Title: J & T
Rated for: T
Fandom/Universe: Dukes of Hazzard / Stargate:SG1
Characters: Jon O'Neill, Daniel Jackson, Teal'c, Sam Carter, Luke Duke,
Pairings: Jon O'Neill/Tëmpeztrà Duke, Bhaze Duke/Camilla Dusan,
Spoilers/Warning: Not sure
Disclaimer: Supernatural and all related characters are copyright Eric Kripke, Kripke Enterprises & The CW Network. No infringement intended.
Summary: The Duke's are learning that life as Hunters is harder than they thought. Jon has to adjust to being a teenager, again. Tëmpeztrà chafes under the restraints Luke imposes. Asher walks a fine line between the 'normal' and the supernatural. ... Hunters and Aliens...what could possibly go wrong?
Status: In-Progress
Author's Note: Its been a while and I haven't forgotten about this one. I've been writing up the ending since that's the bits I got ideas for. This is part one of the chapter I had been working on. And boy have I gotten some ideas for the X-mas fic! Can't wait to finish this one and post the next two after this fic.
Chapter: Road To Ruin Part II
J & T
Jon hasn't paid attention to anything around him. He's been thinking about a girl, which isn't so bad, except said girl is only 16 and Jon isn't. There's no version of him dating Tëmpeztrà that doesn't somehow make him cringe. He's an old man forced into being a teenager because an alien cloned him. And that's a truth Jon can't ever say out loud. Jon utters an annoyed huff of breath and focuses on the campus. He's taking a couple classes over the summer just to get through the monotony of another school vacation as a teenager.
"Hey!"
Jon turns sharply, his hand automatically reaches to his side but then he's not armed. He's not Jack. And there's no reason Jon needs a weapon, though the slight frown on the girl's face he's been trying not to think about says maybe he ought to think about watching his words.
"Look, cousin." Asher grins, and Jon doesn't miss the grip he has on Tëmpeztrà's wrist, practically dragging her towards him. "Jon's here." He looks to Jon again. "You signed up already, huh."
"Yeah." Jon nods. He tries a smile that feels like a grimace but he's trying to pretend seeing Tëmpeztrà now is no different than before the kiss. "Uh, 2nd session." He shrugs.
"Tëmpe's taking a class." Asher drapes his arm over her shoulders. "You know she used to take college courses? I only just found out." He turns to Tëmpe though she's scowling. "So I had to get her signed up."
"Yay…" Tëmpe mocks with a grumbled snarl as she glares at them both. "Summer in a class room. Just what I wanted to do with the rest of my vacation."
"Aw, she's just grumpy." Asher assures. "So, what's your class, Jon?"
"Oh, uh… Astronomy." Jon holds up his book and gets a slight frown from Tëmpeztrà.
"You're absolutely going to become some green peace loving activist." She mutters with a shake of her dark head.
Jon is smiling. "What about you? Anything interesting?"
"Oh, of course." Tëmpeztrà rolls her eyes and nudges Asher. "I signed up just in time to get what's left."
"Already told her she doesn't have to worry about passing." He assures with a mocking pat to her head that she shakes off. "Math is my thing."
"So is drawing." She snaps. "I hate this. And I don't like you right now either." Tëmpe smacks his arm off her shoulders and walks past Jon.
Asher keeps his smile though its forced. Aspen mentioned Tëmpeztrà wasn't taking classes over the summer. It wasn't unusual but then Asher thought it would take her out of the house a few hours without Luke thinking she was off trying to Hunt something.
'Even if we are Hunting something.'
And if it keeps earning her the credits… well, why not? This was just one more way of forcing Tëmpeztrà into a normal life while they still have some sort of say in how she chooses to live.
"Sorry about that." Asher apologizes, he's caught Jon's stare and its so obvious. "She's not happy to be hanging around town for the summer. Sort of expected to take off …" he shrugs. "Guess she'll just go out with that guy again."
"What guy?" Jon could smack himself! But he's already opened his mouth and Asher's grin seems a little too satisfied.
"Ah, its some college guy." He shrugs. "Dude's not even sticking around the whole summer. Figure Tëmpe's just trying to piss off my Dad, or something. Girls. I still can't figure out what the hell they're thinking."
Jon nods but he's got this churning in his gut that's familiar and he doesn't like it in the least. Just thinking -.
"Hey, we'll see you around, Jon." Asher walks past and he wants to pat himself on the back. 'Master. Of. Deception. Yeah, that's me. I'm just awesome.' He chuckles and catches Tëmpe as she reaches his truck. Getting her to agree to sign up for the summer wasn't easy but he's happy he got her there.
"What the hell was that?" she demands once they're both sitting in the truck.
"What?" Asher feigns innocence but his cousin isn't buying it. "Oh come on. Tëmpe, the guy lik-."
"Shut. Up! Just shut up!" she glares out the window and the last thing she wants to hear is Asher telling her again that Jon likes her. If that was the life she wanted, then she wouldn't be looking into weird reports and newspapers to find a Hunt.
As they follow the line of cars out of the parking lot, she spots Jon heading towards his truck. He waves and she offers a forced smile in return.
Jon wonders again why it has to be her. He knows it wouldn't be easy to find a woman willing to … 'date' a teenager. Hell, that would be all sorts of trouble and really, that's the last thing he wants or even needs. But that would be acceptable, it would be easier than … He just feels like a creepy old man!
J & T ~
Killing time, waiting for a reply, that's what got her in the mess she's in. Tëmpeztrà wonders what Aspen was thinking. Why would she even mention her college credits? And Asher! The dumb ass actually dragged her to Fells campus! And math!
"Ugh." Tëmpeztrà drops onto her bed and covers her face with both arms. She's thinking about Jon and how they'll probably run into each other. "Damn. Damn. Damn!" then she kicks with her foot though there's nothing to hit. She seriously considers finishing the Hunt without her nosy cousin. Getting around the handsy, face-sucking, house sitter wont be a problem and that brings another grimace to her face. She's partly to blame for the guys black eye and hopefully Asher hasn't blabbed to Bhaze. Now she's wondering if leaving Asher out of the Hunt will get her in more trouble considering what he knows…
"Damn…" she sits up, glaring at the wall. "Screw this." Tëmpeztrà grabs her leather bag on her way out the door. She can hear them downstairs and her aunts bionic hearing makes Tëmpe hesitate just a moment before she continues down.
The living room is empty and the sounds of their voices are muffled. Tëmpeztrà hurries out the front door, letting it bang shut behind her and sprints to the corner. She doesn't stop and doesn't look back. Luke will be pissed no matter what and Tëmpeztrà just doesn't care anymore.
Luke isn't going to stop missing Bo, he's not going to stop blaming Hunting and Sloane for his death. No matter what happens, Luke can't let it go. And Tëmpeztrà is done letting it hurt, because she misses her uncle too. She misses the way it had been, how they'd all been a family, together…
Tëmpeztrà wipes at her face, leans on the fence and drags in breath after breath.
'Crying and running… bad idea.'
She almost wants to laugh but she can't seem to make herself stop crying and that pisses her off. She kicks at the sidewalk, stubbing her toe in the process and curses.
"You okay?"
Tëmpeztrà whirls around, her eyes wide, choking back a startled yelp and no way has Jon missed the fists he knows can hurt him.
'Son of a bitch. Fuck, oh fuck! How is this my luck?' Tëmpeztrà wants to hit something but her toe still hurts thanks to her little fit.
"Fine." She bites out and quickly wipes at her face while turning her back to him. "Great, got some dust in my eye, is all."
"Hey…" Jon only hesitates a moment before pulling her into a light hug. She's stiff in his arms, trying to keep her face hidden. "Its probably a bug." He says to the top of her head.
"Huh?" Tëmpeztrà almost looks up.
"In your eye," Jon clarifies. "You probably got a bug in it. They're all over the place."
"Eww!" Tëmpeztrà automatically reaches to her eyes and rubs only to stop and laugh because her tears have nothing to do with a bug.
Jon smiles, satisfied he managed to get a laugh from her. His reward is the girl turning into his chest and laying her face in his shirt while her arms snake around his waist.
"You're such a clown." Tëmpeztrà mutters loud enough he can hear her. He chuckles, his hands threading through her loose hair.
"Only when I need to." Jon smirks. "So, where are you going?" he gets a shrug and still she doesn't take her face out of his shirt. "Oh, well, yeah, that's a good place."
She chuckles and shakes her head. "Where are you going?"
Jon was heading home… Now, well, he's not so sure that's a good idea.
"I was just walking…"
"…walking…" Tëmpeztrà sighs then pulls away from Jon. "You feel like having some company?"
He should say 'No'.
"Sure." Jon offers a smile. "You betcha."
Tëmpeztrà barely smiles in return.
J & T ~
"We need some study material, Dad." Asher calls over his shoulder as they head out to his truck. "Go, hurry up." Asher hisses at Tëmpeztrà who still keeps giving him dirty looks.
Tëmpeztrà waits until they're a block away before glaring at him. "Study material? You are such a bad liar!"
"Am not." Asher makes a face realizing he's just sounded like a 5 year old.
"You are so not 'the master of deception' cousin. You suck at lying. And what's Luke gonna say when we come back, no books in hand? You realize we are heading two towns over, right?" she demands without pause.
"I'm the good kid here, Tëmpeztrà." Asher points out. "Whatever I say, they'll believe because they know I'm not a reckless idiot." He glares at her snort. "Whatever."
"You are an idiot." Tëmpeztrà says into the silence. "You're not seeing the big picture, Asher. Hunting isn't a joke, its not some side hobby you get to put down when you feel like." And that's exactly what they've been trying to make her do.
"Why are you both so thick headed?" Asher grumbles.
"Because you don't have to go down this road… We lost our parents, Asher. I miss Dad and I miss Mom but I think Uncle Luke and your Mom will miss you more. I don't think he can deal with your loss…" she blinks the sting of tears from her eyes and focuses on the road.
Asher's only response is a heavy sigh. He understands their concern, all of them, even if his parents don't know his cousins are on their side. Asher just wants to share with his cousins, he wants to be part of their lives and from what he can tell, that means Hunting. He's content to just do the research, anything to avoid another close call like he had last semester.
"Who's Camilla?" he ignores the sharp glance from his cousin because he's not supposed to know about her. And he can't mention last semester…
"How do you know about her?" Tëmpeztrà has a feeling there's more to the research they've both repeatedly insisted is all Asher has been doing.
"Sort of got into a conversation about girls and Bhaze clammed up almost as soon as he mentioned her. Figured its an ex, important one… Hunter?" he glances at her and gets a soft scowl.
"Yeah," Tëmpeztrà keeps her attention on him. "He's in love with her. Camilla signed up, followed in the family tradition of serving in a branch of the military; AirForce, like her brother. Bhaze is pissed off because he asked her to marry him."
"He what?!" Asher is genuinely surprised. Bhaze is only 20, just barely and shit like that just doesn't fly. "He knock her up?" he winces at the punch he gets. "What?!"
"Asshat." Tëmpeztrà glares at him. "He asked because he's in love with her. Not because he's supposed to. You're a jerk, you'd ask a girl to marry you if you knocked her up? And why the hell wouldn't you just use a condom? Eww! I don't need to know." She turns to face front once again. "No, just shut up and drive. I already have all the ingredients for the hex bags and the sooner we get this done the sooner you can get to lying to your Dad about where we've been and the lack of books you said we were going to get."
Asher is annoyed. His first Hunt and here he's getting scolded by his younger cousin. "Oh, this is gonna be soooo much fun."
Tëmpeztrà ignores the sarcasm.
J & T ~
They're staring at the junk of metal sitting in the yard wondering if they're getting into more trouble than they'd like.
"Maybe I shouldn't." Bhaze mutters under his breath.
"Giving her a set of wheels to work on is better than a set she can drive off in." Macer points out and Bhaze agrees.
"Its keeping her busy that's friggin driving me nuts." Bhaze scowls then sighs. "I don't know what else to do." He turns to Macer. "Its what Mom wanted for her."
Macer stares at the junker, its going to need a lot of work, which he knows Bhaze and Tëmpeztrà are more than capable of doing all on their own. It wouldn't be the first time. Rebuilding the car is as much second nature to the Dukes as Hunting.
"You should let her read it, Bhaze." Macer drapes his arm over the younger hunters shoulders. "Tëmpe's not gonna stop fighting to be what you've been raised to be. Hunting is in her blood, generations back if you've got the info right."
"We do." Bhaze assures. "There's a Campbell family tree on parchment in a box somewhere… Hunters."
"You ever want to track down the other branch of the Campbell's in your family?" Macer wonders.
"What for?" Bhaze shakes his head. "They didn't want anything to do with us. I don't see any of 'em around, you?"
"You don't know the whole story." Macer points out. "There's always more than one side…" he sighs and turns back to the frame. "You should get her this one."
Bhaze stares at it too. "Man, I hope my uncle doesn't pitch a fucking fit because of this."
"It's a car, Bhaze." Macer points out. "Not a Hunt." He slaps a heavy hand on Bhaze's shoulder and starts walking. "Your uncle should be happy about that."
J & T ~
Asher is unable to sit still and his cousin has already snapped at him once. Most of the little pouches are tied up. Thankfully. They can't afford to have another one spilled. Hence the reason Tëmpe snapped at him.
"This stuff wasn't easy to get, nor cheap." She says as the last pouch gets tied.
"I'm sorry." Asher repeats, just a little annoyed.
"You should wait here." Tëmpeztrà hides the worry. "Keep an eye-."
"I'm going." Asher glares at her. "Don't think I'm letting you in there with that douche bag all alone."
"For kraps… I can handle him." Tëmpeztrà shoves her door open and hops out of his truck before Asher can protest. "Let me do the talking."
"Is that what you call it?" he demands.
"Not now." Tëmpeztrà warns. "Or sit your ass in the truck and wait." She pauses on the sidewalk and glares right back at her cousin. After what he saw… well, she can't blame him for thinking she can't handle herself.
"You're not getting rid of me that easy." Asher starts up the stairs. He bangs on the door and grudgingly moves aside when she forcibly shoves him.
"Quiet." She orders just as he's opening his mouth. Her face sports a smile he thinks is way too flirty.
"What are you doing here?"
Tëmpeztrà quickly pushes the partially open door wider and steps inside. Asher right behind.
"What the hell!? Get out. Both of you."
"As soon as we finish the job." Tëmpeztrà's tone is no longer that ditsy, flirty one she used on the last visit. "You know the scratchy noises, the flickering lights, all the little annoyances you were complaining about last time? Yeah, you've got a poltergeist. It killed the last couple of handy men that were 'fixing up' your soon to be frat house."
She waits patiently for the handsy fool to process and start threatening to call the cops on the crazy psychos who just walked into his house.
"You're fucking nuts." He says.
"Of course we are." Tëmpeztrà agrees, sighing.
"Get out. Before I call the cops." He threatens.
"I'll dial for you." Tëmpeztrà volunteers, her cell in hand. "You can explain to them how you tried to take advantage of a minor."
"What?" he looks angry and shocked all at once.
Tëmpeztrà huffs with slight annoyance. "You tried to have sex with me in the library." She speaks slowly and enunciates each word. "My cousin stopped you." She glances at Asher. "Not that I needed the help."
"Yeah, you were totally in control." Asher glares and gets an eye roll in response.
"You-! I didn't know!" he splutters. "You were all over me!"
"Uh, no." Tëmpeztrà frowns. "I played the ditsy slut and you totally bought it. I didn't put your hands on my ass."
"Enough! Jeez," Asher glares at them. "Poltergeist?"
Tëmpeztrà grabs an arm while motioning Asher to the door. "So you need to leave right now. We'll finish and leave the key-."
"I'm not leaving." He pulls out of her grasp and back tracks. "I don't know who you thi-."
"Watch it!" Asher calls out as the side table slides across the hall. He grabs Tëmpeztrà and pulls her towards him while the table slams into the opposite wall and splinters.
"Wha… wha… what…?"
"Poltergeist." Tëmpeztrà grabs him again and hauls him towards the door.
"Uhm…" Asher turns towards them, thumb pointed towards the door. "Its stuck."
"Stuck." Tëmpeztrà repeats. "Of course it is." She grits her teeth and turns around. "Come on. We have three floors to clear and this bitch knows it."
J & T ~
The phone goes to voicemail. Again.
"Luke."
He has the guilty, startled expression she knows so well.
"You -."
"Are you checking up on them? Your own son? Lukas-."
"I've called twice and he's not picking up. Neither is Tëmpeztrà." He takes her hands in his and tries to calmly pretend he's not worried they're on a Hunt. His boy knows better, so he tells himself. "They could've got a flat on the side of the road, no reception…. Or what if the truck broke down."
"I know better." Aspen pulls away, arms crossed. "And you know our son. Lukas!"
"Damn it!" Luke scowls. "She's stubborn and pig headed. What if they get hurt? Because I don't believe-."
"Enough!"Aspen smacks his arm. "I've had it." She smacks his arm again. "Every time, you're like a broken record. She hasn't done anything, Luke. Not a damn thing all summer. Just let them alone for a moment. Let Asher show her what a life without Hunting is like."
"What if she's the one showing him the Hunter life?" Luke demands.
"Oh Luke!" Aspen throws her hands up, frustrated. "He's got her taking a class. All he did was drive her to the campus. Do you know how long I've been at Tëmpe to continue the college courses? All year!" she shakes her head and turns away.
"That do-."
"Shut up." Aspen calls over her shoulder. "I don't want to talk to you."
"Aspen!" Luke stops following her because he knows that's just going to keep him in the dog house longer. But he scowls down at the phone. "I know you're up to something."
J & T ~
Its been a week since the poltergeist 'incident' and the dirty looks from Luke. He didn't bother looking through the stack of books Asher lugged in to corroborate the lie he told. There was nothing they could do to hide the bruises and sore muscles, especially with Asher wincing and moaning each time Aspen hugged him.
They get through the top floor with minor interference. Slammed doors and flickering lights, flying furniture… a couple of lamps that break and spray them with glass shards. A little blood is the least of Tëmpe's worries so long as its not her cousins.
The second floor comes with more attacks; a few extension cords snaking their way towards them and thankfully avoided by Asher. Not so much the new tenant who almost ends up hanged. That didn't help calm him and trying to finish the house with a civilian freaking out…
It's the ground floor they find the most dangerous; the kitchen in particular. Flying knives that decorate the refrigerator door. One of those impaling into the freaking out civilian who ends up in the hospital. A flaming stove that decorates the wall in soot, melted glass and plaster with charred beams to match.
It also leaves them with nicks and scratches, bruises they'll suffer through the summer heat to cover up from Luke because the last thing either of them wants is another fight.
Tëmpeztrà utters a sigh seeing the flat bed that parks in front of her uncles house. The familiar roar of the General Lee explains the reason.
"What is that?" Asher comes out onto the porch munching on an apple. He's got a second for Tëmpe that he hands to her.
"That," Tëmpeztrà tosses the apple from one hand to the other. "Is my brothers idea of keeping me busy."
"Huh, so… you're getting a car." Asher grins. He waves to Bhaze as he comes up the front walkway.
"Take it back." Tëmpeztrà orders before her brother can say hello.
"I… what?" Bhaze looks confused. He comes up the front steps, frowning. "I thought you'd like it."
"You think its going to keep me in this krap town the rest of the summer while you're off Hunting." Tëmpeztrà snaps at him.
"Uhmm," Asher looks behind him with concern. " The 'H' word isn't…"
"Not now." Tëmpeztrà smacks the apple back at him and levels a glare on her brother. "Take it back. And I'm going along for the ride."
"What- No." Bhaze glares at her. "You have class."
Tëmpeztrà walks past her brother and heads towards the street ignoring her brothers demand that she come back. She has a couple of weeks left for summer vacation and her brother is refusing to get her out of suburbia hell.
Asher can barely contain the frustrated sigh. "Dude, what were you thinking?"
"What?" Bhaze turns the frown on his cousin. "I got her a car-."
"That, uh, no." he shakes his head trying not to laugh as he points to the junker that most likely doesn't even turn on. "Its not even close to the General Lee. You think she wasn't going to see past it?"
"Had to do something." He grumbles. "I can't take her Hunting, you know that."
"Well, she's getting that message." Asher assures. "Wanna say hello to Mom and Dad?"
~ J & T ~
