Chapter Text
Dean and his mom didn’t get along well, not with the drugs and abusive boyfriends. But when he got the call that his mom was killed, and he needed to go meet with CPS. Dean’s so lost, he didn’t even know his mom was pregnant.
A loud thud was heard over the six am news Roman and Seth were watching.
“Dean? Are you okay?” Seth called as he locked eyes with Roman. When no answer came, both of them jumped up from the couch and dashed down the hallway to Dean’s room.
Seth bursted through the door to Dean’s room and found everything knocked around and messed up with a new fist-sized hole in the wall. Dean sat on the floor, knees pulled up to his chest, rocking, and hyperventilating.
“Dean!” Seth gasped as he moved to be in front of Dean. Roman kneeled beside him.
“Sweetheart, what's wrong?” Roman asked calmly, but his face was etched in concern.
Dean looked up, and he spoke, brokenly.“It’s my mom.”
“Is she sick or something?” Seth asked, ever the optimist, now kneeling like Roman, by Dean.
“She was in a car accident, she- Fuck, she died,”
Seth gasped as he took Dean’s hand in his. “O-oh… I’m so sorry,”
“I have to go to the hospital to identify the body; apparently, she was late-term pregnant, and even though she died, the baby didn’t I-I guess. I thought that was just stuff that happened on TV.”
Seth looked to Roman. “Well, we’ll go with you. Right?”
“Yeah, let me get my keys.”
When they got to the hospital, Dean had somewhat calmed down, tears trying tacky on his face. They got to the right floor after Seth had to ask the front desk for directions. They met a lady in a white coat by the elevator.
“Mr. Ambrose?” She asked.
Dean nodded.
“My name's Renee and I'm with the Medical Examiners office. I'm going to walk you through identifying, then CPS will meet you upstairs.”
Seth and Roman stayed close by Dean, resisting the want to shield him from what was about to happen.
When Dean entered the morgue, it was cold and harsh, he just wanted to go home or upstairs to see the infant.
“Are you ready?” Renee asked.
When Dean didn't answer, Roman squeezed his shoulder.
Dean blinked himself out of his haze.“What?”
Seth answered. “She asked you if you’re ready.”
“Yeah, I guess,”
“All I need you to do is tell me if this is Harley Lee Ambrose. Okay?” Renee lifted the cloth covering his mom’s face.
Her face was bloody and bruised, she didn’t look like his mom anymore, but the scar on her eyebrow and the neck tattoo told him different.
Dean squeezed his eyes shut, willing the feeling of nothing to go away.“Yes, that’s her.”
She lowered the cover back over her face.“Thank you, I have all I need. Take all the time you need.” She left the room swiftly.
Dean backed away, shaking Roman's hand off his shoulder and walking out the door.
Seth moved to follow but Roman stopped him, touching his arm.“ Give him a sec.”
“I don’t want him to leave, Ro.”
Roman nodded, understanding Seth’s worry.
They left the morgue.
Seth wanted to reach for Roman’s hand but didn't as they walked down to a sitting area, hoping to find Dean there. He wasn't.
They sat on a couch. Seth dropped his head down onto Roman's shoulder, but immediately picked it back up and scooted farther away from Roman, remembering they were still in public.
After a few minutes, Seth asked. “Do you think he’s alright?”
“I don’t know, what about the baby?”
“I don’t know either.” Seth said solemnly.
Roman stood.“We probably should find him.”
They walked around all the places they thought Dean might be, but no luck then Seth got an idea.
“What if we go look upstairs?”
“Yeah, if he’s not there, we might have to get the truck.”
They found Dean signing papers with a man named Carlito.
“Dean, man, what are you doing?” Roman asked.
“Are these your roommates?”
“Oh no w-” Seth started.
“Yes, these are my roommates, Seth and Roman.” Dean spoke over Seth.
“Nice to meet you, I’m sorry about the circumstances.”
“Thanks ‘Lito.”
“Wha-” Seth started again.
“Seth, I told you about this. Here. Papers. I need you to sign these.” Dean pointed to a stack of paper.
Roman whispered, “Just go with it, it can’t be that bad.”
They both signed consent forms for background checks and household disclosure hesitantly.
“Alright, Y’all are good to go. My associate will perform the house visit and if that and the background checks are good then she's in your custody. For emergency placement then, after court, we’ll see about permanent placement.” Carlito rose from his chair, and Dean did the same.
“Thank you so much.” Dean said, shaking Carlito’s hand.
“I’m sorry we’re meeting under these circumstances.” Carlito spoke with sincerity.
Seth and Roman both shook his hand as well, muttering thank yous. Dean then led them out of the office.
“Let’s go meet our daughter.”
“Our? Dean, what the hell did I just sign?” Seth asked, clearly confused.
“I just got temporary custody of my sister.” Dean said nervously, chewing on his fingernails.
“You what?” Seth yelled and got a few stares from the other people in the hospital. He then led them to a secluded hallway.
“Dean, you can’t just do that. How in the world did he let you adopt a damn baby?” Seth asked.
“I told him that I wanted to keep her and I said y’all lived with me. Even though Ro doesn't, he's over enough. I couldn't imagine her going through what I went through.” Dean said all in one breath. His face, bright red.
“Dean, please breathe.” Roman said with a look of concern.
Dean crossed his arms, half hugging himself. “Y-you don't have to help with anything.”
“What? Dude, No, I’ll help with whatever food, clothes, whatever.”
“I’ll help too, okay?” Roman looked around, making sure no one was watching then, pulled both men into a hug.
“You don’t have to, I’ll figure it out.”
Seth leaned into Dean.“Dean, we want to.”
“O-okay, you guys are the best.” Dean said after a moment of hesitation, wiping his eyes on his tank top.
“Let’s go see her, do you have the room number?” Seth asked Dean.
“Yeah, room 316 in the NICU. They said ‘it’s just a precaution’ cause mom died and she was a known drug user.”
Roman and Seth shared a knowing look. They had to prepare for Dean to lose his shit and soon.
They walked to the room after checking in with the nurses station. Flashing their id’s and smiling gets you far when you look like them. Seth still had to convince the nurse that it was him on the id and not some fifteen year-old girl.
They had to show their id’s again to another nurse before getting let through.
When they got to the room and washed their hands, they saw the most precious baby girl in a clear bin.
“Can we hold her?” Dean asked the nurse in the room.
“Yes, one at a time.” Beth, the nurse, said firmly but still kind.
“Dean, why don’t you go first?” Seth asked, eyes locked onto the baby.
“O-okay.” Dean sat on the chair where the nurse told him.
Beth picked up the calm baby and gently handed her to Dean, who was in tears again.
“Hi, babygirl. Did my mom give her a name?”
“No.” She paused, then continued, with a sad look on her face.
“I’m so sorry for your loss. I’ll go get the doctor so she can speak with you.” Beth said as she stepped out of the room, waving at someone then stepping back in.
“She’ll be in soon.”
Roman and Seth stood by Dean’s side.
“She’s perfect, can I touch her?” Roman asked Beth.
“Just for a second.” Beth smiled warmly.
He touched her hand and she grabbed onto his finger, he melted at the touch but pulled back reluctantly, not wanting to break the rules.
“You're serious about helping?” Dean asked.
“Yeah, of course. We want to be there for you and her.” Seth said as he laid his head on Roman’s shoulder, staring at the baby, forgetting the nurse was still in there.
There was a knock on the open door, and a short, dark haired woman walked in as Seth jerked his head back from Roman's shoulder.
“Hello, my name is Dr. Mickie James, and I just wanted to go over the care for the baby.”
“How is she? Is she alright?” Dean asked, having somewhat calmed down.
“She’s stable right now, which is more than we hoped for, and I expect her to go home in about a week if she keeps her weight up and is feeding well.”
“Really? She’ll get to go home that soon?” Dean asked.
“Yes, she should be ready, once the placement is officially approved. Do you have any questions? I know it’s been a hard day.”
“What do we feed her, like what formula?” Seth asked, clueless, they all were.
“I’ll give you a list of everything you’ll need for her and a list of books that’re useful.” Dr. James said with a sympathetic tone in her voice.
“Okay, thank you so much, doctor,” Roman said, silver eyes still looking at the now sleeping baby.
“I can’t think of any other questions. Do y’all have any more?” Dean asked.
“No, I think my brain is fried.” Seth said as Roman shook his head.
“Alright, I’ll have someone be in with that list, and visiting hours are from 8-7. Nice meeting y’all.” The doctor said as she left the room.
Nurse Beth came back in and explained what they need and answered any questions they have. They had also decided to wait on the birth certificate to think about the name. By the time that was all done, it was noon, and they were all starving. Now that they all had a lot to get done in a few days.
“Where do y’all want to eat, and then we have a lot of shopping to get done to get ready for the baby?”
“What about the diner?” Dean asked, sitting in the middle back seat.
“That’s good with me. Ro?”
“Yeah, that’s fine,” Roman said as he started the truck after a few tries then pulled out of the parking lot.