Chapter Text
Ramble on and now’s the time, the time is now to sing my song-
From the driver’s seat, Benny turns to Dean and lifts an eyebrow in question when Dean doesn’t react to the ringtone.
I’m goin’ ‘round the world, I’ve got to find my girl, on my way-
Dean ignores his partner’s irritated huff and begins to drum his hands on the dash. Letting his eyes fall shut, he sings along. He doesn’t give a damn if he is off key.
I’ve been this way for ten years, Ramble on-
“Brother, are you going to answer that?”
“Shut up it’s my favorite song.”
Gotta find the queen of all my dreams-
The chorus begins to repeat, and Dean finally relents. Swiping a thumb across the screen without looking at the caller ID, he gives Benny an unrepentant grin and answers it. “What’s up, bitch?”
“Dean Winchester, did you just call me a bitch?”
At the unexpected voice of his sister-in-law Dean fumbles the phone, dropping it in his lap. He curses at himself as he scrambles to pick it back up, and glances at the caller ID to see it isn’t Sam’s name on the display. He crams the phone back to his ear. “Oh hey, Jo. Uh… I thought it was Sam.”
Benny glances at him from the driver’s seat and snorts a soft laugh. Dean lifts his middle finger in a silent message for him to mind his own damn business. That only earns him another chuckle, but Benny turns his attention back to the road.
Jo’s voice is cheerful. “Yeah, I kinda figured. I’m the one who changed your ringtone settings.”
“And why would you do that, Joanna Beth?” Dean frowns and tries to remember when she would have gotten her hands on his phone. He has no memory of any situation in which she could possibly have had the chance. Devious woman.
“Because you are more likely to answer my calls that way,” Jo says sweetly.
That was normally true. While on duty, Dean doesn’t answer his phone for very many people, but Jo had recently moved up on his priority list. “That’s not fair,” he grumbles as he slips down in his seat and tries to ignore the burn in his cheeks from getting scolded in front of his partner. It's not like Benny can hear Jo's side of the conversation, but Dean knows and that’s bad enough. “I would have answered the phone for you even if I didn’t think it was Sammy calling.”
“What? Because I’m pregnant?” A less than delicate snort comes across the line and he can very clearly picture her rolling her big brown eyes at him. “Remind me to punch you the next time I see you. Which will hopefully be as soon as you get off work.”
Dean files the reminder away under not likely, and focuses on the important part of what she was saying. “Do you need something?”
“Bring me donuts.”
He blinks. There is a switch in his brain, and it is still set to Protective Older Brother, and he can’t quite flip it over to Delivery Boy. “I’m sorry?”
“Donuts, Dean. Chocolate. Cake. Donuts. With bacon sprinkles.”
Dean casts a wide-eyed what the hell do I do look at Benny who is busy watching where he is driving, and not paying attention. He slips further down in his seat, although he has no idea why since Jo isn’t actually present to glare holes through him. “Uh, I don’t think you can get bacon sprinkles on cake donuts-”
“Tell them I’m pregnant.”
“This is one of those crazy craving things, isn’t it?”
“Dean, if you start accusing me of being a crazy pregnant woman, so help me God, I will-”
He cuts her off quickly before she can vocalize a threat that she was likely to keep. “I didn’t say that! Jesus. I’ll get your damn donuts.”
“Thank you.” Her voice drips with satisfaction, and not for the first time Dean wonders what the hell his brother has gotten himself into by marrying Joanna Beth Harvelle.
Feeling a little safer now that she sounds pleased, Dean sits back up in his seat. “Why isn’t Sam getting your donuts? Shouldn’t he be playing delivery boy for you? This thing is his fault.”
"Well it's not completely his fault."
"That's gross," Dean deadpans. In his mind, Sammy and Jo will always be twelve and ten years old, and he does not want to think about them any other way. As far as he's concerned, the stork is delivering this damn baby to them.
Jo laughs at his discomfort, but then a sigh fills the airwaves between them. “He’s working on that damn Crowley case, and he’s going to be at the office late.”
Dean grimaces, and feels guilty on his brother’s behalf. He’s happy that Sammy is working on such a high profile case because it means extra money and hopefully a promotion, but it was really bad timing. His protective instincts rear their ugly head. “Don’t worry, Jo. You’ll be ok. I’ll get your donuts, and we’ll watch the game tonight.”
He shoots a quick glance at Benny again. He’d been planning on watching the game with him, but if his sister-in-law needed him-
Benny nods without taking his eyes off the road. A smile plays around his lips, and Dean relaxes at the silent acknowledgement.
He knows he made the right decision when he hears the tiny trace of relief in Jo’s voice. Anyone else would miss it, but he'd known her since she was in diapers, and he could always see past the tough girl mask she put on for everyone else. “Thanks, Dean. That sounds great. When do you think you’ll be here?”
They talk for a few more minutes, making arrangements for dinner. When Dean finally flips his phone shut, he lets out a small groan and bangs his head against the back of his seat. “She wants chocolate cake donuts. With bacon sprinkles. Is that an actual thing?” It sounds fucking delicious, and if he finds some he’s going to get extra for himself. “Where the hell am I going to find something like that?” He rolls his head back and forth against the seat’s headrest. “When Jo kills me, I’m coming back to haunt her ass for sending me on a wild goose chase.”
Benny flashes him one of his small secretive smiles. “Don’t you worry, none. I know a place.”
Dean twists his head just enough to see Benny out of the corner of his eye. “That sounds shady.”
Benny’s low, rumbling chuckle fills the car. “Naw, brother. It’s just a bakery that I’ve been to a few times.”
“You been perpetuating the Cops Love Donuts Myth?”
“Shut the hell up,” Benny bites off. “Cops do love donuts.”
Dean scoffs and shifts in his seat. “Not me.” He grins. “I prefer pie.”
“You’re abnormal, brother.”
Dean chuckles, but doesn’t argue. He shifts in his seat again and watches out the passenger window as Benny turns onto a side street with significantly less traffic. His smile fades as he watches buildings, cars, and pedestrians slide past. He knows Jo isn’t very far along in her pregnancy, but it really bothers him that Sam is leaving her alone like this. And isn’t the first trimester actually the most delicate time?
What if she falls? What if that monster dog of theirs jumps on her and injures her? He pulls out his phone and thumbs a message over the virtual keys.
Dean: Dude u need 2 take better care of my sister.
Sam: Is Jo ok??
Sam’s answer is so fast that Dean winces. He didn’t mean to worry him. He taps out another message quickly.
Dean: She’s fine. im going 2 watch the game with her 2nite.
Sam’s thankfulness is effusive, even through text, all his words spelled out and punctuated correctly. Dean shoots back a quick ur welcum, grinning when he gets back a you’re disgusting, dude. He tucks his phone into his shirt pocket, feeling a little better knowing that Sam’s aware that he’s a huge dumbass for leaving his wife home alone in the evenings. Dean is more than willing to hang out with Jo while Sammy gets his work done, but not without giving Sam shit for it.
He shifts in his seat again when the car pulls up to the curb. Dean blinks at the building in front of him in confusion. “Dude, why are we at a vacuum repair shop?”
Benny turns off the engine and bumps Dean lightly in the arm to get his attention. He jerks his head in the direction of the other side of the street.
Dean’s eyes slip past his partner to see a small shop with cupcakes painted in the windows. The sign over the door says Heavenly Delights. “Oh,” he says. Well that makes a lot more sense than a vacuum shop.
He shoots Benny a grateful look before getting out of the car. Once he’s standing on the curb he notices his partner hasn’t made a move to get out. Bracing a hand on the car’s roof, he leans down and looks through the open passenger door. “Gonna join me?”
Benny waves a dismissive hand. “You go on. I’ll wait here.”
“Want anything?” Dean asks.
He receives a lazy grin. “If they have those donuts Jo requested, I’ll take one.”
“Just one?” Dean teases.
Benny pats his belly, and his eyes twinkle with merriment. “Just one. Gotta watch my lady-like figure.”
Dean rolls his eyes and decides not to comment, instead straightening and shutting the door. He shifts his belt so his service weapon and radio sit more comfortably on his hip, then strides across the street.
When he pushes the door open, his presence is announced by the tinkle of a small bell. The scent of freshly baked sweetness rolls over him, and he stops in the doorway to take a deep breath. The smell of flour, baked bread, cinnamon, and other sweet scents that he can’t quite identify fill him as he takes a deep breath, and he can’t help smiling a little.
Dean isn’t surprised to see that the place is full of people. His view of the main counter is blocked by the line of customers, so he wanders over to a display case along the back wall to view what’s available.
He’s never seen so many types of pastries in one place. There are at least five different flavors of muffins, more cookies than he even knew existed (and he definitely wants to try that oatmeal cherry one), a rainbow of cupcakes and donuts. So many donuts.
His eyes widen at the variety. There are all the usuals, of course. Plain glazed, chocolate, maple bars, and the kind with pudding in the middle. But there are so many he’s never seen before.
Chocolate cinnamon, peanut butter cream, ginger spice, mango, strawberry daiquiri, and right there in the middle a shelf for bacon donuts.
And of course it’s empty. Dean huffs out a frustrated breath and glares at the display case.
“Looking for something specific, Officer?”
Dean startles, and turns to see that the rest of the customers have cleared out and he’s the only one left. The man who spoke leans on his arms on the counter, his blue eyes wide and curious below a mess of dark brown hair that looks like it’s never seen a comb.
Dean's fingers twitch at the sight of that hair. He's not sure if he wants to try and tame it, or make it worse. And what the hell? Where did that come from?
The man lifts a brow and cocks his head to the side when Dean doesn’t answer right away.
Realizing that he is staring, Dean coughs lightly to break the moment. “Uh,” he clears his throat again because his mouth is suddenly dry. The man makes him uncomfortable and he's not sure why. Dean drops his eyes from the man’s bright blue eyes, only to find his gaze centered on a pair of pink lips which quirk up in a smile, revealing pretty white teeth.
He has a great smile.
Dean tears his eyes away finally, turning to face the display case. “Uh, yeah,” he starts again. “I was hoping to get some of these bacon donuts, but you’re out.”
The man behind the counter leans over it so that he can look at the display. His mouth twists wryly. “Yeah, those ones are pretty popular. They go fast.” His voice is low and gravelly and rubs over Dean’s senses like... he stomps down on that thought.
Ignoring the twinge of interest he feels at the sound of the man’s voice, Dean sighs. It didn’t look like the ones that had been there were chocolate anyway. “Jo is probably going to eat me instead.”
“Joe sounds like a lucky man if he gets to eat you for dessert.”
That had Dean whirling back around to face the man behind the counter. It was a mistake because he got pinned by those pretty blue eyes again. And damn if the man didn’t look like a fuckin’ model when he smiled like that. There was mischief in that smile, a hint of suggestion that Dean couldn't possibly misinterpret. He feels heat bloom under his skin and mentally kicks himself for blushing like a girl just because of a nice smile.
“Uh, no, no, Jo is a girl.” And because he’s nervous for some unknown reason (at least a reason he refuses to admit to himself), Dean babbles on. “She’s little, but she’s pregnant and scary. And she wants chocolate cake donuts with bacon sprinkles, and I didn’t even know you could get any donuts with bacon on them. Trust the pregnant chick to know about that kind of stuff right?”
Something that looks suspiciously like disappointment flashes across the man’s face, but it’s gone so fast that Dean isn’t sure he really saw it. His smile is wide again and he glances behind him where Dean can hear what sounds like the banging of pots and pans. “A pregnant woman in need of a treat, huh?” he asks softly.
He straightens and holds up a finger in a gesture to wait. The motion brings Dean’s attention down, and he sees that the guy is wearing a bright red t-shirt that says Kiss the Baker in bold white lettering. For some reason the slogan makes Dean shift uncomfortably from one foot to another trying to ignore the sudden heat under his skin that he can’t (won’t) even try to explain. “I’m pretty sure we can do something about that.”
Before Dean can respond, the man disappears into the back. There’s a gap in the wall, and Dean can see the man pass through the kitchen to talk to someone. Voices drift out to him, but not loud enough for him to make out the words, even though he can clearly hear that one of the voices sounds irritated.
There’s a slam of metal against metal which makes Dean wince, but a few minutes later the blue eyed man comes back out smiling triumphantly. “Well, Officer,” he says brightly. “If you don’t mind waiting around for a little bit, we can get you some chocolate cake donuts with bacon sprinkles.”
Dean blinks at the man in surprise. “Really? You’d do that?”
“If I keep the cops happy, they’ll keep a closer eye on the place, right?” He runs a hand through his hair, leaving a white streak of flour behind that makes Dean want to pull out his phone and snap a picture because really, that’s just hilarious. “Besides, it’s probably not a good idea to displease a pregnant woman. She really might eat you."
Dean can’t help but laugh at the overly sincere fear in the man’s eyes. “Yeah, I’d rather deal with a happy pregnant chick."
“Is this your first child?”
Dean opens his mouth to correct him, but he’s interrupted by a short man with shaggy golden hair and cheerful brown eyes striding out of the kitchen. “Chocolate cake bacon donuts, ready to go!”
“That was quick,” Dean says as he eyes the pale blue box in the shorter man’s hands.
The newcomer grins at him. “The chocolate cake donuts were already done. Just had to add glaze and bacon.” Without taking his eyes off Dean, he leans over speaks to his taller co-worker. "Damn, bro. You weren't kidding. This guy is smokin’ hot!"
Dean feels his cheeks warm but doesn't comment. He knows what he looks like, and that's a reaction he'd been getting since he hit puberty. Instead he steps close to the counter and pulls his wallet out. "What do I owe you?"
"Ask for his digits as payment," Short and Blonde whispers loudly as he slips the box onto the counter. Then he gives Dean a mock salute and strolls back to the kitchen.
Blue eyes follow the man with an irritated glare before he turns back to Dean with a slightly embarrassed smile. "Sorry. He's always playing matchmaker. " He looks away and rings up the donuts. "That'll be five-fifty."
Dean frowns and looks up at the price bulletin over the counter. "Are you sure? That says-"
"I gave you a bit of a discount. Police officers and firemen get a special price. You know... as a thank you for your service."
Now Dean understands why Benny likes the place. "Oh, well... thanks." He lifts the box slightly to indicate what he’s thanking him for and begins to back towards the door.
The guy smiles again and raises one hand in a wave. “Be safe, officer. And take care of Jo.”
Dean grins. “I will.” And then he’s turning to walk outside. He blinks in the bright sunlight of the afternoon, and looks back at the shop front. Through the window he can see the guy talking to his short coworker again. For a moment he wonders if they’re talking about him. Then he shrugs and heads over to the car.
Benny grunts when Dean slides into the seat next to him. “Took you long enough.”
“They made these fresh for me,” Dean explains as he settles the box on his lap. A deliciously sweet and bacon-y scent is wafting up from it and his mouth begins to water.
“Is there enough in there for us?” Benny asks. He’s eyeing the box rather hungrily.
Dean lifts the box lid, and realizes that no matter how much he loves Jo, he is not going to pass up on one of these bad boys. He holds the box out to Benny, allowing him to pull out one of the treats. Then he grabs one for himself, smiling when he realizes it’s still warm.
The first bite is Heaven. “I think I’ve died,” Dean mumbles as he chews. Benny hums his agreement as he devours the rest of his donut.