Twelve years later…
Father and son spent the afternoon first in the vegetable garden and then on the back porch where the two now sat, shelling a huge bowl of fresh peas in companionable silence. Occasionally Castiel glanced over at his twelve year old son then went back to the task at hand. Jack was on edge the past week and the Alpha was concerned.
Dean had been the first to notice this, he warned Castiel and Grace that Jack was approaching puberty and it was just a matter of time before something happened. What that something was, no one knew. Jack gave off a jumble of scents; none of which helped his family nail down what was coming. Alpha, Omega or plain old Beta, though Dean doubted it was Beta from the confusing perfume of youth on the cusp of change.
Dean and Grace had already left for their summer visit to see Bobby; add on driving time and their mutual love of hole in the wall diners and adventure and that meant the whole thing would take at least a week and four days.
Jack chose to stay home along with his father because he said he felt weird. Dean almost stayed behind, but a twelve year old feeling weird could mean just about anything and Grace had looked forward to the trip for ages.
"Why did Dean and Grace have to leave…Bobby could have survived one summer without a visit…what if this is a puberty problem?"
Jack let out a loud sigh as he snuck a look at his father. Cas pretended not to notice.
"Dad, I want to talk to you about something important."
The Alphas muscles stiffened as if bracing for a slow motion car accident.
"Is this something better left to your mother or sister to handle?"
"No."
"I see. Any particular reason why?"
Jack dropped his head, bangs falling across his eyes, channeling Sam at that moment, "Because you're my father and out of everyone you're the most calm and level headed."
"I'm always here for you and I'll do my best to give you guidance, son." "Christ, I sound like my dad…"
"You know I had sex ed in school this past year."
"Yes, I recall signing the permission slip."
"Well, I have questions."
The Alpha poured himself another glass of Mascato, a gift from the long ago discovered wine cellar, "Go on."
Jacks cheeks turned as red as cherries as he gestured to his crotch, "I feel weird down there."
"Oh no…damn it Dean, I need you…"
"Weird how exactly?"
….
Grace did a summersault, gaining momentum before releasing the silver dagger. It struck the female werewolf just to the right of heart, it slowed the beast down but she'd missed her target.
"Mom, look out!"
Dean jumped out of the way just in the nick of time as the male charged him. Bobby waited for a clear shot, he took take careful aim and shot a silver bullet straight through the heart of the male.
The wounded female werewolf turned her attention to the weakest of the three. If she was going to die then one of the Hunters was going down with her.
Grace ran for the truck to retrieve a weapon, breaking one the rules, don't run unless you have to when the creature you're hunting works on prey drive. The werewolf, now wheezing from one collapsed lung, used her last bit of energy to reach the girl.
Dean made a Hail Mary with his own silver dagger, landing the blade perfectly through the beasts back and piercing the heart. They watched as the creature tripped on her own paws before falling dead on a patch of dew covered buttercups.
Dean ran to his daughter to make sure she was ok. He gave Grace the once over and finding nothing but fresh bruises, the Omega's mother mode faded away, replaced by anger.
"What the fuck were you thinking, stowing away in the back of the pickup? I gave you strict instructions to stay back at the house."
The sixteen year old fastened her long, dark blonde hair in a ponytail while simultaneously rolling her eyes at her mother, "You seriously expected me to stay back at the house while you guys have all the fun?"
"You think this is fun?" Her mom folded his arms and gave the teen a look that could wither a cactus.
Grace let out a very Dean-like snort putting up a shield of bravado though she knew her mom was at maximum piss-a-tude, as she called it.
Dean went for the jugular, "Just wait until your dad hears about this."
Graces attitude changed in a hurry, "Please don't tell Daddy, he'll ground me forever!" She tried giving her mom the sad puppy eyes that still worked so well with her dad and little brother.
Dean knew his daughter better than she knew herself, "That crap doesn't work on me anymore but good try. Now get your butt in the truck."
….
Jack just couldn't look his dad directly in the eyes because this was the most embarrassing thing ever but he couldn't hide his problem any longer. "I checked and my area is red and when I touch the skin it's very tender," his voice grew softer and Castiel had to strain to hear him, "I'm scared even though I know I shouldn't be."
"Please let it be a knot…please, please…" You're talking about popping a knot, correct, a swelling toward at the base of the penis. Well it's natural for there to be some tenderness."
"No, not a knot, it's the area between my scrotum and my anus, mom calls it the taint."
The Alpha cringed when he heard those words coming out of his son's mouth. "Oh." Was all Cas could think of, his brain was too busy processing this new information to come up with advice on the fly.
Jack picked at the threadbare knee of his favorite jeans, the ones at least an inch too short since his growth spurt.
Castiel came up with what he thought was a great idea, "I know, I'll call your grandma. Scotty knows more about these things than I do and he'd be happy to come over."
Jack shook his head, "Mom told me all about the time he went through this and you were so kind and patient with him. He said you made him feel safe," Jack raised his head, flipping his bangs from his eyes, "remember you helped Gracie when she started getting periods. You even took her shopping for tampons and pads and didn't blink an eye, the kid dropped his head again, "but I guess I'm different."
The physical and mental pain rolling off of Jack was almost palpable. He needed Castiel just as Dean and Grace had. As the arguable head of the household and the Alpha, there was a time honored tradition of taking care of one's own during times like this, although in the past several decades tender young Omegas were mostly left to deal with this important step on their own, a trend that desperately needed changing.
He took his son in his arms and felt Jack melt against his chest. "Don't worry, if something happens before your mother and sister get back I'll help you through this. Remember, it could be days before your membrane tears. In the meantime take it easy and don't exert yourself too much. "Because that will give Dean time to drive back…" Now, would you like some ice cream for supper?"
Jack raised his head and Cas was relieved to see a big smile on the boy's face.
"Really, can I have butterscotch and whipped cream and maybe chop up some of those brownies from grandma and sprinkle 'em on top?"
"Absolutely, then we can make popcorn and watch a movie to take your mind off things."
"Star Wars?"
"Excellent choice."
…
Once back at Bobby's, Grace stomped up the stairs, making as much noise as possible to show the adults she was mad. They heard the guest bedroom door slam and then the squeak of old bed springs.
Dean was the one doing the eye rolling, "I bet she threw herself on the bed as dramatically as possible. What a waste we weren't there to see it."
Bobby handed Dean a beer before dishing up a bowl of fresh apple cobbler as a peace offering for Grace, "Let me talk to her."
Honestly, Dean was relieved. Sometimes he found it difficult to deal with a kid so much like himself as a teenager. "Good luck."
The grizzled Hunter approached the bedroom door with the same caution he'd use to approach a den of vamps. When he knocked on the door he got an unladylike grunt in response. The brave man went inside and gave the sweet peace offering to the girl he thought of as his very own granddaughter.
"I'm glad you and your mother are here, it's been lonely since Nicky died and Addy moved clear across the country for college."
The sadness in the old man's voice, the man who Grace also called "grandpa", melted her icy wall instantly. Grace was a girl with a tender heart, she ate her cobbler while both crying and giving apologies punctuated with hiccups.
"Your mom is right, this life…it's not for everyone and no one chooses it, it chooses you. Go to school, get a career like your uncle and be safe."
Grace set the empty bowl on the nightstand. "This life chose me a long time ago; you know I can sense things…creatures hiding in plain sight. I can't ignore what I see."
Dean walked in just then, "We'll leave in the morning. Your dad sent me a message, Jack is having downstairs issues. It's no emergency, he hasn't actually presented yet but we should be there just in case."
His daughter looked crestfallen, "Don't worry, we'll grab some diner food along the way and I'll even let you drive Baby for awhile."
Her eyes about bugged out of her head, "Oh my god, seriously?"
"Yeah, seriously."
Dean was already regretting the offer.
…
Castiel was dreaming of his beautiful, strong mate. In the dream, Cas was tied to a bed, helpless and hard as a rock. His Omega approached him slowly, shedding clothes as he went until Dean was only clad in his favorite boots and a pair of emerald green panties that enhanced the creamy appearance of the Omega's skin.
Dean was wicked, wanton and completely in charge, "I'm gonna make you…"
The dream was interrupted by the cloying scent of fresh blood and the sound of someone in distress. When Castiel opened his eyes his son was standing there, wrapped in a flannel robe despite the summer heat. Drops of slick and blood decorated the hardwood floor around the boy's feet. Cas had no idea how long his son had been standing there.
"Dad, help me."
TBC
A/N- This story was going to end with the next chapter. I planned for 100 chapters and this was just to get Jack though the teen years condensed. I could do an extra chapter to put a little focus on Jacks teen years. What say you, dear readers? I've gotten very little response for awhile and I feel the story has run its course unless you'd like a little more Jack.