Chronicles of Absolution: The Phoenix Rises... Again

Chapter 1

Monument, Colorado

Don't thank me. Lilith killed everyone. She slaughtered your precious little virgin as well as the one person capable of dealing with the bitch as well as half a dozen other people. Yeah your precious Angie is dead.

Sam looked at Dean with disbelief on their faces. She was dead? Their Angie?

So after your big speech about humanity in war, it turns out your plan was the one with the body count. Absolution knew the stakes and would have done better.

Do you know how to fight? You strike fast and you don't leave any survivors so no one can go running to tell the boss.

Sam and Dean were still staring at each other. They couldn't believe what they were hearing. She said that she needed to take care of things with Henricksen. They understood that since they saw the reaction from the guy when they caught her with them. It was just a quick chat and nothing else. It couldn't be.

Face it you dumbasses. You lost your only chance of keeping Lilith off Sam's ass. Absolution is dead.

Help me Sam…

Sam woke to find himself seated in the Impala in the passenger seat where he had dozed off. He rubbed his face trying to shake the sleep from his eyes. He hadn't slept well at all since getting the news from Ruby about Angela and he knew Dean hadn't either. It was like being in a state of disbelief and he was having trouble believing it. He looked out the window at the coroner's office.

It was probably a bad idea that they were still in town but in a way they were safe since it was claimed that the suspects for the FBI had gone up in flames too. The thing was he had to know and so did Dean. They needed some sort of proof that she was gone. When Dean pulled up at the building though, Sam suddenly felt sick about going in. It was ridiculous since he and Dean had seen and killed things that spat blood and guts out but he was being, in Dean's terms, a girl about verifying if it was her. At least Dean didn't call him out on it.

So Sam sat in the car staring ahead at nothing and trying to quell a rebellious stomach that just seemed to magically appear. He kept turning as if that would make her appear in the backseat smirking at him or even sleeping. When he saw nothing, the rock felt heavier in his stomach. He tried sleeping a little but he was plagued by that scene where Ruby laid it out on the line. He couldn't help but think of the last thing that he said to her.

"So you were thinking of leaving us out of the loop again?"

"If it means avoiding getting your hopes up and then have them be crushed because it isn't successful then yes."

"When are you going to understand that we're in this together?"

"I understand it perfectly Sam. When are you going to understand that things have a different meaning to me?"

"I don't know… maybe when you stop with the lies and secrets. It's as bad as…" He stopped himself from saying what threatened to come out.

"Go on and say it. I am as bad as the demons. Why? Because I'm from the same stock I admit it since I am a half breed freak. Besides you're asking me to get rid of four centuries worth of habits. That's not something that can be done overnight." She paused and looked at him for a moment. "Look, be pissed with me. Most people are… even ones who are somewhat friends."

"It's because you don't let them in."

"And what good is that? Let your guard down once and things are taken away. That's a fact. I gotta go. I need to talk to Henricksen about something. Tell Dean I'll be back."

That was after Ruby spilled the beans about her seeking out the demon that actually held Dean's contract and 'doing what needed to be done'. He hadn't quizzed Angela on that last part but he did quiz her on her overall plan. She told him her intentions and that she was doing it alone. He had to be an ass and accuse her of abandoning him and Dean and lying to them. She never did but of course she would argue that by not telling them was the flip side of a lie. It hurt that he never got a chance to make things right and it had him wondering if she was angry with him. Sam rested his elbow on the windowsill of the Impala and put his head in his hand. He felt the tears threaten.

Dean was in an equally bad place. It felt like he had lost Sam again but it was different and there was nothing he could do about it. After the bitch Ruby left him and Sam sitting there and drinking in the fact that she was gone, he was ready to start ripping heads off. Sam started on this weird sort of denial thing. That sure as hell didn't get them any sleep that night and they were both bleary eyed and downright irritable.

It took Sam a full hour before he asked him tentatively if they could go and check at the coroner's office. He had asked in that pitiful puppy dog way he did when he was down and near to begging. It was the sort of thing she would fall for after teasing him a bit. Dean couldn't say know but he had to know why so he asked, "Why Sam?"

"I have to be sure."

It was a simple sentence but Dean could understand the enormity of it all. True Angela had gone back to the station to talk with Henricksen but there was always the possibility that she had gotten out. Then again she wouldn't have taken so long to get a hold of them. Even if she was badly injured she would have found a way and Darby was not the best example. He replied, "Are you sure?"

"I have to know and…"

Dean didn't need to press. He wanted to know too and he knew what Sam was after. He wanted her necklace back if only to keep it safe. He admitted that he felt the same about the cheap watch her had gotten her but by sheer dumb luck an all the crap that they had been through, it hadn't been broken. Maybe it was a sign about her and… "Alright Sam."

So now he was in the coroner's office pretending to be an investigator and inquire about the bodies. He didn't even tease Sam when his brother suddenly felt sick about going in. That would have been cruel. It was a bit of a sore spot to find that while the vast majority had been identified, there were some that had been burned beyond recognition. Dean knew that requesting to take a look would be pointless so… he put on a brave face and tried to damp down any fears that cropped up and asked the assistant, "What about the personal effects?"

"Well we found items from four separate individuals but we only have three bodies," the assistant replied. He showed Dean towards the room where they had them and laid them out in their individual plastic bags.

Dean looked through them starting at one. Each bag had him feel a little bit better. It sort of lifted his hopes that she might have gotten away. When he got to the last one, he felt his heart drop into his stomach. He picked up the bag and looked at it. The damn thing was still working. It was a cruel joke. It had to be. That thing in the bag was not that cheap watch he bought for her birthday.

There was no denying it. The thing in the bag was her watch. He hated to ask but he inquired if there was anything else like a pendant of something. If the assistant thought it was a peculiar question to ask, he didn't say anything. To Dean though, not finding it was like standing on the edge of a sword or something. It could make or break Sam.

Somehow he managed to snake the watch under the cover of it being part of an investigation. Dean managed to convey the idea that it belonged to an agent working undercover. It was a piss poor snow job but it worked and he pocketed the bag in his jacket pocket. He hightailed it out of there, not wanting to be there a minute longer since he was still paranoid about getting recognized even though the new declared him and Sam dead.

On the way in, he saw a new body being wheeled in. One of the assistants was saying that she had been found by the side of the road. He was marveling that it was strange since she had no markings, no abrasions. There was nothing to indicate that someone had done anything to her. It was like she dropped dead. That stopped Dean in his tracks.

It was a long shot but Dean knew that people don't just drop dead for no apparent reason. He glanced out to see Sam looking like he was going to puke as he was holding his head in his hand. He could do this. Putting on his best authoritative voice, he flashed his badge and demanded to take a look. What he got was the surprise of his life.

Sam meanwhile managed to alleviate some of his raw feelings by closing his eyes and for once didn't hear Ruby's voice in his head. He was startled when he heard, "Sam!"

Sam jerked upright and saw that Dean had stuck his head next to his. He would have scowled but he didn't have the heart of the energy to do so. Instead he just followed through with the questions. "What Dean? Did you…?"

Dean knew that there was no easy way to say this but he had to. "Yeah she's here Sam but she's okay. Nothing has been done to her…" He couldn't bring himself to say the word remains but he could tell that Sam understood. A look at his brother's face told him he was trying hard not to do anything that would equal ultimate chick flick moment. "Not a scratch on her."

"It doesn't matter Dean. She's gone."

"At least we can give her a proper hunter's burial. I managed to bluster them into leaving the body alone. We can break in tonight and get her out."

Sam looked forward out the windshield as if to think for a moment. It was too much to hope for and his stomach was starting to feel queasy again. Dean was right in that they had to get her out. He slowly replied, "We get her out then. Dean, no burning."

Dean was going to protest at that. Hunters got the hunter's burial which meant the funeral pyre; salt and torch so that nothing supernatural messes with the corpse. What Sam was asking… "Sam…"

"No burning. It's… not right." Sam really couldn't say why but he hoped that Dean got the hint.

Dean didn't quite understand and he hoped that Sam wasn't toying with the idea of a deal or something like that. Yet he could indulge. Maybe Bobby might know of something to protect the corpse. He nodded and replied, "Alright Sam. Tonight we get her and we book town."

Sam nodded. He couldn't say anything else as he stared out the window past Dean and at the building. She was in there and according to Dean, she was whole. That was important and she would be treated right. "Tonight."

Dean had to admit that he had no idea how Sam managed to get past the security alarm system that was supposed to protect the building from them. Then again Sam was always the smart and focused one when it came to stuff like this. He was the one that got the plans for the museum when they had to get into prison for the Folsom job and laid out the security system. He watched as Sam disabled the security with… was that her computer pad?

It seemed that Sam had learned a few tricks that he kept up his sleeve or rather she showed it to him. That had to be it and Dean couldn't help but think a few kinky thoughts about her being a thief. The idea was amusing and cheered him enough to not feel so somber when he and Sam made their way to where they kept the stiffs.

Dean was surprised at how cooperative they were when he said that her body wasn't to be autopsied. They agreed even though he blustered his way through some official bullshit and an active investigation and blah, blah. It worked and as far as he could tell, they had her listed as a pick up by the feds… if he was reading the log right. The hard part was finding the body.

It felt like one of those matching games where you had to flip the card over and try to find its match. They could have read the labels but all they would have called her was Jane Doe and at the moment there were quite a few of those. Dean was going like a mad man opening doors while Sam was just staring and looking. He stopped eventually and stared at one and moved his head in that inquisitive puppy fashion.

Dean noticed and asked, "Are you gonna help me here Sammy?"

Sam pointed and tapped the door of one that was about waist high for him. "This is the one."

Dean closed the door to the one he was holding open and walked over. "Are you sure? Did you even look?"

"No but this is the one."

"How do you know?"

Sam shrugged his shoulders in reply, "I don't know. I just know."

Dean resisted rolling the eyes. His brother was in a sensitive state right now and he suspected that they had a near fight or a fight before this and he was feeling really bad about it. It vaguely occurred to him that Sam was behaving peculiarly like she did when he died but then again he could be mistaken. He wasn't going to ride his brother's ass about that and popped open the door and pulled out the slab.

If she had been alive, she would have been amused at the beet red faces that both of them had on their faces once it was computed that she was naked under the sheet that had been laid over her. Other than that, it was hard to believe that she was dead. In fact she looked like she was asleep and one of Dean's none too subtle pokes would wake her and have her tackle them. In fact she looked rather peaceful with her features relaxed.

They stared at her for maybe three minutes before Dean cleared his throat. "How do you wanna do this?"

Sam gave a look at Dean that looked rather annoyed and the beginnings of the bitch face. He walked over to where there were some of those sheets for gurneys and put it around her before picking her up. He ignored Dean's raised brow and said, "Let's go."

Dean had to admit that Sam did the whole Tarzan/Jane thing of carrying her pretty well. He did a quick search and found her clothes. At least they weren't cut off though he felt vaguely uncomfortable about the thought of dressing her. He wasn't going to bring it up to Sam since he was sure he would eventually get to that thought all by himself.

They made it out of the building and to the Impala. Sam put her in the backseat as gently as he could. Dean pulled out one of the blankets they lifted from Ranger Georgia and put it around her. If anyone was being nosy, they would think that she was sleeping. Dean waited while Sam reset the alarms. There was no need to make anything look suspicious. Once he was in his seat and a backwards glance at their precious cargo, Dean took off for the highway. Before he did that, he gave Sam the one thing that he knew Sam would keep sake.

Sam took the necklace he bought for her and palmed it and looked at it. He gently rubbed the star before putting it in his jacket pocket. He adjusted his position and prepared to go. As reassurance, he patted his pocket.

"Where to Sammy?" Dean used the nickname to try and get more of a response out of Sam. It worked for the most part.

"Bobby?"

"That could work," Dean replied, "He would know more about what to do."

"No burning Dean."

"I get it Sam. I'll make sure he knows. Stop being a bitch."

"It's important."

Dean sighed as he drove. He was used to driving long hours and at all hours depending on how fast they needed to get out of town. Nighttime was a good time to give his baby her head. However with their precious cargo, it wouldn't do to take chances. Still he could make it in good time to Bobby's. "I get it Sam. No burning."

"Thanks… jerk."

The drive was uneventful for the most part. It seemed that maybe the Winchester luck was working in their favor for once since there were virtually no cars on the highway chosen to get them to Sioux Falls and the Singer Salvage Yard. It allowed for both boys to be alone with their thoughts even though it was hard since they knew that she was back there looking like she was asleep.

Dean could see her clearly in the rearview mirror. How many times had she done the same thing when she drove? Dean had no answer for that but it was probably enough to go cross country several times. She had watched over them like a parent and that's what it looked like if you took into account how old she was. She looked like when they had her bundled in her room in Darby. Damn, why did she have to look, and he was honest in a platonic fashion, gorgeous?

"Do you want me to call Bobby?" Sam's voice was soft but laced with pain.

Dean thought about it. He knew Bobby loved her like a daughter. Hell he let her get away with things that he would never let him or Sam get away with. The training area in the yard was one of those things that Bobby gave as well as the faint vestiges of femininity around the house. He didn't even think about calling Bobby and telling him. If she were around, she would say that they were grieving and it was understandable.

She was always so damned understanding even though her relationship ability was like a baby's. She would have kicked Ruby's ass for the things she said about war. She may have agreed and he did too about striking fast and hard but he believed in going with the best option and that meant not crossing lines. He replied, "I didn't think about it."

"I'll call then." Sam pulled out his cell phone and looked at it before flipping it open. His hand paused over the speed dial he had for Bobby. His finger hovered over the button when suddenly the Impala lurched wildly from one side of the road to the next. The tires were squealing as the brakes were being applied. "What the hell?"

Dean was willing to let Sam make the call and kept his eyes on the road. There was nothing on the road and he felt his Dean senses go slightly tingly at that. They were confirmed when someone appeared suddenly in the Impala's headlights. Not wanting to hit the guy, Dean swerved to avoid hitting him. That did little good since there appeared another guy and he swerved again. "Sonofabitch!"

The swerving ended and Sam looked around to see if there were anymore. "What was that?"

"No idea and I ain't gonna find out," Dean replied. He turned to get a quick look and then turned back to the road ahead.

Suddenly something hit the Impala. It was a hard jarring from the side. It didn't do much damage to the car except for a few scratches but it pissed Dean off. "Sonofabitch, you dare hit my baby?"

He didn't care if he didn't see who it was but he wasn't going to be pushed around. He didn't want to hurt his baby either. When whatever it was collided with him he went with it. He overcompensated and went to the side of the road. It was a steep grade and the Impala was in danger of tipping over. However they were lucky and it didn't.

Dean was pissed. He pulled out his gun that he kept in his jacket at all times and checked the load. Iron rounds but if it were flesh and blood like him or Sam, it would do the trick. If it were anything else, he was ready for it.

"Don't do anything stupid Dean."

"Shut up Sam. No one hits my baby and gets away with it," Dean replied, "No one hits my girl."

Sam understood the double meaning behind that last part. It just wasn't about the Impala. It was about her. He looked and she was still wrapped up as they put her. Surprisingly nothing happened from all the jostling. He watched as Dean got out. He'll watch his brother's back. "No one hits our girl," he whispered.

Dean got out of the car with his gun in his hand. He looked around with narrowed eyes for the thing that rammed his baby. He spotted it and while he had an appreciation for the first generation Chevy pickup, he was pissed that his baby's paint was scratched. He shouted at it, "What the hell are you doing? You think you can just get away with hitting my baby?"

Suddenly there was the sound of clicking; the familiar sound of a gun cocking. Dean turned to his right to see someone in the shadows wearing one of those dusters and he had a fricking cowboy hat on and pointing a rifle at him. While Dean had a thing for the Wild West, he was pissed and he wanted answers and he wanted them now.

The guy in the shadows spoke and it took Dean a moment to realize that it was a woman speaking, "If you had stopped the first time we wouldn't have to resort to this. We have come for Absolution."

"You ain't getting her," Dean automatically responded. He made a slight motion with his gun hand to emphasize his point.

The stranger replied, "You have no choice. It is our duty to see that Absolution gets a proper burial."

Dean heard the shotgun cock and Sam saying, "You heard my brother. You aren't taking her. She's ours." His eyes were narrowed as he pointed the shotgun at the stranger.

More guns cocked as five more strangers came out pointing handguns and rifles at Dean and most of them went towards Sam. Dean wasn't going to let that slide but he had a gun on him and he had no chance to get to Sam to protect him. The one who had been speaking and the one Dean assumed was the leader said, "As I said, you have no choice. Absolution comes with us."

"There is always a choice," a rich and wizened voice entered. All eyes turned to see a woman walking forward. She was dressed in a duster and had a hat on. In the crook of her arm rested a rifle. She had dark hair that was streaked with grey and snapping grey eyes. She continued, "There is always a choice, child. They clearly are willing to keep that which is theirs as is their right. After all Absolution belongs to all."

"What do you want old biddy?" Dean wasn't in the mood for manners.

The woman nodded and replied, "I apologize for any damage done to your car. Had I been informed we would have approached differently. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Grace and we are with the Centurion."

A/N: What a way to start a new episode. So Angie is dead and Sam and Dean are taking her back to Bobby's until they are stopped by the Centurion. Stay tuned for more on The Phoenix Rises... Again...