Chapter 6

"No way Cas."

"Dean, the Malachi…"

"Use her name."

Akira sat on the chair she had chosen to occupy next to Sam and her husband. She watched as Dean got in a fuss over how they were supposed to refer to her friend. She found it amusing that he would get into a fuss about her name when it hardly mattered. She leaned over and asked Sam, "Does he always do that?"

Sam thought it was a strange time to be asking about his brother's habits regarding references to Angela. Even he wasn't sure but he took a guess, "Kind of like how I only give two people the rights to call me Sammy."

Akira nodded at that. "I see." She sighed as she watched as Christian tried to make things seem easier. She knew right away that it was putting two alpha dogs into the fight. It was going to be difficult and to top it off there was an angel in the mix. She rubbed her forehead with her left hand and sighed.

"Dean, there is a connection between Angela and Kesset. The same one as I have with her." Castiel looked at Dean who was being adamant about not involving Angela in any plan that was to rescue Kesset. He didn't blame the hunter at all. In her current state she was vulnerable on all levels and he knew that something happened.

The connection had been dampened. It had been intended for the connection between Angela and Kesset to be dampened. Thinking about it, Castiel decided to do the same thing between him and her. He saw that it was a possibility that if anything happened to him while she was in this state, she would feel it. That he would not allow. It seemed though that it was going to be what Dean called biting them in the ass.

"Cas, no," Dean was saying. "She's been through enough."

"Exactly." Castiel stepped forward looking at the hunter. He stared at Dean hoping that he would at least listen to what was being said. "I know because I felt it. I sensed her fear and anger. It was unlike anything I've sensed before."

"Which is why we can't let her get involved," Dean countered. He knew that the angel was right and looking at Sam's posture his brother was in agreement but they didn't have to like it. It was troublesome that Sam was being so zen about this. "We really don't know what she'll do but I do know is that she was scared out of her mind and me and Sam were the ones spending hours trying to calm her down."

"Dean," Christian decided to enter. It was risky since he was not completely up to speed on what was happening and had yet to see the person that was his first true friend. "Perhaps we have little choice. This demon will keep coming after Angie for what is in her head. We need to find it before they do. There are ways…"

"And hell no to that," Dean countered.

"It's perfectly fine for vampires…"

"Uh no it's not." At the look he was getting, Dean felt compelled to explain, "Don't forget about the part where certain things never go away when you do that crap." He stared at the vampire and noticed the flicker of thoughts going through Christian's mind. "Yeah I know about the side effects that can occur and that is to the person looking into the memories. You really think I'm going to let you dig into her head without knowing how it's going to affect her… you got another thing coming."

"And what do you propose Winchester?" Christian had been goaded into posturing when Dean stood up in front of him. It was an instinct thing and lately he had been compelled to obey them. "Going out there and pounding pavement and hope that you find something?"

"Worked so far."

Sam made a slight face as he ran a hand through his hair. This was going nowhere and the sad thing was that he knew their best option was going through Angela. Like Dean, he didn't want to do it since she was already scared enough. There had to be another way. Perhaps there was some way… But judging from the way Dean was reacting…

"Alright ya idjits we got a problem here and the only option we have is considered no go and that's final." Bobby crossed his arms over his chest like a parent would when his word was final. "It's my house and that's final." He looked at Christian who was going to speak and managed to add, "And that includes this shed."

"Very clever," Akira murmured with a smirk. Her friend and husband were more alike than they would ever care to admit in public. They both had a sense of humor that was sarcastic and caustic and they both loved to argue semantics. She had witnessed Christian doing the same thing to Austin at times and more often with Liam ever since the wedding.

Sam had to agree since he heard her comment. It also made him realize how much Angela would be on the same boat. She had been doing that to try and help Bobby after he got put into the chair. He actually had the stray thought that if she were here she would say to go for it. God that was so messed up. He cradled his head in his hands and ran his fingers through his hair.

Akira noticed and with the vamp, the hunters and the angel arguing, they weren't going to pay attention. She figured Sam had an epiphany and it was one that she toyed with too. She leaned in and said in a low voice, "You realized she would say to do it."

Sam didn't look at Akira but preferred to stare at the ground. "Yep and the sad part is that she may be right on this."

Akira nodded as she gently patted Sam across the back of the shoulders. It was treading on dangerous territory had Angela been full grown since there were certain areas that were pretty much off limits. However, Sam seemed to need it and she intended it as a gesture from a friend. She gave a slight click of her tongue, "Yeap and that's why you and me are the ones that think outside the box."

Sam had been thinking about how wrong and how right the current option was. It vaguely reminded him of the whole thing about him and the demon blood. Given the fact that Angela was a little girl, the choice fell to him and Dean. They were the ones that had been taking care of her and that was where the argument between the others was going at the moment. So he was against playing with her mind like what Christian hinted and what could happen. He was not going to let her get hurt. "Can't let her get hurt though I seem to screw up."

"I don't think she sees it that way. Considering the way she stuck to you like a barnacle." Akira patted Sam again. "I know you have an idea Sam. I can tell. I'm fresh out and I'm the one they consider the expert in all things like this." She couldn't help but chuckle at that.

"Actually I do," Sam replied and turned to look at Akira. "And I'm not even sure if it is a good thing considering it might be close to what everyone else is saying. And I don't want to look at the lesser of two evils. It's bad enough that Angie's gonna be involved no matter what."

Akira took in his expression and words. She knew there was a lot more to it behind those words. She would keep his secret as he pretty much was keeping hers though she really had to owe it to her friend. "Perhaps we should play peacekeeper here?" She gestured with her head towards the group.

Sam looked at the four still arguing and sighed. He just hoped Dean wouldn't bite his head off with this. "Hey, Dean."

Sam wasn't shouting but he was loud enough in a polite tone to catch everyone's attention. Dean looked over and said, "You got something Sam?"

Sam stood up and Akira followed and stood behind him. He thought he noticed a strange look on Christian's face but it was gone and he decided to ignore it. He focused on his brother and said, "Yeah. Use what started this in the first place."

"You wanna call Nick?"

"Like hell," Sam automatically replied and a bit of vehemence to it. "I meant… we should talk to… Morpheus."

"Morpheus?" Akira hadn't thought of that. She never even thought of that possibility. She quickly went through the possibilities that Sam may name and thumb through her mental library regarding viability.

"You wanna talk to that guy?" Dean wasn't sure he heard right.

"Sam, this guy, he's not exactly people friendly," Bobby put in his two cents worth. "You know that."

"Wait you talked to the guy before?" Dean waved his hand to focus on what his brother was saying. "When?"

Sam really didn't want to go into that and he was certain Dean wouldn't either since it was from that time. He had little choice though, "Uh when you were… from Wyoming."

Dean knew what Sam meant. He nodded. He still regretted that. "Okay then. So why should we talk to him?" He wanted to hear what Sam had to say. He couldn't say no yet and if Sam agonized over this for a time then it was worth hearing out. It was an improvement over the past where he would blatantly disregard Sam before he said anything.

Sam took a breath and made a slight face. The tension was thick in the room and Dean was looking to him to find something that would be agreeable. "He's the god of dreams and it can be a way to pull her memories without hurting her." He knew Dean was going to protest and continued quickly, "He controls the realm of dreams. Dreams are a product of the imagination and memory."

Akira saw where Sam was going with this. She nodded and interjected, "Right. Dreams are a dreamer's memories, thoughts; it's how the brain reconciles events that have happened. Anything can happen."

"You got that right," Dean replied. He glanced at Bobby and the grizzled hunter shrugged in acknowledgment. "So what Sam wants to do is a bit of bending the rules by talking to this god."

"I think Sam intends for it more as a politeness and we might need some help," Akira offered. She glanced at Sam to indicate that he still had the wheel on this.

Sam for his part took a breath and continued, "Yeah and even Morpheus has been known to bend his own rules." He looked down and then at Dean with an expression that said he hoped that his brother wasn't going to bite his head off. "Mostly to those he thought deserved it."

"So there is a chance he would say no or do something to us?"

"If it is a comfort," Akira interrupted, "He won't do anything to hurt Angie. He actually likes her." At the look that Sam and Dean were giving her, she explained and she was right in guessing that Sam was getting the wrong idea about a few things. "Morpheus taught Angie the finer points of dream walking. I don't know the specifics since it was before she met me but the long and short of it was that he was impressed with her abilities. He spent some time observing her and finally offered to teach her how to actively walk in other people's dreams."

"Well that explains why she said she didn't need the dream root," Sam said as he looked down and frowned in thought. He remembered when they offered it to her and she shook her head. Angela gave that smirk of hers saying that she had her own way of getting into dreams.

Akira looked at the brothers. She was sympathetic to their feelings and she could understand why they were frustrated. She had to admit there were things that she wanted to know and her friend kept them from her. It had her wonder what things her friend had seen that she felt she had to protect others from. She knew that Christian knew a few things and she ended up badgering him until he told her. She motioned gently in a calm manner, "I think Sam has a valid idea in terms of the whole thing with the keys. We just have to ask Morpheus nicely. In regards to the other thing about Kesset… let's let it lie for a time."

"That is agreeable," Castiel intoned. He didn't think so but he understood that a cooling off period was needed. He also knew how the Winchesters worked. Start slow and if it worked out, then they could consider other options and that would lead to retrieving Kesset.

Akira looked at the others. At the nod of agreement she clasped her hands together. "Okay then. Let me just…" She put her hand in her jacket to get the key only to find it not there. "Um… did any of you try to pickpocket me?"

The Winchesters shook their heads and everyone else gave a sign that they didn't do anything. Akira looked into her jacket again. She knew she had it when she stepped onto the property. She was going to say something when a slight shriek of surprise came from the other room. It was almost comical to watch the two Winchesters and Bobby immediately make a beeline to the bedroom and under the impression that something was going to happen, which was hardly the case when they opened the door.

Angela was lying on the bed and making her bear dance on the covers. She felt tired but she didn't want to take a nap. She was scared of seeing the lady with the white eyes again. She didn't like the lady and she said that she would hurt Sam and Dean. She told them and they said it would be okay and they kept the mean lady out of her sleeps the rest of the night.

She stayed by Lilah and Cerebus and they did their best to keep her comforted. They didn't leave her and she was glad especially when Sam and Dean told her that she needed to wait there. She didn't want them to go but she understood that they needed to discuss grownup talk. She believed them though when they said that this house was safe. They never lied to her. So she curled up on the bed and played with her bear and listened to her iPod.

She was listening to a song she liked when she sensed that someone else was in the room. She also noticed that Cerebus and Lilah hadn't moved except slightly as a reaction. She turned to see the man that had taken her to Kate's house standing in the room. He was looking at her like he was happy to see her but he was sad. She sat up on the bed like she would sit on the floor with her legs crossed and looked at the man.

"What's you listening to?"

Angela pulled the ear buds out and paused what she was listening to. "Rascal Fats. What are youse doing here?"

Gabriel stood there looking at his Cat as she stared up at him much like she did when she was really was four years old when he unofficially met her. She gave him the same look when she was older and with her father. And that was after she screeched at him to shut up. He had been suckered in the moment he laid his eyes on her and he didn't regret getting to know her. True he made some mistakes along the way but… He smiled at her, "I came to see you. I got the feeling that something was bothering you. Am I right?"

Angela looked at the angel with a curious expression. He was nice; he smelled nice. She felt that she could trust him. She nodded slightly, "Uh-huh."

"Tell me about it."

"I was watching the pretty lady that told Sammy everything was okay. She had pretty eyes. Then this lady with whites comes and says she wants something out of my head. I said no n she said that she would hurt Sam and Dean. I told her to go away."

Gabriel nodded. He hid his anger as best as he could. Like his little brother and surely the Winchesters, he was ready to smite something. It only made him angry with himself for not foreseeing this. He could fix this but… Amitiel had a point about letting the Winchesters continue. It sounded like more manipulation and the kind he himself was guilty of but… He could tell he was close with Sam.

"Dey talking about what to do. Kess is in trouble. He's hurt n I felt it. Cas made it so I nots feel it much." Angela looked at the angel and sat up straighter. She sensed something wasn't right with him. "Why youse sad?"

Gabriel realized he hadn't been paying too much attention and was deep in thought. He looked at her and asked, "What?"

"Youse sad. Why?" Angela looked at the angel with a slightly saddened expression and a desire to help if she could.

"Just thinking," Gabriel offered not sure what else to say.

"Thinking too hard with head?" Angela had gotten to her knees and sat on her heels. "Sammy sometimes thinks too hard with head. He's still good." She gave a tentative smile at the angel hoping that would help.

Gabriel couldn't help but smile. Even with Sam breaking the world by breaking the last seal, she still loved him. Nothing was going to change that and… it made him feel like he was a douchebag. She was better than most people gave her credit for and she was the one people said was the monster. "Yeah it's that."

"Youse shouldn't think too hard. Makes head hurt and heart hurt."

Gabriel chuckled at that. "You're right on that. It does make your head hurt." He knew that the next part was going to be difficult even for him to swallow. He had an idea and he knew they would be talking about this in the other room. "I'm sorry about the bad dream."

"It's okay. Sammy n Deanie keeps the white eyes away. I still scared but Sammy n Deanie look out for me." Angela bounced a little and hugged the dogs. "Ceebee and Lilah helps too."

No doubt they do Cat. You have a way and are special in more ways than you can count.

Angela jumped off the bed and walked towards the window. She peered out and looked at the salvage yard. She could see the house from there and other parts. She hugged her bear close to her and said, "I wants to help them. Kess is in trouble n he's hurt." She turned to look at Gabriel who was watching her. "I wants to help."

"But it's dangerous Cat."

Angela frowned, "Why do youse call me that? My name is Angie."

Gabriel realized he had been calling by what he had always called her and she didn't understand why. His spell worked pretty well. He tried to find a way to explain things to her. "It's because… you look like a Cat. Short for Catalina. You remind me of a girl like you by that name."

Angela thought about it for a moment. She raised her brow like she was puzzled. After a moment she said, "Okay. It's okay youse call me that." She gave a smile to indicate that it was okay for the angel to call her that.

"Just between you and me," Gabriel confirmed.

Angela grinned and nodded. Her single braid flapped. Sam had done a single braid and tied it with both hair ribbons. "Okay."

Gabriel smiled in return. It was a start now to try and get her to agree to do what he wanted to do. It was going to be mean but… it would help them. "You want to help Sam and Dean?"

"Uh-huh."

Gabriel nodded and beckoned her to come closer. Once she was close enough he put his hand into his jacket pocket. "Well you know they are looking for something right? Well I happen to have what they need right here." He fished out what was in his pocket.

He had actually pickpocketed Akira on her way to this shed house. He knew that it would activate the moment Angela touched it and just as well since she had them made and used her blood. It would help a little and he could gently prod her memory to get the answer to come out and maybe discover what it was that the demons were after. He held up the final key… well he was sure it was the final key since he knew his Cat's penchant for the power of numbers.

Angela looked at the disk that Gabriel was holding up. It looked interesting and she was curious about it. "What's that?"

"This?" Gabriel made sure he had her attention. "This is a very special key. It can unlock something special."

"What special?"

"That I don't know… but you do." Gabriel smiled to get her to cooperate and be curious. She had to be willing to do this and while he was taking advantage of the fact that she was this size, the faster the Winchesters had what they needed, the faster that they could get to it and make sure that Lenya was taken care of. "It's in your head."

"In my head?"

"Yep. You see you actually have a memory that was put there by someone very special to me. She has your eyes and is tall and pretty."

"I knows her. I sees her in my sleeps all the time," Angela said happy to make the connection. If this nice angel knew her then… "Can I sees her like I sees you?"

Gabriel looked at her and continued to smile even though he wasn't exactly sure how that was going to happen. And that was something he would rather have time and distance to think about. As it were he couldn't take time so… he winged it. "Maybe, kiddo. She's pretty busy doing the same things Sam and Dean do."

"Really?"

"Yep."

"Then I wants to help." Angela beamed at the angel with complete trust in him. "What do I do?"

Now Gabriel really felt bad about this. He held the key in his hand and knew that he was at the point of no return. Taking a breath he plunged forward, "All I need you to do is to hold this and watch what you see. Okay?"

"Okay." Angela reached out to take the key.

Gabriel was about to hand it to her before snatching it back. "Just before we do this, this is a secret. If Sam and Dean ask about this, tell them that you saw it in Akira's pocket and wanted to look. Okay?" It was full of holes but he was certain she could pull it off.

Angela hesitated. She didn't want to tell a lie to Sam and Dean. She liked to tease them but this was a lie. "Why?"

"Because they really don't need to know about me," Gabriel countered. This was going to be more difficult than he thought. "I'm here for you and they won't be able to see me. You'll look silly saying you can."

Angela thought about it for a moment. She still didn't like it but it made it easier to swallow. Slowly she nodded, "Okay, sugar man."

"Call me Gabe." Gabriel couldn't help but laugh at her choice of words.

"Youse smell like sugar," Angela explained with a straight as she reached out for the key.

Gabriel handed it to her. He watched as she peered at it with a concentrated look. When it shot out the light to show the image, she shrieked in surprise and was followed by the sound of feet pounding.

A/N: Looks like Sam and Dean are being protective over what to do next and Gabe seems to be onto something. Keep watching for more Memory Resolved...