I've had this story planned out in my head ever since I saw 'O Brother Where Art Thou'. But I just needed to get it all mapped out in my head. I think I have it. I wanted to get it out there before the episode airs Wednesday. Please don't bully me too badly, this is my first Supernatural fanfic. I only joined at the end of October. And I have to say this fandom is awesome. I mean, I get to go to my first convention in May. I was ecstatic when I found out that they have Supernatural conventions and they go out to England! Anyway, don't react too badly. If you like, follow or favourite but I really like reviews... hint hint.

Dean entered the bunker. Still in his suit. Still has that feeling of Amara with him. He had tried calling Sam but he didn't answer. So when he came home, he came in barging and yelling his brother's name.

"SAM!" He heard the name echo through the halls. He checked the library. He checked Room 7B. Memories as a demon dripped into his mind whenever he goes near that room. But the 'dungeon' where - last time he checked - Rowena was supposed to be contained, looking for a way to The Cage... The Cage... Sammy wouldn't try that without me... Dean lied to himself. But he knew that it wouldn't help him feel any better about it. Of course, Sammy would do exactly that...

"Where is Sam you son of a bitch?!" Dean yelled into his phone. He was now in his normal clothes and ready for anything.

"Squirrel. Nice to hear from you. Where were you today, we all missed you?"

"None of your damn business. Where's my brother?"

"Ah yes. There's been a bit of a hiccup." Crowley admitted.

"Crowley." Dean practically snarled.

"Your brother's in hell... with Lucifer."

"You son of a bitch."

"Miss you too, pudding."

Dean shook his head. Crowley thought that this was a good idea to be joking around. Dean didn't care and carried on. Sammy was more important than this douche-bag. "How?"

"My witch of a mother said the spell would keep him in there. She lacked to mention that Sam could be taken in there."

"Sam's in The Cage?!"

"Not The Cage. A cage. A temporary cage made to communicate with our little devil."

"So Rowena planned this?"

Crowley chuckled. "Well she does have a thing for bad boys." Dean pinched the bridge of his nose and breathed deeply. He needed to stay calm, in order to keep his head clear enough to save Sam. "And it sounded like when the Darkness was released, it impacted on The Cage and left enough of a crack for Lucifer to... power up, so to speak."

"Great. Anything else."

"Yes. I think I heard when Lucy put your brother in the cage that he was the one who had been sending your brother visions. Not God." That's exactly what Dean was afraid of. It was all a trick so that Lucifer could use Sam as a condom... again.

"I need to go to Hell."

"Doesn't everyone?" Crowley joked. "I need to stay down here. Keep an eye on the devil, little bro and the wicked bitch of the west."

"How am I supposed to get down there then?"

"I'm sure you'll figure it out yourself, darling. Cheerio." He said as he hung up.

"CROWLEY?" He yelled in anger and threw the phone across the room.

Sam was in hell. In the cage. Not The Cage but a cage. With Lucifer. Great. Dean thought. A million thoughts rushed through his mind all at once as to how he could get to his brother. None of which were particularly good. His first instinct was to call Cas and tell him everything. They had left him out of the loop because they knew what he would say about it.

"How could you be so stupid?" Cas asked as soon as Dean rang.

"I haven't even told you what happened."

"You don't need to, I know."

"You know Sam's in hell? How?"

"SAM'S IN HELL? How?"

"What did you think I was calling about?"

"Your meeting with the Darkness. An Angel in Heaven, whom is one of the few who does not want to kill me, told me that you were seen with her before they smote her."

"Is she still around?"

"Presumably yes. She survived the smiting and moved on. Many Angels in Heaven are even considering taking her side in this fight after she spoke with them. Now tell me, why is Sam in hell?"

"He went to go have a little chat... with the devil... now he's stuck in a cage... with the devil."

"Why does nothing ever surprise me anymore with you two?" Cas' voice clearly sounded agitated. "Why did you feel the need to go speak with Lucifer in The cage?"

"It's not The Cage. It's a cage. That could keep him from getting out but so that Sam could speak with him." He heard Cas exhale in frustration. "Look, I didn't want this to happen either. I told him that these 'visions from God' might not be legit. And looks like I was right."

"Why? Who were they actually from?" Cas remembered Sam mentioning these visions previously. Cas had ignored them and said something about God being a deadbeat dad who gave up on humanity eons ago.

"Lucifer." He heard Cas sigh again. "Apparently something happened to The Cage when the Darkness rose and he was able to reach out to Sam."

"This is not good Dean."

"I know."

"Not good at all."

"Yeah, I know Cas. Thanks. My brother's in hell, trapped with the one angel who could rip him apart mentally and physically. I know how bad it is Cas. And I wish I had been there to stop him but-"

"You were distracted by Amara."

It was Dean's turn to sigh. "Yeah."

"What did she say?"

"She wants what she deserves. And she deserves everything. She's searching for God, apparently just to talk. And…"

"And what, Dean?"

"Nothing. It's nothing."

"Dean. I know when you're hiding something. What?"

"We told you that she's been stealing souls. She says they're now a part of her. That they will live forever. Then she tried to take mine." Dean tried to make it sound as casual as possible. But of course there is nothing casual about an infinitely old Darkness trying to steal your soul.

"What happened? Is that when the Angels chose the time to smite?"

"No. No. The Angels came a little later. She just decided not to. Cas, are we sure that she's the bad guy?"

"Don't tell me you're listening to her as well?" Cas sounded displeased entirely.

"She has saved me. On multiple occasions now." Dean admitted.

"She probably feels indebted to you. Nothing else." Cas replied.

"No. No, it's more than that. It's... We're..."

"Bonded." Dean heard from behind him.

"Cas. Get to the bunker. We'll talk more later."

"Okay, but Dea-" It was at that point that Dean cut Cas off and put the phone back in his pocket. He had that feeling again. He was peaceful but Amara was right, he tries to resist it as much as possible. But it's futile. He slowly turned around to see Amara. Just as she was only hours earlier. She smiled mysteriously.

"Hello Dean."

"Amara." He acknowledged her. But was still trying to resist that feeling of comfort and bliss. Just as he tried to resist the mark's effects but he knew he failed at that also.

"So this is your home. I like it." Amara sat down on one of the seats at the library table. "The Men of Letters."

"How did you get past the warding?"

"We both know that the warding can't keep me out."

"Why are you here?" Dean asked. "My soul?"

"No. You called for me. You may not have realised it, but you asked me for help. And I promised that I will always help you." She saw Dean's expression. She knew that the bliss she feels with him was not with him fully. That his emotions were dominating. That something was wrong. She looked up at him and asked with genuine concern. "What's wrong?"

"My brother's in hell with God's son. Lucifer."

"I remember him. Why is Lucifer in hell?" She asked.

Dean sat down in the chair next to hers. "He disobeyed God. He refused to bow down to his creation. So God had Michael cast him into The Cage in hell. And my brother, who spent over a year with him in The Cage, is back with him. And I need to get there and help him."

"And deep down. You knew I could help."

"I guess."

"No, Dean. You know. You called me. And I heard."

"Will you help me?"

She sighed and grabbed Dean's hands. He stared deeply into her wisdom-filled eyes and saw everything. The world, the universe, the prison in which God locked her in, her first sight on his creation, their first meeting, collecting souls, everything. Everything seemed so clear through her eyes. "I can help you Dean. In more ways than one. You may not like the idea of it but it will do more good than harm."

"Will it help save Sammy?"

"Yes."

"Then what is it?"

"The bond that we share is strong. Let me make it stronger. Permanent. Then it will allow you to go to the cage and pull your brother out with no harm to yourself or him."

"What part of it am I not going to like then."

"Our bond has been made through the mark. You bore the mark and I am the mark. If you were to bear the mark again..."

"I have to get the mark back in order for this to happen?" Dean stood up and backed away from where she still sat.

"Yes. I know of the pain it caused you." She stood up and followed him. He acted wary but let her come near. "But it will not have the same effect. The way you feel in my presence, it will be like that. But... more." She smiled and laid her hand on his cheek. Stroking his stubble, caressing it in a way that reminded Dean of how his mother did the same before bed. "I wouldn't ask this of you. If I believed it would hurt you. I would never hurt you."

"I know." Dean grinned slightly.

"Is that a yes?" She asked raising her eyebrows, grinning as well.

"Yes." Dean replied.

She took his arm gently, stroking it with her fingers. He felt something move across his arm, from his fingertips to his forearm. But the sensation it created spread even further. He felt the roots in his arm but it grew until it reached his mind and through his own eyes he could see what he saw in Amara's. Everything. He understood everything. Every single thing in this universe and beyond that, he could not only understand but he could feel it. Like everything was alive. She let go of his arm as Dean pulled his shirt and jacket sleeves. He saw the mark but Amara was right. He had no violent urges or murderous thoughts. Only peace and knowledge and power were in his thoughts. Before he felt the mark was a brand, a punishment, a reminder that he was cursed. But now, if anything, he thought it was blessed and it wasn't a brand anymore, it was just skin. It was just a mark. Amara saw this look of wonder on Dean's face and smiled.

She cupped his face with both hands. And for the first time, he wrapped his arms around her. They leaned their foreheads against each other's. "We are one now Dean... Forever..."

Leaving it there but I hope to upload again before the episode. I hope you enjoyed it. If so, show your appreciation by using the follow, favourite and review buttons.