The shrieking of the alarm clock didn't pull Sam from sleep he had been awake for at least an hour. It did tell him that it was time to prepare for the day.

He closed the lid to his laptop and drank the final mouthfuls of the now cold coffee from the bottom of his mug. He could pick up another on the way out. He scooped the keys off the table as he made his way out the door.

The drive was uneventful exactly the same as it had been everyday for the last six months. Sam considered how pathetic he might seem, repeating the same pointless actions day after day. Well, not really pointless actions just unnecessary, he had not really been needed so far, but he worried that there would be a day when he would be. He was the one who needed this, but that didn't stop him from asking himself everyday since he had arrived in Cicero, if he had simply lost his mind. Still he couldn't get himself to leave, here he had a purpose and he would not fail him again.

He pulled down the now familiar street, passing right by the house, a sigh of relief escaping. "Good, they are still there," he thought happily.

Sam stopped in front of a house that was far enough down the road that he could see the black car easily, but not be noticed. He had to look into the rear view mirror to see the house and car. He felt a familiar pang for home as the sun glinted off the black metal. Quietly under his breath he said. "Hey baby," then suddenly barked a hollow laugh. I'm becoming as bad as he is. I mean it's a normal car not Herbie. For a moment he envisioned his brother behind the wheel of a Volkswagen Beetle.

Yeah you are definitely starting to lose it Sammy. Dean's voice echoed in Sam's mind, sounding extremely offended at the thought. Dude, I would not be caught dead in such a wimpy ride when I can drive a classic like the Impala.

Sam sighed, lately his inner voice has started to sound like Dean, he must really be missing the guy to be filling in his annoying comments. "It's Sam," he answered no one, not even the voices inside his head could get that right.

Just then a small figure burst out of the front door of the house he was watching, ran up to the car and proceeded to bounce on his heels. A tall man in a familiar leather jacket followed him shortly. Man, Dean still looks upset, Sam could scream. It had been almost a year!

Would you have stopped missing me so fast Sam if I hadn't come back? Dean's voiceover supplied quietly. Pointedly ignoring the voice, Sam looked into the rear view mirror, to anyone else Dean would look content, but Sam knew his brother, the heaviness of his steps and the guarded expression spoke volumes.

As Dean passed the side of the Impala, he ran his fingers over the hood. Sam closed his eyes and turn away from the image of his brother in the mirror. The expression on Dean's face was full of loss and pain as he looked at his beloved car. His very nature was telling him to go over to Dean and make him spill whatever he was holding inside, but Sam had to stay he would not fail this time.

Lisa walked up to Dean, laid a hand on his arm and smiled up at him. Dean's posture changed, he straightened up and Sam smiled as he saw the confidence return to his demeanour. Thank God for Lisa, she's probably the only thing keeping him going.

The roar of the Impala made Sam refocus, it was time for action, he couldn't lose them. He drove at a safe distance for ten minutes until the Impala pulled into the parking lot of the local park. Driving around the block a couple of times before he parked a little up the road with his car facing the park. Sam grabbed his pair of sunglasses, picked up his coffee and settled in a long haul.

He had been following Dean for the last six months and truth be told Dean was definitely spilling. Dad would have been upset if he knew that Dean hadn't noticed the tail, either that or proud of Sam for going undetected. A familiar pang of sadness hit Sam, if only their father was alive, the years had not completely removed the loss from his heart.

Dean and Ben were throwing a football around, Lisa was reading a book on a near by bench. Dean made a gesture of pride as Ben made a difficult catch, even from his lookout point Sam could see the kid beam. Ben sure has taken a liking to Dean. It made sense for Dean to step into the role of father with Lisa's child so easily; it had been Dean who had taken care of Sam so long ago. And you repay me with this? His brother's voice gruff with hurt. Sam wished the voice would leave him alone, but at the same time needed to hear his brother even if he wasn't really there. If Sam could just make one decision without worrying about his intentions or the outcome, he would be content. Not like that would ever happen, he was definitely going to be punishing himself for starting the apocalypse for the rest of his life.

Sam was jolted out of his thoughts at a sharp rap on the car's window right by his ear. Standing outside his car was a tall girl with big sunglasses covering most of her face. Sam's heart picked up speed, for a moment he had thought that he had been caught. In an attempt to look casual, he took in a deep breath and turned his attention to the girl.

Despite the fact that he couldn't see her eyes, he could tell that she was looking at him impatiently. Was she waiting for him to do something? He fumbled with the window, trying to roll it down.

"Can I help you with something?" Sam asked cautiously, his body tense ready for any threat.

"Do you happen to have the time?" Sam studied the girl for a moment; she was watching him waiting for the answer, looking slightly more impatient. Sam almost laughed, it was such a normal question, he was so used to danger that he was starting to step in my every person even, young blonds.

"Look," the girl said, "I know you must be busy watching the little children or whatever fun thing you're doing here, but I just need the time, it's kind of important." She shifted her weight and suddenly Sam felt as if he was being threatened, though her hands didn't move from their position crossed over her plaid shirt.

"No, you got it all wrong, I wasn't… I'm not watching the kids or anything like that. I wouldn't do that, it's just sick and…" Sam stammered trying his best not to make himself sound guilty. Yeah I definitely sound balanced right now. "I'm waiting for someone, that's why I'm here, they just happen to be late."

Sam relaxed as the girl change her posture and the corners of her mouth lifted slightly. "Well I'm glad to hear it," she answered warmth coming into her voice. "I would really hate to have to call the cops on you, it would take some time out of my day and might make me late for that important thing I needed to do." She looked at him expectantly.

"It's 11:26am," Sam supplied, mildly surprised that so much time had already passed. "I hope your not late."

"No, I'm right on time. Thanks a lot for your help." With that she turned and crossed the street to the side opposite the park.

Sam watched her go then turned his attention back to Dean, feeling a sense of calm to see Dean and Ben in the same place as before. They're still safe.

That had been the most important thing for Sam since he had been freed from Hell; Dean needed to be kept safe. Lisa and Ben's safety become a factor also, because they were important to Dean.

Sam had tried for six months to stay away from his brother to hunt on his own, but he had spent too many hours, woken up too many nights with unforgiving terror that Dean would be hurt without Sam there to protect him. So Sam had started his vigil, came back to Cicero, Indiana and watched Dean's movements throughout the day. He followed him to work, to pick Ben up from school, the grocery store and on weekends he would follow the small family on outings like this one. Dean was getting his apple pie life and nothing was going to take that away if Sam could help it.

Sam watched as Dean threw the football, it sailed over Ben's head, through his hands and bounced behind him. Ben turned and dashed after the escaped football, without noticing that he was about to run into traffic. Everything slowed down for Sam as Ben ran into the road after the ball. He could see the fear appear on Dean's face, see him call to Ben and begin to move towards the boy, even though Dean was too far away to ever reach him in time. He saw Lisa look up at Dean's cry and watched as her expressions changed to horror. Sam watched as Ben stepped into the path of a speeding car and knew that there was no chance of the car stopping in time. In an instant that felt as if it lasted hours, Sam reached for the door handle, he had to do something, even though he already knew it was too late.

A figure darted in front of the car, barrelling into Ben, pushing him backwards back onto the pavement. The car nearly clipped the person as they fell partly on top of Ben and partly positioned beneath him to break his fall some. Time returned to normal as the two figures fell hard but safe on the sidewalk.

Sam stood frozen, half away in and out the car. What had just happened? Someone had pushed Ben out of the way before the car hit him. Sam started to laugh with relief, settling himself back into the car; Ben was going to be ok, he thought as he ran his fingers agitatedly through his hair.

Dean had just made it up to the group tangled on the sidewalk; he crunched down and pulled Ben in his arms, disentangling him from his saviour. The figure sat up as the weight of the child was taken from her arms.

Sam froze as confusion wash over him like a bucket of ice waters. He stared at the familiar blond girl in sunglasses and plaid who had just dived in front of a car to save Ben, after having just spoken to Sam. The only coherent thought that entered Sam's mind was.

"What the hell?"