Just a shout-out to HumanImpala, a thank you for your enthusiasm, for always reading my stories and leaving reviews.
"Welcome to the Dating Games. I'd like for everyone to give a warm welcome to our first contestant, all the way from Nebraska… Jo Harvelle!" Chuck said and the audience cheered. Sam and Dean began stirring, remembering that she had died for them and if all their deceased loved ones were returning for this game show, they desperately wanted to see them.
Unfortunately, there was a wall separating them from Jo. She wasn't supposed to know who the participants were, but she would recognize their voices without a doubt. Although they were eager to see her, the question was did she want to see them?
Chuck had said that if they were matched with the contestants, they got a second chance at life. That meant being reunited with their friends like Jo. It would be unbelievable, but it would be painful. Would there be anger? Regret? Forgiveness?
The audience fell silent and Chuck stood there, looking at Jo and explaining how to play the game.
"You have a card and a pencil under your chair. It tells you how many participants we have and it has some questions you can ask if you draw blanks. Also, if you wish, you can take notes on the answers so you can better make your final decision. Normally, that's not included, but since we have a large amount of participants, it'll help." He said and Jo was silent, but she eventually made a sound of confusion.
"Seriously?" she asked and Chuck then told her everything he had told the participants. This was a second chance at life; choosing love over anger in hopes of avoiding fighting to the death which isn't how things were supposed to be.
Jo remained silent, probably still in confusion, but Chuck gave the green light.
"We're ready when you are." He said and she cleared her throat, pushing aside the confusion and just going with the flow. They knew she's seen weirder things… or so they hoped.
"Participant One, what is your idea of a romantic date?" she asked and Dean's throat felt dry.
There was a time where Jo loved him, obviously, but she was like a sister to him. He cared for her, but not in the way she had hoped for. Now, if her feelings for him where still there, she could choose him. That made Dean feel a little happy for once, but it also worried him. Did that mean he'd have to be in a relationship with her till the day he dies? Get married, have kids… all that stuff? How could he if he didn't love her that way?
Dean then realized that he had been silent a few seconds too long and Sam nudged him as best as he could while being chained to his chain. He snapped out of it and answered the question. Honestly, it wasn't his best shot, but it was enough to let her know who he was.
"Long walks on the beach and a beer." He replied and she was silent. Time seemed to stretch and it worried him. Did that mean she was angry at him or was she just stunned?
"Dean?" she asked and he couldn't help but smile a little. It wasn't seeing her, but it was good enough just to hear her acknowledge him.
"Yeah, Sam's here too." He said and then Chuck cleared his throat, frowning at Dean.
"Let's keep to questioning the participants, shall we?" he asked and glanced at Jo with an encouraging smile, but it didn't feel that way. It felt like a warning… which was so unlike Chuck.
"Participant Two, do you believe in 'Love at first sight'?" Jo asked and Sam glanced at Dean with a sort of question mark on his face.
"Not really. I'd say there's interest, but by getting to know the person, love can occur, yeah." Sam said and Jo let out a soft chuckle, as if the fact that he was sort of serious made her laugh.
"Sam." She said and Chuck cleared his throat as yet another warning.
"The girls never live long enough to find out with him." Crowley said and the hunters all glared at him. Chuck cleared his throat again, but this time it was harsh.
"While the participants are answering questions, I'll remind the others to stay silent." Chuck said and looked at Crowley with a slight frown, speaking directly to him. He glanced at Jo and smiled, telling her to continue.
"Participant Three," she said, sounding like she'd rather not, but didn't see a choice. "What is your best pick-up line?" she asked. Dean fought a grin, knowing that Jo had plenty of those back in the day and here she was, asking for a pick-up line. She could probably mention a few hundred off the top of her head.
But that wasn't the funny part.
Participant Three was old enough to be her father and the last time he used a pick-up line, she was even born yet.
"Uh," Bobby began, not sure if he should answer that question or not. "Is your name Google, 'cause you're everything I'm looking for." He added and the other participants, except for Michael who must not find anything funny, laughed at Bobby and his lame pick-up line. Even Jo was heard trying to stifle a laugh. "But I'm a little too old for you, sweetie." He quickly added in and Chuck rubbed his face, as if this was all to end badly.
"So is that pick-up line." Crowley mumbled.
"Cute." Jo replied and then continued, as if she found this to be amusing.
"Participant Four, what song would you sing to me?" she asked and someone tried to muffle a laugh, but the only one grinning was Crowley. The hunters shot him glares and encouraged Castiel to answer.
"Uh," he began, trying to think of a song that he often heard Dean listening to. "I would sing 'All Out of Love'. I do not know the band." He added with his monotone voice and then Dean shifted in his chain, glancing at Castiel with a sort of pale look on his face.
"By Air Supply?" Jo asked and Castiel agreed without a clue. "That's a good song." She added.
Crowley could no longer hold onto his laugh and Castiel glared at him. The more he seemed angry, the more Crowley laughed. Then it was Dean's expression, as if he got caught for something and feared everyone knowing it.
"You little rascal." He said, smiling at Castiel. "Break out the harp, Lover Boy." He added and Castiel turned away, ignoring the laughing former King of Hell.
Chuck shot Crowley a look of annoyance, but said nothing. Was he giving up on good behavior or was he lenient with Crowley? He then glanced at Jo and nodded.
"Participant Five, what's more important: an intelligent conversation, a sense of humor or being passionate about life?" Jo asked and Crowley glanced at Kevin with a smirk on his face. Chuck cleared his throat and looked at Crowley with authority which, naturally, Crowley disregarded.
"Being passionate about life. An intelligent conversation can sometimes be boring and a sense of humor is great, but not always at a good time." Kevin replied, answering seriously. "It's passion for life that makes living at every moment incredible." He concluded with this distant look in his eyes.
"He says intelligently." Crowley mumbled, but Kevin shot him a glare of hatred.
"Nicely put." Jo said and moved on.
"Participant Six, what is the most beautiful thing in the world?" she asked and Crowley immediately wore a devilish grin.
"A human soul." He replied and the hunters moaned with disgust.
"Like a soul mate?" Jo asked, unaware who this participant was.
"Really?" Dean asked harshly, as if he was trying to whisper.
"No. Literally a human soul. It's worth more than precious jewels." Crowley said innocently and smiled at the hunters, answering Jo's question.
"He's a demon, Jo." Dean said and Chuck cleared his throat, looking like he was at his wits' end with the lack of respect for the rules. However, he said nothing. Maybe he was allowing some things to pass… especially concerning Crowley. Maybe he didn't want Crowley to get a second chance? Lucifer was probably going to kill him, so maybe that was a good thing?
"Alright." Jo mumbled. "Participant Seven, what would you describe as a perfect date?" she asked and all the male participants glanced at Charlie, making her feel very uncomfortable.
"Um," Charlie said, cringing as it was obvious the replying voice was female. "I personally like LARPing medieval time inspired games. I did like kick-ass action games, like 'The Red Scare', but that was until I got stuck in it." She replied, everyone listening as Jo remained silent, probably wondering the same thing as most of the participants: why was there a girl on that side of the wall?
"Larping?" Jo asked and Charlie seemed to lose that uneasiness.
"Yeah, 'Live action role-playing'. It's not re-enacting past events, it's living in a story you bring to life and it's always changing; challenging. It's the perfect date." She said, enthusiastic, but then realizing how everyone was staring at her. "If you're into that sort of thing." She added, trying not to sound like such a geek.
"Sounds cool." Jo said, not sounding particularly convinced. "Participant number eight, how important are looks to you?" she asked and Crowley chuckled.
"If you could see him, you'd know." Crowley said and Chuck seemed to be flaring his nostrils, losing all patience. Gadreel ignored Crowley and tried to answer honestly, not wanting to be rude to this innocent soul that obviously deserved a second chance.
"Looks, as you put it, can be deceiving. What lies underneath is pure." He replied and everyone was silent, despite Lucifer and Crowley grinning at him like he was just so adorable, it was too funny.
"Apparently not." Lucifer said, grinning at Gadreel. Did he know Gadreel was an Ezekiel imposter when he was freed from his prison cell?
"Speaking for yourself?" Gadreel asked, getting the other angels and the hunters to grin.
"That's profound." Jo said, not having heard the exchange. Her voice made it sound as if she had a smile on her face. "Participant number nine, is it more important to be better looking than you're date?" she asked, sounding as if she didn't quite like that question, but had no other choice.
Balthazar gave a slight frown, as if seriously contemplating his answer.
"It's more to look sharp, but you don't want to intimidate the other with how good you look. Most importantly, you want the other to be a knockout. If both are dressed to impress, it's a sure thing. Not that I'm interested in dating, despite my dressing sharp." He said in his slight accent. Jo was silent for a brief moment, but her tone of voice suggested she was smiling.
"Can't disagree." She replied, her tone changing, like she wanted to refute that last statement, like Balthazar's arrogance turned her off. Yeah, she wasn't the only one. "Participant number ten, is it easy for you to talk to people? To strangers?" she asked and there was an explosion of laughter. Lucifer, Gabriel and Crowley couldn't resist, than everyone seemed to eventually join in, like it was contagious laughter. "What's so funny?" Jo asked and it took the participants a moment to calm themselves.
"This is ridiculous." Michael said and Lucifer laughed again.
"Participant number ten doesn't like to talk. He'd rather fight and he especially doesn't like strangers." Lucifer explained and Michael glared at him.
"I am Michael, the Archangel meant to vanquish you. I am not meant to love." He said and tried to fight Lucifer, but his ring of Holy fire prevented him. Lucifer just smiled at him, unflinching.
"Blah blah blah." Lucifer replied. "Do you only come with a few sentences? Dad didn't program you with more?" he asked and Chuck cleared his throat. "You used to be more fun." Lucifer concluded.
"Continue Jo." Chuck said, trying not to glare at Lucifer and Michael.
"Participant eleven," Jo said, reluctantly. "Are you a good listener?" she asked and Michael muttered again, saying this was despicable.
"The best, Honey." Lucifer replied. "I've been stuck in a cage with Grumpy here, listening to him bitch and moan for years. I listened to his every word, even when he stopped talking. He just sits in the corner, touching himself." He added and Michael took offense.
"I do not!" he objected, but Lucifer ignored him.
"I listen to everything. You can reveal all your worries to me." Lucifer said and Jo's friends, Sam and Dean, quickly jumped in as if worried she might pick Lucifer.
"He lies. He'll kill you as soon as he can." Sam said.
"Don't trust him, Jo." Dean said and Lucifer just rolled his eyes, sighing.
"That was so a few years ago." Lucifer said and Jo seemed eager to continue.
"Participant number twelve, do you like double dates?" she asked and Gabriel, still sitting with one leg crossed over the over, grinned.
"Ever since Thor crashed my date with Venus, I just couldn't do double dates. He kept bringing these bombshells as if it was a competition: who had the better date. Venus just had to prove she was superior and she forgot we were on a date. Before that? My date, Medusa, wanted to turn Thor into stone. I was tempted, but then found a date that Thor couldn't beat. Kali was just so hot." Gabriel said and everyone glanced over at him.
"You dated Medusa?" Dean asked and Gabriel grinned.
"She can turn you rock hard in so many ways." He said and everyone sighed with disgust.
"You're such a disappointment." Michael said and Gabriel rolled his eyes.
"Maybe you should try it, Mikey; you're so stiff." Gabriel replied and Lucifer laughed. Michael just frowned at them and then glared at Chuck.
"Release me now." He said and Chuck, uncertain, glanced at Gabriel who casually shook his head, as if this grumpy phase was normal and would pass.
"Alright Jo," Chuck said, ignoring Michael's cold frowns. "You can ask anyone another question or you can choose now." He said and Jo was silent.
"Participant number seven," Jo said and all the participants glanced at Charlie, as if they didn't see this coming. "Can I ask why you like women?" she asked and Charlie shifted in her chair, not sure she really wanted to answer that with everyone looking at her.
"Well, I…" she began, but the stares were overwhelming.
"It's okay." Sam said and when she looked at him, both Winchester brothers seemed eager for some reason, as if they just wanted her to have this second chance to live again, whether she be romantically shacked up with Jo or not.
"Well, I was a Tomboy and I felt attracted to girls. Boys were jerks, you know?" Charlie said and Jo, surprisingly, agreed. Everyone glanced at Dean, as if wondering if Jo was talking about him. He ignored their stares, hoping Charlie could live again. "It's super uncomfortable with everyone staring at me." Charlie said, her voice low.
"I chose Participant number seven." Jo said and Chuck clapped his hands, looking at Charlie with a smile.
"Wonderful! Congratulations Charlie and Jo!" he said and the other participants looked from Charlie to Dean, grins slowly breaking out on their faces except for Castiel, Bobby and Sam.
"You turned Jo off men, Dean. Wow." Lucifer said with a wicked grin.
"Jo realized that no one can replace Sam or Castiel." Crowley said and Dean glared at him. "They don't call it Winchest and Destiel for nothing." he added and Dean flipped a finger at Crowley. "How effective." Crowley concluded.
Chuck continued congratulating Charlie and Jo, ignoring the drama on the stage between the male participants.
"You win a date to the 'Lord of the Rings' LARPing contest in California! Have fun you two!" Chuck said and when he clapped his hands one last time, Charlie vanished from her chair without a sound. Sam and Dean glanced over and quickly looked at Chuck with worry in their eyes.
"Where is she?" Sam asked and Chuck smiled at them.
"Alive. They both are; both on their date, getting a second chance at life." He replied and the Winchesters looked at that empty chair, relieved that Charlie got to live again. She didn't deserve to die in the first place. "Now, please welcome contestant number two!" Chuck said, music starting again.
"No!" Michael said, the music screeching to a stop.
"Would you like to go back to the cage?" Chuck asked and Michael began bitching again. Before he could finish his sentence, Chuck snapped his fingers and the chair was empty, the ring of Holy fire gone.
Everyone looked at the empty chair and Lucifer glanced back at Chuck with an arched eyebrow.
"I still don't think you're God." He said, and Chuck lost his smile. "But thank you for stuffing that stick-in-the-mud back in the cage." Lucifer said, not really grateful, he was just glad to have that empty chair beside him.
"Now, please welcome contestant number two!" he said and the music played again.