CROSSING THE LINE BY SENSUE
Summary: Brotherhood AU. The much requested back-story of Duran Hughes, from Ridley C. James' The Line.
Rated: PG15.
Warnings: This story contains content dealing with sensitive issues of implied sexual abuse of a minor, under-aged drinking, and the very emotional results of each that may not be appropriate for younger readers. Please be advised.
Author'sNote: This story is NOT authorized by Ridley C. James, Tidia, or Williamson Scott. It can fit within the Brotherhood AU timeline, however, this is NOT an official story in the series. I've gone off on my own on this one.
PS- I'm still working on the music video for A Noble Obligation (written by Tidia)…It's been a long work-in-progress and when you see the final product, you'll understand why it's taken me forever to complete. But, you can just watch the trailer to get inspired.
AU Characters (created by Ridley C. James): Syria Delacroix – a psychic witch who practices voodoo, makes poisoned potions, and can temporarily allow spirits to possess a part of her mind.
Duran Hughes – A member of the Brotherhood; a pedophile and 'raven' (will set up other hunters, then reap the rewards of the completed hunt after they have done all of the work.) He and Syria are lovers and business partners. Read: The Line By Ridley C. James for more detail.
Daniel Elkins – Interim Knight of the Brotherhood. Regarded as insane and paranoid after an attack on twelve year old Caleb Reaves. Now, he researches and hunts vampires and demons that are regarded as extinct by the hunting community and The Brotherhood. Also has an armory of supernatural and ancient weapons, such as the Echnon Blade and The Colt. He trained John Winchester as his replacement, before going into seclusion.
Timeline: Takes place after Dr. Mackland Ames is promoted to the Scholar position in the Brotherhood AU. (Elkins's position as the Knight has become a pretense, until a replacement can be found.)
Ties with "Suitcase of Memories", Chapter 3: My Dad, My Hero By Sensue and
hints of "Rites of Passage" By Tidia
1986
Manning, Colorado
"Get the hell away from me, Demons!" The old man screamed as he threw a sharpened dagger directly at his target, missing him by only millimeters. The dagger embed itself in the wall behind it, making the hunter growl angrily. He risked turning to grab a ceremonial athame that was hanging on a plaque on the wall. He swung it at the figure approaching him, grunting in exertion as he lunged.
The man backed away just in time, trying to keep from getting cut. "Elkins, calm down." The doctor spoke softly, trying to get through to the deranged man, as if talking to a growling animal. Covertly, he pulled the sedative filled syringe from his pocket, uncapping the needle with one hand as he put the other out in front of him in attempt to get closer to the raving lunatic. He could only hope that the Guardian could distract him long enough for him to sedate him.
"Daniel, please. It's me, Jim Murphy. We aren't demons; we aren't possessed. Mackland and I are just trying to help you." Jim pleaded with him. "Look, Daniel. We aren't trapped." He pointed towards the devil's trap painstakingly engraved in the ceiling. Clearly, they were outside of its bounds.
"A trick," Elkins screamed, "You're trying to trick me!" He held the knife tightly in his grip, eyes darting from one man to the next. A few seconds later, he lowered the knife slightly.
Ames was relieved to see the man lower the weapon, so he risked coming closer.
"Mackland, No!" The pastor's warning came a second too late, as the athame dug into the flesh of his arm, forcing him to drop the syringe in reflex. The doctor cried out as he pulled away. Elkins took the opportunity to throw himself on top of the doctor in the confusion, knocking him off his feet. The crazed man poised to thrust the weapon down, muttering an exorcism in perfect Latin. Ames struggled under him, trying to tell him that he wasn't a demon as he reached for the dropped syringe. He was only inches away, but Daniel was closer. He pushed the sedative away angrily, pushing it completely out of the doctor's reach…
…And right into Jim Murphy's hand. The older man practically flew as he stuck the needle in Elkin's jugular and pressed the plunger.
Immediately, the knife slipped to the ground with a clatter; Elkins fell in the same manner on top of the Scholar. Ames gave an aggravated grunt as he pulled himself up from under the heavyset man, clutching at his still bleeding arm.
He shot a glance at the pastor, who was trying to catch his breath. "Well, that went well," Dr. Ames said, deadpan.
Jim smiled gravely, "Daniel, like most Knights, has a highly developed survival instinct."
"That is fairly obvious, but the man needs psychiatric help. He's gotten worse, ranting and raving about vampires, demons…don't forget what he did to Caleb. He nearly killed him, Jim." Mac was still upset over his treatment of the twelve year old. The Knight researched the Reaves family history and found it tainted by a high ranking demon, one that spanned across generations and left Caleb the only remaining son and heir. His deep paranoia hadn't helped matters, as he targeted the boy and attempted to exorcise the 'demon' he believed was hidden inside of him—nearly killing the child in the process.
Jim sighed, "Daniel is an incredibly stubborn man. He isn't going to accept the kind of help that you are suggesting." Jim ran his hands through his dark hair before handing the doctor a cloth and helping him to tighten it around his injury. "I just wish that Bobby Singer hadn't turned down the position."
Mac breathed as he rubbed his mustache, "Do you have anyone else in mind as the Knight? Harland Sawyer or Dr. Porter perhaps?"
Jim shook his head, "No. Neither of them…" He trailed off mysteriously.
Mac stared at him, "Should I be worried, Jim? I've heard whispers that Elkins has been working with someone new…training him as a replacement per your orders. Are you planning on 'shakin' things up' as Caleb would say?"
The pastor didn't answer, but arched his eyebrow at the slang. "Perhaps I am." He stared down at the sedated man, "Is there anything we can do for him here?"
The doctor bit his lip, "There are some advances in psychiatry—new medicines; ones that can control aggression, schizophrenia, paranoid delusions…I'll make a few calls. I have a couple of friends that owe me a favor."
"Thank you, Mackland. I appreciate all that you are doing to help. I know that it's difficult for you…Have you decided to tell Caleb yet?"
A dark expression flickered in the doctor's eyes as he spoke. "No. I'm not planning on it either, Jim. I don't want my son to worry that Elkins might come back to finish the job! He's still a boy; I don't want him mixed up in this."
Jim squinted his eyes at his friend, "This? You mean the Brotherhood?"
"Yes…No… I don't know. Jim, you know as well as I do how far Elkin's little theory about the Reaves family has traveled. I'm worried that he'll be a target." Dr. Ames was always an eloquent speaker; always soft spoken and polite—not easily rattled. This time, he was shaken. "Since you've promoted me—Caleb has taken an interest in researching the supernatural—and I'm worried that the other hunters might get wind of it."
Jim gave the younger man a knowing look. "I suppose that interest has revolved around demons—and their bloodlines?"
"Yes," Mac nodded, "He's starting to look into his family history—he's convinced himself that he's 'tainted', no matter how much I try to tell him otherwise. The more I try to shield him, the harder he fights. He's constantly asking me to teach him about his gifts. We work on controlling them for hours…some days, I can't get him to even take a break. He's pestered Bobby Singer to the point where the man threatened to tape his mouth shut." He gave a small laugh, "If you asked him to do a simple breathing exercise a year ago, he would've thrown a fit. Now, I can't get him to stop…" The doctor gave his friend a long look, "He's only fifteen, Jim. He deserves a childhood."
The pastor clapped him on the shoulder and gripped him tightly. "And you've given him one, Mackland." The older man smiled reassuringly, "Have faith, God has a plan for all of us—including Caleb. It'll be alright, my friend."
Staring down at the disturbed man on the ground, Mac could only nod and pray that his friend was right.
Bobby Singer could be called many things, but patient wasn't one of them. He glared at the kid that'd taken over his home. The place—while usually an organized mess—was now completely trashed. If it weren't for Jim Murphy's guilt trips, he would've just thrown the boy out there with the pups in the yard.
The gruff junk yard mechanic honestly didn't know how the prim and proper Dr. Mackland Ames put up with the walking attitude without losing his mind. He'd only spent a few hours with him and he was ready to tie him up and gag him until his daddy came to pick him up.
Though, his daddy wasn't any better, Bobby huffed. Mackland Ames had always been a bit of an outsider, when it came to the Brotherhood. He was an excellent researcher, a brilliant doctor, and one heck of a psychic; but the man's personality was as dry as a piece of toast. He certainly couldn't take a joke—who knew that the doctor would go ballistic when he found his adopted son magically trapped in a closet. The bruise was just starting to fade from his face.
After he'd adopted Caleb, there was a distinct change in the man—one that everyone noticed. The illusion that the doctor was someone weak and easily manipulated started to vanish. Perhaps it was his new position as the Scholar, or simply that he was now responsible for another life that inspired the change, but whatever it was, Dr. Ames was now a force to be reckoned with.
To Bobby, Caleb Reaves was just as mysterious. Here was a teen that had death visions; hell, his entire life was surrounded by gruesome events and he still held himself together. He was a pain in the ass, there was no question of that—but, all-in-all, the kid was strong. Slowly, he was getting stronger.
The kid forced himself to exercise, building his body from an awkward gangly teen to a toned and muscular form. Not only was he getting stronger physically, his psychic abilities grew as he did. His ability to 'read' people was slightly less excruciating—but he was getting better. No longer did it feel like the kid took a sledgehammer to your brain, instead you got a small headache for the trouble. The doctor just encouraged him to keep practicing.
And now, the fifteen year old charged into his home and demanded answers; one that Bobby knew Dr. Ames tried to keep from him, not wanting his son to become exposed to. Bobby started leading the kid on, giving him books that had nothing to do with his new found interest in hopes that it would discourage him from his search.
Damn kid was starting to catch on, though. After reading several books cover to cover, Reaves was becoming suspicious. Bobby had to throw him a couple of worms from time to time. Small ones to keep him on task, but nothing that would cause Ames to blacken another eye.
Jim claimed that the boy was trying to 'find himself' and needed guidance. Bobby shook his head—he wasn't a damn shrink! Let the kid 'find himself' somewhere else.
"Damnit Reaves! That's a two hundred year old text! Don't throw it across the room!" Bobby screamed as he watched the ancient text land with a thump on the ground, pages flying open.
Caleb rolled his eyes, "Whatever, man." He ignored the man and kept on searching for references to Noah Seaver.
Bobby watched him for another couple of minutes, now realizing why the doctor tried so hard to protect his son—the boy was becoming obsessed. His fears were blatant; he was afraid of becoming a demon. Afraid of killing the people he loved…
He was ashamed to say that he also looked into Elkin's theory about the Reaves family bloodline. But he couldn't bring himself to hurting a kid on the basis of someone starting to go bonkers with paranoia. While Elkin's case did make some kind of sense, the Knight crossed the line when he'd tried to kill the boy with no evidence of possession.
Seeing Caleb now, so upset, so afraid of being evil—in his mind, he did the right thing taking Jim and Mac's side.
Even though the brat was driving him crazy!
"I need to know this stuff!" Caleb commented as he flipped through another book.
Bobby arched an eyebrow, "Why's that? So you can mess with your school friends?"
"No." Caleb said, "I want to start hunting."
The kid got offended when he started laughing; he was surprised that he didn't pout. "You haven't started shaving yet, kid. What you need to do is finish your schooling…then worry about huntin'. Leave the hunting to the grownups."
"For once, Bobby's right. You should listen to him, young man." A voice purred from behind them.
Both of them swung around to face the intruders. Bobby relaxed slightly, "Hughes," he nodded to his fellow Brother, "What're you doing here?"
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