Chapter 14

Sammy, don't!

Angela didn't see the initial movement by Sam but she saw the result. It was by her reflexes that she was able to slow his rate of descent. He still hit the dirt but it wouldn't be as bad as it could have been. She was getting to her feet when she saw Hadrian round on Dean and Sequoia. He punched Dean and shoved aside the girl's bow and had her by the neck. In retaliation, Dean tried his best but was backhanded away.

Hadrian looked at the girl and tossed her aside when she passed out. He turned towards Dean who was actually pretty resilient for a human and grabbed him by the throat. He looked at him and said, "Dean Winchester… ah I remember. The grapevine says that you're Alistair's most promising student. Well was."

Dean grunted trying to get some air. It was then that he noticed Sam, on his feet and trying to help his brother. He couldn't give out a warning and Sam was suspended in midair in a spread eagled formation. He grunted, "Gr… Sam…."

Hadrian was chuckling at his work that he failed to notice the one person that he was supposed to be paying attention to. The next thing he heard was a cry through the air and a weight on his back and pain on his arm. He dropped Dean and looked at the limb that had a small dagger buried in it while trying to get whatever it was on his back flung off. He forgot about Sam who was on the ground gasping for air and flung off his assailant.

Angela had gotten to her feet a bit shakily. The last throw left her legs feeling like jelly and she hated it. She hated anything that gave the appearance that she was weak and was one of the reasons why most folks remembered her as an ice queen. She could admit to hypocrisy since she did use the feeling to suit her needs particularly in battle. It was fun to make the enemy think they were winning and then she'd lay the can of whup ass on them.

Absolution had helped but at the moment was lying a few feet away. Not helpful at the moment considering that she was watching the Grigori try to choke the life out of Dean and Sam looked like he was going to be torn apart in midair. It was easy to lose her temper and charge but that just set you up for trouble and you might end up getting killed yourself, a situation she was well familiar with the consequences of working while pissed on a job.

It was more of instinct and knowledge of fighting plus a bit of the fact that her boys were threatened in a death situation that had her break into a sprint and leaping high, she gave her war cry and landed on the Grigori's back while plunging a switchblade she had in her jacket pocket deep into the wrist. She spared a moment to glance at Sam and release him and was flung off. She landed on the ground but in a crouched position. Her fingers were clutching the dirt and making gouges.

Hadrian managed to pull the pinprick out and toss it aside. He turned to see Angela on the ground in a crouched position, much like a feral animal would do. He taunted, "Aww, did I hurt your little Winchesters? You know it was their fault for interfering."

Angela slowly stood up leaving deep gouges in the dirt. The expression on her face could be considered cool and calm but it was anything but that. She brought her arms up, ready to fight even though she didn't have a weapon. She said something in Enochian that had Hadrian roar and charge forward.

Even without a weapon Angela was adept at fighting. The boys had seen her do it previously. It was a full on kung fu match after she yanked the sword away which followed her striking the Grigori's injured limb. That was followed by her actually grabbing the Grigori and flinging him aside like she would a sack of potatoes or something and he hit the dirt hard. It was hard enough for the helmet to fall away.

Dean rubbed his throat as he watched Angela fight the bastard. He had always been impressed by her ability to kick ass and he found it immensely entertaining when Sam managed to pin her and really put the spotlight on soft porn… but that was his thoughts. Seeing her now, he saw a look that he thought had been abandoned and that he wouldn't have to ever see again.

The landing she did was sexy in that killer chick way but the look on her face… She appeared calm and cool but Dean could tell that her eyes had a cold and calculating look. There was an expression on her face but it was devoid of feeling and deep down it scared him. He propped himself up as he rubbed his neck to ease the soreness and managed to get to Sam who was coming out of his groggy state and managed to see her fling the huge Grigori aside like it was nothing.

Hadrian looked at Angela as he got to his feet as she advanced. He noted the expression that was cold and calculating and he felt disconcerted by it. Still he wasn't going to give in so easily. Rather he liked the fact that she was fighting like how he had heard she was capable of. He could see why Lilith wanted this one. He said, "Nice when the last door is opened isn't it?"

"The last door has always been open," Angela replied as she advanced. She was ready for the attempt at a throw and countered and remained vertical. She grabbed a hold of Hadrian, her eyes like flickering amber flames. "It's just a matter of going through it." She threw the Grigori again.

It was unexpected when the shield she disarmed Hadrian of earlier came spinning at her and knocked her off her feet. Hadrian was on his and said, "And you still won't go through it. One step and you refuse."

Angela pushed the shield off and was on her hands and knees. It was then Hadrian's leg came in a sweeping motion towards her. Pushing on all fours, Angela pushed herself off the ground and with a twisting motion, she was on her feet and brought her hands up in time to block the blow. It was the injured limb so she applied pressure which helped and she flipped him onto his back but got a kick to the back of the leg and she fell forward.

Hadrian growled as he got to his feet and managed to grab his sword. He kicked at Angela and had her on her back and pressed a foot to her throat. He grinned as he watched her legs struggle to get herself free. "There's nothing you've got that I can't counter. You lucky that you killed Kokabiel."

Angela gritted her teeth at the pressure. She tried pounding her fist on the Grigori's foot but it was pretty much useless since it was covered with plating. She did managed to catch a glimpse of Absolution lying on the ground and entertained the idea rolling through her head but the foot was damned heavy. She then looked up at the Grigori and stopped resisting and closed her eyes.

Hadrian was enjoying putting pressure on Angela's throat. He would have pinched the airway shut, which was made easy by her relaxation, but he heard a low growl. It was a rumbling and a snarl and turning he saw a very angry wolf baring its teeth at him. It distracted him enough for Angela to twist his foot while at the same time stretch her hand out. Feeling Absolution slide into her hand, she swung it and gave a good clout to the Grogori's leg.

The result had Hadrian roar in pain. He raised his sword to deliver a fatal blow when it was grabbed by the wolf. It had latched on and refused to let go until he grabbed it and threw it aside. The moans of pain could be heard but by then it was too late. Hadrian found himself being hit across the face with the pommel of Absolution and he collapsed to his knees. Blood was leeching out through half a dozen different cuts. The next thing he knew, he was grabbed from behind and dragged by Angela who was sporting a couple of nasty clouts herself.

She walked towards the center of the clearing with that cold expression and flung him forward. Knowing he was defeated, Hadrian got to his knees. Blood was in his mouth and spat it out and wiped it with his gloved hands. "Not bad, Malachi. Couldn't have done better myself," he said as he looked up at the face devoid of emotion. "You really do have it in you after all."

Angela held Absolution downward in her right hand. Her left hand was clinched in a fist. It was the picture of the executioner looking down on his prisoner. "As I said. The last door was always open."

"And you just need to walk through it."

"And where is the fun in that?"

Hadrian chuckled and spat out more blood. "The fun is in giving into that pure animalistic rage; nothing but pure instinct in the longest battle known as survival. To spill the blood of enemies and glean satisfaction that you actually accomplished something definitely rather than leave it to this." He motioned with his hands.

"In the end all justice is wrought. If not mine then by someone else."

"And that's where you're bound to fail and keep going down this path angsty drama and questioning everything. Makes you weak in the end as you look through that open door and not bother to cut the apron strings. So why bother?"

"I like to think it's because I look awesome in leather," Angela replied. The remark was humorous but the emotion to incite it was gone.

Hadrian shook his head. He didn't get it but at least he could leave a few parting remarks, "Your glibness does you no credit. The end is coming and not even you will be able to save that which matters to you."

Angela got close to Hadrian without fear of being hit. She could tell that he was down. With her forefinger she poked at one of the more deeper cuts and hard. She gave a look that said she didn't care when she heard the hissing of pain and took her finger away to look at the blood on it. She took a taste of it like she would a glass of wine and then spit it out. "A pity that it tastes so tainted." She gripped the Grigori around the neck hard enough to leave a four plus one bruise and looked him in the eye, "You can tell Lilith that I will be coming for her." She then released him and started to turn away. She had enough 'fun' for now.

"You know that she's going to kill me since I'm not her favorite. You might as well do it yourself." Hadrian then said something in Enochian, old Enochian and spat out at her.

Angela heard it and glanced backwards a bit. She replied in the same language. In English she asked, "Do you know why I do the job?" In a quick movement she whirled and with Absolution made a quick slice.

Hadrian was looking at her with a surprised expression. A line of red appeared on the neck and the head fell off. The eyes looked up at her with a surprised look. Angela looked down at Hadrian and answered her own question, "I do it for them… as the Malachi of Absolution." She looked up and into the eyes of the Winchesters before turning and walking in the direction the wolf had been thrown.

"You know uh, the whole town is throwing a party for you."

Angela took a moment to study the stars she had been looking at before saying, "I really don't feel like celebrating, Dean."

"Kind of figured," Dean replied as he walked up towards Angela. "I wouldn't either after literally kicking it to another Grigori and killing him. Besides you don't go for all the glory shit anyway but I know you wouldn't want to be rude." He leaned up against the fence she was leaning against and stared out at nothing.

Angela gave a slight smile, "No I don't want to be rude which is why I stayed the polite amount of time and then left since now the twins have their wyakin and the others can make the journey and the lost hunters returned."

Dean nodded at that. After Angela killed the Grigori, men and women started coming out of the forest looking a little confused but happy that they were normal. Apparently whatever that bastard did had been reversed upon his death. So the town was happy about that even if they still eye the three of them with suspicion but with a little more acceptance since the girl Sequoia said that the vision occurred and that the hawk and the wolf defeated the creature. Having heard enough weird things the three of them just let it slide.

Angela looked down from the sky and glanced over at Dean. She could see the four plus one impression on his throat and it looked nasty. He said he was fine but she gave him the save to ease the swelling and he did it himself. Sam was okay for the most part and seemed hell bent on treating her injuries… at least the ones they could see. She could tell they went overboard on the yam for the bruises on her arms at least.

"So that is what it's like when you really get into that warrior mode," Dean began, trying to make it like idle conversation. It was only a matter of time before Sam found them since she had been very subtle in sneaking away.

"You've seen it before. It shouldn't be a shock to you," Angela replied, giving him a little since talking and chick flick moments were not his thing.

"I know but the last time I saw you like that… you killed a human. Now you do the same to an even dickier angel on Lilith's side. It's… do you ever see a difference?"

Angela turned to look at Dean and saw him looking at her with a worried expression. Whatever doubts she had about his feelings towards her were swept away by the look he was giving. She tried to come up with a way to explain it, "When in battle, you don't see a difference especially when your life is on the line and that point is the point beyond trying to talk someone out of what they are doing." She looked at the ground. "I showed you what I am capable of Dean. You've seen it in your dreams and awake. We all have the potential to become like that."

"And that's what scares me about you. Today with all that new mojo stuff and your kung fu acts… It can overwhelm you ya know. I don't want that for you."

"I think we're all going to face a bit of overwhelming in the future."

"Yeah but right now it's you. I mean I get the birthday slump which actually wasn't that bad this time around." Dean mentally added a few choice thoughts about his brother and Angela before continuing, "But now… after the siren thing and even before that with the essential seal thing and maybe that magic case… it's like you're wondering why you're doing it."

"I was and occasionally still do. It's why Satet and the Seer sent us here." She could tell that it would need some explaining. "Satet is like Ellen with a powerful punch in terms of being a mother and she is mine considering…" She showed Dean her hand so he could see the tattoo. "The Seer… she appealed to since there is that rule about revealing too much about one's destiny blah, blah."

"So this was more like a test then?"

"I needed to see. To be reminded that I chose this for a reason. As the old hag said, the hawk needs to see."

"I don't get that. What the hell does that mean? I know Grandma Indian mentioned something in Wyoming but she said eagle."

"Native American thing," Angela offered, "The animals symbolize many attributes and when a young warrior seeks his animal spirit, he gains those qualities. The reference about the hawk and eagle are similar in that they stand for wisdom and they are birds of prey and courage. The wolf refers to the compassion and strength they have since they are loving family members when in the pack. It's understood better when one is a member."

"I'll say but I can see why they refer to you when they say that," Dean replied. "In a way it sounds like how you were before we did this full time; the whole loner and facing the world alone but with a heart of compassion hidden by that icy demeanor."

Angela couldn't help but chuckle at that. "Now who is believing in ghost stories now?"

They both started laughing and that was how Sam found them, "Hey. What's going on?"

"Oh just the fact that Dean decided to take little children's stories literally," Angela teased. "I just hope he doesn't think that eggs can be green."

Dean scowled at that but it was halfhearted at best. He gave a meaningful look in Angela's direction and he could tell that she took it as a compliment but was rather shy about it. "That's the last time I tell you something nice."

"The day you do that, hell will freeze over," Angela replied with a smile. "And I'll have Sammy singing solo." She didn't miss a beat to pick on the younger Winchester.

"Not gonna happen Angie," Sam countered with a slight smile. He had been concerned but it looked like things were okay. "So everything's good."

"More or less," Angela replied after giving a slight shrug of her shoulder. "Another job done and one more pinprick to the other side. It feels nice being a pain in the ass to Lilith." She looked at Sam with an expression that was unreadable to Dean. She took a step forward so they were at a fairly close distance.

Sam took in the expression and understood its meaning. They were supposedly driving the same car in terms of getting to Lilith and ganking her. Yet even he knew that it wasn't the same. He returned the look and replied, "You are pretty good at doing that."

Dean felt a like an interloper watching the scene and it wasn't even one that was worthy of romance. He would have left but it held his interest like porn would and come to think of it, that was a gross thought. The silent exchange between his brother and the girl who loved him was more like an understanding over something they had talked about before. It was going to be an uncomfortable silence for him so he coughed.

The spell was broken and Sam coughed himself and said, "Yeah. So uh…" He looked down as he put his hands on his hips. "Yeah, uh… we're good right?"

Angela looked down, trying to hide the blush she could feel on her face forming. "Yeah. Um see you two in the morning." She frowned a bit as she walked to where they were staying. She played with her hands as she walked back not sure of what just happened and feeling like she did when Sam pinned her. Too many things happening and that meant she needed to sleep it off.

"You know you sure have a funny way of letting a man know you're interested."

Angela looked towards the direction of the voice as she sat while the morning sun rose. She raised her brow and replied, "I have no idea what you're talking about and what do you know?"

Absolution came to stand by Angela to look at what she was looking at. "You forget I'm bonded to you as you are to me. I think the way Dean put it was that it's a two way street." She hummed as she felt the sun on her skin and saw it cast its light on the land. "Besides you were really working it overtime while you were sleeping."

Angela cleared her throat as she looked back at the sight. "I still have no idea what you are talking about," she said in a warning tone. "There are things that pretty much are too good to be true and they bite you in the ass."

"I wouldn't know about that and it wouldn't be so bad. But I guess you're still trying to figure out things." Absolution adjusted her hair as she turned to look at Angela. She wasn't worried about people seeing her.

"I actually figured out a bit a while back. I just needed to be reminded why I do this job… but you already know that," Angela countered with a knowing smile as she crossed her arms over her chest. She looked forward and added, "Another job done and onward to the next."

"And all the while the major job of stopping queen bitch and her plan to burn the world is ongoing as well as trying to convince Sammy…"

"It's Sam to you."

"Fine. Trying to convince Sam that he doesn't need to do this but do you really think that he's going to let you do it?" Absolution looked at Angela with a questioning look.

Angela looked back, "Oh he'll be just like me as well as Dean. That's how we roll but in the end we all play our parts. Part of being a warrior is knowing the personal sacrifices that have to be made in order to bring about the world we want. That's why we choose it and why we often walk alone."

"Doesn't seem to apply to you. You really are like the hawk on paper and can do it but at heart you are the wolf." Absolution looked at Angela for a moment and then continued, "The best warriors have the compassion of the wolf. It's what makes them stronger than the most powerful demon. The family unit matters much to you. The wolf that followed and showed you the way knew that."

Angela hummed to herself as she thought about it. The wolf that she encountered the day before… she had no idea what happened to it since it was gone when she went to check on it. She found blood but nothing else. It was then that she understood a little more about the animal spirit and the vision quest. It occurred to her that the wolf showing up was her wyakin.

She would have said something to Absolution when she heard, "There you are. Thought I would have to search the town for you."

Turning, Angela found Sam approaching her. She felt the slight feeling of butterflies in her stomach as well as a tingle of embarrassment about what happened before. She glanced around to find that Absolution was gone and she wondered if she had a delusion or something. She managed to reply, "Just hanging around here."

Sam looked at her for a moment before pulling the Orion bracelet off, "Um… I meant to give this back since it's yours… sort of." He held it out to her between his fingers while studying her and wondering why she was nervous.

Angela looked at it for a moment and replied, "It's okay. Hold onto it for me."

Sam frowned for a moment before cradling it in both hands. "You sure you're okay."

"Yeah. I'm good," she replied a little quick but nothing alarming in the response. "Just enjoying what's out here. Great outdoor air." She made a sweeping motion with her hand towards the brush.

At that moment the brush shook a little. Both looked towards it and Sam pulled out his gun and was ready to point it at the brush. Angela though frowned in curiosity and moved towards it. She only paused to put her hand on top of his gun and pushed down for him to lower it.

"Angie," Sam whispered but obeyed the direction.

Angela made a waving motion as she edged forward and then crouched down. She peered through the brush with an inquisitive frown and cleared her throat in a commanding fashion for no reason at all except that it felt good. Her posture was still as she waited.

Sam watched wondering what she was looking for and wary about whatever it was that was hiding in the brush. He didn't put away his gun until finally it came out. When it did, all he managed to say was, "Oh."

The puppy looked lost at it ambled out of the brush. Angela gave a smile as it ambled towards her and gave a beckoning squeak. She couldn't help but pick it up and it immediately started trying to lick her face. She couldn't help but laugh out loud since she knew where the pup came from and the purpose behind it. She looked at Sam as she stood up still holding it and she was still laughing, not really caring how weird she was appearing.

Sam just looked surprised. The laughter was genuine and not forced and it sounded nice. He had no idea what she was laughing about since it was just a puppy and not a dog per se. He did know that it would bring about some complications.

"That better be a stuffed animal Angie."

A/N: Well the bandit is dead and the rest may or may not think twice before crossing Absolution. In the end seems that Angie knows what it was about and a new friend may join them. Stay tuned for a brand new adventure in Get Me to the Church...