Lucifer sat outside the bunker, watching as Dog scurried around, tail wagging as he attempted to catch the illusion of a smaller dog that Lucifer had conjured for him. One hour. Gabriel had told her one more hour so that he could talk to the remainder of his children for what would probably be the last time. Gabriel would become human and even if he were to go to Hel when he died, most of the nephorlo weren't perceivable by humans. Too much power wrapped into their forms and nothing resembling humanity to counter it.
Lucifer was a terrible sister. She had no right to make him do this. None. Yet she would. Because she was selfish. So very selfish.
Lucifer was drawn from her internal thoughts when Dog stopped chasing the illusion, turning and barking as someone came out. Not that she needed to, but Lucifer lifted her gaze as Sam approached them.
Sam knelt down as Dog bounded over to him, launching himself into the hunter's arms as the entire creature shook with excitement.
"He yours?" Sam asked as he walked forward, petting the small dog's head as he did before he settled in front of her crossing his legs and allowing Dog to curl into his lap contently.
"Gabriel's." Lucifer answered, raising a brow as the hunter smiled down at the small pile of fur. "You already knew that."
"I heard him in Gabriel's room."
"How are you, Sam?"
The hunter stiffened slightly before blatantly changing the topic. "What's his name?"
"Dog." Lucifer answered and Sam's expression broke into a smile. When was the last time Sam Winchester had smiled? No matter what they would believe, Lucifer truly adored the hunter. And despite what her brother would claim, it had little to do with the grace that she had been unknowingly placing within his soul.
"Why doesn't that surprise me?"
"Because despite what you wish, you know my brother."
"True." They slipped into a comfortable silence while Sam absently pet Dog before the furball jumped up and threw himself back into the task of chasing the illusion dog.
"Lucifer?"
"Yes, Sam?" Lucifer asked, flicking his gaze to the hunter and peeling back his visual on the physical pain to observe the fractured hunter's soul. There was nothing that could properly heal him. The sections of his soul that had been destroyed by The Empty were gone. It was a terrible loss and sooner or later Lucifer would find the reaper that had done it.
"Dean wants me to ask you something since we're 'buddies' as he put it." The hunter made a face that clearly stated he didn't feel that way, not that Lucifer expected it, "Admittedly, I'm sort of curious about it as well."
"My vessel." Lucifer supplied knowingly, a sigh escaping her.
"You show up looking a lot like mom, you couldn't have expected there not to be a bit of discomfort."
"I know." Lucifer paused, thinking back on his previous presence on Earth. "Angels have specific bloodlines that they follow. The more powerful the angel, the stricter the rules on the bloodline. Archangels, as you know, require a True Vessel to be contained without the vessel deteriorating." Sam flinched at this reminder, but Lucifer didn't particularly care. "But we still require that bloodline to keep from instantly destroying a vessel."
"That's why Michael was able to possess Adam and...dad, right?"
Lucifer nodded before speaking again. "Archangels must possess descendents of Cain and Able. If we don't we will destroy our vessel upon entry."
"Wait, that man you were wearing-"
"Nick was related to you. Distantly. This woman I am currently wearing is your cousin. Your mother had a sister who escaped hunting, though I'm unsure what the details are, and this is her daughter. Amy Montgomery."
"I thought Azazel killed all of our relatives on mom's side."
"For the most part, yes, he did. Which I'm truly sorry for, Sam."
"Is she still in there with you?"
"No. I had Death take her soul because I am still trying to mend things with Michael and forcing her to remain with me would have been cruel."
Sam stared at him and Lucifer pointedly watched Dog, not wanting to acknowledge the surprise. The tiny waves of respect.
"You're really changing. I'm sorry Dean is being a dick to you."
Lucifer's mouth twisted slightly in a smile. "I've earned that and far more. Now. We've talked about me. It's time for you to talk. Normally I'd stay out of it, but the nephalem are our responsibilities. How is your mind handling the sleep deprivation, Sam?"
Sam made a face, a dark look crossing his expression before vanishing. There was a long moment of silence where Sam simply looked at Dog, quiet. Lucifer didn't push, knowing he was thinking. There was no way he was handling it well. Humans weren't made to live life without sleep. Lucifer could keep him physically alive but sooner or later his mind would collapse. Even angels rested, never slept, but they rested.
"I'm tired. Not physically. You and Gabriel are doing a great job at forcing me to stay awake." There was a slight bitterness to his words, but he was better off awake, because whatever was done to him while he slept would be a thousand times worse. "I'm not angry with you. I know you're trying. It's just... Exhausting." He sighed. "I want to sleep. I need to sleep, Lucifer."
"I've tried warding you against Bael, Sam. If-"
"I know. You're trying. Which isn't something I'd ever thought I'd think possible. But you're trying to help."
Lucifer's True Form jerked slightly as Sam's soul reached out. She pulled her grace back and Lucifer could feel his soul flicker with disappointment as it retreated. "What would happen to me if I died?"
Lucifer froze, staring at her True Vessel.
"Death said that we weren't getting anymore redos. What happens when I die? When Dean dies?"
Lucifer felt her wings tensing behind her as she tried to keep her expression casual. "I'm not sure. He'll probably lock your Heaven."
"What-"
"Neither of you are damned, Sam and I will fight God before I let him keep you out of Heaven."
Lucifer jumped at the certainty in her words, Sam raising an eyebrow but not commenting on it. Maybe Gabriel was right. She needed to be more careful.
"Your souls are pure, Sam. You are Heavenbound and if you do die, we will carry your soul to Heaven ourselves."
"Don't trust the reapers?" Sam asked, a flash of bitterness in his words. Lucifer frowned, eying the hunter.
"Why the bitterness towards reapers?"
"Gaea told me it was a reaper that threw me in The Empty."
"Really?" Lucifer narrowed her eyes. It appeared Gaea was very well informed as of late and sharing far more than she should have been capable of. It was almost troublesome, but that was an issue she could deal with when Michael was returned.
"Sam. Why are you asking about your death?"
The hunter didn't answer, the silence being all he needed for an answer.
"We can get him out of your head, Sam."
"Then what?" Sam bit out. "I go on living a normal life? You can't honestly think that me remaining alive is anywhere close to a good idea. Look at me Lucifer."
Tucking her wings against her back, she did as told. Reaching across the space, she pressed her hand against the chest, brushing her grace against Sam's soul just enough to get the full image before quickly jerking away.
Sam.
It was clear as day upon close inspection. Oh there was visible damage upon first glance. Anything supernatural could see that just by looking. Sam Winchester's soul was broken. Something that shouldn't have been possible. But upon closer inspection the damage was so much worse. Fractured and torn and broken.
Fading.
"You're losing your memories."
"Yes." He answered, not considering the connotations that word once had between them. "That kid. The one who was here when Dean brought me back. I don't remember his name anymore. Even though I know I knew it."
"Kevin Tran." No recognition crossed the hunter's expression, just a shrugged agreement.
"I guess. Then there's Cas. I don't remember meeting him...Meg. I know I trust her with Cas, that she's in love with him, but I don't remember why I know that. There's other stuff too. Stuff I know I should know. Stuff I have to know but I can't recollect. Like...Werewolves. I don't remember how to kill a werewolf. You can't tell Dean this." He added at the end as Lucifer stared at him. Concern heavy as the world.
Sam deserved to die. Before something worse happened. Before he ceased to exist.
"You'll figure something out. After all. You imprisoned me and Michael in Hell." Later. With Gabriel, Michael, and her together there was enough pre Creation knowledge to potentially save Sam from that fate.
The look Sam gave him was dark, "What would the cost be for that? How many more times will Winchesters saving each other end the world?" Sam rose to his feet and began the trek back towards The Bunker.
It's time, Lucifer.
Later. They would deal with this later.
.-~*~-.
Lucifer slid her gaze across Sam, Dean, Verrine, and Gabriel as they gathered around the table. Dean had decisively planted himself between her and Sam, much to the younger brother's annoyance, and Gabriel was distant, his angelic form completely buried as it had been the day she arrived at his house. Lucifer was in a similar state, wings hidden away carefully and all her tails gone. It was the only way they could guarantee an advantage over Metatron if it came down to a face to face encounter with him. That tablet gave him a direct conduit to the souls in Heaven as well as the ability to conduit God's power. While both Gabriel and Lucifer could do that with Mara's power through Cain's Mark, there were massive restrictions. Namely the fact that it was only a conduit. Mara's power didn't exist outside of whatever prison she currently resided in.
They had to do this carefully.
"So what's the plan?" Sam spoke up and Dean snorted, shaking his head. Clearly the hunter didn't trust her and Michael were on good terms. It wouldn't be hard to shove that in his face once she had Michael back.
"You two halfwits are going to take Castiel to distract Metatron."
"Hell no." Both Dean and, to everyone's surprise, Verrine spoke up at the same time. Dean shot a death glare at the demon that had once manipulated his brother before meeting Gabriel's gaze.
"We're not using Cas as angel bait." Dean ground out, enunciating the words as though Gabriel was deaf.
"He's right." Sam spoke up. "There's no point. Metatron let Cas go. If he wanted him-"
"Metatron let Castiel go because he knew he'd crawl back to you two dumbasses. Metatron is The Scribe. He wrote God's Word. If there's anything he'll want it's a story to spread and the story of 'Team Free Will' trying to throw him out of Heaven will be his idea of a great one. So yes. He'll want Castiel. Especially since he's currently incurably paralyzed. What good is an villian who can't walk?"
"So what? Metatron will pop down, cure Cas, and be on his merry little way?"
"Probably not. It won't matter once Heaven reopens and the angel's can draw on its power again to heal themselves. You'll send out an all access prayer telling Heaven you have Metatron. Michael will clear up anything with the angels revolving around his part in them being cast out in the first place."
Lucifer met her brother's gaze for a single moment. "I caught that." The wording had carefully discarded the death of Raphael and all of the other angels slaughtered in Castiel's time as 'God'. If Castiel was an angel, he had the right to reasonable trial as long as he remained a Guardian Angel because the human Charge would have to be executed to formally execute the angel, not that Lucifer cared, but Michael would since that same Charge was his True Vessel. However, as long as Castiel was human he could be destroyed.
Michael deserved to avenge his sister. It was the only reason Lucifer hadn't smote the ex seraph the moment she saw him again.
"Cas will be safe?" Both brothers asked.
"Possibly better than before if Metatron heals his legs."
"What about this thing with opening Heaven?" Lucifer couldn't help the smile that crossed her face as Sam settled a concerned look on Gabriel. Dean on the other hand looked like he couldn't give a damn that Gabriel was about to give up his entire species to return all of the angels to Heaven as well as allow human souls to move on.
"It'll turn me human." Gabriel responded tiredly. "Glad to hear your concern, Sasquatch but it's got to be done."
"You can't get it back?"
Gabriel's face twisted in a mockery of his usual smile. "Wouldn't be a sacrifice if I could. Right now you should be on a beach drinking martinis in Heaven, Sammy. Unless God or Death butt in, which we know isn't going to happen, I'm not getting my grace back. Now drop the subject."
Sam recoiled slightly at the harshness in Gabriel's words and Lucifer wanted to pull her brother into a hug. To apologise.
"So why's the bitch here?"
"Aw, Dean. I feel the love. Really. It's about on level with Gabriel's."
"She's going to save you if all Hell breaks loose." Lucifer cut in before Gabriel could snap at her. "If, by some chance, things go horrifically wrong in Heaven she's going to make sure that you get away from Metatron."
"I-"
"I have enhanced your powers, Verrine. You will be capable of as much as a Cupid." Lucifer explained and she stared at Lucifer in pure awe for a moment. "Including but not limited to transporting others."
"You will not make the same effort to save Castiel as you will the brothers. If he is to die at this encounter, make it appear as though it is a mistake. Is that understood?"
Verrine's expression flashed to something unreadable before she nodded faintly at Lucifer's silent orders.
The emotion concerned Lucifer. If only a bit. But the likelihood that this plan would end poorly for the brothers was slim enough that she didn't feel the obligation to question it. For the time being.
"So we're not giving Cas a say in him being used as bait?"
"He'll agree to it." Sam cut off his brother's attempt at another argument, because that's what it was. Even Lucifer knew the ex seraph would feel obligated to redeem himself in any way he could. Dean was trying her patience. They had a plan. It was set. They needed to move.
"The plan is ready." Lucifer spoke up, wings flexing agitatedly and threatening to return to the ethereal plane. "You're truly trying my patience, Dean. I'm not in the mood for your shit."
"I'm just trying to-"
"You're attempting to keep Michael and I from reuniting and it's truly trying my patience. I'd swear on a Bible if it put you at ease. As such. I'm going to threaten you. If you don't stop attempting to thwart me in my attempts to retrieve Michael, I will send Verrine out to go on a killing spree of epic proportions and every life she takes, that blood will be on your hands. So shut your mouth and let us explain the rest of this plan to you."
Lucifer smirked at the way the eldest Winchester bristled, and God did that temper remind him of just how stubborn Michael could be. Michael.
They were so close. So very close.
"Now we don't know exactly where Metatron is keeping Michael, if we're to guess he's in the prison. While the four of you are distracting Metatron I'm going to be checking the prison while Lucifer finds the Angel Tablet." This part of the plan Lucifer wasn't particularly fond of. She wanted to be there when Michael was rescued. Unfortunately, Lucifer was more in tune with The Tablet and would be able to find it easier than Gabriel could. As much as she didn't wish to admit it, getting that Tablet away from Metatron was the most important.
"Hold up. You're giving Lucifer The Angel Tablet."
"You forget, Dean. I had The Tablet safely locked away for many years. There are four beings in existence who can read it, one is our Mother, who doesn't need it, one is God, who doesn't need it, one is Kevin Tran, and one is Metatron. Trust me when I say this, Dean. That Tablet is safer in my hands than in the gnat's. Once I find The Tablet I will break it, Metatron will be nothing more than a Seraph without it."
There was a stretch of silence, then Gabriel spoke. "After Michael is safe and Metatron has been weakened I'll sacrifice my Grace to Heaven's Gates. Castiel will feel it. These," an assortment of Bluetooth earpieces appeared in front of all of them, "Will be our means of communication. Everything has to be timed perfectly. If it isn't, this plan will fail and the world will suffer the consequences."
There were several long moments of silence, then Sam picked his earpiece up, setting it in his ear carefully while his gaze settled on Lucifer.
Make sure Ruby protects Dean at all costs. I'm not stupid, Lucifer. You don't care about Cas and while he's one of my only living friends that I remember, you and Gabriel will do what you want. Make sure my brother makes it out of this, though.
After what she'd seen earlier, Lucifer couldn't refuse the hunter. Not knowing what she knew.
"So everyone good on the plan?" Gabriel asked as he took his own earpiece.
"Yeah." Dean responded grudgingly as he lifted his own earpiece.
"Perfect."
Snap.
.-~*~-.
Gabriel and Lucifer met each other's gaze as Lucifer lifted the scythe.
"Everyone ready?"
There were several words of agreement over the Bluetooth line.
"Call him."
"Metatron! Hey, you dick! We want to talk!"
Lucifer seriously hoped that Sam did the talking. Dean was an impulsive nightmare. They needed a distraction, not for things to go horrendously wrong.
"Your prayer skills are seriously lacking, Dean. It's a wonder Castiel never smote your ass when he first met you. I definitely did. Well, the second time. But semantics."
They waited and Lucifer could almost feel the annoyance rolling off of Dean, even when they were a continent away from each other.
"Does this plan have a contingency for if he doesn't show?"
"Of course I'm gonna show." There was their cue. Lucifer lifted the scythe, raising it up and arcing it downward straight into the ritual circle. "I was just waiting for you two to finished setting up your little trap for me. Uh... Am I hitting my mark? Well, come on. Let's go. I'm waiting."
The air around Gabriel and Lucifer rippled and they stepped through it. There was an air of unease passed between the two Archangels. Metatron had been ready for Sam and Dean, the chance he knew Gabriel and Lucifer we're working twith them was slim but in the off chance he did…
Click.
Lucifer flicked off the Bluetooth with a thought. They'd pray if it was urgent and she needed to focus.
Oh had Heaven changed. It almost hurt. Once, it had been beautiful, open, endless. Now though, now it was uniform. Long stretching white corridors. Empty.
There should've been thousands of angels. Not this empty stretch of hallways.
"Do you have any ideas?"
"No. I haven't been up here in...Five years? After Sam and Dean wrecked havoc on it they changed it. But…" Gabriel snapped his gaze to the doors. "I should be able to find the Prison on my own. Go find Ash Lindbergh. If anyone can navigate Heaven, it's him. Go." Gabriel took off running down the hallways and Lucifer surrendered, checking the names of rooms as he searched for the souls by the name of Ash.
Castiel glared venomously at Metatron as he blew out the holy fire with ease.
Metatron.
"Tell me, boys. What was the plan? Summon me here and demand I fix Castiel? There's no way you're that short sighted."
"We want to make a deal, you dick."
Metatron smiled at Castiel, a flicker of something behind his eyes so faint that Castiel almost missed it. Now, however. He knew. He knew not to trust a word coming out of the Scribe's mouth.
"What can you possibly have to offer me?"
"Lucifer's location." Sam spoke up and Metatron feigned disinterest. It was false. Castiel could see this. He itched to throw himself from his chair and strangle The Scribe.
He missed being able to walk. Oh did he miss it. And he was far from stupid enough to not know Lucifer had done it to him out of spite. Punishing him for Raphael's death.
"Lucifer? Why would I possibly want Lucifer?"
"Lucifer is a threat. Not just to us but you as well. Especially if Michael is alive."
Metatron's expression hardened slightly at Sam's words, "I've been searching the planet and haven't been able to find him. Why would you think you could?"
"Because I'm his Vessel. He wants my 'yes'."
Metatron's mouth twisted, "You'd say 'yes'? For what? What's the deal you're offering? Or is this some cover to rekindle an old flame like Adam did?"
"You expect me to believe the Devil is a good guy?" Ash was an odd human, Lucifer decided. But smart.
"I don't have time for this argument."
"Not sayin' no. Just trying to get this."
Adam's in love with Michael? Why the fuck didn't anyone think I should know this!
Lucifer almost rolled her eyes at Dean. That was not an important topic.
"Calm down, Dean-o. Just because your little bro's got a thing for Mikey doesn't mean the world will end. Prayer line is for important things." Apparently the Bluetooth transmitted Gabriel's voice no matter what. While Lucifer could've probably modified it, she decided against it. Gabriel always had reason for his actions.
"Tell me where Metatron has been."
Ash frowned, distaste prominent. The worm really managed to have a great effect on those he met. "He came by here a few...years ago? I think. Time has been jumpy around here lately. Anyways, there was apparently a lockdown on God's Throne Room or something. Told me if I cracked the code he'd give me all I ever wanted and more."
"His Throne Room?" Would Metatron truly be arrogant enough to attempt that? From what Michael had told her, no one had stepped in His Throne since He left Heaven.
"I told him to fuck a duck of course. Angel Radio was haywire with the fact that angels had no access to Heaven so an angel shows up here, I'm inclined to smell trouble."
"How can you-"
"Doesn't matter. He told me if I didn't give him the information he needed he would make sure I never left my Heaven again. Hence why I'm here right now."
"So you can't help me."
The man smiled, actually it was more of a grin. "Never said that. He can lock me down, can't keep me from using my access ports all over Heaven. I'm-
I don't think we'll keep him talking much longer, guys.
"Working on it." Gabriel huffed in.
"We need a bit more time. Keep him talking, Sam" Lucifer added earning a surprised look from Ash.
"Sam? As in Sam Winchester? Now there's a name I haven't heard in awhile."
"Are you going to help me or not?"
"Right." The man walked around the bar from his Heaven, leaning down and coming back up with a large sheet of paper that Lucifer realized was a map. "This shows the section of Heaven that's been the most active over the past two years. Well, I think it's been two years…"
Lucifer leaned over the map, ignoring the man's thought processes. There.
Lucifer's wings spread behind her without warning, a snarl escaping her as she turned, throwing open the door to Ash's Heaven and letting her grace be known.
"You tried to trick me."
Castiel went rigid at Metatron's words, Sam and Dean shifting uncomfortably next to him.
"Luci, what did you do!" Gabriel demanded over the link.
Metatron's expression twisted into a gleeful smile. "That's a no go. No more prayers for you boys. In fact. Let's play a little game." The Scribe shifted. "I have to say. I didn't expect you to be part of the Michael rescue. I knew Lucifer would show up. Adam told me all I needed to know in that respect and the littlest Winchester always gets what he wants."
"What did you do to him?"
"I was honest. Angels used to be capable of being resurrected after death. If they died and their Charge was still alive, they came back. It's why Gabriel is currently sneaking around in Heaven rather than rotting in Oblivion. Sane goes for Castiel here."
Castiel flinched away from Metatron, but to his endless gratitude there were more important issues at hand. "I told your brother that I could bring Michael back. Because Michael was his Guardian Angel. All he needed to do was say 'yes'. So of course, he did it. Like I told you. He's in love with Michael. Ah, here he is."
Lucifer landed outside of Michael's private quarters, throwing open the door and going rigid.
Michael.
Michael was there, bound to the bed with warded cuffs, wings fractured and broken beneath him. There was a wall of Holy Fire surrounding him that Lucifer wasted no time in putting out tearing her jacket off and throwing it across the flames.
Then she was next to Michael, kneeling on the bed and attempting to break the cuffs.
"Gabriel! Michael's here!"
"Wake up, Michael. Wake up." She was well aware this was far too simple. That there was something seriously wrong. Metatron knew she was in Heaven and yet, there was nothing more than the screeching sirens as a response.
Finally the eyes opened, a moan of pain escaping him. "No' Michael." Adam. "'m sorry."
"What did you do, Adam?" Lucifer demanded.
"He told me he would save Michael. That he was dead because of me."
"Lucifer, tell me you have the tablet. You can't let Michael distract you. You have to prioritize."
Lucifer swallowed heavily, forcibly pulling her wings to her back. "Adam, I need you to focus. A tablet. A stone. It would have strange markings on it. Where is it?"
Adam stared at her through tearridden eyes. "Typewriter on the desk over there. Inside it. Lucifer, please."
"I don't want to hear you speak right now, Adam. Not. A. Word." Lucifer walked to where Adam had told her, carefully avoiding the holy fire, and she lifted the typewriter, grabbing the stone out of it and going rigid as God's power struck at her, causing her to cry out and drop it.
"Now, Sam and Dean!" Gabriel shouted.
Then all of Heaven shook with the power of a thousand earthquakes, an explosion of power ripping through the very fabric of Creation.
Lucifer screamed, collapsing to the floor and gripping her ears tight enough that she punctured into her skull. A thousand thousand things could signal that. Could make her wings spread violently, make her grace feel as though it was being ripped apart from the inside.
Nothing could compare to this. Nothing.
It wasn't supposed to happen like that. It wasn't.
We have Metatron you sons of bitches. Come get him before he scurries away like the rat he is.
"Lucifer!"
It didn't matter for that moment. All she could focus on was the pain. The raw agonizing pain burning through her grace. Ripping her apart.
Gabriel was dead.