Author's Note:

I know, I know, another late update! I'm sorry. The evil writer's block bunny is stalking me, and I'm trying to make it leave me alone so I can finish this fic! Anyways, I would like to dedicate this chapter to cupcakeattack123, who is great to have PM chats with and shares my love of Cas' wings! Lyrics are from Follow The Leader by Matthew Ryan.

Huggles and thank yous to all of my amazing readers that have so wonderfully not decided to abandon me, I love all of you!

"It's follow the leader, baby

That's how it's gonna be

If you ever really wanna get lost then follow me

Follow the leader."

Sam's P.O.V.

"Fine, we'll go with you to Purgatory after we figure out what weapon that spell is talking about, but not until Gabriel's merging is over," I said to Crowley, crossing my arms defiantly.

He clapped, sarcasm practically radiating from his movements. "Moose stays loyal to his pet angel. Cookie for you."

"Assbutt," Cas growled.

At that, Crowley stared at him briefly before the demon pinched the bridge of his nose between his fingers and sighed deeply. "First I was reduced to enlisting humans to kill Lucifer, then I came to an angel for assistance in killing the Mother of All, and now I just got called an assbutt, which makes no bloody sense," he ranted quietly. "I think I need a glass of Craig."

"Aw look, our favorite demon's having himself a midlife crisis," Dean quipped.

"We should not be fighting," Cas interrupted. "Sam, work on the research I assigned you. Dean, keep an eye on Gabriel. Crowley, shut up."

"Yes mom," Dean muttered.

I was about to start the research as Cas told me to, but a searing pain ripped through me just as Gabriel screamed aloud. I fell to my knees, feeling like someone was shredding my spine with a razor knife. Of all the injuries I'd endured as a hunter, not once had I felt pain this intense. It was the most terrible sensation to ever take hold of my body.

But it wasn't my pain that I pitied. Everything I felt through the bond was muffled, so to speak, meaning Gabriel was probably in three times as much pain as I was. My mind was clouded by both agony and sympathy, two emotions that I'd never felt at the same time. I groaned as I fell onto my side.

"Sammy what the hell's wrong?" Dean asked hurriedly.

"Easy there mate, you might pull something," Crowley said with his usual snark. "I can feel Gabriel's grace in Sam, and it's merging with Sam's body just as it's merging with Gabriel's. But our dearest Sammy is human, meaning he might just make it through the process without needing a pacifier. Unlike some of us in the room," he added, glancing pointedly at Gabriel.

Dean lunged recklessly for the demon, but Cas held him back.

"Dean, no. I profoundly regret having to say this, but we need him."

Dean's eyes burned angrily, but one look at Cas and they softened fractionally. Lately Cas had been the only one that could get Dean calmed down when he was angry. Though it wasn't as literal as what Gabriel and I had, they shared an intense, close bond. Their eyes met and held, and when Dean nodded, Castiel released him.

"Sam can mentally check in with Gabriel through the bond, you keep an eye on Crowley," he said, and my brother gave a brief nod before continuing to fix the demon with a death stare.

Castiel's P.O.V.

Part of me feared Dean would kill Crowley in my absence, but anymore the hunter listened to me when I gave him orders. He absolutely detested orders, and I was the only one that he would take them from. Leaving only a quiet rustling noise in my wake, I transported to where I'd felt the lingering of Balthazar's grace. It had been a shock to say the least when I'd detected his presence. I'd thought him to be dead and grieved him.

"Balthazar, I feel your grace. I know you are here."

"Hey there Cas. Long time no see."

I looked over my shoulder at the sound of his vessel's voice. The vessel was lean, with short blond hair and pale blue eyes. His voice had a faint trace of a British accent. I walked towards him, relief and anger warring for dominance in my mind. I'd thought him to be dead, yet here he stood, alive and well. Apparently it hadn't crossed his mind that I might just want to know he was alive.

"Balthazar," I greeted flatly.

"Hi Cassie."

"Don't call me that," I snapped.

"What, your pet humans can call you Cas and I can't call you Cassie? That must be rather demeaning, the name those humans gave you. You do have a full name," he said, raising an eyebrow.

"I am well aware of that. Now enough with the pleasantries. I need your help." I considered demanding to know why he'd let me believe he'd been dead for so long, but I currently had larger concerns.

He rolled his eyes and sprawled out across the large bed in the swanky hotel room I'd found him in. His limbs were lazily draped over the bed in a way that reminded me of a cat. Not like Huntress, more like a lion reminding other animals that they were on his territory and his alone.

"Cas I can't count the times we fought together, it's the least I can do. Ask anything."

"I can sense the presence of Heaven's weapons concealed here. I need them."

"Ask anything but that."

"What do you know how about the Mother of All?"

"She's an ancient basket case that created all the evil things your pet humans hunt."

"I have a way to kill her, but I think the weapon I need may be in your possession."

"I'll give you anything but the weapons."

He wasn't counting on the fact I was now practiced in combat. Gabriel had taught me and Dean had even shown me a few things along the way. For centuries I'd known how to defeat my opponents with my blade, but now I had an extensive list of things I could do. I didn't wish to harm my former ally, but he was leaving me no other choice.

"Give me the weapons."

He sighed. "I think I already gave you the answer to that."

"I don't like your answer," I responded coldly, waving my hand to pin him to the bed without even touching him.

"I see you've got a couple of new tricks up your sleeve."

I smirked like I'd seen Dean do a number of times. "I suppose."

Gabriel's P.O.V.

So how do you think Cas' little angel hunting mission's going? I sent to Sam when the pain faded briefly.

He hasn't come back yet, so I assume either very good or very bad, he replied from where he sat in front of his laptop.

I hope he's okay…

Don't worry Gabriel, Cas is tough, he can take care of himself.

Yeah, our little Cas is pretty badass, huh?

I looked over and saw him smiling. He learned from the best.

I'll take that as a compliment, Sammy.

It's Sam!

Okey dokey, Sammy.

Jerk.

Dork.

You were supposed to call me bitch.

Huh?

Never mind.

I laughed and closed my eyes to enjoy the few moments of peace I had before the pain would start again. The merging was close to over, but not quite. If I was estimating correctly then it still had another day or so. I was surprised that the room was so quiet. After all, it's not every day that a demon, a human and an archangel can all be in the same proximity of each other without killing each other.

As is my thoughts had prompted him to speak, Crowley said, "You lads really need to start getting better motel rooms. I get the creeps just being in this little hellhole. Which is saying something, you know. I was born and raised in Hell."

"Shut up Crowley," Sam and I snapped in unison.

The demon shrugged calmly. "Just saying, if you're going to live out of a suitcase then you might as well be classy about it."

"It's a duffel bag," Sam muttered.

"Oh because that makes it all the better," Crowley said, his voice dripping sarcasm.

I was going to spit a retort at him, but Cas appeared in the middle of the room, a rather disgruntled looking blond angel at his side. The former was smiling slightly in triumph, yet another habit he'd picked up from Dean. The angel next to him gave us bitter smiles, and I immediately recognized his grace.

"Hey there Balthy."

"Ah, nice to see you Gabriel."

"Oh yay, another Hallmark card with feathers," Crowley muttered.

"Balthazar has some valuable information" Cas said with a glint in his eye that said Balthazar hadn't willingly given up said information.

"Here's the issue, boys. You can't all go marching into Purgatory. Only a demon can keep you concealed, and he'll be doing good to manage keeping one of you from being seen and killed, let alone the whole lot of you," the angel explained. "And that's not all. I happen to know a good bit about weapons, and while I don't have the exact one you need to kill the Mother, I have one with the material you need. Bronze. It can be melted down and re-forged in Purgatory."

"So what you're saying is that Cas and Crowley have to go in alone," Sam said gravely.

Balthazar sighed and raked his fingers through his messy, short blond hair. "That's exactly what I'm saying."

"Now you can follow your gut

Or you can follow the past

But if you knew an eclipse was coming

Why'd you even ask?"