Title: What Was and What May Possibly Be?

A Dean/Jo Supernatural Story

This is an alternate universe fan fiction 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.

This is it faithful readers...the final chapter. Thanks for all the great reviews and for sticking it out during my writers block. Some of you have said that you don't want it to end but you know that saying "all good things..."

Chapter 12: The Return to My So Called Life.

You know that feeling you get, when you think might die? Well it's true what they say, your life really does flash before your eyes. After I "fall" off the edge of the cliff, I feel like I'm floating. That feeling persists through my downward plunge during which I see a myriad of flashes from the past 22 years of my life. I see my mom and dad laughing together. I see my old beagle Charlie chewing holes in our socks. I see Jimmy Foster, the first boy who dared to kiss me on the school playground before I sent him home crying with a bloody nose. I see the fearful expression on my college boyfriend's face when he discovered he was dating a girl with a knife collection. I see Ash passed out face first on the pool table and then "playing" with his supped-up computer. I see the faces of the various hunters that have come through the Roadhouse doors. I see the Winchesters drinking bottled beer and leaning against a cement truck. I even see L'il Sammy playing Monopoly with Dean and Bobby in my fake living room. Of course my last vision is of Dean sans clothes staring down at me with a twinkle in his eye.

On that happy note, I'm jolted awake. I move to sit upright gasping for breath. The sudden movement makes me feel nauseous so I fall forward placing my head between my knees. I feel a presence beside me. Warm palms rest on my shoulders, rubbing circles in a calming motion. A familiar voice whispers soothing words in my ear, the expired breath tickling my lobe. The voice is immediately recognizable as the one from my head calling me back to reality.

I open my eyes to see beautiful hazel green ones staring back at me...Dean. My first thought is "shit it didn't work...I'm still in my fake world". But how can that be? Then I notice the two days growth on his face and the uncertainty in his eyes. Not my husband; not really even my friend. I guess my "fall and snap out of it" theory worked after all.

"It's okay Jo, you're gonna be alright," Dean assures me as he gently presses my shoulders back into the mattress.

"Where am I?"

"You're in the hospital," he replies.

"How long?" my questions continue.

"A day...give or take a few hours. You've been comatose ever since we found you. Before you ask why I'm here, your mother called us. She was worried about you and thought we could help. We tracked you down through your cell phone and found you in the warehouse chained up."

"What happened to the Djinn?" I croak, my voice hoarse from lack of use.

"Dead, I know you probably wanted to do it yourself but frankly it came down to either him or me in that warehouse so Sammy put the bastard down."

"What about the girl?" I whisper.

"I'm sorry Jo but we couldn't save her. The Djinn...he had her a lot longer than you and she lost too much blood. I'm sure her family will be relieved to know what happened to her though."

"What, that she was sucked dry by a demon! That's bullshit and you know it Dean," I reply.

"Yeah well in case you haven't already noticed, I'm pretty much full of shit."

"Believe me I've noticed." He smiles at that. It mesmerizes me and I can't look away from his face. He has frown lines surrounding the corners of his mouth and huge black circles under his eyes. Frankly, it looks like he hasn't has a decent night's sleep in really long time but he's still the most beautiful man I've ever laid eyes on. I continue to stare and it's obviously making him uncomfortable because he clears his throat and moves to stand.

"I should go find your mother and tell her you're awake. She just went for coffee with Sam and..."

"No! Please...not yet. Just give me a few minutes before the cavalry arrives."

"The cavalry huh? What exactly do you call me...the whorehouse entertainment?"

"You wish," I tell him and he laughs. It's the same laugh I remember from my imaginary life. I momentarily close my eyes with a twinge of regret. We fall back into uncomfortable silence before Dean finally restarts the conversation.

"It's hard to come back isn't it?"

I give him a perplexed look as he continues talking.

"I know how you're feeling Jo. I was captured by a Djinn too. I had my very own alternate reality experience, all the while having my blood drained in a warehouse not unlike the one we found you in."

"Really?" I'm surprised by this admission. I remember Mom telling me that Sam and Dean had some experience with the demon but I didn't actually think about how it might have played out.

"Yup."

"What was it like...your other world?" I ask him not entirely certain he'll even tell me.

"Well let's see...my mom was alive and Sammy was studying to be lawyer and getting married to the woman of his dreams. That was pretty great. My dad was still dead though but at least it was from a stroke and not at the bad end of a demon deal. Ironically enough, Sam and I had nothing in common. We barely got along which was totally weird. Oh and all the people we saved, including the ones my Dad did, were all dead. But even knowing all that, I still wanted to stay. It wasn't perfect but it was sooo much better than my real life. It wasn't right though and I knew it."

"Did you have a girlfriend?" I ask before I can stop myself.

He pauses to consider his response before continuing.

"Her name was Carmen. My unconscious brain cooked her up from a beer ad I saw in some magazine...a beautiful girl and my favourite beer all in one dream, what's not to like about that? What about you Jo? Did you have a hot man in your alternate reality?"

"Actually, I was married...to another hunter," I answer vaguely.

"Really, anyone I know?" Dean asks frown firmly planted on his face.

"No!" I answer immediately.

It wasn't entirely untrue. The "Dean" in my dreams was completely foreign to the both of us; a family man, willing to give up hunting for a normal life. The real Dean Winchester would never want that.

"My life wasn't really that much different than it is now. I still drove the same truck, wore the same clothes and carried the same weapons. My mom was married though. At first I thought it was to Bobby but it ended up being this complete ass and a civilian no less. Ash was dead and that really sucked. There was a fire at the Road house and my mom didn't handle it well so she rebuilt the bar into a restaurant for norms ...no guns allowed on the premises. Man, I can't wait to tell her that part. I was still a hunter though, just a happily married one." I pause like Dean did, considering what else to disclose.

"I even had a kid."

"Wow...a kid? That would have been freaky."

"It was, so was being married. In case you haven't noticed, I'm not exactly the white picket fence kinda girl."

"I bet you made a great mom though. I've always thought I'd make a terrible father," Dean admits. "I mean what would I teach a kid? The same things my father taught me...how to shoot straight and wield an axe. Not exactly the ideal teachings of a great dad," he says.

"You loved your father Dean," I remind him.

"Yeah I did. But there were also times I hated him. I wouldn't want my kid to feel that way about me and chances are he would." He pauses, lost in thought for awhile before asking me, "Why didn't you call us, Sam and me? We could've helped you Jo."

"We didn't exactly part on the best of terms Dean," I remind him.

"I know. I'm sorry about that. I should have called." But I'm not convinced he means it.

"No biggie I survived. But I'm not a little girl Dean. Whether you like it or not I AM a hunter and most of the time I can take care of myself."

"That doesn't mean you won't need help once in awhile. Sam and I, at least we have each other."

"How about this...I'll agree to ask you for help if you agree to accept it from me when offered," I suggest.

"Deal."

"Just like that," I reply dumbfounded by how easy that was.

"Just like that," he reiterates.

"Well you're certainly easy today."

"Oh honey, I'm easy every day," he teases.

I suppose I walked right into that one and "just like that" our pseudo friendship is reinstated. I also realize that we've been talking for about 10 minutes now and I know it won't be long before my mother returns, Sam in tow. Before they do however, there's one more conversation Dean and I need to have.

"Dean, do you think Djinn's know the future?" I ask thinking about what happened to Sam and Ash in my alternate world.

"I've never read anything that says they do, so no, I don't. Besides in my experience demons mostly lie. Why do you want to know?" Dean questions.

"Maybe it's nothing really. It's just in my other world...Sam was dead too. I'm sorry but you...I mean my mom...she told me he was killed by the Yellowed Eyed Demon and with Ash dying in a fire, I guess I just wonder if the Djinn knew something I didn't. Why would I have lost two people in my life, if he wanted me to stay in the world he created?"

"That's just it Jo. I don't think he created that world as much as you did. Here's my theory. I think the Djinn takes our hopes and dreams, our regrets and worries and he twists them into a reality that's not perfect but it's still better than what we actually have going for us. He's betting on the fact that for most people, it's enough to make them stay. But most hunters, like us for instance, are strong enough to resist what we know isn't real. Besides, as much as we'd like to, no one can control the future Jo," he states.

I stare at him in disbelief.

"What?" he asks wondering what he's said to have me react in this way.

"You just called me a hunter," I say.

"Well, as much as I'd prefer you weren't one sometimes, you are a hunter...a damn good one too."

"Thank-you Dean. That means...well it means a lot to hear you say it. Just promise me you'll be careful...you and Sam. I don't want anything to happen to either one of you."

"I will if you will," he counters.

"Deal. Maybe I'll even make a point of crossing paths with you guys once in awhile."

"Could use the extra hands sometimes...something big is brewing and from the way Bobby keeps going on about it, it's not good." His expression is sombre as he moves to stand. My hand gripping his arm stops the movement as I'm suddenly compelled to tell him one last thing.

"You're wrong you know." He's confused but waits for me to continue. "If you want to, someday, I think you'll make a great father Dean."

He smiles at me right before cupping my face and drawing my forehead toward his lips. He places a gentle kiss there then rests his own forehead against mine. My eyes remain closed and I hear him whisper "thank-you Jo." We draw back simultaneously staring into one other's eyes. Time is frozen for a moment before we both find ourselves slowly moving forward.

Just before our lips meet, the noise of approaching voices has us breaking apart. Suddenly the door to the room opens and in walks my mother followed by Sam. Both of them are astonished by what they see...me being awake that is.

"Jo! My god you're awake!" my mom exclaims as if reading my thoughts. She drops her coffee and rushes toward me engulfing me in her warm and comforting embrace.

"I'm okay mom, really. I'm okay." She's rocking me back and forth with tears streaming down her face. "Thanks for calling Sam and Dean," I say. "I hate to admit it when you're right but..."

"Damn straight I was right and if you think for one minute I'm letting you go after another one of those demons by yourself, you've got another thing coming Joanna-Beth. I'll chain you to the bed if I have to."

The fact that Dean's eyebrows raise at her last comment doesn't escape my attention.

"Relax mom. I promised Dean I would ask for help next time if I need it." I turn away from her glancing at the doorway to greet her companion. "Hi Sam," I say with a warm smile, my eyes conveying that all is forgiven from our last encounter.

"Hey Jo, I'm glad you're alright," he tells me.

"Thanks."

"Ok...well that's enough hearts and flowers for this Winchester brother," Dean announces. "Take care of your daughter Ellen...not that she needs it. And Jo...I'll hold you to your promise," he warns.

"Me too," I retort.

He smirks and Sam waves goodbye before they go to exit the room. Right before Dean leaves, however, he stops in the doorway, turning back to look back at me.

"I'll call you," he promises and then he's gone, heavy door closing behind him.

My only thought at that moment is that "I'm looking forward to it".

The End.

Wow...and there ends my first multi-chapter Supernatural fic. My only other, is a short little song ficlet that's also listed under my pen name. I left room for a sequel or more...I'm thinking maybe a series of ficlets that lead up to how Dean and Jo might together for real but we'll see where the muse take me!

Let me know in your reviews if you want more or if the ending more than satisfies. Thanks for reading.