Stevie turned when he heard footsteps. A smile immediately lighting up his face. It had been too long since he'd seen her. It felt like ages. But he couldn't let her down. He couldn't stop following Dean and have the old man, though he wasn't really all that old then, get himself into trouble that he couldn't get out.
He closed the distance between them, freed her from the bags, setting them down in the hall, and scooped her up in a hug. He knew he stunk. He could smell himself. But there was no resisting. It had been almost too much that he sat back and watched her Dad crumble. He could only imagine himself doing the same. So he just held on to her for a few minutes without saying a word.