Chapter 17

Dean wanted to rip someone's lungs out. If there was one thing he really disliked apart from anyone messing with his family was the fact that he was being double crossed. He thought Nick was one of the good guys; he already had to deal with Sam and what he had done. Now this… And it didn't help that the bitch Lenya just hit his girl and Sam was being way too Zen for his liking.

Sam was ready to rain hell if it were possible. When Lenya sent Angela flying through the air and into a table, he was torn between two warring instincts. First was to check up on Angela to make sure she was okay and the second was to race forward and start beating the crap out of Lenya and total destruction on everything. The latter ended up winning and he started taking a couple of steps forward, well aware that Nick was in a position to blindside him.

"Stay put Sammy. You don't want to cause a scene now would you?"

Sam halted but he felt his throat convulsing. His hand was still in a position to bring his gun up and fire. It would only put him in a position to be tackled or shot at by Nick but he didn't care. He took another step forward, his eyes narrowed and he started to raise his weapon.

"You better think about it before you pull the trigger," Lenya warned. Her hand was outstretched in a stopping motion. "You know little sister will only feel a bump. Do you really want her to see you as puppy chow? Or Dean being shot because of you?"

Dean would have moved forward but he halted when he heard the slight click. He knew that Nick was still holding his gun on him and could pull the trigger. "Sam, just gank the bitch," he muttered.

"Oh yes, take your best shot Sam," Lenya taunted. She smiled in a simpering manner. "Like you could kill me with that. Iron rounds are like a bad itch and produce a terrible rash." She shrugged her shoulders at that. "So are you going to take your chances or just do what Nick here said you are willing to do?"

"Sam…" Dean growled at his brother hoping that Sam would just do it. He didn't care if the shot just hurt the bitch. "Just shoot."

Sam had a clear line of sight to shoot. Even he knew though that it wasn't going to have any effect on Lenya. She was the same pay grade as Lilith was and she wouldn't sweat the iron rounds. They would slow her down but… He glanced at his brother and briefly where he saw Angela on the ground. She was out cold from where he stood. He needed to get her out of there and there was only one way to do it. He swallowed and lowered his gun and said, "Dean, we're here to get her out. We decided this was the only way."

Dean groaned at that, "Sam… don't."

Sam looked at Lenya and said, "A trade. I go with you and Lucifer can try to convince me to say yes and you let my brother and Angie go."

Dean had hoped that it wouldn't come to this. He only agreed because it sounded good on paper and there was some sort of plan even though it was full of holes. He never thought that Sam would agree to this… He knew that Sam was being pushed to the limit since his little brother admitted that he was tired of being manipulated.

Lenya studied Sam. The last time she saw him, he looked a bit of a pushover in terms of being good natured and easily manipulated. Something was up seeing him again. He was different somehow. It could be his whole experience with Ruby. That bitch had been good but still she paid the price. It was like he knew what he was getting into. Still she couldn't pass up a chance to bring Lucifer's true vessel to him and on a silver platter. "That is a very good offer Sam. Tit for tat with you isn't it?"

"It's fair enough for you," Sam retorted, keeping his gaze on the demon.

"Maybe for Lucifer," Lenya admitted, "But not for me. You see, I actually missed having little sister around. The pit has been boring without her."

"She's not going back," Sam countered. He didn't need to hear the whole story about Angela's time in hell. She implied enough when she admitted to her own addiction. He wouldn't let anything take her back there. Whether she wanted to go back, that was another story but by force… not an option. "You're not taking her to hell."

"You might not have much choice in the matter Sam," Lenya snapped. Her eyes were narrowed as she stood facing them. She looked at him and Dean and then said, "You know, I really don't like you walking about. How about we make things a little more even?" She waved her hand and laughed when Dean slammed into the wall. Sam was a bit slower but he was pinned to the wall. "There. Oh and point those in a 'safer' direction."

"Bitch," Dean grunted. He had dropped his but Sam's was still in his hand.

"It's only fair Dean," Lenya replied with a slight pouting look. "Now Sammy is the prize but so it little sister." She walked up towards Dean and put her hand on his face and caressed it. She smiled slowly when he tried to back away. "Aww. You used to like it when I did that. Oh well." She turned to walk away. "Well Sam, I'll give you your brother. He can walk out of here a free man. If he tries anything, then Nick here can kill him."

"Angie goes with him too," Sam grunted. He was struggling to try and turn his gun away from himself. It was pointed at his gut and if his finger pulled on the trigger, it would be nasty. He really hated this bitch.

"And that I can't allow." Lenya turned around and looked at the Winchesters. She actually liked watching them squirm. Sam was being entertaining. He was so insistent on getting little sister free of her. There had to be a reason behind it and she would find out eventually. "You see Sammy..."

"The name's Sam you bitch," Dean interrupted more to be a pain.

Lenya ignored Dean and focused on Sam. She wanted to see his reaction. "You see… Lucifer is curious about something. Did you know that little sister actually offered to be his vessel or to be specific, consider her being his vessel?"

That effectively stopped both Winchesters from struggling. Dean would have liked to have denied it but living with his girl, he knew she would do it if it meant that others would be free of whatever piece of crap destiny or obligation that she considered unfair. He was also astute enough to realize she wouldn't have suggested it if she had another idea in mind. It did occur to him the reason he didn't know about it was because she came up with it when they were separated. Still he couldn't help but say, "Because she knows something is up."

Sam stopped struggling as he heard it. She was willing to take his place and that made his existing guilt rear its head. Again she was doing something nice and he definitely didn't deserve it. This was his problem and she was making it hers too. He wouldn't let her do that.

Lenya watched their expressions and nodded, "You didn't really know? Huh. Makes me wonder what other secrets little sister kept from you."

"She doesn't do anything without a good reason," Dean offered with more bravado than he felt. It was true that she didn't. He even got that, like his experience in hell, there were things that he couldn't and she wouldn't be able to talk about even with all the time that had passed. Some things were part of that list she kept that was her own mess and dealt with it as it came.

"Keep telling yourself that Dean. I mean really, you believed she would snag your deal and set you free?"

"Hey," Sam barked. "Don't talk about her like that. She would never do that."

"And I bet she wouldn't start the Apocalypse like you. Right Sam?" Lenya stared at Sam and noted his expression. "So… Sam, you and little sister will stay with me and Dean is free to go. And I'll throw in the bird boy. He's useless with his crippled ass."

"What did you do to Kess?" Dean knew it was stalling but he was concerned about the young guard that was twice as much fun as Castiel.

"Nothing much except made it possible that he may never fly again if bones are aligned properly." Lenya smiled like it was a game. "Like I said, he's now useless."

"You can take me but you let the others go."

Lenya turned towards Sam and walked towards him. She really liked his persistence. It was fun and addicting and he was a lot more fun to play with than the puppy his brother was. She marveled at how two brothers were so alike and yet so different. "You really are persistent are you? I actually like that. All business and no pleasure. Makes me wonder who really is the tough one in this duo."

Sam had given up trying to struggle. It was pointless and he needed to focus. He replied, "That's the offer. Me for them."

"And I told you that is unacceptable. Lucifer is interested in little sister just as much as you especially in her current state." Lenya put her face close to Sam's. She was tempted to tease him like Lilith did when she kissed him. She looked into his eyes and studied him. Something was definitely different about him. "I will promise that she will come back to you more or less unharmed by me. Can't vouch for Lucifer though."

That was enough to make Sam jerk and struggle anew. He knew Lenya meant something different than what initially went through his mind. It was something he was going to have to work on but he wasn't going to let her be hurt because of him again and that was probably setting himself up for one of her 'Indian fighting' talking approaches but… He looked at Lenya firm in the eye as he replied, "You let them go otherwise you'll get yours."

"Bold words," Lenya replied. She wanted to laugh and she actually started laughing. "You waltz in here thinking you had a friend and were going to waltz out with everyone? Look at where you are Sam. You are in no position to actually bargain. I'm merely giving you a courtesy here since you are the valuable one along with little sister. Your brother is collateral damage."

"Then we're at an impasse," Sam replied with a grin on his face.

Dean noticed Sam's demeanor change. He thought his brother was going off his rocker here. It did occur to him that Sam had something up his sleeve and didn't give him the whole picture and for reasons that he was going to demand for later. The way Sam was grinning had him wonder what he was up to and he turned to look at Nick who was pointing his gun at him. He muttered, "So why'd you fall off the wagon?"

"Being a goody two shoe like you was getting old. Finally got fed up with the ridicule from my dick ass brothers," Nick replied with a slight shrug of his shoulders. He looked directly at Dean and added, "And sometimes appearances can be deceiving."

Dean would have said something but Lenya was saying, "Not exactly Sammy. You may be important to Lucifer by little sister is more important than you. And it's all because of what is in that pretty little head of hers. You know it was sheer disappointment that the staff is out of our reach but the other two…"

"You wouldn't." Sam tried to keep up his bravado.

"Oh I would. I said I wouldn't hurt her but if she doesn't tell us, we'll force it out and that is where the guarantee is…" Lenya shook her hand to indicate that it was shaky ground. She chuckled as she straightened up. "Of course she'll tell us though. She will since she wouldn't want you or Dean hurt."

Sam looked at the demon. He could do this. He then said, "Then I'm sorry."

"Sorry for what?"

"That you lose." Sam would have shrugged his shoulder to emphasize his point. He couldn't though since he was stuck to the wall.

Lenya looked at Sam and frowned at that. What did he mean by that? She was to get her answer when a weight fell on her back and she felt something burn in her shoulder. It was followed by a low voice in her ear saying, "You lose demon bitch."

Lenya retaliated and sent the body flying off her but it wasn't down. When she sat up, she saw a man and he was ready to go in for the kill. His ice blue eyes glittered dangerously. He looked at her and then muttered something and the Winchesters dropped to the ground. She noticed Nick wasn't doing anything and screeched, "Do something."

"I am." Nick adjusted his gun and made sure it was ready to fire and pointed it at her. "Sorry queen bitch."

Lenya narrowed her eyes and screeched, "Get in here."

The doors burst open and her demon minions came in. She looked at the line of men standing ready to fight. She said, "The Winchesters, the warlock and the vampire. A fine merry misfit band but you picked the wrong day to cross me." She gave a signal and the demons charged.

Angela had done as she was told and remained still until she felt the familiar grip of Castiel grasp her and lift her out of the debris. She remained quiet since she instinctively sensed that she was to remain quiet and let the angel take her out of the way when she saw the man with eyes blue like Castiel's leap down and tackle the mean lady. She recognized the blue eyes from somewhere but she didn't know where and she wasn't in a position to linger since Castiel was carrying her away.

When Castiel managed to leave and start down a hall, she frowned and asked, "Why not Cas fly?"

Castiel adjusted his grip on the little girl as he walked through the building. He sensed the demons all around. A few were dead at the hands of the vampire but there were still more. This Lenya had done a lot to try and prevent escape. He did find time to answer her question, "Because I can't."

Angela felt she was getting a little dizzy since she was looking over the angel's shoulder and he was turning every which way. "Puts down Cas. Not good."

"I have to remove you from the premises."

"Cas, put down please." Angela changed the tone of her voice to indicate that she was not feeling good.

Castiel readily complied but didn't like it that he was still in a pretty vulnerable place. He looked her over and determined that she was all right physically. He still had the heart but unfortunately it was still attached to the bear and it was currently on his person. So he was able to reach out and sense more but there were some things he still couldn't do. Also it didn't help that there warding sigils all over the place. "This is not a good idea," he intoned.

Angela looked up at the angel and saw that he had the teddy bear. "You have Teddy. He helps?"

Castiel looked at the little girl. It was a fine time for her to be asking questions. Her adult self would have commented that it worked and then shrug it off. "It has done what it was intended to do."

"Good." Angela nodded with a slight smile of satisfaction "Now needs to find Kess."

"That is not wise."

"Needs to find Kess," Angela repeated as she tugged on the angel's trench coat. "Kess is hurt."

Castiel was well aware of that and if he could, he would help the guard. Still Sam had made it clear what he was supposed to do and he was under the impression that to go against that was not in anyone's best interest. "I can't do that little Malachi."

Angela frowned up at the angel. She had been told to find Kesset but here Castiel was saying he couldn't. This was all too confusing. She was about to ask the angel more when a door burst open and a couple of demons came through. She knew they were with the mean lady since they stank that smelly smell that Dean said was sulfur. She held onto the trench coat and hid behind Castiel and felt his hand placed reassuringly on his head.

Another sound came and from behind there entered the man that had hurt Sam and some other people. They were all dressed alike but they were scary just the same. Angela looked at them and then looked in the direction of the demons. She tugged on Castiel's trench coat more out of fear since she sensed this wasn't going to be good. "Cas," she whimpered.

"Stay behind me. When you can, you run." Castiel turned and looked down at her. He was aware that his firm gaze could frighten her more or make her angry but he needed her to understand what she was supposed to do. He repeated his order in the firmest tone he had ever used, "When you can, you run. Understand?"

Angela knew that Castiel was being serious. She didn't listen to Sam before when he told her to run. This time she would. She nodded and ducked behind the angel as he diverted his gaze to the demons and then to the other bad people. They were surrounded and it looked like there was going to be no way out. She trusted the angel that he knew what he was doing.

Castiel saw that it was going to be difficult to even create a window for her to run away. Still he would try. He turned so he could look side to side as both sides began to close in. In his hand slid out the angel blade.

The demons charged first but they were distracted. Crashing through the wall came Cerebus in his full hell hound glory. His three heads were snarling and snapping on the two demons he managed to pin. The heads snarled and snapped as he fought off the demons, leaving Castiel free to take on the other group.

Angela pinned her body against the wall until Castiel shouted at her to run. She quickly obeyed but she had no idea where she was supposed to go. She ran in the direction that she and Castiel came from but because she had been spinning around, she was not sure how far she was to go and she didn't quite remember which way Nick brought her.

"Come here you little brat."

Angela turned at the voice and saw that the man that had kidnapped her was coming after her. He had a knife coming from his wrist and he held it up like he was going to strike her. She shrieked and turned to run. She ran towards a door and opened it and ran through. It was a mistake though.

She had run into a room that was bare except for a bed and a table. There was one occupant in the room sitting on a rug on the floor. His eyes were closed like he was sleeping but Angela couldn't see that since his back was towards her. She jumped slightly as she heard the pounding on the door from her pursuer as he tried to get in. She looked around and saw another door on the other side. She paused and looked at the man sitting and took a step. When he didn't move, she took another and another until she was to the other door. Her hand was on it and she tried to turn it.

"You are in a lot of trouble little one."

Angela turned and looked to see the man looking at her. She frowned since he looked like Kesset but she knew that he wasn't. He looked older and he looked sad too. She knew she should be scared of him but she wasn't. She merely stared at the man while the pounding was going on the door and blinked slowly.

"You shouldn't be here."

Angela blinked as she looked at the man that looked like Kesset. She felt like she should know him but she didn't. Knowing that she should say something she said, "Supposed to run. Needs to find Kess."

The man merely stared at the girl with a slight frown. Angela stared back and then said, "Youse sad. Why?"

The man took a step back as his eyes widened. He replied, "You are not afraid?"

"I'm scared of that meanie over there." Angela pointed at the door she had come through. "But youse not scary. Youse look nice n sad." She frowned and added, "Why you look like Kess?"

The pounding on the door saved the man from answering her. He looked at her and said, "You shouldn't be here. Go."

Angela opened her mouth to say something but the man opened the door and pushed her through it and shut it. She looked at the door and tried to open it but she couldn't. She struggled for a little bit until she was spotted by a few demons. They started charging and she forgot about the door and started running until she ran into someone's behind and fell on the ground and landed with an 'oomph'. She managed to get to her feet and was going to run back the way she came.

The person she ran into turned around and exclaimed, "Little princess."

Angela stopped and turned around. "Kess?" She didn't see the demons coming up from behind ready to grab her until Kesset beat his powerful wings. She turned to see the demons fly into the wall and then turned back. Seeing that it was Kesset, she ran towards him and hugged him. "Youse okay Kess."

Kesset looked down at the little girl hugging him. He was not used to it and he wasn't sure of what to do since he was concerned with getting to his charge and then getting her out. Now he found her. He looked around with a nervous look and felt at a loss of what to say before replying, "I am well princess."

"Gabe said to find you," Angela replied after taking a step back. She looked at the guardian. He looked beat up and he was holding one of his wings a bit awkwardly. She frowned at that. "Your wing hurted Kess."

Kesset looked at his wing and then at the little girl. "That is not important. What is important is that we get you out before the demons find us." He reached for her hand but she sidestepped him and walked to look at his back. "We don't have time for this."

"Show me," came the request.

Kesset sighed as he obeyed. It was not a demand but it was a command all the same and he readily obeyed as he bent for her to see his broken wing. He was surprised by how gentle the touch was when her little hand felt along the bone. It didn't hurt at all.

"It's bwoke."

What happened next, Kesset didn't expect. He felt warmth flow into his wing like it was helping the blood circulate again. The aching throb turned into a dull one after he heard her mutter the word 'fix'. He tried to turn to see what was going on but couldn't. He turned when she said, "I fix it a little. Still bwoke but not hurt Kess so much."

Kesset turned to see Angela looking solemnly at him. He twitched his injured wing and it did feel a little better. It was still broken but it was better. "Thank you," he said.

Angela nodded before she gave a slight hiss and looked off in a direction. She seemed to stare off into space before she breathed, "Sammy." Then she grabbed Kesset's hand and started pulling him and saying, "Come on Kess."

"Where are you going?"

"Sammy in trouble."

A/N: Who said that making googly eyes at the King of Hell was bad? Here is another chapter and stay tuned for more Memory Resolved...