Chapter 16

So you managed to talk the Streak to going over to the other side? I'll be damned.

"It's not impossible Bobby," Angela replied to the grizzled hunter over the phone.

"Not if you bring his killer to justice," Dean interjected making sure that she wasn't covering anything up. "By wrecking a beautiful Shelby and then kicking his ass afterwards."

"It's not wrecked, Dean," Angela replied, not caring that Bobby was listening to this. He would chew her out later and it would continue in the same circle that they always got into when she did something that was idiotic on her end. "It can be rebuilt and it's already being taken care of."

Excuse me did you say wreck? What did you do Angie?

Sam knew what was coming as well as Dean and Angela. He looked as she rubbed her hand that had been placed in a wrist splint, a concession to not going to the local hospital. He could tell that she hated the thing. At least Dean had proven apt at cleaning the cuts that had already started healing on her face and arms. If Bobby was here, he wouldn't go after her as bad. He replied, "We were in the process of trying to get the ghost to cross over when the guy who killed him showed up. He must've followed us and he decided the ghost's brother would be target practice."

And?

Sam sighed and looked at Angela as if she could take care of it. Angela returned his look with a slight shrug of her shoulders. She answered, "Let's just say we had a ghost battle of sorts and I got in a car wreck."

The silence was near deafening. Angela glanced at the boys and in particular at Dean for bringing this up. His look was firm and clearly said that she wasn't to keep this a complete secret. She had been in a car wreck and was lucky that she hadn't had a concussion from the head wounds. She had been lucky that she had only gotten cuts and a broken hand and that wasn't counting a couple of bruises that made themselves known about forty minutes ago. She had refused the hospital even though her setting the break had been painful and a dose of morphine would have been welcome.

Idjit. What were you thinking? And what were you two boys thinking letting her do something like that?"

"They didn't let me do anything Bobby. It was a split second decision that I made. It was stupid yes but better than having the kid get into trouble," Angela interjected while the boys stammered their answers. "I called the shots and they followed. When we get back you can chew me out as much as you want old man."

You bet your ass Angie. And don't you try the princess act Sam does.

"That would be the puppy dog eyes," Angela corrected.

Balls! Just get your ass back here.

Angela gave a wry smile as the grizzled hunter hung up. He had called to see how their 'fairytale' had been going. He had been surprised that it turned out to be something more than what he had thought. He asked how it went especially after they told him that salt and burning remains was not an option. She looked up at the boys, "He'll get over it."

"Right after he chews your ass off," Dean replied. "Did you have to irritate him Angie?"

"I told the truth Dean since you seemed adamant about me doing so."

"I meant so that when we went back he wouldn't be getting in your face about it."

"Oh you meant that?" Angela pretended to be a dumb blonde, which worked with most people but all it did was to make Sam start chuckling since he could see that Bobby chewing her out was no big deal. He knew the grizzled hunter had a soft spot for her and his reaction was… well like that of a parent. He had to admit that she took the whole thing in a stride even though he could tell that she was in pain from the broken bones in her hand. She was continuing, "I'm sorry. I'm just used to being thrown under the bus or rather throwing myself under the bus." She gave a coy smile.

Sam watched his brother go through a myriad of expressions. Finally he settled on one that was the same expression he used when trying to assert his big brother status. Dean replied, "Angie don't be stupid. I think the pain meds went to your head. You should turn in."

"You don't boss me."

"I win," Dean retorted not thinking how the following words sounded ridiculous to everyone there. "Big brother rights."

Angela raised a brow while she could see that Sam was trying hard not to laugh. She knew she had freaked them both out for one night. She could be nice about it. She replied, "Okay." She went to the door of the boy's motel room and opened it. She paused and turned to reply, "Oh by the way, not on pain meds. Makes me stay awake."

After she left, Sam lost it. "Dude do you seriously realize how ridiculous you sounded using the big brother card on her?"

Dean did realize it after thinking about it. He wasn't going to admit it to Sam though. He would just play if off. "Someone had to step up and boss her around for once."

"Right like you could boss her around."

"Like you could do any better bitch."

"Jerk."

It was late and after the night's excitement she probably should have gone to bed but she was still wound up from the excitement. Remington gave her the scoop on Nexxus and she told him to keep the streets safe. He responded in his usual fashion. He hadn't changed much from the five year old she met in Ohio.

To find him here in Indiana had been a surprise. It had also proven a blessing. If Remington hadn't been around, they would have had more trouble on their butts and that would have led to the feds being on their tails. In a way she helped herself and the boys by the people she met long ago and they carried on as helpers for the hunters and in some twisted way she ruined their lives but then again their lives were ruined the moment the supernatural knocked on the door and invited itself to stay. That was how it was on the job. Not to mention that hunters are adept at screwing up with other hunters' lives if chance or fate put it there.

Angela sat cross legged on her baby. It was a nice change to the Impala but it wouldn't last. She was going to have to put the Camaro on lock down at Bobby's since it was impractical to have more than one car on the road. At least it was running though. She looked up at the sky and studied the stars. She could make out the usual constellations that they taught in grade school and event the ones that she made up with stories. Well not all of them were made up but still…

"I thought I said something about turning in."

Angela gave a slight grin. Not looking at the person who spoke to her she continued to gaze at the sky and replied, "And I may have said somewhere before that I'm the bossy one."

Dean couldn't help but chuckle. After he and Sam did their verbal spat, they wound down for the night so they could take off in the morning. He waited until Sam was out before going to find Angela. He knew just like Sam that her idea of winding down was to sit and star gaze. He first looked for her on the Impala but then he spotted her on the Camaro and grinned. She was just giving the car a fair shake since she had been sitting on the Impala. He leaned against the car and replied, "You are the bossy one but occasionally you need to be bossed around yourself."

"Aw… I didn't know you cared," Angela replied teasing.

"I don't since I think you are reckless, you like to annoy me with your verbal wit, you give Samantha and Bobby heart attacks so no I don't care," Dean replied in the same teasing manner. He sobered it though and sighed, "Sorry I put you in the spot with Bobby but I know you like to hide your own injuries to the point where we have to snoop."

"I'm sorry too Dean. I just think often that my little hurts are not important. Not when my two favorite hunters get hurt or sick or just plain bored."

"Didn't know you liked us that much. Must be my charm and looks right?"

"In your dreams Dean Winchester," Angela replied giving Dean a pinch on the cheek with her good hand. She laughed at the scowl it produced but it was gone quickly when he started laughing with her.

The laughter lasted a few minutes before Angela asked, "So you come to join me?"

"Actually I wanted to ask you something Angie," Dean replied giving his feet a slight shuffle. "I got a call from Haley the other day."

"I was there. So she asked you if you were in town?"

Dean gave a weak grin at that. He replied, "Not exactly." He paused a moment trying to figure out what to say next. He looked to see that Angela had stopped looking up at the sky and had given her full attention to him even though she looked ridiculous in the oversized hoodie she was wearing. Come to think of it, that hoodie was about the size of the ones that Sam wore. So his little brother was giving away his jackets now?

As much as he wanted to start ribbing her on that, Dean decided against it knowing that she wouldn't get it. Sam would say that he was making a mountain out of a molehill. So he let it drop for now. Instead he thought about his words and then deciding to hell with it and go about it the Dean Winchester way, he said, "Angie, I know that you want to help me with this deal thing and I let you because I know you know things that would work but I have to ask, does one of your methods have to do with a crossroads demon?"

Angela listened to the question. So that was what their discussion was about. Well probably not all of it but it was the part that weighed heavily on Dean's mind. She knew she had to let him in on what was going on. She wouldn't sugar coat it; he wouldn't appreciate it if she did that. She replied, "Yes, one method was to go after the demon."

"You mean the bitch that I made the deal with?"

"No," Angela replied with a rather flat expression. Her instinctively reached her left to feel for the scar on her palm but was hindered by the wrist splint. She hated that thing but she agreed to it after grossing the boys out with her setting her own bone. She explained, "I explored that option a while back. The idea was to go to the demon and make a counter offer to get the deal off. The thing is such things require a higher price to pay than a soul, especially valuable ones."

"You mean something like your soul plus something else?"

Angela thought about it for a moment in how to word it. She replied, "Yes and no. I came up with possible scenarios and the most likely would be having not only my soul but my service as hell's bitch. Having the one who wields Absolution is mighty tempting."

"You would do it though," Dean pointed out.

"I would but I couldn't hurt you, Sam, Bobby or Ellen by doing that. I value life quite a bit."

"I would think so since you've been in the same position Sam was in… you know." Dean looked at the ground for a moment before adding, "Thanks for thinking about us. And just so you know the fuss over your hand is our way of thinking about you too. You know that right?"

Angela gave a slight hum and a smile. "What can I say? I like you guys and I appreciate the gesture. Few people would bother." She gave a sigh and smiled a little before continuing, "Well since you are here asking I might as well tell you that I scrapped that option because of the price. I figured though that I would go straight to the top, the demon higher up on the pay scale. They call him the king of the crossroads."

So that was what Haley meant, Dean thought to himself. He had to know though. Haley did say that they were rumors. "What do you intend to do?"

"Track him down and have a talk with him. Killing is easy Dean. It's the more diplomatic solutions that require work," Angela replied looking at Dean. "Is that what Haley was talking to you about?"

"So you know that he knows you are looking for him… er it."

"I suspected. It's very hard to keep secret the fact that you are hunting for the king of the crossroads when you have to go through the small fry," Angela admitted. "But it is proving to be like hunting for our old friend who is now dead. He is elusive."

"Haley said that he wants you to chase after him. She asked me to not let you do that but as you've just proven, I really can't make you do anything."

Angela watched the expression unfold on Dean's face. Actually he and Sam had made her do a few things. They made her actually stop and think about the consequences of her actions before she took them. Granted it was still a work in progress given the physical state of her hands and her face. She put a hand on Dean's shoulder, "I know she's worried and beneath that no chick flick moment attitude you're worried too and I have Sam pissed at me with a devil may care attitude and avoiding the subject. If you want the honest truth, the both of you made me do something I never considered before and that was the consequences of my actions so you can't completely say you didn't make me do anything."

"Well that's a start," Dean replied. "Still that sounds risky especially if you know he wants you to do it."

"Yellow Eyes was the same way," Angela countered. "However I am pursuing the one option that while not a sure fire way of breaking the deal without serious consequences it is one of the lesser evils." When Dean looked at her with a look of suspicion she explained, "I am going to make a formal request to the higher beings. It's no guarantee but it does provide a means to counter your deal and make it so that Sam won't suffer for it." She removed her hand from Dean's shoulder and put her hands in her lap as if to debate the choices inwardly.

Dean studied Angela for a moment and replied, "So that's what has you in a twist." It was not the most eloquent for the situation but it was his way. He continued, "Angie, I'm not going to tell you to stop with the crossroad demon thing you are planning but at least promise you'll say something if you are in trouble. As to the other thing, I'm not even sure I should say anything since that is uncharted territory for me."

Angela smiled at the sensation Dean's concern was bringing. It was similar to the feeling that Ellen and Bobby's concern brought. She replied, "Dean, you know that promises mean something different to me than they do to most humans. I do promise that if I am ever in serious trouble, I will let you and Sam know about it."

Dean gave a smile. "Thanks Angie. We wouldn't have gotten this far without you."

"Laying the compliments on rather thick I see," Angela replied as she reached over on the side that Dean couldn't see. "I think this calls for something special." She returned pulling out two pieces of pie in those plastic slice containers. Both were coconut cream but with a different type of topping. She handed one to Dean and put the other on her lap.

"Pie!" Dean couldn't help but sound like a little kid saying it.

Angela laughed in response. She didn't protest when Dean helped her pop hers open and put the slice in her good hand. They sat in each other's company and munched on their pie slices. She laughed when Dean commented on the topping and she explained it to him. It led to a discussion about dressing busty beauties properly.

"Well thanks for everything."

Angela smiled at the kid A.J. as he stood there with Julie. They had come early to wish them farewell and thanks for all the help she and the boys gave. She replied, "At least things were made right. I hope things work out for you."

"Well I don't have a car for a while but I still got a ride to school and I'm not racing for a while," A.J. replied. He gave a slight nod towards Julie and a slight smile.

"Well taking a break is good. Something I'm doing for some time," Angela replied holding up her splinted wrist. "My two nags will make sure of that. Other than that I am glad you are okay. Thanks for dropping by." Then as an afterthought, Angela pulled something out of her pocket. She handed the scrap of paper to A.J. "That is a number for you to call. Just follow what they say and everything regarding the Shelby will be fine."

A.J. took the slip of paper with a slight frown. He looked at Angela who gave a slight nod. He got the feeling that she made it possible for the Shelby to be fixed. Realizing that, he tried to hand it back, "I can't accept. It's…"

"It's okay. I want to do it. A good girl like the Shelby needs to be taken care of. Think of it as me paying for the damage since I did wreck it," Angela replied. She gave a slight smile. "It's okay trust me. Just don't say anything about it okay?"

A.J. looked at the scrap of paper and then at Angela. Julie gave him a slight nudge to indicate he was to take it. "Um okay. Thank you."

The rest of the conversation was an awkward goodbye and thanks. Angela gave a slight smile as they drove away in Julie's car. Pride was a good thing but there were a few people who realized that she wanted to do it because she wanted to. At least she made it like she was paying for something she caused. She really didn't mind doing things like that but she understood how it could be read which was why she went to great lengths for it to remain anonymous.

"I'm guessing you were being generous."

"I owed it to the kid since I pretty much wrecked his car," Angela replied as she cradled her left trying to get over the discomfort of the splint. "He really came by to say thanks but I think I scared him off."

Sam gave a slight shake of his head as a slight smile crept on his face. It was like her to make light of the good things she did for people. He had yet to understand completely why that was but he did know that she had a generous nature. Since he figured out that she had a thing about letting people know she had money, he decided not to mention it. Instead he replied, "Well maybe it was the fact that you set your hand in front of him. That was a little creepy by the way but then again you've popped in dislocated joints without a problem."

Angela let out a chuckle. She rubbed the splint hating the contraption. She gave a slight pout, "Do I have to wear this thing? It's killing me."

Sam looked at the pout that formed. She was a person that didn't like her movement restricted. He was tempted to give in to the pout just to end her misery but… "Yes you do unless you want to make a stop at the hospital for a cast."

Angela kept the pout up and gave a mock punch with her good hand, "You're no fun Sam."

"Hey you agreed to it."

"Don't remind me," Angela replied laughing. She knew that Sam wouldn't cave. She might have better luck with Dean but she was willing to bet they were going to tag team on the resolve with this one. She had to try. "I had to try."

"I guess that the training session with be put on hold."

"Nope. We have until August." Angela looked off in the distance, at nothing in particular. "Always have a deadline." She sighed and looked back at Sam, "Don't worry. There are means of teaching even with a broken hand."

Sam replied, "I'm not sure if that is a good thing considering it's you."

Angela chuckled slightly. Sam had been quick at figuring out that she was creative when it came to certain things. She was certain that he figured out that she didn't necessarily have to use her hands to teach them something. Besides what she had in mind they both could do while the bones healed. A week minimum. Then she could wear a hand support if necessary. "Just you wait when we get back to Bobby's or the next case."

Sam laughed a little. He could understand why Dean would get frustrated when she dangled the string in front of him like she would a cat. He gave a sigh and asked, "So the kid will be fine now?"

At that moment Dean came out with the last of the duffles and shoved them into the trunk of the Impala. "Hey you two ready to hit the road or do we need to stop for breakfast?" He grinned mostly at Angela since she had a bigger appetite than he did.

"You're asking for it with the pie," Angela shouted back making Sam laugh a little. Just like dangling a string in front of a cat.

"You are cruel Angie," Dean retorted in good humor.

"Be prepared. I'm not that nice when it comes to training."

Dean grinned and pointed a finger at Angela. She grinned and wagged her finger back. She could expect a prank in the near future. She said to no one in particular, "Your brother will never learn."

"He has his moments. He just likes it that he has an equal."

Angela looked at Sam with a slight smile. She knew that Dean liked trading jabs as much as she did. It was that obvious. "And it's so much fun."

Sam just smiled. He sighed a little and then asked, "So everything's good here?"

"Well yes for the kid. Not so much for Nexxus. He never had any clue that he was a Chaser. Raised in a strict religious background and when the change occurred…" Angela gave a slight shrug. "Looking at it, I feel rather sorry for him. I guess I was lucky Mother thought the clergy were a bunch of sanctimonious fools but no one criticized the Church in those days. At least not openly."

"And Remington?"

"We're in the clear. Everything was cleared by a cleaning crew. Probably the same crew I called in Tennessee a few months ago. So we won't be seeing feds on our asses but we still need to be careful." Angela fished in her pockets. "Remington is a detective. He helps out hunters."

"You seem to have friends everywhere."

"Not everywhere. Just with people who think they have to repay me." Angela pulled the keys of the Camaro out of her pocket. She held them out to Sam. "You drive." When Sam didn't move to take them, she added, "Unlike Dean, I trust that you will drive her without any problems."

Sam accepted the keys and walked over to the driver side of the Camaro. He gave a scowl towards Dean who was grinning at him and got in. Angela was already settled in the passenger seat and lounging in the seat with her sunglasses on. He couldn't help but smile as he started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot to the motel and headed towards Bobby's place followed by the Impala. He had no idea what was coming next but this case put into perspective in his consideration of his relationship with Dean and his goal of breaking the deal. Glancing over at Angela, who had fallen asleep listening to the station that he had selected, he came to a few conclusions.

Sam was sure that she was on the case with Dean's deal. She didn't leave them floundering if she didn't think they could get out of a situation by themselves. He was also certain that Dean knew something and wasn't going to tell. It was a pain not knowing but whatever it was, it was probably along the lines of protecting him. That was characteristic of both of them. Whatever it was he would get to the bottom of it and that was if he survived Angela's training program. He gave a slight grin as he gunned the engine on the Camaro.

A/N: And so we come to the conclusion of Ghost Battle. Sam knows something is up but how far will he push? Who knows. Maybe we'll find out in the next adventure in Chronicles of Absolution: Chasing the Blade...