Metropolis, Jo's Apartment

[tobeclosetohim]

She's standing at the sink, drinking a cup a coffee.

It's even a warm cup of coffee.




It's not much, but it is something.

Comments

[tobeclosetohim]

"Zombies."

She looked down at his hand.

"The whole Road House."

[hector-aframian.livejournal.com]

"Jesus."

His hand tightens on her shoulder for a second, and then he gets up to move around to sit beside her. A moment of hesitation before he wraps his arm around her (too small, too thin) shoulders.

"Every hunter's nightmare - why didn't you call me?"

[tobeclosetohim]

Jo was quiet.


She had asked him.

She could still remember that.


The blur of everything else after it.

[hector-aframian.livejournal.com]

"Oh, Jesus, you did."

Guilt, like a hammer to the kidneys. Dean drops his head for a moment, wrestling with that.

"I'm sorry, Jo. I'd have --"

If he'd known? But he should have fucking known, he should have guessed, he shouldn't have let her waltz off to find her mom like that - no matter who she was with, where she was.

Guilt.

Dean hesitates, and cautiously lifts his other arm, not pressing but offering - a hug.

[tobeclosetohim]

She doesn't quite react to that, except to look at his arm.

"We handled it." It almost sounds like she's apologizing to him.

[hector-aframian.livejournal.com]

"You shouldn't have needed to."

He's definitely apologising to her. He starts to pull his arm back, and then looks at her face and doesn't - Goddamn it, girl could use a hug, a reminder that someone - a few someones - care about her. And knew Ellen, too. He's very gentle about it.

"I'm sorry, Jo."

[tobeclosetohim]

She doesn't move at all when he'd all around her.

Finding herself staring at his hair in her peripheral vision. Waiting.

[hector-aframian.livejournal.com]

He's not moving.

Not yet.

Not until it starts getting awkward and he has to cough awkwardly and release her gently.

"What're you gonna do now?"

[tobeclosetohim]

Jo's gaze moved to the wall, then back to Dean.

Trying to go conceptual led to blankness.



It took half a minute but then her shoulders rose and fell.

[hector-aframian.livejournal.com]

Dean nods.


"I'll be here."

[tobeclosetohim]

Jo blinked, gaze resting on his legs.

Everyone kept saying that.

Was it supposed to matter?







It's Dean




"Okay."

[hector-aframian.livejournal.com]

Dean keeps looking at her, helpless and not sure what to do, how to help her.

"What ... what do you need? You gotta tell me."