The next few days Castiel had the distinct feeling of being watch, a tingling sensation at the back of his neck, but every time he turned around to catch the perpetrator, there was no one there, just empty space and a feeling of going mad.

"Did you see that?" asked Sam

"What?" Commanded Castiel

"I thought, I saw a figure watching us in the distance" replied Sam

"You've seen him too!" said Castiel astounded "I'm not going mad! The figure is real! You've seen him!"

Sam was a bit scared by Castiel's crazy ravings, jumping around like he had been bitten by a snake. He preferred strict Castiel to this mad Castiel any day.

"Who do you think it is?" asked Sam, looking at the empty space were the figure had once resided.

"I don't know, but we're about to find out" he said, grabbing a shotgun and taking off at a high speed run.

"Wait Castiel!" Sam called after the retreating angel, but he didn't even look back, Sam picked up his own gun running after Castiel

##~##

Castiel creeped up behind the figure and tackled him to the ground. He aimed the shot gun "Who are you and what do you want?"

"Wow there angel, you think you would recognise your own boyfriend"

"Dean" he lowered the shotgun slightly, still pinning Dean down "No it cant be you, you're dead"

"Cas its me, and if you wouldn't mind letting me up, I cant breathe with you kneeling on my chest"

"Dean...you're here...you're alive...Dean...you're alive!" he realised leaning down kissing him hard, getting red dust all over them, as Dean turned them around till he was the one on top.

"Castiel! What the hell! Why are you kissing the guy who's been creeping on us all day?"

"Hey Sammy" said Dean pausing in kissing Cas to greet his brother.

"Dean" said Sam with wonder "Dean" tears started spilling, Dean went over to Sam embracing him in a hug

"Shhh, Sammy its okay, I'm okay"

"But how Dean, you were dead, we all saw you die, I held your lifeless body as your spirit left your body"

"Does it matter. I'm here now. That's all that matters" said Dean changing the subject "Now c'mon, what you've been up to? You're all grown up now, gotten more muscles, filled in, bout time"

"Castiel has been training me to defend my self"

"He has, has he, well lets see you shoot a gun" Sam took the gun off his back, that he had gotten used to carrying around, aimed and fired

Dean whistled "Impressive, You got yourself a good teacher there, we'll have to go out shooting some time"

"Since when have you known how to shoot" Sam said suspicious

"You pick things up here and there" said Dean evasively changing the topic yet again "Now lets see how good Cas is, if he is worth the praise, here hit that target"

"That one"

"No wussy, the one in the far back, the tallest cactus"

"No problem" he aimed and fired sending chunks of the cactus flying into the air

"Now lets see how good you are, cowboy" said Castiel referencing Deans boots and hat, which made him look a bit like a midwestern hero.

Dean pulled out a pistol from his belt, and pointed it at Cas, cocking it. "Wow Dean, what are you doing? Watch where you're pointing that thing" he snapped out of it, the glazed look which had just adorned his face disapearing "Jeez Cas take a joke" he said pointing the gun into the distance letting off a shot to nowhere in particular "I'm sick of this game, what type of grub you got here, I'm starving" he walked over to the fire looking into the pot, full of vegetables and chopped up lizards, he grabbed a bowl pouring him self some. "You guys going to join me, or just stare at me like starstruck sheep"

"Right" said Cas getting a bowl and sitting on the log next to Dean, Sam doing the same, but a bit more further away than Cas was sitting. They ate in silence, everyone giving each other suspicious glances over the edge of the bowl.

"Okay enough of this tense silent shit, I'm back from the dead, cant you at least be happy"

"We're happy Dean, I'm very happy, but isn't it a bit suspicious after months of we thinking you were dead you suddenly show up now, right as rain, a grin plastered on your face as if you hadn't died all those months ago, leaving me and Sam to grieve over your dead body. It's just hard to believe your back"

"Well start believing it. I'm back. Why do you have to question it. Isn't this meant to be a good thing, but your turning this into something bad. I'm not a zombie Cas. Still the same old me. Don't believe me, ask me anything"

"I believe you. But how?" said Cas frustrated "How are you back? Last time I checked dead people just don't become alive again, no matter how much you wish"

"I see" said Dean realising "You don't think this is real. What you think this is a dream or something? That you'll wake up any moment"

Cas shifted in his seat, Sam punched him on the arm "What was that for" he said biting back a cry of pain.

"You punch people to show there not dreaming" replied Sam

"Ill punch you in a minute" threatened Castiel

"Break it up" intervened Dean "Do you believe you're not dreaming yet"

Cas nodded but still wasn't entirely convinced "Hey Sam, go to bed will you" Dean said

"But its still light out" he complained "Well go collect some food or whatever you usually do at this time of day, just go far from here", realisation dawned on Sam "Ew gross Dean, If you wanted some time alone with Castiel all you had to do was ask"

"Shut up bitch" replied Dean

"Jerk" said Sam picking up the bucket walking off

##~##

"So Dean, I guess you didn't send Sam off to talk about the weather" said Cas sidling up to Dean when he didnt move.

" No I didn't" said Dean threateningly, pulling out a gun

"Dean wha-" said Cas slack jawed, once could be considered a joke but twice was no joke

"Shut up, you freak. No more talking. You got two options, come with me and shut up or be shot"

"Dean what's going on-" Dean let of a warning shot

"Next time will be through your skull. I said shut up" Dean got out a rope and tied Cas up, Cas shocked out of his wits, let him do it. By the time he got his senses back, he was tied up tight, the ropes cutting into his wings.

"Get up"

"Dea-"

"I said get up, start walking, don't look back. I'm taking you back to where you belong"

"Dean this is madness. It's me. Snap out of it"

"Start walking" he said putting the gun to his back. Cas having no option started walking, stumbling a bit as the ropes constricted his movement.

After a while Cas risked talking "Dean, whatever they've done to you, you have to fight it. You can't do this" Dean was unresponsive, ignoring him. After a long while the institute could be seen in the far distance, Cas took to begging "Please Dean. You cant make me go back there. You promised you would get me out. You cant take me back. Please Dean. You promised to keep me safe. Think of Sam" Dean paused "Your brother, remember him. He wouldn't want you to do this"

"Shut up" said Dean angrily

It wasnt much but it was something, Cas pushed more

"What would Sam think of his big brother, leaving him all alone in the middle of the dessert. Working for the bad guys. This isn't right, you know this, this isn't you. The real you would never do this. The real you hated them"

That struck something in Dean, he got out the gun, butting the end against Cas's skull knocking him out

"Annoying freak" said Dean, picking Cas up slinging him over his shoulder and walking into the institute