AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Okay, so this chapter has a 'sensuality/slight smut' warning attached to it and you'll understand that later.

As to the rest of it…there's angst, smut and horny Cas, who is still proving fun to write and for once he isn't fighting me on how to write him.

So onward.

=P

****

Mae lay on her bed with her eyes closed no longer enjoying watching Castiel hurt and heal Dean. Castiel was trying to make it clear that Bael and in turn Lucifer, had powers that Dean was going to have to learn how to withstand. At first it was kind of entertaining to look at the faces Dean made as Castiel used his powers on him, but then it began to drone on and on, and Mae retreated to try and sleep again. However, sleep seemed to be eluding her seeing as how all she could think about was what the demons could possibly be up to. It really didn't seem to her like Bael's main goal was raising Lucifer up with all of the trouble he was going through to get an army but still…maybe he was getting an army to please Lucifer when Lucifer rose.

"You still up?" Sam asked Mae as he came into her room and she sat up and nodded slowly. "I just wanted to apologize to you, Mae. I really shouldn't have gone off on you like that no matter what I was feeling."

Mae smiled at him and got out of the bed to stand next to him and she took Sam's hands in hers and took a deep breath. She really didn't have any idea how she was going to explain to him what she was going to explain, but she knew she had to try. It was bad enough that she and Sam were fighting, and now Castiel was getting jealous, and Mae had to straighten everything out. This was her third shot at life, and though she thought that was way overdone, she was going to make the best of it, and she was going to try and start things out on a better foot…she hadn't been doing so well at that so far.

"Sammy?" Mae asked, both of them making eye contact. "I don't want to lose you in my life, but I can't return the feelings you have for me to you. You're amazing, and you're talented, and creative, and loyal, and attractive, and intelligent and noble, and I have no idea why I'm not in love with you…but my heart is Cas'. It's not because he's an angel, or because he caved either…it's because he's there for me even when he can't physically be there for me, and he believes in me even though he's an angel and I'm a sinner. I just…you can't choose who you love, Sammy."

Sam nodded and pulled her close to him, stroking her hair and kissing the top of her head. He wanted her to love him like he loved her, but it was impossible and there was nothing he could do about it. It didn't help that he was drawn in by her smell, and he sighed a little and then he had to let her go before he did something he'd regret. Mae watched him sadly as he left her room without a word to her, and then she sat back down on her bed and wished that Castiel was there with her. It was important that he train Dean, but being alone was making Mae think about things she'd rather not think about given the things she knew she should be thinking about.

"Hey, Baby…you look a million miles away." Mae said, reaching out and stroking Michael's hair as he buttoned up his shirt.

Michael heaved a heavy sigh. How could he possibly be able to tell her he was leaving her for good when her sad face made him want to stay? This was no longer as fun for him though…no longer just an escape. He had a wife—a wife that had just told him she was pregnant—and Mae in her bra and her jeans as she stroked his hair instead of looking for her shirt was way too attractive. The lump rose in his throat, but he swallowed it down and took her hand in his, kissing it softly.

"Baby…we can't do this anymore." Michael told her.

Mae made a face. "I believe when we entered into this we agreed that I wasn't some baby and I was willing to let you cheat with me."

Michael nodded and smiled at her a little. "I know, and I am so thankful for that but…Baby, you have to understand…"

Mae took her hand away and went on the hunt for her shirt. "You know…I pretty much condemned myself to Hell for this, and now suddenly you're getting cold feet?"

"Lena's pregnant, Mae!" Michael exclaimed, and Mae clearly picked up on the anger and disappointment that his voice harbored.

Mae hurriedly got herself dressed after pausing for a moment to let it all sink in and she suddenly felt dirty. He'd said he loved her, and he'd promised her so many things, and all the while he was still sleeping with his wife—and now he was going to be a father. But he loved her…he loved her and Mae knew it when he wrapped her in his arms and told her he wanted it to be her—he wanted to be with her, but it had to end. She couldn't take it, and so she headed out to the bar…and met up with David…

Mae sighed loudly. "I used to be so stupid."

"You're not stupid, Mae." Castiel replied, entering her room by using an actual door.

"That's sweet, but it's not really true." Mae smiled at him and shrugged, standing up again and taking a hold of his trench coat collar, bringing him in for a kiss as he wrapped his arms around her waist. "There are things you and I need to discuss. You done with Dean for now? Do I get to have you the rest of the night?"

"For as long as Camael lets me stay, I am yours." Castiel replied fondly.

Mae nodded, reminded once again that no matter what place she held in Castiel's heart, she was always second when it came to Heaven. Honestly, she knew it was wrong and selfish of her to want to be higher than Heaven on his list of obligations, but she was starting to understand just how much this was going to hurt in the end…understand that they had to end this now. The thought brought tears to her eyes when she realized she was losing yet another man she held so dear, but she was going to make this end better than everything with Michael had ended.

"When this is over…when Bael is dead…you're going to have to leave." Mae explained to him. "You're going to have to leave and I'm going to have to deal with that."

Castiel nodded, knowing exactly what she was getting at. "You would like to spare yourself the additional heartbreak."

Mae gave him a look and let go of his coat, Castiel backing off a little too. "Don't you dare make this about me being selfish and self-preserving! In the long run it's going to spare your heart too! The closer we get from this point on, the more it's going to weigh on each of us when we don't get to see each other anymore—or at least not as often."

Castiel understood what she was saying, but he didn't want to let go…in fact Castiel very much wanted to hold on as tight as he could. She recognized the look in his eyes and shook her head slowly, but gave into him when he kissed her, cupping her face in his hands. Mae found that she was rather eager to follow through with whatever he wanted, even if she knew deep down that this was going to make everything between them harder in the long run.

"Cas?" Mae asked between kisses as he started to slip his coat off and loosen his tie. "Hey…Cas?"

Castiel paused and pulled away, shaking his head, so Mae simply nodded and pulled her shirt off for him, watching as he unbuttoned his dress shirt buttons, laughing a little at how adorable he looked with lust in his eyes. Then when he cocked his head to one side and raised his eyebrows to question the laugh, Mae threw her arms around his neck and kissed him, pulling him back onto the bed with her.

****

Zachariah paced the warehouse floor as Bael seemed to be conversing with his four most trusted demons: Cresil: The demon of impurity and laziness, Uphir: Their demon physician, Botis: Their demon 'oracle', and Semiazas: Leader of the Fallen Angels. He wasn't very pleased that in all of this he had been stripped from his grace and now was unable to use his angelic powers unless he could find his grace. He had a feeling that Camael had it, but he was a hard angel to find, and Zachariah had yet to meet up with Camael's vessel, so he was at a stand still. Bael on the other hand, was rather certain that in all of this, Mae would do exactly what they needed her to do…raise Lucifer.

"Bael?" Zachariah asked, stopping his pacing for a moment.

Unfortunately for Bael, Zachariah wasn't entirely sure that Mae was going to help them the way that Bael was so certain she would. Also, Zachariah wasn't so sure that there was anyway that Mae could ever let go of Castiel for Michael…for Asmodeus in Michael. Mae would be able to see right through all of it, and the seals would be at the stand still that were at mostly with the new angelic resistance put up to keep Lucifer from rising. In all of this, Zachariah was starting to feel like he was in need of more angelic help, and there was only one angel who would be willing to help him that was still alive: Dina.

"Bael?" Zachariah asked him, a little more agitated at the nerve of Bael to ignore him.

Bael flashed him a warning glance, and Zachariah arrow his as, showing Bael that even without his grace, he was not to be trifled with. If it came down to it, Zachariah would simply be killed off and then Bael would have no angelic connection to Heaven. If there was anything that Bael was aware of, it was the Fallens' allegiance to Zachariah…not to him, so to a certain extent the two had to work together even though they both wanted to be in charge. Cutting things off with Uphir, Bael headed over to Zachariah, his eyes flashing dangerously as he took the fallen angel by the arm and dragged him off to the side to talk to him.

"What do you think the big idea is you walking wingless moron? Here, you are under my rules and you follow my instructions. I don't interfere with your authority when we meet with your brethren that follow you, now do I?" Bael snarled. "What is it that you feel the need to interrupt what it is that I'm doing?"

Zachariah took a deep breath. "I think it is time to kill Maion and figure out a plan B. Honestly? I don't see Mae falling into our plan like you think she will."

Bael laughed incredulously. "Kill Maion? Listen, Zachariah…I will kill that annoying angel as soon as he finishes what he is doing."

Zachariah raised an eyebrow curiously. "Wait…excuse me?"

"You don't really think I'd leave that walking bag of feathers alive if he wasn't of use to me, did you?" Bael asked him, giving him another look. "The pathetic excuse for an angel has been feeding Mae information—he has told her the demons that have him hostage, where he is, and that there is an angel traitor helping that isn't you. I have been to see her and it is only a matter of time before she and the Winchesters drag Castiel with them to try and save him."

Zachariah nodded slowly and then smiled. "It's possible she'll get some of her own then."

"First she has to drive Castiel to the point of true disobedience, and then we'll be able to bring her over to our side to do what she should have done in the first place." Bael explained with a large smile plastered on his face. "There is no way for her to escape us this time…there will be too much at stake for her."

Bael smiled his malicious smile when he saw that Zachariah was catching on rather nicely to the plan. Even if Mae wasn't tempted by Michael, Asmodeus would turn on his demon of lust charms and it would push the already fragile Castiel over the edge and he'd have no choice but to make the one choice he never thought he would ever have to make. It would push Mae and Castiel to disagree on how to the handle the situation, and impulsive Mae would head out to try and save Maion and lead them into a trap, for by then Maion would have been slain by Bael. Then it was up to Bael and Farrah to finish what Lilith had started so that they could raise Lucifer for once and for all. After all…there were only three seals left to break…

****

Dean sighed as he watched Sam try not to be completely and utterly upset about the giggles he could hear coming from Mae's room. It hurt him to see his bother so down, but there were plenty of other fish in the sea, and Dean was sick of his brother moping about. Knowing it was the right time for a bar, or some strippers—or both—Dean stood up and tossed Sam the keys to the Impala. Sam was a little skeptical, but he gave in and nodded, needing to get away from the safe house for now, and feeling safe with his brother, even with the new threats out there.

"Cas…we have to stop…" Mae told him with a giggle, swatting his hand away from her as they laid there on the bed. "I'm thrilled, and I've been thrilled, but it really is time for us to get up and go demon hunting, don't you think?"

Castiel shook his head and slipped his hand between Mae's thighs. "I'm not ready yet."

Mae gasped as his fingers invaded her. "Cas that isn't fair…I never should have taught you that."

Castiel smiled and kissed her softly, hooking his fingers and swallowing her moan. "I'd like to think I learned a bit of it all on my own."

"I love you." Mae whispered, pulling away and looking him in the eye. "I love you, and I selfishly never want you to leave me."

"I love you too…I can't believe I've really gone this long without knowing what this feels like." Castiel told her slowly, running his nose along hers as she moved herself up against his hand.

Mae giggled and couldn't help but turn it into a dirty joke. "Well actually your fingers were there just a little while ago too."

Castiel rolled his eyes and kissed her, moaning into her mouth as she snaked her hand down to stroke his hardening member, just as Dean smirked as he looked at the dancer in the strip club, but sighed when he looked over at Sam who wasn't having as much fun. He had a feeling Sam would ruin the experience for him, but just once he wished his brother would simply loosen up. Then again, it seemed much too soon for Sam to be trying to get his mind off of Mae, he had just needed out of the house. Sam wasn't Dean, and Dean knew he should have remembered that when he had suggested the outing to Sam in the first place—Dean was the one that covered up one-night stands with more one-night stands.

"What's wrong with this one, Sammy?" Dean asked as he heaved an exasperated sigh.

Sam shrugged a little—there wasn't anything actually wrong with the dancer in front of him, but for some reason he just couldn't get into it. She was dancing with her pole like one of the finest, but she just wasn't Mae, and Sam knew as he thought that single thought that he was a complete goner, but he couldn't help it. Mae had been his light in the darkness, and he had been there for her and loved her more than anyone else, and she still ran right back to Castiel the moment he decided to show himself. Why now of all times? Why was Castiel suddenly back and why was Mae still so madly in love with him? Why did Sam never get the girl?

"Is it her blonde hair? Her huge rack? The way she looks at you fondly? Cause really none of those reasons strike me as a reason not to give her a big tip and maybe bang her afterwards if she's willing." Dean told his brother with a chuckle.

Sam sighed and gave Dean a look. "Dean, I just can't stop thinking about Mae, all right? Can we go back, please? I appreciate what you've done, and I've enjoyed the show, really, but there are things we have to do and sitting here tipping exotic dancer is really not one of them."

Dean nodded slowly and sighed as he smacked the butt of the redhead he'd been watching and slipping her a few ones, heading out with Sam towards the safe house. He knew that there were more important things to focus on, but he was really looking forward to getting laid since that hadn't happened for him in a while. In fact, the only person in the safe house that seemed to get laid anymore was Mae…and in turn Castiel, which made Dean raise an eyebrow as he got back into the Impala. Sam looked at him questioningly as Dean took his hand off of the ignition, and Dean turned to look his brother in the eye, not quite sure of how to phrase it.

"Cas gets laid…Cas gets laid and we don't. Exactly when did that happen?" Dean asked Sam, truly puzzled by the thoughts swimming around in his head.

Sam shook his head and shrugged sadly. "I don't know, Dean…I honestly have no idea why Cas is with the fairer sex and the most action we've gotten was killing demons."

Dean scrunched up his nose and knew he shouldn't have brought it up, turning the engine over and getting the car out on the road. He drove slowly, but not too slowly to have Sam make a fuss, and when they parked in the driveway of the safe house, a man was on the porch and he looked like he was going to ring the doorbell, but he was chickening out. Sam and Dean hadn't seem him before, and they really never had visitors at the safe house, so they wondered who he was when they got out, him shaking his head and walking away from the door, only to look startled and then laugh a little and calm down when he saw Sam and Dean.

"Can we help you?" Dean asked, already in protective mode.

The man shook his head. "No, no, I uh…I was going to see Mae but I decided to just leave her be…um…I'll come back tomorrow or something when I have a better reason to talk to her."

Sam nodded. "All right, do you have a number we can give her, for you to reach her at?"

The man nodded and pulled out a piece of paper out of the breast pocket of his dress shirt, and the pen next to it, scrawling his cell number down and handing it to Sam. He thanked Sam and Dean and headed down the walk towards the sidewalk, Dean speaking up as Sam stared at the name that the man had sprawled out above his phone number. Why now? Why of all the times would he be here to see her? Hadn't he caused her enough pain? Should Sam even tell Mae about it?

"Is there a name to go with that number?" Dean asked, Sam crumpling the number up in his hand beside him.

The man turned to him and nodded a smile on his face. "Michael."