[ Good. Castiel nods, eyes softening in relief. He wasn't there for the gruesome removal of faces and subsequent deaths of two party members, but... well.

He never wanted Dean here, for obvious reasons. But Dean is here now, and his and Sam's well-being are imperative. ]

I wouldn't be able to follow your prayer to a location I'm not familiar with.

[ Castiel gives Dean a pointed look - calling him in as last moment back up will not work, much to Castiel's obvious displeasure.

He steps away then - not really to put distance between them or shut down their conversation. On the contrary - his former bedroom has not become Dean's space, and while not yet filled with a sense of the man in question, Castiel can't help but trail through the room, fingers moving along the edges of furniture.

He does this, sometimes. Attention and awareness of the person with him, but eyes and hands wandering. Rifling through Dean's belongings, picking up books to skim through. Not quite a nervous habit, just... habit. ]

I... went to look for a structure within the forest, recently. With a group of good, capable people. Powerful people. My group was fine. The other group lost two. And I realized... I can only protect those I'm with at any given time.

[ Castiel turns back towards Dean, leaning against a small table in the bedroom. He's maneuvered himself further away from Dean,but also further into the room, and seems to be comfortable here. His face is serious. ]

A good man told me not to bleed my grace dry. To think of how it would make those left behind feel. I didn't see the point until you and Sam arrived.

[ His jaw tightens. He thinks of Dean's face breaking under his fist, and has to relax his clenched fingers to shake the memory. ]

Do not go far from me.

[ It's phrased like a command, but sounds like a plea. Castiel meets Dean's eyes.

He can't lose them, now that they're here. ]