Chapter 2

"Where the hell are we?" Dean asked. Castiel had just transported them to a parking lot in front of what seemed to be a storehouse; the building seemed sturdy, though not very large.

"This should do," Cas stated, ignoring Dean's question. He strode towards the entrance, and the brothers traded incredulous glances before following him.

"Is this whole structure iron?" Sam asked as they passed through the doorway.

"Yes," Cas raised him eyebrows at Sam. "It should be harder to eavesdrop on us in here."

"Who are we worried about eavesdropping?" Dean sounded angry, but suspicious.

"Naomi," Cas whispered after a moment.

"Who's Naomi?" Dean asked accusingly. Cas turned away from Sam and Dean, unsure of where to start his story.

Dean shifted his weight impatiently. "Cas, isn't this the part where you tell us where in God's name you've been?"

"Yes, Dean, it is!" Cas spun back around to face the boys. "And despite what you seem to believe, I wasn't hiding out trying to get away from it all and I definitely wasn't cavorting around with Crowley!"

"Well, it's not like it would have been the first time for either," Dean spoke quietly, staring down Cas. He immediately regretted his words, but instead of apologizing, he just looked away.

"Dean," Sam started reprimandingly, but Cas shook his head at him. "Alright, Cas, we're listening," Sam said pointedly, giving Dean a meaningful look. "Who is Naomi?"

Cas waited until Dean met his eyes to begin speaking. "Naomi… is an angel." He seemed anxious again, eyes darting around the storehouse as he continued. "She has been… bringing me to her for I don't know how long. I only began remembering our… visits…" He spat the last word out as if it left a bitter taste in his mouth. "…around the time she forced me to kill Samandriel."

"Are you telling me you ganked Alfie against your will?" Dean asked in disbelief.

Cas met Dean's gaze with a look that reminded Sam of the dog he once hit with his car.

"You really believed I would do that of my own volition?" Cas' voice was hardly more than a whisper. "You think I didn't learn my lesson about committing the worst crimes even with the best of intentions?"

Dean's cheeks reddened and he began to stare at the ground. He was ashamed; he had thought his old friend might have once again left the reservation—even though he knew Cas never did anything besides try to help. Dean forced himself to meet Cas' eyes when he answered.

"I don't really know what I thought," he responded lamely. "But, Cas," Dean continued with more indignation, "What were we supposed to think? You say you want nothing more than to help us seal the gates of hell, and then you disappear on us for months at a time? How was I supposed to know you weren't off on some stupid noble mission or that you hadn't gotten yourself killed?" Dean shouted, before he turned away.

"You were worried," Cas realized out loud.

"Yeah, no shit we were worried," snapped Sam. He'd been quiet throughout Dean and Cas' exchange, but now it hit Cas that although Dean had been openly rude since he'd appeared in their motel room, Sam hadn't been that happy with him either.

"You're not the only one who cares, Cas," Dean said softly but firmly.

"I know," he replied. Humans… they would never cease to amaze him.

"Good," Dean stood up straight. "Then I don't ever have to say that crap again."

Dean's remarks put a small but genuine smile on Cas' face. Sam chuckled and shook his head. As Cas' thoughts returned to the visits with Naomi, he became somber again—although something intangible had broken, and Cas found it easier to go on.

"You were right to be worried, you know," Cas sighed.

"Yeah, with some angel bitch making you ice your own? Sounds like I was… man, I hate being right," Dean tried make his tone playful, but the honest concern shone through.

"So she basically kidnapped you?" asked Sam, who was starting to put it together.

"Yes." Cas swallowed. He took a deep breath and told Sam and Dean everything he could remember about his time back in heaven, sparing only the goriest of details.

"Holy shit, Cas," Dean said in disbelief after his story was finished.

"Wow… well, we're really glad you're back safe," said Sam sincerely.

"I'm not really sure how safe I am," Cas replied hesitantly. "She seems to have no trouble locating me."

"Well, you're safe as long as you're with us," Dean stated decidedly. Cas wasn't sure how to tell his friend that he wasn't sure anybody could protect him.

"I wonder if there's anything on that handy old angel tablet about killing psycho angel chicks," Dean continued.

"You—you have the angel tablet?" Cas whispered, taken aback.

"Well, you've missed kind of a lot," Sam said with a sideways glance at Dean.

"Looks like it's time to pay a visit to Kevin Tran, advanced placement," Dean said with a grin, obviously proud of himself for surprising Cas with the news of the angel tablet.