Chapter 2

There was a lot to talk about but timing figured into everything. At the moment it was not a good time to talk but there was plenty to think about as Sam sat in the car. He was well aware that he was not in good favor at least with his brother. The only other person whose opinion mattered quite a bit wasn't there and he was at a loss as to why.

The last thing that he remembered was seeing the column of light rise up; Lucifer was rising… and he was the one that caused it. He and Dean were trying to get out but the door was shut and stuck. There was high pitched buzzing and it was painful. They both turned around and saw her. Angela was coming at them. She put Absolution back on her back and…

Sam blinked as he listened to the radio. Angela came at them and her hands were glowing like when she did her healing mojo yet it was different. Sam was sure of it. She lifted both of her hands and told them to get out and put her hands on their shoulders. The next thing that happened they were on a plane headed for Baltimore but it was just him and Dean. Angela was nowhere in sight and it had him worried and scared.

The last time she disappeared with a major event like that, she was found by the side of the highway and she was dead. That had been a horrible time because for one she was dead at that time and two, because he feared that she died angry with him and he never got a chance to apologize. This was no different since he had done the worst thing to her and that was to hit her deliberately and… and she had been trying to tell him the most important thing and he chose to believe the lies of a demon.

He didn't talk to Dean about the fact that she wasn't there with them and he could see that was a thought on his brother's mind as well. Sam just didn't say anything about it since that would be sure to open up a dam that he didn't feel like he was ready yet to cope with. They didn't even know if the dogs were okay and alive. He could easily summon Cerebus and they could see if they were okay. Sasha was different and that would be difficult… Sam just wished that she was okay.

The radio was going on about the convent they were at as a source for terrorist activities. It was the strangest thing to hear on Sam's end and he looked at his brother who was driving their rental and Dean merely said, "Change the station."

Sam did that and the next station wasn't better: Hurricane Kinley, unexpectedly slamming into the Galveston…

Sam switched it and more bad news came on. It seemed normal but he knew it was because the Apocalypse started that things were going nuts. He looked out the window into the damp darkness. He thought about what he wanted to say. He wanted to apologize to his brother but he needed to say something to her. She needed to hear from him but he would understand if she didn't want to talk to him. It would be painful to bear but he would understand. He wouldn't blame her.

The quiet between him and Dean was becoming thick and Sam decided to say something, "Dean. Look, I…"

"Don't say anything." Dean didn't mean for it to come out harsh but he was hurt. His own brother chose a demon over him and he sure as hell chose a demon over the one person that had always been straight with the both of them. He just wasn't sure of what to do. "It's okay. We just gotta keep our heads down and hash this out. All right?"

Sam looked at his brother. He knew Dean was upset and was handling the only way Dean Winchester knew how to handle it and that was to ignore it for now but occasionally let how he was feeling show and let it hit hard even if the words he had spoken were reassuring. Sam offered the only answer palatable for Dean, "Yeah, okay… And what about Angie?"

"She'll deal with it the way she always does," Dean offered. Sam just had to bring up her at that moment. He'd be lying if he said he didn't notice the way her hands glowed and that they ended up on the plane and she didn't. He didn't forget what happened at Monument and he knew sure as hell that Sam didn't. Sam was the one that broke down and the bonehead didn't know why. At least he expressed concern first.

Glancing at Sam looking out the window, deep in thought, Dean knew that this was going to be one of those between a rock and a hard place things. They had to find Angela… if she was still alive. He looked over and saw Sam pull out his cell phone and press a few buttons and hold it up to his ear. It was painful to see the sad expression overcome his brother's face. Just hearing the cue for the voicemail… it was not really that much of a comfort.

Sam heaved a quiet sigh as he looked at his cell phone. He needed to know if she was okay. The only way he knew of was to call her. So he dialed her number and waited. He tried not to panic when he got her voicemail without it ringing but it was a natural thing to do so. After what happened… there was the very real possibility that she could be seriously hurt and he was powerless to do anything and even if he could summon Cerebus, there was a good chance the mutt wouldn't be receptive to him and maybe Sasha wouldn't be either.

Angie, where are you?

Dean glanced over at his brother. They had every right to worry about their girl. They had no idea where she was and judging by the look on Sam's face, it was going to be long and hard and there was still the issue about his little brother's choices as of late. He cleared his throat and asked, "Alright, first things first. How did we end up on Soul Plane?"

Sam recognized the attempt for what it was and replied, "I don't know. Angels, maybe? You know, beaming us out of harm's way." He paused a moment and then added, "Angie's hands were glowing when she said get out and that was right when she touched us."

"Well whatever on the angel theory," Dean replied, "It's the least of our worries. As for Angie possibly doing it… Not in a hundred years."

"Why not? She…"

"And she killed herself and didn't understand what she was capable of. Besides, beaming us out? That is highly unlikely." It was logical from Dean's argument and it made sense and that was based upon what they knew. "Something else had to have gotten her and us out."

"That is if she got out," Sam replied quietly. It dawned on him that there was the possibility that she didn't get out and she may be dead. Yet he didn't think so. He just had a feeling that she was still alive. He couldn't explain it but he knew.

"You saying she didn't?"

"No, but I know she isn't dead." Sam looked straight ahead, not looking at his brother. "I just know."

Dean wasn't even going to touch that one just yet. He expected that from her. He accepted it and replied, "Well we need to find Cas… and Angie."

They continued on the drive to the last place Dean knew Castiel had been. They went to Chuck's place. It was their best ticket to find the angel. Then with Castiel, they would be able to find Angela. Dean knew that the angel would be able to find her. Somehow he must have found her otherwise his dick brothers wouldn't have been able to catch her and send her to that fuck head who also made his top ten of bastards to gank.

They arrived at Chuck's place and it looked like someone had gone on a killing spree. Things were scattered all over the floor and there was blood spattered everywhere. There was concern that Chuck might have been hurt, which didn't make sense since he was a Prophet. They paused by the painting of Angela and it was a surprise that there wasn't any damage to it. Dean made a slight surprised expression at that while Sam looked around.

A rustling and creaking of floorboards caught their attention. Sam took the lead towards the direction of the sound. Cautiously they looked through the rooms towards the one that led to the stairs. Suddenly Sam got a face full of a plunger or something and staggered back, "Unh. Jeez. Ow." He looked at Chuck with a look of surprise and annoyance.

"Sam?"

"Yeah," Sam replied as he rubbed his head.

"Hey, Chuck," Dean entered more softly.

"So, you're okay?" Chuck looked at Sam with a baffled expression.

"Well, my head hurts," Sam stated the obvious.

"No, I mean my last vision," Chuck clarified. He had been worried since that last vision since it was most unusual for him since it was the first time that he had seen something like it and he got the feeling that it had been sent before. "You went, like, full on Vader. Your body temperature was that of a roid raged dhampir at a 150 and your heart rate was 200… You fought with Absolution."

Sam felt his throat convulse at that. He could recall every word of that conversation that led to that. And in the end…

"Your eyes were black," Chuck continued.

Dean picked up on that, "Your eyes went black?"

Sam turned to face his brother, "I didn't know." He didn't know that happened. All he felt was that surge of power going into taking out Lilith. It wasn't like he could see what was happening to him.

Dean studied his brother for a moment. He wasn't sure if he should believe him or not. He let it pass for now and asked, "Where's Cas?"

"He's dead," Chuck answered wearily. "Or gone. The archangel smote the crap out of him. And if that was what Angie was going to do to Lilith the first time…" He turned to think a little bit. "I'm sorry."

"You sure?" Dean didn't want to think the worst thing could happen. If Castiel was gone, then they lost their only means of locating Angela. Sure there was the possibility of GPS but considering the things she had gotten involved in… "Maybe he just vanished into the light."

"No." Chuck turned to face the Winchesters and explained, "He, like, exploded, like a water balloon of Chunky soup." He then looked at the Winchesters with alarm, "Don't tell Angie. I really don't want a visit from the virago of hell."

Sam and Dean both frowned at that. She had never been rough or angry ever with Chuck. In fact she was ready to beat Dean to a pulp if he harmed Chuck. That was how Dean learned more about her if she took someone under her protection. She wasn't an angel but she had some status that was similar to one. Sam frowned at Chuck and asked, "Why would you think that?"

"Are you kidding me? She may be a charge but she is a dhampir and one that is well known." At the look he was getting, Chuck explained, "I read about her."

Sam could buy that. He was still frowning since he noticed something and pointed it out to Chuck. He watched as the guy pulled out what looked like a tooth from his hair and exclaim, "Oh God. Is that a molar? Do I have a molar in my hair?"

It was clear that Chuck was freaking out and evident that Castiel was not going to be able to help them. It meant that their ability to find their girl to regroup and try to figure out what to do next… it was fast becoming a pit of despair.

"This has been a really stressful day," Chuck was near sobbing.

"Cas you stupid bastard," Dean murmured. "And you couldn't say no."

"Stupid?" Sam looked at his brother. "He was trying to help us."

"Yeah, exactly," Dean replied. "And that was because he did whatever it was Angie told him to do. He couldn't say no to her."

Sam absorbed that bit of information. He knew she wouldn't deliberately send someone to their death. That was not her. "So what now?"

"I don't know. I don't know Sam since apart from GPS on her phone… I don't know how we're gonna find Angie." Dean rubbed his head in frustration.

In the meantime Chuck realized something was going on and tried to warn Sam and Dean about it. It was only when a very familiar and annoying voice said, "Thought we'd find you here."

The Winchesters turned to find Zachariah and two of his lackeys. It wasn't too hard to notice that there was an interesting look to the fat lip on Zachariah's face. The angel though was serious as he looked around and then at Dean saying, "Playtime's over, Dean. Time to come with us."

"You keep your distance, ass-hat," Dean warned.

Zachariah looked at Dean with a puzzled look, "You're upset."

"Yeah a little. You sons of bitches jump started Judgment Day and you sent Angie to that fuck head that made her miserable. So yeah I am a little." Dean glared at the angel really ready to find something to stab him in the face.

"Maybe we let it happen, but we didn't start anything. Right Sammy?" Zachariah cast a knowing look in Sam's direction. He took pleasure in the younger Winchester's squirming before turning his gaze back to Dean, "You had a chance to stop your brother and you couldn't. Absolution had a chance and in the end…" He shrugged his shoulders. "So let's not quibble over who started what. Say it was all our faults and move on. Because like it or not… its Apocalypse now and we're back on the same team again."

"Is that so?" Dean was less than thrilled. In fact he was downright pissed. He could read between the lines. No doubt this dickhead delayed Angela reaching Sam. He was the source of the static from their last phone call. There was no way that they were on the same team.

"You wanna kill the devil. We want you to kill the devil. It's synergy," Zachariah replied.

"And I'm just supposed to trust you?" Dean was really annoyed now. "Cram it with walnuts, ugly." It was pretty dumb to tell an angel to shove it but after hearing Angela do it and with everything else, he was all for it.

"This isn't a game son. Lucifer is powerful in ways that defy description," Zachariah countered. "We need to strike now, hard and fast… before he finds his vessel."

"His vessel?" Sam frowned at that revelation. "Lucifer needs a meat suit?"

Zachariah looked at them like they were idiots, "He is an angel. Heh, heh. Them's the rules. And when he touches down, we're talking four horsemen, red oceans, fiery skies, the greatest hits. At the forefront Absolution to inspire the masses and draw him out… You can stop him Dean but you need our help."

Dean had enough. This was a slight on his family. He knew that Angela would do what she had to do to help save the world. It was who she was and he was the biggest douchebag she ever knew and yet she still loved him like he was her blood brother. He looked at the smug faced angel and said, "You listen to me, you two faced douche. After what you did, I don't want jack squat from you."

"You listen to me, boy," Zachariah retorted as he narrowed his eyes at Dean. "You think you can rebel against us? As Lucifer did? You think that she will rebel against us knowing the consequences if she did?" He looked at Dean and noticed that his hand was bleeding. "You're bleeding."

Dean looked at his hand and then at the angel, "Oh yeah. A little insurance policy in case you dicks showed up." He then abruptly turned and pulled the sliding door out to reveal the repelling sigil and deftly put his bleeding hand on the sigil.

Zachariah had reached out to stop Dean but it was too late. In a flash of light, the angel and his lackeys were blasted from Chuck's kitchen. Dean turned to see the coast was clear. He then said, "I learned that from my friend Cas you son of a bitch." He looked upwards as in that would get the message sent straight to home.

"This sucks ass," Chuck commented. It was like one thing upon another was added on. First Castiel and Dean showing up when they weren't supposed to, then Castiel getting smoted and now this… It really sucked being a Prophet. "Oh by the way uh…" He held up a cell phone. It was on hold.

Dean frowned as he grabbed a towel to stop the bleeding on his hand. Sam took in his brother's expression and accepted the phone and looked at Chuck. Seeing that he was expected to speak, he took it off hold and said, "Hello?"

Sam?

Sam's eyes widened in surprise as he looked around, "Angie?"

That had Dean look up. He asked, "Is she okay?"

Sam didn't mean to wave off his brother but he wanted to be able to hear her clearly. The line didn't appear to be a good one. "Angie? Is that you?"

It's me Sam. I'm glad to hear that you're okay. I was worried.

Sam blinked at that. "We were worried about you. You… didn't end up in the same place as we did."

Long story on that one. Um… I called Chuck and he told me you and Dean are both there and that there was trouble with angels.

"They showed up but it's okay. They're gone." Sam was glad to hear her voice but he caught something in her tone. There was pain laced in her voice and he heard her grimace slightly. "Angie are you okay? Are you hurt?"

Just a little misfortune. Nothing I can't handle.

Sam was tempted to argue and he had to fight to keep Dean from snatching the phone from his hand. It didn't work and Dean had the phone in his hand and put it on speaker phone and demanding, "Angie, where the hell are you? And what's this about you being hurt?"

It was a bit of a shock to everyone at how he sounded. Sam blinked at his brother and figured that it was more directed at him. He was responsible for her being wherever she was at the moment and he wasn't sure if he should say anything. He waited to hear what she would say.

I'm… not sure where yet but I'm fine. Just a mishap. Are you okay?

"Don't spin this onto us, Angie. What happened?"

I don't know but I'm sure we could find the answers if we regroup. I know you're at Chuck's so I'll head over there now. We need to talk.

There was a sense of finality to that given the way she said it. Dean looked around and nodded, "Actually Sam and me will find a place and tell you where we are. You do have your cell phone working right?"

"Dean," Sam appealed quietly.

Dean ignored Sam and asked, "Angie?"

My phone is working now and I'm using it now. I'm assuming you'll be in the general vicinity?

"Yeah. Sorry about this way but we've got angels up our asses."

Know. I'll find you. I did before.

The line was cut before Dean could say anything. He looked at the phone and handed it back to Chuck and looked at Sam. It was a relief to know that she was fine and a glance at the relief on Sam's face told him that his brother was going to be okay. Now they could make a plan or two once she got to wherever they went.

It was short work making sure that Chuck was okay and heading out to find lodging in a place that was nowhere near the Prophet's place. Each Winchester reflected upon their thoughts surrounding the fact that the one person they both missed was okay and they would be seeing her soon. Sam looked out the window of the car as Dean drove.

I'm glad to hear that you're okay. I was worried.

The tone in her voice was genuine even if it was laced with pain. It had Sam baffled that she even cared about his wellbeing after everything. He had been worse than a grade A douchebag with her. True he had hurt her feelings with words and he regretted them and almost ended up not being able to say he was sorry. He felt though this was something that he shouldn't be forgiven for.

He had virtually called her a liar and ended up believing Ruby. His reasoning was that he was doing it for her but… Then he physically hurt her. That pained him even worse.

He had hit her before if he wanted to get technical but those times were because they were sparring. It was different because deep down he couldn't bring himself to do that. He had a hard time seeing her anything but what he knew her as. This time though, he distinctly recalled the feeling that he wanted to hurt her enough to get her to stay down and let him kill Lilith. He wanted to hurt her.

He supposed there was some consolation that he would only do it if she gave him a reason to but even that was weak. She would defend herself. She even said that she would do what she could to stop him. She tried to warn him but he didn't listen. He knew he was going to have to pay the price but she was still being nice to him. He just couldn't wrap his mind around it. He was going to have to talk to her and she made that point clear on the phone.

You're thoughts are loud Sam.

Sam's lip twitched since he could almost hear her say that peculiar phrase. It was her way to get him to talk and he thought about all the times she did that. He could have told her about what he was doing then.

I think she is waiting for you to ask the right question Gigantor.

Sam sighed in silence as Dean pulled up to the place that he picked for them to stay. He had the signs placed right in front of him and he didn't see them. He really screwed up this time. He wouldn't blame her if she decided to stick with them but give him the cold shoulder or anything like that. It wouldn't be anything less than what he deserved.

Looking at his brother, he said, "I'll grab some supplies."

Dean looked around the room that they had. It wasn't the best but it would do. "Fine. I'll call Bobby and find out about the mutts. If they aren't okay… I don't want Angie freaking out over sick dogs."

Sam nodded at that and strode out of the room. While he was out, he could do some things to ensure a little safety for him and Dean. Maybe he would be able to face her when she did come.

A/N: Sam and Dean got out of that convent and go see Chuck while worrying about their girl. Looks like Sam is having a lot of guilty feelings and things are awkward. Keep watching for more Don't Suffer Fools Gladly...