When Samuel Winchester set his mind to something, he followed through. So when he decided he was going to find Heylel's lost Ramsey, it was a no brainer that he would spend a good amount of time researching ways to follow through.

But there wasn't a lot of lore on how to get in and out of Hell, much less on how to find the mother of all Hellhounds and release her in the process.

So of course, when it seemed like he'd exhausted all possibilities, he started seeking out more knowledgeable sources, starting with some low life crossroad demons.

But no one knew anything. Ramsey was a myth, a legend, a hellhound alpha so deep in Hell that even their bosses had never actually been there.

And Sam was frustrated. It was still the middle of April, and he had no idea how long angelic pregnancies were supposed to last, and he just wanted to do something for Gabriel's family.

"I had wondered what was driving the demons into a frenzy. Not sure whether or not it should surprise me that it's you."

Sam turned around. It was a testament to how calm the last month had been that he wasn't instinctively reaching for a blade. Not that it would have helped much, given the fact that he'd heard the sound of wings, which had become a pretty common sound, lately.

"I don't believe we've had the pleasure?" he said.

"You can call me Samael, or Crowley, whatever suits your fancy," he drawled. "I'm Heylel's twin."

Of course he was. Sam remembered that from Cas' quick rundown of their flock. "And you're tracking what the demons are getting up to?"

The black hair man smirked. "Someone has to keep an eye on them. Why not me? They don't have any idea who they've been dealing with for the last 6000 years."

Sam had read Good Omens in college, so he had some idea what the angel was talking about. "Do you know where I'd find Heylel's Ramsey? I'd like to return her."

Crowley shook his head, smirk shifting into a wry smile. "It would be you," he repeated. "Okay. I'm bored enough to lend you a hand, and Gabriel will kill me if you attempt this by yourself and finds out that I didn't either stop you or help out enough to keep you alive. But, you can't tell my mate either, because I promised not to go back to Hell without backup. Then again, you could be my backup…. Never said it couldn't be human backup."

Sam blinked. "Can we go right now?"

"It would probably be better to do more research first, but I guess I don't see why not. Do you have everything you need?"

"I think so. Do you think we'll have to fight our way through Hell? I brought a blade capable of demons if you think I need it."

"Always a good idea. We might have to ask for some directions first because I can only fly us into Hell if I don't know where we're going."

"And who in Hell is going to give us directions?"

Samael smirked. "Not directions, per se… You'll see." He reached for Sam's arm, and at the hunter's nod, they were gone.

Sam could honestly say is was the most disconcerting flight he'd been on. For one, it took longer than the average instant that he attributed to angelic flight, and for another, he almost threw up when they hit ground and that had never happened before either.

"Sorry about that," Samael said a moment later when Sam had caught his breath and didn't feel like he was about to hurl. "I don't usually fly with company and flying into Hell is always a bumpy ride."

"Is okay," Sam said. He blinked, trying to get a better look at where they were. If he didn't know they were in Hell, he would have thought they were at some kind of mall. "Where are we?"

"Welcome to Retail Hell."

Sam had no idea what Retail Hell was supposed to be. He had assumed all of hell was about physical torture. He voiced that sentiment.

"Are you familiar with Sartre? Azi's so fond of books, which is how I know of him. Anyway, one of the more famous lines is 'Hell is other people'. It's regularly misunderstood, however, he isn't wrong. Torture doesn't have to be physical to be effective."

"Do Dante's works have any accuracy, then? In that not not all torture in Hell is the same, I mean."

"Different types of Hell in various layers, with different tortures dependent on the evil-doers greatest sin. Yes, Sam, that is mostly accurate, if an incredibly simple comparison. Though Dante, of course, was not accurate as to all of the specifics. Not everyone finds physical torture the most breaking, and some people deserve other punishments more. This- This is Retail Hell. Customers tormenting cashiers, cashiers tormenting customers, and no one ever gets that one thing they think they need more than anything else in the world." Samael was smirking, Sam was sure of it.

"And we're here for information? How is that going to work?"

Samael's smirk grew larger, and Sam was uncomfortably reminded that this Crowley had spent a few thousand years as a demon. One who 'did not fall, so much as saunter vaguely downwards.' "The bartering of inane facts for other equally inane facts is ancient. But it was my own invention that said activity should never produce those facts which one might give their life to learn. What better punishment for those haughty scholars who would spend their lives and afterlives seeking information that is not theirs to gain?"

"Do these scholars really deserve that kind of punishment?" Sam asked. He wasn't sure what this archangel's view on humans was, but he was asking because he wanted to understand. Sure, humans who deserved to be in Hell existed, but he wasn't sure who had the authority to decide that kind of a thing.

"Sam, I understand that you have a strong faith in humanity, but so many people have been collateral damage in the long lived quest for knowledge and immortality. And many of them were murdered for what someone thought would be a "greater good". Why should any one, human or immortal, get to decide that for the whole? The sheer hubris . So the punishment shall fit the crime committed."

"So how are we going to get the information that we seek?"

"One question leads to a thousand more. Even on Earth, the search for answers is fruitless. But we don't need all the answers. We don't even desire them. We're looking for the Mother of Hellhounds. Her location is in Hell. It has to be, because Heylel thought she would be safe here. But the lowest of demons can't remember her, are not convinced that she exists. Which means that for them, she's become another useless fact. Which is what we want."

Sam still wasn't sure he understood what the point was, but he followed the archangel through the market square because he was almost convinced that Samael had designed this level of Hell, which meant that if anyone understood it and how to work it to their advantage, it would be him.

The market square reminded Sam more of the inside of a mall than a market square. They appeared to be outside, rather than inside, but there was a fountain and there were no people anywhere other than inside the stalls that framed the space.

Samael led Sam to a building with a sign that read, 'Information'.

Sam wondered if there was a reason for the building to be so obvious. Then again, the torture wasn't about being unable to find the location, and knowing you were in the right place might add to the punishment. To know you were in the place of information learning and being unable to learn that which you desired to know.

"Follow my lead," the archangel whispered. "I have information if someone can tell me where Hellhounds come from."

"They're mammals," someone answered. "Live birth. What is the origin of humanity?"

"They were created, just like everyone else. I want to know about the Alpha Hellhound, Ramsey."

"You created this Hell, don't you know you won't learn anything useful here?"

Sam turned around, already reaching for the demon killing knife. He knew that voice. "Crowley," he growled.

"Hello, Moose. It's a pleasure, as always."

"So you're the little upstart who stole my name!"

"Not like you were using it well!"

It looked to Sam like the archangel was about to lunge for the demon. He didn't really want to get in the middle of that, but at the same time, there were more important things than egos.

"And what do you know about Ramsey?" Sam asked.

"Lucifer's Alpha Hellhound? She's held deep in Limbo, not far from the cage. Good job, Moose, bringing about the one thing that puts everyone in danger."

Don't react, Sam thought. It hadn't been so bad in the end, and Gabriel had never been happier. That was worth something. It had to be.

"You don't get to talk about my brother that way."

Sam winced, glancing away as Samael actually punched Crowley in the face. He had been afraid the archangel was going to smite the demon, but he heard the distinct sound of bone breaking instead.

"He's not worth it, Samael," Sam said. "Let's go find Ramsey."

"I know the way." The archangel swallowed then reached for Sam's shoulder.

The flying this time was less abrasive than entering Hell the first time.

"You know the apocalypse wasn't really your fault, right?" Samael asked after they landed. "It wasn't. It was God's. Seems that the love Mikha and Heylel share didn't fit into the plan as He wanted it. That He really didn't want us, or humans, to have their free will, in the end. But they deserve to be happy, Sam. And you deserve to be happy. Nothing else matters."

"After everything I've done, do I really?"

"Gabriel loves you, and if you break his heart because you can't see yourself the way the rest of us do, I will hurt you."

"I'm not going to break Gabriel's heart." Sam loved Gabriel, and was sure that as long as the archangel still wanted him, he'd happily stay with him forever. "But I'm sure there's a line to smite me if I did." He gave the archangel a slight smile. "Protective older brothers never change. Let's go rescue an Alpha Hellhound."

Samael nodded, but before either of them could move, they heard baying so loud that the ground beneath their feet shook. As soon as the shaking stopped, the two of them hurried in the direction the sound had been coming from.

It didn't take them long to find the hound chained to the side of a cliff overlooking limbo. They could also see the cage, though it was now empty.

"Easy, Ramsey," Sam whispered as he approached. "We're here to take you back to Lucifer."

The hellhound was easily as tall as a draft horse, but she was lying on the ground and didn't move to snap at Sam as he stepped within reach of her massive jaws.

The chains wouldn't have broken with a normal tool, but Samael and Sam were able to carefully cut the shackles using angel blade and demon killing blade respectively.

"Let's get you home to Heylel," Sam said when they were done. "I bet he'd like to see you again."

Ramsey barked. She stood up, stretching, and then laid down again in front of Sam.

Sam stared at the dog. "Don't you want to go home?" The dog simply stared at him.

"I think she wants you to hop on her back," Samael suggested. "She's no ordinary dog, I'm sure she can bear your weight."

Sam shrugged, but decided not to argue. He climbed on her back. As he wrapped his hands in her fur to keep from falling off, everything went dark.

This time, the feeling of traveling was even worse than Crowley flying him into Hell the first time. It was like riding an upside down roller coaster going downhill and spinning really fast.

There was a thud, and then he was falling and emptying his stomach. And it was still dark.

"Sam!"

Sam recognized the voice, but was still disoriented enough that he couldn't place it and when he turned his head in their direction he still couldn't see. He realized that was because his eyes were closed. He blinked dizzily.

Gabriel was staring at him, grinning happily, but there was also an underlying layer of worry clouding his face. "It's great to see you, but what are you doing here and with a Hellhound? Are you okay?"

"I…" Sam didn't have an answer, instead stumbling forward, stretching his arms out with the intent of hugging Gabriel. He felt emotionally wrought and tears pricked at the corners of his eyes though he couldn't have explained what the matter was.

Gabriel's grin fell, excitement turning entirely to worry as he reached to steady Sam. "Sam? Sweetheart, what's wrong?"

Sam still didn't know how to explain what he was feeling, so he decided to start at the beginning. Maybe Gabriel could make sense of it. He hoped so, he trusted Gabriel. "I.. I wanted to do something nice for Heylel and… he'd mentioned missing his Ramsey. Your brother, Samael, helped me, and it was not a bad trip, but…. But we ran into Crowley. The other Crowley, the one that stole your brother's name. And he told us where to find Ramsey, which was good, but he… he started ramming into me about letting Heylel out of the cage. And I know he's wrong because it was for the best, but… but I'm so tired of waiting for the other shoe to drop."

"Oh, Samalam," Gabriel whispered. "The apocalypse was not your fault. Neither was the demon blood. Okay? It was not your fault."

Sam whimpered, and Gabriel had to gently lower Sam to the ground as his body went slack. "Sam? Sam!"

Sam was terrified . He couldn't breathe and he could feel his heart pounding so hard in his chest that it seemed to want out of his body. The tears he'd been holding back would not be restrained and he knew he was trembling and sweating. He could feel Gabriel trying to get his attention and panicking behind him and that only made it harder to breathe.

Black spots danced at the edge of his already black vision. Was this was dying felt like? He didn't want to die. He might have been too tainted to deserve the archangel, but that didn't mean he wasn't greedy. Heloved Gabriel, didn't want to lose him, even though he didn't deserve any kindness from him. At least if he was going to die then he couldn't do anything that might jeopardize the archangels.

"Gabriel? What did you do? No, move, I think your panic is worsening his."

There was motion as the speaker knelt beside him. Sam curled up further because despite the nausea welling in his stomach he didn't want to be helped. He just wanted to live out the consequences of his actions. As he deserved.

"Sam, I need you to inhale for me. You're suffering from a panic attack and I need you to breathe, okay?"

It felt like an elephant was sitting on his chest, but he opened his mouth and forced himself to breathe in. He wanted to breathe, didn't want to lie on the ground suffocating.

"That's good, Sam. Can you hold your breath for a count of ten and then exhale?"

Sam followed the directions. The black spots in the dark faded, but the terror hadn't dispitated yet. If he was in the middle of a panic attack, that made sense.

A second later there was something warm and soft brushed against his hands. His hands tightening instinctively around the fur. He missed Bones.

"That's it, Sam. Just keep breathing."

There was silence for a minute or two while Sam focused on breathing.

"Sam, do you know where you are?"

He had no idea where he was. He knew who he was with, Raphael, Gabriel, and Ramsey, but he had no idea where the hellhound had brought him. Did he really want to know? Hellhounds carried souls into Hell, what if it had brought him to the punishment he deserved for the wrongs he'd committed? His breath hitched again and what little terror had dissipated came back tenfold. Had the archangels joined him and Ramsey in Hell because this was it?

"No, no, I didn't ask you to stop breathing again. Ramsey brought you up to Heaven and I just wanted to see if you knew that because not knowing where you care can cause greater panic. I'm sorry, maybe I should have thought that through better."

A hand rubbed his back. Gabriel's. "I'm sorry I scared you. I just wanted to tell you that I love you and that you are so much more than the things that have been done to you."

Sam sniffled and reached for Gabriel. He just wanted to be held and loved.

Gabriel held Sam until after the remains of the panic attack faded. Sam didn't fall asleep, enjoying Gabriel's company too much for that.

When Raphael deemed Sam suitably recovered he said, "Are you ready to return Ramsey to Heylel?"

Sam blinked, finally remembering there was a reason he was there in the first place. "Yeah. I'd like that."

The human climbed out of Gabriel's lap. He was a little unsteady on his feet, but Gabriel was right there to support him.

"Ramsey? Find Heylel," Raphael said.

The hellhound barked and took off. Sam and Gabriel had to jog to keep up.

"Ramsey!" Heylel shouted when they were in a hallway up a flight of stairs. "Who's the good girl? Who is it?"

Ramsey bounded forward, and knocked Heylel over as she enthusiastically licked her master.

"That's right! You's the good girl, uh huh, uh huh." Heylel laughed, reaching to scratch her chin. Ramsey kept licking Heylel, her entire body wiggling with the force of her wagging tail. She woofed happily at him.

Sam blinked at Heylel and Ramsey. In that moment, he didn't see an archangel and a vicious supernatural creature. He saw a boy, albeit a pregnant boy, and his dog, too long separated. The demon had been wrong. So wrong. Lucifer, Heylel, might not have technically been a child anymore, but Sam would have bet his last dollar that he had been a child when he'd been cast out of heaven. No one deserved that, and he especially didn't deserve people insisting he go back without evaluating whether or not it had even been the right punishment in the first place. Both statutes of limitation and time served had to meansomething.

"Sam? Are you okay?"

Sam breathed, inhale then exhale. "Yeah… Gabe? Can you take me home?"

"Of course."

Sam wasn't entirely sure how they came to be standing at what must have been the edge of Heaven, but they were. He and Gabe were standing with their backs to the front gate, and Mikha and Heylel were standing across from them, a few feet away. Ramsey laid at the feet of Heylel and Mikha, big sheepdog that she appeared to be.

"You don't have to come with us," Gabriel was saying. "I'm sure I can see Sam safely home myself."

"I just wanted to thank him for bringing Ramsey back," Heylel said. "It means a lot to me, Sam."

Sam shrugged it off. "It was nothing, I'm glad she's welcome."

"Of course she's welcome!" Mikha smiled. "Anything for my mate."

Gabriel licked Sam's cheek. It wasn't any kind of kiss, it was literally a tongue. Sam blinked in confusion at his archangel.

"You're mine," Gabriel stage whispered. And then louder, to Heylel, "I licked him, he's mine."

Mikha rolled his eyes and Heylel said, "I.. didn't want him?"

"Good, that's good." Mikha leaned forward to kiss Heylel's ear. "You're mine and I don't share."

"Okay, time to go," Gabriel said.

As they were about to leave, Sam saw Samandriel running towards Michael, his small wings fluttering in agitation such that it looked more like he was bouncing than either running on the ground or flying. Tears were streaming down his face.

And then they were gone, flying out of Heaven. This was a better flight than flying with Crowley or Ramsey and Sam took a moment to appreciate the fact that his stomach did not feel the need to exit his body.

"Sam, you're back! You can't just leave for weeks without a note! It's not cool!"

Sam blinked at his brother. "What? No, I was just gone a few hours, running and errands…

"Nope. Today is May the first. Next time you decide to take a vacation in Hell, please leave a note. I was worried sick."

Dean walked over and hugged Sam. "I was really worried until Cas told me you were alive and well and just babysitting another archangel."

"It was fun, but our Crowley is a dick."

"And if it would make you feel better, we can shoot him with the colt if he sticks his nose where it doesn't belong."

Sam appreciated the words. They couldn't really act on it in reality, but it was a soothing proposition. Dealing with the missing two weeks would probably come later. "Thank you. I haven't slept in two weeks, do you mind if I go lay down?"

"No, go right ahead. I'll go pick up some food."

Dean stepped out and Sam laid down. Gabriel sat next to Sam. "We should talk later, but do you want to watch a movie or something before you fall asleep?"

"Sure!" Sam adjusted the gray grace blanket Raphael had given him. He loved how soft and warm all the gifted bedding was.

They watched some cartoon Gabriel put on and it didn't take Sam log to fall asleep in the arms of his archangel. This was peace.