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"Cas, please come back. I… Don't do this to me again. I can't… Please, Cas, you have to wake up. I … need you. I can't do this without you. Don't leave me here alone. Don't go where I can't follow."
"Can you hear me, Cas? Chuck was defeated, and Jack is now God. That's right, it's insane. He's only a kid, but he's a good one. So everything will be all right. All you have to do is return. If not for me, then at least for Jack. He needs you. He's missing you."
"Hey Jack, I hope you are fine. Listen, I know you don't owe me anything. Could you, however, bring Cas back? He has no right to be... there. Just, don't make a deal. Cas would truly hate this, don't you think?"
"Why did you do this? Why did you lie to me again? Don't burden someone with your feelings and then die. This isn't right, you coward. Cas, if you truly ..., you'd return. You've done it before, so why not now? You've realized I'm not the person you thought I was, haven't you? So, just stay where you are. I don't need you."
"Cas, I'm sorry. I'm at a loss and angry. I'm not sure why I said that. All I want to do is talk to you again. To see you again. I... miss you."
It had been five weeks since Chuck's defeat, and Dean had spent every minute of every day reading every book in the bunker to learn more about the Empty. He conversed with mediums and witches, and even summoned a demon of the crossroads. Rowena stepped in before a demon appeared. She told him that no deal could bring Cas back. Dean had no idea how the Queen of Hell knew his desire to pull Cas from the Empty.
His final straw was this deal, and all of his prayers to Cas or Jack went unanswered. Dean had fallen into a deep hole. He didn't say much, ate little, and only left his room to get some alcohol. Dean began to have nightmares, mostly about Cas, after he had lost all hope. So he drank himself into oblivion.
Eileen stood at the bunker's entrance 39 days after Cas' death, and Dean had never seen his brother happier than he was at that moment. Eileen told them that Jack had spoken with her. Dean sent Jack a short prayer in which he expressed his admiration for him. Sam most likely did the same. Jack had a message for the brothers as well. He wished to resurrect Mary, but her mother refused. She was happy to be reunited with John. And Jack was unable to save Cas from the Empty because it had hidden the angel deep within in a location Jack was unable to reach. Dean wanted to punch Sam because he looked pitiful at him. Sam quickly drew his attention back to Eileen, which was convenient for Dean. They were so engrossed in each other that they failed to notice Dean's departure. He wasn't jealous of his brother, but he couldn't stand it at the time. He texted Sam to let him know that the two of them would be alone in the bunker for the night. Rather than going to a bar, Dean decided to buy a bottle of cheap whiskey and drive around with Baby. It was already dark when he came to a halt in front of an empty parking spot where people had left their cars to go hiking. He stared into the night sky, silently crying and pleading with Cas to return.
"Hello, Jody! It's great to hear from you. How are you doing?"
"Good. And you appear to be in a good mood. Is there anything good that has happened since our last chat?"
"So get this, Eileen returned three days ago."
"That's great news, Sam. I'm guessing you're still in the honeymoon phase."
"Well, we..."
"I'm kidding, of course. How is Dean? He didn't return my calls or messages."
"He's depressed and doesn't say anything. He only sits in his room and drinks. I guess it's about Cas' death, but... it's different this time."
"He needs his time. Cas meant a lot to him."
"I know; I'm just afraid he'll do something stupid."
"Perhaps I should come over and talk to him."
"I suppose this would be helpful, but I know you're busy."
"Don't start with this. That is why I am calling you. I'm sorry to bother you with this, especially since you're dealing with your brother right now. But Claire needs help with a vampire nest in Arkansas and I already asked around and everybody is busy."
"Of course, we'll help. Perhaps it's the best thing for Dean. A nice little distraction hunt."
"Thank you very much, Sam. However, you must take care of yourself as well. Promise me."
"Promise."
The vampire in front of Dean was the same height as Sam, but bigger and stronger. Dean was losing ground to that son of a bitch, who was a hell of a fighter. All he did was defend himself, and he became exhausted. He didn't know how Sam and Claire were doing; all he knew was that he hoped they were fine.He noticed a rebar sticking out from the wall out of the corner of his eye. Maybe he'll be able to use it to paralyze the motherfucker in front of him. Dean was distracted by his plan thoughts long enough for the vampire to grab him. The vampire appeared to have the same plan, but he had the advantage of Dean being in a position to be stabbed. He should fight against the vampire. However, he didn't. He had lost his fighting spirit. Dean just wanted everything to be over with. Dean was done with the feelings, thoughts, and nightmares. So he let the vampire drive him onto that rebar. He barely felt anything, but breathing became difficult. He saw Sam in front of him as he faded away. Dean spoke to Sam, but he didn't understand what he was saying. He waited for the reaper to take him to hell because it was his rightful place. The righteous man who defiled angels with his touch should not be in Heaven. And Jack did not want to deal with him.
Dean was fainting into darkness.
Dean awoke for only a few minutes the first time. It was pitch black around him, and some machines beeped beside him. Dean's eyelids were heavy, so he closed them, and he returned to oblivion. When he awoke the next time, it was bright, far too bright. He tried to move while staring at a white ceiling, but his body screamed in pain. Some doctor or nurse approached Dean and spoke to him, but Dean couldn't understand a word they said. He wanted to say something, but even that was painful. So he was still alive and in a hospital. The person next to him moved around, and he soon became tired and the pain subsided. His eyes closed once more, and he fell into a dreamless sleep.
Dean reopened his eyes to find himself standing in front of a hospital bed, staring at his motionless body. Dean exhaled a sigh of relief as he realized he had finally died.
"I'm sorry to let you down, but you're not dead. Also, dying would not alleviate the pain you are experiencing. It's an ache you carry in your soul.” a deep voice said with an accent Dean couldn’t place. The hunter swung around. A man his age sat in a chair next to the window, with dark hair, brown eyes, and tanned skin.
"Who are you?" Dean wondered aloud.
"I'm Hades, the former Greek God of Death and now Death himself," the man replied.
"All right, so what's going on with me if I'm talking to Death right now?"
"Right now, you're dream-walking. It is no longer easy for any entities to communicate with mortal beings as a result of your little boy and his new rules. So I had to find a way to communicate with you. Fortunately, Morpheus owed me a favor, which is why we're here." Hades informed him.
"And why do you want to speak with me?"
Hades exhaled a sigh.
"You mortals have a lot of questions. I wanted to be Death, you see. In exchange, I promised Little Jack that I would assist you."
"Can you assist me with what?"
"I mentioned the ache. I have two options for dealing with it."
Dean questioned the god in front of him, "And what exactly are these options, and what's in it for you?"
Hades raised a finger.
"The first option is the most straightforward. It's a soul-destroying ritual. You will be completely gone, with no memories or feelings. The only disadvantage is that it will emit a lot of energy, just like one of your fantastic hydrogen bombs. So perhaps do it somewhere secure."
Hades raised a second finger.
"The second one is a little trickier. You must rescue your treasured little angel from the Empty."
Dean's pupils dilated.
"How do you... Why… I "He stuttered. Dean was perplexed as to how a God of Death knew about his feelings for Cas. Feelings he'd only recently realized he had since the angel died for him.
"Being a God of Death, you see, entails grieving. And your grief for that angel is exceptional, and each of us can feel it. Except for me, all these Gods of Death believe you deserve it. I could see an opportunity." Hades elaborated.
"You'd turn into Death." Dean muttered something.
"Alright, that's a plus. But the main reason is that Pothos has become far too powerful for my liking."
"Who?" Hades rolled his eyes when Dean asked.
"You and your questions. He is one of the Erotes and represents the longing for an absent object. This longing would normally end with death because Heaven would be your own perfect world, and you know how Hell is. But it was Jacky Boy who altered the entire course of events in the afterlife. Heaven is now a large open playground where souls can freely roam and visit one another, while Hell is some sort of sanatorium. Because of the balance, some souls can transform into angels, while others can transform into demons. Oh, and purgatory is no longer a thing. These souls are now going to Hell."
Hades stood up and approached Dean. The god pierced his chest with his index finger.
"However, your situation is entirely different. "Your 'desire object'..." Hades drew quotation marks with his index fingers. Because this was Cas' signature move, Dean wanted to punch him in the face.
"... is in a place you can't get to." Your desperate love story would have appealed to Homer. Chuck wasted a golden opportunity."
"Let's get to the point." Dean hissed angrily at him.
“Sorry, sore spot. So you're Pothos' limitless source of power, and I'm sure he'll come up with some stupid ideas as a result. Furthermore, no one knows what will become of you, given that your grief will never be alleviated. You are quite familiar with ghosts who stay too long on earth, aren’t you?”
Hades stared at him, waiting for a reaction. Dean simply nodded.
“See? I believe we have a good understanding of one another. I am a pleasant individual because I'm offering my expertise to assist you and save the day. Being Death is a sufficient reward for all of this."
Dean raised an eyebrow, crossed his arms, and leaned back against the hospital bed's footboard.
"And you've come to me now, after I nearly died. Your plan wouldn't work if I wasn't there, would it?"
Hades snorted.
"Are you aware that many people underestimates you? Dean Winchester is a great fighter, a pretty boy, and a bit of a moron. Everyone says that his younger brother has all the brains, even you"
Hades read his face as he stared at him. Dean looked everywhere except at the god.
"But I don't believe so. There are many ways of intelligence, and you are unconventionally smart."
Dean rolled his eyes and fixed his gaze on the ceiling.
"I'm not sure what you're on about. Simply answer my question. Why now?"
Dean said it a little louder.
"You, too, believe that you are stupid. Maybe because that's what Daddy told you, because I'm picking up on a lot of daddy issues from you." Hades completely ignored him.
Dean pushed himself of bed and toward Hades, crapping on his collar.
"Stop analyzing me. I didn't ask for a therapy session." Dean murmured menacingly, his face close to Hades'. The god pushed him away, gently but firmly.
"Okay, stay calm. It's easy to mess with you."
Dean had crumpled Hades' black jacket, so he straightened it.
"Returning to your question. I admit it was a bit risky, but I needed you at your weakest. I had hoped for a suicide attempt, but letting yourself be killed by a vampire worked just as well. Your god child needed to know how much you were suffering as a result of the angel's death. He would not have agreed to the deal otherwise. I placed a bet on you and your luck and won. You should gamble from time to time." Hades gave a wink.
"I'm pretty sure Jack would have agreed if I hadn't been on the verge of dying. He, too, loves and misses Cas." Dean brought it up.
"Yes, he does. He also understands the potential consequences of such transactions, so he needed some convincing. And he cares about you just as much as he cares about Castiel." Hades explained.
"Do you think he'll be happy if I destroy my soul?"
"And once again, I'm betting on you and taking the risk. All you have to do is follow my instructions. If you fail, you can do whatever you want with your soul."
"Then please tell me. What should I do?"
"Great. How well do you know the story of Orpheus and Eurydice?"
When Dean opened his eyes, daylight streamed in through the windows. He was in a bad mood, but he ignored the discomfort. Instead, he concentrated solely on the two rituals that are etched in his mind. There were some ingredients that were difficult to obtain. And he needed to think of a location where he could do them. Dean determined that he would first try to reclaim Cas. If he fails, he will immediately perform the second ritual. He was sick and tired of being in pain.
“Dean? "Are you awake?" a female voice on his right asked. Dean turned his head to see who it was. Claire sat in the chair where Hades had sat in his dream. There were dark shadows under her red-rimmed eyes.
"Do you realize how much you scared us?" It was a close call. You could be paralyzed or dead. What happened there? You seemed to want to die."
“Sorry.” Dean muttered in hushed tones. His throat was sore, and speaking hurt.
“Sorry my ass. Stop wallowing in self-pity. You're not the only one who misses Cas. I can't lose you as well. Now, rest," she retorted. Claire was clearly enraged at him.
"Where has Sam gone?" Dean attempted to change the subject. He expected his little brother to be here, not Claire.
"The hospital staff essentially threw him out. He needed to eat and sleep, but he will return later. Sam is a total mess, and it's all your fault. So get your act together." She responded by picking up the book on her lap.
Dean closed his eyes and turned away from her. A small bit of doubt crept into his mind. Dean's life would be over if he failed and Cas did not return. As a result, he would most likely cause harm to many people, particularly Sam. Dean was aware of his selfishness. Nonetheless, his younger brother's feelings for Dean paled in comparison to his feelings for the angel. No one could ever fill the void left by Cas in Dean's heart. Because he has Eileen, Sam would be able to overcome his soul death. Not only that, but his brother was given the opportunity to start a family with children and grandchildren. But Dean couldn't see anything like that for himself, at least not until Cas returned. The room was entered by a doctor and a nurse. Claire was dispatched to check on him. He let them do their job without complaint, only half-heartedly listening to what they were saying.
"Hello Claire, is there any new information about Dean?" Sam asked when he returned to the hospital with Eileen. He was at their motel getting ready to shower when Claire texted him that Dean had finally awakened.
“The doctors are still with him.” Claire responded.
"I believe I need some coffee." "Do you want something as well?" Eileen wanted to know. They both nodded. They sat in the waiting area after Eileen returned with three coffees. Sam was approached by the doctor, a red-haired woman, 23 minutes after they arrived.
"Good day, Mr. Campbell. Can we talk in my office?” she asked.
“Of course, Mrs. Conner.” Sam responded by following her. They'd already spoken, and the young lady had saved Dean's life.
"How is my brother doing? May I speak with him?" Sam was curious as soon as the door to the office closed behind them.
"He should be sleeping right now, once more. The tests were extremely taxing on him, and he desperately needs to rest. Regardless, his body responds extremely well to the treatments. Your brother should be able to leave the hospital in three weeks after some rehabilitation. He should, however, avoid strenuous activities and have his healing progress monitored on a regular basis." She explained everything to him.
“That's not all, isn't it?” Sam's attention was drawn to her.
"You're correct. I'm more concerned about his mental health than about his physical health. I knew someone in his mental state who refused help. It didn’t end well.” Dr. Connor said.
Sam lowered his gaze.
"His life was never easy, and he recently lost his best friend. Dean needs help, but he can be so stubborn. I'm at a loss for what to do." he admitted to her.
"No one can force him to attend therapy. Just make sure your brother knows you and his friends are rooting for him. An intervention can sometimes be beneficial. Until then, I recommend keeping an eye on him. He'll try to scare everyone, but you must remain strong." She informed him.
"Thank you very much, Doctor. That was really helpful.” Sam replied truthfully.
"There is nothing to be thankful for. Situations like that are always difficult, and I am more than willing to assist you." With a sad smile, she said.
Dean returned to the bunker nearly a month after being stabbed. And it was always crowded there because he was never alone. There was always someone with him, and after his wound healed, he was not included in any hunts. Dean became aware that he was under suicidal watch. His preparations were made more difficult, but not impossible, as a result of this. All he had to do was be patient and cautious.
To his surprise, the most difficult ingredient was already present in the bunker. The key to regaining Cas was a candle made from the blood of a demon and an angel. Dean became ill from staring at it when he discovered it. The candle was thin and black, with reddish brown splatters. It smelled like when they were opening an old grave, but with a hint of sulfur. Dean wanted to throw it away the moment he touched it because it was warm, like a feverish person.
Dean could order everything else he needed from the internet. Fortunately, he had a private post office box that Sam was unaware of. The most difficult part was getting out of the bunker. Sam took the keys from the Impala and Dean couldn't leave without being noticed. He suspected Charlie of rigging every exit so that everyone knew he was leaving.
So, Dean came up with a perfidious plan. Sam and the others nagged him to go to therapy. So he apparently gave in to this request and hoped they would eventually get off his back.
One day, Dean asked to go on a walk with Miracle alone after a few sessions, and Sam didn't even argue with him. All he had to do was take his phone and return in 30 minutes or call them.
The issue with therapy was that it was extremely beneficial to Dean. Dean felt terrible during the sessions, but afterwards he felt relieved, as if some weight had been lifted. He even got hopeful that his pain would become bearable after a while. That he was capable of living without Cas. Dean didn't abandon his plan entirely, but perhaps he didn't need to destroy his soul. Nonetheless, he prepared a bag containing the ingredients for both spells.
When Dean decided to carry out his plan, Donna was the only one who was with him. He told her he was going to try out the new diner in town. She offered to accompany him, but Dean declined, stating that he needed time alone and promising to call her if he needed a ride back. Dean despised himself for deceiving her. On the other hand, there was still a chance he'd return, possibly with Cas by his side. He now felt that his ultimate death wasn't really necessary for him.
Dean abandoned the rusted Honda on the side of the road after a 12-hour drive to Arizona with three different stolen cars to walk to his destination. He chose a location that was far enough away from civilization to avoid causing any harm. Even though Dean was on the verge of abandoning Plan B, he was unaware of the consequences of Plan A. Nobody had ever successfully cast this spell before. Well, except Orpheus, no one else tried this.
When Dean arrived at a suitable location, it was already dark. Above him, the stars shone brightly. He imagined Jack flying through space, visiting every star. His face lit up with a warm smile.
It was cold, but Dean was prepared with a jacket and a flashlight. He prepared everything and repeated Hades' words in his mind.
"You must sing as soon as you light the candle. It makes no difference what it is, and it does not have to be perfect. It simply has to come from the bottom of your heart. And never look away from the candle. You'll hear things and see things out of the corner of your eyes. Don't turn around, and don't stop singing until the candle is extinguished. Orpheus failed because he turned around, so why not learn from his mistakes?"
Dean sat in front of the candle, lit it, and began to sing.
When Cas opened his eyes, he knew he had awoken in the Empty once more. He was plagued by dreams from the Empty. He had to see all of the people he cared about die in so many ways that he couldn't keep track. It was a never-ending cycle of heinous possibilities.
No, he was awake because he was standing in the middle of nowhere. Cas wasn't sure what had jolted him awake this time, but something was different from the last time. He had no idea where he was going the first time, so he had to disturb the Empty to get out. Something was yanking at him now. Cas couldn't see the silver string, but he could somehow hear it. Because there was no other option, the angel chose to follow the string. The attraction became stronger and stronger until he was completely engulfed in light.
Even though his throat hurt, Dean didn't stop singing. Even though he seemed to be in a different location, a different universe, and something was walking behind him and voices were chatting all around him, he didn't take his gaze away from the candle. He remained motionless until the candle was extinguished. The light of the stars returned and silence was around him.
"Cas?" Dean spoke in hushed tones, but received no response.
"Please, Cas..." Still no answer.
Who did he think he was kidding? Did he truly believe this would work? And that he'd be able to recover from this setback? All of his hopes were shattered, and he had no strength left. Dean was unable to weep or scream. He simply stood up and walked over to the bag he had left on the stone.
It was amusing how little he and Sam understood about souls. Dean should have taken notes because Hades spoke a lot about it. It might come in handy for other hunters out there. But it was too late for that, and Dean had completed his tasks. He simply didn't give a damn.
"Now, let me explain how a soul might be extinguished. I believe you are already familiar with the first step. Are you aware of how to store a soul in a crystal?"
Dean nodded.
"This is a little easier than your small Soul Catcher, because you'll only be storing one soul, and it'll only be in the crystal for a brief period. There's no need for toughness in this situation. The next stage is..."
"Doesn't this imply that I'm soulless? How can I be sure to carry out the ritual?"
Hades was interrupted by Dean. The god let out a sigh.
"Allow me to give you a little introduction to souls. The 'Chain of Fate' binds the spirit to the body and can only be broken by death or destruction. When a soul is removed from its body, the chain remains unbroken as long as the soul is intact. It doesn't matter if you take the soul elsewhere, ingest it, or lock it up in a malak box. The chain will only get longer, with less effects on behavior and moral norms. There's nothing quite like total soullessness. So long as you stay near the crystal that ties your soul, you won't even notice it's gone."
Dean took out the disposable phone he had purchased for the occasion, turned it on, and began typing:
"Hey Sammy, sorry for scaring you. In 7B, second shelf on the left, third compartment from the top under the box, there is a letter. Tell Donna I love her and that it's not her fault."
"Dad!" From behind, Castiel was called by a familiar voice. Turning around, the angel was enveloped by arms. Cas couldn't stop crying when Jack hugged him. A stronger than ever wave of Jack's grave swept through his body. Jack shared with Cas his sentiments and memories from the time since he died for Dean. Cas didn't preen since Jack seemed sorrowful about something the new God didn't want to share.
His power and wings were both restored by a second wave. When he unfolded them, they were back to their full glory, before he went down to Hell to save Dean. They never truly had recovered after that, and he eventually lost them totally. He'd give up his wings, his grace, and even his life to save the person he cared about the most again and again. Nonetheless, he was relieved to see them again, to watch the black feathers breaking light to shine in every color imaginable.
"Jack, what brings me back?" Cas managed to say.
"I struck a bargain with the new Death..."
Cas tried to speak up and interrupt his son, but Jack continued to speak.
"And everything is in order. Hades was vying for the job. He told me how to save you in exchange. Don't worry, he's a nice person. I believe he gains from your return as well." Jack gave him a wink before looking behind the angel, apparently listening to something only God could hear, most likely a prayer.
"Enough with the babbling. For the time being, Castiel, Heaven is not your home. I require your presence on Earth asap."
Jack tapped Castiel on the forehead and sent him to Earth before Castiel could ask what that meant.
Castiel was stranded in the midst of nowhere. It was still dark, early in the morning, but there was a trace of the rising sun, and the stars were beginning to fade. He observed the man kneeling before a travel bag with a phone in his hand after a few seconds in the wild. The angel immediately recognized those shoulders. Castiel would notice these shoulders that seemed to carry the entire earth in the midst of 7.9 billion people.
"What are you doing here, Dean?"
Dean spun around so quickly that he landed on his butt. The hunter stared at him with wide eyes.
"Is this you, Cas? Is this true?" Dean's voice was hoarse as he stuttered.
"It's me. I just got back from the Empty, and Jack immediately sent me down to..." Cas was a little hesitant. He wanted to say that Jack sent him directly to Dean, but Cas was afraid of his reaction after confessing his genuine love for him. Also, there had to be reason, why Jack sent him here.
"...Earth. So, why are you here in the middle of the night in Arizona?"
"Camping." Dean responded immediately.
"You don't go camping, Dean. And, while I'm no expert, I believe it requires a little more gear than an almost empty bag. To begin, a tent would be ideal." Cas spoke and extended his hand to Dean. The hunter grabbed it, so Castiel pulled him onto his feet. Now, Cas was able to see the green in Dean's eyes since they stood so close together. The angel stepped back.
"It was more like stargazing than anything else." Dean told him, his gaze falling on his feet. He was concealing something, most likely lying, but Cas was terrified of frightening Dean, so he didn't go any farther.
"Let's return to the bunker now. Where did you park the Impala?"
"I didn't take Baby, but I did steal a couple of cars." Dean admitted calmly, his gaze remaining fixed on the ground. Castiel simply approached Dean, touched his shoulder, and unfolded his wings.
Sam was perplexed as to why he hadn't died of a heart attack in the previous two days. Donna called to inform him that Dean had gone missing. They discovered his phone in the trash near the diner Dean had mentioned. Dean's room had a few items missing, as well as part of the emergency funds they had in the bunker. Sam was certain that his brother had arranged this.
Dean was traveling with stolen cars, as he feared, and due to Jody, they were able to trace the trail up to Arizona, where officers discovered an abandoned stolen car on the side of the road.
Cas and Dean appeared in the midst of the War Room as he and Eileen were about to depart. The two men exchanged stares as if there was nothing else in the world but them.
"Gosh, warn a guy before you teleport them." Dean grumbled, his face pallid and his voice hoarse.
"Not till that guy stops fidgeting," Cas responded stoically.
Sam had had enough of their squabbles and rushed towards them in a bear embrace. From the other side, Eileen joined the three men.
"I am overjoyed that you two have returned." Sam murmured something and then let them go, only to hit Dean in the shoulders. Eileen did the same thing practically at the same time.
"What was that for?" His brother asked, hurt.
"Because you vanished from our sight. When you didn't return home, Donna was devastated." Sam responded.
" 'M sorry." Dean murmured, his face turning green as he looked down at his feet.
"I'm going to use the restroom, if you don't mind. My stomach must have turned upside down. After that, I'm going to bed and we'll chat later."
Dean dashed to the bathroom without waiting for a response. Sam, Eileen, and Cas kept a close eye on him until he vanished around the corner.
"What happened, Cas? Not that I'm relieved you've returned, but how? I thought the Empty had banned for eternity. You weren't even able to be resurrected by Jack." Sam asked.
"You two should also take a break. I believe you both had a restless night's sleep." Instead of responding to Sam's questions, Cas said.
"I'm not sure if I'll be able to sleep right now. Not till I have more information." Eileen nodded in agreement with what Sam had said.
"I'm at a loss for words as well. Jack just revealed that he has struck a new agreement with Hades, the new Death. But something or someone definitely brought me out of it. I could feel a pull that dragged me out of the Empty." Cas clarified.
"Do you believe Dean has anything to do with it?" Eileen asked. Both men looked surprised at her. Sam hadn't considered it, but it made sense.
"Maybe. This explains why I found him in the middle of Arizona with his vocal cords in shambles." Castiel remarked.
"However, why didn't he inform anyone?" I really hope he didn't make any stupid deal. I thought we put that behind us ” Sam sat back in his chair, his hands sliding over his face.
"I suppose we'll have to wait till Dean wants to tell us about it." Eileen shrugged her shoulders.
For a while, they were silent, each lost in their own thoughts. Sam sensed Cas' gaze on him.
"Previously, you two appeared to be in a bit of a state of distress. Has anything happened?" Cas wanted to know.
Sam sighed before responding.
"We were on our way to find Dean. Since you left, he hasn't been able to cope very well."
"When someone he cared for dies, he never does." Cas has been mentioned.
"Well, when you die, you're never with Dean." Sam retorted coldly.
"And this was the worst of them all. Is there anything going on between you two? Dean refuses to tell me anything. Listen, I'm not passing judgment; I simply want to know."
"I struck a bargain with the Empty. It would take me in return for Jack's life. I was able to summon the Empty in this manner. It took me and Billie, so I was able to save your brother. That's all there is to it." Cas replied with a neutral tone. Sam was certain that something crucial was missing. Again, there was an awkward quiet between them.
"So, what did Dean do while I was gone that you were so concerned about?" Cas asked once more, this time with a little more intensity.
Sam pondered how much he should divulge to Cas. He decided he'd had enough of these two and their pinning for one another. It's not Sam's responsibility to be their Cupid.
"Cas, go see Dean and have a conversation with him. I'm fucking exhausted. Good night." Sam said, a bit angrily.
Eileen followed him up the stairs, her eyes practically closed with exhaustion.
It seemed as though they had never learned from their previous mistakes. Everyone had secrets from each other, and Eileen believed that it would be a lot easier if everyone just talked.