Better Than A Dream

Title: Better Than A Dream
Rating: PG-13
Author: Reportergirl13
Fandom: Supernatural
Pairing: Sam/Jo Dean
Word Count: 1,224
Prompt: You know you’re in love when you don’t want to fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams. Feigned_Living



Jo leaned against the doorframe peering into the small crème colored room, a warm smile on her face. She watched as her husband played on the carpeted floor with their 2-year-old daughter and she couldn’t help the content sigh that left her lips.

Jo still couldn’t believe it had been three years since the apocalypse. Hell she couldn’t believe they’d won not that it was without a cost. A lot of lives were sacrificed in the final battle including her mother’s, and had it not been for Dean she would have been among the fallen soldiers.

Sam had been with Castiel fending off an onslaught of demons when Jo was attacked by four at once. She couldn’t remember how many meat suites Dean speared through to get to her, but she still remembered the sound of his scream, his body knocking her to the ground as the gun went off. He took a bullet for her, and it’s something she’d never forget.

A strong hand on her back knocked her from her thoughts. She turned, startled, and grinned at the sight before her. Dean smirked as Jo threw herself into his arms with a girlish squeal earning the attention of Sam and Daniela from the other room.

Dean chuckled, giving her a tight hug before releasing her as his brother made his way into the hallway with his niece. Daniela waved her hands in his direction and he lifted the toddler from Sam’s arms. She giggled happily as he made funny faces at her.

“When’d you get back?”

Dean glanced at Jo and shrugged.

“Just now. Came straight here, hope that’s okay.”

Sam rolled his eyes as he patted Dean on the back.

“Of course it’s okay. You’re always welcome here. You know that.”

He nodded as they made their way into the kitchen. Jo grabbed two beers from the fridge, handed one to Sam and took Daniela from Dean before giving him the other one. He nodded his thanks and she smiled.

“I’m just gonna put Danni down for her nap. I’ll be right back.”

Sam watched as his brother’s eyes followed his wife’s movements until she was out of sight and he sighed. Sometimes he just didn’t understand Dean. He was convinced that Dean had loved Jo since about fifteen minutes after he met her and yet Jo ended up with him.

Sam knew that something had happened between them, he wasn’t sure what it was, but he knew. Dean and Jo had always been close and when he and Jo first got together that used to bother him. Things were different now, but still sometimes he wondered.

Sam titled his head to the side and cleared his throat. Dean’s head snapped around to face Sam’s and he smiled.

“So Sammy…how’s life treatin’ you?”

“Things are good, can’t complain. You? How’d the job go? We didn’t hear from you for a while.”

Dean took a swig of his beer and nodded.

“Yeah, I ah stopped by Bobby’s for a bit.”

Sam nodded as Dean looked away from him. He took a deep breath, glanced at the hallway to make sure Jo wasn’t coming, and leaned toward Dean as he spoke.

“Can I ask you something?”

“You just did.”

Dean grinned and Sam shook his head.

“Seriously.”

“Shoot.”

“Why?

A look of confusion passed over Dean’s face.

“Why what?”

“Why’d you end things with Jo?”

Dean’s brows furrowed before he looked away from Sam.

“Sammy…”

“Dean come on. I think we’re past the lies and shit. I know we don’t usually talk about this, but It’s been years and I just…I need to know.”

Dean sighed as he looked at Sam. He let out tired laugh and shrugged.

“First of all I didn’t end things with Jo, she ended them with me.”

He took another sip of beer and Sam frowned.

“But I thought…”

“You thought wrong. Sammy…Jo’s an amazing woman…she always has been, but she wanted things I couldn’t give her and when I was finally in a place to offer her those things, well she’d moved on.”

Sam swallowed hard as he met Dean’s eyes.

“I’m sorry Dean…”

Dean made a face and waved him off.

“Don’t be Sammy. Look around you man, you gave Jo the life I never could. I’m glad she has you.”

Sam smiled, reached over, and patted Dean’s arm.

“Thanks man.”

Dean was about to say something when Jo’s head peaked around the corner.

“Babe,”

Both Winchesters turned and spoke in unison.

“Yeah?”

Jo rolled her eyes.

“Danni’s asking for her daddy.”

Sam smiled, stood, walked over to Jo, dropped a kiss on the top of her head, and whispered ‘I love you’ before making his was down the hall towards his daughter’s room. Jo moved into the kitchen and sat in the seat Sam vacated. She took a sip of his leftover beer as she smirked at Dean.

“Hunt went good?”

Dean nodded.

“Yup.”

“You takin me on the next one?”

Dean hesitated.

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”

“You take Sammy…I don’t wanna be cooped up in the house every time you guys take off. I’m just as much a hunter as you.”

“I know…I didn’t mean it like that. Talk about it with Sam, see what he says.”

She frowned, but nodded. They sat in a comfortable silence for a few minutes before Dean spoke.
“Hey Jo,”

“Hmm.”

“Are you happy?”

She glanced up at him and finally took the time to look Dean over. He looked tired and when she looked into his eyes she saw the same look she’d always seen there and she breathed in deep. Years ago, before the devils gate, Lucifer, and the apocalypse Jo had loved Dean.

Technically she loved him even after the devils gate, and Lucifer. They had an amazing year and a half together, but in the end she’d let him go. Dean hadn’t been ready to give himself to her, she knew he loved her, but at the time she had wanted more.

When she started things with Sam, she never expected to fall in love with him, but she did. Dean would always have a place in her heart though. A soft smile broke out on her face.

“Yeah, I am.”

Dean pursed his lips and swallowed hard.

“I’m glad…you deserve to be happy…you know I’m kind of tired it’s been a long trip. Mind if I crash in your guest room?”

“That’s why it’s there.”

He gave her half a smile, stood and headed towards the room before calling over his shoulder.

“Night Jo.”

“Night Deano.”

She watched him leave the room and let out a long breath. Sometimes Jo wondered if she was kidding herself. If she had settled for Sam because Dean hadn’t been ready to give her what she wanted. But then she stopped and looked at her life and she knew that wasn’t the case. Jo knew she was in love with Sam.

It was like that saying her mother used to tell her when she was younger, you know you’re in love when you don’t want to fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams. And in this case as Jo glanced around her home, filled with love and family, she knew reality was definitely better than anything she could dream up.