"Not your fault," Cas shrugged. Or was it? He wasn't sure. Maybe in part. Maybe not at all but it didn't matter. Cas didn't have any anger at it towards Dean. This Dean anyway. He could barely remember this gentler man who saw his distress and actually reacted to it. It seemed twelve life-times ago since Dean has looked at him like that, let alone touched him.
He'd long since given over expecting it or acknowledging any need for it. A part of him wished Dean hadn't bothered. Couldn't try just go on as they had been? That was familiar. Comfortable. Now Dean was... tender. He'd asked for the contact before but he didn't expect Dean to wish to carry that on. That wasn't his Dean.
"Are you?" he asked softly, the part that wanted Dean to let go but the part who didn't want him to let go didn't pull away.