"Cas," Dean murmured.

Dean stared intently at Cas, still convincing himself that he wasn't hallucinating. Cas's expression grew into a half-smile as he spoke again.

"I'm back."

Dean responded with his smile growing into a grin as he pulled Cas into a hug.

"I missed you, man," Dean chuckled as he pulled out of the hug.

The two of them walked towards Sam, who had gotten out of his chair. Sam patted Cas on the back and said, "I'm glad you're back, Cas," before heading for the door.

"Where are you going, Sammy?" Dean inquired.

"I'm pretty sure I left some of my stuff at the library."

Sam shut the door behind him, and Dean turned his attention back to Cas.

"Cas, man, I'm so happy you're back. Really, I am."

"I'm glad to be back."

"But where were you?"

"I'm sorry, Dean. I wish I could tell you."

"Why can't you?"

Cas paused for a moment and sat down, fumbling around with a few objects Sam had left messily on the table. Dean just looked at him, conflicting emotions racing through him.

"Cas, you can't just leave for a whole year and not tell me where you've been."

"I'm sorry, Dean. I can't."

"Dammit, Cas, why not?!" Dean shouted. Cas looked up at him, his eyes swimming with sadness and a hint a fear. Dean continued, "You leave me for a whole fucking year and you can't even tell me where you were?!"

"Dean, I…"

"You know what, Cas? I don't need this."

"Need what?"

"All this. You were gone for a year. It may not sound like much, but when you're waking up each day worried sick, it feels like decades, and it hurts like hell. And I prayed to you, Cas. I prayed to you every night for a year. And not once did you answer me. So every night I'd try to fall asleep, not knowing if you were even still alive."

"You prayed?"

Dean shot Cas a puzzled look. "You didn't hear me?"

"Not once."

"So just now, you didn't hear me?"

"No."

"Then why'd you come?"

"I heard Sam."

"Sam?"

"Yes. He said that you needed me."

"But what I don't understand, Cas, is that you're gone for a whole year, and Sam says a few words to you and suddenly your feathery ass is back?"

"I tried to come back, Dean. I really did. But I couldn't."

"And why not?"

"I can't tell you."

"Dammit, Cas! What exactly can you tell me?!"

"Nothing."

"Nothing? What do you want me to do, pretend you weren't gone for a whole fucking year and just go on like nothing happened?"

"Precisely."

Dean walked over to the bed and sat down, placing his head in his hands. He didn't want to get angry at Cas, but his worry was evolving into pure frustration. He took a deep breath slowly in an attempt to calm himself down.

The two of them sat in silence for a few moments, neither one of them wanting to continue the conversation with no direction. Dean twiddled his thumbs awkwardly while Cas examined a book sitting on the table. The room felt void of the happiness that had graced it just minutes before.

Dean raised his head up from his palms, looking straight ahead, away from Cas, and spoke gently.

"So you never heard me?"

"No."

"Any idea why?"

"No."

Dean sighed and turned his head towards Cas, but Cas had disappeared, leaving Dean with nothing but the sight of an empty chair.

"Son of a bitch."

Dean got up and paced around the room, trying to handle his emotions. He was thrilled Cas was back, but on the other hand he was angry that Cas provided no information on his previous whereabouts. And somewhere in between the two, he was worried about Cas. Really worried.

If only Dean knew why Cas couldn't tell him. Did somebody threaten him? Was his life in danger? Dean pondered these awful thoughts for a while, occasionally kicking something over in frustration.

Suddenly, the door opened, and Sam walked in.

"Where's Cas?" he asked.

"Gone."

"Where'd he go?"

"Who knows?"

Sam put down his jacket and belongings and shut the door.

"Did he tell you where he was?"

"No."

"Any idea?"

"No."

"Well, what did he say?"

"Not much. Except he told me that you prayed to him."

"I had to."

"Why?"

"Dean, you were a mess. You needed Cas."

"The last thing I need right now is my baby brother worrying about me."

"Why shouldn't I? You would've done the same thing for me."

"I know, it's just… listen, Sammy, I'm sorry."

"It's alright, Dean."

Sam took his original seat back at the table, but Dean remained standing up, pacing every so often.

"He never heard my prayers. Not one of them."

Sam looked at Dean sympathetically. He knew from the first time he heard Dean praying that something was off with the way that Cas never answered, though Sam thought he was dead. It was rare that Cas didn't come when one of them called, especially Dean.

"Not a single one?"

"Not a single one."

There was silence before Sam spoke again. "I'm sorry, Dean."

"So what's the real reason?"

"For what?"

"For praying to Cas when I was outside."

"I already told you, Dean. You were a mess. You needed him."

"No, Sam, I've been a mess. If that was the reason, you would've done that a long time ago. Now what's the real reason?"

"Because I heard you praying last night."

"And?"

"And you said that you loved him."