Chapter 9

Sam looked around the place while he waited for Angela to finish her shower. It was a step up from the fleabag motels he had stayed in and it wasn't bad. It was like it was there. But he did get the feeling of some permanence. Certainly her joke about the lamp in the room was a hint at that and there were a few personal items apart from the assumption that there were invisible wards all over the place that could only be seen by UV lighting.

The sparseness had him thinking about what Angela had been doing the past couple of weeks. There were attempts to make it look like visitors could be received but for the most part it was like it was a place to just eat and sleep like a motel. All the furniture looked secondhand and had some doubts to its functionality but the most Sam got out of it was that it seemed to reflect her feelings; like she was there but not there and it bothered him.

He had some time to reflect on the fact that she had saved him from a severe beating even though he had a few sore spots that would say otherwise and she offered him a place to stay with her. It made him feel like a douche because she was still being herself with him and all he had done was essentially tell her to go away and stay away and she did but she came when he was in trouble. And he was the one that said it was good for her that he leave her and Dean behind.

"She must like you a lot to defend you the way she does."

Sam turned to see a young man where once was a giant werewolf and he was stretching out his back muscles. He gave the werewolf a slightly puzzled frown and asked, "What do you mean by that?"

Isaj looked at Sam and could actually see why Angela liked him so much. Sam was good alpha material and it was only natural. He could sense though that kind of thing wasn't obvious yet. He replied, "My former comrade and I were hunting the one responsible for breaking the world. We found her where your last dwelling was after chasing leads and rumors. She refused to give you up."

Sam studied the kid who was looking a bit casual unaware that he was being checked out as a werewolf would do. Hearing that she was attacked… it didn't sit well with him and he asked, "Did you hurt her?" He had to ask since he didn't see any sign of her being hurt when they talked last night but then again he wasn't in great shape for that.

Isaj took in Sam's demeanor and replied, "I didn't. One doesn't mess with an alpha."

"An alpha?"

Isaj shrugged his shoulders at that. He was of the old Lycan clans so there were things that were even strange to their kind that was more modern. "She is one and you obey regardless. Or you challenge and Rada did."

It was an interesting way of putting it since Sam had come across people that picked a fight with Angela for the sheer fact that they were pissed at her and usually for something that happened when they crossed paths previously. It did make some sense since she humored Dean a lot when he tried to boss her and there was the fact that the dogs did what she said, no questions asked and he had experience with Sasha on that account.

Then there was the fact that Isaj admitted that he was after him. Sam looked at him and asked, "You were going to kill me?"

"I followed Rada because there was nothing left after what happened even though your mate made sure we had somewhere to go," Isaj replied as he looked around with watchful eyes.

"Excuse me?" Sam wasn't sure he heard the kid right. "Did you just call Angie my…?"

"Aren't you her mate?" Isaj looked at Sam wondering what was wrong. It made sense to him. "An alpha only does what I saw if their mate was in danger."

Sam felt the heat rush to his cheeks. "You think that Angie and me…?"

"Only way to explain why she nearly maimed Rada," Isaj replied. He had replied calmly but he was quaking at the memory of that fight. Rada had made a mistake challenging Angela like that even though she felt justified and he understood that but from his view, Angela saved them before it was too late. She found out what was going on and saved them from joining their clan's fate.

Sam gave a slightly dry chuckle as he tried to figure out what to say to that. He knew Angela could be scary and she did beat the crap out of that guy in Colorado because he tried to kill Ellen but she did that for any of them. It was the other part… "Um… me and Angie… we aren't…"

Isaj looked at Sam and said, "Pity." He then turned and walked towards the door. "I'm going for a run," he said before he closed the door leaving Sam to wonder why the hell that conversation just happened.

Sam turned back towards the living room and then at the kitchen that looked clean despite the mess that occurred during breakfast. He figured it was just confusion on Isaj's part but he was certain and… He ran a hand through his locks anxiously waiting for Angela to come out so he could at least tell her what he planned to do since he wasn't going to loaf off of her and he really didn't want to hurt her feelings by suggesting that he keep drifting.

He didn't have long to wait. He heard the door open with a creak and Angela came out with a slight frown on her face as she finished braiding the length of her hair. Sam had one on his face since he had noticed that it was longer than he remembered. In fact when they first met, it was shoulder length. Now and braided it extended just underneath her shoulder blades. It was dark and silky even though it was still wet and he liked it.

Angela turned as she finished and started tying off her braid. "Where's Isaj?"

Sam was knocked from the thoughts he entertained about actually touching her hair and managed to reply, "Uh he said he was going for a run… whatever that means."

"Hmm," Angela murmured as she finished tying off the braid and pushed it to dangle down her back. "So he'll be gone most of the day meaning large dinner which means shopping," she mused as she pressed her fingers together before turning towards Sam and asking, "You want to come?"

Sam wasn't sure if she was okay or not and replied, "Christo."

"Very funny," she said.

"Just checking," Sam offered a bit sheepishly. "You're just…"

"What?" Angela turned to look at Sam. It wasn't a harsh look but one that was curious about what he was going to say. "Too peppy for you?"

"No," Sam replied with slight hesitation. He didn't want his thoughts to come out wrong. Finally he spat out, "You're babbling again." He looked away feeling embarrassed at that. It was the only thing he could come up with and one thing he remembered that made him feel better. "Sorry…"

"I can babble some more if you like," Angela said still studying Sam.

The offer sounded so ridiculous but Sam couldn't help but look back at her. When a small smile appeared on her face he felt relief and couldn't help but give a smile one in return. He felt better about the whole thing and he was able to say, "You can babble any time you want. It… it suits you and I like it when you do that."

Angela felt her smile get bigger. "Then I'll babble more." She stopped to pick up the keys to Deanna. "I was serious about shopping. Isaj may be small for his size in lupine form but he can eat a lot. Plus I don't have much else." She gave a sort of apologetic shrug.

Sam's expression became serious and worried as he asked, "You have been taking care of yourself right, Angie?"

"Old habits," she admitted after a pause. She really couldn't remember the last time she had a fairly decent meal and that morning's breakfast didn't count. She had eaten but for the most part it was a bite snatched here or there and when she felt hungry and it wasn't the monstrous hungry typical of her kind. She played with her keys.

"You shouldn't hurt yourself like that."

"Old habits, Sam," she repeated. She paused and then asked, "Did you want to come?"

Sam knew it was best to drop it and he was willing. He couldn't help but think that this little revelation was his fault too. If he and Dean weren't separated they wouldn't be here. Thing was whether or not it was a good thing or a bad thing. He missed his brother and he missed her. He had toyed with asking her to come over before their last conversation regarding that. "Do I have a choice?"

"Always." Angela turned to go and opened the door. "Just make sure you lock up if you go anywhere."

"I'll go," Sam offered quietly. He held the squeaky door open for her and let her pass. "You might need a pack mule," he teased a little.

"Could always use one," she teased back as she stepped into the hall. She waited while he locked the door and made sure everything was okay. She led the way down the stairs not even noticing the general scruffiness but acknowledged that the manager was keeping things in working order. "Do you want to drive?"

Sam looked at her as they walked down the stairs. Sure he had driven her car and he knew that she had her car since he recognized the keys but… "Are you sure?"

"She won't break, Sam… Unless you ram her into a tree," Angela replied. She stopped in the lobby area since she sensed that this was going to be awkward. Sighing she said, "Sam, I don't want to lecture; I've done it enough to be considered a bossy nag. Can you accept that what happened doesn't matter; that I still trust you?" She stared at him with a pensive expression.

Sam stared back. Even before they separated, she had said the same thing. It baffled him and he knew it seemed to anger Dean more; that much he observed those three days they stayed near the hospital and he cowardly hid behind her but he bore the nights except when she asked him for help. It still baffled him but he had slowly begun to understand what she was doing. He was just unsure still and he could see that either annoyed her or hurt her feelings.

What happened still mattered to him. He still punished himself mentally for that and now by doing that he was making it worse. He was on a roll and all she was doing was… treating like she always would. The big thing was that she said she trusted him and after everything he had done. It was comforting and something else that he couldn't name. He nodded, "Yes."

"Then come on. If you're a good pack mule I might buy you your favorite for lunch."

"Just as long as you don't turn into a Mary Sue," Sam replied. He ended up surprising himself by saying, "I like you being you." He coughed a bit trying to hide the blush. He rarely complimented her and it always sounded strange to him. He opened the door to let her out.

"I like you being you too," Angela replied trying to put Sam at ease. There was a lot she wanted to say but it just didn't seem right at that moment. That was really going against the whole life is too short speech she had given not too long ago. This was safe and neutral. She gave a smile and added, "Come on. We're burning daylight and the list is huge."

Sam couldn't help but smile at her cheerfulness. Maybe she was right in what she had been pestering him about in that you just moved forward. He just hoped that she didn't try too hard since there was the possibility that it could bite her in the ass and she had been hurt enough as it is the past few weeks, hell probably months since she admitted that she knew about the demon blood and Ruby. He just hoped that wouldn't happen to her again since that would be… He wouldn't like it.

She meant what she said by letting him drive. She handed him the keys, got in the passenger side and sat down and lounged in the seat. Sam didn't argue as he got in, keyed the ignition and started driving. He had no idea where to go until Angela fed him directions while she leaned back in the passenger seat and looking like she was going to go to sleep. Sam felt his lip twitch at that since she always seemed to sleep in the car when it was moving.

Dean was having a difficult time with this case. He had checked around and so far there was no one who could pass for being a witch. That sounded a bit ridiculous since even he could be a witch; you really couldn't base it on appearance alone. He certainly had no idea about Hayley until she mentioned her heritage. Hell he didn't know Angela was a dhampir until after he met her so visual appearances didn't really count.

He was stumped by the whole thing in terms of what it was. He had looked at the other scene after ditching the weirdo and found nothing that was of demons or anything that Sasha could pick up. She ended up scratching around the area like she was trying to dig up the area for something more but nothing was there. Now he was sitting at an outdoor dining place eating a burger and trying to figure out what to do next.

The most obvious was Bobby. Perhaps he might be able to help and he had taken pictures of the symbols. Fishing out his cell phone, Dean dialed the grizzled hunter and waited for him to pick it up and hoped that he was in a good mood. He hadn't spoken to him in about two weeks so he was curious as to how he was doing.

What?

"Well hello to you too," Dean replied.

I'm not in the mood since… get off!

"You okay there Bobby?" Dean listened to the background noise with a concerned expression. He wasn't sure if Bobby was being attacked or not. He steadied himself to not think the worst since the elder hunter had Cerebus to protect him and he had seen that mutt in action. He would go down swinging or… whatever. "Bobby?"

Damn fool cat. I told ya not to get up there.

Dean couldn't help but grin at that. He had forgotten about the cat that Angela raised from a kitten. He also remembered how she acquired the thing and she didn't let him live it down. When she liked to tease him, she would bring up the fact that he had been scared by an itty bitty kitty. Sam would laugh and he would try to say that he thought it was a rat and that they got huge. He missed times like those. This was like a trip down memory lane and he teased Bobby, "Trouble with pest control?"

Damn fur ball got on the case again. Get down you mangy ball of fur! Those are priceless. I swear they are doing this on purpose. Hell mutt stop that!

Cerebus is in on this? Dean frowned as he listened to Bobby scolding the dog. That mutt was more homely and wouldn't do anything resembling playful unless… Would she tell them to give Bobby a hard time? "What's the problem?"

Idjit mutt and cat. Never mind. What do you need?

Dean made a slight face at the change of pace. He looked at Sasha who was giving him an inquisitive look and replied, "Hey do you know anything about a monster or thing or something that stabs their victim, drains them…"

A vampire that doesn't like to bite for their blood.

"Very funny Bobby," Dean deadpanned as he rubbed Sasha's head when she pawed him. "I'm serious."

Alright demons then.

"Not that. Sasha would have sensed something and go all crazy. It's something else."

Well it could be about a hundred things and probably ones we don't know about.

"It's why I called. I got a picture of what was left. Some sort of weird symbol. I don't recognize it."

"Perhaps I could be of assistance?"

"Sonofabitch!" Dean shouted as he turned to see the weirdo from earlier sitting across from him and looking like he was in some sort of pansy office meeting even though he was dressed like a hunter.

Kesset looked at Dean with bland expression that hid his bemusement. He was well aware the reputation of hunters in general but when it came to individuals, they could be quite amusing things. Having lived his whole life at Karnak, he was not familiar with the expressions that were used outside of the sanctuary. He could only assume that what Dean Winchester had said was an expression of surprise. He looked at the hunter who was looking at him like he was crazy and said, "I can assist you."

Dean?

"Everything's fine Bobby," Dean said as he gave a wary eye at his visitor. "Sasha nipped me." He gave a look at the pup when she gave a slight whine of protest. "Can you find out for me?"

Alright. I got it. I'll check it out.

Dean hung up his phone and looked at the weirdo guy looking at him in a very disturbingly manner Castiel would have. He glanced at Sasha who was looking at their visitor too. She wasn't getting aggressive but she was alert. That was something he supposed. Dean pointed at the guy and said, "Look I said I don't need your help."

"I merely offer assistance. Perhaps what I know could be of some help."

"No thanks. I work with my partner here." Dean gestured towards Sasha and rubbed her head to indicate that he appreciated her.

Kesset looked at the pup. "So you know how to command a Wilder," he said more as a statement than a question.

"Know quite a bit."

Kesset looked at dean before addressing the pup, What are your orders pup?

You are not an alpha. I will not tell you.

Kesset gave a slight curl of his lip. This Wilder was well trained and loyal to the princess and her companions. You are a good Wilder then. You are loyal to your pack.

They are my pack. This is my beta. Friend or foe?

Sasha had assumed a standing position that indicated that she was alert and willing to get violent. She didn't sense any hostile intent but that didn't mean that she was going to take him lightly. She had enough strange scents all over the place in this town while on the hunt. It was frustrating because Dean couldn't understand her. They were strange smells and she couldn't ascertain if they were friendly or not.

Kesset looked at Dean, "She is loyal. I'll give the pup that. Surely you know other talents Wilders have."

"If you mean turning ass hats like you into chew toys," Dean replied, "Then I already know that. I've seen it."

At that moment, Sasha growled low. It was not at Kesset though. Her head was looking in the direction of a building that was caught in the shadow of the afternoon sun. Dean heard it and looked around and in the direction that she was looking in. "What Sash?"

Kesset had looked in the same direction. His reddish brown eyes scanned the area as his head darted forward much like it would in his other form. Some things carried over to his human form but that was how he was trained when he learned how to control his abilities. He had his left on the table and it was propped and ready to spring into action. His muscles were tense. "Something is here that shouldn't be. What are you doing?"

Kesset got up and started walking towards the direction Sasha was growling without regard for his safety. Dean watched a bit stunned but paid attention to Sasha's lead. Her growling meant that it was something nasty. First thought was a demon but even Sam said that it would have been vastly different; you knew she found a demon. He got up and followed Kesset thinking he was a fool for going there unarmed and beckoned for Sasha to follow.

Sasha followed still growling and staying close to Dean. The scent she had picked up was not a demon but something else. It was of the pit it seemed but not of the pit. It was not like what she sensed of Cerebus who was of the pit and now lived here with the alpha and her pack. Her growl rumbled in her throat as she trotted forward and around to the backside of the building. Her ear flicked when she hear Dean bring out his handgun.

They were behind the building that Kesset had headed towards but there was no sign of him. Dean rolled his eyes at that thinking that the bastard was just what he was. He didn't let down his guard however as he looked around. It was then that he heard it and he felt his spine tingle. It was the unmistakable sound of growls and they weren't from Sasha. He looked around but didn't see the pup anywhere. That was just great. He was probably about to meet Cujo or something that was probably a hell hound or something equally bad and he had only his gun. That was perfect. Sighing he started moving and looking around, that feeling not going away.

The attack came from his right. The thing was a dog of sorts and it was taking a leap at him with the look to kill. Dean turned and was going to fire but something got in his path. A huge paw batted his right and he was knocked over but not before he saw Sasha take the thing down with a snap of her jaws on the neck. She had leapt and tackled the dog by grabbing the neck and using her momentum to take them to the ground.

Dean rolled clear and watched as Sasha bared her teeth at the dog and the two went at it like it was one of those dog fights. In the end it was Sasha that launched her attack and her strength and momentum forced the downing of the other dog. It rolled away and looked like it was going to attack again when it suddenly stopped and started running away. He told Sasha not to follow and stood up. He looked around and it was clear but his instincts told him to get back to the motel and called for the dog to follow.

Kesset had watched the entire thing. He knew that the hunter and his dog would be able to handle it. What he was concerned about was the owner of the dog. He knew what was in this town and he was concerned. It seemed that there were others who were interested. He shook his head and looked at the sky. As the sun cast a glare, the man disappeared and the hawk reappeared. Time to go scouting.

A/N: Looks like Sam and Angie are starting to work things out and Dean is frustrated. Sasha gets some action and Kesset is onto something. Tough times ahead and more next time on Free and Torn Asunder...