"This is it?" Cas asked, eying a small opening in the wall.

Dean nodded. "I can't get closer. You have to find the sigils. I wish I could – "

"It's alright" Cas quickly assured him. "I already did it once before, didn't I?"

True, he hadn't been in Hell, and there hadn't been the first demon waiting for him at the other end. But he still had to try. It was their only chance.

Looking at Dean, he became aware that he might never see him again. This was more or less a suicide mission. Even if they hadn't said it out loud, had even acted like they would be coming back when saying their goodbyes to Zachariah, they had known they wouldn't.

And Sam and Bobby might already be...

He drew Dean in a desperate kiss. They were standing in Hell, he was about to sneak up on Lilith, and he was kissing the angel who had saved him. Who had shown him love, no matter for how short a period of time.

Dean kissed back just as passionately before gently pushing him back, cradling his face in his hands, staring as if he could see right into his soul. And maybe he could. He had put his mark on him after all.

They didn't need to say anything. He simply turned around and left.

Dean didn't like watching Cas go right into Lilith's den, but what choice did he have? His lips were still tangling from that kiss. The sneaky bastard better get out again so they could repeat that.

He thought of Sam and Bobby and his Grace cried out in agony. No. He hadn't seen their bodies. He had no news that they were –

They were alive. They had to be.

Until he had proof they were dead, at least.

He kept a constant watch on the borders that were keeping him out. The second they fell, he'd sweep in.

There had not yet much time passed on earth. In fact, it had hardly been more than three hours since they had left – time in Purgatory, contrary to that in Hell, passed just like on earth.

Twenty-one hours before Zachariah attempted to pull Cas out. A lot could happen. Hell, they would probably all be dead then.

He would take Lilith with him, though. The very least he had to do was kill the bitch, not only so that the Apocalypse couldn't start but that Cas' contract became null and void. Cas deserved a place in –

He realized what he had been thinking and shuddered. What would they do to his soul in Heaven? But, where else could Cas go? Dean couldn't allow him to become a demon. But with Heaven corrupt –

You are not dead yet. Concentrate. You're going to kill Lilith, and then, who knows? Who cares? Just pretend he's immortal for a minute, for Christ's sake. You got crap to do.

It helped that his inner voice that had always resembled John had finally changed to Bobby. He tightened his grip on his angel blade and waited.

Cas moved as quietly as possible. Not even the heat, not even the screams he could still hear faintly meant anything to him now. He was completely focused, as he had always been during hunts.

And this was the most important hunt of his life. If he failed now...

He grit his teeth. He couldn't allow himself to dwell on the possibility of failure. He had to find the sigils.

Lilith would not have allowed her abode to be small. He would have to circle a big space, most likely. Would there be guards? There could be, but on the other hand, demons always thought too much of themselves and perhaps Lilith considered herself too valuable to be guarded by those beneath her. Hadn't Dean said she was the High Priestess of the demons? Maybe she thought Satan would protect her.

He crept forward slowly, one step at a time. When he heard steps, he slunk back in the shadows, and watched a demon step through a doorway, bow reverently and then leave swiftly.

Lilith apparently had servants.

But there was no guard at the doorway. Only several symbols, seals and sigils, all of which he had seen in the course of his career. He made quick work of them and moved on. At least they had this; the fact that demons could only protect themselves the same way humans could. Which he supposed made sense, considering they had been humans once too.

Dean wished he could jump into action. The wait was making him crazy.

Especially since a demon was coming closer.

The one he had saved Cas from.

Alastair.

He had to press himself against the wall to keep from attacking him right there and then. But it would have alerted Lilith. He could only pray that the wouldn't notice Cas until it was too late.

Cas had lost track of how many sigils he had broken, but finally, he heard voices.

And one of them he knew he would never forget.

"It is almost time."

"I know. Lucifer will rise."

"The Righteous Man – "

"We will find him. Have faith."

Cas would have laughed if he had been allowed to. A beast like Alastair could enver have faith, not even the faith in Lucifer the demons had. He was in this for the simple enjoyment he got out of carving and slicing into others, and if Cas had had an angel blade with him then –

He swallowed and walked right by the voices.

He knew that this had been the last sigil when Dean came to stand next to him, apparently having started running the second he felt he could.

"Alastair" he whispered. "And Lilith".

Dean nodded.

They were going to try and get as close as possible when Alastair's voice rang out.

"There's no need to hide, Castiel. I know where you are. I know the smell of your fear."

They looked at one another. Then, Cas nodded.

They barged into the room, figuring surprise was their best iption.

Dean knew it wasn't the best idea, and really, it was no idea at all, but pure instinct to protect Cas that made him burry his blade in Alastair's throat.

As his torturer died, Cas watched with a satisfaction that would have worried him if he had had the time; Dean saw it on his face but couldn't help but understand. How often must his hunter have wished to do the same thing.

Naturally, the next thing they knew, a whole army of demons were throwing themselves at them while Lilith shrieked indignantly.

The only reason Cas managed to hold his own for more than a few seconds was his life-long training, and perhaps a shyness the demons still possessed about the man who had been rescued from Hell. But that wouldn't last long. They had to get to Lilith, and fast.

"De – "

Before he could finish calling for the angel, a bright light blended him. For a second, he hoped that this was it, that Dean had smitten Lilith; but then he felt the pull – he didn't know how else to describe it; a power drawing him away from the demons, who moved back in a panic. Strangely, he was feeling calm and safe.

The conviction that he shouldn't shot through his mind, and he fought against it. Whatever this was, it was pulling him away from Dean. He had to stay with him.

But it was hopeless. The light only grew brighter, he had to close his eyes, and when he opened them, he saw –

Nothing.