Chapter One

Dean rolled the window down. The weather would permit because the weather always permitted in Heaven. He smiled as the breeze from the window gently rustled his hair and he turned reflexively to his right. A slight frown threatened to settle on his features as Sam, once again, wasn't there but the smile rallied.

Sammy would be there soon enough, and, in the meantime, it was a damn fine day for a drive.

He felt the slightest craving for some chili lime beef jerky and smiled as he turned to his right again. The perfect road trip snacks were always right there when he wanted them.

But Dean didn't see the neat package when he turned and he damn near jumped out of his skin.

"Dammit, Cass!" He found himself yelling as he slammed on the breaks. The shock of the angel sneaking up on him again wore off before he could launch into a rant involving tying a bell around the his neck though.

"Cass!" He beamed. "Nice to see, ya. What brings a high level muckity muck like you to my bit of Heaven? You need a break from being Jack's bean counter?"

Cass had his characteristically blank but slightly dour expression firmly in place.

"I do not count beans. I need your help, Dean." He said, offering no greeting or answer to Dean's query.

For the first time since he'd appeared in this other plane, Dean felt a pit in his stomach.

"You're not here to pull me back, are you?"

Cass frowned, clearly carefully considering his answer.

"Not exactly." He finally answered. "And only for a short time."

Dean had thought he would be relieved, but he knew a part of him had wanted to go back to the world, the part of him that wouldn't stop looking over at his empty passenger seat.

"Okay." Dean nodded. "What's the story? Another apocalypse?" The pit in his stomach grew larger.

Again, Cass seemed to think overlong on his answer and again the answer he eventually offered was, "Not exactly."

"Cass, man, c'mon." Dean sighed. "Since when is it hard to get a straight answer out of you. What's the job?"

This time Cass didn't hesitate.

"The job. Yes." Cass nodded. "I need you to save Sam."

Dean didn't have an answer to that. He opened his mouth but no words emerged from the whirling conflict in his mind.

"Your brother." Cass added. "Sam Winchester."

That broke the spell.

"Yeah, Cass. I know which Sam you mean." This was the longest he'd frowned in Heaven. "Wh-" He took a breath, trying to gather his thoughts. "I mean, is that even allowed? Why- How do I save him?" He gestured at the car and the back road that was their surroundings. "I'm dead. I'm here. Where I'm supposed to be. If Sam's dying-" His throat tightened because just saying these words was difficult. "If he's on his way here-" That felt much easier to stomach. "-then isn't that right? Isn't that the way it's supposed to be?"

Cass shook his head firmly.

"No. Sam's story isn't finished. This is outside interference. Someone has gone to great lengths to end Sam's life ahead of schedule and in such a way as to prevent you from being reunited here." He glanced upward. "Jack is quite angry about it."

Dean nodded. "Well, good. Jack's god now. He can do something about it. Smite whoever's messing up the plan."

Cass sighed and turned in his seat to face Dean.

"Jack doesn't smite, Dean. He doesn't interfere unless someone is breaking the rules."

"You said they were. You just said that someone was breaking the rules to punch Sammy's ticket out of order, so why isn't he doing anything about this?"

Cass gave him an almost pained look. "He is."

"What?" Dean demanded and was rewarded with a look of exacerbation from the angel.

"This, Dean." Cass answered in a near growl. "You."

"I'm the smite?" Dean asked, a grin forming.

"We don't need you to smite anything." Cass said. "We need you to save Sam."

"Okay," Dean nodded. This he could do. "From what?"

"From himself." Cass answered.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Dean demanded.

Cass frowned. "I think I was clear."

"No. No, you weren't clear, Cass. What does that even mean?" His voice dropped into a gravely impression of the angel's voice. "Save Same from himself?"

"It means that Sam is about to kill himself, and we need you to stop him."