[ There's the slightest jerk of his head at those words. Always so close, and it's because they can never seem to agree with each other. ]

It wasn't a reminder. [ Because he doesn't know. He thinks it might have been something, but that couldn't have been all of it. Not with what he knows about Sam and who he is. ] I need you to see what you refuse to. All of this will happen again if you don't.

[ If he doesn't stop. If he doesn't allow Sam the choice. If he doesn't make peace with himself and what's been done. Castiel can't reach inside to adjust those pieces of him. He would if he could, but it's impossible to do so with how much damage has been done already. They are barely holding themselves together as it is. Anymore, and he fears there will be nothing to salvage.

Almost gently, he slides his arm so that his hand replaces it, thumb pressing right against his Adam's apple. If he pushed hard enough, dug in without restraint, he could crush his voice box. ]

And neither of us will survive it. [ Not for long. ]