Stepping into the line of fire

Chapter 26

You could have cut the atmosphere with a knife.

"So, what the fuck is going on?" John barked.

Bobby sighed and replied. "John…there is a link. Can't ya' see it? The dill smell…Narsil…Frode, my friend…Angela. They are all part of our arsenal to defeat Ugoliant. Angela will lead us to that balrog you idjit'. Just calm yourself down."

"I'm perfectly calm Bobby but I don't like intel being withheld. This sort of crap gets us killed. It puts us out of kilter. You've told me about Frode and Narsil but I didn't know about' Angela being a functional psychic. You can come down a line of psychics but that doesn't make you a goddamn' one!" he bellowed.

Angela, Dean, Sam and Bobby cringed a little at the tone. Angela decided that she had to come clean to John.

"Sir. I'm sorry we haven't had the time to talk but it's been difficult. To be honest you scare me. You called me a bitch' and I don't like the way you hurt Dean and Sam. I also don't understand your MO as you call it. How can I divulge my innermost sentiments to a drill sergeant? You tell me?" Angela was bravely putting the ball back into his court.

"OK. I understand but you knew what we're up against. Holding shit back doesn't help the hunt gal'" John asserted.

"Sir. Dee and I, we'll do everything we can to kill that son of a bitch'. We all want it dead. You know that if I can help in any way I will do so… Momor would've expected me to do this. She always knew that I would become a hunter. I'm not trained the way you've trained your boys but I have other skills and I know they'll come in useful. Please trust me." Angela had never felt so sure of herself and that confidence made her glow in a surreal way. She felt indestructible and needed. Dean gave her a kiss on the cheek and John did not even blink.

"Gal' you're going to have to tell me everythin' you feel and see in that crazy mind of yours. Am I clear?"

"As crystal. Sir."

John stood up and the troop acted in accordance. They continued to walk but this time it was Angela leading the way.

It only took half an hour to get to the pathway that she had seen in her dream. Angela pointed to it. John plotted the co-ordinates and declared that it was time to get back to base. The troop turned around and marched back towards their camp, their hearts full of hope. They were one step closer to finding and annihilating that balrog and they were losing daylight.

Back at the campsite, John delegated the chores and took Bobby to one side.

"We need to plan again. We've got an advantage now." He said with a certain excitement in his voice. "I've got a good feeling about this. She'll give us an advantage. We'll need to keep her on side'…look after her…"

Bobby smiled ruefully. "John she's not a prized cow… she was always on side', it's ya' you idjit' who wasn't!"

"Yeah…well…now it's different'. That gal' needs to talk and in order to do that she needs to dream and be left alone with her thoughts. Dean is a distraction."

"I disagree John. Dean helps. Don't do anything foolish d'ya' hear?"

"I'll do what I think is best Bobby. I'll do what I think is right for my boys and that gal." John then got up and went to his tent. Bobby sat down a while longer worried that John's plans wouldn't exactly go down well with the youngsters. He was worrying that even though he knew that they had this incredible advantage, John would somehow screw it up. He had that effect on people. Damn John! He wanted to bust his ass so much.

Dean and Angela had made their escape. They had some right to some sort of privacy after all. Soon they had reached their haven. Dean sat Angela on his knee and they lay back against a noble beech tree that seemed to have grown there just for that purpose. It's majestic charm just complimented their good looks.

"Ange you were magnificent back there. I'm proud of ya'" Dean declared appreciatingly. "I love ya' gal'…you know that don't ya'? I'm so proud of you." His tone had grown quite serious all of a sudden and he just wanted to hold her tight and take in her woody smell and feel close to her.

Angela felt the same. All at once she kissed him passionately on the mouth and her tongue twirled around exploring its sensual delights. Dean responded in kind and soon they were naked on the moss. Touching. Grabbing. Scratching. Fucking…it was so sensual that fucking seemed too strong a word. They were making love amongst the earth and the grass surrounded by the chirping of the birds and the soft caresses of the summer wind. At one with nature and in perfect harmony.

Back at the camp Sam was feeling sad. He loved his dumb' ass brother but now Dean didn't seem to want to give him the light of day. He was feeling a little jealous, he supposed. Research was all well and good but he yearned for the banter, the sparring and the warmth of their comradeship. There he was in his tent, trying to keep out of his dad's way, maybe Bobby would understand.

He made his way to where Bobby was sitting, glass of whiskey in hand looking forlorn, at least I have a kindred spirit he thought.

"Bobby I need to talk."

"Yeah Sam?"

"Dean's always with Ange now. Doesn't he like me anymore?"

"Son. You idjit' of course he likes ya', it's just that his' heads' in the clouds that's all Sammy. Dean's fallen' in love. It'll happen to ya' sooner or later. Just you wait and see."

"No one will over love me uncle Bobby. I'm a nerd." Sam said sadly.

"Now ya' hear me boy! You give me anymore of this talk and I'll put ya' across my knee big as you are!'... you're a credit to our team Sam. We couldn't do what we do without ya', you dumbass. Go on I'll give ya' a finger of jack that'll will cheer you up." Bobby got up grabbed a tin mug and poured a generous finger. He handed it to Sam who took a sip and made a cringey face.

"That's all right' boy. You've got to develop a palate that's all'…you'll see it won't be long until ya' feel great."

Sammy nodded and started to sip the drink slowly, savouring its powerful kick, trying to discern the flavours within it. Soon they were both laughing and hugging. Happy as larks.

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