The Hunter and the Hunted 8/?
Title: The Hunter and the Hunted 8/?
Part 8: “In a Strange Way, I’ll Love You Forever”
Authors: art_of_mayhem and candygramme
Rated: PG for M/M interaction
Pairing: Dean Winchester/Alex Krycek
Spoilers: none
Warning: Slash
Word count: 3,760
Disclaimer: Dean and his family belong to Eric Kripke and Supernatural, and Alex belongs to Chris Carter and the X-Files. We own nothing. We are doing this for love and not money.
Author’s notes: Dean spent four years traveling with John, his father, and later on his own missions, while Sam, his brother, was at Stanford. We’ve bent time a little, and we are aware of that, but this is fiction. After Dean rescues Alex from the missile silo, our intrepid triple agent accompanies Dean on one of his missions.
The quoted song is “Strange Way,” by Steve Carlson.
The beautiful icon is by myhappyface, for which much thanks.
Part 7
Part 6
Part 5
Part 4
Part 3
Part 2
Part 1
in a strange way
i'll love you forever
cause the same thing always happens every night
i know you're just around the corner
your life out of order
and in a strange way, i'll love you forever
Dean was dressed by the time Alex finished, and he had his journal tucked inside his jacket pocket. He also had his gun at his back, in case that creature showed up again for some reason. As he straightened up and glanced over at Alex, he allowed his eyes to linger for a moment or two, taking him in, until at last he could tear his eyes away.
He headed out the door first, "Lock it," he ordered Alex, while he dug for his keys. "Coffee first," he got into the car, settling himself behind the wheel as he waited for Alex, then started her up and pulled out. "Tan? Yeah, coffee gives me that good coloring. Same color going in as coming out." He put the Impala into drive and headed for the downtown area, finding a parking space near the library, close by a little diner.
Getting out of the car, they shut the doors and headed over to the diner, "Hopefully this place has internet access. You hear anything from your boyfriends?" Dean asked as they walked in. He flashed his usual stunning smile at the sweet little girl behind the counter. "Anyone ever tell you that you bring sunshine into a rather dreary day?" he asked her, his smile loaded with charm. "Coffee, straight up."
“Make that two, please?" Alex smiled at the girl too, enjoying the effect that Dean seemed to be having on her. Increasingly it felt as though his new lover was having a similar effect on him, and as Dean smiled his widest, most seductive smile, Alex felt his chest tightening, and his body responding in ways that made him worry about how he was ever going to get through the day.
Sipping the coffee was a way to look at Dean and hide his face at the same time, and when the girl seemed to be inviting a come-on from Dean, he felt himself tighten up, start to growl, ready to move in and make her back off. The very thought that Dean might want to pick up the little barista seemed to be doing wonders for his aggressive streak. Fondling the gun Dean had loaned him, Alex sipped his coffee and ill wished her.
Dean took his cup with another of those dazzling smiles directed at the girl, along with a wink. "If the food is as good as the coffee, I might have to order some," he announced, making for one of the tables. He sat down across from Alex, then set his cup down and went over to fetch back a paper. Finally he settled himself down to drink his coffee.
Pulling his phone out, he started scanning for any received messages and gave a little, frowning sigh, because his father had not called, nor, as expected, had his brother Sam. Dean was tempted - as he had been so many times before - to call Sam, but his brother had made it all too clear to him that he didn't want any more personal contact while he was at school. The last time he had tried to talk to Sam, his brother hadn't even bothered to return the call.
Pushing those thoughts aside, Dean started looking through recent calls and spotted the number Alex had dialed the night before. He smiled at Alex and hit the button to dial the number. Dean waited to see who would pick up the phone, because as far as he was concerned, it was high time he should start getting the answers he needed. And it was gonna be fun for Dean to talk to these guys for a change.
The phone rang and rang, and just as it seemed that it would go to voicemail, someone picked up. "City morgue. You stab 'em; we slab 'em!" said the voice at the other end of the line. "Shouldn't you be out there battling the forces of good, Krycek, instead of bothering us?"
Dean looked over to Alex. Krycek? So he had lied about his name. Dean began to wonder what else Alex had lied about, even though Dean had been helping him. "Aww, did your mommy let you play with the phone?" He turned his chair slightly, so that he could see Alex better, "I'm sorry, Krycek can't come to the phone right now, but I think you will find me a lot more entertaining. I need to know what you found out about sirens."
On the other end of the phone, Byers saw the look on Langley's face and moved in closer. "What is it?" He asked in a whisper.
"Sounds like someone's got Krycek. There's a joker on the phone wanting to know what we found out about the sirens he asked us to look for, but he says that Alex can't come to the phone right now. Do you think we ought to change our number?" Langly raised his eyebrows at Byers and passed the phone over to him as he reached for it.
"Hello. My name is John Byers. Who am I speaking with, and where's Krycek?"
Dean was giving Krycek his usual, 'I discovered something and I'm not happy about it,' kind of look. He could hear the phone being transferred and concealed the grimace he would ordinarily make, because the man on the other end of the line shared the same first name as his father.
"Someone with a little more phone etiquette. How nice." Dean leaned back in his chair. "Name's Dean Winchester, and he's right here with me, enjoying a nice cup of grounds." Dean took a sip of his own. "He's been using my phone in case you wanted to know. Listen, I just need to know what you found out about sirens. I know a little about them, luring men to their deaths in boats. What I need to know is if you've got anything about a certain kind - the ones with a human head and chest but the body of a bird. Is there a way to kill them is what we really need to know?" The tone of Dean's voice had shifted and was now deadly serious.
"You gave us a tough one," murmured Byers, and his voice sounded faintly amused. "You wouldn't care to tell us why you want the information, and how you managed to get hooked up with the delightful Alex Krycek, would you?"
Dean gave a little shrug even though Byers couldn't see him, "Couldn't make it too easy on you, could I?" He shifted in his chair. "I think I have a siren on my hands, and I need to kill it before it harms any other fishermen out here. As for..." Dean paused at the name, "Krycek, I'll let him tell you all about it, if you get a chance to see him... and I manage to dislodge my boot from his ass."
Byers gave a short laugh. "As you can imagine, there isn't much in the literature about siren killing, but there are two things we did turn up, and I suppose that there might possibly be others, if we keep looking. You got a preference for scientific or mystical? You can use a silver sword that's been blessed by the gods and cut off her head, or you can cover her with sulphuric acid. Apparently either scenario will be effective. Oh, and a feather from her wing is supposed to be a powerful charm to promote good health. How's that?"
"Wait a minute, you said a feather can be used as a powerful charm? Gee boys, I think you just earned yourself some cookies." Dean watched as Alex stood at the counter.
As Dean was talking, Alex had gotten up to go and order food for the two of them, and was now returning with eggs, bacon, hashbrowns and toast. Setting Dean's plate down in front of him, he took his own seat and sat looking expectantly at Dean.
"Sulfuric acid,” continued Dean. “Okay, I can get some of that. But there is something else, ummm," Dean hesitated a moment, "Just... how good are you guys? Can you... look up someone for me?" Dean heard Alex returning with the food and looked up at him, frowning.
"You think she has some sulphuric acid behind the counter?" he asked Alex, covering the phone with his hands for a moment. "We're gonna need some, babycakes."
“Sulphuric acid?” Alex sounded completely at sea. “Why would she have sulphuric acid behind the counter? I thought the coffee was pretty damned good.” He pushed Dean’s plate towards him and gestured. “I guessed what you’d like, but hopefully there’s nothing you hate in there.”
He sat back expectantly, looking at Dean, who had returned his attention to the phone at his ear.
“Depends who you want us to look up,” said Byers, in answer to Dean’s question. “We can pretty much go anywhere in cyberspace, but you need to allow us a little time for the meatier subjects. You got someone you want a profile on? Who are you working for? You’re not a fed, if you’re hanging with Krycek.”
Dean gazed at the man across the table from him as the voice on the other end of the phone told him what he should have already known. He drew a breath, "Actually there are two people. Not sure how hard it would be to find them. First is Sam Winchester; he's my brother. He's going to school at Stanford. That one shouldn't be too hard, but the other will be a little more difficult. John Winchester's the name. Don't give this information to anyone else... Please," Dean added a little more softly. The last time I heard from my dad, he was out in Oregon. Call me back as soon as you get anything."
Dean hung up the phone and then tasted the food that Alex had brought. "We need to find some sulphuric acid, unless you know of a place were we can find a sword blessed by the gods."
"Will any gods do, or does it have to be specific ones?" Alex chuckled, "If ever I get near my safety deposit box in Arlington, I've got a katana that's supposed to have been blessed by the Shichi-Fuku-Jin - they're the seven gods of happy good fortune in Japan, but if you're looking for right now, maybe we need to go drain a couple of car batteries. That'll provide us with enough sulphuric acid to take care of the thing we saw last night, although I'm not sure how you intend to get the sulphuric acid to the critter."
Alex took a long drink of his coffee and then raised his eyes to Dean, willing him to look at him. "Hey, I've got something I need to tell you, okay?"
Dean shoved his phone back into his pocket, grabbing up his fork and starting to eat. He glanced up to Alex from under his brows and quirked one. "Water gun," he answered. "Supersoaker at the store should do the job." He started to eat again but then paused, unable to keep up his pretence of calm any longer. He leaned back, taking his cup in hand and took a long drink. "Really? Well," he set his cup down and looked at Alex with an angry, telling expression on his face. "I should say you do... Krycek."
Alex met Dean's eyes with a steady gaze, his face flushing a little, but his jaw set, as determined as he had ever been in his life. "I was going to tell you that, yes," he said, his voice quiet. "That's the name I was traveling under -Val Arntzen, and it's not entirely a lie. My Mom's maiden name was Arntzen, and Valery is my middle name. I just..." He leant forward. "I didn't know you, then."
Dean appeared to have his usual disinterested look on his face, but he suddenly pushed up and walked out of the diner. His hand caught at the bar on the door, shoving it open, and it banged open as he walked out.
Dean felt hurt and betrayed all over again, much like when his brother had walked out of the door and told him not to call. What was the problem with him and his lovers? Even Cassie had given him the brush off when he finally told her his story.
He stood there on the sidewalk, staring out into nothing, feeling like his whole life was crumbling down around him.
Sighing, Alex dropped his napkin and rose to his feet. Pointing at their table, he called to the server, "Don't clear away, we'll be right back."
Pushing through the door, he hurried to Dean's side and caught his elbow. "So what's the problem? You've got a shitload of fake IDs in the glove compartment of that car of yours, and... fuck, I don't care if your name isn't even Dean. I just care about you, not your name." He tugged the other man's elbow. "Come on, man. Come eat your breakfast and think about it. Do you trust people right away? You wouldn't, if you were me; I guarantee it."
He tugged again. "Please?" he asked, softly.
Dean glared at Alex then jerked his elbow away. "Yeah I have a shitload of IDs but I didn't lie to you about my name." He turned, placing both hands on the man's chest and shoved him back. "Bastard," he snarled at Alex, but there was hurt in those eyes. "Were you gonna just drag me along, keep that little innocent 'I'm scared' routine of yours going till I served your needs then bolt off. Run back to your little butt fucking FBI boyfriend?"
Dean stepped back, "I'll buy you a bus ticket back to Washington," he snarled, then moved in close again, getting into Alex's face. "And I never lied to you. I saw what you were like in that silo... I couldn't lie to you, and yet you lied to me. How long have you... What have you... are you now? I gave you more than my trust... Alex." He turned and started digging for his keys. "Enjoy your breakfast."
"Drag you along? I didn't drag you anywhere. We're here because you wanted to come fight the spooky critter, aren't we?" Alex gripped Dean, pulling him back. "Don't just walk out of my life, Dean. Not now... Not when I..."
He coughed, let go of Dean's arm and turned away, unwilling to let Dean see the pain on his face. "What the fuck is wrong with me?" he asked, bitterly. "Why do I always fall unerringly for the pigheaded ones?"
Turning back to Dean, Alex's eyes were bright with anger and something more. "It's quite okay, thank you. You don't have to buy me anything; I can manage perfectly fine on my own. Thanks for springing me from the black hole, though. I appreciate it."
Dean spun around, snarling, glaring at his lover. Those words cut right into him. They were words he'd wanted to say to Sam. Words he should have said to him as he stormed out the door and walked out of his life. Dean couldn't help swallowing hard.
Just like himself, Dean saw the doors slamming behind Alex's eyes. Walls snapping into place. He looked down as Alex turned from him. Fall? Did he say fall? His gut tightened even more, and he lifted his head a little to stare at Alex once again.
Dean suddenly grabbed Alex by his collar and threw him against the Impala. "Don't. Don't you say that!" He turned away suddenly, unable to hide the more than hurt look upon his face. "Why," Dean spoke softly. "Just tell me why."
For a moment, Alex's game face was in place, and darkness flickered in the back of his eyes, a precursor to violence, then, finally, he relaxed. He'd been manhandled by experts in the past; he could do this, because... because Dean was worth it. He didn't want to say goodbye to this stormy-faced boy with the sweet mouth and the weird profession.
"It's automatic in my profession," he murmured, a little sneer in his voice. "Self preservation. I didn't know you. You could've been anyone. You could've been sent to take me in. It was better you didn't know my real name." He lowered his lashes. "I was going to tell you. I... didn't expect to fall for you like this."
"Don't," Dean whispered, "Don't fall for me. I'm not worth it. Everyone I ever... loved... has left me." He looked down, "I know about the self preservation. The lying. The need for that because of what I do. Trust isn't something that can just be... tossed around too easily."
Dean averted his gaze, looking everywhere except at Alex. "Alex suits you better," he allowed after a few minutes, looking back to the door of the diner. "I... didn't expect to... fall for you either." A quick deflection. "Let's go back in, finish eating, then we can go do a little shopping."
"Good advice," said Alex, with a lop-sided smile. "Too bad it's about 48 hours too fucking late." Alex looked around them, and seeing nobody on the street he cupped the back of Dean's head and gave him a swift, bruising kiss. "Guess you might say that I'm hooked, so let's go eat the rest of our breakfast and plot how to blast the weirdo out of the sky."
Turning, he headed back to the snack bar, hoping that Dean would follow.
Dean had been turning to look back, a melancholy expression on his face, and he was taken by surprise when he felt Alex's hand upon him, pulling him close and kissing him with those all too sweet and talented lips of his. Dean wanted so much to surge back and return that bruising kiss with one of his own. Instead he had to settle for pursing his lips and then following the man back into the little diner.
He stared after the man he had fallen in love with, and who had apparently fallen for him and told him he was hooked. Dean's heart pounded. It seemed that there was actually someone who wanted him, who was giving him that warmth back, and who hadn't freaked out when he'd found out what Dean did for a living. However, Dean couldn't allow himself to get his hopes up too much. As much as he wanted it to, he knew that this wasn't going to last. His relationships never did, and that thought alone was enough to ground him once again as he headed back into the diner after Alex.
He moved back to his seat, giving a sorry little shrug and a look over at the girl behind the counter before starting to eat once again.
Alex felt oddly relieved, as if by telling Dean how he felt it had somehow liberated him. He wanted to take Dean in his arms and cling to him, because he knew - none better - just how fleeting the good times could be. If he'd been a praying man, he'd have offered up prayers that he and Dean would last as lovers, but he knew better, and the best he could hope for was to hang on to the moment and enjoy happiness while it lasted, because it would be over soon enough.
"I meant what I said, Dean," he murmured as he sat down. There was no more need to hide his feelings, no need to play it cool. He'd outed himself. "I'm in love with you. I'm sorry, if that makes you feel weird or uncomfortable, but there we are."
Dean looked up from his plate and stared at Alex again for a long moment, before looking back down at his food, "Doesn't make me uncomfortable or feel weird." His words were spoken very softly, but the meaning was there. "I feel the same way," he whispered. A leg stretched out, touching Alex under the table to give that assurance. Dean glanced up at him before taking another bite. "Let's finish up, get going. We are gonna have a hard time finding acid."
"Trust me," murmured Alex, winking. "I have a plan about that acid. We need to get a container for it, but getting it isn't going to be that tough."
He spread marmalade on his remaining toast and bit into it, smiling around it at Dean, a promise in his eyes that he couldn't voice. He caught Dean's foot between his two shins and pressed it, the touch his way of offering comfort. "There aren't too many people down at the marina this time of year. I'm sure there are batteries down there we can use, and if not, then we'll just hit the parking lots and borrow some from the cars."
Dean didn't bother looking up as he finished off his food, but his eyes flickered a little to see that smile and the promise behind those eyes. Taking the last drop of his coffee down, Dean pushed his plate away and wiped his mouth. "We'll check down at the marina first, and then make plans once we see what we can get from there."
He tossed some cash down and rose to his feet, motioning Alex to follow with his head, "Shake that ass and let’s go, slow poke." He was out the door in a trice, getting into his car and starting it so they could head to the docks.
~~~~~~~oo(O)oo~~~~~~~
End of part 8
Part 8: “In a Strange Way, I’ll Love You Forever”
Authors: art_of_mayhem and candygramme
Rated: PG for M/M interaction
Pairing: Dean Winchester/Alex Krycek
Spoilers: none
Warning: Slash
Word count: 3,760
Disclaimer: Dean and his family belong to Eric Kripke and Supernatural, and Alex belongs to Chris Carter and the X-Files. We own nothing. We are doing this for love and not money.
Author’s notes: Dean spent four years traveling with John, his father, and later on his own missions, while Sam, his brother, was at Stanford. We’ve bent time a little, and we are aware of that, but this is fiction. After Dean rescues Alex from the missile silo, our intrepid triple agent accompanies Dean on one of his missions.
The quoted song is “Strange Way,” by Steve Carlson.
The beautiful icon is by myhappyface, for which much thanks.
Part 7
Part 6
Part 5
Part 4
Part 3
Part 2
Part 1
in a strange way
i'll love you forever
cause the same thing always happens every night
i know you're just around the corner
your life out of order
and in a strange way, i'll love you forever
Dean was dressed by the time Alex finished, and he had his journal tucked inside his jacket pocket. He also had his gun at his back, in case that creature showed up again for some reason. As he straightened up and glanced over at Alex, he allowed his eyes to linger for a moment or two, taking him in, until at last he could tear his eyes away.
He headed out the door first, "Lock it," he ordered Alex, while he dug for his keys. "Coffee first," he got into the car, settling himself behind the wheel as he waited for Alex, then started her up and pulled out. "Tan? Yeah, coffee gives me that good coloring. Same color going in as coming out." He put the Impala into drive and headed for the downtown area, finding a parking space near the library, close by a little diner.
Getting out of the car, they shut the doors and headed over to the diner, "Hopefully this place has internet access. You hear anything from your boyfriends?" Dean asked as they walked in. He flashed his usual stunning smile at the sweet little girl behind the counter. "Anyone ever tell you that you bring sunshine into a rather dreary day?" he asked her, his smile loaded with charm. "Coffee, straight up."
“Make that two, please?" Alex smiled at the girl too, enjoying the effect that Dean seemed to be having on her. Increasingly it felt as though his new lover was having a similar effect on him, and as Dean smiled his widest, most seductive smile, Alex felt his chest tightening, and his body responding in ways that made him worry about how he was ever going to get through the day.
Sipping the coffee was a way to look at Dean and hide his face at the same time, and when the girl seemed to be inviting a come-on from Dean, he felt himself tighten up, start to growl, ready to move in and make her back off. The very thought that Dean might want to pick up the little barista seemed to be doing wonders for his aggressive streak. Fondling the gun Dean had loaned him, Alex sipped his coffee and ill wished her.
Dean took his cup with another of those dazzling smiles directed at the girl, along with a wink. "If the food is as good as the coffee, I might have to order some," he announced, making for one of the tables. He sat down across from Alex, then set his cup down and went over to fetch back a paper. Finally he settled himself down to drink his coffee.
Pulling his phone out, he started scanning for any received messages and gave a little, frowning sigh, because his father had not called, nor, as expected, had his brother Sam. Dean was tempted - as he had been so many times before - to call Sam, but his brother had made it all too clear to him that he didn't want any more personal contact while he was at school. The last time he had tried to talk to Sam, his brother hadn't even bothered to return the call.
Pushing those thoughts aside, Dean started looking through recent calls and spotted the number Alex had dialed the night before. He smiled at Alex and hit the button to dial the number. Dean waited to see who would pick up the phone, because as far as he was concerned, it was high time he should start getting the answers he needed. And it was gonna be fun for Dean to talk to these guys for a change.
The phone rang and rang, and just as it seemed that it would go to voicemail, someone picked up. "City morgue. You stab 'em; we slab 'em!" said the voice at the other end of the line. "Shouldn't you be out there battling the forces of good, Krycek, instead of bothering us?"
Dean looked over to Alex. Krycek? So he had lied about his name. Dean began to wonder what else Alex had lied about, even though Dean had been helping him. "Aww, did your mommy let you play with the phone?" He turned his chair slightly, so that he could see Alex better, "I'm sorry, Krycek can't come to the phone right now, but I think you will find me a lot more entertaining. I need to know what you found out about sirens."
On the other end of the phone, Byers saw the look on Langley's face and moved in closer. "What is it?" He asked in a whisper.
"Sounds like someone's got Krycek. There's a joker on the phone wanting to know what we found out about the sirens he asked us to look for, but he says that Alex can't come to the phone right now. Do you think we ought to change our number?" Langly raised his eyebrows at Byers and passed the phone over to him as he reached for it.
"Hello. My name is John Byers. Who am I speaking with, and where's Krycek?"
Dean was giving Krycek his usual, 'I discovered something and I'm not happy about it,' kind of look. He could hear the phone being transferred and concealed the grimace he would ordinarily make, because the man on the other end of the line shared the same first name as his father.
"Someone with a little more phone etiquette. How nice." Dean leaned back in his chair. "Name's Dean Winchester, and he's right here with me, enjoying a nice cup of grounds." Dean took a sip of his own. "He's been using my phone in case you wanted to know. Listen, I just need to know what you found out about sirens. I know a little about them, luring men to their deaths in boats. What I need to know is if you've got anything about a certain kind - the ones with a human head and chest but the body of a bird. Is there a way to kill them is what we really need to know?" The tone of Dean's voice had shifted and was now deadly serious.
"You gave us a tough one," murmured Byers, and his voice sounded faintly amused. "You wouldn't care to tell us why you want the information, and how you managed to get hooked up with the delightful Alex Krycek, would you?"
Dean gave a little shrug even though Byers couldn't see him, "Couldn't make it too easy on you, could I?" He shifted in his chair. "I think I have a siren on my hands, and I need to kill it before it harms any other fishermen out here. As for..." Dean paused at the name, "Krycek, I'll let him tell you all about it, if you get a chance to see him... and I manage to dislodge my boot from his ass."
Byers gave a short laugh. "As you can imagine, there isn't much in the literature about siren killing, but there are two things we did turn up, and I suppose that there might possibly be others, if we keep looking. You got a preference for scientific or mystical? You can use a silver sword that's been blessed by the gods and cut off her head, or you can cover her with sulphuric acid. Apparently either scenario will be effective. Oh, and a feather from her wing is supposed to be a powerful charm to promote good health. How's that?"
"Wait a minute, you said a feather can be used as a powerful charm? Gee boys, I think you just earned yourself some cookies." Dean watched as Alex stood at the counter.
As Dean was talking, Alex had gotten up to go and order food for the two of them, and was now returning with eggs, bacon, hashbrowns and toast. Setting Dean's plate down in front of him, he took his own seat and sat looking expectantly at Dean.
"Sulfuric acid,” continued Dean. “Okay, I can get some of that. But there is something else, ummm," Dean hesitated a moment, "Just... how good are you guys? Can you... look up someone for me?" Dean heard Alex returning with the food and looked up at him, frowning.
"You think she has some sulphuric acid behind the counter?" he asked Alex, covering the phone with his hands for a moment. "We're gonna need some, babycakes."
“Sulphuric acid?” Alex sounded completely at sea. “Why would she have sulphuric acid behind the counter? I thought the coffee was pretty damned good.” He pushed Dean’s plate towards him and gestured. “I guessed what you’d like, but hopefully there’s nothing you hate in there.”
He sat back expectantly, looking at Dean, who had returned his attention to the phone at his ear.
“Depends who you want us to look up,” said Byers, in answer to Dean’s question. “We can pretty much go anywhere in cyberspace, but you need to allow us a little time for the meatier subjects. You got someone you want a profile on? Who are you working for? You’re not a fed, if you’re hanging with Krycek.”
Dean gazed at the man across the table from him as the voice on the other end of the phone told him what he should have already known. He drew a breath, "Actually there are two people. Not sure how hard it would be to find them. First is Sam Winchester; he's my brother. He's going to school at Stanford. That one shouldn't be too hard, but the other will be a little more difficult. John Winchester's the name. Don't give this information to anyone else... Please," Dean added a little more softly. The last time I heard from my dad, he was out in Oregon. Call me back as soon as you get anything."
Dean hung up the phone and then tasted the food that Alex had brought. "We need to find some sulphuric acid, unless you know of a place were we can find a sword blessed by the gods."
"Will any gods do, or does it have to be specific ones?" Alex chuckled, "If ever I get near my safety deposit box in Arlington, I've got a katana that's supposed to have been blessed by the Shichi-Fuku-Jin - they're the seven gods of happy good fortune in Japan, but if you're looking for right now, maybe we need to go drain a couple of car batteries. That'll provide us with enough sulphuric acid to take care of the thing we saw last night, although I'm not sure how you intend to get the sulphuric acid to the critter."
Alex took a long drink of his coffee and then raised his eyes to Dean, willing him to look at him. "Hey, I've got something I need to tell you, okay?"
Dean shoved his phone back into his pocket, grabbing up his fork and starting to eat. He glanced up to Alex from under his brows and quirked one. "Water gun," he answered. "Supersoaker at the store should do the job." He started to eat again but then paused, unable to keep up his pretence of calm any longer. He leaned back, taking his cup in hand and took a long drink. "Really? Well," he set his cup down and looked at Alex with an angry, telling expression on his face. "I should say you do... Krycek."
Alex met Dean's eyes with a steady gaze, his face flushing a little, but his jaw set, as determined as he had ever been in his life. "I was going to tell you that, yes," he said, his voice quiet. "That's the name I was traveling under -Val Arntzen, and it's not entirely a lie. My Mom's maiden name was Arntzen, and Valery is my middle name. I just..." He leant forward. "I didn't know you, then."
Dean appeared to have his usual disinterested look on his face, but he suddenly pushed up and walked out of the diner. His hand caught at the bar on the door, shoving it open, and it banged open as he walked out.
Dean felt hurt and betrayed all over again, much like when his brother had walked out of the door and told him not to call. What was the problem with him and his lovers? Even Cassie had given him the brush off when he finally told her his story.
He stood there on the sidewalk, staring out into nothing, feeling like his whole life was crumbling down around him.
Sighing, Alex dropped his napkin and rose to his feet. Pointing at their table, he called to the server, "Don't clear away, we'll be right back."
Pushing through the door, he hurried to Dean's side and caught his elbow. "So what's the problem? You've got a shitload of fake IDs in the glove compartment of that car of yours, and... fuck, I don't care if your name isn't even Dean. I just care about you, not your name." He tugged the other man's elbow. "Come on, man. Come eat your breakfast and think about it. Do you trust people right away? You wouldn't, if you were me; I guarantee it."
He tugged again. "Please?" he asked, softly.
Dean glared at Alex then jerked his elbow away. "Yeah I have a shitload of IDs but I didn't lie to you about my name." He turned, placing both hands on the man's chest and shoved him back. "Bastard," he snarled at Alex, but there was hurt in those eyes. "Were you gonna just drag me along, keep that little innocent 'I'm scared' routine of yours going till I served your needs then bolt off. Run back to your little butt fucking FBI boyfriend?"
Dean stepped back, "I'll buy you a bus ticket back to Washington," he snarled, then moved in close again, getting into Alex's face. "And I never lied to you. I saw what you were like in that silo... I couldn't lie to you, and yet you lied to me. How long have you... What have you... are you now? I gave you more than my trust... Alex." He turned and started digging for his keys. "Enjoy your breakfast."
"Drag you along? I didn't drag you anywhere. We're here because you wanted to come fight the spooky critter, aren't we?" Alex gripped Dean, pulling him back. "Don't just walk out of my life, Dean. Not now... Not when I..."
He coughed, let go of Dean's arm and turned away, unwilling to let Dean see the pain on his face. "What the fuck is wrong with me?" he asked, bitterly. "Why do I always fall unerringly for the pigheaded ones?"
Turning back to Dean, Alex's eyes were bright with anger and something more. "It's quite okay, thank you. You don't have to buy me anything; I can manage perfectly fine on my own. Thanks for springing me from the black hole, though. I appreciate it."
Dean spun around, snarling, glaring at his lover. Those words cut right into him. They were words he'd wanted to say to Sam. Words he should have said to him as he stormed out the door and walked out of his life. Dean couldn't help swallowing hard.
Just like himself, Dean saw the doors slamming behind Alex's eyes. Walls snapping into place. He looked down as Alex turned from him. Fall? Did he say fall? His gut tightened even more, and he lifted his head a little to stare at Alex once again.
Dean suddenly grabbed Alex by his collar and threw him against the Impala. "Don't. Don't you say that!" He turned away suddenly, unable to hide the more than hurt look upon his face. "Why," Dean spoke softly. "Just tell me why."
For a moment, Alex's game face was in place, and darkness flickered in the back of his eyes, a precursor to violence, then, finally, he relaxed. He'd been manhandled by experts in the past; he could do this, because... because Dean was worth it. He didn't want to say goodbye to this stormy-faced boy with the sweet mouth and the weird profession.
"It's automatic in my profession," he murmured, a little sneer in his voice. "Self preservation. I didn't know you. You could've been anyone. You could've been sent to take me in. It was better you didn't know my real name." He lowered his lashes. "I was going to tell you. I... didn't expect to fall for you like this."
"Don't," Dean whispered, "Don't fall for me. I'm not worth it. Everyone I ever... loved... has left me." He looked down, "I know about the self preservation. The lying. The need for that because of what I do. Trust isn't something that can just be... tossed around too easily."
Dean averted his gaze, looking everywhere except at Alex. "Alex suits you better," he allowed after a few minutes, looking back to the door of the diner. "I... didn't expect to... fall for you either." A quick deflection. "Let's go back in, finish eating, then we can go do a little shopping."
"Good advice," said Alex, with a lop-sided smile. "Too bad it's about 48 hours too fucking late." Alex looked around them, and seeing nobody on the street he cupped the back of Dean's head and gave him a swift, bruising kiss. "Guess you might say that I'm hooked, so let's go eat the rest of our breakfast and plot how to blast the weirdo out of the sky."
Turning, he headed back to the snack bar, hoping that Dean would follow.
Dean had been turning to look back, a melancholy expression on his face, and he was taken by surprise when he felt Alex's hand upon him, pulling him close and kissing him with those all too sweet and talented lips of his. Dean wanted so much to surge back and return that bruising kiss with one of his own. Instead he had to settle for pursing his lips and then following the man back into the little diner.
He stared after the man he had fallen in love with, and who had apparently fallen for him and told him he was hooked. Dean's heart pounded. It seemed that there was actually someone who wanted him, who was giving him that warmth back, and who hadn't freaked out when he'd found out what Dean did for a living. However, Dean couldn't allow himself to get his hopes up too much. As much as he wanted it to, he knew that this wasn't going to last. His relationships never did, and that thought alone was enough to ground him once again as he headed back into the diner after Alex.
He moved back to his seat, giving a sorry little shrug and a look over at the girl behind the counter before starting to eat once again.
Alex felt oddly relieved, as if by telling Dean how he felt it had somehow liberated him. He wanted to take Dean in his arms and cling to him, because he knew - none better - just how fleeting the good times could be. If he'd been a praying man, he'd have offered up prayers that he and Dean would last as lovers, but he knew better, and the best he could hope for was to hang on to the moment and enjoy happiness while it lasted, because it would be over soon enough.
"I meant what I said, Dean," he murmured as he sat down. There was no more need to hide his feelings, no need to play it cool. He'd outed himself. "I'm in love with you. I'm sorry, if that makes you feel weird or uncomfortable, but there we are."
Dean looked up from his plate and stared at Alex again for a long moment, before looking back down at his food, "Doesn't make me uncomfortable or feel weird." His words were spoken very softly, but the meaning was there. "I feel the same way," he whispered. A leg stretched out, touching Alex under the table to give that assurance. Dean glanced up at him before taking another bite. "Let's finish up, get going. We are gonna have a hard time finding acid."
"Trust me," murmured Alex, winking. "I have a plan about that acid. We need to get a container for it, but getting it isn't going to be that tough."
He spread marmalade on his remaining toast and bit into it, smiling around it at Dean, a promise in his eyes that he couldn't voice. He caught Dean's foot between his two shins and pressed it, the touch his way of offering comfort. "There aren't too many people down at the marina this time of year. I'm sure there are batteries down there we can use, and if not, then we'll just hit the parking lots and borrow some from the cars."
Dean didn't bother looking up as he finished off his food, but his eyes flickered a little to see that smile and the promise behind those eyes. Taking the last drop of his coffee down, Dean pushed his plate away and wiped his mouth. "We'll check down at the marina first, and then make plans once we see what we can get from there."
He tossed some cash down and rose to his feet, motioning Alex to follow with his head, "Shake that ass and let’s go, slow poke." He was out the door in a trice, getting into his car and starting it so they could head to the docks.
~~~~~~~oo(O)oo~~~~~~~
End of part 8