Chapter 10-

28 weeks

Over the past month, the boys had felt they had become sitting ducks, not really knowing what was going to happen next. They kept up a few hunts, even though Dean was finding the physical tasks a lot harder now, although he didn't want to admit it to Sam. He was starting to feel more and more self-conscious about himself and a little bit more protective of his baby.

Even though Castiel had told him that he would be kept safe from any demons, he was still quietly worried that he might run into one, as they were all probably gunning for him right now seeing as he was carrying the one thing that could destroy their leader.

Sam had noticed some more subtle changes in Dean. He didn't seem to drink coffee anymore and seemed to favour soft drinks instead. His brother now seemed to go after trivial hauntings instead of demon bashings. Dean's mood swings had become more and more unpredictable, probably a combined effect from caffeine withdrawal and hormones. Sam didn't want to bring the subject up and only drank coffee out of Dean's sight, as he didn't want to risk being hung, drawn and quartered.

Dean was lying on the bed in yet another cheap Motel room, surrounded by food, which he was hastily shovelling in his mouth. He was hungry and wanted to eat anything and everything. He made a mental note to himself that next time he saw Castiel, to ask him whether he was gestating a baby, or an elephant. Sam interrupted Dean's thoughts as he came in through the door carrying several bags of shopping.

"Please tell me that those bags have got something yummy in? I'm starving! Oooh is it pie? Did you get me pie?" he asked greedily.

"Dean the fridge is stocked full of food. There is food everywhere…..the bed….my bed even…it looks like feeding time at the zoo here". Dean's mind wandered back to the image of a baby elephant again. Sam continued his rant. "Our credit card is nearly maxed out trying to sustain you! When you're not eating, you are thinking about where your next meal is going to come from" Sam said as he put the bags down on the table and started to clear away some of the empty food packets.

Dean pouted. "But I'm hungry and I want pie, we don't have any. And ice-cream…….with the little bits on top….". He suddenly remembered about the bags of shopping. "So what's in the bags then?" he asked as he was trying to manoeuvre himself off the bed. The extra weight was definitely slowing him down and making it harder to do even the simplest of tasks. He groaned slightly at the ache in his back.

"Take a look" Sam said as he was sweeping crumbs off his bed.

With one hand resting on the small of his back, trying to ease the pain and rub out the knots, Dean made his way over to the bags. He pulled out several t-shirts, shirts and pairs of jeans, which to his horror, were two sizes bigger than the ones that he had on.

"What the hell are these Sam?"

"You've been complaining that your clothes aren't fitting you anymore and I'm sick of you whinging and whining about it and borrowing mine. So I went out and bought you some more" Sam hesitated. "Just a little bigger that's all".

"Great….so what you're saying is that I'm a fat whiny chick then? Jeez Sammy, way to make me feel better! That definitely helps with my macho status and male pride". Dean sniffed, trying to hold back tears.

He was certainly not going to cry. He cursed his sudden surge of hormones. It was only a couple more months, I suppose he could cope with wearing larger clothes for a bit, seeing as the ones he had on barely covered his middle and were uncomfortably tight. He looked at the new clothes again and sighed. As soon as he was finished with them he was going to be burning them straight away.

Dean flopped down on the bed and put his head in his hands. He winced as the baby gave a particularly sharp kick to his ribs. Sam walked over to Dean's bed and sat down next to him.

"I'm sorry Dean….I didn't mean to upset you, I really didn't…….thought I was trying to help that's all. You haven't asked for help, haven't told me what I'm meant to do to share this burden with you…..".

Feeling guilty that he had lashed out at Sam when he was obviously just trying to help, Dean looked up at his brother and smiled. "No Sam, I'm sorry. I'm just so tired, you know? Carrying this weight round me all day….literally! I know that I'm a stubborn pain the ass and that you are walking around like you are treading on egg shells with me. What you did…..was sweet. God I sound like a chick more and more every day…..I'm going to kill Cas for this".

"Oooh!" Dean said rubbing his hand on his tummy. "Great, now I gotta pee again you little brat" he said laughing as Sam put out his hand to help him off the bed.

"Dean? Uh…….what does it feel like? You know….when she moves?" Sam enquired.

"Honestly? Like she's trying to punch her way outta me man, and when she's doing it day and night on your bladder, it's no laughing matter". He paused for a second and on seeing Sam's puppy dog eyes, his expression softened a little. "Here, feel" he said grabbing Sam's hand and putting it just below his belly button.

Sam felt something bump under his palm and he smiled contently. "Wow. There really is something in there. It's amazing".

"No shit there's something in there. Come on Sam" he said pushing his hand off. "Don't want you going all mommy on me…..don't get all attached to the thing……it's not like it's a puppy we can keep…..it's a business deal with the angels, right?".

"I know, I know. It's just……you must have thought about it Dean…..you know…..wanting a family of your own….what she's going to look like. We never really had a normal childhood. You must think about what having your own family would be like, raising them in a normal family home and environment, instead of being dragged from pillar to post in crappy motels and having an absent father for most of the time".

"Not really Sammy. I've never really thought about it, it's not my kind of style. I'm a hunter….and hunting's all I know. 'Normal' doesn't really come into our lives. And I certainly don't do babies….well except for looking out for you".

"Ha ha funny dude".

Dean walked over to the bathroom and rested on the doorframe. "Girl talk is over. Now go get me some pie. The proper stuff, none of that frozen crap!".

Sam laughed and grabbed his wallet and headed back out the door. As Dean went to the bathroom to relieve himself for the what felt like the hundredth time that day, he couldn't help thinking about what his brother said.

What would the baby look like? What would it be like to have his own family and to raise them in a loving environment without the burdens and risks that his life as a hunter involved. He would definitely shield his family from the current lifestyle he leads, he wouldn't wish a childhood like his on any children he has. "I'd never put you through that sweetheart" he said rubbing loving circles on his stomach as his daughter moved within him.