Days later

When Castiel arrived in the room he first looked to Dean, who was asleep on the couch with his arms crossed in front of him. It looked as though he hadn't meant to fall asleep, that he just dozed off while watching over her. Kayla was also asleep on the bed across from him.

He wondered what brought him here. Kayla wasn't one of the humans in his charge, and he could more than view the progress of her recovery without actually coming to Earth. Something in him just wanted to do more than just observe, something compelled him to make the visit. Perhaps the others were right, maybe he really was getting too close to this family. The idea didn't stop him.

With light movements he sat on the edge of the bed, making a decent effort at not waking her. The unsettling sounds of her nightmare rose up in his mind and he reached a hand out to comfort her. He'd never felt compelled to comfort a human before he met Dean Winchester. When his hand lightly brushed against her hair she strained against it first before calming and easing back into slumber.

"Castiel…" His name whispered breathlessly out of her mouth and he pulled his hand back, startled.

"Yeah it threw me off the first time too."

He looked over his shoulder to see Dean awake. "How is she recovering?"

Dean straightened up on the couch and wiped the sleep from his eyes. "She's having a hell of a time with the memories, but she's tough, she'll get better."

He nodded. "Dean you can't blame yourself."

"Cas?"

They both looked at Kayla. She sat up with a smile, there was much more contentment in her eyes than he would have expected considering the circumstances.

"I didn't mean to wake you."

"No, it's fine. I should be up."

He rose from the bed. "I was just checking on your progress, making sure everything is as it should be."

"I'm okay."

"Thanks to you." Dean added, and he meant it. He really saw Cas in a new light.

Castiel smiled flatly in response, he really didn't see it as a victory, or a heroic of any kind. What happened to her was unspeakable and he couldn't help but feel a sense of failure for letting it slip through his fingers.

"Did you get in trouble?"

"Nothing terrible."

Kayla stood up and hugged him. "Cas thank you, you saved my life."

The sentiment was awkward for him and he stepped to the side. "Your gratitude isn't necessary."

"What?" She laughed quietly. "If it weren't for you I'd be dead and that isn't worth a little gratitude?"

"I did what was necessary." He took a step off to the side because she looked like she might try it again.

Dean chuckled and stood up. "I think he's afraid of you."

"Ok, no more physical contact. Oh," she glanced around and went to the chair, picking up his jacket. "I made sure we didn't lose it."

He nodded as he took the jacket and pulled it on; completing the look they knew so well now.

"Hey did you see…" She motioned to a corner of the room and when he turned his gaze she hugged him tightly, whether he liked it or not. "I mean it Castiel, thank you."

It wasn't the worst thing he'd had to endure. He stopped to allow her to do this, it seemed there wasn't a way around it.

Dean smirked; poor Cas had no idea what he was getting in to. "You can't keep him sweetheart, he belongs to someone else." And he didn't think God liked to share.

She smiled and stepped away, he didn't seem too traumatized.

"The memories are a heavy burden to carry, but you have someone with experience to help you." He nodded to Dean. "I trust you'll be able to work through it."

"We'll be ok."

"I'd shake your hand but uh, I think you've met your quota for human contact today."

Castiel smiled. It was getting to be more frequent now, it humanized him. Then he was gone.

"You sleep okay? How are you feeling?"

Better. Her mind tried to get her to lie but she wouldn't. "It's um, it'll get easier."

"You think you're ready to get back on the road?"

"Of course," she smiled. "The apocalypse isn't going to stop itself."