Thank you Danae for your feedback! I'm glad you're liking the new story. Okay so I decided to post the second chapter today. I hope people like.
Author Note: The part of the story where Jo talks to Dean about Hannah Senesh I decided to add after re-watching the documentary "Blessed is the Match: The Life and Death of Hannah Senesh" that Alona Tal, Joan Allen and Mark Feuerstein participated in. If you haven't heard of Hannah Senesh or the Jewish Special Operations Executive recruits, I highly recommend reading their story.
Chapter 2
Jo picked up her cell phone on the third ring. "What?"
"Just wanted to see how you're doing." Dean said as he sat against the door of the bathroom. After the visit with Pam and then dealing with the demons they had checked into a motel to do some research and get some rest. He needed to hear her voice, even if it was full of anger towards him.
"Fine." She said.
"Did you eat?" he asked.
"Yes."
"Can you give me more than one-word answers?" he asked in frustration.
He could imagine Jo smiling as she said. "Yes."
Dean snorted into the phone. "Brat."
They were both silent for a full minute, listening to each other breath before Jo finally sighed and asked. "Did you find Sam? Did he make the deal?"
"Yeah we found him and no it wasn't him." Dean quickly told her about Pam and the run in with the demons.
Jo gasped. "I know Pam, she's a nice lady."
"Yeah, her and Bobby seem close." He agreed.
"What was the name she said again?"
"Castiel. For some reason it seems a little familiar, I just can't put my finger on it though." He confessed.
"It does." She agreed. "Maybe we saw it in a book?"
"Maybe. What are you doing?" He asked, he didn't want to think about this anymore right now.
"Reading a book, I found that Bobby owns that actually has nothing to do with demons."
"What book?" he asked.
"'Hannah Senesh: Her Life and Diary', it's a biography about a Jewish woman who joined a paramilitary group towards the end of World War II. She and her team were parachuted into Yugoslavia, but when they landed, they found out the Germans already occupied Hungary and while heading for the Hungarian border they were captured and handed over the Gestapo. She was arrested and tortured by the Gestapo because she knew the radio codes to contact the British. Eventually she stood trial for treason and was killed by firing squad." She told him.
Dean sighed, "have you ever wondered if Hitler and the others were actually demons?"
"It's easier to imagine that than accepting that they were human." She said sadly before adding. "She wrote incredible poetry. Listen to this, they found it in her cell after she was killed."
Dean closed his eyes as Jo recited the poem to him.
One—two—three ... eight feet long,
Two strides across, the rest is dark ...
Life hangs over me like a question mark.
One—two—three ... maybe another week,
Or next month may still find me here,
But death, I feel, is very near.
I could have been twenty-three next July;
I gambled on what mattered most,
The dice were cast. I lost.
by Hannah Senesh
He didn't realize he had tears in his eyes until he heard the catch in Jo's voice as she finished reading the last verse. "God...22." Jo whispered sadly.
Dean wiped at his eyes and says hoarsely, "I should get back out there, and you should get some rest."
"Are you coming home tomorrow?" Jo asked.
"Should be there sometime tomorrow night, why? You miss me." He teased.
Jo snorted, "hardly, just wanted to know how much time I have before Bobby gets back."
"Time...Bobby...Back...Jo what are you up to?" Dean asked hesitantly.
"Nothing."
"Liar."
"See you tomorrow night."
"Yeah, tomorrow night...hey Jo." he said quickly before she hung up. "Thank you for sharing that poem with me. I'm not into the whole poetry thing but that was...well it was..." he struggled to find the words he wanted to say to her.
"I know," she whispered. "Sad but beautiful. She accepted her fate and faced it with incredible dignity."
"Yeah, she did. Good night Jo."
"Good night Dean."
Dean hung up the phone and went out into the motel room. "Jo's doing okay." He told Sammy who was reading something on his laptop.
"Jo...huh?" Sammy asked distractedly.
"Jo, you remember Jo." Dean said a little annoyed. "You know our friend that Meg had you attacked and mentally tortured."
Sam took a deep breath and looked up at his brother. "You mean the friend you never called, never said goodbye to." He countered.
"You know why I never called her." Dean hissed.
"No, I don't why don't you tell me." Sam snapped.
"It was hard enough dealing with Steve Wandell death. You think I could just check in with Jo, ask how her bruises were...ask her where they were located." He finally said.
"You think Meg had me rape her, don't you?!" He shouted.
"Did she?!" He asked the question he had dreaded since that night.
Sam shook his head in disgust. "If you thought that and never did anything about it then you're more screwed in the head than I am."
Dean swallowed the lump in his throat because he was right. How messed up was? The last thing his father had told him was that he might have to kill Sammy because of what he might become and instead of dealing and accepting this, he did everything in his power to save his brother, including turning a blind eye to what he may or may not have done and willingly going to Hell and on the rack to save him.
Dean grabbed a book and went over to the pull-out couch and settled in. Soon he was asleep and when he woke up later that night his life changed forever.
SPNSPNSPNSPN
Dean, Sammy and Bobby stood and stared at the entrance to Bobby's living room. It was pretty much spotless. The books that usually cluttered the floor and all the available surfaces found homes in the numerous bookcases along the walls of the room. The floors had been washed and waxed, the furniture had all been dusted and polished and there was even some throw pillows and an afghan thrown across the back of the couch. Dean had to smile, now he understood Jo's comment.
"BALLS!" Bobby shouted.
Jo hurried out from the kitchen and Dean almost choked when he saw her standing before them wearing a sun dress with an apron tied around her waist, exaggerating her baby bump. "Oh, you're earlier than I expected."
Bobby took one look at Jo and reached into his pocket, pulling out a flask and threw holy water into her face. Dean smothered the laugh that bubbled inside of him when Jo did the same spit take, he had done when Bobby tested him the same way to make sure he wasn't a demon.
"Seriously Bobby!" She snapped.
"Just checking." He told her.
"Checking what?" She asked as she dabbed at her face with a tissue.
Dean couldn't keep from chuckling now. "He thought you were possessed by a June Cleaver demon."
Sammy snorting in amusement caught Jo's attention. "Sam," she said stiffly.
"Jo, you look great." He told her, giving her a shy smile.
Dean really looked at Jo and she did look great. A hundred times better than yesterday morning. If he didn't know better, he would say she had put on some weight overnight. Not to mention where her hair was kinda stringy and her skin had a sickly yellow look yesterday, her hair now was shiny, and her skin had a healthy pink tinge.
"Thanks." She said, still not sure how she felt about being in the same room as Sam. She didn't have long to dwell on this when Bobby started demanding who gave her permission to touch his stuff and clean his house.
Jo had expected this and gave an exaggerated sigh. "I'm sorry Bobby, I just couldn't stop." She explained as she placed a hand on her baby bump and began to sniffle. "You said you wanted me to stay until I have the baby and as long as I need after the baby is born and I appreciate your offer so much but..." She said as she began to cry.
Dean watched Jo carefully and knew that she was faking the crying, but he also saw the way Bobby was shifting nervously. He had to bite his lip to keep from smiling because whatever Jo was up to, she had figured Bobby would cave once she started the water works.
"I just wanted things to be nice for the baby, but I should have asked you first. It's your house." She cried as she began to rub her bump.
Sammy smirked at Dean and decided to take the first step in trying to make things right with Jo. "Bobby, I think she's going through her nesting stage of the pregnancy. Trying to prepare for when the baby comes."
Jo nodded her head quickly, grabbing the line Sam tossed her way. "Yeah," she said sniffling some more. "But I understand if you don't like it Bobby. I can put the books back on the floor and stuff."
Bobby narrowed his eyes at the pregnant woman. "I know your Mama taught you better than to oversell a story young lady." He looked around the room one more time and shook his head. "How far did this 'nesting' go?"
Jo smiled and threw her arms around Bobby's neck, giving him a loud smacking kiss on the cheek before answering. "Just the common spaces. So here, dining room, kitchen and both bathrooms."
Dean chuckled at the look of horror on the older hunter's face before sniffing the air. "Jo, are you cooking something?"
"Crap." She said as she rushed into the kitchen. The men followed her and watched as she pulled a pan out of the oven to make sure that her meal wasn't burnt. They all sighed when the aroma of pot roast hit them full force and all three stomachs grumbled loudly.
Turning she looked at them and said. "Don't think you three are sitting down to my dinner without washing first."
She smiled when Bobby and Sammy hurried out of the room to use the bathrooms to clean up. Dean went over to the kitchen sink and washed his hands. He turned and lean against the sink, drying his hands as he watched her lift the roast out of the pan onto a serving platter.
"Would you mind carving while I get the sides into bowls?" she asked as she handed Dean the carving knife and fork.
They worked in silence and Dean helped her carry the feast into the dining room. She had outdone herself and he looked at her questioningly. "What is all this Jo?"
"I wanted to do something nice for Bobby." She said as she looked up at him.
"Oh," he said as he looked back over his shoulder to make sure they were alone. "Look after dinner, we need to talk. Would you mind going for a drive with me?"
"Is it to do with this Castiel that Pam told you about?"
"Yeah it does but I don't want to discuss it in front of Sammy."
Nodding her head, she agreed to go for the ride. Bobby and Sam joined them, and the four hunters spent the next hour eating and laughing. Dean sat back and rubbed his belly and belched.
"Seriously Dean, we weren't raised by wolves, excuse yourself." Sammy said.
"In some countries, a belch is a compliment to the chef." He teased as he looked towards Jo and forced another burp. "Thanks for the great grub Jo." He said.
Sam rolled his eyes at his brother. "Jo you cooked this amazing meal. We'll clean."
"You and Dean will clean; I have research to do." Bobby told them as he got up from the table and started out of the room, stopping next to Jo he rested his hand on her shoulder. "Thank you for dinner kiddo."
"Thank you for letting me stay here with you." She told him.
"That's what family is for." He said before looking over at Dean and Sam. "You idjets behave."
Dean stood up and walked over to Jo as she got up. "Sorry Sammy, you're on kitchen duty by yourself. I told Jo I would take her for a ride."
"See you later Sam." Jo said as Dean put his hand on her lower back and guided her towards the door.
"Oh no, I don't mind cleaning up by myself." Sam mumbled to himself as he heard his brother and Jo head out into the night.
SPNSPNSPNSPN
Dean and Jo drove in silence until he pulled over by a dirt road. "You up for a little walk?"
"Sure," she said. She had felt cooped up the past month and getting out for a walk would be nice.
He got out of the car and came around to open the door for her and holding his hand out for her to take. She looked up slightly surprised at the gesture but accepted the hand he offered her. "It's kinda of a rocky path." He explained.
Their journey continued in silence until they came to the end of the path and Jo smiled when she realized they were standing before a small pond. She loved the way the moonlight was dancing off the water. Turning she looked up into Dean's face. "This is beautiful," she whispered.
"Sammy and I use to come down here and swim after finishing one of our father's training sessions." He continued to hold her hand as they walked closer to the edge of the clearing. "Sorry I don't have a blanket or anything." He said as he let go of her hand.
"It's fine." She told him as she sat down on the grass and he sat down next to her.
"I owe you an apology and an explanation."
"I'm waiting." She said.
Taking a deep breath, he turned to look her in the eyes. "I'm sorry I never called after Duluth. You literally saved my life, stitched me up and I was a complete dick to you and I'm sorry about that."
Jo had to bite her tongue to not say that he was a giant dick. She realized last night after they talked that some of her anger had eased up and she was willing to just let Dean talk, knowing that this wasn't going to be easy for him.
"Jo...Meg possessed him for a week." He explained.
"A week?" She asked in shock, that she wasn't expecting.
He turned his head, unable to look into her eyes. His shame at what he was about to tell her tore at him, but he needed to finally share this burden and knew Jo was the one he could trust with his secrets. "Did you hear about that hunter Steve Wendell, the one killed around that time?"
Jo gulped as she saw the tears slipping down Dean's face. "Yes."
"It was Sam, Meg had him kill another hunter." He told her. "Sam killed him and I helped him destroy any evidence that would lead back to him. Do you know how many times I've lied to Bobby and other hunters when his name is brought up?"
"Oh God..."
"He asked me to kill him after we got back from finding the body and when I said I wouldn't he knocked me out and then he went after you." He confessed.
"Dean." she whispered. "It's not your fault."
"How can you say that? I was too weak to stop, to kill him. Because of my weakness he went after you, after Bobby."
"That was Meg in Sam's meat suit. You can't blame yourself for that. It wasn't Sam either that asked you to kill him it was that bitch Meg testing you, taunting you."
"You don't understand Jo, I knew...I knew what he was becoming, and I couldn't bring myself to stop him."
"Look we knew about the other kids and what that demon did to them but to blame yourself is wrong. You couldn't have known a demon would possess him."
"My Dad did," he told her, his voice breaking. "Jo the last thing my father said to me was that Sammy was changing and I was going to have to put him down before he hurt or killed someone. My father told me to put him down, like he wasn't his son...like he was a rabid dog."
Jo scooted closer and wrapped her arm around his shoulders, pulling him closer. She was slightly surprised at how willingly he went to her, letting her give him the comfort he craved.
"I know people don't get it Jo, why I'm so possessive of Sammy." He told her. "But that night, the night our mother died was the same night the man I knew as my Dad died in a way too. He told me that night that I was responsible for Sammy, that it was my job to take care of him, to watch him. I was only 4 years old and I became his father and mother on top of being a big brother to him. God Jo, I fed him...changed his diapers...bath him...sang to him when I put him to sleep. It was me who taught him how to walk...to talk. I taught him his letters, his numbers, how to read, how to write. Me Jo, not my Dad. My Dad was too busy hunting and barely took time to take care of me, let alone a baby. He made me put Sammy first since the night of the fire and then he turned around and told me to put him down...like he wasn't even human. I can't do it Jo...I can't kill him. I can't kill my baby brother."
Jo held Dean as she heard the first sob escape and continued to hold him as he cried. Any pain and anger she had been holding onto was gone. Her heart ached for him. She couldn't image the amount of responsible he had been shouldering since he was 4 years old, it wasn't right and part of her hated John Winchester for what he had done to his son...no make that sons. Sam had issues and she was sure those issues started with his father.
When Dean stopped crying, he pulled back, embarrassed at breaking down like that. He couldn't help sighing when Jo reached up to wipe away the last of his tears before leaning in and giving him a chaste kiss on the mouth.
"I don't deserve your kindness."
"Honey, I hate that you think that." She whispered.
"After what I did." He argued.
"Stop!" She commanded. "It's my decision Dean, my decision if I want to forgive you and I do. I forgive you." She held her hand up when he opened his mouth to say something. "There are more important things for us to deal with and you being a jerk to me over a year ago is so low on the list of issues it's not funny. I've decided to get over it and I suggest you get over it too."
"What if I'm not ready to get over hurting you." He told
"Tough." She said as reached down to rub her baby bump. "Dean, I'm not just talking about dealing with whatever pulled you out of Hell. I'm having a baby and I'm terrified. I need my family, I need Mom, Bobby. I need you Dean and I know I will need Sam too, when I ready to forgive him. But I can't do this alone. The demons, the monsters...they aren't slowing down and I'm thinking a hunter having a baby will just be a magnet for these bastards. I'm going to need my family to help protect my baby. So, if you can't be the man I need you to be then leave because after tonight I'm done talking about this. I'm moving on, I have to because I have to focus on this child I'm carrying."
He let her words wash over him before slowly placing his hand over hers. "Then I guess I'm getting over it because I'm not leaving. I'm all in Jo. This baby is going to be loved and protected by all of us."
"Good." She said as she nodded her head.
"Did you mean it about Sam?" He asked a little hesitantly.
"Yes, I admit it won't be easy, but I want to get past Duluth. Talking...forgiving Sam is a big part of that."
"Just promise you won't go anywhere alone with him."
"What? Dean what are you talking about?"
He pulled back and looked her dead in the eyes. "He's up to something Jo. I don't know what he's up to, but I know it's not something good. I don't trust him completely and I don't want you to take any chances with him. Promise me."
"This is why you wanted to talk to me alone. You really don't trust him?"
"Not completely I don't, not right now."
"Okay, then I'll stay on alert." She told him before asking. "Now will you tell me what you found out about this Castiel."
SPNSPNSPNSPN
Jo sat with her mouth hung open as Dean finished telling her about meeting Castiel the night before. "An angel, a messenger of God." She said in awe.
"Yup, supposedly."
"And God has work for you?"
Sighing Dean nodded his head. "Apparently."
"So, you're like on a mission, a mission from God." She said.
He snorted in disgust. "I guess.' He stared at her when she started to chuckle and was surprised when the chuckle turned into full blown hysterical giggles. "Jo are you having a nervous breakdown?"
Jo shook her head as she flapped her hand in front of her face to cool down from the giggling. Gradually she was able to get herself under control before turning and grinning at him. "You know there is really only one thing I can say to what you just told me Dean. 'It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark and we're wearing sunglasses.'" She quoted proudly in her best Dan Aykroyd impersonation.
Dean looked at the woman next to him. "Seriously, you're quoting the Blues Brothers?"
"Well duh, I mean you are on a mission, a mission from God. What else would I quote." She said as she began to giggle again.
He stared at her for a few seconds but couldn't help laughing along with her when he heard her begin to sing the theme from 'Rawhide' like they did in the movie in the country western bar scene. Soon they were both singing and laughing. Not just laughing but full-blown belly laughs, and Dean couldn't remember when he felt more alive than he did at that moment, sitting next to Jo.
Jo wiped at her eyes as she began to get herself under control. "Okay, I don't know about you, but I literally cannot talk anymore about this stuff tonight."
Dean smiled as he nodded his head. "I guess it's getting late, we can head back."
"Actually, I was thinking we could do something fun instead." She said as she stood up.
"What do you have in mind?" He asked as he stood up.
"Did you know that there is a late-night dessert bar in town?"
"Do you think they have pie?"
"I think there's a good chance of pie."
Grinning he held his hand out to her. "Well lead on woman."
TBC