Back and to the Future's Light

The ghost shrieked as Angela threw her chakram at it. It ghosted and she held her hand for it to return. In her left, she held a shotgun while herding a small group of people out of town. Her gaze scanned the area as she backed them up until she heard a scream. Whirling she turned and saw another ghost. She flung the chakram and sent it packing. It was then that she felt the rumble.

On the ground, it was like a red wave pulsing through the street. She watched as it moved to create the boundary. Seemed that the demon was useful. For now. She beckoned the people to head to the other side. It was a good thing too since other ghosts were appearing and out for blood.

She normally would have taken them on to buy a few minutes but even she knew that the odds were not in her favor. Still, she was the one with the weapon and she yelled for them to run. She used the shotgun to increase the distance before she had to turn tail and run. It felt like something out of those old movies where they were almost swallowed whole or something like that.

The spell worked and the ghosts looked pissed at being contained. Angela stared at them for some time before turning to get the people to safety. She got the feeling that this was a precursor for what was to come. She thought about it as she stood by the Impala and watched the people evacuate into the high school. Her focus was on the children and she immediately thought of her own baby at the bunker, the place she called home.

She knew that Sherlock and Amitiel were looking after the baby and Kesset and his family had taken up residence there recently. There were plenty of people there, but she wasn't a fool. She had seen plenty of what large scale war and disaster did. She really didn't know if she was going to see her baby again and she didn't know if Sam would either.

She sensed that something was off with Sam. He didn't say much but she knew that something was up. He still didn't like to make her worry despite her saying that she worried more when she didn't know. She still respected him and his choices. She knew he tried, but this felt different. When he was near her, there was something that sent her senses tingling and not in the good way. It stirred up things long forgotten.

"So what do you think? I'm pretty useful, don't you think?"

Angela shifted to look at the demon that was occupying Jack's body. She raised her brow like he was a bothersome fly, which he was. However, beggars couldn't be choosers when it came to trying to fix a problem like the end of the world. She had plenty of experience in that area. She replied, "About as useful as a fly in manure."

"Ooo Ouch," the demon replied. "I heard you were a heavy hitter."

"I've done plenty," she replied as she watched Sam walk a few people into the high school. "Some involve a permanent solution." She eyed the demon with a wry expression.

"Hey, I helped. Doesn't that count for something?"

"In another life maybe."

"Tough crowd." The demon looked down before continuing, "Look… I know you don't think much of me."

"You're right on that note."

"But I happen to like the order of things. As I said… I like my job. What happened… threw it to shits. I'm sure you hate it too."

Angela looked at the demon. It was easy to look at the body as a demon and not Jack. Having the glasses made a difference. It felt different. She didn't say anything but stared at the demon. She didn't like what was happening and she aimed to fix it one way or another. She'd fix it and go home to her baby.

The demon felt uncomfortable with her stare and figured most beings were. He heard the stories and he was getting a first-hand experience. He tried another tactic, "I really admire your work. And that's saying something. I know all about you. Well, at least the stories from your days in hell. All three times."

"Not helping your case here."

"The point is… I don't like what's going on any more than you. I want to help you and the Winchesters. I know there are a few things about you they don't know. I can help find them."

"No."

"Come on. You and I both know that this requires everything." The demon realized he was not going down the right road with this and took a step back. "Look, I'm not threatening you. I know you're different from before. It's similar to the trench coat wearing angel, but not quite."

Angela stared at the demon. She always knew that it would get out one way or another. That someone would guess what was going on. Sam tried to keep it a secret and played it off as a new technique or something. It wasn't going to last and if a low level torture demon figured out a few things or was playing odds… "For one who punches a clock, you seem awfully nosy."

"Well… I'm a fan of yours and Dean's work when you in hell."

Angela snorted and looked away. She was never proud of her time in hell and what she had done. She knew it gnawed at Dean still. They never really talked about it, but they understood one another. She crossed her arms over her chest.

The demon knew she was a tough nut to crack. The things he admired, she wasn't impressed with and made it clear. He said, "I do promise that I'll find another body. You have my word."

"Doesn't mean much coming from a demon."

"But I haven't done anything to challenge that right?"

Angela looked at the demon. She looked away. She thought about things for a moment. She glanced over at Sam as Dean was cleaning the injury to his shoulder. When Dean applied the antiseptic, she winced. And it had her frowning.

She had felt Sam's pain before and vice versa. Part and parcel of their unique bond to each other. They learned how to mute it so it didn't affect the other. When Dean touched the wound though, it sent a white hot chill up her spine. In her mind, she saw flashes and it stirred up old memories and feelings. They were in public so, she did her best to hide it.

"I thought that was a myth."

Angela looked at the demon and narrowed her eyes, "What?"

"The whole bond thing between you and Sam over there. It's cool by the way. Heard stories of demon pairs able to do the same thing."

Angela raised her brow in a glare. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Yeah… sure." The demon moved to stand close. "Look, I'm not interested in exploiting it. You'd probably kill me first before I tried."

"Another point for you."

"Point is… I know something's going on. If I can see your reaction then I bet, he knows something's wrong." The demon gestured in Sam's direction. "And if I see it… a few others might. Something you might want to keep hidden."

"You're preaching a lesson that we've been doing long before you entered the picture."

"But now… matched pairs are pretty valuable. Just a thought." The demon shrugged.

Angela shook her head and moved away. The trouble was that what he said didn't go away. Something was wrong and Sam wasn't talking. Something happened when he and Castiel went to the other side of town to help people. Neither of them seemed inclined to say anything. She could still feel that tingle down her spine. It was nothing like when she monitored Dean when he had the Mark of Cain or anything that would cause a reaction.

It was scary to admit that whatever Chuck did, it was a new and possibly dangerous territory. She couldn't help but wonder if that was why things were set in motion. That Hibah be the one to find her residual grace and release it. That she did the things she did and wielded both Chalikar and Absolution. How much of it was free will and how much of it was Chuck screwing with them?

They were questions with no answers, but they seemed to be partially answered. It was not expected that she and Sam had a baby together. Chuck had been surprised at that. So maybe not all of it was his doing. It was enough to make a person dizzy. At the moment though, they had a problem that needed fixing.

The story they told about a pipeline leak would buy them two days at most. After that… they would be questioned if caught. A lot to do in a short timeframe. It seemed like old times for her. She could recall a few instances of that happening. And it always involved conflict or war and the usual staving off disaster.

Sighing, she walked over to the trunk of the Impala. She gave tentative smiles to the brothers. They had been together for over a decade, saw things through thick and thin. They fought and disagreed, but they were still family. They were all that they needed to stay strong.

But there was strength in numbers. Angela looked in the direction of the town. Her thoughts were dwelling on what started as a little flame. Three billion souls in hell set free. There was a lot of work to do. And they were going to need all the help they could get.

She pulled out Absolution from the trunk and few other odds and ends that she could put on in the car. She had always been one to have her gear with her when she was in the car. Call it being prepared or something. Maybe it was paranoia. It was just something that she did, and the brothers were used to it.

"You up to this, Angie?"

Angela looked at Dean and then at Sam. She could sense his apprehension and pain from his shoulder. She also sensed that flicker of hope. She fingered the hilt of Absolution and replied, "Dealing with the fact that the gates of Hell had been thrown open and battling against all odds against three billion damned souls… sounds like fun." She gave a grin.

It was enough to get both brothers to give a slight smile. Sam was the one that said, "We have two days at most to pull this off for the town."

That was the cue she needed. There really was no time to be squeamish. They may have to use everything in the arsenal if they were to do this. Right the wrongs caused by Chuck. She shifted and looked at them. "Then we better call in back up."

"Who?"

Dean was naturally gruff in his tones. When he was stressed or exhausted it became more emphasized. Angela knew that this was a fate of the world thing on their shoulders. "The one thing that a damned soul fears the most."

Both brothers looked at each other. Sam got it first. "Hellhounds?"

"Yes."

Dean was his normal self as he asked, "You wanna summon a bunch of hell hounds topside? The same bitches that don't give up once they latch onto their target?"

"Pretty much."

They were used to the matter of fact tone when she was talking strategy. It was always the same. One protested and the other said to trust her. Granted it was always Sam that supported her, there were times he thought her ideas were bad ones and voiced it. She wouldn't have it any other way and it was how she operated as the great tactician everyone knew her as.

"Okay then," Dean said, "How are you gonna do that?"

"You're serious?" Sam looked visibly alarmed. "Dean, we're talking about all the hellhounds."

"Not all. Just specific ones," Angela explained.

"What do you mean?"

Angela looked at Dean and gave that playful smirk that said she would show and tell but he had to trust her. She walked away from the car and turned to look at them. She closed her eyes and started reciting in ancient Greek the spell she knew. It would be difficult, but she was certain. When she finished, her eyes opened, vamped out as glittering jewels as she said, "I summon you."

There was a howl and it was easy to see everyone tense up. Even the demon inhabiting Jack's body tensed. No one could mistake the howl of a hell hound. Angela though wasn't moved by it. She just stood there. Until it was evident there was one behind her. Its breath blew her hair from behind. Sam and Dean's reaction was visible as she said, "Reveal yourself."

It was thought that he was dead. Well the Winchesters did and technically he was. His mortal form was. Cerebus stepped forward in his full size but with one head. He whined and gave a nudge to Angela's shoulder.

"Cerebus," Sam breathed.

"The line of Cerebus," Angela corrected as other hell hounds appeared. They all looked familiar. They were the offspring of the guardian of the gates of Tartarus.

It was startling for the Winchesters to see their first Wilder dogs appear followed by those that lived and died. Angela looked at them as they rallied on her. They answered the alpha's call to arms and duty. She looked at them. "Time to get to work."

A/N: The end is near and the Winchesters and Angie have work to do. Already she's breaking into her arsenal and an old friend is back. Tag to Back and to the Future.