Chapter 21

Carter wasn't expecting the break in. He was surprised that Sam managed to get past all the patrols though he conceded that it was probably because he had help from the Avian and a dog as well as his brother. It was a well-played maneuver but he wasn't going to give up that easily since he had a few surprises up his sleeves. He took in the gun pointed at him and gestured subtly to his men and mocked, "Let who go?"

Sam was going to answer but Kesset did first, his anger clearly showing, "Don't toy with me you insignificant meat sack."

"Kess." It was all Sam needed to keep Kesset from going on a rampage right there. He was relieved that the guard was listening to him in some respect. He turned his focus to Carter while avoiding looking at Austin. He would play his role as needed. Looking at Carter, Sam repeated, "Where is she?"

Carter took in the fact that the Avian had backed down slightly. He had never heard of a thing done previously. Still he could buy some time. "So you have a pet Avian. Impressive."

"He's not a pet. Now answer the question." Sam had been scanning the room. He had noticed a couple of doors. The place was more like a funhouse from hell than a sanitarium with all the rooms leading to nowhere or somewhere. One of them had to lead to Angela. "Where is Angie?"

"Is that what her name is this time?"

Sam was trying hard not to lose his temper since it was clear Carter was playing games with him. He felt his teeth grind together while he kept his weapon pointed at him. Kesset was formidable looking enough to ward off any funny ideas that the two with Carter might have entertained. It allowed him to focus on one but he wasn't going to let his guard down.

Carter took in Sam's countenance. He noticed that Dean wasn't with him. "Big brother not here with you?"

Sam said nothing. The question rankled a bit like when Patrick the witch asked him something similar. The other side knew them well. It was usually one and where there was one, there was the other. He knew that he had pushed things forward without waiting to see if Dean was following. His focus was torn but directed towards finding her and…

"I guess little brother decided he could stand on his own. But look at how that turned out," Carter ribbed.

"The already impure decided to follow his path," Austin intoned.

Sam knew Austin was playing to his cover but it still rankled. He knew what he had done and he was trying to make amends. Sometimes it just seemed like a lot. He did manage to get out, "Tell me where Angie is and this doesn't have to go further." He really didn't mean it but he was willing to trade freedom for hers.

"Tempting but… no." Carter grinned as he stared at Sam. He could hear the scuffling down the hall and in the other rooms but since the brothers were separated, they were in more trouble than they perceived. "You see Sam… the gal was to get you one way or another. It was just gravy to have her. You after all escaped us the last time. I still wonder how you managed to do that when the poison was near its final stage. You were on your last legs."

Sam blinked a bit but didn't let his gaze falter. "Maybe you underestimated a few things."

"No because that old monkey gave me everything," Carter pointed out. He grinned to give the impression that he was either lying or not. He was leaving it up for Sam to decide. "It was the most potent ever. It should have killed you right then and there. If only that bitch hadn't screwed it up."

Kesset growled at that, "You dare such a thing you cur?"

It would have been funny if the situation hadn't been so serious the manner in which Kesset was speaking. It was like he was struggling not to swear, like it would make a difference, and he was picking words that were less vulgar. In reality he was on his last shreds of control; it was like when a drunken person was trying to make sense when they were talking about whatever before they passed out. Sam knew Kesset was trying and got the feeling that the guard would snap if he was taunted any further.

Carter, on the other hand, didn't care. He chuckled at Kesset's outburst since he was amused by the whole thing. "Of course. Your kind and that thing that looks human but his blood runs with the blood of a demon both need to be exterminated. And to think the cause begun by a freak is a noble one."

"Enough, Carter," Sam demanded, "Where is Angie? Let her go and this doesn't have to end badly."

"And I gave you my answer." Carter took a couple of steps backwards. Time for a little fun. "You know, there are some perks to learning about the other side in order to exterminate it. It is being able to use their talents against them."

It was unexpected when something crashed through and Sam was momentarily distracted. The next second he found himself being thrown into the wall while Kesset was attacked by renegades that been waiting. Sam looked to find that Carter was chuckling at him and he got to his feet while Carter said, "I've learned quite a bit. Now to give you a taste of what I gave her."

Sam had been on the receiving end of witch and demon offensive powers. The worst was feeling that your innards were being twisted around and crushed by an invisible hand. He wasn't going to even talk about what Zachariah did to him; it infuriated him every time he thought about it because of the consequences that followed because of that. This time he was just as infuriated since he was being prevented from finding Angela and while painful, it was the least of his worries.

Carter chuckled at the fact until he felt the tip of a blade on his throat. He looked to see Austin holding a knife at his throat. He looked at him and said, "So you aim to kill me brother for using magic against a taint. Ever hear of fighting fire with fire?"

Austin merely hummed as his gaze shifted into one that few had seen and lived to tell the tale. "Yes," he growled slightly, "And I know its meaning full well."

Carter grinned in pleasure. "Good."

Austin was quick to react to buy Sam time to get to his feet but it wasn't quick enough to deflect the blade that hit the back of his shoulder in a glancing blow. He growled as his fangs protruded in reaction and skidded to a stop to face Carter. The blow was painful but it was hardly anything now that his own blood was heated. He had been forced to keep it in check when Sam was first thrown but he wasn't going to stand it and took a stance.

Carter looked at Austin and chuckled, "So you really do give into the filth you are born from. And that of stray. No wonder she likes your filthy kind."

Austin growled in response since the accusation hit deep. He would have started forward but he was attacked by a renegade and then ganged up on a few leaving Sam alone with Carter. Sam looked at the guy and fired but the renegade took off running and Sam ended up missing. He gave chase though and followed the bastard through a door at the far end of the room he had noticed knowing that it was foolish but enough was enough.

Sam pulled the door open and ran right through. He found himself in a darkened room. The only light was moonlight filtering in forcing him to slow down. It appeared empty in there but he wasn't taking any chances. He moved slowly and kept his gun ready to fire if necessary.

He turned when he heard a sound and came to a full stop. It wasn't like what abandoned buildings had. It sounded… he heard it again and Sam felt his breath hitch. It cost him though.

It came from the left as Sam was spearheaded by a colliding body and rammed into probably furniture only it gave way and he fell to the ground. He reacted by trying to push the body off him and was given an elbow for his trouble. He didn't let up and forced the body back and got to his feet to find that he was in another room that looked like a bathroom or something given the tiling on the floor.

Even with the bad lighting Sam could see dirt, grime and he prayed wasn't blood along with a basin filled with water. He didn't want to think about what went on there. Actually he didn't have time to think about it since his attacker came out and swung right at him with something. Sam didn't know and care and at the moment he couldn't fire his gun since he lost it when he was rammed into there.

Carter grappled with Sam and rammed him into the wall. There was the clink of broken tile hitting the floor as Sam grunted from the impact. "Thought you'd be more impressive. You did manage to move with poison in your system."

Sam gritted his teeth as he got to his feet. He glared at Carter and prepared for the next attack. He was ready for it and blocked the blow and managed to land one on the bastard. He wasn't going to give the bastard the pleasure of a reply. It only seemed to encourage Carter and Sam caught a clout to his side from whatever it was that Carter was swinging at him. It hurt but it wasn't bad and he wrapped his hand around it to keep Carter from trying to swing it again.

It was dark and Sam knew that Carter had the advantage since they had been hiding out there and he probably had time to prepare. He did the best he could defending himself and used what he managed to hold onto the weapon that Carter had been using but Carter wasn't letting go. They both hung on like a pair of kids playing tug-o-war over their favorite toy and swung each other around trying to get the other to let go. It wasn't happening though and they ended up slamming each other into walls or whatever was available to use.

Sam held on until Carter managed to bash his head against the wall to disorient him. The next thing Sam realized was him being bent over and he got a knee to his abdomen and an elbow driven into his back. The double whammy was enough to stun him and he was thrown unceremoniously through a hole in the wall head first like a battering ram.

Sam landed on the ground amidst a shower of debris and coughed from dust going up his nose. He gave a slight moan as he listened to the sound of footsteps fading. He guessed that Carter was taking the long way around… whatever on that. He started to move to get up when the sound from before caught his attention. He looked around towards the source.

It was a soft moan that guided Sam. He felt his breath hitch the moment he saw the sight. She was alive; that much was clear. It was her appearance that had him pause. He could see the blood and the bruising. Slowly he stood up and walked towards her taking in the awkward angle of one of her legs, but the state of her face…

It was a moan of pain, actual pain that had Sam snap. That and the fact she looked so vulnerable and he was glad that it was just him and Kesset and Austin were busy in the other room. His hands clenched into fists as he heard the sounds of footsteps becoming louder. He cast a last look at her and turned to find a vantage point.

Sam waited for Carter to get close and he came out swinging the piece of piping that he had managed to find in the dark. He felt satisfying pleasure at the sound it made against human skin. He was ready to swing again when he heard laughter and Carter stepped into the light made by the moonlight filtering into the room. He narrowed his eyes and felt his breathing heave in anger but his gaze never left Carter.

Carter for his part wiped at the blood that was running from the cut on his head caused by Sam's blow. He grinned as he did it taking pleasure while glancing at his prisoner hanging there helplessly. He mocked Sam, "What has you turn the tide all of a sudden? It couldn't be the sight of her now?" He gestured towards his captive.

Sam felt his throat convulse in anger as he watched Carter lope slowly towards her. "Stay away from her," he warned as he followed Carter.

"A little late for that now aren't you?" Carter taunted Sam as he got close to her and touched her in a provocative manner. He could tell that Sam was barely holding on to any semblance of control. He was loving this. He slowly eased his other hand behind her. "I mean after all… We've pretty much had our way with her."

"If you…"

"Don't even try Sam Winchester. The damage is done. If anything after what we've done it's a miracle to say the least that she is still alive." Carter patted her shoulder, rubbing it into Sam's face that he was touching her. "Still she was fun to play with. I mean she really held out. You know she tried to convince me to turn back on my ways; to remember the boy she remembered?'

Sam paused a little but didn't let it show. So this bastard was from the past apart from when he tried to kill him. "It's what she does. She's a good person."

"She's an abomination. A self-loathing creature that created destruction in an attempt to cleanse her own soul as the religious nuts would say," Carter counted. "She's a selfish bitch who cares more about personal vendettas. She cared more about the demon than saving my father."

"N—not true… stupid."

The distraction paused both sides. To Sam it was a slight relief that she was still alive. To Carter it was more about being amused and he showed it by saying, "Still fighting me? When are you going to get it that you just brought Sam to his doom?"

"Seems that you got that wrong," Sam countered.

"Not really."

"I'm here."

"Yes, but it isn't what you think." Carter grinned as he shifted. He moved his hand to his prisoner's side in a seductive manner. He noted Sam's expression and made a few conclusions. This was too good. "You see… I do want you dead. You pretty much fucked this world up with you setting Lucifer free. But killing you isn't enough. So… say goodbye to the slut." He raised his arm with a knife in his hand, aiming towards her heart.

"No!"

Angela knew that something was going on the moment she heard gunshots and thuds that sounded like they might be the sounds of splintering wood. She also heard voices. She had been through enough of these to recognize the sound of a room being breached. Someone was coming. It was Sam… just like he promised.

She couldn't open her eyes since it was too tiring to do so but she listened to what was going on the best that she could. She had her hearing even though she was hearing the voices of Madison, Jess and occasionally Mary in her ears. There was also Carter's father Tristian who spoke of her selfishness. She tried to ignore them while she strained to listen. It was only when the door opened as it had so many times before that they finally stopped… for the moment.

The sounds that came next were the sounds of scuffling and she caught the whiff of a familiar scent. As much as she knew that the ruckus was being caused by Sam and Dean and whoever else they brought, she wasn't going to hold her breath. She knew that Carter would have covered his tracks and it did enter her mind that it could be a cruel trick he was playing on her. But she knew that the Winchesters would come. She didn't doubt that. It was the scent though that kept her going.

The people she had come to care for and loved all had a distinctive scent. The one that was slowly filling her nostrils was one that she remembered distinctly. It was the scent that made her feel safe as she admitted not too long ago. She knew that it was Sam in that room and it was confirmed when her sensitive hearing picked up his breaths even after the scuffle in the neighboring room with Carter. She wanted to speak but all that came out was a moan since it still hurt to take a deep breath and speak.

She must have blacked out a little but she heard the muffle of voices. The next thing she knew she felt the touch of Carter on her body. She thought that he was going to start on another torture session and that she must have imagined the whole thing. It wouldn't surprise her. She could hardly tell the difference between the two anymore. Yet she heard Sam's voice and his scent was still there. So this was real. She managed to open her eyes slightly to get a grasp of the situation and realized that Carter had been touching her. She cleared her head to listen in and managed to get out, "N—not true… stupid."

It was enough to have Carter talk like he was amused. He and Sam exchanged a few words and she struggled to make sense of them. She had been out of it and it didn't help that she was still on heavy drugs. She probably wouldn't be able to tell if they had left her system or not. She was seriously fucked up with most of her senses but she still had a few cards to play. And that was if she managed to stay cognizant for the remainder of it.

She sensed it rather than heard anything from Sam or Carter that the shell of the boy she knew had a knife in his hand and he was going to use it killing her. More likely it was going straight towards her heart. It wouldn't surprise her. She would probably do the same thing if she were what she was then. She then heard Sam's plea. That sparked her into action.

Somehow Angela managed to swerve and miss the killing blow. She did feel the knife slice into her skin and it burned. Fucking great that it was adamantium silver. Carter was always one to do his homework and he would have made sure that she was good and dead. As it was, she had no idea how she managed to get momentum and she swung and managed to bring her less injured leg up to give a back kick in Carter's direction.

She must have managed to hit something since she heard Carter grunt. The next thing she knew something hit her like a body block. It hurt like a bitch since she was already hurt and it swung her around like a fricking piñata. It did force her to open her eyes more and she looked around for Sam since she heard him cursing out.

She caught a glimpse of Sam as he rammed Carter into a wall and slugged him at the same time. There was no technique or strategy involved. Sam was just letting loose out on Carter. She could smell blood, both Sam's and Carter's. Sam's blood hit her nose like a those powerful perfumes and it was almost like she could smell his anger but it wasn't anger. It was…

The grunting caught her attention and she managed to look around. Thank God that her sight wasn't too bad. She was disoriented but not blind. She managed to catch Carter as he managed to Sam and turn the tables and was swinging his fist until it occurred to her that the bastard was trying to stab Sam. She started to struggle but she didn't have enough strength. She turned just in time to see the knife head straight towards Sam. It was enough for her to get out, "STOP!"

It was enough for Sam to gain the advantage since Carter paused at the interruption. He had grabbed the offending arm and wrenched his body and threw a hard punch to knock Carter senseless. It didn't stop Carter since he tried going for her again and she couldn't get out of the way. It looked he was going to reach for her neck and strangle her but he never got there. He had been grabbed behind the waist by Sam and flung aside.

It was that moment that Angela saw Sam's expression. She wasn't sure what it was but it matched what she sensed in his blood. She blinked as Sam turned away to follow where he had flung Carter aside. She blinked as she watched Sam disappear. Even though she could see through darkness like a cat would, she couldn't see what Sam was doing. She could hear him and she could smell it.

The sounds of flesh hitting flesh were in her ears. She also heard the grunts and Sam muttering in a near murderous tone. She couldn't pick out the words but she knew that he was pissed. Her throat convulsed as the pain from her injuries started to take its toll on her. The next thing she knew, she heard Carter laughing. It came out like he was choking for air. Then he said, "You think you've won here? You are dead wrong. This is a trap and you just fell into it."

"You are wrong."

"No… no… This wasn't a trap just to kill you. You're too good for that."

"You're finished."

"Maybe physically but what was done here… Ask her. Ask her what it was like to know that you can't go back."

Angela blinked and closed her eyes the moment she heard Sam's growl and the sound of something hitting flesh. There was also that wet sound of blood being spilled and the stench filled her nostrils. She ended up blacking out from the sudden onslaught of the stench. She breathed a word out but it wasn't clear in her mind.

Angie?

The soft timbre of Sam's voice filled her ears. Angela took a couple of breaths as she regained consciousness. It was then she heard the hiss of breath. It occurred to her that he was getting a really good look at her injuries… at least to her face. Anything else…

"God, Angie. What did they do to you?"

Angela managed to let out a moan that almost sounded annoyed but it was laced with pain. The relief was letting her discomfort be known. She tried not to let it out when she felt Sam's hands gently reach up her arms and unhook her from the hook she had been hanging from. She couldn't help it though the moment weigh was added to her legs and she let out a moan of pain as her still tied arms were draped around Sam's next. It was relief and agony since she had been hanging there for a long time.

"It's okay Angie. I got you."

The scent was stronger now. It was Sam's scent and reassuring along with his words. She allowed her weight to drop but tried to help as he lowered them both to the ground. She heard the sounds from the other room indicating that whatever had been going on was done. It then shifted to hearing a heartbeat, Sam's heartbeat. She tried to take in a couple of breaths but it was still painful and ending up moaning from the discomfort and starting to hate that she was showing it.

"I'm sorry, Angie."

What do you have to be sorry for? You came.

More voices entered… at least she thought so. The only thing for certain was that Sam was holding onto her and whispering apologies and calling for Dean. She just sat there with him and closed her eyes in relief that it was over.

A/N: Sam finds Angie and it looks like Carter has been taken care of. What next? Stay tuned for the conclusion of To Hell and Back...