Dean gasped up from the ground, back to inhabiting the physical body he'd left on Earth. He breathed heavily for a moment before frantically scrambling up and wiping his back, neck, and hair free of bugs and rain and dirt that had crawled onto his dead body while he'd been below.

He stumbled forward to find Castiel kneeling on the ground just as the portal closed behind him, Sam still safe and bundled in his arms.

Cas gasped and Dean rushed forward.

"Cas, what-"

Cas looked up wearily, reached out to touch Dean's forehead, and together the three of them blinked out of sight.

Dean hit soft carpet as the sound of a bed's mattress whooshed under pressure. A dull thud and Dean turned his head to see Cas just standing up from having fallen off the bed.

"Cas-" Dean whispered, exhausted, "Sam."

"Sam is fine," Cas responded, "I put him to sleep," he said softly, tilting his head, looking at Sam. His expression was fond.

"I must go," Cas said without inflection.

Dean made a face of confused worry and Cas gave in slightly, stepping around the bed where Sam lay quiet, to bend over and help him up from the floor.

Dean held on to Castiel's arm.

"Where? Where are you going? What deal did you-"

"Stop," Cas replied, eyes boring into Dean's pleadingly. He looked down at Sam, covered by his own trench coat, sleeping peacefully atop the starburst comforter, just as he'd intended; just as he'd hoped.

Cas turned back to Dean and smiled genuinely. He suddenly stiffened and let his lips become a thin line.

"Take care of Sammy," Cas said seriously, his eyes and mouth slowly twitching into a grin at Dean's reaction to someone else calling his brother that name.

Dean pursed his lips, repressing a rueful smile, then looked up.

"Don't call him that," he said.

"I know," Cas chuckled, turning to look at him, his eyes soft with affection. Cas licked his lips, preparing to speak as he looked back Dean. The man he'd saved from hell, the man he'd sacrificed so much for... and with absolutely no regrets for it. "We will meet again, Dean," he said, his confidence in the truth unwavering. "What I've traded? I would do it again for you and your brother."

Dean swallowed, nervous and concerned for what exactly Cas was talking about. He shook his head and opened his mouth to speak but Cas broke him off before he even began.

"I wouldn't change my decisions," Cas said, then looked back to Sam then Dean, "I wouldn't change them, Dean."

Cas leaned in and tilted his head, blue eyes glowing with faith and love.

"Do you understand?" he whispered.

Dean felt a tear roll down his cheek, but he nodded.

"Good," Cas whispered, and Dean pulled him in.

"Thank you," Dean murmured, desperately trying to let Cas know his gratitude, "thank you," he repeated, his voice breaking as he brought a hand up to the back of the angel's head.

Castiel melted into the embrace and hugged back, reveling in the soulful connection between them both before he had to tear away.

After a while, synchronized, they pulled back.

"You take care of yourself, okay, Cas?" Dean sniffed, eyes glassy as he looked at his friend.

Cas smiled generously and nodded.

And in a blink, he was gone.

The End

A/N: It's very possible I'll be writing an epilogue to this story featuring a recovering Sam & Dean at the Lake House Inn, but technically this is the end of the story. Huzzah! Thank you again so much for reading - please feel free to comment/review. I'd love to know what you thought! ~ Alex