He felt such a soft affection for Dean then, still lost, still looking to him for guidance while he was looking right back for the same. Castiel reached out and lay a hand back on Dean's shoulder, but let it slide up and cup his jaw in a light touch. He heard the real question, though not in a literal sense. Reading Dean's mind was beyond him now. But he knew the other man still, knew him well enough to know his doubts and fears. They were the same ones that Castiel held for himsef.

"You're not alone in this. We'll help each other."