Chapter 3

Dean followed Jo to the storage room, feeling somewhat apprehensive, and strangely anxious in her presence. He cleared his throat.

"So, Jo, you seem pretty happy to be home," he said to her back, attempting to gain some insight into the girl, hoping she really was just Jo, and not the psycho bitch from hell. He laughed to himself at that. Hmm, I've met some women who would fit in that category, but I've actually met the original. He inwardly cringed. Of course I have, why does that surprise me?

"Hunting not so glamorous as you thought it would be?" he continued.

Jo smiled and turned to look at him over her shoulder. "I'm just on a break. I have a big job I'm working on, though. I'll have to tell you about it later." Yeah, you're going to find out soon enough, all about it. She unlatched the storage room and opened the large door. She held it open and gestured for Dean to go inside.

"It's up there on the top shelf. I'm just not strong enough to go up the ladder and carry it back down."

"No problem, I got it." Dean climbed up the three rungs of the wooden ladder to reach the case of bourbon. He hoisted it onto his shoulder and started down.

Jo watched Dean climb up the ladder, admiring his firm ass beneath his jeans and his shoulder muscles flexing though his grey Henley as he lifted the case. She smiled knowingly as her eyes flashed yellow. She directed a strong, invisible blow to Dean's feet, knocking him from the ladder and sending him tumbling backwards to the ground. The case of bourbon crashed loudly as it hit the floor, shattering bottles and sending glass and booze flying. Dean was stunned as his head hit the floor. Jo quickly bent over him and, as she made a show of yelling for help, grabbed the amulet that lay on the cord around Dean's neck. With a quick jerk, she yanked it off of him and pocketed it. Then, with lightspeed, she lifted and then slammed Dean's head roughly into a large shard of broken glass. The older hunter lost consciousness as blood began to flow rapidly from the cut.

Jo stood over him, yelling loudly, and, she hoped, with convincing concern. "Help! Sam! Mom! Come quick!"

Already on edge, Sam jumped when he heard the crash and Jo's screams. With his heart in his throat, he bolted from the guestroom and into the storage room with Ellen quick on his heels. He saw his brother lying motionless at the foot of the ladder, with blood pooling around his head.

"Dean!" He dropped beside his brother and placed a hand on Dean's injured head, seeing the deep gash that was the source of all the blood. He turned angry eyes on Jo.

"What the hell happened? What did you do to him?" Sam snarled, barely containing his anger.

Ellen looked at him in shock and then anger. "Sam! This was an accident, it's not Jo's fault."

Jo looked tearfully at Sam. "He-he slipped when he was coming down the ladder. He hit his head, all that glass, it must have cut him."

Sam wasn't buying her act, but his biggest concern at the moment was his brother. He would deal with Jo, later. After checking Dean for broken bones or other injuries, he carefully lifted his brother in his arms and carried him back to the guestroom and placed him on one of the twin beds. Ellen was already following with a first aid kit and clean towels and bandages.

"This gash is bad, I think he's going to need stitches." Sam frowned, not looking away from Dean. "He's also got a large goose-egg back here." Wake up big brother, you've got a concussion, I need you to wake up for me. Tell me what happened in there.

Ellen's voice cut though his concern. "I'm sorry, Sam. I'm sorry this happened here. You know Jo and I feel horrible about this." Sam looked up at Ellen blankly, attempting to control his emotions. If he let himself get too angry he wasn't sure what he might do. He remembered his reaction back in Oregon:

"You get the fuck away from my brother!" Sammy's voice filled the room and echoed off the high walls. Everyone turned, weapons drawn, as they realized what was happening. One hunter raised his shotgun, only to have it yanked from his grasp and flung against the wall, embedding it into the old wood. Sammy walked purposely and unflinchingly towards Gordon, dispatching other weapons in similar fashion as they were aimed or fired at him. One aggressive hunter was flung against the wall along with his weapon, falling to a boneless heap.

Sam swallowed hard and nodded at Ellen, attempting to look apologetic. "I know, Ellen. It's just, after everything we've been through this last week, I'm a little spooked, you know? Seeing Dean hurt, it just brings it all back. And I need you to get away from me before I can't control this anger. "I think I can handle this. I'll stitch this cut and then stay up with him. I'll let you know if we need anything, okay?"

Ellen nodded sympathetically and quickly squeezed Sam's shoulder.

Jo/Lilith stood in the doorway, smirking, knowing she would soon have revenge on her outcast grandson; and a new, beautiful incubus by her side..