[ Except what you're asking is for Dean to be the leader. He was never very good at that. Too much responsibility, too many lives lost. It killed him each time and then he buried that too. He had a whole graveyard full of regrets and the bones just kept on piling. But he looked Cas straight in the eye, burying yet another fear, another regret with all the rest and his jaw firmed up and his gaze turned hard and he nodded. ]

Yeah, that's what I want. If we're gonna get torn apart and eaten by the crows, I think it's about time we started doing it on our terms, don't you think? Wouldn't you rather choose your death rather then just wait for it?

[ how much longer are you going to be the observer, the chronicler? Dean knew what kind of shitty life that lead to. And like Cas kept pointing out. He was no longer an angel. There was no need to keep being the guardian. He could be the friend instead. ]