Written by: Casper

AN: Written for my AU Big Bang, this story is set before any of Season Four happened. Some of this was betaed (Thank You, Scarlite), some of it not (my fault) so I apologize for any mistakes.

Rated: M (for future sexual situations, language and violence)

Disclaimer: I do not own Supernatural or any of its characters. Unfortunately.

House of Falling Cards

PROLOGUE

· · ·

The ticking clock counted down how long she'd been standing at the train station's entrance. Normally, a bus would have sufficed or even a cab ride. Unfortunately, finding little money after being fired right on the spot for the mess in Duluth had Jo Harvelle slumming it with little to no money. It wasn't like back home, where she could have looted on a few cocky hunters' money from a few hands of poker. There were others far more superior at the trade then her school games. And they were just as deadly as the demons she and others hunted.

Not to mention it kind of hurt the ego when you were getting yelled at in front of everyone while trying to nurse a head injury. She had half a mind to tell her ex-boss to shove it up his ass when she spotted his daughter coming down in wonder of all the yelling.

Taking out what she had made on tips and whatever else she had from her pocket, she plopped it down on the counter and walked out without so much as a backward glance.

It would cover the damage to the bar as well as the window Sam had broken.

Sighing, she snapped out of her thoughts and looked back up to the clock where the thick hand slid just below the twelve lying by its slimmer brethren. Midnight.

"No time like the present." With her bag of belongings in one hand and a backpack secretly lined with her knife collection, she went inside and bought herself a one way ticket to South Dakota.

A quick stop at the small newspaper stand, she grabbed a few headlining papers along with two Pepsis and a few bags of junk food and she was off to catch her train.

'Hopefully Bobby won't have too much of a heart attack when he sees me on his doorstep,' Jo mused, leaning in the semi-comfortable velvet red seats.

· · ·

The smell of alcohol smothered the motel room like someone had doused it in whiskey and bourbon. Jo threw her bags down by the nightstand as she checked out the room. Though she technically wasn't a fully fledged hunter – yet – it was stupid to not know you were in danger.

After securing a flimsy looking window in the bathroom and the two out in the bedroom area, she pulled out a can of salt and started to work on the door and window sills.

When that was done, she investigated the bathroom's supplies. The towels were, of course, scratchy like the maids didn't know the word "softener" and the complementary soaps smelled like crap and suspiciously half used. Yeah, she picked a fine one. Chucking the soaps out, she went to her bag and pulled out her own freshly washed towel and two bottles filled with scented shampoo and body wash. No conditioner, she thought dejectedly.

The hair would suffer but she didn't have a lot of choices. It was either starve or have some bad hair days until money came in.

Thankfully, the hot water came and stayed on without any problems. Using her lavender soap, she washed up and quickly washed out the dirt from traveling out of her hair then got out.

Tomorrow morning she would catch a connecting bus that would put her right outside of Bobby's town. There she could simply walk it.

Wrapping her light blue towel around her body, she tucked the corner in and padded out into the bedroom. She picked out a pair of sweatpants and a black tank and dressed. The towel wrapped around her hair, she crawled into bed.

· · ·

The bus had been a mistake. Idiot, Jo thought mentally as she jumped down from the steps of the bus and heaved her bag over her shoulder. While the ride itself didn't suck, the driver had no frigging clue where he was supposed to stop at. Now she was at least a few hours behind. Well at least her feet had rested up enough to make the trek to Bobby's a little easier.

· · ·

She growled out in frustration. The truck was gone. With Bobby MIA. Damn it! And all she really wanted to do was curl up on Bobby's scruffy looking couch and sleep until the next morning. With a sigh, she thought of the possibility of breaking in but decided it a bad move. Bobby may be up in age but he wasn't any less lethal with guarding his home. With her luck, she slip in the back and get slammed with a round of buckshot by an ingeniously made device. Yeah. She didn't look good with holes all along her chest.

There had been a motel in town. Lifting up her bag back over her sore shoulders, she went down the wooden steps and made a right down the street.

· · ·

Water. She could hear it trickle down along where her head rested. Fingers splayed out on the ground, she took a breath only to struggle at the immense pressure it brought on her lungs. Coughing, she tried to sit up when something hot pushed her back down. That was when she realized just how cold it was. Her fingers could barely flex they were so frozen.

"What's your name?"

Immediately, her brown eyes swooped up to find a pair of old dusty blue ones looking down at her. The man looked around Bobby's age. Lines of stress marring his face and scars down the one side of his neck spoke a life of hard labor. "Ya hear me, girl?"

She tried to nod, but even that felt taxing. Instead, she let out a tired sigh.

Seeming to catch on, the older man leaned forward. "If you understand me and hear me, blink twice."

Jo blinked twice. He let out a sigh of his own.

"Alright, let's get you out of here before you're stuck to the ground." Just the thought had Jo's stomach fluttering with panic. Just how long had she been here?

· · ·

"What's your name?" Jo turned her head back from looking out the window and to Charlie, the man who'd found her outside of Nevada in the crust of desert where city disappeared into large masses of sand and sun. From what Charlie had told on the way back to his small one-story house, it was lucky that she'd been found there. Otherwise freezing to the ground would have been the least of her worries. She let loose a shudder just thinking about it.

"I honestly don't remember."

"You don't remember much."

Jo gave a half sad smile as she took relief from any more questions by sipping on her hot coffee.

"You didn't have any identification on you that I could see. Check your back pocket."

Charlie had already gone through her one bag of belongings, of which he told while sitting his truck. 'I wasn't stealing anything just looking for some type of I.D. but I figure you would want to know if someone was going through your belongings.'

A rectangular shape sat in the back right pocket of her jeans. Pulling it out, she stared at a Nebraska Driver's License. There was a small picture of her giving an impression of an Elvis lip to the camera. She gave a sigh that wasn't relief. "My name is Joanna Beth Harvelle." But why couldn't she even remember that name? It felt like she was speaking of a complete stranger.

Charlie sat down with a frown and gingerly took the I.D. "I'm sure someone is looking for you."

A tear strayed down her cheek. Quickly, she wiped it away. "I don't know why but I doubt it."

· · ·

Charlie had a lot of books lined along his walls. Some withered and torn while others looked like they'd been fresh from the store, she couldn't help but gawk at the amount that seemed to fill the entirety of the room. "Wow," she laughed, "nice collection."

Snorting, Charlie rolled his eyes. "You think this is something, you should take a look at my garage and attic. These are just my favorites at the moment." Something hedged at the corner of her mind or more like someone at thought of all these books. Someone she knew who would have appreciated this collection. But she couldn't put a finger on a name or face. She tried to hedge the memory more but the harder she tried, the more her head began to throb. So instead, she started to leaf around the books, reading the spines for titles and smiling at a handful.

After giving her a few short moments to gander, Charlie cleared his throat, clearly trying to catch her attention. When she didn't completely turn her body around to listen, he coughed out her name and she jumped at it. Well that was weird. One usually didn't fear your own name, even when it was gruffly spoken. "Yes?"

"I called around, asking if anyone was looking for a Joanna Harvelle. The name popped up to some places like Arkansas and Kansas. There was mention of it in Nebraska as well but when they tried to reach the residence it was disconnected."

"So what – is there anything else that can be done?"

Charlie shrugged. "Not that I really know of. A few buddies of mine on the force are checking around and seeing if any of the other squads know if someone is looking for you."

Jo gave a short nod before spinning back to the books.

"Someone is missing you, Joanna. I'm sure of that." Charlie stated, somewhat uncomfortably, like he wasn't quite used to the warm-touchy feely stuff. Quite frankly, she wasn't either.

He walked back into kitchen she spotted the dark blue cover of Alice in Wonderland and felt her eyes well up. "I hope so."

· · ·

Jo stood at the top of a cliff, her arms spread eagle as her head tilted back. The wind blew her long blonde strands in the air as the salt filled area bounced up from the waves crashing down below. She felt at peace, almost like she was flying without effort.

"Jo!" Jolted, her back tightened as her body twisted around in time to spot a man about her age. The scenery had changed. She was no longer at sea but in a bar. He looked scared. For her? He had a shotgun in his hand, along with cuts bleeding, like someone forgot to tell him it wasn't smart to fight with a lawnmower. She wanted to laugh at the thought but fear unexplainably was filling every morsel of her fiber. What was happening? Just then another form stood in front of her, a shadowed figure with broad shoulders and even broader chest. She wanted to shout but something smacked into her ribs and her body vaulted backward, slamming into tables and chairs. No cry escaped her as the air from her lungs had been dislodged by the impact.

Iron tainted her mouth and she wanted to spit it out but couldn't. She was drowning in it. Just when she thought she would die, warm hands wrapped around hers and that same vaguely familiar figure that had hit her was kneeling above her. His face, a picture of fear and worry as those hands of his ran down her body, checking for injuries. He seemed to find something as his face paled when he pulled his hand back. Something dark coated his fingers and she wanted to laugh. He was worried about a little spill?

"Jo? Jo, answer me! Hey, don't close your eyes."

Gripping her face with his sticky hands, he pressed his face into hers. That was when she finally realized what it was.

Her blood.

Jo woke up to sunlight pouring in from the bedroom window.

· · ·

Heading into the mini-mart with her head held low, Jo looked for any local papers in hopes of finding anything that could lead to information on her. Sure, she had a name. But the only place that kept tracing back was in Nebraska, where the phones remained disconnected. Maybe she had lived there and moved and that's why they were disconnected? She grumbled at the stupid tabloids and snatched The Daily News. Nothing. Shit. Well, there was no other way around it.

"Looks like I'm going to Nebraska." After buying herself a cherry slurpee, she headed out the door and went to find Charlie in the Hardware store.

· · ·

"I don't know, Joanna. That seems a bit dangerous don't you think?" Charlie had been antsy since she'd unleashed her plans to him while he debated on which hard wood he planned on using for shelves in the kitchen.

"I really don't have much of a choice. If I don't find anything, at least I'll know." Jo, forking the life out of her Salisbury steak, weighed the options in her mind for the millionth time that day. If she stayed put and didn't at least try, then any real trace of her existence could be wiped away with years. Hell, even a few days could be bad. And she didn't even know how long she'd been gone. That made this move so dire for her to go now before it was too late.

After an hour or so, Charlie came around and gave in. Only because he was coming along too though.

· · ·

The trip out there wasn't as bad as she thought it would be. For someone inane reason, she couldn't will herself on a bus. It just seemed too eerie. So, they took the train out which made her feel about ten times less antsy and cramped.

"Now don't go getting your hopes up." Charlie had warned while they waited another hour to make entrance into the city.

"I know."

Drumming her fingers along her armrest, she tilted her head to the side and noticed a sleek black car flying down the road and hummed her approval. Whoever drove that knew cars well.

Wait…did she know cars? Blinking for a few hard seconds as memory continued to be cloudy; she let out a growl and plopped against her seat when it just continued to dance around her brain. This was getting beyond frustrating.

Finally! Jo thought as they pulled into the station and quickly grabbed her lonesome beaten up bag and started to head for the exit, a hurried Charlie following closely behind her. The place, while less populated then a stop in New York Transit, she could still feel claustrophobic and quickly made it for open space. "Oh thank God." She huffed out, dropping her bag to the ground as she pushed back her hair from her face.

"You alright there?" Charlie asked, a little out of air from trying to keep up.

"Yeah," She answered and then realized he'd been racing after her. "Sorry! I guess I kind of forget – you know – more than usual with how hyped up I get in crowds."

"Don't worry about it. Let's get going then."

Enthusiastic to find any clues, Jo tracked down a phonebook and got them a cab. While she was in pretty decent health, Charlie…yeah, there would be no more passing out victims on this journey.

· · ·

Two hours she'd been trying to track down the 'Roadhouse' but with little no luck. People kept giving her odd or dirty looks whenever she asked like she'd been knocked in the head one too many times. Eventually, she was ready to give up when she spotted a motel. "Hey Gramps, why don't we camp here for the night?"

Charlie, who sat in the driver's seat, looked over to where she was looking at and nodded. "It'll do for now. "We'll grab a room and then go out for a bite."

· · ·

"You want some salt?" Jo offered Charlie who looked at it with an odd stare before turning it down. She put it back with the pepper and frowned. "So what do you think we should do next? There has to be somebody who knows where this Roadhouse is."

Charlie remained quiet for a moment before nodding. "I'll go do some reckon. See if maybe the locals will open up to me."

"But I-" She started but he waved her off.

"I know you asked around. But maybe they don't open up to just anyone. Just let me give it a try and I'll meet you back at the motel in a few hours."

Nodding, she and Charlie ate in silence until the check came and Jo started to pull out her money when the sound of an electronic shrill went off. Looking behind her, she spotted a boy with a toy shotgun in his hand, firing at probably computerized deer. He hooted at hitting something and teased his younger sister who stood by, looking gloomy about having to listen to him.

Why did it seem so familiar? The boy shot off another round before his mother called them both over. They quickly ran off and Jo went over to where the machine sat. She picked up the gun and let the weight sit on her hands. Charlie came over. "I played this."

"When? I was only in the bathroom for five minutes."

"No, I mean I played this." Jo's face pulled tight as a smile beamed off her face. "I remember playing this, Charlie. Before!" She gave a soft laugh and put in a quarter. She started to play and missed every single deer. "Sonofabitch!"

Charlie laughed and patted her shoulder. "Don't worry about it. Come on."

Jo glowered at the game. "I'll meet you outside; I just have to run to the bathroom real quick." He headed off and she waited until he disappeared before looking back at the game. "Okay one more time." She put another quarter in and waited for it to load a new round. When she finished, the game it began flashing in bright lights as it asked for her name. "Huh." She smirked and watched as her name collected as the highest score. "Thought so." Walking away, she didn't see a pair of eyes watching carefully.

While Charlie went about his business trying to scurry up some information, Jo decided to pull out Alice in Wonderland, the book he'd given to her before leaving and for a little bit. By the time Charlie came back, excitement on his face, it was nearing ten o'clock. Damn.

"What'd you find out?" Jo sat up, marking her spot in the book with a strip of paper.

"Let's just say, I still have the charm."

"Charlie if you tell me you got a date, I'm gonna laugh."

Glaring at her, he crossed his arms. "I found out where the Roadhouse is smart ass."

Bubbles of emotions filled her chest as she jumped up off the bed. Her eyes were probably as big as saucers as she tried to say something. "Seriously? You found it?" Charlie nodded and she tackled him in a hug. She could have sworn he coiled back but she was in too good a mood to care. Pulling back to give him space, she beamed. "Let's go!"

Charlie cocked an eyebrow. "Try tomorrow morning."

"But-"

"It's about five hours out, Joanna. We'll get some sleep and then head out." The way his voice sounded, crisp and detached, had her wondering if some robot had taken Charlie's place. The only thing she could really pick up on was the irritation lurking in his eyes. Geez, she really must be some kind of pain.

"You're right. I'm sorry. You've been good to me and I guess I just got overexcited." She scratched the back of her head and gave a half-smile. It was like she'd slapped him or something. One moment the irritation was there, the next it seemed to disappear behind some wall.

"No, I'm sorry. Just getting old here, Joanna. When men my age don't sleep enough, we get cranky."

She nodded, still feeling somewhat odd.

Not really knowing what, she felt something off about the man. Eh, probably my imagination, Jo thought and went to get ready for bed.

· · ·