(Castiel's PointOfView)

Unbeknownst to Sam and Dean, I was still in their presence. I was simply hidden from their eyes.

I called to Death and received no answer, which I almost expected. He said not to call to him, after all.

"Death...Please...We have to get Devin out of Hêll before the demons get to her...They're plotting with angels and we don't have the power to stop them right now, and we need your help...You're the only one that can help..." There was still no response, and I began to get angry. "When Devin was here, you were willing to help us whenever she called. Why is it different now that she's gone? Do you no longer care?"

"You're just a brave little angel, now aren't you?" Death appeared before me. "You think you can call out to me, say such things, and I would not punish you? You must be more of an idiot than I first thought."

"But what I said is true, you cannot punish me for that. You helped Devin many times but refuse to do anything now."

"Were you not listening to me the last time, boy? I believe I made it abundantly clear that you would receive no further assistance from me. I have bigger issues to deal with. While yes, Devin does happen to be one of those issues, it is not a concern of yours."

"How not? She was -is- my woman, and anything that concerns her concerns me as well. And I wasn't the one that abandoned Devin while Heaven was crumbling all around us. So forgive me if I don't think I'm the bad guy here."

Death smiled and took a seat beside where Sam and Dean had resumed planning. He was dangerously

close to them, and I knew that if either of them touched him, they would be dead instantly.

"Very brave indeed...You have made a fair point, angel. But if I help you...my help will come at a cost."

"Name your price."

"Oh, it won't be my demand, just...a side effect." I was confused. "I told you I wouldn't be going back to that Cage, and I meant it. But I can give you and your brother the power to do it yourselves."

"How?"

"I am a higher being, I can do whatever I want...But, as I said, the power will come at a price. If I give you some of my power, you will become stronger, but you will become a Reaper. You won't be able to interact with anyone without killing them."

"And...the other option?" I was almost afraid of what the other option was. I could not handle not being able to interact with Devin.

"Or I could transfer Devin's power to you and the other angel. You would become one of your archangels, and the other...He will not be as powerful as Devin or myself, but he will become a higher being. More fit to reign over you angels, I suppose."

"Transfer Devin's power..? But what will happen to her? Will she become..."

"Human? Most certainly. But her power was not given to her as I'm giving it to you, she was born with it, and so it will regenerate. Over time. And until it does, you will have to protect and watch over her. Even as a human she will be hunted, and I do not want to have to come back here again to reap her. Our business requires her to be alive."

"What business?"

Death stood. "None of your concern, angel. I suggest you call your brother Gabriel here. I will be back shortly." Death disappeared.

I then reappeared to Sam and Dean, who looked surprised. Dean asked "Did he come?"

"Death? Yes. And he's bringing Devin here, and has agreed to help Gabriel and I defeat the demons and rogue angels." Before I got much of a chance to say anything else, Gabriel appeared before us. "Gabriel..."

"I heard, little bro. We're gonna get some nice, new powers from Death. Cool guy, huh?"

"This isn't the time to be joking, Gabriel. You know how serious the situation is."

"Of course I do. Just trying to lighten everyone up a little. This is going to help our fight, so why worry about it?"

"Because Devin will be human!"

Sam and Dean both shouted "What?!"

"Yes...Death has said he will transfer Devin's power into Gabriel and I, make us stronger, but as a side effect, she will temporarily become human."

"And you agreed to this?!" Sam looked furious. "With her human, what's even the point of getting her out? She'll definitely be safer in the Cage then!"

"I will be an archangel! Gabriel will become a God! We will be able to put order back to everything that has fallen apart!"

"At the risk of Devin's life!?"

"Yes."

The room became absolutely silent. I knew I had said the wrong thing to Sam, and that he was now angry with me. Dean as well. But I did not have time to worry over their anger, for Death was to be returning soon.

Almost as if I had called him again, he reappeared, this time visible to Sam and Dean. They took a large step back and he said "Don't worry, I'm not here for you...Yet. I'm here to deliver on my promise to your pet angel."

Dean remarked "Since when does Death make promises?"

"Since the fate of the Universe is at stake, you child. Now hush." Dean silenced, but I suspect it was because Death made him do so, and not because of his own free will. He turned to Dean and his brother and said "I suggest you close your eyes for this, or they'll be burned out of your skull."

Then he faced Gabriel and I. "And I suggest to you two that you do not misuse this power. I am giving it to you, but I can also take it away, as can Devin herself when she has regenerated. I will be watching you very closely, and if it becomes too much...Devin and her power will be returned to the Cage, and I will seal it. Permanently. Not even the gateway of my brothers' rings will work to open it."

Gabriel and I did not have a chance to respond, as in Death's hands appeared a tiny, but very bright white pinpoint of light, like that of a human soul removed from its body. He separated his hands and so did the light separate, becoming two glowing orbs that emitted enormous amounts of energy. I could see Sam and Dean feeling it as well, and could hear the sounds of animals losing control in the forest around us. He was holding Devin's power in his very hands, and everything could feel it.

I was frozen as he turned his palms toward us, then suddenly shoved the burning balls of light through our chests. I shouted as it felt like my very body, not just my vessel, was melting, and there was a loud explosion.

I fell to the floor, writhing in pain, trying to tear the radiating pain from my body. The physical pain suddenly vanished, but my head was now filled with an endless number of thoughts and feelings that made my head ache.

I pulled myself to my feet, and saw that all the windows of the cabin had exploded outward, and the trees around it were flattened to the ground. Gabriel, Sam, and Dean seemed to share my bewilderment at what had just happened.

"I suggest you retrieve your girlfriend before she draws her own conclusions about what has happened to her."

"What do you mean?"

"Didn't I mention? When you received her power, you received her thoughts and memories as well. Every mind-numbing, heart-wrenching, emotion-filled thought she has ever had. And, unlike Sam when I retrieved his soul from Hêll, there is no barrier to protect you from her most terrible memories. Killing God, losing you, spending a year trapped in her own mind in her father's Cage...I do hope you enjoy that particular group of memories, for they were your fault."

Death disappeared again, and the rest of us were left staring at each other in wonder.

There was much silence afterward, and the first to speak was Gabriel.

"So...should I still go get her?"

I nodded. "If what Death says is true...Then she is awake now, and trapped...Please save her." Gabriel disappeared as well. I looked to Sam and Dean, almost unable to comprehend what had just happened to us all. "Is this the right thing?"

Sam shrugged and Dean said "Whatever gets your girl back to you and keeps that power away from the demons is worth it. We'll help you keep an eye on her, make sure nothing happens...You okay Cas? That was a hêll-of-an explosion..."

"Yes...No...I am not sure. I have all of Devin's memories and feeling floating through my mind, and most of them are..." Some flashed before my eyes at that very moment, and I had the human urge to shudder. "...quite disturbing."

Sam said "That's probably normal...You haven't experienced many human emotions before, so it will probably be like that for a while...A hunter's childhood, 20 years of Purgatory, Lucifer and Michael, killing God, spending an entire year trapped in Hêll...I'm surprised she lasted as long as she did through any of it."

"As am I...What is taking Gabriel so long?"

It was several minutes before Gabriel appeared, holding Devin's familiar form in his arms. Her face and body were dirty, her clothes torn, her hair singed...her eyes filled with tears and a deep sadness that, with all her memories now in my mind, I fully understood. She had been through a very harsh journey, indeed.

Gabriel released her and she stood on her own, albeit very shakily. Dean and Sam went to her and she hugged them both at once, having to jump up to wrap her arms around their tall necks. She kissed their cheeks and muttered a long string of words my ears could barely catch, but I hear clearly in my mind.

It was almost as if I was reading Devin's mind. Her thoughts and feelings of the moment immediately went to me; it felt like I was within her mind, experiencing things as she was.

I felt her relief, her joy, her sadness and pain...and the pure elation at having her wonderful friends back with her. And when she released them and looked at me...Her mind cleared.

She had no sadness, no pain, just happiness...Like the white light that had been her power, her happiness was now shining out of her directly into me. Her love was shining into me.

She sprinted and leapt into my arms, squeezing me as tightly as her human strength would allow, and kissed me fiercely. Her tears became my tears, and I hugged her back as tightly as I could without harming her. Regardless of Gabriel's or the Winchesters' presence, I touched her face and her hair and her body, her smooth skin feeling like the softest silk to my hands.

I heard Gabriel chuckle and say "If this reunion is going where I think it's going, I think I'm going to leave...I have some rogue angels to attend to."

I looked at my brother. "Will you not stay awhile?"

He shook his head. "She'll be safe enough with you three. I'll be back, don't you worry. I'll even let you know what special new powers I've got." Gabriel snapped his singers before disappearing, and every window of the cabin was restored. I glanced out of one of them and saw the trees had been turned upright as well.

Devin was still wrapped around me like a vice, and I could still hear the stream of thoughts she was sending my way. Wanting to know if it worked both ways, I sent one back to her. Can Gabriel hear you as well?

She looked up, shaking her head. "Only you. And I can hear your thoughts too, and see your memories. All of them."

Dean and Sam were looking at us oddly, so I asked Devin mentally May I explain it to them? She nodded.

I looked to them and said "It seems when Death gave Gabriel and I her powers, I obtained the ability to read her thoughts as well...And her to read mine. I am not sure if Death knew this would happen..."

"Doesn't matter. Me and Sammy will...be back in awhile. Get some food, maybe some pie...Definitely pie."

Devin sent me a thought and I repeated it to Dean. "She wants cherry pie."

Dean smiled. "Sure." He and Sam walked past me to the exit, and the Impala went slowly away just a moment later.

Devin thought to me I missed you so much...You were all I thought about while I was trapped down there...I am not angry that you put me there, for it kept me safe, but never ever leave me like that again.

I nodded. I promise I will never leave you again, no matter what happens. I will always be here to protect you. I will always be here to support you. I will always be here to love you.

Devin's eyes filled with tears again as she pressed her lips to mine. I love you too Castiel, so much...Let us go to bed now.

I carried Devin into one of the bedrooms and shut the door. Holding her with one arm, I waved the other at the bed and it turned to one of the softest material, with many blankets to keep us both warm.

I climbed onto the bed and she finally released her tight hold on me, falling into the soft mattress with a content sigh.

This is so wonderful Castiel...Thank you. And thank you for saving me from what could've happened if the demons got me.

Did Gabriel tell you? She nodded.

But let us not think about that right now...Any of it. You are here, I am here, and that is all that matters.

Devin pulled me down to her, reuniting our lips and reigniting my passion for her that had been dormant for the last year. It was not long before she was tearing at my clothes and I at hers, but when we were both naked, I paused before moving forward.

She looked up at me, confused, as I passed my hand over her face. I watched as the dirt disappeared from her skin and her singed hair repaired itself, and she stared up at me in wonder.

I said aloud "I do not like seeing you in such a state...Dirty and unkempt is no way for my future wife to be."

Devin nearly attacked me then, pulling my face to hers for another fierce barrage of kisses. I felt her push against my chest and rolled us both over, and she broke the kiss to take a long breath.

"I love you Castiel." She lowered herself onto me with a high-pitched gasp, and it felt so amazing after so long. "It feels different now that I'm really, truly human..." I grabbed her hips as she went up and down, gritting my teeth against the urge to turn us over and pound into her as hard as I could. She was human, I could not do that anymore.

Devin let out more gasps and moans as she moved above me, and the rational part of my brain said Fûck it.

I flipped Devin over so her face was buried in the pillows and her rear was high in the air, and I slammed into her from behind. She cried out as I did it again and again, and I felt her tighten around me as she neared her end.

Devin screamed long and hard into a pillow as she found her finish, but I kept going, kept prolonging the experience. I found my own end soon, knowing Devin had enough for this time.

She whimpered into the pillow, breathing hard. I said to her "I love you too Devin..." and heard her breathing stop for a moment.

She looked up at me with a refreshed, glowing face, still with that hungry need in her eyes that I had become so familiar to me before our demise. That hunger that said she hadn't had enough like I thought.

"Before I went into the Cage, I remember you could go again and again without end...I wonder if you still can."

With shaking limbs she pushed me down on the bed, and I heard the thought that came from her mind next. Let's test it out...