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 opens his eyes and the first thing his hands do is reach for his midsection. He can't feel the swell that marked the sweet, warm presence growing inside him. Before he can truly process this fact, a pair of strong hands take hold of his wrists and someone is saying his name.

"Dean. Dean, look at me. Look at me, Dean."

The last penetrates his brain as an Alpha command to his Omega and Dean has to look – he has to meet blue eyes that will echo his own sudden emptiness. He doesn't understand why they don't.

"He's alright … he's alive … the pup is alright, Dean," Castiel keeps saying words that aren't making any sense.

Dean shakes his head, confused. "But –" He swallows hard – he refuses to let himself hope. He pulls his hands away and stares at the blanket. Castiel tips his chin up.

"They had to take him … he was in distress … please look at me Dean," Castiel pleads. "He's absolutely perfect and he's a fighter. Just like his father."

Dean finally looks at his Mate. The cerulean gaze is swimming in tears, but there isn't any deceit. Dean swallows again before he starts to tremble. Castiel presses his forehead to Dean's. Dean suddenly pulls back, his eyes wild.

"Sammy … Bobby … " Dean's dry throat won't let him utter any other names.

Castiel holds a bent straw to his Mate's lips and Dean sucks down the blessedly cool water. Castiel talks somberly while Dean drinks.

"Bobby is fine … concussion and a broken arm. Sam and Charlie were on the stairs and she has a broken ankle – Sam has a concussion from the piece of shrapnel that grazed his head. Jessica and little Mary are with him," Castiel smiles weakly. "Lucifer may never recover from her tirade when he tried to prevent her from going to the emergency room. You had a dislocated shoulder in addition to everything else."

Dean knows what Castiel is trying not to say. He hoarsely says, "I asked him to bring the car around … oh god … "

"Dean, you are not responsible for Ash … if Bobby had been closer, he would have done it. Or Sam. If you had been closer I have no doubt you would have done it – regardless of how many admonitions against driving you've been given." Dean sees the pain beginning to surface and he takes Castiel's hand tightly. "Ash … the explosives were placed on your car … we suspect they were hoping it would kill both you and Sam. He … "

Dean squeezes Castiel's hand. He knows. "How ..?

"Inias," Castiel says, voice breaking. "Ash broke his financials as promised ... we have a paper trail. It's what Charlie was tracking … she and Sam were going to confirm her findings before she turned them over to us."

Inias. Close family friend to the Novaks. Hell, he'd been there when Dean had been extracted from Crowley's. He's been a part of several retrievals. Dean looks at Castiel and probably mirrors his Mate's grief-stricken face.

"My brothers have watched him since he set the explosives that nearly killed us before … we think Roman corrupted him not long after we raided Crowley's," Castiel says, misery plain in his voice.

"Where … where is he now?" Dean asks. All Dean can think about is his pup, fighting for his tiny life – he cannot bear the thought of Inias still free.

Castiel's face has set into a grim expression. "Balthazar located him - he interrogated him. It -"

Dean tightens his grip on Castiel's hand. "Cas …"

"He is dead, Dean," Cas whispers. "Knowing my brothers I do not believe anyone will ever locate that particular body."

Dean relaxes. He has only one focus now. "I want to see our son, Cas."

Castiel nods. Nothing else matters.

Dean stares at the tiny life lying against his chest. He can't believe this little person was inside him only days before. Now, the small wrinkled body basks in the warmth of his skin and the calming sound of his heartbeat. The diaper seems far too large and the little cap swallows his head but Dean thinks he is perfect. He hums softly and is rewarded with a yawn and a blink of wide blue eyes. Dean smiles down at his son.

"Oh I see ... gonna start battin' them blues at me like your dad, huh?"

Another yawn. Dean continues to hum.

Castiel smiles watching his mate hold their son against him. They've moved back into the main house with all the requisite equipment and assigned nurses – the ones that Balthazar has personally vetted. The nursery is connected to the one for Sam and Jessica ... Castiel has to laugh at how Balthazar has tackled remodeling the entire mansion to ensure that no one ever leaves.

Lucifer rolls his eyes at the expenses but Castiel watches him with the pups. Lucifer is completely besotted with them. Gabriel is no better – Castiel's son has an entire collection of small rock band t-shirts to grow into. Sam's daughter has the same plus a tiny leather jacket. Sam complains they are going to turn his daughter into a biker-chick but Jessica simply kisses him and tells him to get over it.

Castiel looks at the mobile that hangs over the crib. In the center is a probably the most cherished object other than the baby himself. It is a smooth glass teardrop pendant. Clear with two lines of colored glass twined around each other running through the center – green and cobalt. Castiel had forgotten about the glass shards – at the time they'd simply been a way to communicate how much he desperately missed Dean and wanted them together again. Sam, however, kept them and made something so lovely it actually made Dean cry and hug his younger brother. Dean blamed it on the hormones, of course. Jessica's gift is a smaller teardrop with a single line of blue – their son. It hangs beside the larger drop and twinkles in the light.

"You alright Cas?" Dean asks. He's comfortably ensconced in a large recliner while he holds their son.

"Hmm? Yes, Dean ... I was just musing over the gift your brother gave us."

Dean looks up to the pendants and smiles. "I wish we could make an entire raincloud of 'em."

"Maybe, my sweet Dean ... maybe we can."

Dean's smiles fades a little. "He was a miracle, Cas ... not a good idea to go askin' for more." Dean looks down at his son who is regarding him with a slight frown.

"Hey little man ... what's with the Cas-face?"

Castiel blinks. "Cas-face?"

"Yeah, that scrunched up frown of yours – he's a mini-you, dude." Dean grins.

Castiel rolls his eyes, but then the nurse comes in and advises them that it is time for the pup to rest.

"I do not bat my eyes at you, Dean." Castiel says suddenly registering something Dean said earlier in the conversation.

Dean looks up at his mate. "Keep tellin' yourself that, Cas."

Castiel plants a kiss on Dean's head and then leans in to give his small son the softest of brushes with his lips. "Hello, little one." He adjusts the blanket over the pup which has slipped. The blue eyes slide shut and the small pink mouth releases a soft sigh.

"So, Cas ... what do you think about ... uh ... 'John'?" Dean asks quietly.

Castiel regards his mate silently. John Winchester was an absent father at best but for Dean, he is still 'Dad' and the man he looked up to despite all his failings. He leans forward and kisses Dean's forehead.

"I think that sounds perfect, Dean." Castiel says.

Dean reluctantly gives up the pup who fusses slightly when the nurse takes him. He'll go eat dinner with Castiel and the others but then he'll come back to see his son. Dean never imagined what actually being pregnant would mean to him - he'll never be the shrinking, delicate Omega society thinks he should be, but Dean is surprised at the depth of tenderness he feels toward his small son. He gets the whole nurturing thing now and he wasn't lying when he said he wanted to have more.

"Penny for your thoughts, Dean," Castiel whispers to his mate as they walk to the dining hall.

Dean doesn't answer – he can't. They enter the room and it's like it always is – arguments and discussions fill the air. Dean sighs when the topic makes itself clear. He takes Castiel's hand tightly.

Dick Roman brought the fight to the Novaks and the Winchesters. He's about to regret it.