When Castiel told Dean "goodbye," he'd been certain it would last at least a year.

Instead, it lasts a week.

After some anxious pacing back and forth, Castiel decides that he wants to see Dean again. At least, he wants to talk to him again. He doesn't care if they don't see each other. Hell, it's probably preferable that they don't. As much as he would like to hear Dean explain what the fuck he was thinking at Target (why would he shoot someone if he knew he was one camera? That's just asking for trouble), he has a feeling any sort of back-and-forth -- especially in person -- would invite something more.

So, with that in mind, he sits down at the kitchen table with a notebook and a pencil. He'll keep it short and simple and drop it off just as a heads-up. It's the least he can do -- literally. The bar is on the floor and he is kicking it.

I hope your chocolate bars were freakin' worth it.

The cops saw you shoot that guy at Target. I couldn't in good conscience take that case, so I told the chief that you were a Hunter. My partner recognized you, but I played it off as just an eerie similarity and I said I didn't remember your name. Now they're looking for you not just because of your stunt at Target, but because they think catching you will help put an end to the Hunters as a whole. They have no idea how right they are.

That's all the head start you're getting.

Good luck.

-- C. N.

He rereads the note to ensure that there are no mistakes and that it makes sense -- and realizes that his first line sounds a lot like something Dean would say; maybe he had been spending too much time with the guy if he's starting to talk like that now -- then rips it out of the notebook and folds it in thirds. He'll just go grab an envelope from the drawer...

The drawer above the one with the note from his brothers...

Castiel sighs. Scratch that; make it three envelopes. He takes the note from his brothers to the table as well and unfolds it. He wants to remember everything they said when he writes back to them. He has a feeling this will be the last time he ever gets to do that. Hell, he'll be lucky if Dean even decides to give them the note after what he just did.

First up: Gabe.

Gabriel,

I'm doing pretty well, but it's always nice to know that I have an arsonist on my side if that changes. I wish I had some fun stories to tell, but things have been pretty tame lately. My partner brought me to a new bakery the other day (Braedon's Bakery; you should check it out sometime) and I had three cupcakes and a few slices of various unhealthy breads. I think you would have been proud.

I'm glad the new members are cool. I think Meg is my favorite, just judging by these descriptions. Anyone who annoys Dean is a winner in my book, and it's nice to know that someone's still doing it now that I'm not around to do it. I feel bad for the kids who have stumbled into the gang, but at least they have somewhere to go. I'm sure you guys are taking good care of them.

I'm not coming back, but I appreciate the offer. I really, really miss you and I hope we can see each other again someday, but I'm sorry to say that it won't be through the Hunters. I'm almost hesitant to say this because I know Dean is watching out for something like this, but if you ever decide to leave the Hunters, come find me. You can literally just pull up to the police station and ask for me. Even if I'm not there, I'd drop whatever I'm doing to see you.

I love you and I miss you so much. I'm so sorry I never said goodbye, but I hope we get to say hello again someday.

Love,

C. N.

Castiel folds it up and slips it in another envelope. He writes "Gabe" on the front in large letters. I'd Dean finds it, he'll know what to do. If someone else finds it... well, it's vague enough that he's sure nothing will happen and Castiel will be none the wiser.

Part of him feels like he should rewrite it and leave out the line about the potential of Gabriel leaving the Hunters. If Dean read his brothers' letters before letting Jack hand them over, he'll doubtlessly do the same with these. He'll just have to hope those few lines weren't enough to convince Dean not to let his brothers read these.

Moving on, it's time for Luci's letter.

Lucifer,

I'm doing pretty well. Life has been pretty boring lately, but I've come to realize that boring can be preferable to chaotic so I don't mind. Seeing Dean again definitely threw that off for a few weeks, but things have (mostly) gone back to normal since then.

It was so nice to see Jack again. He's so sweet and I can tell he's a genuinely good kid. I'll be the first to admit that I was worried about how growing up as a Hunter would affect him, but clearly I didn't have to worry because you raised him right.

It means a lot to me that you told him so much about me. I wouldn't have expected him to know anything about me beyond maybe my name. He was so young when I left. I'm sure he doesn't actually remember me. The fact that he not only knows all about me but seemed to almost see me as family means more than I can say (and not just because it means you haven't been talking shit about me for the last 13 years, though I do appreciate that).

You don't have to thank me for not turning the kids in. They might not really know me, but I still know them (albeit as two- and three-year-olds), so don't worry, I won't turn them in. I don't really know what happened, but just an hour or so with Jack was enough to assure me that whatever it was, it wasn't out of malice. Just keep an eye on them. I can't promise I'll always be able to protect them.

I really appreciate you being so understanding about everything. I tried to explain why I left to Dean and he seemed to think I'd lost my mind, so I won't bother you with it. I think it would be hard to say in writing, anyway. I don't regret it, though. I feel like I've done a lot of good on the force, and I can't leave now. I still miss you like hell, though, and I hope we run into each other someday. And if you ever decide you're done with the Hunters, come find me and I would be more than happy to help in any way I can (and that offer obviously extends to Jack and Claire, too). I don't expect much to come of this, but my door is always open.

It's been a rough 13 years without you. I hope we get to reunite someday.

Love,

C. N.

Castiel folds that letter up as well and slips it in another envelope, which he labels "Luci." He takes one more piece of paper and rips the top half off. This might be counter-productive, drawing Dean's attention to it like that, but if it leaves less of a chance of Dean throwing these letters out in their entirety.

I have no idea if you're screening these letters before you give them to my brother. I don't care too much either way. All I ask is that if you do and you really don't like how I ended them, you just cross that out and give it to them anyway. You can show them this if you don't think they'll believe that I gave you permission. Just please let them have the rest of it. I never got to say goodbye when I left. This is the closest I'll ever get.

Castiel slips that in Dean's envelope as well. He seals Dean's envelope, but he only tucks the flap in on his brothers'. There's no point in sealing them if Dean is going to open them before he hands them over -- and after that last little note, he's fairly certain Dean will read them, if only to see what Castiel meant. He'd be surprised if Dean lets him leave in the part of the letter that tells his brothers that they can always come to him if they choose to leave the Hunters, but he hopes he does -- and he hopes it works. Castiel hadn't even considered leaving the gang until he'd found out Sam was going to. Maybe his brothers will be the same way about him.

That doesn't matter now, though. Whatever Dean decides to do (and whatever his brothers decide to do) is out of his hands now. He'll just have to hope for the best.