AN: We've hit the 30's! Thanks guys for R/R'ing to the story – definitely wouldn't have happened if you guys didn't comment so a BIG pat on the back :) By the way, internet keeps failing if you want to know why I'm taking such a long time uploading the chapters :s
I said the joker is a wanted man,
He makes his way all across the land,
See him sifting through the sand,
So I'll tell you all the story,
About the joker and the thief of the night,
Always laughing in the midst of power,
Always living in the final hour,
There is always sweet in the sour,
We are not goin' home,
Can you see the joker flying over,
As she's standing in the field of clover,
Watching out everyday?
I wonder what would happen if he took her away?
Joker and the Theif - Wolfmother
She knew it was going to be a long drive.
They had been driving for the longest twenty minutes Jo had ever experienced without looking or saying a word to each other. It was clear that Dean was furious, but as they drove, the storm began to pass.
Jo couldn't stand the silence anymore and broke her rule at not talking first, "where are we heading?"
"We're going for a drive."
Jo knew she wasn't getting out of this conversation just yet. She looked out the sedan window to the dark blur of the streets surrounding them.
Dean was trying to act as calm as possible. "What did you get done for?"
"They thought I wasn't Joanna Beth Harvelle when I tried to get money out from my account," she answered, looking out the window blankly. "So they called the cops."
"What, the infamous Jo doesn't quick talk her way out of it?" he replied coolly. Jo wasn't sure if he was teasing her or paying her out.
She shrugged nether less; she wasn't going to stay in the car very long. She would get him to drop her off to some bar and she would phone Crowley.
They were so close in the car that Jo could feel his hand brush against her leg when he changed gears and the lucid warmth would spread throughout her body. Her breath caught and she shifted her leg when Dean wasn't looking.
"Where am I dropping you?" he asked monotonously. He scanned the buildings in front of them.
"I was staying at the Palm Resort," Jo replied. "But I can't go back."
Dean looked at her for the first time. A chill went down her spine. "You were staying in that motel?"
Jo replied defensively, "I can stay in any motel I want to."
She's got to be joking. He chuckled, annoyed. "I could've shown you a better place to stay at."
"Oh, and this is coming from the infamous Dean Winchester is it?" Jo replied.
"Do you even know what happens in those types of motels?" Dean asked her, watching her reaction. Jo kept her face completely blank.
"I'm not a kid, Dean. I can look after myself."
"Right," he rolled his eyes. "You made a great job getting the cops on your ass."
Jo glared at him. "What's your problem? I can look after myself perfectly fine, you know. The only mistake I made was seeing you."
"My problem?" Dean said, returning the glare. "I don't have a problem."
"Yes," she accused him. "You do."
"Jo, I don't give a damn if you sleep in a motel like that," he snapped. "I don't give a damn if you live in a trailer park. What I do care about is that you think you can just walk around as if nothing happened and do whatever the hell you want. Whenever you want and with who-ever you want."
She turned fully in her seat. "Who are you? My mother?"
"If Ellen was alive," Dean replied, his voice getting louder. "She'd be doing the same thing right now. You don't understand do you? You've been missing for a year and a half and you prance around like nothings gone wrong. Then you rock up on my doorstep and you're telling me that I have a problem? You just too damn naive."
Jo looked out the window, unable to say a thing. Dean had hurt her and she couldn't be bothered fighting anymore. "Stop the car."
"What?" Dean thought she was crazy. "No."
"I said stop the car."
Dean pulled over, but didn't unlock her door.
"Jo," he said, more quietly. "C'mon, where do you think you're gonna go?"
"I don't know," Jo replied. "I don't care."
"I care," he said slowly, watching her. Jo stared for a moment too long and blushed.
"Well it's obvious that I'm the problem, Dean," Jo replied unbuckling herself. "So its gonna be one less problem to worry about. I'm out of your way. Have a happy life with Lisa."
Dean took her wrist. When Jo turned around to tell him to back off, his face was so close that she momentarily forgot what she was doing.
"I didn't mean it that way," he said slowly. "You're not my problem Jo. Hell, look, I just – just don't wanna see you get hurt that's all."
He looked away, chagrined.
Jo didn't know whether to leave or not, but Dean still wanted to look out for her no matter what.
"It's just you only came back, you know?" Dean mumbled on, looking away. "Hell, I haven't even talked to you and you've been so distant – I just..."
"Dean, if that's what you were trying to get at, you didn't have to blast me."
He gave an embarrassed chuckle. "Yeah, well, it's been a while since I've done anything close to what I did tonight. I gotta get used to this."
He gave her a sad smile and finally said, "It's good to see you, Jo Harvelle."
His hand slipped up her arm and his thumb grazed her bottom lip. Jo closed her eyes and leaned into his hand, feeling the warm, rough skin. "I missed you, Dean."
"Mmm," he murmured, as their foreheads touched. Jo hitched up a notch, and ran her fingers through his short, tousled hair. Dean leaned forward, pressing his lips against hers.
The shrill ring of a phone interrupted them both, and Dean pulled away, fishing out a pink phone from his pocket and answering it. It was Lisa, and she was worried about what Ben had told her. Dean told her to wait and he was coming back home straight away.
"Jo, come with me," he asked quietly, holding the phone to his chest so Lisa couldn't hear him. "We have a spare room at the house and you can stay there with us."
Jo looked down, thinking only of Lisa. "Dean, I don't know. How would Lisa feel?"
Dean looked down, calculating. "I'll just say your staying with us for a couple of weeks until I figure something out with Bobby."
"Dean, I feel like I'm intruding-"
"Don't," Dean told her. "Please just stay. It's gonna give me peace of mind until I know your with Bobby."
Jo sighed, feeling guilty and nodded. Dean talked to Lisa about it, explaining what he had just said to Jo and hung up.
He gave her a Winchester smile. "She said you can stay in the other room for as long as you need to."
Jo smiled. "I think she's bedazzled by your Winchester Charm."
Dean chuckled. "Have I dazzled you?"
Jo couldn't help smiling. It felt so good to smile. "Dean Winchester, you've grown too soft."