Chapter 27

For the third time in a week Sam was making a sudden get-a-way after one of Amelia's less than subtle displays of power. He was still angry and worried; but now he was also confused. He didn't know what had happened to make her change so much, and hoped it wasn't something he had said; but she seemed very different. He trotted behind her and got back to the car just in time to get an angry glare when she saw the broken-out sunroof. He watched as she waved her hand, the doors popped open and most of the broken glass was removed from the car after she took a deep breath and directed a very precise gust of air at the seats.

He climbed back into the Tahoe as she was closing her door, slamming would be more accurate, he decided. They were back on the two-lane black top in less than five minutes. Amelia didn't say a word, despite her earlier pledge to explain. Sam had no idea what was going on, but he knew enough not to push her for details. 'Crap', he hoped she wasn't reading his mind because he knew she wouldn't be happy with what he was thinking right now. He risked a glance at her and saw she had her eyes closed and seemed totally unaware of his turmoil.

She opened her eyes as Sam steered them onto the interstate, and her face seemed more relaxed but still said nothing. He drove through Bowling Green. He had decided to find a motel on the north side of the college town, figuring Haley and her husband might live between the two different cities where they worked. Sam found a decent motel and checked them in, while Amelia waited in the car. He parked the SUV as close to the room as possible, got out and grabbed the duffels. He had unlocked the door and dropped the bags when he turned to see she was still just sitting in the car.

'Enough of this bullshit' He thought to himself. 'AMELIA.' He screamed with his mind. She had said she couldn't block out his thoughts when his emotions were raging. Raging would be an accurate description of his current emotion. He saw her look up at him; she opened her door and walked into the room. She just walked over and sat down on the bed next to the bathroom. As she walked past him, he noticed her eyes were moist with unshed tears.

'Dammit.' All his anger dissipated, and his desire to start yelling at her for answers was gone. He was completely lost for what was wrong and what to do. He closed the door, got out the salt and lined the windows and door. She just sat there staring straight ahead. He kicked off his shoes and walked over to her. He bent down and took off her shoes, and she finally seemed to see him. He stood her up, walked her to the side of the bed and then laid her back down. He turned out the lights. Then Sam lay down next to her and wrapped her in his arms and pulled her close to his chest. They just lay there quietly. After a few minutes, he felt her shudder slightly and moisture soak into his shirt.

X

Sam woke to the aroma of coffee and what smelled like fresh muffins. He knew Amelia wasn't still next him even before he opened his eyes because he was kind of cold. He rolled over as he opened his eyes, to see a huge steaming cup of coffee and a couple of muffins with butter still melting on top of them, sitting on the bedside table. He looked around the room and didn't see Amelia anywhere. He didn't hear the shower running and started to worry. Had she been so upset, she had taken off on him? He looked again and noticed the door was open a crack. He got up and opened the door to find Amelia sitting on the step feeding several birds and squirrels pieces of another muffin.

"I'm sorry, Sam." Was all she said as she stood and walked back into the room.

He followed her back inside and closed the door. "Can you tell me what happened?"

She turned to look at him. "I've said this so many times, you have to be tired of it. But, it really is too complicated, and some of it I'm not sure I understand." He just looked back her. "Get your coffee and I'll do my best."

She sat at the table and Sam sat opposite of her after grabbing his coffee and muffins. "The ritual last night will be easier to explain." She stopped to make sure that he was okay with her starting there. "When you said you were worried about the stress on Charlie and her baby; it occurred to me that should have been my reaction. " She paused for a second and shook her head. "That's my primary purpose for existing, protecting life and nurturing the procreation of the species."

He started to say something reassuring but she raised her hand to stop him. "Sam. I still want to, and will, help you get Dean out of Purgatory; but I can't let others come to harm while we're doing it." She paused briefly. "Last night, I decided to cast a protection shield over everyone who has come in contact with me since the night we met."

She stopped, like that explained everything. "I think I'm going to want a little more detail here." Sam said.

"I know you do." She nodded before continuing. "But, you're not going to like most of it."

X

It had only taken her 10 minutes to explain the basics of the ritual she had performed last night. She had embedded the water molecules around her with a shielding spell and then used her power to disperse the molecules, sending the protection to Charlie; and Jody, Missouri, Cassie and Haley, too. Sam had sat quietly listening to her narrate what she had done and why. When she started to say he 'was lucky he wasn't hurt and that's why she wanted him to wait in the car', he couldn't take it anymore.

"Are you kidding me? That's what you're worried about?" He had stood up to emphasize his displeasure. "Can I assume you had to drop more than just your clothes?" He added sarcastically. And it was his turn to raise his hand to stop her from speaking. "You had to lower your identity shield, didn't you?" He didn't wait, but she nodded anyway. "How long was it down; 10, 20 minutes, the whole time?" He stopped her before she could answer. "Not that it matters, does it? There's no way a burst of supernatural power that big escaped Crowley's attention. And if the feds already thought you were in the area, this will just make start Jonesing to find you even more." He finally stopped his ranting at her.

"Are you done?" It was her turn to be sarcastic. He plopped down in his chair, conceding it was her turn to talk again. "Don't you think I understand the risks involved? But you must see I couldn't keep ignoring the jeopardy these people were in because of me." She paused, hoping he was calm enough to see the truth in what she was saying. "I had to do this. Sam." She decided to give him an abridged version of other reason. "My being here is a test of my character, a test I was failing by putting those women in unnecessary danger. Their safety is more important than my being found out."

She thought about trying to lighten the mood by telling him it was his fault; that she had been so distracted by her feelings for him… but she knew this wasn't the time or place for jokes. And she could see from the expression on his face, he was starting to understand why she had had no choice. Besides, she had more bad news for him. "I hate to say this, but there's actually more you need to know."

"Yeah, it figures." He said slumping back in his chair. "I'm not going to like this either, am I?' She shook her head.

"The spell makes them basically forget meeting me. They'll kind of remember my face, if shown a picture. But, if they are questioned by police, they can say in all truthfulness they have no idea who I was. I was just some stranger they may have been seen talking to."

He knew there was more and just said. "Uh huh."

"And the protection shields completely hide them from supernatural beings, like demons."

"And?" He knew her well enough to know she was stalling giving him the bad news."

"The shielding creates kind of mystical dead space around them. The demons won't be able to find your friends or know what's causing the void, but they'll be able to sense the voids are there. If they are out there looking for the cause of the burst last night, they'll sense these anomalies." She stopped to give him a chance to ask questions. When he didn't even look at her, she added. "And, so that our five voids are less suspicious, I made a couple dozen extra shields and sent them out across the countryside to attach to random people."

He sat there, absorbing all she had told him. He wanted to tell her it had been too big a risk, she was too important. But he couldn't; he actually understood everything she had done, and why. He wanted to be mad at her; but the only thing he was still angry about was that she hadn't trusted him with her plan. But, something else was nagging at him. If she had done what she knew was the right thing to do, and had taken all the necessary precautions; what was up with all the quiet after they got back in the car.

"Okay. I think you you're probably right about protecting our contacts. I don't get why you couldn't tell me about it before hand? And, what happened to you after we got in the car?"