Chapter 14

"So why did you come Haley?"

Haley studied the tired form that was known as Absolution to many but Angela to her friends. She didn't want to drag Bobby into this so she was going to wrack her brains on this one. At least they were in a place that wasn't going to attract attention as far as seedy motels went. She replied, "I know what happened to Dean."

"I know you know about the deal Hale," Angela replied a little short tempered from lack of sleep. She hadn't slept since the night Dean died and the images of Dean being tortured and hearing his screams were getting worse. She hadn't said anything to Sam or Bobby since they would think she was nuts. "Are you here because of something I intend to do?"

Haley stared a bit at Angela. There was no use lying. "I figured you might be trying something. I figured you could use some help; a bit of juju."

Angel raised her brow at that. "Juju?"

Haley gave a knowing look, "You need someone to stabilize the gate once you get it open. Hot spots can make easily controllable situations uncontrollable."

"I know that Hale which is why I made precautions," Angela replied as she rubbed her forehead. The more time passed, the more chances of Dean getting tortured.

"Angie, it's a two man job and you know it. Were you thinking of sneaking off in the middle of the night without so much as a good bye? How does that look?"

"There is such a thing as a note," Angela replied with the slightest hint of sarcasm in her voice. Sometimes she got irritated when people presumed that she was stupid or something. She may make stupid choices but she always thought them through. Occasionally she got a little impulsive and that was only because something had meaning to her.

Haley narrowed her eyes at the utter ridiculousness of that. Sure she had notes left to her when Dean cut out when they were together but that was different. This was a matter of life and death. She replied, "Like that would go over well with Sam."

"Leave him out of this."

"Are you planning to say, 'Dear Sam, I'm going to hell but I can't tell you because I have to do a macho act on my own.'? That is really pathetic even for you," Haley retorted. Her words were heated but at that point she didn't care.

"Shut up witch," Angela replied as she felt her temper rise. "You don't know anything. You weren't fucking there. You don't know anything."

"I know that when you think you've failed, you push everyone worth something to you away and leave them with nothing but the memory of an Ice Bitch," Haley retorted. She knew she was playing with fire since Angela was stronger and faster than her.

"And maybe that is for the best. I should have never interfered. In fact I should have never been born." At that last remark, Angela turned and stomped away. She didn't even notice that someone had overheard that last part of the conversation.

Haley took a couple of breaths and realized she had become just as angry. She couldn't get why Angela felt the way she did. She would if the girl just opened up and say something but she seemed intent on pushing everyone away. There was a good thing standing beside her and it was like for his sake, she was doing everything she could to protect him from the secrets that she kept.

"You could take her place you know."

Haley turned to see the vampire from before coming out of the shadows. "You've been tailing us?" It was habit to ask a question with a question. She also didn't have to worry too much about Aaron since he was off on an errand; an excuse she had made to talk to Angela alone.

Faisal stepped out to look at the young witch. He had heard the conversation and while it was not expressly spoken, he could read between the lines. He replied, "I am an interested party. Absolution has become popular the last few days."

Haley wasn't in the mood for bullshit. "She's been popular her whole existence. That's nothing new."

"I mean in that Lilith sent out a death warrant."

"Again old news." Haley crossed her arms across her chest. She really wasn't impressed with the vampire and she was under the sneaking suspicion that she had been used.

Faisal sighed. So he was going to have to be specific in his delivery now. Well here it goes, "Then you know that with the failed attempt Absolution is going to attempt the next obvious and that is to pay a visit to hell itself."

"You must be a genius since you overheard the conversation," Haley spat back. She really didn't have time for guessing games and there wasn't much time until nightfall when she was certain that Angela was going to act.

"You could do it yourself. Go in her place."

"And deny her the pleasure of ass kicking a couple of demons to get back her brother? Hell no," Haley replied. She had to admit though that the idea was tantalizing but she had heard the stories.

Faisal didn't miss the look of interest. Perhaps he could play on something more personal. He just had to find it. "I think you'd be stronger. They wouldn't be expecting someone who knows more than parlor tricks with juju."

"And flattery gets you nowhere," Haley countered. She was proud of her abilities since before they did diddly squat. She didn't like to abuse them and during her time in hiding, to use them would be to put a flashing neon sign over her head. Now she learned to control them and Aaron was more or less guardian of her virtue.

Faisal shrugged his shoulders. So flattery didn't work; it was touch and feel with this kind of thing. So maybe it was better to be bluntly honest. "Then I'll lay it out for you. Absolution isn't ready to go back."

"You say that like you know her. You don't. She won't let someone go if she thinks she can handle it," Haley replied with a slight shake of her head.

"That's the problem. She thinks she can when in truth that is where her downfall lies," Faisal replied. "She is not ready to make the hard decisions that will be required of her down there. You are."

"Appealing to my vanity flaws won't get you anywhere," Haley replied in the warning tones she near perfected being on the road. "Why do you say she isn't ready to go back? You make it sound like she's been there before."

"She has," Faisal replied. He learned a lot from his conversations and better to have it.

"Then she would be the perfect choice to go back. She would know the ins and outs. It's not rocket science." Haley wondered what this vampire was getting at. It was like he was playing upon her concern for a friend's welfare to get her to do something. She didn't like it but it was in her nature to find out what the guy wanted. Call it her downfall.

"The last time was not by choice."

Haley took a moment to let it sink in. It sort of made sense as to why Angela was in the mindset that she alone had to do it. Yet that didn't explain why she wasn't even going to tell Sam of all people. Bobby knew of course since that relationship was the father-daughter relationship that even Angela wouldn't violate. She was probably going to open up a can of worms with this but she had to know, "What do you mean by that?"

Faisal knew that he had the girl hooked. "Some people are just too tempting to resist and in the end traps are set and their idea of fun begin." He was being deliberately vague but it would serve his purposes just fine. He knew she would figure it out anyway. "Such an experience can leave a mark of shame and anger." He left the end hanging suggestively.

Haley knew what the game was. If it was true that Angela had been to the pit before and against her will… She knew what they would do to Dean or better yet were doing. The whole thing with shame? That implied that Angela was ashamed of that time and Haley wasn't a blind idiot. Sam cared about her more than he realized. "So she knows what happens there."

"She isn't ready to go back," Faisal repeated. "It could kill her in the end."

"Nice of you to go all doom and gloom on me," Haley retorted. She had to think about this and ask the right people. She really didn't trust this vampire one bit. "You may think so but I think she is Dean's best chance at getting back. There isn't anything she wouldn't do for him."

"It isn't the same as she would do for someone else."

Haley narrowed her eyes in that dangerous manner of hers. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"I know things as well as you, Witch. Some things are easier to spot because it is easier to observe others than one's own self." Faisal saw the dangerous look but he wasn't perturbed by it. He had dealt with worse. "The greatest strength to survival in places like the pit is not how much you know but the force that drives you. Absolution may have a motivation but it isn't strong enough especially for what is to come." He put his hands behind him as in the at ease position. He studied the witch who was glaring at him full on.

There were few things that made Haley extremely angry. One was the fact that someone made digs at friends and implying that they were weak. She knew that Angela had perfect motivation. She loved Dean and it was in the family way and Dean returned the affection wholeheartedly. Haley saw that few people were ever allowed to show certain displays of affection with the man and even she wasn't included in on a few of those.

Yet it bothered her that this vampire knew things. It was like he expected Angela to fail. It didn't sit right with her and it made her angry. "Angie is strong even when scared and hell I don't know if anyone can tell but she can get the job done."

Faisal looked at the girl. He was amazed at the amount of faith humans had in Absolution. He wondered how Absolution herself felt about it. At the moment though, he knew that she wouldn't survive the pit. Not at this time. "How do you know that? A brother-sister bond may shine light but it is not as strong as something even closer."

"She'll do it."

"If you say so," and Faisal turned to walk away. He planted the idea and now it was time to implement the action. The rest would follow.

Sam couldn't sleep. It would have been easy to take off after burying Dean to go find the means to bring him back. The most obvious was a deal but that was in the realm of being martyrs; what Dean had talked about. He couldn't do that. There was the usual asking Bobby to look around and maybe the Devil's Gate.

Someone has to do it. And you're not going to please everybody …

Something about that bothered him. So far Angela didn't say or really do anything that would indicate she was planning something. He figured that he knew her pretty well by now and that if she was going to plan something, she would have given a sign of a few things.

She's good about a lot of things Sam but there are some things she's still a baby in.

Sam stared at the ceiling of his room. It felt weird that he was in a one bed room. He kept glancing in the direction of the door as if that would make Dean appear on his bed either watching bad TV or eating his beloved pie or just sleeping.

She's still a baby…

He didn't understand why Dean felt the need to reiterate that to him. It seemed that Angela had learned a few things since they told her she was family. Yeah she made a few mistakes and he thought he understood her better. At least he thought so after she died and he ended up being possessed by her. He couldn't understand why Dean would say that.

As far as Sam knew, she could take care of herself. True he didn't like it when she became the target of unwanted advances and she had taken care of that. He also did and on occasion Dean joined in. The only thing he could think of was how she was really feeling. He did see her cry in that house and she never cried.

I really am an ass.

Sam was out of bed. There was no way he was getting any sleep tonight. Picking up his jacket, he figured a walk might help. It would wreak havoc on his ability to drive the Impala in the morning but maybe she might want to drive. She always seemed to be a peace when she drove even if she drove Dean crazy with her choice in music.

He stepped out his room making sure that he had the key and started in no particular direction. He looked around and found that the Camaro was nowhere in sight. He started to panic that it was gone thinking that she left him. He wouldn't blame her but he was hoping that she could at least come to him and talk to him once she was ready to talk. He was aware that beside the panic, he felt hurt, extreme hurt.

A moan caught his attention. Sam looked down and saw Cerebus looking up at him with a set of mournful eyes. He frowned in surprise and confusion at the ability of the hell mutt to be walking since he had been impaled by a wooden stake earlier. "What are you doing out?"

Cerebus looked up at Sam. He had been left behind and he was feeling lonely. He decided to seek out his alpha's alpha. He didn't understand why she left him behind. She was hurting and her alpha was too. He gave a slight moan and mouthed Sam's hand.

Sam responded by petting the dog on his head and pulling the ears gently. He replied, "Did she leave you behind?"

Cerebus gave a low harrumph. He knew Sam would figure it out. He bumped Sam's leg and tugged on his pants gently.

Sam petted Cerebus again. She wouldn't leave the hell mutt behind like that… unless she was going to do something stupid. The very thought of it had him worried. He lost Dean and he wasn't going to lose her. He had an idea and he hoped that Cerebus would be up to it. As it were the mutt was still sporting a bandage.

He was distracted by Cerebus putting one of his huge paws on his forearm and pulling as if to tug him down. Sam followed through and kneeled. It reminded him of the last time he actually touched a dog and just gently rubbing the hell mutt was comforting. He heard Cerebus whine and look at him with reproachful eyes. Sam couldn't help but give a slight smirk. "You miss her don't you?"

Sam chuckled at the look the mutt gave him. He had given that same look many times before and to see it on an actual dog, well a visible hellhound, it was pretty funny. He said, "Okay boy. How about we find her? Are you up to it?"

Cerebus was most certainly up to it. He had gotten a lead on the trail but he didn't want to go alone. She needed her alpha and he didn't understand why she wasn't going to him. Well he would bring her alpha to her. He gave a bark of agreement and licked Sam's face.

Sam made a slight face at the licking. At least the mutt's breath didn't stink which he thought strange. "Alright, alright. Let's go find Angie and maybe stop her from doing whatever stupid thing she's thinking of doing." He stood back up and motioned and said, "Okay go do your thing."

Cerebus looked at Sam with a curious expression. How could her alpha not know the words or the signal? He made a sort of disapproving noise.

Sam stared back at the mutt with the same expression. It became obvious that Cerebus was waiting for some sort of signal. How the heck was he supposed to know what that was? He knew he came when he was whistled for but that didn't seem right. He then remembered when Angela got the mutt to get into the Impala and figured it was worth a try. He imitated the whistle as best as he could and made a gesture.

Cerebus stood up and panting like a happy dog he gave a bark and started sniffing the air. Sam raised a brow in surprise at what just happened before shaking his head. He figured the mutt was just messing with him like he did with Dean. Or maybe he was only trained to respond to whistles but Bobby never seemed to have a problem with that.

Cerebus seemed to keep up a good pace despite his injury. It made Sam wonder if he was just milking the attention but that sounded mean on his part. He had seen what happened and watched as the mutt literally drag himself towards Dean. Then again she was good at patching up injuries. So Sam followed him all the way to the Camaro which was parked on the side of the road not too far away from the motel.

Seeing it had Sam frown at the sight. There was no way that she would leave it like that. She had to be somewhere nearby. He had to wait for Cerebus' cue though and watched as the mutt sniffed around the car. He lingered near the trunk for roughly a minute before starting off into the woods but not before giving a slight bark.

It wasn't too far to go. In fact the clearing Angela was standing in was not even ten feet into the woods. Sam frowned both in worry and anger at foolishness. He felt vulnerable that he didn't have a weapon even though Cerebus was sticking close to him. No offense to the hell mutt but Sam was used to having at least a switchblade in his jacket pocket.

As they got closer, Sam could hear her voice. It was low and eerily melodious as it rattled off words that sounded like babble. Getting closer, he spotted her kneeling with her hands folded in her lap as she continued to speak whatever it was she was saying. He took a look at the ground and recognized a few things that were used in rituals but he was unfamiliar with the layout.

Cerebus made a low moan. Sam motioned for him to be quiet. The next moment he looked, he saw Angela holding her knife. Was she pointing it at herself?

It was more reaction as Sam charged from the brush. He was almost to her when she drew it across her palm, flinching slightly and letting the drops fall on the ground on what was piled in front of her. "Angie, what are you doing?"

Angela turned to look at Sam approaching her. She was startled enough that her eyes glowed in reaction. What was he doing here? "Sam?" She frowned as she asked the question while the drops finished spilling.

Sam was breathing heavily as he looked at what she was kneeling over. It was a small bowl full of something and her blood was dripping into it. What was she doing? His first concern was her hand. It was the same one she had cut before back on their first case. He repeated, "What are you doing?"

Angela looked down at what she had been doing. She didn't have much time now that she had mixed the compound. This was going to complicate things substantially. She had hoped that Cerebus would have stayed put but that damn mutt was smarter than she gave him credit for. He found a way out and low and behold found Sam. Now he was here. "Not now Sam," was the only thing that came out and it came out not like it was intended.

Sam frowned incredulously at her as she picked up the bowl thing like it was nothing. "Yes right now," he replied, "Are you trying to do a ritual?"

"Sam, not now." Angela started walking away only to be stopped by a grip that was firm and tight but not crushing. It had a plea to it.

"And I say again yes, right now." Sam brought her around so they were face to face. "What is this?"

"It's part of a spell," Angela replied knowing that Sam wouldn't be satisfied unless he had some sort of answer.

"And that requires you to cut yourself? Are you trying to trade your soul for Dean's?"

"How quick you come to such a conclusion," Angela replied, not sure why she was being infuriating when it would have just been easy for her to tell him exactly what she was doing. "In order to create something, you need to give a part of yourself and it has to be something you wouldn't part with so easily."

"So what are you creating a monster or messing with something that could backfire on you? What?"

"What is it to you Sam? I mean why is what I do to maybe try to make things right so important for you to know? There are things out there that do work but such things come with a cost and as long as they're considered…" Angela adjusted her grip on what was in her hands. At least Sam let her go so she could run if she had to.

Sam scoffed at that. She was being deliberately infuriating on purpose. He knew that and that meant she was hiding something. It was something big and maybe if he got her flustered enough she would spit it out. "Didn't you learn anything after Sheridan?"

It was a breaking point. The tears started to fall silently as Angela took a couple of breaths. She replied, "I learned quite a bit Sam but I failed to learn the one lesson that keeps getting handed to me every time I break my rules."

"And what is that supposed to mean? Being a bitch with everyone?"

"And it worked fine until you two came along. The living reminder that everything I touch gets ruined or dies. That's right Sam. I'm like that stupid rabbit's foot. Touch me and you might get lucky but in the end you get burned as well as me." Angela paused a moment. She didn't know what else to say but if she said anything it would break her and hurt Sam. "That's why I should've stayed away. It was wrong for me to pursue our partnership."

Sam was stunned into silence. She didn't mean that. It couldn't be that. Those tears that he had regretted making come were sure indicators that she didn't mean it. "You don't mean that."

Angela couldn't say the truth. She didn't regret joining up with them. She regretted being what she was. She glanced at the watch that Dean had given her. She had to go now if she was going to generate enough energy. Swallowing back the emotions that were welling up, she replied, "I am fixing this Sam. I just hope you forgive me." She muttered a few choice words as she reached up and touched Sam on his forehead.

Sam felt a peculiar sensation as she touched his forehead. He felt weak in the legs and he collapsed. He wasn't passed out but he was stunned and had trouble moving. He watched as she gave a sad look and turned to walk away.

A/N: Manipulations and Sam catches Angie in an act. It would have been easier if she just told him. Sigh... Stay tuned for more on No Rest for the Weary...