Everyone had gathered in the entrance and given the basic situation. Sam and Jet stood by the windows watching the road while Charlie looked to Cas inquisitively, "So, what did the guy look like? Can you remember?" She was curious though a level of seriousness lined her words, as the single most intense searcher for Castiel she was interested to know who else would recognize him.

Cas furrowed his brow in thought and nodded, "He had big ears and big eyes for his face. His hair was short and he wasn't short but he was small for his height." Dean made a note to praise Cas later for how far he'd come, there were fewer pauses than ever in that long sentence. Though at the same time, Dean wasn't really sure if Charlie could get anything off of that. Those kinds of things were pretty dependant on Cas' perception, Dean wasn't sure his idea of 'big ears' was the same as Cas'. For example, in his opinion Jet had pretty big ears though his friend argued, and others would say that Dean had big eyes, but Dean didn't think they were much larger than anyone else's.

Except Charlie's gears were turning pretty fast regardless, "Well..." she looked at the group with a semi-certain expression, "If I had to guess I'd say the guy we're expecting is named Garth."

Dean raised an eyebrow skeptically, "You got that from big eyes, ears, and being thin?"

"Does he drive a pick-up truck?" Jet asked and Charlie shrugged.

"I don't know, haven't seen him in a while."

"Wait," Dean raised his hand next, "You haven't seen this dude in a while but you still think he's got the same big ears and short hair?"

Charlie scrunched her nose up at him and that was the only response he really got for now. She looked over at Jet, "Why do you ask?"

"Well," Jet glanced at Dean, an amused smirk gracing his otherwise neutral expression, "there's one of those on the yard now."

Dean went to look out the window where Jet was standing and sure enough, an old beat up truck pulled onto the lot. It wasn't going particularly fast, like the owner wasn't sure they were allowed to be there.

"Listen, all I know is that a guy who might be really thin and have goofy proportions to his face could be an old friend, I think that even more since Cas and Rae found him feeding ducks outside of town. Garth liked to do shit like that sometimes," Charlie attempted to defend herself but Dean could tell even she wasn't entirely convinced this was her friend.

"Let's go meet him," Jet smiled in that wild way Dean knew could mean trouble as he strolled out the door first. Sam exchanged a look with his brother and both agreed silently that there was no way they could let their mutual bestie take the reins on this one.

"I'll wait here," Cas said and Dean looked back at him, wings curled in slightly and eyes somewhat worried as it was. He felt a little bad but that feeling had become fairly common since he met Cas, so as a silent promise he tried to not let that on.

"Thanks, we won't be long." Dean gave a thumb's up and hurried after Sam, Charlie, and Jet. As he walked out into the sunlight, eyes narrowed from the glare, he noticed that the man climbing out of the truck was smiling from ear to ear.

"Hiya," he said with a short wave and then his eyes fell to Charlie, "Long time no see, girl!"

"It is you," Charlie brightened and hurried over to give an old friend a hug. Apparently 'big ears' was enough of a descriptor, Dean wouldn't have guessed. "I haven't talked to you in over a year, how've you been?"

"Pretty awesome, pretty awesome," Garth nodded and shoved his hands into his pockets, "I was travelling last time we talked, right?"

"Yeah, didn't sound like you wanted to come home either." Charlie punched his shoulder endearingly, "What changed? Got a little home sick?"

"I bit, I missed my folks and I was running out of money. I mean, I lived without money for a while too but I figured it was a sign to come back for a little while." He nudged her back and smiled at the slowly diminishing threat in the three larger men. "What's up fellas?"

"You must be Garth," Sam's tone was as much a question as it was a statement to which Garth nodded.

"Garth Fitzgerald IV," he tipped his head, that bright smile remaining on his face without a hint of fading. "And who might my welcome party be?"

"I'm Sam, my brother Dean, and boyfriend Jet."

Dean raised his hand, "Hey,"

"Yo." Jet's expression wasn't menacing but Dean wouldn't classify it as friendly either. "Whatcha doin' here, Garth?"

"Jet," Sam warned to which he got a 'tch' from his boy.

"It's alright," Garth reassured and looked at Charlie, "I… assume that you being here isn't a coincidence is it?"

"No," she shrugged a little nervously; Dean could see the small glint of uncertainty in her face. "You saw him."

"So that really was Cas," Garth breathed and to Dean's ears it sounded more relieved than anything else. "That's amazing, Charlie! Where did you find him?"

"I didn't, they did." She nodded to the boys, "But I'm here now, so that's what matters."

"Where was he?" Garth looked up enthusiastically at Sam who seemed to be the friendliest by default.

"The basement of the mansion, he's been free for a couple weeks now," Sam explained freely, Charlie wasn't too concerned about Garth so he wasn't either. Not to mention he could probably take Garth down in one hit, Dean didn't doubt it for a second.

"Weeks? You've known about this for weeks?" Garth turned back to Charlie with a more questioning look, "Why wouldn't you tell anyone?"

"Everyone else gave up on him," she retaliated immediately, defensive of her decisions to the point that Dean guessed she wasn't totally sold on them herself. "You could all wait a little while until he got better, I didn't think I needed to tell you right away."

"I don't mean me, Charlie." Garth's tone wasn't attacking in any fashion; he kept clear of that though Charlie didn't seem to become any less defensive. "You're not the only one that was hurt when he disappeared."

"I know, I know," her gaze fell away from his, guilty written in her posture. "I just… it's complicated, Garth. Cas isn't ready to see Michael yet, and I don't think Michael's ready either."

"I'm sorry," Garth put a gentle hand on her shoulder, "I know you have the best intentions but… I don't think you get to decide that for him."

She looked up; her expression was torn between being angry and accepting. "Stop being my conscience, I know more about this than you do."

"Okay," Dean decided it was time to step in, "You guys don't need to fight, both of you make a really good point. All I know is that Cas wouldn't want this to be an issue, alright?" he looked at them both and they nodded their agreement. "Good."

"Can I see him?" Garth asked and Dean glanced at the front door.

"I guess so, but you saw him before, right? Wings and all that?"

"Yeah, he didn't know who I was," Garth nodded again, "I figured I just look different."

"You're a bit taller, but mostly the same." Charlie pointed out and earned herself a laugh from her old friend. "Seriously though, Garth," she touched his arm gingerly, "Cas isn't the same."

"Neither am I, or at least not on the outside. And you aren't either, right? I'm just glad he's alive, I don't care that he's not the same."

Charlie sighed and gave Dean an accepting look before he turned to the house. He waved a little, "Cas! It's okay, you can come out."

He hadn't even fully finished the sentence before the door opened and Cas bounded out. A rush of air and flutter of wings put him at Dean's side, eyes wide as he looked Garth over again. "Hello," he said tentatively, keeping close to Dean despite being told it was fine and hurrying out.

Garth's eyes watered as his smile grew, "Hi Cas," he made no attempts to hide the fact that he was crying, in fact he freely allowed himself to do so. Dean wasn't sure why but he was a bit jealous. "Man, it's good to see you again. How have you been?"

Castiel looked at Dean who nodded toward Cas' lost memory, a sort of reassurance that he could answer. "I… I'm better now." Cas said as he returned his eye contact to Garth's, "I'm sorry, I don't know who you are."

Garth faltered a little, "Yeah, I kinda thought so. It's okay though, I'm just happy you're alright."

Cas lowered his head but kept his eyes up, "I'm not human anymore,"

"Cas," Dean couldn't hold his reaction as his heart wrenched from that admission.

"It's okay, Dee," Cas smiled at him, quick to try and calm the sudden storm he caused. "I know it's true, it's not that bad."

Dean wanted to take comfort in Cas' words or in the quiet expression he wore, but it wasn't possible. As much as Dean wanted to feel like it was okay he couldn't be convinced that Cas thought it was fine. At least not so soon after hearing it, he wanted to sit down and talk it out before he could make any real judgement calls on it. For the time being he'd mark it as a sensitive topic.

"What happened to you?" Garth asked softly, the reality finally seeming to sink into the density that was his mind.

"I don't want to explain right now," Cas said truthfully, his eyes holding Garth's gaze firmly, "But if you stay the night I can show you."

Dean wasn't sure it was a good idea. He knew that Cas didn't recognize an old friend, which meant Cas' emotions and feelings wouldn't come up in the same protective way. As far as Dean knew Cas didn't have a lot of control over those dreams as it was, he'd shared the first ones with them because he didn't know how else to do it but now was different. Castiel could speak, albeit slowly and choppily but words could be used instead.

"Maybe not, Cas." He decided to say it out loud, his attention on Castiel who looked at him a bit surprised. "We don't know what kind of toll doing stuff like that takes on you, let us explain if you don't want to."

Cas stared at him blankly for a second or two but he smiled as the time passed, "Okay," he nuzzled Dean's cheek, "Thank you."

Charlie reached over and touched Cas' shoulder, "Don't worry about it, we've got your back, man." The two shared a smile that made Dean feel a bit more comfortable about speaking up.

"Sounds like a lot of trouble," Garth rubbed the back of his head, "I guess you don't go missing without a trace for good reasons…"

"What matters is that he's getting better," Sam offered a smile that Garth accepted willingly.

"So," Jet said unimpressed as he raised his arm and pointed down their long drive way, "We got a grey car incoming, anyone know who that might be?"

Charlie looked at Garth with wide eyes, "You did not…"

"What?" He asked defensively this time, "I was sure I saw Cas, why wouldn't I call Michael?"

"Oh goddamn it," Dean pinched his brow.

"Well you don't invite him to a place you don't own, you dumb fuck!" Jet snapped back and Sam tried to hush him. It worked well enough that Jet didn't go on another one of his rants but it didn't chill him out any.

Cas whined softly and stepped behind Dean, all the excitement was making him nervous and Dean didn't blame him. "It's okay," he whispered and Cas tucked in closer. "Do you know the name Michael?"

"I remember it from my nightmares," Cas replied softly, "I was crying that name but I don't know why."

"He's your older brother," Dean took Cas' hand firmly, at least to show him that they were together, Dean wasn't going anywhere and nothing would happen to Cas. "Maybe you'll remember better if you see him." Cas' little grunt in response didn't sound terribly convinced.

The car pulled to a stop in a space that would still be easy to drive away from, its driver cautious of the estate. Dean could see the silhouette of the person but he could tell by Charlie's reaction that it was definitely Michael Novak. The door opened and a dark haired man stepped out, his eyes were steely and his expression pulled tight. He didn't seem to notice Cas yet, Dean's angel was tucked behind him and curling wings around to try and hide.

"Charlie?" Michael asked a little bewildered, Dean was sure he was putting together the same thing that Garth had. If Charlie was around where a possible Cas sighting had happened, could it be a coincidence. Michael glanced at Garth for an answer, his brow slowly creasing as he looked around at the gaggle of people, and then his eyes stopped at Dean. There were wings sprouting from behind him but Cas was still visible if one looked carefully.

Even from the distance between them and four years separating the last time they'd spoken, Michael still recognized Castiel immediately. His eyes widened and his defensive stance slumped in disbelief, "Cas?" he barely managed to choke out. "Cas is that you?"

Author's Note:

THANK YOU EVERYBODY. I really appreciate your support, not just for reading my stuff but for helping me too. I'm doing much better now and I wanted to let you all know that I added art (to my deviantart account or zafonart tumblr) for chapter 31 so check it out if you wanna.

Also sorry for the cliffhanger :3