can’t make himself move.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">A noise comes from somewhere down the street. A growling purr. A really, really familiar growling purr.
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">And then it’s the Impala, coming around a bend, and Dean does his best to shrink into the leaves. (Dad can’t find him like this, he can’t.)
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Dad parks in front of Ms. Pike’s house, gets out, and comes up to knock on the door. Dean can’t help but watch, even though looking down is making him sick and dizzy and knowing that Dad’s going to leave without him is making him cry more.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">The door opens and Dad disappears into the house.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">After a moment, he hears feet coming up the stairs from inside. Voices, slowly becoming intelligible.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“...huh. Well, I thought he was asleep.”
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“In other words, you don’t know where my son is.” Dad’s voice is dangerous and low. Dean shivers a little. He’s heard THAT voice, and it never means well for the person being talked to. But then Dad whirls around and yells, “DEAN!” in a different sort of voice. Ms. Pike joins him.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Dad raises a hand to stop her. “Window’s open.” he says, and strides over to it. Now Dean can see all of him, enough to see that he’s got Sammy, face still messy with oatmeal, curled up around his hip.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">He breathes a little sigh of relief.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Dad looks up.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Dean! What are you doing up there?”
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Dean presses his face against the tree trunk and tries his best to disappear into the wood.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Dean!”
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Dean?” Sammy repeats, and Dean sighs. Or, sort of sighs. Instead, he ends up choking on a sob.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“It’s okay son.” Dad says, and his voice is gentler now.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“What wrong, De-- No! I can too!” Sammy protests. Dad has set him down on Dean’s bed. Despite himself, Dean is glad to see them. Even if it’s just for one last time.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Dad shoves the window the rest of the way open, inspects it (Ms. Pike going, “oh dear, oh dear.”) and then walks back out of the room.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Dean doesn’t know what’s going on. He guesses this is supposed to be goodbye.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“What wrong Dean? Why crying? Why up tee? ... Why not talk? ... DEAN?”
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Come on kiddo. I gotcha.”
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Dean clings weakly to the tree even as Dad pulls him off. His pajama legs chafe against the motion. He finally lets himself relax when he’s in Dad’s arms, holding on to his shirt, face buried in his hard chest, as Dad carries him down.
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Dad takes him inside, cleans him off, and then settles him and Sammy in the back of the Impala. Sammy babbles the whole time, but Dad barely says a word. Dean doesn’t really take much of it in; too exhausted from this morning (how can it STILL be morning?).
minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">
minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">It’s when the Impala roars to life and starts moving down the street that Dean realizes he really isn’t being left behind for this. He turns and gives Sammy a shaky, reassuring smile.
It’s okay. He can learn to climb trees another time.