Disclaimer: Not mine.

A/n: This is a longer chapter to make up for the short one.

I gave the demon a small tilt of my head, "Lilith."

She stared at my visage thoughtfully, "Old pagan magiks? How beneath you, Azrael..."

"Well, I don't exactly have my Angelic gifts anymore, do I?" I shifted into a practiced persona of authority and indifference, "But I hear you're working to change all that?"

Lilith's smile faltered for a fraction of a second, then forcibly returned, "Yes. Once my father is risen, you will be made whole. I take it that you approve?"

I eyed her thoughtfully.

"That remains to be seen. More importantly... I take it that you have misgivings. No sense in lying-" time to take a gamble and hope it paid off, "I know you want to make a deal with Sam."

Any semblance of a grin bled from her features. She suddenly looked- dare I say it?- scared.

Lilith's head snapped to the other demons, her childish voice suddenly acidic. "Leave us."

The demons shrank back from her angry tone and quickly left the room. It looked like there were in an abandoned house. Or possibly just a house whose owners were taken over by the demons currently inhabiting it.

"How did you-?" Lilith looked at me slightly askance, like a child who'd just been chastised by her father, "I'm sorry. I'm just..."

"Just what?" I asked smoothly.

I had to convince her that I knew more than I did. That way she'd reveal things to me because she thought I already knew them.

I felt my stomach drop slightly when she looked at me suspiciously, "You helped Sam and Dean kill Alastair. You even tortured him before that. So, whose side are you on?"

"Side? Don't be so obtuse," I scowled, "I'm on my own side. And Alastair is dead because he was careless."

Lilith pouted, "He said some very mean things about you. That you'd gone soft. That you're actually friends with the Winchesters..."

"Then clearly Alastair didn't know me as well as he claimed. Since when have my actions ever been so transparent? I've taken up the appearance of helping those idiots, so that I can keep an eye on them."

I almost added 'Like Ruby', but I couldn't be certain she was actually working with Lilith enough to risk the bluff.

Lilith looked positively giddy at my words.

"I knew it! Even without your full nature and memories restored. You'd never turn away from us like that! " Her eyes turned white as she slunk closer to my image, "You'd never turn away from me..."

Don't tell me I- Lilith brought her lips up to mine cutting off any further thought processes.

I couldn't actually feel her lips, as this was simply a projection, but it certainly made my eyebrows nearly shoot right off my skull. Which luckily she didn't see. I had to maintain my image after all.

She pulled away, still staring at me in adoration and I tried to look as unperturbed as possible by the latest development. I hoped it was working because, while I prided myself on being prepared for any situation, having Lilith kiss me hadn't really even occurred to me. Before now, anyway.

I took in a deep breath, and maintained the facade, "Don't think that this means I've forgotten about the deal you wanted to make with Sam..."

Lilith slumped slightly, a frown creasing the forehead of the woman she was wearing.

"It's just- if we succeed and break all the seals. It's my destiny to die before the end. I won't get to see my father walk the Earth..."

I nodded in my best sage adviser-like way, while my mind continued to race.

"I see. So you want to make a deal with Sam to stop breaking the seals? End the war?"

She stared up at me, clearly expecting a reprimand, "I'm sorry, Azrael! I'm so sorry. I'm just scared. I don't want to die..."

I placed a ghostly hand on her cheek as an attempt at comfort, "It's okay, my dear. If you want to end this... then end it. I can't say that I wouldn't be disappointed that my powers aren't returned to me. But nor do I wish to see you dead. I'll find another way to get them back. Another way to get my brother free."

Lilith sniffled and looked up at me in surprise, "But there is no other way."

I frowned, feigning disappointment.

"Then you should do it. If you don't die. I'll never become Death again."

I scowled and did my best to seem unrepentant in my decision.

Lilith recoiled in shock, betrayal obvious on her face, "What?"

I had to convince her to go through the deal with Sam, but I wasn't about to just tell her to do it. Then she'd get suspicious again.

I could, however, plant the idea in her head that I could do absolutely nothing to punish her if she didn't continue breaking seals. She was facing death if she followed through with releasing Lucifer so she had little incentive to go through with it. And I didn't have my powers now. What could I possibly do to make her end her life? Nothing. I needed to make her see that.

"You heard me." I crossed my arms, "You'll do it because I'm telling you to."

Anger boiled off her in waves.

"And what are you going to do to me, if I don't?"

I tried not to grin that she'd taken the bait. Instead I recoiled in shock and sputtered, losing all my previous bravado.

"I...I-uh.."

She sneered, "That's right. Nothing."

I looked thoroughly out of sorts and then disappeared.

The spell subsided and I was left to the deathly silence of the cheap motel room. Great. So, what now? I only had to convince Sammy to sleep with his archenemy. No big deal, right?

I groaned and got to my feet. But I had to do it. I had to explain to Sam why he needed to do it. It would end this. The Apocalypse would never happen. And I could go back my happy existence of drinking beer and mocking Duncan MacLeod.

It had to be done. Clearly Sam would see that. Dean... well, he was a different story. He wouldn't want to see Lilith within ten feet of his little brother, let alone her sleeping with him.

I grabbed my coat and broadsword and headed for the door.

Sam could take one for the team and everyone went home happy. Except for Sam, who might have to take a month long shower afterward. But it was for the greater good. Definitely. No question.

Right?

I approached the motel with a determined stride. The Impala wasn't parked out front, but the light in the room was on. So hopefully, it was just Sam. Preparing myself with a deep breath I opened the door and walked through.

I stood there, dumbfounded. This wasn't our motel room. My eyes adjusted to the brightness of my new surroundings. White walls. Cathedral like ceilings. A long table in the center of the room. There was an out of place ice cooler with my favorite Belgian beer poking out of it.

"So much for Immortals not going senile..." I muttered to myself as I spun around several times to take it all in.

"You've become a real pain in my ass, Azrael." An annoyed voiced stated from my left.

My eyes snapped to the possible threat, my hand reaching instinctively to my sword. A white male, in his mid to late forties, slightly overweight, balding... general air of self-importance. He screamed middle-management.

I hated him on the spot.

"I tend to have that effect on a lot of people." I gave him a cocky grin.

I wasn't about to give this 'man' any sense of my discomfort. I was in danger, clearly at the mercy of this... I was guessing Angel, based on my white ethereal surroundings.

"Yes. I've noticed." He glared at me doing his best to seem intimidating.

It was working. But I wasn't about to let him know it. Although, based on the Angel's knowing smirk he may have been able to read my thoughts anyway, and my posturing was pointless. Oh well. It did make me feel better, at least.

I walked calmly over to the table and grabbed one of the Belgian beers. Only, once I picked it up it changed into a cheap Natural Light.

Prick.

Undeterred, I popped off the cap against the table and took a seat, propping my feat up on the table, "So, what have I done that's so ass-chaffingly awful?"

"You're trying to stop it." He frowned, "Trying to ruin everything we've been working so hard for! It can't be stopped. It has to happen."

I was starting to question my assumption that this was an Angel I was talking to. Why would the Angels want the world to end? That's didn't make any bloody sense.

"Nothing has to happen." I rolled my eyes, "...I assume this is the Apocalypse we're talking about?"

"Of course I'm talking about the Apocalypse!" the man become increasingly more red in the face, "You haven't changed at all, you smug bastard."

"I'm sensing some hostility here. Can't say why, when I'm only doing what I would assume Heaven would want." I set the cheap beer on the mahogany table, "So why the Hell would the Angels want the Apocalypse to happen...?"

I trailed off realizing he'd never actually introduced himself.

"I'm Zachariah." He supplied in a way that indicated that he was clearly a hypocrite for calling me the smug bastard, "And we want it to happen so that we can cut down Lucifer once and for all. And you're going to help us."

Good thing I hadn't been drinking the beer or I would have choked on it. If the big 'A' happened, wouldn't that automatically put me on the side of Lucifer? It didn't make any sense.

"It makes perfect sense." Zachariah smiled, "You're going to be our mole. You're going to make sure we win."

I just stared at him. He couldn't be serious.

"I'm dead serious." He responded, jovially, "Terrible pun, I know."

I felt a sense of dread creep up in me, "And why would I help you?"

"Obviously, I don't expect you to help out of the 'kindness' of your heart. You tend to only care about yourself, after all. But see, I know your weakness."

He took a for foreboding step in my direction.

"What are you saying?" I doubted very much that I was going to like the answer.

"I'm saying..." Zachariah brought his hand up and clicked his finger, "this."

Suddenly, we weren't alone in the room. Another person was standing next to Zachariah. For a moment I couldn't do anything but stare.

When she finally spoke and I think it may have been the sweetest sound I'd ever heard.

"Adam?"

"A-Alexa?"