Chapter 2

Sam sat on the edge of his bed. He was scared and he didn't know what to do. He had the most realistic dream and that was after he had been attacked by long time hunter friends. They had come to talk to him about the job that Bobby was going to give to him and he sent them on their way with what he knew and then they came back. They knew.

He hadn't expected that even though it lurked at the back of his mind. Someone out there would learn that he had started the Apocalypse and pretty much started the end of the world. They did and they came for him and they once were friends. They were friends and they tried to get him to drink demon blood again because they wanted revenge… like he was a weapon or something.

He had fought them off that time but there would be others. The question was whether or not he would be able to keep at it. It had him wondering how she managed to do it. He still had a hard time believing that Angela had a demon blood addiction. He never would have thought it, not even considered it. He couldn't conceive of it especially considering that she became addicted when she was a prisoner of hell. He had always thought her to be strong and…

He gave a slight scoffing sound. He had fallen into that trap that everyone seemed to do. No wonder she always corrected people and why she was insistent that she never met the Absolution told in stories. He held her on a pedestal and now… I'm sorry Angie.

His mind then turned to the fact that Lucifer had been coming to him in his dreams. The devil used Jess to get him to let his guard down; he played upon the fact that he missed Jess and occasionally thought it was his fault that she was dead. Then he told him that he was his vessel. It was as shocking as finding out that Dean was the Michael Sword or rather that dick's meat suit.

All in all, the whole thing had him scared. His natural reaction was to reach out for his brother but Dean agreed with him that this was the best. Maybe he was being an idiot but he was taking this like he did when he was told never to come back when he left for college. He was cutting himself off from his brother and… it sucked. It sucked worse that he cut her out and it made him feel guilty that she was still reaching out to him. He got her intention but he wanted to know the real why.

Sam rubbed his head and looked around the room. He knew he was going to have to move on. He couldn't stay here now. The guys would tell others and they would come after him here. It seemed that he was going to be forced to move on like he was hunting.

Forgiveness is something that can be considered a work in progress. There's always going to be crap to bring you back to that place of guilt and punishment.

"Yeah you're right about that Angie. And it looks like I might end up paying for it with my life if I'm not careful," Sam mused as he remembered their conversation earlier.

He didn't like that she had left Dean like that to come and talk to him. Then again maybe she told his brother that she was meeting an old friend for some information and that she would meet him at the next hunt. That was akin to calling her a liar and she was anything but that. Still if she was sneaking around to talk to him and not tell Dean… It was going to be this past year repeated and they didn't need that.

With that in mind he reached for his phone. He held it in his hand and looked at it. How long did he wait to try and talk to her the last time? If only he had called her earlier but would that have made a difference? Probably not since she was the Old Man's prisoner at the time. He looked up indecisive of what to do. Finally he opened his phone and hit the speed dial.

Hello?

"Hey, it's me," Sam said feeling like an idiot for saying that. Of course she would know who it was but it was just something to say and to get the conversation going. Now he had a pretty good idea how hard it was for her to be polite.

Sam?

"Yeah, um… Angie… can… can we talk?"

Aren't we now?

It was gentle and playful and it made Sam's throat convulse. "What I meant was are you able to talk now? If you're busy…"

What's wrong?

"Nothing. Just…"

You know I can tell when something is bothering you and you try to hide it. I can even tell with Dean and he's better. Seriously though… what's wrong Sam?

"I just want to talk," Sam replied as he got up and started packing his stuff. He had to leave now if he was going to avoid any trouble. "Maybe… How… how was the salt and burn?"

Cake walk. I even found time to make a custard.

"Custard?" Sam frowned at that. It was not the usual and yet it felt normal to him. "Why would you make that?"

I felt like it. I always go to comfort food. Sam… what's really wrong?

Sam felt his lip twitch. He knew she would come back to that and she always picked up on what was wrong. He didn't want her to worry but he knew that she would worry if he didn't tell the truth or some semblance of the truth. He replied, "Just... a few things bothering me. I shouldn't have called. I can take care of it."

Do you want me to come?

Sam paused at that. It was uttered like the last time and he knew she would come. All he had to do was say yes. "No, that's okay. I gotta go."

Sam…

"It's okay Angie. I just… missed hearing you." Sam paused and listened on the other end. He had effectively put them both into silence. He paced around a little before continuing, "I miss you and I'm sorry about everything."

It's okay Sam. I… I understand where you are coming from. Really I do.

"I know," Sam replied looking out the window. He did know because he was still digesting the fact that she was in the same boat he was. She had the same problem he did and what made it ten times worse was that thinking about it she was trying to tell him that in her own way and he wasn't listening then. "I just need to tell you that and… maybe when I find a place you can come by."

If it is what you want.

It was what he wanted all along. He did want her to come but he wasn't going to force her to choose though it appeared that she did. She chose to go solo and by doing that… She was going back to her default of looking after him and Dean. That was the only logical explanation why she hadn't stayed with Dean. He replied, "I can call you or… you can try that GPS tracking thing you do without the GPS. I figured that's how you found me without Sasha or Cerebus."

I could have used Setna. He may be a fur ball of a cat but he is a good animal.

Sam chuckled at the teasing tone her voice had taken. He still was baffled by her being nice to him because she had forgiven him so readily. He only hoped that wasn't the source of tension between her and Dean. She loved Dean like a brother and it would kill her if something damaged that relationship. "Or I can give you a call," Sam offered. He shrugged his shoulders as if he were there, "It's good to hear your voice."

Flatterer.

"Honest truth." Sam gave a slight smile. It almost felt like it did; just like old times. While she always said that, Sam couldn't help but think that she liked the compliments and they were so rare that it was the best way for her to accept them. It was a bit sad but he didn't blame her either. "Thanks Angie… for just… being you."

You're welcome Sam. Are you sure you don't want me to come? You know I can zip over.

As much as Sam would have liked it, he was going to stick to why he insisted she not come and stay with Dean though that plan seemed to have gotten shot to hell. She did do what she wanted but she always considered her family. It did explain why she kept her distance so in a way… He looked at the wall and replied, "It's okay, Angie. I'm okay now. I just wanted to talk."

Okay. Well you know you can call me.

Sam nodded even though he was talking on the phone, "I know… Take care of yourself, Angie. Don't… hurt yourself."

You know me, Sam. You take care of yourself.

"I will… Good night."

Good night. Oh and Sam?

Sam held the phone to his ear, "Yeah?"

It is a wonderful thing. Just… forgive yourself first. Good night.

The phone clicked to indicate that she had hung up. Sam held the phone for a moment before putting it down. He should have told her about the fact that Lucifer had paid him a visit in his dreams and about Reggie, Tim and the others… but he just couldn't do it. He couldn't even tell her what he was doing with the demon blood and she knew it all the time or at least when he picked it up again. He was a coward in that respect.

Putting his phone down, he went back to packing his bag since he had to get out soon. He put everything in and was surprised one thing didn't fit since everything he owned was in those two bags. He pulled everything out and found what it was and gave an annoyed shake of his head but it was halfhearted. He repacked his bag so everything actually fit. Now the only thing left was to find a car to steal and go. It was late but better than sticking around and getting ambushed.

Sam left the motel and looked around. More likely he wasn't going to find anything yet so it was hitchhiking. He paused to look around, getting the strange feeling that he was being watch. He passed by a building and didn't notice when Angela came out from the shadows and watched him walk down the streets.

"You sure about the trade?"

Angela looked at the boy who was holding her bike upright as she played with the keys. He was sixteen and a shorty but he knew his stuff. She leaned against the car and looked down at him and said, "I'll need Deanna."

"You seem to go faster with Bud here than her," the boy replied with a shrug as he stared at her with a pair of blue eyes that accentuated his dirt blonde locks. He patted the motorcycle like it was a good friend.

"True," Angela replied with a shrug still leaning against the car.

"Then why not stick with Bud? You can keep up with your guy and possibly be a step ahead of him."

Angela smiled at the boy. She had 'hired' him so to speak when she cleared out the riffraff from the apartment complex they lived in. He was getting beat up by the local gang that was also dealing drugs and engaged in drive bys… the typical gang stuff. She was on her way back from securing her 'supplements' when she saw him getting beaten up but he was holding his own pretty well. She ended up giving a hand actually scared the living daylights out of the group.

The reason for that was because one of them shot her with a 9mm in her side. It hurt like a bitch but it pissed her off. She let her eyes vamp out as she beat the crap out of them. The ringleader she held against the wall and told him that he and his goons were to clear out or they would find this ass whooping to be the least of their worries.

They ran off like scared girls and she helped the boy up. At that point she wasn't concerned about whether or not he saw her vamp out or the fact that she was still standing with a 9mm bullet in her side. The kid though saw and pointed out that she was bleeding and she looked down at it and just hummed at the sight. It was nothing really since it was a 9mm and not a specialty round. She had been hit with worse. She told the kid that it was nothing.

The kid was a stubborn little shit and followed her to her apartment and pretty much helped her out. He didn't flinch when she extracted the bullet and patched herself up. He stuck around and kept paying her a visit when she was around the apartment in between a job she came across and keeping an eye on Sam and Dean. He made it possible for her to secure the motorcycle which she called Bud just because it looked like a Bud.

She looked at the kid and said, "That is true Skip. But I need Deanna."

"Why?" Skip looked at Angela. His name was actually Brian but he liked the nickname she gave him when he took to hanging around her place. He knew a thing or two about engines and he suspected that was why she kept him around. He didn't have anything else apart from school. His mom was single and worked all the time so he was pretty much on his own.

"Just got a feeling Skip. Got a feeling that I'm gonna need her." Angela pulled out a cigarette and started smoking it. Dean was right in that she didn't pick up the habit unless she was deep in thought or just thinking too hard or bothered.

"And you're worried," Skip pointed out. He held onto the bike and leaned on the handle bars. "You only smoke when you're worried… and when you're trying to prove that being shot doesn't hurt."

"Cheeky little bastard," Angela replied with a smirk. She liked the kid a lot and wondered what it was about certain people that she took a liking to. She held her cigarette in between her fingers and looked at the kid who was smirking back at her. She added, "I am worried. I am worried about a lot of things."

"Nah. It's about this guy you've been following," Skip replied still leaning on the handlebars. When Angela looked at her he said, "Hey, I may be a kid but I ain't blind."

"Ain't isn't a word," Angela replied, correcting his word use."

Skip narrowed his eyes and repeated, "I ain't blind." He did it on purpose since he knew that she wasn't going to do anything to him for it. "You like this guy. I can tell since you have a different look when you actually mention about following him."

Even though she was still uncomfortable that people knew she had feelings for Sam just by looking at her, Angela felt better about it and wasn't going to try too hard. The only exception was the other side. That she would do everything from denial to… whatever. She gave a slight smile and responded, "Really? What kind of look do I get?"

Skip waved his finger like he wasn't going to get caught in that trap, "Don't even try that. I know you have some of your mind mumbo jumbo thing planned. It is you."

"You're not the first one to tell me that," Angela replied with a smirk as she finished her cigarette. "But seriously, Skip what do you see when you look at me?"

Skip thought it an odd question but after everything he had noticed working on Bud, doing odd jobs for her and occasionally driving Deanna, he picked up that she was a bit peculiar with a few things. It was like she was confident in abilities like scaring the crap out of the L Street punk gang but when it came to more personal things, it was like she wasn't sure. It made it odd but he wasn't one to complain since she offered him a job of being a gofer but he learned a few things too in the deal. He replied, "Well when you talk about this guy, it's like you know him, know him and you get kind of sad."

Angela listened to Skip as he rattled on. Well she was a bit sad. She was sad that things had come to this. She lost interest in hunting but she did pull herself together to do the small jobs. People needed help still in spite of the problem she had regarding her family. Bobby was right when he roared about family being supposed to make you miserable. Well she was miserable and it was because she wanted to fix things and the two she depended upon the most were being stubborn asses about it and the sad thing was that she agreed with them too; she understood both their sides and that was what made this basically a living hell though probably not that bad. She gave a sort of sheepish nod and replied, "Yeah I am sad."

"You know pining for a guy that doesn't want you around… doesn't sound like the best thing," Skip offered.

"Maybe not but it has more to do with the fact that if it continues… worse things will come," Angela replied. She never told Skip what she did on her road trips and wasn't going to. Better that he just be a gofer and work on the bike. The kid was a natural at being a mechanic. She looked at Skip with a firm look to indicate that he shouldn't ask her for details. "So I need Deanna for the time."

Skip nodded. He knew that he wasn't supposed to ask about what she meant. She had been adamant and only said that it was for his safety and that of his family. He went with that even though he didn't agree with it and he was curious since she gave him an amulet and told him to wear it at all times; that it was for protection. He thought it was her being a religious nut but he rolled with it. "Alright and I'll put Bud in the secondary. You know Larry is glad that you let him stay on as manager and collecting rent."

Angela made a slight face at that. She ended up buying the building since the previous owner had been found out that he let the place get run down because he wanted to sell. So… she bought it using her vast money resources and ended up with a shabby building that she paid Skip to help with the repairs which she did some herself and the rest she got repairmen for. She really was a softie on a lot of things and no wonder that War said there was no room for sentimentality. She replied, "Well he's good at collecting and his record keeping is spotless."

"I didn't tell anyone you bought the place. He actually said that he was glad 'management' said he could stay on," Skip corrected himself.

"Like I said, he's good and he will be fair." Angela stood up and gave the keys to Skip for the bike. "Well I better go."

"Yeah but I do have to ask, how are you gonna find this guy? He's got a head start on ya and if he hitchhiked…?" He gestured with his hands to indicate he didn't get it.

Angela grinned as she held out her hand saying, "I have my ways Skip. I'm pretty good at finding things and finding people. It's a gift… and a curse."

Skip gave a slight scowl and tossed her the keys to Deanna, "You're no fun Angie."

"Well I am the adult here," Angela said as she held the keys in a fist. She gave a grin as she ran her hand on the door.

"Tyrant," Skip teased.

"Brat," she replied as she opened the door and got in. She almost expected to see Sasha or Cerebus or even her old dog Xander hop in the shotgun seat. She looked at Skip and said, "You may practice on Bud while I have Deanna." She gave a knowing smile as she said it.

"This bribery?" Skip looked at her with a mock look of suspicion. "You want something from me," he said.

"Now you're making it sound dirty."

"Right and you're an angel," Skip scoffed as she turned the ignition on to the car. He sobered though and asked, "Seriously, how are you gonna find this guy?"

Angela looked at the wheel and thought about it. It was interesting how she could sense Sam in trouble and could track both boys. The direct approach was like in Ellis when she followed her nose. Since then she always could tell when they were around. The Morton House encouraged her to hone it and determine which was freshest. She could sense ghosts and vengeful spirits because of the whole healer thing and that connection but she really couldn't explain how she found Sam and Dean when Sam called her for help during that rainstorm even though she did what Gabriel told her to do.

Then getting placed near where the boys were after Lucifer was set free… she assumed that it was her desire to be with the boys. She wanted them both and Gabriel sent her there. So… how did she find Sam? She had means like a tracker scry thing like Bobby did so… She really couldn't explain it but it wasn't like she was going to try anyway. Instead she said, "I bugged his cell phone when he wasn't looking. GPS tracker."

Skip looked at her like she was nuts, "Really?"

"Hey I told you I am good at finding and tracking people."

"You really are no fun Angie," Skip pouted as he moved the bike out of the way. He did offer a grin and said, "Well good luck."

Angela pulled Deanna out of the parking spot and paused alongside Skip. She looked at him and gave a gentle smile. "Don't worry about it Skip. Just keep up with the place. This is something I have to do."

"I get it. Make sure you tell him he's being a bonehead," Skip replied waving his hand to say that he didn't want to hear anymore.

"Alright fine, brat." Angela chuckled a little before just smiling and said, "Stay safe and if I need you, I'll call."

"Holding you to it."

Angela nodded and nosed Deanna out of the parking structure of the building. She turned the car in the direction where she last saw Sam. It was ridiculous but it was a gut feeling she had and she was going to go with it. Things were messed up enough so what was one more crazy thing?

A/N: Sam is feeling lonely and he talks to Angie. Angie trades in the motorcycle for her car and continues pulling her double duty. Seems like she is being stretched thin on all sides. Keep watching for more Free and Torn Asunder...