[video]

[happytobleed]

[ It's a different type of disorientation from the last time he'd left and come back. The last time, he'd been hurt, his grace half-torn from his body.

He's no stronger this time, even if it's on borrowed grace, but he's more composed and it's easy enough to reach into his pocket for the device that hadn't been there a moment earlier. ]

Can anyone tell me how long I've been gone? The last time I remember being here was shortly after we left the town. Maybe a few weeks.

[ It's clear that he's walking through a dim hall as he speaks, heading towards his living space. ]


[ Private to Dean ]

Dean, are you here?

Comments

[happytobleed]

I'm not... too far ahead of you, but things have--

[ He swallows, pulling back. ]

Not everything has gone smoothly the last few months, Sam.

[lost_my_shoe]

When do things ever go smoothly for us?

[ He tries a smile, though it's a pretty weak attempt. ]

I get the feeling you're about to drop some big bombshell on me. And I'm guessing it's not good news...

[happytobleed]

Dean... he's not...

[ He looks away. ]

He's gone, Sam. Metatron killed him.

[lost_my_shoe]

[ Okay, so that's about the biggest bombshell Cas could probably drop. Sam pales. He should've expected that kind of news, probably deep down he did, but it still hits him like a punch in the gut.

Dean can't be dead. He can't. They're supposed to kill Abaddon, kill Metatron, and fix Heaven. That's how it's supposed to be, right? That's the plan...

His jaw tenses, tears shine, unshed, in his eyes. ]

But... We can fix it, right? I mean... He's not dead-dead... He can't be...

[happytobleed]

I don't know. If I can find a way to fix it, I'll do anything I have to.

[ He'd die to bring Dean back. For all the bad Castiel has done, Dean has done so much good and sacrificed so much. Castiel needs him to live more than he needs his own life. ]

[lost_my_shoe]

Thanks, Cas. We appreciate it. You know that, right?

[ Since they're not so good at saying it. ]

[happytobleed]

[ He nods, but he doesn't think that they really do. They don't understand the sacrifices he's made and they don't understand the sacrifices he's willing to make. ]

I'll find a way to make it right.

[lost_my_shoe]

[ Sam nods and moves in for another hug. If he's bunching handfuls of material at Cas' back well then, he's not going to mention it. ]

[happytobleed]

[ This is the sort of hug he's used to from Dean, but not from Sam, and that throws him a little. He hugs back with his usual stiffness, but he understands the need. ]

[lost_my_shoe]

Thanks for letting me know, Cas...