"In-Laws"

By Wtchcool

Disclaimer: Do I own "The Cape" or "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman"? Yeah, right. Maybe in another universe…

Forget the World

Vince draped an arm over his face, trying to block out the light in the room. He didn't want to open his eyes and face his reality. He wanted to go back to sleep, and go back to the dream he'd been having. He'd been dreaming of being at home, with Dana and Trip, as if everything was normal. He must still be half-asleep. After all, it didn't feel as if he was in his cave. It almost felt as if he was lying on his bed at home with Dana. Heck, he even felt a body next to him on the bed, proving he was still dreaming of his wife. Just as he had that thought, the bed shifted as the woman next to him stood up.

"Wake up, Vince."

Orwell's voice interrupted his dream. Vince groaned, but kept his eyes shut. For the moment, he really wished she didn't know where his hideout was, or at least, that she would have had the decency to allow him to sleep in for a change.

"Wake up, sleepyhead."

"Whatever the emergency is, can't the city take care of itself for another five minutes?" Vince pleaded, before pulling the pillow over his face.

"Always thinking about the job, huh?" Orwell chuckled. "Don't worry, the city's safe, Officer Faraday."

"Then you better have a damn good reason for trying to drag me out of bed," Vince grumbled, his voice slightly muffled by the pillow. He heard her sigh.

"You forgot didn't you? You have to get ready. My father's coming over today." Her father? What? That got Vince's attention. He shot up, tossing the pillow aside as his eyes flew open at last. Orwell was standing before him, her arms crossed. She wasn't wearing one of her designer outfits; she was wearing a bathrobe. What really got Vince's attention, though, was that his initial impression was correct. He wasn't in the hideout he thought of as his cave. He was in a bedroom that looked eerily like the one he had shared with Dana before Chess had ruined his life. He realized he was gaping, and shut his mouth.

"Yep, you definitely forgot," Orwell mock-huffed.

"What's going on, Orwell?" Vince asked. She blinked in confusion.

"Honey, did you just call me Orwell?"

"That's what I always call you," Vince replied. He couldn't be awake. He must have gone from one dream to another, very bizarre one. He could've sworn she just called him honey.

"We've been married for two years, and you've never called me Orwell before."

"Married?" Vince choked out. Orwell looked worried now.

"Did something happen while you were on patrol yesterday? Oh, I'll kill Marty if he let anything happen to you. Scratch that, I'll kill my father. I told him I'd much rather have you working behind a desk, where I know you'll be safe. Neither of you ever listen to me." She peered at him, as if trying to figure out whether he had a concussion. "Does your head hurt? Do you need me to drive you to the hospital?"

"No, I'm-I'm fine," Vince said, trying to placate his partner. Not his wife, no matter what she seemed to believe.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Okay." She playfully smacked his arm. "Then get up. Breakfast is ready."

Completely confused, Vince followed her out of the bedroom. He inspected his surroundings, trying to be as surreptitious as possible. They were in a house, which reminded him strongly of the one he had shared with Dana, though there were differences. And there, oh my God. He hoped his shock wasn't too evident. Where he would've expected to see pictures of himself, Dana, and Trip, there were instead pictures of him and Orwell, including, apparently, a wedding photo. What the hell was going on? He didn't even know Orwell's real name, but the proof that they were married seemed to be staring him in the face. If he was awake, he was most definitely in the Twilight zone.

Orwell called him over to the dining room table, where she had breakfast laid out for them. There were a few envelopes on the table, and Vince picked them up, hoping to find some answers… Most of the mail was addressed to Vince Faraday, but finally he came across something addressed to: Jamie Faraday. Vince frowned. Whatever Orwell's last name was, it wasn't supposed to be Faraday. He blinked. He had, however, discovered Orwell's first name, hadn't he? And it was not Julia, after all. He frowned. He hadn't realized it before, but it struck him that he was hurt that she had never trusted him enough to tell him her real name. He tested it on his tongue.

"Jamie."

"Yes, Vince?" Jamie smiled. Good, he doesn't have amnesia, after all. Having been busy eating her breakfast, she hadn't noticed him looking through the mail.

"What," Vince began, trying to figure out what question to ask first. He settled on, "what time is your father coming over?"

"He should be here soon, unless he stops to do a press conference first." She laughed, seemingly at some inside-joke. "So hurry up, finish your breakfast, and get ready!"

Vince didn't know what else to say. This didn't feel like a dream, as surreal as everything was. How could he explain to Orwell, or rather, Jamie, that he wasn't her husband, he was Dana's? That he didn't have the slightest idea who her father was? Good lord, had she called him Officer Faraday? Was he still a police officer in this reality?

This reality…the words had popped into his mind. He had never believed in alternate universes before, but now he wasn't sure what to think. If this was an alternate universe, how had he gotten here? How could he get back? And, perhaps the most pressing question at the moment, what had happened in this world? He obviously wasn't in hiding, so that had to mean he had never been accused of being Chess. He scowled automatically, as he always did when thinking of Peter Fleming.

Jamie hadn't recognized the name Orwell, so she had never become the mysterious blogger, dedicated to bringing down the sociopath. Vince wondered what on earth had happened to Dana.

VFVFVFVFVFVFVFVF

Vince finished getting dressed just as the doorbell rang. He heard Jamie opening the door and greeting her father, before she yelled for him.

"I'm coming, I'm coming," Vince said as he strolled towards them. And then he froze, and he was sure his eyes were bulging out. There by the doorway, an arm draped around Jamie's shoulders, was none other than Peter Fleming.

Holy crap. Chess was his father-in-law.

Author's Note: Okay, I know I haven't finished "Leap for the Cape." But I don't know if anyone is reading that (besides IronAmerica, who rocks). I hate leaving stories unfinished, but then, I also hate not getting feedback. (That means review, please, if you want to read more.)

This is actually going to be a bit of a crossover with "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman," but if you haven't watched the show, don't worry, that shouldn't be a problem.

Thoughts? Want to know how Vince got there? Why he hasn't attacked Fleming yet? Why this first chapter is so short? Inspiration is greatly appreciated.