Dean landed heavily in Bobby's study and stumbled into the desk. 'Shit. Too fast.'

'Dean!'

He looked up and gave Bobby a forced grin. 'Cas told me what happened,' he said. 'He's on his way to Lucifer, but I'm gonna need those rings.'

Bobby nodded as he moved to the desk and opened one of the bottom drawers. He pulled out an old paperback held together with a rubber band and opened it, revealing a cut out cavity and four rings. He tipped the book and let the rings clatter onto the desk.

Dean reached for them, but Bobby covered them with his hand. He frowned as he met Bobby's eyes.

'You ain't gonna just open that cage and toss yer own damn ass in there, are ya'?'

Dean blinked and stood straighter. 'Hadn't thought about it, but no.'

Bobby pulled his hand away and nodded. 'Good luck.'

Dean shoved the rings into his pocket and breathed deeply. 'We're gonna need it.'

.-.-.-.-.

Dean slowed his approach and gently glided to a soft landing just outside the cemetery Lucifer and Michael were in. He glanced around, but found no sign of Gabriel or Castiel. He caught a faint twinge of reassurance emanating from Castiel's claim on his Grace and breathed a little easier.

He made his way silently through the cemetery, following the sound of raised voices. A sliver of a plan trickled into his Grace, and he sent back his own uncertainty but willingness to comply.

'Take your punishment as you are intended!' Michael shouted, his wings spread in a wide threat.

'Isolation was not punishment enough?' asked Lucifer. His own wings were slightly raised, ready to fight or flee. 'I've had little impact over this world. I would think I've served my sentence.'

'Seraphiel has made enough of an impact for you both,' Michael replied, pointing his blade at Lucifer. 'He was made for you. He is your responsibility. And you will answer for his crimes.'

Dean let out a slow breath and stepped into the clearing. 'That ain't exactly fair, now, is it?' He held his head high as Michael's gaze cut to him. 'I answer for my own crimes. No one else.'

'So you will once more submit to punishment, Seraphiel?' Michael asked, his eyes lingering over Dean's wings.

Dean crossed his arms and shrugged his wings. 'I'll submit to any punishment Dad has lined up for me, but I ain't doing the same for you or anyone else.'

Micheal angled himself so he faced both Lucifer and Dean. 'If you still have any love for our Father, then stand down, Seraphiel. This is not your fight.'

'You made it my fight. You come here, to my home, start fucking with my friends and family, and you expect me to stand by and watch as you destroy my world? Earth is mine. I think Dad made that pretty clear when he completely ignored me for a few millennia.' Dean raised his wings and did his best to ignore the shame he felt as Michael's attention was drawn to them.

He nearly jumped out of his skin as Gabriel appeared between him and Michael.

'Would you look at that! The gang's all here,' Gabriel said cheerily as he clapped and rubbed his hands together. 'Just like old times, huh?'

'You certainly are a trinity of virtues, aren't you? Michael replied with a sneer. 'The traitor, the coward, the thief…' He narrowed his eyes at Dean. 'The whore.'

A chill ran through Dean as Michael slowly turned to face where Castiel had quietly landed.

'You've known all along, haven't you?' Michael asked.

Castiel's body was angled away, and he raised his wings in defiance. 'I've known long enough,' he replied before throwing a lit molotov cocktail at Michael.

A brief look of surprise flitted across Michael's face as the bottle shattered against his chest. A blast of rage swept over them as Michael took off.

Gabriel laughed in relief. 'Shit! It worked!' He grinned at Dean. 'No vessel, no problem.'

Dean slowly shook his head as Lucifer grimaced. 'For now, at least. Adam's fresh enough, Mike'll be able to repair the damage.'

'Then we jump him,' Gabriel said offhandedly. 'He's not bothering to hide his Grace, we can feel him coming a mile away.'

Dean looked to the others. Castiel shrugged, and Lucifer slowly shook his head. 'And if he brings a small army? Alright, let's figure this out, quick.'

Lucifer looked up and tilted his head. 'He's alone.'

Dean tensed as he felt Michael's return. 'Damn! He couldn't have healed that fast!'

In a sharp flash, Michael appeared without his vessel.

'You've interfered for the last time, you child!' Michael screamed as he thrust an inhumanly clawed hand into Castiel and pulled.

Flesh came apart, and before Castiel could fly away, Michael's blade stabbed into his center.

Dean froze as Castiel's claim flared brightly, then…nothing. He stared at the air where Michael's blade had struck and desperately clawed at the void where Castiel had laid claim over his Grace. 'No,' he whispered.

He shuddered and closed off his Grace from the pair of gentle probes, ignoring the comfort they offered. He stared helplessly as Michael's vessel manifested, and Michael slipped back in.

'Gabriel. Where do you stand?' Michael asked calmly.

Gabriel shrank away, his wings tucked tight against him. He looked uncertainly to Dean and Lucifer. 'I-I uh…'

'He's not the one you have to worry about,' Dean said, his voice steady. He edged around Michael, his wings set low. 'I'm gonna make you regret what you just did.'

Michael scoffed and threw his arms open, gesturing to Lucifer. 'Are you truly going to side with him? Again?! Have you not learned your lesson, Seraphiel? You have brought nothing but destruction and misery upon those you claim to care for! Castiel would still be alive had you not corrupted and seduced him.'

'I did learn my lesson,' Dean softly replied. 'I ain't perfect, and I should trust my instincts,' he said, spreading his wings wide as he charged at Michael.

Michael crouched low and summoned his blade. He readied his defenses as Dean ran to him, blade raised high. He blinked in surprise as Dean's other hand shot out, sending something small flying past his head. Behind him, he felt the pull of the Cage's portal and braced himself for a fight.

However, he didn't count on Dean's body and Grace slamming into him, throwing them both into the center of the portal. He lost his focus as an overwhelming sense of misery flooded into his Grace. 'What have you done?!' he screamed, fighting against the tight hold Dean had on him.

Gabriel and Lucifer ran as close as they dared, shouting after Dean and reaching out with their senses.

A bright flash erupted skyward as the portal slammed shut, leaving the Horsemen's rings in its place. Silence filled the cemetery as they stared uselessly at the now-solid ground.