Chapter 5

"Here. You look like you could use this."

Jensen looked at the beer that had been pushed in front of him. He looked at the bartender with a raised brow. He took the bottle and took a sip. He did need it since it had been one rather crazy day so far. Or night. Or… whatever. He set the bottle down and took a breather and looked up to find the bartender still looking at him. He asked, "What?"

"Nothing. Just you really look like him."

Jensen didn't need to ask who, but he did anyway, "Like who?"

"Dean."

Jensen rolled his eyes slightly at that. Yep. It was official. He and Jared looked like Sam and Dean, which weren't real where they came from.

"But he doesn't look like Sam."

Jensen looked at the bartender and then at Jared. He was chatting with the other bartender. He looked at his bartender and asked, "What do you mean?"

Kenny looked at Jared and studied him. He ran his finger on his chin and then looked at Jensen. He saw the glare. "Don't get me wrong. It looks like Sam, but less…"

"What?"

"Less moody."

"Moody?" Jensen raised his brow.

"Yeah. Sam always had a bit of a mood about him. But it was always when he was looking at her." Kenny took a sip of his beer. He turned away to stare at nothing in particular. "Always did."

"Her?"

Kenny shot him a look, "Don't play dumb. You should know."

"Know what?"

"About Sam and…" Kenny gestured with his brow in the direction of Angela.

Angela was standing in the corner on her phone. She could have used the angel way of calling, but she didn't want to risk alerting Raphael. Especially with the fact that what she had was something that would have the entire host after her if they learned about what it was. She tried not to show her impatience as she listened to the ringtone. She had no idea how long it would take for Raphael and his minions to figure out where she was.

The phone rang and she was about ready to start issuing curses, real ones, when she heard the phone being picked up at the other end. She wasted no words, "You lied to me."

"I didn't lie to you," Balthazar said in her ear.

Angela turned to see the angel behind her. She was not amused by the whole thing and if her charges saw him suddenly appear, they would be freaking out. She opened her mouth only to have it silenced by the angel's finger.

"Don't be mad," Balthazar said.

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't be," she posed with a narrowed expression.

"How about the fact that your… friends can't see this," Balthazar said as he gestured around him.

Angela looked around at the Roadhouse. There were a few things that didn't seem right. She walked around and looked at everything. The details were all there but it… felt different. She turned and looked at the angel.

"Wondered how long it would take you to figure it out. Then again you had a nasty bump to the head. Not to mention uh…" Balthazar tried to be cute by trying to think about it. He knew though when to quit when it came to her. While they could get along and did when he decided to pay her a visit in the wilderness of Canada, he knew that she distrusted him deeply and in general she though angels to be dicks.

Angela narrowed her eyes as she tried to remember what happened. She looked at Balthazar, "And you think it's safer to just pop into my head and say hello?"

"Knowing that you know more about this and always so careful, even when unconscious…" Balthazar noted that he failed to lighten the mood. This was not going to be an easy conversation. So, he went straight for the point, "Look you knew it was a weapon of heaven. That much I told you."

"Yes, but you could've told me that it was more than that."

"And spoil the fun?"

Angela crossed her arms over her chest, not amused. She raised her brow at the angel. "And you should know that I'm not amused by the whole thing. You gave me two charges after what you did to Sam and Dean and I put them in danger because you were insistent that I had to be the one."

"Which is true by the way." Balthazar saw the look that meant she would hit him if he continued. "Look, Castiel and I needed your help. I had to put Rafael on the tail of the Winchesters so I could find all the weapons and hide them again."

"And you saw fit to keep me here," Angela said, still not convinced of what he was doing but he was starting to make more sense.

"Because we knew that you would be able to keep an eye on the two that traded places with your boys." Balthazar looked at her. "Look, you are the one that protects people. We knew you would keep them safe more or less and you did so far."

"And what am I to do now that I have a weapon of heaven and not just any weapon like what really made Lot's wife into a pillar of salt, but a true weapon."

"Use it. Keep it. For now."

"But I have two people who think we are not real, what is of our world is a fantasy television show. They don't know anything," Angela countered, not liking that she was stuck here and with a serious handicap in that she had to protect people that knew nothing.

"And you've worked with people that didn't know anything, especially when you rescued them. It should be no problem for you. Just hold onto the weapon until we call for you."

Angela scoffed at that, "You're kidding right?"

"Not at all, buttercup," Balthazar replied. "I happen to know for a fact that there will be no jealousy. If you know what I mean."

Angela opened her mouth and was about to say something when Balthazar snapped his fingers. She felt her eyes open and she gasped awake. She sat up and brought her arms up and swung, partially aware that she was holding something in her hand.

"Whoa there. Welcome back."

Angela turned to see Kenny holding her wrist that had thrown the punch. She also saw Kenny there. She then winced, remembering that she had been injured in their escape from that place. She looked at her mid-section and saw the white rectangle near her side on her rib cage. "Great. Gotta try explaining that to Sam."

"And it will probably heal before he gets back," Haley said. "Right now, you've got two scared look-a-likes that are wondering if they are in a room full of crazies."

Angela rolled her eyes as she swung her legs over the edge and sat up. She still clutched what she had been holding since she pulled over and passed out. She looked at the weapon that she had been holding. It was still wrapped.

"Is that what caused you to look like you took on a nest of demons?" Kenny pointed at it.

Angela nodded, "Yeah and certainly going to have angels on my ass. Specifically, Raphael."

Haley hissed at that. Dean had filled her in on what been happening when he worked with soulless Sam and the problems from that. He kept her up to date on things while she ran their home and bookstore. She knew the score pretty well and was well aware of the fight that could occur.

Angela knew that they both had questions, but she didn't want to answer them. Instead, she held the weapon and started undoing the silk wrapping. She only undid the top to reveal the hilt and she sighed sadly at it.

"Is that a sword?" Kenny asked the question.

"Yes," Angela said as she stood up. She uncovered more to show the scabbard. She saw the Enochian. "It's the Michael sword."

"Michael sword?"

Haley frowned at that, "Wait, I thought the Michael sword was the vessel."

Angela turned and looked at Haley, "A half-truth." She held the sword up so they could see the hilt and part of the scabbard. "Those pictures of the archangel get it right. This blade was only meant to be used in extreme battle demons have taken over the world kind of thing." She grasped the hilt with her other hand and pulled it out. The blade gleamed silver, much like Absolution.

"Are you sure you should be touching it?"

Angela understood their concern. She had been around enough objects of power, cursed objects and other things that could be dangerous. She held it and looked at it. She could hear the whispers. She knew exactly what it was. "It's not too different from Absolution. Actually… it's her twin."

"Twin?"

"It's the twin blade of Absolution." Angela held it and twirled it around. "It has a soul and like all soul weapons, they will reveal their name to the one they choose to let wield it." She held it up and looked at the Enochian etched on the blade. "It was intended for Michael, but it seems to have a mind of its own."

Angela sheathed it and wrapped it up. She sighed, "Balthazar stole it from the vault in heaven along with others and now I have two people from another world to protect while I play keep away with this." She shook her head. "How the world turns." She picked up a shirt and put it on and walked out of the room, not looking at anyone. She held onto the blade.


It was almost like those cheesy movies where the two suspicious figures meet in a dark place, maybe a streetlight. Pretty much it was ideal to meet while in hiding. Balthazar did his best to hide his boredom and annoyance at the whole thing. He turned when he heard the telltale flap, "There are better places to meet and much more to my taste." He looked at the angel. "Castiel."

Castiel showed no emotion as he stepped forward, "Balthazar."

Balthazar scoffed, "You can stop with the formalities."

"You sent her?"

"Sent who?"

"You sent Angela after the blade?" Castiel stepped closer. His expression became fierce, reflecting his anger at what had transpired. He stared hard and long at Balthazar.

"What are you so angry about? I knew she could handle it," Balthazar he replied in his usual blasé manner. "I mean, she managed to spiritually kill a shaman not too long ago."

Castiel was not impressed by the whole thing. He didn't even like the idea that she was left behind when Sam and Dean were sent to another world. Yet, he couldn't argue with the logic that she was needed there, and she would be able to throw Raphael off the trail. He just didn't count on the fact that she would have to look after two people that were not from their world and it really didn't sit well that Balthazar sent her after one of the weapons and got Kesset to help.

Balthazar saw that he wasn't impressed, "Look, Cas… she knows how to handle a blade. She has its twin."

"And I know that whenever she finds the objects of power, they come after her. The Staff of Osiris…"

"And she takes care of it. Pretty brilliant the way how she made it seem like following clues would lead whoever to it," Balthazar brushed it off. He looked at Castiel and amended, "Alright, maybe I fibbed about what she was going after but if I told her, she wouldn't have."

"She would if you were honest from the start," Castiel pointed out.

"Oh please."

"She doesn't like lies," Castiel's gravelly tone took on an edge.

"It was a little fib and coming from Kesset, it was more like the truth," Balthazar said, trying to make it sound better.

"Kesset would have told her thinking it was the truth. You essentially told him a lie which in turn he gave to her. It's the same as lying."

"Semantics. God, now I know where she gets it from."

Castiel stared. He had learned the hard way with his charge about telling her half truths and full out lies. Even Gabriel learned the consequences of that, and it wasn't pretty. No doubt Sam and Dean tried not to lie to her. He turned away and started looking at nothing. He glanced up at the sky, remembering when he first walked into the Winchesters' lives and back into hers.

Balthazar stared at his brother. He watched as Castiel looked at the sky. Maybe he did go about it the wrong way but in his experience, you sometimes had to lie to gain cooperation for something this big. He certainly had manipulated the Winchesters enough to get them to go along. This time it was more like send them off without an explanation, knowing that they would cooperate and stay alive long enough for this to work.

"It's the twin blade of Absolution," Castiel said.

"Yeah, so?"

Castiel turned and looked at Balthazar. "The point is that it can choose her. It's a soul blade. You don't choose them. They choose you." He had gotten closer to the other angel. "If it chooses her…"

"She'll have a little more firepower," Balthazar answered like it was nothing. "And it's the twin. No big deal."

"The twins were never meant to be together," Castiel countered. "They were kept apart for a reason. One to Michael. One to her. Never to be together."

"What's the big deal? It's not like she'll use it."

Castiel looked a Balthazar, "It doesn't matter if she uses it or not. If the twins are close together it is in their nature to work together. That makes her a target and I will not let that happen."

"Raph doesn't know…"

"He will find out. That much power is not that hard to find."

"Don't you have any faith?"

Castiel looked at Balthazar in the eye, "I know her. I know what she can do, and she has done enough for the world. She does not need this."

"Then what are you going to do about it? She has it and, knowing her, she's not going to let anyone touch it or do anything," Balthazar countered.

Castiel looked what could be called a glare at his brother. "That's not the point." He turned to go.

"And what do you intend to do? You have to know it's too late."

"Indeed, it is."

The new voice had both angels turn. Castiel narrowed his eyes at the newcomer. He recognized the angel. It was one of Raphael's lackeys. He also had a bolt of fear shoot down his spine. Fear for the one person that he had looked after for a long time.

"And what do you think is too late?" Balthazar tried to play it off. Behind his devil may care attitude, he could actually be a fierce fighter. All angels were fairly decent in fighting. Some were better than others and you didn't want to talk about the archangels. He was ready for a fight again. He stared at the angel in front of him as if to dare them to answer.

"It is," the angel said. "Because we know where to find the missing weapon. The Michael sword."

Balthazar started laughing that condescending laugh, "And you actually believe would discuss it with you around." He sobered quickly and looked at the angel, "Don't be stupid."

Castiel said nothing but let Balthazar talk. It seemed that they could salvage this and if he could warn Angela somehow. No doubt she would already figure it out. Still…

"And Raphael knows that you aren't that clever."

"Clever enough to hide the other weapons and give the Winchesters the key." Balthazar smiled at the angel.

"And that is being taken care of."

Castiel was good at remaining impassive in a fight. It was probably one of his best features since his feelings weren't readily apparent on his face. Now he was worried. He knew who Raphael would have sent after the Winchesters. Virgil would be, as the phrase was, a dog with a bone, when it came to following orders. Sam and Dean were vulnerable wherever they were sent.

"Really? Cause I have a feeling that the Winchesters will outsmart whoever it is, and the Malachi will be plenty pissed off."

"The Malachi won't be a problem. Not with Chalikar on the loose."

Balthazar had to laugh. He realized that the angel in front of him had no idea what the heck was going on. It was also another reason to be impressed with Angela. She knew how to make things happen, especially hiding the truth in plain sight. "Is that what you think? We are talking about the same Malachi aren't we?"

"The one you sent her to will bring the weapon and use Chalikar to catch her. Then the Malachi will be made to do the duty that she has blatantly disregarded."

"No she won't," Balthazar said as he sobered. He looked at the angel with a look that should have warned them not to mess with him. "She won't do what you assholes say because that's not her and she has and is still doing what she was born for."

"The Apocalypse will happen."

"I highly doubt that."

Castiel had moved closer towards Balthazar. He was not liking what he was hearing, and he certainly had an earful to tell his brother later. He was already upset that his brother sent her to retrieve the Michael sword. It was real. Most angels didn't know that, but it had been used by Michael during the fall. It then since had been locked away. It was said that God decided only one of the twin blades needed to be revealed to the world, hence Absolution.

"Bring the Malachi to Raphael or suffer the consequences."

"Like I know where she is."

"Castiel."

Castiel turned his attention to the angel that called his name. He looked at his brother with a stony stare. He didn't say anything but continued to stare.

"You will call her."

"No," Castiel said.

"Yes you will Castiel," Raphael's voice entered. "You will call her and have her bring the Michael sword to me."

"You know it doesn't work like that," Castiel countered. He was not prepared for a fight. "And she would never come to me." That was a lie. She would come to him, but he would never betray her like that. And she wouldn't come anyway if she suspected something was wrong.

Raphael looked at him. His vessel smirked, "It doesn't matter. Our informant was most willing to bring her to us. He seems to think that she knows about Chalikar."

"And if you bothered to observe, Raphael," Balthazar interjected, "You would know that she would have probably started the rumor, knowing it wasn't to be true."

"As I said, I doesn't matter. We will have the key and we will have the Malachi, one way or another."

"Give it your best shot," Balthazar taunted.

That was when hell almost went loose. Castiel wasn't sure what happened. He did end up fighting a few of his brothers and ended up being grabbed by Balthazar. The next second they were not where they last were, but rather what looked like an abandoned house, and Raphael and his angels were not in sight. He looked at his with a raise brow, silently asking his question.

"Relax, Cas," Balthazar said. "Just a little place I know of that even Raph can't find. Now to find that little toad…" He started walking towards what looked like a cabinet. "Nothing like the wonderful pantry that Mr. Singer keeps but…"

"Balthazar," Castiel said.

Balthazar looked at his brother. He realized he was going to have to explain a few things. He sighed, "Look… I didn't know about the guy I had looking after the bloody sword. I didn't think it a big deal that he insisted on meeting her."

"You should have," Castiel interjected as he took a step forward. "People who ask to meet her usually have an ulterior motive."

"And I didn't think that. He was reliable enough to look after it for me, so I didn't think much of it."

"You made her a target."

"Uh she was already a target the moment…" At the look he was getting, Balthazar raised his hands, "Alright, I didn't think. It's too late now. She has the blade and no doubt that little toad is looking for her."

"Not her. Chalikar."


A/N: Angie got a little hurt and learns what she had been sent to retrieve. Castiel has some words for Balthazar and looks like trouble will be coming. Stay tuned for next time on The French Solution...