A/N: Jo finally meets Dean and John, and that something that was bothering Jo shows its self.

Suggested Listening: I know I have not said anything for this story, normally I do, but I just have not so far. However, the theme song for this story is Wonderman by: Tinie Tempah featuring Ellie Goulding. I love the beat and for some reason I think the song just fits.

/The Hunt and a Meeting/

Sam paced back and forth in front of the Professor's desk, he was pissed and at the same time, he was scared out of his wits. His dad and brother had been here, they had been in this office. They knew he was here and they didn't even try to talk to him. What did that mean? Did that mean they didn't want to see him, did it mean they couldn't accept what he was? "Why…why did they come?" he asks terrified of the answer. The Professor smiled at him, on of the slow indulgent smiles. "To see you of course," Professor Xavier sighed and looked out his window. Sam could see the kids playing out on the lawn; they were involved in a game of baseball. Knowing those kids like he did, it was a no holds bar game. Each kid would use his or her ability to win, Scott called it training, Sam called it fun. "Ryder they are genuinely worried about you."

Yeah Sam didn't thinks so, if that was the case then why didn't they come and find him? Why didn't they…how could they leave without saying goodbye? "Are you so sure they left?" of course he was sure, he was the freak son. Why would two normal people like his dad and brother want someone like him? Dad had the perfect soldier, the perfect son. He wouldn't want someone like him. "Such insecurities Ryder." The Professor murmured with a shake of his head. Stop reading my mind! He snapped. "Ryder would you like me to show you what happened while they were here?" Sam knew what the professor was offering, but Sam couldn't he just couldn't. What if what he saw just proved everything he had been thinking, on the other hand it could prove the opposite. Somehow, Sam didn't think so, besides he couldn't take that chance. It would kill him to learn the truth.

Jo leaned over a book; it was the fifth one she had looked at today. Rubbing her weary eyes with her fingers, she took another crack at the book in front of her. It was on all the buildings that were in the area they had found Layla, but so far, she hadn't found anything. If she couldn't find anything then that meant no body to burn, if there was no body to burn then there was no way to get rid of the ghost. Not only was that unacceptable to her, but she knew Sam wouldn't like it either. "Hey kid," Looking up when she heard the familiar grunt and nickname, she smiled at Logan. He was the only real friend she had at this place that is if you didn't count Kitty and Sam.

"Hey Logan." She said waiving her hand at the chair across from her; he looked like he had something on his mind. Getting him to talk was like pulling teeth, but she knew he would eventually speak his mind. Going back to her research she found something interesting and jotted it down on the notepad, she would have to look into it later. "…So" hiding her smile she turned the page, she had learned a long time ago how to play Logan. He was a stubborn man. "Heard you and that Ryder kid had a date." Leaning back in her chair she eyed the man sitting across from her. Where was he going with this? Was he about to give her a lecture on spending time with a man, while impressionable eyes were everywhere? Nah, not Logan, so what was it then?

"Sorta," she said slowly, not sure how to proceed, "just pizza and beer in my room, we spent the night researching." he nodded. She knows by now he has already learned of the ghost. Layla was telling everyone about the crazy teachers aids that took on a ghost by themselves, without any weapons. Most of the kids thought she was crazy, but there was a few that believed her. Jo wasn't sure how to feel about that, she preferred these kids stay in the dark about what goes bump in the night.

She also knew that with what these kids had to face, they already knew evil. "What's bothering you Logan?" she watches her friend as he leans back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. That's when it hits her he's worried about her. "Be careful kid that Ryder is a heartbreaker." she had to struggle not to laugh. Sam a heartbreaker, he was the sweetest person she knew. Sam wouldn't, couldn't hurt a fly. "What makes you say that Logan?" He just looks at her, his brown eyes tired and old looking. He has seen a lot in his lifetime, some he remembers and others he doesn't. "I just do kid, I just do."

Sam couldn't believe it; plopping down on the Professor's couch, he ran his fingers through his hair. "They are still here?" he asks feeling a little lost. The Professor nods, a small smile playing on his face. Sam looks away again, feeling like that lost runaway he was not so many years ago. It had been so hard , leaving dad and Dean. They were all he had left, he couldn't see a life without them, but he had left anyway. Now they were here at the school that had been a refuge, and they wanted to see him. "Maybe you should bring our young FireStarter; I think they would like her." Sam shrugged and clasped his hands together, if anything Jo could always be there for moral support.

John watched his oldest as he paced back and forth, stopping every now and then to look in the mirror. The Professor had called and said that Sam would meet them at the local pizza parlor, but first his son had some business to take care of. Now what that business was John had no idea, and the Professor would not expound on it either. That was a little annoying, is this what it feels like to be on the other side. To have the you'll-know-when-I want-you-to-know crap shoveled on him. Yeah well if that was the case he didn't like it very much. "Chill out bud, you're not going on a date." He snapped at his oldest as he made another pass by the mirror. Dean shot him a nasty look that instantly softened. Always did when it came to Sammy. "Yeah I know dad, it's just that…" his worlds trailed off, but John knew what the kid meant. This was Sammy.

"Really?" Jo asks him, keeping all of her attention on the shotgun in her hands. She was trying to be as nonchalant as she could, but Sam could see through it. Her lips were pursed in thought; some of her blond hair fringed her face. And blazing like two neon signs on her cheeks, were twin pink spots. She was pleased he had asked, but was she seriously so shocked? "Yes really." he murmured with a shake of his head. "Well okay, then lets get this thing started so we can go see your dad and brother." He smiled at her back as she walked away, shotgun on her shoulder. If nothing else, Dean was going to love her.

They trudged through the mud and murk of the abandoned cemetery; he looked towards Jo and noticed her nose scrunched up in distaste. "I'm going to need a shower before the night is through." she muttered. He took the time to really look at her. Her dark jeans were covered in mud; it also splattered her face and chest. "Yeah you are you smell like a swamp." Flipping him off she stalked ahead of him, but he knew she wasn't mad at him. Not really. "I know," she tossed over her shoulder, "of course that might have something to, with the fact that we are in a swamp." She was right, they were going to have a hell of a time lighting this dude up.

"Find the gravesite yet?" He called after her, as he checked the map in his hands. Shifting his duffel so it sat on his shoulder better, he looked around at the rows of crumbling down gravestones. Old man Peterson should be around here… "Got him!" …well never mind then. He followed the sound of Jo's voice, when he found her she sent him a beaming smile. Did he mention how pretty she looked when she smiled? Shaking himself, he tossed the duffel on top a fallen down gravestone, and set about digging.

When he was about half way down he heard her yelp, "Hey!" followed by a loud squelch. "Jo!" He shouted he couldn't see over the wall of dirt and mud. Couldn't see if she was all right. "Jo answer me!" If she didn't answer him, ghost be damned. "I'm fine! Just fell into the murk." with a nod she couldn't see he set back to work. "Ooo this is so gross. That's it I am never coming to this place again!" Despite her complaining he knew that if the job required her to come here she would, it's just who Jo was. "Eh quit your belly aching and give me a hand out." as she helped him out he was pretty sure he heard her mumble "some boyfriend you are", but he couldn't be sure. Shoving the kerosene and the salt at him, they set about finishing the job.

After the flames had died and the grave was refilled, he tossed an arm around her waist. Really liking the feel of her against his side. "You'll like my brother." He says to her now, he could feel a smile blooming across his face. "What about your dad?" There is something he has noticed about her, Jo Harvelle didn't do hesitation. He always admired her for that, Sam hesitated, not all the time and not when it counted. "Dad…well dad will like because me and Dean like you." she gave a snort at that. "Thanks for the confidence boost."

After a nice hot shower and dressed now in a fresh pair of jeans, and dress shirt. She stood by Sam side as they waited to be seated. She was nervous as all hell, but there was no way she was going to admit that. She was here for moral support; this was the first time Sam would be seeing his family in years. He deserved to have a good time; at least one of them should get to see their family. "Are they here yet?" she hissed into his ear. Stupid question really, if they were here then they wouldn't have to wait to be seated. Sam shook his head as the hostess walked up to them, a fake smile spread across her face. They followed her to a booth and sat down. "Pitcher of beer, four mugs." She heard Sam order, but she wasn't paying any attention. She was to busy looking out the window, searching for the big black car he said his brother drove.

After a few moments, she watched as a cherry '67 Impala pulled into the parking lot. She let out a low whistle recognizing it as the one his brother drove. "What?" Sam asked her, looking at her with a quizzical look. She pointed out the window as two men climbed out of the car; she also noticed how on edge Sam had become. "Sam calm down, they wouldn't be here if they didn't accept you." He nodded, but he looked like he didn't believe her. "Look at me and my mom, I've been gone for years and she hasn't tried to find me." It was true, out on her own since she was fifteen and living at the institute for almost three years now. Still no word, at least Sam's family cared. "Your right." he mumbled, as he wiped his palms on the tops of his jeans. "Of course I am. I'm always right." She beamed up at him.

Another few moments passed, and the tension rolling off Sam was beginning to get to her. Looking around him she saw two men standing at the door, one was wearing a black leather jacket, his black curly hair a bit shaggy. The beginnings of a beard shadowed his strong jaw line. The other one was dressed similarly to the tall dark haired man, but to her that's where the similarities ended. The younger man was about an inch or so shorter, his spiky sandy blond hair cut military short. He looked nervous while the older man wore a blank expression. When Sam wasn't looking, she waved them over, pointing down at Sam when they shot her a quizzical glance.

"What did you just do?" Sam asked her, turning shinning hazel eyes her way. "Nothing, stand up Sam your family is here." she murmured giving him a slight shove. She could be pushy when she wanted to be, now was one of those times. Shoving him until he stood by the booth, they greeted his father and brother. "Dad." Sam said in a small voice, rolling her eyes she gave him another shove, right into his brothers waiting arms. She almost cried at the look of relief on the middle Winchesters face, and how he gripped his brother as tight as he could. John (the father) eyed her a moment before he to wrapped his son up in a bear hug.

She smiled at the men around her; Dean was in the middle of telling a particularly embarrassing story about Sam. Sam pretended to hate it, but she could tell he loved every minute of it. "Seriously?" she asked, when Dean mentioned the time Sam had run around the parking lot of the latest motel, buck-naked. At Dean's nod, she tossed her head back and laughed, ignoring the disgruntled look on Sam's face. It's what he gets for making sure Rogue kept giving her that nasty tasting stuff. "So how do you know our Sammy?" Dean asked her, a shark like glint in his pretty green eyes. If he thinks, he's going to intimidate her he had another thing coming to him.

"Well for one, we work at the school together." Sam said looking at her, she smiled at him. Leaning her chin on her fist she said, "Yeah, we met a few days after being found. Best friends ever since." Yeah okay, so that wasn't particularly true, he didn't like her at first and she well, she couldn't stand him. However, there had been something about the lonely shaggy haired boy. "Best friends," Sam snorted, "don't let her fool you, she hated me when she met me." she rolled her eyes at him. And he calls her melodramatic. "I did not, but I did kick his ass a few times." Looking up at John and Dean, she saw them watching her, judging her. She hoped they liked what they saw.

Three men stood staring at the so-called school they knew their job. They just had to wait for the troops to land; soon they would storm the school. Soon the boss would have enough of these mutants. And can proclaim to the word the world, show the world what a threat these things really were. All they had to do was wait they had time. Before long, everyone will be asleep, and they can take action.