Hey friends! Note - not on this chapter - but on some references earlier. Regarding ages. As this will get semi-relevant later. I realized that a few times I referenced Sophie having a PhD. She doesn't. She has a masters. My brain mixed up the two :/ She and Dean are right about the same age, give or take a couple months. Just wanted to clarify that :)
Enjoy and review!
They left early the next morning and got home late. Sophie showered, nursed Miriam to sleep and then came to find Dean and coax him to bed.
He'd not been himself. Not since the massacre after Claire's rescue.
She found him in the library with Sam and Cas. Yelling.
"I crossed a line, it has to go," Dean snapped, "Burn it off. Cut it off. I don't care."
"It's not just a physical manifestation Dean," Cas replied, "It's immensely powerful. From the dawn of creation. This predates the lore. But there may be a way."
"A way to get him better?" Sophie asked, tucking herself into Dean's arms.
He gripped onto her, so tight it almost felt desperate.
"Maybe," Cas offered, "I'm not sure yet."
Sam watched as Dean clutched Sophie against his chest, cheek against the top of her head.
"Hey Dean," Sam said, "You said Cain was married right?"
"Yeah, why?" Dean asked, unmoving.
"And that she helped tame the bloodlust…temporarily at least?" Sam prompted.
Dean picked up his head, releasing Sophie just a fraction.
"Do you feel any of that with Sophie?" Sam asked.
Realization dawned on Dean's face.
"Yeah," he said, "I do. A lot. Just you two in here and I want to rip somebody's head off. But with her and the baby."
"You only want to rip someone's head off if they're a threat?" Sam offered.
"Something like that," Dean agreed.
"Sophie you're coming with us," Sam said, "Starting now until we get this thing fixed. Every trip. Every errand. Every hunt. You don't leave his side. Understood?"
"Miriam may complicate that," Sophie put in, "I can't leave her."
"Sister Margaret said they could keep her a few days at a time if you needed, right?" Sam suggested.
"She offered. But Miriam won't take a bottle yet," Sophie said, "So I can't really leave her to starve."
"I could…try and teach her?" Cas offered.
Sophie turned and stared. Puzzled.
"You're going to teach my baby to take a bottle?" She asked.
"I don't sleep," Cas said, "Or eat. So it frees up some time for the task."
"Alright," Sophie shrugged, "There's frozen breastmilk in the kitchen and bottles in the cupboard. I'll call you when she wakes up tonight."
Cas and Sam went their separate ways. Leaving Dean and Sophie together in the library.
"Thank you," Dean murmured, kissing her forehead, "I know it's a lot to ask. Thank you."
"Of course my love," Sophie whispered, "Now. I'm tired. And you go where I go. So let's get you clean and in bed? Okay?"
"Alright baby," Dean agreed, "Whatever you say."
It was two o'clock when Sophie called Cas to come feed the baby.
"Here," Dean said, handing the squirming, angry toddler to the angel.
"Take her to the library," Sophie instructed, "If I'm right here she's never going to take it."
"Alright," Cas agreed.
"Do we think this is gonna work?" Sophie asked, laying down with her head on Dean's shoulder.
"I think it has to," Dean replied.
"I'm really rusty," Sophie said, "I haven't been on a hunt in what almost two years now?"
"We'll start training you tomorrow," Dean said, "I'm not gonna let anything happen to you. Promise."
"You'll stay up for the baby when Cas is done?" Sophie asked.
"Of course my love," Dean kissed her head, "Go ahead and sleep."
Once he was confident Sophie was out Dean grabbed his phone. He'd been reading over the text from Sister Margaret on repeat.
"We'll plan something for the day before. Eleven o'clock in the park," it said, "Cake. A couple of Sophie's friends from the parish. One of the priests can make balloon animals. I think she'll love it."
Miriam's birthday was in two days. Which meant tomorrow, amidst all the awfulness and chaos they'd have to deal with, there would be at least an hour where they could feel happy, normal, sane. Goodness knows they needed it.
Cas disappeared the next morning, having successfully coaxed Miriam to take a bottle twice in the night.
Miriam was sitting on the bathroom counter now, trying to chew on anything she could reach, while Sophie braided her hair and Dean showered.
"Can you take me into town today? I need to get some stuff for her cake," Sophie said, "Tomorrow's the big day after all. And you know…I think I'm supposed to be excited…but mostly I'm just sad it went so fast."
"Yeah," Dean said, "You're out of that nursing tea too, right? We can stop and grab some more if you want."
"That'd be great!" Sophie enthused, "Pumping is hard, but if she's gonna take a bottle while I'm gone I'll need to get better at it. The tea helps."
"Alright," Dean said, pulling on his shirt and taking the baby, "She and I are gonna go get breakfast. And we'll leave in half an hour. Okay?"
Sophie nodded, "I'll be there in a minute."
Dean sat Miriam in the center of the kitchen counter as he made coffee for himself and tea for Sophie. He grabbed a couple of eggs from the fridge and handed Miriam an apple to chew on while he cooked.
"You've got a big day today," he said to Miriam, "You're gonna meet new people. And get cake with real sugar. That'll be fun right?"
She babbled back happily.
"Love you," Dean said, tousling her curls, "So much."
"Dada," Miriam said definitively.
"Yeah," Dean squeezed her tiny hand in his then went back to cooking.
He checked his phone and sent a quick text to Sister Margaret confirming eleven o'clock at the park. It was 9:30 now. That gave them plenty of time to drive to town, get their groceries, and then meet Sam, Jody and the others at the party.
"I brought her something warmer," Sophie said as she came into the kitchen, holding out a sweater for Miriam.
"Yeah it's freezing out there today," Dean agreed.
"Not like last year," Sophie laughed, "The roads are passable at least."
She shuddered and picked up the baby.
"I still can't believe I had you right here," Sophie said, voice cheerful but eyes uncertain, "You were just in such a hurry to meet everybody. But we did it."
"You did great," Dean said, kissing Sophie's head then bending down to kiss Miriam's cheek, "Both of you."
"You were a non-insignificant factor as well if I remember," Sophie said, taking her cup of tea from the counter, "And then of course there was Sam…with his book by James May on how to deliver a baby. Because we all know hosting a comedy car show is the best way to gain qualifications in childbirth."
"We got there in the end," Dean said, "Now let me take her so you can get some breakfast."
Sophie looked puzzled when they stopped at the park.
"What are we doing here?" She asked.
"You'll see," Dean replied, "Get Miriam's coat and come with me."
Sophie bundled Miriam into her sling, buttoning her coat over the top. She'd found an old WWII era greatcoat in a storeroom at the bunker and realized it fit over Miriam in her baby carrier. She'd worn it every day this winter.
It was cold, but not frigid. Snowing lightly but not so much as to be unpleasant.
Dean took Sophie's hand and started for the pavilion across the park.
"Is that Sam?" Sophie asked, gesturing to the sidewalk perpendicular to them.
"Maybe," Dean was noncommittal. Sophie was looking around more intently now. And quickly her eyes caught sight of a Sioux Falls Sheriff Department truck in the parking lot.
"Did you plan something?" Sophie asked, her expression brighter now.
"Maybe," Dean laughed, "Now close your eyes for me."
"Because there's definitely a surprise?" Sophie prodded.
"No reason," Dean took her hand.
"Okay, open," Dean said as they turned the corner and the picnic shelter came into view.
Sister Margaret had outdone herself. There were a half dozen of the sisters assembled around a beautiful pink cake. A few of the other young mom's from the parish. Sam. Jody and Alex. Though Alex looked like she'd rather be anywhere else. And, as promised, a priest making balloon animals. To top it all off, a pretty, hand-made banner spelling out "Happy Birthday Miriam." And, as a nod to their unconventional baby shower more than a year before, a half dozen paper question marks taped up to the pavilion pillars.
"Oh my goodness," Sophie squealed, "Miriam look!"
"Happy birthday dear soul," said Sister Margaret, coming to greet them and putting a gentle hand on Miriam's head.
"Did we do a good job?" Sam asked, coming to give Sophie and Miriam a hug.
"Oh my word," Sophie said, "Thank you all so much!"
Dean hadn't seen her smile like that in a very long time.