Cas heard the soft sound of Dean's voice in his head. Amara had given up trying to break him for now. He lay in the fetal position inside his head, allowing Lucifer full control of the body now.

"Hey Cas. Got your ears on? Listen, I uh, I don't know how to do this. We saw Gabriel. He's here with us. We're gonna get you back home, Gabe's helping and you know that I'm not really the praying type, but you know that. Cas, man, I need you here. Not because your a tool, a weapon, I miss you, your stupid coat, your obsession with bees. Please, send me an image of where you are, we're coming for you. It'll be okay, I promise."

Cas didn't know where he was exactly but he pushed all of his energy into forming an image of the rundown building. Old hospital, she's in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Help me. He pushed the images out to Dean. Where they really coming for him? he wondered.

"Wake up Nephew," came a soft, low voice.

Cas felt himself flood back into the body. He blinked, his entire body aching. Amara stood in front of him. "Let me go," he rasped. "God won't come."

Amara raked her fingernails down Cas's bare chest, they sliced through skin into Grace, peeling it, cutting it. Cas bit down a scream. "I'm not trying to lure in God right now," she said. "My goal is the Winchesters. Once Sam is dead, Dean can't hurt me. Then I can get my brother."

Cas froze. "You won't hurt Sam," he snarled. "I'll kill you, Dean will kill you."

I'll help, came Lucifer's voice from Cas's head.

"Dean is powerless against me," she said.

"Dean could kill the planet Earth if she tried to so much as hurt Sam."

Amara leaned in, smiling sweetly. "Well I'm stronger than this planet."

Cas looked her dead in the eye. "He's coming for me. You can't stop him, there's no way. Dean will murder the world, with or without a damn weapon if you come after his family."

"You think he considers you family?" Amara said with a terrible laugh. "You're a tool and when you aren't that, a liability."

"He's coming," Cas repeated, trying to convince himself more now. There was truth in Amara's words. He was a liability, a tool. But Dean said he needed me. He missed me.

"Fine," Amara said and raised her hand. "Then I want him to come and to see what a mess I've made of you." White lightening poured from his fingertips. It sliced into Cas's organs, his Grace and began to shred everything.

Cas didn't scream. He wouldn't scream, not this time.

Cas, came Lucifer's voice, weak and raw fm inside his mind.

Brother? Castiel asked. Are you alright?

I am broken. She focused this pain on me, not you. My Grace...Castiel, it's all but gone.

Cas winced internally. I am so sorry Lucifer.

Why? Do you not despise me? I killed Angel after Angel, I drove Sam Winchester to the madness that you then took upon yourself.

Castiel remembered the pain, the feeling of Sam's soul when he touched it. How it had been a raw thing, so twisted and toxic it hurt. But did he hate Lucifer for it? No, I don't hate you. No matter what you have done, what you will do, I could never truly hate you. I could despise you as an archangel, as a murderer, but never as my brother.

Amara's hand began to chisel away at Castiel's Grace. He bit his lip so hard his tooth went clear through it.

Cas, listen to my voice. Concentrate on me little brother, block her out.

Lucifer! It..huRTS!

I know. I know Castiel, it will hurt and your Grace will be forever damaged but it will heal, begin to repair though it will always hold scars. Talk to me, seal her out.

What will happen to you?

Lucifer paused, confused. What do you mean?

Will you go back to the cage once this is over?

The archangel was silent for a long moment. I don't know. If the Winchesters send me back there.

Will you still try to start Armageddon? Cas could feel her claws inside him, he fought a whimper.

I'm not sure. Perhaps, if Michael takes root inside of Dean Winchester, I will do the same to Sam. If not then I plan on returning to Heaven, to cleanse my sins. Perhaps I can find Gabriel.

Sam and Dean are with him. Cas was doing all he could to keep himself conscious as Amara began to beat at his being.

They are? Lucifer asked, hope flooding his weakening voice. How do you know?

Dean prayed to me. He said he's coming for me...you...you had so little faith in them earlier. Why now?

Lucifer gave a small sigh. Because I am out of hope for anything else.

"Dammit Castiel," shrieked Amara, jerking Cas out of his conversation with Lucifer. Immediately he felt the pain he had muted take him. His wings were still fine, as far as he could tell, but his Grace was torn and shredded worse than Sam's soul had been.

Cas met her angry eyes with soft, sad, pained ones. He didn't speak.

"Scream Nephew, I need to hear it." She circled him. "I need to know I'm on the right tra..." Her voice trailed off and Cas felt fear flicker in his stomach. "Ahh, I know what to do."

"I know," she whispered, walking behind him and reaching out a hand for his wings.

NO! screamed Lucifer, slamming through Cas's head. Cas! Let me take over!

Cas did, he didn't have enough energy not too.