I caught myself staring at Cas as he finished scarfing down his meal. I don't think I'll ever get used to seeing the ex-angel eat, though it's been a year since the falling. Thinking about that night, even though it was a while ago, brought back an ache in my chest that pie couldn't even cure.

Images of Cas' body, curled up and shaking on the ground appear in my mind.

My brother's voice is the only thing that brings me back to reality.

"What's happening?"

I can't even peel my eyes away from the sight in front of my eyes. "Angels." I continue to look at the hundreds of balls of fire descending from the sky. "They're falling."

It's a few minutes after the last angel crashes into Earth when I force myself up to find Cas.

Sam's already passed out from the pain beside me, and the only thing I can focus on right now is making sure Cas is alright. I start running to where he was standing before, but I can't see him anywhere. I continue running to where we saw the first angel crash into the lake, hoping he'd be there to investigate.

Before I even reach the shoreline, I see a lump on the ground, inches from the water.

"Cas." I whisper. Nothing. I say it a little louder. No response. "Castiel!" I yell, losing control. I can't even imagine what kind of state he's in right now, but my instinct tells me it borders on wild animal.

I approach the body as if I was walking up to an angry lion, about to snap at any moment. "Cas." I say again, almost soothingly.

My hand reaches down to touch his shoulder. Once I feel the trembling beneath my hand, I can't stop myself from bending down and pulling the former angel into my chest.

Castiel is in my lap, knees to his chest. His face is burrowed into my neck and both of his arms are gripping my back tightly. I have one of my arms wrapped around his back and the other in his tousled hair. I push his chest against me, trying my best to transfer his pain to myself.

I can feel him trying not to cry out in pain by the groans and sobs he releases onto my neck. My heart practically breaks and tears of my own are streaming down my face.

We sit there together for hours, refusing to part in fear of losing any more.

"I'll never let you go." I whisper repeatedly into his ear, a promise that I swore that night I'd never break. "I'll never let you go…"