Chapter 4

Well… we wanted to do something for your birthday.

Angela heard the tone of nervousness in Sam's voice. She really had made it clear she didn't like her birthday the first time. She smiled as she replied, "I'll be there in time."

No rush…

"Sam, I'll be there for my birthday," she reassured. She grinned as she looked at her baby Deanna. "Deanna can break speed limits and the cops wouldn't know. Better than Impa."

Baby can outrun your little bastard.

Dean!

Angela couldn't help but laugh. She loved riling up Dean but she could tell that she was going to need to do some serious make up to him. Of course that could be turned into blackmail and pranking too. She was on a roll with ideas. Thanks Jo and Augie. Out loud she said, "Let him bluster Sam. You and I both know he's trying to compensate."

I'll compensate your ass. Now quit stalling and come home.

"Are you gonna make me?"

I'll have Bobby curse your ass.

Dean!

"Relax, bulldog. I'm leaving today. I know tomorrow is the day so I'll be there for whatever you are planning. I do hope you didn't bully Sam into helping."

His idea just like your indecent exposure trip. You're lucky you weren't cited.

Angela hummed at that and made a knowing look. She knew Sam wasn't bothered by it since he wasn't putting up a fuss. It was almost funny that Sam got bent out of shape when guys hit on her and then when she had 'girl fun' it got Dean bent out of shape. "It was just a bit of fun Dean. You are too uptight. Maybe some of my peach cobbler would do the trick."

Peach cobbler? A la mode?

"Of course," Angela replied with a smile. She could hear Dean turning into an excited little child. Even though it was her birthday and they should be doing something for her, she liked doing something for them. "What other way is there?"

Alright. You're forgiven.

"I'm glad." Angela gave a look of mock seriousness. "I'll be home tomorrow."

We're holding you to it. Francis here was getting anxious.

Was not.

You so were.

Angela chuckled at the bickering. It seemed that things were looking good. "Alright you two. You behave and I'll meet you at Bobby's. That means no pranking Dean or no cobbler."

You're cruel, Angie.

"You love me."

There was some grumbling and something that sounded like Dean mumbling that he loved her too. Angela couldn't help but grin at that since Dean always seemed to be reluctant to share his feelings even though she knew that his affection was more like that of a brother and a sister. She heard a slight wrestling match and the sound of the phone being picked up.

So everything okay, Angie?

"It's good Sam," Angela replied with a full smile. "Thanks for running interference. It was sweet of you."

Um…

"Don't try too hard," she said, "I'll be there. That I promise."

Okay. And Angie… glad you had a good time. You deserve it.

"Thanks. I'll see you guys approximately 1pm tomorrow." She chuckled when she heard Sam tease her about being there sooner. She would be there sooner and she agreed with him. She teased him further by telling him to impress her before laughing and hanging up.

It is said that if it is too good to be true, usually it is. Angela put her phone back into her jacket pocket and went to get the last of her gear and put it into her car. She paused to look at the breeder medallion Jo gave her. Sometimes that girl had a strange sense of humor but it did give her an idea and she hadn't failed to notice how Lilah eyed Cerebus and vice versa. She hadn't said anything to Bobby since he would probably run one or both off his property out of sheer principle. Also it wasn't uncommon for a Wilder to mate with a hellhound… at least how she understood it.

She knew Lilah was a Wilder but a different form. So far she determined the dog was of Irish wolfhound lineage since she was on the large side but more wolf in her. That was the common link with Wilder folk since they were once wolves and they bred with hellhounds. She did once entertain it but mostly to cover her unease when they went after the Morton House. Smiling and humming, she palmed it and put in her pants pocket as she went to check to make sure that the room was empty.

There was a shirt on the floor. Stooping to pick it up, Angela realized that it was one of Sam's shirts. She still 'borrowed' them on occasion and he never said anything about it. This one she wore since it was a cold night and she didn't want to wear a jacket. Deciding to do the same thing, she took off her jacket and put the shirt on. It was oversized on her frame and it looked like she was wearing a robe but she was fine with it.

She had just finished putting her phone in her pants pocket when something grabbed her from behind. It was a chokehold grip and something was clamped over her mouth. It was instinct to struggle and she did but whatever was on the cloth that was over her mouth worked pretty fast. Being a dhampir, she enjoyed some immunities but her body was still human meaning that it was susceptible to certain things that the human body reacted to. She ended up passing out and the last thing she saw was the floor of the cabin coming towards her face.

Sometimes I wonder why I even bothered teaching you this trick.

Angela felt her eyes open… or rather the unconscious version of herself opening her eyes. She looked up to see the bemused look of Morpheus looking down at her. She groaned, "What the hell do you want now?"

Morpheus smirked at her, "Oh I don't want anything. I'm just amused at the amount of trouble you seem to get yourself into."

"Who said I was in trouble?"

"Don't even try."

Angela stood up and dusted herself off while scowling at the god of dreams. She remembered exactly what happened. Whoever it was clamped a cloth with probably chloroform or ether over her mouth and made her pass out. It was a defensive mechanism to wake up in the realm of dreams. "Oh please. I know that someone knocked me out."

"And you know why you are here?"

"Defensive mechanism," she retorted as she crossed her arms over her chest.

Morpheus shook his head more to humor her, "Partially but you do have your overprotective watchdogs the Winchesters to thank for this." He gestured around the area they were standing in. "I must say, if it hadn't been for Sam…"

Angela looked around. She recognized the garden like look and the smell of jasmine hit her nose. "You mean…?"

Morpheus peered at her, not understanding why she was acting stupid all of a sudden. "You don't remember do you?"

"Remember what? The last time I was here was when I asked you to do something for me." Angela looked at the god of dreams like he was the one that was going nut. She wasn't even sure what he was talking about.

"A shame," Morpheus mused. He thought about it for a moment and then decided to indulge a little. Maybe it would trigger memory. "Well like I said, it was Sam Winchester who triggered this area, this sanctuary. It was the one you built."

"I know that."

"Did you know that it was Sam that changed the dimensions of it? He and Dean activated it but he was the one who changed it." Morpheus looked at her refraining from giving a smug look. It was worth it to watch the reaction but this was serious business.

"Why? It was perfect when we built it." Angela frowned at that.

"Idiot. He did it for you."

Angela didn't need explaining. She was convinced that because she was small and had a brush with Lenya, since she managed to get that out of him, Sam used his smarts on the occult to fix things strictly as a protection. "I figured that," she retorted. She crossed her arms in a fair imitation of the god of dreams. "He's always been an overprotective watch dog."

Morpheus shook his head. "Then I am sorry that you see it as such."

"As if it would be your business. You have as much tact as Dean trying to pry into his brother's sex life."

Morpheus continued to shake his head in exasperation. He failed to see that the vehemence was a means of protecting herself. He was accustomed to her being sarcastic about almost everything that it completely went over him. He decided to change the subject, "Fine. Take the pleasure cruise. Anyway you should know that it was instinct for you to come here."

"Yeah I know. Some asshole drugged me." Angela started pacing more out of worry and agitation at what she was going to do. "I don't even know if I could get something to the Winchesters. Dean I would have to go through dreams. Maybe I could talk to Sam."

"I'm sure you know that you have been drugged and most likely kidnapped."

"No shit Morpheus. Why do you think I'm going over my options?"

"Trying to convince yourself that you have a means of connecting to them."

"You are an ass," Angela spat back. She wasn't afraid of the god since she had called him that before. Most would have thought that she was nuts but she wasn't. "I can do it. I just haven't gotten the finer points. Dream walking I can do."

"And you are the best. I taught you well. Unfortunately you can't do that from here. Sam altered it to keep you safe in your dreams. It is a place of refuge where you can protect yourself. At least that was what I think he was trying to do." Morpheus tried to think about it more to annoy her. "Anyway, this is where you can come. If you can get out, more power to you."

"Sometimes I wish I can kick your ass."

"You did once." Morpheus couldn't help but smirk at the look he was getting. "I see you got a plan but do you have a backup plan?"

"I could ask you who drugged and kidnapped me."

"No idea but obviously they are pissed at you. Unfortunately the dislike of you ranges from what you've done to your association with the Winchesters."

Angela gave a slight shake of acknowledgement. She would probably find out soon enough. She looked at the god and noticed the realm was starting to fade. "Can you at least try to get a hold of the Winchesters or… Cas. Call Cas."

"What…"

Angela found herself waking up. She was groggy but she found that she was in the bed of an SUV or truck. Her cheek was pressed against the carpet lining. Her arms were tied behind her back and it felt like the zip tie thingies. No way was she going to bust out of those even if she managed to get her dhampir strength up. Her legs weren't tied so that might prove useful. She could have shifted and moved to get a look of her surroundings but she didn't want to let whoever the ass hat that kidnapped her know that she was awake. She wouldn't mind delivering a bite or two.

It must have been about twenty or so minutes; she couldn't tell since her watch was currently tied behind her back. Finally the truck stopped and Angela got the feeling that she was going to meet the asshole. She positioned her feet as quietly as she could to give what was deserved to the bastard. She waited and was caught off guard when a hand clamped over her mouth with a cloth.

It was a futile effort to struggle but Angela wasn't one to give in without fighting all the way down. She struggled but because her arms were tied behind her back, she couldn't maneuver like she wanted. She could also smell the fumes of an alcohol base on the cloth. She couldn't breathe in anything except the fumes and it was overpowering. Her limbs began to feel heavy but she continued struggling against the arms holding onto her. Her body went slack as she returned to the realm of unconsciousness. The last thing she heard was a low and sinister chuckle in her ear.

"What are you doing?"

"What's it look like I'm doing?"

"Like you're trying to strangle yourself with streamers."

Dean grumbled as he threw the streamer roll he managed to find and he wasn't going to go into details down to the floor where it landed in a heap. Actually it started bouncing on the floor and rolling. Sam watched as Setna started chasing after it and batting it around. It was a wonder that the cat hadn't attempted to yank down what Dean had put up already because it was like a bunch of tantalizing strings floating in the air. He looked at Dean huffing. "Dude, it is supposed to be a dinner. Nothing more and nothing less."

"That's your idea of fun," Dean snapped as he yanked down the streamers he had attempted to hang up. He started cursing the moment Setna came out and started grabbing the end. A well placed paw with claws out had him yelp, "Hey watch it with the claws of doom fleabag."

Setna looked up at Dean with the innocent look. Sam wanted to laugh since the cat was looking at Dean as if to ask what the hell he did was wrong. It was not the puppy eyes but close enough and he was still a cat. Dean stared back at the cat with a narrowed look and said, "Don't look at me like that. Go play with your roll."

"Dude, are you scolding the cat?"

"Shut up Sam."

Setna continued to look at Dean with an innocent expression for a few more seconds before standing up. With deliberate slowness, the cat made to go back to where the roll of streamer was. Then with a quick about face and charged to give a quick slap on Dean's leg. The only result was Dean howling like he had been skinned since it was clear that Setna used the claws of doom and on the meaty portion of his leg.

"Sonofabitch!"

Sam was trying hard not to laugh. He couldn't when Setna decided to try and climb up his leg to hide. Having tolerated it and knowing what to expect when he was a kitten, he grasped the cat by the scruff of his neck with one hand and used the other to pry the claws loose from his jeans. He looked at the cat who immediately started looking contrite for clawing him but not for what he did to Dean. "Calm down Dean."

"Little bastard got me with the claws of doom!" Dean nearly snarled at Sam. He huffed when the cat showed a look of apology as it started to cuddle Sam. "Don't you be letting it do that. He's not sorry at all." He gestured wildly at the animal while rubbing where he had been poked. It had been well placed.

"He's just playing with you," Sam tried reasoning. He looked at the cat who was looking at him with a soppy look. "Isn't that right Setna?"

Setna let out a meow and rubbed his head on Sam's shoulder. It was a combination of a sort of apology and the being so cute you love me anyway look. Sam chuckled and rubbed the cat's head. "See Dean? He's sorry."

"Pff. Like that is an apology."

Sam rolled his eyes and held out the cat. It was one of those moments where Dean would have teased him about re-enacting a scene from The Lion King but his brother didn't even bother. Sam placated, "Come on Dean. He's apologizing."

Dean narrowed his eyes at his brother. "First the indecent exposure and now the fleabag with the claws of doom. Who are you and what have you done with my brother?"

Sam rolled his eyes again. He offered the cat again and it was giving Dean its version of the puppy eyes… if that was possible. "I've had practice," was all he offered.

Dean eyed his brother like he was possessed before looking at the cat. Slowly he took the cat from his brother's hands. He eyed it suspiciously as it started rubbing its head on his face and immediately started purring. It was the encouragement he needed to start rubbing the cat's head. He didn't mind when the cat gave a nip that he correctly interpreted as a love nip.

"There. See? He was playing with you."

"Better he play with that shit. Don't know why…"

Sam gave a shake of his head. Some days he wasn't even sure what to make of what went on in the mind of his brother. At least he was trying to be nice and doing things for Angela. It was different from when they were kids and the last couple of years. He wasn't jealous or anything and thought it was better that his brother had something positive in his life. It wasn't like Angela let him down like he did… and he was still paying the price. He replied to Dean's musings, "Dean, let's just keep it as a dinner where she doesn't have to cook and you can give her that pistol you got her."

Dean put the cat down and it seemed satisfied to go back to playing with the remnants of the streamers. "Fine, fine. You said they delivered right?"

"Yeah." Sam shifted, going right into business. "They have everything except the dessert."

"Pie, bitch. She likes that."

"You're the one that likes pie to the point of it being obscene."

"She's a faithful disciple of the pie." Dean looked ready to pout.

"It's her birthday, Dean," Sam pointed out though he was well aware that she would cater to Dean's whims just to see him happy. It was weird to people who didn't get it but when it was someone who lived as long as she did, it took on a different meaning. Still it was a nice gesture to do something she liked for her. "Besides… she may like pie but… her favorite thing is baklava."

"Bak-what?"

"Baklava," Sam repeated, making sure to sound it out. "It's a pastry that is popular with the Middle East and is something she's liked since she spent a couple of months in Morocco and then Somalia."

"And how do you know that?"

"Unlike you, I listen." Sam didn't let on that he watched her buy some one time when they stopped for road food. It made him sound like a stalker pervert. It also didn't help that she offered him a piece and ended up acquiring a liking for it. So he fibbed, "Gus told me. She mentioned something about getting on her good side and to use baklava."

Dean wasn't sure if he wanted to cry or laugh. The crying would be that she had a preferred pastry over his pie but the laughing in that he had a means of getting on his girl's good side when he knew he was in trouble and usually over his system. "Gus told you that?"

"I asked for suggestions on what to give her," Sam offered with an uneasy shrug. "She might like it and what are you complaining about? She's gonna make you peach cobbler."

Dean would have said something about that but didn't get a chance to. From outside came the loudest bellow they thought Bobby would have ever been able to give. They looked at each other as they heard the grizzled hunter, "I thought I told ya two mutts to leave off. Now get off… NOW!" It was followed by a high pitched yelp.

Both Winchesters headed outside since they knew Bobby wouldn't purposely hit the dogs. They got something unexpected when they saw two huge sopping wet dogs, both giving the puppy eyes, and a really grumpy elder hunter with a hose with a nozzle spray at the end and aimed at them. Bobby was saying, "I told ya two mutts no."

Both dogs whined. It was pathetic and Sam tried to ask what was going on only to have his head bitten off as Bobby explained that he found hell on four legs trying to hump the lady mutt from hell again. There was also some grizzling about not wanting to deal with more dogs. The two dogs were giving eyes that gave the impression that they were being beaten to death as they looked to Sam of all people to explain.

Sam looked at them and offered, "Well… Cerebus is lonely…"

"Lonely my ass. I will not having them hump each other. In fact when Angie gets here, she's gonna take one of both and clip them."

Both Winchesters were stuck at what to do and it didn't help that the dogs were whining pitifully. It was awkward for about three minutes until Castiel decided to show up. At least the apparent urgency that surrounded the area countered the punishment the dogs had. Dean had to say, "Thanks for saving our bacon Cas."

"You don't have a pig."

"Never mind." Dean wasn't going to waste time trying to explain things to the angel. Better to stick to business. "Why are you here? Trouble?"

"Yes," the angel replied without preamble. "I can't sense the Malachi."

A/N: What the hell? Angie has been kidnapped? Will the Winchesters find out? Keep watching for more To Hell and Back...