A/N: Well hello again. I have been remiss in not updating my other story for too long. I have to go over the plot line I wrote a few years ago to see what I was doing with it before I stopped. I guess this is just to get my feet wet again, so to speak. Enjoy and thanks to those who pestered me over the years to start again.

The house looked no different from any other on the darkened suburban street. The air was still, and the gentle hum of the freeway was the only noise disturbing the silence. Looking through the front window, I saw what I never believed my brother would actually experience.

Inside, a man nursed his drink, calm in the dim light of the room. The white noise of the TV filtered through the glass; but it was some generic kid's show instead of the usual adult channels of choice.

"Are you okay?" a woman's voice filters from the kitchen as she appears in the frame, laying out some home cooked meal.

The man pauses from sipping the amber liquid, eyes glazed over, before shifting towards the woman.

"Yeah," the response is resolute, but not happy.

She strokes his head and turns away to call someone, who appears to be a child tearing through the dining room, hopping onto the too tall chair opposite the brooding man.

The picture of the trio, albeit dysfunctional, was nostalgic. It was also a bitter pill to swallow. I spent my life running away from who I was - what I did - just to have one normal moment of this. The closest I got was in death; in heaven of all places.

I laughed bitterly, the jealousy deep rooted. But my brother made a promise and he kept it. The brother who had nothing to lose. The brother that had gone to hell and back, and yet still played the part of the lone gun, the eternal bachelor. He sacrificed everything and pushed himself to live on.

The street light flickered above me, drawing my gaze away from the family moment, distracted. It seemed this was starting to be a reoccurring pattern.

"He looks content," the gravelly voice startled me from my reverie, "in his own way."

"I know," I sighed, not looking at my unwanted companion's face.

"Sam, do you think it is wise to torment him further?" the man replied, his trench-coat swaying in some unseen breeze.

"No Cas, I - I just needed to see him, you know?" I paused, "to make sure he's okay."

"But you must be careful," he replied cautiously, "Just because I was lucky enough to pull you from that cage, does not mean Lucifer is done with you."

I felt Castiel's gaze boring into me, as if trying to see whether his statement would unleash another side of me. I stared resolutely at the window, not willing to give Cas a reason to regret freeing me.

"Don't you think I get that Cas?" I hissed, "That I have to fight every second to restrain the part of me that wants what he offered. That every weakness is another opportunity for Lucifer to take over. Don't you think I know that each and every moment of darkness I feel within me is the Devil waiting for me to slip up?"

"You made the choice Sam," Cas replied in his monotone, "You are noble. You did it for the greater good."

He paused, making me turn my gaze toward him.

"You did it for Dean, and for the world," he looked at the window, "now you have to let him go."

The pain deepened in my chest as I knew he was right. I looked back one last time. The flimsy window the only barrier between my brother and I.

"What am I?" I let the question hang, not expecting an answer.

"You are unique," he replied, "Part Angel, Part Demon, Part Man."

"A freak."

"A messenger." Cas touched my shoulder, "A warrior."

With one last sigh, I turned to him, ready to leave. Lucifer's voice ringing in my mind. You weren't running away from them, you were running towards me.

The soft swish was the only sound made as they vanished, the light flickering back to life in their absence. They didn't notice Dean's searching stare out the window, his left hand holding the cool glass to his forehead.

A/N: Could stand alone. Could be more. What do you think?