Title: What Was and What May Possibly Be?

A Dean/Jo Supernatural Story

This is an alternate universe fanfiction and is based on the storyline premise and monster from the "What Is and What Will Never Be" episode of season two! This author is in no way associated with the writers and/or producers of the Supernatural show and all characters belong to the awesome Eric Kripke and his associates. No copyright infringement is intended.

The story is told in the first person from the POV of Jo Harvelle. Reviews are always welcome.

Chapter Six: What the **** Chuck!

I greet my mother and her husband on the front porch of our house. Dean and Sammy are following closely behind them, carrying bags and suitcases that I can only assume belong to the happy couple. Shit are they staying the night? My mother hugs me enthusiastically expressing her birthday wishes as I look at Dean questioningly over her shoulder. He shrugs slightly in response as if telling me their overnight plans are news to him.

"Hi Mom. It's great to see you. I'm glad that you could make it. Both of you," I say glancing towards my "new" step dad.

"As if Chuck and I would my little girl's 25th birthday! What kind of parents would we be if we did that?"

I cringe slightly at the "parent" comment and unfortunately Chuck notices before I can alter my rather unpleasant facial expression.

"Happy Birthday Joanna," Chuck says giving me a curt nod as he makes his way into the house.

"Thank you," I manage to say. Mostly to his back as he moves swiftly into the kitchen to follow my mother. I take a moment to size Chuck up as mom bosses the males around the room telling them where to put all the things she's brought. He looks pretty much like the picture in our living room. In person, I notice that he's a bit taller than Dean with a very stocky build. He has extremely short brown hair that has tiny flecks of grey in it. He's handsome enough I guess but I'm instantly struck by the fact that I can see absolutely no light within his eyes. As if sensing me watching him, he returns my gaze and is suddenly walking towards me into the living room.

Realizing my staring is probably making him uncomfortable, I stammer out an apology for "spacing out" and excuse my behavior by explaining that I didn't sleep very well last night.

Chuck doesn't reply but my mother overhears me and interupts our exchange with a "why didn't sleep well Jo?"

"It's nothing mom. Just thinking too much last night I guess." I look away from my step father and into my mother's concerned eyes. I quickly decide to change the subject.

"So, what did you bring us for dinner mom? I assume that you're making it since it's my birthday and all."

"Did you bring chocolate cake for mommy's Cake Day Grandma? Daddy loves pie but Mommy and me...we love chocolate cake," Sammy informs her stepping amidst the three of us.

"I seem to remember that about you Sammy," mom states picking him up and carrying him back into the kitchen. "You'll need to help me put the icing on the cake though. You see Grandma didn't want it to smear off the cake during our drive. So as of right now, it's bare naked! We can't eat cake without icing can we?" she asks him.

"Nope," Sam immediately agrees laughing I'm sure at his grandmother's bare naked cake comment.

Their departure leaves me alone again with Chuck. He still hasn't spoken since entering the house. God I hate uncomfortable silences! Where the hell is Dean anyway?

"So where is Bobby?" Chucks asks moving to sit on the living room couch. His question does nothing to break the obvious tension in the room.

"Uh...he got a job and won't be home until tomorrow night." I don't elaborate on "job" and I really hope Chuck doesn't ask because I'm not sure how much he knows about our background and unusual practices.

"A job huh? I guess that's Bobby for ya," Chuck continues, "always out fighting for his supernatural cause!" He says "supernatural" like it's an irritating word or maybe it's Bobby he finds irritating. At least now I know he knows what we do.

"Bobby has and will always be a champion of the cause. I'm hoping that we all will," I tell him unwilling to hide the pride from my voice.

"Don't you think it's about time you gave all this up Joanna. I mean your mother's always worrying about you and your crazy jobs. And Sam...well a boy needs his mother around the house; not out in the world looking for some kind of adventure."

What he hell does he mean by adventure I wonder? He makes it sound like we hunt out of sheer boredom and our need for excitement. I'm guessing he's never been hunting if he thinks we do it for fun.

"Besides," Chuck continues lowering his voice, "if you're trying to make the world a safer place as you all claim to be, isn't it Dean's job to make sure his family stays safe? If I can convince your mother to re-evaluate her "lifestyle" than surely your husband can do the same with you."

To say I'm dumbfounded by his remarks is an understatement. I know that I should just smile and keep my mouth shut but that's just not the Harvelle way.

"First of all Chuck, I AM around for Sammy and second of all, Dean does EVERYTHING in his power to make sure his family is safe." As I say this, I finger my new necklace in reassurance. "Dean wants me to be happy and he knows that hunting the supernatural is not just a job for me, it's a part of who I am!" I'm trying desperately not to completely loose my cool. I mean for god sake I just met this man!

"I just think a wife should be at home supporting her family. Not out chasing a bunch of crazy people. Don't you and Dean want more children? Are you willing to risk more than your own life on one of your crazy trips?"

His comment really hits home. Obviously he doesn't know that I'm pregnant again. Taking a deep breath, I attempt to calm my raging hormones and say the only thing that comes to my mind.

"I did just fine with Sammy."

"You were lucky. Your mother told me how careless you were. Besides, I wasn't around then or things would have been different." I'm openly gaping at "dear old dad" now. His stern gaze is unyielding as he continues to challenge me silently. I refuse to back down and the staring continues until I hear someone coughing in the background.

"Uh Jo? Sorry to interupt," Dean says, "but could you give me a hand with something upstairs? We won't be long Chuck. Why don't you turn on the TV. I think the Cowboys are playing this afternoon."

Dean to the rescue! Though I'm not sure who he's trying to save or what from. I briefly glance back towards my step-father before following Dean upstairs.

We reach our bedroom and Dean holds up his hand as I start to speak, silencing my upcoming rant. He closes the door and leads me into the adjoining bathroom before finally asking what happened.

"What happened! What happened Dean is that my new step father is a jack-ass! That's what happened!"

"Well technically he's really that new and keep your voice down Jo. They might hear you," he pleads with me.

"I don't really care..."

"Well I do," he argues. "Because your mother has this uncanny ability to make MY life hell when she's pissed! Besides, Ellen came here today for you and so did Chuck apparently. Whether it's to support her or you does it really matter?"

I stop pacing to once again to take deep calming breaths. I'm trying to understand this. I really am but I need more information.

"I talked to Bobby before he fled the house today. When I challenged him about why he was leaving, his reason became very apparent. Why doesn't Bobby like Chuck? It's obviously caused a rift between him and my mom."

"It's complicated Jo. Are you sure you want to hear all of this right now." When I roll my eyes in response, he smiles at me pulling my shaking body into a comforting hug. I can feel myself instantly relax in his arms. What can I say, the man has talent.

"What I mean is, given your current "situation" you're taking in a lot of new information right now. Are you sure you want to add to the pile?"

"I need to know Dean," I say pulling back so that he can see that desire in my eyes.

He sighs. "Your mom married Chuck a little less than a year ago. Before that...well Ellen and Bobby...they kinda...I guess you could call them...I don't know Jo," Dean stammers trying to find the words for what he needs to tell me.

"Spit it out Dean!"

"Alright but I'm warning you Jo, you may bleed from the ears hearing this."

This time I'm the one who sighs.

"I guess the best way to describe their relationship was "friends with benefits" and by benefits I mean..."

"I know what you mean," I say holding up my hands to stop him from finishing his statement.

"Hey you wanted to know," Dean reminds me. "Anyway, despite what it actually was, you and I both thought it was going to progress to something more. It just...didn't. Neither of them would ever say why."

"Please tell me you're kidding about this."

"Nope."

"Does Chuck know about them?"

"Yup. Bobby and him had a really big fight a few months back and it kinda came out between punches. It's too bad that you don't remember it because it was a pretty exciting day at the Winchester household."

"Well if he didn't know about their relationship before that, then what the hell were they fighting about?"

"Demons, ghosts, you name it, they fought about it," Dean replies.

"Well it's fairly obvious to me that Chuck doesn't believe in our profession. He certainly doesn't think I should be hunting..." I start to tell him about our conversation before he interupts me again.

"It's not just about the family hunting trips Jo."

"What do you mean?"

"Chuck's a straight laced retired army seargent who I'm sure has seen a lot of terrible things in his life."

"So?"

"Well even though he's seen some bad things, Chuck has never experienced anything supernatural."

I stare blankly at Dean, still not sure where he's going with this.

"He doesn't believe Jo."

"He doesn't believe what?" I question again.

"In demons, ghosts, you name it," Dean states. He finally notices the puzzled expression on my face disolve into realization as I finally get what he's been trying to tell me.

"Are you telling me that my mother, the widow of a kick ass demon hunter who died fighting to keep his family safe, married a man who basically thinks we're all crazy because we believe in fighting against the evil in this world?"

"Yeah I guess that pretty much sums it up," Dean confirms.

I'm silent in shock for a moment before once again saying the first thing that comes to my mind.

"Fuck me."

End Chapter Six.

This chapter was longer than I intended and a struggle to write. I wasn't sure if I wanted Chuck to be too good to be true or the exact opposite. I guess you can see which direction I went.

As always reviews are welcome.