Chapter 2

"Hello little sister. Been a long time since we last had fun."

Angela stood in the room looking at Lenya. She turned to leave only to find a wall where the door should have been. The only openings were a couple of windows to let in light that was more twilight than anything. Even Sasha was missing and it had Angela think that she may have fallen down the rabbit hole once and for all.

Lenya stood in the middle looking like she was going to go on a hike but not the down and dirty type. The scar on her face was faint but discernible and she managed to hide it with a few locks styled for the effect. She was doing that cute little girl act as she stared innocently while Angela looked around the room. She couldn't help but ask, "Look familiar?"

Angela looked around the room. It was dirty with trash that was mostly paper. There was writing on the walls in spray paint. A covered table was in the corner and she could only guess as to what was under it. On the ground she saw something that had her move her head slightly like she was going to be inquisitive. It was the corner though that had her attention.

In the corner was a pair of shackles. They weren't normal iron shackles. They were like the ones that Alistair had her clapped into recently but padded… just like before. There was also a food dish and a water dish like for an animal. Seeing them made her throat convulse with the memory. Abruptly she turned to look at Lenya and replied, "Are you attempting to display your sick sense of humor or just merely being a pain in my ass?"

Lenya chuckled and it sounded like a little girl's giggles. "Little sister, do you always ask the same thing out of a misguided need for control?"

"Maybe I just like being predictable in the beginning." Angela maintained the distance between her and Lenya, not relaxing her guard.

"You are predictable in general. Much like the fact that you would agree to going to the funeral home to see Daddy as you are."

"Well can't help it if I don't' need to do an unnecessary step when I can see perfectly." Angela shrugged her shoulders like it was nothing. It probably wasn't a good idea to be cute with anything since it was Lenya but that was the reason for it.

Lenya smiled, "Yes. You can see the bloody reapers and anything else that wanders in the spirit world. It was a wonder you weren't crazy before you came to play in our special room." She motioned towards the room as if to display it. She looked at Angela and took a few paces forward. "Then again you were young, vain, arrogant… things that Daddy liked about you."

"I'll admit that I had a few flaws that still go for me now as they did then," Angela replied, not moving when Lenya moved. She wasn't going to give the demon that satisfaction. "Though you haven't changed a bit."

"Stating the obvious was always a talent of yours," Lenya countered as she stepped closer. She extended her hand and with her right index finger, she fingered the clothing on Angela and ran it along her cheek until it hit her chin. Her finger snapped as she put pressure on the chin.

Angela didn't flinch even though she felt the wetness of blood. The pain was nothing. She put her own finger and dabbed it in the wound. She gave a coy look at the demon and asked, "Is this payback for what I did to your face?"

Lenya's jaw tightened at that. "Call it a reminder that you belong to me little sister." To emphasize the point, she jabbed a finger at a spot on the right side of Angela's abdomen and smiled when Angela winced and moved back. "Even the flesh remembers."

"Some things yes." Angela straightened her frame as she moved away from the direction Lenya had tried to back her to which was close to the chains and the table. "Curse of eternity. Forgetting is hard."

"Indeed. Daddy always said that you would remember your time with us even though you were so determined to get out." Lenya put a finger to her lip as if to think. "Of course I don't think he expected that you'd pay him back in his own coin and with a little help."

"If you mean the fact that the angels captured him then I have no sympathy."

Lenya couldn't help but laugh at that, "Still siding with the angels even though you made it clear that you want nothing to do with them. If there was ever a hypocrite, you certainly fit that bill to a T." She paused in her laughing and looked at Angela. She was still within touching distance and she knew that it was nerve wracking. "Of course you know that payback is a bitch in most cases. Of course that depends on who it is being issued upon."

"So someone is going after the angels."

"Don't look so surprised little sister. Angels and demons; it's the battle of light and dark though really is there such a distinction?"

"From this point there is."

Lenya couldn't help it. She reached out with both hands and clapped Angela's face in them. She grinned at the look she was getting. "Always trying to make distinctions when there really are the shades of grey that you know so well."

Angela had enough and pushed Lenya's hands away roughly. "Fine. What do you want?"

"The question is what do you want? From what I heard, you were just like you were when Daddy used to come and play with you before I would. They had to have hurt. You were lucky I padded them."

Angela could hear the faint sounds of screaming and hissing. The clanking of chains was loud in her ears even though there was nothing to visibly see. She heard Alistair and Lenya both laughing and talking like she was four, patronizing her. She looked at Lenya and said, "I want you to leave me alone."

"Now you know I can't do that. Like your Deanie, you are like a puppy; you're just too much fun to play with. It is always fun to see if the puppy will fight back. Of course that depends on whether or not you will do it."

"Sink to your level? Angela made a scoffing sound, "No."

"But didn't you already do that? Still have the urge?"

Angela felt her throat convulse but couldn't help but ask, "What do you mean?"

"Why would the angels capture Daddy?" Lenya looked at Angela like she should have figured it out already. She then gave a knowing smile as she turned to walk away. "You should know better than anyone that what stays in the past doesn't stay there."

Angela looked at the ground for a moment. She could see traces of blood and it wasn't all human blood. At least that was what she remembered from before. She remembered full well what happened in this room when Lenya got bored with her usual methods. She replied, "True, but it doesn't always dictate the outcome."

"Now you sound like the humans when they lie to themselves. So like you little sister." Lenya turned to look back at Angela. "You know what they'll ask you to do. Daddy wants to know if you have the balls to walk through the door that you leave wide open."

Angela stood there looking at Lenya as the demon looked out the window. She pursed her lips as she thought about it some. Then she said, "I don't care what they do to Alistair. The bastard deserves it and if I have to, I'll do it."

Lenya turned to look at Angela. Her eyes were the white demon eyes and she got a grin and charged forward. Her swoop attack was sudden as she pounced on Angela.

Say what you want. Try to protect the dying angels too. I guess the past never truly leaves…

Angela opened her eyes and found that it was pitch black outside and she could hear the rain on the roof of the Impala. She blinked rapidly and rubbed her eyes. It was a first that she hadn't gasped for air like she did sometimes. Jerking out of a dream or nightmare usually had you making noise but it seemed to not have disturbed the boys who were sitting up front.

Sam was driving this time, probably a first in a blue moon. Dean was in the passenger seat oddly quiet but judging from the slight movement of his shoulders, he was petting Sasha. The slight whimper confirmed it and Dean's gentle murmur soothing it further verified that Sasha had decided to get into the front seat while she was back there… not that Angela could blame the pup.

Angela didn't move as she blinked herself awake. She knew that the boys probably thought that she was asleep and maybe it was a good thing since she hadn't exactly been in typical grieving mode for Pam. She didn't set foot into the funeral home, her conversation with Castiel in the rain… all of it was in her thoughts as she dreamed the whole set of events until that room and she spoke with Lenya. It was like the instant replays she did when they went dream walking to help Bobby and stop that kid who was killing people in his dreams. The problem was it felt real and they tended to.

Maybe I am going crazy if I can't separate my dreams from reality.

"Ruby'll meet us outside Cheyenne. She's been tracking some leads," Sam was saying.

Angela looked at the back of Sam's head and watched as he looked at his brother with a look that was an interesting combination of concern and the blatant eye roll. She heard Dean make a grumble and shift. She watched as he pulled Sasha closer towards him and rubbed her some more. For a man who wasn't crazy about dogs, he reached out for comfort from one and one that he didn't want around in the first place.

"Look," Sam said in response, "I know she's not exactly on your Christmas list but if she can help us get to Lilith…"

"Man, work with Ruby, don't, I don't really give a rat's ass." Dean looked at the pup that he was holding like it was a lifeline. He took in the expression and looked back up. "Pamela didn't want anything to do with this, and we dragged her back into it, Sam." He looked over at his brother.

"She knew what was at stake."

Angela couldn't help it and softly recited Pam's words that haunted her, "The one they said and I went like a moth to a flame."

"Nice of you to join us, Angie," Dean grumbled. He would have tossed the pup into the back seat but that would have disrupted Sam's driving. "Did sleeping off your grief help?" He ignored the look Sam shot at him.

"No because what I see during the day is what I see at night in my dreams. It's called guilt," Angela replied a little more forceful than she intended. She didn't want a pity party from anyone. "And as to knowing what was at stake, we just goaded her with the guilt trip so it felt like no choice. She knew what was at stake…" She made a noise.

"Right saving the world," Dean picked up. "We're doing such a damn good job of it."

It felt tense in the car. Sam glanced in the mirror and noticed Angela rubbing her eyes. Dean looked despondent. "Dean…"

"I'm tired of burying friends Sam," Dean interrupted. He was tired of it all. It just seemed too big and for every time they scored a point, they lost a couple of players off the board. He was feeling guilty because Pam didn't want to be involved and they involved her anyway and now she was dead. The traitorous thought that Angela could have said something about seeing reapers earlier would have saved them trouble but then he knew she would insist on getting in alone and that wouldn't have been good either.

"Try having to kill them if only to save them," Angela said softly but more to herself.

Neither Winchester said anything about that. Sam knew she was feeling what they were feeling and got the sense that it was more about what they had talked about; that there were tough choices that didn't have that happy ending. Of course he couldn't get that image out of his mind, seeing her like… an animal when she was chained and then breaking free, not caring about the burns… He pushed that aside and tried to change the subject, "Look. We catch a fresh trail…"

"We follow it, I know," Dean finished feeling a little annoyed as he tried to soothe himself by petting Sasha. "Like I said, I'm just… I'm just getting tired."

"Well get angry." Sam looked over at his brother.

Angela listened to that simple response. It seemed rational for the state she was in now and how she was behaving. She hadn't gone into the funeral home because she was afraid her emotional state would cause her powers to go haywire. She nearly bit Castiel's head off and Ruby didn't count since they always sniped back and forth. She was angry but it felt different. She was angry but she wanted to channel it and let it build.

Looking at Sam, Angela studied him. For a moment she let her nose do the work and focused on his scent. She knew what he had done in that motel room even though she hadn't seen it. She saw what he did when they encountered Alistair in the cemetery. She knew what she did when she approached Alistair before Sam attempted to smoke him out. She knew what was happening and it felt like it was a storm that was coming but you just didn't know when. The signs were there.

Sam was quiet after giving his suggestion but he couldn't resist looking in the mirror at Angela. She had been quiet, too quiet ever since Pam died. She wasn't rude and spoke when necessary but there was no warmth as there was before. Mostly she appeared thoughtful and he knew that her refusal to go to the funeral was not because she didn't care. It had him wonder if she heard what Pam had whispered to him about what he was doing.

It wasn't like it was a secret between them. Actually he did leave out some pertinent parts but she knew that Ruby had been teaching him things and what he could do. She didn't jump down his throat like Dean did but seemed… apathetic maybe? She accepted it but was always ready with the expression 'handle with care.' She didn't question his choice to use his abilities indicating she trusted him to make choices on his own. Yet he felt a sense of disquiet that bothered him, like she was keeping something from him but more like she knew something and was waiting.

That was the part that made him uneasy. If they screwed up or did something stupid, she didn't really point it out. Rather she would let it stew but her behavior, the normalcy, it drove the guilt train full throttle. Sam knew she was waiting for something from him and he had an idea of what but there were a lot of things that she could do that with and sometimes it was with the littlest of things but that was if she was in a teasing mood, which she wasn't in.

What is going on through that mind of yours Angie?

You're thoughts are rather loud, Sam.

Sam glanced at the rearview mirror and noticed that she was staring like she had heard him. She blinked slowly and he knew and it wasn't a fluke. Don't you have some rule about this?

Hard to keep when your worrying gets too loud… but I'll listen when you want.

Nothing more was said out loud or in thoughts. Sam knew she was there to listen if he wanted to talk. It was just weird because it was so random that she did that. He was used to her talking in dreams if that occurred like what she did with Dean a while back. He didn't say anything but he thought he could hear the faint humming of a song.

The motel didn't look any more cheery as they pulled up and paid for the rooms. The rain had stopped but the moisture in the air was still there as Angela got out in a fluid motion and looked around. Her breath came out in puffs as she paused to sniff the moisture in the air. It was nice to actually smell wet dirt; something about it was relaxing and slightly uplifting. She made a low whistle and Sasha came with a yip to stand by her as she grabbed her stuff.

"Here Angie," Sam said softly as he handed her the key to her room.

"Thank you."

Sam worried his lip as she hauled her gear out and slung it over her shoulder. It was probably nothing but it bothered him that she was so quiet when it was clear that something was on her mind. That it really hit hard that Pam died didn't help things at all and both he and Dean knew that she had a bleeding heart about people in general and especially if she knew them, whether it was like she did with them or a casual acquaintance like they've come across. Lately though she looked like she was ready to hit something or worse rip it to shreds. Certainly it looked like that when Alistair tormented her while she was chained.

Dean was concerned too. He had seen how dark his girl could get when she set her sights on something and was going to take care of business. He wasn't mad at her. He was tired, tired of friends dying and he was sticking around to see the bloody and crappy ending. He could see that his tiredness was mild compared to hers. Hell he probably would do the same or worse if he had lived as long as she had.

He didn't like the fact that Alistair knew her well, like they had done a dance before. She admitted that they did but something eluded him. He could tell when he saw her snarling and hissing in some weird language while she was restrained. That told him the history was there and it was deeply ingrained, pure hatred, for lack of a better expression. He didn't say anything about it as he and Sam pulled their gear out to go their room.

Angela opened the door to her room and looked at the bland interior. Actually it was crappy and was the exact same phrase that Dean said upon entering his and Sam's room. She put her bag on her bed and picked up Sasha, seized with an urge to draw comfort from the pup. As soon as she did though, she felt a whoosh and found herself in an equally crappy room and facing two people that drew a mixture of annoyance and… she wasn't sure.

"Winchester and Winchester and finally the abomination," the annoyingly smug voice of Uriel said. He gave a sardonic grin at Sasha, "I see you have a new pet. I'd expected as much from someone who hangs around dogs."

Angela held onto Sasha since the pup was growling at Uriel. The deep throated snarls were unnatural and she could feel the pup struggle to run up and bite the angel. She waited until Dean finished his outburst.

"Mind your tone with me," Uriel countered.

"You can try and make me," Angela said even though the demand was made towards Dean. Her eyes glowed for just a second as she held onto the snarling pup. "Lord knows you tried once and failed."

"You are needed," Uriel said looking at her and then Dean.

"We just got back from Pamela's funeral," Sam interjected and stepped forward to prevent his brother from doing anything rash. He heard Sasha's snarls and knew that this wouldn't end good if it was goaded beyond control.

"Pamela. You know, psychic Pamela? You remember her? Cas, you remember her, you burned her eyes out," Dean said angrily as he looked at the angel that couldn't look him in the eye. "Remember that? Good times! Yeah, and then she died saving one of your precious seals. So maybe you can stop pushing us around like chess pieces for five fricking minutes!"

"We raised you out of Hell for our purposes and you abomination are here for our purposes," Uriel replied, not taking a step closer since it was tempting wrath that while he could handle, would be counterproductive.

"And what are those again? What exactly do you want from me and Angie?" Dean pointed needlessly at Angela who was stone cold still as she was studying the situation with a calm that was just creepy.

"Start with gratitude and you with respect."

"Fat chance, Chuckles," Angela replied calmly. "If I recall you needed a witch's help to get him out. So much for angelic might. Then again maybe a Grigori could have done it."

Castiel decided to speak, "Dean, Angela, we know this is difficult to understand…"

"And we, don't care," Uriel interrupted.

"That's nice. You guys are dicks anyway," Angela countered with a slight devil may care expression.

Uriel looked like he wanted to tear Angela a new one but didn't. Instead he continued, "Now, seven angels have been murdered. All of them from our garrison. The last one was killed tonight."

"Demons? How are they doing it?" Dean rattled off his questions since it was a serious situation when it involved demons. It was why he was named a slayer of demons and he had the original slayer with him.

"He doesn't know," Angela replied.

"I'm sorry but what do you want us to do about it? I mean a demon with the juice to ice angels has to be out of our league, right?" Sam looked at the players involved. The calmness Angela was exerting was discomforting and yet oddly reassuring since it was reflective of the Angela he knew; the one that wouldn't let herself be bullied by dickhead angels.

"We can handle the demons, thank you very much," Uriel replied with disdain towards Sam. "Once we find whoever it is."

"So you need our help... hunting a demon?" Dean thought the world went nuts.

"Not exactly," Castiel began. "We have Alistair."

"Great. You should be able to name your trigger man," Dean replied. He glanced at Angela and noticed the odd look on her face. It was a warning and he sensed something was going to happen that he might not like.

"But he won't talk. Alastair's will is very strong," Castiel said as he glanced at Angela and noticed her expression. He knew that she was putting the puzzle together. "We've arrived at an impasse."

"Yeah well, he's like a black belt in torture. You guys are out of your league," Dean replied with a slight scoffing sound.

"That's why we've come to his student and the first slayer or should I say torturer of demons," Uriel replied with a sneer. "You both happen to be the most qualified interrogators we've got."

"Bastards," Angela hissed as her eyes glowed. Her eyes narrowed in anger as her fingers clenched the harness since Sasha was really trying to get loose. "You can't do this. You can't ask this… not of Dean. Neither one of you has the right. I'll do it but leave him out of it."

The slicing motion she made was enough to startle everyone in the room as she stared defiantly at the angels. She looked at Castiel who looked like he had been asked to kill her. So that was what he had come to see her about and couldn't do it. It only proved that he was not the mindless drone and had feelings. She repeated, "I'll do it but don't ask it of him."

"Who said anything about asking?" Uriel gave a smug smile.

A/N: Looks like things are depressing and Uriel and Cas drop in with a job for Dean and Angie. Keep watching for more Heavy Lies the Crown...