Official Description from the CW

CASTIEL RETURNS TO HIS HUMAN FORM -- Castiel (Misha Collins) appears to Dean (Jensen Ackles) in a dream and says he has something important to tell him but they need to meet somewhere private. Dean and Sam (Jared Padalecki) go searching for Castiel but instead find Jimmy, Castiel’s human vessel, who has only a spotty recollection of being an angel. Jimmy wants to return to his family and normal life, but Dean and Sam are concerned about his safety.

Charles Beeson directed the episode written by Jeremy Carver.

Episode Summary

Written by Aurelia

Dean is peacefully fishing by the lake when a wing rustle makes itself heard.
“We need to talk, Castiel suddenly says, which startles Dean.
- I’m dreaming, aren’t I?
- It’s not safe here. Some place more private.
- More private? We’re inside my head.
- Exactly. Someone could be listening.
- Cass, what’s wrong?
- Meet me here, Castiel says giving him a piece of paper. Go now.”
He disappears and Dean wakes up.

Later, the boys are in some kind of warehouse and, exploring the place flashlights in their hands, Sam asks:
“What’d he say, Dean? What was so important?
- If I knew, would I be here? What the hell? Dean exclaims entering a room where everything seems upside down.
- Looks like a bomb went off, Sam points out and they move forward in the room.
- There was a fight here.
- Between who?
- Check it out, Dean tells him after finding a symbol on the wall. Look familiar?
- Yeah, it does.
- Anna used something like that to wish the angels back to the cornfield.
- So, what? Cass was fighting angels?
- I don’t know. Sam, Dean says after seeing the angel lying unconscious on the ground. Cass? Cass! Hey! Cass!
- What’s…what’s…what’s going on? He asks coming around, his voice being much softer than usual.
- Just take it easy. Take it easy.
- No!
- Cass, you okay? Sam asks him.
- Castiel? I’m not Castiel. It’s me.
- Who’s ‘me’? Sam wants to know.
- Jimmy. My name’s Jimmy.
- Where the hell is Castiel? Dean asks him.
- He’s gone.”

Later, in a motel room.
“Mind slowing down? Dean asks, seeing Jimmy stuffing himself. You’re gonna give me angina.
- I’m hungry, he replies.
- When’s the last time you ate? Sam asks him.
- I don’t know…months, he answers and he goes on eating.
- What the hell happened back there? It looked like an angel battle royal, Sam points out.
- All I remember is there was a flash of light, and I…and I woke up, and I was just, you know, like me again.
- So what, Cass just ditched out of your meat suit? Dean wants to know.
- I really don’t know.
- You remember anything about being possessed? Anything at all? Sam asks him.
- Yeah, bits and pieces. I mean, angel inside of you, it’s kinda like being chained to a comet.
- Well, that doesn’t sound like much fun, Dean says.
- Understatement.
- Cass said he wanted to tell us something. Please, tell me you remember that, Sam asks him.
- Sorry, Jimmy answers.
- Come on. What do you know? Dean wants to know.
- My name is Jimmy Novak. I’m from Pontiac, Illinois. And I have a family.”

And we see a scene taking place in Pontiac, one year before. He’s at the table with his wife, Amelia, and their daughter, Claire, and before having dinner, Jimmy says grace. Later, while he’s sleeping in his armchair, the television starts crackling, which wakes him up. he comes up to the TV set to switch it off, but not only the TV remains on, but it starts producing a very high-pitched sound, such as the one Dean had heard after getting out of his grave. Jimmy places his hands on his ears and falls to his knees but the sound is so disturbing that he’s seized by convulsions.
(End of flashback)

Dean and Sam talk outside the room.
“So, what do we do? Sam asks.
- What do you mean? The guy’s got a family. We buy him a bus ticket, send him home.
- I don’t know about that. Dean, he’s the only lead we got.
- He doesn’t know anything.
- Are you 100% about that?
- You think he’s lying? You want to go Guantanamo on the guy?
- Dean, maybe he doesn’t even know what he knows.
- Huh?
- I say at least we get him to Bobby’s. Maybe all he needs is…is…is hypnosis or a psychic. Hell, maybe Cass will just drop back into him.
- I don’t know, man.
- Dean. Back there, that was angel-on-angel violence. Now, I don’t know what’s going on, but it’s big, and we can’t just let the only lead we’ve got just skip out. What? Sam asks seeing his brother shaking his head.
- Remember when our job was helping people? Like getting them back to their family?
- You think I don’t want to help him? I’m just being realistic. I mean, we’re doing him a favor.
- How?!
- Dean, if we want to question the guy, you can damn well bet the demons do, too.”

A few moments later, in the room.
“What the hell are you talking about, I can’t go home? Jimmy asks.
- There’s a good chance you have a bull’s-eye on your back, Dean answers.
- What? From who?
- Demons.
- Come on. That’s crazy. What do they want with me?
- I don’t know. Information, maybe.
- I don’t know anything!
- I know, but...
- Look, I’m done, okay? With demons, angels, all of it. I just want to go home.
- We understand.
- No, I don’t think that you do understand. I’ve been shot and stabbed and healed, and my body’s been dragged all over the earth. By some miracle, I’m out, and I am done. I’ve given enough, okay?
- Look, Sam intervenes. All we’re saying is that until we figure this out, the safest place is with us.
- How long? Jimmy asks him.
- We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it, Sam replies and then, Jimmy shakes his head and heads for the door but the young Winchester stands in his way.
- Where you going? Dean asks him.
- To see my wife and daughter, okay?
- No, you’re not. You’re just gonna put those people in danger.
- So, what…now I’m a prisoner?
- Harsh way to put it”, Sam replies.

Around 4:30 a.m., while his brother and Jimmy are sleeping, Sam leaves the room. Problem is, Jimmy was only pretending to be asleep and while Sam is near the drinks vending machine, he bails. As for the young Winchester, if he’s got out of the room, it was to drink some demon blood kept in a flask.

A little later, while Sam is packing his things, he tells his brother:
“Dean! Would you hurry up?! And Dean, who’s brushing his teeth, laughs. Sorry, uh, this is funny to you?
- Mr. Big Bad Prison Guard, and Jimmy McMook gives you the slip? It’s pretty funny. What were you doing, anyway?
- I was getting a Coke.
- Was it a refreshing Coke?
- Can we just go, please?”

Meanwhile, Jimmy is on a bus to Pontiac and he thinks about his former life.
He’s cooking when the radio starts crackling. He goes up to the radio set and listens to the whispers. When his wife comes back home, she finds him with his hand plunged into a pot of boiling water and, dropping her shopping bags, she exclaims:
“What the hell are you doing?
- It’s okay. I’m okay.
- Jimmy.
- Look.
- What’s wrong with you?
- Nothing’s wrong. He asked me to do it.
- Who asked you to do it?
- Castiel. To prove my faith. Look. I’m fine. It’s a miracle.
- Who’s Castiel?”
(End of flashback)

Meanwhile, the boys are on the road.
“Hey, guys, Anna suddenly says as she appears on the back seat and Dean is so surprised that the car swerves.
- Geez! he exclaims straightening up the car.
- Smooth.
- You ever try calling ahead? Dean asks her.
- I like the element of surprise.
- You look terrific.
- Oh, yeah, not the most appropriate time, Dean. You let Jimmy get away?
- Talk to ginormous here, he says pointing at his brother.
- Sam…You seem…different.
- Me? I don’t know. Haircut?
- That’s not what I’m talking about. So, what’d Jimmy tell you? She asks Dean then. He remembers anything?
- Why? What’s going on? Dean wants to know.
- It’s Cass. He got sent back home. Well, more like dragged back.
- To heaven? That’s not a good thing?
- No. That’s a very bad thing. Painfully, awfully bad, she adds and the boys exchange looks. He must have seriously pissed someone off.
- Cass said he had something to tell me, something important.
- What?
- I don’t know.
- Does Jimmy know?
- I don’t think so.
- You don’t think so? Whatever it is, it’s huge. You got to find out for sure.
- That’s why we’re going after Jimmy, Sam intervenes.
- That’s why you shouldn’t have let him go in the first place, Anna replies. He’s…probably dead already.”

Jimmy arrives in front of his house and seeing his wife and his daughter through the window, he thinks again about a discussion he had had with Amelia.
“Take the pills.
- I’m not sick.
- Jimmy, take the pills.
- I know that this is hard to understand…but he chose me.
- Castiel the angel?
- He’s spoken to me now, Ames. A dozen times. Hey, you believe in God, don’t you?
- What kind of question is that? Of course.
- And angels?
- Yes, Jimmy.
- So, why is it, then, so hard for you to believe that they’re talking to me?
- Jimmy, you sell ad time for a.m. Radio.
- No, he said that I’m special, it’s in my blood.
- What does that mean it’s in your blood?
- He didn’t say. He just said that God has chosen me for a higher purpose.
- To do what?
- You know, it’s God’s will. Not really my place to question it. Hey, come here, he says and Amelia sits next to him on the couch. This is a blessing. This is the most important thing to ever happen to me.
- I thought we were the most important things to ever happen to you.
- Hey, have faith.
- Jimmy, you’re scaring me.
- God will provide.
- If you won’t take your pills and if you won’t get help…then I’m gonna take Claire to my mother’s in the morning”, she warns him and she goes upstairs.

Dressed like he is nowadays, Jimmy gets out of the house and raising his eyes to heaven, he says:
“So, I want to help you. I’m about to lose my…my family here if you don’t tell me how. Please, Castiel, just talk to me. What do you want from me? He asks and then, there’s a powerful light and some kind of whisper. Yes, I understand. Promise my family will be okay and I’ll do it. Then…yes.
- Daddy? Claire calls him as she opens the entrance door and he takes a look at her.
- I am not your father”, he says in a deep voice and then, he leaves.
(End of flashback)

Jimmy rings the bell at last and it’s Amelia who comes to open to him.
“We…we stopped looking for you, she tells him.
- I’m so sorry.
- You were dead. We…we thought you were dead.
- I’m okay.”

A few minutes later, inside the house.
“Claire, room, now, Amelia says when the young girl comes up to the room where she and Jimmy are.
- Can I see her?
- No. No. I don’t know yet. It’s been almost a year, you know? She says wiping away her tears.
- I know. I know.
- Yeah. Think your daughter would have wanted to know you were okay.
- I was in a psych clinic. I just wanted to get myself straight before seeing you.
- And no telephones, or…
- No. I know. You’re right. I’m…I’m so sorry. But it’s all…it’s all over now. I mean, I’m really okay.
- What does that mean?
- I was…I was confused, Amelia. I was completely delusional. And I thought…I thought God was calling me to something, and I thought that it was important. And…I was wrong. I was such an idiot. Heaven, Hell…None of that matters. The only thing that’s important to me is you and Claire. And I…I can’t undo what I’ve done. But I just want to come home again.
- I don’t know if I can do that. Not yet.
- I mean, whatever…you’re comfortable with. Maybe we could start with something smaller?
- Like what?
- I don’t know. Dinner?”

Meanwhile, while the boys have stopped in a gas station, Sam phones Ruby.
“Where the hell are you, Ruby? This isn’t funny anymore. I’m all out. Stop whatever you’re doing. Call me. I need more”, he says and he hangs up.

At the Novaks’.
“Hi, Daddy.
- Hi, baby, Jimmy answers and he hugs his daughter.
- Okay, so we have turkey and roast beef. Better be okay. It’s all we have, Amelia says placing on the table a plate of sandwiches.
- It’s fine. It’s more than fine. Shall we sit? Jimmy suggests.
- Yeah, and they take seats.
- It’s perfect, Jimmy says taking a sandwich.
- Daddy, aren’t you gonna say grace? Claire asks and then, Amelia looks at her husband.
- No, honey, I don’t think I am, Jimmy answers.
- Why are you crying? The young girl wants to know.
- ‘Cause I’m happy, and suddenly, somebody knocks at the door.
- Hey, Roger, Amelia says opening the door while Jimmy wipes away his tears.
- Hey, Ames, how are you doing? Am I crazy, or did I just see your husband wander in here about half an hour ago?
- Yeah, uh, you did. But…Roger, now’s not a good time.
- Hey. There he is, Roger exclaims when Jimmy joins them at the entrance. Son of a bitch. What the hell happened to you? He asks embracing him.
- Long story but it’s over, Jimmy answers.
- Yeah?
- I’m good.
- Can I talk to you?
- Can I get you a beer? Amelia offers.
- That’d be good. Thanks, Roger answers and she walks away.
- Get in here, Jimmy says showing him the next room.
- Buddy, you scared the hell out of a lot of people.
- I know, I know.
- So, really, what happened?
- Honestly? Worst year of my life and you wouldn’t believe a word of it but…it’s all okay now. Swear.
- Actually, no, it’s not, Roger tells him.
- What do you mean? Jimmy asks him.
- I mean, I’m gonna gut your daughter while you watch, Roger answers and for a short instant, his eyes turn black.
- Here you go, Amelia says bringing the beers but suddenly, Jimmy starts hitting Roger. What are you doing?! She asks as her husband hits his ‘friend’ again and again.
- He’s a demon! He’s a demon!
- Jimmy, stop!
- Run! Run!
- Stop it!”

Jimmy takes his wife and his daughter to the stockroom and while he’s looking for salt, she tells him:
“Roger was your best friend.
- Roger was a demon, damn it! Don’t cross this line, he says pouring salt before the door.
- Jimmy, you thought you were better but you are so sick.
- I’m not crazy.
- Stay the hell away from us! Amelia orders him.
- This is all...
- Stay the hell away from us!
- … very, very real.
- Claire!
- No! Run! her mother orders her stopping Jimmy from holding his daughter. Leave her alone!
- Stay there! He tells his wife pushing her back and he gets out of the stockroom. Claire! Damn it! He exclaims seeing Roger is holding a knife against his daughter’s throat.
- Hey, pal. Told you I’d gut the bitch.
- Roger.
- Daddy?
- Just let her go, okay?
- Now, me…I would. But the missus…she has other ideas”, Roger says.

Then, a woman possessed by a demon falls upon Castiel and punches him. Amelia comes up to them to help her husband but the demon pushes her back. Then, the boys come and Dean slits Roger’s throat with the demon killer knife. While he takes Castiel and his family outside, Sam tries to overcome the demon with his power but it seems rather inefficient.
“Can’t get it up, can you, Sam?
- No, but I can, Dean says coming back to the room and the demon leaves the young woman’s body before he has the time to kill it with the knife. Come on, come on, come on, he says and the boys join the Novaks outside.
- Oh, my God.
- Where’s your wife? Dean asks arriving at the car.
- Right here, Amelia answers joining them with Claire’s coat.
- Let’s go!” and they all get into the Impala.

A little later, in a parking lot. While Claire and Amelia are still in the Impala, Jimmy tells the boys:
“You were right.
- Sorry we were, Dean replies.
- But I’m telling you…I don’t know anything.
- I don’t think they’re inclined to believe you.
- And even if they did, you’re a vessel, Sam adds. They’re still gonna want to know what makes you tick.
- Which means vivisection…if they’re feeling generous, Dean says.
- I’m gonna tell you once again...You’re putting your family in danger. You have to come with us.
- How long? Jimmy wants to know. And don’t give me that ‘cross that bridge when we get to it’ crap.
- Don’t you get it? Forever. The demons will never stop. You can never be with your family. So, you either get as far away from them as possible or you put a bullet in your head, and that’s how you keep your family safe, but there’s no getting out and there’s no going home.
- Well, don’t sugarcoat it, Sam.
- I’m just telling him the truth, Dean. Someone has to.”

A few minutes later, Jimmy joins his wife who tells him:
“Hey, so, I pretty much owe you the biggest apology ever.
- No, you don’t.
- Yes. I do. I’m so sorry, Jimmy. And I will never, ever forgive myself for letting you walk out that door.
- Well, you did what any rational person would have done. I mean, hell, I thought I was crazy half the time.
- So…demons, huh?
- Yeah.
- Can we…Can we even go home, or…? What are we gonna do?
- These boys are gonna get you a car. Don’t ask me how. And you’re gonna take Claire to Carl and Sally’s as fast as you can.
- Wait. What about you? No. I’m…I’m not going anywhere without you, Jimmy.
- Listen to me. Every moment that I’m with you, you and Claire are in danger.
- I don’t care. We are not splitting up again.
- We don’t have a choice.
- For how long?
- We’ll…cross that bridge when we get to it.
- We’re family, Amelia says after looking at Claire who’s sleeping.
- They will kill you, Amelia. And they’ll kill Claire. You just have to get as far away from me as you can.”

A little later, Sam starts the car he’s just stolen with the wiring and then, he tells Amelia:
“Okay, so…here’s your car.
- Hey. Take care of your mom, okay, bub? Jimmy tells his daughter before getting into the Impala.
- Why is he leaving again? Claire asks once the boys and Jimmy are gone, and then, her mother slaps her in the face.
- This is just not my day, is it? She says as her eyes turn black. You little bitch.”

A little later, in the Impala. While Jimmy is sleeping, Dean asks his brother:
“What the hell happened back there?
- What?
- You practically fainted trying to gank a demon.
- Okay, I didn’t faint. I got a little dizzy.
- You can call it whatever you want. Point is, you used to be strong enough to kill Alastair. Now you can’t even kill a stunt demon number three?
- What do you want me to say about it, Dean?
- For starters, what’s going on with your mojo? I mean, it’s yo-yo’ing all over the place. I’m not trying to pick a fight here, okay? I just…You’re…you’re scaring me, man.
- I’m scaring myself, Sam replies before his cell phone starts ringing. Hello? Who is this? Hey, he says waking up Jimmy to give him the phone. It’s your wife.
- Amelia? Oh, my God.”

A little later, as they arrive at a warehouse.
“They’re expecting you to come alone, Dean teslls Jimmy. That’s exactly what you’re gonna do.
- We’ll work our way through the catwalks. We’ll be right behind you, Sam adds.
- All you got to do is stay calm and stall and let us do our job.
- You want me to stay calm? This is my family we’re talking about.
- Listen to me, this will work, Dean tells him. You understand? Nobody’s gonna get hurt.
- Whatever. Give me a minute, okay? And Jimmy walks away.
- There’s no way they’re expecting him to come alone, Dean. You know this is probably a trap.
- Yeah, I know. That’s why I have a plan.”

Meanwhile, in the yard of the warehouse.
“Castiel, you son of a bitch! Jimmy shouts raising his eyes to heaven. You promised me my family would be okay! You promised you were gonna take care of them! I gave you everything you asked me to give! I gave you more! This is the thanks I get? This is what you do? This is your heaven?! Help me, please! You promised, Cass! Just help me! Typical”, he says before heading for the warehouse.

“Hi, honey, Amelia tells him while Claire is besides her, tied to a chair. You’re home.
- Listen, I’m…I’m begging you here. You do whatever you want with me…But my wife and daughter, they’re just…they’re not a part of this.
- Oh, they’re a big part of this, Jimmy. And P.S., you should have come alone.
- I am alone.
- Oh, you’re such a liar. Like I didn’t think you’d bring Heckle and Jeckle, hum? And then, other demons come dragging the Winchester brothers by the arms.
- Nice plan, Dean, Sam says.
- Well, nobody bats a thousand, his brother replies.
- Got the knife? Amelia asks and one of the demons shows it to her. And you know what’s funny?
- You wearing a soccer mom? Dean replies.
- Is I was actually bummed to get this detail. Picking up an empty vessel? Sort of like a milk run. Now look who landed in my lap.
- Yeah, well…You got us, okay? Let these people go, says Sam who seems out of breath.
- Oh, Sam. It’s easy to act chivalrous when your wonder girl powers aren’t working, huh? Now for the punch line, Amelia says pointing her gun at Sam, everybody dies, and suddenly, she turns around and shoots Jimmy. Waste little orphan Annie”, she adds before walking away.

So, one of the demons heads for Claire but while he’s about to kill her with a metal bar, like an angel, she puts her hand on his forehead and kills him. While the boys are fighting against other demons, Claire unties her bonds and Jimmy realizes that his daughter is possessed by Castiel. While Claire is busy killing the demon that was setting about Dean, Sam succeeds in gaining the upper hand over the other demon and in getting the knife back. Keeping her on the ground, he cuts her neck and like a vampire, he sucks her blood. And all this, before the eyes of Dean and Castiel. Then, Sam raises the knife and stabs the demon in the chest to kill it. He gets up and suddenly, to his brother’s surprise, he raises his hand to use his power. Dean turns around and sees that, actually, Amelia has just arrived behind him. Sam exorcises her without hurting Jimmy’s wife.

As for Castiel, he heads for Jimmy who’s in a pretty bad shape and kneeling besides him, he tells him:
“Of course we keep our promises. Of course you have our gratitude. You served us well. Your work is done. It’s time to go home now…your real home. You’ll rest forever in the fields of the Lord. Rest now, Jimmy.
- No. Claire?
- She’s with me now. She’s chosen. It’s in her blood, as it was in yours.
- Please, Castiel, Jimmy implored him. I mean, just…just take me. Take me, please.
- I want to make sure you understand. You won’t die…or age. If this last year was painful for you, picture a hundred…a thousand more like it.
- Doesn’t matter. You take me. Just take me.
- As you wish.”

And then, Castiel leaves Claire’s body to reintegrate Jimmy’s. All traces of wound having disappeared, Castiel picks himself up and heads for the boys while Amelia joins her daughter. After having one last look to Jimmy’s family, Castiel starts leaving but Dean calls out to him saying:
“Cass, hold up. What were you gonna tell me?
- I learned my lesson while I was away, Dean. I serve Heaven. I don’t serve men. And I certainly don’t serve you”, he adds and then, he leaves.

Later, while the boys are on the road.
“All right. Let’s hear it, Sam says.
- What?
- Drop the bomb, man. You saw what I did. Come on. Stop the car. Take a swing.
- I’m not gonna take a swing.
- Then scream. Chew me out.
- I’m not mad, Sam.
- Come on. You’re not mad?
- No.
- Right. Look, at least let me explain myself.
- Don’t. I don’t care.
- You don’t care?
- What do you want me to say, that I’m disappointed? Yeah, I am. But mostly, I’m just tired, man. And I’m done. I am just done, Dean adds and then, Sam’s phone rings.
- Hey, Bobby.
- Hey. You and your brother better shag ass to my place a.s.a.p.
- What’s going on?
- The apocalypse, genius. Now, get your asses over here, Bobby says and they hang up.
- What’d he say?” Dean asks his brother.

Later, at Bobby’s.
“Well, thanks for shaking a tail. Glad you got here, Bobby says while Sam opens the door of the panic room. Go on inside. I want to show you something.
- All right. So, uh…what’s the big demon problem? Sam asks entering the room while his brother and Bobby remain outside.
- You are. This is for your own good, and they lock Sam inside.
- Guys? Hey. Guys! This isn’t funny! Guys! Hey! Guys!”