Chapter 9

Dean was not happy. An unhappy Dean meant a ton of trouble and it was even worse if he knew that the cause of his unhappiness was because someone had hurt his little brother or his girl. As it were he was unhappy and the reason being was that he was outnumbered and the princess bride he was with was being held captive. It was not a good situation since he didn't even have a weapon. As it were he glared at the group that ambushed him and Akira at the outpost.

There were at least six of them and for all intents and purposes, they looked like they were human. Of course from Dean's experience it could be one of the monsters they ganked and they could look human. Then there were people like Angela. So he really didn't have an accurate clue and it didn't help that they were in a sanctuary meaning that it could be a bunch of monsters in meat suits. This was just the thing to make an already sort of bad day go worse.

The leader of the group that was holding onto Akira said something. Dean couldn't understand a damn word. At least he got the sense of what he was dealing with. They were dressed like Indians though it was different from the movies and the language was very real. He felt a little annoyed since he had just left Wisconsin and they talked their language and he didn't understand it either. He looked at the leader who was waiting for him to answer. He went the best way he knew how, "I don't understand a word you're saying."

The hit from behind made him grunt in pain and anger. He looked up at the one who hit him and glared full on. He got to his feet and looked at the leader. The one who hit him barked at him and then the leader said something to that guy. To Dean it sounded like babble. He knew his Latin which was important and Angela had once tried teaching him a spell that was Romani but he still was having a hard time and he butchered it badly.

Sam was better and had even learned to sign. It certainly annoyed Dean enough when they did that but it was one thing that they had and it was kind of cute and handy at times. Basic hand signs they all knew when they were trying to get one up on the fugly they were hunting. He looked at the leader as he barked at him again and replied, "I don't know what the hell you're saying. Now let the princess bride go and we'll leave."

"Hey," Akira replied with an indignant face.

"Not now," Dean replied with a motion.

"I don't think he understands you either," Akira then said knowing that it was hardly the time or the place to argue about what to call her. It was just habitual reaction and it wasn't very original but she could commend Dean on being the first to use it. "But that was a good nickname."

"Yeah well you should hear me when I get going on Sammy and Angie," Dean replied while keeping a wary eye on the group that surrounded them. He looked at the leader who was still looking at him expectantly and said, "Hey, I don't understand you. We aren't doing nothing."

The one that hit him, did it again and it pissed Dean off. He couldn't help but take a swing at the guy and it felt good when his fist collided with flesh. Of course that started a fist fight with the others and they joined in. Dean could admit that he was good at brawling and had worse odds even when Sam had his back. He took the punches but realized that these guys hit harder than he thought and had tougher skin. It didn't break his hand but it did hurt.

Akira took the opportunity to break away and join in. She had a harder punch which she used now. She was not a brawler but she had training in martial arts courtesy of her father. As a girl she watched her father practice and eventually asked if he could show her how to dance. She always thought that it was like a dance since she always came in when he was practicing kata, the thing to help find balance and focus.

Dean appreciated the help and managed to deliver a couple of hard punches to a couple of these guys. He got hit from behind and was flat on his stomach and felt the pound on his back. He thought that if it were any harder, his back would be broken. The kick to his side didn't help either but he rolled as the kick came and it reduced the amount of potential damage.

Sometimes you can take away the bite from a move if you let go of resistance.

It was a fine time to remember one of Angela's combat teachings. True he and Sam had learned a lot from their dad about fighting but she refined it into an art form. He could remember how his little Ninja would comment that it always seemed like she was dancing no matter what she was doing. If he could think about it, Dean would agree with that and that she could even make her kicked puppy look like dancing when she meandered away for alone time. At the moment though it proved to help him out in this case since he had no idea what he was up against.

He ran out of room eventually and was tripped by one of those Indian guys and he was winded on a rock. He mentally berated himself as he struck out with his foot to block a blow. Since he was winded, it was easily kicked away and he was trying to get a nice healthy lump of air. The next thing he knew he was hauled to his feet and the original guy who hit him was in front, ready to beat his face in. He couldn't help but say, "Make it count Tonto since you fight like a girl."

The sound of wings flapping had Dean think that Castiel had heard his plea for help. That's what sort of happened since he saw the angel there and a sight for sore eyes. "Hale?"

Haley knew that she couldn't refuse Dean's plea for help. She suspected that if she called for help from him he would respond but she was too proud. If they were honest with each other, they were both too proud on account that they were both warriors and she had her witch doctor heritage. True she had been angry with him but she couldn't stay mad at him for long which was why she said that she would help.

Aaron would have been her logical choice since he made it his personal mission to be her bodyguard but as fate would have it, Nephilim got sick too. Blame it on the human half. So she summoned the one being that had a strong connection to Dean… she summoned Castiel and she was ready to lay on the mojo if she thought he meant to do her harm.

As it turned out, Castiel heard Dean's initial call but couldn't get in. He said that it was fortunate that the African witch summoned him. Haley did have better luck using the old scrying techniques and found where they were. Since Castiel had a fix, he was able to transport them both there and it looked like they arrived in the nick of time.

Haley looked at the Indians and used her powers to send the one that was going to punch Dean flying. She could have hurt him seriously but she didn't. It was just enough to send a warning. The others held Dean and she took stock of the woman on the ground trying to get up. Her gaze then went towards the Indians with her intent clear and was somewhat surprised that Castiel wasn't doing anything to help but he was handy as someone to be muscle. She said, "This ends now. They are not your enemy."

The leader looked at her and started speaking in his native language. Haley didn't move from her position but looked at the leader. It was Castiel who said, "He says that they are intruders and they were trying to ascertain the intent of the intruders but the male refused to answer and instead took a swing at his man."

"How about the fact that he hit me first?" Dean was indignant as he stood up now that he had a moment to catch his breath. "I told him I didn't understand his babble."

"Seems to me Cas that we have two different accounts," Haley said. Her eyes studied the group as they formed behind the leader. She thought for a moment and then asked, "Can you speak to them, Cas?"

The leader spoke before Castiel could say anything. The angel listened and translated, "He says that he asked and he couldn't understand what the male was saying. He apologizes if there was any misunderstanding."

"Misunderstanding?" Dean huffed a bit as he rubbed his shoulders. He scoffed a bit as he looked around. "Right and I'm Santa Claus instead of a hunter. Is there any way they'll just give us a direction and we can leave?"

The leader became excited and started talking fast. Haley looked to Castiel for confirmation, "Cas?"

"He asks if we are hunters."

Haley looked at Dean and they discussed it nonverbally. It was a risk to take and they looked at Akira who gave a nod. Haley looked back at the leader and nodded, "We're hunters."

Castiel translated the response, "He says that they apologize. He finds it unusual that a hunter would be traveling with one of the people of the night. He is aware of their rivalry."

Dean made a slight face at that. It seemed that no matter what language the flowery prose or whatever it was still had bearing. It was annoying since it made things difficult to get a job done but it had its perks when it came to learning about the other stuff. "Yeah well not everything is black and white Cas. You work with Angie."

The leader began to motion. It was unmistakable that he was beckoning them to follow. It was a chance they had to take. If they could get information, then they could head in the right direction and all would be right in the world. The three looked to Castiel and the angel nodded saying, "He wants us to follow. There is no danger."

Dean looked at Haley and Akira and they gave a nod. "Okay then I guess we follow Tonto and his gang." He started following the group and looked at the guy that hit him first. He couldn't help it, "You might want to learn a little English. Works better than skin." He couldn't help but give a smirk at the guy as he walked past.

He heard the muttering and couldn't help but smirk at it. He sobered though when he was side by side with Haley and she said, "You really haven't learned have you?"

"I can't help it. It's my natural charm," Dean replied with his signature smirk. It wasn't that well received since Haley gave him a look. He sighed, "So I guess you're still mad at me."

"What do you expect? You get out of the pit and nothing." Haley looked at her hands as she walked behind the group. It was a relief that the angel stayed and was keeping the other one company. It seemed that he wasn't going to leave since he had difficultly locating Dean in the first place. "Did you even think about calling?"

"What do you want me to say Hale? Yes I wanted to call you. Apart from my brother and Angie, I thought about you down there." It was something that Dean had chosen not to reveal to Angela or Sam when the subject of his time in the pit came up but he was certain that Angela had figured out a few things by now. "Did I want you to see me right after… no. Not like that."

"Wouldn't have made a difference. You look different."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Not now," Haley replied trying to get serious. She was here to help him out and get him out of this mess since he didn't have a clue. She continued, "You mentioned about waking up out here after drinking but you don't remember leaving the cantina?"

Dean sighed and tried not to growl. It was what he got for choosing women that were the kind that didn't take orders unless it they were in the military or something. Haley may have appeared to be meek when they first met but she had the heart of a fighter; she was the kind that would go along with the plan and then spring her plan on you when you least expected it. That was how she rolled and it was attractive to him.

He wanted to continue their discussion. Something about her comment tripped him up and he wanted to get to the bottom of it. Yet it was like talking to Angela about something that was important but it needed to be discussed in private and trying to do it in front of others spelled disaster. Dean knew that Haley had every right to be pissed with him and he wanted to get to the root of it. It would just have to wait. He took his cue and replied, "The last night of freedom kind of thing; like a bachelor/bachelorette party. Lot of drinking and then this."

Haley nodded but didn't say more. Even though the Indians didn't speak the same language, no doubt they understood a few things given that they understood the word 'hunter', she would rather have a private conversation regarding a few things. The situation that Dean and his friend landed in required a little more conversation with them.

It wasn't too long and they all found themselves being offered something to eat. It wasn't anything Dean could recognize but Haley gave a slight smile when she recognized the fry bread. It was similar to how the original scones were made and those were delicious along with oatcakes. It was a product of her Celtic heritage. What she got from her father's side was enough to weird out Dean especially she liked a couple of delicacies that were of the bug variety.

The leader was saying something and Castiel translated, "He says that we are welcome to eat and rest and if we need help his people will give it."

It was a surprise and the group thanked the leader and they went about to business. Dean and Akira filled in what they knew and Haley listened. Castiel was looking around with fascination it seemed at the crafts belonging to the people. Mostly they were left alone.

"So Cas, you heard me but couldn't come?" Dean looked at the angel with a raised brow.

"I attempted it but I could not locate you," the angel replied. "This place blinds my sight. It is why I approached the witch. She knew how to find you."

"And I'm regretting it now," Haley deadpanned. She knew that it sounded mean and probably hit a nerve with Dean. She hadn't meant for it to sound like that but she was annoyed with the angel for saying that. It implied a few things and she didn't miss the slight look that Dean shot her way. She staved off the disaster as best as she could, "So yeah Cas came and I managed to get that it wasn't angel proofing since he wouldn't be here at all. My guess is that it has to do with the makeup of this place."

"Sanctuaries are the realms of the gods and goddesses with a few looked over by others," Castiel intoned. "They are places of protection of safety."

"I kind of got that when Hibah dropped in literally," Dean replied with a slight eye roll. He looked at Haley who was looking at him thoughtfully and asked, "So you think Cas couldn't come in because of whatever mojo is keeping this place functioning."

"It's possible," Haley replied. "It could also be the nature of the spell."

"What do you mean?" Akira raised her brow as she tried to understand what was going on. She sensed that there was some tension between Dean and the witch, a lot of it that was in the realm of feelings. She had tried to make herself not as noticeable and thinking about how to get out of this mess and letting them talk about it. Of course she got the impression that Haley was more like Angela and herself if it was something that emotionally sensitive.

Haley looked at Akira. She didn't know her but right away she recognized the characteristics that Angela exhibited and deduced that she was a dhampir too and an intelligent one. She was grateful for her being circumspect. She replied, "Some spells are ones that are cast but the catch is that they just don't go away even if you gank the witch. The spell has to go through completion."

"So we're stuck out here then until what? Sam and Angie rescue us?" Dean had no idea why he was assuming that they would be together except that was what they did when someone in their weird ass family was in trouble. One was in trouble and the other two went to go help. It was a win-win thing most of the time… sort of.

"A possibility," Haley allowed but she wasn't quite convinced. She looked at Akira, "You said that your friend Carla is a witch?"

Akira nodded, "Yes. She's considered quite powerful but more like the all bark and no bite when it comes to the offensive. She's… more of a romantic and…" She paused a moment and thought some more about it. "Oh I see."

"What?" Dean looked at Akira a little confused, "I know she may have screwed up the spell but…"

"No she didn't Dean," Akira replied. She started to smile and then laugh a little. She looked upwards at the sky trying to think but could only think of how sill, cute and a bunch of other things that happened. She could tell that the elder Winchester was thinking worst case scenarios and the witch was merely interested.

"I take it that you know what happened?" Haley was curious. It was a spell gone wring but the dhampir said otherwise.

"Yes, more or less. Carla does this on the side. She tries her hand at matchmaking but no messing with emotions. She just sets up the opportunity for both parties to spend time with each other," Akira explained. She was laughing now since she could get it and she figured out what went 'wrong'.

"So her plan was to have Sam and Angie spend time together and what hope that Sam grows a brain?" It was clear to Dean what Akira was getting at. "Fat chance at that. You'd need something like Angie getting seriously hurt or turned into a four year old for him to grow a brain."

Akira looked at Dean and replied, "Carla just wanted to help. It was why she was probably making Sam uncomfortable. Dirty tricks used to get to the root of what she was looking for; not exactly the endearing type but she's pretty good at determining the extent through jealousy."

Haley nodded, "Emotions when given free reign are helpful. They usually give more insight than the person telling you straight to your face."

"No kidding. Sam was obvious in Darby and whenever people get cute with her."

"Carla was doing it to get a rise out of Angie," Akira pointed out. "She can get jealous you know."

Dean looked at Akira like she was nuts. It never occurred to Dean that Angela was the jealous type. Certainly she never gave any indication especially with the whole thing with Madison and Jess. Hell she hated Ruby and the way how she blew up with Sam, she wasn't concerned that Sam banged Ruby. "Angie? Get jealous?"

"She is a woman Dean," Castiel interrupted apparently having listened to the conversation while he had been coping out the area. "Emotional responses are not consistent with normal humans but they are present."

"And you make her sound like she's a damned experiment or something," Dean shot back. He sighed, "Okay so she was messing with Angie. That's like messing with Death or something cause if I know Sam, they would have talked and she would have been guard dog with hell hound teeth if… Carla came near."

"Not if the alcohol was spiked."

Dean had forgotten about that. "What with soda?"

Haley answered that one, "More likely a potent potion to relax the targets."

"And she would have drunk some herself," Akira put in, "To allay suspicion. She knows the spell backwards and forwards and once recited it with a concussion. So it's not the caster… "

"It's the wording," Haley finished. She nodded and smiled. It made perfect sense. That was why her father always insisted that she learn proper phrasing and to be careful with the wording. "So I'm guessing it is to put all interested parties to seek a journey and find out if they are the one."

"Then there is something wrong cause I don't give a rat's ass about princess bride here. No offense. Hell she's getting married and it's supposed to be today," Dean pointed out.

"Could be more like proving that it was meant to be and I think Carla forgot to take into account that emotions of the bride and groom run pretty high the closer it gets," Akira admitted. "Though I am perplexed about being in your company Dean; it's odd."

"Tell me about it. It's not like we fight or something unless I play Jiminy Cricket for you and get you to the groom. Unless you can counter it Hale." Dean looked at Haley questioningly for verification that she could do what he was suggesting.

"No can do."

"What do you mean?"

"It's a spell that can't be broken. It has to run its course. So you can guide the bride to the groom and get them to the church on time. Sam and Angie do what they have to do. You can't stop it. Not even take a shortcut."

"It would explain why I wasn't able to help you earlier," Castiel replied as if he had been part of the conversation the whole time. "It is a spell of intention. It would be what you call cheating."

Dean hummed at that. Okay so they were stuck with trekking it out into the desert. "Okay so we have a plan but we need to know what direction we are heading in. In fact I don't even know where here is."

"I think I know," Akira offered. She looked at her company and explained, "When I was booking the place I learned that the town is not the only thing within the sanctuary. Outlying ranches as well as a sort of Indian reservation… Navajo I believe. This group I think is part of the reservation in the Utah portion so we would have to head south."

"I will ask the leader which way," Castiel offered which surprised Dean. Well it shouldn't have considering that her knew that the most emotional that angel ever got was when it concerned Angela. He knew they were tight and had experiences so he could get it.

"I think I'll go see about making sure we have food and water. I think it's going to be a long walk unless we find something like horses," Akira said as she walked away. She took it as an opportunity for the remaining two people to work things out. She gave a glance at Haley and walked off.

Dean blinked and then looked at Haley. He tried his grin, "I guess we could talk now."

"We could," Haley replied in that calm way before looking through her bag that she had the foresight to bring before Castiel angel zapped them there.

Dean sighed. He knew she was doing this on purpose and he had it. "Alright, I get it Hale. Look I was a sorry mess and do you really think a guy wants to let a girl he… likes see him at his worse."

"Oh I've seen you at your worst."

"And what the hell is that supposed to mean?"

Haley stopped what she was doing and looked up at Dean. There were things that you couldn't walk away from; they stayed with you no matter what. She understood her friend better now. She replied, "Do you remember hell… all of it?"

Dean felt his lips twitch like he was going to sneer. His throat convulsed a little before he admitted, "Yes."

Haley looked at Dean poignantly, "Then you know that was your worst." She paused and continued, "And I know because I saw it too."


A/N: Looks like Haley is jumping in and she and Dean are having a talk and Cas is a tag along. Keep watching for more Get Me to the Church...