Disclaimer - Anyone that anyone recognises isn't mine, which is most people in this.
Okay, this is a sequel to 'Isn't it surprising what you see on the News' so it is basically how Alec meets the rest of the Winchesters (yes it is another supernatural crossover, folks, I'm still beating that drum.) Although if anyone is wondering I am still plodding along with Ritual and Chocolate Cream pie, (which is really the main story.)
If you want to know who Billy and Molly are you can read that story or 'Isn't it surprising what you see on the News', as they turn up in it, but basically they are John and Ellen's children. Molly is adopted, (very important point for later on in this story), she was saved by Sam and Dean before they disappeared and Billy was born after John came back from Hell - also he has Down Syndrome so if I get any points wrong with that let me know.
And if you are still willing to give this a read after all that - you are a better person than I am.
The place was deserted, with a little light working its way in through the grime covered windows. He yelled a couple of times with no response, but he supposed a place like this didn't come alive until after dark.
He wasn't sure why he was here; he'd put it off for a while, told himself that things needed to settle down at home first. Home? Who'd have thought he'd be calling a dump like TC home a year ago, but he was, but now – well, now he was here. He'd made the big leap into the unknown and guess what - there was no one to meet him; served him right for not calling.
He supposed it was part curiosity, part just wanting a break from the world of supply runs and guard rotas, and part just not knowing what to do with himself. What he did know was that the need to find out about this place had started to grow stronger when her brother and sister had shown up.
Not that he had anything against Syl and Krit, they were great, but seeing Max so open with people she hadn't seen in years confused him. The only explanation that she could give him was that they were her family, so he supposed, in a way, him being here was his way of finding out what that meant.
He leaned over the bar to look for a pad and pen to leave a note and maybe snag himself something to drink – well, he had come a long way. That was when he heard the bolt action of the rifle.
"Okay, this isn't what it looks like," he said, straightening up but not turning around.
"Really?" she asked, pushing the barrel into his back. "Tell me what it doesn't look like?"
He didn't move. "Can I get back to you on that?"
There was no response or movement on her side.
"Don't suppose it'd help if I said that I know the owner."
"Really, you do?"
He nodded. "Yeah, said that if I needed a place to stay that I'd be welcome."
"Funny that; she never told me that she knew someone who'd take advantage. Most people who know her wouldn't be so stupid to try it."
"She?" Alec replied.
"Yeah, she!"
He felt the barrel being pushed into his back a little more. "Well, maybe not the owner – her husband?"
"Right. You're not reaching at all here, are you?"
"Is that a rifle you're holding?" he asked.
"Why?"
He grinned. "No reason. But you know you shouldn't put that too close."
"Why is that?"
"Because it means I can do this." He spun around, grabbing the barrel, pulling the gun out of her hand, only to find a revolver pointing at his face.
"Yeah, well, that is why I carry this!" Molly said, before taking a step back. "Be..Dean?"
"Ahh. No," Alec said. "You're Moll, right?"
"You're Alec, aren't you?" she said as she lowered the gun slightly.
"Yeah, that I am," he said, smiling, just as he got water squirted into his face.
"Billy!" Molly yelled.
A small form, wearing a back to front baseball cap, came running out from the side of the bar and hid behind his sister. "His face isn't melting."
"Why the hell would it, kid?" Alec said, wiping his face. "You wouldn't happen to have something to dry…?"
Billy ran over to grab a bar towel and handed it to Alec before darting back behind his sister.
"Whoa, he's really real, isn't he?" Billy said to Molly.
Molly sighed. "Yes, and you didn't have to squirt him."
"But Dad said we have to check," Billy said, still pointing his water pistol at Alec. Molly grabbed the thing out of her little brother's hand.
"You are dangerous with that thing, you know that," she snapped at her little brother.
"Am not!"
She turned her head toward Alec. "Sorry about him; it's just, well, he's…twelve.
"I'm almost thirteen," Billy said resolutely.
Molly rolled her eyes. "Whatever."
"He must be Billy, right?" Alec said. The boy peeked out from behind his sister, not willing to come out until she completely lowered the gun.
"Yeah, he is."
"Talking about me in the third person is rude, you know!" Billy said as he finally stood beside his sister. "I'll tell Mom."
"Billy, not now!" Molly said, before turning her attention to Alec. "So you finally came, then?"
Alec smiled at the younger kid – so this was his family. He looked back up at the girl. "Yeah, finally found some time."
"Dad wasn't sure you'd ever come," Molly replied, to which Alec bit his lip. He hadn't been too good at keeping in touch, but life at Terminal City wasn't exactly one where you got time for that.
"Do you want a beer?" Billy asked, scooting behind the bar.
Molly rolled her eyes. "Billy, get out from there!"
"Sure, why not?" Alec said, smiling at the scene. Molly placed a beer on the bar for Alec after chasing Billy from the bar area.
She picked up a soda bottle, passing it to her brother. "Here, behave."
Billy stuck out his tongue at her as he jumped on a stool beside Alec, turning to prod him in the chest. "You're real! You're really real, aren't you?"
Alec shrugged. "Yeah, kid, I'm real."
"You decided to actually pay us a visit?" Molly said.
"You said that before," Alec said. "I couldn't get away any earlier."
"Right, things settled down in… what is that place called?"
"Terminal City – and no, not really, but it's as calm as it's ever going to get," Alec replied. "Really didn't expect such a warm reception."
"Mom and Dad are out, it's just us right now," Molly said.
"Right," Alec replied. "Any idea when they'll be back?"
"Later tonight – before opening time," Molly replied.
"Are you going to stay?" Billy asked slightly cagily.
Alec shrugged. "Don't know yet, thought I'd meet you guys before I decided that."
"And you're really a transgenetic?" Billy asked
Alec smiled. "It's transgenic, and yeah, I'm one."
"Billy, don't be rude," Molly said, though she was curious herself about it.
"No, it's okay, as long as you guys aren't going to try to shoot me or anything," Alec joked.
"Nah, " Billy grinned, "We leave that to Mom."
Alec smiled. "So I'll have to watch out for her, then?"
"She isn't that bad," Molly said.
Billy peered at her. "That isn't what your boyfriend said."
"Why did I have to have a little brother?" Molly asked rhetorically.
Billy turned back to Alec. "What type of trans-gen-ic are you? 'Cause when Dad came back he said there was lots of different kinds."
Alec took a mouthful of the beer. "X series, X-5 to be precise."
"Really?" Billy sounded impressed.
"He has no idea what that means," Molly said, to which her little brother threw her a dirty look.
"I'm a little more versatile than most," Alec said.
"Right, a jack of all trades ?" Molly asked Alec.
"Suppose," Alec replied.
"That sounds cool!" Billy said.
"Trust me, kid, it wasn't," Alec replied, taking another drink.
"See, going out isn't fun," Molly said to Billy.
"Yeah, you keep saying that, but you'd still get to go if you asked," Billy replied to his sister. Finishing off his soda, he hopped off his stool, and headed to the back to go grab a bag of pretzels.
"What do you think so far, then?" Molly asked Alec who was appeared slightly confused by Billy's statement.
"Seems all white picket fence so far – I'm waiting for the apple pie to turn up," Alec said.
"Apple pie in the Winchester house?" Molly asked with a smile on her face. "Boy, you're going to be in for a surprise."
"What? Mom doesn't bake?" Alec replied. "Well, I suppose that is to be expected, can't imagine John with little Sally Homemaker."
Molly grinned. "He didn't tell you much about Mom, did he?"
Alec shook his head. "No. Not much."
"Sounds like Dad," Molly said glancing over her shoulder to see where her brother was before turning back to Alec, "By the way, finding you opened up a whole load of old wounds for them, especially when you wrote to tell them that there was no-one that looked like Sam and Jo among you guys."
Alec nodded. They had a search, but short of making every transhuman and nomlie have a DNA test, they were pretty sure that he was the only one whose DNA could be traced back to the people in that bar.
"So, don't take this personally, but if you're here to cause them any trouble, think again, okay? Because I have known how to use that gun since I was his age," Molly continued.
Alec took in what she was saying. "Right, nothing personal."
"Okay, then we're clear?" Molly said, returning to her drink.
"Sure," Alec said.
The three of them were sitting at the bar just talking about random things when they heard the pick-up truck pull up.
Billy went running out the front door of the bar, all excited.
"I'm going to put a leash on him," Molly said. Before following her brother outside, she turned to Alec. "Stay here."
As she went outside she saw Billy jumping up and down in front of the pick-up as Ellen and John climbed out.
"Billy, calm down," Ellen said on seeing her son. "Don't need to be carrying on like that, you know how you get, we see you."
"Yeah, but we got a surprise," Billy said as John pulled out a couple of bags of supplies.
"Surprise? Is this a good surprise, or have you had another note from school surprise?" John asked.
Billy blushed and quickly quietened down as Molly smiled behind him.
"Ash and Leanne get away all right?" Molly asked as John handed her the bags.
Ellen nodded. "Dumb fool, almost thought he was going to burst into tears as they were driving off."
"Definitely glad they don't visit her folks that often," John said, before turning his attention to his son, picking Billy up. "So you got a surprise?"
"Well, I wouldn't say it is a surprise, it's just…" Molly said.
"We got a visitor, Dad. Can he stay? Can he?" Billy asked.
"Who?" John asked.
"Can we get in the door first?" Ellen said to her son who was currently being thrown over his father's shoulder.
"Mom, please?" Billy begged. "Can he? He says that he hasn't made up his mind."
"You know if your friend wants to stay I have to talk to his mom and dad?" John asked.
"Got no idea what my dad would say," Alec said, standing in the doorway.
John carefully put Billy down as he looked at the figure standing in the bar door.
Ellen's face paled as she saw the ghost in the doorway; John glanced over at her, before turning back to look at Alec.
"Can he stay? Can he?" Billy asked. "We tested him, with the holy water and everything, he's real, Mom, he's really real."
"Why don't we get this stuff inside, okay, Bill?" Molly said, seeing the look on her mother's face.
Alec straightened up, not sure what to say, especially on seeing the woman's reaction – damn it, he should have called first.
"Ellen?" John asked his wife.
"I'm all right, John," Ellen took a breath. "So you're Alec, then?"
"Yes, ma'am," he said. He had no idea where the ma'am came from, but for some reason he felt he should say it; he really wanted this meeting to go well.
"You finally decided to pay us a visit?" Ellen replied.
Alec nodded. "Maybe I should have called first."
"Maybe you should have, but too late for that," she replied. "You eaten?"
Alec shook his head. "No, not yet."
John gave his wife a little smile.
She started head towards the house before turning her head toward Alec, "Well, get your stuff and get over to the house. You better like meatloaf."
Alec grabbed his bag, preparing to follow them. "Meatloaf will be fine, ma'am."
Molly left to open the bar after dinner, leaving the rest of them to clean up. Billy was whizzing around Alec, asking questions about what he was, where he'd been, and what his life back in Seattle was like, while John helped Ellen with the washing up.
"What are we going to do with him?" Ellen asked her husband.
John gave a slight shrug. "He wants to know more about where he came from instead of just thinking he was cooked up in some lab; it's something we can give him. But, no way in hell can he stay in the bar."
"Probably got a full house as it is by now," Ellen added.
"Even if we didn't, it would be a bad idea," John replied. "Didn't get a chance to explain when I first met him."
"Great, so not only have we got a transgenic sitting in our dining room, we've got one who doesn't know what we do," Ellen said, putting down a cup.
"Seeing how they were preparing to fight for their existence last time I saw him, it didn't exactly seem the right time to bring it up," John said.
"When the hell is it ever?"
Ellen turned around to watch Billy and Alec through the half open door to the dining room. Alec was smiling as the young boy was jumping around.
"What did he do, again, for them?" Ellen asked.
John took a breath. "I didn't ask him, but I'm guessing it wasn't good."
"Right," Ellen replied.
"Ellen, if you don't want him here I'll sort something out for him."
Ellen shook her head. "There are people over there, right now, that remember the boys, so sending him out might not be the best idea."
John nodded. Too many of the hunters they knew would shoot first and ask questions later; seeing Dean's ghost leaving the house wouldn't be the best idea.
"Guess I got no problem with him taking the couch for a couple of nights until we sort something out," Ellen said.
John wrapped his arms round his wife, picking her up and swinging her round, causing her to let out a little yelp.
"John, put me down, put me down!" Ellen said, her hands covered in suds.
Alec and Billy heard the noise from the kitchen. Alec went to stand up, but Billy shook his head.
"They are always like that, 'specially when Dad comes home from a trip. Guess she said you could stay if you want to."
"Okay," Alec replied. So this was family life.
The couch wasn't too bad. Alec seemed to slowly get used to the house, though he could understand why they were a little cagey around him. He couldn't really expect them to be anything less, though perhaps he had hoped for more.
He was woken by a bag being thrown by the door; they all seemed to be up and about – and he had thought that Max didn't sleep.
"Come on, Billy, school run pulling out in five minutes!" Molly yelled, grabbing a piece of toast. "Dad's waiting."
"Coming!" The boy came running out to front room.
Alec blinked for a few minutes before getting up and going over to the table where Ellen was handing Molly a list of things to get in town.
"Hope the couch was okay for you?" Ellen asked.
"Yeah, it was fine. Slept on worse," Alec replied, looking at the table, unsure if he should ask before taking something to eat.
Ellen sensed Alec's apprehension. "Help yourself – not going to let you starve."
Alec smiled. "Thanks – just don't want to piss off the boss, you know."
"Boss?" Ellen smirked. "I like that – you just remember it and we'll get on fine."
"What is this place like, then?" he asked, causing her to peer at him.
Ellen didn't answer for a second. "It's all right – you don't push into anyone else's business, then they'll butt out of yours."
"Good," Alec replied. "I don't want to seem rude or anything, but I thought I might take a look about town today."
"Understand that you need to get to know the place if you're staying," Ellen said. "Get to know the layout of the place, find the exits."
Alec stilled; obviously, Ellen wasn't too comfortable with his past.
"Look, I get it, I really do – I look like someone you guys lost. I didn't ask for it, neither did you guys, but he invited me, and I can't change what I am."
"Not asking you to and I understand why you're here. But you listen, if you are staying we have rules – keep your nose clean and you'll have a place with us."
"Yes, ma'am," Alec said quietly.
"That means you stay out of other people's business, and John'll make sure they stay out of yours."
Alec nodded, not sure why that was important.
"While you're here you earn your keep; we may run a bar but that doesn't mean you get room and board for free."
"I'm prepared to work if I have to," Alec said, smirking.
"If you have to?" Ellen said, raising an eyebrow. "Why can I picture Dean saying that?"
Alec swallowed, unsure what to say.
Ellen took a second, watching Alec as Molly came in to pick up her bag, before she and Billy left to get a run into town.
"Also, boy, now I may be tarring you with the same brush as the one you came from, and if I'm wrong I'll apologize, but I don't know how it exactly works for your kind seeing how you got bits and pieces of everything in there. Now, you can go have your fun, got no problem with that as long as I don't have anyone coming to my door, but for you some things are off the menu – forget that and you won't live to regret it."
Alec just nodded.
"Lastly, you break their hearts you'll deal with me!" Ellen said firmly.
"Yes, ma'am."
Ellen took a drink of her orange juice. "Good, so we understand each other, then?"
"Yes, ma'am," Alec said, not sure if he should salute her at that moment.
Alec rode his bike into town, getting a feel for the place. It was a small town, not too big, it wasn't a town you'd really expect to find your settling in, but it was a good place if your business involved dealing with people who were passing through on the way to somewhere else – which it seemed the Winchester's business was.
John had gotten back before Alec had gone out. He didn't offer to take him on a tour of the place, and Alec was kind of glad of that, preferring to get a feel for the area himself. He appreciated that the man backed off and let him figure things out for himself.
He settled in the park, watching people pass by. It was strange, being away from the drabness of city life. Not that this town was colorful – a few streets, stores, a park, a town hall, and a library – but there was no hustle, no sector police, no wondering if there was a gang of people wanting to string him up for being different. Okay, there could be, but at least they weren't so vocal about it as the crowds that occasionally threw stuff in the direction of Terminal City.
Watching the people go about their business made him realize how many people weren't touched by the world of transgenics and familiars that he had spent his life in. Thinking about it, Alec thought he was going to enjoy the break.
He pulled out his cell. He'd been away from Terminal City for a couple of days, and he'd promised Joshua that he'd call just to tell the big guy that he was okay. It had taken him about fifteen minutes to get out of the big fella's hug when it had been time for him to actually go, and he wasn't going to go into what Sketchy and Normal did. You'd think he'd died or something, for crying out loud, he was just going out of state.
He had found a bench, watching the ordinaries walk about the place as he waited for someone to pick up on the number he had dialled.
"Hello," he said when finally someone picked up.
"Alec?" Joshua replied. "You called?"
"Sure, big fella, said I would, didn't I?"
"You find them? We were worried you wouldn't."
Alec smiled, imagining Joshua bothering the hell out of Max about the fact he hadn't called to check in. "Yeah, found them. John's doing okay and said to say hello to you guys."
"Tell him hello from us. Did you meet the rest? Did Alec find family?" Joshua asked.
"Got a little brother and sister, Josh," Alec said. "She's not too sure, but I'm sure I can win her around. As for him, he's a cool kid; you know – ordinary – no training, no barcode, just a kid."
"Really?" Joshua asked.
"Yeah, got that thing going on, you know the Down's, but it's weird, like when I was his age I was coming to the end of basic training."
"Bad days."
"I know, Joshua," Alec said. "Met my step mom too."
"Step mom?" Joshua asked.
"Yeah, funny that I've got a step mother, who'd have thought it," Alec said.
"Little fella here, do you want to say hello?" Joshua asked.
"Yeah, put her on, suppose I should say hello, wouldn't want her to think something wasn't about her."
"Suppose you should say hello?" Max asked, obviously having heard his comment. Joshua hadn't waited for Alec's reply about wanting to talk to Max, just assumed that Alec would want to talk to her.
"Hey, Max, managed to keep the place standing in my absence?" Alec asked.
He could hear Max tut. "Oh, we've been in mourning since your bike pulled out, place has just ground to a halt."
"Glad to see that you have finally worked out what I truly mean to the place," Alec said, smirking.
"Oh yes, Alec, you are the man," Max said sarcastically.
"Don't forget it, Maxie," Alec said, grinning.
"I'm surprised you could get yourself there in one piece," Max replied. "You pissed anyone off yet?"
"Max, I'm hurt you even could think that I could do that."
"Alec, have you met you?" Max asked. "Have you actually listened to what comes out of your mouth sometimes? Seriously, how are you getting on with them?"
"Yeah, feeling the concern, Max," Alec replied.
"Alec, will you quit the shit here, I'm asking."
He sighed. "I got in last night as I told Josh, met them; they were a little wigged with me turning up on their doorstep."
"You didn't call ahead, did you?"
"No, I didn't, okay? Don't get so worked up," Alec replied, waiting for her to chew his ass out about it.
"Alec, what were you trained to do? Plan ahead, think things through, go through all the options before making a move; besides, turning up unannounced is plain rude."
"Yeah, so?" Alec said, waiting for her to finish, so she could get it out of her system and then she could feel superior to him; it wasn't much, but he'd been gone for a while, and she needed something to get her through the day.
"You didn't think that someone who looked exactly likes their long lost son turning up on their doorstep without warning might freak them out a little, even?"
He bit his nail; she was only beginning, and he knew better than to interrupt her.
"Jesus, Alec, what were you thinking – no, scratch that, you don't think do you? I'm all for you going out and spending time with them. When you said you were going to go, I thought it would do you good, but that doesn't mean that you get to act like an idiot, Alec."
"Yeah, sure." He wasn't really listening; she had a couple more idiots and at least one moron to get through before she was done.
He nodded politely to an old couple who walked by as Max continued on the phone.
"…you can be a real moron, you know that?" Max said, to which Alec nodded, guessing it was almost time for him to join the conversation. "So, what are they like?"
"Well, as I told Joshua, John's fine, says hello. Billy is kind of cool, Molly's a bit unsure but I guess that is to be expected, and Ellen is okay, I suppose," Alec said. "She wasn't what I was expecting."
"What do you mean?" Max asked.
"Well, I don't know what I thought she'd be like, but to be honest she is more like you than anything else or how you'll probably be in twenty years."
"Like me?"
"Yeah, like you – but she's got tough girl or in her case tough lady act down to a fine art, you know, gave me a set of ground rules, and then told me basically that if I caused any trouble then she'd be the one to deal with me."
"So, just met you and already got your number, then?" Max asked. He could guess that she was smiling on the other end of the phone. "I like the woman already."
"Yeah, well, we'll see how things go," Alec replied. "You know, the place isn't like I thought."
"What did you think?" Max asked, sighing.
"Well, it's like normal really – I guess I kind of thought it'd be like a shrine to them or something," Alec said.
"They lost them years ago and sure, obviously they want to know what happened to them, but John didn't seem like the type to sit back and just wait for things to happen. I don't think that they expect you to take what's–his-names place, you know."
"Dean. I know that," Alec replied.
"Is this why you put this off so long?" Max asked. "If you're not sure, you know you can pull out of there and no-one will think anything less of you."
"Nah, Max, I'm fine," Alec said.
"I know, you always are," Max replied.
"It's just that Ellen made a big deal out me staying out of people's business and then they'll stay out of mine," Alec said. "It's like they're hiding something."
"Oh, let me see, small town not near Seattle, could it possibly be that they are trying to stop their neighbors from noticing that they've got a real life mutant walking among them?"
"What?" Alec said.
"How do you actually function without someone helping you?" Max asked. "Think about it, you paying them a visit is one thing, you creating a big stink in the middle of town is going to draw the attention of a bunch of people who may not be so understanding as the folks back here."
"Yeah, real understanding," Alec replied, thinking of some of the ordinaries that still campaigned for the removal of the transgenics. "Okay, I get it, the less I draw attention to myself the less likely the pitchfork and torch brigade turn up on John and Ellen's doorstep."
"Bingo."
Alec sighed. He was sure that wasn't just it. "Look, Max, I'm going to blaze, I want to check this place out, and I promised I'd be back for Billy getting back from school."
"Sure, let us know how things go," Max said. "Alec?"
"Yeah, Max?" Alec replied.
"Be safe."
Alec grinned. "Always, Max."
He was looking for a place for something to eat when he passed it; he wasn't sure, but the glint off the chrome and the shining black paint seemed familiar somehow. Alec spent a few minutes looking at it before he took the photo out of his back pocket. It was a little worse for wear – compared to the condition it was in when he was given it. Probably because he had spent more than a few hours staring at it, as had many of the others back at Terminal City. Wondering what they were like, wondering what their, or more importantly, his life was like, and how much of that man lived inside their friend.
Alec stood there, looking at it, comparing the large black car in front of him to the one in the picture he had in his hands, the one that was in the background of two kids horsing around, before turning around to go into the diner.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, slightly annoyed at his presence.
"Thought I'd get lunch and this seems to be the best place in town," Alec replied. "Actually, it seems like the only place in town."
"There's another diner down the street," Molly said, correcting his statement.
"Okay, truth is I am hungry, but I saw the car outside and I was curious. Didn't really expect to find you here."
"Really?" Molly said. "You're not stalking me, then?"
"Have I done something?" Alec asked as he sat down. "Because it usually takes a little longer for people to find me annoying."
"People find you annoying?" Molly said sarcastically.
Alec shrugged. "Personally, I think I'm adorable, but you can't please everybody."
Molly gave a little laugh. "Sorry, it isn't you; I've got some other stuff going on."
"Like what?" Alec asked.
Molly shook her head. "It's nothing."
"Hey, I'm used to being everybody's whipping boy," Alec replied. "You know, if you hit me round the head I'll feel right at home."
"You usually so 'chatty'?" Molly asked.
"I've been known to be quiet from time to time – but I've been told that's when I'm usually asleep," answered Alec. "You meeting people?"
"Just some friends; the usual 'meeting for a bite before getting back to work'." Molly knotted her brow. "Are you hiding from something, or what?"
"Nope, not from anything in particular. Why?"
"Just that you've known about us for ages, and now you decided to come and visit. So, I'm wondering, are you on the run? Do we have to worry about men in black storming in here to drag you off?"
"You are a real trusting kind of gal, aren't you?"
Molly straightened. "I'm a Winchester; I like to cover my base."
"Is that a big thing in this family?"
Molly didn't answer his question. "My mom and dad have had a long time to grieve over the other three, but they've never gotten over it, never really will."
"Losing your kids, I can understand that," Alec replied.
"And Billy, his condition is hard on them sometimes, he tries real hard but he still has problems with things," Molly continued.
"Thought he was main–streamed or something?" Alec asked, to which she nodded.
"He is, but he has to take his time on some things, but makes up his mind real quick about others."
"Right," Alec said, not sure why this was important.
"Billy's heart isn't too good, but, he'll open it up to anybody who spends time with him, so it hits him hard when people let him down."
"Is this where you threaten me again if I hurt them?" Alec asked. "I think Ellen did that this morning."
Molly smiled. "Mom's got a tough exterior."
"Let me guess, a pussy cat really?"
"You'd know, wouldn't you?"
Alec smiled. "You've been doing some reading, haven't you?"
"I work in what passes for a library in this excuse for a town, what do you think I do?"
Alec sat forward. "And John?"
"Dad's… best way I can explain him, is that he's tough, had to be, and he can get a little one track minded at times about some stuff, but my Mom knows how to keep in check. Truth be told, he shouldn't be here today, but he is, and he's had to accept it; if it was up to him probably wouldn't be if it meant that Sam and Dean and Jo were still here."
Alec was confused. "What happened – he just said they disappeared and that you were hurt."
"Just that – they disappeared, I was hurt," Molly said. "Both of me and Dad spent time in hospital."
"And you've got no idea what happened to them?" Alec said.
Molly shrugged. "Ideas were never the problem; we've all had ideas over the years about what happened, just never had any real proof."
"Right." Alec looked away. Coming here might have not been the best idea.
Molly sighed. "If you're worried about Dad comparing you to Dean, then don't be. Dad's not expecting you to fill his shoes. Sure, you look like him, but he's not going to expect you to become Dean. Anyway, Mom wouldn't let him."
"What were they like?" Alec asked.
Molly shrugged. "I don't really remember, they disappeared when I was a real young – but I heard the stories from Mom, Dad, Ash, and some of the others in the bar. Jo was headstrong, pretty, tended to think with her heart rather than her head most of the time. She jumped before she looked, really wanted to make her mark but not sure how. Sam, was clever, always thinking, always full of surprises."
"The brains of the operation then?"
"Kind of, not that Dean was stupid or anything, it was that he was a more of, a deal what was in front of him type of guy, and Sam…"
"Planned ahead."
"Yeah," Molly nodded, "Sam, even though he liked to think his way out of things, he could handle himself pretty well, but it took a hell of a lot to get him riled. Only people who could really get under his skin were Dad and Dean, unless you called him Sammy – nobody called him that apart from Dean and Dad. – Mom says that even though Sam sometimes had to be careful about not banging his head of the ceiling he had this puppy dog look to him; you know the type."
Alec smiled, thinking of Joshua. "Yeah, think I do"
"Dean, from what I've been told, was cocky, sarcastic, could be as arrogant as hell. He'd have a different girl each night of the week if he could, actually two or three if he had the time, and could come across as the most unreliable bastard on planet earth. But he wasn't when it came down to it – because if you needed him too – he'd be willing to get down on his belly and crawl over broken glass with his fly unzipped. And God help anyone who messed with Sam because Dean was more of a mother hen when it came to him than a brother."
"Good guy, then?"
Molly nodded. "Wouldn't be here if it wasn't for him and Sam. A lot of people wouldn't be."
"Really?" Alec asked, unsure why she had said that, though she didn't reply to the question, causing them to sit there for a second in silence before Alec spoke again, "You said Ash – he's your computer friend?"
"Yeah, the one that saved your ass. How is 'Eyes Only'?"
Alec smirked. "So much for the secret identity, he's fine by the way."
"Well, Ash is into everything these days," Molly replied. "As for the secret identity, we can keep our mouths shut."
"That's comforting – I was kind of worried that I'd have to worry about the locals putting together a 'friendly welcoming' lynch mob if you guys didn't like me."
Molly smiled. "If Dad thought you were a monster, you wouldn't be having this conversation, and you wouldn't have to worry about any lynch mob."
Alec was taken aback for a second. "What does that mean?"
She grinned. "You stick around and you'll find out."
He sat there, unsure how to take that comment, as three other girls came into the diner.
"Hey, Moll, sorry we're late, but you know the boss – complete bitch wouldn't let us away on time." One of the girls said, "Who's your friend?"
Molly turned to her friends. "Geraldine, Lizzy, Cel, this is Alec."
"Nice to meet you," Alec said with a wave of his hand.
"He's staying at my place for a while."
"Really?" Geraldine asked, her interest peaked. "You staying at the Roadhouse, then, Alec?"
Alec shrugged. "Don't know yet."
"No, he's staying at the house," Molly said, causing her three friends to look at her – no-one spent the night at the Winchester house. Most of Molly's friends just put it down to the fact that Molly's parents were older than most, not wanting the hassle of dealing with a load of children or teenagers if they didn't have to. And their home was near that old bar and many of their parents wouldn't want their children to spend time near it as most of its clientele weren't exactly savory.
Molly saw the look on their faces. "He's my…nephew?"
"Nephew?" Alec was confused for a second, but he decided to play along. "Yeah, I'm Molly's nephew. Decided to pay Grandma and Grandpa a visit for a while."
"Nephew? When did this happen?" Lizzy asked.
"Alec lives in Seattle, he's…my dad's grandson," Molly replied. "Remember I told you guys about it?"
"Sure, sure you did," Geraldine said, sitting down beside Molly.
"Yeah, I did – my dad went to Seattle last year, remember?" Molly said to her friends, while gesturing over to Alec.
Alec decided, as everybody was looking at him, that it would probably be best to make a move. "Nice to meet you guys."
"You don't have to go on our account," Geraldine said.
"It's okay, never know, I might see you guys around," Alec said, turning to Molly. "See you back at Grandpa's, Auntie Moll?"
She clenched her jaw. "Sure. You be able to get back in time for supper?"
Alec got up from the table. "I'll be fine, don't need anyone to hold my hand crossing the road."
"That's good," Molly retorted as her friends watched as he left.
Alec looked in the window of the diner as the girls chatted away. He wondered what exactly Molly had meant when she had said that if John thought he was a monster that he wouldn't be having a conversation.
Molly parked the Impala outside the house. She had cracked the back axle the week before when she had been on an emergency supply run for a couple of regulars at the bar. Which, to be honest, had topped off her week, considering she was hitting a dead end on one of the cases she had been researching, along with the fact that her boss was on her back about the time she was spending in the newspaper archives at work.
Her father had done his nut about the car, though, and had been less than happy that she couldn't fix it herself. This had meant that the car had been sitting in the town garage as she waited for it to get repaired. The last thing she needed was dealing with this transgenic turning up, especially as she was missing Kenny, who wasn't due back in the area for another week.
She could see Alec's bike sitting outside the house as she got out of the car alongside her dad's pick-up truck.
As she entered the house, she could hear Billy in the back; sounded as if he and Alec were playing. She found her parents in the kitchen, drinking coffee.
"So, we're grandparents, are we?" John asked, with a smirk on his face and coffee cup in hand.
Molly cringed. "It was the first thing that popped into my head."
"Really?" Ellen turned her head to look at her daughter.
"They asked who he was, and as he was staying at the house, I had to say something."
John nodded. "I suppose."
"He didn't have to play along," Molly protested.
"What did you expect him to do?" John asked.
"I don't know," Molly replied.
Ellen turned to John. "I went to bed a mom and woke up a grandmother to a clone in his twenties. What happened?"
John gave a little laugh at his wife's comment. "Got no idea."
"Well, in a way I suppose you could think that he is, couldn't you?" Molly argued. "He was made from a piece of Dean."
"Molly, it's fine, probably works out better this way," Ellen said, trying to calm her daughter. "This way we don't have to explain anything – we just tell people that he's Dean's boy, and then there's less awkward questions."
"Right," Molly said. "And he's fine with that?"
"Alec's fine with it," John replied. "Though your mother got him to swear that he wouldn't call her Grandma."
Molly chuckled. "Right."
"I'm sure as hell not ready for that, yet," Ellen said. "And definitely not from someone his age."
The next night Alec took a deep breath as he took a step into the Roadhouse – he'd hadn't actually been in the place since he arrived, spending the past couple of nights entertaining Billy as the others took their turns working in the bar.
Usually he would just swagger into the place, blasé, not caring what people thought, but this was more in keeping with his Manticore days; he had a part to play – not that it was a difficult one. He had agreed with Ellen that it would be easier for all them all if he just became Dean Winchester's long lost son.
However, it had taken a little while for Billy to understand why they were going to do it that way; though, when he did get it, he liked the idea he was getting to play at being someone's uncle as he wasn't allowed to tell his friends about the cool transgenicy stuff.
Alec knew that he wouldn't have to pretend very hard as he was the about the right age, Dean being born in 1979 and all; it wasn't like he had other family that was going to pop up out of the wings and say he was lying.
If anyone had any questions to ask, the answer would be that John had seen him on the news, came to Seattle to find him, and that the transgenics in Terminal City were his friends – it wasn't like his barcode was showing or anything. From what he had been told, Dean was a barfly, so the idea of the guy leaving a kid behind somewhere wouldn't bat an eye, and no-one would expect Alec to know anything in-depth about him.
John had gone over half an hour before to open up.
He took a step inside and headed toward the bar; it was just like any other of the places he had seen on the side of the road there, mostly truckers and a few locals. Not exactly a high class crowd.
"Here," John said, putting down a beer in front of Alec.
"Thanks," Alec said, getting his wallet out from his back pocket. He didn't want to admit it, but Ellen scared him a little.
John shook his head. "First one on the house, next one and the rest you pay for."
"Okay," Alec replied. "And I don't tell Ellen?"
John grinned. "Damn straight, you don't. Otherwise you'll be sleeping on the floor. I'll be damned if I lose out on the couch as well."
"One mouth shut," Alec grinned, "'Pops'."
He sat there, passing the time, talking to Molly while she collected empties from the tables. One of the bar's patrons walked up to him as John was serving other customers. The middle aged man, who had had a little too much to drink, put a hand on Alec's shoulder.
"So, you're Dean's boy, huh?" the drunk slurred.
Alec nodded. "Sure."
He poked Alec in the chest. "You got big shoes to fill; Sam and Dean were good, real good. Hell of a team, them Winchester boys." He pointed at John. "Don't let that man down."
Alec nodded, politely humoring the drunk.
"Saved my ass, he did. Would be dog chow if it wasn't for him, and that is if I was lucky."
Molly, on noticing the man, walked over and tapped him on the shoulder. "Mike, think you're done, got a room made up for you in back."
Mike spun around and gave the girl in front of him a hug. "Hey, kiddo, where did you come from?"
"Over there, Mike," she replied, nodding in the direction of the other side of the bar. "Come on, I'll show you where you can sleep it off."
Mike turned to Alec. "You see her, she is an angel, you know that?"
"Right, Mike," Molly replied as she tried to lead Mike away from Alec, who was grinning.
"Regular little Lois Lane, our Molly is; her momma and Ash taught her real well. Half the stuff I got over the past couple of years," Mike hiccupped before pulling Molly closer to him, "got off Moll here. Looks after us, just like her momma does."
"Yeah," Alec said, smiling as Ellen joined them from seemingly nowhere.
"Michael Redwood, if you don't take your hands off my daughter you will find out how well I can take of things."
The drunk tried to stand up straight. "Yes, ma'am."
"Take it you've paid for the night?"
The drunk nodded his reply.
"Then go sleep it off. Before you make an ass of yourself," Ellen said, causing the man to turn around and wander off in the direction of the backrooms.
He turned around again and pointed in Alec's direction. "You lucked out, kid, they'll look after you, protect you until you can look after yourself."
Ellen just shook head as the man wandered away.
"Molly?" Ellen said, looking at her daughter.
"Yes, Mom," Molly replied, going back to her job.
Alec raised an eyebrow. "Until I can look after myself?"
"Don't take any notice of Mike," Ellen said. "He just needs to sleep it off."
"Right," Alec said, nodding. He couldn't help but notice that Molly was having a word with John while she handing him a tray of empties.
Alec almost fell off the couch when his phone went off.
"Yeah," he said groggily after finding his ringing cell.
"Hi, Alec," Logan said. "You wanted to talk to me?"
"What time is it?" Alec asked rubbing his eyes.
"About one a.m. here, why?"
"Right, what time is it where I am?"
"Alec, you didn't leave me a message to call you to ask what the time where you are is," Logan retorted.
"Yeah, sure, can you give me a sec?" Alec replied.
"Sure, it's not like I have anything better to do."
"Getting you," Alec said coming to from his slumber. "You didn't have to call me straight back, you know."
"You call, saying you needed something and not to tell Max – of course I'm going to call you back as soon as possible."
"You know, when you say it, it sounds a hell of a lot more dramatic than it is."
"Alec. Do you actually want something, or is it that you just missed needling me? Because if you just wanted someone to talk to, I'm sure you could have called someone else."
"Well, when you put it like that, I really am missing you," Alec said sarcastically, to which he was sure he could picture Logan rolling his eyes.
"Alec, I have things to do."
Alec smirked. "Like what, Logan?"
"Alec!"
"Right – I need a favor, a 'don't tell Max' type of favor."
"Yes, you said," Logan replied. "What is it?"
"I got a feeling that something is going on here."
"Alec, we've been through this," Logan said. "Before you left, you got me to check – I know the grave desecration charges were weird, but you know the pulse wiped most of their records, so without putting it into context I don't know what to tell you."
"Yeah, but it's just things people are saying here."
"Like what?"
"Stuff like I have big shoes to fill, that I have to keep my nose out of stuff. People start conversations, and then when I walk into the room, they stop talking. Books and other stuff have gone missing since I got here," Alec said.
"Isn't it possible that they are getting used to having a weapons grade military project in their midst?"
"That's what Max said. But they are keeping quiet about something, even the kid. It's like they have got some big family secret, and it isn't me."
"Right, you want me to do some more digging?" Logan sighed.
"If you could?"
"I'll try, but we've looked into John and his sons, and he was honest about the fact that they weren't squeaky clean. Most of the things I could find were a few assaults, which look like bar fights, and possible links to mail fraud – there wasn't anything major I could find apart from the only really strange stuff."
"The grave desecrations. I know, but what about looking into Ellen or their daughter Molly?"
"Why?"
"There was this guy in the bar tonight, called Molly a regular little Lois Lane, said that her momma trained her. So, I'm thinking that it's maybe Ellen that's the one that has something to hide. Also, Molly said something about how she wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Sam and Dean."
"You want me to find out about Ellen Winchester?"
"Yeah, or Harvelle, that was her first husband's name – Bill Harvelle."
"Like I don't have enough to do."
"Like what?"
Logan was silent for a few seconds. Max had been adamant that Alec was not to know, but the food supply lines into Terminal City had gone a little screwy since he'd left. She hadn't wanted to tell him that the contacts that he had left them with weren't happy with dealing with anyone other than Alec.
It was just teething problems, the suppliers would come around once they realized that this new situation wasn't going to change – well, as long as Alec didn't know about it. Last thing Max wanted was Alec blowing his visit on their account. The whole idea of one of them having a real human family, that was actually really related to them, had meant so much to the transgenics. Not that anybody wanted to say it out loud.
"Nothing – you know what this place is like," Logan replied.
"Logan, you sure?"
"Yes, Alec, we can cope without you," Logan said.
"Of course you can."
"Alec, are you sure that you aren't looking for an excuse to screw this up?"
"No, why would I do that?"
"Alec, take a breath and go with it. Stop looking for things that aren't there."
"How do you know they're not hiding things?"
Logan sighed. "Okay, if I check, will you let yourself get to know them?"
"Okay."
"Right. I'll get back to you as soon as I can."
"Logan, can I ask you something?"
"What, Alec?"
"You've got family, right? A mom, dad, you know."
"Yes, Alec, I had a family."
"Did yours ever hide stuff from you?"
Logan swallowed. The Cale house wasn't exactly the most open one. "Alec, they aren't Manticore, this is as new for them as it is for you."
"You didn't answer my question."
"Yes, Alec, they hid things from me."
"And?"
"Didn't make it right, but at the time they did it to protect me."
"Protect you? Isn't that just a bullshit excuse for not wanting to deal with it?"
"Probably, but at the time it made sense to them."
"Right."
"Alec, if I find something I'll let you know, all right?"
"Thanks, Logan."
So after all that - hope everybody has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
