How can you see into my eyes like open doors?
Leading you down into my core where I've become so numb
Without a soul my spirit's sleeping somewhere cold
Until you find it there and lead it back home
Bring Me To Life , Evanescence
...

Sam woke up in the dark. He jumped up and was in a fighting stance before he knew where he was. The dream of Jess still being alive falling away. His eyes slowly adjusted to the dim light. He realized he was back in the motel room. The smell of Jennifer's bike hit his nostrils.

"It's alright, Sam." a voice spoke. It was then that Sam saw a small figure standing at the foot of Dean's bed. Dean was out cold on the bed and seemed whole.

"Jennifer?" Sam asked cautiously. It looked like her, but her voice sounded like she had smoked a carton of cigarettes in an hour.

"Not quite, but she's safe." The voice offered. She was standing stiffly with her hands at her sides in fists. She appeared to be staring at Dean's sleeping form. "She called me just as the djinns were about to overtake all of you." Jennifer's body hung her head, "I killed them."

"Cas?" Sam asked.

"Hello, Sam. Yes, it's me. She said yes." Finally Cas looked up at Sam. The sorrow Jennifer mentioned before plain on her face.

"Cas," Sam spoke softly "Are you...crying?" Cas turned away wiping at her face. "Talk to me. What's wrong, what happened?" Sam wanted, needed to know. He has seen his friend angry, remorseful, and vengeful, but never has he seen Cas like this, so full of sadness. Maybe it was different to see it in Jennifer's face. Maybe he never thought to look for it before.

"I'm scared, Sam." Cas whispered. "Scared I'll never make it back this time. Scared that I've lost..." He choked on the last word as he glanced at Dean. This was not a fear she had ever wished to voice out loud. Maybe she was feeling more because of being back in a human vessel. Maybe she was feeling Jennifer's loss of her brother. It did not matter. Not anymore. She had already lost the one thing that mattered most to her.

Sam looked down at his older brother and everything became clear. All his suspicions confirmed. He now understood why Cas chose humanity over Heaven. All of it, everything, had been for Dean.

"No." Sam nearly yelled and Cas stiffened. "No." Sam repeated. "Don't give up. Not until he knows. You owe him that much. After all Dean has been through, after all you've put him through. You owe him the truth." His voice was harsher than he intended, but he had to get through to Cas.

"He will never forgive me now. Not after what I've done. But that isn't important now. I have to let Jennifer go." Cas straightened up and walked to where Sam was standing. "The longer I remain the weaker she will become. I will not allow her to sacrifice her life for mine. I will not allow it to happen, again." She walked around to the side of the empty bed and sat down. "Once I am gone Jennifer will need to recover. That's why I stayed. She will be weak. I healed her from the fight with the djinn, but I cannot heal the damage my grace has caused." She looked up at Sam. "Please look after her until she wakes, Sam. I can't bring her brother back, but I can do this."

"But Cas," Sam started however a bright, pale blue light began to pour out of Jennifer's face and she collapsed onto the bed. Sam sighed heavily and brushed back his hair. He carefully straightened out Jennifer into a more comfortable position and covered her up. Sam looked over at Dean.

Now he just had to decide how much to tell him when he woke up.