Nu (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} quiet_rebel) wrote,@ 2008-06-13 02:17:00 |
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SPN Fic: "You Can Always Come Back" PG-13, Dean/Jo, Sam
"You Can Always Come Back"
Dean/Jo, Sam
PG-13
Setting: After season three
Summary:
He came back different.
He sang lullabies about blue moons, scarlet skies, and neverending oceans. He watched the horizon for hours with his hands in his pockets and his shoulders rigid. He smiled at everyone and at no one in particular.
**
He came back in love with her.
**
How can this be hell?
**
When Dean came back, Sam bled.
Jo knew because she was there.
Sam stood underneath a black sky with his gaze turned to the stars. Shirtless, he drew the knife's blade over his chest again. And again. And again. And again.
In the dark, she could still see the red trickle from his heart to his stomach.
Behind Sam was a circle burnt into the grass. They made it earlier by pouring gasoline and lighting a match.
She watched the circle.
She watched the circle for him.
And Sam continued to bleed.
**
By the time the sun rose, Sam had thirteen stitches and his brother.
**
Jo thought they would leave her.
Like before.
Like always.
Instead, they stayed.
He said he wanted to.
**
They never talked about what happened.
“What was hell like?”
“How long was I gone?”
“How did you bring me back?”
“Why did you bring me back?”
All those questions remained in silence.
**
Once Sam's wounds healed, again, Jo thought they would leave.
The Impala sat in front of her home for days. Then, for weeks.
She asked Dean, “What are you doing?”
In response, he gave her a smile, turned to look at the horizon, and hummed a song she didn't recognize.
**
One day, the Impala was gone.
**
“We'll find him,” Jo said. “You hear me, Dean? We'll find him.”
**
They tracked down the Impala in the next state over. The windows were shattered and there was blood on the driver's seat.
Sam.
He had bled for his brother once. He had done it again.
**
The demon taunted them with lies.
“You're too late. He's dead. Lilith ripped out his heart with a fucking smile on her face. He screamed until his last breath. He screamed for someone to save him. He screamed for you, Dean, and you didn't do anything. He screamed...and screamed...and screamed...”
Dean didn't blink. Jo slipped her hand into his.
Bobby's Latin grew louder and louder until it was the demon that started to scream.
**
“You think he was telling the truth?”
“Demons lie. You told me that.”
He was quiet for a moment.
“What if I'm wrong?”
**
When Dean wasn't pacing, he was humming.
“What's that song?” Jo asked.
He stopped and turned away.
“Come on,” she said. “Tell me.”
He gave her that look--the same one right before he told her about shooting bottles from a fence. He chewed on his bottom lip before joining her at the table.
“It's a lullaby,” he said. “My mom used to sing it to me and Sam.”
She smiled. “It's nice”
He lowered his head and curled his fingers on the table top. She thought maybe she had made a mistake by asking him about the song. Maybe it had awoken a memory he didn't want to remember.
Instead, he lifted his head, opened his mouth, and started to sing.
**
In the early hours of morning, Jo would find him standing outside the motel. He studied the horizon and waited.
Sam never appeared.
**
Jo woke up to the sound of Dean talking in his sleep. In the next bed, he clutched at his blanket and trembled. He squeezed his eyes and murmured nonsense words.
But she understood.
He was dreaming about hell. He was dreaming about losing Sam.
She got into his bed and wrapped her arms around him.
“Shh...” She pressed her lips on his warm cheek. “Shh....”
She sang him his lullaby. He stopped shaking.
**
The next demon was more cooperative.
“Lilith's waiting for you, Dean. She's buying her time because she knows you won't stop until you find Sam, and when you do, she'll be there.”
“Where are they?” Dean asked through a clenched jaw.
The demon grinned. “Oh, don't worry. She'll come find you.”
**
He told her he was leaving her because he loved her.
“Bullshit,” she said.
He stuffed clothes into a large green duffel bag. “All right. I don't love you.”
“Wait. So, you actually do?”
He sighed. “I have to do this on my own. If Lilith is looking for me, I don't want you involved. It's between me and her.”
“You can't just leave me behind like this.”
He glared at her. She could read his mind: “So, what? I've done it before. I can do it again.”
“Fine, go.” She crossed her arms and turned away.
She heard him zip up the bag and storm out of the motel room.
Fuck it.
She raced after him. He was already back at the door.
She threw her arms around his neck. He hugged her, lifting her off the ground.
“I don't love you either,” she said.
**
It had been two days since Dean left.
She took his position standing outside the motel room, staring at the horizon. She waited for a figure to appear.
On day three, someone did.
The little girl had a red bow in her blond hair. The sunlight kissed the freckles on her cheeks.
“Hi,” the girl said. “Are you Jo?”
Jo knelt down to the girl's level. Something didn't feel right. Hunter's instinct, she called it.
The girl's blue eyes clouded white.
“I'm Lilith.”
**
“Time to wake up.”
Jo heard a voice--her voice--from a distance. She felt groggy and exhausted, but when she became aware of where she was, all tiredness vanished.
She stood in front of a mirror, admiring her reflection.
Her hand touched her face, but she hadn't lifted it. She smiled, but she hadn't made her lips curve.
“Those Winchester boys sure do know how to pick them.” She spoke to herself. No, it was Lilith speaking.
“That's right,” she said. “I'm inside you. How does it feel to be possessed?”
You bitch.
“Watch your mouth or I'll cut your tongue out.” Her smile grew. “Just kidding.”
On the motel bed was the little girl with the red bow in her hair. Jo was relieved to see her chest rise and fall as she slept.
“Don't worry,” Lilith said. “Housekeeping will find her in the morning and return her to her parents. She'll get a happy ending. I'm not so sure about you though.”
What are you going to do?
“I'm glad you asked.” She smoothed down her hair. “We are going to find those Winchesters. I can't wait to see their faces when they see the new-and-improved Jo Harvelle.”
**
“What's that song you're humming?”
Jo didn't even realize she had been humming Dean's lullaby. She stopped right away.
“All right, don't tell me.” Lilith kept driving. “You know why I pick little girls? It's because everyone loves them. They're like princesses. Everyone does what they say because they're so fucking cute and innocent.” She glanced at the rearview mirror. She was looking at Jo with Jo's own eyes. “Sound familiar?”
Lilith giggled.
**
It turned out the demons had been lying after all. Sam was still alive and he wasn't with Lilith. It didn't seem to bother her though.
“They can't hurt me now,” she said. “Not when I'm in this body.”
Don't be so sure about that.
Lilith looked at Jo's reflection in the motel mirror. “And you don't care?”
As long as they send you back to hell.
**
The demon told Lilith Dean was on his way. He was close.
“You've done a good job,” she said. “How should I repay you?”
He leered at her with black eyes and a sneer.
Lilith kissed the demon. Jo tasted sulfur and ashes.
Lilith pulled the gun from the back of her pocket. She fired a shot into the demon's gut. With a gasp, he fell forward, dead and gone.
She held up the Colt. “I love this thing.”
**
The demon Lilith killed had told the truth.
When Dean arrived, she waited outside the motel room for him. He drove up in the Impala and stepped out with a rifle.
“She's gone,” Lilith said. “We must have missed her.”
Don't listen to her. She's lying.
“How did you know she was here?” he asked.
“Bobby. He told me where you were going. I had to find you and make sure you weren't going to get yourself killed.”
Dean lowered his gun.
No, Dean, don't believe her.
She moved to Dean, wrapping her arms around him. “I was so scared.”
He stroked her hair.
It's not me, Dean. It's Lilith.
“I'm so glad you're all right.” Lilith reached behind her back for the Colt.
Dean!
“I wouldn't do that.” Sam's voice came from behind them.
They pulled apart and looked up at him. He was fine. Healthy and alive.
Dean sighed with relief. “Sammy.”
“Get away from her,” Sam said, holding his hand up.
“What are you doing?” Dean said.
“That's not Jo.”
Dean narrowed his eyes and turned to her.
Listen to him, Dean.
Lilith grabbed his arm. “Don't listen to him, Dean. That's not Sam. Look at him.”
The two brothers stared at each other.
“Please, Dean.” Sam's voice was soft. “You have to believe me.”
Dean turned his attention to Lilith. “The lullaby. Sing it to me.”
Yes, good, Dean.
Lilith blinked. “We don't have time for this. Sam--he's dangerous--he needs help--”
“The lullaby.” Dean raised his voice. “What is it?”
Jo felt Lilith's panic. Her desperation was hot and explosive now that she was backed into a corner.
“This was that fucking song you were humming, wasn't it?” Lilith said.
And I'm not going to tell you a damn thing about it.
Lilith lifted her hands up in surrender. “All right. You caught me.”
Dean stepped back, rifle up again.
“Are you really going to shoot me, Dean?” Lilith said. “If you kill me, you kill her, you know that, right?”
Dean didn't show any emotion.
“And let me tell you, she doesn't want to die. If you fuck this up, she will never forgive you. Do you really want that on your conscience?”
She's lying, Dean.
“You remember hell, don't you, Dean?” Lilith smirked. “All that pain and suffering. There's nothing peaceful about death. Do you really want Jo to go through that?”
Her words caused a flicker of emotion to cross Dean's face. It was enough for Lilith to raise her hand and slam Dean against the Impala. No one heard Jo scream as Lilith's powers scorched through her.
Another fiery sensation overcame Lilith. She turned to find Sam behind her with his arm outstretched. Lilith raised her hand again, but her powers did nothing.
“Just because you're using Jo's body doesn't change things,” Sam said. “I'm still stronger than you, better than you, more powerful than you.”
Lilith backed away as Sam approached her.
He began to chant.
Lilith removed the Colt and aimed it at Sam. With a flick of his wrist, the gun flew from the grasp. He kept chanting.
Jo felt Lilith squirm. The demon struggled to stay contained in her body, but both Sam and Jo fought against her--him on the outside and her on the inside.
As Sam chanted, the front of his shirt darkened. It looked like he was bleeding. He showed no pain as he concentrated on sending Lilith to hell.
With each word, Jo could feel Lilith losing the fight. Lilith felt like liquid fire as she was released from Jo's body. Jo fell to her knees. She blinked to adjust her blurry vision. Her entire body felt like rubber.
“Jo.” Dean helped her up. “Are you all right?”
She rubbed her head. “I--I think so.”
They looked over at Sam, who had also collapsed. They rushed to him. His shirt was soaked in blood. Dean ripped it open. The scars on his chest had opened and were bleeding once again. Dean turned him over. The scar on his spine had opened up too.
“No, Sammy.” Dean pulled him up. “Sammy, stay with me...Sammy...”
Sam continued to bleed.
And Dean and Jo lived.
**
After the doctors stitched Sam back up, they told Dean and Jo he was a lucky man.
“I'm not sure how he survived,” one of the doctors said. “He's a fighter, that's for sure.”
Dean stayed at Sam's bedside throughout the night. When morning came, Jo suggested they take a walk, get some fresh air. He was reluctant, but he followed her outside.
The sky was a pretty scarlet just like in Dean's lullaby.
“How are you doing?” she asked.
“It's my fault,” Dean said. “I left you behind and Lilith found you, and then Sam had to risk his life again to save me. If only I had done something to stop it. If only--”
“Stop it.” She touched his arm. “Stop with the “if only's” because they aren't going to do much good to anyone.” She softened her voice. “Right now you have to focus on Sam. He needs you.”
Dean nodded. “Okay.”
She lifted herself up on her tip-toes and brushed her lips against his.
“I wouldn't have pulled the trigger,” he said in her ear.
She pulled away to look at him.
“When Lilith said I couldn't shoot you, she was right,” he said. “I couldn't do it.”
She skimmed her knuckles against the scratchy stubble on his cheek. “I know, but she was wrong about one thing. I would have forgiven you.”
He took her hand and kissed her knuckles.
Holding hands, they returned to Sam's room. He was still in bed with his eyes closed.
“Why did your mom sing that lullaby to you and Sam?” Jo asked.
Dean looked down at his brother. “It helped us not be afraid.”
“Then, let's sing it to him.”
He squeezed her hand, took in a breath, and started the song.
She watched him, choosing to let him sing alone. This was his lullaby, his and Sam's. Tears welled up in her eyes. It did in Dean's as well.
Sam stirred in bed. His eyes slowly opened.
“Sammy? Hey, it's Dean.” He leaned over him. “Can you hear me?”
“I heard you,” Sam said, his voice weak. “I heard you singing.”
Dean smiled. “Yeah, that was me.”
Jo stepped back to let them have a moment. Dean grabbed her hand.
“Don't leave,” he said.
She returned to his side. “I'm not going anywhere.”
**
She came back different.
She sang lullabies about blue moons, scarlet skies, and neverending oceans. She watched the horizon with him and smiled at everyone and at no one in particular.
**
She came back in love with him.
THE END
Song on repeat while writing: "It Doesn't Matter" by Alison Krauss and Union Station
"You Can Always Come Back"
Dean/Jo, Sam
PG-13
Setting: After season three
Summary:
He came back different.
He sang lullabies about blue moons, scarlet skies, and neverending oceans. He watched the horizon for hours with his hands in his pockets and his shoulders rigid. He smiled at everyone and at no one in particular.
**
He came back in love with her.
**
How can this be hell?
**
When Dean came back, Sam bled.
Jo knew because she was there.
Sam stood underneath a black sky with his gaze turned to the stars. Shirtless, he drew the knife's blade over his chest again. And again. And again. And again.
In the dark, she could still see the red trickle from his heart to his stomach.
Behind Sam was a circle burnt into the grass. They made it earlier by pouring gasoline and lighting a match.
She watched the circle.
She watched the circle for him.
And Sam continued to bleed.
**
By the time the sun rose, Sam had thirteen stitches and his brother.
**
Jo thought they would leave her.
Like before.
Like always.
Instead, they stayed.
He said he wanted to.
**
They never talked about what happened.
“What was hell like?”
“How long was I gone?”
“How did you bring me back?”
“Why did you bring me back?”
All those questions remained in silence.
**
Once Sam's wounds healed, again, Jo thought they would leave.
The Impala sat in front of her home for days. Then, for weeks.
She asked Dean, “What are you doing?”
In response, he gave her a smile, turned to look at the horizon, and hummed a song she didn't recognize.
**
One day, the Impala was gone.
**
“We'll find him,” Jo said. “You hear me, Dean? We'll find him.”
**
They tracked down the Impala in the next state over. The windows were shattered and there was blood on the driver's seat.
Sam.
He had bled for his brother once. He had done it again.
**
The demon taunted them with lies.
“You're too late. He's dead. Lilith ripped out his heart with a fucking smile on her face. He screamed until his last breath. He screamed for someone to save him. He screamed for you, Dean, and you didn't do anything. He screamed...and screamed...and screamed...”
Dean didn't blink. Jo slipped her hand into his.
Bobby's Latin grew louder and louder until it was the demon that started to scream.
**
“You think he was telling the truth?”
“Demons lie. You told me that.”
He was quiet for a moment.
“What if I'm wrong?”
**
When Dean wasn't pacing, he was humming.
“What's that song?” Jo asked.
He stopped and turned away.
“Come on,” she said. “Tell me.”
He gave her that look--the same one right before he told her about shooting bottles from a fence. He chewed on his bottom lip before joining her at the table.
“It's a lullaby,” he said. “My mom used to sing it to me and Sam.”
She smiled. “It's nice”
He lowered his head and curled his fingers on the table top. She thought maybe she had made a mistake by asking him about the song. Maybe it had awoken a memory he didn't want to remember.
Instead, he lifted his head, opened his mouth, and started to sing.
**
In the early hours of morning, Jo would find him standing outside the motel. He studied the horizon and waited.
Sam never appeared.
**
Jo woke up to the sound of Dean talking in his sleep. In the next bed, he clutched at his blanket and trembled. He squeezed his eyes and murmured nonsense words.
But she understood.
He was dreaming about hell. He was dreaming about losing Sam.
She got into his bed and wrapped her arms around him.
“Shh...” She pressed her lips on his warm cheek. “Shh....”
She sang him his lullaby. He stopped shaking.
**
The next demon was more cooperative.
“Lilith's waiting for you, Dean. She's buying her time because she knows you won't stop until you find Sam, and when you do, she'll be there.”
“Where are they?” Dean asked through a clenched jaw.
The demon grinned. “Oh, don't worry. She'll come find you.”
**
He told her he was leaving her because he loved her.
“Bullshit,” she said.
He stuffed clothes into a large green duffel bag. “All right. I don't love you.”
“Wait. So, you actually do?”
He sighed. “I have to do this on my own. If Lilith is looking for me, I don't want you involved. It's between me and her.”
“You can't just leave me behind like this.”
He glared at her. She could read his mind: “So, what? I've done it before. I can do it again.”
“Fine, go.” She crossed her arms and turned away.
She heard him zip up the bag and storm out of the motel room.
Fuck it.
She raced after him. He was already back at the door.
She threw her arms around his neck. He hugged her, lifting her off the ground.
“I don't love you either,” she said.
**
It had been two days since Dean left.
She took his position standing outside the motel room, staring at the horizon. She waited for a figure to appear.
On day three, someone did.
The little girl had a red bow in her blond hair. The sunlight kissed the freckles on her cheeks.
“Hi,” the girl said. “Are you Jo?”
Jo knelt down to the girl's level. Something didn't feel right. Hunter's instinct, she called it.
The girl's blue eyes clouded white.
“I'm Lilith.”
**
“Time to wake up.”
Jo heard a voice--her voice--from a distance. She felt groggy and exhausted, but when she became aware of where she was, all tiredness vanished.
She stood in front of a mirror, admiring her reflection.
Her hand touched her face, but she hadn't lifted it. She smiled, but she hadn't made her lips curve.
“Those Winchester boys sure do know how to pick them.” She spoke to herself. No, it was Lilith speaking.
“That's right,” she said. “I'm inside you. How does it feel to be possessed?”
You bitch.
“Watch your mouth or I'll cut your tongue out.” Her smile grew. “Just kidding.”
On the motel bed was the little girl with the red bow in her hair. Jo was relieved to see her chest rise and fall as she slept.
“Don't worry,” Lilith said. “Housekeeping will find her in the morning and return her to her parents. She'll get a happy ending. I'm not so sure about you though.”
What are you going to do?
“I'm glad you asked.” She smoothed down her hair. “We are going to find those Winchesters. I can't wait to see their faces when they see the new-and-improved Jo Harvelle.”
**
“What's that song you're humming?”
Jo didn't even realize she had been humming Dean's lullaby. She stopped right away.
“All right, don't tell me.” Lilith kept driving. “You know why I pick little girls? It's because everyone loves them. They're like princesses. Everyone does what they say because they're so fucking cute and innocent.” She glanced at the rearview mirror. She was looking at Jo with Jo's own eyes. “Sound familiar?”
Lilith giggled.
**
It turned out the demons had been lying after all. Sam was still alive and he wasn't with Lilith. It didn't seem to bother her though.
“They can't hurt me now,” she said. “Not when I'm in this body.”
Don't be so sure about that.
Lilith looked at Jo's reflection in the motel mirror. “And you don't care?”
As long as they send you back to hell.
**
The demon told Lilith Dean was on his way. He was close.
“You've done a good job,” she said. “How should I repay you?”
He leered at her with black eyes and a sneer.
Lilith kissed the demon. Jo tasted sulfur and ashes.
Lilith pulled the gun from the back of her pocket. She fired a shot into the demon's gut. With a gasp, he fell forward, dead and gone.
She held up the Colt. “I love this thing.”
**
The demon Lilith killed had told the truth.
When Dean arrived, she waited outside the motel room for him. He drove up in the Impala and stepped out with a rifle.
“She's gone,” Lilith said. “We must have missed her.”
Don't listen to her. She's lying.
“How did you know she was here?” he asked.
“Bobby. He told me where you were going. I had to find you and make sure you weren't going to get yourself killed.”
Dean lowered his gun.
No, Dean, don't believe her.
She moved to Dean, wrapping her arms around him. “I was so scared.”
He stroked her hair.
It's not me, Dean. It's Lilith.
“I'm so glad you're all right.” Lilith reached behind her back for the Colt.
Dean!
“I wouldn't do that.” Sam's voice came from behind them.
They pulled apart and looked up at him. He was fine. Healthy and alive.
Dean sighed with relief. “Sammy.”
“Get away from her,” Sam said, holding his hand up.
“What are you doing?” Dean said.
“That's not Jo.”
Dean narrowed his eyes and turned to her.
Listen to him, Dean.
Lilith grabbed his arm. “Don't listen to him, Dean. That's not Sam. Look at him.”
The two brothers stared at each other.
“Please, Dean.” Sam's voice was soft. “You have to believe me.”
Dean turned his attention to Lilith. “The lullaby. Sing it to me.”
Yes, good, Dean.
Lilith blinked. “We don't have time for this. Sam--he's dangerous--he needs help--”
“The lullaby.” Dean raised his voice. “What is it?”
Jo felt Lilith's panic. Her desperation was hot and explosive now that she was backed into a corner.
“This was that fucking song you were humming, wasn't it?” Lilith said.
And I'm not going to tell you a damn thing about it.
Lilith lifted her hands up in surrender. “All right. You caught me.”
Dean stepped back, rifle up again.
“Are you really going to shoot me, Dean?” Lilith said. “If you kill me, you kill her, you know that, right?”
Dean didn't show any emotion.
“And let me tell you, she doesn't want to die. If you fuck this up, she will never forgive you. Do you really want that on your conscience?”
She's lying, Dean.
“You remember hell, don't you, Dean?” Lilith smirked. “All that pain and suffering. There's nothing peaceful about death. Do you really want Jo to go through that?”
Her words caused a flicker of emotion to cross Dean's face. It was enough for Lilith to raise her hand and slam Dean against the Impala. No one heard Jo scream as Lilith's powers scorched through her.
Another fiery sensation overcame Lilith. She turned to find Sam behind her with his arm outstretched. Lilith raised her hand again, but her powers did nothing.
“Just because you're using Jo's body doesn't change things,” Sam said. “I'm still stronger than you, better than you, more powerful than you.”
Lilith backed away as Sam approached her.
He began to chant.
Lilith removed the Colt and aimed it at Sam. With a flick of his wrist, the gun flew from the grasp. He kept chanting.
Jo felt Lilith squirm. The demon struggled to stay contained in her body, but both Sam and Jo fought against her--him on the outside and her on the inside.
As Sam chanted, the front of his shirt darkened. It looked like he was bleeding. He showed no pain as he concentrated on sending Lilith to hell.
With each word, Jo could feel Lilith losing the fight. Lilith felt like liquid fire as she was released from Jo's body. Jo fell to her knees. She blinked to adjust her blurry vision. Her entire body felt like rubber.
“Jo.” Dean helped her up. “Are you all right?”
She rubbed her head. “I--I think so.”
They looked over at Sam, who had also collapsed. They rushed to him. His shirt was soaked in blood. Dean ripped it open. The scars on his chest had opened and were bleeding once again. Dean turned him over. The scar on his spine had opened up too.
“No, Sammy.” Dean pulled him up. “Sammy, stay with me...Sammy...”
Sam continued to bleed.
And Dean and Jo lived.
**
After the doctors stitched Sam back up, they told Dean and Jo he was a lucky man.
“I'm not sure how he survived,” one of the doctors said. “He's a fighter, that's for sure.”
Dean stayed at Sam's bedside throughout the night. When morning came, Jo suggested they take a walk, get some fresh air. He was reluctant, but he followed her outside.
The sky was a pretty scarlet just like in Dean's lullaby.
“How are you doing?” she asked.
“It's my fault,” Dean said. “I left you behind and Lilith found you, and then Sam had to risk his life again to save me. If only I had done something to stop it. If only--”
“Stop it.” She touched his arm. “Stop with the “if only's” because they aren't going to do much good to anyone.” She softened her voice. “Right now you have to focus on Sam. He needs you.”
Dean nodded. “Okay.”
She lifted herself up on her tip-toes and brushed her lips against his.
“I wouldn't have pulled the trigger,” he said in her ear.
She pulled away to look at him.
“When Lilith said I couldn't shoot you, she was right,” he said. “I couldn't do it.”
She skimmed her knuckles against the scratchy stubble on his cheek. “I know, but she was wrong about one thing. I would have forgiven you.”
He took her hand and kissed her knuckles.
Holding hands, they returned to Sam's room. He was still in bed with his eyes closed.
“Why did your mom sing that lullaby to you and Sam?” Jo asked.
Dean looked down at his brother. “It helped us not be afraid.”
“Then, let's sing it to him.”
He squeezed her hand, took in a breath, and started the song.
She watched him, choosing to let him sing alone. This was his lullaby, his and Sam's. Tears welled up in her eyes. It did in Dean's as well.
Sam stirred in bed. His eyes slowly opened.
“Sammy? Hey, it's Dean.” He leaned over him. “Can you hear me?”
“I heard you,” Sam said, his voice weak. “I heard you singing.”
Dean smiled. “Yeah, that was me.”
Jo stepped back to let them have a moment. Dean grabbed her hand.
“Don't leave,” he said.
She returned to his side. “I'm not going anywhere.”
**
She came back different.
She sang lullabies about blue moons, scarlet skies, and neverending oceans. She watched the horizon with him and smiled at everyone and at no one in particular.
**
She came back in love with him.
THE END
Song on repeat while writing: "It Doesn't Matter" by Alison Krauss and Union Station
