Chapter 13

"There is only one option Absolution would take if she wants her pet back."

Faisal tried not to twitch his mouth at the manner in which the stranger he was meeting was talking. He took in the raised hood and the hidden face and replied, "Enlighten me since you seem to know a lot about her."

"I know a lot of things Vampire as well as you. It is just amusing and surprising that you have to summon someone like me to tell you these things. I thought one of your age would have a few sources." The stranger made a slight sneer but it was hidden by his hood. At least his tone conveyed his attitude.

Faisal bristled at that. He did know things but there was the occasional thing that he didn't know and he had to go to outside sources. He replied, "I do and you're one of them though I detest having to do it and with someone like you."

"That has me surprised. Whatever happened to your fine feathered friend, the Messenger?"

The tone was mocking and Faisal knew it. However because he knew Gabriel, he was going to have to find out through different means. He could do it since he had done it before. He replied, "We are hardly friends."

"You must be since he hasn't had the nerve to smite you just yet. Though I would, considering the last time you two had an altercation."

Faisal stared at the stranger. "He doesn't understand that everything has its place."

"Yes, yes, the whole natural order thing you are so devoted to. Did it ever occur to you that it will happen regardless?"

Faisal looked at the stranger. He could see the slight glow of the eyes even though the hood was pulled over. He narrowed his eyes slightly. "Things will happen as they are supposed to but when someone decides to change the game, it must be avoided."

"Ah yes your spiel on destiny. Tell me, how did the Messenger take to that?"

Faisal gave a slight look. The grapevine was in full force since who didn't know about the earthquake of… was it 1675? He couldn't remember but it was rather memorable because in the end she showed that fine temper and Gabriel was shot down completely. The angel interfered way too much then. He replied, "You know about that."

"Of course. That was one story that is true from the grapevine."

"And many others are complete lies or partial truths. Now do you have any idea what Absolution would try now that her initial plan failed?"

The stranger in the hood moved his head in an inquisitive fashion. The vampire must have some idea but his closest source would be the Messenger. So if the Messenger was involved, that meant the vampire needed someone who could predict what the Messenger would do. "I would ask how well you know Absolution. Most seem to know her tendencies and she is of your kind."

"Doesn't mean that I know her. I know of her." Faisal looked away as if he were above his informant.

"Maybe you should've gone to someone who knows her just like the Messenger?"

The voice was taunting and it irritated Faisal. He knew that he could have gone to other sources but there was one thing that he hadn't anticipated on. The loyalty even by the lowlifes of the other side was unbelievable. "That didn't pan out the way I like things to." He was aware that it came out like a pout.

The stranger chuckled at the situation. It was rather funny. "So you couldn't even get a word out of the worm Cary?" He noted the expression on Faisal's face and took a twisted pleasure in the fact that one of the oldest vampires and one reputed in shady deals couldn't even get a lower than low demon to talk. Then again… "Don't worry about it. He fed Tiamat and Lilith nothing but bullshit. Surprising at such loyalty."

It was surprising indeed, Faisal mused to himself. When he talked to the demon, the asshat indulged in idle chit chat but it was hard to tell which was the bullshit and which was the truth. The worm was a demon and he was loyal to Absolution. How was she able to achieve such a feat? He replied, "It is surprising. Then again such worms deal in information and the deal wasn't in the best interest of the informant."

"Bah, you and I know that Cary won't give anything away. It has us baffled too," the stranger replied. "Makes us wonder if that was how she ensnared the Winchesters."

Faisal made a slight movement with his head. That thought had occurred him but when he observed her from afar once he caught wind of her again… He noticed that it was different, especially with the taller of the two she traveled with. "No, such persuasion is wasted upon humans such as them. An asset like Cary is more valuable to the talents."

"Keep telling yourself like that." The stranger looked at Faisal and his tone still maintained its mocking tones. "I know you saw her in action. She has a special attachment to them and the reaction that occurs when it is exploited in the wrong manner… priceless."

Faisal couldn't deny it. He had observed her interaction between the two Winchesters. It was her relationship with the younger of the two that held his interest. He noticed how they would interact and he wondered if there was something more to it. It gave credence to the fact that she had a weakness. "Of course weaknesses can be exploited but that doesn't explain her next move."

"You said it yourself. Weaknesses can be exploited." The stranger shrugged his shoulders. He was about to walk away when he decided to play a hand. "It's no secret that the Winchesters are her weakness. One is dead. What would she do?"

Faisal thought about it some. If she failed in saving him from dying, the next step would be to bring him back and if he knew her, it would be right away. "She would try to bring him back."

"Ah yes and there is the celebrated genius that is celebrated amongst your kind," the hooded stranger mocked. "It's no wonder Lilith allowed you to live the last time you showed your face and of course Tiamat underestimated you."

Faisal narrowed his eyes but the cool demeanor he adopted didn't change. He replied, "I may know what she is going to do but the way to do it remains elusive." He was well aware of the old ways that were hardly in use. He figured she would go with the more direct approach and use a hell's gate. That would be what he would do. "The most obvious would be a hell's gate."

"That would be the choice now would it. Considering the fact that a more direct approach requires a certain heavenly approach, a hell's gate is much easier."

"Don't be a smartass," Faisal replied adopting the crude nature of humans and insults. So if she was planning on going, then he had work to do. "A large amount of energy would be needed to open one."

"Obviously."

Faisal looked at the stranger. Gabriel most likely knew the whole plan and would be going. If that were the case, he would make sure that he didn't have a clue. Faisal studied the stranger and made a decision. "In that case, we have work to do."

"And what is going on in that head of yours?"

"Doing what I have to do."

Haley wiped her eyes as she sat in the car waiting for Aaron to finish gassing up. She knew that it happened. The spirits told her and of course she heard the sound of the hounds. They weren't in the neighborhood but with the right mojo, and a little amp boost from Aaron, she was able to tell that what she dreaded happening had happened. Dean Winchester was dead.

Thinking about it, Haley thought that maybe she shouldn't have tried to warn Dean about the consequences of Angela chasing the demon. It seemed that he already knew it and was just humoring her. It vaguely occurred to her that maybe she might have sapped his hopes by doing that. Angela would have told him her idea and then to hear a possibility… that could bring anyone down.

Haley had heard of the stories of hell. Her grandfather used to tell her those stories as well as the other children as more of a moral tale about what happened to evil souls. Later she learned that there were good people who ended up making a bad choice like a deal and were sent to the pit. They were tortured and the pit burnt out their humanity and they became demons. It was a harsh reality to learn at the age she did when she saw a childhood friend become possessed. He nearly killed an entire family before he was exorcised and she was there. It was then that her grandfather told her the truth.

After that she was shipped off to live with her mother. For what reason no one gave her and she never dared to question. She was raised with her mother's people and in turn was entrusted with her duty and that led to the falling out with Gen and then that business in Lakota and she met Dean. It was that moment she realized a few things.

In Dean she saw a kindred spirit. They both had heavy burdens and while she didn't have a younger sibling that was her responsibility, she understood the toll burdens of secrets and duty had on a person. She made choices that ultimately cost her a friendship and time in a slight downward spiral and a life of hiding. That was why she said she wasn't one to judge when she met Dean and he told her about a choice that would ultimately cost him his life.

While it was clichéd in that she was the one to rescue him when he was trapped in the pool under the cage, it sparked something between them. Obvious attraction aside, they were connected in a way that was considered rare. It was more than the sex and fun times and they respected and admired each other. It took her a little longer to realize that she did have deep seated feelings that would be considered love.

Being what they were, they recognized that they had to go their separate ways. As much as it would have been nice to set down roots somewhere and have Dean come on over or vice versa, it just wasn't in the cards at that point. They both knew it and Haley knew that mostly it was the concern over Dean's deal. It was why she offered suggestions and tips of witches and warlocks and others who might know a thing or two about deals.

Now that the deed had been done, Haley was faced with the dilemma of what to do next. She was half tempted to call Sam and ask if he needed any help. He wouldn't be rude about it but she had observed him long enough during the tournament to know that he would try to tough things out. The best approach would be to just ask if she could come. He wouldn't refuse her or anything since he wasn't callous and he must have suspected something to the relationship between her and his brother.

She was astute to know that Angela would do the next thing. Of course she couldn't tell Sam that the reason she wanted to be there aside from helping to bury Dean was to talk to Angela about her plans. More likely he had no idea about it. She looked to see Aaron pumping in the last of the gas as she pulled out her cell phone. She opened up the address book and looked at the list of numbers. Deciding on one, she pushed the dial and listened for the telltale sound of it being picked up.

Hello?

"Hi, it's me."

Me who?

"Bobby it's me Haley. I—I just want to see what is going on." Haley looked out the window. She then added, "You don't have to be secretive. I know what happened."

That can be expected from a witch.

Haley could understand why Angela liked the grizzled hunter. She liked him too after they were introduced in Texas. The hunter had been surprised that Dean had been involved with a witch and a good witch at that. It was a funny moment when Angela and Dean said that there was such a thing as good witches and they didn't do the crap that badass ones did to make people's lives miserable. It was a different kettle of fish though when she revealed she was Lwazi's granddaughter. She replied, "Yeah that juju I know really tells me things." She gave a slight sigh and added, "I'm really sorry though. How is Sam?"

Doing as well as can be expected.

"And Angie?"

… She's holding up…

"Meaning that she is up to something," Haley clarified. "It's okay to tell me. My guess is that she is planning something that involves going to the pit."

And how do ya know about that? Your loa spirits?

"It's what I would do. I was hoping that she would ask me for help but I guess she asked you and had a plan right?"

You can say that.

Haley nodded in confirmation. So her friend was going to do it. Maybe she could give a hand. "Maybe I can help. I am guessing that she is waiting until Dean is buried?"

Something like that. She said something about needing the resting place of the dead. She said that it would take her right to where Dean is.

Haley thought about it. Even the dead cast auras that could be used if they were killed by supernatural means. She had a vague idea about what the girl was planning. Maybe she could lend a hand in maintaining stability and that sort of thing. It was going to be hard enough with one person. Maybe two might help but she had to be sure. "She's making a hot spot isn't she?"

I'm not even gonna guess how you came to that but yeah. Damn idjit girl made me promise and…

Haley gave a slight smile. "And I'm guessing Sam doesn't know." The pause was hardly telltale but it said enough. Haley continued, "If that is the case then that would make my involvement difficult. I can help with this."

Why?

Haley paused a moment to think about it. She knew that Bobby would wait to hear her answer. Why did she want to help? She took a breath and replied, "For Dean."

Hmm. Alright. If ya have a computer, you can track the GPS in my phone. We're leaving soon so…

"Thanks Bobby," Haley replied as she pulled out the laptop that was kept in the front seat. She learned a few things the past few months and some of what she could do naturally scared her but it sure was handy.

Angela contemplated the site that was chosen. It was in the middle of nowhere, just the way it has always been for hunters. Looking at it she was reminded of the last lines from that Martin Scorsese film Gangs of New York about the passage of time and how in the grand scheme of things, the little things get overlooked or something like that. That pretty much was the way of hunters.

Being what she was, she could see the passage of time done on the markers and other things. The places she had been to with the strays she picked up along the way, she occasionally went back to check on them and make sure that they were taken care of. It was often strange to see the markers she put up taken care of and they were surrounded by badly dilapidated markers. Things were only as important as you made them to be.

She took a breath and continued to dig the hole. She took it upon herself to dig while Sam and Bobby were arguing over whether or not to salt and burn Dean's remains. It was a no brainer to her that Dean was going to be stuck in the box and buried. He was going to need a body when she got him out and that was pretty hard to do when you salt and burned someone. She heard it had been a pain in the ass for someone trying to do that. Well it was a story but that was the point.

Besides, the ritual to return a soul to the world of the living did require a body and… What was she thinking? Gabriel said he could do it with whatever angel mojo he had to do it with. He would be able to put Dean back in his body and repair the damage from the hellhound. That would be part of the reason why he volunteered to go with her into the pit besides the obvious fact that she was still scared about going back. That wasn't going to change but at least she would have company.

"Bobby, Dean's gonna need a body when I get him out," Sam said. He turned on the puppy eyes to try and get the grizzled hunter to see reason.

Bobby knew that a whole body would be needed especially since Angela was dead set on going to the pit. She didn't actually say it but he figured that she would need it to be so. It was still stuck in his mind though that because Dean was a hunter, he got the hunter's burial. He turned to ask Angela her opinion and saw that she was busy digging a hole. "Angie, what are ya doing?"

"Digging a hole," the answer came in a deadpanned voice.

Sam looked over and noticed that she was digging. She had gotten a fair amount of work done and he felt rather guilty that she was doing all the work. "Need some help?"

Angela paused and looked back at the two looking at the two hunters. She looked at the ground and then at the shovel in her hands. She had one other but it was smaller and she could work with that until she got frustrated and dug with her hands. She tossed Sam the shovel and jumped out of the hole saying, "Take this one. I got another in the trunk."

Bobby watched with a raised brow as she walked over and popped the trunk of the Camaro and pulled out one of those short shovels. He figured that she would just get to work and let him and Sam argue. "I'm guessing yer dead set on a burial?"

"Burning flesh makes me sick," Angela replied, reminding Bobby of what she mentioned a year ago. She also gave a speaking glance at the grizzled hunter about her intentions. "Besides, there is more than one way to protect the dead." She shrugged her shoulders and jumped into the hole and began digging along with Sam.

It went faster as Sam and Angela dug the hole for the coffin. Sam looked over at Angela who managed to look fairly clean even though she was digging in the dirt. She was deep in thought and figured that she was going on full automatic. Digging a hole wasn't exactly brain surgery. More likely she was just being alone with her thoughts since they really hadn't talked at all since they got there.

"Silence can be deafening when thoughts are louder than church bells."

Sam looked over at Angela who was leaning on her shovel. At least it wasn't one of those camping shovels. That would seriously look ridiculous and awkward for her. He replied, "Am I that bad?"

Angela shrugged her shoulders and started digging again, "Maybe it's me. I don't pay too much attention on something that doesn't require a whole lot of thought. So maybe they're mine."

Sam paused a moment. He then said, "Thanks… for seeing my side."

More like it was logical, Angela thought but kept it to herself. Instead she replied, "As I said, there is more than one way to protect the dead." She wiped the sweat off her brow and took a moment to breath in the smell of damp earth.

It was weird but there was something about damp earth that appealed to her. Sure it brought back memory lane from the case at the Point but she had good memories of damp earth. She knew her quirks and they could be considered weird. To hell with what others thought. Anything to stay rooted to the world of the living when faced with eternity.

"Why don't you do salt and burns for…?"

Angela paused and looked at Sam who was staring at her. She glanced at the hole. It was deep enough to put in the box. She tossed out her shovel with precision and replied as she heaved herself out, "The smell makes me sick. It goes back to a long time ago during a few wars or so."

Sam could buy that. She once said that she was a nurse one during a war or two. She probably had been on battlefields and the like. He could hardly imagine how that looked. "I can see how that would make you not like it." He tossed his shovel out and was surprised when she offered him a hand.

Angela held out her hand and waited. When he gripped her wrist, she gripped his and held on as he pulled himself up. "Well wars contributed to it but when smallpox invaded the tribes… I really couldn't do it especially since a few of them were hunters too."

"So what do you do?" Sam was genuinely curious about what she did for the dead. She never had a problem with salting and burning remains like bones.

Angela helped Sam and Bobby with the box. It would have been easy for just her and Sam to do it since she had her He-Man strength that Dean constantly teased her about. She was astute and sensitive enough though to know that some things needed to be done for necessity's sake and peace of mind. She answered Sam's question, "I have a few rituals from our good friends the Romani. Harman gave them to me and I use them." She paused a moment as she jumped in the hole to receive the box. "I used them for Andy and the others. No one messes with Romani magic. It's like messing with a PMSing witch."

That made some sense. Sam replied, "So this will protect Dean until we get him back?" He held out his hand to help her up once the box was in. He was already thinking of means to get his brother back.

Angela studied him while hiding her thoughts as he helped her out. She should say something about that but should she give away what she was trying to do? She had no idea how he would take the idea of her going and leaving him behind. She replied, "It will keep anyone attempting to mess with his remains out." It was a careful response.

She pulled out the notebook that she had tucked in her jacket pocket. It was badly tattered but she always wrote down things of importance and it helped when she couldn't remember them. She was aware that Sam was staring at her and pointedly ignored it as she found the rite and began reciting it in the proper form. She would have to carefully word her warning against involvement in bringing Dean back but she knew Sam well and he would fight her. Maybe it was right since if he knew the truth…

She paused a moment when she noticed Haley and her bodyguard come up. She made a slight frown but it disappeared. Haley had a right since she had a thing for Dean. How she knew though was a question to be answered for later.

A/N: The time to bury Dean has come. What is Faisal up to? Stay tuned for more on No Rest for the Weary...