Somehow, they managed to get all four rings. And Bobby was walking again thanks to his deal with Crowley, a Crossroadsdemon who was helping out to save his own skin and that of his fellow demons (or so he claimed). So far, the good news. Now came the tricky part; open the Cage and get Lucifer back in. And Sam was willing to be the bait.

Having joined the Winchesters mid-hunt for the Horsemen hadn't given Allegra much time to be alone with Dean, which was fine. They'd been a bit surprised at her new 'don't give a damn' attitude, but that was the part she decided to play, and she was determined to keep up the act. Allegra wasn't the broken girl she was when she left all those months ago. But neither had she healed. Her smile had become her mask. One she wore all day, all night.
Yet seeing Dean struggle with the decisions ahead made it hard for her to keep the mask on. He made a deal with Death to get the last ring. One he hadn't really intended to keep, but now it seemed he had no choice in the matter. Sam had to say yes to Lucifer. There was no other way.

Allegra watched him from the doorway. Dean was leaning against one of the wrecked cars in Bobby's salvage yard, keeping an eye on Sam, who stood further ahead near the Impala. She took a deep breath and walked over to him. He turned around at the sound of footsteps on the gravel, and Allegra stopped at what she believed to be a safe distance.

"You okay, Dean?"

"Just peachy."

She drew closer.

"I euhm... I overheard your talk with Bobby."

Closer.

"If there's anything I can do?"

"Not unless you have another way to stop Lucifer."

Allegra wanted so badly to tell him what he wanted to hear. That Sam didn't have to be sacrificed. That he wouldn't have to go through losing another family member. But she couldn't bring herself to tell that lie. She sighed.

"I've tried, Dean. But I don't think there is."

"You have the power to summon the ten plagues of Egypt on his ass, and you're telling me that's gonna do squat?!"

Dean stared at her in angry disbelief. Allegra didn't know what to say to him. The simple truth of the matter was that she wasn't sure of anything when it came to her powers. If she used too many of them at once, they drained her. 

Gabriel hadn't died in the cabin in Alaska, even though she hit him full-on with that last lightning bolt. The only power that might really finish Lucifer off was the plague of the firstborn, but she didn't even know if he was a firstborn. And she could never risk using that one with Dean around, even if she could keep him safe with her protective shield like she had his father and Bobby all those years ago. 

"I'm sorry, Dean."

Allegra turned to leave.

"No, wait! Don't..."

She halted at his voice. Gravel crunched as he walked to her.

Dean, please don't...

"I don't know what to do, Allegra. I don't wanna lose my brother. I can't let him do this. I need... I need someone to help me. I need you."

"I can't, Dean. You know it's the only way. I realize that's not what you wanna hear, but it's all I got. I can't help you."

Allegra felt Dean's hand on her shoulder. His touch sent shivers down her spine.

"Look at me."

No...

"Allegra, please look at me."

God, no...

She allowed him to turn her around and found herself only inches away from the man she so desperately wanted to be with.

Too close...

Dean took Allegra in his arms, rested his forehead against hers, and closed his eyes.

"Don't make me do this alone."

She managed to turn her face just in time. Dean kissed her cheek instead of her lips as he had intended. From the corner of her eyes, she saw his frown. He didn't understand. He couldn't understand.

"You need to talk to Sam," she said, nudging him back. "He needs to know you're with him. Even if you're not on board with the plan."

Dean lingered.

"Go on," Allegra said encouragingly.

He nodded and left her be. She heard a flutter behind her. It wasn't necessary to face the angel; she already knew who it was, once again feeling that familiar sensation in her shoulder.

"Why, Castiel?"

But Castiel remained silent. Maybe he didn't know the reason why. Or maybe he did, but he was ordered not to tell her. Either way, when all this was done, she knew Dean would most likely turn to her for comfort. Then, she would have to put on the mask to play the role she dreaded the most.

***

Sam showing up on Lucifer's doorstep was a blessing for the Devil since his vessel was already decaying (literally). The youngest Winchester offering to take him on a joyride was music to the bastard's ears. Dean tried to use the Horsemen's rings to open the portal to the Cage, but Lucifer immediately took possession of his brother. 
The whole plan had been based on the hope that Sam could resist long enough to jump into the Cage himself. Since that failed, Dean was left with only one last option. He knew Sam was still in his body. Maybe, just maybe, he could get through to his brother.

"You going someplace? You're going to do something stupid. You got that look."

Dean groaned at Bobby's voice. He was getting tired of his mentor and Castiel talking him out of things. He made up his mind after talking to Chuck, the prophet, and he was damn well gonna go ahead with the new plan.

"I'm gonna go talk to Sam," said Dean.

The old Hunter sighed.

"You just don't give up, do ya, boy?"

"It's Sam!"

"If you couldn't reach him here, you're certainly not gonna be able to on the battlefield," said Castiel.

Dean glared at the angel. He really had to pipe down before he kicked his trenchcoat-wearing-ass. 

"Well, if we've already lost, I guess I got nothing to lose, right?"

"I just want you to understand. The only thing that you're going see out there is Michael killing your brother."

Dean couldn't believe what he was hearing. These guys were actually ready to throw in the towel and make Sam's sacrifice go to waste! No way he was going to let that happen!

"Well, then I ain't gonna let him die alone."

He went straight to the Impala and got into the driver's seat. Then, the passenger door opened.

"The hell you think you're doing?" he demanded when Allegra sat down next to him.

"You're not going out there on some suicide mission, Dean. I'm coming with you."

Dean stared at her. Was she really about to risk her life with him? She knew the Devil was after her, too. If she fell into his hands, and he managed to get control of her powers, it would all be over. Yet, after having followed the discussion in silence, she was the only one who got into the car, willing to take the jump with him. That was enough for Dean. He started the car and headed to Stull Cemetery in Kansas.

"When we get there, you stay in the car," said Dean.

Allegra scoffed.

"Yeah, don't think so."

"I mean it, Allegra. You stay in the damn car. I can't focus on Sam if I have to worry about your ass too."

"Then don't think about my ass, Winchester. I'm a big girl, I can handle anything they throw at me, and I've got the scars on my back to prove it. I'm gonna stand right there next to you, and that's final."

Dean knew he was only wasting his breath trying to get her to listen. He couldn't help but wonder if God had created her stubbornness or if she picked that up from being around Gabriel for too long. Deep down, he was actually glad Allegra joined him. There was no one he would rather have right now.

"Thank you," he said.

Allegra just nodded. Dean wondered if she was as nervous as he was. He was kind of hoping she could perhaps use her shield power to calm him down a bit but didn't actually want to ask for it. But Allegra seemed to have read his mind. She placed her hand atop his wrist, and her warmth struck him like a shock wave. It ebbed inside of him, giving him comfort. And strength. So much strength.

"Dean... If I have to use the plagues, you grab my hand. Do not let go, no matter what happens."

He glanced at her. Those gold-flecked eyes silently pleaded with him. Dean almost turned the car around, all to prevent her from using those damn plagues in the first place and to keep her safe from Lucifer. But they needed to end this. And he needed her. 

"I won't let go. I promise."

***

When they arrived at the cemetery, Dean rode up to where he saw his brother. He stopped a couple of feet away from Sam - well, Lucifer - and the vessel Michael was using; Adam, his Winchesters' half-brother. The pair stopped their conversation to see who dared to interfere as Dean and Allegra got out of the car.

"Howdy, boys," said Dean, taking a stand in front of the Impala. "Sorry, we interrupting something?"

Lucifer glared at him. The fact that they were Sam's eyes made it all the more disturbing.

"Dean... Even for you, this is a whole new mountain of stupid."

"You're no longer the vessel, Dean," said Michael annoyed. "You got no right to be here."

Dean looked at his half-brother's body.

"Adam, if you're in there somewhere... I am so sorry."

"Adam isn't home right now." Michael grinned viciously.

"Well, then you're next on my list, buttercup," countered Dean. "But right now, I need five minutes with him."

He pointed at Lucifer. Michael sneered in reply.

"You little maggot. You are no longer a part of this story!"

"Michael, back off!"

Allegra's voice made the pair look at her now as if they just noticed she tagged along with Dean.

"Go away, Allegra," ordered the Archangel. "Your destiny lies elsewhere."

"Maybe you didn't get the memo, but I don't listen to you guys anymore. So suck it."

Michael was a bit perplexed at her reaction, while Lucifer broke out in a snigger.

"Ow, looks like little Allegra's a rebel after all. My type of girl. You should've taken a more personal interest in her, Michael. But then again, you could never have undone my work."

Dean put himself in front of Allegra, shielding her from their sight so that neither she nor they could take this any further.

"Shut it, Lucy. As I said, I'm here for Sam."

"And as I said, you are no longer a part of this, Dean."

Michael raised his hand. Allegra's fingers closed around Dean's wrist when all of a sudden, they were interrupted by a familiar voice.

"Hey, ass-butt!"

Dean and Allegra whirled around to see Castiel and Bobby standing behind them. The angel didn't give anyone time to react to their presence and threw a burning bottle at Michael. He went up in flames in mere seconds, screaming in agony.

"He'll be back," said Castiel to Dean. "And upset. But you got your five minutes."

"Castiel... Did you just Molotov my brother with holy fire?"

Allegra froze at Lucifer's menacing stare.

"No one dicks with Michael but me."

He snapped his fingers, and Castiel exploded. Blood and chunks of meat rained down on the ground. Bobby reared back, and Dean grabbed Allegra's hand. He met her gaze. She nodded. It was now or never. 
Allegra let go of his wrist. Dean turned his attention back to Lucifer, hoping he could get through. Cautiously, he took a step toward Sam's body.

"Sammy, can you hear me?"

Lucifer suddenly popped up right in front of him.

"You know, I tried to be nice... for Sammy's sake. But you... are such a pain... in my ass."

The Devil threw Dean onto the windshield of the Impala. Allegra reacted faster than was humanly possible. She drew her knife and threw it at him. The weapon grazed the side of Sam's body, leaving Lucifer stunned at the sudden pain of having been nicked by the blessed blade. 
Bobby took the opportunity of having Lucifer distracted to shoot him in the back. The Devil turned to face his shooter. Bobby shot again, hitting Sam's body in the chest this time. Lucifer snapped Bobby's neck with one twisting hand motion, and with the other, he pushed Allegra down with immense force. She gasped as the air got sucked out of her lungs.
Dean screamed when he witnessed what was happening, but Lucifer reveled in it. He grabbed the Hunter's legs and pulled him off the hood of the Impala to punch him, making Dean fall back against the car. He spat blood.
Allegra tried with all her might to get up from the ground, but all she could manage to do was crawl a few inches toward Dean. She reached for him, trying to use her shield power to protect him, but Lucifer suddenly stood over her. He grabbed a handful of Allegra's hair and pulled her up to her knees by it. She yelled out in pain.

"And here I thought you were warming up to me," Lucifer said mockingly. "You know, you should be thanking me. I do this, and you don't have to make a choice anymore. I do this, and you are mine by right. You'll be my queen, Allegra."

"Go to hell!" Allegra hissed, gritting her teeth.

Lucifer sighed.

"That's not very nice. But it's to expect, having been raised by Gabriel. Honestly, what was Father thinking when He left you with him? Oh well, I'll get that out of you one way or the other. But for now..."

He let go of Allegra's hair. She sank into the earth, pulled under by an invisible force. She clawed at the grass and cried out, but the ground closed around her, burying her alive.

"ALLEGRA, NO!"

Lucifer slowly made his way back to a wounded Dean. He was the only one left now.

"Sammy?" he called out to his brother, blood seeping from his mouth. "Are you in there?"

The Devil smiled.

"Oh, he's in here, all right."

He punched Dean.

"And he's gonna feel the snap of your bones."

Another punch. Dean fell to the ground.

"Every single one."

Lucifer hauled Dean to his feet, smirking and clearly enjoying himself.

"We're gonna take our time."

Every punch that landed on Dean came faster and faster. Just one after another. His face was swollen. He bled from his mouth, nose, and eye. Any other would've already given up. But not Dean. He gripped Sam's jacket.

"Sam, it's okay... It's okay. I'm here. I'm not gonna leave you, I... I'm not gonna leave you."

Lucifer drew his fist back for another punch, but something caught his eye. He saw his (or rather Sam's) reflection in the window of the Impala. Then he looked through the window. Dean tried to see what gripped his attention. A toy - a green army man, stuck in the ashtray. 
Something happened then—something inside of Sam's body. A struggle for one to take back control and for the other to keep it. The memories of the army man, of carving their initials in the Impala, of driving the car cross country, of the times spent together... They gave the youngest Winchester the strength he needed. 
Through a haze, Dean saw Sam's fist unclench. His brother let go of him, and he slumped back against the Impala.

"It's okay, Dean," Sam spoke reassuringly. "It's gonna be okay. I've got him."

He took the Horsemen's rings out (Lucifer picked them from Dean at their first failed attempt to get rid of him) and tossed them on the ground. He chanted the spell to activate them. The ground around them caved in, creating a dark air-sucking hole.

"Sam!"

Dean could barely raise his head but was still aware that Michael had appeared on the scene again. And the Archangel was furious.

"It's not gonna end this way!" he yelled. "Step back!"

"You're gonna have to make me!" shouted Sam.

"I have to fight my brother, Sam! Here and now! It's my destiny!"

Sam met Dean's eyes before he closed his own and spread his arms. Michael lunged forward to stop him, but Sam got hold of him instead. They fell into the hole together. A light blinded Dean. The hole closed, and the Horsemen's rings lay sizzling in the grass.
Dean knelt on the ground where his brother disappeared. He lost everyone; Sam, Bobby, Cas, Allegra... He was alone. What was he supposed to do now? Could he keep his promise to Sam and just leave it all behind as if nothing happened? He couldn't go on. Not like this.
A sudden rustling sound of feathered wings made him look up. A familiar angel looked down at him.

"Cas? You're alive?"

"I'm better than that," answered Castiel.

He touched Dean's forehead, and the wounds he suffered at Lucifer's hand immediately healed. Dean stood up in amazement. He took the angel in, uncertain of what was going on.

"Cas, are you God?"

Castiel smiled.

"That's a nice compliment. But no. Although I do believe He brought me back. New and improved."

He walked over to Bobby and repeated what he had done to Dean. The Hunter woke up with a gasp and slowly sat up, looking around him. Castiel looked around then.

"Where is Allegra?" he asked.

"She's... Lucifer killed her," said Dean, his voice breaking

"No, she's still alive. I can sense her."

When Castiel's words sank through to Dean, he raced to where Allegra had disappeared. He clawed and dug at the ground, his heart racing. Castiel appeared next to him, and he put one hand on the dirt and the other on Dean's shoulder. The one where he left a handprint. The one that was mirrored with Allegra's.
The ground moved, and a pair of hands rose from the earth. Bobby ran over to help while Castiel moved away to give them more space. Dean pulled Allegra up to him. Her head slumped against his shoulder. He sighed in relief when he found a pulse.

"What the hell are you waiting for, Cas? Heal her!"

"I can't. My power doesn't work on her. Don't worry. The Archangel within her is already doing what needs to be done. It's just a matter of time."

Dean tried to clear away as much dirt from Allegra's face as he could.

"Open your eyes," he begged. "Allegra, please, open your eyes!"

She started coughing wildly. Dean held her body as she spasmed but made sure her lungs filled with fresh air. She blinked a few times and looked up into Dean's green eyes.

"Hey." A tear rolled down his cheek as he rocked her in his arms. "Hey, you're okay. I've got you. You're okay."

They were all okay. They made it through, after all. Everyone was alive and kicking except...
Except...