AN:- I am an absolute tit (pardon my language)...I read my own cut off points completely wrong and didn't finish the Chapter off properly in fact left out a really important part!...When reading the next lot of notes to type up and coming to the cliffy I was like okay its doesn't make sense that Chapter 4 is a few paragraphs long, because that bit I was reading was meant to be the end of this Chapter! So basically I apologise profoundly and have added it on to where it should be...so have re-uploaded this Chapter with the added scene...


Chapter 3

All hostilities; all reservations…


Sam walked in and looked around. It was different, of course it was, but it wasn't that different. It still felt like Ellen and Jo all over. He'd half expected to walk in and still find a back room with a 'Dr. Badass' sign on it.

Ellen and Jo were both behind the bar and he could tell straight away that the structure of the building wasn't the only thing that had changed. Jo wasn't doing anything specific to tip him off, but she just seemed more of Ellen's equal. They were a team. They even looked up at the same time, and as Ellen grabbed Jo's arm, comforting, protecting, and Jo didn't stop her, instead smiling appreciatively, it was clear that what Dean did gave Jo one thing; all hostilities, all reservations mother and daughter had about co-habiting where gone.

Jo lowered her head and smiled. Her mom – now reassured – let go of her and went to clean some glasses. Sam didn't step too far inside; he let Jo come to him.

At first it was awkward when she didn't know what to do, and then more so when she threw her arms around him, but then they both settled into the hug. Sam felt comforted that she didn't hate him for what had happened, and Jo felt nostalgic, remembered the good times when she was part of a larger family than just her and her mom.

When she pulled away he immediately said it was good to see her, because it was. The last time he had it was the day that she'd packed up her and Dean's house and he'd gone to get the stuff he'd left there. They'd gone from living in each other's pockets to hearing about each other through phone called Jo made to Sarah. Even the phone calls fizzled out eventually. After all this time it was good to see her.

"It's good to see you too, Sam." she said, tucking a golden curl behind her ear. Both knew she'd smile back at him if she could, "What brings you here?"

"I came to ask about someone; a hunter, but it can wait." They both knew that whatever they were going to do now, even if they just sat and didn't talk, was important.

She went to sit down at a table and he followed.

It was awkward again. Jo leant forward a little on her elbows and fiddled in anyway she could; either scratching at the varnish of the wooden table, or twirling her fingers together. Finally she spoke, "I erm…meant to come and see you, after…I talked to Sarah about coming to see the,,," she really, really wanted to say it, but she couldn't. "I wanted to come see the baby." she said eventually, feeling it was important to continue, "but I was just never ready."

"It's okay." Sam said reaching out at the same time to hold her hands still.

"Huh." she laughed, removing one hand from him and wiping at her eyes, one after the other. She wasn't crying, but she could feel the tears building up inside and wanted to do her best to stop them falling. "I'm sorry about this." she said, conscious that she might be making him uncomfortable, and desperate not to, but it was like all the emotions she'd felt over the past 2 years had just been refreshed all at once.

"It's okay, Jo." Sam said.

She smiled, replacing her hands within his. "So, how is he?" she asked with a bitter smile that she tried her best to hide.

Now Sam did feel uncomfortable, and worse he didn't know how to answer her.

"Come on. One of us had to bring him up."

"He's…Jo, I really don't know." he said, because it was the truth. He didn't. He didn't know how he was; he didn't even know who he was anymore half the time. "He got in touch eventually after…but then…" he trailed off.

"Yeah." she said.

After he disappeared Sam had phoned Dean a lot, but Dean didn't pick up, for months. Then when he did contact Sam and Sam knew he was safe, he would ask him things like, "Have you talked to Jo?" and so he stopped answering again. And that's why it had been so long between their last conversation and Dean's midnight visit.

"Until last week. He had a run in with Gordon."

"Gordon? Is that the hunter?...Look; my mom might be better for this." It was the truth, but also she knew she couldn't take much more of this. She'd brought him up, but she had too, and for her own sake she had to walk away now.


Sam came in quietly, throwing the Impala keys on the table.

Dean was sharpening his knife, obviously trying to look busy and it kind of irritated Sam that he wasn't saying anything. He cared about whether Sam had found anything out, but he didn't or just wouldn't ask.

"She hasn't heard from him. He must have figured we'd check there."

"Yeah. Well I told you not to go."

"Sam clenched his jaw, because he knew that Dean's reasons for telling him not to go had nothing to do with Gordon not being there, and everything to do with Jo. In an attempt to prove Dean's behaviour as unreasonable and his own efforts as not completely futile he added, "but she did mention one of his friends stops by every now and again; said she'd call if he did anytime soon."

Dean still didn't look up until Sam said his name to check he'd heard.

"Yeah?"

"Jo was there…I saw her."

Dean stopped. He'd thought about it, that she'd go be with her mom; her family. "How'd she look?" he croaked out, hanging his head.

"She looked good, Dean. She looked…" he paused, "You know; she looked like Jo." Sam smiled fondly, but not so Dean could see.

"Yeah." he replied. He knew.


Days passed, and they tried other ways to track Gordon down, but it was a relief to Sam when Ellen finally called to tell him that if he was close he should come round.

They were close as it happened, Sam had persuaded Dean to drive to a motel 30 minutes away just in case she phoned, and surprisingly he only put up about an hours worth of fight. When Sam left this time though Dean knew he had to come with him. Plan was Sam would go in and get the guy and then they'd drive him somewhere else and double team him, which sounded 'vaguely dirty' to Dean.

Sam walked into the bar, their bar, this time a little nervously. Too aware Jo was probably near by, in the backroom or cellar, and Dean was outside. Hopefully she'd never know.

"Sam, I'm sorry. He left." Ellen said coming over to him as he sat by the bar, "I tried to get him to stay, but he only wanted one, and I couldn't exactly tell him you were coming."

Sam was disappointed, but he knew Ellen would have done all she could without making him suspicious. He managed an "Oh." as he realised Dean was going to be furious that he'd dragged him here for nothing.

"Let me make it up to you, doll." Ellen said pouring a beer and sliding it to him. Sam tried to protest – after all he couldn't keep Dean waiting – but he loved his brother, and he didn't fancy his chances if Ellen knew he was here, so he kept his mouth shut about it and gulped the drink down as fast as he could.

"You planning on entering a drinking competition?" she asked. When Sam looked up confused she motioned to his almost empty glass. Sam smiled and said he just ought to be going soon.


'She might not even be there' he told himself as he stood at the door, unable to make his hand turn the doorknob. Thoughts were his undoing; always had been – as unlikely as it would sound to his brother – and so with no thought at all he pushed the door open. Sam had been too long, something must be wrong.

Sam turned round as Dean entered. Ellen looked up.

"Sam, I think you're right." she said, "You ought to be going."


AN:- Sorry again, my head's all over the place at the moment, but its a massive mistake I am currently beating myself up over :/