Chapter 9

The dungeon look was getting old. So was being forced to stand with an iron collar. But it was entertaining to the demon by having him in the middle of the room and he was kicked, spit and punched on. It was like the old days of public disgrace before the prisoner was executed.

Kesset looked down at his wrists. They had been bound by iron shackles and he was led like a dog on a leash to the main room of wherever the hell he was. Apparently it was another room that had the dungeon/castle look and he was intended to have a conversation with whoever wanted to have one with him. He was left alone, save for the lone guard and his supposed father. He looked around twitching his brow and felt the cuts stretch on his face.

His wing felt better now that it had been set. He felt the pull from the stab wound but he couldn't do anything about it. He was just going to have to deal with it. He stood there in the middle of the room and looked around. He would have come up with a few ways of getting free but he still had the iron to contend with.

"So this is where the demon bitch is holding you."

Kesset turned abruptly to find himself face to face with Gabriel. He raised his brow, "Go away, hallucination."

Gabriel looked at the young guard feeling bad at what he was seeing. Sighing he replied, "I'm very real. I'm probably the only thing real in this place."

"No. This is a plot by the demon." Kesset turned, rattling his chains a little. "I will not betray my charge. I will not let harm come to her. I gave Sam my word."

Gabriel studied Kesset. The poor kid was staying strong but he was confusing reality with hallucinations. Whatever they were doing to him was forcing him to retreat to a place where he was certain. He knew that the demon holding him was forcing him to seeing things that were questioning his reality. Things were looking bad but he had to admire that the kid was like his father; loyal and steadfast to the end. Perhaps he could tell him what few knew or maybe he was the only one.

Kesset turned back to find that Gabriel was still standing there. The demon was getting much more creative with the torture. The most consistent was supposedly his father. He raised his brow at Gabriel, "Still here. She's getting sloppy."

"I'm not a hallucination kid," Gabriel replied a bit forcefully. He would hate to be forceful with the young guard but what was he going to do? He had to tread carefully since he was well aware anything that was serious that Kesset felt would be felt by his Cat. She wouldn't understand it except that Kesset was hurt and demand to find him. "I'm the only thing real here besides you."

"It is a lie."

"Look around you. See them reacting?" Gabriel hoped that this was enough to get Kesset to realize where he was at. He gestured around.

Kesset eyed Gabriel warily and looked around. He noticed that the guard and his father hadn't moved. They hadn't even reacted to the presence of Gabriel. That must be something but he was still suspicious and there was a way to figure out if he was going insane or not. "It could be that they think I am talking to myself. I have been doing that quite a bit lately."

Gabriel shook his head. The kid was good but he was being stupid about everything. He really couldn't blame the kid and he could blame himself since he put the kid into this position. He just had to cover all bases when he conceived this idea to help Sammy boy on a little more. "It's not that kiddo. Surely you know the rules of the dream world?"

Kesset stared at Gabriel, his eyes not leaving the angel. He glanced around a bit and studied his surroundings. There was some truth to what was being said but he still wasn't sure. The demon used his father to try and break him down. Narrowing his eyes at Gabriel, suspicious of everything, he asked, "And what if you are merely a figment of it as everything else?"

"I'm as real as it gets."

"There is one thing that was done to me by the real Gabriel."

Gabriel stood there looking at Kesset. He realized what Kesset was up to and commended him for that. The boy was definitely his father's son. He was just a bit smarter about it. And he was willing to die. The only thing he was sorry about was the fact that Kesset felt like he had to prove that he was better than what the others said of Setna. It was still a sad thing and from what Gabriel was seeing… it looked like the impossible was achieved. Well maybe not impossible.

Kesset stared at Gabriel and took the silence to mean that this Gabriel was a fake. "I thought so." He turned away and shuffled back to where he was supposed to wait. If it was a dream or whatever, then he might as well finish it. It wasn't going to kill him literally. The demon might when she was tired of him being a stubborn ass but until then…

Gabriel sighed, "I put a spell on you because you had to be a dumbass and swear the oath of veracity."

Kesset huffed at that, "Not too many beings try to be honest." He didn't look back at Gabriel.

"Well that was a problem considering you can't tell a lie and you figured out who was behind something regarding a mutual charge of ours." Gabriel took a step forward wondering how long Kesset was going to play this game with him. "It involved a reduction of size and making things start to go right."

Kesset listened to Gabriel. While it wasn't the direct manner, which was more Gabriel's style, it certainly had the embedded between the lines patterns he liked to use. If it were a hallucination by the demon, it wouldn't be this good. He turned slightly. "What mutual acquaintance?"

"One that we would both swear our lives to defend." Gabriel stood toe to toe with Kesset and looked him in the eye. If there was one thing that was consistent with the beings of the supernatural, it was the manner in which how they looked at whoever they were speaking to. Direct contact in the eyes usually helped determined who was sincere or not. He was counting on that coming through with the boy.

Kesset stared long and hard into Gabriel's hazel eyes. He searched any sign of deceit that could come from the demon's influence. He couldn't see anything and took the risk that it was the real Gabriel. Still he had to ask a few more questions. "Defend who?"

"You call her a princess. She's my Cat." Gabriel decided that if that wasn't direct, then he didn't know what else would work for the kid. Now it was up to Kesset.

Kesset considered the words carefully. The demon wouldn't necessarily know about Gabriel. Castiel maybe since he had been more or less directly involved. It was a risk and he decided to take it. He nodded, "Then I concede that you are real."

"Finally. I was wondering when it would click."

"Nothing is true," Kesset muttered more to himself but Gabriel heard him too.

"Maybe so in my world," Gabriel smirked. Sighing he looked around. "Now could we change the scenery? This is the dream world. You're sleeping kiddo."

Kesset made a sound at being called a kid. He didn't like it but he put up with it since there were beings that were older than he was. He wasn't sure though. "How do you know we're in the realm of dreams?"

"You really think I could find you with the mojo Lenya is throwing up?"

"Please. You could smite her ass. Poor excuse."

Gabriel glared slightly at him. "It's that hard to find you kiddo. There are things that can even put the blindfold on my eyes." Sighing, Gabriel looked around at nothing before added, "The dream world is pretty much the one place to find people. Weird quirk of things but that's something to ask Morpheus."

Kesset thought about it and then looked at his shackles. He had been chained to the ground to an iron ring. Looking at it, he thought about being set loose and then the chain was broken. He still had the shackles and what was left dangling on his wrists. "Huh. I guess this is the dream realm."

Gabriel decided to give the kid a break. He was having a hard time. So he gave a friendly pat to his shoulder. "It's okay. Takes a while to recognize the signs of a dream."

"And I get the feeling that you would have added that the princess is especially good at it."

"It's a gift from my understanding. Most of our talking is face to face anyway." Gabriel shrugged his shoulders. He started walking and looked at Kesset. "Take a walk with me."

Kesset followed after a second's hesitation. He jingled along aware that he could make it so that the shackles were off but he found himself suddenly weary by the whole thing. It was like that sudden rush of relief that happened and then you felt very tired. It was a relief deep down that he had one thing that was a consistent truth for him. He was still wary but he was more confident in that he was in the company of the real Gabriel.

Gabriel led the way through a door. He wasn't sure what he would find since this was Kesset's dream. They walked into a room that looked like a parlor but Gabriel wasn't sure. He looked at Kesset as they walked side by side. "You doing okay?"

"Bitch stabbed me and broke my wing. What do you think?"

"Looks okay now," Gabriel replied after taking a look. "Someone set it for you?"

Kesset debated how much he wanted to tell since it would get into a conversation that he wasn't even sure he wanted to or was even ready to confront. In the end he followed through his vow he had taken, "My father."

Gabriel stopped slightly. So he was correct with the dream image of an old friend. It seemed that the other side was getting clever. He really had to make it up to Kesset since it was his fault for getting him into this position. He continued walking, "Oh. Seems like they put him to work."

"It's not him."

"If you say."

"It's not him," Kesset repeated firmly. It was a clear indicator that the discussion on that was over. It was something he would have to deal with later. "But what they can do and what they want… I didn't say a word."

"I believe you." Gabriel looked around. "By the way, your father is not doing this of his free will. Since he gave his soul, he serves the pit and basically their bitch."

"No more please."

Gabriel looked at Kesset. He would be nice to him but this was something for him to think about. He was going to get into what the boy needed to be ready for when the Winchesters got their act together. "Okay. I came to see how you were doing."

"Doing fine. I'm concerned about the princess. She would know about what happened to me," Kesset turned towards Gabriel, feeling alarm at what was happening. "How is she?"

Gabriel raised his hands to placate the young guard. "It's okay Kess. She's fine. Believe to or not the numbskulls known as Winchester have the situation under control." He shot a look when Kesset made a face at the name he referred to the brothers. "She's okay and if anything, she's gonna insist that they look for you."

"That's what the demon wants. The demon wants her."

"No duh kiddo. Thought you gave the Winchesters more credit than that."

Kesset looked at Gabriel. It wasn't direct statement but it was essentially asking for his cooperation. It also indicated that the archangel was up to something. He wasn't sure if it was a good thing or not but now was not the time to worry. "What do you need me to do?"

"You know the connection works both ways. You need to talk to her." Gabriel stood in front of Kesset to look him in the eye. This was serious business and he wanted to make sure that it worked. "Reach her here," he added in a low voice.

"That sure was helpful."

Sam could only nod in agreement. His attention was focused on Angela as she slept in the bed curled around Lilah. She looked peaceful and much more relaxed than from earlier. It was a relief to him but he was still on edge. He was anxious and wanted things to return to normal. He liked taking care of her but he just couldn't trust himself to protect her in this state. He ignored the fact that she had never shown anything but faith in his abilities.

Aware that Dean was somewhat expecting an answer, Sam turned his attention to his brother and said, "At least the staff thing is safe."

Dean couldn't help but grin slightly. As much as he didn't like games that played with people, he had to admit that it was very clever of his girl to handle things the way she did. While it had been annoying to have to try and follow the clues, he could understand the reasoning and in the end both he and Sam learned a bit more about her. Granted she probably would have told them if they asked but they knew how she felt about her past, at least with some of the things she did. "That was pretty smart the way she handled it."

Sam couldn't help but agree, "She's not stupid… just… creative."

"Tell me about it," Dean countered as he gazed at her. "She pounced on me."

"Dude, you're still on that?"

"I'm impressed," Dean admitted. "Makes me wish she did it more often. I mean it's not every day you get tackled by the most gorgeous healer around." He grinned mostly to tease Sam.

Sam shot a warning look at his brother. It wasn't as bad as the panty raid comment when this all started but he still didn't like it. He turned his thoughts to what Morpheus had told them, a little reassured that where they had been was a safe place for her. He was still upset as was Dean about Lenya tormenting Angela in her dreams like that and would like nothing more than to make the bitch suffer. At least she had a safe place to go and judging from their experience told them, she had been there before.

Dean saw the look and decided to relent. While it was funny as hell, he wasn't willing to tangle with Francis being a bigger bitch than usual. When Sam got his dander up it was pretty damn scary but he still thought Angela was the scariest and she was the one that could do the creepy crawling through the shadows thing. "Alright, alright, alright. So there are two more things out there: the heart and the eye."

"We already have the Eye… at least I think so," Sam offered.

Dean thought about it for a moment and nodded, "Right the Eye of Horus. I think Bobby would have that."

The truth was they didn't know if it was at the house. Given that Angela led them on a goose chase for the staff it was possible she could do the same for the other two things. Dean looked around the shed where she mixed her concoctions and noticed there were a few other things that would have Bobby interested. They were of the supernatural variety and had him thinking she was like a regular Indiana Jones or something but with supernatural stuff.

Dean was scouring the shelves while Sam sat in thought and watched out for Angela. He just had to make sure she was okay. When they left Morpheus, they both told her to stay there when she was asleep and she would be okay. She looked at them with complete trust in her eyes as she agreed to it and it was baffling and it felt like the weight of responsibility was hanging on them both. Him especially since he was trying to make this up to her for what he had done and was failing miserably.

"Hey what the hell to you think this is for?"

Sam turned to see Dean holding up some sort of weird looking wooden statue that looked like it belonged with some tribe in the middle of the jungle or something. "Dean, put that down!"

"Relax Francis. I checked. It's not dangerous."

"Dean you don't even know what it is," Sam retorted as he got up. He plucked the whatever it was out of Dean's hand. "And you're lucky it didn't work its mojo on you."

"I checked," Dean repeated and he pointed to a label on the shelf. It distinctly said totems on it and in parenthesis 'not possessed'. "And you know she is just as anal as you about labeling things."

Sam felt a little foolish but his worry held merit. Some of the things they had come into contact with looked seemingly innocent but they held deadly consequences. They hadn't seen the staff but he was willing to trust Akira's pronouncement of how bad that thing could be if in the wrong hands. He looked at the statuette and studied it.

It did look like those African carved statues people bought for their living rooms to make it look more exotic. It did look harmless but since it was Angela, it was probably an idol to a god or demigod or a sprite… one of those things that could make life hell if they wanted to. Or it could be something that was meant to look good on the shelf. He set it back where Dean got it from and said, "And like me, stop messing with her stuff."

"Hey she messes with mine."

"It's your laundry."

"And I have a system, bitch."

"Which is borderline obscene, jerk. And watch your swearing, jerk." Sam made sure that the totem thingie was back on the shelf and not in a position to fall off. He disliked messing with her things since there was the danger and two, he was particular about people touching his stuff, namely Dean, since his older brother could do things that would result in a prank war.

"Sam, she's asleep."

"Dean."

"Fine. Welcome back Francis," Dean muttered as he turned away. As he did he noticed something on another shelf. Like the others it was labeled but it was in a bunch of squiggles that looked like kids' drawings. He walked over towards it and looked at it and found something that would have been funny to laugh at if it weren't such a serious situation. He looked at the object and was tempted to reach for it but hesitated.

Sam was scowling at the name Dean called him as he made sure that the totem was secured. He looked over to see Dean looking at another shelf and was over there, ready to be like a parent to tell their kid not to touch anything. "Dean, don't mess with her stuff."

"I'm not but looks like I found the Eye." Dean waved Sam off a bit angrily, not noticing Sam's slight step backwards. "I just don't want to touch that." He pointed to a small statue that was clearly Egyptian.

Sam peered at the statue on the shelf. He could see why Dean wouldn't want to touch it. It looked like it was guarding the Eye and he was brought back to the memory of when Dean first met the kachina doll. They still had the thing. Sam felt bad because it had been relegated to the trunk lately. Maybe he should put it back on the dash… if only to get Dean riled up about it. "Looks harmless."

"Yeah and that's what I said about the kachina. By the way, where did you stash it?"

"In the trunk… with everything else." Sam looked a little sheepish when he said that since he had just been thinking about it. He had removed it when Dean had died and kept it in his pocket for a bit and then it eventually ended up in the trunk of the Impala and he forgot about it. "And what are you getting in a huff for remembering it now?"

"Hey I like that thing."

Sam rolled his eyes and looked at the statue. It hadn't moved so maybe it was a good thing. He just wasn't sure about a statue that had the body of a man and the head of a falcon… if that was what it was. Sighing and taking a chance, he inched his hand forward since they needed the Eye.

The stab was quick and they almost missed the movement of the statue. The effect was well felt when Sam snatched his hand back and saw blood coming from two holes. He looked at his hand and then at the statue but it wasn't that. It was a statue of what looked like a leopard and it was glaring at him. Well that answered a mystery. "It's not the statue but that," he said pointing at the thing.

Dean saw the blood on his brother's hand and then looked at the leopard that actually was pacing in front of the Eye. "What is it with Angie and them damn magic statues?" He looked at Sam who was looking at the bite. "You okay Sam?"

"I'm fine." Sam shook it off but it really hurt. It hit like right where the muscle was or something since it was a dull throb. "I'm good. We gotta get the Eye."

"And how do you propose we do that? Get a fly swatter?"

Sam Shrugged his shoulders and looked around. His eyes lighted on the sign that marked the shelf. He bent to study it while avoiding the statue that was giving him a gimlet eye. He vaguely remembered a conversation he had with Angela back when he was staying with her.

Sam looked at the scribble on the paper. It was a list; that much he could tell but it was not like anything he had seen before. He picked it up and took a look.

"Oh good you found it," Angela said as she plucked it out of his hand. "Can't go grocery shopping without this."

"That's a list?"

"Yeah."

Sam knew he was going to get teased horribly given the look she was giving him. He found that he looked forward to it and replied, "Alright. I'll bite."

Sam read the script and then thought about something. He remembered that it was a sort of game she made up on the spot. Later he found out what she said and it had him blushing and she was laughing at him. It was one of the few moments he actually felt better about everything.

"Well?"

Sam looked at Dean. "Give me a moment."

Hieratic is like handwriting but in this case squiggles. Even the squiggles carry meaning… whether you're friend or foe…

Sam peered at the little statue and said something that had Dean wondering if he swore at him or not. It didn't matter since the statue of the cat reacted to it and actually growled slightly before sitting down and permitting Sam to pick up the Eye but not before it purred and licked where it bit him as a form of apology. He looked at Dean who merely said, "Must be your animal magnetism."

"Shut up."

A/N: Looks like Gabe has a plan for Kess and Sam and Dean find the Eye. Where is the heart? Stay tuned for more Memory Resolved...