Oh is that what he was injecting himself with at the end? I was confused about that, and where the syringe had come from, lol. Hmm...

And I enjoyed this episode far more than some of the other ones this season (the first episode might still be the worst for me, or Slumber Party), but then again Cas doesn't bore me on the same way, and like you said it treated his character with dignity, which is always a welcome surprise. And Crowley's snark provides much of what little remaining entertainment exists on this show. *sigh*