Chapter 10

Izhu groaned in pain as she felt the stake impale her. She could see the pointed end coming out of her chest with blood and tissue. She had been bested once again by her rival, by Shifa'. She growled as Angela approached her with a bland gaze, her hands still glowing. "Coming to gloat as I die?"

Angela looked at Izhu. Her hands were still glowing but it had softened, offering a sort of redemption but she knew Izhu wouldn't take it. Instead, she spoke the words her father had taught her when she killed an enemy. It was in Italian except for the last few words, "Rest in peace."

Izhu growled at her as the last of her breath left her. Blood was oozing out of her mouth and dripping. Angela sighed as she looked at Izhu and the breeze picked up and played with her hair and her coat. She looked up at the sky and saw the light shine through.

Wake up, Shifa'.

The words jolted her awake along with wet noses and slobber and Angela found herself lying on the ground where she had fallen. She had managed to press her hand to her neck and relieved the pressure. She looked at her body and saw the injuries from Izhu's power. She frowned a little at them as she got to her feet and started reviving all of the tribe and Dean.

Quentin was the last one she revived and she helped him up. He looked stunned by what had happened. Even though they lent their spirits to her, they could see what was going on. It would take a while to process the entire thing. She held onto him and asked in a hoarse tone, "You okay, Quentin?"

"Wha… What?" Quentin blinked as he looked around. He could see sunlight poking through when there was once darkness. His eyes grew wide as he looked to see Angela kneeling in front of him. He saw the blood dripping from her nose and the wounds to her arms.

Angela saw him looking. She was still panting but shook him off to indicate that it was okay. She put both her hands on his shoulders to hold him steady, "Quentin, the holy words." She made she had his attention before she leaned forward and whispered them into his ear.

Quentin heard the words and his eyes widened slightly. He looked at her and repeated them in a low voice. When she nodded a smile grew and she shared it. He looked around as more light filtered into the sacred land. He saw the others as they started to get up, stunned but in awe of the fact that there was no more darkness.

Angela smiled and got to her feet. It was then that she heard Moira barking and she turned in the direction of the barking. She spotted the hellion running as fast as she could towards her hunter. She sighed as a smile came across her face and she started to follow the dog.

She jogged rather than ran and paused when she caught up to Moira. The Wilder was barking and bouncing around and occasionally getting a lick in as she tried to tackle Sam. Sam was kneeling and rubbing his dog's ears all over. He looked okay but there were some bruises and a nasty scratch on his face but he was relatively unharmed. A flood of relief pulsed through her veins.

It was tempting to just run up and jump on him but she restrained herself. She took a couple of steps forward and cleared her throat to get his attention. Once she had it, she said, "Hello, Sam."

Sam made a slight face but it changed into a smile. He had woken up to find that the bound spirit was gone. The body it possessed was lying on the ground and its original owner was dead. He saw Izhu still on the ground and she was dead. Blood was pouring out through her mouth. What he had seen was real. That meant… He had gotten up and winced since his hand was still broken and he felt new sore spots all over his body but he was alive and kicking.

He went in the direction he had previously and found Moira charging at him, happy to see him. He gave her a few rubs when he heard her clear her throat and he looked up. When she said hello like she was answering the phone, he closed the distance between then and stared at her. He knew she was the real Angela but…

It gentle as she reached up and ran her fingers through his hair, caressing his head. He didn't resist when she brought his forehead to hers and breathed a sigh of relief. He reached up and caressed her hair with his hand and murmured, "Nice to see you, too."

Angela hummed a chuckle as she pulled back. She smiled as she looked at Sam and said, "Words can hardly express my relief." She sobered then and added, "I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"For getting you and Dean into this."

Sam still had his hand on her head and brought it down to caress her cheek, letting his thumb flitter across her skin. He looked her in the eye and replied, "Hey, not your fault. She was a jealous bitch."

"Which I should have taken care of then," Angela replied as she rested her arms on his shoulders. "But I didn't."

"You did take care of it." Sam looked at her firmly before giving a gentle kiss on her forehead. "You fixed it."

Angela thought about contradicting him and was prepared to say something when someone said, "It was never your fault, Shifa'."

Angela pulled away from Sam to face the owner and blinked. She knew Sam was probably thinking this was way too much after everything. It was like a bad joke in reference to Star Wars but at least the blue glowing thing wasn't going on. She looked at the voice's owner and nodded, "Sigrid."

Sigrid looked at Angela and Sam. Once Izhu had died, she had sensed what had happened. The shackles that held them in the Valley were gone. They were free to cross over. The others rejoiced but she still had one more thing to do before she crossed over. She smiled, "If anything I should apologize. Izhu showed promise as a shaman but you held something more. You could be what I am and more. I thought it would be a means to protect you."

"Izhu made the choice to deal with the demon," Angela replied, "She made the deal and… my regret was not ending it then and there. My compassion…"

"Your compassion is what makes you who you are," Sigrid interrupted. "As much as you can be what others like you have become, you never cross the line. You have power but I suspect that it is only triggered for certain reasons." She gave a knowing smirk. "In either case, you have freed us. We can cross over and you have rebuilt the warriors as they once were."

"I didn't build them."

"The numbers will grow but you rebuilt what they were when you first came to us." Sigrid gave a grin knowing that it was going to take some time to process. "And you have your own band that will do great things." She gave a cursory look at Sam and watched in amusement as he blushed. She added, "And I suspect you'll discover a few things."

Angela gave a slight look and shook her head. She made to pull off Sigrid's ring and held it up. "Who do you choose?" She gestured at the tribe who was cheering and processing that they were free from the darkness.

"I already made my choice, but it will come to you."

Angela made a face as Sigrid disappeared giving the farewell salute. Angela gave a smile and returned it even though Sigrid wasn't there. She smirked since she was certain Inola had been around. They were never separated. She looked at the ring in her hand.

"So… it's yours?" Sam asked the question after clearing his throat."

Angela looked at the ring. Even though she was not technically one of them. It was Sigrid's way of saying she was and that all was forgiven. She gave a slight smile.

"You know this would be a lot more interesting if it were on a beach and you all were in bikinis. Well the women."

Angela snorted as she adjusted her arms across her chest. She watched as the tribe danced in celebration, victory and honor around the fire. It had been good that they stayed since it would have been an insult not to and it took a while to bury the bodies. While it would have been easier to let the elements take care of them, she was insistent upon showing respect for the dead. Moira and Zeppelin jumped in and dug the holes with vigor and sort of shaming the others.

Looking at the dancing she replied, "And only you would make a lewd suggestion." She turned to her companion and gave a slight smile.

Balthazar gave a slight and endearing grin and took a couple of steps forward. He hesitated and asked, "Is that lug of a guard dog around."

"Sam is somewhere and I wish you to stop calling him that." Angela narrowed her eyes at the angel as she leaned against the tree she had been watching from.

"I was referring to Dean but…" Balthazar grinned as he watched her expression. He had his fun now and it was time for him to go. "So are you done playing a holy woman?"

Angela snorted at that and it turned into a chuckle. She gave a slight smile. She knew what the angel did when she was in hell since Dean filled her in but she was reserving judgment and so far he was proving to be somewhat of a friendly. She replied, "I'm not a holy woman." She shook her head and looked at the camp. "Never was. Just happened to drop in and was shown the ropes." She looked at the angel as if to dare him to challenge that.

Balthazar studied her and replied, "You seemed to have done that a lot. Dropping in and learning a thing or two. Ever considered the why?"

"All the time."

Balthazar nodded in approval, "Well, I for one, figured that it had to do with the fact that you never ask for anything in return. You are quick to turn down honors that you rightfully deserve."

"Earned it, maybe. Deserve… no." Angela shook her head to emphasize the point. "I don't deserve it because in the end I am what I am. A creature of darkness that chose the light and somehow manages to lose everything important to me."

Balthazar hummed at that, "Hmmm. Seems to me you've been doing a pretty fair job of it. Saving people, hunting things, and still keeping what matters the most." He straightened up and crossed his arms like he was appraising her and continued, "You know, I thought you to be a lot like Michael. Dull and boring. Always dedicated to duty."

"You compare me to that asshole?"

The reply sent Balthazar chuckling. "Used to think that," he corrected. "But from the stories I heard from the garrison and the little birdies that spy on Castiel… you really aren't what you are supposed to be."

Angela assumed an injured air only in jest. "And what do you think I am supposed to be?"

"I am not getting into that since I prefer very much to stay alive."

"Wise choice." Angela smirked at that and chuckled at the grin she got in return. She studied the angel. "But really… why did you come? And don't tell me it was because of Hale." She pointed out her warning with her eyes narrowing playfully.

Balthazar studied her. He knew she was serious even if she was playing. "Because I wanted to meet you," he let out exasperated.

Angela raised her brow in suspicion as she replied, "Not really what I was expecting but continued." She made a sweeping gesture to indicate that he had the floor.

"I really wanted to meet you," Balthazar pressed but he could tell she wasn't buying it. "And I kind of wanted to make it up to Gabriel."

"Why?"

"Because."

Angela studied the angel. She could push and make the angel fess completely but she opted against it. There were some things that needed to have to be said or done on their own time. If you pushed, you could end up alienating the person or make them pissed at you. She was going to accept his answer for now but she sensed that there was something more to it.

She had always known that there was more to her rescue from hell than what Gabriel had been willing to tell her. Most details were a blur but she had the general picture of what happened. Some she remembered with clarity. Her detox and recovery was another thing marred with what she could remember and what people were willing to fill in the blanks for. She suspected that there were more people she should be thanking but it was a closed door to her and she only got peeks if someone was willing. Like they were afraid of what would happen. Sobering she pressed her fingertips together and went into thought.

Balthazar watched as she sobered and went quiet, thinking about something. It was a deep thought and a serious one from the looks of it. He didn't want to tell details but he hoped she would be smart enough to read between the lines. "Look…"

"Are you checking up on me because of what has been going on since Gabriel died?"

Balthazar paused and looked at her. He found himself staring into a pair of golden orbs that held a serious look in them. "What do you mean?"

"Please," Angela snorted, "You're not the first to show up after something major happens that everyone with a lick of sense can feel it. I know what I did when Gabriel died and I know what I've done since then. Is it because of that?"

Balthazar stared at her as she narrowed her eyes at him. He could tell the truth and say that it was partially that but mostly because he did want to make things up to his dead brother, for only giving the minimum when he needed everything. In all honesty, his curiosity didn't start until he felt that ripple of pain through the veil. By then he heard all the angels talking on the box about how the Malachi had done it again and that the veil was almost torn this time around. So… he was at a loss of what to say even though he was originally there because Haley asked him to keep an eye on things. Angela had guessed there was ulterior motive and he could either confirm or deny it. He stood there staring at those golden orbs as he pondered about what to give as his answer and pray that she wouldn't go homicidal on him.

"So you took Dean off into the woods in order to end a few centuries old curse?" Bobby looked at Angela with a raised brow. He picked up the tumbler of whiskey, "Well that sounds crazy but then again…" He took a sip from the tumbler.

"Yeah well seems like this job is nothing but crazy," Angela replied in kind as she took a sip from her own tumbler. "Since technically my kind and everything like me aren't supposed to exist according to normal people."

Bobby hummed as he studied her. He was relieved when Dean called after about a week of nothing and said that they had Sam and were heading back for some R&R. He was fine with that even though he was still nervous about Sam. But the kid had it rough the last week since from what Dean managed to fill him in on, that Izhu bitch was one tough one; she was out for blood.

Angela sighed as she finished what was in the tumbler. She leaned on the desk and propped up her head with her hand and stared at nothing in particular. She thought about that past week and what happened. As soon as they got to Sioux Falls, Bobby laid on the questions even though Dean gave a report. Telling him allowed her to process it more.

"You know… you didn't do anything wrong going after Sam."

Angela straightened up slightly as she shifted to look at the grizzled hunter. Her lids lowered mostly because she was tired and a little bit from the alcohol. "It's never wrong when I go after him or Dean. I'd do anything for them. And that's a problem."

"I don't think so." Bobby shook his head in disagreement as he poured himself another tumbler. "Most of us are in this line of work because of somebody and usually because they are dead. You… you have people alive. That's the difference."

"And eventually something comes out to get them and all because I didn't take care of it the first time." Angela lowered her head so it was resting on her forearm. She sighed a little as she oved her tumbler towards Bobby to have him fill it again. "Think about it. This wouldn't have happened and Sam and Dean might have had their family if I just had taken care of things."

"And where would that leave you?" Bobby indulged and poured her another drink. He knew she wouldn't get drunk since he had seen her once go on a binge of nearly a whole box of whiskey a day. So she wasn't in danger of being in the middle of a drunken confession. How it would rate on her liver was anyone's guess. "You'd be alone. You'd never meet us. I wouldn't get the daughter I always wanted." When she looked at him with her heavy lidded gaze he explained, "You had nothing to do with Karen. If anything I'd be like that idjit Rufus."

Angela studied Bobby. The grizzled hunter was not big on sharing his feelings. When he did, it hit you hard and made you really stop and think. He was right though. Karen wasn't her fault. If anything Bobby still blamed himself for it since he didn't know then what he knew now and the circumstances that led to her getting possessed… "I see your point, Bobby. But I can't help but think that things would have been better if I did it right the first time. If I had actually manned up and fought and killed Izhu, then the tribe wouldn't have been condemned for as long as it had and Sam and Dean wouldn't have been a part of it."

"From the way I see it, you did what you were supposed to for once and mostly." Bobby pushed his tumbler aside and leaned in closer to look at her. "Knowing you, you wouldn't stay that way for long and you did what you always did. You helped. And this Sigrid and Inola… that was their choice."

Angela was silent as she listened to Bobby's words. She told him exactly what happened that ended with Sigrid and Inola ending up like they did and the fire that broke out in the village. She didn't tell the tribe or Sam or Dean because it had been horrifying and humbling at the same time; it was a reminder that she could do the same thing and only with the one thing that could get it to burn like it did. She felt tears prick at her eyes as she looked at Bobby, "They… used themselves to make that fire barrier. To have me and the people escape. They gave of themselves in the worst and best way possible because…"

"Because they cared about ya and I'm betting that this Sigrid loved ya," Bobby finished softly. "That's what happens with the people you meet and help. They can't help but love ya even when it doesn't go completely right."

"It scares me though, Bobby." Angela straightened up and sat against her chair back. She absently tapped her fingers on his desk. She swallowed slightly before continuing, "It scares me because I can do the same but ten times that. Don't ask me how I know. I just do and I am afraid of what it would take to get to that point."

Bobby had a few ideas and one in particular. When they got back, he watched as Sam and Angela interacted and a few things surprised him. He was all for their relationship and went so far as to play the role of father and warn Sam not to hurt her but there were a few things that didn't add up. Them having sex the first day Sam got vertical was the first clue. In between trying to decipher the book they brought back to keeping tabs for other hunters, he tried to figure out what might be the case. He had a clue and was in denial until Haley shoved a book under his nose.

It helped and while he couldn't immediately test theories, he was content with observing. He was certain that since it was his Angela, there was more to it. Listening to her, he took the plunge and prodded, "Like if something were to happen to Sam?"

"Yes."

The revelation came easier than he thought. In the past, Angela would have blushed and tried to evade. Now, it was like she accepted the truth and was tired of playing games with it. That or she was comfortable enough around them to let them really see her and it helped that she and Sam were together in every sense of the word. He offered, "And that feeling is normal when it comes to people you love. Your family."

Angela straightened up then and gave Bobby a peculiar look. Like she suspected he knew something that she had shared with someone else and had sworn to secrecy and they blabbed. It was the look of someone that was going to search out the truth. Bobby got the sense that this could turn into something bordering on violence if he wasn't careful. Not that she would hurt him but considering what he had been reading, it was better to be careful and let her do the telling.

When it seemed that she was content with whatever it was she found, she relaxed and said, "I know and understand but… it is different when you know you can escalate beyond what is… normal." She sighed and added, "Now I know why Sam compared not knowing to being slipped a mickey."

"That is different," Bobby countered immediately. He leaned forward again to look at her. "That is because there is wall preventing Sam from remembering. This… this is you fully aware that there is something different and you're making an effort to figure out what and how to deal."

"And that scares me Bobby. I thought I knew what I was capable of. I mean, the Centurion tested my limits and that is enough to scare a normal human away." Angela toyed with her tumbler a little before throwing out, "Did you know Sam tried to make me demonstrate on him?"

"Sounds like Sam," Bobby offered with a shrug, knowing that it wasn't exactly the reassurance that she wanted but he was too set in his ways to change and she wasn't going to try to change it and it seemed she didn't want to. "And I know Dean likes it when you do that sneaking thing you do. Apart from making him feel stupid."

Angela blew a slight raspberry with that. "He just likes to try and verbal spat." She couldn't help but smile at that. She absently rubbed her head, letting a few of the blonde locks fall forward. Well they weren't blonde but more of a bronze or copper. They were still bold though. She looked back up at Bobby and said, "But seriously… after feeling Gabriel die… It was like something changed. I could feel extra power at times. Some of it more emotional based or self-preservation…" She shrugged her shoulders because she didn't know. "And I feel… more connected to my soul."

"What do you mean?"

"When we charged at Izhu and when I broke the bond on Sam, it felt like a warm pulse." She frowned as she tapped her chest between her breasts. She looked down and thought about it. "And Absolution said it was about time and that was when I slapped the seal on her hilt. Now it won't come off." She looked at the desk trying to figure things out. "Like a fire, but the good kind."

Bobby listened to her absentminded thoughts carefully. He realized that what Isis had told him those years ago meant this more than what he took it to mean as the crap started rolling in with losing Dean, the Apocalypse, hell… all of it. At least she was coming to him and not trying to deal with it alone. That would have been a mess to clean up. While he wasn't an expert, he knew how to look and where. He was impressed that she had managed to actually heal Sam's broken hand and left no scars. She had been able to heal always but it took considerable effort. Now it was nothing. At this point, he needed her to feel positive about this whole thing. He offered, "And maybe it is a gift for what you've done. A reward to be what you are supposed to be."

Angela looked at the grizzled hunter with a raised brow. She started to say something when a shadow caught her eye. She blinked as she recognized who it was and willfully ignored him, "And what is that? Hero? Villain? Human? Monster?"

"Just you, Angie. Just you."

A/N: And that's a wrap folks. Looks like Angie has a discussion with Bobby on her thoughts. The road ahead looks to prove interesting as we move into 5.08 Orion's Legacy for next time on Chronicles of Absolution. Thank you to all who read and review!