A/N: Happy Thanksgiving to any US readers out there. I hope you day is filled with warmth, good food, family and friends. May we all pause for a moment just to give thanks for what we have and pray for those who are less fortunate. My thoughts are will all those who have lost so much in the fires in California. NC

Chapter 36

Charlie got up when the brothers came in the door and she gave Sam a once over before speaking.

"You okay Sam?" she asked looking at Dean before giving Sam her full attention.

"Yeah Charlie, I'm fine." Sam answered giving her brief smile at her concern.

"Cas, you wanna join us in Bobby's office when you're through talking?" Dean said knowing he would hear him. "We've got some planning to do." Dean said looking at Sam.

"Charlie should be included too." Sam insisted giving Dean an unwavering look that he wasn't backing down.

"I am here." Cas stated walking from the living room to the kitchen doorway.

"Fine." Dean finally grunted as he gave in to Sam's request. "But she stays out of the way."

"I'll take care of it."

"Really guys? Standing right here; you don't have to talk around me." Charlie complained standing up to them with her hands on her hips.

All three turned to look at her with a questioning look from Cas, a surprised look from Sam, and a smirky look from Dean. She stared back defiantly daring any of them to object.

"Guess you're getting a crash course on Monsters 101." Dean commented before walking toward the office.

"Bobby came back, but left to help Rufus on a hunt." Charlie told Dean as they walked into the office. "He didn't know when he'd be back and he said to tell you not to be idjits and do anything stupid while I'm gone." she said trying to sound like Bobby when she said it.

"Not quiet got him down yet Red." Dean chuckled with her rendition of Bobby. "Guess we're on our own for now then."

"Charlie can I talk to you for a moment alone." Sam said pulling her aside as Dean and Cas headed on to Bobby's office.

spn

"You don't have to do this you know. You can walk away and forget I ever contacted you." Sam told her as he caught her arm, stopping her from following the other two. "It could get dangerous and I don't want you to get hurt."

"Quit trying to talk me out of this. Now that I've started, I'm in for the long haul. I can take care of myself and I'm not afraid of a little danger. It's what makes each day worth getting up for. Besides this is the ultimate challenge for me and I love it! Do you think Bobby would mind if I read some of his books?"

"Just be sure to put it back where you got it. It might not look like it, but Bobby does have an un-logical order for them."

"Thanks, I'll be sure to do that."

"So what's going on between Dean and you?" he asked quietly hoping Dean didn't hear as he looked toward the other room.

"He's too overbearing and controlling. Guess he's not used to others being in control." Charlie shrugged. "He should treat you better."

"You don't know him..." Sam said trying to defend Dean even though he was mad at him. "He's worried about me and wants to try and fix everything for me. But this time, I don't think he can. When our Mom was killed...Well Dean took over 'cause Dad was too lost in his own grief and loss. He was my big brother, a Dad, a Mom, my protector and my best friend. He raised me and he let me go when I went to college, though it just about killed him. I honestly don't know where'd I be without his influence. Yeah, he can be pushy and hard to get alone with, but there's always a reason. He...He sacrificed everything for me..." Sam mumbled trying to stop the tears and not wanting to tell her about Dean going to hell to bring him back. That was too personal and private that he wanted to keep between Dean and him.

"Hey, it's alright. I'll grow on him." Charlie told him softly giving him a much needed hug which Sam readily accepted.

"You guys coming?" Dean called to them and broke the moment. "We don't have all night you know."

Sam cleared his throat and pushed his emotions down not wanting Dean to see, but knew he would sense him being upset. He had always been able to tell when Sam was upset, worried, or hurting. He didn't look at Dean as they joined them in the office wondering what type of plan he was going to come up with. If he wasn't going to allow him to help with the kidnapping, he was definitely going to make sure he was there when he questioned this person about Pestilence.

spn

"So what did your visitor want Cas?"

"She wanted to relay a message that Lucifer was getting ready to raise Death, the last Horseman."

"We already knew that was coming."

"I know where he will be."

"Great! But we can't go there. We'll need his ring before we confront Lucifer and hope to have a chance to send him back to the cage. Think maybe she can track Death and keep us informed on his location?"

"I don't know. The angels aren't too keen on helping us at the moment."

"Alright, well on to more important matters..." Dean said sitting down in Bobby's chair as the other three took seats around the desk. "First thing we need to do is find a place to hold this bastard. It needs to be isolated so we can do what needs to be done."

"I can find a place for that." Cas said standing up. "I will search it out and return." he said getting up and stepping away to vanish from the room.

"Holy cow!" Charlie exclaimed. "Did that just happen? I know he said he was an angel, but holy cow!"

"You know he's an angel?" Sam asked in surprise.

"Yes, while you guys talked, we talked and it just sort of came out." she said innocently.

Dean looked at her as he pursed his lips trying to decide whether to say something or not and chose the latter. "Does Bobby still have those handcuffs with the sigils of devil's traps on them?" Dean asked Sam.

"Yeah, I think they're in the panic room."

"I need to pack the car and be ready to leave when Cas gets back. You can stay here with Charlie and when..."

"Like hell that's going to happen Dean." Sam spat at him. "You're not leaving me out of this, no freakin' way, so get that out of your head. I am going, end of discussion." Sam voiced loudly before pushing his chair back hard and stomping from the room. He was really getting tired of Dean trying to keep him out of this, but no matter what he did Sam had already decided he was going to be there.

"Way to go dumb ass." Charlie snipped at him as she got up and went after Sam.

"Okay you can go!" Dean muttered madly and then wondered why he said that when he didn't really want him to go. He looked in the direction Sam had gone and an unsettling feeling crossed through his mind. It was like someone made him say those words and wondered if Sam had done it. Had he put that thought in his head?

"I have found a location..." Cas started and looked to see Dean was the only one in the room. "Where did everyone go?"

"Don't ask." Dean huffed madly. "I'll get everything we need together so we can leave."

"Are Sam and Charlie going?"

"Can't stop them, so I guess so."

"Is there a problem?"

"No Cas, I'll work it out." he said getting up and trudging out of the room to leave Cas standing there unsure of what to do. He finally followed Dean to see if he could be of assistance.

spn

Charlie stopped in the living room looking around trying to find Sam. She heard the back door slam shut and headed that way. Sam was standing at the end of the deck leaning against the railing and staring off across the yard. She could tell by his body language he was still mad and approached him cautiously.

"Hey, wanna talk?" she asked him joining him at the railing and checking out what he was looking at.

Sam stiffened when he heard the door open but knew instantly that it wasn't Dean. He heard the soft footsteps and then Charlie's soft voice speaking to him. He knew she was only trying to help but didn't know if he could talk about it right now.

"Look, I'm not making excuses for your brother. I did call him a dumb ass, but one thing I can tell about him is that he loves you very much."

"You actually did that?" Sam asked giving a half chuckle at Charlie's brashness and boldness. There were not many who would dare do that to his brother and he never thought Charlie was one of them.

"I call them like I see them." she shrugged. "So talk to me big guy. I'm a good listener and you can fuss if you want. It won't hurt my feelings."

"Sometimes...Man he's just too overprotective. I'll always be his little brother, but he's gotta let me grow up and treat me like an adult. I know we have some issues right now but I think we're working through them and maybe we can get some of what was lost back. I don't know...If I don't put the devil back where he belongs it may all be for nothing..."

"You can't think like that Sam. We'll find a way."

"Hey if you two are coming with us get your asses in gear and get your things together." Dean called from the backdoor.

"We're coming." Sam replied knowing they had better do as Dean requested or he'd leave them behind. "C'mon, he'll leave us if we don't hurry."

"That's okay, we've got my car and I bet I can track them to where they're going." Charlie smirked but followed Sam inside to get her things so they could leave.

"I know you could." Sam laughed, happy that Charlie had decided to help him. She might not be a hunter, but she was pulling her weight with her skills.

spn

There was silence in the Impala as Dean headed for the abandoned house Cas had found for them to use. Music was playing quietly in the background, but no one was talking. The traffic was light and exits were become fewer and farther between. He glanced at his fuel gauge deciding to get gas before they got to the house and ran out of places to stop. He signaled his intentions and pulled off the road at the next exit that advertised suitable gas. Sam had been mulling things over in his head about his newfound abilities and wondered what else the angel grace might allow him to do. It was an eerie feeling when he felt the angel nearby, like he shouldn't be doing it. He knew he had stopped Cas when he left, but could he grow strong enough to stop an archangel? He looked around when the motion of the Impala changed to see what was going on.

"I'm stopping for gas so if you need to hit the head or get something to eat or drink do it now. We won't be stopping again." Dean stated as he pulled to a pump and stopped the car.

"Great, I needed to stretch my legs anyway." Charlie said getting out and heading for the front door.

Sam pulled himself from the car and stretched feeling his spine pop and groaned softly. It seemed the grace he was given had healed and stopped his withdrawals from the demon blood but he was still stiff from riding for so long. He followed Charlie to find the restrooms and to get something to drink. Castiel got out but stayed back with Dean as he pumped gas.

"Are you sure we need to summon Crowley? You know he's not one to freely give favors and he doesn't like doing anything for nothing."

"He may be able to help and it's in his best interest if we stick the devil back in the cage, so I think he'll help." Dean replied. "What better way to catch a demon than with the King of Hell?"

"I think Lucifer may have dethroned him."

"Then he has a better reason to help us. But don't worry, I'm not letting my guard down; I'll be watching him closely."

"I will leave it to your judgment then. And I will be watching him closely too."

"You want anything from inside?"

"No, I'm fine. I'll just wait in the car for everyone." he said getting in the back again.

"Alright, I won't be long." Dean said heading for the door to use the restroom and grab a drink and jerky. He met Sam and Charlie coming out and watched as they talked quietly together. He wondered if they were cooking up some scheme to get the rings from him, but shrugged it off knowing it would not happen. He headed to the back of the store to the restrooms thinking he needed to have Cas search for ways of containing an archangel.

A/N: The third ring is may be within their reach soon. Thank you for deciding to read my story. Reviews are my lifeline, if you have a moment please leave one. NC

Special Note: If you are looking for a new story to read, Clowns or Midgets has two up and they both are great. I had the honor of helping with one of them. You should check then out.