Chapter 5

The night was pitch black and quiet save for the bugs making their nightly music. It was a norm along with the crackle of the fire that Hawkins had started. It was hardly a comfort to Angela though as she sat on the boulder with her back to the fire. She stared up at the stars and thought about everything so far that happened and sighed.

"I know that your goal is to find Sam."

Angela didn't look at her visitor but continued to look at the stars. "I promised."

Adam looked at the woman sitting on the boulder. She hadn't so much as looked at him since they got back together after that town. She would speak when necessary but she didn't have the same warmth as before. He found it a bit odd what she said and if he had his brothers around they would have explained things. That he was certain of. In this case, he had to ask, "Promised what?"

Angela felt the tear fall down her cheek but resisted rubbing it away. She replied, "Promised that… that Sam would never be alone."

Adam nodded and looked around. At least it confirmed a few things that he had noticed. Stuff he remembered from the short time he actually knew his brothers and what he had noticed now. He wasn't sure if it was being a cad coming out and saying it but… "You love him."

"Love them both."

Adam blinked. He never thought her to be the equivalent of a player. She didn't seem the type and he was certain he hadn't missed the signs from her. He frowned a little as he tried to process that.

"Dean is a brother. Sam… is different."

Adam looked up at her. So he wasn't wrong. "So this is a devotion thing?"

Angela hummed as she allowed a small smile to form. She looked at Adam. "I promised Dean that his brother would never be alone." She sighed as she remembered the events that led to where she was at now. "Sam… he decided to say yes to Lucifer in order to put him back here. I was going to do it but…"

"He made you stay put?" Adam looked at her like she was kidding. He didn't believe there was a thing that would make the woman do what they wanted to do.

"He appealed to my nature by making me promise. They both know that my word is my bond." Angela gave a pensive smile at Adam. She could tell that he was trying to process everything. "Anyway, I promised that I wouldn't do anything to open the cage to get him out."

"But what are you doing here?"

"I made a selfish choice, Adam," Angela looked away and back up at the stars. "I am the Malachi, the protector of man, and I chose the one thing that I wanted. Unfortunately I had to leave one brother alone so the other wouldn't be alone in this hell hole."

Adam was quiet for a moment as he thought about what he heard. He heard the regret and sadness. Even when she was happy she sounded sad. She wanted what everyone else wanted so badly and yet wit was there and not there. He felt bad for her.

"And I didn't even think about you. Not at first."

"Because I was Michael's vessel." At the look that she was giving him, he explained, "I get it. You only saw Michael, not me. Must be hard thinking about the vessels. Must be an afterthought."

Angela looked down at Adam. She was certain that he was being snarky. It was a bit like something Dean would say. She couldn't deny it so she replied, "It is. When you've fought as many demons as I have, you have to stop thinking of the person because that gets you killed. More often the demon kills their host and keeps the meat suit. Angels may be a little nicer but even then the damage can be…"

"So this is nothing new to you."

"No. But if you want the honest truth…" Angela looked at Adam and relaxed her features. "I never stopped thinking about you and what I could have done to stop it. I have gone over it time and time again and even entertained the most dangerous of ideas to get you back. It's what I do all the time."

"Is that why you can't be happy?"

Angela blinked as she looked at Adam. "I'm not unhappy, Adam," she replied, "I know I have a messed up psyche. I've had five hundred years of this and I have died and come back times over. I've seen people I have grown attached to live and die and not all of it that peaceful old age thing. I've seen bloody deaths, lived through wars, fought in them and lived to see the great things that have happened. My life is a funhouse of memories to the point that I had nearly given up on even being near as normal as possible. And then the twentieth century comes along and I meet people that I really care about and then come Sam and Dean… I live again and become desperate to keep it. To the point where I ignore everything else."

"You didn't ignore me," Adam pointed out quickly. He turned so he was pressed against the boulder and looked up at her. "You have been watching out for me. You saved me from an angel and still paying for it." He reached up and grabbed her hand and held onto it. "I know you still are feeling whatever it is your feeling. You're exhausted and we've been going nonstop…"

"It's hell Adam. It is a nonstop ride. I've been this road before. It pulls at you, tests your every fiber… It breaks you down and there is no end to it. Not unless you want it to end… and not in a good way."

"Doesn't matter," Adam protested, "Yeah we are in hell and so far you have gotten us through. You need to rest if we are going to find Sam and find a way to get out of here… together."

"But I…"

"You didn't forget me," Adam replied, "You came when it counted and you have always come. You stood by and fought for me when Michael came for me. We can do this."

Angela looked at Adam as he gripped her hand and looked up at her. He had that look of every person that had that look of hope. She had seen it countless times before but it was different. It had the look that Sam gave her when he fully believed she could do whatever the hard task was. Looking at Adam, he was telling her that he believed her. She nodded, "Even if it may end not the way expected?"

"Stick together," Adam replied with a nod.

Angela took a breath and nodded. She could do this even though it had been dragging her down since day one. She smiled at Adam and looked up at the stars. It was her favorite thing to do and Sam had shared it with her. She adjusted her position on the rock and gestured towards the camp since it was safer there. She would take first watch.

It ended up being late at night when she woke up. Hawkins had taken the next watch to let her sleep. It was a first that she hadn't had one of those torturous dreams that Lucifer liked to send her way. She sat up and looked around to find Adam and Tsura asleep. Cerebus was watching over Adam and the camp. Hawkins was sitting up and looking out and watching. In fact he didn't seem to notice that she was awake.

"Oh he's not aware of this, sweetheart."

Angela looked around and found herself looking at Lucifer. She stood up to face him on her own two feet. "What do you want Lucifer?"

"What I've always wanted," Lucifer replied in a mocking tone like she should have known the answer. He pointed at her, "You."

"Well you got me and certainly having fun," Angela pointed out in a gesture that was laced with sarcasm. She certainly had a few lessons from Dean. "So… what's tonight's game?"

"Oh you've been playing it since the day you jumped in," Lucifer replied with a chuckle. He wagged his finger like it was a game. "Of course I've known you've been here. This is my playground after all."

Angela looked at Lucifer. She followed his pacing and moved so they weren't near the camp. It wouldn't have made a difference but it made her feel better. "Didn't think that I knew that?"

"Of course you knew." Lucifer scoffed at her like she was the idiot. "I know you better than anyone here. I've known you since this all began." He gestured all around him with his index fingers. "This was all orchestrated for you."

"Tell me something I don't know."

"You really are different from what you are now. In fact, you are supposed to be something entirely different." Lucifer straightened up and folded his hands in front of him. He gave a smile that was more mocking than anything as if daring her to claim otherwise. "Perfect in every way."

"Going Mary Poppins on me now?" Angela raised her brow in disbelief. No doubt Lucifer was under the same delusions that everyone else was about her. He would know the ancient writings and all that hoopla. "I know I am the Malachi," she said firmly. Had it been any gruffer she would have sounded like Dean.

Lucifer laughed at her. "You have always amused me with your ignorance. But it is through no fault of your own." He gave a smile like he was humoring a recalcitrant child. "After all you were born into this ignorance."

Angela looked at Lucifer as he walked through the camp. She followed him as he looked, making sure he stayed away. She felt worry when Adam awoke and moved to stoke the fire to keep in the warmth. Hawkins said something to him and he scowled. No doubt it had something to do with his sexuality or something. She turned to watch Lucifer with a wary eye. "You will not touch him."

"Have you forgotten already that this is my house and you are playing by my rules?" Lucifer looked up and walked towards her with a look that said he was in charge and going to do what he wanted to do no matter what anyone said.

Angela turned to look at him with a look in her eye. "I haven't and I am warning you."

"You will not win this one. You made the choice."

"I will find Sam and get us all out of here." Angela looked at the fallen angel with defiance. "That is my promise."

"I highly doubt that," Lucifer replied with a smirk. "Considering you followed us in. What other reason would you have than to finish the punishment you escaped from? Or rather what others took in your place?" He grinned when he saw the look on her face. He moved away from Adam and Hawkins and stood in front of her. "Oh yes. I know about what happened to get you out the first time. Tell me, what does it feel like, for you, to have someone die in your place?"

"You should know."

"Tell the truth now. I mean, your own father gave up his life so that you could come back. Oh and not to mention Setna. I mean he chose to go dark side as you would say. All to protect you." Lucifer gestured at her. "How does it feel?"

Angela stared at Lucifer. She knew exactly how it felt. She carried it every day of her life. It laid the course of her decisions even when she felt beaten down by it. It was what held her back when all she wanted was to be in a relationship with Sam. Five hundred years of it and she was still standing and she wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of breaking down. "I know what it feels like and no I won't say."

Lucifer looked at her. He smiled at her defiance. "Just like I remember." He walked away speaking, "But it won't help you." He turned to look at her. "Like I said, this is my house and… my rules." He raised his hand and gave a snap of his fingers.

Angela's eyes opened and she heard shouts. She sat up and saw Adam being dragged away. Hawkins was on the ground and it looked like he took one in the shoulder, she couldn't tell. Tsura was pulling on an arm and ended up getting a punch to the face. Adam was kicking and trying to use his fists to get away.

She was on her feet and started running but they had a head start. She stopped when it was apparent that she wasn't going to catch up. She stood there in the darkness, her breath coming out in puffs of smoke in the cool night air. Her teeth were gritted together as her eyes watered in anger and grief. Her hands were clenched in fists as she opened her mouth and screamed.

Michael had his fist raised and was going to punch Sam across the face when the whole room began to shake. He paused and looked up and around and his eyes widened. He looked at Sam who was looking at him and grinning like a loon. He grabbed the man by the chin and squeezed, "What did you do?"

Sam felt the tremor. He even felt the throb that felt like a hand squeezing his heart. He knew what it was. He couldn't help but grin because he knew what it meant. He looked at Michael and replied, "Actually it's what you did."

Michael yanked Sam's head forward and glared at him. "What did you do?"

"He did nothing, brother," Lucifer said as he walked in. He grinned at Sam, "But he knows what it was."

Michael turned to look at Lucifer. "What was it?"

"Call it pissing off the one person you have been pissing off since this began," Sam choked out with a grin. He fell to the ground since the meat hooks were ripped out when Michael waved his hand in a fit of anger. It burned and the blood was leaking out of the holes but at least he was down from that. He pushed himself up so he was on his knees. "You've really pissed her off."

Lucifer looked down at Sam and saw him laughing at him and Michael. He raised his brow a little bit and wondered if Sam was really losing it. Or did he really have a clue as to what was going on. Michael was just pissed and he punched Sam across the face. "Michael," he said with an annoyed look as he put a hand on his brother. "Don't."

Sam couldn't help but laugh. Maybe he was losing it and at this point he didn't care. In all honesty, he had been worried that she wouldn't fight back. The idea that she gave up was horrible to contemplate since he had never known her to give up. She fought tooth and nail for what she believed in and for the right thing. He still held out hope that she would come since now they were both in the cage but what he had seen…

"You think this is funny, Sam?"

Sam looked up at Lucifer as he held the more tender parts of his body that were injured. He felt the cold chill up his spine seeing the look that Lucifer gave when he was going to do something that was… shameful. He held fast to his defiance though and glared at the fallen angel and replied, "Funny doesn't begin to describe it. I feel sorry for you."

"Really?"

Sam took a couple of huffing deep breaths as he straightened up. He knew deep down that this round was probably going to be the worst he ever endured. And if Lucifer touched him on his neck… He could do this. Fight Angie. Do what you have to do. I trust you. Defiantly he sat on his knees just as the first blow came at him.

Adam opened his eyes and found himself looking at the ground and someone's feet. His head was pounding and he felt a little queasy being upside down. He found that the reason for that was because his gut was being pressured by someone's shoulder and it was hard. He blinked and looked around as he recalled what had happened to him.

He had woken up to take over the watch even though Angela had said that he didn't have to. He wanted to and he wanted to be able to contribute. He knew she was protecting him and while it felt good, it was also frustrating. He wanted to show that he could help in finding Sam and getting the hell out of there.

Hawkins was sitting where he had taken up position and seemed to know that he was awake. And the man couldn't resist teasing him about his sexuality. It had been that way since they met and they kept at it. Adam liked to think that it amused Angela since she always smiled at their antics. And truth be told, he didn't mind as much as he made it out to be. It was harmless fun in the end and didn't mean anything.

So they were just chatting when they were attacked. Cerebus leapt to the rescue and managed to help until they beat him aside. Adam looked around at Angela and what he saw bothered him greatly. He found her unconscious. It looked like she was in the throes of something and he didn't know what. What he did know that it was probably Lucifer's doing. The next thing he knew he was scooped up and he was trying to get free. Tsura was trying to help and Hawkins had gotten a beat down.

Adam had fought hard but it was no use since he got a couple of fists to the face to keep him from struggling. He got a hard one across the face and it made him dizzy and black out. The last thing he heard was a scream and… It was her shouting that she was coming for him. Now that he was awake, he had to figure out what he was doing.

He had been dropped on the ground hard and he grunted. "Hey watch it asshole," he grunted out in anger.

"Shut up."

Adam glared up at his captors. He recognized them as before from town. They couldn't have caught up so quickly. But then again he was in hell and he had been warned by Angela about that. He looked at his wrists and found them tied together. Well at least it wasn't anything that would be impossible to get out of like being pinned to the wall or getting his guts churns liked what Zachariah did to him. Lifting his hands up, he studied the knot. He was no escape artist but this wasn't too bad.

All of a sudden lightening literally split the sky and thunder cracked. It made Adam look up at the sky and that was when he noticed that it wasn't normal. There were some colors like from an aurora borealis but it wasn't anything like one. It was stormy and it was rolling around like… Lightning crashed again and it was enough to make Adam shake in fear. It was like someone powerful was angry and it wasn't going to be a pretty picture.

"Whoa. Check out that storm."

"It's nothing. Just make sure that little bastard is secure. The boss wants him."

Adam looked up at his captors. At that moment more lightning flashed and the thunder crashed. The colors were also starting to change and roll. He said, "You know I think you might be making a mistake here."

"Shut up you little shit."

"Hey, you think this is a normal storm?" Adam looked at the leader who told him to shut up. This was serious business. It was either Michael, Lucifer or… It occurred to him who it was and that made him shiver on the inside.

"It's just the boss. The pretty boy he has been dangling probably pissed him off." The leader looked at Adam as if daring him to beat that.

Adam would have said something but he felt what looked like a hand on his shoulder. He blinked when he saw a ghostly shape. It wasn't Angela but it was someone. "What the…"

"What the…"

That was the question. Adam blinked as he saw a ghostly image of a man. He was young but well-toned. He looked like the guys that signed up and joined the military. He had hair that was about as long as Sam's and dressed in military clothes. He stood in front of Adam and glared at his captors. What the hell was going on?

"She is coming."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

The guy stood there. Adam got the feeling that he wasn't going to help him get free. That much was obvious. It was more like a warning. "I think…"

"Shut up."

Adam felt the backhand but it was only fleeting. The guy who hit him was sent flying back. He blinked as the ghostly guy just stood there like he didn't do anything. Adam was sure that he did though. He stayed quiet since that seemed to be the best thing for now. And it became obvious when the military guy spoke again, "This is your only warning. She is coming for you. This may be his playground but he picked a fight with the wrong person."

The leader of the group looked at the ghostly figure. He glared at him and replied, "Oh she is coming? After everything? Yeah right." He scoffed at that.

"This is your only warning."

There was more lightning and thunder and the ghostly figure was gone. Adam gasped at that since the sky was still stormy after that. He looked up at the sky and saw the clouds. The aurora borealis was still there mingled with the clouds. Oh this was going to be something and he was sure that it was going to be a big showdown. And he was probably going to get a front row seat.

His attention was drawn to the fact that the leader as laughing at the whole thing and saying, "What a crock of shit. Like anything is going to happen."

The thunder crack said otherwise in Adam's mind and it looked like it did for most of the group. He didn't know Angela as well as Sam or Dean but in the time he spent with her, he got the feeling that warning wasn't to be taken lightly. "I'd listen if I were you," he ventured.

"Really?" The leader shifted to look at him. He grinned at Adam, "And why should I listen to a parlor trick?"

Adam knew he had to sound like he knew what he was doing. He took a breath and replied, "Because by taking me, you've unleashed something that no one, not even Lucifer is prepared to handle. Even if he thought so… he won't come close."

A/N: Angie and Adam have a talk but the reprieve is short lived. Adam is taken and it seems that the tide is turnings but will it be for better or worse? Stay tuned for next time on The Winding Road...