Chapter 4

The evening was turning out to be lighthearted. Everyone knew though that it was probably the last night they would have on some level so they were making the most out of it. Sam shifted and looked over where Angela and Jo were having a conversation and from the looks of things going back and forth. His lip twitched in a slight smile at the sight of the two of them joking with each other. He knew that Angela and Jo were close and it was confirmed by the way Angela would pull Jo's hair and Jo's reciprocation of that.

It was a moment of déjà vu when he saw Angela get her fist really close to Jo's face. He remembered when she did that to make her point of what he would be going up against in the tournament. It was unnerving when she did it because it made you realize how close she could get to hurting you and that was if she wanted to. For the most part, and Sam knew this, she didn't want to hurt anyone. But it was the job and sometimes it sucked. He took a pull on his beer as he sat with his brother and kept stealing glances at her.

"So you gonna ask her or what?"

Sam turned his attention towards Dean. "What?"

"You know. Last night thing…" Dean stared at Sam wondering if he needed to hit his brother upside the head.

Sam got what Dean was getting at and scowled, "Fuck no."

"You sure? Cause you two been hanging around a lot more."

Sam sighed in a tired way, "Dean, Angie is not like that and I respect her too much to put her like that."

"Then what have you been doing? You hang out doing freakishly nerdy things or girly things like girl talk." Dean ignored the look Sam was shooting him. To be honest he was glad they were spending time together. He just wanted to know what to call it. "And you did kiss her. Twice." He held up his two fingers for emphasis. "On the mouth."

Sam cleared his throat. The first time was impulse and relief. The second… not going there. "I like her Dean," he gave.

"Uh huh." Dean wasn't convinced. "Sure. Those kisses said it all. And I suppose she said she liked you."

"She likes everybody here." Sam knew Dean wanted more details and while fun on some level to get him riled up since he was like a nosy bitch who had to know who was dating whom, he wanted to avoid discussing it since he wasn't exactly sure what it was. That it was a step in the direction he wanted was encouraging.

Dean would have said something but his attention was drawn to the slight shriek that came from Jo. As it turned out, Angela had pulled on Jo's hair in the direction she wanted her to go. It took a moment to hit that they were dancing and it was fairly obvious who was leading. His attention turned to the music playing and he said, "Aww really?"

"Hey," Sam protested, "It's a good song."

"You're embarrassing."

Sam pulled a face as he watched Angela and Jo dance. It was not sexual and only perverts would think that. And he knew the difference especially when they messed with them at the Roadhouse. He wasn't bothered by it since they were simply messing around like sisters would and it reminded him how things used to be between him and Dean.

"Dignity and self-respect, Brat. No matter what."

Sam turned his attention to the fact that the song had ended and another started. Jo was heading to where Ellen and Castiel were and Angela was watching with a thoughtful expression. Then, like she sensed it, she looked in his direction, blushed and walked away. It was tempting to follow but he saw the direction she was heading in and wasn't worried. He would let her be.

"Must checking on the mutts," Dean commented and politely ignoring the fact that he had witnessed his girl full on blush and after she looked at Sam. It only confirmed to him that something was going on.

Sam murmured in agreement. Lilah had whelped and two puppies had been born a little over a week ago; unusual for large breed dogs in general but that didn't matter. Not to Angela at least. The puppies were black like their sire and would be fairly large but their features were more wolf like; the elongated snout and lithe bodies meaning agility. It also meant that they had Wilder blood in them as well as hell hound blood; in short, they were hunters or would be when they grew up and had some training put into them and that fell to Angela… Not that she minded.

She was smitten with them the moment she saw them and confirmed pretty much what Dean said about her naming things and the end result was keeping them. And it seemed they liked her too even though their eyes weren't open yet. Cerebus was still the proud dad and Lilah was still motherly and funny enough, Bobby didn't mind and neither did the cat. Sam suspected one look and Bobby was hooked. Or he read up on Wilder hunters.

Angela came back later with a puppy in her arms and was heading towards one of the cabinets. She paused and looked at the brothers and said, "Zep opened his eyes today and needs a little help with cleaning."

Dean had to ask, "Thought you said about 12-14 days?"

"That's an average and I was going off of the average for Rottweilers since Cerebus is more or less one," Angela explained as she opened the cabinet and pulled out the saline solution, distilled water and Q-tips. She was putting everything onto a shelf to grab when she sensed someone behind her.

"Can I help?"

Angela didn't have to turn to know that it was Sam. She nodded and was surprised when he grabbed everything and held it leaving her to hold the puppy that was starting to yelp a little because his eyes were irritated. She followed Sam and sat in the third chair and cuddled the pup while Sam opened up the saline solution.

Dean didn't say anything about the whole thing but was focused on eyeing the pup cuddled in Angela's arms. He continued the conversation, "So he's an early bloomer. 10 days. That's my Zeppelin."

Angela twitched her lip in a smile as she started wiping the buildup on Zeppelin's eyes. "Moira opened hers in 9."

Dean scowled at that as Angela chuckled at his reaction. He retorted, "At least I gave him a good name. I don't what you were thinking Sam."

"Hey, Moira's a good name," Sam countered. He didn't feel any embarrassment over the name he picked for the runt and female of the litter. Partially it was because Lilah was an Irish wolfhound and since they had characteristics of their sire… it sounded nice. He merely rolled his eyes when Dean said that the male needed a good name and declared Zeppelin to be its name.

"Moira is a sweetheart and she will be a force to reckon with when she's older," Angela offered in appeasement, "And Zep will be a tracker." She finished wiping his eyes and watched as the pup moved its head around. More likely he only saw shadows and light but then again he had hell hound blood. She rubbed his head.

The Winchesters looked at her as if to ask how she would know. Dean reached over and gently rubbed Zeppelin's head and was startled when he felt tiny teeth close on the tip of his finger. "Hey!"

"He's just trying to impress you," Angela said as she adjusted the puppy on her lap. "He knows who you are and his recognition with his senses will only get better as he gets bigger."

"You're just saying that."

"Honest truth. He has hunter and hell hound blood." Angela grinned when she saw the pup sniffing out her finger and gave a slight lick before closing his mouth over the tip and startled suckling. "See. We got a tracker."

"You're crazy," Dean asserted as he went back to looking at what he was going over and took a sip of his beer.

Angela shook her head as she accepted the beer that Sam got her and took a sip. She turned to see Ellen looking at Castiel as she laid out a line of drinks. Jo was watching on, waiting to see what would happen. Ellen had taken a shot of whiskey and had given the go ahead to the angel.

Angela watched as Castiel quickly downed the row of glasses in front of him and went to sitting there like he was in a waiting room. She raised her brow at the expression on Ellen and Jo's face and couldn't help but say out loud, "Don't break my angel, Ellen."

"That would hardly happen," Kesset's voice entered as he appeared beside the table. He looked at Angela and said, "I am going on patrol."

Angela nodded as she continued to pet the pup. Kesset's job was going to be the hardest he ever had. It was one she didn't like herself but it would give her piece of mind. She said something in ancient Egyptian and watched as Kesset left.

"You told him?" Dean looked at her.

"Yep and… not happy but he gets it." Angela made a slight face as she turned her attention to what Dean was looking at. She held the pup close and continued to pet it.

In the meantime, Sam had gotten another beer and sat back down. He figured it was time to ask the question that was on everyone's mind. "So gotta a be a trap right?"

Dean looked at his brother and replied, "Sam Winchester, having trust issues with a demon. Well, better late than never."

Sam smirked at that even though the comment stung a little. "And thank you again for your continued support."

Angela snorted a little as she chugged her beer. The pup made himself comfortable on her lap for now. "After a lot of nagging," she muttered.

Dean smirked at her as he said, "You're welcome." He reached out with a hand and gently rubbed the pup's head again as they clinked glasses. "You know… trap or no trap…"

"I don't think it is," Angela replied, "And that is because Crowley is the kind to look after his own interests."

"Anyway," Dean continued as he continued to rub the pup's ears, "If we've got a snowball's chance, we've gotta take it right?"

"I agree," Angela replied, "Which is why Crowley wasn't wrong when he said that Absolution could do the job. It can kill angels."

"And you just like to have all possibilities covered. Figures." Dean took another sip as he pulled the map out. "Check it out. Carthage is lit up like a Christmas tree with Revelation omens. And, look at this. There's been six missing persons reported – in town – since Sunday. I think the Devil's there." He held up everything that he had looked at.

"Wow. I'm really impressed," Angela replied in a slight mocking tone.

"Bite me," Dean retorted in good humor. He sobered and looked at Sam. "But if we think about it, you can't come with." He pointed at his brother and shot him a look.

"Dean."

"Look, I go get Satan and screw the pooch? Okay. Yeah, we've lost a game piece. That we can take. But if you're there, then we are handing the Devil's vessel right over to him. That's not smart."

"And neither is making people stay behind," Angela countered quietly. "I know you mean well and I am assuming Sam does too but… really since when have we done anything that remotely resembles smart?"

"I'm serious Angie and I would keep you here too since you put the idea into Lucifer's head about being a vessel." Dean was worried. It was foolish not to be. He worried about his brother and considering now that they were almost to zero hour his anxiety about what he had seen in that alternate world where she was dead and because of that, Sam said yes…

"So are we," Sam countered. "Haven't we learned a damn thing? If we're gonna do this, we do it together." Sam understood where his brother was going with this. He was worried too but he figured that his side was right and it was motivated not just from the past but because he firmly believed that his dream about her dying because she was alone was a result of them not working together. He wanted to prevent that.

Dean knew they were both right. They were all right on some level. He just didn't want things to interfere with whatever it was his brother and his girl were doing or calling it. Yet he knew that Angela especially wouldn't be able to live with herself is she hadn't taken a chance to end it if it were possible. "Okay but it's a stupid frigging idea." He turned to look and saw Jo leaning against the counter, amused by what was going on between Ellen and the angel.

Sam and Angela followed Dean's gaze and Sam said, "Boy. Talk about stupid ideas."

Angela said, "Don't even."

"Screw that."

Sam raised his brow as Dean went to go join Jo over in the kitchen. He took another sip of his beer and heard Angela mutter under her breath. He glanced at her and said, "Please tell me you're not plotting revenge."

"No. I feel sorry. Dean's gonna crash and burn."

Sam didn't need to clarify that since they both watched as Dean fell as she predicted. He looked to see Angela looking smug about it. He narrowed his eyes in mock seriousness, "You knew that was going to happen."

Angela's smug look turned into a grin, "Of course. One thing I taught Jo was dignity and self-respect." She adjusted the pup on her lap. "That and she knows I can go Ellen Inquisition on her and hell's fury on Dean."

Sam couldn't help but start to chuckle at that. He knew though that it was the truth. Angela's affection for Jo was very much like how he and Dean operated. Anyone so much as screwed with them… there was hell to pay. It was one of the reasons why he was attracted to Angela; she was a fighter down to the last tooth and nail.

Looking at the pup, he gently rubbed Zeppelin's head, paying care to the ears. "So how are the puppies?"

"Doing well. I needed to clean Zep's eyes." Angela turned to examine the pup again. She turned when she saw Xander come up and lay down beside her chair and chuckled. "Seems like Xander has a new job."

"Still planning on taking him?"

"He's old enough and he is a hunter's dog. Though I think he's a little different." Angela eyed the dog with some suspicion. "And like I said…" she looked back at Sam, "I like to be prepared with all possibilities." She studied him for a moment and added, "Things work out one way or another. It's pretty much what is left aside from figuring things out for yourself."

Sam nodded in agreement. "You should have picked a career as an Ask Abby or whatever."

"Please. Charlatans." Angela snorted at the thought but she was smiling all the same. "And you and I both know I'm not the best with giving advice."

Sam gave a slight shrug as he leaned forward to rest his elbow on the table. He rested his chin on his palm and looked at her. "No you give pretty good advice. You just have to learn how to listen and… you always mean what you say when it is worth saying." It was cheesy and he knew it but it was the honest truth. "And that's the honest truth."

Angela would have said something but Bobby bellowed, "Everybody get in here! It's time for the lineup."

Angela looked at Sam and gave a slight gesture with her head and an indulgent smile. Sam nodded and stood up, waiting to see if she needed help with the puppy. He was surprised that Lilah would allow her to take the puppies as needed to look them over but then again… They walked to where Bobby was setting up his camera as he gestured behind him, "Usual suspects in the corner. You might as well drag the puppies out Angie and all the mutts."

Angela rolled her eyes slightly and went to indulge the grizzled hunter while Ellen said, "Oh come on Bobby, nobody wants their picture taken."

"Hear, hear," Sam added.

"Shut up. You're drinking my beer and Angie's whiskey," Bobby groused as he finished setting up. He turned to head towards the group with the cat on his lap. Damned thing hadn't moved all night and looked smug that he was still on the elder hunter's lap. "Anyway, I'm gonna need something to remember your sorry asses by. Where's feather boy?"

"I am right here," Kesset said from behind Dean, thoroughly making him jump and scowl and mutter something about giving fair warning and not sneaking around.

"Good. Get in there in the back," Bobby groused as the dogs came in. Angela followed holding the puppies.

The effect was cute and ridiculous since it was obvious that they were going to be large dogs as adults but they were still that cute puppy look. She went to stand in the back since she was similar in height to Sam and he plucked Moira out of her arms and held the puppy while she held Zeppelin. The parents sat on the floor in front with Xander. It was pretty much a family photo op. Even Castiel was included.

"Always good to have an optimist around," Ellen muttered while trying to be lighthearted about it.

"Bobby's right," Cas intoned as he stared ahead, "Tomorrow we hunt the Devil. This is our last night on Earth."

Angela blinked slowly at that and stared ahead at the camera. She knew well enough that this was probably the last night on earth. She had seen too many of those kind of things but she wasn't a cynic about it. Life was too short… at least for normal humans but she found it precious and took whatever she could in moments. She lowered her head to give a kiss to his furry head while at the same time she felt Sam's hand touch the small of her back.

The flash went off and the mug shot was done. Angela went to put the puppies back with their mother and stayed. She drew her knees up and watched as Lilah nosed her pups and they curled up in her fur. Cerebus gave a low moan and nudged her shoulder. She smiled as she put a hand up to rub the old softie's head. She still was amazed that a full blooded hell hound followed her and stayed with her and it was pretty funny to see him acting like a normal dog but when he was in full hell hound glory… that was something else.

She continued to rub his head and she heard him panting happily. "You know people won't believe me when I say you are a hell hound."

I am of the pit but I love my alpha.

Angela hummed at that as she gave a hug to the big dog. It was interesting to explain that he was a Rottweiler but just an abnormally large one. She had no idea how people would react if she told them that he could get even larger and you could ride him. It always seemed the strange and unusual happened with her.

The alpha is alpha and knows the way of pups.

"Now I know you, Lilah and Jo dragged me into this with Zep and Moira outrunning the hose," Angela retorted in a slightly stern look only to receive the big browns. She shook her head at that, not falling for it. She still wasn't sure of what to do with puppies but she knew she couldn't say no and it didn't help that Sam and Dean named them. Then Jo explained that her medallion was not only for breeders of Wilder's; they were trainers as well. Standing up she said, "You really put in a spot you two but I know Bobby won't kick you out and I wouldn't either." She stooped to rub the adults' heads. She whistled low for Xander and left to join the others.

Things had died down since people needed to get sleep but she wasn't overly tired. She padded her way to the kitchen figuring that her favorite drink was a necessity. She was as quiet as she could be as she got out everything but not quiet enough since Jo came in and asked for a mug of warmed milk with vanilla. Angela indulged since it was because she had to deal with a little girl that had a hard time sleeping that she invented this drink.

It was either coincidence or the universe's weird sense of humor that the radio was still on and it started playing another oldie she liked and it had her thinking again. She could almost hear the sounds of another time and way different scenario but… She started singing softly to herself as she stared at nothing in particular and in thought.

She was listening to the song and thinking intently that she didn't realize that Jo had left the kitchen and that Sam had come in until he asked, "You okay?"

Angela turned to look after jumping slightly. She was lucky she hadn't spilled her milk. She managed to compose herself and reply, "Yeah. Just thinking. And drinking." She held up her glass of milk. "You want some?"

"Sure," Sam replied with a nod. He gestured at the music playing. "Music had you thinking?"

Angela poured some milk into a mug since it was still hot and stirred in the vanilla. "Yeah. Just remembering another time like this. It was in Cambodia."

"Cambodia?"

Angela finished what she was doing and handed the mug to Sam. "Yeah. During Khmer Rouge. I was leading a group of missionaries/Red Cross and those that didn't agree with how things went down. Had one chance and… people had to stay behind because we were being chased by what we hunt."

"Sorry for asking."

"I was actually reminded of a couple. Husband and wife. Husband said he would stay behind but the wife… she refused to go stating that they did everything together." Angela took a sip of her milk at the same time Sam did. She smirked when he finished.

"What?"

Humming a little, Angela reached up and gently wiped the milk mustache away. "Milk mustache." She would have turned and put her empty mug down but was stopped when she felt Sam's hand on hers and she turned to look at him.


A/N: Family photo op and what's this? Puppies! Zeppelin and Moira make their entrance. Keep watching for more The End of the Beginning...