Chapter 8

Staring up at the water stained ceiling at seven in the morning listening to the rumbling sounds of a Lycan werewolf and the familiar soft breaths of a human sleeping was surprisingly normal. It was more normal than what people called normal and to Angela it actually felt good. Part of it was the fact that it was the start of getting her family back together. While Sam was still resistant to trying to patch things up with Dean, he relented and agreed to stay with her. And she ended up with a new stray that she was going to have to explain on some level unless he was content with staying in his lupine form.

Even though she had only gotten a couple of hours of sleep on her battered sofa and near threatening to throw Sam over her shoulder and toss him onto the bed, she felt pretty good. The tiredness was going to catch up with her eventually but she could still function. She had endured several days and nights of nonstop battle. Those days sleep was a luxury and very rare. But she would be the first to say that she was no spring chicken and that would have her boys laughing no matter what.

Angela smiled at the memories of jokes, innuendos and other things of days gone by. She would joke and tease and Sam was sort of the partner in crime. Dean would say something and sometimes send Sam into his protective mode and the bitch face would appear. Those were good times even after she realized her feelings for Sam. It was easy to fall into the 'where did we go wrong' trap and in her case it was sure to drive her onto the crazy train and create chaos. There were too many what ifs to sift through so she was going to stick with just moving forward and try to fix but not fix this.

Sighing Angela shifted on the couch when she felt something in her pocket. She had pretty much crashed after tossing Sam into her room and didn't bother changing. Reaching to find the source, she found her cell phone. She saw that she had one message on her voicemail. She frowned and then played it.

Hey Angie. You're the one that wants us to talk and you don't have your phone on. Anyway I was just calling to uh check up on ya. You know big brother rights and I know what you're gonna say about that. I'm still thinking about it.

Angela felt her lip twitch in a smile. She almost had them both on the same track with this. At least Dean was thinking about what she had talked to him about. Sam was too and maybe with the right push they would both put their pride aside and just… talk. It wasn't the biggest quality they had when it came to the personal stuff and she knew she was just as bad as they were.

So I'm thinking about it but I just wanna make sure you're okay. Give me a call… please.

Angela sighed softly as she listened to the end of Dean's message and stared up at the ceiling. She could hear Sam still asleep; he needed it after what he had been through and Isaj was probably on alert even though he was sleeping. His animal side would be alert. She looked at her phone and pressed the speed dial button.

What?

Angela gave a gentle chuckle and said, "Morning still doesn't work for you, does it, Dean?"

Angie?

"Who else would it be 'big brother'? I got your message."

Yeah well… I just was checking up on ya. I know that Bobby kicked you out and you paid me a visit and then left… Are you okay?

Angela stared up at the ceiling and thought about her response. Finally she said, "I'm okay. Just going through each day as it comes. You know I actually missed stargazing and I was actually able to do it last night."

Any dirty rhymes to go with?

She heard the playful tone in his voice. He really liked her dirty limericks for the astrological signs and it seemed to pass him completely when she mentioned his sign. Of course she knew it was because it caused Sam to blush because they could be sexual in nature. She chuckled, "No not really but I do remember one interesting story about a knight who actually humbled himself when he went to slay the one eyed dragon."

Very funny Angie. Where did you get that? A kid's book with fairytales and princesses and that crap?

"It isn't crap," Angela replied as she remembered one of their cases. "We did get to see them in action and that frog really was a prince in disguise. Actually he was the best big brother I have met."

And how many have you had? Or am I going to get trouble for calling you an old bat?

"Just one."

Good. So Angie… seriously, are things okay? How's Sam?

"You know there is a way for you to find out for yourself," Angela replied. Her tone was gentle but it was easy to hear the seriousness of it. She could hear the sigh at the other end. He had been pestered quite a bit about this and he probably had been thinking about it too.

Angie, I said I would think about it. I don't think I'm ready for that yet. The last thing I want is to get into an argument and then we don't talk. I don't want it to be like… like…

"Like when Sam went to Stanford," Angela replied in a quiet tone.

Yeah that. Honestly Angie, I was so proud of that kid. He always made me proud with that scary smart brain of his. I didn't want him go but I did. I was just scared and so was Dad about being able to make sure that he was safe you know.

"It's easy to get overprotective you know," Angela replied. "We want to keep it close and then things do happen."

I do wish it can go back to the way it was.

"But it can't," Angela said as she looked over at her TV and then up at the ceiling. "The only to do is pick up the pieces and move forward. Sometimes what is broken cannot be fixed but sometimes the broken pieces can be put together to create something new and possibly better than before. Some mosaics I've seen are good examples of that."

And if I want an art lesson I'll ask for it but... thanks Angie. I'm still thinking about but… he chose a demon.

"Dean."

Angie, he chose a demon over his own brother. He chose the bitch over you and while you're nine times crazy and may be partially of the things we have hunted… he hurt you Angie. Don't lie and say he didn't cause I know you. You take a lot of crap but you don't act like a doormat. Here it seems like you are and…

Angela moved her head to study the stain. It helped to temper her emotions and the fact that she was willing to raise her temper like Dean was but she couldn't and wasn't going to. It was like she had told Sam that there was always going to be someone who was going to bring it up and it was going to sting but it could become less and less over the years but it never went away. You just learned how to live with it. She replied, "It did hurt Dean. I won't lie about it but I'm not going to dwell on it. It is as I said before, all that matters now is that you both are okay and if I have to go back to my old ways to make that happen then… I will. I love you both and nothing is going to change that." She heard his exasperated tone and added, "I know you are still angry. Otherwise you would have at least grudgingly conceded I was right about talking to your brother. It is okay to be angry but be sure of what you are angry about."

You really know how to stick it to me even at seven thirty in the morning and before I had my coffee and jelly doughnuts.

"Think of it this way, if I didn't, then you wouldn't be soothed by the sugary sweetness," Angela teased gently.

And I would make you make me some pie. Pie is the panacea of all ills.

"There's another big word from you. I'm impressed."

Bite me.

"I would if you tasted good," she replied remembering that old joke. It had been a long time since they had done that joke or some variation of it. It had always been fun to joke like that even though she could literally bite him… not that she would.

And you would. I'm sorry Angie. I'm not mad at you and I still don't get why you are so… calm about this. Okay you actually told me why but…

"Don't try too hard Dean," Angela soothed. She massaged her head, feeling her hair with her fingers. She could feel the oils she used to keep it smooth and it felt good. "With patience comes understanding. Though there are some things that could be done right away."

You're not gonna stop bugging me until I actually talk to Sam… are ya?

"I've said my piece," Angela replied with a slight knowing tone. She was going to try and make sure this wasn't a repeat of what happened with Sam. "Life is too short Dean. Take it from someone who had lived to watch." She twisted her face slightly. "That did sound a bit morbid but it is the truth Dean. Please consider it."

Alright, alright, alright. Damn you're as nagging as the mutt you set on me. One look and she has my bacon cheeseburger… and I'm not doing it on purpose.

Angela gave a slight smile at that. "She can be a sneaky little bastard," she allowed smiling since she was well aware how sneaky that pup could be. "And you know I was only strict because she had a near severe injury. She'll take care of you."

Tell me about it. She's been a pretty good partner here on our case. She has a sniffer as good as you.

"She's a Wilder, Dean."

Are you going ever tell me what that means?

"It's called research, Dean. There is plenty of information on the subject." Angela smiled fully knowing that research was not Dean's thing. It was hers and Sam's thing and Dean was going to be forced to do it on his own.

Typical. You like to make us work for things when it is easier for you to just tell us.

"How do you expect to learn?"

Now you're talking to me like I'm four… I miss that Angie. Okay. I just need a little more time. I'll consider it. Damn you're always making a point. Thanks Angie… and I'm glad Sam is okay. Um I gotta go. Still working a case.

"Okay… later," Angela said. She couldn't say good-bye. She didn't believe in saying it unless it was going to be the real deal. This wasn't one of those times to do that. It was like when she left Sam after their talk. That was more of a see you later thing. She listened as Dean hung up and closed her phone. She stared up at the ceiling for a little bit and listened to the males in her place still asleep and twisted her mouth in a thoughtful fashion. Things had to go on and eventually one or both would come to light.

She got up from the couch and stretched at the waist and twisted. She bent over in a basic downward pose and touched the floor. Standing back up she took a breath and looked at Isaj still asleep on her floor still in lupine form. She took a moment to take a good look and determined he was pretty small for his kind at his age and it was based on her observations of Lycan and his family. It was interesting in terms of objective studying but it had her wondering about his family. He spent five years alone with Rada and they had to survive after they left them.

Sighing Angela headed to her kitchen. It looked like the rest of the apartment meaning that it looked rundown but everything was in working order. It was like Bobby's penchant for dumpster diving; if it was in serviceable working order then it was worth picking up. In this case though she fixed things or replaced them with used to go with her cover of getting by with the exception being the refrigerator and that was in perfect working order.

It was to this utility that she went to and opened it. She got a slight smile on her face as she glanced at the sleeping werewolf and then at the bedroom. She had an idea and set about making breakfast.

Dean sighed as he put his phone down. He lay on his back on the bed of his motel and stared at the ceiling. Angela was getting persistent in that subtle way of hers. She was trying while not trying to fix this between him and Sam. She was creative and he could admit that. More likely she didn't intend to say a few things but they carried the hidden meaning. That was how it ended up being or he was putting meaning to things that didn't necessarily have one.

Dean knew that it wasn't going to stop. He considered the possibility that he was being the bigger douchebag than his brother. After all he agreed with this separation too and they did it without even discussing it with her.

I am a douche.

Sasha gave a harrumph as she jumped off the bed and yipped. She gave a low one so it almost sounded like someone was doing something funky. She then jumped back on the bed and started licking Dean in the face.

Dean for his part groaned and tried to push her off, "Aww come on Sasha. Not the drool."

It only seemed to encourage the pup more and she kept up the relentless attack. She added a couple of wet noses to the mix and Dean groused at that. "Seriously? What is it with you? Just because I let you chase a frigging cat last night…"

Sasha gave a puppy bark that had Dean try to shush her. She trotted to the bathroom and then towards the door and then back to the bed and whined. Dean guessed what it was about and let her out to go do her business while trying to wake up after only a few hours of sleep. More of the same but he couldn't help but grin when Sasha came back and 'wiped' her paws before coming in. The mutt was amusing and didn't make the start of the day so bad.

A cup of coffee black and a jelly doughnut and a half, half was given to his partner, made Dean feel better. He looked down at Sasha who was licking her chops and giving a sort of doggy grin at him. He really didn't like dogs but she was an exception. He adjusted his suit since he was going to take a look at the bodies that were piling up on this case with a new one last night. "Alright partner, let's go."

It was like dealing with a petulant child sort of when he had to leave Sasha in the car. It was a sort of sanitary thing even though he personally thought she was the cleanest thing in the room. That morning she decided to take a shower with him and that was awkward and a bit gross since she shook her wet fur and sprayed him with water. It was like she decided to pick that day to be difficult and he was in a sort of mind to blame Angela for that.

Dean went into the morgue looking confident but in truth when it came to looking at a body during autopsy… that was just plain nasty. At least him and Sam could agree on that. He paused to think about that. They did share a lot… And this separation was really being felt and he could almost hear Angela nagging at him in her way that was technically not nagging but… He shook his head and went to autopsy to view the latest victim.

He pushed open the door and called out jovially to the ME, "Got something new Doc?"

It wasn't much since this body was like the two others. COD for the bodies was exsanguination due to sharp force trauma to the chest. It was a single hole that went under the ribcage and punctured the lung. It was a kill stab but the thing was all the victims had some sort of weird symbol written in blood on their left hand.

Normally it was more likely a human thing but the fact that there were weirdo ass symbols and that the victims were all from the same family… it had Dean wondering if it was a curse and that meant dealing with a witch or something. Normally he would have Sam or Angela figure that one out since Sam would more likely just say 'witch' and then Angela would say that it is a specific kind of witch. The girl liked to point out differences when for most hunters it was all the same.

Ever since Angela hooked up with him and Sam, Dean learned that not everything was the same. He met Haley who had roots in Celtic mysticism as she called it and African juju and she was not the kind to curse people. She did what he did and that was to help them. Angela was the same way being that she was half vampire. It certainly expanded his world and he contemplated on calling her just to have her input on it even though he had Bobby to call as well.

The ME showed him the body and there was also something else that he found and held it up for Dean to take a look. It had Dean realize that he was dealing with something that was not a typical human killing human thing. The trouble was he wasn't sure what it was and while the ME went to go take care of business, he pocketed it and showed himself out. He decided to go to the scenes of the other two victims. First chow.

Truth be told, Dean needed to think about what he saw but also he was hungry since all he had that morning was a jelly doughnut. He stopped at a place to grab some tacos and had to endure Sasha looking at him like he was being cruel and unusual with the punishment. He scowled at her until he threw his last taco on the ground and watched her gobble it up.

"You are a sneaky little bastard," Dean said.

Sasha looked up at Dean as she chewed on the remains of the taco. Her ear flickered as she was listening around her but her focus was on Dean. She gave a slight whine.

"Oh don't pull that. You and I both know all you have to do is give those puppy eyes and you get what you want," Dean countered pointing at her like he was warning her. "Why don't you do that with Angie huh? One word and you just…" He made a motion to indicate that she was quick to obey.

Sasha looked at him with a look that said that there was one most obvious reason in the world. The obvious one was that Angela was the alpha. The alpha was to be obeyed above all else. Even Dean should know that one. She harrumphed at him like he was being stupid.

"Hey." Dean took in the expression. "Quit it. Can you pretend that I'm the boss at least?"

Sasha gave a low moan in her chest that sounded like a kid agreeing more to appease the adult rather than actually buying it. It had Dean make a noise through his lips and he started walking since they were within walking distance of the first scene. He heard the jingle of Sasha's tags so he knew she was following him and stopped when she gave a growl.

At the scene was a guy with a windblown hairdo kneeling to look at the ground. He was peering at the ground with an intense expression and for a moment Dean thought he looked familiar but he brushed it aside. Rather his indignation at the prospect of having his hunt snaked had him march forward and in his best persona of an FBI agent he asked, "What are you doing here? This is a crime scene and I could have you arrested."

The guy looked at Dean and stood up slowly to reveal that he was about an inch taller so their eye levels were fairly equal. Dean noticed the irises were most unusual, a reddish brown but he could see the red in them. What was it with some people having weird colored eyes? He repeated, "This is a crime scene so I suggest you get back."

"That would work if it were an ordinary human listening to you, Dean Winchester."

Dean grew suspicious and he put his hand on his handgun and tried to play it off, "I don't know who you are talking about. I'm Special Agent Harrison, FBI."

"No you're not," the guy said.

Dean knew he was caught since this guy was dead set on calling him out on his lies. The only thing that told him was that he was either a demon or another hunter. The former was a bust since Sasha would have been all over this guy and tearing him to shreds. The latter was a more likely possibility. Not lowering his gun he asked, "Are you a hunter?"

"In a manner of speaking," the guy said as he looked around as if looking for a threat. He looked at his nails to study them as if he needed something to do. "I do hunt things that need to be hunted." He looked back at Dean and said, "I came to help you."

"Thanks but no thanks," Dean replied. "This one I got."

The guy looked at him almost quizzically and it had Dean wonder what the hell was wrong with him. The movements were similar to the ones Castiel made when he was confused about something. The guy said, "You are lost and confused. It is not good to be that if you are on a hunt."

"I don't need to be analyzed," Dean retorted as he put his gun away. There was no need to have it out since this guy wasn't inclined to get violent though something told Dean that he would at the first sign of trouble. "I do need you to continue on your merry way and let the professionals here handle this," he finished.

The guy looked at Dean with a sort of bemused look that was still one laced with confusion or lack of understanding. "Torn asunder is not good, Dean Winchester. I can help while you decide."

"I don't need your help whoever the hell you are." Dean had enough and turned to leave. "Just stay out of my way."

Kesset looked at the hunter as he walked away with the Wilder pup who glanced at him. He gestured that the pup was to keep going. He had made the decision to leave the princess alone and decided to focus on the elder brother. The younger was with her and they would be fine considering she had a loyal bodyguard. He could see that this separation was eating at both sides and if Dean wasn't careful that would present an opportunity for the other others with or without the pup. He wasn't about to let that happen.

A/N: Angie returns Dean's call and again persists in telling him to talk to Sam and in that sneaky way of hers. Looks like Kesset senses trouble and takes it upon himself to look after Dean. Keep watching for more Free and Torn Asunder...