All You Did was Save my Life

Cramps

            “And how’re you doing with all this sweetie?” Ellen asked Dean as they sat at the kitchen table. Cas had fallen asleep shortly after Sam and Bobby had left and was lying on the couch. Ben had gone upstairs to play at Dean’s request so as not to disturb the angel.

            “Me? I’m fine,” Dean said, “I’m not the one having a baby.”

            “No, but you are the one trying to take care of Cas and Ben and your brother,” Ellen said, “You can’t keep everything inside you all the time Dean, it’ll drive you crazy.” Dean opened his mouth to respond, but before he could there was a cry from the other room. Dean and Ellen rushed into the room and saw Cas sitting up, clutching his stomach.

            “Dean!” he gasped, reaching his hand out.

            “Cas? Cas, what’s wrong?” Dean asked, taking Castiel’s hand, “Cas, talk to me.” Cas cried out again in pain, wrapping one hand around his distended abdomen.

            “Dean it hurts!” he gasped, “Please! Make it stop!”

            “Shhh, it’s okay Cas,” Dean pulled the angel close, “It’s gonna be okay.” He looked up at Ellen who was looking just as hopeless as he felt.

            “I’m not fine,” he said quietly to her. She immediately sat down next to Cas, putting her hand on his back.

            “Cas, sweetie what hurts?” she asked.

            “I– I don’t know,” he said, “It– it–” He cried out again, leaning heavily against Dean.

            “Cas, can you lean back and lift up your shirt for me please?” she said and Dean help him lean back. Cas tried to curl in on himself again, his hands clutching his abdomen.

            “Come on Cas, you gotta let Ellen have a look at you,” Dean said, grasping Castiel’s hands and gently removing them.

            “Dean it hurts!” Cas cried as Dean held him.

            “I know baby, but just try to relax while Ellen helps you,” Dean murmured. Ellen lifted his shirt up and gently probed Cas’ stomach.

            “Cas, are the pains coming and going?” she asked.

            “No,” he gasped out, “It’s constant, it won’t stop!”

            “Is he losing it?” Dean asked Ellen, watching as continued to probe Cas’ prominent baby bump.

            “I don’t believe so,” Ellen assured him, “He’s not bleeding; I think it might be cramps.”

            “Cramps?” Dean asked, “Like when you run for too long? But why is he hurting so bad?”

            “When a woman is pregnant she can get cramps as her body adjusts,” Ellen explained, “Cas is an angel in a male vessel so his body is trying to adjust not only in a way a male body usually wouldn’t, but it has to adjust to the baby’s Grace.”

            “How do you know all this?” Dean asked in shock.

            “Sam and Bobby explained to me about the baby being half-human/half-angel,” Ellen explained, “They said it has a Grace so it makes sense that he’d have to try and adjust to that too.” Dean looked down at Cas who was writhing in his arms, tears streaming down his face.

            “Is there any way we can make it stop?” Dean asked desperately.

            “Hang on,” Ellen said, getting out her phone, “Bobby? … Listen, d’you have any heat packs? … No? Alright, I’m gonna have to run out and get some … Let’s just say that the sooner you guys find an angel to help Cas the better.” Ellen hung up and picked up her keys.

            “Dean, I’m gonna run to the store and grab some heat packs,” she said, “They should help a bit with the cramps. Will you boys be okay until I get back?”

            “We’ll be alright,” Dean said, though his voice shook as he spoke. Ellen nodded her head and left. Dean looked down at the angel in his arms and kissed the top of his head.

            “We’ll be fine,” he repeated.