Love's the Only House
Dark Angel AU
Starts directly after "Designate This" and tweaks the end of the episode slightly. Chapters will come after each episode, fill in missing scenes and eventually will include characters (Alec) making different choices than in the original episodes.
Characters: Alec and an original character
Alec may be a little ooc so you are warned.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything, I'm just borrowing.
Chapter 1: Homeless
Alec stared mutely as the only home he had ever known was consumed with flames thanks to 452. Max she preferred to be called. His enhanced hearing picked up the screams of many trapped transgenics in the bowels of the facility and he cringed. Instinct told him to run and save himself but he found he couldn't turn his back. Rolling his eyes and cursing Alec ran down the hill towards the burning building. Easily he bounded over the remains of the compound fence into the yard. The heat from the growing flames nearly drove him back. Breathing was becoming difficult. With one last shake of his head, Alec rushed head long inside.
Moving through the smoke filled hallways, Alec covered his mouth and nose with his shirt before searching for something to bash the doors down with. His hands found a large portion of pipe that had been knocked loose when the upper levels gave in. That would do. Following the screams through the increasingly heated hallways, Alec made sure to free every transgenic he came across. Soon he came to a dead end made of rubble and growing flames.
Acknowledging the futility of going further, Alec stumbled back down the hallway. Smoke inhalation resulted in harsh coughing fits as he ran towards the exit. Suddenly a plume of fire erupted in front of him. Alec was thrown backwards into the wall, his head cracking against the steel while the heat from the flames became blinding hot. Spasms shook his arms and legs as Alec crawled through the hole left by the enraged fire into the debris filled yard. Mustering his strength, Alec clambered to his feet and began jogging for the wall of the compound. Every breath stabbed his lungs with pain.
Alec did not have any idea where he was going or for how long he stumbled along. His chest ached and muscles throbbed with exertion. Only the instinctive urge to flee, to survive kept him on his feet. Blinking his red eyes, Alec looked around, surprised to find himself in a spacious neighborhood of what once had been decent homes. Not grand buildings but rather rustic homes probably built back in the seventies if not even earlier. How the hell could these buildings still be here?
Unfortunately his knees decided to buckle. Alec barely caught himself before his skull crashed onto the cement. His eyes were swimming from the smoke and he wiped at them, smudging soot across his face. Stupid! He should never have gone into that burning building! Alec was no hero; he was X5-494, trained assassin and deceiver of Manticore. Why did he try something to stupidly heroic? A coughing fit overtook him for several minutes, leaving him sweaty and shaky. X5s could not become sick but that didn't mean they didn't occasionally endure severe symptoms from certain disasters like fire or near drowning depending on the situation. Alec grit his teeth. He was stronger than this!
Footsteps startled him and Alec tumbled sideways as his arms gave way. Alec cursed under his breath. Before he could move he felt a presence in his personal space. Not a second later a hand grasped his shoulder. Alec yanked away, swiveling to glare at the person who dared to touch him. The sudden movement sent Alec into another coughing fit resulting in several dry heaves. A hand rest between his shoulder blades, rubbing small circles slowly and steadily. Alec focused on the feeling of touch letting it act as a focal point for his breathing. Still breathing heavily Alec slumped on the ground, miserable. The hand never left his back. A burning sensation grew in his belly. Alec groaned, curling up as much as he could.
The hand withdrew its touch and Alec felt a chill wrap around him in its absence. He would never admit it, even to himself, he wanted to be touched, be cared for. Alec grunted, finding himself suddenly on his feet, his arm wrapped around narrow shoulders while his rescuer's arm wrapped around his back. He did not open his eyes as they moved forward. His sensitive nose, abused by the smoke, could not get a sense of what gender the person helping him was. Unconsciousness teased his mind and he struggled half-heartedly to stay awake before welcoming sweet oblivion.
Gradually Alec began to stir from his dreamless sleep. The first sensation he noticed was the softness beneath him, the second the warmth engulfing his body followed by the impression of someone nearby. He did not want to open his eyes but forced his gritty eyelids apart anyway. Blinking slowly, taking in the turquoise blue wall and painting on the wall Alec wondered if he was hallucinating. What was he doing in a nice room like this? Weakly rolling his head to the side, Alec stared in surprise. A woman dressed in jeans and old t-shirt stood beside a mahogany dresser fussing with an old-fashioned washbowl and washcloth. Her face was gently oval shaped with creases near her pink mouth and around her kind sea blue eyes. Streaks of gray paralleled the strawberry highlights in her blonde hair, which was tied back in a thick waist length braid. She must have sensed his stare for not a minute later she shifted her attention towards the bed. A kind smile crossed her pale lips, making her wrinkles all the more plain. Alec gazed at her, unsure what to say.
"Good morning lad."
Alec cocked his head. She spoke with a light cadence, her alto voice warm.
"I'm glad you're awake. You had a rough night."
Fear slithered in his stomach. He couldn't remember much from the previous evening. All he could guarantee was Manticore was gone and he was homeless. The woman moved towards the bed and Alec tensed immediately. To his surprise she dabbed the wet cloth on his forehead, her other hand touching his cheek.
"Your temperature is much better," she informed him. She drew the cloth back allowing her to meet his gaze. "My name is Gabrielle. Would you like to shower?"
Alec nodded mutely. Why did you bring me here? What do you want? All questions he wanted answers for but could not bring himself to ask. Instead he settled for climbing out of bed. As he tossed the covers aside Alec realized in horror that he was in nothing but his boxers. Gabrielle laughed lightly as his cheeks reddened.
"You stank something awful boy. I couldn't have those filthy clothes ruining my sheets now could I?" She grinned, eyes twinkling, handing him a towel and nodding towards the adjoining bathroom.
Alec scowled, annoyed the old woman found his embarrassment humorous. Sulkily he wrapped the blanket around his shoulders and shuffled to the bathroom. Hopefully a warm shower would clear his muddles brain.
Some time later Alec emerged, refreshed, to find his clothes clean and folded on the bed for him. He could hear Gabrielle humming in the other room. Quickly he dressed and left the bedroom to find her. He wanted to leave as soon as possible. As a transgenic he knew that normal people feared him and his kind; he doubted Gabrielle would be any different. An old gal like her would certainly have more reason to fear than most. Alec found her in the kitchen, cooking what appeared to be eggs on a skillet. It smelled delicious! His stomach rumbled announcing his presence. Gabrielle glanced over her shoulder.
"Please sit. Breakfast is almost ready. Then you can be on your way."
Surprised at her attentiveness Alec obeyed. While Gabrielle finished preparing breakfast Alec took the time to fully study the house he found himself in. It was actually quite small, more like a cottage with two bedrooms and baths, a small dining room and kitchenette and a tiny living room. Despite its size Alec found the place somewhat cozy, in a not so bad way. The woman living in it wasn't so bad either.
Gabrielle set the steaming plate in front of him and Alec had to restrain from desperately gobbling up the food. She only smiled, a knowing gleam in her eye. "Dig in lad. I know you're hungry."
Alec eagerly complied. Soon his plate was empty. Alec reluctantly put his fork down, surprisingly satisfied. "That was great. Thanks." Alec offered her a genuine smile. As for Gabrielle, her food was only about half gone. She chuckled, shaking her head, muttering under her breath, "Boys." Rising she picked up his plate and carried it to the sink. Alec watched her, somewhat uneasy as the events of the last day once more flooded to the front of his mind. He really needed to blaze. Slowly he stood up. Standing up Alec was surprised to see that Gabrielle was taller than Max, standing somewhere around five feet nine inches.
"Um, I need to get going," Alec said stiffly.
Why did he feel bad all of a sudden? He did nothing! Shaking the strange emotion Alec forced his mind onto the present. Gabrielle was studying him, her gaze unreadable. Alec bit the inside of his lip, forcing his feet not to shift in unease.
"All right."
Alec followed her to the door. As he stepped out onto the porch he paused, turning back to her. "Uh, thanks."
She waved her hand. "It was no trouble. Now you take care of yourself young man. Don't get yourself into trouble."
He couldn't resist grinning cockily at her. "I never get into trouble."
"Uh huh," she shook her head. Then Gabrielle's smile fell away, her demeanor becoming serious. "If you ever need help my door is always open."
Alec had not expected that. For a moment he looked at her, considering her offer before nodding. "'Kay."
Then he turned and stepped off the porch. As he started down the road Alec suddenly realized he never even told her his name.
Please let me know what you think!