Chapter 3
The morning sun peeked over the edge of the world casting the first rays onto the land. The sky had soft colored hues as the sun continued to rise. The air was crisp; cool as the night air wore off but the heat of the sun could be felt as it rose over the hills. The heat of the sun could be seen by the wisps of smoke that arose in the air. The sun continued to rise indicating a new day had arose.
It was early but not too early for Sam to be up and it was one of those nights where he didn't have nightmares that normally kept him up. What was on his mind was what happened over the last couple of days particularly between Uriel and Angela. He remembered when Castiel showed up with the angel he called a specialist.
Her reaction was subdued but Sam could tell that it indicated recognition and annoyance. It wasn't the kind of annoyance like a fly. It was the kind that told him it was one of those things that she would probably want to keep buried. He was wrong on that account and she gave her opinion in the blunt way she always delivered when she happened to not like someone and it was clear that she and Uriel didn't like each other.
Sam was well aware that she had made it clear that there were going to be people they might meet that didn't like her and the feelings would be returned. What had him worried was the fact it was an angel, a being he knew nothing about, would be going against her and he had seen her capabilities, those that she was willing to show and he didn't want to think about how that would play out. He knew she would fight to the death if it was something worth fighting for.
It was a lot to think about and he figured that it was best to not bring it up and he didn't say much after that when she picked a direction and took off. Even though she had been in a mood, it hadn't been too bad. It was also an opportunity to actually see parts of the country that they would have never been able to see if Dean had been driving and he knew the highways pretty well. It had been a quiet trip and they were in some southwestern town with motel rooms ready to go when she woke them both up.
Maybe today is a better day.
Sam knew it might be wishful thinking but usually a new day did make things better. He went out for a run and was on his way back when he caught sight of something. He had to do a double take to make sure he wasn't seeing things.
Angela was staring straight ahead in complete concentration. If a parade were to go by, it wouldn't break. That was sure in Sam's opinion as he watched her. He was certain though that she could see what was in front of her. He felt his throat convulse as he watched her.
Angela was well aware of what was in front of her since she instigated it. She was balanced perfectly on both feet on the boulder she found to stand on. Looking right at her at eye level was a snake, a rattler. It was looking at her and she could make out the look of the snake, the black cold eyes, and she was looking back at it.
It was an old form of kung fu that was still in use today but as the old monkey Li told her, it took a lifetime to master. It was a joke between them since they shared the whole lengthy lifespan thing they had. Li had taught it to her stating that she had the discipline and flexibility to execute the moves. He also said something about her ability to 'dance' when she fought.
As it were, she was practicing what she had learned and face to face with the inspiration of a real snake. Standing there, she could see the snake but not really see it. She moved her arms slowly and firmly to shift her position along with her balance to one leg. Her body weaved and the snake's body weaved with hers. It took extreme focus and discipline to do what she was doing and she was wearing the scarf Castiel had given her and a slight breeze was blowing.
Sam had seen Angela do some freaky things and even he had been nervous with that thing she left in Bobby's salvage yard. It was a pointless argument since she would do it anyway and she had done worse when it was the real thing. If he were truly honest, he was rather fascinated by it and he was familiar with kung fu forms since she did start to teach him that one from Onigen.
He watched as she weaved and bobbed, copying the snake's movements. He was surprised that the snake wasn't reacting to the blowing scarf. Sudden movements tended to make them react the way they did which was strike. It was interesting to watch and Sam couldn't help but move closer.
Angela finished her routine as she finished with a pose that mimicked a snake standing up and ready to strike. She was still moving and weaving until she froze completely. The snake matched her movements and they stared at each other for a long time. It was the snake that broke form giving a little slip of its tongue and then moved away. Angela gave a slight smile as she lowered her limbs until she was in a standing position.
"Can we expect more of that while we're down here?" Sam called out once the snake was gone.
Angela turned into the wind. The breeze played with her scarf as she looked in the direction of Sam's voice. She replied, "Probably never." She then grinned as she jumped down and started walking towards Sam. She took in his clothes and asked, "Have a nice run?"
"Being polite again?"
"Nope. Just asking." Angela adjusted her scarf and then stretched her arms. "Makes sense since Dean and early don't go together."
Sam gave a slight nod in agreement. It was a rapid turnaround but this was her. "He gets up when he has to."
"You mean when he can't bully you into doing something like play babysitter. You really have to learn how to be quiet when creeping outside my window. People will think you both are perps," Angela replied as she started walking.
Sam blushed a bit. "Just…"
"No need to explain. I wasn't exactly being nice yesterday concerning a dick with wings that has a Saturn V rocket up his ass and he knows how to use it." Angela took a sniff of the air as she walked towards the midpoint between the motel and the out of the way diner that was there on the edge of the town they pulled into.
"I guess we agree on that," Sam replied getting over his embarrassment by the colorful description she gave Uriel. "So what was the whole thing with the snake? Were you copying it or something?"
Angela chuckled. She knew that the things that she did were rather scary in terms of how close to having a serious accident she got. Then again she told them a few times that they did equally dangerous things like getting out of bed every day. She had said it jokingly but she made her point. She then said, "You weren't watching closely enough Sam. The snake was copying me."
Sam frowned at that. It didn't make much sense to him but he was aware that the martial arts masters studied nature which was why they had the forms they did. "It was copying you?"
"A matter of making the outside match the inside. Like a mirror, quiet and calm, focus… a part of that balance thing I stress. It requires great focus and discipline to accomplish."
"Feel better then?"
"You know me well," Angela replied. "I do feel better; ready to see if there is anything here that is interesting to work on." She stopped and looked around. The sun was getting higher, just about the time for Dean to be waking up. She checked her watch just to be sure. Grinning a bit, she looked up and took in Sam's work out appearance. "I'll grab coffee and a paper. You might want to hurry if you want to beat Dean to the hot water."
Sam watched as she turned in the direction of the diner with a slight smile. She was ready to go after another job. It was how she worked and very much like how Dean dealt with problems. She was willing to talk about it to some extent and then retreat behind work. Still she did look like she felt better about the whole thing. Her comment about Dean and stealing the hot water said that much. He decided to take her advice and hurried to beat Dean to the shower.
Meanwhile Angela went into the diner and ordered three cups of coffee. It was then that she noticed the pie in the display. It looked fresh along with the muffins that were on display. She smiled and pointed at the display, "I'll have two slices of pie and four of those muffins please."
The owner made to move and Angela watched him. It was then that she heard, "Still the same with your food choices I see."
Angela turned to see Uriel standing there. He looked very out of place in his suit in a dusty town in the middle of nowhere. She glanced at the owner and the look he gave her told her. It was one of Uriel's subordinates. It vaguely occurred to her that she might be in trouble. Uriel wasn't one to forget things. She looked at the angel and decided to be cute, "Well sometimes you need to sweeten a deal if you want some form of cooperation."
Uriel wasn't impressed. He took a step forward to study the Malachi of Absolution. He noticed that she was wearing the standard that had been given her and probably not out of respect to her position. He narrowed his eyes and replied, "And is that what you call diverting the attention of the Winchesters to the larger picture?"
"Oh I would give them more credit than that when it comes to understanding a bigger picture," Angela replied. She gave a wry grin as she said it along with a nod. "Maybe I was just buying it for you. A little sugar could sweeten that sour face. I know it makes me feel better and I don't have to worry about gaining a pound."
"Still making everything out to be a joke," Uriel replied with a disgusted smirk on his face. "You haven't changed a bit."
"You know I think I made that clear when you showed up with Cas stressing the urgency to find the witch and all that." Angela made a face to stress a condescending appearance. She cast a glance at the angel that was in the diner owner and saw him look away. "Besides without looking for the funny side of things, it can make a job seem dull."
"This is not a joke. You may have stepped up into your role and using your… abominable abilities…"
"Oh finally something we can agree on," Angela quipped in a mocking manner. "Then again you don't see me telling you that yours are abominable when they are roughly the same."
Uriel stepped up into her face. "Don't you ever compare yourself to me, alright?" You have the blood of…"
"Yes I know. I'm an abomination because I am a dhampir. My kind weren't even supposed to exist but hey…" Angela gave a shrug of her shoulders. "That's what you get when a war occurs between gods and Ancients. Of course that was way before my time."
Uriel gave a smirk that was filled with disgust. "You think you are special."
"Not really. I just don't want to be someone's bitch. I didn't like it before."
That was the opening that Uriel needed and he exploited it, "Ah yes and I believe that involved someone you know well. I have to hand it to him since he knows best how to control you."
Angela narrowed her eyes at that. Of course they would know about the Old Man. She made a slight lip movement like she was going to chew it. "So you want to go that route? Or are you too afraid to attempt to beat the living crap out of me?"
"Don't tempt fate," Uriel replied. "You're treading on thin enough ice with our last… conversation."
"Well you made a threat and I didn't like it. What did you expect?" Angela walked over to inspect a hat that had been left behind. It was a fedora and dark brown with a narrow band. She wanted to laugh because it reminded her of her guilty pleasure. She held it in her hands and looked at the angel and said, "So really what is it that you want of me Uriel? Are you trying to bully me like before?" She studied the angel and tensed.
Uriel knew this tactic. It went from the jokes and then to seriousness. He grinned, "So you're switching tactics. No more jokes?"
Angela walked back to where she had been standing with the hat in her hands. She looked at the angel. She said nothing but raised a brow. She wasn't going to rise to that.
Uriel was surprised that she didn't retort. It appeared she was going to wait for him to answer her question. He made a humming noise. "Well it seems that you've a few things."
"Patience is a virtue," Angela mocked. "At least one of us has some."
It was quick as Uriel pinned her to against the counter. He caught her eye and looked at her. "I would have thought your experiences in hell would teach you a few things as well as you teaching Dean."
Angela narrowed her eyes. "The pit has many lessons. When the pupil is ready, the master will appear. You, dick, aren't ready."
Uriel grabbed her wrist. He made the mistake of grabbing the wrist with the bracelet. She narrowed her eyes and it appeared as a gauntlet and she pushed him away. He chuckled as he watched her take a standing defensive stance. "So you really are going to go that route. Then take this warning. It's the same as I gave Sam Winchester. The minute you cease to be useful, I won't hesitate to end you and be rid of your existence. It doesn't matter if you are the earthbound angel."
Angela flickered her eyes and the stone on the bracelet glittered dangerously. "Take your best shot then when that happens. Maybe we can agree on a fair fight… your superiors agree of course. Until then my offer stands. Any harm comes to the boys, then it is on."
"Foolish abomination." Uriel paused before leaving. "I wonder if Sam Winchester knows the few secrets of your personal hell." He was gone before Angela could say anything.
Angela blinked both her eyes and slowly bent down to pick up the hat. She looked to see the owner pushing the coffee and her sweets order towards her. She raised her brow as she left the appropriate amount. She put the fedora on her head and picked up the order and left.
"Where have you been?"
Angela made a slight shrug as she put the coffee and the pie and muffins on the table. She ended up replying like a kid would, "Nowhere." She was thinking about Uriel's recent appearance. It was no coincidence that he showed up and she was well aware that there were a few that didn't like her and that was because she questioned everything the first time she met them. "I got breakfast."
Dean raised his brow as he finished toweling his hair. He had beat Sam to the shower and was now enjoying the morning time with his favorite girl. He put the spent towel on his bed and went to pick up the radio that was cued to police frequencies. He put it on the table and said, "Well I hope it gives you enough energy cause I think we stumbled onto a case in this town."
Angela had pulled out a slice of pie and pushed it towards Dean along with the fork she remembered to get when Dean set the radio scanner on the table. It seemed the day was looking up a bit if there was a case… and it didn't have to do with a seal. "Oh? You care to enlighten me or are you waiting for a quorum?" She looked at Dean and gave a smile.
Dean had pulled the pie she pushed towards him close and had started giving it the good treatment since he knew that she appreciated the beauty of pie. He was in the middle of a bite when she asked him the question. It was typical Dean fashion to answer with his mouth full, "Hey I'm willing to wait for Samantha though it might be a while considering the treatment he gives his hair."
"I heard that, Jerk."
Dean chuckled as he swallowed. "That was a compliment Sammy but you and I both know the truth."
Sam opened the door and stuck his head out. "Shut up." He closed the door with a slam.
Angela waited a good five seconds before saying, "You really need to lighten up on those jokes Dean. He's still a bit sore about my prank." She gave a slight smile even though she knew it wasn't that funny.
"Come on that was weeks ago." Dean looked a bit scandalized at the idea that Sam was really picking a bone with that.
Angela gave a slight hum as she pulled up her legs. She still hadn't taken off the hat and it tipped over her eyes slightly as if she were going to sleep when she leaned back with her coffee. She then said, "It was a surprise to him because it was a first and I never made an issue of it before. I could see where he was coming from and I've been trying to make it up."
"Still…"
"We settled the score but I've tried not to bring it up. In fact I'm more inclined to think that Sam's upset because someone used up all the hot water," Angela replied casting a knowing look in Dean's direction. She took a sip of her coffee and tipped the fedora back up. "I know you did."
Dean gave a sheepish grin, "Leave it to you to figure things out. What would we do without you?" He then gave his most endearing smile towards her.
"No one likes a brown nose," Angela replied teasing.
At that moment, Sam came out fully dressed and ready to chew Dean out over the hot water issue but decided against it since Angela was there. He was surprised when she held up behind her a cup of coffee which he took and even more startled when it was followed by a bran muffin with cranberries. She wasn't looking at him but she guessed correctly where to hold it. She said, "Coffee's black and the bran is a whole grain."
"Thanks Angie," Sam replied. When he glanced at Dean's pie and then at her, he noticed her smile and he returned it. She knew his food preferences and always managed to try and make it possible to have something that resembled healthy on the menu, whether she made it or if it was the crappy diner food. He knew though that she was making up for her behavior from the day before and in his and obviously Dean's view, she didn't need to do that. He knew that Uriel reminded her of what today was, something she didn't need reminding, and he knew that she sort of pulled herself up because she had to.
"Just making the insides match the outside," Angela replied as she took a sip of coffee. Her voice had taken a slight husky tone as she drank the coffee. "Dean said he may have a case for us."
Dean was doing his best not to spit out his coffee since he was sure that comment was a health fetish joke but the tone of voice was unmistakable. Was she getting careless? It was hard to tell since she had that fedora tipped forward and it covered her eyes so he couldn't see her thoughts. He could see his brother looking at him expectantly and completely unaffected by the comment. It had Dean wonder if his brother was seriously out of the loop with this. Knowing what was expected of him, he replied, "Scanner picked up a killing. Well actually two. Rich guy gets skinned to the bone but peeled like a banana in the cemetery, creepy by the way, and the second was by a roadside altar. Done the same way."
"Could be a serial killer," Sam pointed out.
Angela said nothing. In fact to Dean it looked like she was asleep but with that hat on, it was hard to tell. He looked at Sam and replied, "As you've said, we worked with less. Besides you know if a human could peel a guy like a banana down to the waist?"
Angela wasn't asleep. She was listening and thinking. She could hear the conversation go back and forth and could argue that they did have grounds for a case. Her thoughts were on the timing. Of course she rationalized that things happened every day. She could remember Christmas before Dean bought it and that whole thing. Somehow it seemed that every supposed to be special day in her life had a sign that said she was open for supernatural business.
It was partially the truth when she explained to the boys that Christmas was just another day to her like a Tuesday or Thursday. Of course she was giving an excuse at the time so she could get their gifts but in actuality that was how her life was run. She had given up on traditional and normal ideas of holidays and the like but buried deep down it was a hope. That was a hope and there was another that she kept and only the astute knew about it.
What Dean told her had her thinking about whether or not it was a coincidence. As she was fond of saying to Castiel, true coincidences were rare. Most of the time she just attributed it to a personal curse since things undoubtedly happened on this day. Uriel had liked reminding her of that since there were other things that happened on that day and he knew about what she knew. This wasn't any different from her birthday slump the year before and she figured that what she needed was a good old fashioned hunt.
"We've worked with less and you know it Sam."
Angela glanced at the brothers to see that they were about to come to blows over whether or not to take it. She settled it, "Why not? At least check it out. It could be human but then again it couldn't be. Spirits and humans can do the same thing."
Her voice had come from out of the blue and it silenced both brothers as they looked at her. Dean was the first to respond, "Fuglies I get. Humans I don't."
Angela looked up at Dean with a smile. "Tell me about it. So we doing this?"
Dean looked at Sam and Sam replied, "Sure."
"Good," Angela replied standing up and she downed the rest of her coffee. She tossed it where it landed in the wastebasket and continued, "I'll check out the cemetery and you two do the usual asking the questions." She paused a moment and turned towards them, "You two okay with that."
"I'm fine with that," Dean replied. "Nothing like an interrogation to make the outsides match the insides."
"Okay," Angela replied with a slightly puzzled frown. She put a finger to the brim to the fedora to push it up to see better. She turned to leave.
"You have your whip?"
Angela grinned and turned to Dean and replied, "That would be my other jacket… and I know how to use it."
"On bad boys?" Dean replied while Sam looked like he was going to throw up.
"Be bad and you'll find out."
A/N: Looks like things are going okay except for the presence of Uriel. Looks like Dean and Angie are back to flirting and they took it a step further. Stay tuned for more on Day of the Dead...
