Chapter 12

"I'm not quoting Star Wars for Dean's benefit."

Sam stopped what he was doing to look down at Angela's face. He found her eyes open but sleepily peering up at him. He couldn't help but chuckle at that. He pulled down his scarf so she could hear him. "I don't expect you to." He gave her a hug. "Thank God you came back."

"Good thing cause then you'd be in trouble… housekeeping wise." Angela was too disoriented to realize that Sam had just hugged her. She was usually the spontaneous one with her emotions. She peered sleepily at Sam and added, "I think it is cold."

Sam didn't care if she sounded loony at that moment. She was alive and that was what counted. He wrapped the blanket tight enough to retain heat. He joked gently, "Thanks Captain Obvious. Let's get you back to someplace warm." He finally noticed the chakram and looked around to find that wolf that stole it.

Seeing nothing, he picked it up and put it back on his belt, relieved that the clasp he had used to secure it didn't fall off. He then diverted his attention to getting Angela onto the horse. He knew how to get her on but that didn't dispel the nervousness that he felt at being a bit forward. He knew as well as Dean the sensitivity to touch Angela got when it involved her personal space.

There was little choice and she didn't seem to notice much anyway. If he had been observant, she was in the middle of reminding herself not to give in to the desire for blood. Her method of choice was rubbing her left palm. As it were Sam assumed she was trying to keep herself warm. Biting the bullet, Sam picked her up off the ground and carried her towards the horse.

Starkhaven gave a snort. His breath came out in puffs of smoke. He looked like those dark paintings of evil horses and the like. However he stood still in the cold as Sam put Angela on his back in the riding position. He didn't even feel the weight as Sam got on behind her and put his arms around her to grab the reins. As soon as he felt the tap of Sam's feet, he took off at a trot back towards the trail and down the trail.

It was a bit awkward for Sam since he was trying to keep Angela steady on the horse while trying to ride. She seemed to be pretty well situated on the horse. He saw her head bob and he said, "Hey stay awake, Angie. We don't need you falling asleep on duty again."

That seemed to wake her up a little. She muttered, "I'm not asleep. I don't fall asleep on the job."

It was funny in the sense that she was still out of it and wasn't too coherent. Sam had no idea how bad the hypothermia was but the fact that she was awake was a good thing. He hadn't found her frozen to death. He smiled under his scarf and replied, "This time you did but it's okay."

"S not okay. Can't take diligence for granted. Made that mistake once," Angela replied as she placed her hands on the saddle horn to steady herself. She leaned back against Sam's chest and muttered, "Take one down to pass around and it drops on the ground."

Sam gave a slight hum as he steadied himself for the impact of Angela thumping on his chest. He muttered, "I know though I don't think 99 bottles of beer is a good metaphor for that." He nudged her to get her to straighten up.

"Same concept."

"Whatever you say Angie," Sam replied as they went down the trail. He managed to glance at his watch. They were really late and he was sure that Dean was going to hand it to him. That would be after he made sure she was all right. He wasn't going to urge the horse to go any faster since they were doing pretty good and he didn't want to risk a fall. He was just going to have to take it as it came.

"There were two, then one and then there were none."

Sam frowned at that statement Angela made. It was something to figure out later. Looking ahead, he could make out the silhouettes of Dean and Georgia.

"Dammit Sam. Do you have to make things difficult?" Dean frowned that his brother was not here yet. He knew his brother well and he was going to go with him on this one. They would have gone back and hike back up themselves. This was just Sam being his usual stubborn self.

"Dean, where is your brother? We have to get back down," Georgia replied as she brought her mount close.

"I'm not leaving without my brother," Dean replied. There had to be a good reason why Sam was late. Maybe he found her. At the back of his mind the worst case scenario was floating around; that Sam got into some trouble himself. Maybe it hadn't been a good idea to separate but it seemed like a good idea at the time.

"Dean, we can't stay out much longer. We need to be heading back."

"I'm not leaving Sam," Dean replied firmly. "If you want, you can leave me here and take the horse." He looked at Georgia with a determined look.

Georgia saw the look. Dean was really determined to stay out there. She was afraid that she was going to have to knock the man out in order to get them back. She sighed in order to debate what to do. "Dean…"

"No." Dean looked back up the trail that he and Sam had gone up. He could feel the cold seeping in. He didn't want to admit that it was probably a good idea that they should be heading down. He was not going to leave Sam up here alone. He muttered, "Come on Sam."

He was just about to start up the path when something caught his eye. He peered through the falling snow and he could make out a shape coming towards them. At first he thought it was some huge creature or maybe that yeti that Sam told him was responsible for the missing hikers. When he looked closer, he could make out his Sasquatch of a brother but the shape was wrong. Dean knew instantly that Sam had found her. He looked at Georgia and said, "He found her."

Georgia looked in the direction that Dean was. She could see that Sam was accompanied by someone. She recognized her friend even wrapped by one of the blankets she handed to each of the boys. He did find her.

Dean could hardly contain his excitement. He waited until Sam was close enough for him to get a good look. He shot a look at Sam for being stupid and making him worry. He looked under the blanket and said, "You certainly like to milk the drama don't ya Angie?"

"Not as much as you… jerk," Angela murmured as she looked at Dean with a sleepy eye. She gave a slight smile for reassurance.

Dean chuckled at her use of Sam's insult for him. He heard her sniff and bury her nose under the blankets. "Come on let's get you some place warm." He then looked at Sam and pointed a warning finger, "And you and I are going to have a conversation later."

Sam threw a bitch face but it wasn't that effective since he had a scarf on his face. "Whatever, Dean." He glanced over to see that Georgia was already heading back down. He put a hand on Angela's waist to steady her and followed Georgia while Dean brought up the rear.

"You are in so much trouble Sammy," Angela's voice came in a sing song tone.

Sam gave a slight eye roll at no one in particular. He teased her, "About as much trouble as you are."

"Double trouble… just like always."

"Yeah… like always."

The cavern was dimly lit to reflect the glimmer of the snowfall outside. Amaterasu looked around at the roominess of the place before looking down at the pool of water that was a natural spring. She waved her hand and looked as the water swirled to reveal the events of now.

She watched as the rescue party headed back down the mountain and smiled at the sight. They would be all right. Akiyama did good bringing Absolution closer to be found.

"That was an impressive move. I thought Sam would certainly have shot you."

Amaterasu turned to see her friend and smiled. She adjusted the sleeve of her kimono and motioned for Akiyama to stand down. She knew he was around watching since this was his home. She replied, "I guess I was willing to put faith in Absolution's judgment of the brothers."

Isis gave a smile as she walked towards her friend. The cold didn't bother her since she was a goddess. She adjusted her traditional Egyptian dress of ancient times. Her sandals clicked on the floor of the cavern as she came to a stop by the pool next to Amaterasu. "It is infectious I know. Sometimes when I feel discouraged, I often ask myself what my daughter would do."

"I have noticed how the humans follow her. She was kind to Akiyama." Amaterasu reached up with a white hand and stroked the yeti's fur. "It would have been easy to kill all of them." She looked at her friend with a questioning look in her eyes as she adjusted the sleeves of her kimono. She was curious as to the nature behind her friend's daughter's choices.

"I have not told her about the yeti and from what I have observed, she is like a scholar when it comes to pursuing her duties," Isis replied as she peered into the pool. She gave a slight smile at what she saw. "I want to thank you and Akiyama for saving her."

"I blame myself for not being diligent in coming to their aide. I had no idea the demons did this," Amaterasu replied.

"You know how they are and you know that there are means of blinding us. It is just one more thing to prove that we are not all perfect."

"And yet one cannot help but feel guilty about actions taken to get to this point… like the one you called Sam."

Isis gave a slight chuckle as she smiled. "I know my friend. The reactions generated by the emotions… it is entertaining especially when you know the cause of it and the other doesn't."

"So you've noticed that as well?"

Isis gave a short laugh. "For a long time actually. I think this is the beginning for one of them to realize the path that is laid before them."

Amaterasu narrowed her eyes slightly, "I hope you don't plan on anything. You know we have our place. We can interfere but only to a degree."

"I never mingle with the relationships. Those are things that must be discovered for themselves," Isis replied. "I have to admit that your idea to get Sam to follow you was a good one and I must say that it was the first time I have seen one of your alternate forms that was not human."

"Akiyama was suspicious at first," Amaterasu replied as she smiled at the yeti, "But he came around as the phrase goes."

"Out of curiosity, why not appear to him in this form. I did."

"But he doesn't remember you," Amaterasu countered.

"But he does remember my presence. My son mentioned how he eyed him when we sent them to watch over Absolution but I see your point. Eventually they will meet us," Isis replied. "Quite possibly at a time when they need a respite."

Amaterasu looked at Isis shrewdly. "You know something?"

"No. Just giving a possibility."

Amaterasu turned to look down at the pool of water. She saw the trio together and nodded. Her thoughts drifted to the prospective hearing. Quetzalcoatl was holding out on the summoning but she figured that after this he would be willing to set the stage for proceedings. "Maybe the Skye Temple would be a good place but like you said it will be at a later time."

Isis nodded. They preferred to remain on the sidelines occasionally giving a hand. She watched her daughter's companions babying her and she smiled. Absolution must really be out of it to let them both baby her. She then said, "So now that the situation with the others has been… handled, do you intend to have Akiyama return?"

It was not easy to be quiet especially in a room where the person asleep had hearing that was above average than a human's. Still Sam made the effort to be quiet as he opened the door to Angela's room. At least this time he didn't have to pick the lock.

They had made it back to Mr. Scout's house in good time and set about getting her warmed up. When she actually became coherent, which was within a surprisingly short amount of time, she started badgering him and Dean to get her back to the inn. It was a no brainer for him and Dean since they knew she was not like other humans.

Georgia and Mr. Scout and his daughter thought they were crazy but somehow Dean managed to give a snow job about how she was being in strange places. Georgia seemed to get it but the other two must have thought that they were crazies. Still they managed to get back to the inn and Angela would have holed herself up if Dean hadn't stopped her from doing so. She actually listened to Dean's logic and handed over the spare key and she didn't protest to having them check on her.

It turned out to be three rounds of the usual in the division of shifts. Dean had the first one and now it was his turn. Sam made his way a little sleepy to take a peek and make sure that she was still bundled up as they left her.

Angela was covered in several blankets as well as a pair of sweats and the hoodie he gave her. If the truth be told Sam was surprised she still had it. He half expected her to rip it to shreds after the things he said but he knew she wasn't petty like that. Still it would be what he deserved. That was not important though. He just wanted to make sure she was okay.

He didn't know if it was a fluke or if Dean had set it up but Sam cursed silently when he bumped something, probably one of the duffles, and he bumped the table. He paused to see if he did anything to wake her up. It looked like nothing was up so he turned to leave.

"I'll kill Dean in the morning for you."

Sam stiffened when he heard her voice. As much as he wanted to talk to her, he was willing to wait until morning. He glanced over to see that she had propped herself on her elbows and looking at him. He could make out slight shadows under her eyes and at least her skin was not so white; the color was returning. He replied, "You don't have to do that. I got that covered. Sorry I woke you up."

Angela sat up and replied, "It's okay. I'm getting a little too warm."

It was a lie and Sam knew it. She was awake now and she was probably going to stay awake for a while. He turned away from the door and said, "You know you don't have to entertain me if I wake you up."

"No I don't have to but I know that whatever is wrong between us needs to be set straight. Might as well be now," Angela replied as she sat up. She winced slightly from her ribs and the fact that she had brushed the arm that had been scratched. She scooted to one side and gave a hard pat to her left as she said, "Come on or pull up a chair or something."

To Sam she looked like a drunk person motioning but he knew it was just being sleepy that was provoking it along with the fact that she was trying to be her usual self. He knew that she wasn't going to go back to sleep unless she was satisfied about whatever the issue was. He sighed and stayed where he was thought to try and reason with her, "Angie…"

"Sam," Angela replied motioning with her finger, "Don't try to talk yourself out of this one. Come on." She sat looking expectantly at Sam. "Come on."

Sam sighed and came over. He looked around and finally feeling uncomfortable sat on her bed facing her. She was still staring at him and he wasn't sure if she was using an intimidation tactic or not. He looked at his hands and said, "We don't have to do this now Angie. I just came to make sure you were fine…"

"Sam."

Sam sighed. She wasn't going to let this go. "Alright. Look, Angie… I'm sorry about the things I said. I didn't mean anything by it."

"I'm sorry too."

Sam looked at her with a puzzled frown. "For what? Angie, I was the one that said those things and been an asshole."

"I refused to help you. You know the deal thing."

"It wasn't that," Sam replied," Besides I know that you are doing something and I knew that it was stupid to bring that up again since Dean told me the terms. I was just upset about you spending so much time talking to Nick since he fixed us…"

"You were jealous."

The answer had been given in such a matter of fact manner that it would have been funny. Yet Sam could see that she was trying to work something out as she pieced it together. "Dean has always been there for me and when he used to leave me to go chase after girls… that was what I thought was happening when you started spending more time on the phone with Nick."

"I thought you were upset about me practicing with you know." Angela tapped her first finger to her temple to indicate she meant her abilities. "I thought that maybe I scared you guys with what I am capable of. I know I scare myself."

"Well, to see you completely vamped, meaning the eyes and the teeth, that can be a little scary and the fact that you move faster when you vamp out… but that's nothing because every time you do that, it's because you are saving mine and Dean's asses. Sometimes I do worry that you may forget that and you…" Sam shrugged his shoulders as he watched her expression.

"You're worried about that tidbit about Chasers succumbing to the blood lust. I would be too considering that the voices in my head were trying to convince me to take a bite out of whoever found me out there." Angela paused a moment before continuing, "I was hallucinating but it was based on things I knew were true. When a Chaser is compromised in terms of health, rapid recovery can be achieved by fresh human blood. I know I said extreme blood loss would trigger it but it's like a weird survival mechanism and one of reasons why I insisted on coming back here instead of taking Mr. Scout's offer."

"But you were willing to let me and Dean walk in your room and check on you," Sam replied in a slight frown. "Why?"

"Because I knew that I wouldn't hurt you both." Angela frowned a little as she tried to find the right words to say. "I would rather go without and kill myself than hurt the people that mean the most to me. And maybe it's because I trust the word of one very persistent Winchester."

"Whose?"

"Yours." Angela looked at Sam as if he were being stupid. "You told me that you believed that I am a good person. That means a lot to me Sam and in a way I guess it is one of the reasons why I want to try give you your brother back."

Sam sat in his spot and looked around not saying anything for a moment. She did have a way of hitting at a person's core and he felt bad. He was sure that Dean felt the same way when he had these types of conversations with her. It did feel good that he managed to make her feel like she was wanted and she was and it was touching that it seemed to be her motivation for her methods in trying to help Dean. He had to get back to the track that he started on though. "Going back to Nick and the calls, I admit I was jealous and while I am glad that you aren't as reserved as you were nearly a year ago I don't want you to get hurt."

"You don't have to protect me all the time," Angela replied in a softened tone.

"The thing is… you're like family Angie. You've watched our backs all the time. You take more risks than Dean or me… So can you see why…?"

Angela was certain she could see. Sam was looking out for not a partner but a family member. She knew how close the brothers were when she observed their relationship. She never fully stopped to consider how they viewed their relationship with her. It was a new concept but not too new. Their mother after all called her a best friend and once implied that they were like sisters. She just had a hard time believing that someone would feel that way about her. She replied, "I can. You do mean that do you?"

"Yeah."

Angela gave a slight smile and leaned against the headboard as if to think. "You know that makes me feel bad that I ran off alone to a mountain." She turned to look at Sam and confessed, "I did go up alone because I was angry. I convinced myself though that I was doing recon work and making sure we weren't rushing into something that would require heavy artillery or something."

"I made you angry."

"And I failed to realize that you were just being you like the other times over Nick talking to me. He was calling to ask me about procedures for hearings by the way."

Sam gave a sheepish grin. "I know. He… called me when he couldn't reach you. He told me all about it and how he convinced them to leave you alone about giving your side or something. It was then I realized why I need to make things right between us."

Angela listened and gave a slight chuckle. "I guess we settled that did we? I am sorry and I know you are so one more thing to learn from right?" She gave a slight smile.

Sam gave a slight chuckle in response. "I guess. Now will you go back to sleep?"

"I don't know. I think I might stay up a bit."

"You are something else."

"So they tell me."

Sam knew this was going nowhere. She was determined to make him suffer for this. He could turn the tables and indulge her. It usually worked when she did it. He was just going to have to play it smart. "Okay so then I guess I stay in here all night and then have Dean wake up in a fit."

"I guess so. Make yourself comfortable," Angela replied as she picked up the book she had been reading. She picked up where she left off in Dracula and began reading out loud occasionally glancing at Sam who seemed determined to not let her win this round.

Dean did wake up to face his brother's empty bed but he didn't have a fit. Instead he went down the hall towards Angela's room and managed to get the door open. He found Sam fast asleep in a chair with his head cushioned by the bed and was somewhat of a prop for the open book. Angela was still sitting up and she had her head down asleep and her left hand was near Sam's head. Her fingers had been brushing his locks.

Dean grinned as he took out his cell phone to take a picture. It had been his plan to get them to talk about what happened. Talking in the morning was overrated and he knew that neither would feel better until they talked. He knew they did since Sam didn't bother coming back after his shift. Things were okay and they just had to keep at it. They were going to need each other if they couldn't save his neck from the deal.

Now that he had his blackmail material, Dean set about having fun at waking them up. He looked around. Maybe a sudden showing of light from the window? Maybe…

A/N: Apologies all around and Sam drops the big f-word on Angie; he called her family. Sounds like some serious thinking up ahead. Dean that little stinker ;) Stay tuned for episode 2.08 Pack of Strays...