Who: Linda and Dean and their kid What: meeting their future kid Where: Off Broadway Taproom When: future kids plot (will update date closer) Warnings: probably some swearing Status: closed/g-doc
Linda found herself with a longer lunch break than usual, as her last appointment of the day canceled due to an illness. So, she decided on a burger at Off Broadway Taproom for a burger and a beer. Did she need a beer? No, of course not. But, she felt a craving for one, and it wouldn’t impact her work, since she had no more appointments the rest of the day, just a bunch of paperwork.
She found a seat at the bar and smiled at the bartender once he noticed her. “Could I grab whatever red ale you have on tap? And a cheeseburger with onion” but she found herself interrupted by a child who seemed to have suddenly appeared and stood right by her. “Are you alright?” And then the child said, rather dramatically, “No. You were supposed to pick me up. It was a half day at school and neither of you showed up. So, I had to walk here by myself Mommy.” To the bartender she said, “And she doesn’t parent alone, Daddy.”
Linda stared at the child then at the bartender, then back at the child. At least she didn’t have a drink, or she might have spilled it in shock. “Are you looking for your Mommy?” The child stared at her and said, “Not funny Mommy. You’re never this mean to Charlie.” Okay, Linda’s head began to hurt. “Maybe change the beer for a Coke?”
It was a slow day at work and Dean was on double duty, working as both the bartender and behind the grill as well. It was never too busy and he always managed to handle both tasks just fine. There were only two other patrons in the bar when an older woman took a seat at the bar. He moved over to take her order and noticed the child walking in as he did so. It was definitely an odd sight, but he figured the kid belonged to the woman and he just brushed it off.
When the woman cut herself off to pay attention to the young girl, Dean watched the exchange with a raised brow. When the girl referred to him as daddy, he couldn't help the laugh that spilled from his lips. "Alright, kiddo. I'm going to have to ask you to leave now. I think you've already had too much to drink." He joked to his amusement, his smile fading though as the girl just stood there, arms across her chest in a huff, practically glaring daggers at him.
"That's not very funny. You need better jokes, daddy."
"Okay, did Sam put you up to this? How much is he paying you?"
"You mean Uncle Sam?"
Dean had seen this woman in passing before, but they didn't even know each other by name. Plus, he hadn't even been in town long enough to have a daughter, who appeared to be about six or so.
"This isn't your kid?" He asked Linda, staring at the girl in awe.
Linda stared for a moment. “I still need the Coke.” And she would not mind a splash of rum. How should she answer? “Why don’t you tell me the names of your mommy and daddy?” That should hopefully buy both her and the bartender a minute or so.
The little girl looked positively livid as she replied “My mommy is Linda Martin. You. You work as a therapist and help people who need somewhere safe to talk about their feelings. And my daddy is Dean Winchester, who is currently behind the bar. And no, Uncle Sam didn’t put me up to this. Neither did Auntie Maze.”
Well fuck. Linda could at least help the girl into a bar stool while the three of them talked. Because somehow she knew the little girl believed it, whether or not it was true.
Dean had completely forgotten about what she had asked for and just nodded, fumbling for a glass to fill. He set the glass down and filled it for Linda, pushing it over towards her. There was just no way in hell this was actually happening. How was it even possible? He glanced at Linda a little longer than he should have, trying to figure out if he would have ever slept with her. It was possible, yes, but also impossible because he would never cheat on Lisa. "I had sex with a therapist?" He blurted out with little thought, definitely surprised by such a revelation. "If you're supposed to be our daughter, why didn't you exist yesterday?"
The young girl stared at him blankly, clearly less than pleased with him, which wasn't at all surprising. "Why do you ask stupid questions?"
Dean blinked in surprise and looked at Linda. "She gets that from you, you know."
Linda liked sex and likes sex with attractive people. Dean fell into the attractive category, so she could see the two of them having sex, but she also felt fairly certain Dean had a partner. And one thing Linda never did? Help someone cheat. No. No thank you.
When he blurted out the whole sex with a therapist, Linda gave him some side eye. “Some of us enjoy sex, not unlike the average adult.” The little girl hadn’t stopped staring at Dean, not unlike the expression Linda wore.
“Damn straight she gets it from me.” To the little girl she asked, “What is your name?”
“Alexandra Martin-Winchester, although you and Daddy shortened it to Alex. Charlie is my half-brother.”
Linda returned her attention to Dean. “Charlie is my son.”
“What? I was just saying it like that because I would never set foot in a therapist’s office. Well, I mean, I have before, but that was because we needed to get information on her.” Dean rambled on, watching the girl closely. He had been about to say something when his phone vibrate in his pocket and he reached in to pull it out. He stared at the phone in awe, even more mystified than before. “That was my fiance asking me to come home early because we have a daughter, apparently.” It made more sense that he would have one with Lisa, especially because they were currently trying, and suddenly it clicked.
“Son of a bitch, this must be the work of the dome, yet again,” Dean groaned in frustration, quickly sending Lisa a text to let her know he would leave once someone else came in to work. “Are you hungry?” He said to Alex, turning then to Linda. “You can take her home, right? I don’t think it would look too good if I came home with some other woman’s daughter.”
“I will take a cheeseburger, please. With extra bacon!” Alex exclaimed cheerfully, smiling as she sat at the bar with her parents. “Also, you need to put money in the swear jar. You said bad words, daddy.”
Linda already assumed this had to do with the Dome. Because no way could she have a six year old with someone she only just met. “It’s okay. Therapy isn’t for everyone and I don’t do sessions during sex.” Linda figured saying the word was okay. Sex shouldn’t be an avoided topic, although obviously most kids didn’t want to consider their parents in that situation.
She laughed at the swear jar. “Now that does sound like something I would do. Pay up, Dad.” At the order, Linda smiled. “That sounds delicious.”
To Dean she said, “Yes, I can take her home, but this better not be an only me thing just because you’re engaged and avoiding the conversation with your fiancée.” Linda meant it, but then turned to the little girl. “What would you like to do after we eat, Alex?”
When Linda agreed that Dean should ante up, he looked at her with a raised brow and reached into his pocket to retrieve his wallet, pulling out a ten dollar bill to place on the counter. "I'm preemptively paying for the inevitable." He moved behind the counter and grabbed a glass to make Alex a Shirley Temple with extra cherries and set the glass in front of her. "I'm not avoiding it, It's just a little more complicated right now. Apparently, I have another daughter at home, so…" he just looked at Linda with a shrug, not sure what to do. "I will go ahead and get started on those burgers, be right back." He made his way to the kitchen and hurried about, grabbing two hamburger patties, some cheese and bacon from the fridge. Given that the kitchen was directly behind the bar, he could easily keep an eye out on them while he cooked.
"I don't know, mommy. Can we maybe get ice cream, or go to the park? I want to play on the slide!" Dean watched the young girl sip happily at her drink, practically bursting with energy. He returned to the bar about five minutes later with two plates of burgers and fries, setting them down in front of Linda and Alex. "The bacon is extra crispy and I even put three different kinds of cheese on the burger. I hope you like it."
“Why don’t we see how much of your burger you eat and if you still want ice cream afterwards. But we can definitely go play on the slide.” Linda watched as their daughter happily started to eat her burger. “You make the best burgers, Daddy!” She drank her Shirley Temple and added, “Thank you Daddy. You make the best drinks too!”
Linda watched her and returned her attention to Dean. “I understand. I have room and I’m sure Quentin and Maze will be happy to meet Alex.” She did look at him with some sympathy. “I’m sorry. I hope she understands. I assume this is the Dome in some fashion.” Linda bit into her burger and ate a few fries. “Yeah, you definitely cook a good burger.”
“Daddy, are you going to come play with us?” Linda thought about answering herself, but she thought it best if Dean answered. But, she did give him a sympathetic look.
Each time she called him daddy it was like a stab to the gut. She was so beautiful and bubbly that it was infectious and he couldn’t believe she was related to him. Then again, her life in Madison would have been far different than anything he knew as a child, so it made sense. “I’m glad you like my food, bubbles.” Dean looked at her with a playful wink and she looked up at him with a crooked grin.
“See! You know me, that’s what you always call me, bubbles!” The young girl giggled in delight, completely oblivious to the fact that her father had other children.
“I promise to get back to you soon, though. After I break the news. Alex can stay at my place for a few nights or whatever. I don’t know. I wish this wasn’t so damn complicated.” He grabbed the towel from behind the counter and started wiping it down, deep in thought. Maybe this wouldn’t even last that long and it would be over before he knew it. Didn’t mean he would feel any better, though. “Uh, no. Your mother and I don’t live together and I have to get home to my fiance. But, I will be seeing you again.”
“Oh,” she nodded her head, her mood obviously a little defeated upon hearing that.
Linda hated how their little girl deflated. And knew she felt as strongly for her as she did Charlie and Q. But Dean obviously wanted to try and do his best for everyone involved, something Linda couldn’t blame him for wanting.
“Why don’t we let your dad go home and you and I can have some Mom/daughter bonding time? And we can bug your Auntie Maze? Maybe pick up a couple games at Target?” Alex nodded, a little happier than before, but still a bit disappointed.
To Dean, Linda said, “It’ll be okay. But we’ll figure out something to work for everyone.”
“Yeah, Lisa didn’t really give me any specifics. If they happen to be around the same age, maybe they can hang out together?” Which, hopefully that would be the case since it would make things a little easier overall. “I promise I will be seeing you tomorrow, Alex, and we can do whatever you want, so you think about that.”
Sure, he would have to rearrange his schedule and move things around, but it would be worth it. She seemed to brighten up a little at the thought and nodded her head in acknowledgement. Dean grabbed a piece of paper from behind the bar and scribbled his number out on it, sliding it over to Linda. “That’s my number, in case you don’t already have it. Seriously, if anything happens, please don’t hesitate to call me.”
Linda thought the two kids bonding sounded great to her. “I’d be up for the kids spending time together.” Alex nodded, her face full of the ketchup she’d added to the burger. Some of it ended up in her mouth, at least.
“I will think about it, Daddy.” A few minutes later, and a good portion of the burger and fries gone from Alex’s plate, she said, “Okay Mom. Maybe no ice cream for a bit, but I want to go swing!” Linda accepted the phone number. “We’ll talk later, once you’ve had a chance to meet your kid with Lisa and let her know etc.” She smiled and gathered up their daugher.
“Bye Daddy!” Alex called out as Linda gathered up her belongings, happy she managed to devour her burger before Alex decided to leave.
“Bye Dean.”
Dean kept an eye on them while they finished up eating, talking to the person who had arrived to cover the rest of his shift for the evening. Once they were finished and ready to go he grabbed their plates to clean up, giving them both a wave and a smile. “Alright, have fun at the park and no talking to strangers. Stay safe!” He called out to them both, waiting until they had walked out before going to the back with the dirty dishes. He dropped them into the sink and hung up his apron before clocking out to head home to Lisa, so he could deal with his second child.