Chapter 2

It took a lot of effort not to go overboard with the emotions but Sam felt overwhelming relief to see Angela standing there looking hopeful at him. It didn't matter anyway since she came running full speed and collided with him much like when Cerebus tackled him one time. She then leapt from him to Dean and murmuring whatever she could get out.

"Well I see you are who you're supposed to be."

At that moment Angela had wriggled back towards Sam and hung on like a barnacle to a ship. She looked at the woman and said, "This is my Sammy n this is big brother Deanie." She looked at the Winchesters and added, "N this is Kate."

Kate took in the scene and was still trying to process everything that had happened the past week. She had been minding her own business and was actually happy that she was pretty much with a clean bill of health. She still was baffled at how that happened but figured that the kid with the funny and cute schoolboy friend or babysitter of hers was just one of those angels sent by God or something like that. She was grateful and decided to live.

It was like out of an old movie when a guy showed up out of the blue with the same kid in his arms and asleep. She was stunned speechless as the guy explained that her services were needed. Normally she would have protested and say something about being dumped with strange kids even though she sort of knew this one. In the end she found herself agreeing to the guy asking that she watch over the kid and that two numbskulls of brothers would be coming for her.

Kate found herself agreeing to look after the little girl and readily accepted her in her arms. It was then that the girl woke up and sleepily murmured, "Came to Kate."

It was cute and a little pathetic and Kate couldn't refuse. She looked at the guy who seemed to be deep in thought while staring at the sleeping girl. He looked like he was reluctant to let her go or something. She asked him, "You sure you want to leave her here?"

He stared at her before turning a pair of hazel eyes at her in a stare that had her shut her mouth. She thought he was going to do something to her given the look that he was giving her. She was relieved when he said, "She said your name. She likes you."

"I'll take care of her," she said while holding onto the little girl.

"Do it. When Sam and Dean get here, give them to her."

Kate thought that he was going to say anything else in terms of what to do with her. He did continue to stare at her and it made her feel a bit uncomfortable. Then he decided to startle her when he reached out towards her. She thought he was going to change his mind and do some weird thing to her. Her body tensed up when he did that.

Her fears though had been unfounded when his hand reached for the face of the little girl and touched her gently on the cheek. She watched as he gently stroked the little girl's dark locks and trailed to her cheek and stroked it gently with the back of his finger. It was then she saw his expression change to one that she was seeing now on the tall guy named Sam but it was different. She knew then that the pair was the one she was to expect. That and the fact that the kid recognized them.

Looking at the two Winchesters, Kate said, "Well this has been an interesting week. I was wondering if that strange guy was just jerking my chain."

"Strange guy? What guy?" Dean narrowed his eyes as he picked up on what Kate was saying. He wasn't going to rely on Sam for the moment since his brother was effectively worn down and currently occupied with checking out their girl and making sure she was all right.

Kate noticed the tension that erupted in Dean and took a step back. It was her living room, in her house, and yet she felt like she was being pushed out. She was still not sure about them but from the way the little girl was acting around them, she was willing to give a little and accept them. "Yeah he um… brought her here a week ago. Said that she needed to be looked after."

"Do you know what he looked like?" Dean knew that he was probably scaring the woman though he was under the impression that she was tougher than she looked.

Kate shook her head. The most she remembered was the way he looked at her and the way he looked at the little girl that was now content hugging and cuddling with Sam. She replied honestly, "Not really but…" She looked at Dean and noticed the look that was shot her way. Whatever happened that ended up with Angela in her care for the past week was serious and it was deadly serious to them. She was about to be sharp but softened her tone as she continued, "Look, if he was going to hurt her… Would he have brought her to me?"

"Don't know. You could be something nasty and playing us," Dean offered with a shrug.

Kate rolled her eyes at that. She couldn't really blame them though. It was obvious that they looked like they had been through hell trying to get here. "Well I'm not. The only way I know your… sister, right? The only way I know her is that she came into my room in the hospital in Alliance and started talking to me."

Dean looked at Kate closely as if trying to see if she was lying or not. So far this whole thing was not the usual and it was pissing him off and turning him into Sam on his best day. Sam was turning into a bigger bitch than usual. He wasn't trying to pick a fight but trying to piece together what happened since Loretta and her asshole group came after his girl at Bobby's house and Bobby and Castiel were protecting her with the dogs and some guy comes and takes her out of there. It was all too weird and he was concerned something might have happened to her.

Kate stared back but she couldn't help but look at Sam and Angela. The little girl was standing on her couch and reaching out and petting Sam's hair like she was soothing him. The cute thing was that he was letting her but also rubbing her little back. Kate looked back at Dean and said, "Look what I remember was that the guy was insistent that I watch her. How he found me? I don't know. But what I do know was that he seemed reluctant to leave her here with me but he did."

While it wasn't completely satisfactory, Dean was going to have to accept it. As far as he could tell Angela was fine and this Kate woman was not like any of the fuglies they came up against. He did find it strange that she just accepted Angela into her house like it was nothing. Then again if Angela did meet her previously… He nodded, "Okay then. Sorry to be an inconvenience but we'll go now."

"You don't have to." Kate wasn't going to be rude. As much as she was still in a spin about what she had been through this week, she wasn't going to turn them out. Mostly it was because of Angela and what she noticed going on her couch. "You can stay the night."

"Nah, we'll find a place." Dean shuffled a bit uncomfortable since he actually had to be polite. "But thanks for looking after our girl. She means a lot to us." He looked Kate in the eye with an honesty expression.

"I can see that." Kate made a slight gesture, pointing in the direction of Sam and Angela. "Kodak moment I think." She couldn't help but give a slight chuckle at the whole thing.

Dean turned to see Angela petting Sam's hair and his brother was just taking it. Of course he could tell Sam was relaxing more and more and his arm was wrapped around her little body. Sam wasn't going to let her go any time soon. It really was a Kodak moment… and one that was a potential for blackmail. He fished his phone out of his pocket and aimed. He didn't see that Kate had the same thing in mind as she pulled hers out and took a picture.

Dean finished what he was doing and pocketed his phone. He put his hands in his jacket pockets and said, "Seriously, thanks for looking after her. We'll go and we won't bother you again."

"Well I was hoping you'd send your cute friend here. The one that's a blushing schoolboy and seems clueless. Wears a leather jacket." Kate knew that it was fishing on her end but it was worth a shot. She had the number but… She gave a slight smile.

Dean thought about what was being said. This chick liked Kesset? The world really was coming to an end if that were the case. Then again it seemed that the guard was better at scoring than Castiel. "Kess?"

"Yeah. He's nice and blushes a lot." Kate was smiling and took a breath. "Or tell him to call. He has my number."

Dean blinked at that. Definitely the world was coming to an end. He gave one of his more charming smiles and said, "Oh I'll let him know." While it was entertaining to think about, it did remind Dean that there was one missing member and they had no idea if he was dead or alive. "Thanks again. Um if you run into any problems, here's my number." He handed a card to her.

Kate accepted it and probably against her better judgment. Still there was something about these two brothers. She nodded, "Okay. You sure you don't want to stay the night?"

"Dean… she's tired."

Dean turned to see that Angela was starting to crawl into Sam's lap and cuddle herself to sleep. He also caught Sam's expression and realized what it meant. He looked at Kate and said, "We should go."

"If you're worried about the teeth thing, I already know she doesn't bite." Kate looked on in amusement as the brothers both shot her the same look of alarm. She did note that Sam adjusted his position, ready to bolt out of her house with the girl in tow. She took pity and explained, "She didn't mean to show me. She was scared and they came out. She tried to hide from me until they were gone but…"

"I don't know what you're talking…" Dean started before he cut himself off. There really wasn't a point to denying it. He looked at Sam and then said, "Alright. We'll be gone first thing."

Kate merely nodded and went to grab the spare blankets and a couple of pillows. This had been one crazy week. And yet somehow, she thought it was worth it. Her only regret was that Kesset hadn't been there and she would have liked to have seen him again.

It had been a perfect plan and it was fairly simple in terms of what was supposed to happen. Even a monkey could do it though it could be that might be insulting to the monkey. Things had taken an unexpected turn and now it was more of reaping the consequences.

Gabriel stood in the shadows and watched the house like he was a thief scoping out the place. He had been there for nearly the entire week after dropping his girl off with this Kate. He took a gamble since he didn't know her from a bag of beans but it was his Cat that gave her name up. It was the least he could do since his plan was falling to shreds.

The whole plan was to make it so the sorry SOBs called Winchester would appreciate her more. He wasn't blind and while she could hide things fairly well, he could tell that this whole thing about the Apocalypse was ragging on her. What he didn't like was the fact that up until lately the actions of the Winchesters just seemed to hurt her more. It was enough for him to come up with this whole thing in the first place. It was his mistake to assume that the Winchesters could keep her out of harm's way.

Deep down he knew he wasn't being fair in that assessment but it was hard to be fair when things that were bonded closely were affected. And to be fair, he saw significant change in Sam. It had been funny before but here it was evident that it was taking on a serious level. Still it gnawed at him which was why he acted the way he did.

He may have enacted the spell but he wasn't going to be irresponsible. He actually stuck around to keep an eye on things but didn't interfere. It amused him then since even in a small size, his Cat could make grown men do whatever the hell she wanted. She was still the same though and didn't abuse it though he personally thought it could count like that since she would never consider doing some of the things she did in her adult form. He was beginning to hope that what she gave was going to be reciprocated back.

He sensed something wasn't right the moment he spotted those humans make their way to the house at the Singer Salvage Yard. He still didn't interfere since there were a few people he knew of that liked to sneak around if only to tease his Cat and possibly the Winchesters. But he knew those numbskulls were out of state looking for something that only Cat would know about. He got closer but didn't make a move and it almost cost him.

Castiel was there too and that was another risk. Then there was Bobby who drank too much but still had the guts to stand up to someone with legs. And he couldn't forget the dogs. It always amazed him how dogs were naturally inclined towards his Cat even though she was half a vampire. As a general rule, even dogs disliked vampires or anyone with vampire blood in them. It went all the way back to the whole vampires and werewolves feud. It only confirmed that Cat was special.

It didn't bode well though and Gabriel made his move. While the others were distracted, he snatched her up and took her to safety. Of course he was in an awkward position since the humans who were really going to get it later had her captive and they dared to make a deal with her. He wanted to rush over there and start angel reaming ass and he sensed Castiel did too but he followed his little brother's lead and she got herself free and it gave him the chance he needed.

He felt bad for it since it scared her but his first thoughts were to get her to safety. It was an 'I told you so' moment when his spell pretty much backfired on him and she tried to hit him to get away and she was screaming for Castiel and Bobby. In a twisted way, it was like a stroll down memory lane to the first time that they met. She kicked and bit him that time as well as screamed at him to shut up because his voice was too loud. Good memories.

"You've calmed down a bit. Good. I was afraid you'd start destroying things."

Gabriel rolled his eyes as he turned to look at the one angel that could get away with the sarcasm. "And I'm still mad at you. What are you doing here Ami?"

Amitiel stood in front of Gabriel next to the street light. It had crackled and gone out the moment she appeared but it wasn't like he would have noticed. She moved her head in a slightly inquisitive manner but didn't move closer. "Just checking up on a brother who prefers to stay out of things."

"I just want it to be over but I can't stand the fighting." Gabriel crossed his arms over his chest and glared at her.

"But when push comes to shove you aren't afraid to dish it out," Amitiel pointed out. She knew that it was a bad idea to goad her brother but she couldn't resist and it had been a while. She clicked her tongue on her teeth and in a more gentle tone added, "I was looking for you. I sensed your presence at the Singer residence when I went to see Cas."

"Cassy okay?"

"To be like Absolution…"

"Her name is Cat."

Amitiel rolled her eyes and continued as if she hadn't been interrupted, "To be like her you would know the answer if you found out for yourself." She crossed her arms over her chest in a self-satisfied manner. She ended up smirking at the archangel and took in his glare with perfect nonchalance.

Gabriel huffed as he put his hands on his hips. He glanced over at the house and noted that the lights were off and the Impala was still in the driveway. He managed to relax a little since they were here and he wasn't picking up any distress from her. In fact she was content. He looked back at Amitiel and said, "Not my fault Cassy is direct."

"And you aren't?" Amitiel watched as Gabriel turned away in a huff. "Gabe. What's going on?"

Gabriel stared at the house that was now dark. His hands were on his hips since it prevented him from doing anything rash. He felt less inclined to tear anything from limb to limb now. "Had a close call," he finally admitted.

Amitiel nodded at that. "No wonder Castiel was bent out of shape."

"Do you even know what that means?"

"I know plenty," Amitiel replied with a firm look. Her brow was raised and the stare was perfect if Gabriel had been looking at her.

Gabriel was sure that he was getting the look. He could feel it on his back. "Stop that Ami."

"Stop what?"

"You know what." Gabriel whirled to face her. "I had a close call and that's it."

"There has to be more to it. Even if it weren't a close call, you wouldn't be like this." Amitiel had managed to get within a couple of feet of Gabriel. She wasn't surprised that Gabriel was not going to answer her. Something was up and it affected Gabriel deeply. The last time he had been that way was when… She turned to look at the house he had been staring at. She focused on it and searched for something that would be familiar to her. She found it and the result surprised her.

Gabriel knew that she knew and breathed out slowly. "It was a means to an end."

"Oh no doubt. I am surprised that you even managed to achieve it." Amitiel chewed her lower lip a bit. She wasn't willing to poke at it but now she understood. "Seems that the Winchesters are handling it."

"Pfft. Screwed that up. A monkey could do better."

"And being the ass you can be, you think you can do better."

"I got her out and brought her somewhere safe. I then… took care of a few things." Gabriel hated being defensive with Amitiel but she was the Archangel of Truth and boy did she know how to extract it. The only to effectively keep her from getting it out was essentially being an ass and pissing her off. She did have her moments though and she did what she did because she cared. "I took care of it."

"I'm sure you did."

"Don't even try, Ami. You know what you know and that's it." Gabriel crossed his arms over his chest to emphasize his point.

Amitiel studied him for a moment. She knew he was being serious and she figured on a few things. "I won't. But if you want my honest opinion… I'm concerned more for her. It's hard enough with one but having you both…"

"Blow it out your ass, Ami. I know how it feels and so do you." When Amitiel turned with a sharp look at him, Gabriel stood up to her. He wasn't afraid of her but he respected her and he pitied those that didn't bother to show that much to her. "I know," he reaffirmed. "I know that you know. So don't try to…"

"Fine then." Amitiel put her arms across her chest and huffed a bit. After a while she said, "I do have to ask. Why?"

Gabriel was musing deep in thought. He heard Amitiel's question but was taking his time coming up with an answer. In all honesty, when he came up with this scheme, he was doing something nice for his Cat. He knew her feelings and he was certain Sam felt the same way but was just being slow as molasses about it. After everything, he felt she needed something nice out of all this crap that she was now bound to do and while she hated the thought of it, she would do what she had to do because she cared. That was her.

It was fun and still was to watch the Winchesters cater to her whims. They certainly were much freer with their emotions around her. But it was like that before. This time though she had no memory of everything crappy, rather it was suppressed, and she was going with it. He liked watching her be so happy that he actually was jealous and was tempted to make an appearance. Maybe not as how he was but friendly enough.

It was easy to hold a grudge against the Winchesters for what happened. It wasn't their fault. It was his. Sometimes his schemes were not completely thought through. Only to the point that a lesson needed to be taught. Bonehead Sam still didn't learn what he tried to teach by icing Dean and he tried to shield her from that. It was a risk he was willing to take to mess with her memory like that and he knew she wasn't stupid. This… when he rescued her and took her to the woman Kate, he realized a couple of things.

For all his planning, he became acutely aware that she might figure out his involvement and… This was not going to be easily forgivable. He realized that when he watched as Kate held her and she was fast asleep over her shoulder. She had been scared when he grabbed her but she did calm down once she realized what he was. And that was a surprise since most of his brothers were dicks. Then again there were a few angels she actually liked.

Finally deciding on his answer, Gabriel said, "Only to make sure certain parties see what they are supposed to see."

To Amitiel, the wording sounding completely unlike the Gabriel she knew. She turned to look at him and saw him wear an expression that was almost bleak. It was like he was hit with a realization that he may have done something that he was not going to be forgiven for. She couldn't see it yet but she knew that with regards to his charge, he always had her best interests in mind… even if they ended up being a little foolish. She followed the conversation by being matter of fact with it, "You are referring to Sam."

"Actually both," Gabriel admitted. He turned a rather sheepish look at Amitiel. It was a good cover for what he was feeling. "She loves them both and with things the way they are… She's in the middle and she won't pick a side."

"I know that."

"And… it was for Sam."

"Figures."

"I'm glad she gave her heart. But I think I messed up on this."

"How long?"

"Couple of weeks… and maybe they did learn their lesson." It took a lot to admit that. Gabriel was surprised anything made it through the thick skulls that belonged to Sam and Dean. "But she has a little over two weeks left."

"Planning to end it?"

"The other side knows she knows something about something that would be an advantage. Problem is only she knows and given the situation…"

"Let them figure it out." It was bold but Amitiel figured it was worth a shot. At Gabriel's look she explained, "Let them figure out how to do it. It is part of the lesson in terms of not taking her for granted apart from your attempt at matchmaking. They won't let anything happen or die trying. Think about it." She gave Gabriel a pointed look before leaving him to think about it.

A/N: Well all is well and looks like Kate knows the secret about Angie and Dean's impressed Kess managed to get a girl and didn't even know how. Stay tuned for more Memory Resolved...