It was a sunny Saturday morning in late March and Jo was driving down to West Point, Nebraska from her apartment in Sioux City for a gun and knife show. She was hoping there would be something to add to her growing collection of knifes, but even if there wasn't at least she was getting out and doing something other than work. Her restored 1957 Chevy pickup rambled at a good pace down the highway, it was her most prized possession, given to her by her family four years ago for her 21st birthday. Singer and Son Restorations/Auto Shop, where she worked, had been in cahoots with her mom and dad to make sure the truck had been restored to perfect condition and painted a deep metallic blue, just for her. No gift before or since had came close to topping it. The truck was a gas sucker but she couldn't bring herself to drive anything else.
She felt that when her mom had helped get her this truck she had finally accepted Jo's professional choice. She worked for Bobby at Singer and Son Auto and she wouldn't be going back to college. She had found her true calling and she was the best at her job. She would track down old cars that clients wanted and broker the deals for the shop. If you wanted your car restored, if you wanted to find a car for Bobby and Dean to restore for you, you went through Jo. She was also very good at convincing people they should get an old car to restore instead of just buying new. She knew her stuff and she knew how to sell it. The fact that she drove around a perfectly restored classic truck only helped her get business, whenever someone admired it, she made sure to give them a Singer and Son Auto card.
On her down time she liked indulging in her other passion. Knives. She kept herself up to date on when and where gun and knife shows would happen in Nebraska and the surrounding states, and this weekend there was one in West Point, only about an hour away from her home in Sioux City. It wasn't until half way through her drive when things got interesting. As she came around a corner she saw a brand new Mercedes S550 along the side of the road. The hood was up and there was a man looking at the engine. He was older than her but is was hard to judge how much older and he was dressed in an expensive suit and tie. His hair was dark and short with a receding hairline, even so he was still very handsome. He also looked like he had no idea what he was doing. If Jo had to guess she would say he had never seen what was under a hood in his life. Jo sighed and pulled her truck in front of the fancy car.
The man looked toward her truck with some suspicion. When her door opened and she jumped out his eyebrows rose up in surprise. Jo smirked at him.
"Hey there guy, you having car trouble?" Jo asked as she walked up to him.
"Yes, as a matter of fact. My bloody car just quit on me." said the man. This time it was Jo who raised her eyebrows in surprise at the incredibly deep, scratchy voice and British accent.
"You want me to take a look?" asked Jo with a small smile.
"Be my guest." He gestured at the car with a look of acceptance. He seemed resigned that his car would never work again, Jo wanted to laugh but held it back.
Jo smirked at him then looked down into the motor, she wasn't usually on this side of the car but she knew the basics, you don't work at an auto shop as long as she has and not learn some things. She quickly checked the oil and the lines to the battery. They both seemed fine.
"Well, I can't see anything obvious, I think you are just going to have to get it towed to a shop." She turned around to look at him. He had waited silently beside her watching with interest as she poked at the engine.
"Bollocks...I don't suppose you know any? I haven't been here very long, and getting an mechanic on speed dial never crossed my mind." He sounded disappointed, but Jo didn't know if it was that his new car was on the side of the road or something else.
"You're in luck, I know the best mechanic in three states!" Jo smiled at him, "That is if you're near Sioux City?" she asked.
He gave her a little smirk back, "Yes, actually that's where I am based for now. Do you have the number?"
"Yeah, but let me call, I work for him and it will be easier for both of us if I talk to the cranky old bastard." Jo laughed and took out her phone. "Where were you headed if you don't mind me asking? You're a ways out from Sioux City?"
"Ah, yes, well I was headed to..." He pulled out his phone to look at it, "Somewhere called West Point. They are having a gun and knife show." he looked up from his phone at her, "Guess I'll be missing all the fun." He had that disappointed look on his face again. Jo couldn't help but think it was kinda cute, just that small hint of pout and the narrowed eyes.
"No shit. That's where I'm going!" Jo smiled at him, "I'm Jo by the way." She held out her hand realizing she hadn't even introduced herself when she pulled up.
"Crowley, pleasure to meet you." He took her hand but instead of shaking it he brought her hand up to his mouth and kissed the back of her hand. Her eyes went wide, she'd never had a man do that in real life.
When he released her hand Jo dropped in to her side awkwardly, he seemed amused by her wide eyed shock. "So, Mr. Crowley would you like a ride to the show? I'm going anyway, and it will probably be awhile before Bobby can get here."
Crowley seemed to study her for a moment, "I wouldn't want to put you out." he started to say.
"No, no, it's fine. Here, let me call Bobby, you get your stuff, lock the car and put the key on the back tire, then we'll head out!" She flashed him another big smile, then turned around to make the call.
Crowley thought about it for a moment before shrugging and doing what she said. This had been his first attempt at doing something other then work in this god forsaken country, he had been ready to give it up as a terrible idea, go back to his office and stay there until his work here was done and he could go back to England. But now a beautiful young lady wanted to give him a ride to a knife show. He couldn't argue with that. He grabbed his over coat out of the front seat, made sure he had his phone and wallet. He locked the car and put the key on the back tire like she had told him and made his way toward the beautiful truck. His car tastes is cars had always ran more towards the absolute newest and best, but he had to admit this vehicle was a thing of beauty, and he was sure it was older then both himself and Jo.
Jo hung up the phone and motioned for Crowley to get in the truck. "Bobby will be here as soon as he can for the car. He'll call me when he has it, and I'll drop you at his shop once we're done with the show. Sound good?" Jo slammed her door and looked over at Crowley who was looking around at the inside of her truck.
"Yes, that sounds fine, thank you." He gave her a bit of a smile. "Are you sure you are ok with taking a stranger with you? I could be a homicidal murderer you know." His smile turned into a smirk as Jo laughed at him.
"Well, you could try to murder me, but I can tell you, I probably have more knifes on me then you do." She shot him a grin as she fired up the truck.
Crowley seemed pleased with this answer, "A woman after my own heart. I have about 300 knives in my collection. Mostly antique, but also some new reproductions. Are you a collector?"
Jo's eyes darted over to him in interest, "300? That's so cool." she said impressed, "I have about 50 right now. Only 3 are antique, but they came from my family. I have a sword that my however many greats grandfather used in the Revolutionary war, a knife from the civil war that was also used by a family member, and the last one is a bowie knife my Grandad used in World War 2. I guess that one isn't technically an antique, but it's still older then all the newer ones I have."
"Very nice, I have several that family members used in various wars as well. That's how my collection started. I love old swords and spears. Anything used in times past for military purposes. I have a few other weapons as well, but I am mostly interested in swords and knives."
"Nice, I only have one other sword but it is a reproduction of Sting from the Hobbit." She grinned thinking about it, "It was a Christmas gift last year. Not what I usually go for, but it's still sweet."
As the rest of the car ride went on they chatted away, completely at ease with one another. There was none of the awkward silences Jo had experienced with meeting new people in the past.
The knife show was fun for both of them. They looked at every table, each of them buying one or two things through out the show. Crowley bought Jo lunch at a local cafe before they started the drive back to Sioux City. They talked all the way back and when they didn't the silences were comfortable. Jo didn't want it to end, she hadn't had so much fun with someone in a long time.
When they finally made it to Singer and Son Auto, Jo introduced Bobby to Crowley. It was funny seeing them side by side. Crowley in his nice suit and Bobby in dirty overalls. Oddly enough they seemed to have the same instant connection that Jo and Crowley had. When Bobby started smarting off to Crowley about his car, Crowley gave back as good as he got. Jo could tell Bobby was impressed with Crowleys wit, not many people could deal with Bobbies cranky, snarky attitude but Crowley seemed to enjoy it.
It turned out that there was nothing seriously wrong with the car, it was ready to go when they got there. But the three of them spent some time chatting and laughing. When Crowley was getting ready to leave Bobby took himself back into the shop leaving Jo and Crowley standing by the black Mercedes.
"So, it was great meeting you. I had a good time." Jo wasn't sure what else to say.
"I did as well. Maybe you would like to do something again?" Crowley asked sounding hopeful.
Jo smiled widely at him, "I was going to ask the same thing, I'd love to get together." Jo took out her phone and handed to it him, "Give me your number?"
Crowley smiled back and took her phone to type in his number when he was done he took a selfie to link to his number. Jo laughed at him, "Thanks for that." said Jo as she took her phone. "Now give me yours." She held out her hand.
Crowley pulled out his phone and tossed it to her, she caught it but gave him a look. She dreaded the idea of dropping his fancy phone. She typed in her number and also took a selfie for his phone with a big smile on her face. Crowley laughed about it as he took his phone back. "Thanks, I look forward to seeing you again." He flashed her a smile, got into his car and headed for home.
Jo watched him drive away with a stupid smile on her face. She didn't notice Bobby as he came to stand next to her so she startled when he spoke. "He's too old for you."
"Fuck, Bobby, don't scare me like that...and I think he's a perfect age for me." she smirked at him. Jo had always had a thing for older men, much to her mother and fathers concern.
Bobby sighed. "Yeah, I figured you'd say that." he shook his head and walked back into the garage. Jo could hear him yelling something at Dean. She just looked down at the picture in her phone and smiled.