Not Going Home - HL/SPN - (2/2)
Title: Not Going Home(2/2)
Author: strangevisitor7
Beta: Clarksmuse & idontlikegravy
Rated: PG
Prompt: #32 Sunset for crossovers100 my table is here
Fandom: Highlander & Supernatural. Part of the Immortal!Dean Universe..
Characters: Richie Ryan, Bobby Singer, Jo Harvelle, Ellen Harvelle. Richie/Jo
Disclaimer: The characters you know and love all belong to their respective creators.
Summary: When Bobby can’t track down the Winchesters, Richie agrees to help him out on a hunt. Richie doesn’t count on having to deal with Ellen’s wayward daughter Jo.
A/N: In the Immortal!Dean Universe this story takes place when Duncan and the Winchesters are in New York during The Space She Invades.
Not Going Home: Part 1
Not Going Home: Part 2
Bobby explained the details of his plan as they drove to the abandoned barn that was serving as the vampires’ nest.
“I didn’t bother with any dead man’s blood,” he said. “We aim to kill 'em, not question 'em. Hopefully they’ll all be sleeping, or at least groggy from a long night.”
Richie studied the layout of the farm that Bobby had been able to find during his preliminary research.
“Seems pretty straightforward,” Richie said. “How many have you confirmed inside?”
“At least six, but there could be more. I figure you go in sword swinging, then Jo and I follow with the mop up.”
Jo snorted in the back set. Up until that point, she’d been silent and Richie hadn’t tried to talk to her again for fear of sparking round three.
“You got a problem with my plan, Jo?” Bobby asked as he flicked his eyes to the rear view mirror.
“I didn’t know you were into human sacrifice,” Jo snickered.
“I can handle myself,” Richie snapped.
The previous evening, Richie had been adamant that they not tell Jo about his Immortality because he wanted to use the story as leverage to get Jo to visit Ellen. It didn’t bother Bobby to keep Jo in the dark, but he’d be damned if he was going to have his authority challenged.
“Just do as I say,” Bobby commanded, “or you can sit in the car.”
“Aye, aye Captain,” she said with a mock salute.
***************************
Jo lapsed into silence in the back seat. She didn’t know what to make of Richie. He’d apologized about the incidents this morning and seemed sincere about it. Yet she’d turned all of her anger on him; not just about the bathroom mishap but all of the baggage from her mother and hunting and not being taken seriously. She was irked about the attempt at blackmail, but there was a part of her that wondered how this kid had become so invested in her mother.
Richie was young. She’d bet he was barely twenty and sure, he was built. She paused and shook her head - no, not thinking of Richie’s muscles in that tight shirt.
Still, he couldn’t have much hunting experience, because she’d never heard his name mentioned at the Roadhouse. The Winchesters were well known in the community, even if they’d stopped coming by for years.
There was something they weren’t telling her. Well, she knew there were things about Dean that they weren’t telling her. But specifically there was something about Richie that Bobby trusted and she couldn’t see it.
She needed to know, to understand what made this kid so special to both Bobby and her mother. Jo had promised herself last night that she would cooperate, and instead she’d argued with Richie and then slapped him. Though she wouldn’t apologize for that; he deserved it. But that kind of hostility wasn’t going to win her any points and Richie had gone silent on her again. He’d been the adult, twice; now it was time for her to be woman enough to admit she’d overreacted.
Before she could make up her mind about what to say, Bobby had pulled the car to a stop. She could see the barn beyond the copse of trees that camouflaged their approach.
The men exited the car without a word to her, and she sensed it was going to be a long morning. Sighing, she unpacked her machete and got out of the car.
Richie had pulled out an impressive long sword and was doing some warm ups. As she watched the fluidity of his movements, she was struck by the intense precision of each pose. He had the confidence and stance of a man who had been handling a blade for years.
She realized she was staring when his gaze locked on hers and he ceased his ritual. Instead of looking away, as every muscle in her body screamed she should do, Jo decided this was the time to make nice.
“Impressive,” she said without a hint of anger or sarcasm. “You’re very skilled.” She sent him a small smile, hoping he would recognize the peace offering for what it was.
His face lit up with that same smile that had made butterflies in her stomach the night before.
“Thanks, Jo. It’s nice to know all that sword practice will come in handy on this hunt.”
And just like that, they were on even ground again.
“Bobby really trusts you to take point. Have you taken out a nest before?”
She noticed his smile turn wry and he shook his head. “No, but Bobby knows I’m very good at beheading things.”
“It’s a good skill for a hunter,” she agreed. “Not many things can live once they’ve lost their head.”
“So true,” Richie laughed. “I’m very grateful you didn’t have your machete this morning.”
Jo should have been angry that he brought that up, but he was smiling and she saw that he was again apologizing in his own way.
“No worries. I prefer to shoot people who piss me off, and you were just lucky my gun was in the car,” she said with a grin. She found herself warming to this silly conversation.
“I’ll have to remember to check for weaponry next time I find myself alone with you,” he said.
Jo felt herself blush at the suggestive tone and look that he threw her way. She cleared her throat. “Well, that’s assuming you can find them all. A girl has to protect herself, you know.”
He took a step toward her and she could feel his eyes on her. “I have no doubt a girl like you knows how to protect herself.”
Jo met his gaze. Richie couldn’t have known that that was one of the nicest things he could have ever said to her. He was saying that he trusted her to have his back.
“I think I liked it better when you two weren’t talking,” Bobby snarked. “If you’re done yakking, let’s get to work.” He slammed the trunk and headed toward the tree line to get a better look at their objective
As the two followed the hunter, Richie made a silly face at Bobby’s back that got Jo chuckling.
***********************************
Richie knelt next to Bobby as he surveyed the barn. Jo positioned herself near him and he was acutely aware that her close proximity was deliberate.
Something had changed with Jo. Richie wanted to trust that his positive overtures were finally getting through. Still, he wasn’t stupid enough to believe that there wasn’t some ulterior motive behind those brown eyes; her turn around had been too quick and very timely.
“Are you listening to me, kid?” Bobby snapped, jerking Richie’s attention back to the task at hand.
“Sorry, Bobby,” he said. “You were saying?”
“I asked if you were ready,” Bobby said. “I need to know you’re not distracted.” His eyes shifted between Jo and Richie.
“I’m all business on a hunt,” Jo replied, her tone bordering on indignant, but Richie could tell she was working hard to rein it in.
The three made their way closer to the windowless barn. No sounds emerged from the interior and the hunters felt confident that they could catch the nest napping.
Carefully, Bobby tested the front entrance and determined that it was blocked by an interior crossbar. Richie was able to slot his sword between the wooden doors. As the offending slat lifted free, it rotated with a groan of wood scraping against wood. The three held their collective breath, waiting to see if the noise had alerted anyone on the other side.
When nothing happened, Bobby nodded and Richie opened the door just enough to allow them to slip through. Sword at the ready, he quickly took in the scene before him.
There were six sleeping figures positioned on cots and hammocks around the barn. Silently, Richie approached the first cot and with a swift motion severed the creature’s head.
He was poised with sword raised at the second cot when a figure emerged from a small enclosure in the back. Richie finished his swing killing the second vampire as the new arrival raised the alarm.
“Hunters!” it shrieked and launched itself at Richie.
Richie was prepared, and as the creature charged, he was able to slice it across the chest while side stepping its assault. The vamp fell to its knees and Richie stepped forward, lobbing its head off from behind.
He looked up to see Bobby finishing off number four while Jo was being pursued by the one of the females he’d seen.
Richie looked around for his next opponent when he was grabbed from behind; a strong arm was choking the life out of him. Richie used his leverage to flip the vamp over his shoulder slamming the creature on its back on the ground. The Immortal stomped on the vamp’s chest pinning him down while he decapitated it.
Jo had finished off number six and had moved to help Bobby with the last one.
The three stood panting as they surveyed the carnage around them.
“Seven, Bobby?” Richie teased.
“So I miscounted.” The hunter shrugged.
Richie laughed as he turned his attention to Jo. She was smiling and glowing with pride. It took his breath away. She sent that beautiful smile toward him and he felt himself melting under her gaze.
Bobby cleared his throat pulling their attention to him. “We’ll need to burn the bodies.” The older hunter tossed Jo his keys. “Grab the supplies from the trunk while Richie and I pile up the bodies.”
Jo nodded and headed for the door. Before she reached it, the door was pushed open and two more vamps entered casually chatting; completely unaware of what they had walked into.
The two groups paused for a split second and eyed each other up. Then the first vamp sprang at Jo, dragging her backward into the shadows. Richie charged after them, leaving Bobby to deal with the second creature.
Behind him, Richie could hear Bobby struggling with his opponent and he hoped he had made the right choice in going after Jo’s attacker.
***********************************
Jo had no time to react as the creature assaulted her. The swiftness with which he grabbed her loosened her grip on the machete and it dropped to the ground.
As she struggled to find an opening, Jo felt his grip tighten around her throat. She clawed at his arm and tried kicking out with her legs. Her futile efforts were laughed off by the creature as he continued to drag he away from her companions.
“Let her go.” Richie’s voice pierced the gloom.
The vamp shifted her in his embrace so that she was facing the hunter, and Jo felt the metal of a gun barrel being pressed against her temple.
Richie’s eyes flared with malice as he closed the distance, sword twirling in anticipation of the vamps eminent decapitation
She could feel the creature’s hot breath against her throat as he used her as a shield from the attack. “Stay back or I splatter her pretty brains all over the wall.”
Richie paused. She could see his eyes searching for an opening. “There’s no way out. You hurt her and you’re dead.”
“I don’t think so,” the creature snarled. “I’m thinking I’m the one in charge here.”
The vamp dragged Jo back toward the door; keeping her between him and Richie.
Jo wanted to struggle but the pressure of the gun against her head kept her moving cooperatively. She fumed at her stupidity. She’d make a rookie mistake, frozen when the vamp had walked through the door. She didn’t see a way out without someone getting hurt and it would be all her fault.
“I’m afraid I can’t let you leave here with my friend,” Richie said calmly.
Her eyes met Richie’s, and instead of the helpless fury she expected to see, he had a wicked gleam in his eyes. She recognized it as the guise of someone about to do something very stupid. She tried to warn him off with her glare, but he shook his head ever so slightly and flashed her a grin that told her to follow his lead.
“I don’t see as how you have any choice,” the vamp sneered as he pressed the gun against her temple emphasizing his dominance in this little dance.
Richie, remaining silent, launched himself at the vamp.
No! her mind screamed as she realized what Richie intended to do.
As Richie charged, the creature pulled the gun away from her to shoot the oncoming hunter. Jo watched in horror as the bullet tore through Richie's chest.
Knowing she had but moments to take advantage of the situation, Jo flung her left fist up striking the vamp square in the nose while simultaneously stomping down on his foot. The attack released the creature's grip on her throat sending his subsequent shots wild. Jo dropped to the ground and rolled out of the way.
“Stay down,” came Bobby’s voice.
She scrambled away from the scene behind her and reached for Richie's sword. As she stood ready to engage her former captor, the vampire’s head went bouncing by. Bobby had taken care of their attacker.
“You ok, Jo?” he asked.
Ignoring the older hunter’s inquiry, she dropped to the ground to press her hands against the growing red stain on Richie’s chest.
“Richie,” she pleaded. “Richie, stay with me.”
“Jo?” he said weakly, his eyes searching for hers.
“Yeah, it’s me. Come on Richie, hang on.” Her hands were stained with his blood as she continued to apply pressure but she could feel his heat beat slowing. “You idiot, what where you thinking?” She tried to sound angry, force him to fight her but the tears were beginning to fall.
Richie smiled up at her. That damn toothy smile that she couldn’t help returning. He reached up to stroke away a tear. “Don’t cry, Jo,” he huffed out as words became difficult to form. “I’ll be back in fifteen minutes, half hour tops.” The hand against her cheek fell to the ground as his head lolled to the side, dead eyes staring into space.
“NO!” she yelled and began to sob uncontrollably. She felt Bobby rest a hand on her shoulder. Her tear filled eyes looked up at the hunter. “He sacrificed himself to save me.”
Bobby knelt down beside her. “Jo, it’s ok. He’ll be back.”
Jo cocked her head at him, sniffed and swiped at her eyes. “That’s what he said. I thought he was delirious.”
Bobby smiled enigmatically. “There’s a reason Richie makes a good hunter.”
************************************
Richie sat up with a huge intake of breath. He hated the moment of resurrection and the disorientation that came with it.
The sound of Bobby chuckling penetrated the fog. “Welcome back kid,” he said. “That is hard to get used to.” Richie knew that Bobby had only seen Dean perform the magical act of revival once.
“Try being me,” he quipped. As Richie opened his eyes, he saw Bobby standing and Jo seated to his left.
Jo was staring at him, eyes wide with disbelief. “It’s true. Bobby explained but…seeing it happen.” She shook her head trying to understand.
From her reaction, Richie concluded that Bobby had used the wait time to bring Jo up to speed on the ‘ins and outs’ of Immortals.
Richie smiled. “Miss me?”
Jo returned his smile before she caught herself and her eyes flashed with anger. “You should have told me, you asshole,” she said as she smacked him on the arm.
“Ow! No hitting the formerly dead guy until he’s fully recovered.”
Jo glared at him as she got to her feet, and Richie knew that he was in for it because he’d kept this from her.
He shook his head as he watched Bobby leave the barn. Ready to help with Jo - as always - by escaping, he thought sarcastically and knew he was on his own.
“You’re Immortal!” she spat as she paced back and forth in front of him like a caged panther. “And you didn’t think this would have been useful information to have while fighting vampires?” She gestured wildly at the decapitated bodies around the barn.
Richie shrugged as he got to his feet and stepped into the path of her pacing. “You weren’t exactly in a chatty mood last night.”
“Bullshit! You tried to blackmail me.” She stopped and stabbed a finger into his chest.
Richie sighed A repeat of last night's performance seemed to be on the agenda and, as much as he was tired of being poked, this time Richie was determined not to lose his cool.
“Jo… I …”
She waved him off as her rant was still ramping up and she wasn’t ready to listen. “I don’t care what you have to say. I’m you partner in this hunt. We have to trust each other.”
“Please…listen. I didn’t think it mattered. I was planning on telling you everything afterwards.”
“Didn’t think it mattered. Didn’t think it mattered!” she yelled. “I thought you were dead. I was upset! I was crying, for God’s sakes. Do you know how silly I felt when Bobby told me you weren’t dead? That you’d played me!”
“Wait, you were crying?” Richie asked. The thought of Jo crying over him made his mouth quirk into a small smile.
“Don’t you smirk at me!” she commanded. “I thought you’d sacrificed yourself, died to save me. I mistakenly thought it was the most heroic thing I’d ever seen.”
“But I did die to save you,” he insisted, secretly pleased that she thought it had been heroic.
She paused as his words penetrated. “You did die to save me,” she repeated quietly.
He watched cautiously, wondering if the worst of the anger storm had passed.
Jo stared up at him eyes cloudy with confusion. “Does it hurt - when you die?” she asked. Richie was relived to see that her anger had been replaced with concern.
“Just like I was mortal. You can’t even imagine,” Richie said. “I’d do it again in an instant because you were in danger and- ”
Her lithe body impacted him as her lips found his, cutting off any more explanations. Richie wrapped his arms around her and deepened the kiss. He was breathless when she finally broke away to stare up at him.
Holding her close, he brushed a stray strand of hair from her forehead. “What was that for?” he asked as he looked into her eyes, showing her the desire she had stirred in him.
Jo blushed and looked away. “I…well…” she huffed a little in frustration as the words wouldn’t cooperate.
“Yes?” he pushed, wanting to know why she was suddenly in his arms and not trying to yell him into submission.
“Nobody’s done anything like that for me before and - Thank you, you saved my life,” she said sincerely.
He smiled and leaned in to kiss her, again. She didn’t hesitate to meet his lips. It was soft and chaste compared to the first one. “You’re welcome,” Richie said as he finished.
They stood, smiling at each other. Richie thought that she felt very right in his arms.
“Guess we should get started on the clean-up,” Jo said.
Richie looked around, noticing that Bobby had still not returned. “Guess so,” he replied. “If we hurry we can make it back to Seacouver before sundown.”
“We?”
“I just assumed that-”
“Oh no!” she said, pushing away from him. “Don’t think you can charm me into going to see my mother. It was couple of kisses. They didn’t mean anything. I’m not go-”
Richie reached for her, pulled her against him and covered her mouth with another kiss. He’d learned from Dean that it was the best way to shut up feisty blondes.
Author: strangevisitor7
Beta: Clarksmuse & idontlikegravy
Rated: PG
Prompt: #32 Sunset for crossovers100 my table is here
Fandom: Highlander & Supernatural. Part of the Immortal!Dean Universe..
Characters: Richie Ryan, Bobby Singer, Jo Harvelle, Ellen Harvelle. Richie/Jo
Disclaimer: The characters you know and love all belong to their respective creators.
Summary: When Bobby can’t track down the Winchesters, Richie agrees to help him out on a hunt. Richie doesn’t count on having to deal with Ellen’s wayward daughter Jo.
A/N: In the Immortal!Dean Universe this story takes place when Duncan and the Winchesters are in New York during The Space She Invades.
Not Going Home: Part 1
Not Going Home: Part 2
Bobby explained the details of his plan as they drove to the abandoned barn that was serving as the vampires’ nest.
“I didn’t bother with any dead man’s blood,” he said. “We aim to kill 'em, not question 'em. Hopefully they’ll all be sleeping, or at least groggy from a long night.”
Richie studied the layout of the farm that Bobby had been able to find during his preliminary research.
“Seems pretty straightforward,” Richie said. “How many have you confirmed inside?”
“At least six, but there could be more. I figure you go in sword swinging, then Jo and I follow with the mop up.”
Jo snorted in the back set. Up until that point, she’d been silent and Richie hadn’t tried to talk to her again for fear of sparking round three.
“You got a problem with my plan, Jo?” Bobby asked as he flicked his eyes to the rear view mirror.
“I didn’t know you were into human sacrifice,” Jo snickered.
“I can handle myself,” Richie snapped.
The previous evening, Richie had been adamant that they not tell Jo about his Immortality because he wanted to use the story as leverage to get Jo to visit Ellen. It didn’t bother Bobby to keep Jo in the dark, but he’d be damned if he was going to have his authority challenged.
“Just do as I say,” Bobby commanded, “or you can sit in the car.”
“Aye, aye Captain,” she said with a mock salute.
***************************
Jo lapsed into silence in the back seat. She didn’t know what to make of Richie. He’d apologized about the incidents this morning and seemed sincere about it. Yet she’d turned all of her anger on him; not just about the bathroom mishap but all of the baggage from her mother and hunting and not being taken seriously. She was irked about the attempt at blackmail, but there was a part of her that wondered how this kid had become so invested in her mother.
Richie was young. She’d bet he was barely twenty and sure, he was built. She paused and shook her head - no, not thinking of Richie’s muscles in that tight shirt.
Still, he couldn’t have much hunting experience, because she’d never heard his name mentioned at the Roadhouse. The Winchesters were well known in the community, even if they’d stopped coming by for years.
There was something they weren’t telling her. Well, she knew there were things about Dean that they weren’t telling her. But specifically there was something about Richie that Bobby trusted and she couldn’t see it.
She needed to know, to understand what made this kid so special to both Bobby and her mother. Jo had promised herself last night that she would cooperate, and instead she’d argued with Richie and then slapped him. Though she wouldn’t apologize for that; he deserved it. But that kind of hostility wasn’t going to win her any points and Richie had gone silent on her again. He’d been the adult, twice; now it was time for her to be woman enough to admit she’d overreacted.
Before she could make up her mind about what to say, Bobby had pulled the car to a stop. She could see the barn beyond the copse of trees that camouflaged their approach.
The men exited the car without a word to her, and she sensed it was going to be a long morning. Sighing, she unpacked her machete and got out of the car.
Richie had pulled out an impressive long sword and was doing some warm ups. As she watched the fluidity of his movements, she was struck by the intense precision of each pose. He had the confidence and stance of a man who had been handling a blade for years.
She realized she was staring when his gaze locked on hers and he ceased his ritual. Instead of looking away, as every muscle in her body screamed she should do, Jo decided this was the time to make nice.
“Impressive,” she said without a hint of anger or sarcasm. “You’re very skilled.” She sent him a small smile, hoping he would recognize the peace offering for what it was.
His face lit up with that same smile that had made butterflies in her stomach the night before.
“Thanks, Jo. It’s nice to know all that sword practice will come in handy on this hunt.”
And just like that, they were on even ground again.
“Bobby really trusts you to take point. Have you taken out a nest before?”
She noticed his smile turn wry and he shook his head. “No, but Bobby knows I’m very good at beheading things.”
“It’s a good skill for a hunter,” she agreed. “Not many things can live once they’ve lost their head.”
“So true,” Richie laughed. “I’m very grateful you didn’t have your machete this morning.”
Jo should have been angry that he brought that up, but he was smiling and she saw that he was again apologizing in his own way.
“No worries. I prefer to shoot people who piss me off, and you were just lucky my gun was in the car,” she said with a grin. She found herself warming to this silly conversation.
“I’ll have to remember to check for weaponry next time I find myself alone with you,” he said.
Jo felt herself blush at the suggestive tone and look that he threw her way. She cleared her throat. “Well, that’s assuming you can find them all. A girl has to protect herself, you know.”
He took a step toward her and she could feel his eyes on her. “I have no doubt a girl like you knows how to protect herself.”
Jo met his gaze. Richie couldn’t have known that that was one of the nicest things he could have ever said to her. He was saying that he trusted her to have his back.
“I think I liked it better when you two weren’t talking,” Bobby snarked. “If you’re done yakking, let’s get to work.” He slammed the trunk and headed toward the tree line to get a better look at their objective
As the two followed the hunter, Richie made a silly face at Bobby’s back that got Jo chuckling.
***********************************
Richie knelt next to Bobby as he surveyed the barn. Jo positioned herself near him and he was acutely aware that her close proximity was deliberate.
Something had changed with Jo. Richie wanted to trust that his positive overtures were finally getting through. Still, he wasn’t stupid enough to believe that there wasn’t some ulterior motive behind those brown eyes; her turn around had been too quick and very timely.
“Are you listening to me, kid?” Bobby snapped, jerking Richie’s attention back to the task at hand.
“Sorry, Bobby,” he said. “You were saying?”
“I asked if you were ready,” Bobby said. “I need to know you’re not distracted.” His eyes shifted between Jo and Richie.
“I’m all business on a hunt,” Jo replied, her tone bordering on indignant, but Richie could tell she was working hard to rein it in.
The three made their way closer to the windowless barn. No sounds emerged from the interior and the hunters felt confident that they could catch the nest napping.
Carefully, Bobby tested the front entrance and determined that it was blocked by an interior crossbar. Richie was able to slot his sword between the wooden doors. As the offending slat lifted free, it rotated with a groan of wood scraping against wood. The three held their collective breath, waiting to see if the noise had alerted anyone on the other side.
When nothing happened, Bobby nodded and Richie opened the door just enough to allow them to slip through. Sword at the ready, he quickly took in the scene before him.
There were six sleeping figures positioned on cots and hammocks around the barn. Silently, Richie approached the first cot and with a swift motion severed the creature’s head.
He was poised with sword raised at the second cot when a figure emerged from a small enclosure in the back. Richie finished his swing killing the second vampire as the new arrival raised the alarm.
“Hunters!” it shrieked and launched itself at Richie.
Richie was prepared, and as the creature charged, he was able to slice it across the chest while side stepping its assault. The vamp fell to its knees and Richie stepped forward, lobbing its head off from behind.
He looked up to see Bobby finishing off number four while Jo was being pursued by the one of the females he’d seen.
Richie looked around for his next opponent when he was grabbed from behind; a strong arm was choking the life out of him. Richie used his leverage to flip the vamp over his shoulder slamming the creature on its back on the ground. The Immortal stomped on the vamp’s chest pinning him down while he decapitated it.
Jo had finished off number six and had moved to help Bobby with the last one.
The three stood panting as they surveyed the carnage around them.
“Seven, Bobby?” Richie teased.
“So I miscounted.” The hunter shrugged.
Richie laughed as he turned his attention to Jo. She was smiling and glowing with pride. It took his breath away. She sent that beautiful smile toward him and he felt himself melting under her gaze.
Bobby cleared his throat pulling their attention to him. “We’ll need to burn the bodies.” The older hunter tossed Jo his keys. “Grab the supplies from the trunk while Richie and I pile up the bodies.”
Jo nodded and headed for the door. Before she reached it, the door was pushed open and two more vamps entered casually chatting; completely unaware of what they had walked into.
The two groups paused for a split second and eyed each other up. Then the first vamp sprang at Jo, dragging her backward into the shadows. Richie charged after them, leaving Bobby to deal with the second creature.
Behind him, Richie could hear Bobby struggling with his opponent and he hoped he had made the right choice in going after Jo’s attacker.
***********************************
Jo had no time to react as the creature assaulted her. The swiftness with which he grabbed her loosened her grip on the machete and it dropped to the ground.
As she struggled to find an opening, Jo felt his grip tighten around her throat. She clawed at his arm and tried kicking out with her legs. Her futile efforts were laughed off by the creature as he continued to drag he away from her companions.
“Let her go.” Richie’s voice pierced the gloom.
The vamp shifted her in his embrace so that she was facing the hunter, and Jo felt the metal of a gun barrel being pressed against her temple.
Richie’s eyes flared with malice as he closed the distance, sword twirling in anticipation of the vamps eminent decapitation
She could feel the creature’s hot breath against her throat as he used her as a shield from the attack. “Stay back or I splatter her pretty brains all over the wall.”
Richie paused. She could see his eyes searching for an opening. “There’s no way out. You hurt her and you’re dead.”
“I don’t think so,” the creature snarled. “I’m thinking I’m the one in charge here.”
The vamp dragged Jo back toward the door; keeping her between him and Richie.
Jo wanted to struggle but the pressure of the gun against her head kept her moving cooperatively. She fumed at her stupidity. She’d make a rookie mistake, frozen when the vamp had walked through the door. She didn’t see a way out without someone getting hurt and it would be all her fault.
“I’m afraid I can’t let you leave here with my friend,” Richie said calmly.
Her eyes met Richie’s, and instead of the helpless fury she expected to see, he had a wicked gleam in his eyes. She recognized it as the guise of someone about to do something very stupid. She tried to warn him off with her glare, but he shook his head ever so slightly and flashed her a grin that told her to follow his lead.
“I don’t see as how you have any choice,” the vamp sneered as he pressed the gun against her temple emphasizing his dominance in this little dance.
Richie, remaining silent, launched himself at the vamp.
No! her mind screamed as she realized what Richie intended to do.
As Richie charged, the creature pulled the gun away from her to shoot the oncoming hunter. Jo watched in horror as the bullet tore through Richie's chest.
Knowing she had but moments to take advantage of the situation, Jo flung her left fist up striking the vamp square in the nose while simultaneously stomping down on his foot. The attack released the creature's grip on her throat sending his subsequent shots wild. Jo dropped to the ground and rolled out of the way.
“Stay down,” came Bobby’s voice.
She scrambled away from the scene behind her and reached for Richie's sword. As she stood ready to engage her former captor, the vampire’s head went bouncing by. Bobby had taken care of their attacker.
“You ok, Jo?” he asked.
Ignoring the older hunter’s inquiry, she dropped to the ground to press her hands against the growing red stain on Richie’s chest.
“Richie,” she pleaded. “Richie, stay with me.”
“Jo?” he said weakly, his eyes searching for hers.
“Yeah, it’s me. Come on Richie, hang on.” Her hands were stained with his blood as she continued to apply pressure but she could feel his heat beat slowing. “You idiot, what where you thinking?” She tried to sound angry, force him to fight her but the tears were beginning to fall.
Richie smiled up at her. That damn toothy smile that she couldn’t help returning. He reached up to stroke away a tear. “Don’t cry, Jo,” he huffed out as words became difficult to form. “I’ll be back in fifteen minutes, half hour tops.” The hand against her cheek fell to the ground as his head lolled to the side, dead eyes staring into space.
“NO!” she yelled and began to sob uncontrollably. She felt Bobby rest a hand on her shoulder. Her tear filled eyes looked up at the hunter. “He sacrificed himself to save me.”
Bobby knelt down beside her. “Jo, it’s ok. He’ll be back.”
Jo cocked her head at him, sniffed and swiped at her eyes. “That’s what he said. I thought he was delirious.”
Bobby smiled enigmatically. “There’s a reason Richie makes a good hunter.”
************************************
Richie sat up with a huge intake of breath. He hated the moment of resurrection and the disorientation that came with it.
The sound of Bobby chuckling penetrated the fog. “Welcome back kid,” he said. “That is hard to get used to.” Richie knew that Bobby had only seen Dean perform the magical act of revival once.
“Try being me,” he quipped. As Richie opened his eyes, he saw Bobby standing and Jo seated to his left.
Jo was staring at him, eyes wide with disbelief. “It’s true. Bobby explained but…seeing it happen.” She shook her head trying to understand.
From her reaction, Richie concluded that Bobby had used the wait time to bring Jo up to speed on the ‘ins and outs’ of Immortals.
Richie smiled. “Miss me?”
Jo returned his smile before she caught herself and her eyes flashed with anger. “You should have told me, you asshole,” she said as she smacked him on the arm.
“Ow! No hitting the formerly dead guy until he’s fully recovered.”
Jo glared at him as she got to her feet, and Richie knew that he was in for it because he’d kept this from her.
He shook his head as he watched Bobby leave the barn. Ready to help with Jo - as always - by escaping, he thought sarcastically and knew he was on his own.
“You’re Immortal!” she spat as she paced back and forth in front of him like a caged panther. “And you didn’t think this would have been useful information to have while fighting vampires?” She gestured wildly at the decapitated bodies around the barn.
Richie shrugged as he got to his feet and stepped into the path of her pacing. “You weren’t exactly in a chatty mood last night.”
“Bullshit! You tried to blackmail me.” She stopped and stabbed a finger into his chest.
Richie sighed A repeat of last night's performance seemed to be on the agenda and, as much as he was tired of being poked, this time Richie was determined not to lose his cool.
“Jo… I …”
She waved him off as her rant was still ramping up and she wasn’t ready to listen. “I don’t care what you have to say. I’m you partner in this hunt. We have to trust each other.”
“Please…listen. I didn’t think it mattered. I was planning on telling you everything afterwards.”
“Didn’t think it mattered. Didn’t think it mattered!” she yelled. “I thought you were dead. I was upset! I was crying, for God’s sakes. Do you know how silly I felt when Bobby told me you weren’t dead? That you’d played me!”
“Wait, you were crying?” Richie asked. The thought of Jo crying over him made his mouth quirk into a small smile.
“Don’t you smirk at me!” she commanded. “I thought you’d sacrificed yourself, died to save me. I mistakenly thought it was the most heroic thing I’d ever seen.”
“But I did die to save you,” he insisted, secretly pleased that she thought it had been heroic.
She paused as his words penetrated. “You did die to save me,” she repeated quietly.
He watched cautiously, wondering if the worst of the anger storm had passed.
Jo stared up at him eyes cloudy with confusion. “Does it hurt - when you die?” she asked. Richie was relived to see that her anger had been replaced with concern.
“Just like I was mortal. You can’t even imagine,” Richie said. “I’d do it again in an instant because you were in danger and- ”
Her lithe body impacted him as her lips found his, cutting off any more explanations. Richie wrapped his arms around her and deepened the kiss. He was breathless when she finally broke away to stare up at him.
Holding her close, he brushed a stray strand of hair from her forehead. “What was that for?” he asked as he looked into her eyes, showing her the desire she had stirred in him.
Jo blushed and looked away. “I…well…” she huffed a little in frustration as the words wouldn’t cooperate.
“Yes?” he pushed, wanting to know why she was suddenly in his arms and not trying to yell him into submission.
“Nobody’s done anything like that for me before and - Thank you, you saved my life,” she said sincerely.
He smiled and leaned in to kiss her, again. She didn’t hesitate to meet his lips. It was soft and chaste compared to the first one. “You’re welcome,” Richie said as he finished.
They stood, smiling at each other. Richie thought that she felt very right in his arms.
“Guess we should get started on the clean-up,” Jo said.
Richie looked around, noticing that Bobby had still not returned. “Guess so,” he replied. “If we hurry we can make it back to Seacouver before sundown.”
“We?”
“I just assumed that-”
“Oh no!” she said, pushing away from him. “Don’t think you can charm me into going to see my mother. It was couple of kisses. They didn’t mean anything. I’m not go-”
Richie reached for her, pulled her against him and covered her mouth with another kiss. He’d learned from Dean that it was the best way to shut up feisty blondes.