Chapter 4

Dean was sitting looking through one of Angela's books. He always carried a few of them with them on the road since they helped in a pinch despite the fact that Sam was a whizz with the databases she showed them. Plus he was bored and he needed a moment to process what he had seen. Plus his dog decided to play favorites and stick with Angela for the day. So he was on his own and it was probably a good thing too since he didn't have anything to explain why an FBI agent would have a puppy on the job but it could have been a snow job.

He turned the page when he heard the keys rattle and Sam opened the door carrying a bag of food with the puppies looking like they were riding his feet as they bounded in and made a beeline for him. Angela came in behind Sam with Xander looking like a mature older brother. Show off. That didn't stop Dean from grinning and fishing out a biscuit and then asking Zeppelin to sit. He wanted to laugh when Moira did the same and then both looked at him with puppy eyes. He had his fun and fed them and they took off to lie down in a corner.

Smartasses. Literally.

Looking at his brother who seemed lighter in his step, Dean asked, "So how'd it go?"

"Um, no EMF, no sulfur... ghost possession and demonic possession are both probably out," Sam replied as he put the bag on the table while Angela sat on the edge of the bed.

"Hmm. That's where I was putting my money," Dean replied feeling a little disappointed that it was not a demon or ghost. That meant a little more legwork. "You got any ideas, Angie?"

"If you mean I saw what was behind it… then no." Angela gave a teasing grin, "You know I wouldn't make it easy on you."

"Yeah. You'd make me suffer."

"Only because I like you."

Sam couldn't help but give a soft chuckle and a smile. He sobered quickly and asked, "Okay well what about you? Anything?"

Dean had gone to the coroner's office and the things he saw there… He was still having trouble believing it. "Oh, dude. At the coroner's? You didn't see these bodies. I mean these two started eating, and they just kept going. I mean, their stomachs were full. Like Thanksgiving dinner full. Talk about co-dependent."

"You don't want to go there," Angela murmured as she opened a container and peered at it. She looked up and explained, "Psych degree Class of '84."

Dean shook his head and gave a slight roll of his eyes. Of course she would know. Sam sat down in his seat and pulled some papers towards him. "Well, we got our feelers out. Not much more we can do tonight. Alright, I'm just gonna go through some files with Angie... you can go ahead and get going."

Dean sat up a little confused, "Sorry?"

Sam frowned a little as he opened his laptop, "Go ahead. Unleash the kraken. We'll see you tomorrow morning."

"And where am I going?"

At this point Angela was a little confused and she was looking at the Winchesters. She was lost on something and she knew it. She had been busy looking at the contents of her meal that she bought and now she was starting to have second thoughts about. She was hungry though but nothing was starting to sound good. She started looking in her pockets and found a dog biscuit. That sounded good and she took a bite and started chewing.

Sam looked at his brother, well aware that Angela was largely ignoring the food she had bought and chewing on a dog biscuit. "Dean, it's Valentine's Day. Your favourite holiday, remember? I mean, what do you always call it? Unattached Drifter Christmas?"

Angela raised her brow. Now it made sense and considering Dean's habits when it came to bars and women… she could get why he would refer to it as that. "And that makes it different from any other night?"

Dean shot a look at her and noticed the saucy look she was giving. He sighed and stood up to get another beer. "Yeah, well... be that as it may, I dunno. I guess I'm not feeling it this year."

"So you're not into bars filled with lonely women?" Angela asked after dumping her food on the table and going to the ice chest to pull out a beer. She popped the top and took a sip as she looked at him expectantly.

"I guess not," Dean offered with a shrug. He shifted to find his brother staring at him with that worried expression of his. "What?"

"It's when a dog doesn't eat," Sam began, "That's when you know something's really wrong." He knew his brother and he knew that Dean hardly ever passed up on bars and lonely women. Hell a few nights ago Dean had a sexcapade so yeah he had a right to be concerned.

"Remarkably patronizing concern and duly noted," Dean countered taking a sip of his beer.

"I'd say an astute observation," Angela commented as she took a sip. "Don't see nothing wrong with a change."

"I knew I was right in calling you the most gorgeous healer," Dean said in appreciation that she wasn't poking at it.

Angela shrugged slightly, "Just noting that change isn't bad. Only if it were believable." She took another sip of beer.

"Nothing's wrong," Dean insisted as he glared slightly at Angela. He really disliked it when she did things like that because she would refuse to rise to the bait and start shouting. "Now are we gonna work or what?"

"I vote work," Angela said after shooting Sam a look before reaching over to grab a file or two to examine. She was working and on an angle that she couldn't readily explain, which was the feeling of offness. The whole thing made her feel off and that was what had her attention. She needed to think and they needed to work.

"Finally the voice of reason," Dean said as he pulled up a file.

Angela said nothing but glanced at Sam before sitting cross-legged on the bed and opened the file on her lap. She looked down and began to read and think. She only looked up once to find both of the Winchesters looking at her and she said, "Hey, work." She gestured at the pile.

Sam knew something was up. He had noticed it the way she glanced at him. It was a tell so to speak considering that she kept a lot of things to herself when she wasn't sure. And when she played poker… she was the best. When she was thinking about something, she kept it close as she worked out her thoughts or if it was a plan she kept it as need to know.

So he kept to his thoughts and looked through the files while pretending things were okay but deep down, he knew that they weren't. It was about an hour when Angela received a phone call and upon checking it out, she excused herself, "It's Kira. Girl talk."

Dean raised his brow at that and watched her leave. He didn't fail to notice the gentle touch she gave to Sam's shoulder before she left. He figured it was nothing since she didn't take the dogs with her. When she was gone he looked at Sam and said, "Okay."

"Okay what?"

"Why aren't you and Angie going out?"

Sam frowned trying to figure out what was the cause of this sudden line of questioning. "What?"

"Come on. Don't tell me you didn't plan on going out and after all the nagging you did me."

Sam realized what was going on now. He realized that Dean waited until she was out of earshot to bombard him with this and possibly teasing. He suspected that his brother waited until Angela was out of the room so her feelings didn't get hurt or so she wouldn't see what his brother really had in mind. Playing it safe, Sam replied, "We did go out. We went stargazing."

"Stargazing?"

"Yeah."

"And that's why you wanted to borrow the car?"

Sam sat back and crossed his arms defensively over his chest. He looked at his brother. "Yeah. You got a problem with that?"

Dean looked at his brother and shook his head, "No. Just trying to figure out what this thing is you're doing."

Sam looked at nothing in particular and tried not to roll his eyes. "Dean… not everything has to be about getting in the sack on the first date."

"Hey I think she's been waiting long enough." Dean took a sip of a fresh bottle of beer that he had opened.

"Dean…" Sam looked at the table while trying not to lose his temper, "She's not like that. Don't talk about her like that."

"I'm not. Just saying that maybe…"

Sam looked at Dean with a look of annoyance. "It's none of your damn business what we do." He got up and went outside to take a breather. He didn't want to lash out at his brother.

Dean watched his brother leave feeling a bit like a dick about that but he just wanted to know. He heard the moan from Xander and looked at him. At the look he got, he said, "Hey, I didn't put her in that light. He's being a bigger bitch than usual." He picked up the file folder and started to read until he got a phone call.

In the meantime Sam leaned against the wall of the motel and took a deep breath. He ran his hand through his locks. It felt like the universe was against him again.

"You really shouldn't let him get to you."

Sam looked up to see Angela leaning against the Impala looking at him. She had her arms crossed in front of her and was holding her phone in one hand. "It's nothing."

Angela hummed at that and moved to lean against the hood. "And I suppose it was nothing that he waited until I was out of the room to bait you." She gave a sigh and a slight smile and put her hands on her lap. "Sam… Dean's only doing it because he knows he can get a rise out of you."

"I just… don't like hearing you described like that. And I remember what you said… the whole thing about you hearing it before. I just don't like it and it feels ten times worse coming from Dean."

Angela listened to Sam explain. She was surprised that he remembered that day when he stormed out of the quickie mart gas stand and she waited him out. "Sam… you do know that what Dean says in flirting… it doesn't mean anything." She looked away and thought about what to say next before adding, "I know it sounds like I allow it but… I know the difference and that is how Dean expresses how he feels."

"Angie…"

Pushing herself off the hood she stood in front of Sam and took his hand. The urges were there and it was getting easier when she obeyed them and it felt right. "Just like how you brood with me, he flirts and I know you are only expressing how you feel." She gave a slight smile and added, "I have had time to observe."

Sam looked up and noticed the look she was giving and gave a smile. He looked back down at her holding his hand. He responded by taking her hand into his and started tracing the contours of her hand. He felt a little better. "I know. I don't see you like that and to hear it or see it… I feel it demeans who you are."

Angela basked in feeling of Sam touching her hand, holding it and caressing it. She understood where Sam was coming from and it was a part of his nature. True he had hardened over the past few years but he still had that gentleness that made him special. She leaned in close and said, "And that is why you're special to me."

Sam looked at her. "You're special to me too." He leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her lips. Just as he pulled back he was stopped when she responded, keeping him in the kiss.

They kissed again and Sam took the opportunity to savor the taste of her lips. He also became aware of her scent. They broke apart just as Dean opened the door and looked around. When his brother spotted them, without preamble he said, "Hey we got another one."

Being in the coroner's office was nothing new to Angela. The smell was the same but the only thing that improved in her opinion was the look of the place. She had been in quite a few and in her opinion, the ones conducted back in the 1880s were something out of a horror film though she admitted that the clinics were better maintained. It still didn't improve the smell though and mingled with the smells of a hospital… it was downright overwhelming for her nose. The problem was that she couldn't just say no to going without drawing everyone into an argument of sorts.

So she trailed behind Sam and Dean as they navigated the halls while trying to ignore the smells and focus on the job and it was battling with her concern about the fact that she got the feeling her dream vision was connected to it. She just didn't know what it was. That familiar feeling was haunting and she didn't like it.

As she walked down the hall a few paces behind the brothers, she caught a whiff of something. It was brief and faint but it was distinct. It had her pause and look up and around. Dean always said she had a super sniffer and the side effect from her 'gene therapy' was a vastly improved sense of smell and her hearing was a bit better than before. Anything else she hadn't noticed but that didn't mean that it wasn't there. At the moment her nose was working out the scent.

Having chased demons most of her life, she was very familiar with their scent. Demon blood was as unique as angel blood and they both had universal constants that made up their scents. From there, depending on the meat suit or whatever, she hadn't figured it out, the individuals started coming through. This though, she was only focused on the generic and it was there.

It was hardly appropriate to go around and start sniffing people but Angela was certain that if there was a demon in the place, she would need to take care of it especially if she was the only one that was available at the moment. It put her further behind the Winchesters but she had to make sure and stood stock still and let her nose do the work.

One of the interesting things she learned about people was that they tended to ignore the strange and unusual and mostly it was because they didn't want to be perceived as busybodies. They hadn't met Dean Winchester who was a nosy bitch about everything in his brother's life when it concerned a girl. Angela knew she was going to have to appeal to Dean at some point to lay off for a while. As much as she enjoyed being with Sam, she didn't want it to be because she had to talk him down every time Dean hit a nerve.

Pausing in the hall gave her the means to concentrate. The smells were all blended in there and it made her wish she had one of the dogs with her but it was supposed to be a fairly sterile environment and dogs were a breeding ground for them. Like they didn't see what they brought in with them. She could do this.

There ended up being a couple of suspected but one struck her as being odd. He walked right by her carrying a suitcase. He was bald and wearing a suit. First glance he looked like a lawyer sort and that wasn't unusual in a place like this. But something struck her as odd about him and she decided to focus on him. The scent of sulfur was there but it was everywhere and it was getting her frustrated.

She was interrupted when she heard Dean calling, "Hey, Angie! Waiting on you."

Angela looked back at the bald man that continued walking. She frowned, disappointed since she was so close but couldn't investigate further. He was really bothering her and she wanted to find out what the hell was going on. She gave a reluctant glance back and trotted to catch up. "Sorry."

"You okay?"

"Yeah. Just had a thought and was thinking about it." It was the truth in part.

Dean looked at her and then at Sam before going in to meet the coroner but not before muttering, "Another head case."

It was a ripe opportunity to call Dean out on it but Angela was willing to let it go. She really didn't have definite proof and she really wasn't willing to leave them on this if she could provide help. She adjusted her suit and straightened the sleeves a bit. She still had pride in the fact that it had been tailor made for her and it had the sigils she had been honored with and had worn most of her life. No shame in it.

"Agent Marley! You just can't stay away," the coroner exclaimed as he finished covering a body.

"I heard you tagged another double suicide," Dean replied, slipping into his role.

"I was just finished closing them up."

"Dr. Corman, this is my partner Special Agent Cliff," Dean gestured towards Sam, "And this is…"

"Dr. Nevarra," Dr. Corman replied looking in awe at seeing Angela. He held out his hand which she shook promptly. "You don't need any introduction."

Angela smiled, "Thank you, Dr. Corman. It's a pleasure."

"I read your paper on bone variant analysis and I have to admit it was fascinating." Dr. Corman looked at her before asking, "So what brings you here, Doctor?"

Angela knew she had to act fast before Sam and Dean started asking questions and they blew the con. Fortunately she was close enough to the truth and was able to reply, "Well I work for the FBI, obviously, and as you know my specialties are in pathology and forensic anthropology. I've helped the FBI identify anomalies on cases and when Special Agents Marley and Cliff came across this, they thought I could help." She smiled to seal the deal. "Would you mind if we took a look?"

"Not at all – but like I said, their good and plenties are already Tupperwared." Dr. Corman opened the fridge to show what he meant. "Do what you need to do Doctor. Just leave the keys with Marty, up front. And please, gentlemen, refrigerate after opening." He looked at Sam and Dean with a warning look before taking his coat and hat. He paused to say, "Good night, Doctor," with a smile and left.

Angela was polite and wished him good night. She smiled and commented, "He's a nice man."

"A doctor? Really?"

Angela turned to look at Dean and explained, "John Hopkins alumnus and I still have a license to practice. The Ph.D. was a side gig." She took in the expression they were giving her and added, "Seriously. I am a doctor. I'll show you the diplomas."

"Damn. What did you do before hooking up with us," Dean asked with an impressed attitude.

"Author, lawyer, statesmen, architect and farmer, doctor… list goes on," Angela offered with a shrug as she removed her jacket and grabbed a set of gloves and went to the fridge. "I am a bit of a nerd if you want to say it."

Dean glanced at Sam and then replied since he couldn't help it, "Nah but I know Sam here is fan girling at ya. I can see the drool."

Sam scowled at Dean but said nothing as he helped take out the containers. He knew she went to several colleges but being an actually medical doctor… that was something impressive and very much like her. And she was well known. He managed to get out, "And I wasn't fan girling. It was the coroner."

"Only because I am known in my field. You'd be surprised at how many requests one can get to engage in research and co-author. And I did have to be in that world for a little while." Angela bent over the container she was looking at to inspect the organs. "So now you know that, I believe we have work to get through. Start looking." She gestured at the organs in their containers.

There was nothing to argue about and they set to work examining the organs for anything that looked suspicious and stank of the supernatural. Angela looked at the minor organs with interest. It had been some time that she actually looked at a specimen in a lab setting. She was actually reminded of her time in medical school as she examined the organs and she was wished that she had been there for the autopsy.

And I am being morbid and strolling through memory lane.

"Hey – be my Valentine?"

Angela looked up to see Dean push a container with one of the victim's hearts towards Sam. She raised her brow at Dean while Sam gave him a sigh and slight eye roll. She shook her head slightly since it was a little amusing if icky at the thought. She went back to examining what she had in front of her and tentatively picked up the container and tried to sniff it.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa – wait a second."

Sam was holding up the two hearts and looking at them. He held them up so Dean and Angela could see under the magnifier. "These hearts both have identical marks. It's like some kind of letter."

Angela took a peek and her eyes widened at seeing the markings. "Oh no."

"What?"

Sam peered at it trying to determine what it was that had Angela react that way. Taking a closer look, he realized why she would say that and echoed her 'oh no'. He pointed out, "I think it's Enochian."

"Angel scratches?" Dean looked at his brother and then Angela. "Angie."

"It is Enochian," Angela offered. She had a hard time believing what she was seeing. She knew angels were dicks but not this low. The whole thing about people offing themselves off by eating or shooting themselves to death… that sounded more demonic. "The same kind that are on our ribs… I think."

"You think or know?"

Angela looked at Dean and explained, "It is Enochian. In term s of it being like what's on your ribs… not sure. This is a unique mark of Enochian and if we want to find out. We should probably call Cas on this one."

"Well, can't argue with the doctor," Dean said with a grin as he fished out his phone. He dialed Castiel's number and waited for the angel to pick up. Once he did, he didn't waste time on pleasantries, "Cas, it's Dean. Yeah, room 31C, basement level. St. James Medical Cen..."

"I'm there now."

A/N: Looks like they got another one and Cas drops in. What is that? Enochian? More to come on Blood Lotus...