Jimmy Novak

Jimmy Novak is the true vessel of Castiel. A very devout Christian, he prayed for years to assist the Lord.

Early life
Jimmy Novak was your average Joe before Castiel called upon him. He would pray before they ate dinner (which he was strict about). Then when he fell asleep in front of the TV, it began to show static. Jimmy notices this and goes to turn it off, but it won't turn off. Then he hears an ear piercing noise, and collapses on the floor.

Jimmy now can hear Castiel's voice, and Castiel asks Jimmy to prove his faith and stick his hand in a pot of boiling water. Which Jimmy does and is amazed by the fact that his hand is fine. His wife walks in on him with his hand in the pot and freaks out. Jimmy tries to reassure her, by telling her Castiel told him that no harm would come, but she is not convinced.

Later on, she tries to get him to take some pills due to her belief that Jimmy is going crazy. Jimmy refuses, telling her he's not crazy. Jimmy tells her that Castiel chose him, she inquired if it was Castiel the angel. Jimmy tells her that Castiel has talked to Jimmy a number of times. He asks Amelia about her belief in god and Angels, and why it would be so hard to believe that they are talking to him. Amelia retorts by saying that he sells Ad times on AM radio, Jimmy interrupted her by telling her that Castiel says that he is special. It's in his bloodline. She asks what that means, Jimmy doesn't know but tells her that Castiel told him that God had chosen him for a higher purpose. Jimmy pulls her to the couch and tells Amelia that this is a blessing, that this is the best thing to ever happen to him. Amelia reminds him that his family is the best thing to happen to him. Amelia ends the conversation by telling Jimmy if he doesn't get help, she is going to take Clare to her mother's house in the morning.

With no other option, Jimmy gets ready to leave. On his way out he grabs his trench coat. Standing in front of his house, he calls to Castiel. He tells the angel that he wants to help and something about his family. Jimmy asks Castiel to talk to him, and then Castiel answers. Castiel convinces Jimmy to says yes, and Jimmy asks Castiel to promise to keep his family safe. He then says "Yes". Castiel comes and possesses Jimmy's body. Castiel, wearing Jimmy, leaves.

The Rapture
After a big battle, Castiel is thrown from Jimmy's body. Jimmy wakes up and see two men (Sam and Dean) in front of him calling him Cas. Jimmy responds by saying, "Not Castiel." Later on Sam and Dean get him something to eat and are fascinated to see "Castiel", well his body, eat. They ask Jimmy what it was like to have an angel inside you. Jimmy answers it's like being chained to a comet. They also ask him what happened to Cas, and Jimmy tells them he has no idea. He just woke up and was himself again. Jimmy asks if he can go back to his family, but Sam tells him no.

After Sam and Dean talk, they tell Jimmy he needs to stay with them awhile; for protection. He is confused by this. They continue to tell him that demons are after him, which shocks Jimmy. Jimmy tells Sam and Dean that he doesn't know anything, but Sam responds that the demons don't care, they'll still want Jimmy. So they put Jimmy on lockdown in their motel room. But when Sam steps out (and Dean is asleep), Jimmy escapes and jumps on a bus back home.

When he arrives there, he see his family and is hit with the memory of when he was last here. He goes and rings the doorbell, and Amelia opens the door. She is shocked to see him, and tells Jimmy they stopped looking for him. Once inside his own home, he asks if he can see Claire, but Amelia refuses. To convince his wife, he lies to her telling her that he was in a mental institution the whole time getting better. She is unsure what to do, but Jimmy convinces her to try again.

They have dinner, but his family soon notices changes in Jimmy. Like how he doesn't say prayer before eating anymore. Then a demon comes (disguised as his friend), and Jimmy attacks. His wife is horrified by this. Jimmy tries to get his family to safety, but they escape. It is quickly revealed to them their friend was a demon. When the man's demon possessed wife attacks him, Amelia rushes to Jimmy's aid. Luckily, Sam and Dean show up and save them.

Now that they have escaped, Jimmy is forced to separate from his family for their safety. Jimmy asks the boys how long this will be, and Sam answers forever. Jimmy is saddened by this, but sees Sam's point. So Jimmy talks with Amelia before he leaves saying that he'll "see" them again. Amelia tells him that she is sorry for everything and she doesn't want him to go. Jimmy tells her its okay, and that this is for their own safety. He finishes it off by saying that Sam and Dean are going to get them a car, and he wants her to take Claire somewhere safe. Then he gets into the Impala and leaves with Sam and Dean.

So while Jimmy is sleeping, Sam gets a call from "Amelia" and gives it to Jimmy. Jimmy realizes that "Amelia" isn't Amelia and they head to her location. The demons want Jimmy to come alone, so the Winchester make a plan to secretly follow Jimmy in. Jimmy asks for a moment and goes off on his own. Jimmy begins to yell at Castiel for not protecting his family, and not keeping his promises. When Jimmy gets no word from Castiel, he heads into the building.

Once in the building he sees his "wife" and his daughter tied to a chair. Jimmy demands their release. The demon also reveals she knew that Jimmy would bring Sam and Dean. Two demons bring Sam and Dean out. "Amelia" pulls out a gun and shoots Jimmy. Just as Claire to about to be killed, "Claire" breaks free and destroys the demon. Castiel is possessing Claire to help save the day. Following Castiel's lead, Sam and Dean break free.

Once the battle is over, Castiel walks over to Jimmy. Jimmy is slowly dying due to the gunshot wound. Castiel reassures Jimmy about his oncoming death, and tells Jimmy he going to a better place, and that his work is done. Jimmy is concerned for his daughter Castiel is possessing. Realizing she won't have a life with Castiel possessing her, Jimmy begs Castiel to take him instead. Castiel warns him of the consequences, but Jimmy is determined to let his daughter be free. With that Castiel leaves Claire's body and goes into Jimmy's.

Season 5
He is likely dead since being blown to pieces by Archangel Raphael. Despite this, he does affect Castiel when famine hits town. Jimmy's hunger for meat influences Castiel to go on a hamburger rampage.

Season 7
If not dead from Raphael's blow, he is obviously dead after Castiel gets destroyed by Lucifer.

Jimmy, once again is not truly seen, but during the course of the episode, "Meet The New Boss" Jimmy is shown to be on the edge of exploding because of being under the weight of all the souls and the Leviathans (which were released from purgatory and absorbed by Castiel). At the end of the episode after Castiel sends all the souls back into purgatory, the Leviathans (which held on inside) take over and nearly kill Dean and Bobby, but because of Jimmy bring on the edge of exploding, they instead retreat into the lake where they leave Jimmy's body and make their way into the water supply pipes.

All that is found of Castiel and Jimmy is the trench coat. In Hello Cruel World Castiel was presumed deceased; but in The Born-Again Identity it is revealed Castiel has survived the Leviathan possession and is now living as a man named Emmanuel. However, though Castiel is still alive, his vessel Jimmy Novak is presumed to be dead from Raphael's first attack. Since Castiel is revived over and over again by God, it is likely that Jimmy Novak is long gone, the body Castiel owns right now is just Castiel's physical appearance on Earth.

Side Effect of Possession
Castiel once said that aside from Jimmy's devout faith he chose him as a vessel because there is something special about Jimmy's bloodline that allows him and others in his family to comfortably have an angel presence inside of them and not suffer ill effects, such as with the Archangels hollowing of their hosts, or Lucifer rotting his host.

Appearances

 * Season 4
 * The Rapture

Jimmy Novak