Castiel never thought he would see Dean totally broken. The man had always seemed to be able to hold it together. Or at least hold it together enough to get through the day. Even though something had changed after Sam… was lost, Dean had kept a brave face on. But this was completely different.

These were the first djinns they had encountered since Sam passed. Castiel thought that Dean would handle it all right, but… The djinn had been dead for a full five minutes, and Dean was just slamming his knife into its body, tears streaming. Blood wasn't even flowing anymore, but Dean just mechanically stabbed and stabbed. Castiel had never seen anything like this.

He couldn't think of anything to do but restrain Dean. There was no thought of accidentally being nicked by the knife himself; all he wanted was to calm Dean down. Grabbing the silver dagger, Castiel used all of his strength to force Dean's arms to his sides in a massive bear hug.

Dean struggled at first; it wasn't in his nature to submit easily, especially when out of his mind with rage. But the touch of his angel, the whispered Enochian in his ear, had his breathing slowing almost instantaneously. When Dean was no longer a danger, Cas spun him around. The wildness in his eyes was almost inhuman, and Cas nearly dropped him in surprise.

Then Dean's face just crumpled.

"Sammy…"

The knife clattered to the ground as every muscle in Dean's body went limp.

Cas nearly lost his hold on Dean, not expecting the instantaneous deadweight. His shock only increased when Dean's body started shuddering with wracking sobs. Bewildered, Cas could do nothing but hold just a little tighter and start cooing into Dean's ear. That was the only encouragement Dean needed to clutch Cas with the remainder of his strength.

Under any other circumstances, Cas might enjoy the contact. He might tell Dean of all of the times he has watched, all of the scenarios he has imagined, all the love he had concealed. He might take this moment to bring his lips to Dean's, breaking the last barrier between friends and lovers. But as it was, he could only rock, helpless, as his warrior broke completely down in his arms.