Just A Place to Lay My Head {Jo}

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The sound of a bike rumbling through the night cut through the air as a TRIUMPH barreled into the drive of an older, ranch style house. located a couple miles outside of town, it was a fairly private location away from prying eyes and bigger ears. Just the way Curse liked it.

As the engine shut off, yips and barks of greeting were met with a smile from the male rider as he waited for his passenger to climb off. Two gigantic black, tan and white dogs appeared from the shadows, tails wagging until they spied the other person with their master. Then, ears went back and they slinked forward more warily than before.

"Hey, knock it off, Tank.. Bella.." Curse told them, already swinging off himself in order to pat each one on the head and then ruffle their ears. "Play nice with the lady. She'll think I haven't taught you any manners."

Glancing over his shoulder, he gave the "lady" in question a smirk before heading towards the house. As he did so, he hit a couple buttons on the tab of his keys and a sharp alarm retort could be heard from the house. Every cautious, the former Navy Seal never left home without arming his "protection shields" as he'd taken to calling them.

"Come on in, darlin.. They won't bite. Long as they know your with me.. You'll be fine." he called back, making his way to the door and unlocking it before motioning her inside. "Beauty before age..." he drawled out, waiting for her to step inside his "bachelor pad".

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The ride was nice, even though it felt a little strange. But, then again this was a very strange night anyway so that was par for the course. Being so close to him felt familiar, comforting even while she knew it was a delicate situation. She needed to be careful. They were coming at this from two completely different angles.

She had to keep reminding herself that from his point of view she had been dead for three years. Even though for her it seemed she might have just gone on a little vacation and expected to be welcomed back with open arms. That's not how it worked and her head knew it. But, it was convincing her heart to keep it's expectations realistic that was the problem.

Arriving at the house she slid off the bike. It seemed like a nice place. Quiet area. In fact it actually looked kind of homey. Which was a bit of a surprise. Though, she wasn't sure exactly what she was expecting.

Jo stood still when the dogs came over. Smiling a bit as she watched Curse interact with them. While he pressed a button that apparently disarmed some kind of security system, Jo stuck her hand out and let the dogs sniff at it. Allowing them to take in her scent and get to know her.

She followed along up to the door then walked past him and went inside when he invited her to go in before him. Which of course, was his gentlemanly way. Taking a few moments she looked around the place while she walked further inside. Making a little circuit of the main room. Then she turned and looked at him with a smile.

"It's really nice. I'm suitably impressed. I'll be even more impressed if you have a drink for a lady. My brain needs to untwist a bit if I'm going to do anymore talking."

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"Yeah, its all right I suppose.. Alexis found it for me when I mentioned that sleeping on the cot in the basement of the bar was putting a kink in my back." the tawny haired hunter drawled out in his south Texas twang.

Stepping into the house behind the blond, he glanced around as if seeing it for the first time. Having always preferred the rustic, western feel, his furniture all fit the image with soft leather cowhide and wooden fixtures. Some of the lamps even sported animal bone and deer antlers. It would have been a PETA members worst nightmare but for Curse? It fit his laid back, countrified personality.

Tossing his keys down on the table and putting his leather coat over the back of one chair, the hunter continued on around into the living room. Heading for the bar in the corner, he glanced over his shoulder as he waved to the couch. "You know me, Darlin.. I always aim to please... What'll it be? I've got Jack, Jim, Jose and even some Turkey back here if you want it. Some of that sissy shit too that Jessie likes.. Honey Jack."

Pulling out two glasses, he paused as he recalled she'd been gone a few years and may not even know what Honey Jack was. "Uh... its Jack.. made with Honey..." he finished dumbly even as he looked over at her and shrugged. "Name your poison, darlin and its yours."

As he waited for her to answer, Curse leaned on the bar and observed her as nonchalantly as he could. Having her here, now, in his house still seemed so strange but it was settling. The almost normal pattern they'd fallen into was, in a sense, like Deja Vue.

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Watching him as he headed to the bar Jo took her coat off and draped it on the same chair Curse had deposited his. Then she moved to sit on the couch when he offered her a seat.

"I'll just stick with the regular Jack Daniels tonight. Tried and true. Probably be good if you bring the whole bottle. Thanks."

While he worked on pouring the drinks she tried to gather her thoughts. Eyes occasionally looking up to glance around and take in the surroundings again. He'd said Lexi had found the house for him and Jessie liked something called Honey Jack. Hearing their names brought up strange sensations. At first there was an urge to respond with something like, "I should give her a call."

It took a moment before the reality set in that she didn't even have their numbers anymore. Let alone they'd be shocked out of their minds if they heard her voice on the phone without any warning. Then that brought up the whole feeling of relief that they were still alive even. In their business, after three years, she was sure there were people she knew that weren't so lucky. That gave her pause and made her afraid to ask after people. Maybe they would need a little more time for some of that.

Gratefully she took the glass of whiskey when he handed it to her. Taking a long drink as soon as it hit her hand. Her fingers twisted the glass in her hands as she sat quietly for a moment. Feeling oddly comfortable but confused at the same time. It was one of the reason she had come to see him as well. Among other reasons. He'd always had a somewhat soothing affect on her, always made her feel safe and protected. That's saying a lot for a girl who had an independent streak a mile wide. She never had to be someone she was not with him either. All those things she desperately needed from him right now. Even though his own life had just been kicked over, he still offered that to her. And though it was maybe irrational, it felt like coming home.

Downing the rest of the glass Jo took a deep breath before speaking again. Her voice a little bit quieter now. A little unsure. The initial shock over with she wasn't sure exactly how to proceed.

"You know... I'm a little disoriented. Not sure how to handle things. Every time you mention someone's name like Lexi or Jess... I just have this feeling like I want to just walk up and say hi to them. Then I remember I just can't do that."

Picking up the bottle he had brought with him she poured some more whiskey and took another drink.

"I mean... sometimes I forget that my mother is actually dead. It's so... strange. It seems like last week that I was sitting in the hardware store. I knew I wasn't going to make it out of there. I was dying. My mom was there and then suddenly I was somewhere else. Talking to Ash, then the angel shows up and here I am."

Jo chewed on her lip a little bit and tried to not let her emotions overcome her. It wasn't an easy task.

"I wouldn't have known that so much time had passed if Cas hadn't told me. That's why I spent a week getting used to the idea in the hotel. I have no idea if any of my friends have died. If they've gotten married, had babies... bought houses and settled down."

She ran a hand through her hair to try and settle herself. The battle her emotions were waging inside her was getting more intense. Tears welled up in her eyes and she hastily wiped at them. Willing them back. Now was not the time for it.

"I'm sorry... I have no idea... I mean I can't even imagine how you must be feeling right now. Everything is mixed up for me. Right now I feel like I've just come barging into your life like a long lost puppy but at the same time it feels like I just left you, sleeping peacefully only a few days ago. I don't know what to say. I want to apologize, I'm so sorry for what happened. Yet, I want to thank you for being here. For handling this so well."

The feeling of duality was difficult to deal with. What she was feeling was one thing and what her mind knew was real were two different things and it was a constant struggle for her brain to keep reminding her of the difference. She needed to get back into her life is what she needed. Things would get easier as time went on. At least she hoped so. In the meantime, she needed another drink.

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As Curse handed Jo her drink, he couldn't help but think that some things never changed. It seemed as if history were bound to repeat itself in some ways, as the first night they'd met, they'd met in a bar, drinking Jack. They'd also been talking about Lexi.

"Well, I guess I can understand that. I guess time passes in heaven different than it does down here. For what its worth though, Lexi would probably take it in stride. Damn woman scares the hell out of me at time with all her new powers. Hell, I half expect her to show up on the doorstep at any moment to say hello with all her angel talking these days."

Lifting his own glass to his lips, he took a long drink before rolling his skull on his shoulders. The beers from before had long since worn off and sobriety wasn't something that he looked forward to much these days. Between the pain in his knee and the memories of the past, it was simply easier to stay under a low buzz. Tonight though, it seemed best to keep his wits together as they talked.

"Well, Lexi gave birth to a son... They named him Sebastian. Tristian went missing about a year and a half ago so she's been raising him by herself. Colt and Jessie are still same old, same old along with the Crowe family. Ryder had a bit of a ... well, I don't know how else to explain it but as hell on earth a bit back too... Hes got a kid now but from what I hear.. Samara is pretty well raising it. Karlie and Damon are still getting it on as much as possible and they have a daughter.... Other than that.... Dean and Sam are around, saw Sam with Jessie at the bar the other night but since we aren't exactly on friendly terms after your... well... death...."

Letting his voice trail off as he thought, the former soldier shrugged a bit before continuing.

"As for how I feel? Fuck if I know right now. What does one say when his wife shows up from the grave. I'm still not sure if your not some kind of zombie or something I and shouldn't be reaching for my shotgun." he joked, only half kidding as he finally looked at her again. "I'm half tempted to call Lexi and see if her voodoo friend is in the area but your a hell of a lot better looking than any of those things I've seen her dig up."

 

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Jo sat and listened as Curse spoke about Lexi a little more. She blinked a few times and down some more of her drink. Lexi is a mother now? Tristan was missing and she talks to angels. Well, holy hell. This is exactly what she had meant. It all seems so strange. And more babies with Ryder Crowe, Karlie and Damon. So much had happened and she had missed it all.

When he brought up Sam and Dean and the fact that he wasn't on friendly terms with them, she frowned. Pouring herself some more to drink she seriously needed another one. She drank it in one gulp and poured some more before she let out a long sigh.

"It wasn't their fault," she quietly mumbled. Not even sure he would hear it. She couldn't blame him for being upset though. Problem was, it wasn't Sam and Dean's fault. It was her own. She was the one that had run off. This all reminded her so much of her mother and father and John Winchester though. Talk about history repeating itself.

Her hands twisted the glass around in a little circle on the table as she leaned forward a bit. Elbows on her knees, staring at the swirling liquid as her brain processed more information. A smile quirked up the edges of her lips as Curse mentioned zombies and voodoo.

"Yeah, I've got no hankering for human flesh or fresh brains. No worries there."

She gave a little shudder and took another sip. Feeling the buzz of the alcohol getting stronger. Would be the smart thing to slow down a bit.

"Alright. Change of subject here. Enough about me and my freaky return. 'Cause, you know... that's never gonna be not weird. What about you? Want to elaborate a bit?"

Twisting her head she looked at him sideways a bit. People were having babies and lives were going haywire all over the place. Which, in the big reality of things probably wasn't anything unusual. What had Curse Jordan been doing for the last three years? She wanted to know, needed to know but at the same time she was a little afraid. She'd been gone longer than she had even known him, maybe in the grand scheme of things she was barely a blip on his map.

"I mean... You have a bar now. Something going on down in the basement. A house. You said something about a hospital stay and that limp you're sporting. Care to share?"

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Huh. Well, wasn't that the million dollar question. Curse wasn't even sure he knew the answer himself. What had happened with Curse Jordan? Ok, so he knew the obvious but after three years? How did  you condense something like that? Especially to the woman who had once held your heart and then torn it out by getting herself killed? Not exactly happy sort of memories and some of them were best left in the past. He supposed he owed her as much of the truth as possible though.

"Me? Oh, the usual, you might say. After you.... er... died... I moved you and your mom's things into storage. They are still there in fact.." he said absently, frowning. "Your welcome to the key. Never could quiet let them all go. Kept up the rent on the place since I didn't figure anyone else needed to be snooping through things."

Lifting the whiskey bottle straight to his lips again, Curse used the moment to gather his thoughts. The Jack was a sweet, familiar burn down the back of his throat and he closed his eyes, savoring the feel. It steadied him even as it took some of the edge off his emotions.

"As far as the limp? Well, I guess all good gunmen have to hang up their holsters at some point right? Took to hunting demons after we buried that empty coffin. Travel around for awhile, got lost in the bottle for a bit and went into a fight I wasn't exactly ready for. Demon broad sided me and did some irreparable damage to my left leg. Took most of the last year just getting to this point but always gonna have a limp now so.... Decided putting some roots down might be in my best interest. Lexi invited me out here and it seemed a good enough place so bought a little bar and... here I am. Thought about Morocco or Tahiti but.. just wasn't quiet home for all the sun and surf."

Grinning a bit, he shrugged.

"And they have no appreciation for my fashion sense." he continued, motioning to the wild Hawaiian shirt he wore along with his jeans and boots.