Twenty-Eight – Last Day on Earth

The weight of the dread almost suffocated Jo in her bed. This would be her last sleep on Earth, her last sleep in the bunker. Her last moments with Sam and Dean Winchester. Her last moments with Jessica and Charlie, and yes even Meg.

She and the others could get taken away right now. What if I am back in Heaven already, and the angels have disguised it as the bunker? That would be some messed up shit.

But as Jo got out of her room and into the bunker kitchen, she detected nothing fishy or suspicious. Everything checked out. She wasn't aware of the time; she didn't acknowledge the clock that was on the nightstand near her bed.

Though she was in the kitchen, Jo didn't feel particularly hungry. But I have to eat something. She wasn't fond of forcing herself to eat, but she knew she had to.

Jo pulled some stale cereal from one of the cabinets and began to pick at it. As she sat down, Jessica came in with a sluggish tint in her gait. Neither exchanged greetings, Jessica went straight for the coffee pot, searching for a pack to put in. Charlie followed in not long after, looking as though she had been crying all night.

"You think they'll give us a chance to have one last meal first?" was Charlie's bitter joke first thing.

"It's only fair," said Jessica, who was getting frustrated with her search. "Don't tell me that we're out of coffee. It is the worst time to run out right now."

"What, does a monster come out if you don't get your first cup?" Jo asked.

"No, I just wanted to have one last real pot of coffee before going back upstairs." Jessica huffed.

"Do you think they'll just carry us off, or do you think it requires them to...to kill us again?" Charlie asked the two.

"Let's hope it's the first option," said Jo. "If they think that the second option is their only option, I'm sorry, but I'm gonna fight. All bets are off if they're going to attempt murder. I'm not dying again because some dickwads with wings say that we've broken Heaven Law."

"In a way, we are dying again, though," Jessica whispered. "We're being taken back to Heaven. I just hope they don't, like, steal our souls from our bodies so we have an out-of-body experience." She shuddered. "I don't think I could handle that."

"Let's not think up bad scenarios," said Charlie. "Let's just focus on what time we've got now together and spend it how we want to. If anybody's got love declarations that they want to get out before we leave, you better go do them." The redhead's eyes fell onto Jo.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" the disgruntled blonde asked.

"Don't you get defensive." Charlie sat at the table, across from Jo. "You and Dean have an unspoken thing. Neither of you have acted on it!"

"Why bother? I'm leaving soon, anyhow. It's not worth it."

"Spare me the mopey bullshit."

Jo's eyes widened at Charlie's sharp tone. "Whoa there, Charlie."

"I'm serious, Jo. If I had your situation, I would most definitely do my declaration of love if I had the opportunity! Dean won't be the one to say it, because it's not in his nature."

"It's not in mine either."

"This may be the last time you get to tell him. Don't waste it. The same goes for you, Jess. If you still love Sam, you better tell him."

Jessica sighed, having given up on her coffee packet search. "He's losing me again, Charlie. It would only hurt him if I told him. And...I don't have those feelings for him. Yeah, he'll still hold a place in my heart, but he's not the Sam I fell in love with back at Stanford. If we had more time, I could try and see if there was something there. But...everything's happened so quickly, we haven't had time to really spend time together and see if anything would come up again."

Jo continued to eat her stale cereal in silence.

The three women made their way out of the kitchen, and into the library of the bunker. It seemed to be the hotspot for everyone. Sam, Dean, Jody, Alex, Claire, and Cas were all present.

"They're here," Cas said heavily. "They're waiting for you."

"Where's Meg?" asked Charlie.

"She skipped out on us," Jo said bluntly. "Figures. She had no real allegiance to us, anyhow, so I'm not surprised."

Charlie pouted. "I was hoping to see if I could get a hug out of her."

"You'd sooner get a punch or a slap in the face than a hug from her."

"I'm really offended by that, Jo," came Meg's voice from the top of the steps. "No faith in me." She waggled her fingers in greeting to the group.

"You stayed," Jessica said, mildly surprised.

"I had a lot of time to think about it. Cas is right, your entourage awaits, and if I were you, I'd haul ass, because they look like they're on a tight schedule."

Begrudgingly, the group filed out of the bunker into the crisp Kansas morning. Jo felt naked, being unarmed. She felt like she had to have a weapon on her. After all, these angels were dangerous.

There were three angels in total, one for each of the girls who were Heaven bound. Jo's hairs stood on end on her arms.

"See? No fuss, no muss," Meg drawled.

The angel with ringlets for hair glared at her. "Why are you here?"

"She's a friend," Charlie said strongly. "Hello, Brielle."

"Miss Bradbury," Brielle regarded the redhead. "It's time for you, Miss Harvelle, and Miss Moore to come with us."

"Allow us a few minutes to say our final goodbyes," Jessica said. "It's all we ask, just one last favor."

Brielle frowned. "Very well, but if you try anything—"

"I can assure you, we won't," Jo told Brielle curtly.

Everyone seemed to make their rounds, some with hugs, some with parting words, some with handshakes. Meg was taken aback when Charlie gave her a hug, and she looked positively mortified in the beginning. Jessica held onto Sam a little longer than she probably should have, but Sam welcomed it. Charlie was the hugger, giving Jody, Alex, and Claire, who were practically strangers to her, hugs as well.

"Raise hell up there," Meg told Jo when it came for the two to exchange goodbyes.

Jo cracked a smile. "No promises." She offered her hand to Meg, and she was amazed that the demon accepted the exchange. "Guess this means we can't continue our feud."

"I suppose not. Too bad they won't let you stay so we can keep the cat and mouse game going. Oh well, there are others I can start that up with."

"But it won't be the same."

"I'll miss picking on you, G.I. Jane."

"I might just miss those comments." Jo then proceeded to Dean. This is going to be the hardest one of them all. "So..."

Dean rocked back on his heels. "You take care up there."

"Hey, I know this sucks," Jo told him gently. "But this won't be our last meeting, I know it. When you do finally bite the bullet, no more resurrections. I'd be more than happy to have a hunting partner." She smiled somberly. "Just...don't make it too soon, okay?"

"You know I can't make that a promise."

"Well, I guess you'll have to." Jo hugged Dean without warning.

If it weren't for the fact angels were stronger than her, she would fight them tooth and nail to stay on Earth, with Dean. She never realized how much she'd missed him, being in Heaven for so long kind of took that away from her.

Now that the void was coming back, it hurt her inside. She wanted to cure it, by staying with him. She knew, though, that she would never get that chance.

"I'm gonna miss you," Dean whispered into her ear.

"I'm gonna miss you, too. Keep on saving the world, Dean."

Jo was shaky when she and Dean parted. She looked over her shoulder at Brielle and the two other angels. With a loud, exhaled breath, she, along with Charlie and Jessica, went to the trio of angels. Brielle nodded, and each angel grabbed one girl.

In the blink of an eye, the six disappeared from the bunker, from the group, and from Kansas, into an empty playground. Jo already missed everyone and began to wonder if surrendering so easily was the biggest mistake of her life.

"This can't be Heaven," said Jessica, looking around.

"It's not," Brielle agreed. "The door is here." On cue, bright light emanated from the sandbox before them. "We'll return you to your Heavens."

"C-can you allow us to visit each other?" Charlie questioned.

"Considering your transgressions, you might not be allowed that privilege."

"What if we're on good behavior?"

"We'll see, Miss Bradbury."

Jo swallowed as the six walked towards the sandbox. Here we go again. We're willingly walking back into Heaven. Her mind was rapid with all the unspoken things she should have said to Dean. The one thing she should have done instead of hug him. Why didn't I do all of those things? Why did I limit it to so few words and a hug?

The bright light welcomed the group with its soft glow. Jo saw Charlie almost balk. Jessica looked at the entrance warily. They're scared. They need someone to show them it's okay. That someone...is me.

Squaring her shoulders, Jo stepped through the door, knowing Jessica and Charlie wouldn't be far behind.