Chapter 2

"Would an apology be necessary?"

Angela looked up from where she was selecting a combination of pastries while waiting on a 3-egg breakfast with bacon and hash browns extra bacon grease for Dean, a serving of vanilla yoghurt with strawberries and bananas for Sam and an order of biscuits and gravy for herself and saw Castiel standing beside her and peering through the glass. She replied, "You shouldn't be the one apologizing."

Castiel looked up from what he was looking at to see Angela looking at him. "Still it is necessary. I was…"

"I know. Following orders. Cas, I know that he's your superior and you're doing what I thought and still think is the best case scenario for now. Your worries aren't unfounded about the extent of our relationship. Last night was a big indicator." She pointed at a few of pastries to make the baker's dozen that she had added to her purchase. All that was left was the coffee and the coffee in the room was pretty good. "It was a hard choice."

"But it is not wrong in what Zachariah said," Castiel replied as she paid for everything. He walked with her as she picked up her things and headed towards the door.

"Oh I get it Cas," Angela replied as she looked forward and headed towards the motel. She glanced around through the sunglasses she wore since the sun was unusually bright this morning and she did have a headache that was similar to light sensitivity migraines. "They just don't understand how I can inspire people. I mean I have Oni warlords under my command from the more influential clans beginning with Onigen. Even I have a hard time figuring it out considering I may have been a bitch in the beginning with those people."

"It is a logical solution," Castiel admitted though with great reluctance. "You are named the Malachi, the earthbound angel. It is logical that you have some connection to the rest of the angels."

"I hardly think being one of the rare individuals that can listen to that ringing you call a voice a connection." Angela sighed a bit. She really didn't like this at all. "And I am well aware of the guardian-charge bond; I mean we have it. That doesn't mean that I'm to be recruited as a new guardian angel."

"It was intended for you to understand the position that we are in." Castiel knew that it was probably not the best thing to say.

"Cas, I do it on a regular basis. That's the job, helping people and I know limits must be observed. The Centurion was good at instilling that with their damned forced testing." Angela opened the door to the building that was the motel. She didn't bat an eye when Castiel held it open for her. Occasionally he surprised her with certain gestures of politeness. She went in and waited until he was in before continuing, "And then there was the Old Man and now… I can pull demons and kill them at will and I can make a grown man think he is a six year old girl."

Castiel listened to her ramble as she got into the elevator. She wasn't too far off with that. He had been concerned when he had been cut off from her those three months and he knew that her newest abilities were a bit different from what had previously been shown. Yet he noticed that the Winchesters, while at first surprised, were very accepting of it. "Perhaps you could consider it an official duty."

Angela gave Castiel a look that could melt lead, "Doing the right thing is not a duty Cas. I do it because I want to and I have to live with it when things go wrong." She sighed and leaned against the wall of the elevator car as it made its way up to their floor. "But seriously, I'm supposed to make contact with a Prophet?"

"That is the assignment."

"And last I checked, Prophets were protected by an archangel and I know I'm not one. What kind of game is being played here?" She looked at Castiel with a look.

Castiel had been staring at the door of the elevator car as they rode up. He knew that it wasn't an ideal situation but… He hated the fact that he made the suggestion to his superiors about this but it was to hide another motive. He could only hope that she would see it and not be mad about it which was why it was hard for him to do this, "It is correct. An archangel is assigned to a Prophet but this is a special case."

Angela sighed. She knew what that meant and she sensed that there was more to this than Castiel was letting on. She could continue to talk and ask questions and the snowball's chance he might tell the truth would come or he would just flap on out of here. It was annoying but she was guilty of the same thing times before. She spoke, "Which means that something is going to happen to this Prophet and you need someone to get close because for some odd reason his archangel can't. My kind of job. I just relish it."

"Your sarcasm is counterproductive," Castiel replied as they got off the elevator and headed down the hall. "But the truth is yes. Something is going on but unfortunately it requires someone of your expertise."

"And knowing that I wouldn't leave anyone out in the cold, I agreed to it. We'll head out as soon as the boys are up to it."

"You can't tell them."

Angela stood in the hall and turned to look at Castiel. "What?"

"This is your assignment, Angela. You are a guardian angel…"

"Bullshit Cas," Angela interrupted, "You're asking me to lie to them? Seriously? After everything?" She made a scoffing noise and a motion that was a rather impressive feat considering that her arms were full of food. "You are asking for trouble with that. I'm asking for trouble. I can't lie to them… especially Sam."

"You know the rules regarding revealing your position."

"Bite me Cas," Angela muttered as she fished out her key. She stopped and took a breath and said, "Fine but if I can't make it fly, deal is off. They will be told one way or another. They mean more to me than this stupid job."

Castiel blinked as he watched her fumble the key. He knew that she was not happy about this. He wasn't either. He had observed how much they relied on each other; he saw how the Winchesters gravitated towards her and worked within their power to make sure that she didn't come to harm. When she was hurt, they were hurt. He nodded, "I understand. Just understand that this comes from higher up but knowing you… there are exceptions and maybe loopholes."

Angela glanced over at Castiel and took in his expression. She understood what that meant. Unlike what Zachariah had done to her, this she had more control over. She gave a slight nod and replied, "I'll give a call," and turned to put the key into the lock.

The flapping sound indicated that Castiel had left. When she glanced over her guess was correct. She finished fiddling with the lock and opened the door. It was a bit unconventional in that all three of them were sharing a room but given the circumstances it was necessary. She waved at Sasha to remain where she was while putting her things on the table and went to the coffee pot to make fresh coffee while taking stock of the room.

The noise from the bathroom told her who was up and the lump in the bed closest to the bathroom told her who was still asleep and she smiled. It seemed that the roles were reversed this time around and maybe it was a good thing considering the fact that one case involved a surprise drop in from Ruby and the fact that they kissed full on mouth to mouth and then that seemed to make Sam upset and he gave her the barest hint of politeness. That was followed by Sam's tonsillitis and the surgery to remove them… definitely a needed change probably.

Angela finished putting the coffee on and went to put the yoghurt in the fridge and put out the other dishes before taking the empty chair between the beds along with a juice bottle that she had pulled from the same fridge. She looked at the sleeping occupant and with a smile she ran her fingers through Sam's locks while humming a gentle tune.

Sam heard the tune and felt the soothing fingers through his hair and slowly opened his eyes. They locked onto Angela sitting in the chair she had been occupying the whole week… or was it two? It had been hard to remember since he had gotten sick and then had surgery to remove his tonsils and somehow Dean caught a sore throat… It was a lot to keep up with. He managed to make a noise and his voice came out like a scratchy whisper, "Can't I sleep?"

"You could," Angela said but not stopping with running her fingers through his locks. "But you are on a regimen." She held the bottle of juice out in her other hand and gave a smile.

Sam moaned a little bit and he knew there was little chance of him getting back to sleep. A glance at the clock told him that it was nine. That was late even for him. He sat up in bed and ran a hand through his hair and found her still holding out the bottle of juice. With a wry look he took it and popped the cap off and took a sip. "There. You happy?" His voice croaked from the disuse.

Angela signed as she replied, "Yes I am. That along with egg nog was the only thing I was able to feed you. It's a wonder you aren't skin and bones." She got up from her seat and went to the fridge and pulled out his breakfast. She spoke, "I got you this along with the strawberries and bananas. If you can eat that I'll consider a salad for lunch."

Sam made a face and he noticed that Dean had come out of the bathroom and ready to laugh. He looked at her and the proffered yoghurt and his scratchy voice sounded, "Fine. And I'm not skin and bones." He added the last part and it almost came out like a pout and it didn't help that his voice was not a hundred percent.

"Not with a resident doctor who managed to sweet talk your ass out of a hospital stay around," Dean replied, his voice equally hoarse but not as bad as Sam's. He grinned at Angela, "So where's breakfast?"

Angela gave a tolerant smile like a parent humoring a child. She gestured with her head, "Table. Bacon and eggs, extra greasy; just the way you like it. Coffee's on the pot." She picked up her box and went to her chair and sat and crossed her legs at the knee. "And if you give Sasha a piece of bacon Dean I will make sure that you will never know the taste of bacon ever again."

Dean had been prepared to give Sasha a piece of his breakfast when Angela said that and stopped. He knew to take a threat like that seriously considering that she did have the power to do that either with one of her potions or her mind thing. "You wouldn't."

"Try me Dean," Angela replied with a sweet smile. "Sasha is on a strict diet right now since West Virginia. I'm not trying to be a hard ass about it but she is a puppy and still recovering."

Dean glanced at Sasha who had jumped onto Sam's bed and was lying there and giving her puppy smile. He could make out the faint scar from the stitches to her shoulder even though her fur had grown back and she had suffered a coupled of broken ribs. Plus there was the suspicion that Sasha wasn't exactly the run of the mill dog. "Just a little piece?"

Angela peered over as she forked a bit of the biscuits and gravy into her mouth. It was solid but she hadn't exactly been hungry the past few days. Still she had to eat otherwise she would have Sam mostly pestering her to eat and keep up her health. She took in Dean's expression and Sasha's puppy look. She knew Dean fed her on the sly anyway and the pup was getting better and it had to do with her blood heritage. "Alright a little piece Dean. I can't have her getting fat."

Dean offered a slice of bacon to Sasha and she lapped it up. "Fat chance of this girl getting fat," he replied as he rubbed the pup's head.

Angela couldn't help but chuckle. There really was no harm so she said no more and finished her breakfast and served the coffee. She mused over what she was going to do with her job that Zachariah assigned her through Castiel. She knew that Castiel was right about the guardian-charge thing. The guardian angel never revealed their secret in terms of guarding their charge; they were the silent protectors or something like that. Gabriel and Castiel pretty much broke that rule when they came to her so she wasn't sure how that would apply. Right now she needed time since Sam and Dean were both on the mend.

"That's a nasty scratch Angie. What happened?"

Angela was jerked out of her thoughts and turned to look at her left arm. The scratch from last night still was prominent on her arm. It was fading but it had been deep and if she wasn't mistaken, it was a specialty to use against Halflings. There was no hiding it now. "Um…"

The streets of the town were bustling with people doing their business. It was reminiscent of the towns she had traveled through during the 1950s with the main street full of shops, the town hall… the small town that had become the image of America. The people were walking about doing their business. The strange thing was that people were dressed like the 1950s.

Angela frowned a bit as she walked around. She was the only one out of place and it didn't take a genius to tell her that she was in the middle of a dream and she was very much aware of it. She looked around immediately suspicious of the whole thing since on occasion Morpheus still liked to spring a surprise on her and thinking about it, she was often less than chipper in the morning when that happened.

"I figured that this would be more to your liking since my preferences mock angelic sensibilities."

Angela turned around to see Ares looking suave in his dark suit. It was posh to the equivalent of Crowley's suit and she was surprised that she remembered that in the first place. She raised her brow and looked at the god who was rather pleased with himself and probably either undressing her with his eyes or imagining her in some other outfit. She replied, "It wouldn't matter what the setting is since you have a porno-reality mind anyway when it comes to me."

"Can I help but admire the beauty that you are, both physically and personality and of course the fact that you know the warrior arts and make it into an art form." Ares gave a shrug like it was nothing but still smiling at her. "And you know me, I like it when a woman can make the warrior arts appear so beautiful like an art form. And still I can't get you to be receptive of my appreciation. What a pity."

"What are you doing really Ares?" Angela crossed her arms over her chest. She looked at the god as he made a show of buffering his nails on his jacket.

"Would you believe me if I told you I just wanted to see you? And in private since your guard dogs would just as soon as try to kill me if I showed up on your doorstep?" Ares looked at her with an almost pouting expression on his face.

"Not for a second," Angela replied with a slight smirk on her face, "Considering that you forced Sam to fight me to the death."

"Hey you were willing to let him kill you. I have to say that level of trust…"

"Please," Angela countered, "I trust both of them with my life but to force it to the test is low even for you."

"You agreed to it love," Ares countered with a rather disarming smile, "You agreed to help me in order to secure protection for the little godling in your care. I would say that was the act of a desperate woman now, would you?"

Angela stared at the god of war with a look that could have melted lead. She knew that Ares was right in that; she did make a deal then and even in hindsight, she would do it again. It would have pained her again but it was the only viable option and even with the backing of the royal family, she would have needed all the help she could get. It was like playing with fire and sometimes you got burned but it is the risk that has to be considered. She gave a smug look and replied, "Not desperate, Ares. I got what I wanted and that was the backing of a god. The others backed off since you are of the nobility."

Ares narrowed his eyes slightly and came closer until he stood toe to toe with her, "And you should be careful. Such manipulations may not always last forever."

"Of course. Intrigue and politics," Angela replied in a knowing tone. She looked over Ares' shoulder even though her head was turned directly towards him. She then looked him directly in the eye, "But you're still within the good graces and last I checked that wasn't going to change any time soon. So why don't you tell me why you're really here and let me guess that it has something to do with what is owed to you."

"You just have to spoil my fun now don't you?" Ares gave a slight pout at that. He made the image they were currently standing in fade and in its place was an office setting but it had Grecian attire to it. "There. I was bored with that scene anyway. This is more like it."

Angela looked around and noted the masculinity of the room; the furnishings that had something resembling dedication to Ares while giving the impression that he was a tasteful businessman. Times certainly changed and it seemed that the gods did too since she did see Satet dressed like a top notch executive once. "Well your taste hasn't changed. You still are full of yourself."

"I like my comforts," Ares replied as he walked over to his desk and took a seat. He leaned back in his chair and motioned for Angela to take a seat. "Don't say that I have no hospitality manners."

Angela raised her brow warily as she took the proffered chair. She proceeded to cross her legs with her right over her left and folded her hands in her lap. "I never said that you had no manners. They are just bad manners."

Ares chuckled as he picked up a tumbler that appeared and took a drink, "Ah my warrior princess… don't ever change." He put the tumbler down and leaned forward. He knew that he couldn't draw this out too long. She could end this conversation just as easily as he could but he was relying on her sense of good manners in that she wouldn't make the first move just yet. He sighed, "Alright you win."

"What did I win?" Angela couldn't help but give a coy smile towards Ares. She had a feeling that he wanted something from her and if she was patient enough and pretty much herself, she would eventually get to the bottom of it.

Ares smirked at her, "I won't lie to you. I have been keeping an eye on things and the past few weeks have provided some interesting details to your work… well the past few months."

"I like to keep busy."

"Oh certainly. I never thought I'd see the day when a dhampir would be able to tame a Wilder."

"I didn't tame anything. She follows me," Angela clarified in a firm voice. She looked at the god while she remained in a firm position in her seat.

"Same difference."

"Hardly."

Ares knew it was pointless to argue with her. She would simply argue semantics. Besides he knew that the Wilders were very picky about their owners. Like the more intelligent hell hounds belonging to Hades, they could understand and carry out complex orders; essentially bred for fighting and war. He would know since he came up with the idea and he and another god of war put the idea into some human's head.

It was prolonging the inevitable so Ares began, "Dogs aside…" He gave a look in response to the one she shot him. "I know that you've been given an assignment by your angelic friends."

"Is that what this is about? There is no way that I will let you near a Prophet."

"Hold on now," Ares motioned with his hand to calm her down. He had noticed her tattoos starting to glow. It was an interesting reaction and he wasn't all that keen to find out the extent of that reaction. "As much as having a Prophet around would be handy, I have something else in mind."

Angela let out the breath she had been holding and her hands released the armrests she had clenched when Ares admitted to knowing her business. She was suspicious about what he was after and asked, "Then what?"

"Let's just say that I want you to put your guardian angel skills to the test," Ares replied with a suave expression.

"I'm hardly that."

"Don't short sell yourself. I read and know plenty." Ares pointed at Angela in a lackadaisical manner. "You have this uncanny knack for protecting things; protecting people and that is what I want you to do."

"I am not going to help you take advantage of the situation."

"You misunderstand me," Ares corrected, "I am asking you to use those skills to protect someone who is destined for greatness. Not the same caliber as a Prophet but still someone who will be important in the future. Consider it guard duty."

"And that makes me feel so much better," Angela replied still wary about what Ares wanted her to do. She was well aware that she had a debt to pay for his protection of Hibah and pretty much that was anything that the god wanted. However it was some reassurance that he didn't want to try and make her do something that he knew she wouldn't do and die trying not to do.

"Like your heaven derived friends, there are certain persons of interest that are born every few generations and they are destined to be one of the principle leaders."

"And you whisper that information to them and they go on conquering and the like."

"Don't belittle free will, Xena," Ares replied, deliberately being annoying by calling her by a name that meant nothing to her and annoyed her greatly. "Choice still figures heavily into the grand scheme of things. Something you should know about."

Angela nodded at that. It was true that she believed in the power of choice. She had told the boys that often enough. "So this one is important to you?"

"Let's just say that I have an interest and there are others who aren't as nice as me that are interested. So you just need to find them and do what you do."

"And that's all?"

"That's it."

Angela thought about it a moment. Ares was capable of deception and he may be an ass at times but he was sincere when it came to doing what were considered the godly duties. Excluding his usual demeanor, she could tell that he was being serious. She nodded, "Okay. You got a name? Location?"

"No idea but I do know where."

"Oh goodie."

A/N: Looks like the boys were sick. If anyone can remember the one shot being referenced here, virtual cookies to you. Also Ares drops in and it looks like things are getting to be annoying for Angie. Stay tuned for next time on Will You Be My Angel...