Chapter 10

Angela sensed something was off the moment they walked into the store. She didn't give any indication so as not to alarm Sam but there was something unusual like she was being watched. What the hell she was being watched. By whom she wasn't sure. It was nothing new but it wasn't exactly the kind of thing that you wanted to happen and it was the last thing she wanted when she was trying to keep zealots off of Sam.

Even though Tim and Reggie were just one set of hunters, that didn't mean that there were others. Hell Lucifer was tormenting Sam about being his vessel. Hell Rada and the reformed Isaj had come thinking to kill Sam. It was the same song like it was a long time ago. This time though she wasn't going to let them get close.

"You okay?"

Angela looked up from what she was holding to see that Sam was looking at her. She covered, "I'm fine. Just really close inspection."

Sam was a bit suspicious of the answer since she was staring at a bottle of antiseptic. "You were inspecting antiseptic? You make this stuff." He looked at her a bit strangely since he knew her habits.

Angela had been so preoccupied with her spine tingle that she hadn't realized she had grabbed something that she didn't really need to buy but it wouldn't hurt since she didn't have her herb garden. She looked at the antiseptic and then at Sam and replied, "True but since this is the arrangement now… I haven't really had time to grow a new set. And besides not all of these have the same thing in them."

"Looks all the same to me," Sam replied with a slight frown with his hand on the basket that was already full of food.

"Different formulas are composed of different ingredients in different concentrations. Just making sure that I find the best one," Angela replied as she looked at the bottle she had picked up. "This one looks good." She tossed it in and turned to look around.

Sam gave a slightly puzzled frown at that. He wasn't sure what that was about but he was willing to follow on that. He also suspected that she was onto something and wondered if he was still being followed. If that was the case then he was going to have to move on. He was not going to put her into any danger. He cared about her too much to let anything bad happen to her. Yet if he left like that, then that would hurt her feelings and that he didn't want to do. He didn't have any proof though so he was going to leave it alone.

He pulled the cart along to follow Angela as she stopped at the baking goods aisle. He raised his brow as she picked up ingredients barely glancing at them except to make sure they were the ones that she wanted and she put them in and even more surprised when she stopped in the fruit aisle and it seemed like it took hours until she got what she wanted. He asked, "What are you up to?"

"For me to know and you to find out," Angela replied with a smile on her face. She had been looking around but couldn't see anything. It had her suspicious about the list of likely suspects that liked to pull that crap on her. She could name three off the top of her head and had a whole list that she could consider. She added, "Just something I felt like doing."

"Nothing wrong with that," Sam replied. He didn't find anything wrong with that. He liked her cooking and when she made a dessert… it was different than store bought stuff. "Whatever you cook is good."

"Flatterer."

"Honest truth." Sam gave a smile meaning it. He always meant it when he complimented her. He took in her expression and came to the conclusion that she had a nice smile. It was a genuine smile and it lit up her face.

Angela looked at Sam's expression. She knew he meant it. She gave a gentle pat to his shoulder and led the way to cashier. Everything was paid for and stashed in the car and they were on their way back to the apartment complex. There was a group of kids hanging out as Sam pulled up in the car and frowned. They looked like trouble to him.

Angela sighed as she spotted them and got out. At Sam's silent query of grasping her jacket sleeve, she looked at him and said, "I got this."

Sam held onto her jacket sleeve for a moment. He wasn't sure about this but from the look she was giving… He nodded and released her jacket. "Be careful."

"This is nothing," Angela replied as she got out of the car. With a decisive movement, she closed the door to Deanna and walked up to the group that was hanging around. She looked at them and said, "I thought I gave you a warning about coming back here."

Sam watched and slowly opened the glove compartment where he knew she kept a spare handgun in there. He didn't want to use it since that would bring in the authorities and that was something to avoid at all costs. Still he wanted to make sure that nothing happened to Angela. He felt his body tense up as he watched her talk to them.

It was a surprise and it had him frown when they all started backing away. Part of it was solved when he spotted Isaj coming back. He was only a kid but he carried himself like a man and he did have that air about him that said if you mess with me I'll beat your ass until there was nothing left. It certainly had an effect on the group of kids though Sam was certain that it had more to do with Angela since she was looking pretty scary at the moment.

The group left and Angela motioned for Sam to pull up the car and he did. It was short work to unload the car. Sam was on his way back in with the last bag when a kid came up riding his bicycle and said hello to Angela as she exited to go open the garage for him. She said, "Hello Skip. Good day?"

"Always."

"Did you pass?"

"Flying colors," Skip replied as he put his bike away. At her look he added, "Seriously. That one question about the trusts during the Industrial Revolution… nailed it. The stuff you told me helped out a lot."

"Good. You know the drill."

Skip made a face, "I know. Homework and then Bud. I'm going." He locked his bike up and started out after she disappeared back into the building.

Sam watched the whole thing and could see that Angela was still working her magic of connecting with people and in particular anyone under the age of twenty-one. It had him wondering if she really decided to get out of the hunting life. She said she had done it before but wanted back in. Maybe being separated wasn't a bad thing. She looked happy.

"So you're Sam?"

Sam looked to see Skip looking at him while he was shouldering his backpack. "Yeah."

"The Sam?"

Sam frowned at that. "What other Sam is there?"

"Just asking," Skip replied checking out the older man. He nodded, "Making sure you're the one that she really is into." He shrugged his shoulders and added, "Otherwise why would she go to all the trouble to track you down and help you out. She must really, really like you."

Sam wasn't sure of what to say about that. First Isaj and his way of seeing things and now this kid… "Um… we know each other."

"Yeah I figured that. Must be some other Sam that she's crazy about," Skip replied as he started going up the stairs.

Sam watched as the kid walked the stairs before following him. It was an awkward position to be in since he was sure that there was no other 'Sam' the kid was talking about. It wasn't like she actively went out looking for a date. As far as he knew, she never went out on a date. Then again it had been a couple of weeks. She could have found someone. The very idea just rankled a bit but if she wanted company other than his or Dean's she was certainly entitled to it. As long as she was happy, he was.

It was tempting to ask her about it when he brought in the last bag and started putting stuff away. He was surprised a little to find a couple bags of blood stored on the top shelf. It was overturned by relief that she was at least looking after herself. He still was concerned since she said 'old habits' and that could mean anything. He said, "I noticed you've… prepared."

Angela looked over and noticed what he was looking at and replied, "I have been for a while. A persistent Winchester told me I shouldn't hurt myself." She had finished with the last of it and had come over by the fridge. "It was good advice."

Sam closed the door and found her really close and she was holding an apple. He replied, "I care a lot about you. I just don't want you hurt."

"And you asked me to consider and I do," Angela replied as she picked up a knife and sliced the apple in half. She offered a half to Sam. "Every choice since then has been about it. It may not be the right one in the end but at the time…"

"Yours always seem to be right," Sam offered since he still thought his most recent choices were the worst he ever made.

"Not always," Angela replied as she took a bite. "There are some I could have done better. Way better. Sometimes a second chance is given and you just have to be vigilant enough to recognize it and take it." She had walked to the island counter where she prepped food and continued to chew on her half of the apple.

Sam took a bite of his and thought about what he wanted to say. She was giving him a chance to make things right… at least that was what he thought she was implying. Maybe it was about her too since there were choices she may have regretted and she had a second chance at them. He stood opposite her at the island and thought for a moment before saying, "Angie… about this…"

"You can stay Sam. It's fine," Angela said after swallowing her bite.

"I know but…" Sam was hard pressed to find the right words without making it sound like he was being a freeloader or something. He finally decided the best way was to be blunt. It would leave no room for misunderstandings. That just seemed to get them into trouble, him into trouble, too often. "I don't want to…"

Angela understood what Sam was getting at. Both boys never seemed to like it when she sprung for the rooms with the exception of being injured or sick. The other exception was taking the money from the trust fund which was contributed to from all the hustling and occasionally she snuck in money from her personal accounts. She didn't mind sharing her money and even Sam brought up with how generous she was but she understood pride very well. They had been taught to fend for themselves by their father and it was a low blow if they were forced to accept was perceived as charity. She could certainly tell stories about when they were little and she had a few choice conversations with their father.

It was no different here with Sam. So Angela nodded and said, "Okay. What do you propose in terms of rent? I am open up to goods and services barter."

Had Dean been around he certainly would have said something about her word choice and that would have led to a talk about him thinking with his downstairs brain. Sam nodded and asked, "How about fixing things around here? I noticed the door to the closet is broken and…" He shrugged his shoulders. "If you know anyone needing work…"

Angela nodded as she listened to Sam's proposal. She knew that there were things fixing around the place but that was why she had her manager call the maintenance. Still she knew Sam wanted to play fair. She looked at him and said, "Okay. That is feasible. Fix a few things and there might be a few things to do in town. Does that sound okay?"

Sam nodded, "That's okay."

It was an old habit to patrol the location before going to bed. Even after proofing the room she did a patrol around the building. She had grown lax with the exception of serious injuries but that was also because of Sasha. Now that she lived with people who had no clue, she was going to make sure nothing was going to happen to them. She did it after taking out the trash since it was convenient. So it was like the other nights when she dumped the garbage after politely refusing Sam's offer. He may have offered to help around but she wasn't going to take advantage of his nature.

She had finished putting the bag into the dumpster when she straightened up. She narrowed her eyes slightly and said, "You really need to work on your stealth. You're out of practice… Jamal."

Turning around she turned to face her old friend whom she hadn't seen since her near death match with the Grigori. He took off after that and she didn't blame him. He was a demon full and through, direct descendant of one of the Ancients who became a champion. He was the kind of thing most hunters shot first and asked questions later or try to exorcise him, which wouldn't have worked anyway since the meat suit was his through and through.

Jamal looked at his friend with a slightly bemused expression. He had been tailing her all day and was surprised she didn't call him out earlier. Then again she was different when it came to defending herself or others. "Perhaps it was my intention to let you know."

Angela crossed her arms over her chest and raised her brow, "I don't think so considering you were the one who taught me more about the element of surprise after I left Karnak. You don't make mistakes."

"I see you my friend," Jamal said in Swahili to indicate a proper greeting. He gave a nod along with his greeting.

"I see you," Angela returned in the same manner. She switched back to English, "You don't make mistakes."

"When it comes to the hunt, no," Jamal admitted as he relaxed his arms and shifted on his feet. "But when it comes to checking in on an old friend, then that is a different matter… especially when it seems that there are forces awakened that haven't had an active role in centuries."

"If you mean the angels and demons thing then that is nothing new," Angela pointed out, "After all you helped with the whole Essentials and helped me to hide the other keys once I found them." She gave a pointed look at the demon, "Are the locations being threatened?"

"No. As far as what has been going on, even with your lackey Cary, there has been no attempt to locate them." Jamal took a couple of steps forward to close the distance between them. His mahogany skin looked darker in the shadows but his eyes were as lively as ever as they flickered in the light. "Though there is still speculation on what to do with them if they were all together. Certainly an impression was made with the breastplate."

Angela gave a dry chuckle at that. That plan had been a gamble and she had a hard time convincing Brian to play the double agent. Sometimes she couldn't help but think that maybe she exploited his feelings for her. She told him he didn't have to if he didn't want to but he agreed to it and in the end paid for the prevention of a broken seal. "Yeah I figured. It certainly seemed to piss off Lilith… before this."

"I heard," Jamal replied. He nodded at that and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. He looked around the area and made a slight sound. "You know that the seals are broken and Lucifer has taken a vessel."

"Tell me about it," Angela replied looking around to check the area. "I saw him in the dream realm. I paid him a visit… I sought him out."

Jamal turned to look at Angela with a serious expression. A look of alarm passed through his features. He took a moment to study her and ascertain if she was in a mood for her games. He knew her well enough to know the difference and he could tell that she wasn't kidding. He had to ask though, "You sought out Lucifer? Are you crazy?"

"You'd be surprised at how many times I've been asked that question," Angela replied with a slight sigh. She looked at Jamal and noted his expression. "I did seek him out," she repeated. "That was after I went looking for other people."

"So you found him after looking for someone else?"

"I was looking for my guys," Angela replied to explain. "Things are a little tense and I had to make sure they were fine. And no I am not going to explain that."

"No need. Your business is your own but I am concerned about you actively seeking out the leader of the other side," Jamal replied dismissing her activities looking for the Winchesters with a swipe of his hand. He was aware that they worked together and she had the gift of dream walking. It was one of the things about being a healer. "Why?"

Angela looked around and sighed. This was going to be difficult to explain. "I know who is Lucifer's true vessel is."

"Really?"

"Yep."

"Who?"

"Not telling," Angela replied with a firm look. Even though Jamal was a firm friend, she still kept a tight lid on things especially if it involved her own. Another friend once joked that she had too much of the Cold War in her system because she didn't even trust her own friends. It wasn't that she didn't trust Jamal. She did but she was being paranoid much like she did with Eli.

Jamal studied her and nodded. He understood. "I understand old friend. Even I would keep a secret like that close to my heart. Especially if it is about someone who means a lot… like Sam." At her look he waved his hand to indicate that she wasn't to worry. "I understand and I know my friend. Even if it were an average innocent, you wouldn't work that hard."

"Or is it spreading on the grapevine. I know they have been talking."

Jamal looked around. There was no getting around that. Even he knew that. "I guess you heard about what Sam has done."

"I didn't hear… I was there." Angela looked at Jamal with a look to dare him to call her out on a lie. Her expression was neutral but it was the same look when she went to call a bluff in the middle of delicate negotiations that usually was trying to stave off the use of weapons.

Jamal knew she wasn't lying. The look said it all. He had seen the same look when she got in the face of Somalian militia to actually stop them from raiding a food shipment from the Red Cross for the thousands of starving Somalian people that it was here for. It certainly pissed off their faction but she had been more pissed off that people were starving and actually ended up scaring the crap out of the militia. "You were there?"

"I tried to stop it," Angela replied. "If it wasn't broken that day it would have been avoided. That much I know about that but… what's done is done now."

"So where does that tie in with the fact that you sought out Lucifer?"

Angela looked at nothing in particular. She then looked up at the lamplight that lit the building like the answer would be there. She then looked at Jamal and said, "I made him an offer to use me as a vessel."

"What? Are you really crazy?"

"Logically it makes sense. You and I are both connected to the other side by what is in our blood. I may be a dhampir but I have the blood of essentially demons in me. I can drink demon blood, enough of it to…" Angela sighed, not finishing the thought. She knew what it would be like and she was willing to do it.

"Noble sacrifice," Jamal replied understanding where Angela was coming from, "But it is foolish. Isn't this what you want to avoid at all costs?"

"And I have been called old friend," Angela replied with a slight eye roll. "It is what I became a long time ago; when I became Absolution."

"Like I said noble but… what about what the Winchesters think?"

"Which is why I threw it out there foolishly and haven't said anything yet," Angela replied with a serious look. "If I see him again…"

"You can't keep doing this my friend," Jamal interrupted, knowing where this was going. "Lucifer will not take kindly to you rescinding your offer. He will track you down and then kill you in the worst manner he could think of. That is foolish."

"He can't find me unless I tell him. The laws of the dream realm cannot be superseded. Even he knows that but I am not being careless." Angela looked up at the sky as she thought about what next. "I just need to fix things now that require attention."

Jamal nodded at that. He knew his friend had moments of being impulsive. This was the first that it had been something beyond impulsive; the sacrifice of one for the other. It was considered a greater honor among the people he had been raised amongst. It was a noble gesture but the motive was something beyond noble and he could see that she regretted it.

Angela looked at her feet, absorbing the silence. It wasn't the first time she had his disapproval for being impulsive. Her feelings for Sam were really wreaking havoc with her good senses. She understood where he was getting at when he thought he was trying to stop the Apocalypse; he made his choices so she didn't have to do all the work. "I know you disapprove but I am going to continue through."

"I know my friend but I need you to know something."

"What?"

"I know you must know that there are others apart from the demons after Sam. There is also a group that is after you too and I think it is to get to Sam."

A/N: Looks like Sam is getting hints and starting to pay attention maybe. First Isaj and then Skip. What next? Then Angie gets a visit from an old friend and learns how foolish she is plus some interesting news. Keep watching for more Free and Torn Asunder...