Dean and Sam appear on the platform where they began, standing in their grubby yellow overalls. Castiel and Uriel are nowhere to be seen, but there is panic all around them. The rounded figure of the railway controller advances across the station towards them, looking flustered and infuriated.

"Where the hell have you two bozos been?" he spits. "I've just received an emergency call about a train that just blew up! I told you something like this would happen!"

"Come on, Sam." Dean says to his brother, impatiently. "Let's go."

"I suggest you go and tell your chief executive to take that health and safety report and shove it right up his ass!" the controllers calls as the pair stride out of the station.

They each open a door of the impala and step inside. The engine revs and they drive away in an angry silence.

The impala arrives in the parking lot of a motel between Clifton and Centerville. Once they unlock the door to their room, they throw their bags violently onto the bed and slam the door shut.

"We failed, Sam!" Dean roars. "We failed again! After all that work, we ended up breaking the seal and killing a train full of people!"

"I just hope Graham's ok." Sam says. "Hopefully Anna managed to take him somewhere safe."

"Those demons probably followed them and now they're both dead!" Dean clenches his jaw, holding the tears in his eyes. "For once...just one time...can nobody die?"

Sam responds with only silence. His phone vibrates in his pocket. He flips open the screen and checks it.

"If that is Ruby, I swear to God-" Dean growls.

"I have to go." Sam says, and grabs his coat.

"Yeah, that's right, run to Ruby." Dean snarls. "Ruby will save the day and make everything back, right Sam?"

Sam ignores him and steps out into the night, closing the door firmly behind him. Dean kicks the solid wooden bedpost, enraged, until he sits down onto the threadbare mattress and sobs into his hands.

"It's ok, Dean." Castiel speaks.

Dean, startled by his sudden appearance, wipes the tears from his cheek. "What do you want, Cas?"

"I want to assure you that you did all you could." Cas says comfortingly. "Some things are just fate."

"So 64 people died just for the sake of a seal?" Dean grimaces. "I thought we were supposed to stop the demons from breaking the seals? I thought you were supposed to be helping us?"

"Dean, I am limited in what I can do." Cas tells him. "I shouldn't even be with you right now. Uriel is concerned that I am becoming too close to you."

"And is that such a bad thing?" Dean sniffs.

"We angels are distinctly separate from humans." he explains. "We are only allowed to watch from above. To interfere in human affairs is considered almost demonic. It was the influence of Lucifer over Adam and Eve which brought about the downfall of mankind."

"But you just saved us." Dean reminds him.

"You are special, Dean; as is your brother...though maybe not in the same way." Cas says doubtfully.

"And what about Anna, and Graham?"

"Anna acts according to her own will. If it is her wish to engage in interaction with those here on Earth, so be it." Castiel attempts to disguise the bitterness in his voice. "I, on the other hand, am here because God has willed it. I am here to support you, Dean."

"I don't need your sympathy, Cas!" Dean says pleadingly, turning to look at him. "I need your help! Help me to stop Lilith! Help me to save the world! Help me to stop her breaking the next seal!"

"Dean, I-" Cas swallows. "I am not permitted to assist you. This is your task, given to you by God. I am here only to protect you."

"I don't need protecting, Cas." Dean frowns. "If you're not gonna help me, then I don't want you anywhere near me."

Cas examines Dean's face for a possible mask or facade, but Dean's expression remains rigid and cold. Cas bows his head, almost feeling pain. When Dean blinks his dried-out eyelids, Cas is gone. Once again, he is alone.

"One job, Sam!" Ruby snaps. "You had one job to do!"

"Yeah, without any help from you..." Sam replies, coldly.

"All you had to do was stop the kid! I thought you could figure that out for yourself!" Ruby groans in frustration. "We're 15 seals down. 51 to go-"

"Until Lucifer rises." Sam sighs. "I know. But this isn't easy."

"I know, Sam, I know." she says, more sympathetically. "But why didn't you just use your powers to send those demons back downstairs?"

"Dean doesn't want me to do it any more."

"Who gives a crap what Dean says?" Ruby frowns. "Sam, you are your own man now. You coped without Dean for four whole months. You don't need him: you can do this alone...with me..."

Sam considers this notion, and shakes his head. "If Dean didn't have the angels on call, I'd be dead by now."

"But you wouldn't!" Ruby exclaims. "If Dean wasn't there, you would be able to put those demons down without a second thought! Dean is holding you back, Sam; and you know it!"

Sam stares into the moonlit tarmac as he leans on the hood of the impala. Ruby advances closer to him, placing her hands on his shoulders.

"You could run away with me, Sam." Ruby says temptingly, staring into his eyes. "We could track Lilith down in just a few days. Together, we could bring her down once and for all."

Sam avoids her seductive brown eyes and looks up into the moon instead. Ruby sighs and steps back. "I'll give you time to think about it. Call me if you ever change your mind."

She leans forward and places a kiss on his lips, before strolling away into the shadows. Sam is left standing in the parking lot; frustrated, confused and torn between two paths.