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Sam pulled a demon into the hidden corridor and killed him with the knife Crowley had given him. He had to admit that the knife was the most effective weapon he had ever wielded against demons. No long and messy rituals. Just a single thrust into what counted as a vital organ for humans, and the demon would flicker with a light from the inside and die instantly. He looked over his shoulder at Gabriel. He frowned when he noticed that Dean was missing. 'Where's Dean?'

Gabriel looked around. He tried to extend his senses, but with some of the dampening spell still intact, he could only locate Bobby on the floor below them. At least, he assumed it was Bobby since there were two angels and a demon with the human. He shrugged in response. 'I can't tell,' he replied, sharing in Sam's worry. 'You don't think he went after Cas, do you? It's too dangerous!'

Sam looked away in annoyance. 'I think that's exactly what happened. Shit. Dammit. We can't take our time anymore.' He looked down at Gabriel, studying the short angel. 'Do you think you can get to the others and have them meet up here?' he asked.

Gabriel bit his lip as he thought. 'I think so,' he said with a slow nod. He walked up to the door that led to the hallway and concentrated as he placed his hand on the latch. The problem would be finding everyone. A soft glow emanated from the outline of the door. He opened it, and, instead of the hallway, it now led to another dark passageway. 'Stay here. I'll be right back.'

Sam waited, and in a few minutes the door glowed again and opened. Gabriel hurried through and waved the rest of the group in.

'Faster,' Gabriel urged. 'I'm going through a ward, and I can't keep this up forever!'

Meg was the last through, and the door snapped shut behind her.

'And just what is this emergency?' Crowley asked, looking around. 'Where is your idiot brother?'

'That's the emergency,' Sam replied. 'Dean's run off. He's gonna get himself killed!'

'I don't see how that's my problem,' Crowley said, adjusting his cuffs.

'How about this: If he gets caught, then our so-called rescue mission is a bust!' Sam snapped. 'It'll be harder to sneak around, and if Cas really is in his room, then they'll fucking move him! It's not just Dean that's in danger, it's all of us. Cas, too.'

Crowley took a steadying breath as he glared up at Sam. The Hunter had a point, as much as he hated to admit it. 'Very well,' he bit out. 'And what do you suggest we do?'

'We make one final push,' Michael suggested. 'Give it everything we've got. Rush them. They certainly won't be expecting it, and it will distract from Dean's movements if he's close to Castiel.'

'I can get the rest of the warding,' Meg said, stepping up.

'You're not fast enough,' Anna pointed out distastefully. 'You get the East side, I'll take the West.'

Meg eyed Anna for a moment before eventually nodding. With that, they headed off in different directions.

Crowley turned to face the others, looking at what he'd been reduced to working with. 'Well, then. Let's get to it, shall we?'

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Castiel looked away from Lucifer to Dean. He shakily reached out to touch Dean, and felt…nothing. No life. No soul. No love. Just a void where Dean should be. He had never felt so alone. He turned his head back towards Lucifer. Lucifer, who had trapped him, controlled him. Forced him to kill one of his friends. Had almost forced him to kill the man he loved. Lucifer, who had taken matters into his own hands and shot Dean with a gun meant for supernatural creatures.

An absolute rage boiled up within Castiel, and he seethed. Lucifer lifted an amused brow at him, and that was enough to break the dam. The loneliness, the despair, the uselessness, and the hatred he had been feeling since he had first met Lucifer was let out in a dark wave of energy that quickly pulsed out from Castiel with an anguished scream.

Lucifer was thrown against the wall and knocked unconscious as everything around Castiel broke. Glass shattered, and the wood of furniture split in deafening pops. Cracks ran up the walls, and plaster from the ceiling sifted down.

Castiel gasped and twisted to lean over Dean. He struggled to pull Dean onto his lap and held his Hunter close as he sobbed helplessly. There was commotion outside his room, and he heard his door swing open, but he couldn't bring himself to care. If Lucifer's minions were there to defend their leader, then so be it. He didn't want to live. Not with what he had done, and what he was unable to prevent.

Gabriel clapped his hand to his mouth as he ran into his brother's room. There was so much blood. They were too late. He clenched his eyes shut and blindly threw himself into Sam's chest, clutching tightly as tears surfaced. No matter how tightly he closed his eyes, the blood and Dean's limp body were still there. He shuddered as Sam hugged him tightly, shaking and face buried in his hair. 'Can we go outside?' Gabriel asked quietly. He felt Sam nod, and was relieved as Sam led him out of the room.

Bobby watched as Sam escorted Gabriel from the room. Balthazar entered soon after with Michael and Karen just behind, the small group of angels dissipated their summoned weapons when they saw Castiel. Michael nodded to Karen, and they quickly went to Lucifer, each taking an arm and lifting the unconscious angel from the floor.

Crowley wordlessly left the room and returned with the demon-killing knife. He advanced on Lucifer, his eyes glowing red, and his face that of pure rage. He paused when Michael's hand came into his field of vision, held out and waiting. He blinked a few times before his eyes return to a human look. He looked away, eyes catching on Castiel. Distracted by what he saw, he held out the hilt for Michael.

Castiel sobbed uncontrollably as he hugged Dean as tight as he could. 'I'm so sorry,' he whispered frantically. 'I never meant for this to happen… Dean… I love you! I never got to tell you!'

He felt so warm. Uncomfortably warm. He refused to let go of Dean, so he raised his wings from his body in an attempt to ease the discomfort. A cool draft from the broken window brushed his feathers, and he shivered as the warmth quickly left.

He gasped as an arm wrapped around him.

'If you hug any tighter, I'm gonna die. Again.'

It was Dean's voice. Castiel was certain that, despite the croak, it was Dean's voice. He opened his eyes and pulled back enough to see Dean's crooked smile. He cried out and leaned back as his wings spread out in shock.

Dean stared up at Castiel and frowned. 'What's wrong with your wings?' he asked in confusion. He closed his eyes with a groan. 'Fuck. Am I still dead?'

Castiel brought his head up and caught the shock expressions of everyone staring at him. Except for his father, who looked on proudly. His brows furrowed, and he slowly turned his head as he brought a wing into view, expecting the worst. What he saw were soft, white feathers. He flexed his wing and confirmed that it was indeed his wing. His head turned quickly as Dean sat up with a soft moan.

Dean leaned toward Castiel, but was stopped by Castiel's warm hand on his forehead. He felt the familiar pulse from before and frowned.

Castiel blinked and sighed in resignation. 'Sorry… I can't…'

Dean laughed as he gently moved Castiel's hand away. He leaned in further and kissed Castiel, earning an excited hum.

Crowley turned his gaze to Michael and Lucifer. Lucifer was beginning to come to. 'If you don't kill him, I will,' he said.

Michael nodded and waved for Balthazar to take his place in holding up Lucifer. He stroked Lucifer's hair as he waited for his brother to fully awaken.

Lucifer smiled as he recognized Michael. His brother was safe and with him. 'I've missed you,' he said softly.

'And I've missed who you used to be,' Michael replied sadly.

Lucifer frowned as he glanced around the room. So, he had apparently failed. His gaze caught on Castiel's white wings. 'They're white.'

'It would seem you helped him to complete his breakthrough,' Michael explained.

Lucifer's eyes narrowed as he noticed that Dean was alive, despite the large blood stains on his torso. He tried to struggle, but the angels holding him were strong. 'How…?!' He glared up at Michael. 'Let me go, brother.'

Michael shook his head sadly and cupped the back of Lucifer's neck. 'I'm sorry, Lucifer, brother. But I cannot let this continue.'

'Castiel! Ki—!' Lucifer's mouth hung open in surprise.

Michael pressed their foreheads together, sending feelings of love and regret flowing into Lucifer. He sent all the happiness and satisfaction he had felt from his time working with the Campbells. All the love and innocence he had felt from Mary Campbell. The purity he had felt coming from Dean Winchester. The entire reason he had left his brother.

'I'm sorry…' Lucifer whispered as he slumped over, the knife still buried in his chest.

Castiel shuddered and pulled away from Dean's kiss as he felt Lucifer's hold over him fade. He giggled giddily as he stood and no pain shot through his arm. 'I'm free,' he whispered, staring down at Dean in wonder. He blinked as he remembered the last time he had seen Dean. 'I'm so sorry!' he cried out and threw his arms around Dean's neck as the Hunter stood, toppling them both back onto the bed.

'It's okay. Everything's fine now. You're safe. I'm alive. Lucifer's dead. There's nothing to worry about,' Dean said, rubbing soothing circles on Castiel's back.

'I killed Sam! How can you still love me?!'

'What? Sam's fine,' Dean replied. He looked over Castiel's shoulder to see Sam and Gabriel entering the room with surprised expressions.

'B-but I…'

'You killed an illusion,' Dean explained. He pointed to the door, and Castiel looked, laughing in relief at the sight of Sam and Gabriel. 'It was just you and Gabe in the house that night.'

Castiel looked back at Dean. 'You knew…'

'Yeah,' Dean confirmed with a smile. 'You were actin' pretty suspicious. Everyone knew somethin' was up. Those doppelgangers were meant to be killed if it came down to it. Sorry we couldn't tell you.'

Castiel shook his head. 'It's okay. I understand,' he said. 'The warding is down…' He bit his lip and sent a silent request to Gabriel, and with a snap, Dean and Castiel were on another bed in another room.

Dean pushed himself up in confusion. 'What the hell just happened?!'

Castiel smirked as he pushed Dean back down. 'A favor from Gabriel,' he replied.

Dean smiled back. 'Nice favor,' he replied. He chuckled as he watched Castiel's wings slowly fade back to black. 'Hey, you're wings are going back to normal!'

Castiel's eyes glowed softly as he grinned down at Dean, spreading his wings wide. 'Possibly because I have slightly demonic intentions at the moment…'