Love Has Many Forms, Part 1 (Supernatural, General Series, #1 - on the phone)
Title: Love Has Many Forms, Part 1
Author/Artist: my_sam_dean
Pairing: Dean
Fandom: Supernatural
Theme: 1 - on the phone
Disclaimer: I own nothing Supernatural.
Dean had the shovel over one shoulder and the duffel over the other. What had started out as an unseasonably cool, misty fall evening had turned into a thunderstorm with driving rain. His hair was plastered to his scalp. Rain rolled down his neck and invaded the warmth under his leather jacket.
Visibility was low on the way to the motel. He had to make a real effort to keep his speed down when all he wanted was a hot shower and sleep. His droopy eyes peered through the rain, thankful to see the rundown motel sign with only the letters 'o' and 'l' lit up.
Desperately trying to get rid of the chill under the water that never got warmer than tepid and had lousy shower pressure, Dean shifted from foot to foot as he rubbed his hands on his arms.
"Come on, come on." Dean scowled at the showerhead and the water turned ice cold in revenge. "Shit!" He leapt out of the tub so fast that he stumbled and tore part of the shower curtain.
Shivering was supposed help his body warm up. Dean knew it as a fact. Their father had hammered first aid into both him and Sam. At the moment, the movement didn't seem to be helping Dean. He dried off as best he could, bundled up in his warmest sweat suit and thick socks, and huddled under the covers.
As he laid there in the dark, he knew he hadn't been eating enough of the right foods. He hadn't been sleeping enough and he'd spent too much time running on empty. It was going to catch up with him. If he could just fall asleep, he'd take better care of himself starting tomorrow. He could sleep in, find a grocery store and actually use the small fridge and microwave that came with the room. Well, he'd have to bleach them out first.
The shrill sound of his cell phone ripped Dean from his peaceful slumber. He slapped at the nightstand, finding his phone just before it vibrated onto the phone.
"Yeah?" he cleared his throat when it came out at as croak.
"Who am I speaking with?" a woman asked him.
Dean sat up and turned on the lamp. One look at his watch told him that he'd only been asleep for two hours. He didn't have long before the sun would cut through the cheap curtains. "Do you know what time it is, lady?"
"Almost four o'clock." She was all business. "Can I get your name, please?"
He glanced at his ID and it read 'Unavailable'. "Who the hell is this?"
"Nurse Lacy from County General."
"Is Sam hurt?" Dean hadn't seen him for a year but that didn't change how he felt about the kid.
"I don't know any Sam. If you'll be patient with me and answer my questions, I'll be able to tell you more information sooner."
"Dean. Dean Winchester."
"What do you drive?"
"1967 Chevy Impala."
"What color?"
"Black. Why?"
“I was given your number by Tami Carr. She was able to give me just a few details about you.”
“Okay. Why did she need to call me?”
“She didn’t want to call you. She’s in labor and is going to sign away her rights. The baby can’t be given up for adoption unless you’ve signed the papers, too. That’s why I’m calling.”
“She’s in labor?”
“Yes. She says you’re the father.” Silence. “Hello?”
“I’m here. I mean, I’ll be there. To get the baby.”
“So, you’re not going to sign away your rights?”
“No. I’ll . . . what do I need to bring?”
“Just yourself.”
“I’m on my way. Don’t let anyone take my baby. I’m coming.”
“We don’t make a habit of that,” Nurse Lacy’s heart felt lighter after hearing how happy Dean was at the news. “Drive careful.”
After shutting his phone, Dean copied the number and address of the hospital into his journal just in case the slip in his wallet got lost. He rolled his stiff shoulders and tried to crack his neck. Groaning, he twisted and turned until he made his neck and back worse than it was before.
If he could just drink enough coffee to make it through four states to the hospital, he’d be happy. After that, he could worry about purchasing baby items and selecting a place to stay. Oh, he'd have to get that extra rest somewhere in there, too.
000000
The weather didn’t warm up as the sun rose. More dark clouds rolled in and icy drizzle that turned to a pounding torrent in a heartbeat were in the imminent future. At the last Gas Stop/Convenience Store, Dean was able to find replacement wiper blades, and bags of snacks that at least resembled real foods. The dehydrated apple chips and spicy jerky (not the kind conformed to a tube) weren’t bad. A couple bottles of cola gave him a break from coffee.
He was getting closer and closer to the hospital. Doubts were beginning to pop up in his head. Was he ready to be a dad? How bad would hunting screw up a kid? In the case of their dad with he and Sam, how had that one turned out? Was it better to stay with family or would they have been better off placed somewhere else?
All Dean knew from a young age was to look out for his little brother. The word ‘family’ was used so often and never explained. When they were on hunts, they saw other families that had been ripped apart by something supernatural that the Winchesters were trying to kill or send away. Sometimes it brought peace to the family that had caught their attention to the problem in the first place. Most of the time, it just prevented the same tragedy from happening over and over.
Dean and Sam learned early on that family was who loved you. Bobby, Father Murphy, Harvelles, Caleb, Jefferson and Missouri were considered family.
Because he had been thrown into hunting at such a young age, there had been a couple of times when Dean had made contact with a small child who had been traumatized. He’d been patient and able to coax the child out of their shell. He wasn’t able to get answers from the kids but he could get breadcrumbs, and that was something.
He’d had a big part in raising Sammy and he never regretted spending time with his little brother instead of going out to find some friends his own age. They’d be moving on in a month or so, and it was easier to hang around Sam who already knew what hunts involved and how careful they had to be so that Child Protective Services didn’t take Dean and Sam away. Most kids thought living in a motel was cool. Dean just let the kids think that. He wanted to be the loner kid who no one bothered. If how they lived gave him some credibility, he'd take it. He'd be able to insure Sam's safety easier that way.
Sam had been a quick learner in anything he wanted to know about. Sometimes hunting fit in that category and other times it didn't. He devoured all that he could find about folklore and legends. When it came to training and bringing what he had read about into practical use in the field, he only went to try to keep Dean safe.
The one summer Sam played soccer, Dad hadn't been happy but he'd let them stay in one place. Both of them pled with him and promised to train extra hard if he allowed them those three months. Dean sat in the bleachers during practice and attended each game. On days when neither was scheduled, they completed training before the sun had enough time to make it too uncomfortable, napped during the hottest hours and practiced soccer in the empty lot until dark.
He'd heaped praise on Sam for studying. He was proud of Sam's grades, even as he had to leave Sam at the door of the school and then take his fake ID and try to hustle before class was out. Dean had known his academic career was non-existent but he wanted Sam to have options spread out before him. He later thought that Sam could have parted on better terms on his way to Stanford. It still felt like a physical injury when he remembered the anger in Sam's eyes directed at him. If he'd known what Sam had planned for that evening, he would have had arguments prepared for their dad. As it was, he had none. He could just stand there, dumbfounded, which Sam mistook as agreeing with the words shouted at him.
Day turned into night. He was getting closer and closer to a future that he was unsure of. He was twenty-three and had never learned how typical folks lived. Sure, he could pretend for a short period of time. That was all he'd been required to do. How was he going to not only convince a nurse that he was a responsible adult but also avoid any mistakes that might make her think he was weird and have social services check up on him? He couldn't just panic and break a baby out of a hospital. Could he? Didn't they have some kind of Lo-Jack on them these days?
Pulling into town, he made one last stop before his destination. He squinted in the dingy bathroom mirror and took a couple deep breaths. He could do this. He had to do this. He changed into his jeans with just a couple small holes and a white t-shirt. It was as good as he was going to look.
His heavy boots resounded on the tile floor. When he spotted the front desk, he flashed the young lady a smile. Then, he remembered he needed to blend in and be responsible, not charming. He toned down his smile.
"Sir? May I help you?"
"Yeah," his throat tightened up until he cleared it. "I received a call from Nurse Lacy. She asked me to come here."
"Nurse Lacy? I know her. Let me call, see if she's on tonight." After a short conversation, she hung up and turned back to Dean. "You're in luck. Nurse Lacy is working the overnight shift so she's just coming on duty. She's on her way down to meet you. Would you like to have a seat?"
After he shook his head, he tried not to pace. His heart was pounding out of his chest and he hoped no one could tell.
A matronly woman appeared. "Dean? This way, please."
"Nurse Lacy? How is . . . I mean, did everything go okay after we spoke? I didn't want to stop to call and check, I thought it would be better to just get here--" Dean fell into step with her and couldn't help his nervous flood of words.
She warmly smiled at him. "Everyone is healthy, don't you worry."
Freshly scrubbed and gowned up, Dean sat in the rocking chair surrounded by tiny beds with babies. It was a sea of pink and blue.
"These two have been waiting to meet you," Nurse Lacy pulled a bed bigger than the others over to Dean. "Your daughter is four minutes younger than your son."
"They're so small." Dean leaned closer but didn't reach toward them.
"Twins are a bit on the little side. There are two of them growing in a room built for one. It won't be long before they are just as big as the other babies here. But, we might need to keep them a couple extra days to get up to a weight where we're comfortable discharging them."
"Whatever is best for them. Wow. Twins."
"Would you like to hold them?"
"Really? Yeah."
The nurse put a pillow under each of Dean's arms before she laid the bundles in them. She took the first family picture. Dean was the proud, beaming father. Someone he never thought he'd ever get a chance to be.
Author/Artist: my_sam_dean
Pairing: Dean
Fandom: Supernatural
Theme: 1 - on the phone
Disclaimer: I own nothing Supernatural.
Dean had the shovel over one shoulder and the duffel over the other. What had started out as an unseasonably cool, misty fall evening had turned into a thunderstorm with driving rain. His hair was plastered to his scalp. Rain rolled down his neck and invaded the warmth under his leather jacket.
Visibility was low on the way to the motel. He had to make a real effort to keep his speed down when all he wanted was a hot shower and sleep. His droopy eyes peered through the rain, thankful to see the rundown motel sign with only the letters 'o' and 'l' lit up.
Desperately trying to get rid of the chill under the water that never got warmer than tepid and had lousy shower pressure, Dean shifted from foot to foot as he rubbed his hands on his arms.
"Come on, come on." Dean scowled at the showerhead and the water turned ice cold in revenge. "Shit!" He leapt out of the tub so fast that he stumbled and tore part of the shower curtain.
Shivering was supposed help his body warm up. Dean knew it as a fact. Their father had hammered first aid into both him and Sam. At the moment, the movement didn't seem to be helping Dean. He dried off as best he could, bundled up in his warmest sweat suit and thick socks, and huddled under the covers.
As he laid there in the dark, he knew he hadn't been eating enough of the right foods. He hadn't been sleeping enough and he'd spent too much time running on empty. It was going to catch up with him. If he could just fall asleep, he'd take better care of himself starting tomorrow. He could sleep in, find a grocery store and actually use the small fridge and microwave that came with the room. Well, he'd have to bleach them out first.
The shrill sound of his cell phone ripped Dean from his peaceful slumber. He slapped at the nightstand, finding his phone just before it vibrated onto the phone.
"Yeah?" he cleared his throat when it came out at as croak.
"Who am I speaking with?" a woman asked him.
Dean sat up and turned on the lamp. One look at his watch told him that he'd only been asleep for two hours. He didn't have long before the sun would cut through the cheap curtains. "Do you know what time it is, lady?"
"Almost four o'clock." She was all business. "Can I get your name, please?"
He glanced at his ID and it read 'Unavailable'. "Who the hell is this?"
"Nurse Lacy from County General."
"Is Sam hurt?" Dean hadn't seen him for a year but that didn't change how he felt about the kid.
"I don't know any Sam. If you'll be patient with me and answer my questions, I'll be able to tell you more information sooner."
"Dean. Dean Winchester."
"What do you drive?"
"1967 Chevy Impala."
"What color?"
"Black. Why?"
“I was given your number by Tami Carr. She was able to give me just a few details about you.”
“Okay. Why did she need to call me?”
“She didn’t want to call you. She’s in labor and is going to sign away her rights. The baby can’t be given up for adoption unless you’ve signed the papers, too. That’s why I’m calling.”
“She’s in labor?”
“Yes. She says you’re the father.” Silence. “Hello?”
“I’m here. I mean, I’ll be there. To get the baby.”
“So, you’re not going to sign away your rights?”
“No. I’ll . . . what do I need to bring?”
“Just yourself.”
“I’m on my way. Don’t let anyone take my baby. I’m coming.”
“We don’t make a habit of that,” Nurse Lacy’s heart felt lighter after hearing how happy Dean was at the news. “Drive careful.”
After shutting his phone, Dean copied the number and address of the hospital into his journal just in case the slip in his wallet got lost. He rolled his stiff shoulders and tried to crack his neck. Groaning, he twisted and turned until he made his neck and back worse than it was before.
If he could just drink enough coffee to make it through four states to the hospital, he’d be happy. After that, he could worry about purchasing baby items and selecting a place to stay. Oh, he'd have to get that extra rest somewhere in there, too.
000000
The weather didn’t warm up as the sun rose. More dark clouds rolled in and icy drizzle that turned to a pounding torrent in a heartbeat were in the imminent future. At the last Gas Stop/Convenience Store, Dean was able to find replacement wiper blades, and bags of snacks that at least resembled real foods. The dehydrated apple chips and spicy jerky (not the kind conformed to a tube) weren’t bad. A couple bottles of cola gave him a break from coffee.
He was getting closer and closer to the hospital. Doubts were beginning to pop up in his head. Was he ready to be a dad? How bad would hunting screw up a kid? In the case of their dad with he and Sam, how had that one turned out? Was it better to stay with family or would they have been better off placed somewhere else?
All Dean knew from a young age was to look out for his little brother. The word ‘family’ was used so often and never explained. When they were on hunts, they saw other families that had been ripped apart by something supernatural that the Winchesters were trying to kill or send away. Sometimes it brought peace to the family that had caught their attention to the problem in the first place. Most of the time, it just prevented the same tragedy from happening over and over.
Dean and Sam learned early on that family was who loved you. Bobby, Father Murphy, Harvelles, Caleb, Jefferson and Missouri were considered family.
Because he had been thrown into hunting at such a young age, there had been a couple of times when Dean had made contact with a small child who had been traumatized. He’d been patient and able to coax the child out of their shell. He wasn’t able to get answers from the kids but he could get breadcrumbs, and that was something.
He’d had a big part in raising Sammy and he never regretted spending time with his little brother instead of going out to find some friends his own age. They’d be moving on in a month or so, and it was easier to hang around Sam who already knew what hunts involved and how careful they had to be so that Child Protective Services didn’t take Dean and Sam away. Most kids thought living in a motel was cool. Dean just let the kids think that. He wanted to be the loner kid who no one bothered. If how they lived gave him some credibility, he'd take it. He'd be able to insure Sam's safety easier that way.
Sam had been a quick learner in anything he wanted to know about. Sometimes hunting fit in that category and other times it didn't. He devoured all that he could find about folklore and legends. When it came to training and bringing what he had read about into practical use in the field, he only went to try to keep Dean safe.
The one summer Sam played soccer, Dad hadn't been happy but he'd let them stay in one place. Both of them pled with him and promised to train extra hard if he allowed them those three months. Dean sat in the bleachers during practice and attended each game. On days when neither was scheduled, they completed training before the sun had enough time to make it too uncomfortable, napped during the hottest hours and practiced soccer in the empty lot until dark.
He'd heaped praise on Sam for studying. He was proud of Sam's grades, even as he had to leave Sam at the door of the school and then take his fake ID and try to hustle before class was out. Dean had known his academic career was non-existent but he wanted Sam to have options spread out before him. He later thought that Sam could have parted on better terms on his way to Stanford. It still felt like a physical injury when he remembered the anger in Sam's eyes directed at him. If he'd known what Sam had planned for that evening, he would have had arguments prepared for their dad. As it was, he had none. He could just stand there, dumbfounded, which Sam mistook as agreeing with the words shouted at him.
Day turned into night. He was getting closer and closer to a future that he was unsure of. He was twenty-three and had never learned how typical folks lived. Sure, he could pretend for a short period of time. That was all he'd been required to do. How was he going to not only convince a nurse that he was a responsible adult but also avoid any mistakes that might make her think he was weird and have social services check up on him? He couldn't just panic and break a baby out of a hospital. Could he? Didn't they have some kind of Lo-Jack on them these days?
Pulling into town, he made one last stop before his destination. He squinted in the dingy bathroom mirror and took a couple deep breaths. He could do this. He had to do this. He changed into his jeans with just a couple small holes and a white t-shirt. It was as good as he was going to look.
His heavy boots resounded on the tile floor. When he spotted the front desk, he flashed the young lady a smile. Then, he remembered he needed to blend in and be responsible, not charming. He toned down his smile.
"Sir? May I help you?"
"Yeah," his throat tightened up until he cleared it. "I received a call from Nurse Lacy. She asked me to come here."
"Nurse Lacy? I know her. Let me call, see if she's on tonight." After a short conversation, she hung up and turned back to Dean. "You're in luck. Nurse Lacy is working the overnight shift so she's just coming on duty. She's on her way down to meet you. Would you like to have a seat?"
After he shook his head, he tried not to pace. His heart was pounding out of his chest and he hoped no one could tell.
A matronly woman appeared. "Dean? This way, please."
"Nurse Lacy? How is . . . I mean, did everything go okay after we spoke? I didn't want to stop to call and check, I thought it would be better to just get here--" Dean fell into step with her and couldn't help his nervous flood of words.
She warmly smiled at him. "Everyone is healthy, don't you worry."
Freshly scrubbed and gowned up, Dean sat in the rocking chair surrounded by tiny beds with babies. It was a sea of pink and blue.
"These two have been waiting to meet you," Nurse Lacy pulled a bed bigger than the others over to Dean. "Your daughter is four minutes younger than your son."
"They're so small." Dean leaned closer but didn't reach toward them.
"Twins are a bit on the little side. There are two of them growing in a room built for one. It won't be long before they are just as big as the other babies here. But, we might need to keep them a couple extra days to get up to a weight where we're comfortable discharging them."
"Whatever is best for them. Wow. Twins."
"Would you like to hold them?"
"Really? Yeah."
The nurse put a pillow under each of Dean's arms before she laid the bundles in them. She took the first family picture. Dean was the proud, beaming father. Someone he never thought he'd ever get a chance to be.