Rating: T
Notes: This chapter is a lot longer and one of my favorites, so I hope everyone enjoys it. Thanks to everyone for their encouragement - I love reading your thoughts on what you think should happen next and what you liked. You guys are awesome!
'Deal Breaker'
Sam noticed a familiar brunette in jeans down the hall while waiting for his coffee. He called out to her and waited while she excused herself from a nurse and hurried towards Sam.
"Where is she? Is she ok?" Ellen quizzed looking fraught with worry. "What about Bobby, is he alright?"
Sam nodded pulling his coffee out from the vending machine. "Bobby's fine." He assured her leading her to the room. "He lost a lot of blood but they where able to give him some blood transfusions right away. The rest is all superficial scratches." Sam explained and stopped her in front of Bobby's room. "He's still a little bit out of it though."
Ellen nodded and followed Sam into the hospital room. Bobby had his eyes closed, but there was a dopey smile on his face. Sam smirked, shaking his head at the relaxed state of the older hunter. Ellen was oblivious though as she walked towards the bed next to Bobby's.
Dean sat ingrossed with the TV screen, while Jo slept soundly, curled up with her head resting in his lap. Dean's jacket was sprawled over her like a blanket and his hand was resting protectively over her shoulder.
"How's she going?" Ellen whispered bending down to examine Jo's face.
"Bit shaken, but mostly exhausted." Dean whispered back not taking his eyes off the football game on the TV.
The doctor entered the room and smiled kindly at her. "I take it you're Roberts sister, Ellen?" He asked tucking a pen into his pocket and pulling out Bobby's chart.
"Ah, yes. His sister." Ellen confirmed sending Sam a questioning look. "How is he?"
"He's reacting well to the extra fluid and transfusions we've given him so far. Though I must insist that it was a good thing your nephews brought him in when they did." He nodded at Sam and Dean with beaming eyes. "I looked over your daughter too. She's fine. Just suffering shock and a little dehydration. She'll be fine after a good night's rest."
"I'll make sure she gets it." Ellen promised the doctor. She escorted the doctor outside while he explained the medication Bobby needed to take for the next week.
Sam sipped his coffee and returned to his newspaper. After a couple of minutes of scanning the headlines he grew tired and looked towards his brother for a distraction. He was surprised, and amused, to see that Dean was running a hand through Jo's long blonde hair while still watching the TV.
Sam glanced outside; Ellen was still talking to the doctor and appeared to not have noticed the tender scene. He glanced back quickly to his brother, fascinated by the rare display of affection. A stray hair escaped his fingers and she stirred. Instead of awaking, she pulled her knees up tighter and nuzzled into his legs. Dean tore his gaze away from the screen and looked down. Capturing the stray hair, he swept it back with the others and gently stroked her forehead. Her frown lines dissolved under his touch and she let out a deep sigh.
Dean continued to comb more of her hair back until he looked up and caught Sam's eye. Sam grinned smugly, trying his best not to laugh when Dean glared at him. Over the top of his newspaper he spied Dean looking back to the TV and moving his hand back to her shoulder. Sam shook his head disappointed but continued to sneak a glance over at the couple every couple of minutes.
Sam couldn't deny that he was now interested in what this development would mean for his brother.
While Bobby remained hooked up to an IV in the hospital the others decided to head back to Bobby's house. Dean offered to take Jo in the Impala so she could sleep in the backseat, while Sam went with Ellen in her truck.
After a few minutes of polite conversation Sam couldn't resist asking a few questions while he had the chance. "Ellen?" He started nervously.
"Yeah?" She asked sounding tired. Her eyes never left the road and she kept a firm eye on the Impala in front of them.
"How long has Jo had her abilities?"
Ellen remained silent, but her face was a multitude of emotions. Finally she let out a deep sigh and glanced at him quickly. "I suppose you've seen too much now and it's pointless to try and deny it?" She asked him hopefully. Sam nodded and she ran a tired hand through her hair. "How do we keep getting into these messes?" She asked herself.
"Is she like me?" Sam asked quietly.
"Ash certainly seemed to think so." Ellen recalled. "He begged me to tell you both when Dean told us about your visions." She gave him an apologetic smile. "You have to understand Sam, we've been keeping her secret since she was four. I was so worried the wrong people would find out and well, I'm a mother. It's my job to worry."
"How did you find out?" Sam asked curiously.
"I was serving at the bar and Bill," She paused and followed Dean as he turned off at an exit. "He was supposed to be watching her. He had just gotten back from a hunt and had fallen asleep on the couch. Somehow Jo got into his locked box of guns. And then I heard this gun go off and I knew. Call it mothers intuition, call it whatever, but I knew. I ran upstairs and found Bill. He had something in his hand and…" Ellen sniffed and went quiet.
Sam placed a sympathetic hand on her shoulder. "It must have been terrible."
"You have no idea." She told him. "I was furious with Bill. I said so many horrible things. I was devastated. I wasn't thinking straight. I remembered a hunter talking about crossroad demons and how they could bring people back to life." She glanced at Sam and turned back to the windscreen. "Grief can make people do crazy things, Sam. Reason doesn't stand a chance."
"So you made a deal?"
Ellen nodded. "I didn't know that while I took off, Bill thought he was loosing his mind when Jo reached up and wiped away his tears." She let out a huff. "The demon had known though and was amused by my deal. She was so quick to tell me she'd bring Jo back to life and that she would take something of mine soon."
"You didn't know she'd take Bill?"
"Of course I didn't!" Ellen exclaimed. "I would have never made the deal. But she made it sound like she'd just take my home and some stupid possessions." She shook her head. "We were so stupid. I got home and saw Jo alive and told Bill what I had done. He was furious of course but as soon as Jo had given him a hug he stopped shouting. We all assumed that the demon had brought her back to life."
"So how did you figure it out?"
"It wasn't until we met Ash. Bill had been dead a long time and Jo was in her early teens. A real smart ass too. And into everything she could get her hands on. I caught her out the back with Ash making their own petrol bombs." She snorted. "Idiots."
"It exploded on them?" Sam asked surprised.
"Yup. Jo threw herself in front of Ash and caught the brunt of the explosion. When the smoke cleared Ash and I where shocked to see she was fine. I think she was just as shocked as us. It was Ash that forced her to keep silent about her abilities. He said he'd heard about a kid who could manipulate electricity and the kid had been sent off the some government research facility. No one heard from him again." Ellen slowed down when Dean indicated he was pulling over for gas. "It was enough to scare us all in to keeping it a secret."
"And Jo never tried to figure out where her abilities came from?" Sam asked shocked.
Ellen shook her head. "She's very sensitive about it. She thinks there is something wrong with her and that if she couldn't have saved her father than it was useless."
"So tonight was the first time she's ever healed anyone?"
Ellen nodded and pulled the truck in behind Dean. She climbed out and checked on Jo, who was still fast asleep in the back seat, while Sam refuelled the truck for Ellen.
"You alright, Sammy?" Dean called out seeing the pensive look on his brother's face.
"Fine." Sam answered half-heartedly. His mind was racing with what Ellen had just told him. Waiting for the gas tank to fill he watched his brother open the impala boot and rummage around.
The gas tank finally clicked, indicating it was full. Sam ignored it, continuing to watch his brother open the backseat door. He noticed Dean was carrying a blanket and a bunched up jacket. Sam spied Dean shake out the blanket before reaching into the Impala and gently laying the blanket over Jo's sleeping form.
When he couldn't see Dean anymore Sam craned his neck until he could see Dean place the jacket gently under Jo's head. Dean eventually stood back, oblivious to his audience. He finally glanced over at them and Sam distracted himself with replacing the gas tank cap. When he turned back, Dean waved at him before climbing back into the drivers seat. He started the engine and gently pulled out of the gas station.
Ellen watched them leave before turning to Sam with a smile. "Your brother must think I was born yesterday." She joked and Sam couldn't hide his grin. "He's kidding himself if he thinks I don't know what's going on between them two."
Sam tried his best to look innocent and shrugged. Ellen just laughed in response when Sam hurried off to pay for gas.
*******************************
Two weeks had passed since the werewolf incident. After a couple of days of helping Bobby around the house the Winchester's headed off to resume their own hunt. Jo said nothing about heading off for another hunt, which secretly pleased her mother, but looked longingly at her inbox when she read an update from Sam.
Unbeknownst to his brother, Sam gave Jo a weekly update on what they were doing and where they were heading. Jo only replied when she thought she had useful information to provide, but mostly stayed silent. When she wasn't doing research, she spent the rest of the time trying to put some order to Bobby's book collection.
Having sorted each room into categories, she had gone to work on trying to put them in some kind of order. Bobby had been blown away when she presented him with a book catalogue on his computer. It was while entering a description of one such book that Jo found something interesting. Shoving the book into her jacket, Jo waited until everyone had gone to bed before she pulled it out.
She was now sleeping in Dean's bed and after shoving a blanket under the door she turned on a lamp and started reading. 'A guide to Myths and Legends in North America: Crossroads'
Jo flipped through the pages hungrily. Pages of accounts and references to crossroad demons tumbled through her brain. Images and warnings seared to her memory. At last she came across a paragraph that made her heart beat faster. '… Crossroad demons are notorious for their quick wit and keen sense of knowledge of their victims biggest desires. Once a deal is made it cannot be broken. It is final. However, just like with other reputable demons (see Beelzebub or the devil) deals can be renegotiated, making the original deal null and void. A counter offer must be offered and it's value must be higher then the original deal.'
Jo looked up from the book. "Its value must be higher." She murmured to herself. "But what's more valuable than Dean's soul?"
Outside a cricket was chirping loudly. She bit her lip deep in thought. Another cricket answered the first cricket. Within seconds several other crickets began to chorus with the first cricket. Jo narrowed her eyes. Suddenly an idea struck her. She gasped with excitement. "That's it!" She exclaimed and turned back to the book. Re-reading the first paragraph she was certain she had the right idea.
In excitement she snatched her laptop off Sam's bed and quickly booted it up. Within seconds she logged into her computer and opened her inbox. Her fingers shook with excitement and she couldn't stop the smile splitting her face.
'Sam,'
She started typing.
'I've got it!!! Tell Dean to stop running – I've found a way to fix all our problems. I've come up with a deal they can't refuse!
Talk to you soon,
Jo'
She quickly hit send and waited until the icon notified her that it had been sent successfully. Logging onto the internet she started to research where she could get her supplies and how long it would take.
By the time the sun emerged on the horizon she had her bag packed and a shopping list tucked in her jeans. A quick cryptic note to her mother and she slipped out of the house. She grinned as she started up Bobby's truck.
"Don't worry Dean." She said to herself while backing the truck down the drive. "This time tomorrow you'll be a free man." With that she shoved the truck into first gear and roared off to town.
********************************
"Dude, that poltergeist was one nasty piece of work." Dean declared throwing himself face first down on the motel bed. Covered in dirt from having to dig out a grave, he ignored Sam's disgruntled moan and continued to spread dirt all over Sam's bed. "I feel like I could sleep for a week."
"You weren't the one being suspended upside down from a ceiling." Sam reminded him. "I thought for sure I was going break my neck when it crossed over."
"You mean when I blasted it back to the hell it snuck out of?" Dean corrected him raising himself onto his elbows. "What are you doing now?" He asked watching Sam pull out his laptop and boot it up.
"Just checking my emails."
"You've been doing that a lot lately. You're really looking at porn aren't you?" Dean teased grinning.
"Speaking of porn." Sam commented trying to seem unconcerned. "Are you going out tonight? That girl did offer to buy you a drink."
Dean raised his eyebrows and rolled over so he could pull off his shoes. "Who? That Sasha chick?" He asked untying his laces. "Nah. Not my type."
"Since when do you have a type?" Sam asked surprised. "I thought 'female' was you're type."
"What can I say?" Dean said with a shrug. "I'm getting picky in my old age." He looked at his brother when Sam didn't respond. "What?" He asked rising from the bed to look at the screen.
"Nothing." Sam insisted and slammed the lid shut on his computer. A smile crept over his features before quickly slipping into a blank stare as Dean advanced towards him. "Why don't you have first dibs on the shower while I make a call?"
Dean raised his eyebrows suspiciously. However at the mention of a hot shower he looked distracted. "You are getting weirder by the day, Sammy." Dean told him, but left the room regardless.
Sam waited until the taps turned on before he pulled out his phone and made a dash for the door. He quickly slipped outside dialling Jo's number excitedly.
Dean heard the motel door shut and opened the bathroom door. Peering around the room he saw there was no sign of his brother. With a glance at the running shower, he opened the door completely and strolled over to his brother's computer.
Lifting the lid he was disappointed to see that the screen only displayed Sam's email. Dean was about to shut the lid again when he saw a familiar name. Double clicking on Jo's name he opened the most recent email.
He read the email carefully. He growled. Sam waltzed happily through the door. "Dean-" His face fell when he saw Dean's expression.
"Did you put her up to this?" Dean accused in a tone he normally reserved for demons, especially those who tried to screw with him.
"No, Dean. I swear."
"Did you ring her and tell her she's out of her mind then?"
Sam bit his lip looking unsure. "No, I didn't-"
"You're encouraging her insanity?" Dean asked angrily.
"She's not insane, Dean." Sam tried to convince his brother, but Dean wouldn't hear of it.
He began to pace the room scrubbing his hand back and forth over his face. He stopped and swore. Turning to Sam he spoke. "Pack your bags, Sam. I'm going to pay for our room and when I get back the room better be empty."
"Dean-"
"No!" Dean barked, his eyes flashing. "I told you to leave it. You promised me you wouldn't try and get me out of this deal."
"It has nothing to do with me, Dean." Sam argued.
"Then why is she emailing you? How long has this being going on?" Dean questioned pointing to the laptop. "Why is she going on some wild goose chase? She's going to get herself killed Sam or worse."
"She's doing it because she loves you Dean."
"What?!?!" Dean exploded looking dangerously close to hitting something.
Sam hesitated, knowing it was not a good idea to trying to argue with his brother when he was this mad. Yet he couldn't help himself. He didn't want to hurt his brother, but his gut told him that Dean needed to finally admit how he felt about Jo. "And I think you love her too."
Dean threw his hands up in the air. He spluttered a couple of times, unable to get the right words out. Finally with no response he stormed towards the bathroom, shut the taps off violently and grabbed his toiletries. Tossing them on his bed he yanked out his duffle bag from under the bed and tossed it next to the toiletries.
"Dean I'm sorry-" Sam started.
"Don't say another word." Dean gritted out. "Pack your things. We're leaving." In tense silence Dean finished packing his bag. Sam stood still watching his brother angrily pull at the zipper on his bag. When he finally got it, he snatched the motel key off the table and threw open the door. "Do it!" He ordered and slammed the door heavily behind him.
Sam scratched his head and sighed. "Damit Dean." He murmured unplugging his laptop and putting it away. Mad at himself for pushing his brother, he quickly did as he was told and packed before Dean could drive off without him.
************************************
Jo took a deep breath and gently placed the old tin box back down in the ground. Inside she had placed one of her fake id's next to Dean's, along with the additional voodoo supplies. She quickly refilled the hole and stepped back to the middle of the crossroad.
She waited, expecting to see the demon almost instantly. Disappointment nagged away at her stomach, making her twist around in a circle several times. "Come on, come on." She muttered under her breath.
"You rang?" A syrupy voice called out behind her. Jo whirled around. Standing in front of her in a crimson silk evening dress stood a woman with long brunette hair. She smiled and Jo instantly recognised the red demonic eyes.
"You're the crossroads demon?" She asked nervously.
"In the flesh." She smiled smugly. "Well someone else's flesh for now." She stepped closer to Jo and looked at her critically. "Can I do something for you sugar?"
"You know why I'm here." Jo said trying to remain confident even as the demon circled her.
"Well I know you can't possibly be here to make a deal for little old Dean Winchester's soul because that would be a waste of my time." The demon frowned at Jo placing her hands on her hips.
"And If I am?"
The demon smiled sympathetically. "Sorry sugar, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but that ship has long sailed."
"I've come to make a trade."
The demon laughed. "You?" She laughed again. Jo kept her shoulders straight and her head high and ignored the demon's taunts. "No deal." The demon responded starting to walk away.
"I didn't say it was my soul I was offering."
The demon froze. She turned around to stare at Jo curiously. "I'm listening."
"I've come to trade a hundred souls."
*******************************
"Damit!" Dean shouted throwing his cell phone at the Impala floor. Sam's legs barely missed the flying object and he frowned at his brother. "Her phone is switched off."
"I told you already that I tried calling her."
"Well excuse me if I don't believe everything that comes out of your mouth right now Sam." Dean accused angrily. "What with all that going behind my back crap you've been pulling."
Sam sighed frustrated. "As I've already told you a million times – I didn't go behind your back. I've never discussed the deal with Jo. Ever. Yes, I've been emailing her," Sam told him holding his hands up when Dean tried to interrupt. "To tell her how we've been going. Since that bad hunt she's been stuck at Bobby's, so I've been trying to cheer her up, make her feel like we haven't forgotten her."
"So now I'm expected to ring her everyday while I'm in the middle of an extremely important hunt so she doesn't feel sad?" Dean hissed furiously. He over took a long truck and angrily swerved back in his lane.
"How about calling her once?" Sam retorted looking annoyed. "You never called her after Duluth and a lot has changed since then."
"Nothing has changed." Dean denied aggravated.
"You're such a bad liar, Dean."
"Sam. Stop it."
"Stop what?" Sam asked innocently. "Stop caring about you? Stop trying to help you?"
"Stop trying to push me onto Jo."
"If I recall, you where the one doing all the pushing on Jo in your dream." Sam reminded him with a smug grin.
"It was just a dream." Dean argued sending his brother a reproachful look. "I've had all kinds of dreams about Kelly Clarkson as well. You don't see me running after her do you?"
"Keep telling yourself that, Dean. You might actually believe it one day."
"Shut up." Dean shouted and shoved his brother roughly with one hand. Sam was saved from having to respond when his phone rang.
"Yeah Ellen, we're on our way. Yup… Ok… call you soon."
"What did Ellen say?" Dean quizzed when Sam hung up his cell phone.
"She knows Jo is up to something and wanted us to check it out."
"If that demon doesn't kill her I swear I will." Dean promised and over took another vehicle.
*******************************
"So we have a deal?" Jo asked trying not to sound too hopeful.
The demon was eyeing her thoughtfully and was considering the proposal. "I'm curious sugar." The demon inquired watching Jo carefully. "What's so special about Dean that you're willing to make such a trade? It's not like giving him his life back is going to make him fall in love with you."
Jo was startled by the brutal honesty in the question. Staring at the floor she could only answer honestly. "It doesn't matter what I want. All that matters is that he'll live."
"Until someone else decides to bump him off." The demon suggested with a smile. Jo shrugged and the demon accepted her answer. "Well I guess Dean really is a cat with nine lives."
"So you'll do it?"
The demon nodded. "Who am I to walk away from such a good bargain?" The demon told her looking pleased. "Though I must warn you, there are going to be some pretty pissed off demon's out there who were looking forward to Dean's first day in hell."
"Better luck next time." Jo supplied dryly.
The demon grinned. "I like you. You're funny and you know how to haggle properly." The demon beckoned her closer. "If you're ever on the lookout for a job as a crossroad demon, give me a call."
"Er, thanks. I'll put it on my to do list."
The demon clapped her hands. "Alright Kido. Let's seal the deal." Jo stepped forward until she was face to face with the demon. In the distance she heard thunder rumble angrily towards them. Jo closed her eyes as the demon tilted her head and pressed her lips to Jo's.
Jo cringed awkwardly against the cold lips until the demon's hands latched on to her arms. Jo tried to pull her head back, but her lips where fused to the demons. Her eyes flew open and she saw the red eyes glowing back at her amused.
Far off in the distance Jo heard shouting. However the sound was tuned out because of the searing pain tearing through her body. She howled into the demon's mouth but the demon held her steady. Jo felt like she was being crushed from the inside. Then, just when she thought she couldn't stand it any more, the demon suddenly let go and she fell limply to the floor.
********************************
"We're too late!" Dean cursed violently as he shoved the car into park beside Bobby's truck. He saw Jo stepping up to the crossroad demon and he felt his nightmares coming true. Shouting, he scrambled from the car and ran towards her, screaming at them to stop.
Sam was hot on his heels as he sprinted down the dirt road. The demon looked at him over Jo's shoulder and smiled wickedly. Dean continued to shout even as Jo's mouth pressed against the demon. He watched in horror as the demon took her by the arms and shook her body.
It was Sam that reached Jo first and caught Jo just as she was released by the demon. Dean tackled the demon. Within seconds he had the upper hand and had her pinned to the ground by her throat. "What did you do to her?" He shouted, furiously pushing down on the demon's neck.
"Made.. a deal." The demon gasped out, her red eyes laughing at him.
"Dean." He looked over and saw Jo resting against Sam's chest. "Don't." She told him looking like she was going to collapse again.
"What ever deal you made undo it! She had no right to make any deal on my behalf." Dean threatened pushing down harder on the demon's throat. The demon's eyes narrowed. Before Dean could react he went flying backwards. The demon sat up angrily and tugged at her dress. She climbed to her feet.
"Be seeing you Dean." The demon told him and with a clap of thunder she disappeared.
Dean stood up and swore. Shaking with rage he stormed towards Jo. She was just getting to her feet when he grabbed her by the arms. She hissed at the contact, her arms bruised from where the demon had grabbed her. "What did you do?" He spat angrily shaking her slightly.
"Dean, stop." Sam warned trying to grab his brother.
Dean shook him off and pulled her closer to him. "What did you do?"
"I got you off the hook." Jo said in a quiet voice. "There's no deadline now. You're free."
"What?" Dean looked like he wanted to slap her. He chose to glare at her instead. "What did you trade?"
Sam was looking at Jo, interested in what it had taken to convince the demon. "Please let me go, Dean." Jo asked him trying to wriggle out of his grip. The expression on his face scared her and suddenly she regretted telling Sam the news.
"Not until you answer me!"
"My curse." She mumbled not looking him in the eye. "I swapped my ability to heal."
"You stupid girl! You could have been killed!" Dean hissed throwing her arm away in disgust. He opened his mouth to say something to her but stopped. He threw his hands up in the air. "I can't do this." He muttered. "Sam! Lets go." He turned on his heels and walked away.
"Dean-" Sam called out looking shaken.
"We're leaving." Dean told him, still not turning around.
Jo bit her lip trying not to let the tears that had formed in her throat escape. She didn't dare look at Sam. Instead she looked at the ground and tried to hold it together. Hurt bubbled in her throat and she found it hard to breath, but she refused to let Dean see her cry.
"I'm not leaving." Sam called after Dean.
Dean turned on his heel, the expression on his face unreadable. "Fine." He spat. "Stay here with a traitor."
Jo whirled around at his use of the word 'traitor'. "What?" She shouted looking devastated. "I saved you're life."
"No. You ruined it." He told her furiously.
"Dean-" Sam warned again, he couldn't believe the hurtful words spilling from his brothers mouth. He started at him incredulously. "You can't mean that."
"She had no right Sam! None. That demon could have slaughtered her in seconds for just summoning it." Dean reminded him. He finally turned to Jo and pointed an accusing finger at her. "You aren't my sister, you certainly aren't my girlfriend, so how dare you meddle where you don't belong? That was my soul you just played dice with. You had no right."
Jo's eyes fell to the ground and she nodded. Without a word she turned and started walking away from them. Sam looked at his brother ashamed. "Jo, wait." Sam called out turning to go after her.
"Sam, get in the car." Dean shouted after him.
Sam ignored his brother and chased after Jo. When he caught up to her there where tears streaming down her face. "Jo, he's just upset. Please, He didn't mean it."
"It's ok." She whispered, her lips trembling. She looked at him, her eyes filled with tears. "I'm just glad he's alive to say those things." She tried to smile but her lips just wobbled. "It's ok. I'm alright. Just go." She told him and crossed her arms against her chest tightly.
Sam was torn between staying and going with his brother. He knew very well that his brother would go off and do something stupid if he wasn't there to stop it. He touched her shoulder gently. "Thank you." He said softly. "He's just scared but he'll come round."
Jo shook her head, stray tears dripping off her cheeks. "It doesn't matter if he doesn't." She said softly. "He's alive and that's all there is to it."
The sound of the Impala's engine revving stopped Sam from saying anything more. Sam gave her a last squeeze on her shoulder before sprinting off to his brother. As he climbed in the impala he gave Dean a disgusted look. But Dean wasn't looking at him. Instead he reversed and swung the car around and sped off in the opposite direction.
.................
Thoughts anyone? Would love to hear them! :D