Disclaimer – Unfortunately, I don't own Dean, John, or Sam Winchester or anything else that you may recognize. I hold claim to anything original, which, in this story, is not much.

Warning – This is really, really long. You get some back story on John's history with the Harvelle's. I wanted Jo and John to have a history without things being strange. Like, I didn't want the two to have a father/daughter relationship that turns into a romance or anything kinky like that. I have a feeling that this will clear things up about why John was gone for so long, too. Enjoy!


Animals

Chapter 3 – Birthday Presents and Hangovers

"John, what the hell are you doing here?" she scolded again along with an incredulous look.

"You maybe a sight for sore eyes, but your tone is painful on tired ears." He wished that she would relax and be glad to have him back. He wasn't ditching this time, at least not for a while, and this time it would be on much better terms.

"Your presence rips open old scars, John." Her words burned his very soul and he understood the anger. "Have you no memory of how we left things...how you left things?"

Oh, how he remembered. The yelling, Ellen's "Leave and don't ever come back", Jo's crying…everything from that day rang clear in his mind as if it had been staged yesterday. John let himself slide into a memory, something he rarely did, most were just too painful to bring back and it was better to live in the present.

John had been at the Roadhouse for three weeks - three wonderful weeks. He had left Sam and Dean at Bobby's for the summer; school was out and they loved the salvage yard and Dean most certainly enjoyed the town's many frisky cheerleading girls. That's how John coped while staying at Ellen's. He convinced himself that the boy's didn't miss him; and it worked, he thought of them, of course, but he didn't regret what he did. He took another sip of his beer, waiting for Jo to get ready.

They were going to practice one more time for her driver's test. John had been teaching her how to drive, not that she wasn't an excellent driver, he was more showing her how to drive without frightening the DMV Officer. She had a knack for going way over the speed limit and cranking the music up a little too loud, at least for the comfort of adults.

"Jo, how long does it take you to throw some clothes on?" he called from the bar to the back where she was getting ready.

He heard her come in the room. "Geez, John, it's not just clothes! It's hair, make-up, and SHOES."

"You're making a mistake there, John. Don't get her started on shoes." Ellen walked in after her daughter. "You two better get a move on – hey, John, could you stop by the gas station and ask Earl for a favor?"

"Did the good ol' hunters dry the place up again?"

"No, but close to it." Ellen grinned "Mind asking him for, let's say, twenty-five six packs, yeah that should do it."

"Damn, that's a ton of beer!" John had to laugh and a curse word slipping so freely out of Jo's lips; it also might have possibly been his fault that she had heard it so much lately.

"Watch your language young lady. You aren't going to talk like that under my roof, even if John is here and he has a bit of trouble controlling that mouth of his." Ellen sent daggers at John and he only smiled and so did she. "Now, I need you to go teach my daughter to drive like a civilized citizen."

"No problem, just never expect her to act like one." Ellen rolled her eyes at that comment, partially because she knew he was right. Jo was most definitely going to be a product of her upbringing.

"Jo?"

"Yeah?"

"The speed limit through here is thirty."

"And your point is?"

"You're going fifty" John was tickled; he always went around sixty on this empty road and he just couldn't blame her, but she did need to pass the driving test.

"So, they need to jack up the limit anyway! Furthermore, why can't you just get me a fake ID? It would have to be loads easier than takin' this freakin' test."

"Well, first of all, your mother would kill me. Second, this is just part of growing up, everyone has to do this. Finally, you need a real license. I'll get you a fake ID later, after you pass this test." He new she needed an extra incentive to take the test, getting a real, non-fake ID just wasn't enough for her.

"Promise?"

"Yes, Jo, I promise." At this comment she burst out laughing. "What? What's so funny?"

"You basically just promised me that you'll help me start a life of crime."

"No, I said I would get you a fake ID. That doesn't always mean the beginning of a felony. Turn left at the next intersection and slow down. Head for the gas station, we need to get the beer."

Later that day, John was reading through news papers and looking for a job when he found sign of the demon. He needed to leave…now. He jumped up and was quickly packing his things when Ellen dropped into his room. "I've been looking for you. I was wondering what you got Jo for her birthday tomorrow." she finally noticed his packed bags "Wait, where are you going, and please, please tell me that you're leaving after tomorrow!"

"Ellen, please understand. I found the demon or at least the last place it hit and I have to go. I have to."

"John, her birthday is tomorrow. Can't this wait? It's her Sweet Sixteen, John. This is really important to her. And I know that it's important to her that you are here."

"Don't tell me that she sees me like a father."

"No, but she does see you as a friend. Face it, she tells you everything; I mean it's not stuff that I hadn't figured out. But the point is that she told you willingly that she wanted to be a hunter. You helped her workout her problems. Hell, you beat up a young hunter just for looking at her the wrong way. John, you protect her; she is so much more relaxed and like herself when you are here. You can't leave her, not right now!"

"She's strong, Ellen, just like her mother. Trust me, Jo can handle this."

"I can handle what?" John and Ellen turned both hoping that she had literally just walked in the room.

"John wants to tell you something." Next, Ellen spoke more to John "Excuse me while I go do a job that supports my daughter because I know that makes her happy!" Ellen slammed the door behind her as she left the room.

"I think that was a bit of an exaggeration, I'm not all that happy around here." Jo smiled, but then spotted his bags. "Are…are you going somewhere?"

"Jo, I have a lead and it is urgent. I must leave, as soon as possible." she looked as is she had been backhanded.

"You've said before that hunts can wait. Why is this one so much more important than the others? …more important than me?" Tears had welled up in her eyes and her voice cracked and the last question came out lower than a whisper.

"Oh, Jo, I never meant it like that. It's just that this demon doesn't show its ugly face very often and I have to stop it from ruining another family, like it ruined mine. I have I get it Jo."

"Like it ruined yours, what do you mean? What did this demon do to you?" small, thin streams of tears rolled down her cheeks.

He had never expected to have to tell Jo about Mary. He had told Ellen and Ash, but he thought Jo wouldn't have had to be exposed to that fear of something so terrible. John ran his hands over his face as he took a seat on his bed. It pained him so much to seen Jo cry, just to see her experience any emotion other than joy and happiness made him want to make it better. "Sit" he said patting his hand on the bed next to him "I have to explain something to you" She did as asked and John once again relived the night that his beloved was taken from him, the night that changed his life.

"So that's how you got into hunting, huh. May I ask you a question?" Jo was very sensitive in the way she asked. She had seen the pain in his eyes and she hoped that he wouldn't mind one question.

"I suppose"

"Do you hate that you got into hunting? I mean I understand if you do, but it's just that…" her voice trailed off as speaking became too taxing because she was holding back so many tears. John wrapped his arms around her and she cried into his chest.

"It's just that what, Jo?" she pulled herself back into a comfortable position away from his shirt that was soaked in tears.

"Hunting, I mean, that is how you met us John." He understood, she wondered if he regretted having to meet her. Wondered if he had wished that he hadn't have had to meet them.

"No, no no no. It's not like that. I am so glad that I met you and your mother. Ash, well Ash I could have done without. Just kidding." He smiled "Listen, I most definitely hate the circumstances that forced me into hunting. I'm not fond of the lifestyle, but I most certainly do not hate the people who make living this way worth while."

"Am I one of those people, John?"

"Yes, Jo, yes of course you are. Never forget that, never ever forget that. Promise me that you will never think otherwise." He stood up slowly and she followed his lead. He pulled her into a big hug and kissed the top of her head. "I might be gone for a while this time" Jo looked up at him.

"I understand, but that doesn't mean I'm all that crazy about you leaving before my birthday." She gave him one quick hug and then she had an idea. "Maybe it might be a possibility that I could go with you?"

"NO!" Jo jumped. John had smiled and softly said no, but Ellen, who had been lingering around the door for a while now, had yelled it. Each had their own reasons, some different, but some similar.

"Go to tend to the bar, Joanna!" Jo followed her mother's orders and left the room with one more glance back at John. After Jo had exited the room, Ellen closed the door behind her and then started on John. "She's putting on a brave face for you. She understands, but you're breaking her heart."

"I know and it hurts me just as badly to leave, but I must go. I won't be back around for a long time, Ellen."

"Don't bother."

"What?"

"If you leave now, don't bother coming back. And if you do, don't be expecting open arms."

"I'm sorry that I have to leave things like this, but if it has to be this way, then I guess I have to be okay with it."

Ellen huffed and left the room slamming the door behind her. John finished packing as he tried to tune out Jo's sobs from the next room, her bedroom. It was around eleven o'clock when he was ready to leave and the sobbing had quit about an hour ago. He assumed that she had cried herself to sleep. John grabbed a small package. He left his room and walked the small distance to Jo's bedroom door; after picking the lock he slid inside and laid her birthday present on her bedside table with a note that read:

Don't you ever use these Joanna Harvelle.

If you do I will know, and don't you quest-

ion that either. I have my ways. Call if you

need anything. Happy Birthday Jo –

John

John kissed her forehead and left. He carried his things out the back and packed his car. After that, he came through the bar, told Ash goodbye and briefly nodded at Ellen, who sent him a glare that frightened him more than many supernatural things.

"John, I asked you if you remembered the last time you where hear?"

"Yeah, Ellen, of course I remember, but I thought we had cleared it all up over the phone. Well, once you quit hanging up on me." John looked over at Jo and smiled as the hunters gave her their cash after she won a game.

"The only reason I allowed you to call and check up was because my husband asked you to! It was never an invitation to come waltzing through the door."

"I'm a man I rarely waltz. Listen, Ellen, I just need a beer and a kind face or two. I'm run down and in need of a break. I have a room in town, therefore I'll be here for a couple of days anyway."

"Hell, John, if you're stayin' in town you're not staying anywhere but here. I've actually kinda missed having you around, ya big teddy bear."

"And about the last time I was here?"

"Consider it water under the bridge. We've all been missing having you around. Jo's certainly perked up even since you got here." Ellen glanced fondly at her daughter, who had won another poker game, before calling "Jo, leave 'em alone. That's enough for today." Jo smiled as she walked over and sat next to John.

"Hey, Ellen, can I have anoth-" John was cut off by the sound of a fresh bottle hitting the bar in front of him.

"Mom, can I get one, too?"

"Jo, you're twenty!"

"Yeah, Mom and I had my first hangover when I was fourteen, one beer while I'm twenty isn't gonna hurt me."

"Fourteen??!? Where the hell was I when you had a hangover? More importantly, who the hell gave you the beer?" John couldn't stifle his laugh and in a time span of two seconds Ellen had it figured out. "You were a worse influence on her than I thought." She smiled incredulously. "Well, aren't you going to explain yourself."

"Honestly, Mom, it wasn't exactly a treat. Let's call it a lesson learned. After that I didn't drink until I was about eighteen. Besides, John's done a lot to help raise you're little delinquent, I also have a pile of fake ID's."

"Jo, hush! John, explain!"

John had a big smile on his face. "First of all and just to cover my ass, I didn't give her much. I was telling her about my latest hunt when she asked for a sip of my beer. I asked her why and she simply said "'Cause it's cool and the older kids drink." Therefore, I thought it was lesson time and I got her her own beer. She finished that bottle and I got her another. She probably could have finished it, but half of the second did the trick. She was drunk as all get out. I told her to take a shower, take some Asprin and to go bed. In the morning she had one hell of a hangover and I was the one holding back her hair while she puked her guts out." Ellen had a priceless expression, a mix of giggly anger and amazement that he gave her daughter a hangover. Jo was getting a kick out of hearing the story and John felt relaxed for the first time in a long time. "Oh, and the ID's were her sixteenth birthday present."


I hope that you enjoyed this installment!! Reviews are LOVE! Compliments, Comments and constructive critisism all appreciated!Love