Thank you so much Franki3Winchester and Blondie 20000 for your feedback! I know I've made Dean a bit in touch with his feelings here but I guess I just see it as this is their last battle and deep down Dean is a realist and knows what their chances really are and to me he's making up for lost time, grabbing on with both hands to what may be his last chance for love and a family of his own. Jo wasn't the only one who built a fantasy world...so did Dean.

So this part isn't that long but the next part I'm finishing up and that is pretty long since it's Jo's journey down memory lane.

Anyway, I hope people enjoy this part!

Thanks

Val

Chapter 15

Jo sighed as Dean rubbed her neck as they sat around the table.

"Okay, I'm man enough to admit it...that chicken wasn't half bad." He announce.

Jo smiled as she lean over and kissed Dean's cheek. "See, I told you healthy can taste good...now why not give kale chips a try."

Dean shook his head. "Not if there was a zombie apocalypse and that was the last food on earth... I rather be a zombie snack."

"On that note," Jo looked over to Castiel. "So how do we do this?" She asked not missing the look between the angel and Dean.

"We should go somewhere soothing...someplace you will be comfortable." Castiel said as he gave Jo a tentative smile.

"How about the family room?" She suggested.

"Family room?" Cas repeated questioningly.

Sam snorted in amusement. "The old Dean Cave...Jo made some improvements."

SPNSPNSPN

The four made their way to the room in question and Castiel looked around and had to smile at the improvements that Sam spoke about.

Yes, the leather recliners and large screen television were still there but instead of the usual gray concrete walls they had put up drywall and the room was now painted a lovely shade of yellow to make the room light and cheery.

He also took in the new large sofa and rocking chair that had been added to the room as well as what he assumed was an electrical fireplace that was sitting below the mounted television. There were a few end tables and a number of frame pictures on the tables and mantle.

The biggest change was that off to the side of the room seemed to have been set up as a play area for Amelia. The floor in that area was covered with some kind of colorful foam oversized puzzle pieces with a playpen sitting on top and numerous stuff animals sitting inside waiting to be played with.

The object that really caught his eyes was the 'windows' that overlooked the play area. "That does not look like the surrounding areas of the bunker." He said as he went over to look out the window.

Dean laughed, "it's a giant decal...just wanted the room be homey for Ami."

Cas touched the decal, studying it and found himself smiling. With everything going on the Winchester found themselves embracing a new chapter of their lives and he could see how happy both men were thanks to the woman and child that had been brought into their lives.

He turned and looked at the other three. "This room is perfect and I see why you call it the family room."

Dean wrapped his arm around Jo's waist. "Sweetheart are you sure about this?"

"I am." She reassured him knowing that he must have spoken to the angel about what they were about to do.

Sam cleared his throat. "So how should we do this?"

Castiel looked at Jo and Dean. "Both of you should sit on the couch. That way if Joanna becomes dizzy or lightheaded, she will not be in danger of falling and hurting herself."

The couple walked over and sat down. Cas wasn't surprised when Jo held her hand out towards Sam or the way the younger brother smiled and took her hand before joining them on the sofa.

Dean was right, she did make them stronger. The brothers always had a bond that few understood but it seemed Jo not only understood it...she embraced it. Which seem to allow the brothers to extend their bond to Jo.

Castiel knelt in front of Jo and smiled. "I will touch your temples and lower the veil that your true memories are behind. Be prepared that they will come quickly and it will take time for you to filter them properly and to determine between your real memories and the planted memories."

Jo sucked in a deep breath and nodded her head. "Okay...will it hurt?"

"Physically you will feel like you are having severe migraine. Once that begins to subside your mind will begin to put your memories in order."

"Jo, we're right here." Dean told her reassuringly as he squeezed the hand that he was holding.

"I know," she said as she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Slowly she opened her eyes and smiled at Cas. "I'm ready."

Dean and Sam watched as Castiel lifted his hands and gently touched Jo's temples and they saw the familiar white glow emitting from his fingertips.

As quickly as it started it was over and Cas grabbed onto the arm of the sofa to stop himself from falling over.

"Cas?" Sam said as he stood up and studied his friend.

"I am fine." He told the hunter as he stood up on shaky legs. They both turned their attention back towards Jo when they heard her crying in pain.

"Jo," Dean murmured as he pulled the crying woman onto his lap and cradle her close as he rubbed her back.

"AHHH!" she cried at the brightness of the light, turning to try and hid her face in Dean's chest to protect her eyes. "Oh God! The lights, they're blinding me!"

Dean looked over at his brother. "Sammy..."

"On it," He said as he went over and turned on the lamp in the corner before turning the overhead lights off before he helped Cas into the rocking chair. "I'll get you a water," Sam offered as he went over to the small fridge in the corner of the room and pulled out two waters.

He quickly opened a bottle and handed it to Cas before sitting back down and opening the other bottle. "Jo, here, take a sip." He said as he held the bottle up to the woman.

He handed the bottle to his brother when the woman didn't lift her head from Dean's chest. "Come on Sweetheart, take a sip." The elder Winchester urged as the woman took a few sips.

"Cas, can't you do anything to help her?" He asked as he gently kissed Jo's temple.

The angel shook his head as Jo sobbed as she clung to Dean mumbling incoherently. It was her final scream of pain before she passed out that caused Dean to cry out anxiously as he began to shake her, "Jo!"

"No Dean do not try to wake her. Her mind needs time to rest. Be prepared that when she wakes up that her memories will be jumbled still. They will eventually be intact but not immediately."

"How long will it take?" Dean asked as he gently laid her down.

Cas shook his head as he looked at the hunter. "You cannot rush this Dean. You will need to be patient. Gabriel alter her memories going back to when she was sixteen years old. She will have her true memories, the fantasies she created while in the hospitals and the planted memories to go through."

Dean swallowed the lump in his throat as he nodded his head sadly. "Right, patient. I can do that." He said as he knelt beside Jo and caressed her cheek.

He looked up when he felt his brother's hand on his shoulder. "She's strong Dean, she can handle this."

"Damn straight she's strong," Dean agreed as he mated his forehead to her. "We're here Jo. Me, Sammy and Cas are right here. You're not alone, you'll never be alone again." He told her, praying she could hear him.

TBC