In the same universe as the tv show (so not an au, they are still hunters and everything that's happened in the show has happened). After Cas' supposed death, Dean struggles to deal with his reality whilst also trying to stop the apocalypse. He and Sam face struggles other than this too, whilst taking on jobs in between the main issue facing them. But when Cas turns up alive, after leaving them for months believing he was gone, Dean finds himself getting closer to Cas and realising that maybe he doesn't hate the angel so much after all. Set between: Season 4 finale and Season 5 episode 1