A/N: I have to go where the story takes me ... sometimes it hurts. Keep the faith.
DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fiction using characters from the Supernatural universe. I do not claim any ownership. This work is solely for entertainment purposes and is not considered film or tv canon (not by a long shot).
Dean stares down at the tiny life in his arms. He can't get over how small she is … especially considering her father.
"Dude, I don't think you were ever this little," Dean murmurs.
Sam huffs a laugh. "Of course I was, Dean … everyone is."
"No," Dean says shaking his head. "Pretty sure you were a giraffe from the get-go."
"Give me back my daughter, jerk."
"No way, bitch," Dean replies, completely fascinated.
"Keep cursing around my baby and I'll kick both your asses," Jessica mutters from the bed.
Dean hands the baby back to Sam. "She's awesome, Sammy – really."
The baby is dwarfed in his large hands, but Sam holds her like she is the rarest of diamonds. "Yeah … she is - she really is."
Dean decides not to give his little brother grief over the tears running down his face. He's pretty sure he's going to be an emotional wreck worthy of ten chick-flicks when his own child enters the world in a couple of months.
Kinda surprised I'm not already … oh here we go, Dean thinks as his eyes start with tears.
Wiping at his eyes, Dean's hands wander to his own midsection where his pup resides. He kisses Jessica and waves at Sam before leaving the room. As he walks down the hall, he muses on the Novak family fortune. At Jessica's sixth month, she and Sam were asked to move into the main house. A new suite of rooms were redone to suit the new Winchester family. Balthazar's idea. Dean thinks it is just to ensure that all present and future pups are in one place and immediately accessible to the Omega. Dean and Jessica are just fine with that idea.
Balthazar is taking every opportunity to be the nurturing mother hen he should have been for his own litter. His light scent is calming and he doesn't set off the protective and ruthlessly territorial instincts of the respective Alpha fathers. The other Alphas in the household know to let Sam take the lead when dealing with the new pup. Dean's already seeing the instinct in Castiel and he's actually related to most of them.
Balthazar keeps Dean from climbing the walls since he is banned from working in the auto-shop. Dean admits he was having a difficult time leaning over to work on an engine but it's the being told he can't that rankled. Balthazar keeps him busy with various projects for the Novak 'army' as he calls it – mostly stripping and cleaning the considerable amount of weaponry the Novaks own.
Dean accepts Balthazar's dictates because Balthazar has been there during some of the worst moments in his life. The Omega supports Dean even when he is less than gracious about it – and he continues to without complaint. Dean thinks it grossly unfair that he is the one sporting a baby bump instead of Balthazar but after a short conversation with Castiel, Dean decides that Balthazar will share every moment possible with their pup – or pups, if they are fortunate enough to have more later. Plus, as Dean has pointed out to Castiel and Sam … he's the only babysitter they know trained in pretty much every martial art form ever invented. And he's willing to change diapers.
He takes the elevator, added after Jessica arrived and Balthazar said, "Oh bloody hell, Gabriel, just install the damn thing before she faints going upstairs to bed!"
Dean walks to the interior swimming pool where his Mate, Castiel, is swimming his daily laps. He smiles down as Castiel swims to the edge of the pool and pulls off his goggles.
"Hello, Dean," Castiel says. "How is the newest Winchester?"
"Sleeping … god, she's beautiful, Cas," Dean says, sniffling.
Castiel pushes himself out of the water and leans over to kiss Dean's cheek. "Ours will be as well, my Mate."
"Yeah, I know," Dean replies. He wipes irritably at the water on his face now. "Dude, now I'm all wet …"
Castiel senses the oncoming storm and pulls Dean into an embrace as his mate dissolves into tears. Dean hates the hormones but Castiel rather likes sweet, vulnerable Dean. He presses a kiss to Dean's hair and pulls away to dry off.
"Have they given her a name?" Castiel asks to help Dean focus.
"Not yet … think they're really leaning toward Mary after our mom," Dean replies. "Sammy's all worried I'll get upset since he's the youngest and he had pups first. Like I care."
"Sam simply does not want to hurt your feelings, Dean," Castiel says, walking into the dressing area to change back into his jeans.
"I'm not a daisy, Cas … I'm an Omega! Everyone needs to stop treating me like I'm gonna fuckin' break if they say the wrong thing! Who said I needed to be looked after?!" Dean's voice trembles with his temper.
Castiel remains quiet and waits for the clouds to pass. Dean's dramatic mood swings are only bested by Jessica's – and when in full-force, their rage can be as intimidating as any Alpha's. Sam learned quickly the one day he tried to soothe both his brother and his bride with some sort of 'reasonable' explanation. The younger Winchester very nearly left the room in tears. Castiel simply waits it out and as predicted, Dean returns to his normal snarky attitude but without the anger.
Dean apologizes. "Sorry, Cas … stupid hormones .."
Castiel pulls on a t shirt and smiles at Dean. "I should have been more considerate about my phrasing, Dean. I know very well you are no fragile flower – you are my Mate …" Castiel puts his hands on the swell of Dean's abdomen and leans in to press a kiss to Dean's neck. "My very strong mate …" He kisses the hollow on Dean's throat. "My very handsome mate who is carrying my pup …" Castiel nips at the Mark where it just peeks over Dean's shirt collar. Dean abruptly pushes Castiel back against a tiled mural on the wall.
"Want your scent all over me yesterday," Dean says hoarsely. Castiel is not inclined to refuse.
Dean sighs as he walks through the garage. Bobby is doing a great job with everything but Dean misses working with his hands. He begins straightening one of the toolboxes just to handle tools again.
"Boy, what the hell are you doin' down here?" Bobby's gruff voice comes across the garage.
Dean looks up, startled, and drops a wrench. The pup, alarmed by the loud noise, shifts abruptly to Dean's other side making him wince. Bobby is at his side in an instant.
"Whoa, kid … didn't mean to startle ya," Bobby says apologetically.
Dean presses his hand against his side. "Not a problem … pup just decided to change my fuckin' center of gravity," he growls. He gets a rude push against his ribs and he pokes at his side. "Back off, kid."
Bobby laughs watching Dean argue with his abdomen. "So … again – what are you doin' down here, Dean?" He looks over Dean's shoulder and spies the Impala. "Damn it, boy! Did you drive over here?"
Dean frowns. "Yes, Bobby … because I want Cas to land a fucking SWAT team on the roof when he realizes I'm gone!" At Bobby's cocked eyebrow he sighs reigning in his temper. "Sam drove me, happy? Besides ... it's harder to get behind the damn steering wheel anymore."
Bobby's laughter doesn't help Dean's mood. "Oh quit yer grousin' … c'mon … I need to finish the wirin' on that SUV … you expectin' your brother any time soon?"
"Nah ... he's reviewing some of the financial forensics stuff with Charlie," Dean jerks his thumb up to the loft apartment that he and Castiel had shared before moving into the main Novak estate. "They'll be at it for a while ... you want to help me detail Baby first?"
"Yeah sure ... when are you supposed to give it to him?" Bobby asks.
The SUV was in planning not long after Sam and Jessica's Mating. Dean picked out every gadget for the vehicle that he could make work and he cannot wait to present it to his little brother.
"Tomorrow – baby shower finale ... the guys are goin' all out – that kid is gonna be spoiled beyond rotten," Dean chuckles.
"Yeah, like yours ain't?" Bobby teases.
Dean rubs his belly and smiles – the pup is moving restlessly and Dean is starting to get hungry. Again. "All right, all right ... after I wash and wax Baby!"
"Dean, do you know you look like a lunatic talkin' to your belly?"
"Whatever. Hey Ash!" Dean shouts across the garage.
Ash, the other resident computer genius for the Novaks pokes his head out of his office. "Yo!"
"Bring Baby around to the wash bay ... keys're on the visor!"
Ash waves and Dean starts to walk over to the SUV to look at the interior. Sam rarely comes to the garage and shows even less interest in the cars so they've been able to hide his present in plain sight.
The blast wave slams him broadside into the SUV. Dean tries to push himself up from the concrete floor but for some reason he can't keep his balance. His ears ring painfully and nothing is making sense. Dean manages to stand and then his legs are buckling and he falls, twisting to take the fall on his back.
He hears his name but it sounds so far away – he sees Sam's face over his. His little brother is bleeding from a nasty gash to the forehead. He sees the wild-eyed look in Sam's eyes – those eyes track down Dean's body. Dean's brain catches up to the incident and then he's fighting Sam.
Bobby ... is Bobby ok? Ash ... what the hell happened ... what ...
Dean feels his brother's hands moving up his body and across the pup.
No no no no ... not the pup ... not now no no no ... the pup ... oh god the pup ... no Sammy ... please ... where's Cas ...
"CAS!"
Dean passes out.
