The end of my three month maternity leave from Carly's was just about up, and life had went on normally. That is if you counted Dean as guard sleeping on the futon downstairs, Bobby in the spare room at the top of the stairs and Sam sleeping with a baby monitor in his room across the hall. All this time and no sign of an impending attack, the guys thought one of yellow eyes lackeys would wait until Sammy Jo was six months just like he had Sam and the other 'special' children all those years ago. I was just getting fed of up having to have a bodyguard whenever I went out with my daughter. Even thought about calling Castiel and asking him to do his angel mojo and mark both Sammy and my own ribs like he had the brothers. That would only mean a move, and how long would that last, a few weeks or months until they found us and we had to move again?

Tired of feeling like a trapped animal I slipped out of the house while the three men slept, backed the car out of the drive and headed to the coast. If they weren't coming to us, I was going to make them come to me. I knew this was quite possibly a suicide mission, but I had to do it. Either they came for Sammy in the dead of night, or it happened on my terms. Personally I preferred the later.

"Cas, I hope you're watching wherever you are. Boys may need to know where to find my body."

Step after step towards the rushing ocean my walk strong and steady I knew there were only two ways this could play out. They showed up and laughed in my face, or killed me. I didn't fear death, not knowing that there was life after this. At the same time guilty pangs wracked over me at the possibility that I may be leaving my little girl without a mother. Without me she'd still be in good hands, of that I was certain. Without me however, there was one secret that would never come to light...

At the waters edge I let out a raging scream. I'd been going more for the warrior, but it came out sounding more like just another mad woman who'd finally lost it. At least to my own ears.

"I know you're out there somewhere. I've felt you circling like rabid vultures for the past week, so come out. Lets have a little chat face to face shall we?"

When the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end and bile rose in the back of my throat I knew I was no longer alone.

"Pretty amateur move coming here alone Bree."

A cocky smile played across my lips as I turned to face them, it stayed there even when they blinked and I saw three pairs of pitch black eyes.

"I just wanted to let you in on a little secret. You can kill me, but its not going to work. Sure... maybe you'll eventually succeed in killing us all. Even get my daughter in your dirty little paws. But she will never be what you want her to be."

The two men laughed, the woman in between them elbowed them a stern look on her face.

"I can see you don't believe me. You don't have to, you will find out in time."

"I see I was wrong about you coming alone, trying to even the playing field boys?"

Glancing over my shoulder I spotted Sam approaching the Colt in one hand knife in the other. Out of the corner of my eye I saw that Castiel stood just feet from my other side. Once again facing the enemy I noticed the woman held a gun aimed over my left shoulder. Lowering it she pulled the trigger and I dove into the line of fire. The bullet ripped through the side of my chest, and by the time my knees hit the ground the demon trio had vanished. Falling forward, my hands in the sand I gasped for air as the excruciating fire radiated from my chest. Looking skyward Sam's face blurred in front of me, and then he pulled me into his arms.

"Take care of her Sam, you..." I sputtered coughing up blood, "promised."

Castiel kneeled beside us reaching his hand towards my forehead.

"No Cas."

"But its not your time!" he yelled angrily, his face showing more emotion than I'd ever witnessed from him.

Looking from one face to the other I saw their pain, and for that I felt both ashamed and guilty. Still I didn't regret my decision to come here tonight.

"Call an ambulance... if you must... no magic shows."

My teeth were chattering despite the fire that raged like a maddened bull in my chest. I was going to drown in my own blood, with every breath I took I felt my own life ebbing away. My vision was darkening around the edges and I knew that darkness was coming for me.

"You're going to die for him?" Castiel growled at the both of us.

"...for her... "

The last thing I saw was Castiel's pained expression as Sam was talking to a dispatcher on his cell.

I opened my eyes and blinked several times, disoriented by the familiar surroundings of my room in the cabin we'd bunkered down in what seemed like a lifetime ago.

"Morning sunshine! Before you ask, I'm Gabriel. I'm sure you're a bit confused and have questions but try to take it easy until you get your sea legs back alright?"

"Since you're an angel that must mean I'm dead, but this is heaven?"

"I see you've heard of me then, all good I hope? Mmm, not exactly. Think of it more like a waiting room, somewhere you felt at home. I picked it myself, not to brag or anything."

"So what happens now, how do I get back?"

"Nothing you can do from here but wait and see. Your body is in pretty rough shape kid."

He cringed as though he'd seen it, as I ran my hand over my side that had been torn wide open. At least here that was gone along with the pain.

"Where's Cas?"

"Can't say other than unavailable."

Gabriel turned his head sharply and nodded to himself.

"Well alrighty then! Was nice chatting, but it looks like you're getting paged. Send the boys my regards."

With a snap of his fingers the darkness took me under again. Feeling like I was swimming in this sea of darkness I was surrounded by voices I recognized.

"She should've woken up by now."

Sam...

"Give her time for pete's sake, geez ya idjit."

Bobby...

Struggling to break the surface and let them know I was there. Then my body finally started cooperating with my brain and my eyes fluttered open at last!

"Welcome back." Dean said propping some pillows behind me and helping me sit up.

If my smile got any bigger I was afraid my face would crack, but there was something wrong with this picture. Looking from each of their faces I got a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach when I saw I was in my bedroom. And the pain... there wasn't any at all.

"Where's Sammy?"

"Across the hall. Don't worry someone's watching her, someone who can explain everything."

Sam nodded toward the doorway urging me to go on. I got to my feet slowly expecting to feel dizzy or lightheaded with all the traveling I'd done, but it didn't happen. I hurried to the doorway across the hall where my daughter lay in her crib, stopping dead in my tracks. Even with his back to me I knew who it was, said a lot especially considering he was sans trench coat.

Brushing past Castiel I gingerly lifted my little girl from her crib and held her tightly against my chest.

"Sorry, I just had to make sure he held up his end of the deal and you were okay."

"What deal?"

"I asked God to fix you, being human would be kind of pointless without you. He did, so I guess I should go now."

The full gamut of emotions coursed through me as his words took hold. He was at the foot of the stairs before I snapped back to reality.

"Cas wait..." I hurried down the stairs as fast I could without shaking Sammy.

As I stood in front of him catching my breath Sammy woke up all wide eyed like she knew what was happening around her.

"Do you remember me calling for you at the hospitals chapel?"

He nodded, but looked confused as to the point of my question.

"I thought her father should see her before we started calling people."

His look of confusion switched to doubt, then back again.

"Sam and I never..."

Dean cleared his throat loudly from the top of the stairs, a bit embarrassed I turned to find the three other men staring down at us. Sammy stretched her arms out to Cas then and I couldn't stop the tears from coming even if I'd wanted to. Behind me I heard the three guys descending the stairs.

Sam came down first. "Like she said, we never. Congrats man." He patted him on the shoulder then made room for his brother and Bobby to congratulate Cas in the same manly way.

"She has her Daddy's eyes."

As he kissed his daughters forehead I slipped my arm around him, knowing whatever may come we could handle together.

A/N: I haven't decided whether or not to continue this story line further in a different story or not. (then again I may just use any freetime to revamp this story)I'm not really leaning towards it, mostly because I don't have an idea in the works, but also because despite the high number of readers each chapter has gotten the reviews are very low in number. I believe a writer writes for others to enjoy + even though I may personally like this one it seems the masses may not have felt the same.

To those of you who have left reviews thank you, the fact you took the time to say anything was kind + every writer loves feedback good or bad - the only way we can better ourselves :]