Chapter 12

"We need to talk. Now."

"There is nothing else to say Dean. I was there and could have helped but didn't and Sam was right. Our separation wouldn't have stopped me at any other time." Angela held up the flask. She wrinkled her nose as she eyeballed the measurement.

"And I know you Angie. You deliberately left something out and I want to know why," Dean countered. "Well I sort of know why. You want Sam to think you're a monster. Are you that afraid of your own feelings?"

"You want the truth? Yes I am," Angela replied. "It terrifies me that I can't help it. It was easy to see you boys as friends and partners. You're more than that Dean. You're like a brother and Sam…" She trailed off. Her hands had started shaking and she put down the flask. She had enough for one more… just in case. She put her hands on the counter to steady herself.

"So that whole thing about jumping off the cliff and flying bit… was that more bullshit?"

"You don't understand."

"No I don't Angie. You're deliberately hurting yourself." Dean watched as Angela rubbed her forehead. She was so like Sam that you had to almost beat a confession out of her. "Why?"

Angela walked out of the kitchenette to pace a little. She was getting a headache from all this. Yeah she was deliberately hurting herself. She told the truth… partially like Wosret said to do and she had one brother mad at her and the other up her ass because he was that observant to know she hadn't told them everything. She was getting too transparent and that was a serious breach in her defenses.

"Why Angie?"

Not taking it anymore, Angela replied, "Madison asked me not to." Retreat was not being a coward. Retreat and regroup was the answer. She went into the bathroom and shut the door leaving Dean alone.

Dean knew it wasn't him but her. He still felt bad that it had come to this. He knew that Angela would have come if she was there. Hearing that Madison asked her not to help had him wondering what it was about the cure that had Madison say no. He was near the kitchenette and he saw a large piece of paper that looked very old. He picked it up and was glad that for once something old was in English and he could read it. He skipped the ingredients and went straight to what were the directions to giving it to the kid. His eyes widened slightly.

Meanwhile Angela was sitting on a towel on the floor of the bathroom. A bit of vanity on her part but she had a thing about dingy motels and their bathrooms if she had to sit on the floor. She held her head in her hands as she leaned against the door. Her hair skirted both sides of her face. The headache was still there but she couldn't take anything for it. It would interfere.

A knock sounded on the door followed by, "Angie? Um… I read your thing and I see why Madison said no. You were willing to do it to help weren't you?"

Angela studied the floor for a moment before replying, "I offered and she couldn't understand why I was offering. What is it with you humans going into shock when a stranger offers help?"

Dean felt ridiculous leaning against the bathroom door but he was willing to go along with it. "Well we're not the best at accepting something like that but most of the time folks think that payment is expected."

"I don't want any."

"I know that Angie. I think I understand why you are doing this and you didn't want to say anything." Dean had been upset when he read it but taking a leaf out of Sam's book of usual, he started reasoning things out.

"Tell me then because I'm not sure now."

Dean wasn't fooled by that answer. She had her reasons and she was sure of them. She wanted to hear them from someone else. That she judged herself so harshly was something he couldn't understand but by asking him or Sam their thoughts, he thought that she was trying to improve that self-judgment. He thought about it before replying, "It's not just because it's a kid's life at stake and you want to give him back to his mom. You're doing this because you couldn't do it before. You want to make it up to Sam."

Angela listened to Dean and couldn't help but smile. She always knew he was observant and intelligent. He hid it well under the macho bad boy act. He was right about her reasons. Yet she wanted to something else. "And the risk?"

Dean paused a moment. He hadn't really wanted to consider that but it was important especially if he was to eventually tell Sam about it once he cooled down. "I'm not sure. I mean I think that I get that whole 'must pass through the blood of the mortal blood' thing but Angie… I guess I should try to stop you. It could kill you and I don't think…"

Dean pushed off from the door. He then said, "Well I should be stopping you but knowing you, it is what you do best. You help people even at risk to yourself. I know you stuck your wrist in the way of that crazy vamp's teeth to save Sam and I know he would probably…"

The door opened and Angela looked at Dean and said, "I know but then again what vampire would volunteer for this?"

Dean gave a slight smile and replied, "None I know of. But Angie, is it worth it? It could kill you and I know Sam would kick my ass if I let anything happen to you."

"Even one life is worth it," Angela replied with a shrug. She walked over to the kitchenette and picked up one of the flasks that she had filled. She held it up as she turned to face Dean. "You know I would do the same for you and fuck the fact that the tendency to sacrifice for each other brings pain crops up."

Dean made a slight face at that. That was true and he made it clear that she wasn't to do anything like that for him. He was such a hypocrite though. He would do anything for her and hell he gave the biggest exchange to bring Sam back. "You know you're just going to do what the Trickster told Sam was going to happen?"

"Yes."

"And you still want to do it? Why?"

"Maybe I do want to make it up to Sam but ultimately I made a promise Dean. I promised Nikki I would bring his brother home and I promised their mom I'd bring both boys home." Angela gave a slight shrug as she crossed over to the bed to grab the side bag and stashed it in there. She put the second flask in there. She then turned to look at Dean. "Will you help me deliver on that? Keeping my word is all I have."

Dean stared at Angela. He wanted to help her, he really did. He also had Sam to think about. "What about Sam? Are you going to tell him?"

"Will it matter? I mean if it works and I live or die, things will go on."

Dean scowled slightly at that. "You can't not tell him. Don't do that and put a wedge between you two."

"I'm not saying anything," Angela replied taking in the scowl. Dean was right but if she said anything, then Sam would try to stop her. He would end up asking why she had to do it. "If it works and I'm still standing, then I will explain. You know he'll try to stop me."

Dean had to acknowledge that. It was true. Sam would try to stop her. Hell he should be stopping her but he wasn't. "I won't lie to him and you shouldn't either."

"I don't think he will be in a talking mood even when we get there."

"That's not the point. Did you forget why we separated in the first place?"

Angela pursed her lips before sighing. "I remember. If it will make you feel better, I will try to talk to him but I can't make any promises."

"That's all I ask. All three of us are stubborn asses but…"

"Hey it's what makes us good at our job."

Dean couldn't help but smile at that. "I guess you're right." He sighed as he looked around. Everything was ready to go. Now it was time to catch a demon and save a couple of kids. "Let's get this job over with. I'll grab Sasquatch and you'll get the kid?"

Angela nodded as she put the bag over her shoulder. She picked up Absolution and her chakram and petting Setna she left to find Roman. Dean waited a moment and looked at the cat who was staring at him. He asked, "What? Do you think I should have stopped her?" He then rolled his eyes. "And I'm talking to a fricking cat." He then looked at the cat that was still looking at him. He gave the animal a pat and said, "Well we're both going to find out if I should or shouldn't have." He then left her room to find his brother and grab their gear. They still had light left and they could lay a couple of traps to give the advantage and the big plus was that snare net that they set up before.

As he went to his and Sam's room, Dean hoped that this idea worked. He wondered why he just didn't put his foot down and say no and demand she tell Sam. It was strange but he got the feeling that maybe it might work but even he wasn't willing to risk her life on a maybe. Damn it Angie I hope for your sake it works.


Devil's traps weren't hard to make once you got the hang of it. Once ingrained in the memory, you could draw it in your sleep if you could. The whole second nature thing allowed you to think about other things even if they were the worst things possible. That's what Sam was doing as he was finishing the devil's trap that was to remain visible.

He was thinking about what he learned. There was a cure to being a werewolf and she had it the whole time. She had it while he and Dean were spinning their wheels. She could have done something. Then Madison would still be alive. Why? Why didn't she do it? Nothing had been stopping her from doing it. Even though she and Dean weren't on speaking terms then, she was there. She could have done something.

"Do you need any more spray paint?"

Sam looked up from his handiwork to see her. He really didn't want to talk to her. He was afraid he was going to say something that he didn't mean like he did at Darby but he was hurt and angry. She was a good person. She wasn't petty or anything like that and did she really have to follow that natural order thing.

Angela knew he was ignoring her. She didn't blame him. She stood there holding the extra can. She had finished one that was hidden under scrub brush and had some extra. Taking initiative, she walked over and placed the can nearby. She stayed kneeling for some time while he continued to work. Finally she said, "Madison told me not to after I found her in an alleyway. I said it was worth it. She didn't think the risk worth it." She then stood up and walked to go find a vantage point to take care of the boy.

Sam heard every word. It was enigmatic but what Angela said, he knew she didn't lie. She would never lie about things like that. Hell he didn't even give her a chance to explain. He turned but found her gone and he was left with a spray can which he needed. He picked it up and held it. She always knew what was needed and still she had to ask. If he hadn't known by now he certainly knew that it was her roundabout way of asking if he wanted to talk. He didn't want this to be like Darby. He finished what he was doing and went to look for her.

Sam found her finishing a carving into a really big tree. She was muttering something and he could pick up words. At least he thought they were real words. It sounded almost like a chant as she used her knife to finish her carving. When she finished, she stood there looking at it for a moment before turning. At least he was in her way. She stopped suddenly and just stared. Then she said, "I trust that was enough paint?"

Sam resisted the eye roll and replied, "Thanks."

"That should do. Dean and Roman should be finished." Angela looked around. She made this trap as a precaution. It was a type of devil's trap but coordinated using five trees as the points of the trap. The demon wouldn't know he was in a trap until he stepped into it. "This should do well once we get the demon out."

Sam took a look around. He recognized the symbols from the devil's trap she drew in his and Dean's room. "It would probably be better to get him here then. To exorcise him I mean."

"That's a good move."

It was starting to sound nothing more than superficial politeness. Sam knew he was going to have to change the pace of things if he wanted to get to the crux of the issue. "Why did Madi tell you not to?"

"As I said, the risk wasn't worth it." Angela checked her bag to make sure the vials weren't jostled. She checked for her chakram and mentally rattled off last minute things that could be missed.

"What do you mean by that?"

"All cures have a risk. It's why doctors practice medicine." Angela looked up at the sky and moved her head. They were near the underground river entrances and the traps had been set at various intervals. Her best bet with Nate would be underground near the river. "In this case administering with a biting and snapping thing."

"But you would stick your arm into a vampire's teeth. What makes this so different?" Sam could buy her response. He knew her well enough to know that she calculated her risks though some tended to be on the spot and split decisions. When she had time to plan, she was good at it. Sometimes though it seemed that she made up things as she went and those were times he wondered if she was just plain lucky.

"A stranger offering help with no strings attached… not often snapped up." Angela looked around and moved her head to listen. There were no sounds except she could pick up the faint sound of water from the river. She took a tentative sniff. She could smell demon everywhere with the wet dog smell. They had been clever. Looking up once more, she could see the moon starting to pass over and she glanced at her watch. "We should go now."

Sam started to say something but Angela was already walking off. He noticed though that she left Absolution behind. He figured she must have taken it off to do her sigil making and had forgotten. That even sounded unlikely since she was not one to forget things like that. There was also the possibility that she was leaving it there just in case since the sword was like Ruby's knife and it could kill a demon; a more precious thing since Bela stole the Colt.

Still something didn't seem right about it being there. Obeying the feeling, he picked it up and carried it in his hands. He followed the direction that Angela had taken and was joined by Dean and Roman who tossed a small pack next to a rock. Angela was nowhere in sight as they came to the entrance. Sam asked, "Dean… where is Angie?"

Dean checked around to make sure that she wasn't playing a game of hide and seek or something like that. Knowing her, she probably already was in there and making sure the way was clear. He replied, "I think she's already in there."

"She is," Roman confirmed as he pulled his shirt off. "She mentioned something about scouting out the place."

If that sounded strange since they were dealing with one demon, Sam and Dean said nothing. There was always the possibility that there were traps of varying kinds. They learned that well in Wyoming and that Indian reservation; well Sam more than Dean but still it was a big lesson to learn. "Okay and what are you doing kid?" Dean looked at Roman with a raised brow. Rarely had he seen someone take off their shirt and toss it aside to go into a battle against a demon.

Roman gave a slight grin as he paused. "You have any idea how much wear and tear on the clothes my wolf trick does? Believe me shirts are a bitch."

"Whatever you say kid," Dean replied. He remembered seeing Lykos do that and of course he had seen the kid. He could see the difference between the two and to be honest he was a bit surprised at that. "Go do your thing."

"And I'm sure you've heard of waiting for the opportune moment?"

There really was no answer for that since they did that do when they had seat of the pants moments. The brothers shared a look and shrugged at each other and started in. Dean pulled out his gun and noticed that Sam had Absolution and asked, "How come you have him?"

Sam looked at the sheathed blade and then at his brother and replied, "Angie left it behind."

Dean raised his brow in consternation. "That doesn't sound like her."

"None of this sounds like her. I mean she mentioned that she offered to help Madison but she refused and mentioned something about risk outweighing the reward."

Dean listened to the conversation. So she did tell him if a little bit. Knowing her though, she wouldn't have gone into details. Since they were on a case, all her focus would be on the case. She would sound a bit clipped at times but that was the focus talking. Dean knew though that there was a lot more riding on her choice in how much to tell Sam. "Well the hard part is getting it to the werewolf and she's a healer. Sometimes there is a risk."

It sounded a bit lame and Dean felt like he was lying to Sam. Yet he was going with what she said and it was the truth. Sam seemed to accept it and they followed Roman into the cavern and were immediately surprised and overwhelmed by the vastness of the underground cavern.


She was no spy but Angela had experience slinking through hideouts of the enemy while looking for hundreds of countermeasures like sentries and traps. It was only one demon but you couldn't give an inch. She ran through on the balls of her feet making as little noise as possible and relied on her enhanced vision to see in the darkness of the caverns. Her sense of smell would be able to help her as well.

If she stopped to think about it, she would have laughed at how clichéd it was for demon and any other creatures to camp out in caves. It was probably some sort of appeal and often times most humans avoided them simply because of those horror stories. As of now though, she was focused on getting the kids out. She was hoping to find Nikki and get him out; Roman would be good for that. Then she would focus on Nate and that business. The demon she had confidence that the boys would take care of it.

She made a turn and looked around. She found a passage that went down at a slope and followed it. She heard shuffling at the end of the passage and slowed down. There was no reason to alarm whoever it was to her presence. Slowly she pulled out her 9mm Beretta and held it in front of her. They were silver rounds and they wouldn't do any good against a possessed werewolf. It might slow them down but that was about it.

Narrowing her eyes, she was able to make out a boy. It wasn't Nikki. She immediately guessed it to be Nate. She ventured, "Nate?"

The boy stopped and looked at her. "Who are you?"

Angela lowered her gun and took a good look at the boy. He was agitated and could see that he was probably thinking that his temperature was up. She inched closer to allow herself to be seen. "I'm a friend."

"If you're a friend, you need to get Nikki out. He's my brother."

Angela managed to get close enough to see that she was in the well portion. She couldn't see the moon. That was somewhat of a good thing but not entirely since Nate would turn anyway. She couldn't help but give a wry smile. The kid was like Dean putting concern for his little brother above himself. Probably the kid knew what was going on with him or some idea of it. She replied, "I'm here for your brother too. Where is he?"

"The black eyed bastard took him. He wanted Nikki to tell him about an angel lady. Are you her?"

Angela sighed. She couldn't be upset. The kid had that much faith in her. She had no idea why people put so much faith in her. "He seems to think so," she replied.

"Then do what you have to do. Even if it means you have to let me go." Nate then took in a breath. "Look I know something is up with me. Maybe I can buy you some time while you get Nikki out."

Angela debated internally what to do. She could set him free and he could cause havoc and distract the demon. However that could put the boys at risk. She didn't want to do that. She quickly looked at the boy and what was keeping him there. It was fairly thick rope but it must have been torn easily when he turned the other night. Then again he had been infected and it was like a human on PCP. There was no guarantee that it would work again. Fishing into her inside jacket pocket she found one of her switchblades. She closed her fingers around it. She closed her eyes and made her decision and slowly took her hand out of her pocket. "Here," and she tossed it to him.

"Thanks. Go help my brother. Don't let that bastard do anything to him."

Angela nodded and turned to head back to the entrance to the passage. She paused to take in a good whiff. She would have to follow the demon scent. That was her best option since she wasn't familiar with Nikki's scent. Having caught it, she began to follow it and hoped that she made the right decision. She just hoped that it wouldn't come back to bite her in the ass.

The sound of the river caught her attention as she got closer. She looked at the ground. It was very sandy. Marjorie did say that the well was connected to the underground river. Well it's a good thing there is no storm tonight and no worries on a flash flood, she thought to herself as she heard voices. One was older and the other was younger. The younger voice she recognized as Nikki's and he sounded scared. She felt her throat convulse in that familiar feeling. Time to end this.


A/N: Now I don't blame Sam and after all Angie does have that habit of keeping secrets but the way her feelings are it wouldn't surprise me. Now we're off to kill the demon. More to come on Red Moon Rising...