Hey guys! Hope you like this one. I have another published story that I think everyone would enjoy, titled "Novelized Versions of SPN Episodes". This is the author, signing off.

"I gave Rowena a call."

Lucifer looked up from the book he was reading. "And?"

"She said she might have a tracking spell that could work," Sam said, leaning closer to get a look at Lucifer's book. "What's that?"

"Uh, it's a Bible," Lucifer admitted sheepishly. "I'm putting a sticky note in it every time I see something that isn't true." The Bible was only open to the first few pages, and sticky notes already filled up the paper.

Sam raised an eyebrow. "You can touch that? I thought there was this whole thing with the Devil and Bibles."

Lucifer lifted one hand. Tight, leather gloves fit neatly onto his hand. "Protection."

"Huh." Sam cast a quick glance to Michael, who had moved only slightly from his position on the floor. He was now leaning against Lucifer's chair, staring silently ahead. "Okay, so Rowena found a spell that tracks archangel grace. It should pinpoint the exact location of all archangel's on Earth."

"And if Gabriel isn't on Earth?" Lucifer asked. "Asmodeus will most likely be in Hell."

"It should work regardless," Sam said. "It's our best bet."

"Yeah."

Sam paused a moment, watching Michael's eyes dart around the bunker, before saying, "What happens after?"

"After what?"

"After we rescue Gabriel and everything," Sam clarified. "I mean, not to insult you or anything, but are you sure Michael and Gabriel will even want to stay here? Gabriel left Heaven because of you and Michael, so I don't really see him staying here in close proximity with the two of you. And what about Michael? Is he still going to want to destroy you?"

Lucifer sighed. He closed the Bible and slipped his gloves off, making sure to not touch the worn leather. "I... I don't know. It's not up to me if they stay or go. I can't make them do anything. We'll just have to see."

Quiet fell over them. Michael tapped the ground with a single finger, trembling slightly. He did not speak. He only stared, gazing at something no one else could see. Sam saw Lucifer glance over at his brother, expression softening and icy eyes thawing. He looked at Michael in the way he used to look at Sam, before they fell back into the Cage. With caring, and concern.

"Michael," Lucifer said suddenly. Michael flinched. "Do you know where you are?"

Michael made a soft, nervous sound.

"Where are you right now, Michael?" Lucifer pressed, leaning down so he forced his brother to meet his gaze. "Tell me where you are."

Moaning, Michael buried his face in his hands and let out a string of incoherent noises.

Lucifer gripped his sleeve, his tone turning demanding. "Michael, answer me."

"Bunker!" Michael cried, his voice cracking. "Bunker, bunker, bunker..." He reached up with shaking hands and grabbed Lucifer's arm. "Michael, bunker. G-Gabriel, c-ca-ca-"

"What is it?" Lucifer urged, looking excited now. "Where is Gabriel?"

"Demon," Michael whispered. "Yellow eyes. Hurt."

"A yellow-eyed demon hurt Gabriel?" asked Lucifer. "Was his name Asmodeus?"

Michael squeaked in terror and covered his face.

"Michael, was it Asmodeus?"

"Lucifer," Sam intervened. "I think he answered all he could. Don't- I mean, look at him."

Michael had begun rocking again, head in one hand while the other had a tight hold on Lucifer's sleeve, like a lifeline. He was muttering to himself in a low voice, trembling from head to toe.

"Yeah." Lucifer released a slow breath. "I know, I shouldn't have, I-I'm just-" He stood abruptly and swept the Bible off the table, where it landed on the floor with a thump. His hand smoked, and Sam and Michael both flinched. "I'm so angry!" He clenched and relaxed his fists several times, face contorting. "I can't handle this! One of my brothers is dead, one is missing, one is insane, and my entire extended family despises me! It's my fault, I get it! But I'm just so angry that I don't even have a chance to fix it!" He kicked at the ground, narrowly avoiding his chair. "And then God up and leaves me to go hang out with his other betrayed family member. As if I'm worth LESS?"

Michael covered his ears, humming louder to drown out Lucifer's rant.

"Amara did this to me," Lucifer growled. "Her mark corrupted me and turned me into a monster, and I don't even get a proper apology from her!" He took in a shuddering breath, eyes burning with the threat of tears. "And I have to basically threaten my crazy brother to get even a little information on where Gabriel is. I'm doing all this for them and I bet-" he jabbed a finger at Sam, "-that I won't even receive a thank you."

Sam swallowed, unsure how to respond without angering the archangel further.

"And I-" Lucifer stopped, breathed deeply, then continued: "I don't even know why I'm angry. I-I just- I can't-"

"You want something that no one is willing to give you," Sam said. He prided himself on not flinching at the Devil's harsh stare. "You miss the life you could have had, and so everything that happens now is a bitter reminder that things will never be what they were. That's why you're upset."

Lucifer collapsed into his chair, closing his eyes. For a long moment, he sat there quietly. When he opened his eyes, he was calmer, and the ice in his irises was less frigid. He gently pried Michael's hands from his ears, murmuring soft reassurances. "I'm sorry," he said, both to Sam and his brother. "I don't have a right to get angry, especially at the two of you."

"Everyone needs to vent occasionally," Sam replied. "Though, I gotta admit, I thought you were going to break a light bulb or something."

"I've only broken one!" Lucifer defended. When he saw Sam's smirk, he allowed himself a smile. "Oh, I see. It's gonna be like that, huh? Yeah, I'll get you back."

"Honesty is of God as dishonesty is of the Devil," Michael piped up. "The Devil was a liar from the beginning. Joseph Wirthlin."

"Aren't you supposed to be on my side? And are you saying I won't follow through? Because I will. Stop laughing, Sam."

Meanwhile...

Dean slid the drawer shut, withdrawing only a single photograph from it. It was a old picture, worn and grey with age, but the life in their eyes was evident nonetheless. Mary Winchester smiled brightly at the camera, while a young boy was lying upside-down, grinning wildly. Behind Mary, John smiled too, albeit less widely. He cradled baby Sam in his arms.

Happier times. Dean rubbed his thumb over the young boy, wondering where that innocence went.

Oh right. Yellow-Eyes.

Dean sighed and began to tuck the photo away, when a warm hand stopped him. Castiel took the photo from him gently, studying the occupants.

"That is your mother," Cas stated. "And... that is you?" He pointed at the little boy.

Dean nodded.

"You seem happy," Cas said. He looked up at Dean, and those startling blue eyes were confused. "You don't smile very much anymore."

"I'm not a little kid anymore, Cas," Dean muttered, snatching the photograph. He shoved it in his pocket. "And what's there to smile about, anyway? Lucifer and his demented brother are staying here, most likely permanently since Sammy seems to have gotten attached. I'll have to deal with that smart ass for who knows how long."

"Lucifer is not so bad when he isn't trying to destroy all of humanity," Cas supplied. "He actually... cares."

Dean scoffed. "He only cares about himself."

"He cares about your brother," Cas said. "And his own family. He just... doesn't hold general humans in that same regard."

"It'll be a cold day in Hell when Lucifer cares about anything besides his own wellbeing."

"Hell is hot, Dean." Cas frowned. "You of all people should know."

"Cas, it's a- it's just a saying," Dean explained. He huffed a laugh. "After all these years, and you still take things much more literally that you need to."

When Cas didn't reply, Dean looked up, only to see the angel staring at him. The quiet was not awkward, and Castiel's gaze felt comforting. Even after everything, his angel still stood by him.

"I meant to thank you," Dean said after a moment. Cas raised an eyebrow. "Because, despite everything, you did so much for me. For us. I don't know what I- what we'd do without you."

"You are the most important person to me, Dean," Cas said. His lip quirked into a tiny smile. "I Fell for you. Angels don't do that for just any human."

"Eh, only cause I was the Righteous Man and whatnot." Dean shrugged off the heavy admission, falling immediately into self-deprecation territory. "I'm not important."

"Perhaps it is your status that brought us together," Cas mused, stepping towards the hunter. "But it was you that kept us that way."

"Don't know what you mean, Cas."

"You are special, Dean Winchester." Castiel moved closer, stepping directly into Dean's personal space. Dean didn't move. He only watched the angel. "Special to me. I Fell for you. I rebelled against Heaven for you. Everything I have ever done, every thought that directly contradicted everything I was taught, was for you. You are more than the Righteous Man. You are more than a human, a hunter, a brother. You mean more to me than anything I've seen, on Heaven, Earth, or Hell."

"That's deep, Cas," Dean whispered, swallowing. "But I-I don't deserve- I'm not-"

"You are more than anything I'll ever need," Cas murmured. "You deserve everything in the world, and unfortunately I am unable to give that to you."

Human and angel, hunter and warrior, spring green eyes on ocean blue. They were only inches apart now.

"Is this even allowed?" Dean wondered softly.

Their fingers met, lacing together like they had always belonged.

"Who cares?" Cas replied, equally quiet. "It's time for a rule change anyway."

Dean couldn't agree more.