Sam strolls into the kitchen the next morning to find Dean cooking bacon and eggs. There's even coffee brewing in the pot. Dean glances over at him "Morning Goldilocks" and then turns back to the stove. Sam takes his seat and a few minutes later there's a big pile of eggs on a plate in front of him. "You want toast?" Sam nods. Dean goes about sticking bread in the 4 slot toaster and filling a couple mugs with fresh coffee. The toast pops up just as he's sitting the mugs on the table, so he grabs that too and plops a couple slices in front of his brother before sitting down to munch at his breakfast.
Everything is so normal, so mundane. It should not be normal right now. The image of Dean's red sorrow filled eyes is still burning in Sam's mind. He knew last night hadn't gone well, but the fact that Dean was putting on a show - trying to feign normalcy- that was worrisome. He'd managed to get through to him when he was drunk, but now that Dean was sober he was back to shoving everything down. The walls were back up, and he might not be able to break them down as easily this time.
Sam waits until they've finished eating before he finally clears his throat and breaks the silence. "So uh… You planning on telling me what happened last night?"
"Don't worry about it Sam. I'll be fine."
"I'm already knee deep in this, so you might as well just tell me. I'm not gonna let it go."
"There's nothing to tell Sam. He never came."
Sam watches Dean's shoulders slump lower as he dumps the dirty dishes in the sink and turns the water on. He'd been hoping that this would all be cleared up by now, but things were never that easy. At least Dean was talking. He wasn't expecting that. By the look of him, the man was probably too tired to fight at this point.
"Well what did you say? Were you being an 'assbutt' again?"
"Sammy I- I tried. I really tried. I was practically begging. He's not coming back."
Dean shuts the water off ands makes for the door, trying to flee from the conversation.
"Dean, wait."
Dean pauses in the doorway but doesn't turn around.
"Dean, Cas wouldn't do that. He wouldn't just ignore you. What if he can't answer you?"
"You mean like he got snatched or something? Fuck… I- I never even thought of that."
"There has to be a reason he didn't answer. Did you trying calling his cell? I'll see if I can get him."
As Sam waits, listening to the phone ring, Dean had walked back into the kitchen and now he was pacing the length of the room, fists clenching at his sides. It went to voicemail.
"Hey Cas, it's Sam. Call me back when you get this."
Sam's up and pacing now too. Dean looks like he's about to punch a hole in the wall when Sam's cell buzzes. They both rush over and Sam snatches it up off the table.
-What do you need?-
Sam hurriedly types back.
-Are you okay? Is something wrong?-
-I'm fine Sam. Why do you ask?-
Sam turns so his brother can't see the screen.
-Dean was praying for you last night. Why are you ignoring him? He said he was practically begging you and you never came.-
-I couldn't hear him-
-What do you mean you couldn't hear him? I thought you said nothing was wrong.-
-I am fine, Sam. I've been human before I can take care of myself.-
Sam brings up Cas's number and calls him again. This time he picks up.
"What do you mean human? What happened Cas?"
"It's of no consequence Sam."
"You gotta come back to the bunker Cas. Come stay with us."
"I wouldn't wish to burden you both with another broken thing to look after. Tell Dean he needn't worry about ruining me, I've taken care of that myself."
Cas hung up. Sam turns to Dean, ready to relay what Cas had told him, but Dean holds his palm up. "I heard him." And then Dean is gone too. Sam is left standing in the kitchen by himself, staring down at his phone on the table.
