10.
Ellen comes to find her in the old storeroom.
It smells just like it used to when it was real; hops and aluminum, dust and cool concrete.
Jo sits with her back to the far wall, the tears pouring undisturbed down her cheeks, legs stretched out before her, arms folded over her undamaged middle.
"Baby?"
Jo sniffed, lifts one hand to wipe her face. "I'm okay…"
"Oh sweetie," Ellen breathes, coming and sitting beside her. She puts one arm around her daughter's shoulders and kisses her bright hair. "No, you're not."
Jo sighs and puts her face against her mother's shoulder. "It's just…the memories, my Heaven…it was like I hadn't really lost you – which I guess was the point, but…"
"But now you think you really will be."
"Yeah."
Ellen sighs, too, and kisses Jo's hair again. "Oh, baby girl, no. You're not loosing us. We'll be right here waiting for you, and nothing will change that. We'll always know where to find you."
Jo nods, but the crying jag has her in earnest and she sobs, even as Ellen murmurs, "baby," and folds her daughter into her arms. Dimly, both are aware that this is a reiteration of their final moments on earth…swings and roundabouts…this has happened before, will happen again…
Ellen breathes, "You have me, Jo. This is important, what you gotta do, but you have me, and I will always love you."
There's the sound of claws clip-clipping on the concrete.
'Like last time,' Jo thinks. But this is no hell hound.
When the door is nudged open, a golden muzzle appears and Bones gazes at them with those big soulful eyes. Jo holds out a hand to him and he trots over to lick the tears from both their faces. He hides his face against her chest, giving a low whine.
"Yeah," Jo breathes through her tears. "Time to go…"