Castiel stopped at the top of the steps, preparing himself for the walk down, before he finally swung open the door. It had been three weeks since he'd been freed from Lucifer's influence, the archangel ascending and leaving him behind. He'd absconded ostensibly over the fact that he was exhausted from the experience, but Dean and Sam both knew the truth about what Castiel had done - or at least what Lucifer had done, while wearing him - and he wasn't anywhere closer to forgiving himself.

He couldn't stay away forever, though, not despite his best efforts. Dean called him, and Cas knew that despite the claim that it was business, he knew he was going to get cornered when he turned up, that this was going to be a confrontation - an ambush - of some kind.

He held his nerve as he pushed open the door, though his heart was going a million miles an hour, and walked slowly down the stairs.

"Sam? Dean?"