Chapter 7

You mean visiting with someone that you haven't seen in over twenty years?

Angela looked at the angel. She knew that she couldn't hide forever from them unless she learned the other aspects of her tattoo which were somewhat but not completely explained to her. She could blame that on Gabriel. She knew the risk of coming back to Rosedale and took precautions but it seemed that she overlooked the fact that Amitiel was an archangel, one of the more powerful types of angels in heaven.

Amitiel sensed that she may have trod upon something that Angela was determined to keep a secret. She was the archangel of Truth and she knew better than anyone how truth could be sharp and often painful. She tried to be easy with it but reality dictated that truth was never easy. Still she could be a bit more circumspect with Angel. She said, "I assume that you are here because of the boy."

"What is it to you who I spend time with?" Angela had narrowed her eyes and her stance assumed a protective one.

Amitiel raised her arms in a surrender position. "I'm not here to try and pry. I can't help it since I am the archangel of Truth."

"Which is why I am wary about you being here," Angela countered. She had relaxed a little but not by a whole lot. To her, the angel wasn't one of the other feathered dicks but she didn't know her well enough to give any other status.

"You have every right to be. What Zachariah did was not right. Yet a point needed to be made."

"Maybe so but when you've been pushed around like pieces on a chessboard and not given the full picture, it tends to be a bit off putting." Angela tried to keep the sting of sarcasm out of her voice but she couldn't help it. At least she attempted to temper the blow of her usual responses. She sighed and asked, "Did Cas ask you to come and talk to me?"

Amitiel gave a shrug of her shoulders. "He's under the impression that you are angry with him."

"I was angry about the whole thing with Alistair and the methods used. The more I think about it the more I see that it was his superiors' doing and of course Uriel stuck his fat nose in." She glanced at the angel and added, "I actually liked sticking it to him."

"I figured as much," Amitiel replied. "He annoyed a few of us too." She looked around and then at Angela. "I'm not here to force you to give up the secret you won't even tell the Winchesters though I am curious about the why in that."

"I don't ask for all their dirty secrets. Like I want to know about Dean's latest fornication or in detail about what Sam is doing with Ruby."

"So you do know about that."

"Since Sioux City," Angela replied in a low voice and looked away. She didn't want to talk about that.

"And yet you've said nothing about it. Why?"

Angela looked at the angel with a slight glare. "Why should I answer that? Are you going to lecture me about it? If you are then know that I'm not in the mood." She looked away and crossed her arms over her chest and gave a slight huff.

"I merely was asking why because I am curious."

"Curiosity killed the cat."

"And it bothers you that you know the truth and Dean is floundering. He knows something is up but can't put a finger on it." Amitiel paused when she noticed Angela's shoulders tense up. Castiel had warned her that sometimes if the subject was sensitive enough, it would provoke a violent response, usually in the form of a punch. At first Amitiel thought he was joking but when he described one incident where he was on the receiving end of that punch, she saw that he wasn't. "Why don't you say anything?"

"Because…," Angela paused as she let out a few controlled breaths. She had been tempted to hit the angel but didn't. It wasn't a matter of landing a punch and despite the fact that it would feel good, it was because she had nothing to be angry about with the angel and because it was as she knew, the archangel of Truth thing. Once she calmed a little, she continued, "Because I would like Sam to have confidence in his decisions, be able to think ahead in the long run; make his own choices and learn from them. I'm not saying that he hasn't before but he's always followed Dean's lead and I'm not saying that it's a bad thing. Both need to realize that they are their own person and they need to respect each other's opinions."

"A tall order and it seems you made yourself responsible much like a parent would."

"Dean started to get that and lets Sam do that. I just have a different way and sometimes the same message needs to be heard but from different people." Angela uncrossed her arms and shuffled on her feet. "You want to interrogate me more or can I enjoy my vacation?"

Amitiel smiled as she studied the hunter. "You talk enough about feelings to not be one of those oppressed neurotic souls but you still keep the gates closed. You are afraid of letting people in but you take a chance when you think it's worth it. I'm interested to see if you will do that with Sam."

"I have no…"

"You can't hide from me," Amitiel replied with a chuckle. "Don't try. I know how you feel about both Winchesters; it isn't that hard to see. As to why you are here, I know nothing save for the fact that you are visiting old friends for the sake of it. Not even Zachariah knows anything different. It is a bit hard considering you know a few things about angel proofing."

"Learned out of necessity," Angela replied as she relaxed a little more when she realized that the angel wasn't going to do anything to threaten what she was trying to do. "I value privacy."

"No doubt to the reasons why," Amitiel replied. She sighed and looked around. "I'll tell Cas you're fine. He's worried about you and he is still sorry about what happened with Alistair."

"I forgave him for that," Angela replied softly. "And I did forgive myself for a few things because it wasn't ultimately my fault. I just don't look forward to the fact that I have to use what I am in the days ahead eventually and it pisses me off that the Old Man may have been right about a few things." She pursed her lips a little. "Thing is…"

"You would rather like to believe that life is what you make of it and that there is no such thing as destiny," Amitiel finished with a knowing look. "Tall order considering that you have completed a few prophecies though not exactly in the way they were written," she rambled off, "But you have defied a few things and you do things your own way. All is not lost unless you are determined to think so which I doubt."

"Three strikes and you're not out," Angela replied with a nod. "Plus proving yourself is about picking yourself up when you take the hit." She hummed a little before continuing, "Much like I want to show Eli."

"No doubt he'll learn but you need to be ready to answer the inevitable questions."

"I won't lie if that is what you are hinting at."

"I know you won't but changing the subject hardly helps anyone."

Angela looked at the angel and gave a nod of understanding. "Thank you for your silence."

"I have a fondness for Father's greatest creation. You are an interesting bunch even you have the propensity to veer towards disapproval but you try. You all do. I must go now otherwise…" Amitiel made a slight indication upward with her eyes and head.

Angela nodded, "Tell Cas I'm sorry. He may or may not get it but tell him for me please."

"I will. And I might be back to watch the main event. It sounds exciting."

"If you can mask the angel mojo you're welcome to drop in during training," Angela offered.

"I might. Good luck with your training and may things work out for you."

Angela blinked and the flap of wings was heard and Amitiel was gone. She was surprised that the angel dropped by considering she had been rude a couple of times. Hell she had been rude to Castiel and he still kept coming back, except for this time. She hoped that he picked up that she wasn't angry with him. She loved that angel and she knew Amitiel knew that.

It was a bit unnerving that the angel was able to find her since she virtually did manage to angel proof a few things. Then again she made alterations to allow certain things in. She figured Castiel told her about that and she couldn't help but smile at that before taking a deep breath. It was nigh impossible to lie to the archangel of Truth and that angel certainly poked at a few things and Angela was certain that the angel was keeping that 'you think I know the truth but do I really know' persona with her regarding her reasons for her actions regarding Sam. She knew because she used it herself.

It was bothersome to know that the archangel knew things that she didn't say or didn't want to say. It felt like, as Dean would say, mind rape and she knew that most beings who could do that often couldn't help themselves. It was something that she would have to learn to work out. Right now she had to work out a few things with Eli. She couldn't forget Amitiel's warning that there would be a time when those questions would be asked. It was something to think about as she walked back to the house and joined in the teasing.


"I thought you were going to help me."

"I am."

"Then why are you just lounging there?"

"Who said I was?" Angela couldn't help but grin as she went through her stretches. She was watching Eli go through his paces on the sit ups he was doing from where the hayloft was. She had headed out to the barn after a quick meal and proceeded to show Eli around.

Eli had been training all his life in the gym in town. He never really inspected the barn even though he used to play there as a child. Then again his dad used what was in there to train. That was what he learned and right away he was put to work with the sit ups.

The first one he tried, he fell and landed in the hay below. That was because he didn't quite secure his feet to keep himself from falling. He wasn't amused at her laughing at him but he relented when she made a suggestion. Now he was doing sit ups and she was watching him like he was an amusing specimen or something and it was one of those things he had yet to figure out about her.

To Eli it was a bit overwhelming the last couple of days. True it was like one thing after another after his father died and then he found out that his godmother was not a normal human and that there were things that went bump in the night. It was a lot to take in and on top of that his godmother was training him these last two weeks. He was wondering if he was losing his mind or if it was the blood rush to his head from his dangling.

"About five more reps and then the chin ups."

Eli grunted as he pulled against his weight. "Now I'm thinking you're a tyrant."

"And the stories I could tell you," Angela replied as she watched Eli. She had developed a plan of working here in the barn and at the gym and then there were the runs. It was probably a lot but she had confidence in Eli's abilities. If Solly's letters were anything to go by she knew that Eli was capable of a few feats.

It was probably a shitty thing to do by having Eli do what she put Sam and Dean through when she trained Sam for the tournament since that was her version of hunter's training. It was not the boxing training she learned and adapted when she met Solly and ventured into that world for a time and like many other times, she only learned because she was on the hunt for something at the time; that was usually the case. In the end though both kinds of training became one and the same to her.

The day was a fairly nice one considering that summer was well on the move and could make the day seem oppressive. It was early enough in the day though that it wouldn't be too much of a problem. Besides a little work would toughen them out a bit even though Dean was wondering what the hell was going on a vocalized it, "I thought you were going to train Sammy for this thing Angie."

"I am."

"Then what the hell?"

"Training. I want you both to jog around a little. Then do some pushups and I'm gonna sit and watch."

Sam was the one that started laughing even though he had begun to comply. Dean wasn't completely convinced and asked, "And why? Me and Sam did this growing up."

"True. You were trained Marine style though I think it was a little easy on you."

Sam was still laughing as he warmed up his muscles. Dean knew that something was up and bat crazy and it was dragging his brother into it. He said, "And what are you doing? Specialized hunter training."

"Something like that. You're going to run until you feel your lungs explode and then you'll do the pushups."

Both looked at her, the elder thinking she was crazy and the younger thinking that she was having WAY too much fun messing with the elder, and they started doing what she asked. Eventually they got what she was after. It was then she gave her favorite phrase which would become an excuse for anything that didn't make sense: there are methods to my madness.

Angela remembered how it started out when she began teaching Sam and Dean how to read the creatures they were going to meet at the tournament. She was just messing with them at the time. She knew she didn't need to teach them the basics since John taught his boys well. What they did was refine them a little and she taught them a few things, especially Sam and she recalled having a moment of déjà vu when her father began training her and it became the weapon of choice Sam used and of course the use of fists was a given.

She watched as Eli went through the basic exercises that she told him to do using the equipment in the barn. She knew he did the same thing in the gym but her purpose was twofold. First was the fact that she wanted Eli to see what his father used to do in his prime and remember good times and second she was curious if he had noticed a few things as he was growing up. Solly never mentioned it but she was curious and she wanted to be sure what she had left behind years ago still held up since the appearance of Amitiel was a surprise to her.

Eli was quick and well warmed up for more training. "What next coach?"

Angela gave a slight smile and motioned for him to follow her. It was probably annoying by her not saying anything but that was how she was taught. It was a prevalent thing in the east where children were expected to watch, listen and learn. When Li taught her, she learned quickly that he was not one to answer questions since eventually they would be answered. It was how she taught the boys though she had to modify it a little since Dean got frustrated and it increased because Sam got it and would laugh at Dean's expense. It got better since Dean learned to go along with it and did it too well.

She couldn't help but remember how Dean played along when she had her turn against Alistair. She could sense his disgust at the scene a couple of times mostly because she flirted at the demon. Even that sounded wrong in her ears but there was no better way to put it. She led the way to the breaking pen; that's what it used to be until she adjusted the dimensions.

Eli wondered why they were going to a pen. "Why here?" When she didn't answer, he asked, "Is it because I called you coach?"

Angela opened the gate and motioned for Eli to get inside. She closed it, shutting him and her inside. She looked at Cerebus who had made himself comfortable on a spot to watch what was going on and gave a slight finger wag at the dog. He responded with a low rumble that was almost like a concession; like he was saying that he knew what his job was and to let him do it while she did hers.

She then turned to look at Eli who was a bit confused about the whole thing. She glanced around the pen and recalled a few memories that appeared as shadows. The shadow of a younger Solly and Henry stood in the ring next to Eli looking at her and listening to what she was going to say. She looked at Eli and said, "There is a way of teaching which I've learned hasn't crossed over quite a well as I would like but…" She shrugged her shoulders and she walked to a post and put a hand on it. "This is what used to be a breaking pen for horses but for your dad and uncle, it was a makeshift ring. The dimensions are the same as a professional one."

Eli looked around and noticed that. It wasn't apparent at first with all the grass and weeds clinging to everything. He remembered playing around here but he had never seen his dad or anyone else training there. It was like viewing a side of his dad that he had never heard of. He wasn't sure if he should be angry or not at not being told this part of his dad's life. He looked at Angela, "My dad trained here?"

"Times were different then," Angela replied. It was the truth especially what she was going to tell Eli next. "What your dad and Henry learned in this ring, it was during a time when things aren't as liberal as they are now. Most of what I am going to teach you here is what I learned but for a different purpose."

"What is that?"

Angela gave a wry grin as she stepped away from the post to take a position in a corner. "When we trained in this ring, we called it the master's ring. Inside the corners and the ropes is a boxer's whole world. Nothing outside it matters once you're in it."

"Dad said something like that but it was different," Eli pointed out.

"Modified," Angela replied. She began pacing like she was addressing a crowd. "What he and Henry learned here was different from out there. The time I refer to is when outside the ring a black man or any colored man was not an equal. The ring is an equalizer. Inside they are two bodies and two fists. Color doesn't matter because in the ring, the fight was war and test of skill."

Eli studied Angela as she paced in front of him. She was giving an intense expression as she paced that was different from ever other one he had seen. He wouldn't be able to understand it like his dad and uncle did since he hadn't been born then. It felt like he was being given orders like a soldier would but he listened. "Is that what you're going to do here?"

Angela gave a slight nod as she spoke, "You know the technicalities of the sport. The same principle will apply. This ring, as long as you are inside it will be your whole world. Until I say otherwise there is nothing else. It is the same principle used by master swordsmen; a means of becoming familiar with himself and with the ring. The location may be different but in the end there is just you and the ring and the opponent who thinks they know the ring."

It sounded right to Eli even though some of it was beyond him. He knew almost everything about boxing but this sounded like he was getting ready to fight wars in the ring. Perhaps it was the mindset carried over from when his dad trained. He would give the courtesy of paying attention.

As if she knew what he was thinking, Angela said, "It may sound strange but feel right or maybe bat shit crazy. Just know this: there are methods to my madness."

"So this is the part where I put my trust in you."

"It usually is," Angela offered. "Ready?"

"Ready coach."

Angela gave a slight smile to let Eli know that she didn't mind the title of coach. "Something for inside the ring?"

"The ring's the world while we're in it right?"

Angela gave a nod and said something in Afrikaans. It was an old habit of her to slip in the language that was related to the person she was talking to at the time. Zulu and Afrikaans were the languages that Solly and Henry grew up with besides English since they all met in South Africa. "Right little boetie."

They started off with Eli mimicking Angela as they worked on movement. He watched as she bounced on the balls of her feet and moved around. Her fists were up or rather hands since they weren't exactly closed in a fist formation. He closed his hands to mimic how they would look when gloved up and watched her move.

"You are allowed to see my feet until you no longer see them."

That sounded weird to Eli but he followed through. He thought that he was good with foot work. His dad had worked with him on that for a long time when he first started out until he was satisfied that he could move without looking like an ape. This felt a little weird even though he could easily keep up with an occasional hop to correct his posture. He kept looking at her feet thinking that he was… he wasn't sure.

"It'll come. Just watch."

It was easier said than done and Eli was getting the feeling that this off day of training was the start of others like it. He wasn't sure what she had meant by telling him her philosophy on trust. To him it was pretty clear but he was under the impression that she meant something else. He started thinking that maybe he was biting off more than he could chew by asking her for some help even though he technically didn't.

They worked on the footwork some more. With the uneven ground, it was a challenge to keep balance. In most cases people started off easy and gradually worked their way up. This time for Eli, they were starting at a level that was at where he was and a little more even though it was new to him.

Angela stopped and watched as Eli started working on his own. When she had watched him with his angry sparring before, she could see he had good footwork and balance. This was hardly the same thing but it drew upon what he knew and putting it into practice with the added sort of bonus of doing it on uneven ground since they were outside. She sat on the railing and watched him work and studied him in deep thought.


A/N: Looks like an angel dropped in and Angela goes down memory lane a little while teaching a few things. Stay tuned for more A Fist with Attitude...