Missed you Mo-JO

Nikki snuck back out onto the porch later that night and took off her gloves. Diablo sat on the ground at her feet and rested his huge head in her lap as she drew in a deep breath and then placed her hands on each side of his enormous head. Slowly searching through Diablo's brief visits in hell for information she stumbled across a curious exchange between two higher level demons.

'The gates are weakening. With or without Purgatory he's confident that we'll have enough power to break through so long as the pact holds.'

Another voice answers, 'I still think as a backup we should continue efforts to gain access to Purgatory. The Winchester's are formidable enemies ... even with what he has in store they always seem to lay to waste our careful plans.' The voices faded as the demons moved farther into hell and away from the hell hound.

Nikki patted the dog's head who sat up on his hind legs and regarded her curiously. She sighed.

"Anyway you can get back in and try to find out what the rest of those plans are? It would be greatly appreciated my friend." Diablo 'woofed' once and disappeared.

She stood and carefully made her way back in to the house, pulling on one glove with her teeth as she tapped her cane along the floor. Just as she managed to get inside and partially down the hallway towards the kitchen, Dean came around the corner and bumped into her. She was knocked off balance and he reached out to her, accidentally grabbing her hand.

They both gasped as they were bombarded with visions, some painful, some just downright scary. Dean let go instantly, slamming back against the wall as Nikki threw out a hand to stabilize herself, face a bit pale, but pulling on her last glove quickly.

"What the hell was that?" he exclaimed looking at her with wide eyes.

She smiled softly, though she was just as shaken. "I do apologize Dean, that's what happens when I'm not paying attention." Her softly accented voice flowed over him in soothing tones. He shook the effect off and scowled at her.

"No, I mean what was it that I saw?" Her brow wrinkled in a slight frown.

"You've been searching for souls but haven't actually seen one before? I thought you got Sam's soul back?" Dean shook his head.

"Those were souls? I thought they were bright balls of light, like Sam's!" She laughed.

"That's the physical manifestation of a soul. On the whole, they look exactly as you do but a bit more ..." she paused and frowned, "... a bit more ethereal?" Dean had another thought.

"Why was Sam's so much brighter than ours?"

"I haven't figured that out yet Dean. Nevertheless, it is beautiful isn't it? He thinks it's so destroyed, heard so many people tell him how 'mutilated' it is. But neither of you realize the beauty in your selves therefore it's no wonder you'd never recognize the beauty in your own souls." Her voice drifted off sadly, as she reached out and gently touched Dean's face. He looked at her for a moment, the scars around her eyes seemed to glow eerily this close to him. "Dean, you did the right thing by Lisa and Ben you do know that don't you?" He sucked in a deep breath then slowly nodded. He escorted her to the table in the kitchen and handed her a glass of cool lemonade and opened himself a beer. Glancing into the study where Sam and Bobby were hard at work, he sat down at the table and began the conversation he'd been wanting to have.

"Will they be OK?" he asked quietly.

"Ben and Lisa deserve to be happy, and because of you they will be. Though, I want you to know that Ben will be a hunter one day." Dean's eye's shot up.

"No!" She shook her head.

"Yes, he will be. It's not something Lisa will like of course, but he will be a hunter. You and Sam will train him." Dean rocked back in his chair and rubbed a hand over his face.

"Then everything I did, leaving them, was for nothing?" He cocked an angry brow at her. She shook her head.

"His path was planned the day you walked back in their lives and rescued him and those children Dean. He will have help, he will not go into this life alone. You and Sam will be there to teach him, train him, and he will have his own guardian angle to watch over him as well, just like Castiel has done for you." Dean snorted at that but let it go.

"What about Lisa?"

"She's going to marry the doctor." Dean's heart squeezed a bit at that as he felt Nikki's hand close over his.

"Dean ... " she frowned, unsure how to approach relationship advice to him. He was a hardened fighter, who thought that love held no place in his life, save Sam who was family. "You should know that soon, someone will come back to save you." Dean frowned.

"What do you mean?" Nikki huffed.

"I wish I could tell you more but the vision wasn't clear. There was a lot of pain, I'm not sure if it was yours or not, but they will come back for you." He shook his head confused.

"Back from where?" Nikki once again shook her head.

"I'm sorry I don't know for sure. Again the information isn't clear enough for me to be exact. I just know that you have a soulmate Dean and she will come and save you. I wish I could tell you more."

As if talking to Nikki about his guilt over Lisa and Ben wasn't bad enough and then hearing the shocking realization that Ben was destined to be a hunter, now he had to contend with some new woman coming into his life to rescue him? Him? No way, he's awesome, he's a Winchester and chic's don't rescue Winchester's. He let the subject drop.

"So, Sammy has a bright soul. You're right, it was impressive. But what can I say, we Winchester's are pretty well endowed, am I right?" Nikki laughed and shook her head.

"I don't kiss and tell Dean ... "she winked at him just as Bobby walked in to the kitchen.

"You going to sit on your ass all night in here flirting your brother's girlfriend or you gonna get in there and help us figure out this Dragon crap?" he grumbled. Dean sighed.

"Nikki's more interesting and doesn't smell like old news print." Bobby chuckled as he leaned against the counter.

"So what interesting bits of conversation have you two been having?" Sam walked in and took a seat next to Nikki who smiled.

"Dean was commenting on how well endowed the Winchester's are." Dean thought Sam's face was going to explode. Bobby immediately began making choking sounds, which curiously looked like the older hunter was either laughing for having a seizure. Either way Dean knew he'd better correct her fast before Samsaqutch turned him into a pretzel.

"Dude, it was innocent," Sam cocked his head towards Dean and shot him 'I'm going to kill you' bitchface, "Seriously! I bumped into her in the hall without her gloves on and got a glimpse of your soul. It's putting off enough light that planets are starting to circle it!" Sam frowned.

"What?" He looked at Dean like he'd lost his mind.

"It's ok Sam, she thinks' it hot ..." Sam's chair scraped along the floor as he stood up. Dean hesitated for a moment, eye's wide, but just as he thought his little brother was fixing to shove his way to large foot straight up his ass, Sam grabbed Nikki's arm and helped her to her feet.

"Nikki and I are going to bed." Nikki tried her best not to laugh at the two men as she took Sam's hand.

"Just out of curiosity, why can you touch Sam with no gloves on and no one else?" Bobby asked before the two left the kitchen. Sam looked down at Nikki questioningly.

"I think it's because Sam has such a disciplined mind. He lets very little escape his control. Though I do catch some projections when he's upset or hurting. Nothing like I get from others though." They left the kitchen and headed towards their room. Dean smiled to himself.

"So, any regrets?" Bobby asked. Dean looked up at him.

"I heard some of what she said to you on my way in here." Dean sighed.

"I don't know, I left them to make sure they had a life far away from this shit. Now I find out that she's fixing to marry a doctor and one day Ben will still turn out to be a hunter. I thought leaving them would help, now I'm not so sure." Bobby sighed.

"Son, I have to admit that if the boy was going to become a hunter then you're the only one I would have train him. Though it sucks knowing the boy will have that kind of life at least he'll have you and Sam on his side to guide him. Who knows how many people you saved went down that road." Dean looked up at Bobby in surprise.

"I never thought of what they did afterwards ... you know the people you save on the job. You ever have someone turn to the life after you save them?" Bobby nodded.

"Can't say they lived long though, but yeah I did. Sad case, sadder story, not something I really feel like sharing tonight." He dropped his empty cup in the sink and shoved away from the counter. "I'm heading off to bed, another long day tomorrow." Dean nodded to him and stood up.

"Yeah, me too." They double-checked the doors and salt lines, Bobby making his way up the stairs as Dean headed down the hallway to his room. He paused at Sam and Nikki's room and knocked softly. Sam's voice said 'Come in' so Dean cautiously opened the door. Nikki's black hair was draped over Sam's arm, her beautiful head resting in the crook of his elbow, their leg's twined together, as he held a book up for her to brush her fingers over. She was softly whispering the words to him and he was repeating them to her in Latin. It was the most intimate thing Dean had ever witnessed and he drank in the moment like fine wine. Though his own heart secretly sought for the love and caresses of a woman who could handle him and Sam's lifestyle, he never truly thought he'd live long enough to find her. But the scene before him made all the sacrifices him and Sam had made appear to be a walk in the park and he'd move heaven and earth to make sure his brother had his own piece of the apple pie life, even if it meant carting around a pink duffel bag in his baby's trunk.

"Bobby's headed for bed, but I think I may head out for bit. You guys need anything while I'm out?" Sam's eyes jerked up as he shifted on the bed.

"Heading out? What for?" He made a move to sit up but Dean held up a hand and shook his head.

"Just heading into town to have drink and clear my head for bit." Nikki grinned softly and Sam's breath hitched. He started to say something but Nikki coughed delicately and laid a hand on Sam's chest. He glanced down at her and then back to Dean who took in the strange exchange with a frown.

"I probably don't want to know what that was about do I?" Nikki chuckled and shook her head.

"Have fun Dean, we'll see you in a bit ..." Her voice trailed off as she began reciting from the book and Sam went back to translating it to Latin for her.

Nikki closed the book and laid it to the side as Sam moved once again to rise from the bed. She sighed.

"He's going to get hurt Nikki, I need to go help him."

"Sam," she said patiently, "I showed you he was going to come home just fine."

"But the demon's ... they attack him as he's leaving the bar ..." Nikki nodded.

"And the woman show's up to save him ... he'll be fine." She reached for Sam's back and wrapped her arms around him. He absently rubbed his hand up and down her arm, but was still somewhat distracted by the vision she'd shown him as Dean had entered the room. Two demon's had been attacking Dean as he left the bar, he'd seen his brother take out one, then get hit by another and fly into a wall.

"I don't know how a woman will save him Nikki ... he needs me ... "

"This is not just any woman Sam ... you'll see ..." she whispered softly in his ear and it sent hot shivers down Sam's back. He turned back to Nikki and drew her into his arms, his lips warm and gentle on her own.

"For the love of all that's Holy we better figure out a way to draw out those damn dragon's soon or I swear I'm going to explode!" He groused into her neck as she giggled at him.

Dean walked into the run down bar with a heavy sigh. Truth be told he was gloriously happy for Sam, though he thought his brother was insane. If the shoe was on the other foot, he'd have already sampled the goods and been back begging for more. He chuckled sourly to himself as he thought back on his time with Lisa and Ben. He'd always wanted a wife and kids, his own home, a regular job, and back yard barbecues. He'd just never factored in the kind of woman it would take to handle him. Lisa had been there, a port in the storm, and she'd tried to manage it the best she could but in the end it had been too much for her. It stung a bit though. It also terrified him that Ben was going to turn to hunting. He'd done everything he'd knew to do to be normal for them, but the fact that there was an empty chair at the table every night that should have been filled by his brother had left a festering hole in his soul that no one could have filled except Sam.

Now, he sat here at the bar, nursing a drink for the last hour and a half wondering what exactly the problem was. Several women in the bar were checking him out, but for some reason it was like his mojo was on lock down. He didn't respond to any of them, he hadn't responded to any woman since he'd left Lisa. It's not like he was a monk or anything!

'Seriously, the next hot chic that walks by and smiles my way is going to get an in depth look at her ankles in the back of the Impala.' he thought to himself with a self assured smile.

And sure enough a beautiful woman sat down beside him, snaked her arm across the back of his chair and leaned in to whisper in his ear, "Wanna go out back?"

Dean couldn't believe his luck. He stood up, tossed a few bills on the table, and turned on his charm.

"I'm pretty sure you just read my mind." She took his arm and they headed out the back door. They'd no more than crossed the threshold and Dean had the demon killing knife out and in her back as two other demon's hit him head on. Dean flew back into the side of the building and from the corner of his eye he saw the bartender open the door, eye's widened, and turn back in.

'Smart barkeep, Bobby must come here often.' he thought to himself.

"You Winchester's apparently are a thorn in our Master's side. To bad, I was rooting for your brother you know. Now, I'm going to have to kill you both, and his hot little girlfriend too." Dean laughed.

"Haven't you heard yet? We're a bit hard to kill!" he lunged forward and managed to knock the demon off his feet and cut him deep with the knife before the other landed a kick to his stomach and a punch to jaw which sent him flying back again, this time knocking the knife a ways up the alley and to for Dean to reach. The injured demon smoked out immediately leaving the other one to finish Dean off.

"You sorry sonsabitches will never touch my brother again ... "he whispered.

"Too bad, me and him got real close in Hell. It's ok though Dean, as soon as we get him back, I'll let you carve him up a bit too. Promise." The demon laughed and raised his hand using his power to choke the life from Dean. Just as Dean thought he was either going to break his neck or pass out the door to the bar flew open and a shotgun blast exploded near his head. He was released from the demonic choke hold and fell to the ground.

Eye's squeezed shut, all he could feel was a cool set of delicate fingers on the side of his face. The soothing touch nearly made him want to pass out again so he opened his eyes and his vision swam and tilted. The woman crouched in front of him had her back to the light, making Dean struggle to focus on her.

"You ok, or did you finally take one too many hits to your head?" Dean's heart stammered to a sudden stop. That voice was achingly familiar. Those fingers too. He grabbed the woman's tiny wrist, who struggled a bit at first.

"Dean?" She asked again. "You ok or do I need to call Sam?" Dean moved her to his side so he could get a clear look at her face.

And once Jo realized he couldn't see her well enough in the light and moved to his side she smiled softly at him and closed her hand over his own on her wrist. She was dressed in the same shirt and jeans she'd been in the day the she'd died, her long blonde hair was the same, her eyes were the same, her face the same, her body the same, her damn lips the same ... Dean thought he'd died and went to Purgatory because he knew damn well this was both heaven and hell seeing Jo Harvell alive again.

"Are you real?" he asked. Jo nodded.

"I am."

"What brought you back?" he asked. Jo smiled.

"How about I explain it all back at Bobby's place? You look like you could use an ice pack, or three." She stood up and helped Dean get to his feet, but before they moved off Dean pulled Jo in tight and kissed her roughly, claiming her lips in a kiss that nearly had Jo melting at his feet. When he let go he was holding her up, his hands dug deeply in her hair, both of them breathing in ragged gulps of air.

"That is what I should have done the day I met you."

Nikki came awake with gasp and sat up in bed shaking. She'd felt something like an electric current run through her whole body. She quickly turned to Sam who was moaning in his sleep. She frowned, suddenly concerned.

"Mmmmm ... yes ... just like ... no don't stop ..." he moaned again. Nikki tilted her head for a moment then blinked. Smiling curiously she reached a hesitant hand out and lightly touched Sam's shoulder. As she entered his mind they both gasped and Sam came instantly awake. He swung around in bed and took in her opened mouth, shocked face, and bright red blush. The bed vibrated with his laughter. He leaned up and kissed her open mouth.

"Sam Winchester you are absolutely wicked!

"Told you to knock first. My mind is a cesspool of sin honey." Nikki whacked his naked chest with her hand.

"Really? I thought you also told me no demonic eyes in bed." He laughed even harder.

"Baby, you didn't stick around long enough to notice that wasn't a bed." He pulled her in tight and laid them back down against the pillows.

"Now, what was so urgent that you had to interrupt my wet dreams?" he asked her.

"I felt something ..." Sam laughed harder.

"Uhh .. sorry?" Nikki elbowed him this time, eliciting a grunt from Sam.

"Not that you Neanderthal pervert ... I mean I think I felt the Cosmos shift, it was electric and vibrated ..."

"Ummm," Sam pressed hot kisses just below her ear which caused Nikki to squirm in his arms, a hot ball of aching need sending her thighs up in flames. Sam's hand caressed her exposed belly as he continued trailing kisses that felt like liquid fire along her neck.

"I'm a Winchester, it's only natural that I'd rock your world honey. Just wait till we're not in dreamland ..." Nikki narrowed her eyes, and silently sent out a call. The clacking sound of Diablo's claws were the only warning Sam got before he smelled the dog's acrid sulfur breath on his neck. Then the hellhound's ice cold nose rubbed along his naked back leaving a slimy snot trail all the way down. He tightened his hold on Nikki.

"That was low, even for you Di." Nikki snorted laughter as Sam carefully sat up in bed and gingerly stood up, taking care not to get any of Diablo's goo on the sheets. Diablo made his way over to Nikki who patted the top of his head.

"As I was saying, I think I felt a shift in the Cosmic Flow. Something powerful has happened and I think it has to do with Dean." Sam snaked his head around the door of the bathroom, a wet rag in his hand.

"Is that good or bad? I thought you said he was going to be ok." He stated frowning.

"Oh he's fine, he's ... OH!" The rag was forgotten as Sam immediately stepped over Diablo to Nikki's side.

"What?" he exclaimed, her vision connecting with his mind like a Mack Truck. "It can't be ... she died in Carthage!" Nikki smiled.

"That's why I couldn't make out who she was ... I was looking for her in the wrong place! Oh how wonderful for Dean. He'll be very ecstatic when I tell him the changes this has made."

"I need to wake up Bobby, he'll want to know what's going on." Him and Nikki dressed quickly and headed to the living room.