Bobby stood from his desk as the brothers came through his front door. "Well?"

Dean gave a half smile, his arms spread wide in victory. "Score for the angels. Castiel smoked the pinheaded freak."

Sam sat down at the dining table, shaking his head. "You know… Now that all the excitement's over, it's hard to believe I just met an angel." He gave a small laugh. "It was…"

"Not what you expected?"

"Yeah. I mean, don't get me wrong I'm glad he's on our side. I just didn't expect a warrior."

Dean smirked. "You know, he told me once to 'read the bible'. Told me that's exactly what angels are."

Bobby set a bottle of whiskey down on the table. "Hate t' break up the philosophy lesson, but you two are bummin' me out. You survived, have a damn drink."

Dean's eyebrows perked as he poured a glass. "How's our insider; uh, Caroline?"

"Asleep in the back. Didn't take much to convince her it'd be best to stick around, 'til you two got this mess sorted."

The older Winchester gave a silent laugh. "Yeah. Now to just solve the damn Apocalypse."

"This problem remains a threat."

The three men stood abruptly as Castiel appeared in the dining room. The angel was bloodied, his coat and clothing shredded in places, and in his hands was an ornate gold box. Sam's brow furrowed with recognition. "Is that what I think it is?"

Castiel nodded. "The Lament Configuration, yes."

Dean looked between his brother and Bobby before taking a swig of whiskey. "I'll bite; what does that mean?"

"It is a hellforged key, and the only way to render the Hell Priest vulnerable."

Bobby furrowed his brow. "The boys sure could have used that before stepping into your trap."

Castiel looked to the Winchesters, his gaze lingering on Sam. "It was no trap of mine, but it was a necessary measure. The demon kept this relic on his person. Distracting him allowed me to recover it without his knowledge."

Sam bristled. "Distract him?" He repeated, incredulous. "You used us as bait, so that you could steal a box?"

Castiel's eyes narrowed, as though he was trying to determine whose side Sam was on. "You were set to a task, as happens in a war." He stepped closer to the Winchesters. "You do understand that we are at war? Risks must be taken if you expect to have any chance of preventing Armageddon."

Sam shook his head. "You should have told us."

"What other allies would you have at your back, had you know?"

A hush fell over the room as Sam resigned, leaving the question unanswered. Castiel set the box on the table between them all. "We do not have time for this. Every minute spent arguing gives Hell time to regroup; by now they will know that we possess the Lament Configuration."

Dean shrugged. "So what's our plan, then? Fiddle with the box until chains rip us apart? Or maybe we just throw the damn thing at him."

"This is no time for jokes."

"No, you're right; it's time for some answers!" Dean stood abruptly, knocking his chair backwards. "You've got us monkeying all over, putting our necks on the line, and all you're giving us in return is cryptic bullcrap!"

Castiel gave him a hard look. "Very well. But first I need your word that what comes next you will accept. That you will obey without question."

Sam answered before his brother could get a word in. "We will. If it helps us defeat this demon, and prevent Lucifer from rising, we'll follow orders." He gave an equally hard look to Dean, pressuring him to comply as well. The brothers looked to Bobby, seeking his input.

Bobby shrugged. "Don't look at me, ya idjits; I'm not steppin' foot outside this house."

"None of us will," Castiel explained, "for this is where we must draw the demon. He has focused on Caroline Merchant as his unwilling messenger, and so we must use the girl to draw him to us."

Dean's eyes went wide. "Use her as bait?"

Sam waved a hand, stifling his brother. "It wouldn't be the first time for us, but we should let her know."

"No." Castiel objected. "This demon is far too cunning, and so her fear must be real. If he suspects a trap… All will be for nothing."

Dean let out a sigh, refilling his glass of whiskey. "Fine. Whatever. So we get him here, zap him with the box, and then you light him up like Christmas. Crisis averted."

"This crisis, yes. Removal of the Hell Priest will not halt the breaking of the Seals, nor defeat Hell in its entirety. This demon wishes for Lucifer to remain caged, so that he might rule all of creation himself."

Bobby shook his head, confused. "So what, we're doin' the Devil a solid?"

"We favor no one, so long as Lucifer's cage remains sealed." Castiel looked between the three. "This is the only way we defeat this demon, spare Dean from being returned to Hell, and stopping this doom from breaking out over Heaven and Earth. This demon is not bound or imprisoned by seals, and so this must take precedence."

Dean downed his drink, nodding reluctantly. "Let's get it over with then."

Caroline woke slowly. The room was dark, though dimly lit by a few candles. Once more, she was suspended by chains – a fact she slowly grew to realize – though these ones held her by manacles, rather than hooks. "It's a dream, just a dream. Wake up, wake up, wake up…" As she tried to convince herself it wasn't real, a man dressed in a trenchcoat stepped into her view.

"It is not a dream, but necessity."

Carol tugged at the chains holding her aloft. "Where are the Winchesters? I was at Bobby's…" He gave no answer, but glanced to the side. "Mister, you don't gotta do this. I don't know what you been promised, but you gotta know he's evil."

He stepped closer to her, placing a knife on her collarbone and saying nothing. The scent of mint followed him, unnerving Carol as it contrasted with her situation. "Please…"

"What's this, now?" A woman's voice filled the room; haughty and venomous. "The pigeon becomes a hawk, and trusses up meat for the wolves."

Caroline saw the Cenobite emerge from the shadows, and knew she was about to die.