"Five times Dean and Jo reminded Ellen of her and Bill"
Supernatural
Dean/Jo
PG
Summary: Title says it all.





1.

Ellen jerked her head up at the sound of the Roadhouse door being kicked open.

Jo hurried in, blond hair in her face, and her knees bent. Behind her, Sam lugged Dean through the doorway. The older brother could hardly stand on his own two feet.

Ellen raced to them. “What happened?”

“We were ambushed,” Sam said. “The demons--they came out of nowhere.”

“Put Dean on the table.” Ellen pointed to Jo. “Get me some water and the first aid kit under the counter.”

Jo was frozen in place, staring at Dean’s immobile body.

Ellen raised her voice. “Joanna Beth.”

Hearing her entire name snapped Jo out of her reverie. She stumbled away to get the materials.

Ellen placed her palm on Dean’s hot forehead. He mumbled something.

“Shh...” Ellen continued to stroke his forehead. “Don’t try to talk.”

“Jo,” Dean coughed.

Ellen lifted her gaze to Sam. Sam dropped his to the floor.

“He was trying to save Jo,” he said. “That’s why--that’s what happened.”

Ellen followed her daughter’s fluid movements as Jo returned to the table with the bowl of water, rags, and the medical kit. Ellen stepped back and let Jo’s hand fall on Dean’s face.

Jo’s bottom lip trembled as she struggled not to cry. “Stay with me, Dean Winchester.”

This time, it was Ellen who was frozen in place as she watched Jo and Dean, as she remembered.

**

“Stay with me, Bill Harvelle.”

Bill grinned under his dirty trucker’s hat and wrapped his arms around Ellen. “I’ll be back before you know it.”

She kissed his smooth chin. “That’s not soon enough.”

He lowered his lips to hers, giving her a slow kiss.

“Time to go, Bill.” Another man’s voice interrupted their good-bye.

Bill and Ellen pulled away. John Winchester stood in the doorway of the Roadhouse, car keys in hand.

“Hurry back,” Ellen said.

Bill squeezed her hand before he left and reminded her, “Before you know it.”

**

Dean’s hand moved, rising to meet Jo’s. He interlaced their fingers and looked up at her. He had enough energy to give her a small smile.

Everyone in the room smiled back.

“I’m not going anywhere,” Dean said.

Jo threw her arms around him.

Letting out a sigh, Ellen picked up the kit. “Come on, Sam. Help me stitch up your brother.”

2.

The loud bang woke Ellen up from her sleep. She waited in bed, staring at the dark ceiling.

BANG!

She sat up. That was definitely a gunshot.

She grabbed the rifle under her bed, slipped on her jacket and shoes, and hurried downstairs. In the early morning hours, the Roadhouse was nothing but chairs and tables. Her eyes scanned the room, but she saw nothing.

BANG!

Ellen jumped back. The gun was being fired from outside. With her gun raised, she opened the front door cautiously. She heard the voices before she saw the figures standing in the dark.

“Will you let me shoot now?”

“Wait your turn.”

“Come on. Let me try.”

“No.”

She knew those voices.

Jo and Dean stood outside the Roadhouse. Dean had a long rifle in his hand, aimed at the sky. Jo was next to him, arms crossed and lips turned upside down.

“Jo, Dean.” Ellen lowered her gun. “What the hell are you two doing?”

They turned to her. Dean smiled at the sight of Ellen’s rumpled appearance.

“I got a new toy,” he said. “I wanted to try it out.”

“At four o’clock in the morning?”

“Why not?” He pointed the gun again.

Ellen stepped forward. “Don’t you dare--”

BANG!

She narrowed her eyes. “Dean, put that gun away before you hurt someone.”

“All right,” Dean said with a shrug.

“Wait, I wanted a turn,” Jo said.

“You heard your mom,” he said, smiling. “No more shooting.”

Jo turned to Ellen. “Mom...”

Ellen shook her head. “Go back to bed.”

Jo stuck out her bottom lip like a young child being scolded and stomped back inside. Dean followed.

Ellen hated being the bad guy, but sometimes she had to be.

**

“You heard your mom,” Bill said. “No more shooting.”

Jo glared at Ellen. “But, Mom--”

Ellen turned off the video game and snatched the orange plastic gun from Jo’s small hands. “You haven’t finished your homework yet.”

“Dad was going to show me a new trick,” Jo said.

“He can show you after you finish your homework,” Ellen said.

Jo lowered her head, her shoulders started to shake, and she ran to her room.

“Ellen,” Bill said softly.

“Why can’t you be the bad guy for once?” Ellen asked him.

He didn’t answer. Instead, he went after Jo.

When Ellen found them, they were sitting on Jo’s bed. Jo’s head was buried against Bill’s chest. His fingers stroked Jo’s hair and his lips moved, whispering words meant to make his daughter stop crying.

**

Ellen walked through the door and found Jo and Dean at the bar. Dean’s arms were around Jo as he instructed her on how to use the gun. The smile on Jo’s face was bright enough to light up the dark room.

“Jo,” Ellen said.

“What?” Jo said, brows raised. “You said no more shooting.”

“And we’re not shooting,” Dean added, smiling.

Great. They were teaming up against her, and she was too tired to fight back.

“Fine.” Ellen yawned and shuffled off to bed.


3.

“You think it’s bad we don’t have a name for him yet.” Jo picked up her newborn son and cradled him near her heart. “Like bad luck or something?’

Ellen shook her head. “Look at that boy and tell me that’s a sign of bad luck.”

Jo smiled and caressed the baby’s cheek. He turned his head towards his mother’s touch.

Ellen moved across the small apartment, the one Jo and Dean lived in, and sat down at the dining table. “Think about it. A name is probably the most important thing you can give to your child, next to unconditional love.”

“How did you and Dad think of my name?” Jo asked.

“You really want to know?”

Jo nodded.

Before Ellen could start the story, Dean entered the room, dressed in jeans and his leather coat, and holding a duffel bag.

“How’s he doing?” Dean asked Jo.

She lifted her arms to show off their son. “He’s sleeping.”

With his index finger, Dean rubbed the baby’s cheek. “I still can’t believe it.”

Like any proud grandmother, Ellen basked in the scene of her first grandchild and his parents. If only Bill could be here to see it all.

**

“How about Alex?”

Ellen shook her head. “I don’t like it.”

Bill crossed it off the list with a quick scribble of his pen. “Mary? Or Sue?”

Ellen shook her head again. “Doesn’t suit her.”

“How do you know that?" Bill said as he put down the notepad. "You haven’t even seen her.”

“But, I know her," Ellen placed her hands on top of her round belly, "and she is definitely no Mary or Sue.”

Bill rubbed his head. “Boys names are so much easier. Name the baby Joe and we’d be set.”

A light went off in Ellen’s head. “Jo--Jo--anna.”

“What did you say?”

“Joanna.” Ellen felt the baby kick inside of her. She grabbed Bill’s hand and put it on her stomach.

Bill grinned. “Well, hell, she likes it too.”

**

Dean picked up his bag and headed to the door. “Me and Sammy will be back by morning.”

“Be careful,” Jo said.

He gave her a smile. “I’ll do my best.”

Once Dean was gone, Ellen moved from her seat and put a hand on Jo’s back. “Have you talked to Dean about the hunting yet?”

“I can’t ask him to stop, Mom.”

A light went off in Ellen’s head. “But, I can.”

Jo’s eyes narrowed in confusion.

Ellen looked down at her sleeping grandchild. “When Dean gets back tomorrow, your son will have a name, and a father.”


4.

At the end of the night, it was just the four of them inside the Roadhouse. Dean had whisked Jo away from her tables to share one last dance. Sam sat at the bar, finishing up his beer. Ellen stood behind the counter, drying the wet glasses.

Ellen could hear Jo laughing as Dean glided them across the wooden floor. Even Dean was smiling despite Jo’s choice of playing REO Speedwagon.

Ellen caught Sam smiling into his beer. “What are you smiling at?”

Sam just shrugged. “Nothing.” The smile was still on his face.

“Uh-huh.” Ellen turned her attention back to Jo and Dean. The two of them had moved closer. Dean’s hands rested on the small of her back and Jo’s arms were wrapped around his neck. They had suddenly grown quiet.

They were soaking up the moment, making it last.

**

“I thought you said you couldn’t dance.” Ellen laughed as she followed Bill up to the dance floor.

Bill grabbed her hand and twirled her. “I’m a man of many secret talents, darling.”

“Really?”

He grinned. “Really.”

Who was she to try and resist that smile?

Bill took a hold of her hand and gently swayed their bodies to the soft country song. A song about lost love and broken hearts. It had nothing to do with them, yet they moved like the song had been written just for them.

Bill started to sing in her ear. She loved how his breath was warm and soft against her skin.

“I thought you said you couldn’t sing,” Ellen said. “How many secrets are you keeping from me?”

“A few more.” He chuckled. “But, I think you need to know this one.” He pulled away so they were looking at each other. His blue eyes turned serious. “Ellen, I am madly in love with you, and I want us to spend the rest of our lives together.”

Her heart dropped.

“Bill--”

Even though they had stopped dancing, their hands stayed on each other.

“How about it?” Bill said, the smile returning to his handsome face. “Make me the happiest man in the world and say you’ll spend forever with me.”

Her lips curved into a smile. “Only forever?”

**

“Is that what I think it is?” Ellen had to take a hold of the counter so her legs wouldn’t give out from under her.

On the dance floor, Dean was on bended knee with Jo’s hand in his and a small black box in the other.

Sam gave Ellen a board smile. “Yup.”

Now, she knew why he had been smiling earlier.

Ellen couldn’t hear the proposal over the song, but a second later, Jo’s screech hit her ears.

“Yes!”

As Dean stood back up, Jo jumped into his arms. After they kissed, Jo waved the gold engagement ring on her finger at Ellen.

“Look, Mom!”

Shaking her head, Ellen picked up the dry glasses she had been cleaning and got ready to fill them back up.


5.


Ellen plucked the gray strand out of her hair.

Not another one.

“Here you go, Mom.” Jo handed Ellen a cold longneck beer. “Are you sure you should be drinking? The doctor said--”

“Forget what the doctor said. I can take care of myself.” Ellen took a long swig of her beer and leaned back in her chair in the Roadhouse. It still felt strange to be sitting on the other side of the bar.

Jo wiped her hands on her white apron. “How long are you going to be in town?”

“A few days,” Ellen said. “I wanted to see how my baby and her babies were doing.”

Jo rolled her eyes. “We’re fine, Mom.”

Ellen wiped her fingers across her table. “You missed a spot.”

With a sigh, Jo scrubbed the spot with a rag. Ellen had handed over the Roadhouse to Jo almost three years ago, but she still considered it her place.

“When’s Dean getting back?” Ellen asked.

“Soon.”

It was too vague, and both Ellen and Jo knew that.

“Heard anything?” Ellen said.

“A phone call now and then.” Jo put a smile on her face. “He’s fine.”

Ellen forced her own smile for her daughter’s sake. “Sure, he is, honey.”

**

“Mom, when’s Dad coming home?”

Ellen finished filling the cooler with bottles and turned to Jo. “Soon.”

“How soon?” Jo played with one of her long pigtails.

“I don’t know, baby,” Ellen said. “But, he’ll be home.”

Jo smiled. “I can’t wait.”

Ellen lifted Jo to the counter top inside the Roadhouse. “Me neither.”

Just then, the front door burst open.

“Where are my girls?” Bill’s hearty voice filled the room. He was covered in dust and a bag was slung over his shoulder.

“Daddy!” Jo leapt from the counter and into her father’s arms.

“My Joanna.” Bill kissed her forehead. “Did you miss me?”

“Everyday.”

Bill held out an arm for Ellen. “How about you?”

She was tempted to throw herself into his arms just like Jo had done, but instead, she took two careful steps and sank into his body. He smelled like the open road.

“Everyday,” she said.

**

Sunlight spilled into the dim bar. With it, Dean strolled through the door, easygoing smile on his weathered face and hands filled with bags.

Jo raced to him and threw herself at Dean, just like she had with her father so many years ago.

“Honey, I’m home,” he said.

Jo gave him a kiss and maneuvered them to Ellen.

“Well, hey, Ellen,” Dean said.

Ellen looked him over. He was looking more and more like his father everyday.

“Hey, yourself,” Ellen said.

“How long are you staying?” Dean asked, his arm around Jo’s waist.

“She said a few days,” Jo said.

Ellen took another drink of her beer. She looked around the Roadhouse, at the hunters gathered at the tables, the jukebox playing classic rock, and the cooler stocked with drinks. “You know, I changed my mind. I should probably head out soon.” Her gaze returned to Jo--older and wiser, in charge of the Roadhouse, and Dean, still beaming from a successful hunt. “It looks like you guys have everything under control.”