A few days after seeing Dean, AnnaBeth's mind continued to buzz with wonder and worry. Sitting in front of the old fireplace in her home, she contemplated her options. After seeing Dean, there was no going back to being alone. There was no pretending the whole group was dead. No, but it didn't make the decision to return to them any easier. Instead, it formed the most difficult question she had ever juggled. Did she want to see Mika again, on good terms? Did she want to be back with the group, like Sam had never died, and like things could go back to normal?

Sighing, she ran a hand through her messy red hair, pulling it roughly behind her ear. She stared into the fire, leaning forward, as if the answer to her question was going to magically transcribe itself onto the fire. Knowing better, she rocked back, leaning against the cushion with another hefty sigh.

If she went back, everyone would have questions. They would be questions that she, no doubt, had no intentions of answering, or even thinking about. She had her own questions, however. She wanted to know why Mika had changed so much, and why she just let Dean go. She wanted to ask Bobby how he was still alive, when she remembered him dying, like it was yesterday. The sound of his bones breaking, and his body slamming into the ground still made her queasy, at the thought. A gust of wind filled the room, causing the fire to dance and her hair to go into a mad orange cloud, before Castiel landed heavily on the couch.

"Hey Cas…", she mumbled, looking to her right and into his eyes. She was happy he came, at such a terrible time. With his presence, at least the silence wasn't threatening to bust her eardrums. He had a small smile on his face, apparently amused at something. Maybe he had been lying in wait the entire time, listening to her whisper to herself out loud, which she seriously hoped wasn't the case.

"Hello, AnnaBeth. You seem stressed. Is there something troubling you, again?", he asked awkwardly, looking at the fire with wonder. She wished she could read Castiel's mind, like she could humans. She wished she could see the world the way he did, and could see what he was thinking, when he stared through the simplest of items. She pulled herself out of her amazement, and cleared her throat.

"I can't stop thinking about Dean. Seeing him…just brought back pain, but…it made me want to be with someone. It made me just…want to be able to get up in the middle of the night, and walk into another room, and see someone. I can't stop thinking about returning to Mika, and Bobby..."

"This seems to be a good change. Your eyes show relief. This is what you've needed, this whole time…just a glimpse of them…of their life. Have you decided?", Cas questioned, still staring at the fire.

"Um…no, actually…", she whispered, "I'm torn."

"What seems to be keeping you from them?", Castiel asked her, intense wonder in his voice. AnnaBeth furrowed her eyebrows, and thought for a second, turning her head to the side, before continuing.

"I…I have to find Sam…", she whispered. What she got in return was something new. Castiel rolled his eyes, and stood from the couch, sighing at her answer. Shocked, she just stared at him. She had never seen Cas react in any way, anything like this. Usually, he was a good listener.

"Please, don't…", he murmured, pacing behind the couch. She could tell he was nervous about something, but was more frustrated than anything, "Don't start this conversation…"

"Why not? Sam is alive. I've seen him. Haven't you seen him?..", the words had no sooner left her mouth before Castiel snapped a quick, "NO!", and caused AnnaBeth's eyes to narrow at him. His answer was a little too quick. With him not having a complete soul, this was telltale to her, "Cas…what are you not telling me?"

"Nothing. Leave it alone."

"Cas…have you seen Sam?", she asked, standing and moving closer to him, "…remember that you can't lie to me…"

"I have to go…", Cas said, turning to fly away.

"Don't you dare leave me…Don't you dare…What do you know about Sam? He's alive isn't he..?"

Cas turned back to her, a sad look covering every inch of his face. He looked down to the floor and shook his head, the classic Castiel 'I don't want to be the one to tell you' face. Raising his hands, he sighed, "Yes…".

The feeling that took over AnnaBeth's body was enough to make her explode. Her heart began to beat wildly, making her head spin. Her chest rose high, for what seemed like forever with an inhale. She couldn't breathe. Sam was alive. It wasn't in her head, and Dean had no clue. Cas had been hiding it from everyone. Sam…was alive.

"Well…can I see him?", she asked, tears flowing down to her chest, disappearing into her black shirt.

"No. Well, I don't know. I haven't spoken to Sam, since he returned…"

"Do you know where he is? Please, Cas…", but Castiel disappeared. No. He didn't just do this to her. He didn't just confirm Sam's existence…and leave her. Sinking back down to the couch, she buried her face in her hands, sobbing. She didn't even feel the fingertips touch her forehead. She didn't feel the whirlwind, or her ass sinking into something different. She didn't smell the bleach soaked tile of the motel room she appeared in, but the voice she heard ripped her out of any sadness she had been in.

"…AnnaBeth?", caused her head to shoot up from her hands, and towards the voice. Her mouth fell open, and a relieved smile crossed it. Actually, it wasn't a smile, or a frown. It was more a blank stare of disbelief. For a second, she wondered if it was a projection. Jumping from the bed she had apparently been teleported to, she ran forward, jumping in the arms she had missed.

"Sam? Oh my god…Sam!", she screamed, wrapping her arms around his neck. Without giving him time to adjust to her being there, she smashed her lips into his, sobbing. His arms wrapped around her awkwardly, as if he didn't quite know how to react to her, but he kissed her back gladly, raising his hands to her hair.

Outside the motel window, Castiel stood, hands in the pocket of his trenchcoat. He was ashamed of himself. This was probably the most careless thing he had done. Disappearing, he appeared in the corner, invisible to both Sam and AnnaBeth, deciding that he would stay. Sam may not be Sam…