P is for Parenthood
Dean looked down at the sleeping baby before him. He was finally sleeping peacefully too. It had been a long night for both of them. How on earth had someone so small and fragile managed to worm his way into his heart? He couldn't believe how much had changed in the last six months. Somewhere along the line, without his knowledge, he had become a dad.
Dean thought back on the last six months. Somehow a baby had been inserted into the Winchester family. Castiel and Dean had been on a case and ended up with a baby.
Dean and Castiel entered the bunker. Castiel was carrying the baby, while Dean carried a few of the things they had managed to get their hands on for the baby. He still couldn't believe they were doing this. A promise was a promise.
"What's going on?" Sam asked as he spotted the two.
Fiona, a fellow hunter; they had come to rely on as a close ally, looked up from the book she was reading. Fiona has turned out to be men of letters legacy too. She and Sam had this unspoken relationship. They were both in denial, but Dean knew better. He didn't mind Fiona. She was one of the best hunters he had met in a while.
"It looks like they had a baby," Fiona joked.
"It is a baby," Castiel said seriously.
"Why?" Sam asked, looking to Dean confused.
"Long story," Dean replied.
"We've got time," Sam said looking at the baby.
"We met another hunter on our hunt," Castiel said, "she...uh...did not make it."
"We were too late," Dean said, "we managed to stop the bastard, but her wounds were too bad. She gave us her motel key and asked us to find him a home."
"I thought she meant like a dog to something," Castiel said looking down at the baby.
"We promised to find the little guy a better home," Dean said.
"It is temporary," Castiel agreed.
It was not temporary. Dean and Castiel had looked for a proper place for Bobby, the name Dean had given the baby. It was a placeholder. As the days passed, it became his name.
Castiel was the first to get attached. He researched how to take care of a baby. He had gone into full nesting mode. He bought everything they needed for a baby and baby-proofed the bunker as best he could or blocked off areas he couldn't. He bought parenting books and watched mommy vlogs.
Mary and Fiona were the next to fall victim to the baby's charm. Something about women and babies. Dean would never understand, or so he had told himself. They took any chance to help with the baby. Fiona found more excuses to visit the bunker. Mary was even calling herself Grandma. Dean decided to call Fiona auntie, much to her displeasure, but she also secretly seemed to like it. He had hoped Sam would take the hint and man up and tell her how she felt.
Mary smiled down at Bobby. She was out to lunch with Castiel and Dean. Dean was gently rocking the baby's car seat as he fussed a little. The gentle motions seemed to be doing the trick. It was something Castiel had taught after watching one of his videos.
"Mom, what are we gonna do?" Dean asked, looking down at Bobby. This was taking too long, there were supposed to be rid of this kid by now.
"Well, it looks like you're doing a good job. He looks healthy," Mary said, turning her attention to her eldest son.
"I don't know the first thing about babies," Dean said.
"I've been doing research-" Castiel started.
"This isn't some case," Dean said.
"There are a lot of parenting books and vlogs out there, Dean. I'd take a page from Cas and start reading up. It's been three months. You need to know what you're doing," Mary said.
"It's only been so long because someone can't pick a family," Dean said slowly, shooting a glare over at Castiel.
"We can just give him to anybody," Castiel said lowly.
"Right, until then, read up, dad," Mary said, smiling. She leaned over Bobby as he started to get fussier. "Don't worry, grandma's here," she said softly. She picked up the baby with a smile. She placed him in her lap, bouncing him gently in her arms. Bobby seemed content to be out of the car seat.
Sam was next. Dean and Castiel had come back from meeting with a potential family for Bobby. It was someone Castiel had found through an adoption agency at Dean's request. Apparently, Castiel had sabotaged the interview. Sam took Bobby away from the arguing pair.
"Cas, this wasn't the deal!" Dean shouted from the other room.
Sam looked down at the four-month-old baby. He had been slightly sad when Dean and Castiel left earlier but slightly surprised to see them back with Bobby. Once the arguing ensued, he took Bobby to give them time to work this out. He entered the kitchen with John sleeping soundly in his arms.
"They weren't right for him," Castiel countered.
Sam shook his head. He knew those two were going to keep this baby. It had been four months, and no family seemed right for Bobby other than their little dysfunctional family. The sooner they realized, the better it would be.
Sam looked down at Bobby as he started to stir from his nap. He smiled and cooed at him.
"Looks like it's up to Uncle Sam to entertain you while dad and papa fight," he said, smiling at the baby. He brought a hand up to playfully tickle the baby making him giggle.
"Uncle Sam?"
Sam turned to see Fiona standing in the doorway. He smiled at her. They had something going on between them. Hook-ups and semi-dates. They never confirmed anything. Sam didn't want to put the burden of being with a Winchester on her.
"It's got a nice right to it, doesn't it?" Sam asked as he gently rocked the fussy baby. He walked over to the freezer and grabbed one of the many teething toys Castiel had bought.
"How long have Cam and Mitch been at it?" Fiona asked jokingly.
"Cam and Mitch?" Sam asked, fighting back a laugh. "Which is which?"
"Well, Dean isn't Cam," Fiona quipped. Sam started laughing, which startled Bobby. The baby jumped and dropped his toy. He started crying.
"Oh no, uncle Sam made you cry," Fiona said, quickly snatching the baby. She started to rock him and soothe him.
"Auntie Fi to the rescue," Sam teased.
Dean was the last to finally fall for Bobby. It wasn't that he was last; it just took him the longest to realize how much he really cared for the baby. It all started tonight when he was left alone with Bobby. Sam and Castiel were out working a case in town. It was an open-and-shut case. A demonic possession that was routine. Fiona had been gone for a few days already. Mary was at home, she had told Dean that if he needed anything, to call her.
The first few hours had been great. Bobby slept and ate. Dean changed his diaper a few times, he was getting better at that. Everything was going fine until he spiked a fever. That had thrown Dean for a loop. He quickly ran to the computer and looked up how to bring the fever down. He tried everything. He gave the baby medicine, wrapped him in a blanket, and gave him a warm bath. He rocked the crying baby all night long. He had even called the ER for advice and when to bring him in. They told him what temp and what signs to look for before he brought him in. Bobby's fever wasn't high enough, and he didn't have any of the other warning signs. So Dean did his best to soothe the crying baby.
It wasn't until much later that he noticed the small tooth poking out of his bottom gum. Suddenly everything made sense. He knew Bobby was gonna be just fine. He felt a wave of relief wash over him. He doubled his efforts to soothe the baby. He found the teething stuff, and in no time, Bobby was calm and falling asleep in his arms.
He wandered into the nursery and laid Bobby down in his crib. He stood there, watching over the baby. He couldn't believe how panicked he got over a fever and the thought of something terrible happening to the baby. It was then he realized why no other family was good enough for Castiel. Bobby already had the perfect family.
"Everything is gonna be ok, son," Dean said, smiling fondly at the baby. Whether he was ready or not, this was his baby now.
Dean had to face facts. Somewhere along the line, he had become a dad. It was going to be a long road before him, and he was a little terrified, but with Castiel by his side, he was sure he could do it. They had managed to keep this kid alive for six months already.
He heard voices in the hallway. He entered the hall to see Sam and Castiel had returned. They greeted him, and Dean quickly shushed them.
"Bobby just went down," Dean said, glancing back at the nursery.
"How did your night go?" Castiel asked.
"Great, Bobby's bottom teeth finally poked through, and he was a bit fussy, but I handled it," Dean said, waving a hand.
"You totally panicked didn't you?" Sam asked.
"Big time, but I figured it out in the end," Dean replied with a smile.
"Look, Dean, I've been thinking, and maybe you're right. I have been sabotaging our interviews," Castiel said slowly, "I just care about Bobby so much. I don't want just anyone taking him. I want to make sure he is properly taken care of."
"I know I've been thinking too," Dean said slowly. "I think we already found the perfect family for John."
"Have we?" Castiel said, confused.
Sam seemed to catch on right away. The grin he was giving Dean said it all.
"Yeah, I mean, he's got Uncle Sammy and us here. Mom wants to be a grandma, and I mean Fiona is practically his aunt, right Sam," Dean said, taking his turn to grin at Sam, Who now looked a little uncomfortable.
"It's complicated," Sam replied, scratching his neck nervously.
"Dean-" Castiel started.
A clatter was heard coming from the war room. The three rushed to see what was going on. Fiona has stumbled in. She was clutching her side, which was bleeding. She had several scratches and bruises all over.
"Fiona," Sam said, running up to her as she fell. He caught her before she hit the ground.
"Don't worry about me. I left the other guys in worse condition," Fiona joked weakly.
"What happened," Sam asked worriedly.
"My debt has been fulfilled," Fiona said warily. She dug in her pocket and tossed something at Castiel.
He caught said item staring at it wide-eyed. Dean watched Castiel as Sam helped Fiona up into a chair. He started looking at her side.
"Is that-?" Dean asked slowly.
"My grace," Castiel said.
To be Continued...