Castiel stared in shock at where Dean had just been standing. He looked at Gabriel as realization hit him.

'What just happened?' asked Sam.

'We didn't keep a straight face,' Gabriel said. He reached out with his Grace to reassure Castiel.

Castiel faced Sam and shook his head. 'He thinks we fear him. That he's a risk to our safety,' he said. 'At least, that's what I was able to find before he left.'

Bobby groaned as he looked up. 'Think we're all more afraid of him fallin' off the wagon again instead of killing off assholes trying to end the world. Well, how do we find that insecure idjit and get him back?'

Castiel sat on the couch as he reached out, trying to follow his claim on Dean's Grace. He pushed and pulled from every angle he could and tried sending out loving pleas to coax Dean back. He slowly shook his head at Gabriel's hopeful look. 'I'm...cut off.'

Sam leaned back against the wall and crossed his arms. 'What about Chuck? He knew where to find Dean last time.'

Gabriel shrugged. 'It's worth a try, but I wouldn't get my hopes up,' he said. 'Angel Radio's dead silent. Straight up taken down right now. Prophets piggyback on the signal for their information. Signal's still there, but without a tower nearby, he's not gonna be getting anything out of it.'

'It's still worth a try,' Sam said with a shrug.

Castiel stood and nodded to Gabriel. 'You check on the prophet, and I'll try where Dean hid last time.'

'There's another way,' Gabriel said quietly.

Castiel shook his head and sent a sharp jolt along their Graces. 'Only as a last resort,' he said before flying to the crystal caves. He roamed about the crystals, searching for any trace of Dean's Grace, but came up empty.

He closed his eyes and prayed to his Father that Dean was at least safe and not falling back into old habits and vices. If only he had sent a clear message of his feelings. Purposefully sending the reason behind his feelings was still a new concept, but it seemed to be what Dean was going to need from him from now on.

Even if it was confusing and distracting, the moment he found Dean, he was going to keep their bond fully connected. There were still so many conflicting emotions constantly running through Seraphiel's Grace, but he would learn to deal with it if it meant not going through this again.

He sighed in resignation and returned to Bobby's empty-handed.

When he landed, he stepped back in surprise at seeing Lucifer lounging on Bobby's couch, picking at loose threads. He glared at Gabriel.

Gabriel shrugged and waved at Lucifer. 'Michael's got a working vessel, Seri's fuck-all knows where, and Michael's tightening the leash on Heaven's power. Last resort.'

Castiel grimaced and looked away.

'I've got Bobby and Sam in the panic room. Angel-proofed to the nines.'

Lucifer laughed softly. 'I'm not out to bring them harm, Gabriel. They're safe in my presence.'

Gabriel rolled his eyes and put his hands on his hips. 'I mean from Michael. If he tracks you down, do you really think he'd leave them alone? After Seri pissed him off? That predictable dick is gearing up for a rampage.'

Castiel sighed and faced Lucifer. 'So you can find Dean...Seraphiel?'

'In theory.'

Castiel narrowed his eyes in suspicion. 'You want something in return.'

'Don't we all. No. I would gladly tell you where Seraphiel is. I want him to be happy. I want him safe. You, Castiel, appear to be good for him. His Grace is healing because of you,' Lucifer said. He stood and held his arms and wings wide as he opened his Grace. 'However, I cannot because I'm constantly healing this vessel. Even using Gabriel's route into Heaven's power is proving useless. I'm fighting an uphill battle and cannot devote the power that would be needed to track Seraphiel. This appears to be a failsafe to ensure I take my true vessel. If it's the same for Michael, then he'll want to finish this before his vessel begins to fall apart.'

Castiel carefully reached out and sifted through Lucifer's Grace. He pulled away after he confirmed that Lucifer wasn't lying. 'I see. I… This is Sam's decision, and I won't argue for or against.'

Gabriel shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot. 'I guess I'll uh...go get Sam and explain things,' he said quietly. 'I'll try to be unbiased.'

Castiel waited in awkward silence with Lucifer. He watched as the other angel moved about the room, picking up photographs and books, examining them. Occasionally, he would catch a slip of curiosity and amusement.

He looked over when he heard Sam come into the room.

'So you're agreeing with this?' Sam asked Castiel.

Castiel looked away in shame. 'I'm not sure. I wish it were avoidable.'

'Don't we all,' Sam said. He sighed and turned to Lucifer. 'So you're sure you can find Dean?'

'My claim upon his Grace cannot be denied,' Lucifer explained. 'With my true vessel, I can focus on him.'

'Right.'

'There is the, however, a chance my Grace will resonate with you. Michael will be able to pick up on it if that happens.'

Sam looked away and shook his head. 'Try not to fight him? Run away? Hide?'

'That will only work for so long. He would systematically destroy this world to find me,' he said as he walked along the edge of the room, his fingers lightly tracing the photographs on the walls. 'Considering the amount of casualties that would come as a result, I may as well face him.'

Gabriel moved to block Lucifer's path. 'We could… We could take him on. We find Seri. Four on one. If we're quick, we can end it before he does any real damage.'

Lucifer studied Gabriel's face, and ran his Grace deeper through Gabriel's. There, he found a promise to not run away. 'With help, I could potentially defeat him.'

Sam nodded and swallowed. 'Then...do what you can to keep us safe in the meantime.'

'I swear.'

'Okay. Then...okay. Guess I'm an angel condom,' he said, lightly raising his arms and dropping them. 'But no getting frisky with my brother and hands above the waist with Gabriel. And no pictures,' he added pointedly at Gabriel.

Gabriel clicked his tongue and slumped against the wall.

Laughing, Lucifer nodded before a bright flash filled the room.

Castiel gasped as Dean's location was shoved into his Grace with no warning. He stared at Lucifer, now in Sam's body.

'Michael is on his way,' Lucifer said, staring out a nearby window. 'Unfortunately, I couldn't prevent it. I'll do my best to evade him and lure him away.'

Gabriel grabbed Lucifer by the elbow before he could leave. 'I'm coming with you. Seri'll hunt me down if I don't keep you and Sam safe.'

'Go. I'll talk with Dean,' Castiel said as he spread his wings wide. 'He will most likely insist on following as well.'

'I wouldn't expect anything less,' Lucifer said.

.-.-.-.-.

Castiel landed in the middle of a forest in France. He looked around and relaxed as his eyes fell upon Dean sitting at the base of an old tree. He slowly approached and attempted to send a wave of confusion to Dean. He was surprised when Dean opened his Grace to him.

'So. Lucifer ratted me out. Sam actually said yes? Because of me?' Dean asked.

'Yes.'

'Fuck.' Dean groaned and slumped forward, bringing up his knees and burying his head in his hands. 'I can't do anything right! So much for stopping the apocalypse.'

'We can still fix this,' Castiel said as he knelt beside Dean. 'No more running. No more hiding.'

'No more killing,' Dean said bitterly.

'No one fears you,' Castiel said. He rested his hand on Dean's shoulder and waited for Dean to meet his eyes. 'We are afraid for you.'

'Falling back on old habits.'

'And the repercussions you could face.'

Dean swallowed and nodded. He shook his head as he laughed and leaned back against the tree. 'You remind me of my fourth wife. Shit. Haven't thought of her in decades. But here I am.' He waved his hand at the ground beneath him. 'Cas, meet Idony. Died in the plague because she needed to help people. She thought she could help me, too.'

Castiel reached out and felt the long-buried bones of a human woman beneath them. Little trinkets surrounded her burial site. 'She must have had an affect on you if you're visiting her resting place.'

'Yeah. She was always worrying about me. Wasn't afraid to yell at me, even after she found me killing a vampire,' Dean said with a sigh. 'Always wanted to have the hard conversations. And then the same plague I started took her. How's that for karma?'

Castiel caught a flash of deep regret and an image of Seraphiel in another stolen life, begging for Idony to flee the small town. 'You warned her. It was her choice. Do you also blame yourself for my Fall?'

'Don't ask me that.' Dean looked away.

'It was my choice,' Castiel insisted.

'And it was my choice to kill Zachariah! And hundreds of others during the Rebellion!' Dean pushed himself off the ground and walked forward a few steps before turning back to face Castiel. 'And the worst part? It was out of revenge. Not self defense. I had him cornered and scared, and I— He deserved a lot of shit but not that.'

'I forgive you, Seraphiel,' Castiel said as he stood and sent every bit of love and understanding he could muster to Dean. 'You've been hurt so much.'

'But when's it end? When's your forgiveness run out?'

Castiel stared at Dean and let his sadness leak over their connection. 'For as long as you are making the effort to change. For as long as you feel regret and wish to make penance. You've come so far since we first met. Before, would you have felt any guilt over Zachariah's death?'

'Maybe a little,' Dean said with a shrug. 'Like when you accidentally step on a flower.'

Castiel moved closer and took Dean into a tight hug, wrapping his wings around them. 'Then you're making progress. We'll figure this out. Together. I'll be here to help you on your journey,' he promised. 'Please, just don't leave again. Don't let your guilt consume you.'

Dean sighed and nodded before resting his head on Castiel's shoulder and returning the hug. 'I don't deserve you,' he whispered as he let his Grace swim happily through Castiel's forgiveness and love.

'I decide who deserves me. And there are so many more people who love and need you,' Castiel said as his Grace drifted lovingly through Dean's, pulling up images and memories of the family Dean had built around himself over the years. 'Don't abandon them just because you don't think you deserve them.'

Eventually, Dean pulled away. 'So now what? Showdown with Michael?'

Castiel cupped Dean's cheek. 'You don't have to. It's not your responsibility.'

'Maybe not, but I gotta keep Sam safe, and I gotta keep Lucifer from ending the world. Those two are my responsibility.'

'Then we'll go. Gabriel will stand with us as well.'

'Right.' Dean stretched out his wings, for once not feeling any twinge of pain. He froze as a thought struck him. 'Wait. Who has the rings?'

Alarm ran through Castiel. 'Bobby.'

'Shit. Pitstop.' Dean focused on Lucifer's claim on his Grace and licked his lips and he tentatively plucked it. He was surprised when he felt where the resounding vibrations led. 'Being in his true vessel makes tracking super easy,' he said as he relayed the location to Castiel. 'Just, uh… Stay on the sidelines for now. Here, so Michael can't feel you coming.' He placed his hand on Castiel's chest and copied the same Enochian sigils on his own ribs to Castiel's.

Castiel frowned as he ran his fingers over his chest and looked down at his body. 'I don't like how this feels.'

'Price to pay, Cas. You…get used to it?' He shrugged as Castiel poked his Grace at the obvious lie. 'Whatever, we'll just say I'm on a revenge streak.'

'That's—'

'Too soon?'

Castiel huffed and shook his head. 'Had there been humor behind it, yes.' He pulled Dean close and kissed him deeply, running his Grace thoroughly along Dean's. 'Be quick.'

Dean nodded and licked his lips. 'Promise.'