A Chance to Love - 3 of 11

Learning to Date

"John Winchester!"

John closed his eyes and shook his head. So, Jo had already told Ellen. He'd hoped to wait until he'd at least fixed their truck. He wiped his hands on a rag and looked up from under the hood.

"You're taking Jo out for supper? What has gotten into you? You're old enough to --"

"I know," his voice was calm as he interrupted her. "It was hard to me to get over. Jo is probably still mulling it over in her head."

Ellen was silent.

"The other day she smiled and it awoke something in me that's been dead since Mary died. I haven't even dated since Mary died. This is new to me, too. I just know that I can't stop thinking of her."

"And she'll end up worrying for nights on end when you don't come home from a hunt. I've did that with Bill. I don't want that for my Jo."

"I don't know if it is even going to work out," John conceded. "I do know that I'd make changes in my life if she wanted me to be in hers."

"You hurt her . . . " Ellen didn't feel the need to finish the threat.

"I know." John said solemnly. It was silent for a moment. "Mind if I get back to your truck?"

Ellen just nodded and went back inside. She was unsure of what was going to happen, but she knew John was kind. For now, that would have to be enough.

They went to a restaurant in town. It was just small talk, but it was more than John had spoken in a long time. They had a nice meal and went back to his truck.

Once he worked up enough nerve , John asked,"So do you think we should do this again?" Jo looked at him and smiled.

He knew it was going to be trouble when he saw Cole in the Roadhouse months later. John and Jo had been dating and Cole was mad. He wanted Jo back, he didn't want anyone else to have her until she returned to him.

John was alone at his table, like usual. Cole came over and got in his face. "What are you doing with Jo?"

"I don't see how that is any of your business," John spoke calmly and slowly.

"I can do anything better than you, old man," the respect he'd had for John before had disappeared. "I go out there and hunt and when I come home I know I'm a man. I'm not running after a girl who is young enough to be my daughter and running away from me."

"To be your daughter, you'd be dating a girl of about 7." Cole's face twisted up as he tried to think of a comeback before John continued,. "And I don't see Jo running anywhere."

"Just you wait," Cole smirked. "You don't know what she does when you're gone. She flashes her smile and shows off her body to guys. Most of the time she gets the guys."

John wasn't taking the bait.

"Yep, I've had several successful hunts. Saved some folks. I'm a damn good hunter."

"Done blowing your own horn?" John replied.

Cole realized he wasn't getting anywhere and left the table.

John just smiled to himself.

Another night at the restaurant. There weren't a whole lot of options in the small town. Jo was more talkative about who she'd seen and what they'd been doing. Hunters congregated at the Roadhouse to share information and catch up. John listened, but he had a hard time concentrating on her words. He was distracted by the sound of her voice and the way her lips moved. The lips that he longed to kiss.

It was dark when they left the restaurant. Jo took John's arm as they walked to the truck. He stopped at the passenger side. There was a little breeze in the air tonight. He turned to face Jo and placed his hands at her waist. She rested her arms on his forearms. He pulled her a little closer and said her name in a husky voice. She tilted her face up to his. He moved slowly as he moved his lips toward hers.

They were so soft and moist. He kissed them gently. Jo put her hands on his shoulders. John kissed them some more and her hands moved to clasp around his neck. When he broke away to breathe, he asked," You okay with this?"

She smiled, "You need to ask?" and she stretched up to kiss him reassuringly. John's heart was beating fast when he opened the truck door for her. She slid in and he closed the door. He had a bounce in his step on his way to the driver's side.

"Mom gave me the night off," Jo said when John started up the truck. "Want to find someplace to talk?"

"Sure," John pulled away from the curb. He drove to the park and pulled over. "How about here?"

"I don't have a problem with the age difference," she started as she turned on the bench seat to face him. She had a knee on the seat. "I don't even think of it. You are just John to me."

"Just?" The corners of his mouth turned up.

"That's not what I meant." She was embarrassed. "I just meant-"

"I know," he gave her a full fledged smile.

She shook her head. "You get a kick out of flustering me?"

"It's just so easy to do," he tried to defend himself as he turned to face her. He edged closer to her, held her face in his hands, and kissed her. She kissed him back and then opened her lips slightly. John flicked his tongue against her lips. She had her arms around John. He'd moved his hands to her arms, pressing her to him. They were lost in the sensations.

John sat with his arm around Jo and she snuggled in a little closer. She dipped her head a little, listening to his heartbeat through his chest. John kissed the top of her head as he ran his fingers through her hair.

"Hmm," John's voice was soft. " I could stay like this all night."

"Me, too."

Ellen looked at them both when they entered the Roadhouse. She could tell that something was different. Jo was on John's arm and they couldn't help but smile. Ellen had kept her mouth shut about Jo and John. Over the last several weeks, she'd noticed a change gradually come over Jo. She'd become more content. Cole didn't bother her even though he had tried to. John called Jo from the road, and came to the Roadhouse when he said he would. He'd kept his word. He hadn't hurt her. He hadn't kept her waiting from the phone. Ellen decided to be happy for her friend and her daughter. Jo hadn't talked about becoming a hunter lately, either. That was a relief.

"Have a good evening?" She asked even though she knew the answer.

"Yep!" was Jo's response. She grabbed some drinks and sat at a table with John. They were engrossed in deep conversation. When John stood up to leave, Jo grabbed his shoulders to pull herself up for a kiss. His arms went around her and they embraced for a few moments. They didn't want to make a scene and yet they didn't want to let go.

The following night, Jo suggested they grab food at the Roadhouse and then go for a drive. Ellen eyed the couple as they ate. When Jo went to grab her coat, Ellen approached John.

"What are you doing?"

"Waiting for Jo?"

"I mean, how do you think this is going to go? How long is it going to last?"

"I don't know." His eyes were so sincere, "I love Jo, Ellen."

"Does she know? Does she love you?"

"I haven't told her because I don't want to scare her. I don't know if she feels the same. One day she might."

Just then, Jo came back took John's arm. "We okay?" John asked Ellen.

Ellen just nodded.

"Where are you staying at?" Jo asked when they got on the road.

John turned to look at her. "Motel just off the highway."

"Let's go watch some television,"

"I wasn't planning on company," John picked up some discarded items as soon as he walked into his room.

"No problem," Jo helped him tidy up a little.

Pretty soon, Jo was flipping though the channels and found a suitable program. John sat down next to her on the bed, using the headboard as a backrest. Jo leaned forward so he could get his arm around her and she could snuggle in.

"Why do you still wear your wedding ring?"

"I never could take it off because it was my only connection to Mary. Does that bother you?"

"Depends," her voice was thoughtful. "Think you'll ever love someone else?"

"I think I could. Why?"

"Just wondering what our future could be."

"What do you want it to be?" John's voice seemed like he wasn't sure if he wanted to hear the answer..

"I've dated a couple guys. None of them held open doors for me or took me seriously. You listen to what I say and make me feel important. I don't want you to go away. I don't want to do anything to make you go away."

"Don't need to worry about scaring me off," John eased her mind. "I'm not the fickle kind. I haven't dated since Mary."

"Not since Mary? How about, um, I mean," she was at a loss of words.

John got a little chuckle in his voice," No, honey. No one night stands either. That isn't what I'm looking for."

"Do you still love her?"

"Part of me does. That part will always love her. But, the past has its place. I could love someone new."

"How did you know you were in love?" Jo asked as she looked at him intently.

"I couldn't think of anyone else. Anytime I thought of the future, she was in it. I dreamed of how our life would be." John was thoughtful. "But love could feel different to each person. Have you ever been in love?"

"I've had crushes." Jo was silent for awhile. "But this doesn't feel like a crush."

"I'm flattered that it doesn't. I love you, Jo."

She kissed him, lingering, and said, "I don't ever want to be without you."

"Sounds like we are stuck with each other then."