Bigger than the whole sky
Taylor Swift
0:54 ——•———————————
𝑮𝒐𝒐𝒅𝒃𝒚𝒆, 𝒈𝒐𝒐𝒅𝒃𝒚𝒆, 𝒈𝒐𝒐𝒅𝒃𝒚𝒆
𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒃𝒊𝒈𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒆 𝒔𝒌𝒚

𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒃𝒊𝒈𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒆 𝒔𝒌𝒚
𝑺𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒐𝒏 10 : 𝒆𝒑𝒊𝒔𝒐𝒅𝒆 21
𝑫𝒂𝒓𝒌 𝑫𝒚𝒏𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒚

☆

Jovi couldn't stop thinking about the case with Claire and her mother, along with what fake Bela said — she didn't know shit about her mother other than her name. Jennifer Harding, that was all the infomation she had on the woman. Jovi had laid in her bed majority of the day letting her thoughts consume her, she even tried googling the woman but how would she know which person was her mother? She didn't find anything promising anyway leading her to give up. She really didn't want to ask her father about Jennifer, she knew it was probably a sore subject but how else was she going to find anything out?

The blonde girl meandered down the cold, echoing corridors, her footsteps hesitant and deliberate. Her heart thudded in her chest as she noticed her dad's door slightly ajar, a sliver of light spilling into the hallway. She sucked in a sharp breath, feeling a wave of anxiety wash over her like a rising tide. Through the narrow crack, she glimpsed her father lying on his bed, his laptop open and headphones on. His arms were crossed over his chest, and his eyes were fixed intently on the screen, curiosity etched into his features.

Jovi knocked gently, pushing the door open just enough to catch Dean's attention. A soft smile spread across his face as he met his daughter's eyes and removed his headphones. "Hey, sweetheart. You okay?" His voice was smooth and gentle, a balm to her frazzled nerves. Jovi nervously fiddled with the emerald tennis bracelet on her wrist, the cool stone grounding her. "Yeah, uh, it's just the last case had me thinking about my mother," she said, her voice hesitant, each word a tentative step across a fragile bridge.

Dean's breath caught in his throat, his heart quickening. What did she want to know? What was he willing to tell her? He had locked every memory of the woman away in a mental vault, sealed shut for a reason. Despite his reluctance, he couldn't bring himself to be harsh with his daughter for wanting to understand her heritage. He remembered how defensive John used to get whenever he or Sam asked about Mary, and he was determined not to repeat that mistake.

"What about her?" Dean asked, sitting up against the headboard as he watched Jovi approach. "D-do you have any pictures of her? I know you probably don't want to talk about her, but I couldn't help but wonder what she looked like. With everything recently, I've just been thinking about her more." Dean's brows furrowed in confusion. "Everything recently?" What did that mean?

Jovi sat on the edge of his bed, her eyes focused on her hands as she twisted a ring on her finger. "What things recently?" Dean's concern was palpable. Jovi bit the inside of her cheek, debating whether or not to reveal the truth. Dean leaned towards her, placing a comforting hand on her knee. "Jov, you know you can talk to me. I'd never judge you."

Jovi knew this to be true. Throughout her life, her dad had never judged her or taken his anger out on her — the Deanmon didn't count. She'd never hold that situation against him, no matter how scared she was. Plus you wasn't really a Winchester if you hadn't almost died...

"On that case with the magic box, I-I..." She paused, taking a deep breath before meeting her father's concerned eyes. "I saw Bela." Dean's brows furrowed in confusion. He hadn't heard that name in years. "Bela? Like Talbot?" he questioned. Jovi nodded in confirmation. Why would she see Bela? He saw Benny in Purgatory, but Bela? How did the two compare?

"She said something about how much I really knew about my mother. And then seeing Claire and her mother, it just made me realize I don't even know what she looks like, you know?" Dean used to hate whenever Jovi asked about Jennifer when she was younger. Now she was older and far more curious, making it so much harder to lie about this stuff.

He opened his bedside drawer and pulled out a heap of photos. Some Jovi had seen before: snapshots of her dad and Sam as kids, pictures of Mary and John, photos with Bobby, and herself. But Dean went straight to the back of the pile, pulling out a couple Jovi had never seen. His forest-green eyes scanned them with a mixture of sadness and nostalgia. As much as he hated it, he still remembered when these photos were taken, back in the early 2000, most likely by a much younger Sammy.

"Jennifer was only a few months along when these were taken," he said, passing the photographs to Jovi. She took them gingerly, her jade gaze drinking in her father's memories with a mix of surprise and curiosity. Her mother—Jennifer—was stunning. Porcelain skin, flawless and luminous, framed high cheekbones and thin, arched brows. Her lips, pink and plump, curved in a radiant smile beneath crystal blue eyes that sparkled like a summer sky. Her hair, a soft, golden blonde, cascaded around her shoulders. Jovi felt her breath catch in her throat; this was her mother, her real biological mother. After years of conjuring her own image, seeing the reality left her speechless.

Her eyes flickered over the photo. They were in a booth; Jennifer leaned back against Dean's chest, her hands clutching his arm draped protectively around her. She wore a big, pearly white smile, her small bump just visible under a tank top, one of Dean's flannels loosely over her shoulders. Dean's hair was longer then, parted down the middle, with strands falling onto his forehead. His expression was one of pure joy, unburdened by the weight of the world that now etched his features. They looked like a happy young couple, despite his claims of a co-parenting relationship.

"She's beautiful," Jovi murmured. A small smile tugged at Dean's lips as he gazed at the photos. "She was. Sometimes you remind me of her, even if I don't want to admit it."

"Really?" Jovi asked, eyes wide with wonder.

Dean nodded, meeting her gaze. "She had the same sarcasm and quick wit as you. She was like Barbie crossed with a hunter—loved fashion and makeup but also had a killer aim."

Jovi grinned. "Hunter Barbie, maybe I should pitch that to Mattel."

Dean chuckled. "She knew about the supernatural and could outshoot me, but all she ever said about her job was that she worked for some big business in London."

Puzzled, Jovi glanced back at the photos. One showed her mother with a young Sam, another was a selfie of her parents. In one, Jennifer stood in a motel in shorts and a bra, her swollen belly prominent, scowling and flipping off the camera—clearly Dean's doing. The last photo was in a hospital room, Dean holding a newborn Jovi, pride etched on his face as he gazed at his daughter. Jennifer looked up at Dean with love and admiration. Jovi's fingers traced the image, her chest warming as her imagined mother was replaced with the real one.

Jovi glanced up, seeing a flicker of hurt in Dean's eyes as he stared at the last photo. "Do you... do you hate her?"

Dean exhaled slowly, the old anger and pain twisting inside him. But looking at Jovi, he knew he couldn't burden her with that. "No, Jovi. I don't hate her," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "I hate her choices. But she loved you, in her own way. And that's what matters."

She knew he was trying to make her feel better, but she could see the lingering resentment in his eyes. So Jovi smiled, a small, hopeful gesture, and leaned into her father's side, clutching the photo to her chest. "Thanks, Dad," she murmured, hoping to offer him some comfort.

Dean wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close. "Anytime, kiddo. Anytime." As they sat together, Dean felt a strange sense of peace wash over him, knowing that some bridges, no matter how old or worn, could still be crossed.

☆

Jovi decided to go with her uncle when he mentioned meeting up with Charlie. Even though it was the middle of the night and she felt extra groggy, the excitement of seeing her redheaded friend again kept her awake. Sam drove through the desolate roads, the trees on either side standing like silent sentinels. Jovi peered out of the window, spotting Charlie at a picnic table, her red hair a fiery beacon in the darkness.

With a burst of energy, Jovi flung open the car door and sprinted towards Charlie, her squeal breaking the night's silence. "Ah, my favorite redhead! It's been too long!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms around Charlie, who laughed and hugged her back.

"It's been like two months," Charlie replied, her voice warm and teasing.

"Yeah, too freakin' long," Jovi insisted, pulling away to let Sam step forward.

"Hey, Charlie," he greeted her with a nod.

"Hey. It is you. Uh, in a . . . beat-up, prehistoric subcompact." The two shared a hug before stepping back. "But why are we meeting here? I could've come to the Death Star," Charlie questioned, her eyes darting between Jovi and Sam.

Jovi turned to her uncle, giving him a 'go ahead' look. Sam almost glared at her, knowing that she was just as eager as he was to remove the mark from Dean, but also frustrated by her difficulty in keeping it a secret. This wasn't your usual 'it wasn't me' lie; this was dark magic, something they knew nothing about and that's why Jovi didn't like keeping it from her dad.

"No, no, this is, uh . . . better, actually. We're not gonna be working in the bunker, so . . ." Jovi had yet to see the secret dungeon where Sam had somehow trapped Rowena. She just hoped it was more nightmare and less kinky...

"Uh-huh. What is this about, again? You were kind of . . . vague," Charlie said, awkwardly shrugging while meeting Sam's hazel green gaze.

"Okay, so, here's the thing . . . Dean is not getting any better. If we don't get the Mark off his arm, it's gonna eat him up," Sam explained, his voice heavy with worry.

"I get it, but what are we gonna do about it?" Charlie voiced Jovi's thoughts. The book was unreadable, and trusting Rowena was a gamble.

"I got ahold of a codex—"

"We," Jovi corrected, narrowing her eyes at her uncle, who rolled his own. "What? I almost died for that damn book. I'm taking my damn credit," she said, crossing her arms and giving him a sassy look.

Sam sighed deeply before continuing. "We got ahold of a codex, which is sort of a collection of supernatural code-breaking tools. It should help crack The Book of the Damned."

"We hope," Jovi muttered under her breath.

"That would be awesome if the book, you know, actually existed," Charlie said skeptically.

Jovi laughed, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "Oh, just wait. This is the best part!" Charlie furrowed her brows in confusion as Sam sent her a warning glare before focusing back on Charlie.

"It does," Sam revealed, his voice almost a whisper. Charlie's head tilted in shock and realization as Sam turned away, brooding.

"Uh, I, um . . . I swapped it out right before so it looked like I burned it," he admitted.

"Okay. Well, Dean wanted it burned, so is he pissed?" Charlie questioned, her brown eyes darting between Sam and Jovi.

The teen scoffed, turning to her uncle with a fake questioning expression. "Yeah, is he pissed, Sammy?" From Jovi's overly sarcastic tone and Sam's lack of a response, Charlie gathered all the information she needed.

"Of course. He doesn't know. Geez! The three of you."

"Hey, don't include me in this — he's making me the accomplice," Jovi pointed at her uncle, an innocent expression on her face.

"Will you cut it out? You want your dad back, do you not?" Sam snapped, his eyes flashing with annoyance.

"Of course I do, but if this doesn't work, he's going to lose his damn mind even more!" Jovi shot back, her voice edged with frustration.

"And he'll lose his mind if we don't try," Sam countered, his voice rising with desperation.

Jovi clenched her jaw, choosing not to keep fighting, although she could have gone all day. Sensing that she was finished, Sam turned back to Charlie. "Charlie, he's not himself. He would try and stop me. He's given up. Look, I called in an expert to use the codex, but it turns out it's sort of encoded also. I thought you might help move things along faster."

Charlie's eyes widened as she responded. "Behind Dean's back? After Dean told us the stupid book would kick our asses if we mess with it. Is there any part of this that doesn't reek?"

Jovi shrugged, scrunching her nose as she held up a finger, her lips pressed together in a tight-lipped smile. "Just wait."

"Did I mention you'll be working with one of the most dangerous witches in the world?" Sam added, glancing at Charlie momentarily.

"It just gets better," Jovi sighed, while Charlie bit the inside of her cheek, glancing around uncertainly.

"I don't know, Sam," she said finally, her voice hesitant.

"As far as I can tell, this is our only shot at saving him. If we don't take it, he's gone," Sam said, his voice cracking with urgency.

Charlie looked at the earnest faces of her friends, the weight of their plea pressing down on her. Taking a deep breath, she nodded slowly. "Okay. Let's do this."

☆

The moment they entered the dungeon, Jovi's eyes roved over the room, taking in the grim surroundings. Dark stone walls loomed around them, adorned with rusted chains that dangled ominously. The floor was cold, unforgiving concrete, and at the center of it all sat Rowena, chained to a sturdy table. A mischievous smile crept across Rowena's face as she locked eyes with Jovi, as if she held secrets the young girl couldn't fathom. But that smile quickly faded when she noticed Charlie, especially after Sam informed her they would be working together.

"I thought I was clear, Samuel. I requested more time, not an assistant," Rowena said, her voice dripping with disdain.

"And I thought I was clear, Rowena. Charlie is not your assistant. You're hers," Sam corrected, his tone unyielding.

Rowena, seated at the table surrounded by ancient tomes, looked over her shoulder at the younger woman setting up across the room. "And you studied your craft where?"

"Mostly a joint called Mas Java. It has excellent Wi-Fi," Charlie replied coolly.

Rowena closed her eyes in frustration, which earned a grin from Jovi. Leaning against a wall where she could see both Rowena and Charlie, she chimed in, "Who needs old books when you have Google?" Charlie nodded in agreement.

"I have not heard of this institution, and I know all the great global centers of witchcraft," Rowena retorted, her voice tinged with superiority.

"Makes sense, 'cause I'm not a witch. I'm a nerd. And I know all the great centers of nerddom," Charlie shot back, her tone confident.

Rowena rolled her eyes but before she could retort, Sam stepped in. "Rowena, are you done marking your turf? Listen, Charlie has tech chops that'll speed up cracking Nadya's codex. You will spot the ancient curses and spells, and that'll put this whole mess in context."

Just then, Cas descended the steps, drawing everyone's attention. "Cas. Are you in on this, too?" Charlie asked, eyeing the angel with surprise.

Cas shrugged awkwardly. "Hell's bells. More distractions? What are you? Witch or nerd?" Rowena asked sarcastically, turning in her chair to fully face him.

Jovi grinned. "He's a total nerd—full Sheldon Cooper."

Cas furrowed his brows and tilted his head. "I don't know who that is..."

"So much for pop culture savvy, Cas," Jovi mumbled with an eye roll.

"I'm an angel," Cas declared simply.

Rowena raised an eyebrow. "Beg pardon?"

"Castiel has, uh, powers... spiritual muscle that'll help safeguard the work," Sam explained.

"Safeguard it from what?" Rowena inquired, curiosity piqued.

"You. We can't be here full-time to referee," Sam said, gesturing between himself and Jovi.

Cas now wore a perplexed expression. "Whoa, whoa. And I can?"

"Yes. Please. Please do this for me," Sam pleaded.

Jovi looked up, spotting her uncle's signature puppy dog eyes. "Oh, he's really teeing it up," she giggled, earning a side-eye from Sam.

"Well, what are the rules?" Cas asked, his literal-mindedness evident.

"That's adorable," Jovi thought to herself, unable to suppress a smile.

"Quite literal, aren't you? Does he know that the first rule is don't tell your brother what we're doing?" Rowena exaggerated, pretending to whisper behind her hand before smirking.

Cas turned to them with narrowed eyes. "Wait... Dean doesn't know? Sam, Jovi, this never ends well."

"That's exactly what I said," Charlie chimed in from behind Cas.

Jovi raised her hands in surrender. "I take no responsibility."

"Okay, everyone take a breath. Look, we're up against it, okay? And we've all been up against it before, and we know there are times when every choice sucks. Now, us lying to Dean is the choice that sucks the least. We have to make this work. Please," Sam urged, his voice thick with desperation.

Charlie and Cas softened at Sam's plea. "Okay, yeah. For Dean," Charlie agreed, sighing.

Sam turned to the angel, waiting for an answer. "Cas?"

Cas looked from Charlie to the two Winchesters. "Okay. For Dean."

"For Dean," they echoed.

"I barely know the man," Rowena muttered from her dark corner. Just as Sam and Jovi were about to leave, Rowena spoke up again, "Oh, but I could use your dearest Jovi's help."

Both Jovi and Sam paused, sharing a look before turning to face Rowena, who wore a mischievous smile. "No," Sam replied hastily, earning questioning looks from both Cas and Jovi. Clearing his throat, Sam locked eyes with Cas for a split second. "No, I'm not leaving her with you."

Cas's look warned Sam to tread carefully. Jovi was already eyeing him suspiciously, and they didn't need her asking questions about things she wasn't supposed to remember.

"Actually, I could use a hand. More people working on this, the quicker we find a cure," Charlie interjected, sending Sam a subtle look.

"Do I not get a vote here? 'Cause I don't mind helping," Jovi asked, raising her hand like she was in class.

"And what am I supposed to tell your dad?" Sam asked, turning to his niece, who shrugged.

"Just tell him that me and Charlie are going to a comic-con convention in Lawrence. Tell him I'm Team Damon—he'll know what that means," Jovi said casually.

Sam clenched his jaw, still not trusting Rowena, but realizing he couldn't argue further without raising suspicion. Reluctantly, he sighed. "Okay, fine. Keep me updated, okay?"

Jovi saluted him, a playful glint in her eye.

☆

Jovi sat opposite Rowena, a grimace etched on her face as she helped the woman with her witchy rituals. Rowena was currently throwing chicken bones into a bowl, an act that made Jovi's stomach churn. The pungent odor of raw meat mixed with the earthy scent of herbs filled the