Adam studied Sam, carefully taking in the details of his face and his stance. He knew Lucifer was doing the same, but his scrutiny ran much deeper since he was capable of seeing so much more.

His brother looked older, which was to be expected, but he also looked so fucking exhausted. Thick cords of tension made up his body. They were there on his face and in his posture. He was too rigid, limbs stiff and his knuckles bone white. The long lines of him were strung tighter than a bow string, as if he was one heartbeat away from either running or launching himself into a fight.

Dean's not here, Lucifer pointed out, somewhat slowly. That . . . worries me.

It worried Adam too, now that it was brought to his attention.

"Michael," Sam said, breathless. There was fear there, but a lot of confusion too.

Lucifer flinched at that, and Adam soothed him as best he could.

After all, Sam had no way of knowing.

The well-dressed demon turned to the red-headed woman and scowled. "Mother," he hissed lowly, "You summoned the wrong archangel!"

"I'm not Michael," Adam found himself saying, slightly surprised he still had access to his own voice. Lucifer still had control of his body though. As Adam spoke for them both, Lucifer moved them to the front of this new cage, limbs loose and relaxed as he leaned a forearm against the bars. "Michael's dead."

"Adam?" God, Sam looked like he was afraid to even hope. "How . . . what do you mean Michael's dead?"

Lucifer shrugged their shoulders. Adam could feel him stretching his wings, pushing them against the cage to test their integrity. They gave, so very slightly. Lucifer eased up and Adam could feel his smugness.

"Lucifer killed him," Adam answered, carefully keeping his voice neutral. With a mental nudge to Lucifer, they made a show of peering through the bars to look around pointedly. "Where's Dean?"

"Working," Sam said slowly. His eyes were assessing now, teetering on suspicious. "You're surprisingly . . . collected. Especially after-" He gestures vaguely at their surroundings.

"How long has it been?" Adam asked, genuinely curious.

"Seven years."

"Oh." Adam had been aware that it had been centuries, but the number was still staggering when he mentally calculated the time discrepancy. That was over eight hundred years in Hell.

He knows, Lucifer whispered, both exasperated and fond. Or at least he suspects. Sam always was the more observant of your siblings.

"-don't shush me, Fergus!" The red-head was seething and pointing a well-manicured nail at the demon's nose. "I kept my end of the bargain! I told you! There was. No. Mistake!"

"Interesting company you're keeping these days, Sam." That was primarily Lucifer, but Adam would admit to thinking something along the same lines. A witch and a demon was not the kind of company he expected from his brothers. Then again, Lucifer had killed two of their closest allies before all of them fell into the pit, so who knew what circumstances led to this little gathering.

"Yeah, well, we're desperate, and what we're facing is affecting everyone." Sam's expression hardened. "You can drop the act, Lucifer. Illusions like that aren't going to work."

What did I tell you? Lucifer said proudly. He applauded Sam, and grinned.

Yeah, but here's the hard part. Adam prodded Lucifer, quietly asking for more control and the archangel accommodated without a word. "Got it half right," Adam told his brother, Lucifer's grin fading into a half-smile. "Luce is here, but I'm not an illusion. It really is good to see you Sam. We were worried."

Sam swallowed and gave a half shake of his head, caught somewhere between denial and disbelief.

"Well, whoever you are, let's get down to business, shall we?" The demon in the expensive suit sauntered up next to Sam. The hunter shot him an annoyed frown, which he blatantly ignored. "You are here on our invite after all."

Lucifer bristled. "You're overstepping your bounds Crowley."

The demon had the audacity to look bored. "Am I?"

"Crowley," Sam warned, hand out and voice low. He turned back to them, "We do need your help."

"And if you're not willing to play ball, then it's back in the box with you."

"Crowley."

Lucifer took full control at that, the threat to them, to Adam, was too much for him to ignore. Adam felt his wings mantel in an aggressive display, grace crackling against the bars. "I would love to see you try, salesman. I promise that it won't end well for you."

"I'm the King of Hell, darling. I can do whatever I like."

Lucifer, calm down, you're scaring Sam.

Their attention refocused on Sam, who was staunchly holding his ground, but his breathing was heavy, and there was a fine tremor running through his limbs. Lucifer instantly relaxed, his posture deliberately softening. "What can I do for you Sam?"

"The Darkness. Can you beat her?"

Adam had never felt true fear from Lucifer before, but he was experiencing it now. When he responded to Sam his tone was carefully neutral. "Aunt Amara is on the loose?"

A single firm nod.

Adam felt the cool chill of Lucifer's grace tighten around him, not suppressing, but wrapping around him like he could hide him from the world. Adam didn't fight it, but he did meet the embrace with a gentle push, asking for attention. Lucifer, talk to me.

"Who had the mark? Did Cain still have it?" There was an urgent undertone there, barely detectable, but it made Adam take notice. When no one answered him, Lucifer pressed harder. "Sam. Who. Had. The mark?"

"Dean did," Sam finally answered, face scrunching slightly.

Adam, your brothers have a spectacular talent for finding the worst trouble imaginable.

Adam tried to lighten the mood. What are we looking at on the Richter Scale?

Forget Richter Scale. More like a black hole of the supermassive variety.

"Sam," Lucifer drew the name out slowly. "Do you know where your brother is right now?"

Sam's silence was answer enough.

That's it. We're getting out of here.

With a flap of his wings and a sharp burst of his grace, the holy fire was snuffed out and their cage crumbled to pieces around them. In a blink they were in front of a terrified Sam.

Adam tried to give his brother a reassuring smile as Lucifer took his hand and flew the three of them out of Hell.