Author's note: Welcome to the third installment of the 46 series! I'm not sure how much sense this part is going to make completely on its own, so I suggest you check out "Attack of the 46 inch Winchester" and "46 Days Later" before reading this.

Unfortunately I can't promise regular updates right now. I was hoping to work on the story in the two weeks since "46 Days Later" ended, but then things happened that made it impossible for me to concentrate on writing. I will try to go for my usual every fourth day update schedule, but if and how long I can maintain it depends on how these things develop in the near future.

I apologize for any inconvenience and hope you understand.

Prologue

Lucifer always knew that Nick wouldn't be able to hold him forever. His temporary vessel was strong -stronger than he first assumed, if he felt like giving the man credit- but there was only one person who could host Lucifer without falling apart. The devil always knew Sam would give in eventually -it was meant to be after all- but Gabriel's interfering had postponed things to the point where holding on to his deteriorating vessel was becoming highly uncomfortable.

However, none of that explained why Lucifer was lying on his back in what seemed to be a forest. He didn't even know how he had gotten there. It was damn near impossible, but Lucifer must have lost consciousness for a while as he was transported to this place, wherever it was. There were very few things in existence that could affect him like this because despite everything, Lucifer still was an archangel at his core.

Lucifer tried to ignore the way patches of his damaged skin burned in a way that was much more physical than he was used to. He was used to feeling like an over-blown balloon that might burst out of his temporary vessel if he didn't thread carefully. However, that was an uncomfortable sensation coming from the way his grace was restricted in all the wrong ways. What Lucifer felt that moment was purely physical. Technically something like that should've only been possible in heaven -or hell, or purgatory- when he was in his true form and then only on the off chance that one of his evenly matched brothers managed to injure him. Even lowly humans would remember something that drastic happening to them, so there was no way an archangel would have missed it. Not that Lucifer honestly considered the possibility that he had been in a fight with one of his brothers and had forgotten all about it.

"Hi Mr. Angel," a young voice brought Lucifer out of his considerations. The girl the voice belonged to could hardly have aged more than a handful of years. Her dirty blond ringlets were bouncing along with her as she was unsuccessfully trying to hide her excitement. All in all, Lucifer already found her to be highly annoying.

"Go away," the archangel commanded in an icy tone as he finally tried to sit up. At least Lucifer was going for commanding and icy when he opened his mouth. It came out more like a pained groan though as he tried to get his resisting muscles to cooperate.

"I saw you fall from heaven," the girl chattered on unimpressed by his attempt to ban her, before she cocked her head and added in a worried tone, "Did it hurt?"

"What do you think?" Lucifer muttered under his breath as he tried and failed to get to his feet. His legs felt weak. Hell, his entire being felt weak. Nearly bursting out of his vessel from being too powerful was something Lucifer was used to, feeling like his vessel might collapse any moment from weakness was new and very disconcerting. It also didn't help that the little cockroach was still looking at him with big brown eyes! "Go away!"

"You're hurt," the girl stated matter-of-factly, crossing her arms in front of her chest as if she thought it'd give her words more weight, "So you need help and I'm the only one here."

Gracie had seen her mother do the exact same gesture a lot when she wanted to let her daughter know she was serious. If it worked for her mother, it should work for her too. Besides, Gracie wasn't going to let an angel leave just like that! He was the most interesting thing ever!

"Look you little..." Lucifer started before he had to cough. The former archangel felt like his entire body was shaking with the force of his coughs for a few unbearably long moments. Lucifer was nearly surprised that he hadn't coughed up blood. The hacking sure felt bad enough for something like that.

"I live just outside the woods. You can stay in my house until you're all better," Gracie decided with a definite nod, before she added quickly, "But mom can't know. She doesn't believe in angels."

The little girl was certain her mother would only see some stranger her daughter found in the forest and then she'd freak out and maybe call the police or something. Gracie knew better, though. She had seen the man fall all the way from heaven, not just from the trees, but from beyond the trees! The only logical conclusion was that he was an angel and if an angel landed in front of her feet there had to be a reason for it.

"Just my luck you found me," Lucifer commented with a snort. Heaven forbid he was found by someone not believing in angels and maybe assuming he had fallen off a tree or something. Then again, it wasn't like that would've helped him any. Any so called helpful stranger would've been an annoyance. At least in this case it was an easily gullible child.

"Lots of luck," Gracie agreed nodding emphatically, "'Cause I'm not allowed past the yard, ya know? But mom's not home yet and she di'n't know grandma can't watch me. She didn't hear the message on the answerin' machine. I have my own key, so it doe'n't matter and I can be alone for a few hours without doing somethin' stupid."

Lucifer nearly wanted to laugh at the girl's words. Obviously, she couldn't be left alone without doing something spectacularly stupid like chatting up the devil for example. Hell, if Lucifer was in any condition to do anything much he wouldn't have listened to her continued prattle... Granted, he might not have bothered lifting a finger to harm the kid -against popular opinion he didn't always kill and destroy just because- but he would have walked away without giving her a second thought in the very least. Instead Lucifer asked, "Do you always talk so much?"

"No, only sometimes," Gracie replied without missing a beat, "'Cause at school I'm supposed to listen a lot and mom works from home in the afternoons most the time and doesn't have time to listen to me."

Lucifer hardly listened to the continued inane chatter as he finally managed to get to his feet. He grimaced feeling himself start to sway unsteadily. It was doubtful that he would still be standing even after a few steps –how was he meant to fight like this?- but it would have to do until he could recuperate and assess his situation.

"Fascinating," Lucifer groaned out when Gracie stopped talking to look at him like she was waiting for some sort of response. As things were, playing along was the easiest option he had. Not to mention the little abomination -really, Lucifer knew some called his true vessel an abomination, but looking at humanity Sam was one of the least abominable of the whole lot- was standing at his right, helping support his weight, so she was useful for now.

"You're one grumpy angel," Gracie commented once she was sure the angel wouldn't fall down again. She couldn't pull him up when he was on the ground, he was too tall and heavy for that, but she knew how to support an adult who was unsteady on their feet. "I'm always grumpy when I'm hurt, too. You know, I once fell off a ladder. I had to get stitches on my arm, but dad said my guardian angel was watchin', 'cause nothin' worse happened."

"Angels don't..." Lucifer wanted to tell the girl in no uncertain terms that angels had other things to do than to watch over stupid humans, but another coughing fit prevented him from making the scathing comment that was on the tip of his tongue.

"Okay, we're almost there, see?" Gracie was quick to assure the angel once he caught his breath again. They were nearing the end of the forest. They just had to get through the garden gate. Her wooden playhouse could be seen over the fence. Getting inside, Gracie only had minor issues leading the angel through the doorway. The playhouse was big enough for an adult for sure and there was a makeshift bed in there too. Maybe it would be a little short for an adult, but it should do. "That's my house. You don't have to worry, mom doesn't go in there. It's all mine. Dad built it jus' for me. Daddy said privacy is important."

For once Lucifer could agree with something the little abomination said, not that he'd let her know that. It suited the former archangel just right to have a place to rest a little that was outside of the actual house too. That way he could easily disappear the moment his strength returned enough and he would do just that!

The wooden playhouse was surprisingly spacious on the inside. Lucifer thought he could stand to spend a little time in there. He had been in far worse places before. There was something he really had to take care of though.

"You wouldn't happen to have any paint around?" Lucifer asked, looking around for a few moments. He was able to support himself with a hand against the wall, which he clearly preferred to using the tiny human as a crutch. The place needed some heavy wardings if Lucifer was going to stay there. Angels and demons alike might be looking for him. Somebody had to be responsible for the state the devil was in and he was sure they would be looking for him. They'd better not find him before he gathered his strength. After that he'd make sure to hunt them down and make them pay.

"I have finger paint," Gracie stated with a slight frown. She didn't know what the angel needed paint for, but finger paint wasn't appropriate for everything. It was that or crayons though. She didn't have too many things stored out in her playhouse, she'd have to go to the house for everything else.

"Great," Lucifer groaned. The indignities just wouldn't end that day! The former archangel took the offered pots of blue, yellow and red color anyway. It was better than nothing and should do for what he had planned; if not, the angels or demons would laugh themselves to death anyway. At least, the abomination didn't say anything as he started to smear paint all over the walls.

"That looks funny," Gracie commented, cocking her head curiously after watching the angel paint in silence for a few minutes, "What are ya painting?"

"Angel things," Lucifer retorted shortly. He could've told her what the symbols were for in detail, but why waste the time and breath? Explaining anything to a human seemed useless. They sure thought they were so highly developed and smart, but they were really just mindless maggots from Lucifer's point of view.

"My dad's an angel now too, ya know?" Gracie chattered on, though her tone took on a sad note.

The former archangel's stroke faltered when he noticed the change, but continued on anyway without even sparing the girl a glance.

"Humans can never be angels, that's not how it works," Lucifer huffed. Really, it was one of the stupider ideas humans had come up with. The belief that humans could ever be angels wasn't grounded on any facts and it needed to be nipped in the bud! Humans and angels were not at all alike and they never would be!

"But... but... what's my daddy now then?" Gracie asked her voice shaking as she searched for words. Her grandma used to tell her that her dad was an angel now and that he was watching over her, but if an angel said...

"Dead," Lucifer deadpanned, finishing the sigils he was painting before he turned back to look at the suddenly silent kid. The unexpected pang of guilt Lucifer felt at seeing the girl's tears hit the former archangel right in the heart. For the first time in a very long time, he wished he could take his words back.