"Castiel."

Cas looked up from the ground. His residence with Lucifer was not comfortable, after attempting to break through and regain control of his vessel for the third time, Lucifer had locked his away in an all white room. He had fought, of course he had: he was an honorary Winchester, but to no avail. His bruised and bloodied skin stretched tightly over his knuckles as he clenched his hands into fists. "Lucifer," he said, mirroring the archangel's tone.

"Brother I am wounded," Lucifer said, standing perhaps two feet in front of Cas. "Physically and mentally. Amara's torment has revealed nothing. Father has not shown and Amara is dead set on her quest, we will not survive long unless He comes or Amara quits her efforts."

Cas nodded. Every physical or mental injury Lucifer abstained hit Cas just as hard, the scars on Lucifer's cheekbones had appeared on Cas'. "I know. Father will not come, Amara will not stop. Our hope lies with the Winchesters."

"The Winchesters?"

"They will find a way."

Lucifer threw back his blond head. He laughed, the corners of his eyes crinkled. "Please! Them? I assume we are both speaking of Sam and Dean?"

Cas glared. "They will find a way," he repeated.

"They cannot defeat Her, not without me or Father."

"Dean won't leave me here," Cas snapped.

Lucifer froze. "Dean has chosen things before you every time. What makes you the think now will be different?" He leaned in, Cas and his faces were less than two inches apart. "Why Cassie, why would he choose to save you? To risk so much?"

We're family. We need you. I need you.

Let me bottom line it for you: I'm not leaving here without you.

"I.." Cas faltered for a second. "I'm family."

"They need you to heal them, to save them. They need your powers, not you. Oh Cassie, they have hurt you so much," Lucifer crooned, seeing the hurt on Cas' face.

"I know, I cannot leave them. Dean is still my charge."

"Brother, Castiel, how far you have fallen," Lucifer said, disappearing. His voice still echoed around the room as Cas felt a bullet of pain lodge into his side and collapsed, consciousness fleeing him.

Fallen...

fallen...

fall...

Lucifer felt agony race through his body as Amara's soft hands made contact with his face. He bit back a scream as she split apart every molecule in his body with a white hot toothpick. Deep inside his mind he heard a cry of agony. Cas, he thought. For some reason, the thought of his brother, one of his youngest brothers, in pain made his stone heart shiver.

"Well nephew," Amara purred. "I see now, what hurts you. It's family being hurt, your brothers and sisters." Her hands butterflied down his cheek. "But you had no problem killed Gabriel or any of the others."

"Gabriel," he rasped. "Gabriel I would have perhaps regretted most deeply had I succeeded. The others, their deaths were a battle sacrifice."

Amara frowned, evidently confused. "What do you mean?"

Lucifer snorted. "Some 'supreme power' you are. He's not dead dumbass." To his relief, Amara seemed to confused to notice the snide remark. "Gabriel is brilliant, I taught him myself. He knew what the risk was and how to bypass it and I only needed to slow him down. He didn't know that of course."

"How?" Amara whispered. "There's another archangel?"

"Raph is long dead. Michael's alive but still inhabiting some poor human in the cage. Gabe's hiding and I'm here. Three of the four are alive."

"How? " Amara repeated, her torture seemed forgotten.

"Gabriel felt the blade puncture his skin and teleported, casting an illusion of himself onto the blade. I knew immediately that it wasn't him, but I had to act the part. Gabriel and I were always close, nearly as close as him and Castiel. I cried, I acted as if mourning when I knew he was alive and okay." Inside Lucifer's head, Castiel gave a start.

Gabriel? he asked. He's alive?

Yes Cassie, he's alive.

"Brilliant," Amara said. "Do you know where he is?"

Lucifer snorted. "No, he's still a trickster. His skills are incredible, his palaces impenetrable, his hiding holes unfindable."

"I don't believe you." Amara raised her hand and placed it directly over his heart. "Tell me." She clenched her hand and Lucifer screamed.

"Brother," Castiel cried. "Make it stop!" His body was torn apart and being sew together, blood splattered the ground, dripping from his lips. From the outside came the sounds of Lucifer's equal if not greater agony.

"I don't know," Lucifer shrieked. "Amara, I don't know!"

"You have to know!"

"I don't!" The pain was raw in his older brothers voice.

Cas felt his heart skip a beat as a silence settled over and around them. Then, sharp as a blade, came Lucifer's voice.

"Cassie, I'm sorry." A hand reached into the room, pulling Castiel out.

It took a second to realize that Cas could move. His twitched his fingers, his vessels fingers. "Where's Lucifer?" he rasped as Amara's sharp far came into focus.

"He may have tipped me off," she said, raising a hand and brushing it down Cas' torso. "My brothers favorite. It's not Lucifer, it's you." She pressed a hand delicately against the Angels neck. White hot lightening poured from her hands and Cas began to shout.

Over one thousand miles away Dean Winchester woke in cold sweat.