Chapter 9
Bobby thought the Winchesters were being bad with the jokes but this was the worst. They knew better than to say things like that over the phone. Yet deep down Bobby could tell that they weren't joking. They really wouldn't joke about something like that. Not about her; not his girl.
Bobby knew the day was off. First Sparkle-fingers comes by for the hell mutt and said that she sent him and then a few hours later he gets a call from Dean stating that they were bringing her home. It was enigmatic at first until Dean finally said that something had happened. It didn't take much for Bobby to guess at what happened and he asked what got her.
He had been surprised at Dean's report that there were no marks on her body. To his old hunter's intuition it reeked of supernatural means. The fact that the demon who wanted Sam's head on a platter was involved merely supported his thoughts. They were superseded by the fact that his girl, the one that he fondly called the stray puppy that decided to stay, was gone.
Bobby was surprised that Dean held up and was able to tell him where they were going to be and about the strange group of women that wanted their girl's remains. He had never heard of the Order of the Phoenix except from the damn Harry Potter books so he was coming along to see for himself who they were and even the numbers out.
It would have been better if they had the hell mutt but as it were he was with that warlock Nick and that had Bobby suspicious about the whole thing regarding the warlock's request. The timing was suspicious but it could have been that she okayed it and he had been traveling a distance to get there. Unfortunately he had no way of contacting the warlock since the fool boy saw fit to not leave a contact number. That was a moot point now as he drove the beat up Chevelle to where Dean said they were going. He knew the location well and could make good time in getting there. He could even get there faster but he was going to time it just right.
He got there just at the boys did and did a visual snap inspection. Dean was holding onto the elbow of a girl who looked around but she wasn't really seeing anything. If Bobby had to venture a guess, she was blind. Dean was holding up pretty well but his grief was showing on his face. Sam was getting off a truck with a box and he was looking pissed. Bobby's first thought was that it was like when she was going through her grief. A second look showed him that the look was directed at a woman that was wearing a slightly smug look.
It looked like things were not going to go smoothly on all levels. That much was certain even for Bobby when he saw the box being unloaded. He sighed and walked towards the group, talking in stock of the camp that was hiding in plain sight. There were more women walking about doing whatever as he walked up and caught Dean's attention.
"Bobby?"
"Ya didn't think I'd leave ya and Sam alone to deal with this did ya idjit?"
Dean released Augusta's arm and gave Bobby a hug. "It's good to see you Bobby. Sorry you had to find out this way."
"Better you tell me than me finding out through someone else," Bobby replied returning the hug. He looked at the girl who accompanied Dean who was just standing there. He motioned with his eyes at her.
Dean took the opportunity to introduce them, "Bobby this is Gus."
Augusta held her hand out without any prompting on Dean's end and grabbed the grizzled hunter's hand. As she ran her fingers over his palm she said, "Bobby Singer, occupation hunter and has a heart of gold hidden behind a crusty exterior… Pleased to meet you."
Bobby took in a moment to realize that the girl feeling him up was blind. She kept staring off as she felt his hand. He caught the slight grin on Dean's face and muttered, "Shut up idjit. At least I ain't grown lady parts."
Augusta laughed slightly, "I apologize. It is how I see the people I meet." She sobered quickly though as she moved her head to listen. "I wish it were under better circumstances that we meet. At least I know that my teacher still maintains an impact on people she trusts with her whole heart."
Bobby looked at Dean for confirmation and Dean gave a slight nod. So the girl knew Angela too. At that moment Sam came up looking put out but glad to see Bobby. The grizzled hunter gave the taller Winchester a hug, not saying much out of a slight fear that it would make or break Sam. It was Augusta that said, "I take it that they are putting our friend in the hut to wait for the time being?"
Sam looked at Augusta. He took comfort in the look of sympathy she was showing. He didn't like the others and wondered how in the hell Angela put up with them. He replied, "Something about getting ready for the sendoff or something like that." He frowned in confusion as he tried to remember the words that Grace had used.
"Oh the bed of ashes," Augusta replied. She tensed slightly at the mentioning of it. She had to tell them now so that they could decide. "It means they are preparing the pyre. Like the phoenix of legend it dies in a ball of fire and from the ashes…"
"Dean," Sam said as he looked at his sibling with that look he got when he wasn't going to drop the issue.
Dean saw the look. He promised Sam and he aimed to keep it. "Right. No burning."
Bobby wisely kept out of it. Normally a hunter got a hunter's burial meaning that their remains were salted and burned so that nothing supernatural would touch them. He knew Angela disliked doing it since the smell of burning flesh made her gag. Instead she used a gypsy rite which was just as effective. He figured that maybe Sam and Dean wanted to use that. He didn't blame them unless the idjits were going to try something to bring her back.
"Dean, we agreed to coming here. There has to be a way to stop the whole thing."
"There is," Augusta entered. She had been listening to the back and forth between the brothers. She had made it so that they had the say in what went down. She could help their case by presenting the truth.
"What do you have Gus?" Dean looked at Augusta.
"Her weapons." When Augusta heard nothing and assumed that they were confused, she explained, "Absolution is a living sword and I know that she had a chakram. Those will be your keys."
Dean looked at Sam. The chakram was easy. Sam was the only other person who knew how to handle it. He could even throw it as decent as she could in that trick maneuver she did when she was playing around one time. Absolution was another matter. "The chakram is easy Gus since Sam here can twirl it on the tip of his finger without cutting himself. Benefits of letting a god ride his ass."
Sam scowled at that. True that without Hapi wearing his skin to the prom, he wouldn't have known how to use the darn thing that saved Angela's neck from that arrow that nearly skewered her. The only thing he didn't like was the possession part and he had plenty of experience with that.
Dean gave a slap on Sam's shoulders to tell him to relax. He looked back at Augusta and continued, "As for Absolution, he pretty much lets anyone touch him. Angie said it had to do with the heart."
"She didn't tell you everything, did she?"
"What do you mean?" Sam asked the question. He knew as much as Dean regarding Absolution and this time he could understand the secrecy. It wasn't that she didn't trust them because hell she told them how to bypass the basics of his defenses. Traveling with her taught them both that there were some things in the world that were known to a few for a reason and that was because of the value. That was certainly the case with Alex and his friends. It was possibly that this was the same thing.
Augusta glanced around to make sure that it was safe to talk. She then lowered her voice and replied, "Absolution may be able to be handled by just about anyone with the requirements of a good soul/heart but the key lies in Absolution's connection to the world and the people she chooses. The blade does more than cuts the heads off demons and other monsters. Dean you felt him pulse in your hand and I'm sure Sam would be able to feel it too. You also understood what he was saying. That's your key. Make it show visibly or better yet, make it so that he can be heard."
Dean raised his brow. It sounded like crazy talk to him and a glance at Bobby and Sam told him they thought the same thing. "What exactly are you trying to say Gus?"
"Make him show himself."
"And how are we supposed to do that?" Dean thought this day couldn't get any worse. "As far as I know, it's a sword with a soul and a personality that is pretty much an ass to boot."
Augusta shrugged, "That's a start."
"So yer saying that there's a way to make this sword come to life to so speak?" Bobby narrowed his eyes trying to confirm what he just heard.
"Yes. The blade is just a blade but the soul is what makes it valuable," Augusta replied. "They chose their wielders and do often in extreme cases allow certain individuals to call them forth. Of course that is just what I have read. I've never heard of it actually happening." She gave a slight shrug of her shoulders and clasped her hands together and looked down indicating that she was apologizing for getting their hopes up.
That was a bummer in most respects since it was something that Sam and Dean never heard of. They figured that Angela had a clue and kept it from them for a reason. The other option was that she didn't know and was only going by what had been told to her when the thing chose her. Dean knew though that the usually bullying and waving guns in the bitches' faces wasn't going to get them anywhere. Even though the odds were better now that Bobby was around, they were still outnumbered and they didn't even know if there were non-humans in the group.
Dean had confidence that Sam could kick their collective asses along with him. He had since his brother do it and at the moment his brother wanted to go on a rampage. However he wasn't going to risk the wellbeing of his baby brother. This seemed like their best option. "Okay so say we go with the idea of making Absolution show his mug, how does that help us?"
"The order knows that soul blades react to specific people; the stronger the reaction, the stronger the claim. Plus the fact that you said Sam is the only one other than our mutual friend that can wield her other weapon, you have a good chance of keeping your claim." Augusta looked around when she heard a noise. She could make out Vera barking orders and gave a slight shake of her head. She turned her attention back towards the hunters and added, "If you are serious about doing this, we need to move now. Appeal to Grace; she's not as unreasonable as she had been made to seem."
Dean glanced at Sam and Bobby. The looks they shot him were his answer, "Alright Gus. What do we do? How do we go about keeping your friends from torching Angie?"
Augusta gave a slight smile. She was hoping that they would go with this route. She sensed that once she told them about the bed of ashes, they would have attempted to go out guns blazing and already tensions were high enough. She wasn't making anything better since she was the one who gave them the loophole. However deep down she knew it was right. Absolution was never meant to be a part of the earthly orders that protected men. Nope a higher purpose and it was connected to the three before her. She replied, "You go to Grace and explain that you don't want to go through the rite. They are assuming that you will be agreeable since you are hunters. I can intercede on your behalf and we go from there."
"What not just tell us what to say?" Sam studied Augusta with a pointed looked aware she couldn't see his face but she could see him in terms of how he sounded at the moment. He liked the idea she proposed and if it was a way to keep Angela safe then he was all for it but he wouldn't do it unless Dean was down with it.
"At the current rate, you two are not exactly endeared to the order at the moment. True they committed sacrilege to the Impala by ramming it to make you stop but you were the ones that called them dicks because of the Centurion, were sort of insulting to Grace and Sam decided to pick a fight with Vera who is next in line for leadership of the order. They are not really that accepting of you both," Augusta rattled off and counted on her fingers. "Luckily for you two, I am on your side and there are a few who trust me. They will stand by me."
Dean knew that this was the best chance they had for him to keep Sam's request. It was his too but it was more Sammy's than his. He gripped Augusta's hand and gently squeezed, "Then we'll do it. Lead the way."
It felt like she was sneaking into a bank to commit robbery but Jo understood the need to get the layout of this place. She also understood why it needed to be her and not Nick doing this. According to Angela, the order was not that impressed with warlocks that came from a family of oppressive warlords even if one of them had healer abilities and didn't actually believe in stuff like that. It also didn't help that said warlock's family had tangled with the order more than once.
So Jo went ahead with the dirty work of scouting out the place. They were lucky or just coincidence or whatever that they were near a river of sorts. Jo toyed with the idea of getting the body down to where they needed to go by the river. It would be quick and easy so to speak. At least she had someone to help her lift the body when they got to where they needed to go.
Before starting out on this mission she was currently on, she phoned her mom and let her know that things were okay and that Bobby was looking into something about the possession incident. It finished with her mom warning her about the demons circling and other stuff about the warrior princess. It only made Jo more anxious to fix this and have Angela kick demon ass and prove to the black eyed bitches that she wasn't dead.
Jo, stop doing that tapping thing. It echoes in your mind.
Jo looked down to where her first finger was tapping the hilt of her knife. It was a nervous habit that had been honed into making a quick draw on anything when on a hunt. It worked pretty well most of the time and a hell of a lot better than her drawing a shotgun on Dean. "You used to think that it was cute."
That was before I ended up in your head. Did you know that you mentally hum the tune that goes with those taps?
"No shit Sherlock. I've been doing it since I got serious with the hunting," Jo whispered as she neared the camp or settlement. It was hard to tell since there were huts all over the place.
It's one of my favorites.
The phrase was so random that Jo had to work to keep herself from bursting into laughter. She could always count on Angela to say something like that. It made her similar to Dean in that respect. Jo though had enough sense to realize that it was a defense mechanism that Angela used and she supposed Dean did the same too. "Glad you like it. So what am I looking for?"
It will be the central hut. Sites like these are only used for rituals of life and death. The warriors that live here guard it and make sure that the wards stay up. The central hut is where they will place my body and the closed door means that I am in there.
Jo peered through the brush. She saw a truck and the Impala pull up. She could make out Sam right away and he looked pissed. "They're here and Sam looks pissed."
He thinks I left him and I did promise that I would be more careful.
"He keeps giving death glares to one woman. Dean is with a girl and it looks like she is staring off into space and Bobby is here." Jo was aware that she felt some stirrings of feelings within as she watched Dean and the girl interact.
That's Augie. Thank whoever is listening upstairs because she'll keep Sam and Dean out of trouble.
"I take it that men aren't usually allowed in places like these?" Jo returned her focus to the business at hand. She started making her way closer, following the box that she knew contained Angela's body. She followed and found where they placed it. Excellent.
No. The fact that they are allowing my three nags to be here means that they don't want to do anything they will regret. Augie also probably stood up for them and used the aces.
"I'm guessing it's something that you know about?" Jo let her voice slide into a teasing tone since she knew that there were things she didn't know but Angela did.
That would be yes. I… turned Sam into a Champion.
"What?"
Don't sound so surprised. I made Sam into a Champion. The vivid storytellers call Dean the Slayer of Demons and all because he killed one demon high up on the pay grade.
"Wait. Tell me about making Sam into a Champion. Doesn't that imply fighting and not for your life kind of thing?" Jo made a smirk as she studied the layout and looked for a way to sneak into the main hut without being seen. "Cause we know that Sam doesn't do that."
And it's my fault that he did but I had little choice. It was either let him fight in the tournament against the Chaser punks one by one or we would have to be watching our backs. I went with the lesser of two evils in my mind.
"Which I'm sure Dean appreciated."
He hero worships me except when I screw up. Then he gets… chick flicky on me.
Jo grinned. She had seen that happen. Well sort of with Ash. "He really likes you then. He knows you like I do; that you would rather see yourself hurt than anyone else and that you give without any concern for reward."
Fool's view Jo. You know better than anyone that things I touch… they crash and burn.
"And yet you came up with this foolhardy plan of having me steal your body to bring you back to life all because you care and you don't want to leave them alone."
Shame on me then.
"Hide your feelings all you want Angie," Jo replied. She inched her way closer. "I know you care about them and it isn't the platonic relationships you form. You would do this for me and Mom."
Little sister always knows the elder.
"You know I do," Jo replied. She went silent as she looked from left to right. She couldn't let anyone see her. When the coast was clear, she scampered from her hiding place towards the wall of a nearby hut. She pressed herself along the wall looking for a means to blend in. Even if she could get in through a back way, she needed to get around without being seen and in plain sight.
She found what she was looking for laying on a table. It was a duster like everyone else wore and a hat. If she pulled it down low enough, people wouldn't pay attention to her face. Jo made short work of trading out her old jacket for the duster. She put the Seal of Nameh around her neck and down her shirt and plunked the hat on and started walking through the settlement portion.
Along the way, she glanced around to see if she was drawing attention. She wasn't and it seemed that all eyes were focused on a crowd gathering and she could make out Sam's tall frame amongst them. That meant Dean was nearby. She had to hurry before things got too hot.
She spotted Nick in the brush and she knew that the hell hound was with him. She still was surprised that Angela had one but as her friend explained, there really was no reason for it being there. She was amused by the story of how it turned into a lapdog after Angela healed it. Jo couldn't deny that maybe having it around was handy. She knew that the warlock would follow and wait for her signal when the time came.
Jo made it to the hut with little problem. She made sure no one was looking to make sure that she was completely alone. Once inside she pulled the hat off her head. "I'm in Angie."
What do you intend to do?
"Well I could do a switch out act. Put something equal to your weight inside the box and pretend you and I are drunk or something," Jo offered as she paused to take a look at the carvings on the lid. She noticed that Absolution and some weird circle thing were placed on top as if in a ceremony. She touched the carvings with her fingers, taking in the fact that she really was in the same room with her friend's dead body.
That could work Jo but I should warn you that the women here really don't get drunk unless it is for a good reason. Besides some have the head for alcohol like Ellen and Bobby.
"Well unless you have any better ideas," Jo grumbled, "That's the best I got." She found another duster and draped it over her arm. Carefully she lifted the sword and the circle thingy and put them on a nearby table. She tried t be careful so no noise was made. The last thing she needed was to draw attention because noise came from a hut that was supposed to be empty.
You need to hurry Jo. You can't let them put me on the bed of ashes.
"I'm working on it. Quit being a bitch princess."
And I usually hear that from Dean telling Sam that. Nice to know some things haven't changed.
Jo ignored the outburst as she opened the lid of the box. She peered down at the body and was actually stunned. "You look… beautiful."
To Jo, it looked like Angela was in a deep sleep. There were no traces of worry lines or anything like that. The skin hadn't changed color and in fact looked more olive toned than anything. Her friend was dressed in strange clothes, well sort of. What Jo was looking at was the garb Angela wore at the tournament. Her top had her pauldrons attached, the arm bands were on the upper arm and the gauntlets with the scrollwork were on her wrists and they were crossed over her abdomen. What had Jo staring like a deer in a truck's headlights was the hair.
Jo. Jo it's me. Quit gawking.
"Sorry. You just…" Jo never finished what she said. She started trying to lift the body when the door opened and she saw Sam and Dean and a few of those women that seemed to have pissed Sam off.
It was Dean who frowned and said, "Jo?"
A/N: Uh oh Jo gets caught! Now it's time to call an audible but will they be able to do it on time? Find out on Phoenix Rises...
