Chapter 10

"I think it was much easier coming up than it is going down."

"Usually is the case but back in the day the road was very well traveled by until Devil Anse packed up and hid in the mountains. Still pretty well maintained but not like it was," Angela admitted as she guided the horse around. She disliked the fact that they were not making good time getting down to the main dirt road. She wanted to hurry but there was no need to injure the horses because the road was not as well defined as it used to be.

"And I'm guessing you are a pretty good judge of that," Sam replied with no malice in his tone.

"I got by," Angela replied as they navigated the last of the trail down to the main road. "My favorite places were the prairies. It was something to ride alongside the buffalo." She gave a slight smile at that.
"And I'm not surprised," Sam said with a grin coming over his face. He could imagine her doing that and found that it would have been nice to see that for real.

"There are a lot of things I was called a crazy white woman for then. Playing a lawman was one of them and yet it got me in with both families." Angela nudged her horse into a trot. She kept an eye on Sasha who was ahead of them.

"You're still crazy but a good crazy," Sam admitted. He gave a smile as he said it since he actually meant it. It was her and he was okay with it. Always had been.

"You're sweet," was all Angela would say after he said that. If anything when Sam told her something about what he thought of her, it was always the truth. There were no embellishments, nothing… and she found that more attractive than anything even if she had a low opinion of herself.

"Thanks."

"Sickly sweet."

Sam couldn't help but pout at that. He knew it would just make her laugh since she didn't react like most people when he utilized the puppy eyes. "Thanks a lot."

Angela smiled at his reaction. "You know I like Sammy germs better than Dean germs." She turned her horse down towards the road they had come.

Sam couldn't help but shake his head at that as he followed her. It was like old times before this and he and Dean would tease her horribly. The best was when he took her picture of her and ran away with it. She could have easily kicked his ass for it but instead she just leapt and climbed onto his back to hold onto it. "You are something else."

"Tell me something I don't know," Angela called back and turned down the forest path would lead them towards the ranch. "Like maybe something that is related to… I don't know really. You think it up."

"And what I know you already know and what I don't know you eventually tell me so… no chance."

"I know," Angela replied as she turned to look at Sam with a grin.

All of a sudden a shot ricocheted off a nearby boulder. It startled the horses and Sam's reared a little. He held onto the reins and ended up pulling on them. As the horse reared it backed up and Sam ended up hitting a tree hard on the head and shoulder. The horse calmed down as Angela moved forward to look at where the shots were coming from.

Through the trees she spotted a group of men. One of them was burly and he wasn't alone there. One was holding a rifle and fired. She felt the bullet hit her upper arm and looked down on it. The sensation spurred her into action and she shouted, "Come on!"

She turned the horse around and started it on the run after barking at Sasha to keep up. She knew that it probably wasn't a good idea to do all that since Sam probably hit his head hard. She didn't know that the hit was enough to dislocate his shoulder in the process and she couldn't just stop and take a look. They had to get out of there. The upside was that she knew the land around there and she remembered a few back roads that could help provided they hadn't been changed.

Sam didn't argue even though his shoulder ached. He adjusted the pack that was on his shoulders and followed Angela, urging the horse to keep up in a run. His dislocated shoulder hung at an odd angle while he was riding. The roan kept up with the brown easily and he was glad since he wasn't exactly the expert even though he had ridden before and that was an emergency situation. He just had to carry on until they had a place to stop or find some reprieve from the running. He urged the roan to keep up and he noticed that Sasha was sticking between him and Angela; as if she were making sure he kept up.

They had managed to pull ahead and find some reprieve. That was when Angela wheeled her horse around to look and pulled out a pair of binoculars from her saddlebag. It was then that Sam noticed the bloodstain on her upper arm but her posture was focused on who was pursuing them. He asked, "Did we lose them?"

Angela frowned as she peered through her binoculars. They hadn't lost them. "No," she replied. She had to think fast about what to do. She looked over her shoulder at the stretch of road that led to the place that most children wouldn't have dared to venture. "We need to regroup. We'll lose them in the forest."

Sasha barked in alarm and Angela looked down at her. She replied to the pup, "I know but I'd rather take a chance with the ghosts than become one. Come on." She turned the horse around and headed into the forest with Sasha and Sam following.

They were far enough ahead for Angela to call a stop when they were hiding in the brush. She motioned at Sam's pack, "Give me your bag." She took off hers at the same time.

Sam took his of but he couldn't help but say, "Angie, your arm. You were hit."

Angela looked at her arm and noted the stain. She couldn't deal with it now. Right now she had to get the idea in motion that she had come up with. She held out her pack, "Never mind now. Give me your bag and take mine. Take Hank and get back to the ranch."

Sam shook his head as he looked at her pack, "Angie…"

"Sam, remember the bracelet," Angela replied giving Sam a firm look. It softened slightly as she continued, "I need you to do this. Don't let them get this. Please."

Sam studied her and took her pack while switching it with his. He put it on even though it was awkward with his shoulder out of joint. "I don't know the way."

Angela slung the pack over her shoulder. She nodded at the roan, "Hank will know the way. Sasha will go with. Now go." She gave a slight slap to the roan's flank and watched as he took off as she shouted at the animal and Sasha. She watched as Sam awkwardly straightened himself from the sudden bolt and take off. She then turned and looked at the direction they had come and could see the group through the forest. She narrowed her eyes and grinned in anticipation of what she was going to do and she pulled out her gun and fired a shot in the air and let out a war whoop. "I'm here!"

Sam managed to get the tense roan under control just as he heard the war whoop. He turned around as his eyes widened at the sound. He knew that she was going to be a diversion. It was tempting to go back and help but it had been clear of what she had asked of him and the weight was heavy on his shoulder. He looked at Sasha who was looking up at him with an inquiring look mingled with one that said she would drag him there herself.

"Alright," he said looking at the pup. He gave the kick to the roan and muttered, "Please find your way back."

The roan took off and trot and it turned into a gallop. Sam tried to steady himself since he was off balance with his shoulder. It didn't help that he was followed by someone and they were shooting at him. He urged the horse faster as he looked behind him and saw the rider. When he looked forward, he got a face full of branches from a tree the roan ran under and felt the sting of the branches.

He somehow managed to lose whoever it was once he passed a set of trees and the ranch was in full view. The roan was still going full speed and he was losing his balance. He did manage to make it stop before falling off completely and with the pack still on his shoulders. He made a slight grimace as he tried to get up and got a face full of Sasha nuzzling him as if to ask if he was okay.

"Where the hell have you been?"

Sam managed to look up and say, "Nice to see you too Dean." He took the proffered hand from his brother but didn't let go of the pack even though he was dangerously tilting. He was now feeling the hit to the head and his shoulder ached. "Did she come back?"

Dean checked over his brother. He could tell Sam got a bump to the head. He had scratches on the side of his face and his right arm was hanging a bit awkwardly. Something happened and it had him ready to shoot off questions but he took it slow, "Angie's not here Sam. What happened?"

Sam adjusted the pack that was hanging off his shoulder and looked around for any sign that she might be coming. "We were leaving the Hatfield cabin when we were attacked by demons."

At that moment a truck came up and out jumped Brian. He looked pissed but there was also concern as he marched up to the pair, "What the hell did you two do out there?"

"Whoa, calm down, kid…" Dean held his brother steady when he wobbled on his feet a little and tried to calm the situation.

"Don't call me kid," Brian warned as his eyes flickered at Dean before they locked onto Sam. "I ask again, what the hell did you two do?"

"Hey, they were attacked by demons. I know as much as you do with Sam riding this thing full speed and looking like someone tried to knock him into a tree. Calm down and we'll figure this out."

"He has every right to be concerned," Augusta replied. Her sightless eyes were scanning the sky. "They are after it. They are saying that it has been found and the orders are…" She looked down and in Dean's direction.

"What Gus?"

Dean," Sam entered as he caught his breath.

"Quiet Sam. What Gus?"

"Dean," Sam repeated firmly. He finally slid the pack off his shoulder and handed it over to his brother. "This."

Dean opened the pack and looked at everyone there. He peered in and then looked at Sam. "This is the key to the seal?"

"Yeah. They were after it. Angie stayed behind to…" Sam felt the pain too much in his head and started to slump.

Dean grabbed his brother just as a whinny sounded and there were gunshots. He passed his brother to Brian, "Take Sam. Gus can you help?"

Augusta moved to help Sam and grab the pack. She urged Brian to help get Sam inside and Castiel stepped forward. Dean had gone to the Impala and pulled out one of the guns he left there just in case. He held it ready when he heard a war whoop that he would recognize anywhere.

Over the swell appeared a brown horse and it was dragging something behind it on the ground. It was followed by a black horse and on it was Angela and she was following the brown. Whatever was being dragged behind it managed to get free and it was on its feet. Dean watched as she leapt off the animal and held her hands out ready to fight. He raised his gun but it was lowered by Castiel. "Cas, what the hell?" He looked at the angel like he had entered in a dimension of crazy or something. "What are you doing?"

"This is the Malachi's battle. She will fight it her own terms."

"Cas, remember that spiel about teamwork I told you about?"

"She needs to fight this. The past is connected to the present."

"Not helping," Dean replied. He turned just as he saw Angela flip forward and land behind the guy she had dragged.

It was startling to see her give a back kick to wind the guy. She then grabbed him and pressed her hand to his forehead and the guy slumped to the ground. She took a couple of breaths and looked up to see Dean and she asked, "Is Sam okay?"

"You got a hard head Sam. I'm almost convinced Angie did this to you." Augusta dabbed the washcloth to the cut on Sam's face.

"She's kicked my ass before. This is nothing," Sam replied as he rubbed his shoulder.

At that moment the door opened and Angela came in. She barely gave a word of greeting but she paused to look at Augusta. Sam watched as they exchanged a look. He marveled at the fact that Augusta was able to discern the expression on Angela's face with accuracy. Augusta said, "It's secure. He's got a hard head."

Angela smiled at that, "Tell me about it. They both do and it's a wonder they're both still kicking." She picked up the bowl of water and the cloth.

"I could say the same thing about you," Augusta replied with a smile. "I'll make sure Hank and Lily are all right plus I want to see the new addition you brought. I'll give you news later." She left with a slight smile on her face and smirked at her friend.

Angela raised her brow with a smirk. She walked over towards Sam and said, "Girl has too much sass. I should have given her more discipline."

"I think she's okay," Sam replied. He grimaced slightly from the shoulder injury as Angela dabbed at the scratches on his face. "Face is okay. Shoulder." He rubbed his dislocated shoulder, trying to ease the throbbing. "Gus couldn't really…"

"Oh she could," Angela replied as she put the bowl and washcloth down on the table. She walked over to stand behind Sam and put her hands on both sides of the injured shoulder. "I showed her how. I just get a kick out of making you and Dean squirm."

"I forget how much of a sadist you can be," Sam replied.

"But you always darken my door," Angela replied. She placed her hands firmly on the shoulder. "You ready?"

"On three."

"Okay." Angela gave a teasing grin. It became a smirk. "You count."

Sam rolled his eyes. "Okay. On—Oww."

The pain came all of a sudden but quickly dulled. Sam put his hand on his shoulder and rubbed it. It was back in the joint and it didn't hurt as much anymore. He looked up to see Angela grinning and she said, "You would have tensed."

Sam sighed at that. He couldn't fault her for it since she was right and he had said the same thing to Dean a couple of times. "You're right," he agreed as he looked at her arm. "Take off your jacket."

Angela looked at her arm. "It's nothing."

"Angie."

With the look that said she was doing this willingly but protesting loudly against it, she removed her jacket and tossed it on the table. She crossed her arms over her chest as if to issue a challenge to Sam. She motioned to her arm, "See, nothing to worry about."

That didn't stop Sam though. He was out of his chair and had rinsed out the bowl and grabbed a clean rag along with fresh water. He soaked it and began to wipe the blood away. Even though her arms were crossed, she held still and twisted her arm for him to get a better look and he continued to wash it off and peer at it. He didn't like what he saw. "It's still in there. The bullet."

Angela looked at the wound. It had hurt and still hurt but it wasn't like it was life threatening or serious. She made a slight face and said, "Oh."

"Angie," Sam said with a look on his face. He had seen how she had looked at it without concern. He picked up the suture kit from the bag that Augusta had pulled from Angela's room and opened it. "It's gotta come out."

Angela knew that it would eventually. Rather than start a fight she sat against the table and held out her arm. When Sam hesitated she said, "Come on Sam. Either do it or don't."

Sam hesitated for a moment but then started in the work of extracting the bullet. He had it out and dressed the wound within a short time. Angela hadn't flinched while he worked. Everything was finished within short order and Angela managed to explain things to the others about what happened at the cabin.

"Well I secured our 'friend'. Frankly I'm surprised you managed to get it in here with every possible defense known to the order," Brian said after hearing the entire report.

"You'd be surprised with the things one picks up," Angela replied as she took a bite of the apple she had picked up. The white bandage on her arm contrasted with the black tank she was wearing. "Is it in the usual room?"

"Yep."

Angela took another bite and jumped up. It was rather a surprise to everyone in the room with the exception of Castiel that she just walked out of there. Dean suspected at what she was going to do along with Sam and both made to follow. They were detained by Brian who asked, "Where do you think you're going?"

"What does it look like?" Dean looked at Brian with a hard look. He might like the guy who he now realized was a dhampir like Angela but he didn't like the fact that it was his dick ass order that was dictating his actions. "We're going to stop her from doing something stupid."

"It's not your decision to make," Brian replied firmly.

"Maybe but in case you haven't been up to date she just did this and the hell it wasn't pretty so back off," Dean countered. "Remember Cas. You really want her to do that again?"

"Things are done because they have to be and remember you are in my territory. The call was sent for the warrior princess. Not her and her two whatever you are to her," Brian replied. He looked at Dean but then shot a nasty look at Sam. It lingered a lot longer than necessary. "So remember that you are a guest and subject to my rules."

"Yeah and we don't like rules that could potentially put our girl in danger," Dean countered.

"Doing duty is dangerous. That's a fact."

"Doesn't have to be," Sam finally said. He had seen the look that Brian had shot him and wasn't quite sure of what to make of it. "Not if all the options are considered."

The argument continued while Castiel took the opportunity to steal away after reassuring the blind one with a touch. He knew what Dean meant since that had been on his mind since what she had done to Alistair. It was something that he didn't want to happen again but even he knew that there were choices that she would make that would be a test for her soul.

He paused outside to sense where she was. It was a relief that she hadn't taught the young Centurion the few things about angels. It was also a relief that she hadn't figured out how to block him completely since at this point he was the one doing the filtering when it came to her emotions. Looking the direction she would have gone, he strode forward.

The angel was surprised to find her outside a small building and staring at the door. It looked like she had been out there awhile and was debating on whether or not to go in. He had barely come up behind her when she said, "Coming to see whether or not I will do the same thing to this thing like I did to Alistair."

Castiel wasn't perturbed that she knew who it was. It was a testament to her abilities. He replied, "Your posture was hardly reassuring to Dean when you left to come out here. I am concerned as well."

Angela turned to look at Castiel. Her brow was slightly raised as she looked at the angel. "Just looking out for me aren't ya?"

"You are my charge," Castiel replied. He looked at Angela. He couldn't say what he wanted to truly say mostly because he wasn't sure as how to express it. "After Alistair… I was concerned and I wanted to ask…"

"I know Cas," Angela replied. She gave him a slight smile. "Amitiel coming told me."

"Then you know that this is treading close to what happened."

"It might," Angela admitted, "But it will not be like that. This is not Alistair." She started for the door, ready to do what she needed to do.

"Where does it stop Angela? Will you see a difference between this one and Alistair?"

Angela stopped and looked at Castiel. They stared at each other for some time before she spoke, "It is not revenge but it is something that has to be done if this seal is to not be broken." She paused to look at the angel with her hand on the door. She motioned with her head, "Come with me."

Castiel studied her. He knew that she would do it. It was better if he was in there and Dean would probably feel better for it. "You are the Malachi."

Angela gave a slight smile and turned to open the door. She put on a firm expression as she walked into a room that was full of every conceivable trap and ward ever known against demons. In the center tied to a chair was her prisoner that she dragged in. She got a slight grin on her face as she came face to face with the demon and said, "Now where did we leave off with our fun?"

A/N: Patch up scene and a slight showdown between Brian and the Winchesters and looks like Angie may give a repeat dose of what she gave to Alistair. What next? Keep watching for next time on Long Live Blood Feuds...