Hello! And welcome to chapter 3! Dean may seem a little emotionally unstable this chapter (he always is) but he will show it! You'll see what I mean! Reviews please!
Enjoy!
Chapter 3
Cas's P.O.V
Humans are amazing. Watching them evolve was like one surprise after the other. And I was like a five year old being told not to touch a glass object. I had to sit and watch. I wasn't able to interfere. I couldn't aid them along. I couldn't go down to their world.
And it was unbearable. As fascinated as I was, I always longed for more. To walk and talk among them. To learn with them! But my brothers always held me back.
Until Zachariah had a mission for me. I was to watch over Dean Winchester. Another human is what they said. And as much as I questioned why they wanted me protect "just another baby," I did what I was told.
I remember when he was born. I would never tell Dean about this. I'd freak him out -as tough as he was, he seemed awful skittish when talking about feelings and the past.- But he was a cute little baby. Chubby cheeks and tiny ears. He was quite the handful too. Mary had an extremely long labor and when he came, he proved to be a handful.
By the age of 2, Dean was running the household. He was devilishly witty for a toddler, with an abundance of curiosity. He'd run about the house for hours asking questions a mile a minute. But Mary loved him so much. I never could understand how humans love until I met Dean. In person anyway. And it wasn't until that day, that I recognized the immeasurable amount of love Dean's mother had for him. And for Sam too.
Even with her marriage problems, Dean was her light. Dean would somehow know when she was upset. His father the source of the pain. He would wrap himself around his mothers leg and repeatedly tell her he loved her. She would smile through her tears and pick him up, cradling him in her gentle arms. He would giggle and tell her that she, was his favorite mom.
Thinking back fondly, I remember the first time I made contact with Dean. Not that he would know of it. It was when his mother died. Two weeks to the day. He sat in his motel room staring blankly at the wall. Sammy was in his arms sleeping soundly. Dean cradled him, humming 'Blackbird' softly. I now wonder if it was to calm himself. Dean's eyes glistened with tears, although he didn't cry. He refused to cry. Refused to speak. Refused to be touched.
And Sammy... Dean was very reluctant to let John touch him too. Dean didn't sleep much either. Every time his eyes closed he just saw flames. His brothers distressed face, his mother's blood dotting his cheek. But he was exhausted. At the time, I had never experienced being tired. I had never experienced anything. But Dean looked almost sickly. So, I used my angel mojo -as Dean so often called it- and rocked Dean to sleep.
The encounter was brief and barely a distant memory long lost in Dean's mind. But to me, it was everything. It was my first rebel. And it felt good. It felt right.
"Cas!" I blinked out of my thoughts, the headlights on the dark road giving me a headache.
"Yeah?" My voice felt raspy stickiness. Dean looked at me in concern, his hands clearly gripping the steering wheel in his nervous state.
"You zoned out. You okay?" Dean's voice was a low whisper. I studied his face, hoping to get a peek at his emotions. I got nothing.
"I-I'm fine. You?" Dean tapped the steering wheel, his jaw clenched uncomfortably. He nodded, refusing to look at me.
"You're lying." A little noise escaped him, almost like he was trying to defend himself, although he knew he wasn't fooling me.
"What if I fuck this up?" He suddenly blurted, he too seemed surprised by his words. I exhaled a sigh of relief that I wasn't the only one feeling this way.
"You're not going to." I simply stated. I knew I wasn't going to get through his thick skull that he wasn't useless, It was the only statement that came to me.
"But what if I do?"
"Then you do. We are going to make mistakes, but it's not going to end the world." He gave me a look, I knew I had used the wrong choice of words. But he also knew I had a valid point, even if he wasn't going to show it.
"You're... you aren't having second thoughts... are you?" Dean blinked as if trying to process what I had asked. He looked at me almost offended.
"Cas! You kidding? No!... I want this." He whispered the last part, ripping a tight hand from the wheel and sliding it into my own. I gave it a reassuring squeeze as a tiny smile tugged at his lips.
"Can't this car go any faster?" I suddenly asked through our finally settled silence. Dean snorted and pressed the gas, the car speeding past the trees in a darkened blur.
...
Dean's P.O.V
The car drive was excruciatingly slow. It was 10 hours of dark roads and head splitting headaches. And that was me going 80 mph.
As soon as we had gotten the call, Cas and I had gotten out of that diner so fast we almost forgot to pay. With the backseat full of our treasures we sped home. Cas and I had dumped all the stuff in the bunker, with the exception of the car seat. And screamed for Sam.
He had popped into the entry way his brows furrowed in confusion.
"We're going to get our kid!" I shouted over the railing. Sam looked ecstatic.
"No way! Really?" I nodded enthusiastically and turned to leave.
"Hey! Care for detail?" I shook my head.
"No! I've got to go! Here's some of the stuff we bought!" I pointed to our rather large pile of supplies. I had hustled out clapping Cas out of his starstruck daze. He followed me silently, his expression had told me everything.
I opened my car door and looked over the hood. Cas was not on the other side. I turned and jumped in surprise as he grasped my face, and kissed me.
I felt his tongue run along my lower lip in his fiery kiss. He pulled away breathlessly looking at me deeply.
"What was that for?" I had barely panted out, still shocked by the sudden pounce.
"We're really doing this." He whispered. I smiled.
"Yeah. We are."
...
The sun was barely over the tree line in Minnesota. The snow was piled in thick shimmering layers as the morning sun reflected off the specs. The car heat was blasted off on high. Kansas May have been cold this time of year, but it was not this snowy.
If we hadn't been rushing to get our little girl, I would have pulled over and taught Cas how to make snow angels and build a snowman.
But my adrenaline had peaked. My nerves were one thing. But that excitement clouded my judgment. I could see the same expression plastered on Cas's face. Our hands still tightly intertwined and I was pretty sure that Cas could feel my heart pulsing through my fingertips.
"Dean. Dean! Take a left here." I shook myself from the soothing feeling of Cas's thumb rubbing gently against my palm. I turned the steering wheel, wincing as my poor baby slid over the ice. The pot holes bounced us around as the road became uneven and gravely. This was the backroad to Mason's house.
Mason was a shifter hunter. He specialized in them. And was a close friend of Ellen. He was naturally on the list to look out for a orphan.
A little log cabin came into our view, smoke rising from the brick chimney. It wasn't one of those run down, nearly deserted homes, it looked fancy. Real expensive with a nice front porch and three car garage. Maybe it was because Mason had won the lottery.
He had won the lottery several years back. He bought himself a fancy cabin I guess where he could separate himself from people. He was always a real introvert. But I would kill for a cabin like that.
I parked the car and turned off the roaring engine. My poor baby was going to need some serious attention after those winter roads.
My legs felt like jello as I stepped out of the car. The winter air stung my nose and made my lungs burn as they struggled to get in air. And I don't think it was because of the bitter cold.
Cas emerged from the warmth of the car. His cheeks tinted pink and his eyes squinting from the bright snow, he looked at me, his long, slow breath evident as it huffed out like smoke. I gulped not even sure what to say. Oh god my knees were shaking. I'd blame it on the cold, but Cas knew I was lying.
We walked close together, savoring the warmth between our bodies, our hands clinging to our pockets in there numb state. We shuffled up the front porch. Paused. And knocked on the green door.
It swung open with a rush of hot air.
"Dean. Castiel." A young man smiled, holding out his hand, motioning us to come in. I gladly escaped inside, the heat tingling on my skin. I exhaled shakily glancing about the pleasant cabin. It was very homie quaint. If I ever had a domestic life, this is what it would like.
Cas shuffled his feet nervously looking down at the ground. He looked like he was about to burst with anticipation.
"You boys here for the girl?" I barely managed a nod. Damn. I was not normally like this.
"I'll get her in a minute, but let me give you the low down." Cas's head shot up with alert. I could see his heart rate rising, as had my own. Then the sudden thought came to me. What if she was a shapeshifter?
"Recently I was working a hunt. Downtown Minneapolis. A pesky shifter trying to spread his kind. Nothing out of the usual." I held my breath. "On my hunt I found his next target. A younger woman. She was basically homeless, drunk, and probably smoking, drugs, the whole deal. She was an easy target to get pregnant." Cas's eyes widened and shook his head slightly his fear rising up his neck.
"She however already had a little girl. Born almost 8 months ago." I nearly cut him off as I released my stressed breath he looked at me, practically beaming.
"Anyway. The girl was born at 32 weeks, so pretty early. And because of her early birth, mostly due to the mothers bad habits, she spent a month in the NICU." Cas's head turned at me frantically. He had read all about this. And he looked about ready to throw up. Anger pricked up my own neck. This mother was not a mother at all.
"Mother didn't care for her well. She's... really tiny. Not any health issues that I can see, but she's real small for nearly 8 months. And sleeps mostly."
"... How small?" Cas croaked out. I glanced at him questionably. I didn't care if she was the size of a mouse! I wanted to storm into that bedroom and hold her. I didn't care if she had fucking third eye, I would love her!
"...4.2 pounds at birth." Cas paused, gulping. Of course, he had read up on average weights and now was thinking too deeply about it.
"And the mother?" I practically hissed. If I ever saw this "mother" I would strangle her. Mason paused, looking at the ground,
"Dead." Cas's mouth formed an 'o' shape. I nodded, trying to swallow the rock in my throat. My hands left my pockets as they now felt clammy. My whole head had trouble wrapping around this.
"...Can... Can we see her?" I asked, my voice a raspy whisper. Mason nodded with a little smile and lead us down the hallway. On the slow walk towards the bedroom door, I found Cas's hand. He gripped my hand with a deadly squeeze. I couldn't feel it though. My hands were numb... from the cold. Let's just say that.
Mason slowly twisted the doorknob and revealed the master bedroom. There in the middle of the room, was a crib. He held the door for us and watched as I slowly crept in. I came closer and peered over the edge of the crib. A little gasp escaped.
There, wrapped up in a little purple blanket was the tiniest, sleeping baby girl. She had pale skin, with roses red cheeks, with the faintest glow of freckles dotted on her nose. She had long eyelashes that were shut peacefully. And the thick whisper of brunette hair. My heart nearly stopped as a picture of my brother sleeping peacefully at this age. She looked like him, with her wild hair. My big brother instincts seemed to kick right back into swing, but this time it was different.
Cas rested his hands on the crib, leaning over at the tiny human. A smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"She's beautiful." He barely chocked the words out in his gravelly voice.
"Yeah. Yeah she is." I whispered back. I was too emerged in watching her to notice that Mason had disappeared.
With a little scrunch of her face, she opened her eyes, to reveal a pair of bright blue eyes. Not like Cas's deep ocean blue, that seemed to reflect the galaxies. But a clear sky day. With whistle whisky clouds, that dimmed the sky almost into a silver. She looked up at us curiously, trying to understand the new faces. As if on instinct, I reached into the crib and scooped up the tiny girl.
It was just how I remembered it. Holding Sammy. That strong, proud sense of responsibility. That love that just radiated off of me. The protection that poured off me. I stared down at her rosy cheeks as she just gaze back. Her mouth gasped open slightly, revealing the pearly white buds that sprouted from her gums. I felt her warmth as she completely depended on me with her in my arms. She snuggled into her blanket and turned her head into my chest, nuzzling closer to my body heat.
A tear slid down my cheek.
Cas came closer, gazing down at her. He didn't touch her, instead he slid an arm around my waist and the other supported my arms.
"Dean? I think I have a name for her." I nodded in agreement and glanced at his eyes. We had the same exact thought.
"Welcome to the family Johanna Maryell Winchester."
...
Back at the bunker...
Sam's P.O.V
"Sam! Get over here you giant. Help me hang this!" Charlie shouted over shoulder as she stood on tip toes, trying to hang the painting. I chuckled and took the painting of hot air balloons from her. I pounded the nail into the wall and hung the sunny painting. I stepped back and admired my work.
"Damn. We did good." Charlie commented looking around the room. I grinned.
"Yeah we did." I looked at the baby's new room. The room was already a pale yellow, so it made it easier to decorate.
On one side of the room was the white crib all set up, mattress in place, and forest green sheets tucked neatly over it. The crib had a white blanket folded over the railing, and Cas's stuffed bee sitting peacefully on the bed. Next to the crib was a dresser, also white to match the theme. It had a little lamp that Charlie found at the local antique store. It was pale blue... with yes, little bumble bees. Cas would be ecstatic. Also on the dresser was a basket full of diapers, bibs, and a few other necessities.
Hanging on the knob of one of the drawers, was Dean's leather jacket. I assumed it was Dean who convinced Cas to get the baby jacket. I chuckled at the thought of the conversation.
Hanging over the crib was the hot air ballon painting -also found at the antique store.- Charlie bounced on the big sky blue rug underneath her feet. She was beaming with self pride.
On the other side of the room, was a toy box and bookshelf. Now, this was the big surprise. I mean, the whole room decoration was a surprise, but this, was the most important.
In the toy box was an assortment of our favorite childhood toys. A tin of green army men (for later years) wooden blocks, a toy train for toddlers, and a few stuffed animals. Yes, a little moose. A little squirrel. A stuffed dog. And Charlie's contribution, a little stuffed Hedwig.
On the book shelf, were the classics... the original, original grim fairy tales. The entire Harry Potter series -Guess who added that?- And Goodnight Moon. Dean had read that to me every night until I was six. Even after that I had snuck it from under my pillow and read it to myself in the dark. It was comforting, the repetitive words. Dean's soft voice when he read it had always lured me to sleep.
Also on the shelf, something I had found a long time ago, was a little Chevy 67 Impala model. Cas would roll his eyes when he saw it, but it would all be worth the look on Dean's face.
A photo album also sat on the shelf. It had our entire family. From mom and dad. To Bobby, Ellen, and Jo. Ash and Rufus. Charlie, Garth, and Kevin... Yes even a picture of Crowley. As much as I was at first against the idea, Charlie pointed out he was part of our history. I felt no choice but to give in.
I backed out of the room taking one last grinning glance at it all. Then the sudden thought hit me like a hammer.
I was going to be an uncle.
Thanks for reading! One more chapter to go, plus an epilogue! This story is also up on my AO3 account. Reviews are welcomed, and please check out my other story: Run For Home Until next time,
-Daisy
