“Let the seats of rest and the tables of support appear!”
Once more, he held out his arms, going for the grandiose. The lights in the slowly-forming bar flickered, and he glanced overhead to see if it was his Father, come to visit a former son.
“C’mon, Dad! Who doesn’t love a little flair with the story!”
No answer was forthcoming, so he turned back to his work.
“Dean,” Sam whispered, but he’d already spotted the person down on the ground.
After the last few years, Dean had spent enough time with people under four inches in height that he was able to spot the kid that stepped out of the shadows the moment he appeared. Tiny, small and scrawny, this kid made the younger Sam look big. If he was over two inches in height, Dean would be surprised.
“Hey, buddy,” Dean said, kneeling down and folding his hands together to make himself less threatening. “My name’s Dean.”
“Oscar,” Sam supplied, and the younger Dean nodded, suspiciously eyeing Dean.
Dean had a feeling that his younger counterpart might just try and jump him if he made a move for Oscar, and wondered what their story was. The younger Sam had turned from his game as well to watch what was happening, his eyes wide when he saw Sam on Dean’s shoulder.
“Hey, Oz,” Dean said with a grin. “Good to meetcha!”
Oscar flinched, his mouth falling open. He tilted his head back to meet the older Dean’s eyes. Hearing the nickname that the Dean he knew had come up with, it was easier to believe that this was the same person but with a different life. Somehow. He decided not to try too hard to wrap his head around it.
With his head tilted back, Oscar almost lost his balance. He stumbled backwards, and then heat rose to his cheeks.
“Um,” he said quietly, gripping the strap of his bag. He’d put himself out in the open with nowhere to hide. Usually he would feel better if he had something to peek around for something like this.
It seemed like everyone else was looking at him. One, two, three, four sets of eyes, he counted, noticing the man on the taller-Dean’s shoulder at last. That must be another Sam. It had to be, if this was Dean.
“Ummm,” he said again, his brow pinching in confusion. He might have somehow figured out who these men were without any trouble, but knowing what to say was an entirely different beast.
He went with the simplest option, cheeks blushing fire all the while. “Hi … Dean.”
Dean’s grin softened, and Sam waved from his shoulder. “So, you three know each other?” Dean asked, glancing between the two young Winchesters and Oscar on the floor.
Younger Dean nodded sharply, kneeling on the ground to offer Oscar a hand. “It’s a long story.”
“Well, hell, I’ve got nothing but time, apparently,” Dean said, pushing himself to his feet and glancing around the place. “How ‘bout I grab us some drinks and some food, and we can catch up.”
The younger Sam perked up at that. “Does that mean Mac ‘n Cheese with fluff?” he asked excitedly.
Dean shook his head, bemused. Some things never change. “I’ll see what they got, short stuff.”
Oscar appreciated having help off the floor, especially with the older Dean standing tall again. No matter how brave he wanted to be, that was a difficult sight to take in. Oscar barely stood higher than the rubber soles of those huge boots.
Once both Oscar and Sam were in hand, the three youngest occupants of the strange place could pick a table. After exploring the room on his own, Oscar enjoyed the view from his higher perch.
“Dean, you’re gonna get tall,” he pointed out in a low voice.
“Tallest of them all,” the youngest Dean remarked with a smirk, nudging the kids both in the shoulders.
Brothers Apart 