~ The Cage ~

Lucifer frowned at Michael. "Stop humming. It's annoying."

Michael paid no attention. The soft notes to "Stairway to Heaven" floated across the cage.

Lucifer glared over at Michael a little bit longer before defeatedly adding the lyrics, harmonizing together with his brother. Since Sam got out, Michael's mental state deteriorated rapidly, until he started babbling quotes and humming.

Adam, in the far corner, was rocking back and forth. He was humming too, but it wasn't a song. It was noise, to drown out the two Archangels so he could have some quiet.

Abruptly, Michael cut off. He raised his head and gazed at Lucifer, but he wasn't really seeing. "Hell is empty and all the devils are here. Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none. These violent delights have violent ends…"

"Did you just quote Shakespeare?" Adam muttered unhappily.

Michael gave a half-hearted shrug and reverted back to humming.

Lucifer shivered, folding his broken wings around himself. The scorched feathers, burned from his fall, did little to protect from the chill of the Hell. The devil runs cold, he had told Sam once. He wished he had been lying.

Then an inexplicable feeling washed over him: warmth.

For the first time in thousands of years, divine light was cast upon him. The occupants of The Cage stood, stretching their aching limbs and squinting their tired eyes.

"Father?" Lucifer whispered. "Am I being granted a second chance?"

There was no response. The light grew in intensity, bathing him in glorious, wonderful heat that only a god could provide.

Then, as soon as it had come, it receded, and revealed that Lucifer was no longer in the Cage.

Above him, bright blue skies hosted marshmallow clouds. Under his feet crunched fresh, dewy grass. Lucifer fell to his knees, pressing his trembling fingers into the dirt.

"I'm out," he murmured. "I'm out."

Michael was sitting a few feet away, looking equally confused and relieved. He plucked a blade of grass and placed it above his lip like a mustache.

"Have you really lost it?" Lucifer asked, frowning. "Has the great Michael finally snapped?"

"What's in a name?" Michael replied cryptically."That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet."

Lucifer sighed.

"Brothers."

Lucifer jerked his head up, and took in a familiar sight. His voice was tinged with disbelief, "Castiel?"

"Hello Lucifer. Michael."

Michael did not acknowledge him.

"Prison life hasn't really agreed with Michael," Lucifer explained.

Castiel stepped forward and pressed two fingers to Michael's forehead.

Michael stilled in his swaying motions, and stared at Cas as if seeing him for the first time. "Castiel?"

He looked down at himself, and quickly swatted away the grass on his face. Lucifer snickered.

"We're out? How?"

"I'm wondering that too," Lucifer added.

Castiel's voice was smooth. "I am your new God."

Lucifer blinked. "You're joking, right?"

Castiel was deadly calm. "No. Bow down and profess your love and allegiance or be destroyed."

Michael and Lucifer exchanged a look before slowly getting to their feet.

"How dare you?" Lucifer snarled. "Masquerading as our Father? Just because you gorged yourself on souls doesn't mean-" Lucifer's lips continued to angrily monologue, but no sound came out.

"You will learn obedience," Castiel said. "I pulled you out of The Cage, I can send you back."

If Lucifer hated one thing, it was the Cage. So he reluctantly backed down. He was rebellious, yes, but he did have a very strong self-preservation instinct that forced him to acknowledge that Castiel was in charge of this conversation.

"I only require one other," Castiel said. He snapped his fingers, and a familiar face appeared.

"Gabriel!?"

Gabriel looked down at himself, understandably confused. "Lucy? Mike? What's going on?"

"Castiel is hopped up on happy juice," Lucifer said. He mimicked Castiel's voice. "Swear allegiance or die!"

"I realized that you need a firm hand," Cas said. "Our Father abandoned us. I'm here to take you back in."

Throughout this exchange, Michael and Gabriel shared a dark look. Castiel, the naive little angel, didn't know what he was getting into. There was more than souls in purgatory…

"Michael," Castiel said suddenly. "Be an example for your brothers. Make a decision."

Michael shifted under the attention. He wasn't a leader. He didn't make decisions.

"I…" Michael hesitated. If he pledged himself to Castiel, he risked the wrath of his Father when he returned… But if he refused he risked his death or worse, the Cage. Then he wouldn't be able to help his brothers.

The Archangel tentatively placed a fist over his chest, and went down on one knee. "I pledge myself to you. I will assist you to the best of my ability." Michael knew Lucifer was staring at him, but he didn't meet the devil's eyes.

Castiel gave a satisfied nod and motioned for him to stand. There was a pause, in which Castiel gazed at Lucifer.

Lucifer glared down at Michael in disgust. "You disloyal- how could you-"

Lucifer was cut off again, but this time by Castiel's fist connecting with his temple.

Lucifer crumpled to the ground with a groan. Michael moved as if to help him up, but with a twitch of his fingers Castiel froze him in place.

Lucifer raised a shaking hand to his head, where a bruise was beginning to form. He seemed too shocked to move. Castiel had put power into the punch, power that definitely wasn't his grace.

Lucifer slowly picked himself up, breathing heavily.

"I tire of your whining," Cas said, his voice eerily blank.

Lucifer struggled to his knees. His vision swam, blurring as he tried to shake himself out of the daze. He tasted blood.

Castiel waited until Lucifer was upright before speaking again with an air of disdain. "God was far too lenient with you."

Gabriel frowned in concern. Lucifer's eyes were wide and vulnerable in a way he had never seen before. His rage had dwindled until he was left scared and uncertain before Castiel.

Castiel loomed over the felled angel. "This is your one and only warning, Morningstar. I will not be so tolerant of your insubordination. Cross me, and you will be dealt with. Permanently. I suggest you tread carefully." Castiel finally stepped back, and released Michael from his hold.

Michael rushed over to his little brother.

Lucifer's pride shrugged off the assistance. He forced himself to his feet. The realization that Castiel could effortlessly bring him to his knees was a slap in the face. Lucifer lowered his icy glare to the ground.

Unable to bear the tense silence, Gabriel whispered, "Luce…"

Lucifer's eyes snapped to him. Gabriel's expression pleaded with him.

Brother, please.

Lucifer raised his head proudly and met Castiel's gaze squarely. He practically hissed his answer: "I will never bow to you. You are not God, and you will never be."

Michael gasped softly.

After a beat, Lucifer slowly places a white-knuckled fist to his chest. When he spoke,his voice was tinged with shame. "However, I… also pledge myself to you."

Michael let out the breath he didn't realize he was holding.

Castiel nodded slightly, turning his attention to Gabriel.

Gabriel knew what his answer would be. But he had one more question. "Any chance you'll bring Raphael back?"

Cas shook his head.

Gabriel sighed. "I'm disappointed in you, Cassie."

To Michael and Lucifer's astonishment, Castiel lowered his head at the gentle reprimand.

"Saving one life doesn't justify taking another," Gabriel added. He put a hand on Castiel's shoulder. "But as long as your heart's in the right place, I'm with you all the way."

It wasn't a vow of service, but Castiel understood that it was all he'd get from Gabriel, and somehow it felt stronger than the vows Lucifer and Michael gave him. Loyalty earned is always more reliable than loyalty extracted through fear and force.

Cas gave him a warm smile. "Thank you."

Michael and Lucifer shared a baffled look.

Gabriel glanced around for a moment and said, "So, being dead kind of put me out of the loop, thanks Lucy. Do we have a plan, or are we just gonna stand here and look pretty?"

"This should help," Castiel said. He pressed a finger to Gabriel's forehead.

Gabriel frowned as all of Castiel's experiences since he died flood his mind. "Working with Crowley? Really? Well, Raphael was being a douchebag… But you didn't have to-"(Gabriel considered saying, 'blow him to bits' but decided that wasn't polite conversation)"-He wasn't a threat."

"He was in my way. Let it go."

"Yeah, but why didn't you just talk to him? I'm sure-"

"I said let it go! Drop it, Gabriel!" Castiel's face darkened, and for a moment Gabriel did not recognize his little brother. Something evil was influencing him.

The other two Archangels noticed, and shared a concerned glance. Michael; concerned for his brothers. Lucifer; concerned for himself, and Gabriel; concerned for Cas. They didn't need angel radio to know what it was.

Leviathan.

Then, as soon as it had come, Castiel's face smoothed out.

With the argument decisively over, tense silence reigned. Cas seemed to be contemplating something, but he wasn't sharing with the class.

"So what did Raphael do to… upset you?" Michael asked.

"This is how your war ended," Castiel said. To his credit, the oldest angel didn't flinch when Cas touched his forehead.

He stood there for a moment, his eyes closed, as he sifted through the memories. It wasn't until Lucifer touched his shoulder that he jolted back to reality.

"I'm sorry Castiel," said Michael. "I didn't know about Zachariah."

Lucifer frowned, feeling slightly left out. "What? Actually, never mind. What do humans say? Ignorance is bliss."

The attempt at lightening the mood went over the wannabe god's head.

"I think 'curiosity killed the cat' is a better phrase," Castiel said ominously. He turned back to Michael and Gabriel. "Basically he took over Heaven and I blew him up. His demise was inspired by our last encounter, Lucifer. Thanks to you, I know first-hand just how debilitatingly painful molecular combustion is. Would you like to find out?" His words dripped with sarcasm and distaste.

No, he would very much not like to find out, thank you. Lucifer paled a few shades, and wisely kept his mouth shut. The iron taste was still fresh on his tongue, not to mention his poor throbbing head. Have some sympathy for the devil.

As they fell silent, unsure what to do and certain that flying off would be a death sentence, the Archangels stood in uncomfortable silence.

Lucifer gave in to his boredom first and strode off towards the lake, with Michael hesitantly trailing behind. Gabriel, realizing he was alone, quickly followed.

Maybe it was a minutes, or hours, but eventually Michael and Gabriel found their way back to Castiel, who looked impatient.

"Where is Lucifer?" Michael asked.

"He couldn't have left," Cas mused.

Gabriel giggled. "Where the devil is the devil?"

The loud and uncontrollable laughter drew Lucifer from where he was sulking by the trees. He frowned at Gabriel. "What's so funny?"

"Speak of the devil!" Gabriel chortled. "Hey, hey, did you come cause you heard me?"

"I guess?" Lucifer shot Michael a bewildered look.

"So I guess you could say I… summoned Satan?" Gabriel threw back his head as he spewed another bout of giggles. Lucifer groaned.

"Pull yourself together, Gabe."

"Okay, okay. One more, pinkie promise." Gabriel held out his pinkie finger.

Lucifer hooked fingers and deadpanned, "I guess you could call it a deal with the devil."

Gabriel pouted. "You stole my joke!"

"You learned all your tricks from me." Lucifer pulled away when he remembered the last time he told Gabriel that.

Castiel cleared his throat, sobering up Gabriel. "I've convinced Crowley to keep Hell under control. He reports to me. Heaven is relatively stable. I intend to purge this world of those who are unworthy, so Gabriel will work in Humanity. You have always exceeded in identifying douchebags, Gabe. You will smite them, strike fear into the hearts of the unbelievers."

Gabriel's head was brimming with protests, but he held his tongue.

"Michael, make sure the remaining angels are cooperative. Report to me when they are under control."

Michael nodded.

"And Lucifer, with me. Keep up." Then he was gone.

Lucifer gave his brothers an apprehensive look before quickly following after Cas.

"Mikey," Gabriel said quietly. "Go get Kaniel and have him set up separate communications for us. Make sure Luce gets added too."

~ Bobby's House ~

Lucifer hid his scowl as they landed in front of a large run down house. A sign read, Singer's Salvage. "Um, sorry, but why and how are we going to get in there?" He could sense the powerful warding that coated the outside. "Why…" Then he caught sight of a crumpled, black, '67 Impala. "The Winchesters."

Castiel waved his hand and the warding glowed briefly before burning away. With a flutter of feathers, they appeared inside the house, in the living room.

Instantly Dean's gun was pointed at them. "Lucifer," he growled.

"Lower your weapons," Castiel ordered. When no one moved, he flicked his hand, and the guns dropped to the ground. Another wave and the trip was forced into sitting positions on the couch. "Take a seat."

Castiel pulled over a chair and sat. With every seat taken, Lucifer remained where he was, uncertain.

Cas regarded him, a slightly amused smile on his face. "I said take a seat, brother."

Lucifer frowned. "Where?"

"Beside me," Cas said smugly.

Lucifer ground his teeth. There was nothing but floor beside Castiel. He wanted him to sit on the ground like a glorified pet.

Lucifer's pride stung as he plopped down, sitting Indian style on the wooden boards. He didn't meet Sam and Dean's astonished gazes.

"I see you replaced your friends pretty quickly, Cas," Dean spoke up. "Really? Lucifer?"

"We are not friends," Castiel corrected.

Sam sat up. "So why are you back? I thought you didn't care about us 'inconsequential ants'."

Lucifer leaned forward with interest. "What's this? Trouble in paradise?"

"You'll hold your tongue," Castiel snarled.

Lucifer reluctantly fell silent.

"I had hoped that you would see things my way, Dean, Sam, Bobby. But I know now that this is not to be the case. Out of respect for our friendship, I will leave you be, but I have seen your resourcefulness first hand, and do not want you getting in my way. I am going to fix this world, with or without your help. You may join me any time you like. Lucifer will stay with you as both your guardian and my own eyes and ears."

As Lucifer curled his lip in protest, Castiel shot him a quelling look.

"Lucifer, if I find out that you so much as pulled a hair from their heads, you won't live to regret it. Do you understand?"

Lucifer sighed. "Yes."

"I must go," Cas said, standing. He gave Lucifer a degrading pat to the head. "Stay."

Lucifer trembled with rage, but didn't move until Castiel was gone. He scrambled to his feet and dusted himself off, but he didn't(or rather couldn't) meet their eyes.

"What the hell?" Dean spoke up incredulously.

"Exactly," Lucifer amended. Unable to stand the intensely awkward silence, he forced a devilish smirk. "Well this is gonna be fun. Long time no spooning, huh Sammy?"

The brunette gave him furious look. "Screw you."

Lucifer grinned wider. "I like where this is going. When and where?"

Sam's face twisted into an unreadable expression. "Is this some kind of sick game to you?"

Lucifer shrugged. He hadn't expected a warm welcome, but Sam's intense fury seemed like kind of an overreaction. Sam should've been smug with his victory over the devil. Instead he was just... livid. And maybe a little anxious.

"And the torture? Was that just a game too?" Sam's voice trembled.

Lucifer frowned. "What torture?"

"Don't play dumb!"

Lucifer raised his hands innocently. "Look, I never tortured you. You beat me, I respected that. I let you be. I was preoccupied with Michael, actually."

Sam shook his head. "But I remember you."

"It was your mind, probably. The Cage was meant to hold and punish an Archangel. It even started to get to Michael." Lucifer chuckled dryly. "What could it do to a mortal?"

Sam was quiet for a moment. "Then how are you fine?"

Lucifer rolled his eyes. "Duh. I'm not. I lost my mind years ago, Sammy."

"That explains it."

"What happened to your face?" Dean interjected.

Lucifer winced. He gently touched the place where Castiel had taken out his anger. "Let's just say the latest god-wannabe doesn't like disobedience and leave it at that."

"Since when do Archangels bruise?" Dean said, cocking his head.

Lucifer slowly shook his head. He answer was slightly regretful. "We don't."

After a pause, Bobby said, "So what now? Any ideas, blondie?"

Lucifer tossed himself onto the couch gracefully and folded his hands behind his head. "Don't look at me. Plotting against Castiel when he's like this is suicide."

Sam scoffed. "So what? You're just gonna throw in the towel and give up? You didn't do that after God cast you out of Heaven, what makes this any different?"

Lucifer grimaced. "This is totally different. Cas isn't God. He's…" He contemplated the right phrasing. "... scary. I knew Dad was too sentimental to finish the job when it came to me. But Castiel... he might smite me for so much as looking at him the wrong way. And I rather like my essence where it is, thank you."

"So what?" Dean growled. "He slaps you around a bit and suddenly you're his dog?"

Lucifer resisted the urge to snap his neck. "What would you have me do, Dean? Cause my hands are tied! We could throw the whole lot of Heaven at him and he wouldn't sneeze! So pray tell, what should I do!?"

For added emphasis, he put in, "Maybe I should just throw myself at an enemy much stronger and more powerful than myself and die pointlessly for you. That crap might have worked on Gabriel, but I'm not that stupid."

Sam softly piped up, "There's always something we can do."

"Not this time," Lucifer said. He laid his arm over his eyes. "No amount of wishing is gonna get us out of this. Short of getting dad to show up, there's nothing we can do."

"Hey, that's an idea-" Bobby said. "-getting God to show his face."

Lucifer scoffed. "What did you think I was doing before the big showdown? Chatting it up with the locals in Detroit? Those rituals and massacres didn't take up all of my time. I was looking left and right for him, but he took the first train out of crazy-town. He could be in a whole different reality for all I know."

"Well you're his favorite, right? So much that he locked you up instead of killing ya?"

Lucifer nodded, unsure where this was going. "You could say that."

"So he'd intervene if you were in, say... mortal danger?"

"No." Lucifer's tone was clipped. "We're not doing that."

"So there's absolutely nothing."

"Yes." Lucifer sighed. "We'll just have to wait it out. And on the bright side, this might be over sooner than you think."

"Why is that?" Dean asked.

"Do you want the good news or bad news first?"

"The bad news," the Winchesters said simultaneously.

Lucifer rubbed his hands together. "See, Cassie got a little more than he bargained for from purgatory. It's not just souls. Dad locked up some old beings. Like older than me, old. They were called Leviathan. He created them first, see? But they were mindless, hungry things. They ate anything and everything he created, so they had to go. Only a few of us actually know they exist." Lucifer rubbed his chin. "And as far as I know, they have no weaknesses."

Bobby seemed the least affected. "Alright, and the good news?"

"Well, I think Castiel can contain them using the souls for now, but sooner or later he's gonna realize he can't trap them forever. He'll wise up and send them back where they belong." Lucifer kicked his legs up on the arm of the sofa. "For now, the only thing that we can do that's productive is prepare a portal to purgatory and wait." He chuckled to himself. "I like alliterations."

Sam eased himself into a chair across from Lucifer. "Okay. How do we make one?"

Lucifer thought for a moment. "If memory serves... dirt from the Garden with a capital 'G', hellfire, and a fallen angel feather burned in holy oil." He snapped up a notepad and pen, and proceeded to write down several latin verses. "The first and second line open the gate, and the third closes it."

Sam studied it for a moment. He squinted at the writing. "Dude, your handwriting sucks."

Lucifer rolled his eyes. "Boo hoo. Get over yourself. Also, I suggest you memorize that and burn it. We don't want a certain someone getting the wrong idea."

Sam nodded. He retreated upstairs, clutching the paper like it might try to escape.

Bobby stared at Lucifer curiously. "Why are you being so nice? When you're not trying to murder us all, you're almost pleasant."

Lucifer snorted. "Listen, I don't like Cas's upgrade any more than you do. We're all in the same crappy situation, and until I can get back to fighting my brother in peace, I wanna work together."

Dean nodded and headed back for the front door. "I'll be with Baby if anyone needs me."

Lucifer slowly relaxed, sinking into the cushions. His face twinged with pain, and he winced.

He really wasn't having the best day.