Castiel was surprised. He hadn't thought the spell would work. He had hoped it would, because he was desperate for help. Raphael's latest attack had crippled Castiel's forces and he could tell he was about to lose much, if not all of his support.

Castiel spoke through the channel he'd opened "Michael, are you there? Can you hear me?"

Michael's voice came, much smaller than Castiel remembered:"I hear you, brother."

"Michael, it is good to hear your voice. I am sorry the Host has been unable to find a way to free you. We are in the midst of war." Castiel was ashamed to admit this, despite not even being sure what side Michael would be on were he free.

"So he tells me." Michael answered.

"He? Has...have others contacted you?" Castiel was shocked- what if Raphael had-

Michael laughed bitterly: "The only one I have to talk to down here is Lucifer. And now that Sam's topside, Lucifer can't ignore me anymore."

"But how would Lucifer know about the war?"

"A vessel and their angel are always connected, you know this Castiel. Even more so in this case." Michael sounded tired and angry.

"Sam has been contacting Lucifer? He doesn't even remember Hell. Death made sure of that when he-"

Michael laughed again: "Please. Death's little dam of amnesia has already broken. And no, Sam hasn't been contacting Lucifer, not exactly."

"I don't understand. Sam's body returned, free of Lucifer and empty of Sam's soul. There was no connection- I sensed nothing of Lucifer in him." Castiel had searched Sam thoroughly when he was looking for his soul. He would not have overlooked even the tiniest spark of Lucifer's presence.

"Sam's soul and Lucifer are intertwined. When Sam said 'Yes' that was forever, you understand that right?" Michael sighed, and continued wearily:" When we got here, our precious vessels were pointless. Lucifer and I together forced them back out. I sent Adam's soul on it's way to Heaven, but Lucifer," Michael snorted, "Lucifer clung to Sam's soul until it tore free from his body. He spent the next hundred years doing nothing but working on Sam."

Castiel swallowed," The torture must have been indescribable. I am sorry for Sam, but Michael, please...I need your help. Raphael-"

"Raphael and you are fighting a pointless battle. Heaven is busy tearing itself apart, and no one has been paying attention to what's happening on Earth."

Castiel thought he could feel Michael glaring at him. "What is happening?"

"Go ask Sam Winchester. Or go ask Meg, the acting Queen of Hell. Have you heard from her lately? Tell me Castiel, can you sense her anywhere?"

"Michael I..." Castiel tried again, "I need guidance! You know more than you are telling me, and our brothers are dying fighting what you call a 'pointless battle'!"

"Did you ever wonder, Castiel, why Sam never suffered withdrawal symptoms from all that demon blood he drank before saying yes to Lucifer?" Michael asked.

"I...no I didn't think of it, but I assume it had to do with his missing soul."

"That's right. Sam's soul was in agony down here. Ironic really. He was deep in the Pit surrounded by exactly what he needed, but with no way to get to it. His hunger was driving him mad..." Michael went quiet.

"Michael, where is Lucifer?" asked Castiel carefully.

"Lucifer took pity on Sam. He didn't have any demon blood to give him, but he did have something even better. Something far more potent, and far more permanent." Michael started snickering,"He fed Sam his grace Castiel. Lucifer, who wouldn't bend a knee to mankind, gave everything of himself to Sam. Death may be older than us all, but he's a fool. He saw all of us, he saw Lucifer- saw what a husk he's become, but he freed Sam anyway."

"Then what...what do I do now?"Castiel pleaded, "Michael!"

But there was no answer.