ceteris paribus III: From the Past - SN/DA crossover - R - 1/2
Title: ceteris paribus
Chapter: III. From the Past
Fandom: “Supernatural”/“Dark Angel” crossover
Disclaimer: if you recognize them? They ain’t mine. I wrote this because school ain’t nearly interesting enough.
Warnings: spoilers for all of “Supernatural” and “Dark Angel.” AU for both shows. Character death.
Pairings: Dean/Sarah, Dean/Sam, Kat/Nathan(OMC), Nora/Billy(OMC), Haley/Charlie(OMC), Ben/Asher, Asher/Ben/Lucas, Ben/Alec, Alec/Ben/Asher
Rating: R
Wordcount: total-12520
Point of view: third
Dedication:
violetlily18-jeeze, girl, patience is a virtue, you know. And I expect a comment this time!
Notes: I’m sick. And twisted. And obsessed. Forgive me.
More notes: ceteris paribus is Latin and means all else remains the same.
Notes cubed: I've taken liberties with supplies in a post-Pulse world, as I believe the Winchesters would have preparations.
Yes-still more notes: I’ve also taken liberty with transgenic abilities, as I’m not too clear on what they actually are.
Heir of notes: Until Alec is named as such, he goes by “Mirror.”
Chapter one: Out of the Forest
Chapter two: Family
Towards the end of ’18, Sam and Ava had their first shared premonition. It was of Ben, they thought, fighting four people who moved just like him.
“You lost,” Ava said, looking down at the kitchen table. “They were tall, strong-”
“Pale,” cut in Sam. “And they were faster than you.”
Ben and Dean stood side-by-side, leaning against the counter. Asher stood on Ben’s other side, brushing his shoulder. Everyone else was spread throughout the kitchen.
Kat was pregnant, five months along. Billy had asked Nora to marry him. Lucas had begun courting both Asher and Ben, and they welcomed him.
“Did he die?” Asher asked hoarsely.
Without glancing up from the table, Ava nodded.
“But they didn’t have barcodes,” Sam said. He looked from Ben to Dean and back. “Does everyone from Manticore?”
Ben nodded. “It’s how they kept track of us. Every one of us has a barcode.” He tilted his head. “Are you sure the people in your dream didn’t have ‘em?”
Sam closed his eyes and thought for a moment. “Yeah,” he said, meeting Ben’s gaze. “I’m sure.”
“But they fought like me?” Ben asked, disbelieving. “Nothing fights like an X5 except an X5.”
Sam shrugged. “I can’t tell you anything but what I saw.”
“Could you tell when?” Dean asked after a few minutes of everyone staying silent.
Sam shook his head at the same time Ava said, “No.”
Asher leaned in closer to Ben. Things had changed since they first met: Ben was six one, now, same height as Dean, and Asher had stopped growing at five nine. They were both slender and light, as opposed to Lucas’ dark coloring. Lucas himself was five ten and would probably not get much taller.
Nora had blossomed into a beautiful woman with dark eyes and long, wavy dark hair, with a dusky complexion. Billy towered over her at six three, since she was only five five. Nathan topped his little brother, though, at six four and a half. They both had light brown hair and blue eyes. Kat, like Nora, was five five. Rosie and Rich were growing up swiftly; Sam had told Dean, within Ben’s hearing, that Rose reminded him more of Monica every day.
“Remember her?” Sam had asked.
“Yeah,” Dean answered. “But do we really wanna talk about the past right now?”
Sam chuckled and Ben slipped away.
-
After Ava and Sam’s announcement, Ben went back to his room and threw himself on his bed. Asher and Lucas followed, flopping on either side of him.
“We’ll take care of you,” Asher said, turning over on his side to face Ben. Lucas wrapped his arm around Ben and added, “All of us.”
Ben shifted, drawing them both closer, and inhaled, savoring their mingled scents. He closed his eyes, listening to their heartbeats. Ben tried remembering Manticore, but it seemed so distant, far away. It’d been nearly ten years and the family he’d created outside those harsh walls overshadowed his unit.
Max. He thought she might have been the most important to him, but he couldn’t even recall her face. Asher and Lucas, Dean and Sam-they replaced his unit. All of them had.
He fell asleep to Asher and Lucas’ soft whispers and steady heartbeats, to Asher’s lips on his forehead and Lucas’ on his neck.
-
In the barren cell sits a mirror image, a man completely identical to him. “Hey,” the doppelganger says.
Ben looks around. “Manticore?” he asks, shivering.
The man grins. “Like you never left, huh, 493?”
“Ben,” he retorted. “My name is Ben.”
Mirror shrugs. “Whatever.” He slips off the cot and Ben notices that he moves slowly, holding his right arm to his ribs.
“Are you hurt?” he inquires, stepping forward, concerned despite himself.
“I mouthed-off,” Mirror explains. “Told Renfro what I thought about her plan.”
Ben doesn’t recognize the name and guesses she’d been brought in after the escape. “Why the Hell would you mouth-off?”
Mirror laughs then winces. “They blame you. Say our blood is tainted. I’m the last twin alive because I’m the best, because I’ve survived every test they’ve thrown my way.”
Shuddering at the thought of whatever ‘tests’ Manticore could concoct, Ben finishes stepping close to his twin. “You should sit down if you’re wounded.”
Mirror smiles at him, a genuine smile of happiness. “Your concern is nice, Ben. Really. But I can’t. There’s too much to do.”
“I’m dreaming,” Ben says and his twin nods, walks around him to the door.
“Follow me, Benny. Lots to see, lots to do,” he calls over his shoulder. Ben hurries after him.
“Do you know Lydecker?” Ben asks, matching Mirror’s stride.
“No. I’ve heard of him, but he was demoted after your unit escaped.” Mirror turns them down a corridor.
“Do you know how many of us stayed free?”
Mirror pauses and glances at him. “Including you? Six, I think.”
Ben closes his eyes.
“Two died that night, shot at the fence. Twelve were reclaimed, shoved into reindoctranation, and sent to different facilities across the world. Five fought too hard and were put down.” Mirror reaches out with his left hand, as if to touch Ben, but then lets his hand fall. “Six were unaccounted for, I think, including you, brother.”
“Why am I here?” Ben demands, unable to decide what he should feel.
“Because I’ve been dreaming your life, Benny. It’s how I’ve managed to cling to sanity for the last eight years. Maintain my strength, I suppose you could say.”
“My life?” Ben repeats as Mirror starts them moving again.
“Every night for near on a decade,” Mirror confirms. “From that night in the snow to that bastard you killed to your boys holding you as you fell asleep.” He grins. “You’ve given me a life, Ben. And you’re out, you’re free-you can stop what they have planned.”
“They?” Mirror speeds up so Ben matches his pace.
“They thought I was out of it, too far gone. But I heard, and I remembered. I’ve been trying to reach you for months, brother.” He stops by a door and takes a deep breath, putting his hand on the knob. “I should have died that night; they did their best to kill me.” He looks at Ben, tightening his grip on the door. “You know why I didn’t?”
Ben shakes his head.
“Because Dean’s words echoed in my head. My blood stopped flowing, my heart wasn’t beating, but what Dean told you about family and love played over and over. And I wouldn’t let those bastards kill me, Ben.” He snarls something Ben doesn’t understand and repeats, “I wouldn’t.”
With rancor, Mirror shoves open the door and Ben follows him in.
-
“Aw, shit,” Ben hissed as his eyes opened.
“Ben?” Asher asked, sitting up, trying to untangle himself from Ben and Lucas.
Lucas muttered and rolled over, pulling the comforter above his head.
“I have to talk to Sam,” Ben said and flung himself off the bed. “Go back to sleep, Ash. It’s five in the morning.”
Asher groaned and flopped back down. Ben smiled and softly shut the door behind him.
-
Dean and Sam were both in the kitchen, twined around each other. Ben waited a moment for them to notice him. And waited. Finally, he cleared his throat.
Sam raised his head to look over Dean. “Ben?” he asked breathlessly.
Dean pulled away and turned, leaning back against Sam. “What’s wrong, kiddo?”
Now that he was facing them, Ben’s certainty faltered. He wasn’t a psychic-he was a genetic experiment. A government-engineered super-soldier. And he’d always had a good imagination.
“Ben?”
He looked up from the floor to meet Dean’s hazel eyes. Eyes exactly like his. The same as Mirror’s.
“I think I have a twin,” be blurted out. “In Manticore. And he’s in danger.”
Ben told them everything about the dream, everything Mirror had said, everything he could remember. His gaze drifted from Dean to the floor to around the kitchen and back to Dean again. As he spoke his voice grew stronger; deep in his bones and soul, he knew he had a brother, someone who shared his blood.
And his brother was in danger.
As he finished, he kept his eyes on Dean. After a second of silence, Dean shifted, turning his head to glance at Sam. “Could it have been the other you saw?”
Sam nodded.
Dean chuckled, almost bitterly. “Guess Manticore did still my blood.
-
For the remainder of the week, Ben was restless. He spent all his time exercising, training, trying to burn off his excess energy. Dean watched him, worrying.
“Ben, slow down,” he said, reaching out to touch his shoulder.
Ben twisted away, dropping down to do sit-ups. “Imagine you knew Sam was in danger,” Ben grated out, eyes hard, “but you didn’t know where or how, and you didn’t know when it would be too late.”
Dean stepped back. Ben paused and studied him-he was growing old. He was still in peak condition, but he had lines on his face that weren’t there when he asked if Ben had ever used a gun before, and he was a hair slower than he used to be.
Ben looked away. “Sorry,” he apologized softly. “That wasn’t fair. What Sam is to you… I’ve never even met Mirror.”
Dean dropped next to him. “Rich had an idea. It might help find where your twin is.”
“Really?” Ben almost winced at the naked hope in his voice.
“He suggested you think back to your dream and let Rosie into your head. She might be able to lock onto Mirror and then track him down in the real world.” Dean’s voice conveyed no hint about how he felt towards the plan.
Letting a little girl into his head… Ben studied his hands, turning over every possibility. No telling what all she might see…
But she already knew everything, anyway. She probably knew stuff about him before he did. And she never told anyone, never judged anyone…
“There are really people out there who want to kill Rose?” Ben asked, anger threading through the words.
“Yeah,” Dean nodded, equal anger in his tone.
Ben sighed and climbed to his feet, stretching. He offered Dean a hand and pulled him up. They stood eye to eye now and Dean chuckled. “You look exactly like I did. That is so cool.”
With a smile, Ben dropped his head. “I gotta go talk to Rose,” he said, clapping Dean on the shoulder and trotting off.
-
He stopped to see Asher, explaining what he hoped to do. Ash had been good, going with his moods, and Ben knew he had to wonder what would change if he did find Mirror and bring him home.
“He won’t replace you,” Ben whispered, threading his fingers through Asher’s long hair, resting their foreheads together. “I swear, Ash-no one could ever replace you.”
Desperately, Asher kissed him, and Ben understood-like Dean, everyone Asher ever loved left him, died on him-and Asher loved the family they’d created, but whatever had happened the night his brother died-
So Ben held him, kissed him reassuringly, murmured promises into his skin. “I’m yours, Ash, forever-I swear. Believe me.”
Asher pulled back, looked up into his eyes. “I do, Ben. I do.”
They stood together for a moment before Asher gently shoved him away. “Go see the professor,” he said, attempting a joking tone. “Find your long-lost twin.”
Ben smiled at him and bounded up the stairs, following Rosie’s scent. He hoped Asher would track Lucas down, seek comfort. The two older men were good for each other, able to relate in a way Ben still couldn’t manage.
If Dean hadn’t told him about the X-Men one night, he wouldn’t have even gotten Asher’s reference.
-
Rose was sitting on her bed, waiting for him. She’d pulled her dark hair back loosely and her brilliant green eyes were calm. “Hey, Ben,” she welcomed him, with a bright smile. She gestured to the bed in front of her. “Sit down, please.”
Almost nervously, he did, raising a hand to brush through his hair. She toned down the smile a bit and asked, “Are you sure you want to do this? I can’t promise it’ll work, that we’ll learn anything at all.”
Rosie reached out to take his hands. “And you have to be sure, Ben. You have to open your mind, lay everything bare before me.” Her mask slipped for a moment and he saw how apprehensive she was about what’d been proposed. “Ben, I’ve never done anything like this. I don’t want to hurt you.”
He smiled now, leaning down to kiss her forehead. Cupping her cheeks, he told her gently, “I have faith in you, Rose.”
Ben pulled back and said, “Now, tell me what to do.”
-
In the end, it was deceptively simple. He stretched out on her bed and she curled up against his chest. “Just breathe,” she whispered with her voice, and then he heard her in his mind. Trust me, Ben. Remember him, that place you saw. Remember… just remember…
And he fell back into Mirror’s cell.
-
“You’re back?” Mirror asks, disbelief in his voice, spread out across his face. “I thought when you were pulled away, you were gone.” Mirror has bruises on his face, down his bare chest. There are old wounds-some faded pale with time, others red and angry. Ben feels rage burning through him.
“Of course I came back.” Ben rushes across the cell and drops to his knees, lightly brushing his fingertips over the bruises, the rips in Mirror’s skin. “What did they do to you?”
Mirror tries laughing and coughs instead. “Everything they could to break me.” He attempts sitting up but falls back down, gasping as he hits the hard metal of his cot. Ben reaches out and lightly grips Mirror’s shoulder, gently raises him up and sets him against the wall. Mirror winces but makes no sound.
“If this is a dream,” Ben asks, settling next to him, “how come you’re hurt?”
Mirror goes to shrug and clearly thinks better of it. “I dunno,” he answers after a moment. He closes his eyes, shifts, tries to find a more comfortable position. He winces but, again, makes no sound.
Ben leans in as close as possible without touching, attempting to offer comfort without hurting Mirror more. Mirror sighs and barely leans in, brushing Ben’s shoulder. Ben reaches up to lightly grip his neck and Mirror’s muscles tighten but he doesn’t move.
“How long do we have until they-” Ben can’t say the words.
“Days,” Mirror says. He shifts even closer, bringing his arms up to cradle his ribs, and Ben lets go of Mirror’s neck to softly lay his arm across his shoulders. “Something happened-I don’t know what. But it made them angry and they don’t want to keep me anymore.”
Despair and rage mingle in Ben’s belly, cementing with purpose: he will get Mirror out. Nothing will keep him from saving his brother.
Nothing at all.
“I’ll get you out, Mirror,” Ben whispers. “I swear.”
Mirror doesn’t make a sound, but he lowers his head to rest in the crook between Ben’s shoulder and neck.
Ben closes his eyes and clasps his arms around his twin.
-
“Not again,” Ben snarled as his eyes shot open. Next to him, he felt Rosie stirring.
“ Seattle,” she said, sitting up and rubbing her eyes. “I’m sure of it. He’s outside of Seattle.” Ben slid off of the bed and she looked at him seriously. “If you don’t get him soon, Ben, it’ll be too late.”
-
By the end of the day, Ben, Nathan, and Charlie were packed and gone. Ben refused to risk Dean or Sam on a mission that could easily result in death, and Dean refused to let him go alone.
So they compromised. Ben let two pure humans go with him and they would follow his commands without question or hesitation.
By noon the next day they were in Washington. Ben was nervous and excited and so angry it made his teeth hurt. He hadn’t been so furious since he killed Chris. He could practically feel Mirror in his arms again, shivering and trembling, too exhausted to sleep.
Ben followed Rosie’s instructions to Manticore. The facility loomed above him-and it was like he’d never left. He was a terrified boy again, a soldier without worth or hope.
And then Mirror’s words echoed in his head-You’re back? I thought when you were pulled away, you were gone.
Ben put to use skills taught by Manticore and honed by Winchester. He got all three of them in without notice. Ben looked hard at Charlie and Nathan, commanding them, “Don’t kill anybody.”
It wasn’t concern for the doctors or officers, but rather how they’d treat the soldiers after. Ben remembered what happened when any humans were hurt in Manticore.
Once inside the walls, something tugged him along, so quickly the humans could scarcely keep up. He came across one of the doctors, who smelled like blood and family, and Ben lunged for him, tossing him against the wall.
The doctor’s eyes were wide and frightened. “How did you get out?” he gasped, flinching away.
“Where is he?” Ben demanded and the doctor realized, “You’re the twin. The one who escaped.”
Nathan and Charlie caught up, took positions on either side, keeping watch.
“What have you done to him?” Ben hissed, trying to remember why killing the spineless bastard would be a bad idea.
But the doctor clamed up. They didn’t have the time to make him talk and get Mirror out safely.
Ben turned to Nathan. “Take him to the car,” he said, throwing the bastard into Nathan’s arms. “Get him out of my sight.”
Nathan tucked his knife away and knocked the doctor’s head against the wall, then picked him up and loped down the hall.
Ben stalked the way the doctor had come, following blood and family, and feared what he would find at the end. Charlie hurried in his wake, and Ben could smell his nervousness, and-frighteningly enough-it made him smile.
-
The doors of the cells had been made with transgenics in mind, so Ben knew he couldn’t kick it down. Charlie pointed out the control that the human handlers used and Ben punched hard enough to snap it.
It made a satisfying crunching sound and the door slid open. Ben hurried in and froze-Mirror was huddled in the corner, still and silent, eyes squeezed shut. And there was blood oozing from him, blood for days, and Charlie gasped.
Slowly Ben made his way forward, dropped down just out of reach. He spoke of inane things, keeping his voice soft and calm, begging his twin to reach out to him.
And Mirror’s eyes opened, met his. “Ben?” Mirror asked, voice less than a murmur, hoarse and stilted.
“Yeah,” Ben replied, slipping forward a little more. “’m’here to bust you out.”
“Thought you’d never get here,” Mirror said, and Ben knew he was trying to make a joke but it just wasn’t funny. “Took you long enough.”
“We have to go,” Charlie cut in. “Now.”
Ben no longer cared how the soldiers would be treated, not now that he’d seen just what condition Mirror was in. He helped his brother stand and supported almost all of his weight-Mirror was entirely too thin.
“If you see anybody,” Ben told Charlie, “kill them.”
-
Mirror slept the whole way to Phoenix. Ben told Nathan to stop for nothing and they broke 80mph the entire time. Ben sat in the back, holding his brother, listening to his heartbeat and inhaling his scent. He prayed that Mirror stayed alive to Phoenix, because if he died-if he died-
Ben couldn’t even contemplate that.
The bastard doctor rode in the trunk and Ben couldn’t care less if he had enough air to breathe.
-
They hit Phoenix at midnight. Nathan carted the doctor in and Ben snarled, “Throw him in the basement.” Ben cradled Mirror in his arms and bounded up the stairs, yelling for Dean and Sarah.
The next two weeks were hectic. Ben never left Mirror’s side, and Asher rarely left his. Dean extracted from the doctor everything that had been done, though he didn’t tell Ben.
Sarah did her best for Mirror but since he wasn’t human-Ben cut her off by burying his face in Mirror’s shoulder. It was up to Mirror to live or die.
And on his fifteenth day out of Manticore, Mirror opened his huge hazel eyes and asked for breakfast. His wounds were healed and they’d been feeding him broth, and Sarah had explained to Ben that he’d been unconscious because his mind had to cope with the trauma.
Ben helped Mirror down the stairs; he was still shaky, still a bit weak, but a few more days and he’d be fine. They didn’t speak and Ben situated him at the counter, threw together a meal fit for a king.
Mirror smiled at him when Ben set the plate down. Ben settled next to him and watched him eat, stealing a bite every now and then.
“Tell me about everyone who lives here,” Mirror requested, so Ben did.
After Mirror finished breakfast, they relocated to the den and curled up together on the couch. Ben continued describing the family and finally cut himself off, saying, “You need a name.”
Mirror shrugged. “What you’ve been calling me is fine.”
Ben studied him, cataloguing the differences: Mirror’s hair was shorter and he was thinner. And that was it.
Mirror slumped against him, slipping back into healing sleep. Ben rested his chin on Mirror’s head, resolving to come up with a name worthy of his brother.
-
Mirror slept the day away and Ben stayed with him. The family bustled around them but Mirror never stirred. His heartbeat pulsed steadily beneath Ben’s hand and his breath brushed by Ben’s cheek, and he dozed now and again.
Asher kept him company some of the time, though Dean had given him a job for the day. Sarah stopped by every three hours to check on Mirror. And Rose sank into the recliner, watched them with solemn green eyes.
“He’s dreaming the best dream of his life, Ben,” she said. “That’s a priceless gift.” She smiled gently, closing her eyes. “He feels safe, warm. Loved. He’s never known that before.” She sighed in contentment, sinking back into the chair. “He’s happy, Ben.”
Ben smiled, cradling Mirror closer.
-
At dinner, Mirror got his name.
Later, Ben couldn’t even be sure what the comment was. Dean said something to Sam and Mirror butted in with a suggestion. Dean shot back with, “Don’t be a smart-a-”
And Sam cut him off with, “Aleck. Don’t be a smart aleck.” When Dean glanced at him, Sam nodded towards Rose.
Ben snorted. Not like Rosie didn’t already know every curse-word in Dean’s head, and more besides.
“Alec,” Rose said, looking at Mirror. “That’s your name.”
He met her eyes, then Ben’s, tilting his head. “Alec?” he repeated. “I like it.”
-
No one ever mistook Ben for Alec or vice versa. They carried themselves differently, spoke differently, wore different expressions.
After a few weeks, Asher pulled Ben aside and pushed him against the wall, pressed into him, kissed him hard and bruising. Ben got over his shock quickly and kissed Asher back, wrapping one arm around his torso, tangling his other hand in Asher’s hair.
“Mine,” Asher growled into Ben’s mouth, biting his lip. “You swore.”
Ben knew he’d been neglecting Ash, Lucas-even Dean. But Alec had needed him, just like Asher had when they first met. “I’m sorry,” Ben whispered, moving from Asher’s mouth to his neck. “I was trying to make him whole again.”
Asher and Alec had prowled around each other, hackles raised and teeth bared. Ben hadn’t said anything to either, hoping they’d finally make peace. But by Asher’s display, Ben knew he’d have to do something.
Ben swept Asher into his arms and carried him to their room, content to let Asher reclaim him.
-
Ben crawled out of bed a few minutes past midnight. He kissed Asher’s lips and pulled the comforter up, slipped on his pants, and padded from the room.
Alec met him in the kitchen, eyes hooded. “You were his, first,” Alec said without meeting his gaze. “I knew that from the beginning.” He sounded so weary, so defeated, it made Ben’s heart clench.
Alec’s body had fully healed but his soul was still wounded, and the only way to heal him would hurt Asher beyond recall. Ben had no idea how to explain to either of them.
Before Michael found him in the snow, life was nowhere near this complicated.
“Alec,” he breathed, swiftly moving to his brother’s side, enfolding him in a tight embrace. “Mirror,” he whispered into Alec’s neck. “I can’t lose either of you.”
Alec’s hands were warm on his back, his heartbeat loud in Ben’s ears. He closed his eyes and immersed himself in Alec’s scent, lightly nipped at Alec’s neck. “The three of us need to talk,” he gasped as Alec bit him back. “Tomorrow-today.”
“Okay,” Alec replied, digging his nails into Ben’s skin. “Whatever you say.”
-
Ben took Asher and Alec away from the house, to an old park he had first shown Asher seven years before. He walked between them and ignored both, trying to think of something to say. He’d told Dean they’d be gone most of the day, and almost asked Dean’s advice-but then Dean said, “Just tell ‘em the truth, Benny. You’re all they want. So let ‘em know you’re there for both, and I can almost guarantee it’ll work out.”
“Almost?” Ben repeated and Dean shrugged.
So Ben told them that they had to come with him and he directed the way to the park. He couldn’t think of any words adequate for what he wanted to convey, so he sank to the ground in silence and they flopped on either side. The quiet went unbroken for near on an hour before Ben asked, “Is it jealously?” He didn’t look up from running his fingers through the dirt. “Is it a lack of faith?”
Alec and Asher asked at the same time, “What?”
Ben chuckled but it was a mirthless sound. “I can’t choose. And I don’t want to. So learn to get along.” He still didn’t look up.
Asher scoffed and said, “You were mine, first.”
“Technically,” Alec cut in, “he was mine, first. Seein’ as how we’re twins and all.”
But Ben knew Alec would step back if he chose Asher. He’d stay as long as Ben let him, always waiting, but he’d stand aside.
“What about Lucas?” Asher asked. “Where’s he fit?”
Ben shrugged. “Wherever he wants. But it’s the two of you I’m worried about.”
He shot to his feet in one smooth movement and said, “I’m goin’ for a walk. I’ll return in a while.” He strode away and didn’t glance back.
-
He wandered for hours, just thinking. He remembered Manticore and his unit; he remembered being found by Michael and accepted by the Winchesters. He remembered meeting Asher.
He remembered learning of Alec and how that felt.
He couldn’t choose between them. He couldn’t imagine a life without them both, not now that he’d found them.
And that absolutely terrified him in a way nothing ever had before.
Finally the sun neared the horizon and he made his way back to them. He observed them as he walked up-no blood, on bruises, no angry expressions. They were sitting cross-legged, knee-to-knee, just looking at each other.
“We’ve come to a compromise,” Alec announced as Ben sank next to them.
Asher turned to face him. “We’ll share you.”
Ben glanced from him to Alec and back. “Well,” Ben laughed, “I’m glad for that.”
Alec lunged without warning, tackling him back. Ben reached out, grasping for Asher; when he connected with Asher’s thigh, he gripped and pulled. Asher helped him by crawling up alongside them.
“Luke’s gonna be jealous,” Ben gasped out, the happiest he’d ever been.
“Don’t care,” Asher rasped, and Alec just ripped off Ben’s shirt.
-
They returned to the house an hour after sunset, laughing and shoving and acting like the boy only Asher had ever truly been.
Lucas was reading in the den and he looked up as they tramped in. He stared hard at each of them; only Alec didn’t fidget. And then Lucas smiled.
“I wish you well,” he said softly and Ben breathed a sigh of relief.
Lucas returned to his book and Alec mentioned that he was starved. “Sarah packed up the left-overs,” Lucas told them.
Alec rushed for the kitchen, Ben on his heels, but Asher sat next to Lucas and leaned over, following along in the novel.
“I’m glad Asher has Lucas,” Ben murmured as Alec rummaged in the fridge.
“Because they’re both human?” Alec guessed, moving back with a platter of food.
“Yeah,” Ben nodded, stepping over. “They have a connection I can never make.”
Alec gave him a sympathetic smile and placed the platter on the counter, reaching out to ruffle Ben’s hair. Ben slapped at his hand and reached around him to snag a pork chop. “So, how’d ya’ll come to a compromise?” Ben asked, dodging out of Alec’s reach.
Alec shrugged. “We talked about it. There’s plenty of you to go around, so we’ll share.” He snatched the food out of Ben’s hand and gulped it down, smirking. Ben glared, though he couldn’t keep from smiling. “I’m hungry,” Alec explained, licking his fingers and picking up another chop.
Ben laughed and moved closer, claiming his own.
-
Two months after Ben broke him out of Manticore, Alec was finally back to full strength. He and Ben would race around the house, trying to see just how fast they could go in tight quarters.
Alec and Asher had discovered a shared sense of humor, something Ben was glad about. He didn’t want to be the only thing holding them together.
Kat gave birth a month-and-a-half early to a beautiful baby girl. She and Nathan named their daughter Kaitlyn Abigail.
Alec was completely enthralled with her, couldn’t be moved from her side. “She’s so little,” he whispered, touching her tiny, perfect hand, much to Kat’s amusement. Alec watched Katie with wonder, always listening for her cry, the first to respond. Nathan told him how to hold her, taught him to change her, and sometimes reclaimed his daughter before Alec was ready to let her go.
Alec would curl up with Ben and Asher on their bed and talk about Katie, tell them every single thing she had done that day, every noise and face she made. Ben carded his fingers through Alec’s hair, losing himself in his twin’s voice.
Ben had wondered if Alec would grow to care for anyone besides him, and maybe Rosie. Judging by the way he spoke of Katie, Ben no longer had to worry.
-
Four months after Alec was free, in March, he and Ben sparred for the first time. Dean, Sam, Haley, and Asher were the only audience. Ben and Alec started on opposite sides of the basement just staring at each other.
Ben hadn’t fought an equal in ten years and he looked forward to it.
Alec lunged across the space first and Ben moved to meet him. Ben lost himself in the fight, exhilarated like he hadn’t been since his own escape. He whirled around his twin, laughing, and Alec caught his wrist, knocking him off-balance. Ben grabbed Alec’s arm, spinning him around. Alec laughed and moved faster, too quick for the human eye. Ben matched him.
And next thing he knew, Ben was face-down on the floor, Alec sitting on his back.
“Shit,” Dean breathed. “Damn, I’m old.”
Sam scoffed. “You were never that good.”
Ben turned his head to look at their watchers and met Haley’s wide green eyes. She looked awed-and frightened.
“I kicked your ass,” Alec said softly, his breath tickling Ben’s ear. Ben shivered when Alec nipped at the lobe.
“You did,” Ben agreed, shoving off the ground and flipping himself over. Alec lightly settled on Ben’s torso, knees on either side.
“You’re out of practice,” Alec purred, leaning down to nuzzle Ben’s neck.
“I am,” he agreed, sliding his hand under Alec’s shirt. “Good thing you’re here, huh?”
Alec’s laughter bubbled against Ben’s skin and he barely noticed when Haley and the Winchesters left.
A moment passed and Ben paused when he heard Asher follow. But Alec whispered, “Later. Worry about him later.” And that seemed a mighty fine idea.
part 2