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“I wanna do something nice for mom.” Jack told Dean on their way back from school.
“Yeah?” His dad asked back, looking briefly over to the boy in the passenger seat.
Jack nodded, wringing his hands together. “I still feel so bad about what I did and I just,” Jack stalled for a second. “I wanna do something for him and the baby.”
Dean waited for a moment before he looked back over. “You have a plan or something you want to do?”
“Not really, it’s probably not a good idea to go out, is it?” Jack asked a little subdued.
Dean grimaced slightly. “No, probably not. Not many pregnant men out there and I know Sammy doesn’t want to be a spectacle.”
Jack nodded thoughtfully and scratched his neck. “Yeah, you’re probably right.”
They both sat in silence for a few minutes while Dean continued to drive them to the bunker. It only was a few miles until they would be back home and Jack was a little desperate to think of something. He pulled his phone out and tried to look up some suggestions for what he could do, there weren't too many big ideas but Jack picked out a few things he could do for Sam.
“Got a plan?” Dean asked when Jack put his phone away just as they were pulling into the bunker’s garage.
“Yeah, I think so.” Jack said while he bent over into the backseat to get his backpack.
Dean pushed open his door once Jack had his backpack in hand. “Okay, just let me know if you need my help with anything.”
“I will, thanks, Dad.”
~~
Jack wanted to keep it subtle at first but to do that he needed a plan.
He followed Sam around for two days and tried to figure out everything he was doing on a daily basis. Jack kept track of what Sam looked like he enjoyed doing and what he didn’t like, what tasks made Sam have to sit down and what Jack could do to help.
“Let me,” Jack said the next day when Sam was about to start loading up the dishwasher. Jack got up and grabbed the next plate from the table, placing it in the bottom drawer of the dishwasher.
“What?” Sam asked, a little surprised but stepped away from the open dishwasher.
Jack quickly filled it up with the dishes from dinner before adding a dishwasher tablet and turning it on.
Sam looked at him with an amused smile, ruffing Jack’s hair when he was finished. “Thank you, bud.”
“No problem, mom.” Jack smiled at the praise, glad that the first step in his plan was working.
~~
Sam’s reaction was bolstering up Jack’s resolve and he started to take over more things at home. Jack tried to diligently pick up after himself, to make sure that Sam didn’t have to bend over so much with his belly so big now.
Jack had vacuumed their place yesterday and was now thinking about what he could do today. He knew that there was laundry to do and the bathroom to clean but he didn’t know if he was qualified to do that (or if he really wanted to).
Sam was out on a walk with Miracle even after Jack had offered to do it, but Sam had insisted that the fresh air would be good for him and that walking made the ache in his back a little better.
So there Jack was, standing in the bathroom where the cleaning supplies were stored.
“What are you doing?” Dean asked, startling Jack out of his thoughts.
“I- uh,” Jack said and looked at Dean with some trepidation. “There is laundry and the bathroom to clean but I don’t know how.”
“You don’t have to do that.” Dean replied with confusion.
“I know but I want to help Sam and take on some of the chores. He can’t bend over that well and he shouldn’t lift that heavy, right?”
Jack could see the realization dawn on Dean’s face and it quickly turned from confusion to guilt. “Shit, I didn’t even-”
“So yeah I want to help him but I don’t really know how to do either.” Jack said and continued to stare at the cleaning supplies.
Dean stayed silent for a few seconds before he shook his head lightly, throwing Jack a smile afterwards. “Okay, how about you fill up the washer with towels and underwear and like dishrags and stuff. I’ll show you what settings to use.”
“Okay,” Jack agreed, glad his Dad was helping him with this.
He grabbed the laundry basket from the bathroom before making his way to the washing machine. Jack tried his best to sort out the items to put in the washing machine and the rest back into the laundry hamper.
Jack walked through their place one last time to pick up any stray washing before he called for Dean. He was fairly certain he knew what should be washed together but it was kinda too late now anyway.
His dad took a few moments before he rounded the corner, his sleeves pushed up and hair a mess. Dean stopped next to Jack, looking a little lost and overwhelmed.
“What did you do?” Jack asked with a little chuckle.
“Don’t laugh!” Dean said but couldn’t keep a smile off his own face. “You can clean the can the next time if-”
“Okay, okay, sorry.” Jack had to try hard to keep from laughing while he conceded. “What do I do next then?” He asked with a little giggle to try and steer the conversation back to Jack’s task.
Dean sighed with a grin before explaining the next steps. “Next you open the compartment for the detergent…”
..
Jack was able to get the laundry started with Dean’s help and the machine was happily rumbling when Sam came back with Miracle.
Jack fell to his knees when Miracle saw him and ran up to the nephilim. “Heeeeey puppy,” he greeted the dog and pushed his hands in Miracle’s mane, ruffling the fur and snuggling into the dog.
Miracle’s tail was thumping happily as Jack gave him all the belly rubs he wanted. It was a daily occurrence by now and Jack loved this dog so much he was looking forward to his greeting every day.
The nephilim got lost in playing with the dog until Sam came back into the room a few minutes later.
“Did you start the washing machine?” Sam asked, interrupting Jack.
“Yeah,” Jack said, looking up and smiling at Sam.
“And the bathroom?”
“That was dad, I don’t think he trusts me with the bleach.” Jack smiled sheepishly.
“Hmhm,” Sam hummed and looked thoughtful for a moment before he smiled and turned back around.
Jack was about to ask if something was wrong but Miracle barked and demanded his attention again, distracting Jack quickly away from his previous thoughts.
~~
Jack found new tasks almost daily, but there were two things left on Jack’s list that he wanted to do for Sam and he was sure today would be the perfect day to do them. Well one of the things was to cuddle more with Sam and that was just as much to Jack’s benefit as it was to Sam’s but his mom didn’t need to know that.
Sam was out today with aunt Rowena for some kind of baby check-up and it was Saturday so Jack didn’t have school. He had gotten up at nine in order to get everything done he wanted to do and was ready to tackle his plans.
He and Dean had started on the nursery a week ago but got distracted and now was the perfect time to finish it. They had already painted it with a basic beige-ish color and one wall a warm yellow. Jack knew what the gender of the baby was but he also knew that his parents wanted to keep it a surprise till the birth so they went with a neutral color scheme.
Jack had found some stencils at the store that they had picked out the color and he was planning on painting them on the walls with the yellow paint to make the room more inviting and colorful. He had pulled out the paint and was just taping the stencil to the wall when Dean joined him in the nursery, wanting to start on the furniture.
After two hours Jack had painted geometric shapes all over the cream walls, making sure that they didn’t end up too cluttered or sparse. While he still had the paint out he sidled up to Dean who was scratching a devil’s trap and other protective symbols into the crib.
“Anything else I should paint?” Jack asked, holding up the paintbrush.
“There’ll be a mat in front of the door, so maybe another devil’s trap underneath where it will go?” Dean suggested, pointing to a spot in front of the open doorway.
Jack nodded before moving over and grabbing a smaller paintbrush. He tried really hard to concentrate on the design he had seen and drawn a hundred times over the past few months. It wasn’t super easy but he was pretty proud of the smaller yellow devil’s trap that adorned the floor when he stepped back after finishing his last stroke of paint.
“That’s perfect, Jack.” Dean praised him when he stopped next to the nephilim, clapping him on the shoulder.
“Thanks, Dad. But you know I won’t let anything happen to the baby, they’ll have to go through me.” Jack said with certainty, letting his eyes glow golden for a second.
Dean's smile softened and he ruffled Jack’s hair. “I know, son but we can never be too careful, can we?”
Jack shook his head quickly while he vowed to himself that he would protect his little sibling and that there would never be any need for the symbols and other protections they had added to the nursery.
..
It took them a good couple more hours to put together the rocking chair and changing station and everything else that Sam and Dean had gotten for the baby. By the late afternoon the room looked perfect and had everything a baby could want or need.
Jack looked proudly at the room, knowing he helped and that he had put a little bit of his grace in as many things as he could.
He had just pulled the door closed behind him when he heard Sam greet Dean in the kitchen. Dean had wanted to start on their dinner early since Sam most likely would be hungry when he got back and Jack was a growing nephilim who could eat all the time.
Jack joined his parents in the kitchen just in time to see them pulling away from each other.
“You can kiss, you know. I just don’t want to see more.” Jack reminded them before opening the fridge and pulling out a can of ice tea.
Sam chuckled and pulled Jack in for a quick side hug, pressing a quick kiss to his curls.
“How’s the baby?” Jack asked, muffled against Sam’s side.
“Great, growing just like it’s supposed to. Won’t be long now, I feel like the time is just flying by.” Sam replied and stepped back towards the kitchen table. He picked up a piece of paper or something and held it out towards Jack.
Jack took it and stared at the small picture for a few seconds before he realised what he was holding. He had researched this, he knew that he was holding a sonogram of his little sibling.
“Oh, wow,” he said as he traced the baby in the picture. It was a bit odd looking but it was quite clearly a baby, a baby that was gonna be his brother or sister.
Jack looked up again, smiling at Sam as he handed the picture back. “I can’t wait,” he said and really meant it.
~~
A few hours later Sam was slumped on the couch, almost laying on his side and his belly supported by a small stack of pillows. Miracle was sitting near Sam’s feet on a dog bed on the ground.
Jack took the opportunity to sidle up to Sam while Dean was in the shower.
“Hey, buddy,” Sam greeted him warmly and immediately slung an arm around the boy, pulling him closer.
“Mom, I didn’t mea-” Jack started but was stopped by Sam pulling him even closer.
“You’re not subtle when you want to cuddle and you know I’ll never turn it down anyway.” Sam said with a soft tone and a smile.
“Yeah, okay,” Jack conceded and scooted closer, laying his head on Sam’s shoulder.
“You know, that I love having you close, right? It’s not just about the baby all the time, okay?” Sam asked, turning a little more towards him.
Jack nodded, looking at Sam with big, earnest eyes. He knew that, of course he did. His parents loved him even as they were preparing for the new baby and Jack was just as excited as they were. But he had to admit to himself that he liked being the center of their attention and feeling extra loved sometimes.
“And Jack?” Sam asked, waiting for Jack to nod again.
“I love what you’ve been doing lately, the help with the chores and the taking care of me but I don’t want you to feel pressured to do it. Your dad can and should help me with most of those things, not you.” Sam said and kept a firm grip on Jack’s arm, to keep him close by.
“I know, mom. But I want to help you and the baby.” Jack replied, trying to sound sincere and firm without sounding petulant or whiny.
Sam pressed a soft kiss to Jack’s hair in response. “Okay, that’s good, just wanted you to know that.”
Jack smiled softer now, glad Sam was accepting his help. He tried to concentrate on the TV show that was playing but he was far too comfortable, pressed close to his mom and he snuggled in Sam’s arms, one hand falling down to his belly. Jack could feel his little sibling even without really concentrating on it and he vowed that he would be the best big brother he could be, no matter what.