When Sam returned from his jog, the door to Dean's room was still open because the hunter subconscious would not allow himself to detangle from the angel. Cas had used some more of his grace to make Dean fall into a fitful sleep. He knew the only reason he had able to despite the Mark was because Dean had worn himself out trying to cut the curse off and being more expressing more emotion than he would ever be comfortable about. Cas also knew that the sleep wouldn't be too restful, the body half on top of him too consumed by pain to do so, but any sleep was better than none.

"What happened?" Sam was wide-eyed and pale at the sight of his brother seeking subconscious comfort from the body beneath him. Gratefully, Cas had grabbed the edge of the comforter from Dean's bed to make Dean more presentable, not because his nakedness would have necessarily bothered Cas or Sam, but because Dean would wake up hating himself even more for being revealed in such a manner.

Cas didn't want to leave Dean's side, but he also didn't want to be talking above Dean's head. Regrettably, Cas gently positioned Dean off of him so he could move off the bed and speak to Sam out in the hall quietly. "He tried to cut the Mark off of him while he was in the shower."

"What?" Sam's voice was still barely a whisper, but it was frantic. "How...why…"

"I think you know why."

Brown eyes lowered in shame, but mostly out of panicked anger. Trying to a calming breath - and failing - he asked, "How bad is it?"

"There is no physical damage," Cas informed him soothingly. A part of him was irritated that all he seemed capable of doing these days was providing meaningless words of comfort. "But mentally, emotionally...things are bad Sam."

"Yea, I know. I mean, it's understandable after what he did...that he would break down like this, but still…."

"It's worrisome," Cas finished. Sam looked just as defeated as Cas felt, knowing there was nothing there he could do to help his brother in his time of need. Not unless he miraculously found a cure. "Dean has come out of worse."

"Yea, I guess you're right." But it didn't seem to lift Sam's spirit up. He shook his raggedly hair in frustration. "I should never had left this morning."

Cas frowned. "You only left for a while. And it was for your customary jog." He didn't want Sam to blame himself for the state Dean was in. Though it was terrible and regrettable, Dean himself had put himself in that state. "Jogging is what helps you de-stress," Cas tried to explain to the younger brother, trying to ease his mind, "and it helps you be a better you."

"But…"

"No buts, Sam Winchester." Like Dean, when Cas used his "angel voice", Sam tended to freeze for just a moment and then comply with whatever the angel was demanding. "Things are bleak. Dean is not well. But that does not mean every bad thing that happens to your brother is on your fault, or that it is on your shoulders."

At the angel's words, Sam's shoulders sagged. The tension that had been so strong in his frantic state of concern came undone, but it wasn't done in a positive way. Instead, the tension was loosened due to exhaustion and sense of uselessness. "I should have been here," he tried to quietly argue, shaking his head sadly. "I knew Dean wasn't in a good state after what happened. I knew you were either, especially after last night."

"I am sorry that I allowed myself to…"

Before he could even finish his frustrated apology, Sam was cutting him off with a strong hand on the shoulder. "It's not your fault. I understand why you might have needed to take a break like you did." Though it wasn't his usual way of dealing with things, was left unsaid. "But I should have known better than to leave this morning, even if it was just for a while."

"Sam, we are fine." Which was a complete lie, but really, when were any of them actually fine? "We are going to be fine."

"How?" There was anger in his whispered tone now. His fists were beginning to clench, only to unclench at his sides a second later. "How is anything ever going to be fine?" He asked with unshed tears stuck in his throat. "I failed. I promised him I was going to cure him, and I failed. He killed those people in cold blood, Cas, and I couldn't do a thing about it. I couldn't help him while he screamed at night." Those nights that Cas had been held up in his room, too consumed in his own pain and fear. "I couldn't calm him down." Now tears were beginning to form at the corner of brown eyes. "There's nothing I can do. I don't know how to keep doing this? How I can…"

"Sam," Cas took both of his hands to lay upon the Winchester. His voice was stern, but caring. "We will get through this." That needed to be said, Cas thought. No matter if it was false, that statement was the only thing that would keep any of them going. "I think maybe you need to take a break as well," he suggested calmly. "These past few days have been stressful on you, and I believe it's worn you thin."

Sam gave out a bitter chuckle. "Cas. I think out of the three of us, I've had the least stressful week."

"Which is not saying much. You shouldn't compare your pain to others. Pain is still pain. Stress is still stress."

For a moment Sam just stared at the floor, taking in the angel's words but not wanting to accept them. The angel was staring at him intently, though - just as intently as he stared at Dean - and it was hard to argue with him. No wonder Dean got uncomfortable when Cas stared at him, or seemed to be more complainant with the angel around.

It took all of Sam's will to talk back. "I can't take a break."

"What good will you be if you continue like this?"

"More good than if I take a break." Sam took a deep breath. "I can't, Cas. I've been taking advantage of you. I can't just keep letting you take care of everything."

Cas tilted his head. "You have not been taking advantage of me." He sighed. "Go. Spend time with the woman you have been seeing as of late." A dark blush crossed Sam's face and Cas smiled slightly. The woman had probably been a secret, but in such matters like romance, Sam wasn't all that subtle. "I will stay here with Dean."

Despite Cas' stern voice, his understanding of Sam's exhaustion, and reasonable explanations, Sam still was iffy about accepting. "Are you sure?"

"Of course. I always enjoy spending time with Dean." Sam raised a single eyebrow. "Go." Cas was a little more forceful. He wanted to help Sam, wanting him to get some rest and take care of himself, but he also wanted to return to Dean's side and Sam's continuous arguments was keeping him from doing so. "I have a plan to help Dean get back to his normal self." Before too much hope could enter Sam's eyes, Cas had to quickly explain, "Not completely himself. It won't get rid of the Mark. But I do believe I might have an idea of how to ease the bloodlust that the Mark creates."

"That's great, Cas. What is it?"

"It's difficult to explain." It really wasn't, actually, but Cas didn't want Sam to demote his idea before it could ever be put into motion. He knew secrets were wrong, but the idea that had begun to form while holding onto the hunter wasn't an unorthodox method and, if Dean agreed to try it, probably wasn't something he'd want his little brother to know about anyways. "But it would work best if you weren't here."

Suspicion began to creep up, and Cas berated himself for stating it the way he did. The Winchesters were always warning him that his awkwardness would continue to put him at a disadvantage.

"It is nothing dire," Cas assured. "It is only that it might be something that Dean himself would be uncomfortable with sharing, and I do not want to overstep my boundaries any more than I already have."

Realization slowly began to dawn upon Sam, though Cas wasn't sure how Sam would come to the truth on his own. "Right. I understand." He sighed heavily, but at least a little more relaxed than when he had first spotted Dean cuddled up against the angel. "Maybe I will go and see Marine. Take a small break." He still seemed unsure, but his excuses had run out. On top of that, if Cas could help Dean even just a little, then things would start to be okay. At least, that's what Sam had to hold onto. "But you call as soon as something comes up. Any changes, whether it turns bad or improves. Or if you need even a little bit of help."

"Yes, Sam. I will call you if needed." He shoved the younger Winchester gently to prompt him to leave. "Go. Don't come back until the tomorrow morning. You better be well-rested."

Sam smiled cheekily. "Yes Mom."
"I am not your mother, Sam."

"Yea, yea." He finally started to walk away, waving his goodbye. "See you tomorrow. Tell Dean to call me or text me when he wakes up."

"Of course."

With that being said, Cas returned dutifully back to Dean's side. Thankfully, Dean was still asleep. Unfortunately, he was tossing and turning, clutching at his pillow desperately, groaning in despair. Disheartened by the sight, Cas laid himself on the bed behind Dean, wrapping his arm around the hunter's body to pull him in closer. He would have used his grace to once again alter whatever nightmares were plaguing him. However, Cas had used a lot of his grace in past few hours, deflecting the effects of alcohol, easing Dean's physical state, putting him to sleep, and as exhausted as Cas had been these past few days emotionally, it would take awhile for him to recharge enough to do any extensive "mojo". For now, Cas would just hold on to Dean, comforting him by any means possible.

In response, Dean turned to his other side, burying his head against Cas' chest, his breathing slowing immensely as he snuggled against the angel's neck.