Hey guys! I saw this idea from tumblr user the-doctor-9-10 and decided to write it! I hope you guys like it! They gave me the idea, props to them. Enjoy :-)

Title: Make it Later.

You boys die more than anyone I have ever met- Ash.

-x-

The first time the Winchesters died and went to heaven they went together. Ash told them that most people spend their time in heaven alone (aside from him because he managed to rig the system) unless you're soulmates.

Soulmates share a heaven.

So the next time Dean died he wasn't surprised when he appeared in the impala on a stretch of endless black asphalt. What was surprising was that he was parked outside the Roadhouse. It had to be Ash, right? Just like the last time he was there.

Dean walked into the rundown bar expecting to see wood with worn out finish, tarnished pool tables, and a sturdy oak bar with the thousands of carved names. Instead he walked into a bar that looked like it had just opened. It was bright and the wood was dark and rich. The pool tables looked untouched and the bar was sleek and shiny.

Sitting on the bar swinging her legs back and forth was Joanna Beth Harvelle, and Ash was nowhere in sight.

Dean was confused to say the least, but the happiness that flooded within him when he saw her sitting there couldn't be ignored.

Jo looked up when he came in and she smiled sweetly at him. Dean thought she looked a little sad when she saw him. He wondered why that was.

"Jo?"

"Hiya Deano."

"Why're you in Ash' heaven?" he paused, "This is Ash' heaven, right?"

Jo chuckled and shook her head, "No Dean, this is mine. This is what the Roadhouse looked like when I was a little girl."

"It looks great."

Dean walked over to the bar and sat on a stool next to where she was perched.

"So where's Ash? He put me here right? He's the one who navigated me and Sam through this mess last time."

"Dean, Ash isn't here."

"Why?"

"Because it's not his heaven. It's ours."

If Dean didn't know that he was dead he would've said that his heart stopped in his chest.

Ours?

"No, my heaven's the road outside. It's Baby."

Jo sighed and hopped down to sit on a stool next to him, "You're always in denial in the beginning, just think about it."

Dean frowned. What was she on about? He wasn't in denial, he knew that he was dead, hell, he was fine with being dead. Then he remembered what Ash had said, soulmates.

He blushed furiously and looked at her with wide eyes, "We're—you're my—?"

Jo nodded, "Soulmates Dean," she was smiling at him but only slightly, "Bound. Forever together. Well, up here anyways."

Dean couldn't deny that if he'd ever even thought about having a soulmate it would definitely be Jo. Jo continued speaking, giving Dean time to think.

"I can't say that I was surprised when I found out the first time you died after I bit the dust. Sure I was infatuated with you but I was convinced you thought of me like a sister, like a little school girl."

It was Dean's turn to chuckle, "That is the opposite of how I thought of you. Maybe in a school girl outfit but never a school girl. And definitely not a sister."

Jo smacked him in the arm and he gave her a grin that always made her smile in return.

"Well I know that now."

"Was it always this easy with you?"

Dean didn't get an answer. He furrowed his brows and reached out to lift her chin so she was looking at him again.

"Why do you look sad?" When she didn't reply right away he squeezed her hand, "Jo?"

"Dean you're a rare individual because unlike most people you don't stay dead."

Realization formed Dean's face into one of shock and guilt. You boys die more than anyone I have ever met. Ash's words rang out in his head like he was standing next to a massive church bell. He was dead now but that didn't mean he'd stay that way.

He'd been there before. He'd been with Jo before and left her behind.

"How many times since you've died?" Dean asked, "How many times have I had to leave?"

Jo shrugged, "I stopped counting after five or six. Instead I just cherished the time we had while you were here. In heaven your time here feels like weeks, months even, but it doesn't last. I know some day it will but I don't know when that'll be."

Dean reached out to cradle her face with his callused palm, "I'm so sorry Jo. You don't deserve—"

"Dean, don't beat yourself up about it, okay?"

He nodded and pulled her into his arms. Breathing in as deeply as he could when he hugged her, he hoped he could remember the smell, remember something. She smelled like whiskey and clean sheets and honey.

"I won't remember this will I?" Dean mumbled the question into her hair.

He felt her nod into his chest, "No you won't. You never do. It's hard to explain every time but I've gotten used to it."

Dean pulled back and held her at arm's length so that he could look at her.

"I never thought I'd be good enough for you."

"Well you got me anyways."

Dean smiled, "Thank God."

"No," she shook her head, "Thank Sam for finding my mom's voicemail on your dad's phone. Thank Bobby for keeping you in touch, but don't thank Him."

"You think he's the one who brings me back?"

"I know he is. But that's not why I'm angry with him. I'm livid because he doesn't help you remember. You never remember."

-x-

Dean wakes up to see Sam leaning over him.

"Finally dude, I was afraid you weren't gonna wake up."

Dean shook his head, trying to clear his mind.

"You smell whiskey? And," Dean sniffed, "Honey? Fresh…bedding?"

Sam looked at him like he was crazy, "I think you hit your head a little too hard."

Dean shrugged and rubbed his temples, "Wow man, I had a weird dream but I don't remember much of it."

Sam helped him up and they headed to the impala. They'd been trying to take care of a nasty poltergeist and just as they were solving the issue it had thrown Dean fifteen feet, full force, into a brick wall. Sam swore he could hear his brother's skull shatter.

"What was it about?"

"I'm not sure, but Jo was there."

-x-

"Hey Sam do me a favor?"

Sam looked up from his computer, "Yeah sure, what?"

"Punch me."

"What?"

Dean got off his motel bed and stood in front of Sam.

"I need you to knock me out."

Sam huffed out a chuckle, "Why?"

"Just do it."

"Dean no, tell me what this is about."

Dean rolled his eyes, "I've been having dreams."

"What kind of dreams? Weird ones? Visions?"

"No Sam just dreams, they're aboudfkgjod," Dean mumbled the last part.

"Sorry what was that?"

"They're about Jo, okay?" Dean grit out.

"And this has to do with me knocking you out how…?"

"I don't have them when I'm sleeping. Not these particular ones anyways. I only have them when I'm knocked out or pass out during a hunt or something."

"How're they different than other ones?"

"They just feel…I dunno, real."

Sam shrugged, "Alright," and before Dean could get ready his little brother swung at him connecting his knuckles to his older brother's chin.

"Dude!" Dean yelled in pain, holding his jaw in his hands.

"Awh man, I guess I'm outta practice."

Sam threw another punch, it rattled Dean's skull and he went to sleep.

Sam let him wake up on his own. Ten minutes later Dean sat up slowly, releasing a groan.

"Jesus Christ," he hissed.

"Did it work?"

"What?" Dean's head was fuzzy but as it cleared away and the pounding in his head faded into a dull thump he remembered what they had been talking about, "Uh no. I don't think I even dreamed."

"You wanna talk about them?"

Dean shook his head, which was a horrid idea because his brain pulsed and a wave of dizziness and nausea washed over him, "No. Not right now."

Sam tossed him a bag of frozen peas, "Ice up, Balboa."

"Shut, up."

-x-

The next time Dean died he woke up to the light red wood walls of a bedroom. He looked down at himself. He was lying in a bed without clothes on aside from his boxer briefs. A white sheet was resting on his lower half, as was a very sexy female leg.

Dean startled and realized when he jumped that he was holding someone in his arms. Craning his neck he looked down at the blonde head on his chest.

Dean wasn't just holding anyone, he was holding Jo Harvelle.

"Jo? What am I—what the hell is happening?"

Jo snuggled into him but groaned, "You're in heaven Dean."

"I'm dead?"

"Is that really a surprise?"

You boys die more than anyone I have ever met.

"No," Dean admitted, "Not that I mind, at all, but why are you here?"

"Two things," Jo said looking up at him sleepily, "One, we're in the Roadhouse, two, why do you think you 'don't mind at all'?"

Dean's brows furrowed in confusion. Jo could practically see the wheels turning inside his brain. He was taking too long to put the pieces together so she sat up a little and pressed their lips together.

Jo's kiss melted onto his lips like it was a puzzle piece locking itself into place. Without thinking Dean raised a hand to cup her face and rested the other on the small of her back. Dean had never felt anything so right in his life.

She pulled away and he followed her face forward not ready to stop.

Jo chuckled, "Get it yet?"

Dean's heart surged with happiness and surprise, "We're soulmates."

"Ding, ding, ding! Someone give this man a cookie!"

Dean laughed and pulled her in for another kiss.

Jo told him like she did every time he returned about how he wouldn't be there long, about how he always ended up leaving her because God wasn't done with him yet. Because Dean Winchester was the man that couldn't stay dead.

Dean didn't think he could be that happy. Not without Sam anyways. Things felt so right with Jo. They had before but Dean hadn't come to terms with that fact until it was too late and he had never forgave himself for letting their only kiss be their kiss goodbye.

Here, in their heaven, he received kiss after kiss and every single one was a hello.

This time Jo got three happy months with Dean before she woke up to an empty bed. She wondered when God would give her a break and leave him here for good.

-x-

Dean woke up in the back seat of the impala. Sam had pulled onto a back road and was stitching the back of Dean's head. He groaned, he felt like he'd been hit by a train.

Delerious and confused he tried to sit up, "Jo?"

Strong hands pulled him back down onto the seat. Sam's calm voice washed over him.

"Shh, Dean, you're okay. That demon had a really long sword and you were way to close. I'm almost done."

"Sammy?"

Dean's eyes tried to open all the way but one was half glued shut by his dried blood. A fuzzy shape loomed over him and he recognized it as his little brother. He felt thread tug at his scalp.

"Where's Jo? We were just—"

"Dean you were dreaming." Sam told him. He snipped the thread and helped Dean into a sitting position.

"It felt so real Sammy," Dean mumbled, the loss of blood was making him dizzy and incoherent, "I was holding her Sam, I could feel her."

"I bet you could Dean."

Dean passed out before Sam could get any water in him. Shaking his head he made a pillow for Dean out of his jacked and got into the front seat.

"Figures you'd realize you're in love with her after she's dead."

-x-

Dean didn't die when his brother jumped into the pit but he sure as hell wanted to. When Sam left he felt a longing inside him that he'd never felt before, like someone was reaching for him but not getting close enough. Like they were always a little too far away.

Above, past the clouds and the pearly white gates, Jo cried for Dean. All she wanted was to hold him through his pain but instead she watched as he knocked on the door of another woman.

Dean went to Lisa and Ben because Sammy asked him to.

Three weeks in Dean was standing in the kitchen pouring a cup of coffee when Ben walked up beside him.

"Dean?"

"Yeah kiddo?"

"Who's Jo?"

Lisa looked up from her book with shock in her eyes. Dean didn't know, but Sam wasn't the only name he called out in his sleep.

Dean almost dropped his coffee. He set it on the counter and turned to Ben, his entire body was rigid.

"Where'd you hear that name?"

Lisa stood and went over to her son. Bending she looked him in the eyes, "Why don't you go to your room Ben? Please?"

Once Ben was up the stairs she turned to Dean, "You say his name in your sleep along with Sam's.

"Her."

"What?"

"Her." He repeated, "Her name was Joanna."

"Oh," Lisa said quietly, "Ben's just curious, he doesn't mean to be nosey. You talk about Sam so much he probably didn't see the harm in asking."

Dean sighed stiffly, "It's okay. It's not his fault, just—we can talk about Sam but we can't" Dean pinched the bridge of his nose, "We can't talk about her."

It was the longest Jo had gone without holding him. Who new heaven could feel so cold?

-x-

Dean let the doctor stop his heart. When he woke up Tessa the reaper was standing before him.

"How's it goin' Tessa? Long time no see."

She rolled her eyes, "This is a dumb idea."

"Dumb or not I've gotta do it."

Dean was getting Sammy's soul back one way or another.

"At least this time you died on purpose."

Dean frowned, "What's that supposed to mean?"

Tessa rose an eyebrow, "Normally when you die it's by accident. But then again normally when you die Death sends you right to heaven. God's orders."

You boys die more than anyone I have ever met.

Dean scoffed, "He'll send me there but he doesn't let me remember a thing, just sends me right back to this shit hole."

"That's not entirely true, now is it Dean?"

The voice that spoke up behind him sounded old and wise and tired. Dean looked over his shoulder to see the Death holding his silver headed cane like a third leg.

"I'm sorry what?"

Death looked at him like he was a child. Dean guessed that was pretty accurate, who knew how old the guy was.

"You think those are just dreams you're having? You cannot feel in dreams Dean, but you can feel in Heaven."

Dean stood there frozen in place for what felt like an eternity. All of those dreams with Jo, they were his heaven? He wasn't just wishing for her to be there? She really is his soulmate?

Death chuckled, "Yes Dean, she is."

Dean realized that he'd been speaking out loud.

"Why does God keep bringing me back while she's there? Why can't she come back too?"

"I do not know Dean. God and I are not friends, only…acquaintances, I guess you could say."

Dean wished someone could answer his question.

-x-

Three hours after Sam wakes with his soul:

"Hey Dean,"

Sam's voice is muffled around the burger that he has lodged into his cheeks. Some bun sprays out onto the table and Dean follows it with his eyes.

"Yeah?"

"Are you still having those dreams?"

Dean stiffens at the table. He'd been so focused on returning Sam's soul to his body that he hadn't thought about his 'not dreams but heaven' vision things.

"Uh about that," Dean tried to swallow but his throat was dry, "Apparently they aren't dreams."

"What? How do you know?"

"Death told me. He said I'm not dreaming I'm remembering."

Wiping some ketchup from his chin Sam frowned, "Remembering what?"

"Heaven."

It took Sam a lot quicker to understand what Dean was explaining than it had ever taken Dean when Jo was explaining to him.

"Jo's your soulmate."

Dean looked up from his hands to see his little brother grinning from ear to ear.

"I didn't think I'd see that face three hours after you woke up from an apocalypse induced coma."

Sam rolled his eyes, "Shut up. This is a good thing Dean."

"Why Sam? Why is it a good thing?"

"Why are you angry Dean? Now you know you have someone there with you when you die."

You boys die more than anyone I have ever met.

"Sure it's great for me. Just dandy. What about Jo, huh? Remember what Ash said? I die, sure, but I don't stay dead and it hurts her every time I have to leave. She spends a couple weeks or months with me and then God flushes me back down the toilet."

Dean's voice cracked and his throat was tight.

"The longer I stay the higher her hopes get that I'm there for good. How is that fair? I thought heaven was supposed to be a happy place."

Sam gave Dean that face he used to give him when Dean would wake up in the middle of the night or when Dean would take a long swig of whiskey before he went to sleep.

"I'm sorry Dean. I didn't think about it that way."

"It's alright Sammy." Dean sighed slumping further into his chair.

"Tell me about it?"

"Tell you about what?"

Sam shrugged, "What it's like up there. How's Jo?"

Dean smiled sadly.

"It's at the Roadhouse, the way it looked when Jo was little. My two-lane asphalt sits right outside. She's happier there I think. Ash's got it rigged so that she can see her mom and dad."

"Do you wish you were there? Like now?"

Dean sighed, "It's hard Sam. When I'm here I wanna be there with her, and when I'm there I wanna pull you up with me. Ash thinks I'm a special case."

Sam rose an eyebrow, "Special case?"

Dean nodded, "Two soulmates. A lover and a brother." Dean chuckled dryly, "We shared a heaven when we both died remember?"

"That sounds nice. Maybe Jess'd be there too."

Dean couldn't help but smile at Sam as his little brother thought about it.

"Yeah, maybe."

-x-

Dean opened his eyes to find himself standing in front of the Roadhouse. He smiled and burst inside.

Jo was standing behind the bar wiping it down with an old bar rag. REO Speedwagon was playing on the jukebox and Dean didn't even care. Jo looked up when he walked in and gave him the same smile she always did.

It was the gentle smile she used because she knew she had to explain everything to Dean, all over again. But this time? This time was different.

"Hey Jo," Dean said smiling widely at her, "Sam says hi."

Dean waited for his words to register. She furrowed her brows, her mouth turned down in a frown that portrayed confusion. Slowly her features changed and tears welled in her whiskey colored eyes.

"You—you remember?"

Dean nodded, "I remember."

Every day he spent with Jo, Dean was afraid he'd open his eyes and find himself on a motel bed or Bobby's couch. He felt bad that he was reluctant to be back with Sam, he knew it was painful for his brother to know that every time he saw Jo he was dead.

Sam was afraid that one day his brother wouldn't wake back up.

Dean tightened his arms around Jo as she sat in his lap. Sitting in the arm chair in front of the fire place in the apartment above the fireplace he didn't think things could get any better.

"I'm sorry," he rumbled into her skin.

"For what?"

"For not acting on things sooner." He kissed the back of her neck, "We could have been happy, maybe settled a little like your mom and dad had."

"Lived at Bobby's, hunted together, had a kid…" Jo rambled.

Dean's breath hitched and he pulled her even closer.

"I would have loved to have your child."

Jo turned to look at him in surprise, "Really? You never really seemed like the settling type."

"That was before I met you. Before I went to Hell and thought about all the things I never had."

"Before Lisa and Ben." Jo whispered.

"Yeah before them," Dean huffed and turned her chin so she was looking him in the eyes, "I didn't love her. I loved Ben sure, cared for him like he was my own, but I didn't love her. I couldn't, not when I loved you."

"Sam asked you to go to them, didn't he?"

Dean nodded, "Yeah, it was his dying wish. Couldn't ignore that now could I?"

"Would you have wanted a girl or a boy?"

Dean shrugged, "Both maybe? A little girl, named Mary after my mom, maybe a boy named William after your dad."

"That sounds perfect. Can you have kids in heaven?"

"I don't know, would you want to?"

Before Jo could answer Dean slowly vanished underneath her, leaving her alone in the living room.

"Yeah Dean," she spoke to no one, "Of course I'd want to."

A tear rolled down her cheek.

-x-

Dean woke up on Bobby's couch. His ribs felt like they were on fire and he could feel something warm and thick dripping into his eyes. He guessed it was his blood.

"CAS, CASTIEL WE NEED YOU."

Sam was shouting, Dean could tell even though the sound was muffled. The sound of Cas' wings whooshing beside him was so faint that it might not have happened. He felt two cold fingers press into his forehead.

Dean's vision cleared and he sat up slowly. Looking around Cas, Sam and Bobby were standing around him with faces of concern. Dean just wanted to be back with Jo.

"Dean, I just healed you of all your life threatening injuries, why do you look…distraught?"

Sam sighed, looking to the angel and then back at Dean, "Life threatening is an understatement. You were with Jo weren't you?"

Dean nodded and stood, "I need a drink."

The back screen door slammed behind him and Bobby looked at Sam.

"Sam what the hell are you two on about?"

Sam sighed, again, and sat down on the couch that his brother had apparently just died on.

"Remember when Dean and I went to heaven to talk to Joshua?"

Cas and Bobby nodded.

"Well, while we were there Ash found us."

"No surprise there," Bobby grumbled.

"Yeah, well the first thing he said was, and I quote, 'you boys die more than anyone I have ever met'."

Cas nodded in agreement, "There has been talk of the two of you dying much more often than it seems. I did not know it to be true."

"Yeah well it is and Joshua told us that during our time hiding from Zachariah, God wanted us to remember. We don't remember all of the times we've died accept that one."

Those angels, must have windexed your brains, Sam remembered Ash saying.

"But Dean is?" Bobby asked.

"I don't know why," Sam rubbed his temples, "At first we thought they were dreams but then Death told him they weren't, he said they were memories of Dean's stints in heaven."

"So why is Jo there?" Bobby questioned.

"The only time two people share a heaven is if they are deemed soulmates." Cas stated without thinking.

Sam smiled sadly up at Bobby, "He's finally admitted he's in love with her and the only time he gets to indulge in that is if he's dead."

Bobby removed his hat to run his fingers through his hair. He huffed loudly, "You ain't scared he's gonna off himself?"

Sam shook his head, "I don't think Jo'd want him to. Plus he'd just be brought back by someone, God maybe, who knows."

"At least he's got someone to go to when he does die," Bobby mused, "Lord knows that boy can't be alone."

-x-

The last time Dean walks through the Roadhouse doors, he makes a beeline right for Jo. Before she even knows he's there she's in his arms and her breath is being sucked from her lungs he's kissing her so hard.

"Dean?"

"I still remember."

She smiled but it faded when he saw the sadness in his face.

"Dean, what's wrong?"

"I think this is my last visit here, Jo."

She pushed him away confused, "What the hell's that supposed mean? How can it be your last time here? In heaven?"

Dean sighed, "Joshua, the angel that talked to God, heaven's gardener? He came to me in a dream. He said I'd have one more time with you, so I could say goodbye. This is my last time here knowing that I'll be brought back. I won't be dying as often and I won't be leaving. Next time I die I'm dead permanently."

Jo understood what he was saying. There would be no more back and forth, but who knew how long it would be before Dean Winchester died for good.

She reached up to cradle his face. Dean leaned into her palm.

"Then I'll wait for you. There's not much else to do here, so I'll wait. I'll be here when you finally get your ass perpetually kicked in."

Dean smiled and kissed her forehead, "I don't know when that'll be Jo. You know I want to be here with you but I can't leave Sammy, not forever."

"That's why I'm not going to ask you to hurry back." Jo said with a dry chuckle, "That'd be like wishing for your death. I don't want you to die Dean, I just want you to be with me."

Dean hugged her tight, "Maybe I'll get lucky and Sammy and I'll bite the dust at the same time."

"Luck never seemed to be your thing but you never know," Jo leaned back to see his face, "But I know that once you get here for good we've got an eternity together, and if that's not something worth waiting for then I don't know what is."

"You always know what to say Harvelle, don't yah?"

Dean felt a pull, right in his gut.

"It's time Jo, I've gotta say goodbye."

Tears slid down her cheeks but she was smiling up at him, "I'll miss you Deano. Kick some ass for me. Tell Sam and Bobby to be careful, and for God's sake, don't kick the bucket until you're ready."

"I promise," he wiped the tears from her face and kissed her with as much feeling he could muster up without exploding, "I'll probably see you sooner rather than later."

Jo couldn't help but laugh, "Make it later."

He kissed her on the forehead and on the lips one last time, just like he had on earth that horrible day in Carthage. Jo watched him walk away, Dean disappeared as he crossed the threshold.

-x-

When Dean woke up he was in a hospital bed. Bobby was talking to a nurse just outside the door way and Sam's huge body was twisted into a small chair beside his bed. His little brother was asleep, but he was holding Dean's hand.

Dean squeezed it and his little brother startled awake.

"Mornin' sunshine." Dean grinned at him.

Wiping drool from his chin with the back of his hand Sam sat up straight and let go of Dean's hand.

"Hey, hey Dean."

"How long I been out?"

"About three days."

Dean nodded absorbing the information. Sam cleared his throat and asked the question Dean knew was on the tip of his tongue.

"Did you see Jo?"

Dean nodded, "I said goodbye."

Dean told Sam about the visit from Joshua, about how next time he'd die for good. So would Sam.

"Huh, that's kind of a relief."

Dean rose an eyebrow, "Why do you say that?"

Sam tucked some hair behind his ear, "We've got one last go of it. Sure it might be a month or maybe a couple of years but at least we don't have to worry about getting thrown right back into the fray. When it's over, it's over."

"You're right. And when it does end I've got someone waiting for me."

Sam smiled, "I bet she can't wait."

Dean shook his head, "She can. She told me she would. I've gotta make this last go count Sammy, for her."

Alright! I hope you guys like this! I loved writing this despite the fact that I completely ignored starting my 20 page essay due next week. We don't need to talk about that. Read and Review! One Love, Liz.