Like Any Other Day—Chapter 4

Author's Note: I know nothing of the ARBOR HILLS NATURE PRESERVE in Plano, Texas…never been there…everything described is just how I envisioned it…All I know is that it is a real place…a huge THANK YOU to everyone who has read my fic and took the time to review, especially Edy12345 and an unnamed Guest—you know who you are! You are the cabbage to my cole slaw and the peaches in my pie! The description of the toddler's gait came from The Pokey Little Puppy—I must have read that book a billion times when my kids were small—it is, above and beyond all else, my favorite Little Golden Book and I will treasure those moments until the day I die…

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Now, when Dean Winchester says he's gonna take a drive, he takes a drive. In the Impala was where he truly felt like himself—the demon-hunting, Sammy-watching, ghost-burning hunter extraordinaire he had been since as long as he could remember. Add 'baby-making' to that description, he thought…his emotions ran a wide gamut of experience, and often he would find himself speeding up when they started to overwhelm him. A baby? A BABY? In the bunker? A baby in a bunker? This is nuts, he thought to himself…what am I gonna do? I'm gonna be a father, that's what I'm gonna do…Time to be responsible…Oh, God, I have to be a role model…some little kid is gonna be watching every move I make and trying to imitate me. Maybe it'll be a girl—oh, no—PLEASE don't let it be a girl—it would be poetic justice, I guess…He smiled to himself, picturing the day 15 years from now when some punk kid comes to the front door looking to date her…

If the bunker doesn't scare him away, maybe the holy water mixed with borax and a quick splash in the face will…

((Dean opens door.))

Potential Boyfriend: "Hi." ((Splash—hopefully it ends there and he runs away)) "I'm here for Rebecca."

DaddyDean: Dammit. ((Silently opens the front door wider, never abandoning his stare of the boy who is attracted to his daughter.))

Potential Boyfriend: ((Timidly walks over the threshold.)) Well, there's pass #1…

DaddyDean: ((Looks outside for his car.)) If it's a Toyota, he's outta here…((Sees a '71 Roadrunner)) Alright, he gets a second pass…for now….((closes door behind potential boyfriend, deliberately slamming it))

Potential boyfriend: ((Sees weapons of all kinds at the bottom of the stairs))

DaddyDean: ((Says nothing.)) There's 446 ways to cut your dick off in here.

Potential boyfriend: ((Smiles nervously)) I think I like my dick where it is…thank you.

DaddyDean: ((Smiles back…for a second…resumes intimidating stare))

Daughter: "Daddy, is he here?"

Dean blinked himself out of his reverie when he thought of a child calling him 'daddy.' Daddy. For the 705th time today, he lost his breath, and the nausea returned. He looked up through the windshield and saw a sign that said: ARBOR HILLS NATURE PRESERVE, Plano Texas, and decided that he should take a pee break and head back to Kansas…

He opened the car door and relished in the familiar sound of the squeak it made. Closing it behind him, he emitted a groan as he stretched his stiff legs and strolled over to a split-rail fence and rested his foot on the lower beam. It was early June and the trees danced with the breeze that caressed them. A small lake glimmered in front of him and he smiled as a duck and her young swam by. The air was crisp and refreshing and carried the scent of campfires that continued to smolder even after the flames were extinguished. He closed his eyes, lifted his face and allowed the sun to warm it for a moment. It was a good idea to take a drive. Most of the time, it allowed him regain the clarity and peace of mind he needed in moments of confusion—he used it a lot when Sam was sick even though he was in the passenger seat beside him…

Apparently, God thought he needed a little more encouragement.

He opened his eyes quickly when he heard a squeal behind him. His hackles went up and he felt his heart rate increase. Showtime—in the middle of the fucking day in a family park…HunterDean emerged and was ready to engage and rip apart whatever it was—it was shrill and screetchy and high pitched, and…

Two feet tall.

And cute as hell.

A tiny blond toddler ran from behind the restrooms, his legs wildly carrying him in a roly-poly, pell-mell, tumble-bumble unsteady stride. His striped t-shirt and blue overalls were a little too big for his frame and threatened to fall off his shoulders with each abrupt step he took. Dean's interest continued to pique as he watched a chubby guy chasing after him, pretending to be a monster. When he caught up with the child, he seized him with both hands and hoisted him in the air, eliciting yet another squeal with peals of laughter and giggles…

Dean smiled. The man caught sight of him and waved as the still-giggling child wrapped his wee arms around the bigger man's neck. He headed towards Dean, wiping his brow with a faded red bandana.

"How are ya?" The man greeted, extending his hand.

"Great," Dean responded kindly, returning the gesture. "That's a handsome boy ya got there."

"Yes, he is." The child, no more than two, glanced at Dean and then hid his face in the man's collar. He had long gray curly hair and a beard that matched it. His jeans were well-worn, as was the denim shirt that fit snuggly around his impressive beer belly and work boots. "I waited for him for a long time. Never thought we'd have any. He's been a blessing since we knew he was coming."

"Congratulations."

"You have any?"

Dean cleared his throat and broke eye contact with the stranger. "Ah-Not yet. Soon." Fucking nausea…

Noticing the absence of a wedding ring on the younger man's finger, the man nodded. "A bit of a surprise, then?"

Taken back by the man's candor, Dean thought, You know, why not? I'll never see him again…he nodded and tried to fake a smile.

The man smiled back as if he knew exactly what Dean was thinking. "Scared shitless, huh?"

"You could say that."

The man continued to grin, even through Dean's apparent discomfort. "'Name's Bob."

"Dean."

"Lemme tell ya somethin' Dean," Bob started, "There ain't nothin' in the world that'll fill you up the way your own kid does. I brag about him to everyone I meet. I might be old, I might be worn, and I've seen more world on my bike than most sailors in a lifetime, but I can tell you, ain't nothin' to compare when you hold 'em for the first time and they look atcha like you're made a' gold. Put all that shit you got going on up there to rest, son, everything 'll be fine."

Dean smiled and extended his hand again. "Thank you."

"Any time."

Bob turned and headed down a nearby path, holding the child once again above his head and giggling along with him. Dean watched until he couldn't see them anymore, then decided he should get back home before nightfall…