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And Michael knew what his father was now. After twelve centuries imprisoned within the Cage, after being retrieved by Lilith, after Michael spake with the Winchesters and his father's true motivations were revealed — readily, Michael knew what his father was now.
But it mattered not.
Because God had taken Adam. God was torturing Adam. And only God could return Adam.
God had raptured the souls. But still, Adam had remained on Earth. For three agonizing, fear-filled days, Michael had hidden with Adam within the church. Michael had assumed by some miracle — or perhaps folly in the belief of his own strength — that they had evaded God. Michael had assumed that Adam was safe. Protected.
Until Adam was raptured, as well. Only, Adam was not raptured to where the other souls went. No, most certainly Adam was not raptured to where the other souls went. Because readily, Michael had recognized that rip in the fabric of reality that had surrounded Adam's soul, neatly severing Adam from Michael's cocoon of grace. Michael had borne witness to that rip only once before, many eons ago before God had invented time.
Adam had been banished from the Dominion.
The Banishment had been excruciating for Amara, an Eternal Being. For a human, a Finite Being, such Banishment would be painful beyond description, beyond comprehension — beyond comprehension of even the Archangel Michael, who had burned twelve centuries in the Cage. And such Banishment, such mean existence, now Adam lived for all eternity.
Adam lived pain.
But there was no Mark to be broken. Michael had checked — with only the Winchesters and the Nephilim still existing, readily had Michael confirmed there was no Mark.
Because only God could end Adam's Banishment.
And so, Michael defected. Of course, Michael had defected. There was no choice in such trade: Michael's loyalty for the end to Adam's everlasting torment.
As such, Michael killed Lucifer, as always God had desired. As well, Michael betrayed the Winchesters in God's name.
(Michael did not share with the Winchesters of Adam's torture. Certainly, Michael did not trust them. Already had Adam's "family" left Adam to centuries imprisonment within the Cage. Why would they not condemn Adam to even greater torment banished from the Dominion? No, with Adam's eternal existence at stake, Michael did not trust the Winchesters to do right by their youngest brother. Only, he hoped God would do right if Michael served God again.)
When finally, Michael confronted God. When finally, he looked upon God for the first time since humanity's inception, only then did Michael understand.
Never had Chuck Shirley intended to reunite Adam with Michael. Always, he had intended that Adam was to suffer.
Because always Chuck had intended that Michael was to suffer.
Unto Michael's very extinguishment.
And as Michael's grace disintegrated, only he could pray his farewell to Adam and apologize for failing his Beloved, knowing that where Adam was, Adam could not receive Michael's final words. Adam did not hear Michael's prayer.
Unknown to Michael, Jack did.