My first shot at fanfiction... Let me know what you think. An alternate ending to Episode 5 in Season 1 "Blood Brothers"of Almost Human. Feedback is always appreciated (especially on dialogue formatting, I'm terrible at that...)! I'm splitting it into a couple chapters to reduce excessive length, please read on if interested. -B


The two Ethan clones gripped her arms tighter as they saw Captain Maldonado leading the still shackled Ethan Avery from the back of the tactical Police vehicle. "That's him" the sniper said from the top of their van after examining him closely through the scope; she could sense the relief in his voice.

Valerie let out a deep breath, unwilling to let herself believe that this trade would go smoothly. Somehow, she knew that the man in orange, shuffling towards her right now, was not Ethan Avery. She wasn't sure how they had done it, but every muscle in her body remained tense as she watched them approach across the field. Her heart was pounding in her ears, and the adrenaline was pumping through her veins again. I'm going to need a long nap after this is over, she thought ruefully, and I guess however this turns out I'll get one. Subtly, she tested her handcuffs and rotated her wrists, but the Ethan on her right felt the movement in her arms and shook her, growling "Stop that. You're almost free. It looks like your friends really do value your life."

"Stop talking to her!" the other Ethan snapped. They settled back into a tense silence, and began walking forward, while Valerie scanned the surroundings. Kennex and Dorian stood in front of the tactical van about 500 meters away. She wasn't sure how quickly she could sprint the distance, but with the clone sniper on the van behind her, it likely wouldn't matter. She hoped that if anything went wrong, Kennex could lay down enough cover fire for her to hit the tree line to the left that was closer to 300 meters away. I'm glad that he and the captain were willing to make the trade for—

Her thought was interrupted and her stomach plummeted as the Ethan to her left stepped on a stick. The loud SNAP scared some birds into the air, and they flew right through the Captain and Avery. Her mind barely had the time to comprehend that what she was seeing was a hologram when she heard Kennex bellow "NOW!"

While the Ethans gaped and struggled with the truth, Valerie drove her elbow into the stomach of the clone on her right, and then brought up her clasped fists to slam the other in the face. She kicked his legs out from under him and sprinted towards Kennex, completely forgetting her plan to head for the trees. She was so wrapped up that she had taken a good 5 or 6 strides before she heard Kennex's gunfire. She thought I hope he got the sniper—right before she felt the impact below her right shoulder blade. As she fell she saw something rush past her. Dorian? The thought fleeted through her mind before she crashed headfirst into the ground. White lightning spread through her blackened vision from where her head had struck the rocky field. The pain in her back was intense and localized, but the adrenaline pumping through her system forced her to roll onto her back. She saw an Ethan barreling towards her, pure fury evident on his face. She reached her cuffed hands down towards her ankle and retrieved a small knife in just enough time. He fell, limp, on top of her and warm liquid leaked down her arms and onto her abdomen from the spot where the knife had buried between his ribs.

She heard a loud crash, and then saw the Ethans' van flying through the air. Then her head sank back down to the grass and she closed her eyes. She wasn't even a few seconds into her well-deserved nap when she heard Kennex's gruff voice. "STAHL! VALERIE! Talk to me!" Her eyelids sprang open and she watched the out of breath officer shift the weight of the clone off of her. "Hey," he said, placing his hand behind her head with his thumb on her cheek. Relief flooded his hazel eyes for a second as he met her eyes, but then worry clouded his face when he studied the wounds on her head. "You're bleeding." His voice got quieter and more somber as he touched her blood soaked shirt.

"That's not my blood," she said breathlessly as he examined her for a bullet wound.

Dorian's voice cut in "She's right. That blood belongs to Ethan Avery's clone." She shifted her vision above Kennex's kneeling form and watched Dorian study her as the blue circuits on his face flashed and scrolled while he computed her medical condition. She lifted herself up onto her left elbow and Kennex drew back, surprised.

"I thought you were hit" he breathed, relieved and surprised at the same time. He looked down so she wouldn't see his facial expression, and noticed the handcuffs. Kennex pulled a multi tool from his pocket and unlatched the cuffs. Valerie rubbed her wrists as she rose to a sitting position.

"She was wearing armor, but appears to have some skeletal damage, bruising, and internal bleeding from the bullet" Dorian observed. "You really shouldn't be trying to get up right now" he said with a frown, as Valerie extended her hand to Kennex for a lift.

"I'm fine," she murmured as she got to her feet and closed her eyes momentarily to stave off the dizziness, "You worry too much".

She stumbled off to the side a bit, and Kennex grabbed her arm to steady her. "Here, hold on to me," he growled, and put his arm around her waist. She slung her left arm over his shoulder and they started back to the Police van. "You are full of surprises," Kennex stated as they approached the car. A smile skittered across her lips, but was wiped away by a stab of pain from her shoulder. She tensed and sucked in a strained breath through her teeth. The adrenaline was starting to wear off, and this was about to get a hell of a lot more painful.