The title and Lyrics are by Within Temptation. I don't own anything from Supernatural or the song.

Hand of sorrow

Please forgive me for the sorrow

For leaving you in fear.

For the dreams we've had to silence,

that's all they'll ever be.

Still I'll be the hand that saves you

Though you'll not see that it is me.

Sam sprinted after the sprit as it moved towards his brother.

"Come out, you ugly son of a bitch!"

He almost smiled. No matter what happened, his brother would never change. Always facing danger head on.

The spirit moved faster, it's hands stretched towards Dean. But Dean didn't shoot. He couldn't see it.

"Leave him alone!" shouted Sam and he threw himself on the spirit.

Everything flashed white. He heard the spirit scream as his own energy drained away. Before at all vanished he heard his brother's voice.

"Sam?"

The voice changed.

"Sam?"

Familiar, yet strange. Feminine. Soft.

He opened his eyes. The Reaper from Limbo smiled at him.

"Hey there, hero."

Sam blinked. He was still in the graveyard. Dean was kneeling beside his body a few yards away.

"What…" He paused. Too many questions shot through his head and she probably wouldn't answer a single one of them.

The Reaper smiled again.

"Quite the accomplishment Sammy."

"Excuse me?" Why did she have to speak in riddles? The whole situation was confusing enough.

"You have just done something no man has ever done before. You earned yourself a second chance, fair and square."

"I don't understand."

She held out her hand and pulled him to his feet. "Apparently your heroics are appreciated. Pretty slick, Sammy."

Sam looked at her, not sure what she meant. He knew asking would be useless, so he just kept his mouth shut. She sighed. "Stop looking at me like that. You can get back in there. Free pass, orders from upstairs."

He took a deep breath. "Why?"

"Do I look like I know? It seems someone likes you up there. It has something to do with that sacrificial nature of yours. Apparently it's a good thing to give it all up for someone else. Someone decided to reward you for it. I've got orders to get you up and breathing again."

He looked away from her. "Who gave you the order? Heaven or Hell?"

She shook her head. "I honestly don't know Sam. I just follow orders. Well most of the time, anyway."

Sam turned away. The offer was tempting, certainly, but he knew she wasn't telling him everything. And back from the dead was never a good thing. He had learned that the hard way.

"This isn't right," he said quietly. "You don't just walk away from death. I should know. So tell me, what's the catch?"

"Oh come on!" She made a furious gesture with her hands. "Didn't you hear me? You can go back, you can live. Why do you have to question everything?"

"Because it's wrong." He turned around and looked her in the eyes. "You know more than you are telling me. What's the catch?"

"Sam…"

"What's the catch? Just tell me!"

She averted her eyes. "Alright! You really are a stubborn idiot, you know that?" She took a deep breath. "There are no orders to get you back into your body. The only one who wants you up and breathing again is me."

He raised his eyebrows. "Why?"

She smiled, still looking at the ground. "I have been watching you and your brother for a long time, Sam. It makes for some great entertainment. Bucket of popcorn, invite a few friends over." She hesitated. "I… I don't like what is happening to the world right now. And I think you and your brother are the only ones who can stop it. But you need to be up and breathing to do that, so…"

"Then why did you offer to end it for me?"

She looked up. "Do you realize what I am risking to get you back in your meat-suit? I anyone finds out I am toast. Probably literally. I wasn't ready to do that, but I didn't want you to end up in hell either." She looked away from him again. "I like you, Sam. I didn't want you at the mercy of those bastards down under. When I realized you were giving up your only chance at peace to help your brother I…" She shook her head. "I didn't want you to die. I think you deserve to live."

For a moment, Sam was lost for words.

"Do you really mean that?" he whispered finally. "Will you do that for me?"

"Of course. You earned it, Sammy."

He smiled faintly. "What's your name?"

She hesitated. Sam half expected a snippy retort, but her eyes softened.

"Jenna."

"Thank you, Jenna," he said sincerely. "For everything."

"Don't go all soppy on me now!" She smiled. "You're welcome."

She reached out and touched his forehead. "Goodbye Sam."