001 | Audio | Day 147

[whiskeyslinger]

[Ellen doesn't have time to figure out the video function on this thing. Her voice is extremely short and angry, barely controlled emotion leaking through. The last thing she knew she was holding Jo and telling a hellhound to go to back to hell.]

Where is she? Where's my baby?

[She's earned that much. She promised Jo she wouldn't leave her alone and she's not going to break that promise now. If this is Heaven, it's one hell of a disappointment, but she'll settle if it means she can have her daughter with her.

Her voice breaks.]

Jo?

Comments

[Audio]

[whiskeyslinger]

[If Jo is moving towards her than there's nothing left to do but stand still and wait to be found. Standing still has never been one of Ellen's strong suits.

She paces the ground, giving a small huff and an unseen shake of the head at her question.]

No.

[But Jo is moving towards her, which must mean she's good enough to walk. That's more than Ellen thought she'd ever ask for.]

I'm good enough for now, I guess. What about you?

[Audio --> Action]

[lightgunhustler]

I'm in one piece. That's better than I expected to be.

[She's been here awhile, but that day in Carthage isn't all that far off. She doesn't elaborate over the network, however-- instead, she rounds the corner a few moments later, picking up speed when she sees Ellen.

She should probably be gentle, but that hasn't stopped her from assaulting Sam in much the same way when he first arrived and then returned from a long absence. Still, before she can throw herself at Ellen in a full-bodied hug--

She pulls out a silver flask, uncapping it.]

Safety first.

[She takes a swig of it the contents herself before holding it out to Ellen to do the same.]

[Audio --> Action]

[whiskeyslinger]

[Ellen will do whatever the hell it takes to get Jo in her arms right that moment. If she'd asked her to jump through rings of fire or open up a vein she would've done so without complaint. But there's more than a little pride at Jo having the forethought to test her.

If Ellen was thinking clearly, she'd likely would've done the same. She grabs the flask and takes a swig. Swallows and waits approximately five seconds before pulling Jo in for a hug, the lump in her throat threatening to choke her.]

Baby.

[lightgunhustler]

[Ellen passes the test, just like Jo knew she would, and caution is forgotten as she throws her arms around her mother's neck, burying her face in her shoulder.

Losing her the first time had been bad enough. Losing her a second time had been devastating, knowing exactly what her mother was going back to and knowing that her second chance had been taken from her.]

I'm so glad you're here. God, I've--

[She swallows, her face still hidden, fighting back tears.]

It's been hard without you.

[whiskeyslinger]

[Ellen squeezes Jo hard, nowhere near ready to be letting her go right now. She may not know the whole story or why, but she can hear that catch in Jo's voice. She knows she's near tears and that is more than enough to send her own brimming over.

She blinks them back, but it's no good. Jo is here and whole and alive and Ellen can't ask for more. Her voice is rough as she clings to her daughter.]

I'm here. And I'm not going anywhere.

[lightgunhustler]

Good.

[It doesn't feel like enough; it's not a strong enough word to say how she really feels right now, but she can't manage much else.]

Good.

[She exhales, squeezing Ellen as tightly as she's able before reaching up to lightly lay a hand against the back of her head, curling her fingers into her hair as though she has to make sure, without a doubt, that she's real.

She's lost her twice now. Never again.]

Wait until everyone else hears-- Sam will want to know, and Dean.

[Ellen didn't have to know about the strain between the two of them and Dean, not just yet.]

[whiskeyslinger]

[Ellen knows the feeling. Her own fingers curled around Jo's arms. She's not letting go anytime soon. If you thought she was unbearable before, just wait.

For once she doesn't care if they're here because of the Winchesters. She has a second chance and she's not about to waste it.]

I talked to Sam. Haven't seen Dean yet.

[She loves those boys, but they're not her primary concern right now. She sniffs, trying to regain some of her composure.]

What the hell is this place?

[lightgunhustler]

[She'd say that Dean will come along eventually, but she's not so sure he will anymore. He'll probably prove her wrong, but things just aren't the way they used to be. She's glad to hear that Sam got in touch. He'd been the Harvelles' closest friend since coming to this place. It was good to know that he was looking out for her mom, like he'd promised.]

I can tell you what I know, but there are a lot of missing pieces.

[And really, what they do know is too much to heap on someone who's newly arrived.]

It's called Cape Kore. I'd never even heard of it before I showed up here.

[whiskeyslinger]

[Finally, after a small eternity, Ellen collects herself enough to draw back from Jo. There's something more than the missing pieces that's getting to Jo, she can tell just from the look on her face.]

Sounds like a vacation spot in a slasher movie. Any idea how we got here?

[Not that she's complaining. Anything's better than being dead.]

[lightgunhustler]

That's not entirely inaccurate.

[She grimaces, wishing she could say otherwise. Nothing all that horrifying had happened lately, but she remembered the beasts they'd run into while hunting out in the woods, and it was hard to forget the kraken. As far as resorts went, the Cape was a lousy one.]

We still don't know how. There were a few people hanging around before that we thought might have been able to help -- one of them even called himself the mayor of this place -- but they didn't seem to remember much, either. Soon as he started to remember things that were useful, he vanished.

Doesn't bode well for the rest of us.