Gone, yes. Gone from inside Castiel; gone, but for how long? Castiel didn't know how Dean could try so hard to draw him back from his melancholy, after everything. How could Dean summon such strength when Castiel couldn't even raise it himself? He knew he'd betrayed Dean, but Dean wasn't raising it, wasn't even shouting at him about it, and he should be.

Dean always forgave him. Sometimes it seemed to take forever, but in the end that forgiveness always, always came round. He just didn't feel like he deserved it this time.

He stared at Dean for a moment longer, then stepped ever so carefully toward him.

"But what he took from us-- We can't get that back."