Disclaimer – Unfortunately, I don't own Dean, John, or Sam Winchester or anything else that you may recognize. I hold claim to anything original, which, in this story, is not much.

A little info for y'all – this story takes place pre-series. I will add a back-story chapter later on for some more detail. Chow


Animals

Chapter 2 – Kickin' Ass and Takin' Names

Jo looked in the direction her name came from. "John?" Her caramel colored eyes hadn't change a bit, but everything else had definitely changed. It felt odd; the last time John had seen her, Jo had been a gangly teenage girl. But the numbers worked out, now she was twenty.

She smiled at him and motioned for him to come over to the bar. He walked over slowly and she sat a beer down on the bar. Another hunter called for a drink and she slid it down the bar to him as she leaned on the bar in front of John. "So, wow, it's been a while. How have you been?"

"Life's the same. What's been going on with you?"

"Well, I'm taller." she smiled a familiar smile. "Everything's about the same, even my driving. How's the hunting going?"

"Honestly, I wish it was going better, with the demon, you know. Everything else, though, is the same." she noticed the gruffness in his voice more than she used to and found it comforting.

"Basically, you're still kickin' ass and takin' names?"

John grinned "I supposed that about sums it up." He noticed the familiar faraway look in her eyes. Jo always got that look when she heard about hunting; when Dean was little, he had gotten the same look when he heard about a hunt. John knew that she had dreamed about being a hunter ever since she was a little girl. "I heard you failed at an attempt at school?"

"Mmmhmm, but let's talk more about you." She failed miserably to change the subject.

"No, let's keep our conversation going. What upset the nice little school girl rhythm?" John was joking with her and she knew it.

"First of all, I didn't want to go in the first place. Second, no one wanted to hang out with the girl who had a knife collection." She held up her fingers to accentuate her points.

"In other words, you were a freak." John added.

"Thank you, John" Jo rolled her eyes "That's exceedingly helpful."

"Really, Jo you should have given it a shot. One of my son's is trying the college thing. Livin' a "normal" life. You might have had the same chance." Jo couldn't quite match up his tone with one distinct emotion. There was anger, sure, but what else, she couldn't quite tell.

"What to have you talk about me like that? Not worth it." She smiled, "Besides, even you know that I want to be a hunter. A college education can't really help in that career field."

"It's not exactly a career if you don't get paid for it. By the way, where's your mother?"

John heard a door open from the back of the saloon and then heard "I'll be damned, John Winchester!!" That could only be one person…

"I suppose that answers your question?" Jo asked turning around to grab a beer for another hunter. "I guess I'll allow you two to battle out whatever there is to battle about. 'Cause the both of you will definitely argue about something." She winked at him as she walked to a table full of hunters playing poker.

"What the hell are you doing here John?"

"Well, hello to you, too, Ellen"


Well, I hope it was enjoyed. Please review! Compliments, comments, and constructive critisism all appreciated!! Love