Author's Note:

This is the alternate ending, the first part's the same but you can read it again if you'd like :P I'm going to include it for no particular reason other than it helps me remember what part of the story changed.

Standing in front of Lucifer's building were several men and women armed to the teeth, fully expecting the onslaught of croats and demons awaiting them on the second floor. Cas stood before them, his hair clean and, for the first time in a long time, his eyes were determined and focused. "Alright," He spoke over them, having taken command of this portion of the plan. Dean didn't argue with it, Cas knew what was waiting in that building and could better prepare these men for the fight. Cas went over where the ambush would take place and what position everyone should take. He vaguely remembered what corners the enemy would pop out of, but couldn't promise them anything.

Everyone was ready to move out, each prepared and feeling remarkably confident in the plan. A silent nod from Cas sent the crew into the building; he received a few pats on the shoulder as they passed him by. Many of the people present expressed pride for Castiel, that he was taking charge, that he had stopped his self-destructive fall, and that he looked healthier in every aspect of the word. He gave them a smile and a nod as a reply.

Once they were all out of sight, Cas turned to Dean, "Just beyond the gate over there is the garden, good luck and try not to tango with him too soon, okay?"

Dean smirked, "Come on, it's me." He leaned forward as his hand firmly grasped the back of Cas' head and pulled the unsuspecting male toward him. Their lips locked almost immediately, Cas' eyes were wide at first but closed soon after. He wrapped his arms around Dean and pushed their lips together harder, more passionately. He had expected Dean to break it off soon, since they had a mission to accomplish and the leader hadn't been one for fooling around lately. He was, however, pleasantly surprised when Dean's tongue forced its way into his mouth, past his teeth and began to battle his tongue for dominance.

Things became hot and heavy fast before Cas pulled back, "You know I want to," He placed his index finger on Dean's lips, "But we need to stop Lucifer first. If this doesn't work we're all screwed."(Author's note: Things change after this point)

Dean stared at Cas briefly, his disappointment was obvious but he decided to shrug it off. "Good point." He turned away and headed through the gate, colt in hand. He glanced back at Cas as the ex-angel trotted into the building, his eyes shifted back to the colt and his mind swarmed with questions. He'd heard Cas' explanation on the thing not working but what if that was just Lucifer toying with him? What if Cas had fallen victim to an illusion Lucifer set up just so Dean wouldn't try the colt? If that were true then the colt would work and Lucifer was just attempting to stop that plan altogether.

Dean furrowed his brow and looked up as he entered the garden. The whole thing about the rings seemed far-fetched as it was, the colt had worked before so why wouldn't it work now? Just the other day Cas believed that the colt would work like everyone else, so why would he wake up the very morning Dean returned with the gun claiming that it wouldn't work? It was too conveniently timed.

Lucifer stood in front of him, decked head to toe in white, a smile gracing his lips. "Dean," His tone sounded as if he'd been expecting him. "What a surprise." He turned fully to face the hunter, a red rose in his hand. "What can I do for you?"

Dean's mind raced for a moment, questioning everything Cas had said now. He was certain Lucifer had set this whole thing up, "I'm here to save the world." He said plainly as he lifted the colt, "Joke's on you, Lucy. I'm not falling for your stupid trick."

Lucifer's eyes widened slightly, "Stupid trick?" He questioned, his face taking on a look of confusion. "Which trick is that?"

"Don't play dumb." Dean growled, "You know exactly what I'm talking about it." His finger twitched above the trigger, the face staring back at him was still his brother's, those were still Sam's eyes. His frown increased as he shook his head, that wasn't Sam anymore, his brother would never do all the things Lucifer had done. "Eat lead, bitch." With that he pulled the trigger.

Cas had opened the door to the garden, he was using the battle sounds above him as a cover so Lucifer wouldn't notice his arrival. He closed the heavy door as quietly as it would permit before he crept down the rose littered pathway. A loud shot sent shivers down his spine, his eyes slowly widening as the horror set in. He ran down the path and saw Dean lying at Lucifer's feet, one large shoe pressed down on the older Winchester brother's neck.

Cas' mouth opened to cry out, nothing came but a pained crackling sound from his throat. He gripped the rings tight enough that they started to dig into his palm, blood trickling down his fist. Lucifer hadn't seen or heard him yet so he threw the horsemen's rings, they landed silently on the back of Dean's left knee, still having gone unnoticed by the devil standing above it.

The ex-angel braced himself, feet shoulder-width apart in hopes that would be the strongest stance to take when the pressure was on. He spewed out the incantation to activate the rings, catching Lucifer's attention. The devilish angel's eyes opened wider in a flash, his pupils shrinking to the smallest size possible. "You!" He snarled and moved toward Castiel.

Cas flinched, expecting to see Lucifer standing in front of him any second. He blinked incredulously at what he saw next; Lucifer had been unable to move from where he stood, the portal to his cage had opened and had already taken hold of him. He lashed out at Castiel but the mortal angel was too far out of his reach to do any form of harm, though that fact didn't stop the devil from spitting out threats.

Cas stood firm as he watched Lucifer get dragged down, letting tears flow down his face and let them be pulled away into the cage alongside the prince of darkness and his beloved. The hole closed up leaving the rings behind on the cold stone floor, no sign that either human or fallen angel just been standing there. Castiel took burdened steps toward the rings and lifted them up in his open palm, staring down at the tiny space they took up.

He didn't shift his gaze when he heard the heavy door swing open and the voices of his comrades spill out into the garden, they had obviously won their fight. He heard a voice ask him; "Where's Dean?"

Cas, with his head hung low, lifted the rings up in a single, sharp motion. No more had to be said after that, everyone understood and they all walked back to their vehicles. Whispers about leadership started spreading around the troops, who would take charge now that Dean was gone? What was their next goal now that Lucifer had been taken care of? No one really thought they'd win, there had always been the underlying pessimism in every plan that they just wouldn't make it out alive. Now, here they were in the end, Lucifer was dead and the world suddenly stood a fighting chance.

Cas reached his truck first, placing a hand on the door handle and opening it he paused for a moment. His eyes stared down at the ground but didn't really see it there. Thoughts buzzed in his mind like a disorganized beehive, the whole point in coming back was to save Dean's life but it had ended the same way. The only difference now was that Lucifer was also gone, which meant that Dean had accomplished the goal he'd set out to do after Sam said yes to the devil. Well, there was one other difference, all the troops were alive and so was he.

He slammed the door shut and lifted his head to face the people standing in front of him. "Listen," His voice sounded strong, stronger than he really felt, "I will not waste another day spent in past mistakes," He refused to allow tears to betray the words he was speaking now, he wouldn't cry for Dean again, not until it was all over. "Dean may be gone but I'm still here, and until this fucking world is put back in some kind of order I will not give in. I'll assume leadership at this point, anyone who has a problem with it can bite me."

There was silence among the crew, glances were exchanged, and finally someone spoke, "We have no problem with that, Cas." Everyone nodded.

"We've fought all this shit until now, who the hell would give up after finally beating the devil?"

"Hell yeah! I'm with you all the way, man!"

Cas stood in quiet awe as he received supporting cries from his comrades, no one intended to leave him twisting in the wind. He grinned, the very same grin he always hid behind when things hurt the most, "Thank you, guys." He opened the door to his truck, "Let's get going back to camp, I need a nap." Hopping in and closing his door, Castiel stared at the gate to the garden and knew that this wasn't the last time he'd be here, he'd definitely be visiting it every night in his dreams from now until his time was up. Putting the truck in gear he tore away from that building, leaving his hopes for a happy future dead in a garden of roses.