Chapter 2

It was supposed to be a routine training for the new recruits for the whole week. Their run was nearly over and Christian thought that it would be a privilege to let them have a night off. They assured him that they would blend in and not cause trouble at the bar. He was suspicious but they gave their word so he was willing to chance it.

While they were gone, one of the messenger birds arrived with an important notice from the Council. The missive was an important mission and they would trust it with no one else. The information at the bottom surprised him a bit and he rolled his eyes at the prospect. He knew she would have something to say about the reference to her. Since it was of importance, he decided to find his charges and prepare them to meet her.

They were at the bar, he knew it by their scent and he prayed that they weren't stark raving drunk. They tended to act like idiots when drunk. What he didn't expect was to come across his charges in the middle of a fight with hunters. He groaned inwardly since it would take a lot of convincing to make the hunters back down and not reach for the guns or blades. He did have to admit that the two males were holding their own pretty good. Still he had to put a stop to it.

As he approached closer, he could see who the third hunter was that was beating Govina to a pulp. He called out, "What's going on here? Angela?"

He didn't expect for Angela to whirl around like she did. She said, "Perfect timing Fang Boy."

Christian loathed the nickname she had saddled him with and was on a futile campaign to get her to stop. It was automatic as he replied, "I didn't know that I had a date with you."

"Not in a million years."

"Well then I guess we'll have to settle with impromptu meetings," Christian replied grinning. "Now maybe you can tell me why you and your friends are beating the crap out of my trainees."

Angela was still scowling at Christian. She liked the guy since he wasn't like the other snobs she had met. She was scowling mainly because he was stuck with the three idiots lying on the ground. When he asked her the question, she looked at him disbelievingly and indicated with her hands, "These," she indicated with her hand, "are trainees?" She scoffed and then asked, "Whose? Jarvis or the dicks we deal with?"

"One guess," Christian replied, crossing his arms.

"No wonder," Angela replied and gave the one she had beaten to a pulp a none too gentle boot to the rear with her foot. She was still angry and it wasn't going to die down soon. "The Council recruits dicks these days. No manners."

Christian raised a brow. "Possibly you're right."

"Excuse me but what are you two talking about?" Dean interrupted. It was obvious that Angela knew the new guy and the new guy knew the douches that tried to jump them.

Angela was still scowling at Christian but relaxed it and explained, "Sam, Dean, this is Christian and these morons are his trainees. They are warriors for the Centurion, the order that I occasionally work for."

"Occasionally? Quite an interesting choice of words," Christian replied.

"Go stick it up yours Fang Boy. Your boys need to learn the meaning of the word 'no.'"

As much as Christian loathed the reference to his fangs, he was not going to make an issue of it. Listening to Angela talk, he got the impression that the trainees tried to make a pass at her and were persistent after she said no. He could tell she was in a cold rage and surmised that they did something that drudged up emotions that were best left alone. "My apologies. Govina, I assume that you're too drunk to not recognize a Shadow Master?"

A groan sounded from the one with the mangled face. Angela glared at Christian for the use of a title and then directed it at the douche on the ground, "I'm guessing they didn't teach you that." Looking back at Christian she then asked, "So are you going to collect your morons and go?"

Christian had to give her the missive but he knew that right now was just not a good thing. He gave a nod and barked an order. The three idiots slowly got up and started to walk in the direction that Christian had come from. Govina paused to look at Angela and tenderly touched his face where she punched him before walking off into the darkness. Christian waited until he was sure they were gone and said, "I'm sorry Angie."

Angela managed to cool down while they left but she was still pissed and it showed by the way she crossed her arms across her chest. She gave a nod of acceptance and said, "Tell the Princess I said hello."

Christian nodded. "Will do." He then turned and walked away.

Angela continued to watch until she heard, "You okay?"

She turned to see the brothers looking at her. She was going to have to explain eventually her outburst but right now, she couldn't. "I need some pie," she said and walked towards the exit and started walking down the street.

Dean looked at Sam and said, "Sam, seriously, you need to talk to her."

Sam looked at Dean as if he were out of his mind. "What? Dean, why me?"

Dean gave a look that clearly said that Sam was utterly blind or stupid. He replied, "Come on Sam. You're the one that likes to do the talking. Go do that emo thing you do Samantha."

Sam threw his best bitch face, one that clearly said he was annoyed even though he was concerned about what had just happened. "Don't call me that Dean." He looked in the direction that Angela had taken and noticed that she was already a fair piece down the road. "Alright I'll do it but I can't if we don't catch up."

Dean looked over his brother's shoulder and a scandalized look came across his face. "Damn she walks fast." He led the run to the Impala but it seemed that Fate caused them to be given obstacles.

They caught up to her a few miles down the road in a diner that was virtually empty save for the kitchen staff which was somewhat weird even for the Winchesters. Dean was going to stay in the car but Sam gave a silent look that told him he was coming along. Of course Dean looked at Sam as if he were dragging him to see a chick flick and reluctantly got out of the car and followed his freakishly huge brother into the diner.

Angela was sitting at the table, slowly eating a piece of chocolate cream pie while the table was littered with two empty plates and several plates each with a slice of pie. She had found the diner while walking off her anger that advertised a wide variety of pies. Intrigued she walked in to find about three patrons sitting at the counter. Wanting to be alone, she 'suggested' that the patrons would find better entertainment at home. It wasn't much but enough to make her feel guilty about using her powers for her own purposes. So now she was on her third piece to ease the guilt and cool down the remnants of anger. She didn't look up when she heard the door open and two pairs of boots walked in. When they came close she said, "I found pie. Care to join me?"

Dean was not one to resist the prospect of pie. He definitely thought Angela was a good luck charm when it came to pie. He sat down and looked at the pieces still on the table trying to decide which one to start on. He tried not to flinch when the dish with the apple pie slid across the table towards him. He glanced at Sam who sat down beside him and tried not to look obvious. Dean looked around and said, "Sure is quiet in here."

"The others decided a home cooked meal was better."

Sam looked up and caught Angela's eye. He guessed that she used her mind thing she told him about and judging by the downward turn of her eyes and the sudden interest in the bite of pie, she was feeling guilty about it. He asked, "You okay?"

"Nope." Angela finished the bite she had scooped up on her fork before putting it down. She watched as Dean shoveled a bite of the pie she had offered into his mouth. Before the silence could get awkward, she continued, "Just something the guy said set me off."

"Must've been something bad for you to go incredible Hulk like that," Dean replied as he manipulated a bite in his mouth.

Angela looked at Dean thoughtfully as she remembered back to a time where things happened that she thought would never end. Then she went back further. She remembered the feel of the blade and the breath against her neck. The burning sensation of skin being sliced open and the feeling of warm blood spilling out. Then that warm moist feeling… Then he called her that name. Out loud she said, "Bad experience and I wasn't pleased to see Fang Boy."

Sam toyed with the piece in front of him for the lack of anything better to do. He got the feeling that there was something more to it and he could tell that Dean thought the same thing. Problem was their partnership was still very new even after a few months on the road doing the job. Did they really have the right to demand answers all at once? It's not like they shared much about themselves except for things she discovered by accident like the fact that he and Dean went a little loopy on the really good stuff after they left West Point. Sam decided the best thing to do was act like he did when he made friends at Stanford. He took the bait on the switch of topics and asked, "Why do you call him that?"

"He's a vamp. Nobility actually."

Sam replied, "One of those that are born. Right?"

Angela nodded. Dean by then had finished his first piece and started in on his second. There were about seven pieces untouched sitting there. He commented, "Great. So do we have to worry about killing anything?"

"Dean."

"What? Sam I was just asking since with him around seemed to piss Angie off."

The moodiness that had permeated Angela seemed to lift as she watched the brothers interact. It was enough for her to actually chuckle and say, "Not him personally. His presence means the Centurion is involved and I'd rather not be."

"Why? They're pissed because you didn't call in or something?" Dean managed to fill his mouth with a large bite of what looked like lemon pie.

"They only call me when they want something and it's usually of the highest importance. His presence there with the trainees was no accident."

"Maybe they think you are the only one who can get the job done," Sam offered.

"Nice try Sam," Angela allowed. "The order has others, some older than me. Remember the whole sufferance thing? Fang Boy will be back." She then dug into her unfinished piece. "Quit mutilating a perfectly good piece of pie Sam. Eat it."

Sam opened his mouth to say something but decided against it. He stopped playing with his slice and took a bite. There would be time to ask questions later.

The stars were bright and could actually be seen. It was one of the perks of traveling the lonely highways. Angela could make out the various constellations as well as the stars. She was actually muttering the rhymes she had been taught by a friend, some being a little risqué, but that was who he was. She was actually reciting a particularly raunchy rhyme that reached the ears of her soon to be companion and hearing the words nearly made him blush.

"I didn't know you thought that way about Scorpio."

Angela chuckled as she put her hands behind her head and leaned back against the windshield of the Impala where she had been sitting. She replied, "Not me but a friend of mine who had a peculiar sense of humor. He taught me the constellations and the rhymes were a means of remembering which was which. I wouldn't teach them to a kid though." She glanced at her companion and added, "Don't tell me I've despoiled your innocent ears, Don Sammy."

Sam scowled at what she had started by giving him a boot polish mustache and goatee. He replied in a playful tone, "I'm going to get you for that."

"Be my guest," Angela replied as she lounged on the car. She extended her legs and crossed her sock clad feet at the angles to stretch the muscles. "I warn you though, I can hit pretty hard. Dean should be getting his soon."

Sonofabitch!

Sam and Angela looked towards the room where the strings of incessant cussing were coming from. Sam looked at Angela and asked, "What did you do?"

His question was answered when Dean yanked open the door and shouted, "Sam!" Dean had something furry glued to his eyebrows and feathers were in his hair and something akin to war paint in non-traditional sigils, some implying certain things were on his face and torso. To add insult to injury, the kachina was fully mobile and giving kisses to Dean's cheek while initiating a courtship dance on his shoulders. When Dean's eyes lighted on the pair, he said, "Sam I told you not to touch the kachina."

Sam had to admit that it was comical. He had started laughing and had a hard time stopping. "Not my fault a girl kachina likes you."

Dean scowled, "And what about the paint and the other stuff?"

Angela was laughing out loud. It was a miracle she hadn't fallen off the car because of it. She said, "Looks good though I think a happy face and the phrase 'I wuv pie' is not a traditional Indian sign." She pulled out her cell phone and took a picture.

Dean scowled at Angela. She was smirking too much. He knew she was the one who did it. "You're gonna get it Angie. Just you wait."

"Try me though if I may make a suggestion, I suggest that you and Sam tag team on this one." Angela smiled widely as she put her cell phone back into her pocket. She then returned to star gazing while humming the rhyme that Sam had walked in on, making him blush.

Dean said nothing but went back into the room. His protests directed at the kachina could be heard as he told it to get off. Sam was chuckling but then he frowned, "How did you do that? You don't come into our room unless you knock." It then dawned on him, "You activated the kachina didn't you?"

"Yahtzee. Gave her the supplies and relayed the plan," Angela replied. "Aside from fighting, planning is what I'm good at. Logistics."

"Don't tell me you fought in a war too," Sam replied wondering what else she might surprise him with.

"Nope but I was a nurse. Which war, I won't say."

"Bet you looked nice in the uniform."

"You implying that I wouldn't?"

Sam knew she was playing with him but he had been around women enough to know that when they brought up the issue of body image, it was best to either get away as far as you can or say something and pray that they didn't eat you alive. He chose the latter and replied, "Not at all especially since you looked nice in that dress you wore in Chicago."

Nice save Sam, Angela thought and she voiced it out loud, smiling. "So now that the night's fun has been achieved, what did you need?"

"Nothing really. Thought I'd might join you."

"Make yourself at home though I suggest taking those shoes off. Wouldn't want to get unnecessary dirt on the Impala."

Sam gave a tolerant shake of his head. He knew that Dean never minded but with Angela, it seemed that she was a bit more obsessed with the car than his brother. He got on the hood on the opposite side and before swinging his legs up, he humored her and took off his shoes. Leaning against the windshield he looked up at the stars. Sometimes when he and Dean would have a night off, they would look at the stars. There was something peaceful about it… like everything was normal.

"Taurus is his name and sensitivity is his game. A blessing it would be of carnal lust and pleasurability."

Sam looked at Angela who had her hand raised up and was tracing the outline of the constellation with her finger. She really did have strange friends if they taught her that. He asked, "Another one of your friend's rhymes?"

"Yeah."

"Are all of them… like that?"

"Pretty much. When he taught them to me, he told me I had to loosen up a bit. I was struggling to learn the constellations and the astrological signs and he volunteered to help me."

"Why learn them at all?"

Angela gave a small hum as if to laugh. "I asked the same question. My father said it was a tactical advantage. Didn't blame him given what he was." She shrugged her shoulders to indicate that it was of no importance.

Sam gave a slight snort. That sounded so much like his dad. "Dad would say something like that. He was… dedicated to this job."

Angela listened to the choice of words Sam used. She knew what John was like and she could tell that Sam was just trying to be polite. She thought for a moment and closed her eyes. Slowly she opened them and said, "That's the interesting thing about fathers. They become dedicated because they are driven by a single purpose: to protect their greatest treasure. They would do anything for them, including dying to save them."

Sam listened to Angela talk. He found that she had a way of hitting the nail on the head on certain issues. "Even if you thought that he was doing it for a macho showdown?"

Angela gave a slight nod. "A good father knows what is important. Sometimes he may not be able to show it as well as you would like but when he does, it may not look much but it is worth more than wishing for what you've never had."

Sam was quiet for a time mulling over what she had said. She sounded like she spoke from a similar experience that he and Dean shared with their father. He was aware that she had a tendency to go into what Dean called the chick flick mode at times when they didn't want to hear it but they needed to hear it. This though felt more like a screen put up to shield what was really on her mind. It was like trying to get a wild animal to trust you. He replied, "That's true but what if he's not around to protect or save you and something bad happens, what do you do then?"

It was a loaded question and Angela knew what Sam was getting at. He's good. She suspected that he had been saving the questions for later. She was ready now. "Learn from it and try to not let it rule you."

"I'm guessing that was what happened at the bar. I noticed that you didn't like it when his nose got too close to your neck."

Angela could still feel the sensation of it. She was definitely going to take a shower before bed and in the morning. "It brought up memories from a long time ago, back to a time when I had blood forcibly taken from me."

Sam turned to look at Angela and frowned at the blank stare she was giving at the sky. "Vampire?"

Angela was remembering that night in clarity as she nodded. "Understand something Sam, when a vampire takes blood by force especially from other vampires and people like me, it is like being raped and it leaves scars." She rubbed the spot where she had been sniffed at with her hand. "It was foolishness on my part. I was young and wasn't prepared for the consequences." She then frowned in anger, "He called me a whore, Sam. And he was the one who took something from me."

Sam listened and it dawned on him why she beat that trainee Govina to a near pulp. It explained her reaction when she flung the other two like they were nothing. It then occurred to him that the Govina guy must have called her a whore and that triggered her reaction. It was easy to feel sorry for someone but with Angela, he didn't. Rather he was proud that she fought back and he was angry that someone had hurt her. It was rather unsettling since he didn't know her that well but there was something about her… He looked for something to say, "I… suppose that's why you like to be alone."

Angela heard the hesitancy in Sam's voice and looked over to find him jerk his head back to look at the sky. She looked up at the stars again. If only he knew. "No. I don't like to be alone. I feel I have to be and mainly because of what I am… a half human, half blood sucker."

"You've been listening to Gordon."

"Maybe but walls like that take time to break down or at least open a little. At least one is willing to try." Angela looked over at Sam and gave a slight smile. Sitting up she gave a slight yawn, "I must be getting on if simple chats make me tired. I'll turn in." She slid off the hood after making sure her shoes were on. "Thank you Sam."

Sam sat up and watched her go to her room. She stopped and smiled when she heard Dean telling the kachina to stop whatever it was doing and then walked to the door next door. He got off the hood of the Impala and went to his and Dean's room. He frowned as he thought about their conversation and then he remembered the rude little rhyme she said about Taurus and blushed and wondered if it was coincidence that she mentioned it. He opened the door and found that Dean had managed to get the eyebrows and the paint off, however there were a few feathers still stuck in his hair and the kachina was running around frustrating Dean in his attempts to catch it. Sam smiled and went to his side of the room.

Angela felt tired as she entered her room. All the pent up rage from earlier was gone and she realized that she had spilled one of her more painful moments in her life. She had never told anyone except the one who rescued her from that time. Now she spilled it to Sam. What was it about that boy that had her open up and leak her history like a sieve? Dean was just as bad and Angela thought that she was going to crash and burn with this and yet she found herself wanting what she saw when she touched the Impala.

Tossing her key on the table, she went over to grab what she normally slept in when she noticed something on her bed. Even in the dim light, she could see clearly. She walked over and picked it up. The answer was on her bed in the form of an envelope. She cast a look around before opening it. The letter was parchment and she gave a wry smile. She opened it and read:

Angie,

As you know I regret what happened and we are leaving. I had hoped to give you a missive from the Council but I figured to wait on that. After I see to the trainees, I'll come see you. You continue whatever it is you are doing. Again I am sorry. I will let Akira and Austin know that you are all right. Till we meet again—Christian

A/N: Well a nice little chat and a prank was released on Dean. And Angie knows a few smutty rhymes and who taught them to her?

Will Dean get Angie back with a prank? Will Sam? Find out next time on The Order of Melchizedek...