I have a friend who swears that she heard a clock ticking at the end of the finale. She thinks that Sam is back for a limited time to do something specific.

I need to go back and listen carefully to that scene to see if I can hear a clock ticking.

But we know, meta-wise, that JP is back for the whole season. If there's a clock ticking, it might as easily be a countdown.

Ehab gets her wish. Next round tomorrow morning. I'm beat.

Season 2, Round 4, Bracket #1/1:

John: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.
Dean:What?
John: 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. 13:0

vs

Sam: Dean, you're my brother, alright? So whatever you're carrying, let me help a little bit. 10:3

Dean: When you were little, couldn't have been more than five, you just started asking questions. How come we didn't have a mom? Why did we always have to move around? Where's Dad? I remember I begged you: "Quit asking, Sammy. You don't want to know." I just wanted you to be a kid, just for a little while longer. Always tried to protect you. Keep you safe. Dad didn't even have to tell me. It was just always my responsibility, you know? It's like I had one job. I had one job, and I screwed it up. I blew it, and for that, I'm sorry. I guess that’s what I do. I let down the people I love. You know, I let Dad down, and now I guess I’m just supposed to let you down, too. How can I? How am I supposed to live with that? What am I supposed to do? Sammy? What am I supposed to do? 12:1

vs

Sam: You're bossy.
Dean: What?
Sam: You're bossy... and short.
Dean: Dude, are you drunk?
Sam: Yeah. So? Stupid. 9:4

Speaking of clocks ticking down....

S2, R4, B1:

• You took care of Sammy, you too care of me
• What am I supposed to do?

Because those are the two I'm going to have to decide between.

Round 4, Bracket 1

• I am so proud of you: I need to watch this scene again. ::sniffle::
• What am I supposed to do?: This one, too.

Season 2, Round 4, Bracket #1/1:

• I just want you to know that I am so proud of you.
• What am I supposed to do? Sammy? What am I supposed to do?

Bracket #1

• Proud of you
• What am I supposed to do?

And the next round is really going to be hard.

Season 2, Round 4, Bracket #1/1 I am so proud of you

and

What am I supposed to do?

(Are we looking at a landslide?)

Season 2, Round 4, Bracket #1/1:

I just want you to know that I am so proud of you.

What am I supposed to do? Sammy? What am I supposed to do?

It sure is looking like a landslide.

• I am so proud of you
• What am I supposed to do?