Dean actually enjoyed shacking up with Crowley. There was something about watching his fussy sorta-friend scrubbing blood out of tile grout that was highly entertaining.

He was lounging next to the fireplace with his feet propped on the hellhound's back when his phone began ringing. With a yawn he pulled it out and smiled at Sam's name.

'What's up, Sammy?'

'Uh...'

Dean sat up straight and put his feet on the floor, earning a disgruntled snort from the hound. 'Sam? What's wrong?'

'So Adam ran off, and the other angels are keeping Cas away,' Sam carefully explained.

'He ran off,' Dean flatly repeated.

'Yeah. We think he snuck out and prayed for a pick up.'

'Stupid fucking… What the hell did they bribe him with?!'

'He thinks he'll get to see his mom again. I mean...I get it. I thought we managed to talk him out of it, but I guess we were wrong.'

'But that's not—' Dean broke off with a frustrated growl. Who in heaven wasn't letting souls visit each other? 'Okay, so we at least know where he is. Same place they had me?'

'From what Cas says, yeah.'

'Okay…' Dean shook out his wings. He could do this.

'Dean, don't. Just...come home, and we'll figure something out.'

'But—'

'Please. Come home first,' Sam begged.

Dean screwed his eyes shut and breathed deeply. 'Okay.' He looked down at the hellhound as he hung up. 'You keep an eye on him, got it? I'm gonna need someone to get shitfaced with after this.' With one last pat on the hound's head, he took off.

Dean landed in Bobby's living room and looked over the miserable faces staring back at him. 'So, any plan better'n me makin' a grab for the kid?'

Gabriel shook his head. 'I'm no match for Michael, much less a whole guard. I'm just...not a fighter. And Cas says there's at least ten guys on patrol.' He shrugged helplessly. 'I mighta been able to trick them before, but after your stunt? They're gonna be suspicious of everything that ain't a direct order from Michael.'

Dean licked his lips and looked to Castiel. He sent a reassuring touch along his Grace at Castiel's apologetic waves.

'They've threatened me with punishment if I return,' Castiel said quietly.

'Right. I'll just treat this like Famine. Get in, get out. That work for everyone?'

'I hate to say it, but… What happens if we leave him there?' Sam asked. He shook his head at the shocked stares. 'Just looking at all our options.'

Dean looked away and sighed. He hated that it was even an option to consider. 'Worst case? Michael uses him as a vessel. Best case? They flaunt the fact they have him and try to use him as leverage.'

Gabriel nodded along. 'But since they think Seri's taken over Dean, they might not even bother.'

'Can't they be reasoned with? At all?' Sam asked.

'You do remember my reaction, right?' Gabriel said with a laugh. 'Seri earned a man name for himself when he fell. He's scary.' He looked at Dean. 'You're scary.'

'I noticed,' Dean growled, sending the lights flickering.

'Then use it to your advantage,' Bobby said. 'Get in there and scare 'em shitless.'

'And if Michael shows up?' Gabriel asked. 'What then? You can't take him one on one.'

Dean let out a slow breath as he fell heavily onto the couch, staring at the photos lining the walls. 'Then I fight the same way I did in the Rebellion. Get in close, strike, and get my ass out before he can retaliate.'

Castiel ran his Grace along Dean's, spreading warmth and comfort. 'As long as you can sneak in when no one is in the room, you can avoid a confrontation.'

Dean let his Grace mingle deeper with Castiel's and nodded. 'Yeah, if it's anything like when I was there, they're gonna leave him alone for the most part.' He looked around at the worried faces. 'So we're all good with my bad idea?'

There were murmurs of reluctant agreement, and Dean stood, stretching out his wings a few times. 'Wish me luck.'

Castiel reached out and pulled Dean into a kiss. 'Good luck,' he whispered.

Dean went in for a deeper kiss, sending bright pulses of love and adoration along his Grace. 'I'll be right back,' he promised.

.-.-.-.-.

Dean crouched lowly as he landed in the angels' greenroom. He quietly stood as he watched Adam happily munching away at the burgers in front of him. Briefly, he reached out with his senses, counting eleven angels just outside the room.

He stepped forward, reaching out to grab Adam's shoulder. The moment his fingers brushed Adam's shoulder, the kid flinched away, stumbling out of his chair.

'What the hell?! Who—?'

Dean gave Adam his friendliest smile. 'Hey, kid. I'm Dean. Your older brother. We haven't met yet, but this is a jailbreak.'

Adam backed away. 'Oh, hell no! They warned me about you, Seraphiel. Said you're worse than Lucifer.'

'That's not—'

'You sayin' you didn't steal that body?'

Dean slowly followed Adam around the table, keeping tabs on the angelic guard. No one had moved out of position yet. He was still undiscovered. 'Angels need permission to take a vessel. No stealing involved,' he replied truthfully. Mostly.

'Yeah, right. Like you didn't trick him to hitch a ride. Well, you ain't tricking me!' Adam shouted as he backed into a corner.

Dean rolled his eyes and moved to take advantage of their positioning. He flinched back as Zachariah appeared in front of him. He brought his wings out on reflex.

'Seraphiel,' Zachariah greeted. 'Deceiver. Rebellious thief.'

'Pretentious asshole,' Dean replied in the same tone, giving a small bow. 'Something tells me you guys don't like my new clothes,' Dean said conversationally. 'It's the apocalypse. Plaid is in.'

'I think Michael would wear it better,' Zachariah replied. 'I'm sure we could find you something nicer. Something more you. Plenty of people willing to let in an angel.'

Dean's grin widened. 'I know,' he said, gesturing to himself. 'And the best part? Didn't even have to lie. What's that say about you guys? When I'm the preferred choice?'

Zachariah flapped his wings in irritation. 'You're surrounded, Seraphiel. Hand over that vessel now, or face a punishment worse than when you Fell.'

Dean pressed his Grace outward to the surrounding angels. He caught the smallest tremor of fear from one. He grinned and held his arms out, bowing lowly. 'It's been fun.'

He ditched his body and manifested outside the room, letting loose a loud screech at the angelic guard. He took advantage of their shock and grabbed one by a wing, tossing them into the opposite wall of the warehouse. He rounded on another as they began fleeing, Angel Radio flaring to life with horrified screams.

He swiped his tail at the few brave ones that remained and tore into their wings. He readied to kill the one he managed to corner when he felt Michael approaching. With a sharp curse, he turned back to the room and entered just as Michael landed.

He found Michael in Adam's body, glaring down at the corpse in the middle of the floor.

Michael slowly raised his head, and his fury switched to confusion as he stared at Seraphiel. He moved his gaze to Zachariah. 'Fix this or don't bother coming back,' he growled before taking off.

Zachariah balked and took a step away from Seraphiel. 'Where have you hidden the soul?'

Seraphiel laughed in delight, a glittering sound that floated through the air. 'Nowhere,' he replied as he advanced on Zachariah. 'There never was a soul.' He snapped his teeth and caught a few feathers.

Zachariah summoned his blade and edged along the wall. 'Now, now. There's no need for lies, little brother. Let's talk this over. Think about the good old days. If you cooperate, I'll put in a good word with Father.'

Seraphiel bared his teeth and let his anger show in the flaring of his mane. 'Will you? You'll tell Father all about how good I've been?' He snapped again, aiming for Zachariah's legs.

Zachariah jumped away and swiped at Seraphiel's snout. 'Only if you bring Dean Winchester back from wherever you're hiding him. Do that, and all will be forgiven. You'll be welcomed back into the fold.' He held his arms out invitingly.

Seraphiel lowered his head and swayed it to one side with a curious tilt as he slowly raised his tail. 'Just like that? All in exchange for one little human?'

Zachariah grinned and nodded.

Seraphiel struck out with his tail, spearing Zachariah in the neck with his blade. 'You're a terrible liar.'

He watched the life burn out of Zachariah before pulling his tail free and letting the body fall to the ground. He stepped back and sang himself a small chirp of victory. Just as he had so many times before during the Rebellion.

He froze and looked back down at Zachariah's empty vessel and the stain left from a Grace burning out through wings. He had only wanted to scare him, not kill him. Was this his default? Death and destruction? A trail of nothing but failure?

Seraphiel tucked himself back into his human body, Zachariah's voice echoing in his mind that he was nothing more than a thief.

.-.-.-.-.

Seraphiel landed on Bobby's front porch, buying himself more time. He took a steadying breath and let himself in. He slowly walked to the living room, not really hearing what the worried voices were saying.

He rounded the corner and cringed away from the two Grace's that warmly greeted him. 'I… I fucked up. Big. Michael has Adam,' he forced himself to say.

He hugged his wings around himself as he listened to the dismayed cursing. 'It's all my fault. I shouldn't've tried to explain anything. Shoulda just grabbed him anyway and made a run for it.' His eyes flicked up as Castiel approached him, and he shied away.

Castiel frowned in confusion and reached out with his Grace.

Seraphiel allowed a small sliver in and felt undeserving of the love he felt. 'I uh… I-I killed Zach,' he whispered.

He looked up and around at the shocked silence, seeing varying degrees of disbelief. And just under the surface, strings of fear emanating from Castiel and Gabriel. He couldn't face it. Not again.

'I'm sorry,' he said, quickly escaping.