Chapter 4

The town that Sam found was still in Oklahoma but it was a far out of the way town that didn't attract attention to anyone or anything. It was a fairly good place to be anonymous and in a sense hide from people that may or may not want to kill him for starting the Apocalypse and his refusal to get jumped up on demon blood again. After Reggie and Tim, he was going to have to be more careful and then there was the whole thing about what Lucifer told him. He was grateful for Castiel's rib branding since the devil couldn't find him but that didn't mean that his dreams would be devil free.

Looking at what was in his pocket, Sam knew that he couldn't afford to be choosy about where he was going to live and what to do in terms of a job. He was going to have to be careful about showing his intelligence too. Yeah doing a crossword may not seem like much but it was an attention getter. There was a lot to think about as he walked up to what passed for a motel and went in the main office.

He got lucky since he did have a credit card to use so he could save on his cash a little until he got a job. There was plenty of money on it so he could do what he had to do and then eventually pay cash as he needed. He certainly had better when staying in the cheesy motels but he wasn't going to complain. He looked around the room and nodded in slight satisfaction.

It wasn't too much to make himself at home so to speak. It was getting late since he pulled in when it was getting dark and there wasn't a point to going out. He wasn't hungry and he wasn't about to make himself a target just in case someone followed him or this town didn't like the drifter kind. He stopped to chuckle thinking how paranoid he was becoming. He was as bad as Angela when she put everything up on the walls and all around but she had a good reason.

Sam managed to sleep without any intrusions from Satan or anything else but he did manage to have a fairly good dream… sort of. He dreamed about her giving him CPR again and he was embarrassed by that since it wasn't funny. It switched rapidly to other things but always he was being a pervert about Angela and he felt embarrassed by that. He had no idea she was actually watching everything when she dropped in to check in on him.

The morning sort of proved better since he was awake and tried, tried being the operative word, to ignore and forget about his dreams while looking around for work and checking out the town. It was a nice place to lay low. A lot of mom and pop places made up the businesses and it seemed they did a fair trade with the people that had the jobs in the town nearby.

He found a job at a mom and pop store that sold books some new but mostly secondhand. It could be considered a dream job since he had always liked reading. The owner was an old man that had a merry gait but a shrewd eye. When he looked at him, Sam felt that he was being scrutinized for something that he had done or hadn't done. He stood there looking at the old man who was looking him over and felt like he was at a stock show or something.

"You look too smart to be in a place like this," the old man said.

Sam stammered a bit but quietly replied, "Just needed a change of scenery."

The old man hummed a bit and Sam could tell that he didn't believe him. He added, "Just needed to get away."

"I figured as much son. Most people who come through here make a pit stop and take off. Folks stay because it's out of the way or hiding from something."

"I'm not hiding from the law if you're worried about that," Sam said being brutally honest.

"That's good cause I'd hate to have my new stock boy be a wanted man."

I might as well be wanted since I am hiding out here. Sam kept his thoughts to himself as he stood there. He replied, "Nothing like that."

"Hey we've all got problems son. Some may seem bigger than most but nothing that can't be fixed."

You try fixing the fact that you broke the world. "Maybe," was all that Sam offered. His situation wasn't like most people.

"Can you start today?"

"Yes sir," Sam replied, feeling that it was right to address the old man as such. "I can start."

The old man looked at Sam with a piercing look. He got the feeling that the boy was running from something and he just couldn't tell just anybody about it. Whatever it was it was probably bad from the boy's point of view. If that was the case then he could afford to be nice about it. "Need a place to stay?"

"I'm good."

Sam soon found himself dusting the shelves off and moving the heavy boxes of books around. They were the ones that were on the tops of the shelves and he got the feeling that no one had moved them in ages given the amount of dust on them. More likely it was just a thing to humor the old man whose name was Riley and it was probably out of pity for him… not that Sam was going to say anything about it.

It was a relatively easy job and Sam was given a lot of leeway since he had found a few books that were interesting to read. A couple were relatively old stories and by unknown authors. Riley made the comment that for someone who was hiding he certainly made himself visible by reading so much. It had Sam stammer a bit but the old man just laughed at him and said that his secret was safe with him. Sam took it for what it was though he was still a bit wary and tried not to read too much on the job.

It was surprising to find quite a few regulars that came in. It was not only a book shop but book repair. Sam learned that Riley had been trained in the restoration of books. A few of his clients were very wealthy and would often ask him about restorations or if he acquired any books that suited their interests. It had Sam interested since he noticed a couple of those books were of the esoteric variety and it had him wondering if they were dabbling in the really bad stuff and if they were… It technically wasn't hunting and Sam knew he wouldn't be able to live with himself if he didn't at least let Angela know or Bobby. He was reluctant to consider Dean.

The first day passed rather well and nothing happened when Sam made the trek to the motel he was staying at and he had a new book even though it was secondhand. Riley told him he could borrow them as long as he brought them back. That was fine with Sam since it would help pass the lonely hours until he had to go to sleep. Then he would wake up and start all over again.

The next day passed much like the first and Sam started to slip into a routine even though Riley attempted to get him to go to the local bar. Sam humored the old man with a smile when he mentioned that there were some pretty girls in town. They did sound nice but he wasn't in the mood to think about that. The only girl on his mind was Angela since he debated still on whether or not to call her and let her know where he was. He did promise and he did want to see her again. Her dropping in at the last place he worked before Reggie and Tim drove him out opened up the dam that he had kept a firm lid on.

Forgiveness is a wonderful thing Sam.

"Yeah and… I still wonder how you can do it," Sam muttered to himself as he finished stacking.

It was near the end of the week that Riley managed to convince Sam to come to the local bar with him. Actually Sam agreed since he got the idea that the old man just wanted to do something nice for him. Probably it was because he appeared pathetic because he had kept to himself so much. He was quiet and polite with the customers that seemed to swarm in once they realized that Riley had a new stock boy and he was handsome. Sam had grinned a bit sheepish at that assessment but didn't take it further. For the most part he wished to just be.

After putting the last set of books away, Sam found himself being pushed towards the bar by Riley and reluctantly went in. This was too much like the old days but even Sam knew he couldn't hide from people for long. They started getting the idea that you were a recluse and crazy. It seemed that one way or the other people thought you were off your rocker if it didn't adhere to their definition of normal. So Sam put up and shut up as he was casually pushed towards the bar and was given a beer.

It felt different not to be discussing a case in a bar, which occasionally happened, just like it was different to not think or discuss a case in the empty motel room. Sam wasn't sure if it was a good thing or a bad thing. One thing he did know for certain was that there were plenty of women in there and maybe a third of them tried hitting on him and half of the third he had met in the shop. Angela would have called it a jinx or a conspiracy and made a big joke about it. He did manage to have a short conversation with a girl named Julie.

She was a nice local girl and a bit like him. She was into books and learning things and she talked about going to college finally after managing to get a scholarship. The funny thing that it sounded hopeful like he once did when he wanted to be normal and go to college rather than be a hunter. How he had fought what his dad tried to get him to do. He rebelled all the way and then Dean said that they were more alike in many ways and maybe that was so since they both wanted their own way and could be stubborn asses about it but his dad would never have gone off with a demon, drink demon blood and break the world. They weren't the same.

"So how do you like working for Riley?"

Sam looked at Julie and realized he may have been hearing but not listening to anything she was saying. He stammered a bit, "Uh… it's okay. It's a job." He reached for the beer he had been nursing since he came in and took a sip. "It's a job, pays the bills that kind of thing." He felt like an idiot talking and it was because he had been caught off guard and with a girl he thought was a nice one.

"You must be a nice guy then because few people would let Riley tell them to move those boxes over and over again," Julie replied with a slight smile. She thought Sam was cute and sweet.

Sam gave a shrug. He hadn't really noticed. There was always something to do and he was paid for the job. "He's a good man," he offered. He noticed the time and realized that he had stayed longer than he intended. He looked at his watch and said, "Um… sorry uh Julie. I forgot that I have to go."

"Got a date?"

Sam gave a slight smile and got up and replied, "Just something that I have to do."

"Okay. Maybe we can try this again tomorrow?"

"Uh…" Sam couldn't think of anything to say. He excused himself and left the bar after pausing to say good night to Riley.

Sam started the walk back to the motel at a brisk pace. He really had stayed longer than he intended. Maybe when he got back to the room he would call Angela and just have a talk. Maybe he would work up the courage to ask her to come over. It sounded like a good idea and… he missed his family.

As he was walking, he didn't notice that he was being followed until he sensed that something wasn't right. He turned and saw the silhouette of some guy following him. It was evident that there was a predatory gait to the guy and Sam picked up the pace. He rounded the corner when something came out and hit him on the head and forced him to stagger.

He was grabbed by the arms and he tried to struggle and shouted at whoever it was to let him go. "Let me go!"

"Sorry Sam. Can't do that."

Sam looked up and saw Reggie looking at him. He looked around and saw Tim was one of the guys holding onto him. "It doesn't have to be this way."

"Oh yes it does," Reggie replied. "You started the Apocalypse and since you wouldn't help avenge my best friend, we're gonna take it out of you bit by bit." Reggie looked at Sam and grinned. This was going to be sweet.

Sam struggled and tried to get away. He was given a punch to his stomach and one across the face. He felt his lip split and felt the blood. He continued to struggle and was given a couple of more punches to his stomach and another across his face. He looked up and saw Julie there shaking her head at him. He muttered, "Julie… you don't want to do this."

"I'm sorry Sam but you should have thought of that before you broke the world."

The last thing Sam saw was something coming towards his face. It hit him across it and he saw stars. He was then dropped unceremoniously on the ground. The kick to his ribs told him what was next and he braced himself for it.

Angela sat on the hood of Deanna as it sat parked in a field and looked up at the sky. It had been awhile since she had taken time to sit and actually stargaze and she actually felt some measure of peace. Even as a child she had liked looking up at the sky and looking at the stars. She had learned the constellations and she had made up stories with the pictures in the sky much to the amusement of her father. Her mother thought she was being a silly girl but it had been uttered lovingly.

Her father was the one that encouraged her to find happiness in the world around her. He told her that she could find pleasure in the simple things that held her fascination and made her happy. He was the one that told her that it would be in the stars where she would find her way.

It was her fifteenth birthday and second year since she learned of her heritage. The hard part was over but it was still a learning experience for her. She had to learn control over the powers that came with being a half vampire, half human especially considering that her father said she was different from other dhampirs. She was outside the abbey they had taken residence in and looking up at the sky.

"Stargazing again Bambina?"

It was still strange to hear the English accent color the Italian accent but she still loved the man all the same even if he was one of those creatures that the Church said was evil. She looked at her father and replied, "I like it. There is something about looking at the stars that is peaceful." She looked back up at the sky and sighed, "In a way it is looking at the fact that the world is small compared to what is out there or something."

"And what do you think about that?"

"I think that maybe we are all individuals struggling to find purpose and we spend our lives running around trying to figure it out that sometimes we become swallowed up in the larger events that we don't see how we fit in."

Her father looked at her as she lay down on the roof of the abbey. It was considered dangerous for most humans but she was fearless as he was. She loved running along the rooftops of the buildings at the abbey and climbing trees and he taught her how to use that as an advantage as he trained her. He sat down beside her and looked up. "Maybe you're right Catalina. But what do you think your purpose is?"

She looked at her father with a confused frown, "What do you mean?"

"What do you think you are meant to do?"

She looked up at the sky to think about it. She had never really thought about what she was meant to do or be. "I don't know Papa. I mean I want to do what you do and help people but… I don't think I'm anything important in the big picture. Maybe I get the feeling I have to look for something occasionally but…"

She continued to look up at the sky. She didn't notice that her father had been looking at her with a peculiar look. Nor did she notice how he absently rubbed his wedding ring as he watched her thoughtfully…

Angela continued to look at the sky. She didn't think she was that important then. Then when she met Gabriel and then she ended up dying the first time… It changed things. In the end she was important to someone in the grand scheme and she had to be the foolish teenager to take up the mantle. She couldn't change it now. It was a part of her.

In the beginning she had accepted it but then when she went to hell… Hell changed things to her. Everything about her she saw as being a monster. What was a necessity for her to live she ended up seeing it as being considered a freak. She lived with self-loathing even though there were her strays that she ended up showing affection and love for. There was Ellen and Jo… Mary… and the others…

Sighing Angela adjusted her position on her hood. She found herself thinking about how much she had changed. She could make out the vast comparisons between herself now and what she was then and the person she was during her dark times. She probably would never understand how the various people like Ellen saw through all that dark and ugliness and accept her. Or maybe she did and that was why she was able to understand where Sam was coming from in his choices and why she understood why Dean was so upset and angry and hurt.

It was difficult to go back to the old ways. She was used to being a part of a family. Sure they had their problems but they were family. So it was within her right to try and fix what was wrong between the two people she loved the most in this world. She made up her mind to seek Sam out and try again to get him to consider talking to Dean. She would deal with the fact that she had been tailing him as it came up. The important thing was to make the brothers see that they were stronger together even with the mistakes that were like ugly monsters in front of them.

Resolved in this, Angela sat up on the hood and looked around. She was going to have to find a place to lodge Deanna so the rain wouldn't damage the framework. Dean would scold her for that and the mere thought of it had her chuckle. She took in a deep breath and could smell the moisture in the air and noted that it was going to rain. She slid off the hood and walked towards the driver side.

She had barely touched the door when she sensed it. Something was wrong and she whipped her head around in the direction she knew Sam was in. How she knew she couldn't explain. All that she knew was that Sam was in trouble and any 'agreement' that had been made flew out the window. She got into the driver's seat and put the pedal to the metal on Deanna having complete faith in her baby.

She couldn't explain it but following Sam's distress was like a moth to a flame and if Angela had been thinking clearly she would have considered the possibility that it could be used as a means to get to her. The other side knew that she would come to the rescue of any innocent. If they found out about Sam and the lengths she would go to for him and by proxy his brother… they wouldn't hesitate. At the moment though her thoughts were on the fact that Sam was getting hurt or in some sort of trouble and she aimed to be there.

It wasn't too hard to find the town. She had followed Sam there after she had to make up for lost time getting Deanna and then hitting the road. Once she located the town, she kept her distance out of respect for Sam while trying to come up with a new way to convince him to talk to his brother. She pulled into town like a freight train gone wild and it was a surprise that she hadn't been caught by local law enforcement… not that they could keep her for long. She was out of the car with a hop and running in the direction where she knew Sam was and came upon a group, two looked very familiar, and they were taking turns beating on Sam even though he was trying to defend himself.

It was lightning fast that had Angela over there. She yanked the old man away and flung him hard into some garbage containers and it thoroughly startled the other three. She put herself between them and Sam who was on the ground and glared at them. "That was not very nice," she said in a low and dangerous tone.

Reggie looked at her and then looked at Tim who looked at Julie. He had no idea who this person was and said, "This isn't your concern."

"I'm afraid it is," Angela replied.

"I am warning you," Reggie said with a warning gesture, "Leave now or you will suffer the same as that freak has."

Angela looked at the trio with a curious expression, much like the kind a puppy would give when curious. She cocked her head to the side like she was trying to comprehend it. It was a dangerous look to get and it would have been a warning had Reggie and Tim been paying attention. "The only thing that will happen is that you leave and maybe with all your limbs intact."

That didn't sit too well with Reggie or Tim and they didn't take the threat like they should. Instead they pulled up their rifles and took aim. Angela though had anticipated it and used her abilities to snap the rifles out of their hands. They started dumbly at her and she said, "I repeat, you may leave and with your limbs intact."

Julie had been moving to try and get an advantage on Angela, sticking to the shadows. In the meantime Time and Reggie did their best to keep Angela occupied. Reggie said, "A fucking witch?" He looked at Sam who was down and trying hard not to groan in pain. "You really have done it Sam. You joined the other side." He started to move.

"Uh-uh," Angela warned. It had started to rain and it seemed appropriate given the mood she was in. She looked at the pair of hunters. "You will not touch him and you will stay away."

"Like that is going to happen," Tim said. He pointed at Sam and added, "He started the apocalypse. Good men have died because of him and for that… he deserves worse than what he has gotten so far."

"No more than you bloody hunters. You're a disgrace," Angela sneered back. She was well aware of what it was like to be responsible for men and feeling responsible for their deaths but that was in battle. Yet the feeling was still the same. No one was going to tell her differently. "You are not hunters at all."

At that moment Julie launched out with a knife. It was aimed for Angela's back. Surprisingly Sam had gotten to his feet and blocked but the knife nicked him and he stumbled. It was enough for Angela to turn and with her powers she pinned Julie to the wall of the building in the sort of alley they were in. She didn't care then if they saw her vamp out. She was thoroughly pissed and she showed it when she sent Tim and Reggie flying and they sprawled on the ground.

It was tempting to churn up the insides of Julie but Angela resisted the urge. She looked at Tim and Reggie and said, "You are lucky I am in a generous mood. You and your riffraff are going to clear out. If I catch sight of you or even smell you… I will kill you."

Tim and Reggie got to their feet only to have Julie shoved into them. They had never seen anything like it before. They stared at Angela who was looking at them. They tried to reach for their knives but the look they were shot… it wasn't worth it. They took off running.

Angela calmed down enough once she was sure that they were gone and turned towards Sam who had collapsed to the ground. She kneeled using her body to shield him from the rain and shook her head slightly and said gently, "It'll be all right Sam."

A/N: Looks like Sam is in trouble again and Angie comes to the rescue and maybe she should have made a statement by at least maiming either Tim or Reggie but I think she scared the crap out of them. Keep watching for more Free and Torn Asunder...