The sky was painted orange and gold by the light of the setting sun as the family walked back to where they'd left the car. Dean hadn't been able to let go of his daughter since Jo had finally cut the tape from around his wrists, and had a hand on her shoulder as they walked. Sam was rubbing his wrists absently, thinking about just how close they'd come that day and wondering whether or not Dean had been right to want to give up the baby for her own safety. Ellen wasn't too far behind him, her hands in her pockets, trying to piece together how to make amends, wondering if this was the final time, the last straw, the moment when Dean finally wised up and realized he was better off without her.
Jo hung back, not really sure whether she should be included, whether she should intrude. She liked to think that, by killing the murderous psychopath that had tricked her into hurting her family, she had earned redemption in their eyes. She knew it was a long-shot, though.
"I'm sorry," she blurted as they reached the car.
"Excuse me?" Sam asked.
"I'm sorry. He took advantage of me. He tricked me. I never wanted anyone to get hurt-"
"That's not true," Ellen interrupted, "you wanted to hurt me. You wanted to hurt Dean."
"I was confused. I didn't know what I wanted. I just didn't want to be alone anymore. I wanted you to come back." She felt tears welling up behind her eyes as she looked at her mother, her lip quivering as she begged for forgiveness. "Please. I missed you. I want you to come back home."
Ellen sighed, knowing it was wrong, but unable to resist the urge to comfort her daughter. "A couple of years ago," she said softly, placing a hand on Jo's shoulder, "I would have taken you up on that. I would have gone back in a heartbeat."
"But now?"
"Now," she smiled sadly, "I'd still like for us to be a family." She turned and looked back at Sam, Dean, and Jaydin, noticing that Dean was avoiding her gaze, looking down at the ground. "But it's just not gonna work." She pulled her hand from Jo's shoulder and backed toward the group, slipping her hand into Dean's as he looked up at her, shock written plainly on his face. "You pushed me away. You kicked me out of my own house. These guys actually want me around." She glanced at Jaye and smiled. "Well, Dean wants me around, anyway."
Jo dropped her gaze. "Fine," she said quietly, "I guess this is good-bye."
"Wait," Dean said, stepping forward and reaching out a hand toward her, "if you really hate being alone… if you want your mom around, I mean… our guest bedroom recently opened up, and-"
"What?" Sam said, "uh, no. Dean, I'm tired of sleeping on the couch. For two straight years now I've had a kink my neck because you refuse to buy me good pillows."
"It's not his fault you lost that fight," Jaye smiled, looking up at him with innocent, though glassy, eyes.
"To a girl," Ellen added, "who's twice your age and half your weight."
"So I underestimated my opponent," Sam pouted, "can't you drop it?"
"Not yet," Jaye said, holding her broken wrist up a little higher to try and alleviate some of the pain.
"The point is," Dean continued, turning back to Jo, "that if you really are sorry and need a place to stay, our door's always open."
"I don't think so," the blonde said, her voice icy, "I want my mom back. I never asked for you."
"You've gotta be kidding me. Are you really that selfish?"
"You're the one who took her," Jo hissed before turning around and heading off to the clearing where she'd parked her own car.
Dean turned to look at his family, throwing his hands up in defeat. "I give up," he muttered, walking back to join them. He was met by the palm of Ellen's hand slapping the back of his head. "Ow."
"What's wrong with you? She tried to kill us!"
"She's your daughter."
"Consider her disowned after the stunt she just pulled."
"Saving Jaye's life?"
"After endangering it."
"So, I get to keep the guest room?" Sam asked, effectively interrupting the little lover's spat.
"Yes!" they both responded before continuing their argument.
"Excuse me," Jaye piped up after watching her parents fight over whether or not her sister was truly worthy of redemption for a little over a minute, "but my wrist is killing me. Unless you've got some morphine on you, I'd suggest we go to the emergency room. Like, now."
Her parents turned to look at her. "She's got a point," Ellen conceded.
Dean nodded. "Yeah, but Vicodin's better."
Jaydin rolled her eyes as her father pulled out the keys and unlocked the car, carefully ushering her in before sliding behind the wheel and starting it up. Maybe her family wasn't perfect. Maybe a relative or two wanted her dead. Maybe her parents still had some things to work through. But it was bound to get better. She believed that with all her heart. Her dad did, too, apparently. Why else would he have bought that diamond ring that he kept hidden in his sock drawer?
Aha! Another evil ending where you can draw your own conclusions as to what happens next! Well, this time it's actually for real. I swear, I won't make another. I'm all TGA'd out for now. Thanks again to my faithful readers for actually sticking by me through this one and reviewing.