Chapter 11

It was three days later that found the Winchesters back at the hospital to look in on Bobby. This time they were accompanied by Angela who was looking exhausted and it showed by the copious amounts of coffee, good and bad, she was drinking. Sam watched with trepidation as she downed what was maybe her third cup of coffee and she had gotten a full night's worth of sleep the night before. He made sure of that.

The past three days, he had been privy to her attempts to… he wasn't quite sure really. All she said was that she was trying to verify something on trying to help Bobby. He was a little baffled since he was certain that the angels made it certain that Bobby wouldn't be able to walk again. In his mind she was going to challenge the people that threatened her family. She had made that very clear when she told off Uriel. Still he wasn't sure what she had been doing but he did know that it was taking its toll on her. In short she was burning out.

Peering at her, not concerned at the moment where Dean went, Sam said, "You look tired. Maybe you should've… stayed at the motel?" The last part came as a question.

Angela tossed the coffee cup away in a nearby trashcan. Her eyes still felt heavy even though she had managed to get a couple of hours' worth of sleep. It was what she got for trying to get a hold of Castiel, trying to get a hold of Gabriel and lastly talking to Tophet or trying to talk to him again. That was in addition to her usual chores and that was taking care of the boys.

It baffled both Winchesters that she proceeded to do things as she always had in terms of the daily routines. She checked the laundry, did the meals if possible, restocked the necessaries and take care of Sasha as well as be the ear that listened. Sam had been a little wary but was growing comfortable about it. Dean on the other hand oscillated between occasional teasing and shooting looks that clearly said he didn't get it. It ended up creating awkward situations at the time.

Looking up at Sam, she replied, "I wanted to see Bobby."

Sam studied her. She had uttered it like a child would utter a simple want but it sounded almost pitiful. He could understand her wanting to see Bobby. "And do you think he'd want to see you sleep?" He asked the question gently and almost teasing. It produced a slight smile and he felt good that he was able to get her to smile even if it was a little one. "You're gonna burn yourself out, Angie and I…" He broke off.

"You think you will be blamed for that too," Angela replied in a gentle and yet matter of fact tone. The tiredness seemed to lift a little as she took in Sam's expression. "When you know that it's not true."

"It might as well be," Sam replied, knowing that he sounded ridiculous. "It is my fault that you are like this."

Angela raised her brow. Being tired, it made an interesting expression. It made her seem almost wise or very regal. The tiredness showed itself in the opposite of what it typically would. She said, "You say the strangest of things Sam but I see where you are coming from… but in all honesty, it is weak." She patted his shoulder and added, "What's done is done. Time to work through things."

"Is that what you are doing?" There was no heat to Sam's question. It sounded almost tired or resigned, like he wasn't trying to pick a fight and he wasn't. "Just working through things?"

Angela made a slight movement of her head like she was puzzled. Gently she replied, "It's like I said about making hard choices. The goal is to try and make the best choice so you can live with it. The other part of that is that with the choices that go bad, you have to live with it and often times they are more vivid than others. You never get over it but work your way through it."

Sam thought about it a little and asked, "I guess you've had time to think about it?"

"That and live with it," Angela replied with a tired smile. She sobered and said, "Sam… I know you and Dean are wary that I can just keep going like I usually do and you probably think I'm a robot for acting like nothing has happened…"

"You're not a robot…"

"Sam," Angela stopped him by gently grasping the cuff of his jacket. She really had to stop doing that but it was like a habit that was taken for granted. "I have made choices that I've felt bad for… a lot of them. I know the feeling."

Sam was going to retort to that and decided not to. He really didn't want to fight with her, verbal or otherwise. He didn't want to go down that road anytime soon. That was one bad choice that he knew was going to haunt him for a long time apart from starting the Apocalypse. Finally he said, "Okay but… you still look tired." It was lame but it was better than nothing and he was still worried about her and her general health.

Angela couldn't help but smile at that. "I guess I should take a nap then when we get back or sleep in the car."

"You do that anyway," Sam replied with a slight shrug of his shoulders, "But you still look like you need it. Are you okay? I mean with the whole…" He wasn't sure how to describe what she asked him for help with the other night.

Angela gave a smile, "I'm fine. I am a little drained but… I want to see Bobby." She debated inwardly for a moment on what to do next. She went with it and gave Sam a gentle peck on the cheek. "You're sweet," was all she said and slipped just inside the door to observe Bobby in his chair looking out the window.

Sam blinked a bit processing the fact that she had kissed him and called him sweet. He could almost hear her say something along the lines of 'what do you expect' from her. But she was emphasizing a point and maybe she did feel what she said. It was something to think about as he watched with her the grizzled hunter and took in her profile. The tiredness was gone and she was looking at Bobby like she would a patient but full of concern. What are you thinking of?

At that moment Dean came up holding a manila folder. Sam looked at his brother and murmured, "It's been three days."

Dean looked in at Bobby and said, "We gotta cheer him up. Maybe I'll give him a backrub."

Dean was met by two pairs of eyes that looked at him like he was being ridiculous. He was surprised that Angela wasn't making a comment on this like she would. She would have found it funny and would have tease Bobby to no end. He realized though that she was taking it seriously and judging from her posture, she was in the middle of contemplating something. He looked at Sam who was trying to find a way to give his input but also stay out of the way. He said, "Well what then?"

"A conversation and some 'friendly persuasion' on my part," Angela offered in a cryptic way.

Dean looked at her and figured she was going to suggest something, "I know you're thinking of something Angie and… Look we may have to wrap our heads around the idea that Bobby might not just bounce back this time." He hated to say it but after what Zachariah did… there was that possibility and he knew it was on Sam's thoughts too.

"And there is always a chance," Angela replied before going back to her observations.

Dean glanced at her and then looked at Sam. They stared at each other in silence before Sam pointed at the package and asked, "What's in the envelope?"

"Went down to radiology, got some glamor shots," Dean replied as he opened the envelope and pulled out the x-ray of his ribs. He handed it over to Sam. "Let's just say the doctors are baffled," he added in his usual fashion of sarcasm in pointing out what they found typically normal and others found just plain weird.

Sam held up the x-ray of his brother's ribs to get a good look and his eyes widened. "Holy crap." The x-ray's had the angelic symbols and he could make out Egyptian hieroglyphs interwoven with the angelic ones. It was an interesting picture and he actually wondered if that was similar to what was on Angela's ribs and almost blushed at the thought.

"Yeah, well Cas and that weirdo carved you and Angie one too." Dean noted the slight swallow Sam gave and figured he had been thinking about their girl's insides as well. It would have been amusing under normal circumstances but he was still upset with Sam and it just felt ten times amplified when it concerned Angela. It felt like Sam was taking advantage of her strange and yet normal behavior as of late, completely forgetting that Angela had asked Sam to 'take a walk' with her as she called it.

"He was of the royal guard, Dean," Angela said. She looked at her fingers and then the cartouche on her hand. "He was following the edict of protecting the royal family and what is considered theirs."

"Yeah whatever Angie. You have your connections," Dean acknowledged, not noticing the frown Sam shot his way at his apparent rudeness to her.

At that moment Sam's cell phone rang and he answered it and was surprised at who it was, "Hello? Cas?"

"Speak of the devil," Dean commented.

"Uh… St. Martin's hospital. What are you… Cas." Sam frowned as he lowered his phone and put it away. He looked at Dean who was just as baffled as he was.

Not too long after Castiel showed up, walking down the hall. Dean looked at the angel and couldn't help it, "A cell phone? Really Cas? Since when do angels need to reach out and touch someone?"

Castiel looked at the Winchesters and took in the quiet countenance of Angela as she looked at him. He would have to explain a few things to her eventually. "You're hidden from angels now, all angels. I won't be able to simply..."

"Enough foreplay," Bobby's voice rose in agitation. "Get over here and lay your damn hands on. Get healing! Now."

"I can't," Castiel replied.

Angela moved slightly when she heard that. She was curious about what Castiel had meant by that and she moved to listen closely. She also had questions about why their connection was sort of severed but not quite. She could feel something but it was like it was muffled.

Bobby looked over and groused, "Say again?"

"I'm cut off from heaven," Castiel explained. He took a few steps into the room. "Much of Heaven's power. Certain things I can do, certain things I can't." He cast a look at Angela and tried to explain silently what that meant.

"You're telling me you lost your mojo just in time to get me stuck in this trap the rest of my life?" Bobby glared at the angel like it was his damn fault. Technically it was an angel's fault but at this point any angel would do.

"I'm sorry," Castiel said being rather genuine with it.

"Shove it up your ass," Bobby groused.

"At least he's talking now," Dean commented to Sam as Castiel left the room to join them.

"I heard that," Bobby shouted. He went back to grousing and 'pouting' in his chair and looking at the window but not looking out of it. The silence was unnerving but Bobby knew what it was about and said, "Ya got something to say then say it. Don't you be trying that guilt by silence thing ya do."

Angela pushed off from the wall she had taken refuge from when she walked in after Castiel. She pulled the chair she had occupied three days ago and sat like she was going to have a nice visit. She replied, "I have plenty to say old fart but it's just a matter of whether or not I am willing to get my head bit off for it. But since you are already more grumpy than usual, I do have something I would like to talk to you about."

"Cheeky little idjit bastard I said no," Bobby said, repeating his earlier assertion the night he was admitted. He turned to glare at Angela who was looking at him like she would a child trying to throw a temper tantrum in order to get what they wanted and was highly amused by it. "Now if you have anything better to say…"

"Bobby," Angela said in the same voice she used to give to Hibah when she was petulant. When he growled a little at her she continued, "I know you said no but you haven't been listening to me or aren't willing to hear me out."

"And you know damn fool well I won't because of the idjit things you've done," Bobby retorted. "There ain't no way I'm giving you the chance to kill yourself."

"And I won't." Angela hadn't meant to get testy with the grizzled hunter but she was tired and she was just as frustrated as Bobby was. She had a couple of possibilities but living with three stubborn males who though she should be living in a bubble… sometimes their concern drove her crazy and it wasn't helping that she was a little more emotional lately. She silently counted to three and continued, "Bobby, I want to try and see if I can."

"And didn't ya learn anything from the last time?"

"Bobby, that was something like when I pulled a demon and killed it but overdoing it," Angela explained. It probably wasn't the best of examples but it held the point she wanted to make. "You forget that I was placed in an environment that sort of forced me to learn new things and improve the old ones. It was how I was able to escape so easily this time."

Bobby looked at Angela and was forced to remember that painful fact. He recalled how Sam was in a semi crazed/determined state and the other half was worrying about whether she was okay in getting the basics like three squares or blood in case of injuries. That coupled with his determination to find a way to bust Dean out… "And what makes you think this would be better than the other times?"

"Because I've… tried on smaller things. I did heal Cerebus and now he's the biggest lap dog I'll ever have." Angela reached out and rubbed Cerebus' ears and they could both hear him rumble in pleasure at being touched. "I've done little things and some things I have yet to understand but… I'm a healer Bobby. It's what I can do."

"And does that include almost killing yourself. How did you and the boys get out of there?"

Angela gave a slight shrug of her shoulders, "Part of it was Set pulling me out and with the boys… I remember saying an incantation and my hands were glowing but I don't really know. I don't have angel mojo for transport."

Bobby was not completely convinced but the honesty was in her face about not knowing. He had been warned that she would start to discover things now that they were set in motion. "I don't want to put ya at risk Angie. It was bad enough the first time and do I need to remind you about Sam?"

Angela cast a look at Bobby. "I know they both were broken up about it. You don't need to remind me. Believe it or not I have been doing this long before I met you."

Bobby heard the change in tone. She was not going to openly acknowledge Sam's response from then. "Well fine then. Tell me what harebrained idiocy you came up with."

Angela raised her brow at Bobby. She didn't mean to get defensive about Sam but she didn't want to push. As far as she could tell, it was how Sam perceived her which was the little sister he cared about and was too attached to. She said, "I talked to Tophet and I can do it. That and I still have the Eye."

She would have said more but there was a commotion coming from Dean. Apparently Castiel needed a means of finding God and there was a special amulet that burned in his presence and Dean had it. She looked over at Dean who was handing over the amulet that Sam had given to him when they were kids and said, "Don't lose it." It was followed by Dean adding, "Great now I feel naked."

"I'll be in touch," Castiel said. He was going to leave but he paused to look at Angela. His blue eyes locked onto hers and tentatively reached out, I hid myself.

Angela looked at Castiel silently and blinked. That was one question answered. I understand a little but you still have to explain.

I'll be in touch.

Castiel turned and walked away and did his disappearing act. Bobby couldn't help but say, "When you find God, tell him to send legs!" He looked at Angela and said, "And don't you dare start about that healer mojo thing."

Angela looked at Bobby, "It's what I can do."

"What are you up to?" Dean had picked up on it especially when he noticed Sam just shuffling his feet.

"The idjit here says she can use her healer mojo on me," Bobby said as he glanced at her. "I said no and still say no."

Angela sighed and said, "Okay. Fine." Desperate times called for desperate measures. She stood up and moved over towards the grizzled hunter and held her hand over where he had stabbed himself. Much to the surprise of everyone in the room she focused and her hand shed a little light for maybe about thirty seconds or something like that. When it died, she stood up and asked, "Happy now?"

Everyone in the room blinked at what she had just done. Bobby realized that she had healed his stab wound more or less or rather helped it along to heal faster. She was still standing and she was looking more annoyed at all three of them. Bobby though could see that she was physically exhausted now and if she did go to the sanctuary of healers, it would have worn her out even with a good night's worth of sleep. He said in a more gentle yet still gruff tone, "And the answer is still no. Not with how you are now."

"Then maybe you'd consider letting the Eye do its work?" Angela cast a poignant look at Bobby. She had her hands on her hips to indicate that she wanted an answer.

"The Eye? You mean that thing you went through the Gauntlet for?" Dean looked at Angela. "Think it will work?"

"It's said to heal almost anything. I was willing to use it for a detox but it's worth a try here," Angela said as she gave a shrug of her shoulders.

Sam shot a look in her direction as she looked downwards to heave a sigh. He knew that she had gone to find a means to help him when he was detoxing. Dean's tone indicated that it was more than a simple fetch and deliver. It was clear that she had intended to help him out all along and the fact she must have gone to great lengths to get it… He didn't say anything but tried to digest it. He was a world class douchebag.

Bobby and Dean were both focused on Angela, the shock of her impulsiveness wearing off. Bobby said, "That I might allow as long as you don't do nothing crazy."

"I'm crazy six ways from Sunday," she replied like it was a natural thing.

At that moment, Bobby's cell phone rang. Bobby picked it up and answered, "Hello?"

Bobby? Bobby, dammit, can you hear me!

The receiving end was loud but there was also static. The Winchesters and Angela listened very closely. Angela looked like she was ready to stare the phone into submission but she was listening intently. Bobby replied, "I can't hear you."

Seems I'm up to my ass in demons. Whole damn town's infested.

The soft growl/rumble from the invisible Cerebus didn't faze anyone. The only movement was the shift in Angela's eyes as she listened and took into account Cerebus' rumblings about 'pit beasts' and the hunt for them. She then shifted her gaze towards Bobby as he was trying to make sense of what was going on. The grizzled hunter asked, "Colorado? River Pass, Colorado?"

River Pass!

The static was hardly encouraging. Bobby shouted as if that would make things better, "Rufus? You there, Rufus?"

Bobby, it's…

Through the static there was some yelling and it was followed by gunshots. Then the phone went dead. Bobby looked at it and then slowly put it down and looked at the trio. It was the worst feeling in the world. He and Rufus may not be on the best of terms but he was still his friend. They had to make sure he was okay.

The only movement was from Angela. She had a look that Bobby knew well. She adjusted her position and started to walk to the door. Bobby couldn't help but ask, "And where are you going?"

Angela looked at the group, "I'm going to hunt and make sure that damn old fool didn't kill himself." She started to go through the door and paused when Sam and Dean refused to move. She looked at them and asked, "Are you two coming or do I have to steal a car?"

Dean looked at Sam and they both glanced at Bobby. It was a bit unusual for her to be that way but Bobby and Dean had witnessed that sort of behavior before and that was with Sam detoxing and then later after she and Dean exchanged words. Sam took it for what it was; it was her sense of urgency in the goal to help a friend. He started moving towards the door.

Dean lingered a bit and glanced at Bobby. The grizzled hunter shrugged his shoulders and offered, "Her own choice who to make friends with." It was the best Bobby could offer since that pretty much was the way of things.

"And I can't help but wonder if she's pissed, hurt or…"

"Don't poke that," Bobby warned. Even he wasn't sure but he was certain that just agitating her about it was going to produce a few squabbles. "Far as I can tell… it's what she would do if it were you or Sam."

Dean looked at Bobby. When he looked at the door, Angela had come back and poked her head in the door and said, "Saints cry over lost time, Dean."

Dean looked at Bobby and took in the look and turned back, "Fine, I'm coming you bossy nag."

"Stubborn prat."

"I'm not a brat."

Bobby sighed, "Idjits."

A/N: Looks like Cas is cut off, Angie is being refused on the help and Rufus may be in some trouble. Sounds like the hits keep on coming. Stay tuned for more Don't Suffer Fools Gladly...