Chapter 5

"It will probably be best if we stayed here for as long as it takes," Mac said as he came back from checking the perimeter around the cave. He rubbed his hands on his hips. "I managed to put up a few wards. Better than nothing."

"Maybe I should put a couple of spells…" Tsura offered tentatively.

"You a witch or something?" Mac peered at Tsura like she was an interesting science experience or something.

"I'm Romani actually."

Mac made a noise that could have been interpreted as anything. He backed away like it was nothing and replied, "Well knock yourself out, lass. Just don't mess with the sigils. They're a real bitch to put the way you want them." He moved over to sit down and have a bite of the rations they had.

Tsura narrowed her eyes slightly and retorted, "I know how to leave sigils alone."

"Just letting you know."

Tsura huffed a bit before turning to exit the cave. Mac was chuckling at her reaction. He turned to see Adam looking at him like he was being an idiot for annoying Tsura. He said, "I'm just telling her where to step and where not to step."

Adam made a sound at that and rolled his eyes slightly, "And you probably racked up a few points on the pissed off meter meaning that you're a step closer to her actually doing something like turn you into a toad or something." He gestured at Mac to emphasize that he thought the man was being an idiot for doing what he was doing.

Mac chuckled at that as he stretched out to relax a little. "Fat chance of that, mate," he replied. At Adam's look, he explained, "I've been around witches and Romani before. My best mate was a witch. Well he preferred warlock but…" He shrugged his shoulders at that since it was inconsequential.

"You were friends with a witch?" Adam raised a brow at that. The man was talking like it was a normal thing. He was just barely getting over the fact that Angela was not a normal human and could do inhuman feats.

"Still am," Mac replied.

"But I thought you… hunted things," Adam posed a bit uncertain. He knew that Angela had trusted Mac even though he wasn't real. She was insistent that this wasn't one of Lucifer's cruel jokes so he was willing to give a little with that. He raised his brow at the man.

"Aye. I do but ya got to do things a little different when other things kick in otherwise you stick out like balls on a bulldog."

Adam blinked at that. He was used to crude language and had employed it himself on occasion. This, he wasn't even quite sure of but he figured it had to do with the fact that Mac was not American but Scottish and damn proud of it. He could only make, "Um…"

Mac had seen the reaction and couldn't help but laugh at Adam. "Relax, mate," he said after reaching over and giving a slap on the shoulder. "Pretty much like your Yank expression of sticking out like a sore thumb was what I was getting at."

"Oh."

Mac continued to laugh as he stood up to check on Tsura. He peered out the entrance and scanned the horizon as he continued, "I was raised where I thought it normal that you had a werewolf and a witch for a friend and not all your classmates were human. And I was raised a hunter."

"But you're a soldier."

"Aye. Joined up when I was able. Good thing too. You'd be surprised at how many things hide in the military." Mac gave a slight grin as his expression turned grim. He looked back out and sighed. "I was raised a hunter, joined the military and became spec ops. Angie always said I was saving the world one terrorist monster at a time or something like that."

Adam nodded at that as he stood up to stretch and check on Angela. He slunk past Cerebus who was laying there looking like he was lounging but he was protective and wouldn't hesitate to help if needed to. He paused to rub the dog's ears and moved over to make sure Angela was still breathing. She was so still that she looked like she was dead. Seeing that she was still breathing, he said, "Angie's still breathing."

"The lass better be. From my understanding, she's a terror when it comes to this sort of thing."

Adam frowned at the choice of words and couldn't help but voice his confusion, "What do you mean by that?"

Mac glanced at Adam and turned to see Tsura making her way back. He held his rifle ready just in case something happened and he needed to cover her. "Meaning that she's really good at what she does. Save my arse in Altay a long time ago and I heard the stories. They're the kind that keep you in awe and also terrorize you. But I do know that she's a fighter. Once she gets a job, she sees it through even if you have to improvise."

Adam swallowed slightly as he looked at Angela sleeping, or what he thought was sleeping. Mac had explained that it was a type of trance where her mind is wherever it was and more than likely the dream realm. He got that which was why they were keeping an eye out.

"I've got movement."

Adam turned his attention towards the entrance. At that moment Cerebus got to his feet and a low moan emanated from his chest. It quickly turned to a low growl as he trotted towards the entrance and took a stance that said he was the alpha and that this was his den. Adam moved to join the dog and look out. He queried, "What do you see?"

Mac raised his gun to peek through the scope. His eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at the numbers and gave a small breath. He replied, "Seems like our friends are back." He handed the binoculars to Adam.

Adam took them and peered out. He saw the approaching men. He made a low hissing sound between his teeth. He really didn't need this now but it seemed that it was to be. After all they were in hell but still he would like a break every now and then. "I see them. How bad you think?"

"We're outnumbered."

It was blunt but Adam found that he preferred that over anything in this place. Angela was the same way when it came to laying down the odds of survival and she had been bluntly honest in that that she had originally went there to save his brother, Sam but now that she found him, she was staying until she had them all out. It was comforting and she had defended him like her life depended upon it.

Mac knew that he was being blunt but as a soldier you didn't waste time sugarcoating things. Did that and you put yourself in danger. It was always better to lay it out with straight facts. He adjusted his grip and grinned when one of the advancing troops ended up on the business end of one of his traps. He couldn't help but chuckle, "Well, we have some time but if I were you, I'd get your gun ready and the hell mutt ready to raise hell."

Adam nodded and went to grab the gun that had been procured and sort of made. He wasn't going to try and sort things out. According to Angela, this place was like the place where dreams are from; if you were good enough, you could make anything appear as you needed it. That was all well and good but it was not helpful when two of your team were not real in the first place. Now she was unconscious in a similar place or the real dream world and she had the potential to be killed there. It was enough to make your head hurt so he treated this as the real world but with a little something extra.

Mac continued to watch as Tsura came back in saying, "I got a team coming from the east."

"Oye. Definitely outnumbered."

Adam cocked his gun and held it ready, "No choice though. Unless we move Angie." He turned towards the pair and asked, "Good idea to move her?"

Mac looked at Angela's body. He was well aware of the possibility that by moving her, she was going to feel it. He was certain she was in the trance sleep and not full on sleep. "It might be risky since she may feel it and abruptly waking could be…" He made a slight face.

"We got no choice," Adam replied. "We gotta move her and do what you do. Um… dig in."

Mac raised his brow at Adam. He was impressed with the kid and he could understand why Angela liked him. Besides, the kid had a good idea and they really had little choice. He glanced at Tsura and nodded, "Aye. Not much choice. So…"

"You'll have to carry her," Adam interrupted. At the look he was getting, he explained, "Mac, you're the only one that can carry her. I'm too short. Me and Tsura can buy you some time and Cerebus can watch your back."

Mac peered at Adam with a look. While he didn't like it, he could tell that it was the best option available. This cave didn't go into a tunnel system. They were cornered and didn't have a means of barricade. They had to move and find a secure location and preferably where they could get enough time to allow for Angela to find her way back. He nodded, "Aye. Not the best but we have to do in this situation."

"What? But…" Tsura looked at Mac and Adam like they were crazy. "If we do that, we risk…"

"I'm aware of that lass," Mac replied, "But what choice do we have?"

Adam looked at the pair. He looked out the entrance. The traps that Mac had set would only last so long. "Look, we don't have much time." He turned to look back at them. "We have to move now. Tsura and me got this or I take the mutt with me and you two go."

There wasn't much left to do. Mac took the initiative and slung his weapon over his shoulder and moved towards Angela's prone body. He maneuvered his hands to pick her up. He whispered, "Sorry lass. The kid made me do it." He grinned as he lifted her. He turned towards Tsura since Adam and Cerebus left to cover them. "Come on lass, let's go."

Adam left and found that Cerebus accompanied him. He rolled his eyes. No doubt that Angela told the mutt that he was to stay beside him no matter what. He would work with that since he had seen the hell hound in action. He patted the hell hound's shoulder as he kneeled behind a boulder and took a peek. "Nice to see you tagging along," he muttered.

Cerebus gave a low moan as he looked in the direction of the approaching enemy. His hackles were high up and he had gotten huge. Adam looked at him and noted the size. This would be interesting and he had yet to see him in hell hound glory though Angela said that it was better if he didn't. That's why they were invisible. He patted the shoulder and looked at the cave and saw Mac ready to go. He turned towards the dog, "Okay, we need to buy Mac and Tsura time to get Angie out. You go left and I go right. Got it."

Cerebus gave a slight moan and moved into position. Adam watched as the body shimmered and disappeared. He couldn't help but voice his appreciation, "Nice. Go get em boy."

Adam watched the brush move, the only indicator that the hell hound was there. Those guys were going to get a surprise of their life. He turned his attention to his side and lifted his gun. It was a tactical assault rifle, the kind that you see in the movies. Angela called it the M4 assault rifle with a laser dot sight. He had been impressed that she knew the weapon but all she said was that she spent too much time in a war torn country or two and hanging around militia and military groups.

Mac had laughed at the explanation and the face he had made. Adam was gob smacked at the fact that Angela made their arsenal appear out of nowhere. So it was a laugh at his expense especially when Angela showed him how to hold the rifle and use it. There hadn't been time to make him an expert like a soldier but enough so he wasn't accidentally shooting anyone on his side or looking like an idiot because he wasn't used to the kick. It was his now and he was going to use it to help defend Angela and get her back. He lifted his rifle and fired.

Michael sighed, bored at the fact that Adam was going to resist again and fight back along with the pair that had him curious. He knew there were no other occupants of the cage and Lucifer had no idea who they were. He could only guess that she had something to do with it. The strange thing was that it seemed that she had no idea she had done it and treated them kindly but with the suspicion that they were created by Lucifer.

She has the skills. She just doesn't remember.

Michael knew that she was special. It had been made clear since day one when Father put her on earth. He had spent centuries watching from afar as per his privilege of being in charge of the Host. He watched as she struggled living amongst the humans. Always blending in but never quite a part of them.

He knew Castiel had been in contact with her. It was a surprise to learn that the little pest of an angel was her guardian angel. Still he thought he could use it to his advantage but that didn't quite work out. He underestimated the power of their connection with each other. He tried re-education but that didn't work out either. The angel still chose disobedience to help her, protect her… save her.

Michael couldn't understand how she was able to do that. She drew people to her. Even other angels she drew to her and they were willing to follow her down whatever path she went. They believed in her. He had never considered that type of loyalty. He thought he understood that concept. He was the good son after all. He had obeyed Father more than any of his other brothers.

She is special. Wait and see.

Michael shook his head and shifted his attention to look at the ongoing battle. He was surprised that Adam was holding up as long as he was. He was getting better and it was a little more fun with more modern human tactics. It certainly was fun using people from Angela's past. He only had observed from afar and didn't get an entire picture but he certainly had a nice glimpse into the world that she had been living in.

"Just leave us alone, Michael!"

Michael leaned over and saw Adam peering out and holding his gun out. It was rather amusing since human weapons didn't hurt him. The only thing that could seriously hurt an angel was an angel blade or something forged with Enochian magic. Besides everything here wasn't real but as long as it was perceived as real it could do some damage. But he wasn't concerned with it. He looked at the huddled human and replied, "You know I can't do that."

"Yeah well… it's not going to be pretty."

Michael heard the slight hitch and grinned. The kid was way in over his head with this one. "Oh really? You do know that this place can change on a dime." He snapped his fingers.

The scenery shifted to reflect more of the Afghanistan deserts. The rocks were still there but it was more of a desert. Michael rather liked this set up. He had seen the memories from Angela's mind and they were rather interesting. Lucifer had shown some interest in them as well. This place if Afghanistan seemed to be the driving force for how she did things.

"Oh nice. Change the scenery. That means you're scared."

It was rather comical when Adam said that. It had Michael frown since it was rather ridiculous for him to say that since it was clear he had the upper hand. "You really want to call it that?"

"You always change it when we have the upper hand."

Michael narrowed his eyes and looked over to where Adam was. It was then he noticed that some of the men he sent to flank were getting taken out by an invisible force. He had forgotten about the beast of hell that was here as well. That was another thing that had him confused. How in all of God's creations was she able to tame and train a hellhound? She wasn't a demon but she managed to get the beast that was created for Hades and relieved him from his demon captors and turned him into a loyal companion.

"Cat got your tongue?"

Michael turned his attention towards Adam. He smirked since this gave him the feeling that this was going to turn out a bit more interesting. "I think this is just the beginning." He snapped his fingers.

The sounds of voices babbling one of the languages of the world filled Michael's ears as he stepped out and started directing the men. He watched as Adam popped out and returned fire. He didn't understand how this human thought he could hold him off. It wasn't like they had the ability to get more troops in. She was unconscious and he knew that because Lucifer was having his fun with Sam physically and mentally.

A bark and growl sounded and Michael turned to see one of his men go down. The blood was spraying everywhere as the snarling tore into the flesh of the man. He watched the flesh get torn apart and fly. One was down and a second was down. The screaming was intense as the second man had his flesh torn and blood loss was evident. The hellhound was going to be a problem and he had to take care of it.

He moved forward but was held back when a couple of bullets hit near his feet. He looked up and saw Adam out and firing again in his direction but never really trying to hit him. He did come close though so it wasn't a make of if he could hit him but a matter of when. It had Michael impressed since he never thought that Adam was capable and he had been inside of the kid's head before he was forced out. He looked at Adam and asked, "You really think that you can hit me?"

The responding fire answered his question. This time it came dangerously close to his feet. Michael grinned and held up his hand. It stopped the attacking men for now but he couldn't do anything about the dead and ripped up bodies that were lying there. He looked around for the hellhound but couldn't see him. That was going to be a problem and he could see the true look of the hellhound. He looked back at Adam and continued, "You must know that you can't win this. Eventually you're going to run out of bullets."

Michael paused to hear the retort. He frowned when he didn't get one he shifted to get a look. Adam was nowhere in sight and caused him to frown some more. He looked around. There was no sign of the hell hound either. What was he up to? He took a chance and started walking forward. He was barely there when he was attacked from behind.

The action had him reeling but he didn't see his attacker. Michael frowned at that since he knew for certain that Adam didn't have any ability like that. The hellhound would be fast and invisible but not that fast. Something was up. It couldn't be Angela since she was incapacitated and Lucifer was having his way with her. The soldier, maybe and the same with the girl since she had shown proficiency with Romani magic.

The attack came from behind and it was the equivalent of getting hit with a tree branch, the kind of force he would feel if it were one of his brothers. He whipped around to try and find who or what was doing that. He didn't like this and he was going to make the individual responsible for what he did. He kept turning that he didn't see the cause of it appear behind him until they said, "Didn't expect that didn't ya?"

Michael blinked and turned around to see Adam standing there. "Impossible."

"Maybe for a human," Adam replied before reaching over to pet the shoulder of Cerebus. It looked like he was patting air but it was an indicator of how large the hellhound was. He continued, "But it helps when you have a hellhound that knows a thing or two."

Michael smirked and nodded. He clearly underestimated the hellhound. True he knew that it was a specialty hound created to guard the gates of Tartarus. It was unique in that it had three heads and it could interchange between the three and the one. More for appearances sake. Whatever though, since that didn't really give an indication of the strength of the hound. "So you use a hellhound. Do you know what they are for?"

"I assume it's for hell. Name and all," Adam replied leaving his hand on Cerebus' shoulder. His fingers ran in the fur as he stared at Michael but keeping an eye on for anything that Michael may do with the other guys. "And this guy is a badass."

"Of course. He's supposed to be guarding Tartarus but somehow he's the pathetic pet of Angela," Michael retorted through gritted teeth. "An impossible feat since no one aside from demons should be able to handle the hounds."

"First time for everything," Adam replied with a shrug. He found it weird himself but he wasn't going to question it. Cerebus had been by his side since he had been freed and Angela explained a few things to him. He thought the hellhound was pretty cool and a big softie when it came to people that he claimed as his own. He certainly had seen that between the mutt and Angela.

Right now Cerebus was doing what Angela said that he was bred to do. Or at least a part of him that had awakened when she saved him from death. Adam found it hard to believe that she actually fought Cerebus and instead of letting him die since she did give a killing blow, she healed him, saving his life. Since then he had followed her lead and sired puppies that were left behind and topside.

Michael looked at Adam holding the gun he had been carrying and holding onto the large hellhound. Well this was something new so maybe he could change it up. He smirked a little and replied, "Well then since you decided to change the rules…" He snapped his fingers to make the scenery change. He held in his hand a flaming sword. Maybe it was over the top but it did fuel the humans' ridiculous depictions of him defeating Lucifer when he cast him out. If only he had the one weapon that he knew would work. He looked at Adam and continued, "So now… I know you are protecting her body."

Adam knew it was no use to lie about it. He looked and found that he had a sword in his hand and his gun had disappeared. Well that was just perfect. He really was not liking this place. At least he was with Cerebus who was growling and ready to attack. "Yeah well, after what you and Lucifer did to her… yeah."

"Then you know what I aim to do."

"Not gonna happen."

"We'll see."

Adam tensed as he watched Michael tense up. He recognized the move to attack. He was sure as hell not ready to go against an angel but he knew that he had to protect Angela. He put a hand on Cerebus' shoulder and muttered to be ready.

Michael looked at Adam as he huddled by the hellhound. The hound would be nothing. They could be beaten. They were hideous creatures. But that would be nothing since he would get a chance to get her and make her pay for her disobedience. He tensed and then sprang forward. He would show them the price for their insolence and trying to defy destiny.

A/N: Angie and Sam may be out of it but Mac, Adam and Tsura know that she could be in serious trouble if harm comes to her body so they are doing what they can to protect it. Stay tuned for next time on Over the Edge...