Winchesters and other SPN characters belong to Kripke Enterprises and the CW. This story is being written for Entertainment only, not money
Over Drive
Chapter 10
Morning Has Broken
From Chapter 9
Dean felt his anger and all his rage fueled energy slip away with John Winchester's face. He dropped from his tree and staggered away in the direction of his big brother's voice. He definitely heard the voice now and it was Sam. Moving from tree to tree and bracing himself on each one he worked at getting closer to Sam and further from the wolf's den.
There was a crashing in the underbrush and Sam was in front of him.
"Dean?" Sam whispered. "Dean, what are you going here? Where have you been? Where's Dad?"
"Hi ya Sam." Dean said. "Dad's dead. He fell off a cliff. I don't suppose you'd like to help me out, would you?" Dean dropped to his knees and then fell forward onto his hands, completely drained. "Help me, Sam. I'm cold."
Chapter 10
Dean sat on the porch of the small cabin that at one time had been his prison. Now it was a refuge. He listened to Sam banging around in the kitchen and smiled. Sam had come through for him just as he hoped his big brother would.
John had told Sam that Dean had run off with some stranger. Dean had supposedly flaunted himself out front of the cabin and seduced the first Alpha that had walked by. John didn't have any idea where 'that Omega slut' had gone or who he had gone with.
Dean considered Sam an idiot for believing John's story. Sam had heard the whispered phone calls. He had listened to John browbeating Dean. Sam wasn't that stupid. He just didn't want to lose his entire family. Dean wasn't there so he attached himself to John and pretended to believe John's lies.
Dean pulled himself up by the chain linking the swing to the roof. Once upright he arched his back in the typical pregnant pose with one fist clenched on his hip. The kid was almost seven months along and beginning to pull on all Dean's muscles. He was awkward and slow. All he wanted to do was eat and sleep.
Sammy had stepped up to the plate for his little brother. He had a lot to make up for. Dean still couldn't believe how stupid his supposedly more intelligent brother had been. If Sam had come after him they would be in a completely different place right now.
Dean told himself to stop being a jerk. He couldn't blame Sam for John Winchester's lousy parenting skills. Soon Dean would be a father and Sam would become an Uncle. It would be up to them to raise this kid right. Dean knew that Raphael Adler was the father but didn't plan to go after the Adlers for money or anything else. Only Dean knew what had happened in that house and he planned on burying the memories so deep it would take a backhoe to dig them up.
He walked to the top of the steps and held on to the roof support. The winter was almost over. A green haze in the woods was the young spring leaves pushing their way into the air. Dean sighed. He could smell lunch cooking but couldn't quite make out what Sam was up to. The kid kicked him and he held up his gut with one arm to release the strain.
His child would be born in the spring. Sam was taking care of all the details and supplying the cabin. Dean's only job was caring for the child growing inside him. When they drove to town in Zachariah's car it was a tension filled trip every time. They had swapped out the license plates with an abandon wreck but there was always the chance that someone might notice the luxury car with a couple of rough looking types in it. Occasionally they used the Impala but the big muscle car often attracted even more attention than they were comfortable with. Both cars had drawbacks but at least the Audi was light on gas and was more inconspicuous than a forty year old scary looking collector's dream.
Occasionally they would hear some news about the ongoing hunt for the Riverton Massacre Killer but it seemed like the excitement was dying down. Sam had made the connection, Dean thought. He really didn't care. His attention had all turned inward. He had no plans for after the child was born and he knew that Sam and he had to discuss the future but right now Dean was just a curled up cocoon, keeping his baby safe. He didn't dream and purposely kept his thoughts away from what he had done. He was burnt out, quiet and quite willing to let big brother make all the decisions.
Sam stood inside the kitchen and watched his little brother move around on the porch. Dean looked so odd with his belly pushed out over the tips of his shoes. Sam was well aware of the future. He was still shocked at what John had done and embarrassed that he had thoughtlessly lived on the money John had received for Dean's body. Sam agreed with Dean in thinking that he should have figured it out. He just had not wanted to think that his father could do something like that. He had swallowed John's story completely.
His father had failed him and he had failed Dean. The only thing that was going to heal those open wounds would be providing the best possible life for Dean and the baby from now on. Sam would have to grow up, take charge and become his brother's protector. Whatever Dean wanted from now on Sam would make sure he got.
That evening the brothers sat on the couch, wrapped up in Afghans against the evening chill. Dean leaned into Sam's side searching for comfort. It looked like it was going to be a pretty good sized baby.
Sam had finally tracked down a doctor for his brother and although late in the game the doctor was generally pleased with Dean's condition. She had prescribed vitamins and lectured both of them about skipping out on earlier prenatal care but they survived and Dr. Knowles was willing to stick with them through the birth.
She was aware that the father was out of the picture and that money was tight but she was determined that Dean would get the best possible care. She approved of Sam and the bond between the brothers. It was an unusual family arrangement but if they wanted to work at it, it would be better than some she had seen.
The brothers curled snuggly together in front of the fire and Sam ran his fingers through his little brother's hair, soothing Dean to sleep. Sam was well aware of what Dean was capable of doing and if trouble came Sam was very sure that Dean would fight to his last breath against anything that threatened their little family.
They had talked that evening after dinner about their plans for the future. Sooner or later the guy who owned this cabin might show up so they were planning on where they would really like to live. Sam was dreaming of more schooling and a good career. Dean also thought that might be a good path to follow. Of course, it would be much more difficult for an unwed Omega out in the world but Dean was strong. If he made a decision Sam was convinced nothing could stand in little brother's way.
It was an early March night. It had been windy all day and Dean had paced he house, unable to settle. In addition to his restlessness he had been experiencing stabbing pains in his back all day. Sometimes it helped to lie down and sometimes it was as if the pains threw him upright into the restless pacing. Sam kept an eye on this unusual behavior and by early evening became concerned. He made a quick call to Dr. Knowles.
Dr. Knowles felt that Sam should bring Dean in immediately. She wanted to take a look
Dean got cranky about it. "Damn it, Sam. I hate it when she starts poking around down there. I'm just fine. Stop freaking out."
Sam ignored Dean's mini-tantrum and pulled their jackets out of the closet. He grabbed Dean's already packed go bag that was sitting in the closet on the floor. "Stop whining and put your coat on Dean. We're going. If you don't head for that door I'll pick you up and carry you." Sam growled back.
Still huffing and muttering Dean pulled his jacket on. He fastened it at the top but there was no way it was going around his now immense belly. He waddled on his way to the door, still muttering and complaining. Sam got out in front of his slow moving little brother and pushed the front door open. Once Dean was at the threshold Sam let him take the door and he headed down to open the Audi.
There was a strange grunt from Dean and Sam looked up. Dean was still standing in the doorway but now he had a stricken look on his face. Sam charged back up the steps and saw that Dean was staring at the floor. Between his legs the porch was all wet and as Sam watched, more dampness ran down Dean's pants legs.
"You might be right, Sam." Dean said in a horrified voice. "I'm leaking all over the floor. My pants are all wet. What the hell?"
"Come on, Dean." Sam wrapped his hand around the back of Dean's neck. "Your water just broke. You know what that means."
"Yeah, it means I need new pants. I'm not riding to town sitting in wet pants." Dean held on to Sam's arm. "Sammy, help."
By the time Sam wrestled his brother into clean pants and carried him to the car Dean's labor pains became unmistakable. They were measured and strong. Dean moaned with each one and still ended up sitting in a wet spot. He was glad it wasn't the Impala's upholstery.
When they reached the country birthing center Dr. Knowles met them at the entrance. She had strongly suspected that Dean had actually been in labor for most of the day and she wasn't surprised at how far along he was. He was whisked away by a couple of burley orderlies; stripped, wiped down and set up in a bed.
Dr. Knowles went in first and examined her patient. Sam could hear Dean complaining from the hallway. She came out of the room snapping off her gloves and said to Sam. "He's well into dilation. That's what I thought from your description. It seems like he might be a good breeder. He's having a relatively easy and fast time for a first baby. Still, I'd say it will be another six to ten hours before the baby's here."
Sam went in to his brother and was greeted with a long drawn out groan. "You might want to hold those down, Dean." Sam said in a cheerful voice. "If you keep it up for the next six to ten hours you're going to give yourself a sore throat."
Den rolled his head over to stare at his brother. "Six to ten hours, what the hell?" This isn't almost over yet?"
Sam smiled and patted Dean's shoulder. "Evidently you're just starting. It's going to be a long ride."
Sam sat down in the father's chair and tended to his now very cranky little brother. He dried the sweat off Dean's face. He fetched ice chips for Dean early on and let Dean almost break his fingers as the night went on. Around four Dr. Knowles came back to check and then decided to stay.
"I told you, Sam." She smiled. "He's a good breeder. It's not going to be long now."
"What do you mean a good breeder?" came a strained voice from the bed. "I'm not ever doing this again. This sucks. Oww."
Dr. Knowles patted Dean's knee. "You're doing very well, Dean. For a first time baby you are moving pretty fast. Your next one will slip right out. You'll have to race it to the hospital."
Dean snorted. "I told you; no next one. Never." His voice was cut off as the next contraction hit.
Sam was looking out the window at the sun braking over the top of the hills when Ethan Michael Winchester arrived.
-wwwWWWwww-
Dean pulled up in front of the pre-school precisely at 1 PM. The four year olds burst out the door, free from the difficult business of learning the names of colors. In the middle of the pack was a sweet little boy with dusky skin, dark hair and hazel brown eyes.
"Daddy!" Ethan called and ran to meet Dean at the locked gate. Mr. "Beautiful Eyes", otherwise known as Mr. Novak came over to unlock the gage and greet Ethan's Omega parent. Jimmy Novak thought Dean Winchester was the most attractive Omega he had ever seen and anytime now, perhaps even very soon, he was going to ask Dean out on a date. Little did he know the same thought was in Dean's mind. Jimmy was the first man Dean had felt anything for since Ethan's birth.
Dean had discussed this attraction with Sam who had smacked him up side his head and told him to go for it. Sam had met Angela in college and now the Winchester family had four people in it. Sam was one to criticize Dean's hesitation. Any time now Sam was going to present Angela with a ring and ask to make it official. She loved Sam, he was sure and she also loved Dean and Ethan.
"Look Dean," Sam went on. 'You were never made to be alone. Go for it. If Novak isn't the one then at least you will have broken the ice. Remember what the doctor said when you had Ethan. "You're designed to be a good breeder. Don't you want to know how fast you next kid will pop out? I want to run a pool on it."
The Winchester brothers spent the evening sniping at each other with the occasional kid break for Ethan to get a word in.