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Let me help. [It's a noble enough gesture, except they both know Cas isn't really fit to do squat. He needs to start looking a little closer to home, concentrate on finding a way of stopping the grace inside of him collapsing in on itself.] There has to be something I can do.

[Sam rubs his good hand over his face trying to find the right words to tell Cas no without making him feel useless even though he does not want a repeat of what put his shoulder in a sling.]

Is there anyone in Heaven who knows anything about the Knights of Hell and doesn't hate me enough to help?

A couple. Probably. [Eh, who're we kidding here?] Possibly. [Cas sighs, rubbing shaky fingers across his brow.] I understand it's still a pretty sore subject.

[Resources, such as they are, are pretty strained as it is. It's unlikely there'll be anyone willing to waste their time looking for what, in the end, will probably just be another demon.] I'll do what I can, Sam, but I - I doubt the angels are ready to help us.

[Sam sighs again. He'd been hoping for better news than that. It seems like it's bad news week all around.]

Thanks Cas, but please don't push it okay. We still need to figure out how to boost your Grace.

I'm fine, Sam. [Always is, no matter who happens to ask. It's just a shame the sallow, greyish hue to his skin seems to ruin the pretence.] Just concentrate on finding Dean. We can worry about everything else... afterwards.

[Whatever that means. Cas still isn't entirely up to speed with what exactly happened to that heroic, douchebag of a Winchester except that, improbably, he still seems to be alive for the most part.]

[Sam shakes his head. He doesn't want to pretend that everything is fine anymore. He can't. He's lost his brother and he'l be dammed if he'd going to lose his best friend too.],

Like hell you are Cas. You look like you are about to fall over. Have you talked to Metatron at all, maybe he didn't use all your Grace.

I've been busy. [It's only because he respects Sam - loves him, really, as gay as Dean might say that is - that he's willing to provide an explanation at all.] Although distracted might be a better word.

The angels that have returned to Heaven need guidance and the ones who haven't are causing a lot of unnecessary tension. [Castiel shrugs, the gesture somewhat lost underneath his coat which, these days, seems to hang off him even more than usual.] I'm helping as much as I can.

Is there anything I can do to help? [Sam's voice softens, the question a gentle plea he knows Cas will deny. Looking for Dean and curing him take top priority right now and yet he longs to ease a bit of stress on his angelic friend.]

Maybe I can find a spell or something to boost the Grace you have now, give you a little bit more time.

If there is a spell - [Cas sincerely doubts it.] - or an artefact of that nature, I'll find it myself. [Eventually.] It isn't the priority right now.

Don't worry, I still have a little while longer. [He tries to smile for Sam's sake and presses a hand to his shoulder in what he hopes is a comforting manner.] I'm not beaten yet, Sam.

[Sam lets his body lean into the touch and take comfort from it. He is just as tried as Cas in fact he can't remember the last time he slept longer than an hour or too.]

I'm not beaten either Cas it's just....