The Voice of Heaven

It's a lovely day for the park. The air is filled with laughter and joy. Brightly colored flowers fill nearby gardens and light up the ground. Nancy takes in their sweet aroma and allows the beauty of the day to dazzle her senses. She watches her daughter Alice as she plays amongst the flowers and occasionally runs to a fountain in the center of the park, cheerfully tossing pennies into it. Across the park's gardens, a vendor sells three snow cones to her husband; perfect for a hot day like today.

For a moment Nancy forgets the rest of the world. It's here in this park and at this moment that she truly feels happy. Then she glances down at her wheelchair and she remembers. She remembers when the doctors told her that treatment wasn't going to be enough. She remembers how they said they were going to stop chemo because the cancer had spread to her lungs and kidneys.

Carefully Nancy adjusts the bandana wrapped around her head, shifting it in attempt to hide the hair loss. Then she goes back to watching her daughter smile and all is right with world again.

How many of these days will I have left? She wonders.

How much time will I be allowed to watch my daughter grow up?

The very thought of this brings a tear to Nancy's eye.

A young man beside her hands her a handkerchief. "Is that your daughter?"

"Oh thank you," Nancy says accepting the handkerchief. "Yes that's my little Alice."

"A few moments ago it looked like she was talking to the clouds," The man says. "I overheard some of what she was saying. It sounded like she was asking angels to watch over you."

Nancy laughs, dabbing her tears with the handkerchief. "Yep that sounds like her. She's the best thing that's ever happened to me…" Nancy pauses, taking a moment to collect herself. "Anyway even if there were angels out there, I doubt they'd care about what happens to me."

The young man smiles with a warmth that Nancy finds oddly comforting. "You'd be surprised," The man responds, placing a hand on her shoulder. He walks away towards the fountain, but stops, turning back to Nancy. "I like your hair by the way."

Is he making fun of me? Nancy wonders. He doesn't seem like the type to make a cruel joke like that. And the way he said it. There was kindness there. Almost as if he was paying Nancy a genuine compliment.

Nancy stares back at the man blankly, half expecting some sort of explanation. That's when a red curl falls past her eye. The shock alone causes Nancy to jump slightly as she reaches up to her head. Removing her bandana she runs her fingers through her hair for the first time in a very long time. How did this happen? She wonders.

As the man walks away Nancy rises up to catch him. Then she pauses again. She's out of her chair.

She's out of her chair, her hair has grown back and suddenly she feels great. She feels healthy even.

When her husband sees he immediately drops all three snow cones, nearly slipping on the puddle of slush as he runs to his wife. Tears in his eyes, he swiftly pulls Nancy close to him and wraps his arms around her so tightly that Nancy almost loses her breath.

During the couple's embrace a small hand tugs on her father's shirt. "See daddy, I told you James would make mommy better."

Both Nancy and her husband look to Alice completely taken aback.

"There was someone else here," Nancy confirms. "He was just over there a minute ago," she says pointing towards the fountain.

But it's too late. The young man is already gone. He's vanished into thin air.


Just beyond the park Dean waits with Sam, Jody and Cass. Together they witnessed the whole chain of events, and are now ready to stop James before he makes his next move. But then something unexpected happens. James comes directly to them.

"Castiel," James calls out with a smile. "I knew you would find me eventually. With all of Heaven searching for me I'm glad that it's you and not any of the others."

Cass glances down at the other angel's right hand, noticing a reddish marking. Definitely Enochian. It looks almost as if the symbol was burnt onto the flesh. But Cass knows better. He knows what the symbol stands for. And strangely enough he finds it somewhat reassuring.

"I take it you all got to watch today's little miracle," James poses to the group of hunters.

"Yeah, that's a neat trick," Dean replies; his voice laced with sarcasm. "When do we get to the part where you have to kill someone else to take her place?"

"That's not how it works," James laughs. "I'm the voice of Heaven. Or at least what's left of it anyways. All I do is save people. Those same people go and live their lives. And that's it. There's nothing more to it." Quickly James turns to Sam, Jody and Cass. "Is he always this paranoid?"

"Cut the crap! We've already seen the body count you've been piling up," Dean fumes.

James stares at Dean bewildered by his accusation. "What are saying?"

"I'm saying it's pretty suspicious when all the witnesses to your little miracles keep keeling over."

"But I haven't done anything." James stops, thinking back to the people he's saved and retraces his steps. "I don't understand. No one else even knows that I'm here aside from…oh."

"Oh? What do you mean oh? Who else knows that you're here?" Sam chimes.

"I was just following protocol," James explains. "Interfering with life and death situations can be messy. You don't want to accidently knock over too many dominos and let things spiral out of control. That's why I followed the appropriate procedures and consulted the sisters."

Castiel's eyes grow wide as if he understands James' current predicament.

"So what, you went and talked to some nuns?" Dean questions perplexed.

"No Dean," Cass interjects. "James is talking about the three sisters. We are dealing with the sisters of fate."