Chapter 14

"What are you doing here, Ninja?" Dean was frowning as he accepted help from Austin to wrap his wrist. It had been sprained when Jonas decided to get too rough. It was automatic for him to call her by the nickname he had given her when she lived with them.

Hibah was focused on the injury she was treating on Sam when Dean asked the question. It was a nasty gash on his upper arm that he didn't even realize he had gotten until the adrenaline died down. She poked with a finger and picked up the soaked rag full of antiseptic. She replied, "Glad you remembered what you used to call me, Amitz."

"Doesn't answer the question. Ow! Stop it you touchy feely vamp."

Austin rolled his eyes at that. "At least one of you is secure in his masculinity," he muttered before going to wash off his hands.

It had been a surprise when Hibah revealed herself and after she deliberately broke a guy's neck, killing him. Granted the guy may have deserved it but to Sam and Dean, it was vastly different from the little girl they sent back to her mother. It was a shock to see her as essentially an older teen to young adult when just about a year or so ago she was only nine. It was enough to start a conversation but it had to be Austin to be the voice of reason by saying that they needed to leave before more arrived.

They left taking the weasel, locking in him in the trunk where he currently was waiting while injuries were being seen to. It was the time Dean took to ask why the little girl that wasn't little anymore was there and apparently not afraid to kill whatever was perceived as an enemy. Dean rubbed his wrist that was now bandaged and stepped closer to his brother. "Answer the question," he said in a firm tone.

"Helping my family Amitz," Hibah replied after finishing with Sam. She had managed to tap into her grace to heal but it wasn't strong enough. It looked like a scratch rather than the deep gash that would have required stitches. All that it needed was a band aide, which she promptly put on. Anything else and Sam would have to deal with. She looked at the brothers before looking directly at Sam and asking, "Ima is in trouble, isn't she, Abba?"

Sam's throat convulsed as Hibah's hazel eyes locked onto his. He couldn't lie to her and he didn't want to. "Yes," he said after lowering his head to look more at the ground, "And it's my fault."

"No it isn't Sam. We talked about this," Dean replied shaking his head in a slight warning.

"Dean." Sam gave his brother a look. Even though he had talked about things with Kesset and still longed to do so with Dean, he still believed that he was at fault for this. He looked at Hibah who was staring at him with that expression he remembered. "It is since I suggested it," he replied in a low voice. "I insisted she go and have fun."

Hibah stared at the Winchesters but maintained her focus on Sam. "It's not true, Abba. You know Ima would say the same thing. Right now, you need to find her." There was a lot she wanted to say since she was well aware of the feelings between the members of her surrogate family. She remembered the tricks she pulled with Dean.

"That's all well and good," Austin replied coming out of the bathroom wiping hi hands. "Oh by the way Kesset said that he would be back. Something about pounding pavement." He frowned a little at that.

"He's angry," Hibah replied looking down with a worried expression. "That's not good."

"Yeah we know Ninja." Dean looked at Austin, not sure how this was going to seem to the vampire. So far he seemed to accept that the half god, half angel was pretty much normal. It was just a matter of the nitty gritty details that might not work in their favor. "Bobby told us about Avians and that they are temperamental."

Hibah shook her head at that and started pacing a little, "That is just the bare bones. Kesset is not like other Avians. You may have noticed that he has exhibited more control over his emotions as of late." She clasped her hands together having the tips touch each other as she contemplated what needed to be said.

"Well he is better at controlling his temper and he is pissed. Angie is gone," Dean pointed out.

"On his watch," Hibah pointed out. "That doesn't sit well with him." She paused since it was a bit difficult to explain. "Kesset understands more or less the concept of personal space which is why he has been gone for lengths of time. And he trusts you."

"Well he has come through though he makes a terrible babysitter," Dean offered almost sheepishly.

"But he is still a member of the guard. It's not something taken lightly." HIbah looked away and frowned pensively. "It takes a lot to be one of the guard and those that make it are forever changed. And I don't need to tell you that Kesset has had it harder than most.

"Training left him able to control the volatile emotional states common to his people but… when he perceives failure in the truest sense… it…"

"What? He goes dark side?"

"It makes split personality look like a picnic." It was the best she could do to describe it. She looked at the brothers. "He's still Kesset and I am surprised and glad that he lasted this long. He hasn't hurt innocents but I'm sure he has committed violence against the ones that took Ima."

"He did," Sam finally spoke. "He killed a renegade at the motel where Angie was taken. But he hasn't decided to go postal."

"That is good for now and I suspect pounding pavement is a euphemism?"

Dean rolled his eyes, "Great the kid did turn out like you Sam. Yeah Ninja. He's learning not to take things literally."

Sam was hardly in the mood for a joke. He looked at Hibah, still trying to accept the fact that she was not the little girl he remembered. Maybe he should have known it earlier the way she spoke to Kesset and he obeyed whatever she said. That act wasn't lost on him. He knew that Hibah was of the warrior royalty and Kesset was of the guard that protected them; he just was used to Kesset following Angela's lead. He looked at her and asked, "Why did you come Hibah?"

Hibah looked at the two men that raised her. "I sensed Ima was in trouble and… you weren't… happy about it." She looked at everyone in the room and continued, "I saw Ima in the dream realm. I could tell she didn't recognize me but she was in terrible pain. Not the physical though it was there. It was the emotional and she was very confused."

"You were playing in her dreams?"

Hibah looked at Dean and replied, "I don't play there, Amitz. I was there training with Morpheus. I was practicing manipulation when I sensed it. I wanted to know and so I followed. It was not a pleasant sight."

Sam felt his throat convulse at that. He felt guilty that the girl he helped raise had to see something that was… "I'm sorry."

"Don't be, Abba. I've… seen other things since I came to Karnak. Most by my own curiosity." Hibah straightened out a little and put the med kit away. Even though she hadn't been on 'hunting' for a time with humans, she still knew the rules that had been established. "So I am here now to help you find her."

"And what does your mom have to say about it?" Dean looked at Hibah, sort of prepared to meet the teen rebellion thing. He did have to deal with Sam when he did that so he felt a little confidence. She was a goddess, well half of one and half an angel. It was different in that perspective.

"Mother," Hibah began, "Doesn't know that I'm here. None of the family does. Technically I am not supposed to enter the realm of mortals until I reach the equivalent of a human adult, which is three years from my current age."

"So you skipped town and came here and you are going to go back," Dean replied. He waved off Sam when his brother put a hand on his shoulder, "No Sam. I'm not in the mood to deal with gods that could get pissed if they think we kidnapped Ninja."

Hibah shook her head at that, "They would attack you. You're family to them."

"No way Ninja."

Before Hibah could speak, Sam waved her off and she fell silent. He looked at Dean and said, "Dean… a word?"

Dean looked at Austin and then Hibah. He did still have a conversation mentally scheduled to give his little brother for this latest stunt. He gave a nod and headed outside the room leaving Hibah with the vampire. He was confident that they wouldn't get into a fight. His Ninja was better behaved than that even if she still had the impish streak he knew she had. The only privacy was outside.

Once outside Dean walked over to the trunk end of his baby and leaned against it. He crossed his arms over his chest and said, "Alright Sam. You got anything to explain?"

Sam stared at his brother. The slight cut on his brow and his fat lip was hardly an inspiring sight but that was hardly the point. "What is there to explain Dean? I followed a lead and it proved right."

Dean could admit that. At least Sam's way was better than the option that Cary suggested. He inwardly cringed at the thought of that possibility. Right now he was feeling the strain of what was going on with Sam, finding Angela and the fact that his brother was on this path of recklessness or meticulous recklessness. It was easier to be upset. "And you charge in blind and nearly got yourself killed by a renegade bastard."

"I called Dean. They started making a move and we couldn't wait."

"Fair enough but… Sam… we need to do this together. You running off…"

Sam eyed his brother. He knew. "You thought I was repeating what I did while on the demon blood." He studied his brother's expression. He wasn't wrong on that so the least he could do was to be honest. "And you'd be right in that I did run off. I wanted to handle it myself since it was my mess."

"And how many times do I have to tell you that it isn't?"

"You seemed intent on doing that because of 'indecent exposure'."

Dean pursed his lips at that. Sam was right on that point. It sounded petty now but there was the point being made. He was guilty of ragging on Sam for making similar choices he had done. "Fine."

Sam sighed at that. He leaned against the Impala and looked at the row of motel rooms. He wasn't sure of what to say at the moment. Finally he said, "I'm sorry, Dean. I'm just… worried. Worried that we can't find her and that something bad is happening to her and I can't do anything to stop it."

Dean studied his brother and replied, "Not when you're all over the board."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Don't be like that. Ever since that he-witch shrank her, you've been all over the place. Now I can see that you want to use Ninja to help find her."

"Hibah can. She's not like Cas or Kess."

"She's still a kid."

Sam looked away at that. He knew that but he got the feeling that she wouldn't have left Karnak if it wasn't for a good reason. "She'll stay because it's Angie."

"Sam… it's different. She's not our kid. We were raised in this and where we go when we find Angie… she may not like it." Dean was being honest here, probably the most he had been in a long time. If he had a chance to keep someone out of the world he knew he would do it. "She'll listen to you."

"Maybe but…" Sam paused and looked upwards at the sky. The stars dotted the night sky and he stared at them as if there was an answer. "I can't tell her to leave."

"Can't or won't?"

"Both." Sam looked at Dean and noted the expression. "Hibah technically is an adult by the rules she lives by now. We knew that when we had her with us for those three months." He looked at nothing in particular and continued, "I want to let her help."

"And I don't think it's a good idea."

"We can't really stop her."

"And you know that I'll do that. I love that kid too. Right now it seems you aren't being responsible."

Sam blinked at that. He had a lot of time to think about things. Maybe not as much about Hibah showing up but he had. He knew that he maybe getting reckless but it was because he felt he was at a breaking point. That weasel of a renegade implied one thing and his mind came up with the worst and… "Then I better do this… on my own."

"Right and that worked out real well."

"What do you want from me, Dean?"

"I want you to at least be on the level with me. Why are you so anxious to go off on you own?" Dean looked at his brother, not liking that Sam was getting that collective calm look that he was starting to dislike as much as he disliked the look Angela gave when no one could tell how she was feeling.

"Like I said: it's my fault. I said that she should go. She deserves better than what she has gotten. From everything… from us… from me." Sam sighed and ran a hand through his locks. "I'm not telling Hibah to leave. She has the same right."

"Something you not telling me?"

Sam looked down at the ground. If he fibbed about his feelings, Dean would pick up on it and press. He would just have to be as close as he could. As much as he wanted to talk to his brother about it, he just couldn't. Not now. "Just…" He looked up at Dean and said softly, "I care about her."

Hibah stared at the door of the room. Absently she petted Lilah, not at all afraid of the Wilder dog. She found her unusual since she wasn't like the ones she had seen when she learned about the creatures that were essentially designed for good. From her reckoning, Lilah was from the wolfhound lineage, more specifically the Irish wolfhound, but her features were clearly more wolf-like. It certainly was something to remember. At the moment though she was worried for both of the Winchesters and in particular the one who had her Ima's heart.

Perhaps she shouldn't have said what she had said about what she had seen in the dream realm but she had learned when she was young that every detail mattered in the life they led. Especially if it concerned life and death. She saw the pain it caused Sam but it made him determined and he was angry. It bothered her a bit but she also sensed that which had only been a tiny flicker from before and could see that it was the core of his motivations.

"So you're a goddess."

Hibah turned to look at Austin. He was looking at her like she was suspect. No doubt he had a lot of questions since she essentially showed up in the middle of a fight and killed what they thought was their only lead even though they had one of those fiends in the trunk of the Impala. She couldn't help but reply, "And you're a vampire."

Austin made a slight sound at that. He knew when he met a potential challenge in terms of being a smartass like he was. His lip twitched slightly indicating that he wanted to smile. "Fair enough but you didn't answer my question."

"Do you think I am?"

"Yes." Austin waited and saw that she was waiting for an answer. He continued, "I know that the Avian is of the guard since you pretty much told him to back off and he obeyed."

"I could just be an important person to the pantheon," Hibah pointed out. "The guard does extend to certain other persons."

Austin chuckled at that, "You got me on that one." He gave a slight cough. "But seriously, are you a goddess?"

Hibah studied the vampire. She had been taught by the current instructor of the guard about trusting people with knowledge of who she was. She was unique and the fact that she had been allowed to grow up and not be put to death… not that it would ever happen with her parents around… it was a challenging perspective. She was learning things about herself that were not like other children of the gods. How this vampire would react… she didn't know. She did know that Sam and Dean put trust in him so that was one step towards convincing her. She just had to figure out a few things herself.

Austin was well aware that he was being studied by the girl. He had been stared down before by various species and a few exceptional humans. He didn't expect it when Hibah stepped forward and her eyes started to glow along with her hand which she rather boldly placed on his chest but he was held mesmerized by her eyes. They were almost a bright blue, not unlike what he had seen of the halflings, but it was different. When she was finished he said, "Little forward there."

Hibah blinked as she died down her powers. Her eyes narrowed slightly before saying, "Good heart but a needs improvement on manners." She turned away to focus more on the door.

"Improvement on manners?" Austin raised his brow at that. He saw it as a challenge and it had been awhile since he had one. He took a couple of steps forward but wary. "Is that an opinion?"

Hibah continued to stare at the door. She crossed her arms over her chest and replied, "Better than the assessment that you are incapable of expressing how you truly feel without making it into a joke. The only exception is when it is a serious matter." She then turned to look at the vampire with a raised brow. "I know you care about Ima. It's why you're here."

Austin blinked, not certain if he wanted to go with first instinct and that was to say what he meant. True it would mean that he would potentially piss her off but… "What are you?"

Hibah stared at Austin. Her mother said she had a playful streak that turned dangerous just like her father's. She couldn't resist a challenge when it was presented to her. This time though she debated on what to say. Since she was young, it had been emphasized that she was never to reveal her other half. As far as everyone knew, she was a goddess. Some things she couldn't help though but it was easy to pass off as a fluke. She was good with being elusive. "I am what you see. I am of the Egyptian pantheon."

"Nice speech. I bet you tell that to everyone who asks who you are," Austin retorted as he crossed his arms over his chest. "I may not have been exposed to gods but my instincts are usually pretty good and something tells me that you are more than that."

"And a tendency to push too much." Hibah studied the vampire with a slight smirk. She sobered and sighed as she took in the countenance. She could understand why her mother said the things she did about her father. "Look, just know that I am here to help. There is a lot I can't say. If you really want to know… all I did was look into your heart. I wasn't sure on whether or not to trust you so what I did is basically scan that which never lies… the heart."

"And a little freak light show to go with it."

"Well some things have to be a little freaky." Hibah adjusted her stance to look at Austin. She had relaxed a little. "Though I think that was light in comparison to everything else."

"Not really," Austin replied honestly. "Knowing the Winchesters, I figured they would pick up a few strange friends, especially with Angie." He shrugged his shoulders and adjusted his stance. "Can't be too careful these days. I admit I was worried when I agreed to help Sam."

"Abba cares about Ima deeply."

"If that is what I think you are saying then I am inclined to agree. It's why I'm glad Sam stopped what he was doing before but…" Austin shook his head as he remembered the days of hunting as a slayer. Those were dark times. "This is a slippery slope we are on. One I haven't been on in a long time and it..."

"But you are the only one who can find them."

"Actually just about anyone can but renegades tend to be more elusive." Austin walked over to where his gear was. It was something to do. "But what the demon that Sam talked to said was essentially right. It comes down to the basics…"

"The hunter vs. the hunted. Hunters know how to find their own… even when they have long left the life. And Abba trusts you as much as he trusts Amitz. That is saying a lot."

"Still everything we've done… It is a slippery slope," Austin countered as he faced the young goddess. "It takes a lot to not lose who you are when you become one of them if you catch my meaning." He cleared his throat a little since he never had really discussed his time there with anyone beyond an occasion with Angela.

Hibah nodded at that. She was concerned about Sam since she could see a darkness motivated by his feelings for Angela. "And I'm hoping that I will be able to help."

"I don't think they'd let you since you obviously mean a lot to them and I get the impression that they see someone that may be a… younger version of you." Austin had gestured towards the door to indicate the Winchesters. At the look Hibah was giving him, he explained, "One of my better qualities is observation."

"I can see that but that doesn't mean I'll leave."

"Well the question is how are you going to come up with an idea that will give us a location when clearly our informant is not talking and I know better than anyone that he would rather die than say anything? Also not to mention that any way for the Avian and their angel to get through the barriers?"

Hibah stared at the vampire as a slow smile came over her face. She liked the fact that the vampire was pleased that there was an option and was eager to hear it. At that moment Sam and Dean came back in from their discussion with Dean saying, "Look Ninja, I know you wanna help…"

"I know a way how to find Ima," Hibah interrupted with a bland expression but her eyes were twinkling with excitement.

"What are you talking about habibiti?"

Hibah felt warmth from Sam's pet name for her. She knew that this would work. The same smile she showed Austin appeared. She glanced at Dean who was looking a bit stunned that he had been interrupted but almost seemed to expect Sam to jump in with anything she might come up with. She looked at Sam and replied, "I can find Ima. The answer is here… with family."

A/N: Looks like Hibah is here without permission and not going until she helps the Winchesters find Angie. What is her idea? Stay tuned for next time on To Hell and Back...