[ cas holds dean's glance for a good long while, something unreadable ghosting behind his eyes - something like pain, perhaps, or loss, or deeper furious worthlessness. cas had known right away what dean had meant for him the moment he sent them through those doors; he wouldn't make it out alive. he was fodder. he'd give his life and get shredded by crotes and demons like lumber fed into a wood chipper, for just one narrow shot at bringing down the devil.

he'd made his peace with it, honestly. from the moment he fell, cas had been ready to give up his life for the greater good if necessary, willing to give everything he had to attempt to set things right. he's still willing to do that.

.. but something about dean's face, his eyes, about being sacrificed - it had seemed so easy for him. there'd been no goodbyes, no thank yous, no anything, and the selfish, proud side of him had been offended by that, hurt by it, thought maybe he deserved more from dean for all he had given up for him. some.. recognition for all they'd been through together, for the final sacrifice he was willing to make, ready to die at dean's behest, but he hadn't gotten anything, just a dead-eyed stare and a cold death sentence.

so to get that now - cas isn't really sure how to parse it, or even what to make of it. he only has to assume that dean's got a long list of regrets, like all the rest of them. ]

Yeah, well. [ he starts with a shrug, glancing away at last, toward the floor with hooded eyes. ] I was happy to do it. You know that. Whatever it is you need from me, Dean, you know I'll always give it.