A/N Righty ho. Background on this fic. Takes place during "Abandon All Hope" (can't remember the episode number). I for one was completely floored when Jo rejected Dean. I had three options here - either Jo is blind, gay, OR, she had a damn good reason for saying no. In this little oneshot, I tried to give her that damn good reason. And thinking about her rejecting him now.....it actually makes a lot of sense. Enjoy! Please review!

Disclaimer: If I owned Supernatural, Jo probably wouldn't have said no to him, and I wouldn't be writing this fic to begin with.

"If you follow me, I swear I'll tie you right back to that post. I'll call you later."

"No, you won't."

It's been close to three years since Jo last saw Dean Winchester. Three years since Dean left her standing alone in a bar after she'd been tied to a post by a possessed Sam. Three years since he left with no explanations. Three years since he said he'd call and Jo knew he wouldn't.

Jo doesn't hold it against him. Dean is a hunter like Jo is a hunter, and Jo knows his type. A small part of her had perhaps hoped Dean might turn out to be different, but he hadn't, and Jo was okay with that.

And now here they are in Bobby's kitchen three years later, and Dean's acting like no time has passed. Jo wonders how he can do that. She herself is three years older and three years smarter, and she can see in Dean's face that he has changed too.

Jo doesn't know where he's been or what he's done. She doesn't presume to understand how he's changed but she wishes he'd at least understand that she's not the same girl he met at the Roadhouse those three years ago.

Or maybe the problem is that he understands that too well, Jo thinks, because Dean's looking at Jo in an entirely different way that he ever has before. Jo has to smile, because seeing Dean now makes her nostalgic for the girl she used to be, the girl who would have been thrilled to have Dean's eyes on her that way.

"We might all die tomorrow," Dean says. It is likely, Jo agrees silently. "Time to eat, drink, and….make merry."

Jo grins because she can't believe Dean is really saying that. She wonders who would actually fall for this, but then she remembers that three years ago she probably would have. "You're not trying the 'last night on Earth' speech on me, are you?"

"No," Dean says too quickly. He laughs, and Jo does too because she knows he's lying. "But if I was….would it work?"

Jo sighs. She places her hand on his face and leans in until their lips are almost touching. "No," she says softly. Dean looks so shocked that Jo laughs again. Who does Dean Winchester think he is? Does he really expect all girls to still be head over heels for him after three years? "Sweetheart," Jo says to him, "if this is my last night on Earth, I'd like to spend it with a little thing I call self-respect."

Dean is three years too late. He had his chance with Jo when Jo was willing to give him a try. Dean let her down three years ago, a stinging disappointment Jo can't forget, even though she's long since moved past him.

She doesn't hold it against him. Dean's a good guy in his way. So Jo gives him a pat on the shoulder and goes to join her mother in the living room. And this time it's Dean who is left standing alone.