Work Text:
“Argh!” Dean grunted through a contraction. “Call Vic, tell him he needs to interview the cousin again,” he panted out.
Castiel sat (relatively) calmly by Dean’s bedside watching the heart monitors for both his mate and his pup. They’d both been fluctuating off and on, and he was worried it was from not only the stress of labor but of trying to solve a case. “Dean, I am not calling Victor at two in the morning.”
“No, dude, you don’t get it,” Dean said, turning to face Castiel. “The cousin’s supposed to be leaving for Cabo or some shit in the next couple of days. Victor needs to track her down now.”
Castiel reached for Dean’s hand and squeezed it between his own. “Dean, I love you and your dedication, but you have to focus on you and the pup right now. You can talk to Victor later, I promise.”
Dean focused on the case because he was terrified of what was happening. He was about to bring a new life into the world. A life that he would be responsible for…forever. What if he fucked it all up? Forgive him for wanting to distract himself from the anxiety. And look at Castiel! He was cool as a cucumber, simply holding Dean’s hand and kissing his knuckles before every contraction. (On the inside, however, Castiel was actually just as anxious as Dean, and for the very same reasons. He just didn’t want to show it in front of his mate.)
“At least get me a pen and paper to write this shit down? I don’t wanna forget anything.”
Castiel sighed and gave Dean an exasperated look. “If I give you a pen and paper and you write down your talking points, will you promise to set it aside until after Mary Rose arrives?” Hearing his daughter’s name softened something within Dean and he relaxed for the first time since being admitted. Dean nodded.
He and Victor were working late on a case (the niece of a prominent businessman was murdered shortly after accepting a position within the family business). They’d gone through family, friends, and enemies and were at a dead end. By the time Dean got home around ten, he was sore and exhausted. His back had been bothering him most of the day, but then again, what didn’t bother him in some form or fashion these days? Dean eased himself down on the couch in the bedroom and kicked his shoes off. He’d done a lot of pacing that day and his swollen feet proved it.
Castiel, ever aware of his mate’s moods, came into the bedroom at that moment (probably from working in his office) and dropped to his mate’s feet, taking one in his hands and massaging it. Dean moaned at the feeling of tension melting from him.
“You’re working too hard, Dean. You need to begin paternity leave after this case.”
“I got a few weeks left, Cas. I’m good.” Castiel rolled his eyes and switched feet. Dean settled further into the couch and sighed. He would never say anything (at least not more than he already had), but Castiel was concerned that Dean was working far too hard at the end of his pregnancy. Dean grunted and went rigid for a few moments. The men looked at each other in surprise. Castiel groped in his pocket for his phone and began a timer.
Around three and a half minutes later, Dean closed his eyes and breathed deeply as another contraction started. He felt Castiel’s grounding hand on his knee. The contraction didn’t last long, but it was enough to have the men scrambling to get up and get their things so that they could go to the hospital.
“How long have you been having contractions today, Dean?” Castiel asked when they got in the car, slightly miffed that his mate hadn’t been aware and in tune with his body that day.
“How the hell should I know? My back’s been hurting like a bitch, and I’ve had those annoying Braxton-Hicks contractions off and on all day.”
At his last appointment, Dean hadn’t been dilated and that was just four days ago. Castiel wondered how far Dean could have come in only four days. Castiel probably drove faster than he needed to, but he was about to be a father…a little grace would be appreciated. “How do you feel, Dean?” he asked as they began their drive to the hospital.
“Uncomfortable. Everything’s tight and it hurts.” Castiel reached over to place his hand on Dean’s belly alongside Dean’s and yes, his abdomen felt very tight. “I’d kill for a back rub right about now.”
“I’ll see about getting you one at the first opportunity.”
By the time they arrived at the hospital, Dean had a fine sheen of sweat covering his forehead. It felt like the contractions were getting stronger with each new one. Dean could handle pain, but this was a new pain sensation, one he’d never felt before, and it took over his lower half. Castiel helped Dean into the Omega ward of the hospital and they were checked in. Dean was admitted shortly after due to his water breaking.
Castiel got up and went out to the nurse’s station to get a pen and paper so that Dean could work. He rolled his eyes but did what his mate asked of him. When he re-entered their room, Dean was being checked by a nurse. “Well, you’re at a four! You're going pretty fast, so last chance for that epidural.”
“I’ve been shot before; I think I can handle this.” Another four hours (and two more centimeters) later, Dean was rethinking his decision on the epidural. Castiel leaned over the man with a wet washcloth held to his sweaty forehead. “I lied; I can’t handle this. How do people decide to do this more than once?”
“I’m told the memory fades,” Castiel replied, kissing Dean’s temple.
“Fuck that. This is going on my list of top worst experiences, right up there with getting shot. We’re doing this once, and then we’re done, get me?” he told Castiel.
Castiel chuckled but sobered quickly and cleared his throat when Dean scowled at him. Dean had been shot, stabbed, punched, and dealt with several concussions. It was going to be labor that finally took him out he was sure of it. The contractions had been getting stronger and longer over the past few hours and Dean was certain that Castiel’s hand had to be hurting from him squeezing it with each one.
After another contraction and after Dean caught his breath, he turned to Castiel. “Can I call Vic yet?”
“After, Dean, remember? You’ve got your notes written down. If worse comes to worse, I can call him, but only after Mary arrives. You’re so close, Beloved.” He kissed Dean’s hand that held his in an iron grip.
“Yeah, yeah,” the other man sighed. The hours passed slowly (or Dean thought so, Castiel thought the time passed too quickly). He continued to think about the case and in between contractions, Dean would jot down a note or two for Victor.
Shortly after a very intense contraction, a nurse came back in to check on Dean. “How we doin’, Daddy?”
“I feel like I’m being continually punched in the stomach.”
She checked the monitors. “Well, everything looks great. Let’s get you another exam, and we’ll probably get ready to start pushing here in another couple of hours.” She walked down to the end of the bed and lifted the sheet and blanket covering Dean. “You know the drill,” she said. Dean planted his feet and then let his knees fall to the side. “Okay, we’re still at eight centimeters, so I’m going to bring in a bouncy ball for you to sit on and try to get the pup to drop a little further, okay?”
“A bouncy ball?” Dean asked incredulously.
The nurse smiled. “It’ll be quick, I promise.” She left and came back a few minutes later with a large blue ball. “Okay, let’s get you out of bed and on the ball. Alpha Daddy, will you help Dean get out of bed for me?”
“Of course.” Dean caught the waver in Castiel’s voice. Maybe he wasn’t as cool and calm as he projected. Castiel helped Dean out of bed (with a quick pause for another contraction). Dean spent half an hour bouncing on the damn ball. It actually did help with his back pain, but Dean was going to keep that to himself. It was made okay mostly because Castiel was rubbing his shoulders and upper back through contractions.
Castiel came around in front of Dean and squatted down, rubbing his hands over Dean’s thighs. “Have I told you how much I love you and how proud of you I am?”
“Heh, not in the last few hours,” Dean gritted through a contraction.
“Well, I do and I am. You’re bringing our daughter into the world and I couldn’t be happier."
“Happier than when we mated?”
“Well, maybe not that happy,” Castiel said with a grin.
The nurse came back in shortly after. “Okay, another check, Dean.” It took both the nurse and Castiel to get Dean off the ball and back into bed. It was nice to be able to lay back down, but the next contraction was a bitch and a half and Dean felt an overwhelming need to push.
“Uh, is it normal to want to push now?”
“Try not to, okay? Let me give you a quick check. You’re probably at ten centimeters if you feel like that.” Dean assumed the position and the nurse looked up to smile. “Yep, ten centimeters and one hundred percent effaced. Let me go get the doctor, and we’ll be ready to go.”
“Thank God,” Dean said, leaning his head back against the pillow.
Castiel scooted his chair up closer to the bed, his knees bumping the mattress. He placed his hand on Dean’s taut belly and thought about the fact that he would be a parent soon. It was surreal, just like feeling the pup move for the first time and just like finding out they were having a daughter. He could feel his eyes sting with tears. Dean reached up and put his hand on Castiel’s, giving him a meaningful look with a small smile. He felt the same.
The doctor and two nurses came in shortly, one wheeling a small bassinet and the other wheeling in what looked like an open bed with a light attached at the top. “That stuff precautionary, or what?” Dean asked with trepidation in his voice.
Dr. Barnes explained what everything was for and Dean relaxed (at least as much as he was able to). The nurses began to prepare the bed for delivery, pushing a series of buttons that adjusted the bed to the proper position for Dean to push and deliver.
“Ugh, can I push yet? This is getting intense.” The fact that Dean even said anything at all told Castiel that the man was at least worried if not flat-out scared.
“Almost,” the doctor told him. She tied her hair back, washed her hands, and donned gloves as did the nurses. “Okay, Dean, with your next contraction, I want you to push. We’re gonna push for ten seconds and rest until the next contraction. Sound good?”
“Good as anything, I guess.”
Dr. Barnes got situated at the foot of the bed and had Dean scoot down with the help of Castiel. It took another two contractions before everyone was set up where they needed to be. The doctor smiled widely. “You ready?”
Dean took a deep breath and looked over at Castiel who had a small smile on his face. “Yeah, let’s do this.” With the next contraction, Dean pushed. Castiel stayed at the head of the bed, whispering encouragement into Dean’s ear. He held on tightly to Dean’s hand, not daring to let go; wanting to be a grounding force for Dean.
“You’re doing so well, Dean. I’m so proud of you.”
“Ugh,” Dean grunted through a push. He looked over at Castiel while they waited for the next contraction. He reached over and grabbed the collar of Castiel’s shirt and pulled him in for a quick kiss before the next contraction began.
“One more push and we’ll have the head out. This is the worst part and then it’s smooth sailing, okay?” Dr. Barnes told Dean. Dean hunched over to push again and cried out. Yeah, worst part so far. He ended his ten-count panting. “Hold off on pushing for just a minute, okay?”
“Aw, c’mon, doc!” He was ready to be done and have his daughter in his arms.
“One more push, Dean! You’re doin’ great!”
“You can do this, Beloved.”
Dean cried out again with the final push. Within seconds, he heard his daughter’s cry. He fell back on his pillow and laughed with tears streaming down his face. Soon after, one of the nurses put the pup on Dean’s chest and he was automatically in love. Castiel joined in on the laughter and kissed Dean’s temple and cheek and head and wherever he could reach. Mary Rose Novak had arrived, and she had a healthy set of lungs. After a very fast minute, one of the nurses took the pup to get her cleaned and weighed.
“I love you so much, Dean. You’re incredible.”
“Seven pounds, six ounces, and twenty inches long,” the nurse announced. “She’s got a perfect Apgar score.” The nurse then brought a small swaddled bundle over to the men.
“Dean, I need one more push for the afterbirth, and then you’re all done, my guy.” Dean barely felt anything. He was too busy alternating staring at his daughter and looking over at Castiel.
“She’s beautiful,” Castiel said in awe.
“Heh, yeah, she is.”
A few hours later, the men began announcing the news to family and friends. Surprisingly enough, Crowley was the first to arrive. He and Dean still had a contentious relationship, but the man had been unnaturally nice to Dean as his pregnancy progressed. Dean was hesitant to hand the pup over but the soft look on Crowley’s face sealed the deal. Dean had never seen him smile so genuinely.
“Hello, Princess,” he said to Mary quietly.
“You do have a heart,” Dean teased. He was exhausted and was ready for a nap. He’d completely forgotten about Victor and his case. He was officially on paternity leave and gave no shits about anything except for Mary. He’d scan the notes he’d written and send them to Vic later (or Crowley could take care of that).
Crowley looked up at Dean. “I just like her better than you.”
“Heh, fair enough.”
Crowley handed the bundle back to Castiel, chatted for a bit, and left. Sam would be in the following day as would Victor (with news that the cousin was indeed the perpetrator and was currently in jail). Dean was happy with the outcome, but he was happier that his daughter had been born without complications.
Just before Dean succumbed to sleep, he saw Castiel swaying in front of the window. He heard the man humming something in between talking to the new pup. Dean fell asleep to his mate humming ‘Hey, Jude’ to Mary.
(Three years later, the Winchester-Novaks welcomed a little boy to their family. They named him Benjamin Robert Novak.)