A Chance to Love - 8 of 11

Demon Hunt and the Aftermath

Dean and John had two possibilities for the evening and just the one gun. Luckily, the homes were less than a mile apart. John parked the Impala with the radio on by the first house. Dean stood outside the second house with a transistor radio. John had the gun in the Impala.

John called Dean because his radio was full of static. Dean's radio was still fine. He told his Dad he was on his way. Dean ran as fast as he ever had to the house his dad was in front of. He hoped that his Dad would wait for him before going in. Yet he knew that if the opportunity to kill the demon arrived before he did, his Dad would go rushing in.

John could see a new light upstairs and knew it had to be the demon. He couldn't wait for Dean. He kicked open the door. A house alarm went off. He raced up stairs and a sleepy man stood at the top of them. John pushed him out of the way.

"Get your wife out of here. Your home is on fire. I'll grab the baby." The man just looked stunned. "Get your wife out of here. Your home is on fire. I'll grab the baby," John only had time to repeat himself once. The sleepy man seemed to grasp the situation as John burst into the nursery.

The demon stood by the crib, seemingly concentrating on the baby. "Hello, Winchester," it said as it threw John across the room without even touching him. John managed to keep his grip on the Colt as he hit the wall, hard.

John tried to get up and was thrown into the corner, hurting all over. He still had the Colt.

The demon started a fire, turned to mock him and John got his shot. It went through the demon's forehead. As the demon started to shrivel, the fire spread.

Dean saw the couple running from the home, he pushed past them. He yelled for his Dad as he raced up the stairs and to the room that was on fire. He grabbed the baby from the crib and covered it with a blanket. He saw John in the corner. "Get the baby out!" John yelled.

Dean ran down the stairs and handed the baby over to relieved parents. "Have you called for help?"

"The alarm company immediately initiates those calls," the man seemed to have to think about it.

"My Dad needs an ambulance. Call one." Dean ran back inside.

The fire in the nursery was more intense. Dean started to cough when he reached his Dad. "Can you stand?"

"I'll try," John wheezed.

Dean got an arm around him and pulled him to his feet. It was painful to John but they were able to shuffle to the stairs. Then, Dean grabbed his Dad under his arms and drug him down the steps. John's feet thudded with each step. He cried out partway down. Dean didn't want to cause his Dad any pain, but he needed to get him out of there first. He continued to drag him out the front door onto the porch. "I need some help here!" Dean yelled.

Jo was okay at 3am. Then they could safely sleep until morning.

Sam awoke with someone shaking his shoulder. He opened his eyes and saw Dean standing there. He didn't ask questions, he just got out of bed and followed.

"I'm not even going to ask you what you were doing in there," Dean started. "Dad got the demon. The demon is gone, Sam, gone for good. But, it hurt Dad pretty bad. He's in the hospital about 6 hours away. They flew him to a better hospital than the local one. I've called the hospital. He's in ICU with severe internal bleeding. I drove like hell to get here. Get Jo and get in the car."

Sam grabbed some clothes from the room he shared with Dean. Then he tried to break the news to Jo.

"We need to get in the car, Jo," Sam told her as she looked at him through sleepy eyes.

Dean came in, rummaged through the drawers, grabbed some items and Sam yelled," Grab some pillows!" before he left the room.

Jo wasn't really waking up, she was exhausted. So, Sam picked her up along with some bedding. Dean pulled the door closed behind them. He opened the back door of the Impala and Sam slid in there with Jo. He put a pillow under her head, which was settled on his lap. He placed the other pillows around her so she would feel secure during the drive. Dean helped Sam cover her up before he slammed the door and got in to drive. Fast.

Sam was used to Dean's driving but Jo wasn't. It was probably better that she slept through it. Sam rested a hand on her belly and rubbed.

"What are you doing?" Dean demanded with a glance in the review mirror.

"Just rubbing her belly like Dad does to soothe her and the baby," Sam answered. "Dad knows, so don't worry about it. What happened?'

Dean filled him in on how they figured out which house the demon would be at, that he had raced there but Dad had gone in already, that Dad had killed the demon, Dean had saved the baby, and then he dragged Dad from the house which was on fire.

Then it was Sam's turn to fill Dean in. He told him about the incident in the grocery store and their trip to the hospital. Dean hadn't trusted Cole, but he'd figured Cole to be a little smarter than that.

"How much does she know about Dad?" Dean asked.

Sam had to think about what he'd said. "Nothing," he answered. "I just told her we needed to get in the car."

"Probably best that way," Dean's concentration was only on the road as he sped even faster toward the hospital.

Dean snapped his phoned shut. "Sam," he looked in the review mirror to make sure he had Sam's attention so he didn't have to talk too loud. Jo was still asleep and Dean was glad for that. He saw Sam was listening so he went on," Dad is about the same." Sam nodded. "But there's a problem," Dean continued," Dad used his real name at some point between the last time I called and now. He corrected the nurse and told her his real name. I don't know what we are going to run into when we get there. You get Jo in so see Dad. If the cops are there, I'll deal with them. You just make sure Jo gets time with Dad."

Sam just nodded. He looked at the peaceful face sleeping in his lap. "How far away are we, Dean?"

"An hour maybe, why?"

"I think we should have a rest stop and fill Jo in. We can't just drop it on her when she sees him," Sam wanted his Dad to his the Jo he loved, not one who was a mess.

"If you say so," Dean pulled over the next chance he got.

Jo started to wake when the car stopped. She blinked herself awake and wondered where she was. "We just stopped for a break," Sam's voice was calming.

"Where are we going?"

"Let's get you out so you can move around a little," Sam was moving pillows and getting her to sit up.

"Mornin', Sleeping Beauty," Dean acted like his usual self as he opened the back door. "I think you have some clothes here in the front seat if you want to change."

"Okay," she took the clothes from Dean. All three of them walked up to the gas station.

They got the keys for the restrooms. Once Jo went in, Sam told Dean," Just stand outside the door and make sure she's fine until I get out."

"Do you ever feel like a stalker doing this?" Dean cocked an eyebrow.

"Not after yesterday," was his response.

After Sam was out, Dean went about filling up the Impala and grabbing some provisions. Jo came out looking a little uncomfortable. "I wish I had a brush for my hair," she was trying to run her fingers through her hair and it wasn't working. Luckily, the convenience store had one. As for the toothbrush, Dean had a shaving kit in the trunk with a toothbrush and toothpaste.

When they got back into the car, Sam and Jo sat in back, and Jo wondered why because she wasn't asleep anymore. Dean turned in the front seat to face her.

Jo said, "I've been a good girl and listened to you ignore my questions. I got ready for my day. Now, tell me where John is. You would never leave him alone to hunt the demon."

Sam nodded to Dean so he could tell her firsthand what had happened. Dean told her the whole story. Then he said," I know you have questions but I need to get us back on the road." He turned the Impala back on the road with a steely look on his face as heard Jo's heart break in the backseat. He had to tune that out so he could get them to the hospital.

'How bad is John?" Jo looked up at Sam with teary eyes.

"Bad. Really bad. He even told them his real name at the hospital," he tried to explain. "He's in ICU and has internal bleeding that they can't find a way to stop. This could be it, Jo. Just so you know before we get there. Dean said Dad looks bad. Just try to prepare yourself. So he can't see the shock on your face."

"But, we're going to have a baby," Jo tried to grasp what had been said.

"I know," Sam tried to comfort her in his own sorrow. "Just be how Dad remembers you. We need to try to make this easy on him. He hasn't forgotten your baby. "

Jo cried so hard. Sam did whatever he could to try to make her feel better.

"Still think this was a good idea?" Dean asked.

"I'm calling Pastor Jim," was Sam's response. "Dad would want him there."

Pastor Jim was already on the road to the hospital. He had found someone to fly him to a nearby town. He was able to get a cab. He hadn't arrived at the hospital yet, but he had another stop to make first.

John had called him and gave him some instructions. He needed to pick up a Marriage License, find a Notary at the hospital, and legally marry John and Jo.

Jo liked that Pastor Jim was on his way. "Should Bobby come, too?"

"I can call him," Sam replied but doubted that Bobby would be able to make it in time. Why hadn't they thought about calling him sooner?

All Sam needed to tell Bobby was the name of the hospital, the town, and that Dad was in bad shape. He said he'd be there.

Dean squealed to a stop in the parking lot. He stepped up to Jo and gave her a hug. "We're always here," he offered her his arm. She hung onto Sam's arm, too.

The three of them walked up to ICU. The nurse didn't want to allow three people in at one time, but she said she'd allow two. Dean stayed to argue. Sam whispered to Jo, "Remember that it is your husband in there. No matter what he looks like, he's your husband and he is planning to see his wife."

Jo tried to smile and Sam wiped away a couple tears. They walked in and Jo couldn't help but gasp a little. If not for Sam's arm helping her stay steady, she might have fallen because her legs felt so weak.

Sam pulled up a chair for Jo. "Hi, Dad," he grasped John's hand.

"Sammy," his voice was slow.

"Pastor Jim is on his way to legally marry you two," Sam assured him. "Dean is arguing with the nurses already. We're here for you, Dad."

"I know."

"I love you, John," Jo's breaking voice caused John to look concerned.

"Oh, honey," John wanted to reach out to hold her.

Jo stood up and told Sam she wanted to lie down by him. Sam helped her in with the mess of bed railings and tubing. Then, he told her he'd be waiting outside. Through the glass door, Sam saw Jo curled up by his Dad's side. His Dad's free hand rested on her belly while Jo rested her head on his shoulder.

Sam stood outside the glass doors and looked in. It was such a peaceful sight for an ICU. Dean stepped up beside him. 'Where were you?" Sam asked.

"Gift shop. Had to get a camera. We're having a wedding when Pastor Jim gets here," Dean said and Sam just nodded and smiled.

"What are you two doing here?" the nurse Dean had argued with before demanded.

"Oh, buzz off," Dean waved the camera and said," we're having a wedding."

"I'd better go check with the doctor. No one told me about anything like that."

"You just go do that!" Dean raised his voice after her as she walked off. Sam shot him look to be quiet in the hospital. "Well, " Dean's voice was quieter," I was right. We're having a wedding."

They both stood there, leaned up against the nurses' station, looking at John and Jo.