Chapter 10

Dean was not usually an early riser however with the things that have been going on, he couldn't help it. Since it was a reality that someone was after Angela, it was like his instincts when it came to protecting Sam. He was aware that it was ridiculous in that he was shorter than she was but heck she was a friend… more than that and he knew that if she was in trouble, he would be there for her. Him and Sam both.

Waking up, he found Sam's bed empty and figured that kid sized or no, his baby brother was up to his usual habits. So it was a bit of a rush job to get dressed and clamber down the stairs and he was surprised that he didn't even catch the smell of fresh coffee. That he found strange since Angela was always up before Sam and at work doing whatever. He paused to find something to swing just in case there was an intruder but it wasn't an intruder he found and he couldn't help but smile big.

Angela was stretched out on the old couch in the study with one arm acting as a pillow and the other resting on her abdomen and she was fast asleep. At least Dean was sure that she was. He could never figure out how she could go from a deep sleep to a light one. That wasn't the amusing part though. The amusing part was Sam and Dean couldn't resist grabbing the cell phone on the side table nearby.

Sam was effectively pinned between Angela and the back of the couch but he was doing that hiding thing he did when he buried himself under the covers when he was sick. At normal size, Sam looked like a bear. His six year old size made him look like a puppy curled up by his master. His brother's head was on Angela's stomach and Dean was sure that it was a contortionist act gone wrong since Sam was squeezed in there but he looked comfortable. At least the kid wasn't drooling.

It was too good an opportunity to pass up. Taking careful aim, Dean took a couple of pictures, glad that he had it on silent and the flash wasn't needed. He just needed to figure out a way to jerk Sam awake and then watch as the blush occurred.

He was just putting the phone back down after sending the pics to his own phone when he heard, "I see the early bird got the worm."

He turned to see Angela still looking relaxed as when he found her. The only difference was that her head was turned towards him and she was looking at him with an amused smile. He grinned back, "Hey you were the one that said little bodies are different or something like that."

"I did," Angela replied, "However everyone knows that you and early don't go well together unless something is up. So spill."

Dean thought for a moment that she was going to say something about his taking a picture of her and Sam. He got the ridiculous idea that she could hear the clicks of the button when he took the pictures but dismissed it since she wasn't that good with her hearing. Besides she was giving him a brick to stand on. He replied, "Well, we're on a job right? Find the reversal spell and pretty much play guard duty over a witch who claims that he can fix this."

"Warlock, Dean."

"Whatever. Damn Angie you're as bad as Sam; always correcting me."

"It's only because I get such entertainment out of watching you react to it," Angela replied in a low voice. "Seriously though, what is up?"

"Like I told ya Angie. I don't trust the wit—warlock one bit." Dean was starting to grow a little uncomfortable under the stare that she was giving. He had no idea what she was thinking when she did that and it made him nervous.

"Is it any different than trusting Haley?"

"That was different," Dean replied. "Hale was upfront with everything from the start."

"And this wouldn't have anything to do with the fact that Nick asked me to dance and walked down the hall with me?" Angela smiled slightly as she poked at something that could shed some light on Dean's hostility. She knew that Dean was cautious by nature since it was the nature of the job but this was more like a jealousy thing. She half expected it from Sam since he was more volatile when someone decided that pinching her ass was a cute thing to do.

"No," Dean replied looking at Angela as if she were crazy. "That's crazy. I would expect it from the bitch princess there." He gave a nod in the direction of Sam. "So what is he doing there? Another late night talking about nothing?"

"You're changing the subject, Dean and that tells me that there is more to it with Nick," Angela replied with a knowing look. She gave a slight smile, "I won't press it but you seriously have to think about that. Now maybe you can tell me why you are up so early?"

"You never give up do you Angie?"

"Nope. I'm just like a bulldog. Once I sink my teeth into something, I just can't give it up."

Dean sighed a little. He wasn't too good with words and he was sure that it was going to come out wrong. Then again he had to give her more credit than that since she could read between the lines when it came to their conversations. He gave a shrug of his shoulders and replied, "Well I was thinking about what happened to you and well… That is a job to do."

"It's six thirty in the morning Dean. You're gonna have to elaborate for me please."

"Well what happened, it's not right Angie. I know there are probably quite a few assphats that don't like you but this… I don't want anything bad to happen to you so… big brother Dean just looking out after ya."

Angela continued to stare. She understood plainly what Dean was having trouble saying. He was saying that the job was to find the creep after her. She just found it funny that he kept asserting the big brother card when it was obvious that she was the eldest of the trio and she looked the part. She smiled though and replied, "You do realize that you will forever have me laugh every time you use the big brother card right?"

"Hey, it works with Sam."

"And you assume that it will work with me but I appreciate it. Thanks," Angela replied smiling as she stretched. She looked down surprised that her movements had not woken Sam. "Hmm. I would have thought all our racket would have been like an alarm clock."

Dean looked at his brother still sound asleep. He knew what was missing and in fact it did feel weird not to hear it. He said, "Nah. He's like me; used to your singing."

Angela went back to the position she had fallen asleep in. It had been a while since she had a lie in. She propped her left under her head and took a couple of deep breaths. "Hmm and here I was thinking that you had musical appreciation."

"Better than that Beethoven thing you did."

"All's fair in a prank battle Dean. However I think you should be careful about using the recent pictures you took as a bribe or blackmail." Angela smiled as she turned her head towards Dean.

"How the hell do you do that?" Dean had raised his voice slightly but surprisingly Sam was still asleep. "How the hell do you make so Sam gets a decent night's worth of sleep?"

Angela shrugged her shoulders as if she didn't know. She then replied, "I've played pranks before Dean and when I woke up, I realized that you would have taken advantage of the opportunity. As to Sam and by extension you… I really have no damn clue." She chuckled at the thought.

"Always the tactician huh?"

"Not really. Just logic," Angela replied as she ruffled Dean's hair with her right.

"Hey!"

"Hair or the cheek Dean. Your pick or executive decision and you get both," Angela teased as she put her hand back over her stomach. Her fingers touched Sam's locks but she was more focused on Dean, smiling as he scowled.

"I only let you get away with it because you can kick my ass," Dean replied trying to play it tough. He was smiling though. Apart from Sam and maybe Bobby, Angela was the only other person he would allow to return affection without it being mistaken for something other than what it was. It was like they understood each other without having to say it in so many words. Granted they were like oil and water the first time that they met, Dean had time to realize that she was like him as well as Sam in many ways.

Dean grinned and had an idea but before he could let it bear fruit, a really loud noise sounded and he looked down at his stomach and then back at Angela. She was smiling but the eyes were laughing at him. He gave a mock frown, "Yeah go ahead and laugh it up. I'm starving and you didn't even have the coffee pot on." His face contorted into a pout.

Angela gave a chuckle. She had heard Dean's stomach and to her ears it sounded loud. "Somebody's cranky."

"That's not funny. I'm starving and you know I can't reach without a chair."

"And you're using it as an excuse to get me to make you something that will clog your arteries before you're forty."

"Don't spew your health fetish thing at me. I get enough from Sam."

"It wouldn't kill you to eat an apple every now and then." Angela was milking it for as long as possible. She closed her eyes and pretended to go back to sleep. "Besides I'm not hungry and you did wake me up too early so I think I'll get some shut eye."

"Please."

Angela heard the begging tone in Dean's 'please'. She knew that he had an appetite like a horse and was spoiled on her cooking. That was the only reason he was making up excuses. He could put something together himself but he always claimed that she was better at it. She kept her eyes closed to draw out the moment and smiled as she heard Dean pester her with more 'pleases'. That was the most she ever got out of him when it came to manners.

She knew the breaking point was near and she decided that Dean suffered enough. She kept her eyes closed but began to hum a little tune. She then began to sing softly and got a little louder. She could feel Sam start to wake up when she was halfway through the song. She continued to sing with her eyes closed until she came to the last note. When she opened them, she glanced at Dean and grinned. "Happy now?"

"Still starving," Dean pouted.

"What's going on?"

"Nothing Samantha. Just you being a regular Sleeping Beauty."

"Eat me jerk."

Angela closed her eyes again as Sam got off the couch to stretch. She said, "By the time you two wash up, I'll have something."

She listened to the sound of feet walk away and almost chuckled when Sam scolded Dean, "You woke her up just to eat?" It was just like usual.

You missed the target. You should move on. Besides a new number came up.

"No. You know the score, Payne. Once a number comes up, we see it through to the end." It was annoying to go through this conversation every time. Hell Payne hired him.

I've been doing some research on the name attached to the fish. I have my doubts about this Hunter.

"They are all the same Payne," Hunter replied as he took a sip of the coffee he had bought as he studied his maps. "They are abominations just waiting to strike when you least expect it." He studied the map.

He paid a visit to Sioux Falls General and found that the doctor in charge of the target's case was not very forthcoming to anyone that wasn't the target's family. Family. That was hilarious in of itself. How could anyone human claim that one of those Halflings was family? That was unnatural and disgusting an ultimately their doom since they were known to turn on their own family.

Not this one.

Hunter sighed. Payne was going to bug him with this until he let him tell everything he knew. "Fine. What did you find out?"

What your visitor said about consequences are pretty near accurate. Hunter I think she is supposed to stay alive.

"Not on my watch," Hunter replied. "You should know that demons lie."

This was from other sources. The same ones that help create the you-know-what.

Hunter paused and thought about it for a moment. It was true that he used those sources when he first started training. It was like going through boot when he joined the military. Payne knew his stuff too and wouldn't lie about the sources. So these sources thought that the target was special? That was insane. "What specifically?"

Something about bringing Absolution by divine order.

"By God's order?"

Maybe. You know they can be a little obscure.

"Impossible. That is just plain wrong." Hunter pulled his 9mm out and checked the magazine. He checked the clip and got it ready. "Well that still means the target has to be executed."

I wouldn't just yet. I found recent work about a group doing work like ours being wiped out completely by her. I think we may have bitten off more than we can chew on this. Perhaps we should take the next number.

"No. We continue with this one. Damn the consequences. Monsters like her shouldn't even exist. Not after what they have done." Hunter finished checking his gun and clicked the clip into place. "Send me the info on her. We'll do this right."

He had narrowed down the corridor and had the name: Singer. People said he was the town drunk. What better place to hide than with a drunk. He would head down and stake out the place and then work out a plan. He would get his target one way or another. He just had to buy his time and set the ambush perfectly. He also had to take care of that demon that interfered. Never again will that happen. He stood up and packed his gear. Time to go hunting. The Venator was released.

It was a small surface but it was big enough to stand on without falling off. Then again it could be the balance beam and it wouldn't have made a difference. Angela stood with her feet positioned in a basic fighting stance looking over the landscape of the salvage yard. She felt her fingers curl over the metal grips as she took deep breaths.

She thrust her right out, pointing the weapon and did the same with her left. She shifted her position to a starting point. She then began twirling her weapons into the basic positions. She gave slight pauses when she executed a maneuver. Like many things she had done, handling these was like a distant memory but it was ingrained in her hands.

To finish it off she crossed her weapons in front of her and then twirled them in her hands and then gave a back thrust towards the back. She let out a grunt as she did it and came to a halt. She paused and then twirled them so she gripped them in a manner for her to inspect them.

Sais they called and primarily used as defense. It was another weapon in her skill set that she had trained in and one that she had used in an exhibition bout against an old friend who was also trained in them. She recalled seeing them at the tournament; they were the weapon that Wosret used. It was funny how the urge to use that weapon instead of practicing with Absolution came to mind. Perhaps it was the fact that the circumstances were different or it was something new while she thought about what Ruby had told her and how best to bring it up.

It was no secret that everyone had talked to Ruby at some point so far. Hell she helped Bobby fix the Colt and then that business in the motel room. It was with great reluctance that Angela admitted that she was grateful to Ruby for saving her life and giving her the info she needed about who was after her. It seemed that her life was to be plagued by crazies that came from the same mold as Gordon Walker.

"Not your usual choice of weapon. You plan on using a different approach to take the Venator out?"

Angela turned to look down where Ruby had appeared. "This is bold, even for you."

Ruby gave a slight shrug and a nod. She then smiled, "Well I couldn't just leave you with information without learning what you plan to do with it. The things you come up with are always so exciting."

"I'm glad I entertain you but what I do with the info is my business," Angela replied as she jumped down from the top of the junker she had been standing on. She walked up towards Ruby and stood nearly toe to toe. "So the question remains as to why you are truly here."

"I want to make sure you take this seriously," Ruby replied gaining the sour expression she had a tendency to use. "Since you're so determined to stick around dumb and dumber, you need to get a grip on reality."

Angela raised her brow. Ruby, a demon, was going to give her a lecture? This was too good to pass up in terms of listening. "Really? So you think that my extracurricular activities aren't in grip with reality?"

"Look," Ruby spoke through a pouting expression that also had a hint of annoyance, "You know as well as I that there is no way Dean is going to get out of his deal. The others don't want to deal with you because they are afraid of you and they are not stupid."

"There is always a way," Angela replied. She had shifted the sais to one hand and held them firmly. Their position was actually a good one to raise up in quick defense.

"If you mean by that hearing and appealing to higher powers crap, you need to wake up. In the course of all the hearings ever conducted, only two decisions regarding death and deals has ever been successfully appealed," Ruby retorted, "And I know one result personally."

Angela had been looking off in the distance to make sure that no one was coming over. Even though they had conversed with demons, it was still a major issue and line that was crossed over so many times that it was a permanent headache. When Ruby mentioned the one result she knew personally, she turned to look at the demon. She was aware that she had put a bit of power into that gaze since Ruby's reaction was to flicker her eyes black. She replied, "Yes I know that result." She started walking to take the roundabout way back to the house. Maybe she could pester Bobby and Nick about what they found.

"And you should also know the price involving that," Ruby replied as she followed. "You of all people are aware of that."

"Don't remind me Ruby. I know about natural law in all its nasty and nitty gritty details."

"Then stop living in a dream world," Ruby replied as she grabbed Angela' arm to stop her. It was a risk since she was greeted with the glowing orbs again. She stood her ground though and continued, "You know the chances of them actually reversing it without something in return is like a fool's dream."

"Then I would rather be a fool," Angela replied, "You think I don't know that? I'm sure you guessed the price I paid when I asked for consideration for a hearing. So don't you dare assume that I am not taking this threat seriously."

"If this is you taking it seriously, then I am a monkey's uncle," Ruby replied after giving a snort. "Don't even try to deny that you a more ready to put yourself at risk even if it means that you might die."

"And would that be so bad?" Angela replied with a raised brow. "If you know me like you say you do, then you would know that I have died and been near dying more than once. Each time someone thinks that it's not my time to go. Do you have any idea how tormenting that is?"

"You're asking me? A demon who had lived as many lives as you?" Ruby replied with a similar look as she crossed her arms over her chest. "But you are right. I haven't forgotten what it was like to be human."

"Nice to see that you always weren't a bitch," Angela muttered. She looked up at the sky as she put her free hand on her hip and sighed. "I know the score Ruby. I know the chances are slim." She looked into the demon's eyes.

"Then give it up. Focus on getting Sam ready for the inevitable. You know death since you've courted it and watched others die." Ruby wore a look that was intense as she stared at Angela. "What better person than you to prepare Sam for what he has to face… alone."

"You're assuming that I am going to leave him alone."

"It's what you usually do," Ruby replied in a cold tone. "Someone dies and you move on. What makes this so different? You think you've changed since we last met? Hardly."

"Maybe not," Angela admitted, "And yet I feel a compulsion to stay and see it through, even if I have to go through finding a way to bring Dean back." Angela scanned Ruby as if to do a quick search for weapons before turning to head back to the house. "Don't worry Ruby. People have been after me for centuries. They all find the end in one form or another. The Venator will be no different."

A/N: Aww Sammy fell asleep on Angie and Dean has a picture. The Venator is making plans and Ruby is just being Ruby. What happens next? Stay tuned for the next thrilling chapter of Witching Pains...