( TIME OF DEATH )

      "There's no such thing as an honorable death. My corpse is going to rot in the ground and my family is going to die! No. I'm not going with you, I don't care what you do." Dean says.

      Tessa looks at Dean. "Well, like you said. There's always a choice. I can't make you come with me. But you're not getting back in your body. And that's just facts. So yes, you can stay. You'll stay here for years. Disembodied, scared, and over the decades it'll probably drive you mad. Maybe you'll even get violent."

      "What are you saying?" Dean says.

      "Dean. How do you think angry spirits are born? They can't let go and they can't move on. And you're about to become one. The Same thing you hunt."

BOILER ROOM
[ ☼ ]

      The Demon, John, and the two minions are still in a circle around the summoning symbol. "It's very unseemly, making deals with devils. How do I know this isn't just another trick?" The Demon asks.

      "It's no trick. I will give you the Colt and the bullet, but you've got to help Dean. You've got to bring him back." John says.

      "Why, John, you're a sentimentalist. If only your boys knew how much their daddy loved them." It says.

      "It's a good trade. You care a hell of a lot more about this gun than you do Dean." John says.

      "Don't be so sure. He killed some people very special to me. But still, you're right, he isn't much of a threat. And neither is your other son." John lowers his head, raises his eyes. "You know the truth, right? About Sammy? And the other children?"

      "Yeah. I've known for a while." John says.

      "But Sam doesn't, does he? You've been playing dumb."

      "Can you bring Dean back? Yes or no?" John asks.

      "No. But I know someone who can. it's not a problem." The Demon says.

      "Good. Before I give you the gun, I'm going to want to make sure that Dean's okay. With my own eyes." John says.

      "Oh, John, I'm offended. Don't you trust me?"John shakes his head slowly. "Fine."

      "So we have a deal?" John asks.

      "No, John, not yet. You still need to sweeten the pot."

      "With what?

      "There's something else I want, as much as that gun. Maybe more."

      Dean is sitting on the bed, Tessa is behind him. She strokes his hair tenderly. "It's time to put the pain behind you." She says.

      "And go where?" Dean asks.

      "Sorry. I can't give away the big punchline. Moment of truth. No changing your mind later. So what's it going to be?" Tessa asks.

      As he turns to look at her, the lights start flickering, a familiar buzzing starts. "What are you doing that for?" Dean asks.

      "I'm not doing it." She says.

      They both turn to a vent in the floor and see black demon ichor pour out of it. "What the hell?" Dean asks.

      "You can't do this! Get away!" Tessa yells.

      "What's happening?!" Dean yells.

      Tessa/Reaper screams as the demon flows into her mouth. She turns, eyes glowing yellow. "Today's your lucky day, kid." It says. The Demon places a hand on Dean's forehead and he convulses.

      In Dean's Room, Sam is still sitting on the bed as Dean gasps, waking suddenly and choking on the tube in his throat.

      "Dean?" Sam asks, then yells into the hallway. "Help! I need help!"

      "I can't explain it. The edema's vanished. The internal contusions are healed. Your vitals are good. You have some kind of angel watching over you." The Doctor says.

      Elena and Sam stand near Dean's bed, smiling. "Thanks, doc." Dean says. The Doctor leaves; Dean turns to Sam. "So you said a Reaper was after me?"

      "Yeah." Sam says.

      "How'd I ditch it?" 

      "You got me. Dean, you really don't remember anything?" Sam asks.

      "No. Except this pit in my stomach. Sam, something's wrong." Dean says.

      A knock at the door; John hovers in the doorway. "How you feeling, dude?" He asks Dean.

      "Fine, I guess. I'm alive." Dean says.

      "That's what matters." John says.

      Sam turns to his father angrily. "Where were you last night?" He asks.

      "I had some things to take care of." John says.

      "Well, that's specific." Sam says.

      "Come on, Sam." Elena says.

      "Did you go after the demon?" Sam asks.

      "No."

      "You know, why don't I believe you right now?" Sam asks.

      John pleads. "Can we not fight? You know, half the time we're fighting, I don't know what we're fighting about. We're just butting heads. Sammy, I, I've made some mistakes. But I've always done the best I could. I just don't want to fight anymore, okay?" He asks.

      "Dad, are you all right?" Sam asks.

      "Yeah. Yeah, I'm just a little tired. Hey, son, would you, uh, would you mind getting me a cup of caffeine?" John asks.

      "Yeah. Yeah, sure." Sam says.

      "I'm coming with you." Elena says and Sam just shrugs. Sam leaves, still frowning.

      John looks after him sadly. "What is it?" Dean asks.

      "You know, when you were a kid, I'd come home from a hunt, and after what I'd seen, I'd be, I'd be wrecked. And you, you'd come up to me and you, you'd put your hand on my shoulder and you'd look me in the eye and you'd... You'd say "It's okay, Dad" Dean, I'm sorry." John says.

      "What?" Dean asks.

      "You shouldn't have had to say that to me, I should have been saying that to you. You know, I put, I put too much on your shoulders, I made you grow up too fast. You took care of Sammy, you took care of me. You did that, and you didn't complain, not once. I just want you to know that I am so proud of you." John says.

      "This really you talking?" Dean asks.

       "Yeah. Yeah, it's really me."

      "Why are you saying this stuff?" Dean asks.

      John comes closer, puts a hand on Dean's shoulder. "I want you to watch out for Sammy, okay?" He says.

      "Yeah, dad, you know I will. You're scaring me." Dean says.

      "Don't be scared, Dean."

      John leans over and whispers something into Dean's ear. Dean pulls back in shock, processing. John leaves, and Dean stares after him.

      In an empty hospital room, John enters and places the colt on a small bed table. "Okay." He says out loud.

      Sam and Elena walk back to the room carrying a cup of coffee. Sam looks into a room and sees John on the floor. "Dad?!"

      Dropping the cup, Sam runs to John's side, kneeling over him and screaming for help.

      Once again, a crowd of Doctors and nurses attempt resuscitation, this time on John.

      Dean and Sam hover in the doorway, and a nurse tries to push them out. "No, no, no, it's our dad. It's our dad! Come on." Dean yells.

      "Okay, stop compressions." The Doctor says.

      "Come on, come on."

      "Still no pulse." The Nurse says.

      "Okay, that's it everybody. I'll call it. Time of death: 10:41 am."