AN: I cried in Abandon All Hope. I really liked Jo. I really thought she and Dean would make it through together. Saw the goodbye scene again today, and had to write something.

Disclaimer: I don't own Supernatural.

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"See you on the other side. Probably sooner rather than later."

"...Make it later."

Dean and Jo – Supernatural: 5x10: Abandon All Hope

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The noise of screams and gunshots and laughter fades into the distance, in kind of the same manner that music blaring out of a car driving the other way just gets dimmer and dimmer, and the pain he's feeling flares once, then bleeds away into nothing.

Kind of not-good, when he thinks about it. But he can't really find the energy to care.

He knows he's dying, but is there really much point fighting it? He's never been afraid of dying. Not really. Ok, well the whole hell-hounds-dragging-him-downstairs thing doesn't count, because who the hell wouldn't be scared by that prospect? No – he's never been afraid of a normal death. He's just been afraid of leaving others alone. Gotta make it through this – who'll look after Sammy?

Can't leave Dad and Sam alone – they'll kill each other.

Come on Dean, pull yourself together! That bitch is still out there, and now Sammy's on his own!

Cas needs help, and you're the only one who'll help him. Wake up!

Bobby's stuck in that damn chair – gotta make sure he's looked after.

Sam... can't leave Sam on his own. Look what happened last time you left Sam on his own.

But none of that matters anymore. Everyone's gone now. Sammy had lunged and grabbed for Deans own gun just a few hours earlier. Turns out Lucifer had been bluffing when he threatened to "just bring him back."

Cas had gone out in a blaze of glory. He'd lost, but he'd done his best. Taken out a good chunk of the sons-of-bitches from the other side in the showdown too.

Bobby had refused to stay behind for this final fight. Dean really wished the old man had had the sense to stay home, but since when had that ever been the case when it came to Bobby?

So who was there left to hang around for?

He doesn't even know if they've won. Would have been nice to know at least that before he chucked in the towel.

It's all quiet now. He can no longer feel the pain from the fire, or from the massive hole in his back, or from his broken arm. Actually... come to think of it, he can't feel anything at all. There's just a nice, peaceful silence all around, and nothing else.

Definitely not-good.

Then, slowly, in the same way everything faded out, things start to fade back in.

He can hear... water? Yes, water. And.... wind. Not a massive, heavy, cyclone-type wind. Just... a gentle, easy breeze. And a... bird?

Ok, what the hell is a bird doing singing it's cheerful tune at the end of the freaking world? That's just not on.

And then the other senses start to return to him.

Smell. It certainly doesn't smell like the end of the world. It smells like a day at the beach. With a picnic. With pie.

Taste. Well, he can't taste blood on his tongue anymore. That's always an improvement.

Touch. He's comfortable now. Like he's lying on soft, thick grass. He clenches his hand and feels it in his grasp. Definitely grass.

Blinking carefully, more curious than concerned or confused, he opens his eyes to a blue sky and green trees and flying birds and a face smiling down at him.

She looks just as she always did, but he thinks maybe she's even prettier. Her eyes are brighter, her skin is glowing, and she's radiating a happiness like he's never felt before.

"Dean," she smiles, her hair glinting golden in the sunlight. "You made it."

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