{Fic} This Is Just Routine {3} (Dead Zone, Johnny/OMC, Bruce/Johnny)
This is Just Routine Part Three
Clarity Scifiroots
Disclaimers apply. (A lot of dialogue is directly quoted or mimicked from the episode script.) Title from Afterhours’ “There’s Many Ways.”
Rating: FRM
SPOILERS: The entire episode of “Vanguard” specifically, all mythos leading up to it
Summary: Bruce felt uneasy from the moment he met Alex Conners.
Parts: One | Two /// Soundtrack
--- * ---
Someone called his name. Johnny... had to be him.
His head hurt like hell. Though details and coherency currently eluded him, he knew Alex was gone.
“I’m sorry, John...” he said.
It took him a minute to gather his senses and get to his feet. When his vision cleared he saw Johnny crouching on the ground, Alex’s helmet in his hands. Bruce grimaced as he moved toward his friend. He wrapped an arm around his ribs in reaction to the pain. Fuck, those guys had done a number on him.
Johnny jerked out of a vision and stood. In tense silence Johnny started searching the area, kicking at the dirt and loose gravel. Bruce kept a few steps behind him. Eventually the blonde stopped and bent over to pick up a manila envelope. Johnny paled.
“What is it?” Bruce asked. Johnny handed over the envelope. “They threatened his family.” Two candid pictures of a late middle-aged couple had been enlarged to 8” by 11” prints, clearly taken outside the house and without either person’s knowledge.
“Stillson lied,” Johnny said.
Bruce forced himself to reign in his sarcasm. “There’s a shocker for ya.”
Johnny looked at him with determination. “I have to make sure Alex is okay.”
Against his better judgment, Bruce nodded. “I’ll drive,” he said.
That Johnny made no comment about Bruce’s stiff movements and the way he held himself revealed the extent of the blonde’s preoccupation with Alex.
--- * ---
Bruce heard Johnny’s panicked shout from down the hallway and forced himself to run faster, ignore the pain just a little longer. The explosion that followed shortly after shook the floor under his feet. He knew it was too late as he came through the doorway. Johnny knelt amidst shards of glass and other debris next to Alex’s battered body.
“We need an ambulance! Now!” Johnny’s voice sounded high and pinched with fear.
A quick look around revealed a phone hanging nearby on the wall. Bruce yanked the receiver off its hook and shakily reported to the man at the other end of the line.
He didn’t want to turn around and see Johnny’s arms cradling Alex’s burned and bloody body. A person wasn’t supposed to smoke like that. Things shouldn’t have happened like this. It didn’t have to happen like this.
--- * ---
The paramedics and EMTs didn’t arrive in time. Bruce doubted there was any possibility they could have. Johnny went into shock and one of the female medics took him aside to calm him down. A couple of attendants noticed Bruce’s injuries and insisted on looking him over; he didn’t protest much. They wrapped his ribs and cleaned the handful of cuts and scrapes. The girl (she looked like a high school student, he wondered how old she was) told him to check in with a doctor right away if he noticed an increase of swelling, additional pain, or began to lose feeling. Bruce nodded in all the right places, but his attention had turned to Johnny.
--- * ---
The funeral was set for a week later. Bruce stuck with Johnny the entire time, overlooking the frustrated glances he got and the mood swings when they came. Sarah stopped by daily and always left with tears in her eyes. Johnny alternated ignoring Bruce with hiding away in a locked room or the basement.
A few days after Alex’s death Walt came over. Since Johnny had locked himself in the basement, Bruce greeted the sheriff.
“John called the other day,” Walt said, expression grim. “Talked to Sarah about it, too. She’s pretty upset. But officially the explosion’s been declared an accident.”
Bruce closed his eyes and swallowed back anger. No way would Johnny accept that.
“I can’t do anything about it,” Walt continued. Bruce opened his eyes and could read in the other man’s expression that he needed help convincing Johnny of that. “It’s private property with enough federal connections that it’s outside our jurisdiction. There’s no real evidence to press the point, either. It’s all hearsay - not that I think either of you should breathe a word of this to anyone else.”
“He’s been in enough trouble,” Bruce agreed. Since Rachel’s murder a few years ago and Johnny’s subsequent arrest, the obsession with Stillson and Armageddon had become known by too many people. Luckily no one really understood it or had made the connections, but to bring it up again (and without evidence) would raise too much suspicion.
Walt nodded. “Look, I don’t know what exactly went on. I’m not sure I want to know.” Bruce shook his head with a weak smile.
“No, you really don’t.”
“Walt.”
They turned; Johnny stood a few feet away, posture tense. Walt cast a pleading glance at Bruce. Nodding his support, Bruce moved towards the blonde while Walt started his explanation.
--- * ---
Bruce drove Johnny to the cemetery and stood at his side throughout the ceremony. He knew that Johnny had insisted on helping cover the funeral costs. The casket’s smooth wood warmed under the sun, the simple curve of its lid accented by the glittering light. Bruce stared at the coffin throughout the ceremony.
Very little of the priest’s words registered in his mind, his thoughts preoccupied by replaying the past few weeks. As much as he wished he could make things right, he knew there was nothing he could do. Nothing Johnny could do, either, although the man probably didn’t accept that right now. Bruce looked at Johnny and saw the faint trembling of the blonde’s hands, the usual sign that his pain had spiked. Instinctively he eased closer and touched his friend’s elbow. Johnny jerked his arm away in reflex, but after a quick glance at Bruce he settled back in place.
The mourners began to drift away as they laid flowers on the casket and paid their respects to the grieving parents. Bruce didn’t move until he saw Walt and Sarah turn away. Johnny straightened up and turned to the Conners. After a moment of hesitation, Bruce backed off and walked away. He stopped at the curb of the paved drive that ran through the cemetery and glanced over his shoulder. The gravesite wasn’t in view.
Parents aren’t supposed to bury their kids, Bruce thought. He closed his eyes and rubbed his temples tiredly. He didn’t know where Johnny would lead him next. He knew going after Stillson was a very likely option, one that he didn’t think would be very wise. Nevertheless, whatever Johnny decided, Bruce would follow.
--- Fin ---
Actual Notes:
I struggled with deciding where and how I'd end this. I'm a Bruce/Johnny worshipper, but I felt that creating an obvious basis for a growing relationship in this particular story would undermine the connection I wanted to portray for Alex and Johnny. I do believe I will write a sequel (at some point) that will certainly work towards a requited Johnny/Bruce.
When I finally finished the fic I decided I'd stop being pigheaded and use the spelling of "Conners" as was in the script. Still kinda bugs me, though.
I am so excited about the ficmix I gathered. I've worked on it for about a week! Took about a day for me to pick over how to do the cover design. =p The time prior that I spent narrowing down songs, matching lyrics, etc. At some point I am going to have to put an effort into making DZ fanmixes. I have tons of ideas.
Strangely enough, I can't think of anything else to say that particularly relates to this fic. I just hope you'll drop me a line to give me some feedback. I'd really like to know what you like in it and what didn't work. Suggestions of future plots? I'd love to hear 'em! (sorry, I don't care to write Johnny/Walt, Johnny/Walt/Sarah, or Johnny/Sarah.)
Final Thoughts:
I need to thank hctib_notsobfor encouraging my Dead Zone fic over the past month and especially for giving me some thoughts before I posted the final copy of the story.
Thanks also to
hidama_sky, although I have no idea when she'll read this. =) Darlin', you make school fun and get me smiling. I couldn't ask for a better friend. And thanks for contributing for the slash zine this year, I'm so excited for you. =)
Speaking of the zine, I love you Neon Rainbow Press! But, uh, where the heck is my tribber's copy? *weep* I need more Bruce/Johnny!
Clarity Scifiroots
Disclaimers apply. (A lot of dialogue is directly quoted or mimicked from the episode script.) Title from Afterhours’ “There’s Many Ways.”
Rating: FRM
SPOILERS: The entire episode of “Vanguard” specifically, all mythos leading up to it
Summary: Bruce felt uneasy from the moment he met Alex Conners.
Parts: One | Two /// Soundtrack
--- * ---
Someone called his name. Johnny... had to be him.
His head hurt like hell. Though details and coherency currently eluded him, he knew Alex was gone.
“I’m sorry, John...” he said.
It took him a minute to gather his senses and get to his feet. When his vision cleared he saw Johnny crouching on the ground, Alex’s helmet in his hands. Bruce grimaced as he moved toward his friend. He wrapped an arm around his ribs in reaction to the pain. Fuck, those guys had done a number on him.
Johnny jerked out of a vision and stood. In tense silence Johnny started searching the area, kicking at the dirt and loose gravel. Bruce kept a few steps behind him. Eventually the blonde stopped and bent over to pick up a manila envelope. Johnny paled.
“What is it?” Bruce asked. Johnny handed over the envelope. “They threatened his family.” Two candid pictures of a late middle-aged couple had been enlarged to 8” by 11” prints, clearly taken outside the house and without either person’s knowledge.
“Stillson lied,” Johnny said.
Bruce forced himself to reign in his sarcasm. “There’s a shocker for ya.”
Johnny looked at him with determination. “I have to make sure Alex is okay.”
Against his better judgment, Bruce nodded. “I’ll drive,” he said.
That Johnny made no comment about Bruce’s stiff movements and the way he held himself revealed the extent of the blonde’s preoccupation with Alex.
--- * ---
Bruce heard Johnny’s panicked shout from down the hallway and forced himself to run faster, ignore the pain just a little longer. The explosion that followed shortly after shook the floor under his feet. He knew it was too late as he came through the doorway. Johnny knelt amidst shards of glass and other debris next to Alex’s battered body.
“We need an ambulance! Now!” Johnny’s voice sounded high and pinched with fear.
A quick look around revealed a phone hanging nearby on the wall. Bruce yanked the receiver off its hook and shakily reported to the man at the other end of the line.
He didn’t want to turn around and see Johnny’s arms cradling Alex’s burned and bloody body. A person wasn’t supposed to smoke like that. Things shouldn’t have happened like this. It didn’t have to happen like this.
--- * ---
The paramedics and EMTs didn’t arrive in time. Bruce doubted there was any possibility they could have. Johnny went into shock and one of the female medics took him aside to calm him down. A couple of attendants noticed Bruce’s injuries and insisted on looking him over; he didn’t protest much. They wrapped his ribs and cleaned the handful of cuts and scrapes. The girl (she looked like a high school student, he wondered how old she was) told him to check in with a doctor right away if he noticed an increase of swelling, additional pain, or began to lose feeling. Bruce nodded in all the right places, but his attention had turned to Johnny.
--- * ---
The funeral was set for a week later. Bruce stuck with Johnny the entire time, overlooking the frustrated glances he got and the mood swings when they came. Sarah stopped by daily and always left with tears in her eyes. Johnny alternated ignoring Bruce with hiding away in a locked room or the basement.
A few days after Alex’s death Walt came over. Since Johnny had locked himself in the basement, Bruce greeted the sheriff.
“John called the other day,” Walt said, expression grim. “Talked to Sarah about it, too. She’s pretty upset. But officially the explosion’s been declared an accident.”
Bruce closed his eyes and swallowed back anger. No way would Johnny accept that.
“I can’t do anything about it,” Walt continued. Bruce opened his eyes and could read in the other man’s expression that he needed help convincing Johnny of that. “It’s private property with enough federal connections that it’s outside our jurisdiction. There’s no real evidence to press the point, either. It’s all hearsay - not that I think either of you should breathe a word of this to anyone else.”
“He’s been in enough trouble,” Bruce agreed. Since Rachel’s murder a few years ago and Johnny’s subsequent arrest, the obsession with Stillson and Armageddon had become known by too many people. Luckily no one really understood it or had made the connections, but to bring it up again (and without evidence) would raise too much suspicion.
Walt nodded. “Look, I don’t know what exactly went on. I’m not sure I want to know.” Bruce shook his head with a weak smile.
“No, you really don’t.”
“Walt.”
They turned; Johnny stood a few feet away, posture tense. Walt cast a pleading glance at Bruce. Nodding his support, Bruce moved towards the blonde while Walt started his explanation.
--- * ---
Bruce drove Johnny to the cemetery and stood at his side throughout the ceremony. He knew that Johnny had insisted on helping cover the funeral costs. The casket’s smooth wood warmed under the sun, the simple curve of its lid accented by the glittering light. Bruce stared at the coffin throughout the ceremony.
Very little of the priest’s words registered in his mind, his thoughts preoccupied by replaying the past few weeks. As much as he wished he could make things right, he knew there was nothing he could do. Nothing Johnny could do, either, although the man probably didn’t accept that right now. Bruce looked at Johnny and saw the faint trembling of the blonde’s hands, the usual sign that his pain had spiked. Instinctively he eased closer and touched his friend’s elbow. Johnny jerked his arm away in reflex, but after a quick glance at Bruce he settled back in place.
The mourners began to drift away as they laid flowers on the casket and paid their respects to the grieving parents. Bruce didn’t move until he saw Walt and Sarah turn away. Johnny straightened up and turned to the Conners. After a moment of hesitation, Bruce backed off and walked away. He stopped at the curb of the paved drive that ran through the cemetery and glanced over his shoulder. The gravesite wasn’t in view.
Parents aren’t supposed to bury their kids, Bruce thought. He closed his eyes and rubbed his temples tiredly. He didn’t know where Johnny would lead him next. He knew going after Stillson was a very likely option, one that he didn’t think would be very wise. Nevertheless, whatever Johnny decided, Bruce would follow.
--- Fin ---
Actual Notes:
I struggled with deciding where and how I'd end this. I'm a Bruce/Johnny worshipper, but I felt that creating an obvious basis for a growing relationship in this particular story would undermine the connection I wanted to portray for Alex and Johnny. I do believe I will write a sequel (at some point) that will certainly work towards a requited Johnny/Bruce.
When I finally finished the fic I decided I'd stop being pigheaded and use the spelling of "Conners" as was in the script. Still kinda bugs me, though.
I am so excited about the ficmix I gathered. I've worked on it for about a week! Took about a day for me to pick over how to do the cover design. =p The time prior that I spent narrowing down songs, matching lyrics, etc. At some point I am going to have to put an effort into making DZ fanmixes. I have tons of ideas.
Strangely enough, I can't think of anything else to say that particularly relates to this fic. I just hope you'll drop me a line to give me some feedback. I'd really like to know what you like in it and what didn't work. Suggestions of future plots? I'd love to hear 'em! (sorry, I don't care to write Johnny/Walt, Johnny/Walt/Sarah, or Johnny/Sarah.)
Final Thoughts:
I need to thank hctib_notsobfor encouraging my Dead Zone fic over the past month and especially for giving me some thoughts before I posted the final copy of the story.
Thanks also to
hidama_sky, although I have no idea when she'll read this. =) Darlin', you make school fun and get me smiling. I couldn't ask for a better friend. And thanks for contributing for the slash zine this year, I'm so excited for you. =)
Speaking of the zine, I love you Neon Rainbow Press! But, uh, where the heck is my tribber's copy? *weep* I need more Bruce/Johnny!