Growing Up

Painted Nails

Jo sniffled leaning into the back of the couch. "Oh, come on, Jo." Dean told her, blinking furiously.

She scoffed, a tear rolling down her cheek. Sam continued to pace with Mary as she sobbed and he cried silently. Bobby tried to stifle his own crying as best he could. Jo watched Sam a little longer until she began to look like him. Soon enough, Jo had her head on the back of the couch, her face hidden by a mess of hair. Her body shook and she sank to the floor, trying so hard to keep in the sobs. Sam had turned to see her and looked at Dean. He threw his head in Jo's direction and the tears glinted off Dean's cheeks as lifted his eyebrows into the air. Sam made a face at him and repeated the motion. Dean finally stood up and went to the other side of the couch. Jo didn't notice him until he kneeled down beside her. Dean pulled her into a hug and she didn't fight back, she didn't snark, she just melted into his hold and held onto him like her life depended on it.

Jo cried for her dead father, and the heart breaking sound of Mary's sobs. Dean couldn't stand to the look on Sam's face and the sound of Mary, images of his own mother came flooding back to his mind. Bobby closed his eyes, trying to expel his wife's mangled body from his thoughts. He opened his eyes only to find his family crying before him, and Sam and Mary both longed for another set of hands.

Mary cried with Sam before she noticed Dean was no longer on the couch. "Uncle Dean! Un-Un-Un-Uncle Deeeann!" She screamed, leaning away from Sam to search the room frantically. Upon hearing his name he perked his head up and leaned away from the couch. He had been rubbing Jo's back and rocking with her. He slipped his arm under her legs and lifted her up.

"See? Uncle Dean is okay. He's right here." Sam whispered, bouncing her.

"And he's not goin' anywhere." Dean added, running his hand through Jo's hair. They were all covered in tears and snot, and Jo pulled her head away from Dean's shoulder and began to laugh.

"Look at us." She chuckled. "We're a mess." Dean began to laugh as well, and it wasn't long before Sam joined in.

Bobby shook his head as he watched them, smiling and mumbling, "Idjits." before standing to join them. "Alright, gang, I've got to get home." He informed them all, hugs and handshakes for the brothers, and hugs and kisses to the forehead for the girls, recieveing two kisses to the cheek.

"We need to finish those make-overs." Jo chuckled, "You can put me down now, Dean."

"Oh, yeah, right." Dean said, setting her down.

"Let's break out that nail polish, eh?" Jo asked Mary, whose arms where still wrapped around Sam's neck.

"Can I paint Dada's nails?" Mary asked, shifting her head on Sam's shoulder to look at Jo.

"And Uncle Dean's." Jo told her, taking her over to the couch, leaving both the brothers to look at each other with raised eyebrows. Jo pulled out another bag, this one full of nail polish. "Come on, you two." Jo motioned, and Dean sat down beside Jo.

"You are not putting that crap on me." Dean said sternly, looking at Jo.

"But Uncle Dean." Jo mused, taking a glance at Mary. Dean huffed and narrowed his eyes.

"Okay, Jo, I want my nails painted this pink, and this red, and this blue." Mary told her, handing the three bottles over. Jo nodded and painted Mary's nails with stripes and dots and when she finished, Mary stared at them in awe. "They're so pretty. Can I paint yours?" Jo nodded and held her hands out. Soon enough her fingers were a messy pink, and she appraised them like Mary was a professional.

"Wow. Dean, look how good these are." Jo held them toward him, smiling.

"Yeah, great job." Dean nodded, taking a swig of his beer.