In neighboring hospital rooms, Mack and Ben lay in identical beds, hooked up to machines. Ben was asleep, though actually had the ability to wake where Mack had been put into a medically induced coma thanks to the amount of blood loss she'd sustained. Ben hadn't lost nearly as much despite his own wound. Lisa sat in the plastic chair next to her son's bed, trying to figure out how they would ever recover from this. Dean hovered in the door, hesitant to enter. "Lisa, I'm sorry," he apologized. "I told you I couldn't do this, Dean," she snapped at him. "And now my son is in the hospital because of you. Because of what you do!"

Dean flinched, looking down guiltily. "Fix him," Lisa implored. "I can't," he shook his head sadly. Just then, Cas walked up to his side. "What are you doing here?" Dean snapped. "Dean, I'm sorry," the angel apologized. "I don't care. It's too late, Cas." Cas nodded in understanding. "Okay. Well, regardless, I didn't come for you."

"Meaning?"

The angel walked further into the room, touching Ben's forehead. "He'll wake soon. His injury is healed," he informed the boy's mother. "Thank you," Lisa breathed. Cas nodded, looking at Dean, "I already healed Mack as well." Dean looked surprised, but quickly pushed the emotion aside. "Thank you. I wish this changed anything." Cas nodded again. "I know. So do I. All else aside, I just wanted to fix what I could." The angel started to walk away. "Wait, Cas. There's one other thing you can do, if Lisa's alright with it."

Lisa looked at him curiously, "What?" Dean looked at her, addressing her instead of Cas. "Cas can erase Ben's memory… Both of your memories if you wanted… You'd be able to forget me completely and move on with your lives." Lisa looked shocked as she processed his words. "Dean-" Cas tried to protest. "Do it," Lisa interrupted him. Both men stared at her, Cas in surprise and Dean with sadness and acceptance. "Both of us. Please," she begged. Dean looked down, tears in his eyes at her decision. "Are you certain?" Cas asked. "Please," she begged again.

Cas walked back over, touching Ben's forehead once more and then making his way around the bed to Lisa. "You won't feel a thing," he told her, reaching out and touching her forehead as well. She immediately slumped down in her seat, asleep, and Cas withdrew his hand. Tears slipped quietly down Dean's cheeks and he turned away, heading next door to his daughter's room. Cas followed. "I truly am sorry, Dean."

"I know you are, Cas. I just… I need to be alone right now." Cas didn't reply, only vanished with a flap of his wings. Dean stared at his daughter asleep in the bed. Cas had said he'd healed her, and he had no doubt she would be waking soon. After checking her out when she did and sending Sam down to the Impala with her, he returned to Lisa and Ben's room. They'd both woken up. "Who're you?" Lisa asked him. "I, I'm Dean. Uh, I'm the guy who hit you." He had Cas put a memory of a car crash into Lisa's head to explain why Ben was in the hospital. "Oh," Ben said. "I just, uh, I lost control for a minute, and I just wanted to say that I'm sorry. I'm real happy you two are both okay. And uh, I'm just- I'm glad your life can get back to normal now."

Lisa smiled at him, and it broke his heart. She reached out, holding Ben's hand. "We're okay, so- so that's what's important, right?" she asked. "Yeah," Dean nodded. "Anyway, uh, I'll leave you two alone. You take care of your mom." He turned, heading back down the hall. He walked out of the hospital, heading over to where Sam was standing beside the Impala. Mack was resting in the backseat. "Well?" Sam asked. "Well, nothing," he replied, climbing into the car. Sam cleared his throat, climbing in as well. "Dean, you know, you've pulled some shady crap before, but this," Sam shook his head, "has got to be the worst. Whitewashing their memories? Take it from somebody who knows-"

"If you ever mention Lisa and Ben to me again, I will break your nose," Dean threatened. "Dean," Sam protested. "I'm not kidding," Dean glared. Sam opened his mouth to protest further, but he noticed the tears in Dean's eyes, and just nodded. He closed his door and they took off.

Mack woke up in a dark room she didn't recognize. "Daddy?" she called. "Uncle Sammy?" There was a flap of wings and Cas appeared in front of her. "Hello, bee. I'm glad you're alright." Mack stared at him with wide, fearful eyes. Instinctively, she knew something was very wrong with Cas at that particular moment. The last thing she remembered was being at a motel on the way home from the hospital with her father and uncle. They'd both fallen asleep, but she hadn't been tired, so she had slipped outside for some fresh air, just for a second. "Where are we?" she asked fearfully. "Where did you take me?"

"You'll be safe here," Cas assured her, not answering her question. "It will all be over soon, I promise." With that, he vanished from the room once more. "Cas! Cas!" she cried out. The angel didn't reappear. She hurried forward to the windowless door, tugging at the handle- locked. "Cas, come back! You need to let me go!"

"Oh, stop yelling, chipmunk. He's not coming," a familiar voice spoke. Mack whirled around, staring in terror at the demon in front of her. "W-what are you doing here?" she asked him. Crowley smiled, "Oh, Mckinley, I thought you were smarter than that. You've been paying attention, haven't you? Your guardian angel and I are business partners, remember."

"W-what's wrong with him? Why won't he let me go?" she asked him. "My guess? He's trying to pull a similar stunt that I did, and you're leverage to get Daddy Winchester and Uncle Sammy to back off during the grand finale." Before she could ask anything else, Cas suddenly reappeared in the little room. "Crowley," he greeted the demon. "I've brought her for you." Crowley's eyes lit up excitedly. "Then I'll take my leave. See you later, chipmunk." He vanished from the room.

"Cas, please," Mack begged. "W-why would you take me like Crowley did? You need to take me back." Cas' blue eyes were emotionless and dark as he stared at her. "I can't do that, bee. Not until after I've shown your father why I'm doing the right thing." Mack was fighting to keep herself from hyperventilating. She hadn't had an attack since her time in the psych ward, and she really didn't want to deal with one now. "Cas," she pleaded softly. "Soon, bee," he said, vanishing once more.

He went to the main room where Crowley was torturing Eleanor Visyak, a creature from Purgatory that was going to help them open the door. Before he could join in, however, he was pulled away as he was summoned, finding himself in the salvage yard at Bobby's house, facing a very pissed off Sam and Dean Winchester. "Where is she?" Dean demanded. "Where is who?" Cas feigned ignorance. "Don't lie to me, man. I know you took Mack. Now, where is she?"

"She's safe, Dean. I wouldn't hurt her. You'll get her back as soon as I'm finished. It will all be over soon." Sam frowned, "The hell does that mean, Cas? I thought you were furious when Crowley took Kinley. Why would you do the exact same thing?"

"You'll see," Cas told them desperately. "You'll all see. Soon." Dean shook his head, tears in his eyes. "Please, Cas. I love you, but you need to give Mack back to me. I'm begging you, man." Cas gave a huff of frustration. Why didn't they understand? He was doing this for them. For Dean. For Mack. It wouldn't be long until the door was open, and then he could use the souls of Purgatory to defeat Raphael once and for all. "I'll return her to you once this is over, Dean. I promise. It won't be long now."

"Cas, come on," Dean pleaded. "She's just a kid. She was just possessed by a demon and nearly died. Please." Cas shook his head, determined to stand his ground. "I'm sorry, Dean. But if you aren't going to listen to me, then I'll have to take matters into my own hands." Dean blinked, confused. "What are you talking about?"

"Do you trust me, Dean? Will you let me finish so I can defeat Raphael and give Mckinley back to you?" Dean swallowed hard. "How can I trust you after all of this, Cas?" Cas drew his mouth into a thin line of understanding. "Then I am sorry for what I must do next." Without warning, Cas teleported behind Sam, who'd been trying to circle around and attack him from behind. Sam whipped around, but before he or Dean could react, Cas had put a palm to his forehead and broken down the wall Death had put up in his mind. "NO!" Dean yelled. Sam crumpled to the ground and Cas vanished from the salvage yard.

Inside the panic room, Dean sat next to Sam's unconscious form, a glass of whiskey in his hand. "Look what the cat dragged in," Bobby got his attention. Dean looked up, seeing Balthazar at Bobby's side just outside the panic room door. He stood up. "Well, at least you mudfish finally got the angel-proofing right," Balthazar said, pointing to Sam. "How's Sleeping Beauty. You didn't steal any kisses, I trust?"

"What the hell took you so long?" Dean demanded. "Honestly? I was having second thoughts," the angel admitted. "About?" Dean raised an eyebrow. "About whether to help you. I was thinking maybe… Maybe I should rip out your sticky bits instead." Bobby looked at Balthazar sidelong, "And what did you decide?"

"Well…" Balthazar pulled out a piece of paper, handing it to Dean. "Cas and Crowley are there. I can try and get your daughter out, but you're on your own getting there."

"What? Why?"

"I'm betraying a friend here. A very powerful friend. We all are. So after I get the girl, I'm done. I've stuck my neck out far enough already. Good luck." Balthazar vanished.

"Your Purgatory power-shake, Monsieur," Crowley offered Cas a jar of blood. "Half monster, half virgin." Cas took the jar from him, "Thank you." Crowley frowned. "You seem more constipated than usual. Not having second thoughts, are we?" Cas looked up, making eye contact with the demon. "I'm renegotiating our terms." Crowley nodded slowly, "Is that so? What terms do you propose?"

"You get nothing. Not one single soul."

"Can't help but notice, seems a bit unfairly weighted." Cas didn't respond. "Castiel. You wouldn't dare. I brought you this deal." Cas glared at Crowley, "You think I'm handing all that power to the king of Hell? I'm neither stupid nor wicked."

"Unbelievable. Have you forgotten that you're the bottom in this relationship?"

"Here are your options. You either flee, or you die." The exact same options Cas had believed he had back before Crowley gave him the deal. "We made a pact," Crowley protested. "Even I don't break contracts like this."

"Flee or die."

Crowley scoffed. "Boy, just can't trust anyone these days." He vanished.

Mack whimpered, curled into a ball on the floor in front of the locked door of the room she was trapped in. "Oh, here you are," Balthazar said, appearing in the room. "Been looking for you. Get up. I'm going to take you back to your father." Mack got to her feet, using the wall as a support. "You're helping me?"

"That's right, littlest. You're coming with me."

"Balthazar." Both Mack and Balthazar froze up as Cas joined them in the room. "What do you think you're doing?" Mack whimpered, hiding behind the angel in the plunging v-neck tee and blazer. "Setting something right, Cas. Why would you hold her against her will so soon after she was saved from being Crowley's hostage?"

"This is the second time you've betrayed me now," Cas growled, glaring at the other angel. "I haven't the slightest idea what you're talking about," Balthazar replied evenly. "You've been working as a double agent, Balthazar. Feeding the Winchesters information about me. You gave Dean my location." Two different shades of blue eyes locked onto each other in a challenge. "You can't take her away. I won't let you."

"Cas-"

Cas stepped forward into Balthazar's space, stabbing him through with his angel blade. "I'm sorry, brother," he murmured. Mack had backed up to the far wall as soon as Cas had stepped close to Balthazar, and stared with wide, fear-filled eyes as he extracted the blade from the dead angel. "Come, bee. It's time." Mack opened her mouth to protest, but before she could, Cas had teleported her to the main room of the lab. He released her, heading over to a table and ignoring her as he studied the paper with the ritual to open Purgatory.

Mack looked over at the exit worriedly as screams rang out, presumably from the guards posted outside. Cas straightened up, also listening as demon smoke covered the window. Crowley appeared in front of him. "Never underestimate the king of Hell, darling. I know a lot of swell tricks. Now, I think it's time to re-renogatiate our terms." Castiel disappeared and reappeared behind Crowley, like he'd done with Sam, putting his palm to the demon's forehead the same way when Crowley turned. However, nothing happened when he did so. "Sweaty hands, mate," Crowley jabbed.

"I don't understand," Cas frowned. "You can palm me all you want. I'm safe and sound under the wing of my new partner." He gestured to the right and Raphael appeared, in the female vessel he'd had to get after Balthazar turned his original one to salt. "Hello Castiel."

"Raphael."

Over by the wall, Mack cowered, too frozen with fear to move while she watched the exchange. "Consorting with demons. I thought that was beneath you," Cas commented. "Heard you were doing it," Raphael replied. "Sounded like fun." Crowley chimed in, "You know, Castiel y-you've said all sorts of shameful, appalling, scatological things about Raphael. I- I've found him, her, to be quite reasonable." Cas shook his head, "You fool. Raphael will deceive and destroy you at the speed of thought."

"Right, right, 'cause you're such a straight shooter," Crowley smirked. "She, he, has offered me protection against all comers."

"In exchange for what?"

"The Purgatory blood."

Raphael clicked his tongue. "Castiel, you really think I would let you open that door? Take in that much power. If anyone is going to be the new God, it's me." Cas ignored him, focusing on Crowley. "He's going to bring the apocalypse, and worse." Crowley shrugged, "Hey, it's your doing, mate. I'm merely grabbing the best offer on the table. Now you have two options." He made his voice deeper, mocking the angel. "Flee, or die."

Cas picked up the jar of blood, throwing it to Crowley and disappearing. Mack whimpered by the wall, and Crowley looked over at her. "Oh, hello, chipmunk. Ready for the main attraction?" She cowered further against the wall as he and Raphael crossed over to the far wall, drawing a sigil using the jar of blood Cas gave them. Outside, the lunar eclipse began, which was the cue to begin. "Lanua magna Purgatorii, clausa est ob nos, lumine eius ab oculis nostris rentento," Crowley began chanting. "Sed nunc stamus ad limen huius ianuae magnae et demisse, fideliter, perhonorifice, paramus aperire eam. Creaturae terrificae, quarum ungulae et dentes, nunquam tetigerunt carnem humanam."

At the top of the stairs, Dean threw an angel blade at Raphael. With his back turned, the angel caught it without it doing any damage. He and Crowley turned, looking at Dean and Bobby. Telekinetically, Crowley threw them down the stairs. Bobby landed on the ground while Dean landed on the table and rolled off, groaning. "Daddy!" Mack cried. "Bit busy, gentlemen," Crowley said. "Be with you in a moment." Dean crawled toward his daughter as Crowley finished saying the ritual. "Aperit fauces eius ad mundum nostrum, nunc, ianua magna aperta tandem!" Anticlimactically, following the final word, nothing happened. "Mm-hmm," Crowley hummed. "Maybe I said it wrong."

Cas reappeared in the room, holding an empty jar of blood. "You said it perfectly. All you needed was this." He put the jar down as Bobby, Dean and Mack got to their feet. "I see," Crowley walked over, touching the blood on the wall. "And we've been working with…" he tasted the blood. "Dog blood. Naturally."

"Enough of these games, Castiel. Give us the blood," Raphael growled. "You- Game's over," Crowley realized. "His jar's empty. So, Castiel, how'd your ritual go? Better than ours, I'll bet." Cas closed his eyes, a bright light emanating from him. Dean instinctively curled himself so he was guarding Mack from the bright light as everyone shielded their eyes. After a moment, the light faded. "You can't imagine what it's like," Cas said, an odd smile on his face. "They're all inside me. Millions upon millions of souls."

"Sounds sexy. Exit stage Crowley," the demon vanished from the room. Raphael was staring at Cas, frightened. "Now what's the matter, Raphael?" Cas taunted. "Somebody clip your wings?" The archangel swallowed fearfully. "Castiel, please. You let the demon go, but not your own brother?"

"The demon I have plans for. You on the other hand…" Cas snapped his fingers and Raphael exploded. The angel blade Raphael had been holding fell to the ground. "So you see," Cas continued, "I saved you." He looked over at Bobby, Dean and Mack. "Sure thing, Cas. Thank you," Dean told him, just as terrified as Raphael had been. "You doubted me, fought against me, but I was right all along."

"Okay, Cas, you were. We're sorry. Now let's just diffuse you, okay?" Cas tilted his head in confusion, but unlike usual, it just looked sinister. "What do you mean?" he asked. "You're full of nuke," Dean explained. "It's not safe. So, before the eclipse ends, let's get them souls back where they belong." Cas shook his head, "Oh no, they belong with me."

"No, Cas, it's it- it's scrambling your brain," Dean protested. "No, I'm not finished yet. Raphael had many followers and I must punish them all severely." Dean swallowed, leaving his daughter and Bobby and stepping closer to the angel. "Listen to me. Listen, I know there's a lot of bad water under the bridge, but we were in love once. I'd have died for you. I almost did a few times. So if that means anything to you… Please. I've lost Lisa, I've lost Ben, and now I've lost Sam. Don't make me lose you, too. You don't need this kind of juice anymore, Cas. Get rid of it before it kills us all."

"You're just saying that because I won. Because you're afraid," Cas shook his head. Behind him, Sam picked up the discarded angel blade. "I don't love you anymore, Dean. I never truly loved you." Dean's heart shattered as Sam stabbed Cas in the back with the angel blade. He groaned, and Cas looked down pulling out the blade that hadn't done anything- there wasn't any blood on it. He set the blade on the table. "I'm glad you made it, Sam. But the angel blade won't work, because I'm not an angel anymore. I'm your new God. A better one. So you will bow down and profess your love unto me, your Lord. Or I shall destroy you."