Chapter 4

Jo thought she was in some sort of dreamland. She goes on a trip to get the seal of Nameh and ends up getting a map that was the key to getting Angela back into her body. That was gravy considering the fact that Jo learned that her best friend and sister was dead. Well according to Angela, she wasn't dead really. In Jo's mind, if you weren't breathing, you were dead. That was how it worked. She hit the steering wheel of Rusty and said, "I can't believe you want me to steal your body from Sam and Dean. I mean I could ask and tell them and they would jump on it."

Would you believe you if you said that you were housing the soul/spirit of your closest friend and she told you that she needed her body so she could come back?

"They're not that irrational."

I'm a healer but also a screw up. I've seen firsthand.

Jo made a slight noise as she kept on driving. It was going to take some fast driving to get to where Angela's body was going to be. "What do you mean by that?"

I… discovered a few things traveling with them. A change in perception.

Jo grinned. So Angela had some feelings after all. The hesitancy was a sign and the fact that she was claiming she was a screw up… major things going on there. She had a pretty good idea who it was. "So you have feelings after all. Which one is it?"

I'm not going there Jo. Just focus on getting to the site.

Jo grinned. Oh she was going to grill Angela when this was over. She would let it lie for now. "Okay fine but makes you so sure that your body will be there?"

Sam and Dean won't give it up without a fight. It is the closest of the sacred sites to Sioux Falls. They will call Bobby.

"And Mom?"

It won't occur to them and I'm not going to 'suggest' it.

"You know this is weird talking out loud and then hearing you respond in my head," Jo replied as she put some gas into Rusty. She was glad that the roads were virtually empty.

Well those well practiced can carry whole conversations in their heads.

"I would go crazy," Jo replied in a somber tone. She had been agreeable to let Angela stay in her body and she had laid some conditions. Jo knew though that if push came to shove, Angela would take over and do what had to be done. Now that she knew it was Angela that took out those douches, she was comfortable with that. "So why would Sam and Dean take your body there?"

They wouldn't go by choice. Grace is the leader of a sub-sect to the order called the Centurion. They are, and I kid you not, called the order of the Phoenix.

"Harry Potter?"

Where do you think J.K. Rowling got that idea from? It's an ancient warrior order that was founded by women and their goal is virtually what the hunters do but ultimately they are guardians of the phoenix.

Jo gave a slight shake of her head. It was rather strange. "Okay so they protect the bird that dies and rises from the ashes."

Not that kind of phoenix. True that kind exists but the one I am talking about is a rare flower. It can be used to bring back the dead.

"And where does stealing your body figure into this?" Jo had a vague idea where this was going but she would rather hear it from the one who was asking her to be a body snatcher.

The order has a belief that by burning the body, it allows the spirit to be reborn in one of the newer warriors. It is an inspiration from their guarding duties.

That was a problem. Jo knew that the odds of bringing someone back to life after their body was torched were virtually zilch. So that was the need for the urgency. In response, Jo gave more gas to Rusty. At the rate they were going, she could make it within a day. "That would be a problem."

Tell me about it. They will make it so that Sam and Dean will fall in line. Though I know that they both will put up a fight; it's in their nature.

Jo chuckled a little. "Tell me about it. Sam would be seriously underestimated since he always comes across as the nice guy. Dean on the other hand… he'll go off and is not afraid to show you he means business."

The silly watchdog and my little bull dog.

Jo let that slip of affection pass. She was just collecting tidbits to grill Angela later. One thing though had her curious. "You know, I get the whole thing with the order and the like but there is one thing that doesn't make sense. Why would they want your body?"

They would if they sort of inducted me. So they feel they have an obligation towards my body. How they found out is the bigger question.

"Wait. What do you mean sort of inducted? You either are or you aren't," Jo countered latching onto the first part. She heard the second part but right now she wanted to know. This was something that she hadn't heard about Angela. She felt cheated even though she knew that there were things that Angela shared with the boys and that was their thing.

As I said it was sort of. I was passing through on a job and they identified me as a healer…

"So you finally admitting that you're a healer. I wonder who got you to do that?"

Honest truth, it was Dean. Now shut up and let me finish.

"Yes Mom," Jo teased. She had little clue that was the joke Sam used on Angela when she was being particularly bossy and that was often in the case of injuries. It was spontaneous at that moment so she didn't realize the affect it would have on her friend.

Whatever. Anyway they identified me as a healer and I obliged with one of their injured warriors. I stayed with them for a while since I was being chased and they claimed me as one of them but never formally.

"So then that doesn't apply then."

They will say otherwise. They will try to convince Sam and Dean to give me up. Grace is more subtle and understanding.

Jo didn't say anything but thought about it some. Apparently this group really wanted to carry out what they believed was a sacred duty but all she could see was a bloody tug of war with a corpse that she needed to steal so that Sam and Dean wouldn't be moping. She remembered how down Dean was after their dad died. Angela had that effect on people and she was good at keeping them at arm's length but along the line she changed with her, Ellen, Bobby, Sam and Dean.

You're thinking about him.

"And who do you think I am thinking about?" Jo became defensive.

My little bull dog. Dean. You like him don't you?

"Very astute observation."

Just making conversation. You don't have to say anything. I can 'see' quite a bit in here but I am no gossip. I'll go now.

Jo sighed. She could almost see that kick puppy look on Angela's face. She knew that her friend wasn't doing that on purpose. She wouldn't even consider it. If someone refused, she would just make sure once and then back off. It seemed though that more emotion was coming through and that made her different from the friend that first came by the Roadhouse. "Look I just get defensive when people get close to what they want to know and…"

I get it Jo. I'm the same and it took the bull dog to pry it out of me. I'm still a screw up but I'm learning.

"I remember that. Leap and when you fall it's when you discover you can fly or not," Jo replied with a grin. "So if I am to steal your body, I am going to need some help. You can't do it yourself and you are no lightweight. So unless you can let me borrow some of your mojo we're screwed."

You'll have help. I want you to call someone.

"Who? Bobby? Even he's not going to believe this firsthand."

Give my boys some credit and no, it's not Bobby. I need you to call a warlock.

Jo jerked the wheel slightly at that. She had many strange requests before and she thought being asked to steal a body was bad enough. This was something else. "Wait so you want me to call a witch?"

Warlock and not all witches are bitches. Shut up Jo. In order for the whole thing to work, it needs to be done by a healer.

"And this wit—warlock is a healer?" This was getting better and better each minute that was passing.

Yes. He's a warlock meaning that his powers are offensive but he has healing ability. He healed me and the boys would be more inclined to trust him.

"So you met before?"

He popped in during one case. He was very helpful. If anything Nick will give you a hand.

Jo passed a sign stating that she was almost to the state border. She had to pass through Nebraska and she was in South Dakota. She sighed at the prospect of calling a witch. That was something you didn't mess with and yet Angela was insisting that he was cool. If she couldn't trust Angela, then who could she trust besides her mom? "Alright. You got a number?" She fished out her cell phone.

Angela rattled off some numbers and Jo dialed them. She was surprised that there was a ringtone. It was even more surprising that a voice picked up and it sounded grumpy. A glance at her watch and Jo realized that she called the guy at 4am and he was probably pissed. Oh well this was important and if the guy was as good as Angela said he was, then he needed to haul ass to Sioux Falls as soon as possible. She said, "Um… you don't know me but a friend of mine said to call you?"

Who the hell are you? You're not that bitch that tried to seduce me last week. How did you get this number?

Jo looked at the phone with a frown and replied, "I don't know who you are calling a bitch but I need your help and supposedly you're a healer."

Alright listen, whoever you are, I don't know what you are talking about. If you call this number again, I'll find you and shoot you.

Tell him he's a sparkle fingers.

"What?" Jo hissed as she pulled the phone away.

A joke. Call him Sparkle-fingers.

Jo knew she still had the guy on the line. This was ridiculous but she was going with it. She said, "Listen Sparkle-fingers, I was asked to call you because a mutual friend of ours is in trouble. She said to call you and that you could help." She waited and the silence on the end didn't sound promising at all as she held her breath.

I'm listening.

Jo breathed a sigh of relief and replied, "Look, my name is Jo Harvelle. The friend I speak of is Angela and she needs your help."

It had been a long and trying day for Nick. Doing the do-gooder routine was a great thing since he could keep up with the being on the run gig. Sometimes it was frustrating when you had people who were such ingrates when you did help them. They came to you and when you do your best and someone dies, then they blame you. Life was a bitch like that.

He entered his choice of motel for the week and tossed the key on the table and dropped his jacket on the bed. A hot shower and a few hours of shut eye and he would be on the road again. At least he was one step ahead of the guys with torches and pitchforks.

"I see that you still have peculiar tastes, Nicholas."

Nick didn't bother to draw his gun. Rather he let a little fireball appear in his hand and held it ready to attack the intruder. He looked at his unwelcome guest and replied, "Whatever works to keep scum like you away."

Crowley looked at Nick with a bemused expression. Things were pretty chaotic and the demon scuttlebutt was full of rumors. He wanted some confirmation. However he could afford to be polite. She always was even though she threatened him with every other sentence. "Now Nicholas, I know you have a soft spot for our conversations so why don't you put that little magician's trick away before someone gets hurt?"

"The only person I would love to see hurt is you," Nick retorted. He had been relieved when Crowley stopped hounding him. He had even token a friend's advice and learned how to do warding sigils. He just got here though and hadn't had time to put them up. Now he was being hounded again. "Usually you hound me to exert my powers. What gives?"

"So you haven't heard? A pity," Crowley replied. He gave a slight grin. He certainly knew how to push buttons.

"Depends on what you got," Nick replied, "But I'm not interested. Just leave."

"Can't do that Nicholas," Crowley replied as he put his hands behind his back. He looked like a senior executive but very somber in the all black get up. It really played up to the part of being king of the crossroads and of course was the finest material. Italian made. That would make her twitch a little. "You see I take special interest in the men in my sweetheart's life and since you are the only one to actually kiss her, well I have something to say about that."

Nick narrowed his eyes. He extinguished the fireball but that didn't mean that he wasn't prepared to defend himself. He was a powerful warlock after all since most who knew didn't fail to let him know it with their snide reminders. "She's not your sweetheart," was all he could think of saying.

"Nice retort but the reality is that she is my sweetheart. I have to admit that she showed quite an initiative the last time we spoke." Crowley began to pace in front of Nick. He knew that it would drive the warlock crazy. "Who would have thought that she would cross a line and in order to save one man?"

"As you said, she's Absolution." Nick never doubted that Crowley was talking about her. The demon always had a special tone every time he referred to her. He found it disgusting and perverted that a demon had feelings for her. Then like he was any better and he was a warlock.

"Well I see someone remembers things I've said."

"Shut up and get to the point. I might change my mind about icing you."

"And set the torches and pitchforks on you? That's not your style… unless you are getting fed up with the do-gooder life," Crowley taunted Nick. The warlock was easier to rile up than his sweetheart and they were roughly the same age… well dear Nicholas was older by about four hundred years but what is a couple of centuries?

"It's a living."

"I would say a waste of life but then again you never were the type to resort to the warlord thing like the rest of your family."

"I was considered the freak because I had one thing that was different from my brothers."

"Ah yes, the one thing that led you to be connected to my sweetheart in the first place," Crowley replied with a grin. Oh he loved his job and he loved making it so things got done and carry on as they were supposed to. "The whole healers can identify one another clause."

"For the record, I didn't know she was a healer until I saw her heal a head injury," Nick pointed out. He had learned much more patience the last few months than he had all his life and figured that she had been right in that he needed a purpose. He did feel good after interceding on her behalf with the whole Venator thing.

"Yes, little Sammy Winchester."

"It's Sam."

Crowley couldn't help but laugh at that. "Well I guess that everyone has to fold sometime."

"Are you going to get to the real reason why you are here?" Nick had enough. He wanted to know what the demon wanted.

Crowley gave a slight pout but was otherwise unimpressed by Nick's attitude. He sighed and replied, "Well I would tell it to you straight but I was hoping that you would notice. You are a healer under all that badass warrior façade. You would have known."

Nick tried not to give anything away but was aware that his brow was raised slightly. He had sensed something from the spirit realm and he recognized it a little. It wasn't like the first time which was like being stuck in a bad earthquake. He tried not to think about the fact that his brothers and father would be teasing him mercilessly about being a pansy because he had the healer's ability. Bloody hypocrites.

He knew what Crowley was referring to. He knew that there were certain kinds of healers that could really tap into the spirit realm but nothing could shake it to its core… at least none that he knew of. The latest one was a tremor but equally jarring. He assumed it was one of those healers but if Crowley knew about it, then it wasn't very good. He looked pointedly at the demon and replied, "What of it?"

"Oh just simply thought you would have recognized such a display of power." Crowley gave a slight shrug of his shoulders and made a face. "It's interesting how healers come about and they aren't burned at the stake like you Nicholas. I mean for the most part they are human…"

"Obviously there are exceptions," Nick replied beginning to feel uncomfortable where this was going. He knew she was a healer even though she was a Halfling. That was a strange thing in of itself since he was well aware that all he heard of were human healers. "Nothing new there."

"Well now the sweetheart is obviously special. What do you think Absolution is?"

"The lifting of a burden; forgiveness," Nick replied with a slight eye roll. It was beginning to occur to him that the disturbance had something to do with her. She was more careful than that unless she had no idea what she was doing at the time. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"Well such tremors can cause one to sleep and in a semi-permanent way," Crowley dropped. He then looked at his watch. "Well what do you know? Our time is up here mate. Take care Nicholas and remember the dead can hear the thoughts of the living."

"Bite me asshole," Nick replied as he watched Crowley leave. He didn't bother to puzzle over the words that poured out of Crowley's mouth. He was rather annoyed and pissed to have even seen the demon at all. So he went about his business of protecting his room and grabbing a shower. He might book tomorrow after getting shut eye.

It was roughly four in the morning when his cell phone went off. Nick growled slightly since he had only gotten one or two hours of sleep. He wondered who would be calling him at this hour. He didn't recognize the number but figured that maybe someone passed it along and needed a job done. He rubbed his face and growled, "What?"

Um… you don't know me but a friend of mine said to call you?

The voice was feminine and he didn't recognize it. His first thought was the last job and in a show of gratefulness, the slut tried to get into his pants. He growled back, "Who the hell are you? You're not that bitch that tried to seduce last week. How did you get this number?"

The response put him on the edge and he began to go through a mental list of who knew what he was and whether or not they would blab about it. His brothers and father he knew definitely would since they thought it funny to see him get chased by humans and called him a pansy for refusing to give the 'bitching humans' what they deserved. His father and brothers thrived on cruelty. His mother was another story though she let it slip that she thought he was getting to be a pushover. To hell with that.

Aside from them, there were only three, no, four others that knew about his being a healer and they weren't stupid. They wouldn't be hunters if they were. He responded, "Alright listen, whoever you are, I don't know what you are talking about. If you call this number again, I'll find you and shoot you." Maybe that was over the top but he couldn't be too careful.

Listen Sparkle-fingers, I was asked to call you because a mutual friend of ours is in trouble. She said to call you and that you could help.

Nick paused. Only one person called him that and that was their code word for a friend. So the girl on the phone might be a friend. She would have to be if she knew their mutual friend. He replied, "I'm listening."

Look, my name is Jo Harvelle. The friend I speak of is Angela and she needs your help.

"I would think she would ask the two guard dogs that accompany her," Nick growled. He was still tired and even though she was calling for help, she would know that even he needed beauty sleep.

It's more complicated than that.

"What else is new? Now are you going to tell me or am I going to have to play twenty questions to get a straight answer out of you?" He knew he was being an ass but after Crowley and being short on sleep, he wasn't going to waste time skirting around issues. If it was something serious then he needed to get to business.

God she said you were cool but she didn't say what an ass you were.

"Part of my charm," he deadpanned. He heard a slight hesitancy and something in the background. Was the girl talking to herself? He frowned as he sat up in bed a little and started reaching for the clothes he had laying nearby. "Come on spill."

Look I don't know you from Adam but she says to tell you bluntly but… Fine I'll go out and say it! Argh, I need your help stealing her body.

Nick wasn't sure he heard right, "What? Steal her body?"

Um yeah. She…uh… died and she wants her body back. She says that she wants you to get to Sioux Falls and get her mutt. She said that you would be able to help.

Nick had heard many strange things but this was a complete shocker. "Wait a moment. You said that she's dead? Angela is dead?" He sat on the edge of his bed. He couldn't believe it and he was sure it was a joke or something. "Back up and explain everything."

Well…

A/N: Looks like Jo is bringing in Nick to help. Keep watching for more on Phoenix Rises...