At least he's smiling, so it's something, but Castiel still feels somewhat hollow. He had always thought well of himself, never had reason to question or doubt and he has just fallen so low. He will never understand why his father has constantly brought him back from death, constantly allowed him to commit such travesties, and then charged him with overseeing heaven in his stead. Castiel has had more second chances than anyone deserves and he will have to live with his failures for the rest of eternity it seems. He thought he needed Dean to hear what he really felt in order to alleviate the ache inside him, but apparently that is not the case.

Perhaps this is punishment after all. How has it taken him a century to understand?

There is a flicker of strong emotion in his eyes, an unending sadness, and then because Castiel has never been good at hiding what he's feeling, he merely drops his hand and looks away. "I expect that you will want to see Sam as soon as possible."