The neverending twilight of Purgatory made it impossible to accurately tell time, but Castiel's legs ached as if he'd been walking for centuries across sand. Benny was strolling along casually in front of him, while Cas was struggling to keep his feet moving.

"So Heaven's full?" Benny asked, glancing back at Cas and Michael.

"Unfortunately," Cas said. Benny shook his head and laughed.

"Purgatory's not looking too bad anymore…" he said.

Cas stumbled forward and his legs liquified. As he collapsed, his armor crashed together. The ring of the metal vibrated through the woods like orchestra cymbals announcing the climax of a song. Cas tried to lift himself back up, but his arms only shook under the pressure and threatened to snap at any moment.

Benny kneeled to help him up, but Michael grabbed his arm.

"Leave him," he said. Benny tore his arm away and narrowed his eyes at Michael.

"I'm ain't leaving him to die," he said.

"All of Purgatory heard that," Michael said. "If we don't leave immediately, we'll be surrounded."

"We'll be gone soon enough," Benny said. "Help me get his armor off."

Michael didn't move to help. He raised his head, and tilted his chin downwards. A shadow crossed his eyes.

"We're leaving," he commanded. "Now."

"You can go," Benny said. "But good luck finding the Ring without me."

Michael unsheathed his sword.

"That was not a question," he said with a tone of finality. Benny's mouth turned down at the glint of the sword's edge. He carefully set Cas's arm down, and stood up. He whispered an apology to Cas, and walked towards Michael.

Just as Michael was lowering his sword, his eyes widened. His sword fell to the ground and his hands clenched around the rim of his armor, as if it were choking him. Benny gaped at him. Michael hissed something, through his gritted teeth, but it clearly wasn't directed at Benny or Castiel. Finally, his convulsions stopped.

When he looked up, Benny gasped. Michael's eyes had lost their angelic glow and had transformed from golden to a green the exact color of the leaves of the weeping willow's from Benny's hometown. Benny knew it wasn't Michael standing before him anymore. The man blinked away cobwebs, and caught sight of Benny. He gave him a confused look.

"Who are you?" The man asked roughly.

"Who are you?" Benny asked. The man opened his mouth to answer. Then he saw Cas, and rushed towards him, completely forgetting about Benny. His eyes nervously scanned Cas to find any injuries. When he didn't see any, he started tearing off the armor. All the while, he alternated between whispering reassurements and growling frustratedly. Then he turned on Benny, his green eyes a staggering contrast to the gray of Purgatory.

"I could use some help," he growled. Benny jumped out of his daze.

"Apologies," he said. "I take it you're not Michael?"

The man scowled and ripped off one of the arm sections from Cas's armor. He tossed it carelessly over his shoulder.

"I'm trying my hardest not to be," the man said. "Clearly I'm not doing great."

At the sound of the man's voice, Castiel murmured something inaudible. The man sucked in his breath and held Castiel's face in his palms. He called out his name desperately. Benny didn't see the point, until Cas started to fidget. The man's voice acted as a lighthouse breaking through the dense fog that clouded over the ocean. Finally, Cas gathered the effort to open his eyes. As soon as his blue eyes met those green eyes, his hand shot up and grabbed the man's shoulder.

"Dean," he said, touching the man as if to verify that he was more than just a fever vision. He repeated the name over and over. It was fascinating how one moment he sounded jubilant and the next remorseful. The man, who Benny guessed must be Dean, shook Cas to keep him focused.

"Listen to me," Dean said, his concentration settling in his eyes. "We're going to get his armor off you and then you're going to get up and keep walking. You've got to fight through this Cas. Please. Just keep going. I'll be right with you the whole time."

"Dean," Cas pleaded. The scene made Benny feel like an intruder.

"Cas," Dean said. "I'm losing control again. Just keep going. You can't let Michael get the Ring."

Dean started to pull away, but Cas desperately grabbed his arm. His eyes begged for just one more moment. Dean couldn't tear himself away, so he helped lift Cas up. Without all his armor, it wasn't very hard for Dean to support a withered Castiel. Still not breaking eye contact, Dean shifted Cas's weight carefully and transferred him over to Benny.

Benny took Cas, who with the last of his strength tried to hold onto Dean. His hand slipped away, and Dean turned away just as his eyes and skin began to glow. The light intensified until he starting yelling in pain. Then a shadow flashed behind him. It disappeared, taking the bright light with it.

The man turned back to Benny and Castiel, his golden eyes glowering at them. Still holding Castiel, Benny acted quickly and said, "What are you staring at? We need to go now if we don't want to be surrounded."

Michael's hand twitched and he narrowed his eyes slightly. Benny braced himself to be incinerated by holy light. Then Michael turned away and started walking out of the clearing.

"Yes, we'd better," he said.

Benny paused for a moment, but then dragged himself and Castiel after Michael.

Dean had been right; taking the armor off did wonders for Cas. He still had to lean on Benny every once in awhile, but eventually he was able to completely walk on his own. Soon enough, he was even recovered to the point of fighting off monsters. Michael didn't even seem to notice.

All that time, Benny's questions had been accumulating. He knew better than to outright ask them, or even mention what had happened in front of Michael. He kept waiting for the ideal moment to confront Cas about the strange scene he'd witnessed, but Michael was never out of hearing range.

Finally, Benny decided enough time had past for Michael to put his guard down. As they passed a group of trees indistinguishable from the rest of the stale forest, Benny's restraint caved in.

"I think it's about time I spoke up," he said. Cas shot him a concerned glance, and Benny winked back.

"Is it about the Ring?" Michael asked. Benny shook his head.

"No, it's about after we get the Ring," Benny said. Cas and Michael gave him puzzled looks.

"Let me explain," he said. "Purgatory is a cage, and that means it's not too easy to get out of. Only humans can pass through the barriers."

Michael laughed.

"That's not an issue," he said. "I have a human vessel."

"A human what-now?" Benny feigned surprise.

"A human vessel," Cas explained. "Angels require vessels in order to have physical forms. But they must have the vessel's consent. From then on, the angel and vessel's fates are intertwined."

Benny nodded his head as more of the pieces fell into place. There were still blanks he needed to fill in though.

"So did y'all just pick up humans from the streets?" Benny asked, masking his true intent with a joking tone. Michael glanced at Benny out of the corner of his eyes. The hidden ferocity behind them made Benny feel like a mouse being hunted by a hawk. He laugh in an attempt to dispel the tension, but it felt forced and nervous.

Michael lost interest and focused his eyes forward again.

"Vessels are specially chosen, and only a few humans are privileged enough to be capable of supporting an angel," Michael said.

"Huh…" Benny said, mulling over what Michael said. "At least we won't have a problem leaving."

Michael raised his eyebrow, but didn't say anything. In the sudden lull of the conversation, running footsteps pattered on the packed dirt ground behind them. Without blinking an eye, the men readied their weapons. When the monsters arrived, they were ready for them.

Cas took the first swing, and decapitated the closest monster. That unrelenting black goo started pouring from the stump where his head was. In a moment, Cas, Benny, and Michael adjusted their attacks. There was a steady rhythm of swords whisking through the air and heads thumping to the ground. When seven heads had been separated from seven bodies, they started tossing the heads deep into the forest.

The bodies crawled away, leaving trails of black goo behind them. Cas, Benny, and Michael continued onwards.

"Monster attacks have been increasing," Cas noticed. Michael nodded.

"That is to be expected," he said. "It is only natural that an artifact as ancient and powerful as the Ring of Light would attract so many monsters."

"We'll have to be more alert and move faster, or risk being surrounded," Benny said. He glanced at Michael. "You might move faster if you take off your armor."

"Do not fear," Michael said. "My armor does not weigh me down."

"Suit yourself," he said.

"Do you have any idea how much farther it is to the Ring?" Cas asked.

"Actually, we're just about there," Benny said. Michael perked up, and increased his speed.

"He's eager," Benny said. Cas shook his head.

"You've no idea."