A sign of the times
Harry Styles
4:34 ———————————•——
𝑺𝒕𝒐𝒑 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒄𝒓𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒃𝒂𝒃𝒚, 𝒊𝒕𝒔 𝒂 𝒔𝒊𝒈𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒔

𝑨 𝒇𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒂

☆

𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒂 joke to Jovi Winchester.

People died, sure. But they never stayed dead. Not her dad, not her uncle, and now, apparently, not her. It was all part of the Winchester cycle: grief, mourning, heartbreak—only to have it reversed like some cruel, cosmic prank. It was exhausting. Now, faced with her own death? She felt... nothing. Not fear. Not pain. Just numbness.

And then, her eyes opened.

She was standing outside Harvelle's.

Jovi's heart clenched. She hadn't seen this place since she was six years old. She knew it had burned down years ago, yet here it was — untouched, unchanged, as if time had never laid a finger on it.

Heaven?

Maybe. If she was lucky. But luck wasn't something she believed in anymore. She pushed the thought aside and stepped forward, opening the door.

Inside, the bar was quiet, the faint hum of music playing somewhere in the background. Jovi frowned. Wasn't Heaven supposed to be a memory? That's what she'd been told. But this place... it felt different.

The creak of a door snapped her from her thoughts.

She turned just in time to see a figure stepping out from the back room, arms full with a crate of beers. A blonde woman, no older than her father, stopping in her tracks as her eyes met Jovi's.

The crate hit the floor with a loud crash.

"Jovi?"

Jovi's breath caught in her throat. "Jo?"

Jovi's heart stopped.

Her lips parted, but no words came out.

Jo Harvelle was in front of her in an instant, wrapping her arms around her so tightly it nearly knocked the breath from her lungs. Jovi froze, body tense, before she melted into the embrace, gripping Jo like she was the only thing keeping her from falling apart.

And maybe she was.

A choked sob broke from her chest before she could stop it.

Jo clutched her even tighter. "Hey, sweetheart. I got you."

Jovi squeezed her eyes shut, breathing her in, letting the warmth of her arms press into her skin. Jo smelled like home. Like safety. Like something Jovi had lost a long time ago.

Of all the women her father had been with, no one ever came close to Jo. She was someone Jovi had idolised, someone she had loved like a mother. And in some ways, she had been. And now, she was here.

Alive.

No, not alive.

Dead.

After a moment, Jo pulled back, her hands still gripping Jovi's shoulders as she searched her face. "What are you doing here? You're not supposed to be here."

Jovi let out a shaky breath, trying to steady herself. "A werewolf got me."

Jo's expression darkened. "No. No, it's not your time. You have to go back."

Jovi's stomach twisted. Go back? Go back to what? Pain? Fighting? Waking up every day just to survive? Jovi swallowed, shaking her head. "I—I don't want to."

Jo frowned. "Jovi..."

"I can't do it anymore, Jo," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I can't—" She stopped, her breath shuddering as she wrapped her arms around herself like she could hold herself together. "I keep messing up. I keep making things worse. Every time something happens, Dad has to fix it. Sam has to fix it. I'm just—I'm just making it harder for everyone."

Her shoulders shook. She felt like she couldn't breathe.

"I'm so tired, Jo," she choked out. "Every time I think I have something good it goes to shit. I wake up every day just waiting for something else to go wrong. For someone else to get hurt. And it's always my fault. It's always my fault."

Jo's hands tightened on her shoulders. "Jovi, look at me."

She couldn't. If she did, she'd break completely.

Jo reached out, cupping her face, tilting it up so their eyes met. Her gaze was steady, warm, filled with a kindness Jovi hadn't felt in a long time. "Listen to me," Jo said, voice gentle but firm. "You are not a burden. You are not a mistake. And you are not making anything worse."

Jovi shook her head, fresh tears slipping down her cheeks. "You don't know that."

"I do." Jo's voice didn't waver. "Because I know your dad. And I know he would never trade a second of having you in his life. You're the one thing that keeps him going, Jovi. You keep him together."

Jovi let out a shaky breath, closing her eyes. "I just..." Her voice cracked. "I don't feel like I'm worth saving."

Jo exhaled sharply, her own eyes glistening. "Don't ever say that."

Jovi let out a broken laugh. "Why not? It's true. I died back there. Maybe—maybe it'll be easier now."

Jo pulled her into another hug, gripping her like she could hold her together through sheer force of will. "Joy," she whispered, voice thick with emotion. "You are worth saving. You always have been. You're the best of us all."

Joy.

That name belonged to Jo and Jo alone. Not even Dean could say it. Jovi buried her face in Jo's shoulder, trying to believe her. Trying to feel it.

As they pulled away Jo smiled at the girl. But then, her face turned serious. "Jovi... you need to go back to your dad."

Jovi frowned. "How? The werewolf mutt killed me."

Jo tilted her head slightly, her eyes clouded with something unreadable. "Something tells me you're not quite dead yet. Must be that Winchester blood—you people die more than anyone I've ever known."

Jovi huffed a small laugh. "Tell me about it."

Jo's expression softened as she took Jovi in properly. She looked just like Dean — from the sharp green eyes to the worn leather jacket. The amulet around her neck was a familiar sight, a piece of her father carried with her. She had grown into a beautiful young woman.

"I'm glad I got to see you all grown up," Jo said, voice thick with emotion. "You're so beautiful, Jovi."

Jovi blushed, rubbing the back of her neck. "Don't tell Dad. He'll just take the credit." Jo laughed. "Sounds like your dad."

The two of them laughed together—until the room shook.

And then, the air changed.

A chill ran down Jovi's spine.

Jovi's head shot up, panic creeping in. "What's happening?" Jo glanced around concern filling her features. "I'm not sure."

The warm glow of the Roadhouse lights dimmed. A thick, black smoke curled in through the window, creeping along the floor like a living thing.

Jo noticed it too.

"What the hell...?" she muttered, standing protectively in front of Jovi.
The two blondes stepped back staring at it with wide eyes. "Should we run?" Jovi asked, Jo shrugged "I don't think there's many places to run?"

"We can still try?" Jovi grabbed Jo's wrist before dragging her to the door of the roadhouse, but as they threw open the door they were met with a black void stretching endlessly before them.

No light. No ground. No escape.

Just nothingness.

Jo slammed the door shut, her breathing uneven. "your kidding" the woman glanced behind her spotting the smoke creeping towards Jovi, not her only Jovi. The teen glanced down at the smoke stepping away from Jo noticing that it was indeed following her. "Why's it always me?" Jovi groaned exasperated.

The smoke thickened, swirling like a storm cloud. It wrapped itself around her ankles, creeping up her legs like it was trying to consume her. Jovi could feel the panic rising in her chest, Jo stepped forward taking Jovi's hands."Hey, look at me," she said firmly.

Jovi's wild eyes snapped to hers.

"You're gonna be okay," Jo assured her. "I don't know what's happening, but you fight, you hear me? You always fight."

Jovi shook her head, panic rising in her throat. "Jo—"

"I'm right here," Jo promised. "No matter what happens, you're not alone."

Jovi's chest ached. "I don't want to leave you."

"I know, sweetheart." Jo's eyes shone with unshed tears. "But you have to."

The smoke coiled around Jovi's torso, pulling her back. Jo held on, her grip unrelenting. "Fight it, Jovi!"

Jovi gasped as the darkness pulled at her, her body trembling. "I don't know how!"

"Yes, you do." Jo's voice was fierce. Unshakable. "You always have."

Jovi wanted to believe her. She tried to believe her.

And then—

The world ripped apart.

Jo's hands were torn from hers.

And then—everything changed.

The warmth of Jo's arms vanished. The light disappeared. Darkness swallowed her whole. Jovi gasped, her surroundings shifting into an empty void.The air was thick, heavy, suffocating. Her pulse quickened.

"Jo?" she called out.

No answer.

She turned frantically, her heart pounding against her ribs. She wasn't in Heaven anymore, that was for sure. A shadow stirred in the darkness. And then, from the abyss, she stepped forward.

An older blonde woman, elegant yet terrifying, with piercing eyes that had haunted Jovi's dreams. Jovi's breath caught in her throat. She knew this woman. The leader of the witch cult.
The one her mother had followed.

Jovi's body tensed, her instincts screaming at her to run."Who the hell are you?" she snapped.

The woman tilted her head, a knowing smile on her lips. "Jovi, darling." Her voice was silk and venom. "It's time to wake up."

Jovi took a step back. "I am awake."

The woman chuckled. "No, child. Truly wake up." Her eyes gleamed. "Your power, you have no idea just how powerful you truly are, do you?"

Jovi stared at her intrigued but also cautious, there was something about her that Jovi couldn't quite out her finger on, but she didn't like it. The blonde woman leaned towards her, her blue eyes gleaming. "it can bring you back."

Jovi froze.

"No more weakness. No more helplessness. Just let it in."

Her father's voice echoed in her memory — warnings of a path she swore she'd never take. They had to erase her memory of these powers out of fear of what they could do but the woman's voice was soft, soothing, tempting.

Jovi swallowed hard. "You're lying."

"Am I?" The woman smiled. "Just open yourself up, Jovi. You want to live, don't you?"

Jovi's pulse thundered in her ears.

She was tired.

So tired.

And maybe — just maybe — this was the only way.

So she did.

She let it in.

☆

𝑷𝒂𝒊𝒏.

That was the first thing Jovi Winchester felt. A searing, gut-wrenching agony that tore through her stomach, sending waves of nausea crashing over her. She gasped as she shot upright, her breath coming in sharp, ragged pants. The world around her spun, her vision swimming in and out of focus as her mind scrambled to catch up.

She was alive.

Her hands trembled as they pressed against the wooden floor beneath her, her body still remembering the suffocating pressure of Corbin's hands around her throat. Her last moments— her lungs burning, her limbs thrashing — flashed in her mind, overlapping with Heaven, with Jo's arms wrapped around her, the warmth of her voice telling her she wasn't alone.

But she was alone.

Because Jo was gone, and now she was back in this god-awful cabin, the smell of blood and sweat thick in the air. A hand clamped onto her shoulder. Jovi jerked, spinning around with her fist raised, pure instinct taking over—

Until she saw him.

Sam Winchester.

Her uncle's hazel eyes were wide, bloodshot, and filled with disbelief. His hand hovered in the air where he'd touched her, his entire body stiff with shock. Jovi's fist slowly unclenched as reality settled in."...Sammy?"

Her voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper. It didn't even feel like her own. Sam didn't hesitate. He pulled her into a crushing embrace, his large frame nearly swallowing her whole. Jovi stiffened at first, her muscles locked with tension. But then she felt it — his heartbeat pounding in his chest, the slight tremble in his grip. He thought she was dead.

Hell, she had been dead.

Her arms slowly lifted, wrapping around him in return, though it hurt like a bitch to move."Jovi, thank God," Sam breathed, his voice tight with emotion. "H-how are you alive?"

Jovi exhaled shakily, her body suddenly exhausted. Like it was barely keeping itself together, as if one wrong move would send her crumpling like a house of cards. She tapped his shoulder weakly. "C-can't breathe."

Sam immediately pulled back, his hands still hovering over her like he was afraid she'd collapse right in front of him. His face was a mess of emotions— relief, confusion, and sheer terror all wrapped into one.

"The mutt failed to finish the job, that's how." Her voice was steadier now, but there was an edge to it — something dark, something simmering just beneath the surface. Sam's brows furrowed. "Someone did this to you?" His voice had dropped, his expression darkening with an anger Jovi recognised all too well.

She swallowed hard, the memory of Corbin's hands around her throat flashing through her mind. "Corey... Cordan... whatever the hell his name was." Her lip curled slightly. "That son of a bitch was bitten. He suffocated me."

Sam's jaw clenched, his whole body rigid. "Corbin." His voice was pure venom. Jovi glanced around the room, suddenly realising who wasn't there. "Where's Dad and Ares?"

Sam's expression shifted slightly, his anger mixing with something else —concern, unease.

"They went to get help," he said. "Dean said he'd come back, but he hasn't called or been by yet."

That uneasy feeling in her gut twisted into full-blown dread. Her dad always came back. Jovi gritted her teeth and forced herself to move, ignoring the pain screaming through her body. She pushed herself up onto shaky legs, stumbling slightly. Sam immediately grabbed her by the waist, steadying her. "Whoa, take it easy. You just came back from the dead and you have a bullet wound—"

"Sam," she cut him off, gripping his arm. "Dad's in trouble. We need to go. Now." She started limping toward the door, dragging Sam along with her.

"Jovi, hang on a minute," Sam argued, trying to be the voice of reason. "You just woke up. You're hurt. Take a breather."

Jovi inhaled deeply through her nose, closing her eyes for a brief second. Then she exhaled. "Okay. Check it off the list. Let's go."

Before Sam could respond, the sound of car doors slamming shut outside made both their heads snap toward the window. Sam moved first, rushing to the blinds and peeking through the gaps. His entire body tensed. Sam turned to her with urgency. "We gotta hide."

He was already moving, crossing the room in two strides before scooping her up bridal style. The sudden shift sent white-hot pain searing through her body. Jovi let out a strangled cry, her fingers digging into Sam's shoulder as fresh tears blurred her vision. She bit down hard on her bottom lip, enough to draw blood, her entire body trembling.

Sam flinched at her pained reaction. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry," he muttered, voice full of guilt, but he didn't stop moving. He carried her toward the basement door, pushing it open with his shoulder before descending the stairs as quickly as he could — But his foot caught on the last step.

The world tilted.

Jovi barely had time to register what was happening before gravity took hold. They crashed to the ground.

Pain exploded through Jovi's stomach, her vision going white with agony. A strangled, broken sob ripped from her throat as she curled in on herself, her hands clutching her wound. Hot, sticky blood gushed between her fingers.

Sam groaned beside her, pushing himself up with a wince, but his attention immediately snapped to Jovi.
His heart stopped. "Oh God—Jovi—"

She could barely hear him. Her ears were ringing, her body trembling violently as she gasped for air. The pain was unbearable, fire burning through her veins. Dammit. Why did coming back to life have to suck so much?

Sam moved closer, his hands hovering over her wound, his face full of panic. "Shit. Okay. You're okay. I got you."

Jovi let out a breathless, pained laugh, her vision blurring in and out. "Damn it, Sammy... You really suck at carrying people."

☆

𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒏 𝒑𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒂 handful of pills into his palm, his eyes fixed on them with a cold, dead certainty. His mind was a whirlwind of chaos, guilt, and desperation. This plan — it was reckless, maybe even suicidal — but he didn't care. His daughter was gone. His little girl was dead because he had failed to protect her. That failure weighed on him, crushing him from the inside out.

He couldn't breathe.

Jovi. Jovi. Jovi. Her name was a mantra, a heartbeat that had stopped too soon.

Turning to Michelle and Ares, he laid out his insane plan — his voice flat, devoid of hope. "After I do this, go get the doc and tell her to, um... tell her to bring me back. If she can." He swallowed hard, his throat burning. "If not... no hard feelings, okay?"

Ares' jaw clenched so hard he thought his teeth might crack. This plan was insane. Reckless. And stupid. But he could see the hollowness in Dean's eyes, the emptiness swallowing him whole. Losing Jovi had ripped Dean apart, shattered him beyond repair.
"Dean," Ares started, his voice thick with desperation. "There's gotta be a better way."

"There's not." Dean's response was blunt, final.

Ares' fists tightened at his sides, his pulse pounding in his ears. "Think about Jovi. This would break her heart if she ever found out—"

Dean's eyes snapped to his, wild and grief-stricken. A storm of emotions crashed behind them — rage, despair, guilt — swirling together into something feral and untamed. "I am thinking about Jovi. I'm doing this for her. Billie can get her back, so I'm doing this whether you like it or not." His voice cracked, a raw edge slicing through the air.

Ares' heart twisted painfully. Jovi wouldn't want this. She wouldn't want her dad risking everything, throwing his life away — not for her. But he saw the determination in Dean's gaze — the refusal to even consider an alternative. Ares' throat tightened. He didn't want to lose Dean too. Not like this. Not when Jovi's last moments were already haunting him, replaying in his mind like a broken record.

Michelle stepped forward, her eyes wide and pleading. "You don't have to do this," she said softly, placing her hands on Dean's wrists, trying to ground him, to pull him back from the edge.

Dean's expression softened, just for a second — a flicker of vulnerability cracking through his hardened shell. But then he shook his head. "Yeah, I do." His voice was empty, resigned.

Michelle's hands fell away, helpless, as Dean tipped the pills into his mouth, swallowing them with some water.

Ares' breath caught. "Dean—"

But Dean was already fading. He stood there for a second, blinking, swaying slightly.