Chronicles of Absolution: Blood Lotus

Chapter 1

Then

… "Here's a hint: I was in Germany, then in Germany, then in the Middle East. I was in Darfur when my beeper went off." The thing motioned to try and get Sam to guess. "I'm waiting to hook up with my siblings. I've got three. We're gonna have so much fun together. Damn and I was worried that the dhampir bitch would remember me and screw things up."

… "I remembered. I fought in wars and the scenes are the same. He has the power to make you forget on some level just so he can make you remember and… bring it out again." She took a breath and looked down, holding her shotgun. "I remembered the last time in a village in the Middle East. War and me… we fought face to face even though he typically watches us kill each other. We were both injured badly enough and then he left saying that when we met again it would be when the end was near. After that… I went on my way."

… It was lightning fast when Angela grabbed the horseman by the wrist and slammed it down hard onto the car. At the same time Sam lunged forward and cut the finger with the ring off. The spray of blood was confirmation that it was successful. It had hit her and Sam full on in the face and she just blinked at it as the ring fell to the ground. "We can't kill War but we can temper it," she said softly…

… "The honest truth? I didn't see you as a monster and I still don't. When my husband brought you in I saw a girl who was hurt and needed help. Even when I learned what you are, I still saw you as a girl that needed help. Jo… you were what she needed and she was what you needed."

… War usually does lass. I'm a soldier and you've seen it and fought in wars. You were there with me and my team. We know that those who have seen war don't stop seeing it. We do what we can to get through it. Knowing you though lass… you do what you have to do but… I don't want you to lose yourself.

"And if the only way to defeat it is to go down that road?"

You're the one that says there is always one more thing to be done. Believe it or not that first year after that… I was a mess but I got through it remembering what you taught me in that short time and then I called you and you know what went on from there…

… Don't lose yourself lass. You know the consequences of going down that road. Hang the bastards from a tree but stay true to yourself…

"You know why," Sam replied trying not to become emotional over this. He looked down at the ground and continued, "I… couldn't stop thinking about it. The blood… And what I did to you…"

"Sam I told you, that doesn't matter to me…"

"It matters to me, Angie," Sam interrupted. He didn't want to get nasty with her. That was the last resort and then maybe she would stay away. "You didn't deserve what I did to you and if I stay… I don't want that to happen again."

… "I don't want you hurt… like Setna didn't want you to be hurt."

… Then he heard a moan. It was full of pain. It forced him to let her go. When he stepped back to take a look he saw that she wasn't her little self anymore but her adult self and she looked beat up. Her wrists were chafed. There was dried blood and bruises on her arms and face. She looked ready to fall over and she ended up falling to her knees but she cried out in pain.

He started to go to her but was held back by, "Don't think about it. You won't deny me my fun."

There it was. It was his double with that cold expression in his face. His double walked up towards Angela who was grimacing in pain. A hand went to his shoulder and the double looked at him. "This is what happens, Sam. This is what happens when you get too close to people."

"Sammy!"

He reached out for her. He wasn't going to let her go. "Angie!"

His double reached out and grabbed her. There was a cold smile as arms wrapped around her neck and gave a twist. There was the sickening crack of breaking bone and he watched as she dropped to the ground. Her eyes were empty orbs…

… "You love people. Even when they have done wrong. It is what you do."

"You mean protecting them?"

… The boy nodded at her. His eyes were wide eyed and solemn. "My mommy loves me. Just like you."

Angela raised her brow at that. "Me? I'm not a mother."

"You love people."

… I think that the Dean and Sam's story sucks. It is not fun. It's not entertaining. It is a river of crap that would send most people howling to the nuthouse…

… It was a harsh reminder to what she already knew. The body of the demon was on the ground and he was kneeling over. He then looked up at the three of them, with blood smeared on his face. At that point it was like there was nothing; there wasn't anything to say then. At that moment she had to take care of Jimmy and practically flew towards the man. There was nothing else to see but blood…

… "I am sitting here because I want to sit here." She was going to be stubborn about it since she wasn't sure why she was torturing herself by listening to Sam call out to them and demand to let him out. "And… Sam needs company."

… "It is part of it." Angela lowered her arms and paced. She glanced at the god of war knowing that it would be futile to lie to him. She could lie to him if she wished but she had no desire to and she was tired. "I'm not ready for this. I haven't really used my powers…"

… "I know you think that you shouldn't have the power of healers but even the other gods know that they are born and not made. You were born that way and there is no changing that. Not even after you went through the change into your magnificent self."

… "Too bad then. Anyway… the point is that you are magnificent. You are a warrior. You are a healer and you are an alpha."

"Not you too," Angela muttered.

"Oh it is so my warrior queen," Ares taunted slightly while laying down the truth. "You are an alpha in the sense of the word. You can command others and they follow willingly. They are drawn to you…"

… "If you break me, I do not stop working. If you touch me, I may be snared. If you lose me, nothing will matter."

"The heart."

… "Yeah Morpheus had hand. God of dreams… And he said he liked me."

"Perhaps it was a means of making you stronger."

… "Why? Why does my life feel so miserable?"

… Angela had always felt for the humans. Even though she was no longer completely human, she cared about them… Living as long as she had, she could appreciate life and saw how fragile it was…

… Angela sighed and looked at nothing in particular. "I'm sorry Jo. I really thought it was the best thing." She turned to look back at the girl across from her with a pensive expression on her face. "My being with you, put you and Ellen in danger and… I wouldn't have been able to live with myself. I felt… responsible for your dad."

… Angela took a sip of her milk at the same time Sam did. She smirked when he finished.

"What?"

Humming a little, Angela reached up and gently wiped the milk mustache away. "Milk mustache." She would have turned and put her empty mug down but was stopped when she felt Sam's hand on hers and she turned to look at him…

… It was comforting to feel Sam's hand reach and gently squeeze it. She gave a glance and said something in ancient Egyptian. At that moment, Cerebus gave two long howls of mourning. They had suffered a loss but deep down, they knew that this was just the beginning…

… She watched him as he stroked her hair and the motion and feeling brought contentment to the point she started to growl in the back of her throat.

Sam heard the sound that he had heard when she had been de-aged and immediately continued with what he was doing.

She wanted more but… She lifted her head to expose the left side of her neck.

Sam hesitated when the side of her neck exposed. It gave him a clear path to kiss it, suckle it and… a hundred other things that didn't feel or sound right in his head. But he wanted to… He leaned closer and his nose caught a whiff of what could be perfume but he knew she didn't wear the stuff because of her sensitive nose. He leaned in close to get another whiff. "You smell nice," he said, surprising himself as he said it. When did he become so bold?

Angela gave a hard purr growl as she replied, "You… too. Compelling."

It wasn't exactly a thing to hear but to Sam she might as well have said that he smelled masculine or whatever the hell a normal woman would. Angela was different from other women and it wasn't a bad thing. It drew him. Ever since the beginning.

But she's a friend… No she's more than that. She's special. And she looked hot… What the hell?

Sam shook his head. He knew something wasn't right. He knew his feelings but his wasn't him. He knew her. He respected her. He didn't see her like those assholes in the dives they stopped for a drink in. But her neck was there… exposed and… He lowered his head, his lips getting closer and closer…

Angela was breathing heavily while still purring. Sam had stopped stroking her hair but she didn't mind. It was what she wanted. She exposed her neck to him because it felt right and he made her feel safe. It was the one thing she wanted to do for others and her biggest weakness…

… He got his answer when he heard her say something softly and she leaned upon tip toe and placed the back of her two first fingers on the left side of his neck and stroked downwards in a single stroke that was soft and gentle. It had him frown in surprise when it was followed by the soft breath she gave before kissing him on the slope of his neck. It was the perfect spot and it sent a good shiver down his spine but it was enough to have him just stand there…

… She is shy you know. Mostly around you…

… he reached up with his right hand and with his two first fingers he pressed the tips gently to the left side of her neck. He tried not to notice her wide eyed expression of surprise but he couldn't help but look her in the eye as he slowly and almost seductively brought his fingers down the side of her neck down to the collar bone. He finished by leaning forward and planted a kiss in the same spot she did, letting his breath linger slightly before pulling back.

Angela didn't move but looked at Sam in the eyes as he looked back at her. She didn't move when he slowly reached out and took her hand and held it in his. Sam kept his gaze on hers as he moved his fingers over her hand and held it. Slowly a full, shy smile erupted on her face and she squeezed his hand in response. It was a start…

Now

"I didn't really expect this."

Sam looked at Angela as she held the old telescope in her lap while sitting on the hood of the Impala. He shuffled on his feet a bit uneasily but more out of nervousness and a sudden bout of shyness. Finally he said, "Well I… I notice you looking at the news and meteorologist reports and saw this and… I wanted to. For you."

Angela smiled at Sam and his uncertainty. She was still nervous herself. It had been nearly two weeks since they both exchanged gestures of interest and they were working out what that meant. True they both knew what it meant but it was more how they were going to go about it. She had never done this before and she didn't count the once or twice deliberate playing of a mark.

It was Sam who put some familiarity on the ground for her. He suggested that they were courting. It was very old fashioned in the sense that people didn't court anymore but dated and often those dates ended up in the sack. Sam though wasn't going to go that route. He respected her too much and suggested the old fashioned term and if it meant doing everything like that…

So they dated but it was always the kind where they parted ways at night to their own room. It was enough to drive Dean crazy trying to figure out what was going on and Bobby giving the offhand threat that if Sam did anything to sully her honor and virtue… It was baby steps and it was working to a degree.

Looking at Sam, Angela put a hand on his shoulder in a reassuring pat. "And I love it. I did want to see the aurora borealis but there is also a rare constellation that will be showing tonight. It hasn't been seen clearly in at least three hundred years."

Sam watched as she lit up like a child excited at the prospect of a present. He hadn't meant to snoop but he wanted to do something nice that was unique for her. And he wanted to do something different than the usually walk and talks they had but those were good too. She actually opened more up to him about herself than she had previously and he loved hearing about her life before her change. She also became more relaxed and it extended to when the three of them were together. He hadn't noticed it before because she had been at ease but seeing her become completely relaxed… it was different and he liked it.

Smiling back, Sam said, "I guess it's a special night then."

Angela hummed as she smiled at him while taking out the old telescope. She marveled at how Sam was able to get it like he did. She suspected he recruited Kesset or Castiel but she didn't press. He made an effort to do this for her. The fact that it was close to Valentine's Day made no never mind to her. It was like every night they spent together.

She took out the telescope and showed Sam how the pieces fitted together since it was one of the old ones used back in her day. It was antique practically and still worked. "Sorry. No stand. You have to hold it up and look."

Sam didn't mind. They could actually see the aurora borealis since it was clear as the sky. It was the constellation that needed to be found. "Okay. You know where to look?"

"Right there," Angela replied pointing at the constellation that appeared just above the horizon of the borealis. "The telescope can pinpoint the axis."

Sam lifted the telescope and they spent the time looking and adjusting. He followed her lead as she traced the lines out for him. "You've seen it before."

"Mmhmm." Angela leaned back and looked up at the sky. "That was the first time I saw it." She paused a bit before continuing, "The Lotus constellation was named such because it was new. In certain cultures, the lotus symbolizes new beginnings and rebirth. Legends point out that when the constellation is spotted, it's when things happen."

"Like what?"

Angela shrugged her shoulders and leaned against Sam since he joined her on the hood. "Don't know. Heck it was even postulated that it was in the sky the day Jesus came back to life. Others pointed out tragedies and joys. I mean it's not that much different from the everyday thing but…"

"It's more special."

"Yeah."

They stayed out in the field for a little while longer, looking at the sky. Occasionally Angela would point out a constellation or star and even for fun pointed out where Venus was and Sam found it in the telescope. They laughed a bit and Angela made Sam blush by reciting the raunchy rhymes she used to say about the astrological signs that actually were constellations as well. She had fun teasing him, "Still delicate in the ears, Sammy?"

"Only because you…" Sam paused to find the right words and finally came out with, "It sounds wrong coming from you."

"Why? Because I was raised as a lady?"

"Because you are one and… it just sounds wrong. You're elegant."

It had Angela blush slightly since no one attributed that to her before. She looked at Sam's mossy greens as they stared back at her and gave a gentle smile, "You're sweet."

Sam took what he could from that and he didn't mind. He was aware that it wasn't what a guy would like to hear attributed to him but he picked up that she meant more than what she said. He also knew that she was shy and she was testing the waters with how far she could go. He hoped that she would get comfortable enough not to do that but he was willing to be patient. For her, it was worth it. Giving a smile and teased, "Better than being cute."

"Oh you're that too. Especially when it's too much for your delicate ears."

That was another thing he liked about her. She had a quick wit when she wasn't bogged down by the pressures of the moment. And she loved to turn the tables on him and Dean; it only proved that she trusted and cared about them enough to let her guard down to let them see that. Deciding to get back at her, he teased, "You're cute when you blush."

It was back and forth for both while they sat on the hood and just watched the stars and the borealis. It made Sam thoughtful about what she said about the constellation and the rarity of its appearance. He wondered how that was the case but decided to let it be and just enjoy the moment which he was. He looked at Angela as she rested her head against his shoulder and placed a kiss on the top. It went better than the hesitant one he gave to her temple earlier and he adjusted his position to watch the sky.

It was late when they drove back to the motel. Sam couldn't help but get a small smile at the goofy happy one Angela was wearing as she looked out the window. He liked seeing her happy and to see her smile. He wished she did it more often but he understood and he decided to try and get her to smile more often. It would be worth it.

Even though it was late, Sam decided to drive to a diner. It wasn't exactly romantic but… She didn't mind and seemed surprised since she was going to suggest it but he pulled in before she could say anything. All he said was, "Thought you'd might be hungry."

Angela looked at him and at the diner. She was well aware that a diner was hardly romantic but in her mind it was the company that counted. "You read my mind," she said with a grin.

The diner was mostly empty but it was okay with the pair as they sat. Sam wasn't terribly hungry but ordered a small salad and was surprised when she did the same. He noticed the mischievous twinkle as she told the waitress that she didn't want anything related to blue cheese near her plate. He narrowed his eyes playfully and pouted since he liked the stuff and made sure to order it with blue cheese. When the waitress was gone he pouted, "You know I like blue cheese."

"And how anyone could like it is beyond me," she teased, "But to each his own." She took a sip of the tea she ordered. It was hot and the standard tea bag but it was still good. "Besides I shouldn't complain since my preferred choice of poison is tea rather than coffee." She held up her cup.

"I don't think it's that bad."

"Flatterer," Angela replied as she smiled taking a sip.

"Honest truth," Sam replied with a smile of his own.

They ate their salads in companionable silence until the waitress came to see if they wanted dessert. It was Sam who asked if they had pie and to have a piece of everything. At the look Angela was giving him, he shrugged his shoulders and said, "Figured that was what you wanted."

Angela gave a mock glare at Sam but it was spoiled by the grin that was on her face. "And you? I know you don't have an obscene need for pie."

"Actually," Sam toyed with the piece that he had chosen after giving her first pick of the selection. "I'll eat it but I have a liking for… baklava." He looked up at her and caught her eye.

Angela looked at Sam. Normally she would have teased him about ruining a good piece of pie. Instead she was caught off guard from his declaration of what he liked. "You like baklava?"

"Since you offered that piece that one time. I like it." Sam shrugged as he took a bite of his slice. "And it's what I suggested we get for your birthday."

Angela took a bite of the apple pie al mode she had chosen. "Really?"

"Yeah. And… Gus suggested it."

"Hmm. She was remembering when I made it."

"You made it?"

Angela smiled as she took another bite. "Of course. If it is something I like, I learn to make it. Same goes for hummus and a few choice dishes that I like my version better than what I've eaten in restaurants."

"Well then I guess maybe you should make some."

"Maybe I will. And you might like this thing I can make with strawberries."

Sam wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not but she was smiling and not teasing him. He knew his brother would think of something dirty but he knew she was not like that. He nodded in agreement and took a bite of pie before she had the chance to scold him. They enjoyed their late night meal and he finally drove them back to the motel. He stood outside her door and looked at her.

"Thank you," Angela said feeling a little shy, "I enjoyed it."

"I'm glad," Sam replied feeling a little nervous. "I enjoyed it too. And you're still good at teasing me."

Angela hummed a bit as she opened her door after fumbling with the key. She turned to look at Sam and study his features. "Well it is fun. And you're easy." She gave a slight smile at that before clearing her throat. "Well… good night."

Sam normally would have kissed her cheek but he took a chance and leaned in to capture her lips. She didn't resist and he was encouraged to continue the kiss. He ended it and whispered, "Good night," before leaving. It was a special night.

A/N: A bit of Samgie fluff since it is now official that Sam and Angie are 'courting'. Too good to be true right? Stay tuned for more Blood Lotus...