FIC: Key

[nilchance]

Title: Key
Author: nilchance
Rating: Adult
A/N: Dark Angel/Supernatural X-Over. Gen. Unstoppable force meets unmoveable object.



The water is like ice around him, a visceral burn pressing him down. He has to stay down, a good soldier stays down, but as the minutes tick past he can't help trying to surge towards the air. His lungs hitch and ache. He can see the lights above him, he's so close--

They pull him out, and he heaves in a deep breath. He's shaking.

Max stares down at him, her arms behind her back. At attention. He can see it in her face, they got to her. She's buried under their conditioning. She broke. "What's your designation, soldier?"

"Max," he pants, "don't do this."

Her mouth thins. "Maybe you shouldn't have failed."

And he's under again. It's so cold. So cold. He can feel things failing inside him. He can feel the fracture points in his head and he knows they know them, too. He could break, he could be a good soldier, it'd be easy. He could kill and kill and kill...

There's someone here with him, in the water. He knows her, her hair swirling around her face like a corona, her easy smile. Rachel comes for him out of the dark. There's something wrong with her mouth, too many teeth. She takes hold of his shoulders and pulls him down, down and down, into the dark.

He deserves this.

A horn blares outside.

Alec jerks awake to the smell of his own sweat. He's drenched in it. He has to blink a few times to focus on the crappy motel room around him, the sheets wrapped tight, the restraints around his wrists. When he pulls hard against them, they don't give and his right shoulder throbs with sick pain. The room smells like hospital without the sterility, drugs and desperation.

He stops, staring up at the water-stained ceiling. Tries to think. 2008. The bitch in that diner. Dean and Sam.

Fuck. He'd let them take him somewhere. That ranked pretty high on fucking stupid things he'd done. Granted, it was better than dying in some lousy parking lot or getting roasted, but still: it's a debt. Not good.

Alec turns his head to check the time. 4:12 pm. It'd been a couple hours since the diner. Should've healed by now, courtesy of Mother Manticore. And hey, speaking of which, what the fuck's with the bitch shooting quills and looking human? Too advanced for 2008. Secret project? White's crazy-ass snake cult?

Something else?

He can worry about it later. For now, he nudges up the dial on his hearing and catches the sound of running water from the room's bathroom. The clink-clink of someone tapping a razor on the sink. Unless Dean and Sam are crowded together in the can, which isn't likely, he's only got one of them to worry about. Better odds than expected.

Alec twists his wrist in the restraint, trying to reach the catch with his fingertips, and it rattles once. The sound ought to be under human hearing, but the sink turns off and the door opens. Alec flops, watching through his lashes as somebody steps into the room. The tread is heavy and male, the scent sharp with soap. It's not Dean and Sam. More complications.

The guy clears his throat and speaks. "You're awake."

Damn.

Alec opens his eyes, trying to look spooked. It hurts like hell to scoot away from the end of the bed, propping his back against the headboard as best he can, given that those fuckers had restrained his feet too. "Who are you? I-- I'm sorry, I don't have any money. I can get some, you can look in my wallet and take the cards, just please please don't hurt me."

The guy raises an eyebrow.

"Did..." Alec blinks, trying to summon up tears. "Did you call my parents for ransom?"

With a sigh, the guy rubs his short beard. "You gonna get this crap out of your system soon?"

Damn again. There's just enough water in his eyes to well up. Alec gulps air. "What crap? I don't--"

The guy coughs out a short, sharp laugh. He looks like he doesn't laugh much. "Pretty good, kid, but best cut it out while you're ahead. 'm not fucking stupid." Without looking away from Alec, the guy moves between him and the door and sits on the edge of the other bed. "Your ID says Alec McDowell from Muncie, Indiana. University ID from Ball State in there, too. That a fake?"

Alec takes a minute to think, slowly testing the ankle restraints. The guy watches him through dark quick eyes. He's a guy that doesn't miss much and isn't spooked by possible kidnapping charges. Friend of Dean and Sam like that guy in the trucker hat. Probably white trash, that type that has a deer decoy on the front yard. Real militia bullshit that won't hold water after the Pulse. Alec knows that kind, repressed racist assholes. Smart in a slow animal way.

New game. Rolling his good shoulder, Alec shifts a little. He's not at his best, grimy and sweaty, but he's not trying to be the guy's prom date. "Yeah, maybe. What's it to you?"

The guy shrugs, but he's still watching Alec. "You got family? Anybody looking for you?"

Alec's mind jerks immediately, guiltily, to Max. To Josh. How long would they look before figuring he's gone? Just like Max always thought, out at the first sign of hard work.

"No," he says. If it sounds raw, that's only the game. "No family."

The guy inclines his head a little. It's not pity. Understanding, maybe. Alec might regret putting the guy's teeth down his throat.

Nah.

Rolling his hips, Alec shows the guy his throat. His mouth. "Hey," he says. "Listen. Dean and Sam, this is their show. Nothing to you, right?"

All at once, the guy snaps to attention. His steady stare nearly burns, raising the hackles on Alec's neck.

"So if you unsnap these," Alec says, tugging on one of the restraints, "no big loss. I just got out while you were shaving. Not your fault." Dropping his eyes to the guy's dick, Alec lets his gaze drag back up and meets the guy's eyes again before he wets his lips. "Make it worth your while."

The guy hisses and looks away. His jaw flexes.

Miscalculation. Alec backs up, bracing to get hit. "Hey, man. Sorry. You--"

The guy makes a short, sharp gesture: shut up. Alec shuts up, watching the center of the guy's body for the punch. It's not his first choice for an escape plan, but hey, if he gets sloppy, if Alec can see an out...

Exhaling, the guy rubs a hand across his angry mouth and looks back at Alec. "What's Manticore?"

Shit. Alec feels himself freeze for a single traitorous second, but he forces himself to relax. "You tell me."

"Huh. And 494?" The guy waits a moment, then shakes his head. "Yeah, that's what I figured. You know something, this is the time to tell me. Save me some hunting."

Alec's attention twitches to the nightstand, the battered journal and the small stack of notes. With that glance, his eidetic memory scans the words and spits them out: Manticore, Rachel, Max. Alec's whole damned serial number, though the guy has it listed out a few times in a few different orders. Apparently Alec babbled government secrets in his fucking sleep.

The best thing, the right thing, would be to cap the dumb fuck in the back of his head before he starts looking. It's a mess Alec doesn't want to trail behind him.

The guy follows Alec's eyesight to the journal and smiles, humorless. Scary ass motherfucker hidden in plaid and a good old boy smile. Manticore will still eat him alive.

"Take my advice, buddy," Alec says. "Leave it the fuck alone."

With a slow nod like he's actually listening, the guy says, "Can't do that. Dean and Sam are my boys."

For a few precious seconds, Alec can pretend that the guy means that colloquially. But no, now that he's looking, he sees it: Sam's hair and intensity, Dean's build and eyes. It's a real family affair.

Must be nice, thinks a small bitter part of him, wanting anyway. Alec crushes it.

"Right," Alec says. "And where are they?"

"Out."

"Out. You're helpful." Letting his head thump back onto the pillow, Alec studies the water stains on the ceiling. "You gonna let me up?"

"In a minute. You're in a world of trouble here. You got yourself hurt by something you didn't understand. There are things outside that would tear you apart just because you look like Dean."

The wound on Alec's shoulder throbs, and he remembered the stink of cooking gas. "That sounds like my problem, not yours."

"It's my problem now. My boys have decided that you're their brother."

It's a kick in the chest, the stupidest thing Alec's heard in months. It's like coming over that last hill to find Manticore burning again.

"They're wrong," Alec says. He'll blame the edge in his voice on infection. "I'm not anybody's goddamn brother."

The guy shrugs eloquently. "Try telling them that. Doesn't matter. If anything happens to you-- they're survived enough already. I'm not cutting you loose for some demon to use to hurt my boys. Not until you know how to keep yourself alive."

"Done okay this long."

"You're not following." The guy leans forward, demands Alec's attention. "If you bolt before I say you can go, I will find you. I will drag your ass back here. We'll start all over. If whatever's hunting you doesn't get there first."

The guy, he doesn't smell quite human. Quite like anything Alec knows.

Alec wants to tell him to go fuck himself. But he's never been like Max.

"Sir," he says, letting his contempt do the insulting for him. "Yes, sir."

The guy huffs out a breath, not like it's funny, and unlocks Alec's cuffs. He's gentle about it, and if anything, Alec hates him for that more. "It's John," the guy says as he works.

"Alec."

"Yeah," John says. "I know."

Comments

[hind-sight-2020.livejournal.com]

Wow! *beams* this just makes me feel all warm and fuzzy ... in a poor Alec kind of way

"Try telling them that. Doesn't matter. If anything happens to you-- they're survived enough already. I'm not cutting you loose for some demon to use to hurt my boys." - That there, was mind blowing :D

[idiot4dean.livejournal.com]

Love it. Alec meets John a confrontation bound to have consequences. Love that Dean and Sam have decided he's their brother but John doesn't say he's their dad.

Looking forward to more.

[pekover.livejournal.com]

Very interesting! I love all the ideas Alex tries - he's not just a pretty face!

I look forward to more.

[ysbail.livejournal.com]

So Alec's a Winchester whether he wants to be or not ... that's so cool.

Now John has 3 boys to keep safe.

[surevesta.livejournal.com]

Great chapter! :)

[ratcreature]

Very cool! It's awesome to see this continued.

[needfire.livejournal.com]

Oh made my day, I adore this verse. When I first saw you take on this particular crossover I did the geekest airpunch of all time, the atmosphere and unique twists that set you apart are as skilled and sophisticated as ever. Well don't have words. Then I saw you had dated it a bare year before the 09 escape and I had a wee dance of Ben the blue lady psy transgenic Alec Dean joy. Thank you so much and so sorry for the gush.
B.

[jdsgirlbev.livejournal.com]

Excellent! Whatever 'verse you're working in, it always feels solid and right. As if you have a looking glass somewhere that allows you to actually see these alternate universes and then bring that back for us to see too.

[tabaqui]

Ah, man. Love it. John and Alec, that's just.....
*twirls*

Love this so much!

[ophite68.livejournal.com]

So happy to see another chapter in this story. I think you caught the personalities just about right.

[bathsweaver.livejournal.com]

::HAPPY SIGH::

Oh, John. After so much family has been stolen from his boys, absolutely not allowing this one person they've decided is theirs to be taken from them. So determined, and not a little scary in that determination.

♥

[serendip50.livejournal.com]

Very well begun. So cute that the boys should think Alec is their brother. And in typical John fashion he needs to bully and train the boy in the Winchester ways.lol xx

[spae.livejournal.com]

♥♥♥♥♥

*BEAMS*

[rivers-bend.livejournal.com]

I do love this verse. And thinking about what was going through john's head clocking the onceover Alec was giving him. :)

[keyweegirlie.livejournal.com]

OMG, I'm so stoked that you updated this. I love the interaction between John and Alec.

*anxious for more*
~Me

[phantomas.livejournal.com]

OH OH OHHHHH!
*flails hands*
This. THIS! John and Alec and Sam and Dean and sooo well meshed! YAY! *sits and waits for more* :D
Thank you :D

[hucknclem.livejournal.com]

Just all kinds of awesome. Not just John, not just Alec, but both! Thanks so much for that! :)

[sin-of-pride.livejournal.com]

I love your take on Alec's motivations and his thought process when faced with a threat. It rings very true to his character, the stages he goes through trying to break free and accepting the circumstances as they come. John through Alec's eyes was a scary bastard, but also very well portrayed. His determination to keep Alec safe for his boy's sake was perfect ♥ As always, love to read more of this verse.

[jellicle.livejournal.com]

That's simply awesome! More! Please!

[silentflux]

*grins* I just caught up on this series and wow - I just love how you've blended the fandoms together and left big questions for all of us. Not to mention how you've drawn the characters with just the right amount of detail and emotion :) Can't wait to see where this goes!

[lomer.livejournal.com]

I love, love, love your SPN/DA crossover. Alec is in soldier mode. He's assessing, calculating, manipulating. John's in father mode, but doesn't quite include Alec with his sons yet. And then Alec secretly wanting a family but hating that weakness in himself, and the boys claiming Alec as family... it's just so damn good!

Is this the story you were complaining was supposed to be crack but isn't being crack? Because I completely and totally approve of this turning into an epic. I would happily wallow in this fic for ages. *g*

[lomer.livejournal.com]

I re-read your crack fic post and I see that it's not this one. Unlike Alec I don't have an eidedic memory. However I still stick with my original statement, if this story became epic I'd throw you a parade in my brain. *g* There would be ponies involved and lots and lots of streamers. There could even be random Irish step dancing!

[embroiderama]

John and Alec FTW! Love this.

[gypsy-atavari.livejournal.com]

There are no words I can use to tell you just how gleeful I feel about this story. I LOVE it. Like LOVE LOVE.

Cannot wait for more. :-D

[deathangelgw.livejournal.com]

eep! poor Alec! And poor John having to deal with the bs....eeeeeeee oi vey. MORE SOON DANGIT!

[kuhekabir.livejournal.com]

i wasnt sure if you were going to write more in this verse and i am so glad to see that you did, that was an awesome update, more...?

[poisontaster]

*loves*

[niccy07.livejournal.com]

Awesome! How I miss John so much!

[atypia.livejournal.com]

"It's my problem now. My boys have decided that you're their brother."

It's a kick in the chest, the stupidest thing Alec's heard in months. It's like coming over that last hill to find Manticore burning again.

Oh god oh god oh god. I LOVE IT SO MUCH *hugs it tight*

[crimsonkitty88.livejournal.com]

EEEEEEE!!! I was just rereading this 'verse the other day and then you go and post another chapter! *squees*

LOVE IT. Especially Alec saying John doesn't smell quite human. Brilliant.

[metralha.livejournal.com]

What a nice surprise, another story on the dark angel verse! Loved it :)

[malamysza.livejournal.com]

Yay, you cross-ficced again! I loved this cautious interaction between John and Alec. And I hope for more :)

[taniapretender.livejournal.com]

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY

please tell me there is gonna be a longer verse to this !

ooh, the possibilities :D

Uhm... Some timeline would be nice ? Is this season 1 for supernatural ? I assume it is but you never know.

[lalyari.livejournal.com]

Hmm... It's 2008, Dean is back from Hell, so I guess it's Season 4 AU?

[katzb101.livejournal.com]

oooh... love this chapter.

The guy, he doesn't smell quite human. Quite like anything Alec knows.

But you know something that line *points*. Really, really worries me. :-)

[pkoceres.livejournal.com]

Eeee! *spastic flailing of utter joy*
I adore this fic and I'm so, so happy to see a new chapter. And it's completely awesome! I love the Alec vs. John battle of wills. Can't wait to see where you're going with this.

[livrelibre.livejournal.com]

Yes! I'm glad to see more of this and Alec, poor Alec, and John sizing up and circling.

[labseraph.livejournal.com]

Yes. Yes.

John meets Alec and OMG I just love this 'verse of yours. So, SO BEAUTIFUL.

*loves*

Will there be more? Please say yes.

*flutters lashes*

[faithintheboys.livejournal.com]

I liked this scene. I can't wait until Alec starts talking.

[carekogunyel.livejournal.com]

Unstoppable force meets unmovable object. Pretty much sums them up, doesn't it?

I hope you write more in this 'verse. I love the John and Alec interaction.

[maychorian.livejournal.com]

Oh, I love this. I love the badass, messed-up Winchesters and their fierce pack love, the way Dean accepts Alec because Sam does, and John will too, for their sakes. I want to know what happened to Dean and John, what hell did to them, but you're leaving enough breadcrumbs for me to put together a clue. And Alec, Alec, soldier and assassin and lost little boy who never had a family or a friend but wants them anyway but can't accept this, not yet. I love the dynamics of this and I can't wait for more.

[mre-quecky.livejournal.com]

Saw this story recced, caught up and freakin loooved it :D

Can you reply when you update?

loved it!!!

[goldie3.livejournal.com]

i totally loved it. alec is adorable, and the family dynamics is really intersting. i really want to read more, so plz plz update. oh! and i am friending u. i hope u dnt mind.

[kaylez4ever.livejournal.com]

I like the crossover of these two series. Kinda interesting to see a skewed version of Dean, with all the attitude but a different take on the Winchester dynamics.
I tried to click on the link for this verse and couldn't connect.

Would you mind giving me the link?
Thanks.

[dark-spn-angel.livejournal.com]

Very amusing to have Alec's first conversation with John like this. So how much did Alec really babble on about?

Very cool!
Sam and Dean need to come back now =D

[deans2muse.livejournal.com]

Really enjoyed this verse. Would love it if there were more? Will there be more?