Chapter 15

Bobby knew something was up the moment he saw Sam stagger alongside the road like he was drunk. At first he thought he was and he didn't blame the kid. Yet when he saw Cerebus barking in alarm, he knew it wasn't a simple case of someone getting drunk.

He pulled over and got out to help the younger hunter. "Sam? Sam, are you all right?"

Sam staggered and reached out to lean against the junker. He had no idea what Angela did but it was intended for him to be incapacitated while she did whatever she was thinking of doing. It had occurred to him that she used that trick she had used to incapacitate Dean when they first met. He was pissed that she would do that but he was more worried that she was going to do something to get herself killed.

Once he was steady on his feet, he managed to get out, "Bobby, she's doing something. She's gonna do something."

Bobby knew exactly what she was going to do. He put two and two together and surmised that she was being a damn idjit and pushed Sam away. She tried the sneak away and it backfired. "Easy there son."

"Bobby, what had she been doing these past few months?" Sam looked at the older hunter still trying to get steady. It was wearing off but too slow for his liking. "What was she planning if she didn't get Dean's deal?"

Dammit girl, you really messed up with this one.

"Bobby, please. Is she trying to do a trade with her soul or her life?"

Bobby took in the eyes that were locked onto his. He was amazed that Sam wasn't being pissed at what she did to him. He was more concerned that she was going to hurt herself. He found that he couldn't keep anything much further. It occurred to him that maybe Angela knew that he would eventually tell Sam about her activities and he mused, So ya trying to get him pissed at ya so ya can leave? Not gonna happen.

Sam looked at the older hunter. Bobby knew something and judging from the look on his face, Angela asked him not to say anything. It must have been big for her to tell Bobby but it hurt that she felt she couldn't come to him or Dean about it. They were together virtually twenty-four/seven and worked through everything. "She made you promise did she?"

Bobby sighed. To hell with the promise. "She made me swear not to tell ya and Dean when I called her about a special delivery I received on her behalf. I smelled a rat and agreed."

Sam couldn't help but make a slight smile. He could just imagine what she said and used to get Bobby to agree to that. That didn't change the fact that she may be going down that road Dean warned him about. "What, Bobby?"

"She wanted to create a hot spot," Bobby let out.

Sam felt the wheels turn in his head as he recalled what she mentioned about hot spots. She said that she was doing a spell. Hot spots could amplify the juice in spell work for just about anything. Immediately he grew concerned. He remembered all too well what the Morton House hot spot did to her. She nearly went crazy and was barely holding it together until Corbett saved their collective asses.

It affected her on a deeper level than she cared to admit. He could see that and she sort of told him when he took care of her wrist. "Bobby, where would she go to create a hot spot?"

"Where else?"

Sam got it. "Dean's grave. She said that death by supernatural… Bobby we gotta stop her." He started moving to get into the car. The stun hadn't quite worn off and he almost fell trying to get to the passenger door and open it. "Come on Cerebus."

Bobby reached out to steady Sam. "Wait Sam."

"Bobby," Sam huffed as he managed to get the door open, "What she is doing… it could hurt her. I can't let her do that to herself."

"Sam…"

"Bobby, I saw what happened the last time. This could kill her." Sam wondered why Bobby was looking at him in that calm manner. Was there something that he was missing about this? "Dean wouldn't want this."

"I know that Sam but… it's not what you think."

Sam looked at Bobby as if he were insane. "What do you mean?"

Bobby knew that Sam had to know. Dean told him what happened in Sheridan when they stopped by with that hex box with the lycanthropy cure in it. "Angie needs to make a hot spot in order to… open a door."

"What door?"

"Sam, the door is a hell's gate. It's a passage to the pit." Bobby studied the look on Sam's face. He wasn't going to mince corners. "She's going to hell to save Dean."

Gabriel stood looking around waiting. He was growing impatient with it but this was important in securing the fact that he would still be in his witness protection while he was touring around the pit with Cat. He didn't want his dick brothers to know what he was up to though it was certain that they knew what his Cat was up to. They weren't stupid.

Gabriel sighed as he stood there. He was going to be late if stayed here much longer. He was going to have to turbo charge the flight pack to get there. He wasn't going to let Cat down again. He wasn't going to let her go it alone.

"You ever hear the expression that standing around in the middle of the night is just asking for something to happen?"

Gabriel paused. He recognized that voice. He hadn't heard it since… He turned to look at the newcomer. He found himself face to face with a stranger wearing one of those trench coats with the hood. The hood was up and it covered the face under the shadows it created but the voice was unmistakable. He replied, "I wasn't aware it was an expression."

The stranger laughed, "You haven't changed a bit."

"Most folks don't Ass Man," Gabriel replied as he started circling the stranger warily. If he was here then his contact was compromised in some way. "Thought you were keeping it on the down low."

"Well considering the activities that have been going on this past year… It's hard to ignore the potential fun that could occur." The stranger gave a short laugh as he smirked at Gabriel and circled with him.

"So you've been paying attention then and doing your own thing. I figured you were the lapdog type," Gabriel retorted back.

"Be careful what you say, Gabriel. There are others out there who are not as accommodating to your insults as I am," the stranger replied, "Though I must say that she must have learned a great deal about sarcasm from you."

Gabriel knew that he was being goaded. There was always the chance that they knew about his relationship with Cat. He wasn't going to let anything out unless they revealed their hand. He replied carefully, "My sarcasm rubs off on all the women I have met."

"Ah but the one I have in mind is very special. A lot of people are interested in her. Deadly as she is beautiful; a beauty beyond compare of any of those created. I hear that it wreaks havoc in her life," the stranger replied with a smirk.

Gabriel kept his face neutral but continued to eye his visitor warily. He knew now that he was talking about Cat. She was a beautiful woman and it was something that had other women glaring at her with jealousy. Men lusted after her and he spent time chasing them off before and she did pretty well for herself and he wasn't stupid when he saw Sammy's reaction. He replied, "Such is the case with a beautiful woman."

"Cut the crap Gabriel. You and I both know that there is only one woman in your life that has you willing to bend over backwards. They call her Absolution."

Gabriel didn't react as he replied, "Oh that one. You know we really don't move in the same circles so I really don't know what you're talking about Ass Man."

"You have always tried my patience and many a time I have severely wanted to hurt you," The stranger replied. He subtly put a hand into the folds of his coat. "Perhaps I finally figured out how to do it."

"Well you never could carry out a good prank. I always beat you on that one."

"Still as glib as ever. I wonder how glib you will be when I get to your precious Absolution and send her to the pit just like before. There are those down there that are just aching to wish her back. She was such fun to play with." The stranger laughed as he said it since he knew full well what happened down there.

Gabriel couldn't stand it. "You won't touch her. Not if I can help it."

"We'll see," and the stranger flicked something out so fast. The result was a ring of fire that encircled Gabriel. The stranger laughed. "So easy to trap an angel. Even a dumbass human could do it."

Gabriel glared death daggers at the stranger. He knew that he was trapped in a ring of holy fire and he had no way out of it. That is unless someone could extinguish it like a human or something. The stranger was laughing at him and saying, "This was all too easy. After all you've been avoiding the watch towers for a very long time. It makes perfect sense that you would cover your tracks."

"When you have dick ass brothers yeah you tend to do that," Gabriel replied as he curled his hands into fists.

"And there is only one person aside from her human pets that she would turn to for help in her great escape plan and that is you." The stranger stopped to peer at Gabriel with a curious expression. He was curious about why and what it was about Gabriel that Absolution trusted. "Funny thing is I don't see the attraction except for the fact that you both have a unique perspective on life."

"I've seen enough," Gabriel replied. "I'm easy to get along with," he added in sarcasm.

"That I can see."

"So cut to the chase then. What do you want?"

The stranger paced knowing that it would annoy Gabriel even more. He then teased, "Mm I am rather looking forward to attempting to break Absolution. Already grief stirs at the heart and to make failure occur at the next great idea… so sweet."

"She's too smart for that. She would see you coming a mile away," Gabriel replied with the barest hint of pride at his girl's abilities.

"Well we've had an interesting meeting at one point. I must say that she would have probably done me in. Then again she doesn't know does she?"

Gabriel snorted, "She probably does. She only reveals her hand when she knows that she has an advantage. When and how is up to her. Even I don't know."

"Quite true. Perhaps she didn't even tell you how she plans to open the hell's gate?"

"Don't need it and I ain't telling you," Gabriel spat.

The stranger laughed and it was deep hearty laugh, "Still acting like a fledgling. It doesn't matter since it's already begun. I am seriously going to enjoy making it difficult and leaving her with that sense of failure. Funny what death makes people do."

"Leave her alone."

"Like you can make me. Absolution will be broken and then things will go according to plan."

"I have a trick or two and I'll kick your ass." Gabriel knew that he couldn't do anything while he was in that ring of holy fire. It was nice to threaten and on occasion he had done a few things… His biggest concern was Cat. He knew that if she were made to believe that she failed, that would spell trouble and not the kind that meant trouble for a demon. It had more to do with her psyche that she was just starting to get over.

"You can try Gabriel but you and I both know that as long as you're trapped there, you can't do a damn thing." The stranger started to walk away. "Now time to go have some more fun with Absolution. Oh by the way, it was easy to lure you out. Your vampire friend was very informative of a few things."

Gabriel gritted his teeth. He watched as the stranger left, leaving him there. "Faisal," he nearly shouted. That damn grandpa of a vampire did the unthinkable. "What the hell did you think you were doing?" He couldn't help but shout as he was trapped within the ring of fire.

Gabriel had been around long enough to know that if Faisal couldn't get a hold of the usual like him to manipulate the situation, then he resorted to other measures. That meant he would manipulate Cat's friends into thinking that they were doing the right thing. It also meant that Faisal was willing to work with the devil in order to get the one thing that he wanted and Gabriel knew that he couldn't let that happen unless Cat agreed to it.

Gabriel knew the centuries had not been too kind to Cat especially after the pit. He hadn't made it easier keeping the whole destiny crap from her. Faisal had made it seem like he had malicious intent and he ended up being an ass. That damn vampire was a firm believer that everyone had their place in the game plan known as life. He did anything and everything to make sure it happened and that included Cat.

There was a reason Faisal didn't want her to go to hell. It wasn't like she was going alone. If Gabriel was honest with himself, he would stop her too. He knew that she wasn't ready for the pit again. There were a few things that had souls brave the pit as long as they did until they finally became the very thing she fought. Motivation was a clear cut way of making it.

Back then Cat fought for her life. She wanted out and she became an animal almost to get out from that place and travel the levels of hell. Her sense of justice and the wanting to live kept her alive but even Gabriel knew that wasn't enough. He had observed her interact with the Winchesters and he knew that she probably wouldn't make it unless she reached deep down and touched that part of her she refused to acknowledge was there.

Gabriel paced around trying to think. Ass Man would show up and probably fight Cat. Hell's gates stayed open for only a brief amount of time. That would devastate Cat and it made him angry. He stomped around trying to think of how to get out.

"You never could hold your temper could you Gabe?"

Gabriel stopped pacing as he looked at the newcomer. He was rather surprised at the visitor. "You would be throwing a fit too if you just found out what a stupid grandpa vampire did."

Haley sensed that something was off. She was already upset with the whole episode between her and Angela and then that infernal vampire. She looked out the window of her room and noted the moon. It had to be a coincidence or something like that.

She knew that Angela was going to open a hell's gate. It was just a matter of when and at the time it seemed rather pointless to stake out Dean's gravesite. Angela would have been able to smell her a mile away even if she played with some of her juju herbs. She also knew that her friend needed help with this. She pulled on her shoes since she didn't bother to go to bed.

"Hale, what are you doing?"

Haley looked at Aaron who looked like he had been on a drinking binge with the sleepy expression and messed up brown locks. He had gone to sleep the moment they checked in. It was a quirk of Nephilim especially if they used their powers. He had used his powers earlier to send waves of calm, an unusual aspect of his kind and for him. It had Haley wonder about which angel was his father but he never said a word about that. She left it for the time being and decided to tell him what she was doing, "I'm going to help Angela with the hell's gate."

Aaron was instantly awake. He brushed the sleepy expression away and pulled on one of his flannel shirts that he liked to wear. He wasn't sure about the whole thing but he knew that if Haley wanted to help a friend, she was going to do it. He wasn't a blind idiot either. He knew how Haley felt about Dean Winchester even if it wasn't clear to her.

Aaron was just grateful to be alive. He was well aware that it was through the efforts of Absolution that more like him were alive and living lives of their own. His girlfriend was human and lived in the same community and they were a surprising mix of humans and Nephilim. When he was asked to play bodyguard to the granddaughter of Lwazi, he was apprehensive about it. It meant long days away from his girlfriend and probably doing things that would require the use of his powers.

That seemed to be the idea considering that his charge had been raised by both her father's people in Africa and then by her mother's people in Europe and he had heard stories of the Celtic women. He was adept in defense and fighting and his girlfriend said that it was all right.

It hadn't turned out too bad since they swung by the community every now and then and Haley 'trained' him into not hovering around her twenty-four/seven. She said that if he wanted to feather it back, he could. So he did and the long distance relationship worked out and was working out pretty good. His girlfriend was crazy about him and often asked about the things he had seen. He learned that she came from a family of hunters so she knew about things.

Looking at Haley's determined stance, he knew that he was going to be in for a long haul. He replied, "Alright. Where at?"

"Where Dean is buried," Haley replied as she finished with her shoes. She pulled on her jacket which was designed to reflect her heritage. Plus it was a means to hide a few extras.

Aaron nodded and replied, "Okay then." He reached over and pulled out the one weapon he had been taught to use. Whether or not it would make a difference was up for debate but it was the only thing he had courtesy of his father. "Car or mojo?"

Haley gave a wry smile. She knew that Aaron wouldn't be up to it even though it was faster. He had spent enough energy for the day. "It's not that far. I know you haven't had enough sleep."

Aaron grumbled, "I can do it. It's no trouble." He had used up quite a bit just soothing Haley. He extended it to her friends and they seemed to do better by it.

Haley turned to look at the Nephilim and saw him grumbling. She knew that he was capable of amazing feats. She had observed other Nephilim and none had the resilience he had nor could they do the things he did. She once asked him how he was able to do so and he merely shrugged at that.

Haley suspected that it had something to do with the girl that she often had to threaten him to go see. At least that was in the beginning. Now he went when he wanted but he always checked to see if she would be all right on her own. It was one thing she couldn't shake him out of. She knew he took his guardianship seriously and she wondered if that had to do with the fact that angels, aside from being messengers, were guardians too. She seriously had to be a better study in genetics.

Angela was better at it and she was glib about it. Well she was glib about her appetite and healing abilities around Sam. Other stuff she half joked but gave that warning look. In the end though Angela knew how genetics worked in the grand scheme of things hence her one joke of six degrees of supernatural or something like that.

Haley looked at Aaron as she made sure her lucky pack was slung around her shoulders and she touched her necklace for good luck. She replied, "I know but somehow I get the feeling that something is going to happen tonight and I would rather you be ready for that than feathering out."

Aaron gave a slight nod. He had learned quickly never to doubt Haley's gut feelings and she trusted his. When something was up, it usually was and from what he observed regarding the Winchesters, that usually was the case. They always seemed to be stuck in the middle of something big. He found it no major coincidence that the god and goddess decided to manifest through the younger brother and Absolution. That connection he was able to see and he wondered if that was what Haley saw and if she saw it… that meant the other side knew it too. He replied, "Alright, but I drive."

"Better you than me, Feathers," Haley replied using the nickname she saddled him with when she first met him and he had a stick up his ass.

Aaron gave a wry look at Haley as he grabbed the keys to the econo-friendly car that they had purchased recently. It looked like a lunch box to him since he was fairly tall and it was a wonder he was able to squeeze into the damn thing. The only reason they had it was because it wasn't a gas guzzler and with the amount of traveling they did, it paid to have a tight wallet and an eye out for expenses. "Lead the way Princess," he said teasing her back since he knew she was from one of the five families that hosted the tournament.

Haley made a slight scoffing noise as she got into their car and nearly laughed as Aaron squeezed in beside her. She swore he was like one of those contortionists in this car. She suddenly had the mental image of Sam trying the same thing along with Angela since they were both pretty tall and gave a stifled chuckle.

"Laugh it up Hale," Aaron replied giving a slight smile as he put the car in gear. "I know you're thinking about size." To tease her he waggled his eyebrows suggestively.

"Now that is plain Freudian and gross," Haley replied thinking about the bad jokes she had with Dean. She hoped that Angela's plan worked and she was going to help her if only for that. "Step on it feathers since there is not that much time."

"Fine," Aaron replied and gave the car gas. "So much for eco-friendly."

They made it to the site and knew that Angela's car was there. Haley was out of the car before Aaron stopped and ran up to Angela. "Hey, need a hand?"

A/N: Well looks like the parties are scrambling and a trap was laid for Gabriel. Haley goes to give a hand at the site. Stay tuned for the conclusion of No Rest for the Weary...