Chapter 13

A week had passed and things were starting to be normal sort of from Sam's view. He had slipped into a routine of actually working doing odd jobs and went back to hunting at night. He hadn't expected it until he saw Angela and Isaj getting up to leave the apartment. She had a gear bag packed and Isaj had taken it and slung it over his shoulder. He asked, "Where are you going?"

Angela looked at Sam and replied, "Got a salt and burn a town over. I'm going over to take care of it."

"You want me to come?"

"Isaj is coming."

Sam took in her expression well aware that he felt hurt that she hadn't asked him to go along. He also felt… jealous maybe. He had noticed that she had spent time with Isaj and then with the kid Skip and it felt ridiculous to be jealous of the kids but he was since she was teaching Isaj things about hunting; he wasn't stupid and could recognize training when he saw it. Then her teaching Skip about being a gearhead… Something was up.

As he looked at her, it came out a little pathetic, "You sure?"

Angela caught the tone and looked at Isaj and nodded. She waited until he left before asking, "What's wrong Sam?"

"Nothing…" Sam paused when he noticed the look. He sighed and asked, "Why take the kid?"

Angela blinked as she absorbed the situation. She thought about it and realized how it might look to Sam. She explained, "He needs experience. He wants to be a hunter and… he has to be able to watch his back. You know most hunters shoot first and ask questions later."

"But why not ask me?"

"Didn't you want out?"

It was an innocent question and yet it felt like a sucker punch to the gut. Sam had forgotten that she could do that. He had wanted out. He was the one that said he wasn't in any shape to be hunting. And yet after everything that had happened… he realized he couldn't put it down. Being jumped twice by Tim and Reggie woke him up to that. Looking at her, he admitted, "I did say that because of what I did and what happened but now… I can't stay away."

"Why can't you stay away?"

Because I want to be hunting with you… and with Dean but mostly you. The thought was but a shimmer but it was enough to cause surprise for Sam. He looked at her and while it was on the tip of his tongue to voice that thought, he went with, "Because… well I made choices and they had consequences and… it's about learning with them and also deciding what I'm going to do about it." It sounded like the yearbook answer and very fake but Sam wasn't ready to lay bare something that could be taken the wrong way.

Angela suppressed the sigh that threatened. While it was good that Sam was willing to get back up on the horse and even if he didn't, that was fine too; as long as he knew why he was doing what he was doing and it was his own choice… She was hoping that there were other reasons. It was more likely her fault but it was cautious territory for her. She started doing a routine to bring about a sense of normalcy and it seemed to work.

Occasionally Sam asked her out to 'talk a walk' and she was fine with that. They got along better then they had when he was on demon blood. They talked about nothing and everything and even poking fun at a few things. They were happy and she was happy and she started letting her guard down some more and tried to restrict the hunting stuff but now she felt bad since it obviously hurt his feelings. This trying to establish a relationship was hard and…

Sam studied her and could sense that something he said didn't set right. She wasn't showing it but he had a pretty good idea and… Sighing he added, "It's just that… we've always hunted together. It kind of feels like you don't want that anymore."

Angela steadied her breathing. There was nothing more than being anywhere and doing anything with Sam that she wanted to do. She was respecting his wishes and now it seemed that it was just hurting him. "It's not that I don't want that… I was just respecting what you wanted Sam. There is nothing wrong with wanting normal if it is what you want. Granted it's not ideal but…"

"Can I come?"

"What?" Angela had been on her tangent that she had not heard Sam's request.

"Can I come with you? Please." Sam knew she wasn't doing it on purpose. At least he had his answer; she wasn't going to kick him aside. She was only doing what she thought he wanted from this; the part that made him and Dean feel like douchebags on their best day. It was her most endearing quality; the one that affirmed his belief that she was a good person no matter what other people said about her. It pissed him off sure but… He looked her in the eye to indicate that he was being serious about his request.

Angela took in his expression. It wasn't begging though she suspected that he would resort to that and with the puppy eyes. That was a dangerous thing since she would give in automatically. She may have resisted but that was before she was fully aware of her feelings for him. She couldn't deny it that she wanted him to come and now he was telling her he wanted to go too. She nodded, "Alright. I guess Isaj could use input from two hunters."

Sam was happy that she was going to let him come that he almost forgot that they were going to have a third person there. It would prove awkward maybe since nearly a week ago the kid was working to kill him for breaking the world. Now he turned his life around and wanted to learn to be a hunter. Strange times he figured but there was at least one familiar person there. He asked, "Do you need anything else?"

"There's a spare shotgun in the closet loaded with salt rounds," Angela replied. "Isaj has everything else."

It was quick work to get the shotgun and Sam was soon following Angela down to the car. Isaj had been waiting in the shotgun seat until he saw Sam there. It was automatic to jump into the backseat even though Sam protested. He replied, "I'm only the pup. Defer to the alpha."

Angela gave a slight shake of her head to indicate that Sam was not to worry about it. She got that Isaj saw her as an alpha and she had her understanding from the dogs in their reference to her. She wasn't going to argue about that since within the world of vampires, there was something similar in regards to the purebloods. The purer the blood, the more 'power' you had over the others. She had seen it especially with Austin and he had it rougher than most because he was an orphan. His relations thought him a scoundrel and he didn't care, or so he said.

Sam took it as it was but he glanced at Isaj. He didn't completely disregard the fact that the kid seemed to have certain ideas about him and Angela. As far as he was concerned, he… well. Things were different now in the sense that… he couldn't describe it but it felt different. It just didn't help that Isaj was making it seem like there was more to it than there really was. Then there was Skip who had asked him repeatedly if he was the Sam and it had him wondering if the kid was onto something. And he had been complaining his whole life had been weird.

It was a routine salt and burn. As it turned out the spirit was a guy who had been killed after being wrongfully accused of raping a girl. He had been strung up, castrated and then hung. It was pretty gross to hear in detail but for the first time Sam got an appreciation for Angela's longevity when she mentioned that this kind of thing happened more often than was indicated in the history books. Even though Oklahoma had been a territory for the most part, the Southern ways took root and pretty much were hard to dig out.

It certainly had Sam think about the things she had seen and done. It had him wonder how she hadn't become so jaded with the ways people came up with the normal ways of killing. Then there was the supernatural stuff. He had never thought about it too much even though he had always been concerned about her welfare. He was the one that encouraged her that it was okay to drink blood when she needed it. Maybe it was creepy in some respects but… It wasn't really any different say when Dean needed a drink and there were hundreds of other stuff that could be considered worse.

The hunt went pretty good as Sam watched as Angela directed the whole thing and stood and watched. The only time she ever moved was to raise her shotgun to ward off the ghost when it got too close. Sam helped Isaj dig until the kid told him to jump out and started digging like a dog would. It sort of helped when he transformed his body into a large dog and started digging until he reached the remains and climbed out like a human.

The ghost appeared a final time and screeched about the injustice. Angela took point on that and fired at the ghost while Isaj poured the salt as instructed and Sam pulled out the lighter and tossed it in. The ghost disappeared still shrieking about the injustice delivered to him and how it would be visited upon his transgressors. Angela ended up muttering, "And it was given… right after you were killed."

"Your kind of justice?" Sam had asked the question softly without intending to be mean about it.

"Not mine but there were some folks here who didn't take kindly to George here being giving a full lynching treatment," Angela replied as she gestured towards the remains.

"It seems like there are people here like back home that make friends and will do anything to help," Isaj piped up as he put away the gear. "It is a rare thing to see it taken to extremes." He gave a look in the general direction of Sam and Angela but it was meant more for her.

Angela felt her cheeks flush as the heat crept along her neck. Of course he would remember what she had said to Rada. He spoke Russian fluently and was well aware of that conversation. No doubt he would bring it up constantly. It was going to be a literal hounding with his ability to imply without directly saying anything. She replied, "Sometimes another perspective teaches us that life is valued even if at first it doesn't seem that way."

"I guess it is easy to see how the same thing could be seen as good and bad," Sam offered even though he thought the conversation was hinting at something else.

"Exactly," Angela said softly as she headed back to the apartment. "And the hard part is deciding which end to lean towards even when sometimes it is painfully obvious." She glanced at Sam with a slight raising of her brow.

Sam knew what she was poking at. She had been doing that on the sly and most people would find it annoying. He didn't. He didn't because he did miss his brother and this felt worse than before because Dean was all he had in terms of blood family. He also was starting to realize that they worked better together than apart and he needed to start making things right. He returned the look with one that said he would think about it.

He was being stubborn about it. That and he hadn't quite swallowed his pride on this either. He also was happy just being with her. Still even he knew that it wasn't going to be complete unless he did something about it between him and Dean.

"So that is what happens when living the life of a hunter?"

Both looked back at Isaj who was looking at them with an inquisitive look. Angela narrowed her eyes slightly while Sam raised his brow in confusion. Isaj merely sat in the back and observed the scenery as Angela drove back towards the apartment. It put an awkward silence during the drive but it certainly caused the occupants to turn inward to their thoughts. Isaj just watched the two in the front seat while resisting the urge to twitch his lips.

"I hardly think that this place is part of this case."

"It isn't."

"But why…"

Dean put a hand on Kesset's shoulder. This brought back some fond memories when he did the same thing to Castiel. If the world was going to hell, he might as well go teaching the human deprived denizens a thing or two. Kesset was no exception. He looked at the kid and replied, "Kess, there is a saying that goes 'all work and no play'."

Kesset frowned as he looked at Dean. The past week traveling with him was an experience that he wasn't sure he liked. True that he said that he would accompany Dean to keep an eye on him but this was not what he thought it would be. He frowned at the place and while he knew what it was, he couldn't see the reason for being there. "This is a cantina."

"It's a bar. Come on," Dean urged as he opened the door. "Sash, stay. If you don't claw the leather, I'll bring you something."

Sasha gave a slight moan at that. She didn't really like bar food except for maybe the Buffalo wings but that was barely tolerated. She did like the bacon cheeseburgers and never failed to get a piece from Dean. She gave a slight bark and nosed Dean in the ear.

Dean turned to look at her after the impromptu wet willy she gave him with her nose. "Stop that you ugly ass mutt." It had been uttered without malice as he rubbed her head before reaching for the jerky treats that he knew she liked. He checked the bag and knew that he was running low. That meant a trip back to Bobby's or…

Kesset watched as Dean eyed the contents of the bag that held treats for the Wilder pup. He could tell that from the expression, Dean was contemplating on whether or not to call the princess. In his short time traveling with Dean Winchester, he learned that he was stubborn when it came to talking to her about important things and at the current moment it had to do with the fact that his brother was with her. To be honest, he didn't understand why Dean wouldn't just talk to his brother. He had heard the stories of what they had done to help people. He didn't understand.

Dean was well aware that Kesset was being like Angela and that was being a nag albeit a silent nag. He couldn't blame Angela because he knew she didn't send him there to babysit him and keep him out of trouble. Still it seemed like the universe was geared to having him be miserable with the nagging until he made himself not miserable and talk to his brother. He could hold out though. He pulled out a couple of pieces and tossed them onto the back seat of the Impala. "There Sash. Stay and protect the car."

Sasha gave a slight moan. It was like a kid being exasperated with their parent. Dean was certain she was saying 'protect the Impala?' She certainly gave him a look that said that she wasn't stupid.

Dean made a slight face at that since she was behaving like Sam used to when they were kids. He figured it was the same with all kids at least as far as when he interacted with them. Compared to Angela, he was the one that could have his buttons pushed easily; she was the one that they were surly with and whatever she said in that calm tone of hers, they became remorseful. Angela was always the disciplinarian but she was also the fun one too.

Kesset could see that Dean was remembering a few things and decided, even though it seemed wrong, he would be whatever Dean wanted him to do. "What are we going to do here?"

Dean looked at Kesset and replied, "First off have you mellow out a bit. You look like you have a stick up your ass."

"I don't have a stick up my ass. That would be uncomfortable."

Dean blinked trying not to laugh or become too exasperated by the whole thing. He shot the young guard a look and simply said, "Come on."

The pair got out of the Impala and Dean led the way towards the bar. Dean thought that maybe he could also hustle some money since he was a little low. He just hoped that Kesset wouldn't screw things up in that sort of innocent way of his. He studied the young guard and noted that at least he looked like he belonged there. The only thing that stood out was the fact that he tended to move his head like he would a bird or a lizard or something. It was a bit off putting at times but Dean saw that he was just doing his job even if it looked a little creepy. Still it was the best he was going to get and it was a little bit different from his time with Castiel.

The entrance into the bar was worthy of one of those movies where the stranger enters but no one seemed to bad an eye… at least not immediately. Kesset was scanning for threats while Dean was trying to be cool about it. He motioned for Kesset to follow him to the bar and he ordered him a beer, "Here Kess. Try this. Shouldn't be too bad if you're not used to it." He held the bottle out to the young guard, indicating he should take it.

Kesset eyed the bottle and took it. He peered at it and when Dean took a sip from his beer, he imitated Dean and downed a gulp. It was like the yak piss he once tried as a boy. It was nasty and made a slight face. It did taste different and wasn't too bad so maybe it wasn't like the yak piss. He took another gulp just to be sure. Definitely was different. He said, "This is not bad but it's not good either."

Dean shrugged his shoulders, "Everyone's a critic."

Kesset frowned at that, "I do not mean to criticize but…"

"Don't worry about it Kess," Dean reassured. "If you don't like it, don't drink it."

"It's fine. I'm simply saying that it's not the best."

Dean rubbed his forehead, "Can you not be so honest Kess?"

"I vowed not to lie. I will not give them a reason to doubt me," Kesset countered in a low whisper as he took another sip.

Dean raised his brow in surprise. The kid was normally calm about everything. This time he was a little agitated and he wasn't sure if it was a low tolerance to alcohol and wondered if he had made the right decision in bringing him here. He patted him and said, "Hey, no one blames you Kess. You're doing good."

Kesset looked at Dean. He wasn't drunk but he was sensitive to his family. "Maybe you should try not lying," he said.

Dean looked at Kesset. Okay the kid was normal. "Don't go there. Look. Stay here and have a few. I'm gonna get some cash. Try not to get into trouble."

"I would say the same to you but you seem to disregard me every chance you get."

Dean rolled his eyes slightly and went to engage in a game of pool. It was one of those joints and not like the one that his girl could get away with playing Texas hold em. Still money was money. He managed to get a rather large guy to play him and it was going to be a modified version of the hustle he and Sam used to run.

It started out fairly easy enough. Dean kept downing drinks to appear drunk and he lost. He tried not to react when he spotted Kesset being approached by a woman. She looked like she was going to play him and he prayed that he wouldn't do anything stupid. He kept his focus on the mark and begged to have a chance to win it back.

"You're money, dude."

Dean inwardly felt the thrill of the trap being slammed down on the hustle. He would show this guy. He put down his bet and it was his turn to break. He ended up getting a good break and he was on his game. He played some more and managed to win back his money and then some. It looked like it was going to be a good night until the guy looked up and marched over towards the bar… right to where Kesset was sitting and a woman was pawing at him.

It was a pathetically comic sight since Kesset was paying attention to the game Dean was playing and not really paying attention at all to the woman, who was by Dean's standards, one attractive looking chick. She was the kind that he would have hit on and done a one night stand with and Kesset didn't even notice. It had him wondering if the kid was normal or not. It certainly was viewed differently by the chick's boyfriend who was now looking at Kesset.

"Are you talking to my girl?"

Kesset looked up at the guy he knew Dean called the mark. "I was not talking to the young woman. She was talking to me."

"And he wouldn't buy me a drink," the woman added looking put out.

"You didn't ask. You were touching me in places deemed inappropriate." Kesset was looking at the mark, his gaze not wavering.

Dean could see that it was not going to be pretty if it got too out of hand and they couldn't afford to have the cops on them. He called, "Hey, thought we had a game going."

"Not anymore."

Kesset looked at the mark with a firm gaze. "We have no quarrel. Please finish your game."

The politeness was funny since it was clearly used in situation that was anything but a good one. Dean watched as Kesset calmly sat there, clearly not seeing that he was in trouble because the guy was inclined to believe the woman rather than him. Or maybe the kid did see it and he was clueless about how to handle it. The guy clearly was agitated or rather taking orders from the woman who was asking him if he was going to let this baby faced kid disrespect her. Here we go again, Dean thought to himself as he moved to help Kesset out.

The guy grabbed Kesset by the jacket to haul him to his feet and demanded, "Are you insulting my woman?"

"I merely commented that she was being inappropriate. If you want it more plainly, she was being a slut in an attempt to cheat on you with me just to gain your attention. In other words she was behaving like a whore."Kesset hadn't made a move to get himself released but rather continued to stare at the guy.

Dean thought it was over when the guy held onto Kesset's jacket and made to swing a fist at him. He blinked when Kesset finally moved and brought up a hand to defend himself. He watched as the kid grabbed the wrist with one hand and slammed it down on the counter and in the process getting himself released. It was then he stood up straight and looked at the guy and said, "You should really consider a new woman."

There was nothing more to say as Dean collected the money on the bar and they walked out. He did say, "Nice move Kess."

"Your women are worse sluts than the harems," Kesset muttered as he got into the passenger side.

"I hope you don't include Angie in that," Dean teased even though it was laced with a warning.

"She is a princess, not a slut. Besides she already has a suitor."

"What do you mean by that?"

"She has a suitor but if things keep going the way they are now then…" Kesset said nothing else. He stared out the window until he spotted something. "Drive out of town Dean. Keep driving and don't stop."

A/N: Looks like Sam and Angie are getting a bit closer together and Dean and Kess are getting along but we still have problems. Stay tuned for the conclusion of Free and Torn Asunder...