Chapter 9
Do you have a plan B?
Angela took a moment to assess the situation. They were surrounded and the men were armed and she was willing to bet that they weren't rubber bullets or beanbags rounds. That meant it was shoot to kill and no doubt Faisal would use her death to motivate Sam. He would do that in order to force Sam's hand and jump start the Apocalypse. She knew Sam would be devastated and if convinced it was Lilith's doing… She couldn't let that come to pass.
Like Gabe always said, I think three steps ahead for the other guy.
Knowing that she wasn't going to risk John's life in this, she strived to think of something that would be able to get all the weapons dropped. She muttered, "Working on it."
"Fine time considering."
"And you had such promise being here," Faisal said to John. "Never thought it would be you."
"Don't," Angela said, "I coerced him. And I won't tell you how."
That held implications that even John was willing to make a disgusted face about. He hadn't been coerced. That was a load of bull shit. He hadn't been coerced since he was the one that helped with the escape but he wasn't stupid. He saw that she was trying to make it so he wasn't in the line of fire so to speak. He didn't say anything but held his weapon ready to fire if necessary.
Faisal was looking at Angela and the stance she was taking. It was certainly different from the last time they stood looking at each other in the eye. She had been desperate and it was almost frantic the last time but this time… it was desperate but it was different. He said, "This certainly is different from your other attempts. I wonder what exactly prompted you to such measures."
"How about the fact that you imprisoned me yet again even though you claim it is better with me being able to roam about?"
"I was willing to give you leeway since I have heard rumors and seen things. I wasn't sure how far to push you or would need to push you," Faisal admitted with his blunt honesty. He shrugged his shoulders and put his hands behind his back. "You must understand that you need to be where you need to be."
"Don't even with the speech," Angela interrupted with a wave of dismissal. Her gaze never wavered as she looked at the elderly vampire. "What you call training is hardly that. Forcing out talent doesn't make one stronger."
"And where would you be if you hadn't been made to utilize those talents?" Faisal leaned forward as he asked the question with a knowing look. "Would you have been able to stand against those that would have killed you?"
Angela moved her head slightly as if to ascertain any deception from the Old Man. She replied, "I would have found a way."
"Ah yes. Your answer for everything. When are you going to learn that you can't let up for anyone or anything?"
"I did learn that. I was in hell stupid fuck," Angela retorted. She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at the Old Man. "I learned what I am capable of and I won't become something against who I am just to satisfy your need to literally follow everything that is written."
"You are the one that fights everything."
"Because you make it either/or. It doesn't have to be that way."
Faisal looked at her like she was being a naïve little girl. "Really? So would you step up and set things in motion? It is inevitable that Lucifer be set free."
"He doesn't have to be," Angela replied. She scanned around and hoped things weren't going to end up the way that would spell possible bloodshed and the like. "Lilith still can be killed but the final seal remains unbroken. Breaking it would just bring nothing but pain and suffering for all."
"And yet without adversary, there is no peace. Without victory, no peace."
"Sounds like shite to me," John muttered. "Senseless killing… not worth it."
"And how is what you do any different? The hammer of the governments that send you to eliminate those that threaten the security of the world and all you do is leave it open for the next one." Faisal gave a pointed look at John before looking back at Angela.
"At least the world is safe from human folly," John replied.
"Mere pettiness compared to the larger picture."
"Nothing is written," Angela muttered more to herself. Louder she added, "We all have a purpose."
"Then fulfill yours. You are the earthbound angel and champion of all."
"Not at the cost of what it means and not at the cost of others." Angela replied a little softly. "So let me go. Let me do what I do best."
"What do you hope to achieve by stopping Sam?" Faisal looked at Angela with amusement as she looked at her surroundings to try and get out. "Things have to happen. You have your place in the major events to come."
Angela knew that Faisal wasn't going to let her go just because she asked. He was firmly stuck in his beliefs and was going to follow them. It was an admirable quality but sometimes it was a detriment to everything else. It was going to be a hell ride out and that was putting it mildly.
Deciding to go a little aggressive, she replied, "Go fuck yourself." She could tell that she wasn't going to get out through normal means. She was going to have to do it a different means. She could only hope one or both would be able to respond. She looked at Faisal and added, "I don't need a has been grandpa telling me what my place is."
Faisal looked at her like he didn't believe she had said what she had just said and replied, "Alright then. If you will not acknowledge the grand scheme of things, then there is little choice."
The guards' rifles were cocked, indicating that they were going to fire. John knew that they didn't have a chance. He may be able to take out one or two but they would be cut down. He knew that it was going to be risky getting out and he was prepared for it. He would never leave a fellow hunter behind; it was the same principle he learned in SAS 'we take care of our friends'.
Angela heard the cocking all around her. She knew that Faisal would use her death to motivate Sam into the revenge ploy, blaming it on Lilith. Make him feel angry that she had decided to go after Lilith alone… she could see it play out. Don't bet on the obvious Old Man.
"Seriously your plan B would be useful right about now," John muttered.
"I doubt any plan you have would work right about now," Faisal said.
"Don't count on it," Angela replied. At that moment her eyes glowed and a low rumble sounded as pressure was shot down on Faisal's guard and the vampire himself.
The momentum was enough to knock the guards off balance. Angela countered with a wave to send their guns flying while at the same time she moved to disable the closest guard. She grabbed the wrist as he whipped out his sidearm and twisted it. She followed through by giving a clothesline to his chest near the throat and kicked him in the chest to send him flying back.
A second guard grabbed her from behind in a bear hug and tried to squeeze the air out of her. Gritting her teeth she gave a backward strike with the back of her head and connected with the guard's face. Bringing her arms up to break the hold, she got her arms free and brought her foot up and gave a back kick, connecting with the chest right at the same time that another came with a knife drawn and a very large one.
It was reflexive to block but the guard got through and Angela felt the blade pierce the skin into her forearm. She let to a grunt of pain and turned to see it was the baby faced guard. He took a firm grip and pulled it out of her arm without any hint of gentleness. He held it up and ready to strike again saying, "Who's the baby face now?"
Angela grabbed where she had been stabbed and felt the blood leak through. She looked at the guard ready to strike. In response to the adrenaline, pain and anger she bared her fangs and launched herself forward. She knocked the guard over, making him think that she was going to bite him. Instead she grabbed his knife hand and broke his wrist and slammed his body to the ground winding him before knocking him out. She grabbed the knife and threw it at the guard that was going to shoot John from behind, hitting him square in the back.
John had reacted the moment the guns were swept away. His own weapon was swept away and he figured that it was a little more on the overzealousness of his friend. He wasn't worried about her moving into the attack since he had witnessed firsthand how she could fight. He moved to defend himself moving into that boxing stance he knew and basic maneuvers with kicks as he defended himself. He had been stunned when he heard the gunshot and turned to see a guard with a gun falling to the ground with a knife sticking out of his back. He looked to see Angela looking at the downed guard and then at him. "Good call," he said before he was tackled to the ground and engaged into a brawl that was best left in a pub.
Angela started to go help when she was assaulted by another guard. She grabbed the arm that gave the punch and twisted it to flip him over. With momentum she gave a flying side kick to another that had risen. She let go when she pulled the arm out of the socket. She landed on the guard she gave a kick to and stepped off him like he was nothing and started walking towards the two that were pummeling John. She didn't even slow her pace to give a nose breaking backhand fist. It left her open for a tackle from the least likely person… the Old Man.
She hit the dirt but with the momentum she used her legs to fling the Old Man over her head and rolled to her feet. She had her fangs out and bared. She hissed at Faisal indicating that she was ready to dive for the kill. She charged when he did, baring his own fangs and thus began the fist fight, trying to get in and deliver a death blow or a bite.
Angela grunted in pain when the Old Man brought his strike down on her injured arm and followed through with a kick. It sent her flying into a tree trunk. She hit hard on her back and fell to the ground. Her injured arm was sprawled out on the ground and suddenly weight was driven on it as the Old Man stomped on it hard. She roared out in pain as she looked up. In the distance, John was being held by his arms by the two that beat him down. She looked up at the Old Man grimacing in pain and anger.
"I warned you but you wouldn't listen. I am surprised that you actually killed. I really liked Hank but…" Faisal shrugged his shoulder. "Don't worry. You've done what you've had to." He reached down and it was obvious he was going to break her neck.
"And here I was thinking that you were going to drain me dry," Angela managed to get out with a choked chuckle.
"Who says that I wasn't?" Faisal looked at her as his fangs protruded. He gave a grin, "And your friend is dessert."
Faisal made to swoop down and bite her on the neck. Before he could do it however he was flung back and the two guards holding John suddenly had their necks snapped. Angela blinked as she saw it and heard, "Not on my watch Grandpa."
Angela gasped as she was helped to her feet to face the one person she was worried wouldn't get through. She said, "You're late."
"Traffic, Cat," Gabriel said as he glared at Faisal. "And you Grandpa should know better."
"You know the score better than anyone Gabriel. Why didn't you say anything?"
"And how do you know that I didn't?" Gabriel looked ready to commit homicide. He would have liked to have smote the vampire but he noticed that Angela winced and grasped her arm. He noticed the blood coming through her fingers and the bloody nose of her friend and it looked like his nose was broken. "I should kill you."
"But you won't," Faisal pointed out.
Gabriel looked at the vampire. "No. But I can do this." With a quick movement he grabbed a branch and snapped it off. With incredible force he thrust it through the shoulder of the Old Man. "Eye for an eye." He then put his hands on Angela and John and used his mojo to get them out of the compound to an area he knew was safe leaving Faisal struggling to pull the stake out of his shoulder.
Angela fell to her knees the moment they landed gripping her arm. She gasped as the adrenaline wore off and the pain was coming through. John was there holding it and looking at it and murmuring, "It's okay lass."
Gabriel took a moment to calm himself. He was well aware that he was super angry and frustrated with himself for not being able to break through the barriers on time. He knelt on the other side of Angela and said in a soothing tone, "Let me see Cat."
Angela felt her arm twitch, the cut muscles spasm even worse than when Cerebus bit her. She was trying hard not to cry out in pain. It was excruciating and her fingers twitched but it felt numb. "It… f… feels numb."
Gabriel looked at it and could see that the nerves had been affected. It was going to be painful for him to fix but he needed to otherwise she would be crippled even with her own healing abilities. He didn't have to say anything since John said, "Must be a severed nerve and shock."
Angela was gasping as she tried to hold her arm steady. She looked at Gabriel, "Can you…" She didn't finish since she fell forward, passed out from the pain.
"It's gonna hurt like hell Cat." He took her arm gently to prepare. He was going to do it anyway. He looked at her friend and said, "You're gonna have to hold her since she'll probably fight me."
John nodded as they adjusted her body and he grasped her body to hold her down. "Ready Feathers," he said.
Gabriel gave a slight smirk that died quickly as he turned his focus to her arm. He took a breath and passed his hand over the wound and let his grace do the work. His hand glowed from it as he focused on complete healing. He was right in that John had to hold her. When the pain hit, Angela's eyes shot and she was ready to throw a punch but wasn't able to since John held her. Gabriel said, "Easy Cat. Almost done."
Angela tried not to struggle while Gabriel finished his healing of her arm. It hurt like hell as the severed nerves, cut muscles, veins and skin were reattached. She couldn't help it with the twitching but she was glad that John was holding her down. More likely she would have hit Gabriel and broke something. She was unaware that she was holding her breath until Gabriel finished and the pain started to fade and then she gasped for air. She looked at Gabriel and said, "Let's not do that again."
"Next time, try not to get stabbed that bad," Gabriel countered as he sat back. He still didn't release her arm but examined it to make sure that it was completely healed. "Well if that doesn't do it then I'm out of a job," he added with a grin. He looked at John and reached over and touched his nose saying, "And let's keep that face looking ruggedly handsome."
John didn't expect the break in his nose to be healed and it startled him when it was. He barely felt the pop of the bones being realigned and knitting. He fell back a little and looked at the angel realizing that he was grinning at him in a strange way and he said, "I don't swing that way."
"Oh I know. It's just fun once you know the buttons to push," Gabriel replied as he stood up. He helped Angela to his feet and gave a hand to John to show no hard feelings. "You were pretty good in a fight. I can see why Cat thought this would work."
"I was testing a theory since Zach showed up and previously I had been cut off from the world," Angela explained as she rotated her arm to get a feel for the newly healed flesh. "It was a risk and even then I would have gone back to my old ways if it didn't work."
"I think you did," Gabriel replied, "Just surprised me that you actually killed somebody in the process, maybe two with that kick of yours."
"No one messes with my friends and… survival."
Gabriel peered at her and accepted her response for now. It would bother her yes but she was right, when it came to survival and the survival of her friends, she would kill. He knew her and her compassionate side would be hit with the reality of it. It made her try harder. "I hear ya. So what's the plan now that your theory worked? By the way that was fun walking through your dreams. I never thought you liked vodka land."
Angela couldn't help but chuckle. It had been a risk but Faisal had never attempted to block or invade her dreams before. It enabled her to plan the escape with John and Gabriel though she was playing on luck and a hunch with Gabriel getting in at that exact place. "It was a job there and setting up the vamp and the princess on a date."
"Of course throw in some gunfire and explosions and your day is all set," Gabriel teased. He noted the expression on John's face and tried not to laugh. Cat sure knew how to pick them. "Of course hunters come in all shapes and sizes."
John had never met an angel before now but he was familiar with other creatures and things so it wasn't too bad of a surprise to learn Gabriel was an angel and not just any angel but the Messenger and guardian of his friend. He just wasn't prepared for the personality that defied the common perception of angels. He was slowly learning that Gabriel had a mischievous streak and pushed buttons once he figured out what made a person tick. He replied, "I just save the world from terrorists and monsters."
"And some of those terrorists are monsters," Gabriel nodded in agreement. He liked the SAS soldier.
Angela gave a slight chuckle mostly of relief that John and Gabriel were getting along. Gabriel did have a tendency to rub people the wrong way and not everyone understood his brand of humor. She looked at the angel and said, "So you'll be able to send John back to his unit?"
"Hell I'll make it so they never knew he disappeared," Gabriel replied boasting. "Ready for another trip, soldier?"
John turned to look at Angela and asked, "Are you sure you want to do this by yourself? I am on leave." He was willing to stay if she needed help. He may not have a total grasp on what was going on but he knew the business she was in and he could fight.
"You came to help me before I knew I was in trouble," Angela replied with a slight smile. "You helped get me out of it. This is something I have to do by myself and maybe save a friend from himself." She patted the man's shoulder. "You're a good friend John."
"And you have to be such a dhampir bitch. You could make my old captain cry," John replied a bit gruffly, his Scottish accent becoming heavy with emotion. He knew though she was right and maybe someday he'd meet the bugger that had such sway over her heart. He nodded, "Alright, lass but I reserve the right to come back and check on you."
"As always."
John gave a smile and then asked, "Okay so what is the plan? Just in case you give a call and do need a hand."
Angela knew that John wouldn't be satisfied until he had some idea of what was going to happen. He was a soldier and they followed mission templates and while they allowed for things to happen, it guided their actions. She nodded and said, "I'm going to stop Sam from breaking the final seal."
Gabriel said nothing about that since he could tell she was determined and things were going to happen anyway but he knew she wouldn't be satisfied unless she tried. He did manage to quip, "So that was why you had me raid the cookie jar for these." He held out Absolution and her chakram. "Seems a lot."
"Lilith with be there and someone else that I have a score to settle with," Angela replied as she took her blade and chakram and put them on in their rightful places. "I know that if she is killed at the site of the final seal at the appointed time it will be broken."
"So you aim to get there and convince Sam to hold off," John clarified. "Sounds reasonable."
"Unless there are problems. I know you have a score to settle Cat but…" Gabriel shrugged his shoulders and looked at her. "It could still be broken."
"At least I will have tried. Sam at least listens to me and considers my words and if I have to…" Angela looked down knowing that it could mean the worst case scenario. "I know it will eventually happen but not on my watch this century. Everything does happen but it needs to happen like Ecclesiastes."
Gabriel took in her words and nodded, "Alright Cat. I know I'm going to regret this but I will send you as close to where you need to go."
"I know. I don't want your brothers to find out you interfered. Could be bad," she replied with an understanding look and a mock smile. She sobered and said, "Besides, I know how they get and you get and I don't want you getting hurt like Cas did."
"You can't protect us all Cat," Gabriel replied, repeating a similar statement Sam made. "Like before, only when you fall do you know if you can fly."
Angela nodded, "I know. Just humor me."
Gabriel nodded and sighed in mock exasperation. "Well in that case you'll need this." He reached into the pack that he had stashed Absolution and the chakram when he managed to get into the compound. He pulled out the scarf that Castiel had given her and held it out with her sigil facing her. "Can't have you charge into battle without a standard."
There was a click and John held out his M1911A1. He indicated that she was to take it, "You might need it lass. They're salted iron rounds. May not kill but certainly pack a punch."
Angela looked at her friend and angel. Slowly she took the grip of the M1911 and said, "Thanks."
Gabriel grinned, "Let's get this party started."
A/N: Looks like Angie did have a plan B and the cavalry arrived to get them out. What's next? Keep watching for more of Descent into the Maelstrom...
