Title: Stricken

Author: TigerTiger02

Chapter: Hook, Line, and Sinker

Summery: In which Joce and Dean have many complicated conversations and Dean and Sam hunt the Hook Man.

Disclaimer: I own nothing but Joce and Alex, ask me before borrowing them.

Spoilers: Chosen and Dead in the Water to current episodes.

Dedication: to Tarryn, who has probably been secretly waiting for this chapter.


Joce is silent as a nurse rearranges a vase of violets and orchids on her nightstand, how Dean had known they were her favorite she couldn't guess.

"You are one mighty lucky girl with a man like that fawnin' over you." the nurse declared. Joce gave a tight smile and stared down at her hand, Dean's heavy ring still adorned it. The aforementioned man strode into the room, flirtatiously winked at the nurse, and dropped a light kiss on Joce's cheek.

"Hey Babe." He said with a grin. The nurse winks at Joce and quietly slips out of the room. Dean insinuates himself as close as he possibly can to her and begins to speak again. "So Sammy was wondering if he could swing by." Joce blinked.

"Of course he can, it's so dull around here…" It's so odd, being in this weird half-relationship with Dean. They're almost Benefit Buddies, only he's bound to her forever. She will always be there in the back of his mind and owning a piece of his heart and soul even if he runs off and gets married. When she's in pain he'll know. When she's happy, he'll know. When she dies… well he doesn't know if he will along with her, but it does have a high possibility.

"Good, because here he comes to brighten your day!" Dean sang out. Sam rolled his eyes and set down a pile of books.

"I wasn't sure which ones you would like so I kind of broke into your apartment and then went to a bookstore."

"You have an apartment?" Dean asked, sounding hurt that he hadn't known.

"Yeah, I asked Sam to pick up some books for me. I didn't think he would go this far." Joce rolled her eyes at Sam who flushed.

"Sorry, but all of your books looked thoroughly read so I figured I would just buy you some new ones."

"Thanks Sammy, I'll pay you back-."

"Don't worry about it, think of it as a get-well gift." Joce grins.

"If you're sure."

"I'm sure, after all it was David Cross who generously contributed his credit card." The trio shares a laugh.

"You know a girl could get used to this kind of treatment, nice flowers, good books, cool protection ring." Joce shakes her head and when she's looking through the titles he picked up for her Sam shoots Dean a look. He jerks his head towards the door.

"Uhm… Joce?"

"Hmm-mm?" she murmurs not even looking up.

"I need to talk to Dean for a second, that okay?"

"Hmm-mm…"

"And I'm going to ask his opinion on whether or not those two hot nurses would want to have a threesome with me."

"Hmm-mm…"

"And then I'm going to sacrifice Dean to heathen gods for a better sex drive."

"Hmm-mm…"

"And then I'm going on a murderous spree… starting with puppies."

"Hmm-mm." Dean was staring at Sam like he was crazy and he ushered him into the hallway.

"What the hell was that?"

"I wanted to see her react to drastic random things if she had any. Obviously she's like me when it comes to books." Dean rolled his eyes.

"Okay so what did you want?"

"Protection ring, flowers? Dean what is going on? Is there something you left out when you told me what happened the night we came here?"

"Uhm… well you see… erm…"

"Dean. You didn't do something stupid and life risking did you?" Dean scoffs.

"Psh, no! Are you kidding me! Of course not!" Sam groans.

"Oh man… you did didn't you?"

"Dude I told you! I didn't."

"You did. I can't believe this! What did you do, Dean? What the hell were you thinking? Again, what did you do?"

"Made-an-unbreakable-vow-to-forever-protect-Joce-with-my-life-until-I-die-and-that-I'll-never-leave-her-side-ever. Basically-protect-her-with-my-last-dying-breath-kind-of-thing." Dean said in a rush.

"You did what?" Sam asked incredulously. "Okay this is way worse then I thought."

"How is it way worse? How is it even bad?"

"Dean, she gets killed and you die. I think it's that way for both of you. This won't end in a happily ever after, it will end in tragedy."

"Do you always have to be such a pessimist?"

"Only when it pays to be one, I can't believe your stupidity. I-."

"Sammy. Shut up." Sam blinked.

"W-what?"

"Shut up. I know it wasn't the greatest idea but… Sam you should have seen her two nights ago. It hurt to see her like that." Sam sighed.

"Dean… how are you going to explain this to dad?"

"I won't. He doesn't need to know." Sam raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything.

"Well anyway I have a new lead on something." Dean nodded, his face closed off. Sam frowned and grasped Dean's shoulder. "Dean. She'll be fine. She's safe here. We've got a job to do." Dean sighed and rubbed his face tiredly.

"Yeah, I guess you're right." Sam suddenly smiled.

"Are we having a chick flick moment?" Dean's eyes went wide.

"No. Bitch."

"Whatever, jerk. Look, I'm going to go gather some things up and do some more research. Say your goodbyes, we leave tomorrow morning." Dean raised an eyebrow.

"Hey, who's in charge here?" Sam rolled his eyes.

"Don't worry, you still get to drive." Dean glared at him and punched him on the shoulder.

"Damn straight."

Dean crept to the door and leaned against it. Content to watch Joce for now. She was no less pretty then the day he had met her. Sure there was a lot of bruising and the few scars he could actually see were still new and pink with tenderness, but there was this brightness to her. He couldn't quite explain it. She was biting her lips and furrowing her eyebrows. She had a deeply intense look on her face. She lips moved silently as she read. He crept over to her and dropped his hands on her shoulders. She jumped slightly but relaxed as he begins to knead them. She leaned into his touch and gave a low moan. He pauses for a moment, taking in the fact that so willingly leans into his touch.

"Mmm… don't stop," she mumbled as she opened her eyes. He gave a cocky grin, yep; he still had the magic touch.

Joce didn't want to have his hands leave her but she knew if she continued to let him touch her, as his hands were starting to roam lower, then she would give in. She pulled away and turned to him.

"So what did Sammy want?"

"I told him about… us." Dean said as he sat down. He took her hand into his and she relished the look of their hands clasped. His was larger, wide palmed and long fingered. Calluses were visible on the tanned skin and the nails were short and clean. Hers were small, slender palmed and long fingered. The pale skin was in sharp contrast, and her nails were long, clean, and painted blue. Their protection rings clinked together and Joce felt a jolt. Dean lifted his eyes and met hers. Joce leaned in, anticipating his lips to hers.

When his lips met hers she felt another, more powerful, jolt as he trailed a hand up her arm to cup her neck. Dean pulled Joce closer, maneuvering her so she straddled his hips. Dean deepened the kiss and Joce could feel herself falling completely and utterly into this. Whatever this was. Dean's hands were slowly pushing up her shirt and her hands were fluttering against his chest, unsure of where to put them.

"Ahem." A voice from the doorway startled them and Dean pulled away. Joce flushed when she realized it was a healer, and she was late for her session.

"Erm… Ginny, this is my…" Joce paused, unsure how to phrase what Dean was exactly to her. But Dean jumped in.

"I'm her boyfriend. Dean Winchester." He gave a cocky grin but Ginny merely lifted an eyebrow. Joce flushed as she realized what their position suggested. She clamored off of Dean and tugged down her shirt.

"Jocelyn, need I remind you that I do not recommend have sexual intercourse for at least a month?"

"I know Ginny… I just got carried away in the moment."

"Humph. Well at any rate we can do your session here if you like. Your boyfriend and help lend some energy, that should speed things up a bit." Joce bit her lip and frowned. But Dean cut in before she could refuse.

"I'd love to." He sent Joce a lopsided grin and she felt her heart melt.


Dean had thought there would be more to this then simply holding hands, but apparently not. Finally the healer dropped his hand.

"We're done. I will see you in two days, Jocelyn?" Joce nodded and Dean stared at her. Joce had a high, healthy flush to her face. Her eyes were sparkling and the scars were faded to a like pink, almost pearl color. She sighed and lay back in the bed.

"That always makes me want to do something other then sit here."

"Well I can think of many different things we can do." Dean said with a wicked grin. Joce threw a pillow at him.

"You heard what Ginny said…"

"I heard, but I never said we would go that far." Joce paused to consider him. She bit her lips, worrying the skin between her teeth. Dean's eyes immediately dropped to study it. Joce cupped his face and pulled him close, giving him a chaste kiss. As he pulled away he touched their foreheads together.

"Joce, I have to leave." Joce froze. "I need to help some people. I have to leave for at least a week."

"Where?"

"Eastern Iowa University, that's all the info Sam gave me." Joce sighed and pulled away.

"At least its not far." He raised an eyebrow.

"Does that mean you're fine with me going?"

"Of course I am, I mean you have to help people…" Dean sighed.

"So you're not fine?" Joce rolled her eyes.

"I'm fine just… a little worried is all."

"Worried?" he asked incredulously.

"I don't want… I mean… I don't know!" Joce growled out, frustration coloring her tones. "I mean I know logically I shouldn't be worried but still… I can't help but be worried." Dean suddenly grinned.

"Aww… you would miss me if I croaked?" Joce shoved him.

"Don't joke about it Dean! Of course I would… these past four months have been great… and now we're… what are we anyway?" Dean considered her.

"Lovers." He said finally, taking her hand and brushing a light kiss over her knuckles.

"Are we?" Dean got a wicked grin on his face.

"Of course we are, we might not have done the horizontal mambo but we are."

"Dean!" she shrieked but with a giggle to her voice. She stops when he gets a serious look on his face. "Dean?"

"Promise me something, will you?" she bites her lip but nods, "Promise me you'll stay here until I come back." Her eyes go wide.

"What? Dean, no. I refuse to. I'll come and find you. After all Ginny says that in another week I'll be ready to go on my own." Dean's face hardens.

"A week? Joce let's be realistic here, you are in no shape to be roaming around and getting into fights with supernatural things. Stay here." Joce pouts and underneath the sheet she crosses her fingers.

"Fine."

"Alright, I should go, Sammy wants to leave early in the morning." He drops a light kiss on her cheek and waltzes out of there. Joce feels her heart leaden and she droops in the bed.


Faith lights a cigarette, Joce has snuck into her quarters.

"You shouldn't be here."

"Shut up, I needed a cigarette and some advice." Faith raises an eyebrow and Joce sucks on the cigarette desperately.

"Whoa, are you sure you should be doing that?"

"Faith. I'm five by five." Faith glowered at her.

"That's my line."

"I know." Joce replied cheekily.

"What do you need?" Joce frowns and drops her gaze to the burning cherry of the cigarette.

"I don't know… I like Dean. A lot. I might even be…" she trails off and averts her gaze once more.

"Oh Josie-girl. It's all right for that to happen. I mean come on, who wouldn't? Look at B, it's happened to her plenty of times."

"It's not all right Faith. It's not right because even though I'm attracted to Dean… Sam has this something about him. I mean, I would never. God, never ever hook up with Sam but… still. I guess I can see a future with him." Joce states quietly. "It's stupid, and bad." Faith cocked an eyebrow but said nothing for a moment.

"Look, I can't help you make up your mind. I can't tell you what the future will hold. I can't tell you which Winchester boy is good for you and which is bad. What I can tell you is that having these kinds of thoughts can only lead to disaster. I can also tell you that you are attracted to Sam because he is much more normal then your Pretty Boy. Sam is tall, dark, and handsome. Not to say Dean isn't, but Sam exudes normality. He has no criminal danger to him. He's gone to college and was going to law school. He's the type of guy that you expect a white picket fence, 2.5 children, and a damn dog named Fido from him. Joce. You've never been normal, and you'll never be normal."

"I don't want normality."

"Of course you do, every Slayer does. Look at Buffy."

"I'm not like Buffy. And what about you? You don't want normality."

"Joce. I'm engaged to Robin. We bought a house last week. I know I don't come off as a homemaker, and I sure as hell won't be, but I just want to settle down in one place. No more of this running around from place to place and never having a permanent home. Don't get me wrong, I love my job but sometimes all a girl really wants is her prince charming."

"Look, I didn't come here to discuss this. I came here to ask you if you knew anyone who could break oaths."

"Oaths?"

"Yeah, like a vow to someone."

"A wedding vow kind of thing?" Joce flushed.

"Erm… yeah kind of…" A slender eyebrow rose on Faith's face.

"Explain." Joce sighed and explained the happenings of only a few nights ago while Faith's frown got deeper. When she was finished they both went quiet. Faith let out a low whistle.

"That is pretty serious. It doesn't sound like something we should mess with." Off of Joce's incredulous gaze Faith added on, "but I will talk to Giles about."

"Giles!" Joce shrieked, "No! No! I cannot have Giles know about this!" Faith held up her hands.

"Hey! Calm down. I won't mention names." Joce sighed and took a drag from her cigarette.

"Fine. Good. Great."

"Now, you should get back to your room before you piss off anyone. I'll talk to you tomorrow."

"Alright…" Faith stood and escorted Joce out of her apartment like rooms.

"Rest up. If I know you, you're going to be leaving in a couple of days." Joce flushed and Faith shook her head, "Girly, I've told you time and again that you are exactly like me sometimes." She poked Joce lightly, "now go and rest up!" Faith swatted Joce's behind lightly and Joce flushed in mortification.

"Faith!" she hissed angrily.

"Joce!" Faith mocked and shut the door behind her.


Meanwhile Dean and Sam are leaving the police station.
"Saved your ass! Talked the sheriff down to a fine. Dude, I'm Matlock!" Dean declares happily. Sam scowls silently.

"But how?"

"I told him you were a dumb-ass pledge and that we were hazing you."

"What about the shotgun?"

"I said that you were hunting ghosts and that spirits were repelled by rock salt. You know, typical Hell Week prank."

"And he believed you?"

"Well, you look like a dumb-ass pledge." Another scowls lights Sam's face. He decides to change the subject.

"So, talk to Joce lately?" Dean pauses for a moment, searching for his keys. He doesn't speak for a good five seconds and when he does his voice is low.

"No. I tried calling last night but the nurse said she had been released. Then I tried her apartment and it was Faith, she said Joce was resting."

"So?"

"So, if I know Joce she's going to break her promise."

"Which was?"

"That she wouldn't come here." Sam frowned.

"Dean, what do you expect? It's Joce we're talking about here. If anything what happened to her will only make her want to kill even more evil bastards." Dean glances up sharply, leveling his hazel eyes on Sam.

"Like you."

"No. Not like me at all."

"Revenge is the same anytime Sam, doesn't matter who you're avenging or what against." As they arrive at their car, they see policemen running out of the station. They exchange glances. "Don't even think that this talk is finished Sammy." Dean spits out. Sam glowers.

"It's Sam." He stresses.


Joce winces as she takes a sharp turn. The movement has pulled at her healing scars. Her cell rings and she slows down to pick it up.

"Hello?"

"Hey darlin'." Dean drawls out, his voice sounds thin over the phone. She can't help but smile.

"Hey, how goes it?"

"It goes… frustrating, as usual. What's that noise?" Dean asks as she speeds up a little.

"Oh, I managed to talk Faith into letting me borrow the 'stang. She was reluctant but I needed to just… drive. I've been cruising around for the past hour. She'd kill me if she knew that I was just cruising." She lying but Dean doesn't need to know that, she only a few minutes from the town Dean and Sam are at.

"Oh?" she gave see Dean raising his eyebrows as he says this.

"Yep, I needed some fresh air."

"I see."

"So tell me about the case."

"Well… there's this Hook Man."

"Dean?"

"Hmm?"

"A Hook Man?"

"Yeah, Hook Man."

"Like crazed killer with a hook sneaking around at make-out point and killing lustful teens?"

"Yep."

"Oh. Sounds… kinky." Dean snorted out a laugh.

"Kinky?"

"Yeah, kinky." Dean makes a grunting noise and Joce laughs lowly.

"What are you doing?"

"Digging… up… a… Preacher's… grave."

"Is he the Hook Man?"

"Yeah."

"Makes sense."

"Yeah."

"Dean?"

"Yeah?"

"Be careful."

"Will do."

"Dean?"

"Hmm?"

"Don't light yourself on fire." There's a low chuckle from his end and more grunting.

"I don't plan on it, it's weird that this is connected to a freaking church. And people wonder why I have no faith," then there's a loud cracking noise. "Jack pot! I've got some preacher's bones to salt and burn. See you in a couple of days?"

"Yeah ab-."

"Sorry, babe, I've really got to go." And the line goes dead. Joce stops at a stoplight and stares at the phone in her hand; with a sigh she flips it closed and tucks it into her pockets. Next to her Faith drums her fingers.

"Are you sure you want to be doing this?"

"Positive."

"Alright, but if your boy gets pissed at you, it ain't my fault." Joce gives terse nod and pulls into a motel. She pulls out her phone and dials up Sam.


Sam starts as his phone rings. He turns to Lori.

"Hold that thought, I've got to take this. Hello? Joce?"

"Hey Sammy, I was just talking to Dean and-."

"You're here aren't you?" Sam asks and gives Lori a quick glance.

"Er… no…"

"Joce! Dean is worried about you! I'm worried about you!"

"Yes, it's all very noble but Faith is here with me, now where are you? I know Dean is digging up some remains but what about you?"

"I'm talking to someone."

"Oh? Is this someone a damsel in distress?"

"Yes."

"Go Sammy!"

"Don't call me Sammy. Look I'm kind of in the middle of something, I'll call you in a few."

"Yeah everyone is, can you just tell me what motel you guys are at? Sam? Sammy!" Sam turns the phone off and turns back to Lori.

"My brother's girlfriend, she just got out of the hospital and is looking for Dean I guess."

"She sounds… loyal."

"She is, to an extent." Lori frowns.

"What does that mean?"

"It means her and my brother are screwed up, they both adore each other but both of them insist upon acting like they don't need each other. They flirt with everyone they meet but pretend it doesn't bother them when the other is being particularly aggressive, and then they can be so… I don't know… tender with each other. Like all of those secret glances." Sam shook his head in disgust. "Anyway, continue." Lori gives a small smile.

"No one will talk to me anymore, except you. The sheriff thinks I'm a suspect. You know what my Dad would say? Pray, have faith. What does he know about faith?" she says vehemently.

"I heard you guys fighting before." Sam admits.

"He's seeing a woman, a married woman. I just found out. She comes to our church with her husband, I know her kids and he talks to me about religion, about morality. It's like on one hand, you know, "just do what you want and be happy" but he taught me…he raised me to believe that if you do something wrong, you will get punished. I just don't know what to think anymore…" She turns to Sam and hugs him fiercely. Sam is slightly surprised and he's even more surprised when she kisses him. He melts into the kiss for a moment, responding to it like any good twenty-something would. But for a moment his mind flashes to Jessica and he pulls away.

"I'm sorry, I just… can't." Lori tilts her head and frowns.

"You like her."

"Who?"

"Your brother's girlfriend."

"Where would get an idea like that?" Sam says defensively.

"It's the way you talked to her. And the look on your face."

"Look, Lori, I don't like her like that. She's pretty but I could never… my girlfriend died only a few months ago… I couldn't. I just couldn't."

"Are you saying that to convince me, or yourself?" Sam finds that he cannot answer.


Joce taps a rhythm on the steering wheel while Faith pops her gum.

"How long are we going to just sit here?"

"Dunno." Her phone rings and she jumps before picking it up. "Sam?"

"Hey, you wanted to meet up with us?" he sounds stressed but Joce doesn't want to dig, so she doesn't question him about it.

"Yeah."

"Well I'm at the hospital now, waiting for Dean."

"Jesus, what the hell happened?"

"Nothing out of the ordinary."

"That's what they all say."

"Look, do you need directions?"

"No, I should be able to find it on my own."

"Alright cool, see you later."


Joce nervously wrings her hands. Faith is outside in the car. A short distance away she can see Dean's head with it's short golden-brown spiked hair. Sam's eyes flick up and meet hers but Dean doesn't seem to notice. She starts forward and manages to catch the tail end of their conversation, Dean is still unaware of her and Sam is suppressing a smile.

"Remind me not to piss this girl off," he adds: "I burned those bones, I buried them in salt, why didn't that stop him?"

"You must have missed something."

"No, I've burned everything in that coffin."

"Did you get the hook?"

"The hook?"

"It was the murder weapon and in a way, it was part of him."

"So, like the bones, the hook is a source of his power."

"So, if we find the hook…"

"We stop the Hook Man," Joce says from behind Dean. Dean back stiffens and turns, his face pale but angry.

"What the hell are you doing here?" he demands quietly, his face thunderous.

"What? I can't have a little fun?" Joce asks with her eyes wide and innocent. Dean growls something under his breath and takes her arm in a harsh grip. He drags her to a secluded corner.

"I thought I told you to stay there, to not come here. To wait."

"I did but I got bored, plus you never said I couldn't cross my fingers." His face darkens and he tightens his grip. "Ow! Dean you're hurting me." Immediately guilt floods his features and he drops her arm.

"Are you okay? Are you even fully healed?" he asks and pushes up one of her sleeves, the pale skin is unmarred and he breathes a sigh of relief.

"Jesus, those healers do a good job." Joce nods but fidgets with a necklace he doesn't remember seeing before. Slowly he drops his head presses a kiss to her mouth. Joce is startled for a moment but responds eagerly. She wraps her arms around his neck and pushes to her tippy-toes for better access.

"Ahem!" Sam grumbles from behind them. The pair breaks apart and Sam grins, "So you two make up?"

"Shut it Sammy." Sam rolls his eyes

"Alright come on."


Joce and Dean are melting various silver objects when Sam hears a noise upstairs.

"Go." Joce merely tells him while she and Dean continue to melt cups and such.

"Well that's the last of 'em." Dean declares and sits back. Joce leans against him as they watch the fire.

"You know, it's kind of pretty." Joce snuggles closer and Dean makes a noise of happiness. Suddenly there are shouts and a crash above them.

"What the fuck?" Dean asks aloud. They both get up and rush upstairs, Dean with his shotgun and rock salt.

"What did we miss?" Joce asks aloud as she helps up Lori. Suddenly she's thrown against the wall and Dean takes a shot but the Hook Man teleports away. Joce groggily stands and rubs her head. Sam's eyes land on Lori's cross and he rips it off before throwing it to Dean. Dean throws Sam the gun and rock salt. As Dean rushes to the furnace Joce is unsure for a moment of whether to go with him to stay with Lori and Sam. The decision is made for her when the Hook Man appears beside her and swipes at her with his Hook, she stumbles away with her collarbone bleeding and he advances on her. "Joce!" Sam yells and Joce rolls away just as Sam shots at him. And Joce leans shakily against a wall for support.

As Sam pauses to reload, Joce steps in front of him as the Hook Man appears again, disarming Sam after tossing Joce to the floor. He leans over preparing to strike Sam down when he starts to disintegrate. For a moment everyone is silent. Dean rushes upstairs and helps Joce up.

"Goddamnit!" Joce hisses in pain and Lori glares at her.

"Don't take the Lord's name in vain." Joce says nothing but allows Dean to put an arm around her waist and help her outside.

"That was intense…" Joce murmurs. She gives a hiss as Dean unbuttons her shirt a little bit and examines the wound.

"Yeah, just a little intense." Dean grouses. "It's not that deep, and I don't think you'll need stitches. Jesus, the bastard nearly got your throat." Joce winces and turns her head away.

"Yeah, lucky me. I only have someone going after that part of my anatomy every other day." Dean levels her with a glare. "What?"

"You could have been killed in there." Joce guiltily averts her eyes.

"I know." She says quietly. "I shouldn't have come but… I had to get away from there." Dean sighs and runs a tired hand over his face.

"Damnit Joce-." She cuts him off.

"I know, I shouldn't have come because I could get hurt. But a bus could hit me tomorrow by just crossing the street. The world tends to not be a safe place. Especially for people like us. But we have to do this. So I'll try and stay safe if you promise not to coddle me." he sighs and leans in, dropping a light kiss on her lips.

"Yeah, fine. I promise. Now you need to get that cleaned up." She smiles.

"Of course, Sir." She mocks and he glares at her.

"We're not goddamn soldiers."

"Of course not, sir." She teases further. Dean says nothing and the smile drops from Joce's face. "What?"

"Nothing."

"Seriously, what?"

"Seriously, nothing." Dean says while clenching his teeth.

"Fine."

"Fine."

"Stupendous!"

"Do you always have to have the last word?"

"No!" Dean raises an eyebrow but says nothing.


Later while Sam and Joce are getting treatment, the sheriff questions Dean.
"And you saw him too? The man with the hook?"

"Yes, I told you," Dean answers with a stiff tone. "We all saw him. We fought him off and he ran."

"And that's all?"

"Yeah, that's all."

"Listen, you and your brother…"

"Oh don't worry, we're leaving town."

Joce clamors into the car and curls up next to Dean. He throws an arm around her while he observes Lori joining Sam.

"They look cozy." Joce remarks.

"Yeah, I think Sam wants to stay." Dean mumbles. Joce sighs.

"I wouldn't mind settling down for a little while." She murmurs, almost unconsciously voicing Faith's words. Dean cocks his head.

"Settling down?" she frowns slightly.

"I don't know, an apartment, steady job, not having to worry about killing evil things. It sounds nice. Maybe more someday."

"More? Define more." Joce averts her eyes.

"Dean…"

"No. You are not getting out of this one."

"Please let's not ruin this with useless thoughts of the future."

"Useless? The Future? Joce, talk to me. What does this future entail?" Joce flushes brightly.

"Well… you and me…"

"And?"

"And… a white picket fence, a dog named Fido, and 2.5 kids."

"How can we have .5 kids?" Joce freezes.

"Dean…"

"Joce…"

"I don't know. Like I said it's useless because… because we'll never live long enough to see that. We can't have a serious relationship… I mean the oldest a Slayer lived to is… well I'm not sure, but probably not to their thirties and let's face it another five years and I'll be long past my expiration date. Five years is not enough time. Plus we're always on the move, it's useless Dean."

"Is it?"

"Dean!" she says angrily, "don't you get it? It's futile." Dean frowns and grasps her chin in his hand. He meets her eyes.

"Say that while looking at me." She can't. "See? If you can't say that while looking at me then it isn't. I'm not going to screw things up again." Joce doesn't know what he means by that but nods. "Don't shut yourself off from me Joce. Please?" she's never really heard him sound like this. She searches his eyes, everything is happening so fast but at the same time so slowly.

"Dean? I don't know if I can." She admits. Dean goes quiet and turns on the car as Sam climbs into the back.

"We could stay." Dean says suddenly. Sam shakes his head no and notes the tense atmosphere. He wonders what he interrupted but brushes it off.


Later that night while Joce is out patrolling in the small town they've stopped in for the night, Dean turns to Sam suddenly as he's drying his hair.

"Hey. Remember that conversation I said we'd finish." Sam looks up from his computer and gives a short nod.

"Yeah, what about it?"

"Let's finish it."

"Dean I'm really not in the mood to talk about this kind of shit now."

"Really? And what would be a good time for you?"

"How's never?"

"Sam, look you've got to stop this revenge kick you have going for you. It's not going to bring Jessica back."

"I know it won't." Sam says shortly. "But did dad stop for one minute to think that he should stop hunting because it was destroying his family. Did he stop to think, 'Well it won't bring her back so I should stop.' He didn't Dean! He never did! He never thought it would be better for us if he didn't try to avenge mom."

"Sam he loved her."

"And I loved Jessica! So just stop Dean. You don't understand. You wouldn't understand unless it was Joce pinned to a goddamn ceiling." Dean flinched.

"Don't you dare bring her into this."

"And why the hell shouldn't I?"

"She has nothing to do with the ceiling demon and she never will."

"And why would you say that?"

"Because it will never be like that for us. She doesn't want to get married and neither do I. We have no future." Dean growled angrily.

"So she's just a toy for you?" Sam said while standing.

"No! I never said that!"

"But you implied it, and that's enough. Go to sleep Dean. I'm going to find Joce." Sam continued to the door, flung it open, and stalked out into the night. Meanwhile Dean groaned in frustration and placed his face in his hands.


A/N: Well… I'm not quite sure if this chapter is perfected but I can't find much to fix..