It was bright. Like, really bright. The kind you get woken up by the morning after too many whiskeys and hide under your pillow. That kind of bright.
Unlike those times though, she was outside, and she couldn't remember having any whiskeys. She couldn't remember anything but her own name - and a face. It was a girl's face, which was a little confusing, because she was pretty sure she wasn't the girlie type. This didn't feel like a sister, or a best friend either - not even a lover. Why did she keep seeing this face? And why did she feel dread when she pictured it?
Cold and weak, she dragged herself up enough to lean against the rough wall of this…was it an alley? And slumped her head into her hands. She was pretty sure she could hear traffic noise and people close by, and caught the odd shadow passing the opening to the street.
"We did it then. Saved 'em," she told herself, only realising that she couldn't exactly remember what she had been fighting, just that she was surprised that they had succeeded. But wait… who were 'they'?
Not entirely certain if it was the confusion or whatever had happened which was making her head hurt, she breathed slowly and deliberately. It didn't help. The world went black again.
Coming to on a cotton bed in a heated room had been a lot nicer than the first time. At least the strange ache in her side had dulled slightly. She guessed she was on some sort of pain meds, and whatever they were, they were doing their job. Turning over in her bed, she noticed an IV in her arm, but didn't have much time to register.
No, what caught her attention was the strange man striding into her room, beaming when he saw she was awake. The man rushed to her bedside, planting himself on the available chair and giving her shoulder a tight squeeze.
"Man, are you a sight for sore eyes," he mused. "Wanna explain any of this?"
"Y-you know who I am? Who are you? What are you doing here? Where ishere?"
"Hey, take it easy, kid. You just woke up. Let's maybe not try to run before we can crawl, ok? Look, you were discovered collapsed in a alleyway in Carthage, Missouri by some bible-thumpers. Kind of ironic they're still worried about the Apocalypse when it came and went while they had their thumbs up their butts."
"Wait, Apocalypse? What are you talking about? And you still haven't answered my question - who the hell are you and why are you here?"
"Hold your horses, Jo, I'm your next of kin. Not by blood, exactly, but as close as you get in this business. You were just about able to tell a paramedic your name and I was the only idjit they could get hold of. Don't you remember me, kid? Bobby? Bobby Singer?"
One thing he had correct, her name was Jo alright. Jo Harvelle. She knew her name, date of birth, social security number and…that was it. She hadn't got the faintest idea of who this man was and how they knew each other. She wasn't entirely sure he wasn't nine kinds of crazy either, but he was the only lead she had to figuring out more about herself.
Sensing no recognition in her eyes, Bobby prodded more.
"Do you remember anything that happened to you, Jo? Like last time you were in Carthage? With your momma? And the Winchester boys? Do you even remember them?"
Winchester. The bolt of recollection hitched her breath. He was a Winchester. And he'd travelled to find her. He was older than she was, but still handsome. He had dark hair, graying at the temples, and a patriarchal air about him. Like he was not to be defied. She remembered deep, sad, brown eyes…and a message. Yes. there was a message; and then she was violently thrust away from her place. Her place had been beautiful. It was serene and heavenly. It was.. heaven.
"Uh..Mist- Bobby?", she asked, hands clasped together, thumbs fighting for a comfortable place on top of one another.
"Where have I been? I was gone a while, huh?"
Bobby took of his worn hat and dragged a calloused hand over his forehead and down to his eyes. He nodded like there was something he wanted her to know, but hated the thought of telling her.
"Was.. was I dead, Bobby?"
"Kid, like I said, baby steps. Get some more sleep. I called Sam and Dean. If you remember them, you'll know they're gonna have plenty of questions. You don't wanna be low on sleep for that."