Chapter 10

The dull thuds of fists and feet hitting bodies sounded oddly satisfying but then again a good old fistfight could bring out that feeling in Angela. She was grinning as she watched the closest douchebag looking at her and holding a rifle. The load was already discharged; the evidence was in the wall. He was using it like a club and was getting ready to swing it.

Angela chuckled in glee and timed her strike perfectly. With a cry she did a spinning back kick. Her boot landed square in the chest and sent him flying. "That's right bitch," she said.

"Up yours," Ruby countered as she gave a hard kick to the one that was heading towards Angela.

"I wasn't talking to you, bitch," Angela countered. She moved quickly and pushed Sam forward and rolled over his back to block the blow and deliver a hard palm thrust to the chest. With the other she pulled Sam upright. "You okay?"

Sam took a breath. He had seen the guy coming but he was busy with the other one. The sudden movement startled him but not as much when he felt her roll across his back from one side to the other and it wasn't the bad kind of startling. He looked at her and nodded, "Good."

Angela nodded just as the giant decided to round on the pair of them. They had cleared out most of the others and the consistent ones were George and the giant. George was staying out of the way and pretty much doing what he did and that was record and observe. Angela's attention was on the giant and she sighed in an exasperated tone, "Man, this guy doesn't quit does he?"

Sam could agree with that. After he had been given a few hard knocks, he was surprised that Ruby walked in. It was even more surprising to see Angela and Ruby working together. They stood back to back and took on the group that came in. He had managed to clear his head and join in mostly to watch Angela's back since it was clear that Ruby toed the line and couple of times deadly weaponry got a little too close for comfort especially when one of the rifles went off and ventilated the tail end of her coat.

It didn't put Angela off her game though. She ditched her coat and continued to kick ass. To Sam it seemed that she had gotten her revenge on Ruby a couple of times by paying the favor in kind. This whole armistice thing between the two of them was more trouble than what it was worth. He didn't like that it was going to probably end up hurting Angela in some way and it bothered him that she was doing it for him. He was well aware that she was letting go forward and willing to suffer displeasure and even went out of her way to be semi cordial with Ruby.

It was a moot point at the moment since they had a giant to take care of. He looked at the giant and said to Angela, "So… how do you want to handle him?"

Angela snickered slightly. God, I am starting to be as bad as Dean. The world is definitely coming to an end. The thought wasn't really funny since it was a bad joke on the current state of things but sometimes in this line of work you needed to have a humorous thought here and there. In this case though, it was a sign that she had been spending way too much time with Dean… not that she would regret it ever. She looked at the giant as he advanced towards them and said, "Well normally I'd go for the front, Ruby would go for the back and surround him."

Sam knew the attempt at humor was meant to relieve the tension of the situation. He replied, "That could still work." When Angela looked at him, he gave a shrug.

"And mess up that coat?"

"The job is messy."

"It does look good on you." Angela gave a shrug of her shoulders. "16th and 17th wear is definitely your thing." She gave a teasing grin.

"And I wonder what your thing is," Ruby deadpanned as she joined them. "You're turn for another plan."

"Keep your skirt on. Wait you look hideous in one," Angela replied. She noticed a few of the stragglers joining with the giant. An idea came to her and she wondered if she could pull it off. What was she talking about? She did pull it off once. "This look is an improvement."

Sam tried not to make a sound or make a face since he really didn't want to start something on the side. He tried to be the voice of reason, "Look we have a situation here and…"

"You got any ideas cause frankly it's like you've gotten flabby," Ruby muttered.

Sam made a face at Ruby. "Not the time, Ruby," he warned. He took a step back with the group while eyeing everything.

"Now is exactly… the time," Angela said, "Just go with it." She looked at the group and glanced at George, "Look you've got what you wanted. This is overkill." She gestured towards the giant with a look that asked if he was being serious.

George looked at the group, "Hardly that. You forget we've studied you. We know how you think. You probably have something in your pocket or hidden in your little gal pal's pockets."

"Please. We'd kill each other if given the chance," Ruby interrupted.

Angela shrugged her shoulders in agreement. She made a slightly sheepish grin, "Hey, she's telling the truth. We are mortal enemies." She frowned a little and made a peeing gesture at George and asked, "Surely you would have known this right?"

Sam noticed how the old man looked a little flustered. So there was something that he didn't know about Angela. It was not huge comfort but it was something. He played along and added, "Angie, I thought you said this Illuminati group was known for knowing things."

"I did. Too bad." Angela made an 'oh well' look and shrugged her shoulders. "And to think that he wanted to capture me. Couldn't do it before and I'm just being a pain in the ass now." She gave a slight look at Sam when he gave her a slight elbow. "So what do you say and call it off?"

"Are you tired of playing with the latest addition?"

Angela knew what George meant. She had figured it out in between being poisoned and thrown around like she was a rag doll. She had known for some time and being the kind of person she was… It was an issue to be addressed with the parties involved. She replied, "No but I think you'd get bored of me doing the same thing." She glanced at the giant and the others. They were not going to try the surround and grab approach. That could work in the long run for what she had in mind. "I know pain in my ass in here thinks I'm boring."

"Not only that you're a pain in the ass," Ruby added. She had caught on that Angela was up to something like buying time. For what, Ruby could only guess that it had something to do with her chakram since her hand was near it in a position ready to grab and throw at a moment's notice. Personally she would have liked to see the chakram in action. There were few people in the world who could throw it with such… finesse. Yes she admitted that Angela had finesse when it came to weapons training and fighting. So sue her.

"Ruby," Sam warned.

"Hey I gave a compliment. Now that's more than I can handle in one sitting."

Sam gave a look at Ruby. "Can you at least…"

"Be nice? Sam now is not the time," Ruby countered. "In any case it looks like we're gonna get iced because someone likes to take their sweet time."

"Could you please shut up all of you?" George normally didn't swear but this was getting ridiculous. They stopped right in the middle and started arguing about… he had no idea though it was clear that Sam had a beef with Ruby calling Angela a pain in the ass and the two women bickered, trying to goad each other into a fight.

"We should since grandpa is getting grumpy. He must need a nap," Angela commented. "I think grumpy is just a symptom of old age." She cast a knowing look at Ruby.

"You got a problem with that?"

"Heck no. I'm an old broad myself."

George had enough, "That's it. Just take them!"

"Now look what you've done," Ruby countered as she gestured towards the advancing group. "We're gonna die."

"Not yet," Angela replied. With an upward motion she brought her fist down like she was pumping her fist. What followed was the sound like a deep boom and people sprawled on the ground. The giant was staggering on his feet. Angela raised her brow, "Huh, so it did work. Waves and slams."

The giant righted himself up and charged. He was followed by the normal guards staggering while they still tried to fight. It was easy to kick them through the door after making them see more stars until all that was left was the giant. Ruby decided to cut out early since she figured her job was done Sam rolled his eyes at that and Angela said, "To be expected." She backed up and witched Absolution to her left.

It was an opportunity for Angela to duck and get behind the giant and gave him a poke to his rear with Absolution. She laughed more to tease and she could tell that Absolution was having fun with it. Of course it pissed the giant off and he wheeled and gave a swipe and in the process knocked Sam over and smashed a table of liquids and other things. Smoke started to rise and the papers started to catch fire. Angela waved Absolution wildly trying to distract the giant away from Sam and ran in circles. She laughed a little bit like it was a game and on some weird level it was one. It was like when she tormented a thief back in colonial Georgia by stealing what he had stolen and eventually returning it. It also brought memories of when her father trained her with running exercises. He was the one that said in the end the best defense is to run.

It certainly served her well while the fire started to rage. It was burning things in the room which was a relief since she would not want to see the bill for rebuilding this place. At the same time the unconscious stragglers were getting up and starting again. Sam took care of them as best as he could and sent a few through the door. His eyes lighted on George and decided to have a few words with him.

George saw Sam and smiled, "So what do you think of your contribution Sam." He gestured at the giant who was trying to catch Angela and ended up missing. "Of course some things do need to be worked on like that interesting display your friend showed."

"Not gonna happen," Sam said.

"Really? What's to stop me from using what I know against you and then taking your friend?" George shrugged his shoulders. "Like I said we have to use and think of what we can to protect those who do the fieldwork."

"Last I check trying to kill them wasn't on the list," Sam countered.

"Well they do get a little overzealous at times but rest assured all we wanted was a sample of blood. Of course now with what I've seen I think there are more possibilities," George replied. He ignored the commotion going on with the giant and Angela and continued, "Look you may hate me but in the end it is for the same goal. Besides, how do you know what you know if it weren't for the same kind of work that we're doing?"

"I get it but there are boundaries."

"Are you saying that your friend there is a person? Where did you come from?"

Sam said nothing at that. It wasn't the first time someone referred to Angela as something less than human. It just made him mad but he was sort of learning how to deal with it. As to the second question he managed to reply, "Came in through the front door." It was not a typical response for him but it just felt good to say it.

"Cute. A sense of humor like her."

"It works," Sam admitted with a shrug. "And I like it."

George almost wanted to laugh at Sam. He shook his head in a tolerant manner and looked at his nails. "You would. So what are you going to do? I am not a demon so you can't do that trick I am sure you can do."

Sam blinked at that. Something about that query didn't seem right. He adjusted his stance, "What do you mean?"

"Don't even try. From what I hear she is better at it," George countered with a tolerant smile. He watched Sam's reaction. Poor guy thought he was the only one who knew. "Did you think that you were the only one?"

Sam would have spoken but then an excruciating pain erupted from his abdomen. He keeled over and tried not to cry out. He did look up and noticed that George was holding out his hand and enjoying himself. "What… the…"

George looked at Sam. He really hadn't expected that. He looked over to see the giant grabbing Angela into a crushing bear hug. He could tell that her lungs were being compressed. Looking back at Sam he said, "We are scientists Sam. Like I said, trying to get a better advantage. Some of our work has benefitted you hunters."

The giant brought over Angela as she struggled. Sam could see that she was clearly being crushed but she was still going to fight her way out. He grimaced since the pain wasn't being let up and said, "Let her go."

"No. The brat was a means of getting her. I knew she wouldn't be able to resist helping a friend." George looked at Angela but focused on Sam. He kneeled and looked at Sam and asked, "So how does it feel to be dealt a taste of your own medicine? Tell me, did see teach you anything?" He patted Sam's head to mock him.

Sam looked at George and muttered angrily as he grimaced, "She taught me enough."

"But not this," George replied and cranked up the juice. "You know sometimes to advance science one must take risks. So what you see is something that is created and something that you are very familiar with." He then leaned close and whispered, "It is better than anything. It's like an elixir of life and makes you feel you can do anything."

Sam knew what George meant by that. He glanced at Angela. She was still struggling but it was getting weaker. She was going to pass out. He didn't want her hurt but he also didn't want her to hear it. He looked at George and said, "Don't."

"Why? I'm sure it would be fun to see what happens." George grasped Sam's chin and looked him in the eye and added low, "What are you afraid of?"

Sam didn't answer. Rather there was a bellow from the giant as he grabbed his arm. Angela had dropped to the ground and was clinching her chakram in her right. Coughing she extended her other hand and Absolution flew into it from where it had landed when the giant grabbed her. Standing up she looked at George and narrowing her eyes she watched as the old man was flung to the side and into an overturned table. She then wheeled around to see the giant lunging towards her. It was automatic as she held out Absolution and it sank into the giant's abdomen.

Sam felt his lungs fill with air but he was also aware that the fire was getting worse and could smell the ash. He got to his feet as Angela looked at him. He said, "I'm good."

Angela checked Sam over. He wasn't any worse for the wear but she wanted to make sure. "Okay. Feel like ditching this place?"

"Do you have to ask?"

Angela twitched her lip as she led the way to the door that would lead them out after sheathing Absolution. She carried her chakram in her hand. She could see that the fire was contained to the room which was a good thing. She heard Sam cough and she said, "Some of it the stuff I play with in herbology."

"I don't think you try to kill people with it."

"Not really." Angela looked back at Sam and couldn't help but tease him, "Though I do occasionally have a mishap. Dog food ends up tasting like people food when that results." She gave a smile at the look Sam made.

They were almost to the door when they were blown off their feet. Since they weren't prepared for it, it easily knocked them over. Angela landed against an overturned bookcase while Sam was nearly buried under… mostly junk. She looked over and saw George. He was trembling and she saw that there was a rather large stick in his stomach. She stood up and looked at George warily as she held her chakram. "Give it up George. Your lab is ruined and if we're not careful the whole place could burn down. It's over."

George shook his head, "No. It will never be over. As long as there are other scientists we will have the advantage."

"And the cost? Look at yourself. Your mentor wasted his life chasing me. It's killing you now." Angela gestured at George. Her expression was one of pity.

"The discovery of a lifetime. A vampire born a healer. It is unheard of. There has to be a reason," George insisted as he took clumsy steps forward.

"None whatsoever," Angela replied shaking her head. "Just an anomaly." It was a lie sort of. That was the feeling at the back of her mind. There was a reason for it and more about that destiny crap.

"Liar," George retorted. He lost his temper and extended a hand towards Sam and began again what he had started earlier. He held up his other hand and warned Angela, "Don't think about it. I can easily crush his stomach. This can still work." He heaved a little while ignoring the fact that he was spilling blood all over the place. "It will work and you are the key."

Angela sighed. While she had been pissed at the fact that George had lied to her friends and took the boys and even more so that his group was responsible for hunting her she felt a bit sorry for George. He inherited an obsession and a job that was almost as old as she was and now it was pretty much killing him. "Don't do this."

George stood up straight and looked at Angela. He noticed something that had become uncovered. There was still some distance between him and Angela and what was there would be a surprise and he would have her. He started moving to be at a vantage point. "It will be so. I will achieve what none of my predecessors have been able to do."

"Don't," Angela warned as she moved herself with her hand clenched on her chakram.

George looked at her. He could feel his body tremble but he would have the last say. He gave a smile and reached out and grabbed it. "This will go down." He pulled the trigger and braced himself.

Angela rolled forward to avoid the blast of electricity. First the bullets, the swords and now an indoor firestorm. She kept moving forward as it followed her while keeping her eye on George and keeping away from Sam. It was then she had an idea when she paused in front of a table of gadgets or something. The place was a gold mine of the occult. She looked at George.

Sam winced slightly as he got to his feet. He saw George chasing after Angela with something and the guy was injured… if the blood on the ground was any indication. He was tempted to charge to help when one got too close for comfort but he didn't because he saw the look on her face. He recognized it at once and that she had something up her sleeves. He was to find out when she stopped and just waited.

George aimed and it headed right towards Angela. Sam shouted at her to move when all of a sudden she gave her cry. A split second later the chakram knocked against the weapon thing forcing it up. He watched the chakram ricochet off the weapon, towards something he couldn't name and then off some iron torch holder. It ended up embedded in the back of George and he fell forward. Sam blinked and walked over towards the body and then at Angela.

She looked at Sam and said, "Shock therapy sucks." She walked over towards the body and sighed as she shook her head. She clicked her tongue against her teeth and said, "At least he's resting in peace."

Sam glanced at Angela as she reached down and pulled out her chakram and made a face at its condition. At that moment glass shattered and the flames got hotter and started to escalate. She looked over and started pushing Sam in a direction, "Gotta go."

Sam knew better than to ask and followed Angela as she went to the door they came through. He skidded to a stop when she did. Their way out had been clocked by a wall of flames and debris. He exclaimed, "The way's blocked. Can you…?" He motioned with his hands to indicate what he had in mind.

It was the first thing that crossed Angela's mind. She looked at the pile. It would be easy to move it. She started to make a motion to start moving things when she stopped. She saw something and leaned forward to peer closer. She got close and was almost touching the flames when she was yanked back. She looked up to see Sam looking at her like she was being crazy as he said, "What the hell are you doing?"

"We got to get out of here."

"Yeah that is the point and this is the way out," Sam motioned towards the debris.

"We can't," Angela said and moved towards where she had seen George coming in. "We have to find another way and we don't have much time."

Sam followed her and watched as she fingered the wall and started moving her hands over it. HE said, "Okay but where is there another door? Apart from smoke inhalation, what is it that is making us hurry?"

Angela turned and pointed in the direction of the debris, "See that container. That symbol on that means that it is highly flammable… as in blow up flammable."

"Won't that take out the whole building?"

"No," Angela said as she started walking around. She found a bar thing that could be used as leverage and tried to pry the door open. "It's not C4 dear God. It does cause damage though and the interesting thing is that it blows the fire out. Damn it. Can't get it open." She looked around to look for something.

"Then what are we going to do?"

Angela found something. She looked at the canister, "The heat's getting to it. We can't get out so… we're riding out the blast." She held up what she had found.

"You're serious?" Sam raised his brow at what she was holding.

"Trust me?"

A/N: Looks like Ruby bailed out again on Sam and Angie then again what else is new? George tries one last trick and we've got fire and Sam and Angie on a clock. What is up that girl's sleeve? Stay tuned for more Colonial Armistice...