Chronicles of Absolution: Don't Suffer Fools Gladly

Chapter 1

The Road So Far…

… 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…

… "Pam, don't. Do as he says. Turn back," Angela said as she opened her eyes. Her eyes were glowing orbs as she looked in Pam's direction. "Trust me. Turn back."

Pam chose to ignore it. She was close. "I conjure and command you, show me your face."

"Pam, stop now."

… Isis smiled in return. "She is special on many levels. To me it is like that of a mother and daughter. Her abilities while special are nothing compared to her nature."

"She's a person just like anyone else and has a big heart the way she spoiled them idjit boys of hers."

"I agree that the Winchesters are important to her. They root her down and hopefully will be there for the things to come as well as you."

… "Castiel is… my guardian angel."

… You are the Malachi of Absolution…

… "Absolution is the earthbound angel that will protect us all," Anna replied… Out loud she said, "I'm not the protector of man. There are many who do that."

"But you are the Malachi; the Messenger of Absolution."

… Daddy said that he will be paying you a visit…

… I… kissed Sam…

… "Be careful there. You know that lying is a sin," Alistair replied in English, knowing full well that there would be interested parties. "I know as well as you that lines have been crossed. The bounty from before… I wonder what it would be like being renewed."

… Remember Sam, it's simple. Lucifer rises, the apocalypse starts. You think that you have demons on your hands now? People are going to die Sam. Oceans of people and in that crossfire is Absolution. It's no secret that she's involved and she won't refuse. You know it and I know it… Choices are said to define us or rather it gives insight to our character…

… Choices have to be made. Some lead to perdition and some lead to end of old and alone. The question comes down to whether or not one believes that they can hold on till the end and finally not be afraid to open that door…

… Mercy and Truth… find her and she will find them… The essentials are a set of seals that if broken could also contain a power that the one who does the breaking can use like a special weapon or something… Each seal is specific. Each is described in detail and supposedly the results can make the omens we've seen thus far look like fireworks…

… I know you and your brother have no reason to like me and quite frankly I don't care. What I do care is that she gets the job done. Absolution has a purpose and it must be carried out. I could go into the whole fate of the world ploy but that doesn't seem to make a dent.

Things are to happen for a reason; everything has a purpose… even you with your hanging around the demon slut. Yes I know about her too. Funny thing is that there is always someone who knows such as is the case of the past filled with shadows, blood and death and of course beauty.

There are things that are best left unsaid or they are better told by the one who experienced the event. Anyway the path is filled with blood and death. It is in the nature of things and of her race… even more so considering her heritage…

… She then leaned forwards and gently pressed her forehead against his. Like a cat would do, she shifted her head and gently rubbed the side of his face before giving a platonic kiss on his cheek…. "Everything will work out Dean. I'll be there to see it out."

… The painting was of a girl that looked roughly maybe between thirteen and fifteen and what caught his attention were the girl's eyes…

… Her eyes were glowing orbs and her loose tendrils were billowing. Her hands were fisted and actually glowing as s result from her tattoos underneath her gauntlets glowing. What Lilith saw though, she realized that she had made a serious miscalculation.

Lilith knew that Angela was Absolution and something to be feared but this meant… She looked at what appeared to be a sort of breastplate appear on her chest underneath the jacket she was wearing. The room started to shake and rattle as Absolution's eyes glowed brighter and Lilith knew that she was the target of this. Yet this was impossible. Absolution was not at her full strength yet. There was no way that she should…

… "You may have acted on the instinct to protect the Prophet and your charge but you and I know that there is but one reason why you would do that."

… "You know Sam, somehow I think that there is a question that needs to be asked. I think she is waiting for you to ask the right one. You just have to figure it out and made you'll lose that dark brooding look."

… "You're talking about Ruby. Do you really want to get into that?"

"I could argue and tell you that you might be wrong but I'm hardly one to say that since I've used demons to get information, I tortured them and more or less bullied Ruby into helping me which she only did because it was a chance to pick up where we left off and was a treat since I hear it on voicemail every other day."

"I'm not going to boss you Sam. You know I don't do that unless it involves daily chores. I emphasize it because I know I'm not one to get on the high horse and can only speak from experience. Everyone has choices to make. The main thing is whether or not you can make the choice and still be able to live with it even if it haunts you. Some choices you have to look deep and while a seemingly good thing it can lead down a place you may not like."…

… "I know about the demon blood Ruby. And it is going to end… now."

"Oh now you're finally saying something about it? What you finally decided to get involved?" Ruby mocked Angela as she started circling with her. Her eyes never left Angela's. "You never cared before."

"I always cared. You should know me by now," Angela countered as she circled with Ruby. "Now that I know where it is going, I am going to put a stop to it."

… 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…

… Not really. All in the training Sam. How are we doing?"

"Not good," Sam said as he tried to control the jiggling of his legs. "I can't do this Angie. It's painful."

"I know," Angela said still holding Sam's clenching hands. She gave another reassuring squeeze.

"There always is the bigger picture, Mary," Angela replied as she leaned against the wall of the panic room. She gave a lopsided grin in her old friend's direction. "You forget that I've been raised on the bigger picture and it has bitten me in the ass more times than I can count."

"I never felt so much as I do for you Sam. It scares me and it scares me a lot."

"I am not scared of what could happen to me in this whole angels and demons crap. I've dealt with them before."

"So if you want it spelled out, the greatest fear I have is losing you Sam and it is because I… love… you."

… Sam would have gone but he couldn't help but watch. "He's coming," he said to no one in particular. He said it again but this time in a whisper. Sam realized what he had done. He had started the Apocalypse. The last thing he saw apart from the approaching light was Angela pushing him and Dean away telling them to go. He blinked and he thought he saw her hands glow as she said, "Get out!"

Now

The rumbling could be felt under her feet as she stared at the column of light that was beginning to grow. It only meant one thing. Lucifer was coming, rising from the cage that had imprisoned him, and that meant the beginning of the end. She knew that there was no way a blade like Absolution would be able to do anything. The only solution was to get out.

The dogs had been sent away but the boys were still here. She had to get them out. She urged them to move but they were rooted to their spots. She glanced back at the growing column of light. She sensed that it would be bad if she didn't get them out. She had to get them out. She turned and felt a surge of power from within. She looked at the boys and told them to get out and they were engulfed in light.

Angela opened her eyes and found herself in a place that was vaguely familiar… at least she thought so. The only thing off was the fact that she didn't see Sam or Dean nearby. Her first thought was that she had accidentally killed herself again. It certainly would fit the bill considering that she went with blind instinct when she did… whatever the hell it is she did and the last time she did that, she ended up killing herself and had to possess people she loved to make it back.

The first thing she did was look at her person. She was dressed in the clothes she had worn when she had been kidnapped by the Old Man. Jeans, t-shirt, shoes (the ones that Dean said were for exercise health freaks), her scarf and jacket were all there. In terms of the accessories, she had Absolution, her chakram, the M1911 John gave her and her knife. All in all she had what she started out with when Gabriel sent her on her way so logically it wasn't a dream. Of course it could be that and it could be she was in her version of heaven.

"You're not dead. Not yet really."

Angela turned to see the last person or thing she expected to see. Her eyes widened slightly but she stood where she was and then slowly blinked. "The last time I was here… that was a dark day."

"And certainly today should bear some striking resemblance so really it's all about looking back on a memory."

"Only you would find pleasure in that. You are the god of chaos," Angela replied with a slightly rude gesture towards the god. She took a breath and asked, "So why the hell am I here at Kellis, Set?"

Set, the god of chaos and the desert, looked at the woman that had been shunted to his realm. It had been a calculated risk since he risked the wrath of his sister/sister in law, her son and her grandson and his wife but well worth it. He gave a slow smile and replied, "I was merely trying to help you. After all you were at a place that could have brought great harm to you and I know how that will go over with certain interested parties."

"You show such concern," Angela replied in a sarcastic tone as she crossed her arms over her chest. "You don't bother with little old me unless it is something that could satisfy your need for entertainment like the last time."

"Now don't be like that. Setna came to me and was most pathetic about it," Set replied. He strode down the steps that led from his throne towards her. He picked up her right hand and looked at the cartouche of royalty that was tattooed on her hand, gently caressed the marking as if it were embossed on her hand. "A princess in her own right… and so precious," he murmured.

Angela would have liked to have snatched her hand away but she didn't. That didn't mean that she liked the god touching her. She did say, "Since when did you grow a caring side?"

Set looked at her, still holding her hand. His fingers caressed her mark as he gazed into her eyes. "You know as well as I do that horrid story about me killing my brother is nonsense. I may be jealous of him but he is still my brother. You may not be born of the family but you are a princess and therefore family. Can you not be grateful that I intervened before serious consequences occurred?"

"So I was on the verge of killing myself. Great."

"No. You actually had more control this time but you revealed yourself in the presence of a pain in the ass angel who wants to fuck up everything that we have built over millennia." Set lowered her hand but kept it clasped in his. With his other hand, he reached up and with the back of his finger, stroked her cheek and moved a stray lock out of the way. "You sent the Winchesters to safety but were left behind to face Lucifer and you aren't ready little princess."

"You're not the first to try that on me. What do you want Set?" Angela wasn't in the mood to play coquetry games. She needed to get back to the real world and find Sam and Dean. Now that Lucifer was free, she needed to be vigilant.

Set clicked his tongue against his teeth. He gave a tolerant smile as he cupped her cheek with his hand. "I want nothing from you except for you to be who you are meant to be. I merely saved you just so you could achieve that. You are family."

"You say that like it's supposed to mean something between us. You let Setna tread that dark path. You let him sell his soul." Angela took a step back since she was beginning to feel a little uncomfortable with the touching the god was doing. She had never been comfortable in his presence even though it was true that he didn't kill his brother like the stories depicted. It was ancient propaganda and perpetuated by overzealous followers of Osiris.

"I didn't let him do anything," Set replied. He felt bad that she wasn't comfortable with him but that was his fault. "You know as well as I that Setna made the choice to strengthen his powers. He did it for you, princess. He chose it for you."

"Don't remind me," Angela replied with a raised finger in a warning. "I know it is my fault. It is my fault for even coming here when I did. Becoming a princess did this."

"It isn't your fault," Set replied. Normally he reveled in the anxiety and the tears that threatened. He was the god of chaos after all. Yet with her, it brought no pleasure. It was like kicking a beaten animal when it was already down. "It isn't your fault. If anything Setna was loyal to the royal family, your family. He took a vow to protect its members with his dying breath. You were his especial charge."

"Something I didn't deserve. Not after what I had done." Angela looked at one of the walls in the room. Her eyes lighted on the relief and studied the Egyptian motifs since it was something to do. "I just started to find some redemption."

"Oh I know. The Winchesters have been particularly interesting to watch. Sowing chaos at times and yet they managed to do good that otherwise wouldn't have existed if they didn't become the people they are."

"Thinking like that messes with the head. I actually caused someone pain by suggesting that things would have been better if I hadn't been born," Angela replied as she looked back at the god. She took a moment to study him and then said, "Thank you for pulling me out."

"You're welcome, princess."

"Is there any way to persuade you to put me back in the real world?"

Set looked at Angela and noted her person. She had changed since he had last seen her. He actually had spent some time in her realm, watching and observing the things she did. He noticed her when Isis took an interest in her when she was a girl going through the change characteristic of her people. He was the black sheep of the family so he had to do it on the sly. "I could send you back but I have to ask what you intend to do?"

"Find Sam and Dean and figure out how to fix this," Angela answered simply like it was the most obvious thing in the world. She gave a shrug of her shoulders but it also relayed her impatience at being stuck here. She didn't want to waste time on unnecessary chit chat.

Set studied her and noted her expression and asked, "Why do you insist on saving people who may not want to be saved?"

"What do you mean?" Angela frowned at the god, trying to ascertain what the god was getting at.

"Well you wasted time and effort to get to Sam and it was made clear that he intended to follow through with it. Certainly your little spat said something and you got that to show for it." He pointed at the clotted scratch on her forehead.

Angela put her hand to the scratch and felt it before brushing it off. It was healed anyway. "I was trying to save Sam's soul. He didn't have all the facts and…"

"And you think you did?"

"I did considering that those feathered dicks wanted me to do it and then swoop in like a hero to save the world." Angela narrowed her eyes at the god. Even though she was uncomfortable in his presence it didn't stop her from being vocal to the point where she was in danger of suffering a god's wrath. "That is egotistical and something I wouldn't do… and neither would Setna."

"Always going back to that. Didn't you ever consider that he didn't want you to try and save him? That is my point here."

Angela looked at the god after looking at the bas reliefs again. She stared long and hard at the god. Ever since this started she thought about it; the similarities and what happened in the end. It was like reliving history again except that the one she loved was still alive this time around.

The assassins had broken in and were making their way through the temple. She could hear the sounds of the guards and priests being killed. It was just an excuse for Amman to justify the use of force. They entered the main room just as Setna had given her a kiss and they were led by Al-Hassan.

"Treason!"

Setna growled, "You will not touch her!"

It was a terrible clash as assassins and Setna fought. Blood was spilt and Azazel was laughing his head off. Then the demon attacked her…

"If you want the honest truth, princess, Setna knew exactly what he was getting into," Set continued. He could see that she was remembering what happened here. "He came to me, determined to keep you safe. I warned him three times the consequences and asked him if he was willing to see it through to the end."

"And he said yes," Angela replied as she looked to the side, "He said yes and he didn't want to be saved." She sighed and shook her head at that. "And now he's dead and at the hands of those… bloody assassins."

"You could always kill them. Amman no longer is head but Al-Hassan is," Set offered.

"Revenge? You know me better than that."

"Of course, you live under the delusion that everyone gets their comeuppance," Set mocked as he gestured in an amused fashion. "Everything happens for a reason. Well the fact that you relived what happened to Setna is a good indicator of that. And yet you keep getting yourself into messes."

"And maybe that's because to make sense out of the chaos, what is done to be felt right and know is right… in the end it might bring nothing but pain but the conscious is clear," Angela offered with a sad smile. She sighed and looked around some more. The temple had been rebuilt since her last visit. She really hadn't visited Karnak since she had left. "I had to try and stop it Set. Yes maybe it is supposed to happen but I'm not built to sit and let it happen. I have to do something especially if I am able to at that moment. That's who I am."

"You don't need to justify it to me. I always knew that." At the looked Set got from Angela he smirked a bit and continued, "What? You think Gabriel is the only one who noticed you when you were a child?"

"You wouldn't be the first one to be a perv by watching me," Angela replied with a deadpan expression.

"If you want the honest truth, all of us gods were well aware that one would be born and would be the one who would end up being you. I just happened to look in the right place." Set looked pleased with himself as he said that. "That and I picked up powerful vibes when you were born."

"Not the vibes," Angela mocked with sarcasm.

"I am the god of chaos and it is only fitting that you would be born reeking of it since hurtled into the chaos you fight and the world shall tremble at your feet." He gave a knowing smile at the look that Angela shot him. It went on for about a minute before he continued, "That is the known destiny for you. When chaos comes, you are thrown into the fight and you create the ripples that make things what they are. You always knew this."

Angela blinked at that as she stared at the god. It was true that she responded when people were in danger and it created ripples. No doubt the god of chaos picked up on that. Well the Apocalypse was one more piece of chaos that she is being hurtled into the fight for. She nodded, "And you are right about that but like I said: I deal with it in my own way because then I know if I had done right or wrong."

"And all anyone asks for. So you want to go back into that?"

"Yes. I need to find them," Angela replied with a firm look. It softened a bit and she added, "Thank you for saving me."

"You are family even if we don't see eye to eye," Set replied with a shrug. "Just don't tell you mother you were here. I really don't want a visit from my sister."

"And I thought we were family," Angela countered with a cheeky grin.

"Save that for your Sam," Set replied. He didn't give time for Angela to reply and touched her on the forehead where the third eye was.

Angela found herself in the middle of a highway that was out in the middle of nowhere… sort of. She didn't see the truck coming down until it honked at her and she was caught in the headlights. Thanks a lot Set.

A/N: 4.01 kicks off with the Road So Far and reveals that someone pulled Angie out of the fire and not who most people expect. Of course there is that twist at the end and this and more on Don't Suffer Fools Gladly...