author's note: Epilogue to get it cannon compatible - because I'm a sucker for that.

While sitting in Hell not bothered by any demon and sure that the path would stay clear, Gabriel sent out a message. Shortly before he had to leave Castiel appeared.

"What is he doing here?" Lucifer barely contained his rage.

Castiel's eyes glowed as he studied the two imprisoned archangels. Before he could say something a hand on his shoulder held him back and Gabriel spoke up.

"Cas is here to ask you something – politely."

Michael was weary. He and Castiel had stood on different sides during the last conflict, the young angel had thrown a firebomb at him. Yet if what Gabriel had said held true, then he was the one who had erred, and Castiel couldn't be blamed for his actions.

"What do you want from us?"

"The two men in there with you, they have done nothing to deserve their imprisonment."

Michael studied him carefully. The Cage was never build to hold human bodies or souls, so what the young angel asked for was possible. And with Gabriel and Castiel outside the humans could even survive. Lucifer studied his brothers outside through narrowed eyes. He clearly wasn't ready to give Castiel anything and viewed upon his presence here as a proof of Gabriel's betrayal.

Without a second thought Michael attacked Lucifer and ripped him out of Sam Winchester's body. Before his brother had a chance to react he shoved the young man and his own vessel out of the cage.

With a scream of rage Lucifer attacked Michael.

Gabriel felt tears welling up in his eyes as he held the two unconscious bodies and watched his brothers fight again. He could do nothing but pray that the seeds he had planted today would someday bear fruit.

He and Castiel left Hell without looking back.

Crowley had watched everything from the shadows. Maybe it was a bit obsessive to spend 24 hrs stalking an archangel, but Crowley didn't consider that time wasted. The stuff he had learned about angels was priceless and Gabe had even done him the favor of talking a bit about Heavenly politics. Sure he should be pissed that the archangel had used their deal to do little Castiel a favor, but he had to applaud a man who could take an opportunity. He wondered when they would find out that their bastard brother had held onto Sammy's precious soul and he was sure that he could use that to his advantage.

He followed the two angels until they reached the end of his realm in the hope of learning something more, but the two traveled in hasty silence.

He stood witness how Gabriel brought Adam back to consciousness first and overheard the young man's decision to go back to Heaven, to choose peace instead of life and he sneered at the idiocy of that. Therefore he applauded Castiel's judgment, when the younger angel explained that he would only bring Sam to, when he was close to Dean, and would not show himself in the process. That probably was the wisest choice.

An interesting piece back on the board, a lot of new information and a favor owed by an archangel – all in all not a bad day.