Chapter 4

"When this is over I am heading to the nearest bar and…"

"Calm down Dean."

"Don't tell me to calm down Sam. I feel like I was asked to be lead in a Shakespearean play or something." Dean adjusted the silk tie and tried not to get angry and throw the hat he had been given in the street to stomp on it.

"You would've looked terrible in doublets. Rage in 1607 and I thought they were ridiculous," Angela said as looked at the scrap of paper that had the details. "It could be worse. You could be dressed as a priest."

"Thanks a lot," Dean muttered as he looked out the window of the carriage they were taking into the main part of the town or whatever the hell the place was. "At least I get some laughs out this Mrs. Martin."

Angela raised her brow at Dean to silently ask if he wanted to go that route. The tailor, Thomas had taken care of the details of getting them in without causing too much of a stir and too much trouble on his end. He had shown them that the clothing had measures against possession, trunks to take what they needed that were period style, one extra set of clothing for each including her man suit and the last thing he produced was a set of silver gold rings.

The implication was clear but he had to literally spell it out. His excuse was that it was going to be very hard to explain three single adults and he figured that she would want some discretion. He had been right in assuming that since it seemed that whatever it was had a strict thing about acting proper, if the sketchy evidence was anything they had to go by, it was their best bet. He said that he had her cover name of Anne Martin, an old joke from another job, and that he just needed who was going to play the role of Mr. Martin.

Dean had a sly look on his face when he volunteered stating that instead of just flirting, he would get to act upon it. It had the effect that he wanted though and Sam was ready to get into a fistfight. Dean set him up to say that yes he would play the part. Sam snatched the ring and put it on his finger with a nasty look while Angela tried not to get a headache from the whole thing but she did shoot a look to Dean that he was going to get paid in his own coin for this and at a time when he least expected it.

The upside was that the bands had the sigils against the supernatural. Thomas had gone all out for this. Angela pursed her lips and looked at the band on her left finger and it felt uncomfortable but comfortable in that weird way. As it stood she wished she had a made an executive decision and said she was doing this solo. Then she wouldn't have had to deal with Dean complaining about him wearing the stockings while Sam wore the boots.

Their accommodations were rather nice. Everything was restored from the original town that once occupied that area and just right for Mr. and Mrs. Martin of the merchant class and their longtime friend and associate Mr. Rutledge, no relation to Edward Rutledge of the Continental Congress. For Angela it was like walking through the streets of any town in colonial America. Her favorite had been the port city of Charles Town before it became Charleston. It certainly was a different life then.

At least they had a house for the duration of this play through. Dean looked around the place and said, "I guess your friend Thomas hooked us up."

"That's because his cousin helps to run this and keeps it open. They use it a recuperation station for injured hunters. Handy in the off season," Angela said as she looked through the house making sure that they were alone and everything was as they should be.

"Which brings to mind how do you know this guy?"

"He shot at me," Angela offered as she checked the window in the parlor they were standing in. She hadn't forgotten how to fly in a skirt if necessary and if she had to run, she didn't have to worry about corsets. "Thought I was a Redcoat."

"What?" Sam frowned at her.

"It was an accident," Angela offered like it wasn't wrong. "He was doing guard duty and didn't know I was out being a spy for the rebels. The South Carolina militia was rather a bit itchy on the trigger. Had trouble recognizing me." She frowned as she remembered the reason why. "Anyway, Thomas is a tailor by trade and he's pretty good at supplying clothing and gear for hunters. I've had replacement wardrobe from him before."

"Tell me about it," Dean muttered as he thought about the pistol that was stashed in the trunk with some other interesting and dated weapons. "And he expects me to actually shoot with that old thing he picked for me?"

"If you need to. If you're going to carry a weapon around you need to be…"

"I get it period but Angie you know as well as I pre Industrial Revolution stuff is for shit," Dean pointed out. He looked at Sam's incredulous look and said, "I did pay attention in history class."

"That's why there's plenty of iron lying about," Angela replied. She gave a slight smile, "And I did pack the handguns and the 79 Winchester and a couple of shotguns with ammo. Just in case."

Dean chuckled, feeling better about this whole thing. "Well I can say that I like a woman that can pack." He then had a devilish thought and couldn't help it, "So uh… how did you manage to hide a gun in that dress?"

Angela realized what Dean was after and gave a sly smile. She walked up and said, "No place that you'd even want to know. Kind of like a trick I can do with ice cubes."

Sam nearly choked as well as Dean when she said that. Angela couldn't help but laugh at them. She said, "Seriously, you really don't want to know since I follow Rule Number Eight: always carry a knife. What you do with it is up to you."

"And I'm surprised you can laugh with an air restrictor," Dean shot back.

"I don't need a corset. They work better than the Iron Maiden as a torture device," Angela returned fire as she picked up a basket. She turned at the door, her dress making a little flounce. "Now I am heading out to gather Intel. Follow your scripts and it should be okay."

"Meaning you can move around while me and Sam make ourselves look like fools. Why couldn't you have me wear boots?" Dean gestured at his shoes. "Seriously this is just… girly."

"Men and women wore the same shoes," Angela replied as she lifted her skirts to reveal hers. She lowered them and continued, "Besides, that has got to be better than the powdered wig and Thomas decided to be nice since he knew a wig with a queue was out. He has good taste for a vamp." She gave a sweet smile and turned to leave.

"I swear Sam I think she does this on purpose."

"When did you figure that out, Genius?" Sam looked at his brother and subconsciously twisted the silver gold band around his left ring finger. He twitched nervously in the clothing selection. It wasn't that bad since he had worn period clothing for a wedding and that was not that far from what they were wearing now. He knew Dean's fuss was the stockings and the shoes.

"Hey, you're not the one wearing stockings and girly ass shoes," Dean pointed out. "I mean I wear boots better than you bitch."

Sam looked at his brother still twisting the ring on his ring finger. He paused and didn't even notice the way how the cuffs hit his hands just right. He moved like a natural. "Get over yourself Dean. At least the cover you have is better than being made into a drunk in the stocks or something."

"In the what?"

"Stocks, the thing they put people in for public humiliation," Sam clarified. He turned and picked up the script that was his and glanced at it. It was pretty open ended and would allow them some movement of freedom. He gave Dean his, "And it looks like you have to go to the mercantile."

"Where are you going?" Dean took his assignment and read it.

"Library."

"They have libraries?"

Sam shrugged his shoulders. "I just have the address here and it says library." He turned to go and paused, "Oh and try not to piss anyone off."

"Hey," Dean countered as he followed his brother after picking up his gun and then his hat. He saw what his brother left behind and grinned. Grabbing it, he chased after his brother, "Hey Sam! You forgot something."

Sam paused and looked at what Dean was waving at him. He scowled and went to take it. "Fine," he said and put the tri corner hat on his head. "You wear yours too."

"Hey I can pull the hat off great," Dean said. He started walking down the street leaving Sam to shake his head. In Dean's mind the fact that Sam had to suffer just as he did in this getup made up for the fact that he was stuck wearing stockings.

Sam sighed and shook his head. He looked around and started down the street in the direction of the address he had on the scrap of paper. No one took second notice of him as he walked and looked around. He noticed that there were few of the high school kids out. From his understanding there was a class of thirty or so and he only managed to see maybe three.

The 'library' was a rather old building and looked like someone's house. Sam frowned at it and walked up the steps and knocked on the door. He was greeted by an elderly man who said, "Ah Mr. Martin. I was expecting you. Come on in."

Sam frowned bit, "Uh… do I know you?"

"Of course you do. You attended university," the elder man insisted and showed Sam in. Once the door was closed, he said, "At least you got in okay. I'm getting too old for this job." He led the way into his house.

Sam hesitated and frowned as he stood there in the foyer of the house. This was getting stranger and stranger by the second. He wasn't even sure what was going on. He was only going by what Thomas had set up for them. He wanted to trust this guy and that meant following Angela's lead. He weighed his options and took the plunge. No doubt Dean was probably getting someone else helping out or he was put in a position to get some info.

"The length of time of you standing there indicates that you are very good at deciding whether or not to trust me," the elderly man said from the study. "It's good that hunters haven't completely gone to waste."

Sam made a face. He took the hat off and dropped it on the nearby table. He cleared his throat and joined the man while checking that his hand was near a weapon hidden in his coat. "So what are you here for?"

"I'm your contact inside," the elderly man said. He was wearing period eyeglasses and was balding and what hair he had left in terms of sideburns was completely white. Like Sam, he was dressed in colonial wear and wearing the stockings instead of boots. He said, "Thomas said that three of you were coming. I was hoping she would find a way…"

"Excuse me but who are you and why am I here?"

"You're here to do your research," the elderly man said.

"And you are?"

"Just an old librarian who likes living in the past." Seeing that Sam didn't buy it completely, the elderly man added, "I just pay attention to the signs. I'm friends with Thomas. He supplies the tourists and the kids their clothes. I just make sure nothing bad happens to them."

"So you're a hunter?"

"No. I'm a librarian."

Sam frowned as he put pieces together, "An Illuminati librarian?"

"Yes. When I picked up strange things here, I sent word. I heard nothing." The old man pulled out a ledger full of notations as well as maps. "I was concerned because Dorian's daughter is here."

Well at least there is something in common with what Dorian said. Sam mused a moment and asked, "So Dorian doesn't know you contacted them?"

"No way of knowing except through Thomas and I haven't heard anything."

Sam sighed as he looked around. The only thing he could do was to play along and see if it panned out. "Okay. So what have you noticed?"

Working undercover in a hunting job is like working undercover in any other profession. The objective is to build a cover story and stick to it as best as you can. The more secure you are in the knowledge of your cover ID, the more you can sell it and not risk being made. That is of course if you are dealing with normal people. When dealing with the supernatural, you have to play the game cautiously until you figure out what it is that causes your target to act.

Angela walked through the market and collected a few things she knew would go towards sweetening the mood of Dean Winchester. She put her small bag of salt in her basket and turned to look at a sprig of rosemary and give a tentative sniff. The opportunity gave her the time to look around for anything unusual and hid her deeper sniffing for anything unusual. The smells were reminiscent of that time period though she could say that she was glad the privy smells were not part of it. She marveled how she even got through the days with no indoor plumbing. She had become spoiled over the centuries.

"You know it becomes difficult when you wander into a space like this," a familiar gravelly voice spoke almost in her ear.

Angela tried not to jump. It seemed that Castiel had the habit of manifesting within personal space only with her and Dean. With Dean it was comical and with her, she was used to it. She put the sprig down and looked at something else while muttering, "And what brings you here Cas?"

"Your presence disappeared from my sight. The garrison was concerned," Castiel replied.

Angela frowned slightly as she let her thoughts run through, "I disappeared off your angel radar? How then are you able to find me?"

"I tracked your last known whereabouts. The vampire Thomas was helpful once he was made to see that I wasn't going to do you harm."

"You better not have hurt him Cas or I'll shove the 18th century musket up your ass and fire," Angela muttered in return. She looked around and spared a glance at the angel. "You do know that if you are visible to others you stick out. Whatever is going on I'd rather not have you caught in the crossfire."

Castiel was familiar with Angela's threats when it concerned acquaintances that while of questionable character they were not a threat and he knew she would carry it out if she decided it was warranted. He also knew that something was not right and being the guardian he was, he had to make sure. He replied, "Only you can see me."

"That's a relief. I can make myself look crazy," she muttered. She continued to look at food items and looked around. "Why the fire Cas?"

"There is something not right in this area."

"Newsflash, that's why I'm here with Sam and Dean. We got a case."

"This is different."

Angela rolled her eyes slightly at that. She sighed, "I know something isn't right Cas and we're trying to figure it out. A group of high school kids are supposed to be her and I have only seen maybe three or four. We just got here and are starting on the job and I am busy with other things too so unless it is something I don't know…"

"You changed your game plan as you call it," Castiel said interrupting. "You've shut me out."

"Cas, I don't even know the inner workings of that thing we do." Angela moved away from the stall and started to walk. The angel followed her and she tried to talk so it didn't look like she was insane or something. "But the game plan is changing. I just made a few changes and have to reinforce them."

"Are you going after Lilith?"

"I have been, Cas. She's hunted me and now I'll hunt her. I've been following up on leads. I guess I didn't want you to know."

"You and I both know that it is inevitable you meet on the field of battle."

"I know," Angela replied rolling her eyes. "I got it handled Cas. Right now I am working on this. Anything tell you that this is appealing to demons? Because I can't see why it would."

"Nothing like that but it is powerful… much like New Harmony."

Angela shot a look at Castiel as they walked, "You serious? A witch problem?"

"I don't know. It… feels that way." Castiel was uncertain how to describe it. He stopped and looked at Angela. "There is the possibility that this is a means for you to…"

"You're thinking a test? Cas, I give your dick brothers a bit more credit with their tests. Even that mess with the Prophet…" Angela gave Castiel a look. "Well at least I know somewhat what to look for but there just seems to be…" She shook her head and wasn't sure of what to voice.

"It is throughout this place," Castiel replied as he looked around. "They are human but something is not right."

"I get it. Lucky for me I know how to act. Seems to work since not all the high school brats are missing."

"I advise caution Angela. I can't come here again."

Angela looked at the angel and studied him. She glanced around and asked, "Draining you or angel proofing?" She mentally ran through a list of things that could prevent an angel from gaining access and it was mostly the stuff she was familiar with. It put her senses on the alert that maybe they were dealing with someone with a beef or something.

"I can't tell. It was an ordeal to get here but I will try if the need is great." Castiel looked at Angela and noted the concern on her face. "Be careful Angela. There are things that are far older and wielded by people who aren't afraid to use it."

"I could have used that in New Harmony but thanks Cas. I'll try not to call unless it's an emergency." She gave a teasing grin.

"Your humor is something I have yet to grasp completely," Castiel replied much to her eye rolling and slight ticking of her tongue. He turned to go but paused. He then said, "Even the enemy may be a source of help in a time of need." He disappeared in a flap.

"Yeah and with my track record…" Angela mused a moment and looked around. She had something to work with but it meant getting out and about more. She continued walking through the streets with her basket and pretending to shop.

When people gathered intelligence, it wasn't as glamorous as the movies make it out. Sometimes high sophisticated equipment is used and that can be good. For the most part it is about pounding the pavement and surveying your surroundings and observing the people around them. It is difficult when you suspect everybody but you start to narrow down the pool of suspects once you figure out who is watching for signs of things out of place and who is just playing along or have no clue.

Being female in colonial America had some advantages that Angela could name as she made her way around. For one women liked to talk and she knew how to 'gossip' even though it bored her death. The downside was that it isolated her; men folk seemed to think that women couldn't handle the tough stuff. It was a step backwards in this case but she had the benefit of memory as she singled out the kids from the school group; they weren't that hard to pick out because of size and the way they walked in their clothes. She also looked for people watching them and other people. It was complicated on paper but when you knew what you were doing, things could go pretty well.

"I thought you'd be shopping."

"And sneaking up behind me Sam isn't the best way of capturing my attention." Angela turned on her heel but had a smile ready that would appear she was happy to see him, which was truth, rather than putting on a show, which was also true. "I thought you were at the library."

"Yeah and that is what I want to talk to you about."

Angela was agreeable to that, "Alright. Lead on."

Sam cleared his throat knowing that people were watching and offered his elbow. It wasn't that bad and it wasn't like she was touching him at all. He didn't feel a thing. Seeing that she was waiting and walking he said, "Right. The library is actually a post for your Illuminati friends."

"They are not my friends," Angela corrected. "So why didn't Dorian bother them."

"Apparently he tried getting out a message but nothing was heard from. The only connection he has is your friend Thomas."

"Makes sense since Thomas keeps an eye on things. It was his home before he joined the Continentals. This was/is a real town so there might be something we can find."

"My thoughts but this guy who runs the library… I'm not sure about him." Sam looked around as they walked. They were being ignored for the most part.

"Yeah well Cas paid me a visit and mentioned something powerful here. Strong enough to make it so he can't get in."

"Demons again?"

"No but it's somebody who knows a few things. Maybe our librarian knows more than what he is saying."

"Thought he might but he was very helpful."

Angela looked at nothing in particular and glad that she actually had an appropriate hat for the occasion. It hid her frown as she thought about things. She mulled over the timing and coordination of other things. A lot to consider. "Yeah but somehow I get the feeling that we don't have all the pieces here. Any word from Dean?"

"Probably in the one place… you know."

Angela made a slight noise, "Right."

A/N: First day on the job and Angie gets a warning from Cas. Looks like things are going to be tough. Stay tuned for next time on Colonial Armistice...