Chapter 2

"So I take it things went well?"

Angela looked at Dean as she continued to use her whetstone on her chakram. Her hands made the rhythmic sounds though years of practice as she turned the weapon round in her hand. "Pretty much. Cas will call when he finds something." She bent back over her work and ran her thumb gently along the edge to test sharpness.

Dean stared at her as she worked. Ever since she let them know that she had dealt with Crowley before and the circumstances behind it, it was like she closed herself off. Thinking about it, she had done it to stave off any chance of him or Sam going Inquisition on her about it when in truth, he felt nothing. Yeah he was a little upset she had kept it a secret for so long but it wasn't like she lied to them and she was right that at the time they would have said something about her involvement with demons.

Looking back, it made a whole lot of sense especially with the way she approached the situation with Ruby. True those two had met and had a cat fight and then couldn't stand being in the same room with each other but Dean figured there was a lot more to things and her reaction was self-preservation for the most part since she was working with hunters and she was often classed with the things that hunters hunted. He didn't blame her but he didn't like that she was backing away.

He took that back. She was backing away from the friendly footing they had been on but strangely enough, she and Sam seemed to be getting alone better than previously. Dean wasn't sure but there were some instances that they did the sort of holding hands thing lately. He couldn't forget how they pulled one on him at Christmas pretending to make out… or did they?

Watching her, he asked, "Cary leave the place in one piece?"

"Of course." Angela paused and looked at Dean, "Who do you think I am?" She gave a slight smirk. She sobered at Dean's look. "Okay, maybe I overdid it a little with going all vamping out on him and in truth… I kind of wanted payback for what he did when you and Sam were looking for me. I'm more or less human too."

"Never said you weren't," Dean grinned as he sat down across from her. He picked up Absolution and studied the blade before picking up the polishing rag and started rubbing down the blade. He looked over at her and added, "I know that things are getting rough and I get that you may need to go more scary on things. Doesn't mean that we aren't gonna like you less. You fought your way in and you're staying. Get me?"

Angela looked at Dean and a slight smirk appeared on her face as she raise her brow at him. "I get you. I remember what you told me when I asked you about being family."

"You remember that?"

"It came back to me. One of my better memories and… helped a lot during that time afterwards when I was trying to make sense of the world," she admitted. She cleared her throat slightly and continued, "And to be honest, it was a question I always had but never could ask. Not after everything before that."

"I'm sorry about that."

"Don't be. What's done is done. We gotta move forward you know." She looked at Dean as she leaned over her chakram and played with the whetstone in her hands. "Learn new lessons and work on the old ones."

Dean sat back a little as he watched Angela. Things were okay. They weren't perfect but they were okay. He and Sam were in a better place in terms of their relationship and that spell gift helped a little. They had all needed to take some time and look at things. "I get ya Angie. And I'm trying but… like you said, we're only human."

"Nice to meet you." She grinned and couldn't help but chuckle.

"Don't you be thinking about the cheek pinch. I let you get away with it over the holidays," Dean warned but it was halfhearted at best.

"No can do." With a quick movement, Angela ruffled Dean's hair and when he tried to bat her hands away, she reached out and pinched his cheek. She laughed when she heard Dean growl and saw the scowl on his face. "I can't resist those cute little cheeks."

"That's it." Dean scowled at her, "I'm gonna get you for that Angie."

"And you know the rules. I do suggest you double team me." Angela smiled sweetly at Dean knowing that he wasn't really angry. He was just ruffled that she had gotten the best of him yet again and he would never admit that he liked it when she did that.

"Oh I'll find a way." Dean picked up Absolution and the polish rag. He started polishing the blade again. "I did it before." He turned his attention to the blade and started murmuring at it. He made sure he was loud enough for her to hear since he liked talking dirty to the blade and it responded.

If Dean was hoping for a reaction, he wasn't going to get one but he knew she was hearing everything he said. He finally decided to go on another thing to tease her about, "So… you talk to Sam?"

"I do all the time."

"You know what I mean. Have you talked to him?"

Angela knew what Dean was after and no doubt he pestered Sam about it when she wasn't within ear shot. She understood where he was coming from on some level but this was borderline being a pest. She repeated, "I do all the time."

"Angie…"

At that moment the subject of the conversation walked in carrying dinner followed by Xander. Sam took a look at the scene and raised a brow, "Did I miss something?"

"No. But I think I am," Angela offered while giving the tiniest of smiles towards Sam.

Dean noticed the exchange but didn't say anything. Definitely something was up but he wasn't going to go into it now. He put Absolution aside and got up to grab his food. "Not ever Angie. You bring my pie, bitch?"

"Yes," Sam replied with an eye roll as he handed over the bag that had Dean's cheeseburger and bacon with extra onions. "And I'm going since I don't want to deal with your extra onions." He turned to leave but not before he shot a look at Angela.

"Same here and it is a nice night for a picnic," she replied as she put aside her gear.

"Aww come on. Don't leave me here with the mutt."

Xander made a puppy sound and then walked over to where Angela was standing. Dean shook his head, "Figures."

Angela was grinning at Dean as he pouted that he was going to be left alone. Sam was trying hard not to laugh either and said, "Alright. Fine."

"Hell no. I don't' want to smell your health food crap."

The banter went back and forth as the trio eventually sat down to eat what Sam picked up. It wasn't until later when Angela made sure that everything was locked for the night that she and Sam went for a walk. It was late but she wasn't sleepy just yet and it was a general liking for nightly walks between the pair of them. They weren't long walks either but it was something they did together. It was also a time to talk.

Angela took in a deep breath and took in the smells that assaulted her sensitive nose. "I managed to get a hold of Cary," she said without preamble.

"And… how did it go?" Sam long harbored a dislike for the demon and he had made his case previously. But he had also used the demon's services too so he really couldn't complain about it. And he had dealings with them too. So it was agree to disagree and move on.

"About the usual," Angela felt her lip twitch when she recalled seeing the demon struggle. "It was funny to see his face when he realized he couldn't move and I didn't have a devil's trap."

"Kesset?"

"He had fun," Angela allowed before lapsing into silence for a moment. "You were right in that he needed something to do other than patrol."

"I don't know about that. I just noticed he was… itching for a fight." Sam wasn't sure how to put it into better words. "It was worse when we were… looking for you. Bobby explained it a little."

"And I still wonder why…" Angela looked up into the night sky. She gave a shrug and added, "No changing it though." She made a slight face.

Sam recognized the signs of guilt. "And Kess is okay with it. So no guilt there. Okay?" He stopped and put a hand on her shoulder.

Angela knew what Sam was trying to do and she appreciated it. She did feel bad that she was causing the mood swings in Kesset but such was the case with his kind and he had made it clear that he wouldn't want to guard anyone else. It was a little odd in the manner he said that but she got the gist. She nodded, "I know. It's easy to though since he is more volatile emotionally than me."

"Not really," Sam replied with a slight smile.

"Oh so I am the more volatile."

"Not going there." Sam wasn't going to go there on that one. It would be teasing but it was dangerous territory; much like a woman asking if she looked too fat in the dress she was wearing. He knew Angela wasn't petty but he wasn't going to risk it. "I would like to keep my dignity."

"Smart move, Sammy," she teased. She gave a deep breath, feeling relieved after everything. She glanced up at the sky. "I may not like the idea of using Cary but… his word will bring Crowley out."

"You sure about that?" Sam regretted the way that came out and tried to rectify that. "What I mean is…"

"I know what you mean," Angela replied softly. She blinked as she looked at Sam and then at nothing in particular. She gave a slight huff of air and continued, "I spent considerable time with the demon." She looked down since she still didn't like the fact that she had kept it for so long and now just revealed it.

Sam noticed and apologized, "I'm sorry. I'm not mad or anything like that."

"It's not that," she countered, "Just the fact that we spent time together and for the most part it wasn't anything like trying to kill each other. It was…" She shrugged her shoulders. She had admitted to both Winchesters about her knowledge of the demon they were after when she got back. First she told Sam and then Dean and didn't hold back. It felt good to tell but she was wary since in essence she kept something from them and she understood what it was like to be lied to.

They didn't see it that way and dealt with it in their own way. Sam, for his part, knew what she was about and he didn't hold it against her. Besides he was determined to pursue whatever it was they had especially since she had changed from saying she cared about him to that he was special to her. It was a step up in his view and he just wanted to be worthy of that assessment. He would stand by her and show her.

Listening to her, he studied her and asked, "So Cas is on the trail?"

"Cary gave me a general stomping grounds. Best lead we have and Cas can track and see." Angela started walking again. "He'll call."

"Good."

They continued to walk and the topics drifted from the fact that they were hunting a demon that had the Colt to other things. It was a small step and one that Sam would cling to. He also suspected that it was moments like these that made Angela just as relaxed and would note it so as to bring that relaxed look to her face again.

It was over all too soon and they both needed to get to sleep if they were going to get a good start. Sam saw her to her door even though there was a door that separated her room with his and his brother's. It was more as a means of respect and baby steps. He stood there and waited until she was inside before leaning forward and giving a kiss to her cheek and saying, "Night."

"Good night."

"So…"

"So what?"

Dean leaned over, resting his arms on the roof of his car as he looked at his brother. They were waiting while Angela took the newest dog on a bathroom break. Dean had complained mildly at that insisting that they didn't have as much trouble from Sasha when she was a puppy. He was shot down with a raised brow from his brother and Angela telling him that Xander was a puppy and puppies didn't have the bladder an adult did, especially one that traveled a lot and that Sasha did so have to go frequently.

Looking over at his brother, he was suspicious that his brother was playing dumb on purpose or he was getting more and more like their girl and waiting for the right question to be asked. Mostly he was curious. "So… what's going on?"

"Nothing."

"Really?"

Sam knew what Dean was getting at and tried to stave off any potential disaster, "Dean, nothing is going on."

Dean was hardly convinced, "Really? Well seeing that you and Angie seem to be spending an awful lot of time with each other…"

Sam gave a slight roll of the eyes. He didn't know what it was they had since it felt like a game of footsie. Not yes and not no. So there was no way that he was going to tell Dean about it so he fibbed, "We hang out because Angie decided to prank you and I have no idea what she has in mind."

It was so farfetched that it was believable. Dean looked at his brother. He was not convinced of that but he was aware that it was a possibility. While Angela could deliver a prank solo, she wasn't above recruiting outside help. He wasn't going to press further but he did find their interactions to be a little odd… He couldn't put his finger on it but he knew something was going on. Maybe the timing might suck but it was better late than never.

There was no chance to say anything more since Angela came back with a puppy that was twice as happy now that it relieved itself. She took in the situation and asked, "Something I missed?"

"No," Sam replied as he shot a look at Dean, warning him not to pester her.

Angela watched the silent exchange and ignored it for the time being. It was not anything serious in terms that it indicated they were fighting like before, meaning separation and all that. It was more along the lines of brotherly banter and it actually was nice to see even if it wasn't quite that. "Okay then."

Dean looked at her like she was crazy, "Okay?"

"Yeah." She shrugged her shoulders. She would have said something more when she turned to look off in the distance and her eyes flared slightly. "Cas is calling."

At that moment Dean's cell phone rang. He looked at her, "Now that is creepy." He answered it, "Yeah?"

Got him. The demon Crowley is making a deal. Even as we speak it's… going down.

"Going down?" Even though they had known the angel for some time and Angela even longer, it was still funny and strange to hear certain expressions come out of the angel's mouth. Dean looked at Angela and she shrugged like it was no big deal. He continued, "Right. Okay, Huggy Bear. Just don't lose him."

I won't lose him.

"No doubt's Cas," Angela said softly.

There was a momentary lull and Dean was impressed, "I guess Cary came through after all."

"He only gave me his stomping grounds," Angela said, "The other stuff was another means to get an audience with Crowley since…" She made a gesture with her hands indicating she didn't have the means anymore. "Could be playing hard to get. Oh, Cas is following him."

"You know that can come off creepy," Dean pointed out.

"Just keeping an eye out," Angela countered with a slight shrug. "And I've been practicing."

"I'll say."

I followed him. It's not far, but it's layered in Enochian warding magic. I can't get in.

"That's okay. You did great," Dean replied, "We'll take it from here." He didn't leave much room for the angel to get in a word but this was serious business now. He looked at his brother and Angela and nodded.

Now that they had a lead, they could start making plans on what to do. That meant time for a little pow wow with Bobby though that wouldn't stop them from coming up with plans or ideas in the car. Dean, being himself, threw back, "You need anything from one of your storage places, Angie?"

"No. Enochian ward magic? Please. Child's play."

"Any ideas what to expect?" Sam turned to look at Angela who was sitting like she was going on a day trip but she was actually in thought.

"No idea. I need to scope out the place first," she replied.

"Don't you think that's a little too risky?"

"No." At the look she could see from Dean in the rear view mirror, she explained, "Enochian ward symbols meaning that he's careful and… he was like that when we discussed our terms. And I don't trust Crowley. It's about as much as I trust Cary."

Sam accepted that and glanced at Dean who said, "Okay but wouldn't he expect you to come by?"

"Maybe."

It was a good plan and it did allow Angela to get a good grasp of what they were going to walk into. It reminded her of the old days before advanced technology when one had to really get in close and spy on the enemy to know what was going on. Without her and a few others, the War Between the States would have been a lot worse than what it was. Then there were the other things going on that were buried by major events.

It also reminded her of when she could claim she was a girl back in Italy. The subterfuge they had to use then to achieve their goals… that was the most daring point of all. So it wasn't a big deal for her to scope out the building that Crowley decided to hole himself in. It was a bit disconcerting that she could see the warding all over the place; it reminded her too much of that funeral parlor and Alistair but that was the reason she volunteered to get what they needed. She could see things that others couldn't.

She managed to get the details and with it, they formed a plan, which was why she was standing out in the damp night with a firm gaze on the gate as she watched none other than Jo Harvelle go up to the call box and say that her car was broke down and needed help. She moved closer once the gates started opening and the two guards came out.

"We said get your ass in here," the guard said as he grabbed Jo and his eyes turned black.

Angela was quick on the draw once Jo reacted and twisted around to break her captor's arm. The other started to lunge towards Jo but was halted when it was stabbed by a knife that she had thrown. It allowed Sam to come in and stab the other demon. It was quick work.

Dean came running up with their gear bag, "Nice work Jo."

"Thanks," Jo replied with a slight smile. She looked at Angela and sobered slightly at the look she was getting from the older woman. "You were right Angie. Blondes do make a better case for damsels in distress."

"Indeed," Angela said as she looked at the demons, her nose wrinkling from the stench. She looked at Jo and continued, "And no one can resist cute and adorable."

"You'll never let me live that down will you?"

"Nope."

Jo made a slight scoffing sound but it was spoiled by a slight smile. "Unbelievable."

Angela gave a teasing smile and looked at the Winchesters, "Shall we?"

"Hey, not arguing," Dean replied as he pulled out a set of pliers and tossed them to Jo. "You got it?"

"Piece of cake," Jo said as she started heading in the direction to cut the power. Before she left she looked at Angela who gave her a look that said a lot of things but mostly to be careful.

Angela watched Jo leave before turning to follow the boys into the house. Once they got closer, her movements became slow and deliberate. At one point she separated from the boys after giving a slight tug on Sam's jacket cuff. She wasn't ditching them but she had a slight suspicion and she was going to counter it.

When the lights cut out, she moved to the walls and slunk along. She also tapped on her powers a little to encourage it along. She would deal with Dean's flirting about her being sexy about the sneaking through the shadows thing. She was amused by it and she did like teasing them every now and then. Right now they had business.

She watched as the Winchesters drew their devil's trap and moved into position. Being a creature of the night, as the romantic versions went, she could see very well. After all vampires did like to operate at night so… moot point. She took in the place and noted that Crowley did have refined tastes. The property she was impressed with and wouldn't have minded living in a place like that; one of those sort of pipe dreams.

"So. The Hardy Boys finally found me. Took you long enough."

Angela turned her attention to the fact that Crowley was in the room. She caught a whiff of him before he entered. Not much had changed about him. She watched as he paused to look at the rug. It was a nice one and didn't blame him when he asked the Winchesters, "Do you have any idea how much this rug costs?"

Angela couldn't help herself and came out of hiding and replied, "A pretty good idea. I saw one in a manor in France."

Crowley looked towards his right since she was standing there and deliciously close. He gave a slight smile, "I should have known. How are you, sweetheart?"

A/N: And we have general fluff plus a Samgie moment. Then it's on to see Crowley. Looks like he remembers Angie. Stay tuned for more The End of the Beginning...