Disclaimer: I do not own Dominion, its locations, characters, plot, etc. I do own this crazy idea and a love for angels, and a few characters thrown in...
Summary: Six weeks post 1x04 The Flood, AU. Ever since Michal returned to Vega after being stabbed, some of the Corps soldiers noticed he wasn't always the stoic, aloof archangel Vega's known for years. And Alex is about to find out why. Also...William Whele has a secret to tell about a night that went normally to everyone else but was actually something much bigger.
To RudolfTheDuck: Thanks for the fave and follow!
To SpenceFTW: Loki the dog! huh, lol I was wild carding that answer, usually Loki is for a cat :D Well what else would you bribe them with? Alcohol takes too long ;) Yes, bad dreams...don't worry, Furiad will get his due, :D the brothers aren't letting this go without a fight. XD Alex is so gonna get it from Michael, and everyone else :D Thank you!
To wiccawoman: You're welcome! Thank you and here's another!
To Mina: Yippee! Well here's another to add to the weekend! XD Thank you!
To Guest: Just about huh? Unit Six will always be awesome :D Morgana's off doing her thing, she's only attached to Michael so being at the Lodge means she's a bit more aloof, that and more angels are around so she's not thrilled. Yes, Michael will get some help with that. Thank you!
Chapter Fifty Five
Xxx
May 24th, 2040
Xxx
Alex tugged at the strap on his boots, trying to get it to lay flat for the fiftieth time, it was being in increasingly stubborn and he hadn't even really moved yet.
After they all woke up relatively late in the morning, Michael still asleep nearby, Audrey had kicked Unit Six out of the Lodge, promising to keep an eye on the pregnant archangel during the day while they went off to do whatever.
Mainly she wanted to get Michael some clothes that fit after his appointment with Jeanette and Roxi; and without his Unit around, maybe he would talk with her like Jeep wanted him to. Alex was hoping that was a good thing, he was almost dreading returning to their small cabin to meet Audrey and Michael that evening.
Right now though, he was in an army truck with ten others, his unit included, heading out to the "Rings" as the training base was called, the intent was to spend the day with other soldiers, training, learning the ropes of the Ridge, testing the armor Noah had finally completed…
Pulling into the slight valley the old river bottom had created, and watching the windshield get splattered by paint balls within seconds…
The day was less rigorous activity and more blowing off steam with people who not only could take a hit, but pack a punch in return.
Xxx
First half of the morning, was shooting targets, aka old metal cans that had obviously seen better days, some of the angels when bored would make pigeons to shoot out of the riverbank clay, but that supply was rapidly exhausted on a regular basis so fly targeting was limited today. Alex didn't mind, it felt good to fire off some rounds and get the feel of a weapon again since it had been over three weeks since his last actual session like this.
After shooting stuff, he'd moved on to see Noah and get his armor, and found out the angel sucked at remembering numbers without writing them down so he had to be fitted again for several pieces. As a result the next part of his day was a bit shorter than the rest, which wasn't a bad thing considering only a couple hours in and he was turning purple under his clothes.
Connors and Ethan slid over on the makeshift bench when Alex finally hauled himself up onto the stands, having gotten his ass handed to him by Kate, he was so not used to his new armor at all. It was functional, flexible, and decent, just a pain in the ass…
Either way, right now he was cooling off before trying his hand again at some training with Kate and Lucifer, Michael hadn't gotten very far in one on one combat with Alex before he'd gotten too sick and started canceling sessions before the fateful induction ceremony, Lucifer was stepping in for now as the final reports had been received from New Delphi.
An entire area had been bombed, Furiad wasn't taking no for an answer and now wasn't just looking for Michael, he was out for blood.
Michael would find out later that Alex had already resigned himself to working with both Lucifer and Gabriel, and Raphael when he had the time, to work on deciphering the tattoos by almost any means possible. Meditating included...they had to do something…
"Ow! You Bitch!"
But for the moment, the cocky soldier in Alex was content to sit and watch a pair of angels spar like they wanted to rip each other's heads off.
Scratch that, they were angels...that's exactly what they wanted to do.
And why Lucifer was in full armor alongside Gabriel, monitoring the fight with practiced patience to ensure there was no unnecessary injuries.
Abraxos, or Ax, was getting his ass handed to him by his slightly older sister Naomi, the tiny female was vicious, and wicked fast. She looked nothing like many of her other siblings that Alex had met so far, she was almost Oriental in her looks, soft caramel skin and thick black hair that was straight as could be. Throw in her wicked Jade green eyes and she was almost hypnotic on beauty alone.
Didn't help she could move as if dancing at all times, weaving around even the fastest opponents in a fantastic blur of motion.
"Yo Alex!"
Kate jumped up behind the boys, laughing as the other woman with her missed the bar and fell before climbing up once Ethan grabbed her arm.
"Guys this is Reilly, she'd been one of my unit mates for years now, Noma and I were thinking for her and Jackson-that red head sniper over there-to join us in a month or two, wanted you guys to meet them before Michael does."
Alex shook Reilly's hand, looking her over and having to crack a smirk at her brown hair streaked with bright yellow stripes, obviously bleached, but it gave her a wild look with the off-centered pixie hair cut. She was well-muscled, built kind of like Caroline with all her power in her legs and shoulders, but she was roughly Noma's height. Just talking with her briefly while Kate dragged Jackson away from his group of friends, Alex knew she was a wild card, Reilly was quick to rattle off her training, mostly knives and confrontational combat, but she also had tactical analysis training to the max, something Unit Six wasn't strong in other than Michael himself. Blake had been the next person for that and he still asked for another perspective even on full assignments. And yet with that analytical mind came someone who got into way too much trouble with her superiors for insubordination.
On the other hand...Jackson was a red head that could compete with Connor for hair color, but he lacked the former Helena soldier's sharp wit, more quiet and laidback. Until you put a gun in his hand and pointed in the general direction of his target. Even Lucifer had a hard time matching his target skills.
Not bad fits overall, and after watching the two take on Kate and Ethan respectively in the sparring ring behind the angel one, Alex and Connors agreed to have Michael make the final call, they'd be strictly guard duty only with Connors as their 'supervisor', just while Michael was in the hospital so that his full time unit could rotate out fully since the archangel had made it clear he'd prefer them around compared to anyone else. Noma and Kate had already come up with a schedule so either one of them or Alex was in Michael's room at all times, if he didn't want them there then they would be just outside the door with a pager linked to his call button.
"Ow! You fuckin' bitch!"
"Hey knock it off!"
"She started it!"
Naomi hissed, "Did not!"
Abraxos growled angrily, but Lucifer cut him off again, "Well I'm finishing it! Fight fair, both of you, and act your age not your IQ!"
Any human who understood the crack laughed, for that matter most of the angels gathered did too, but Ax's face was completely blank as Naomi snorted in amusement before lunging at him again.
Alex was about to ask Kate about her, intending on seeing if it would be worth mentioning to Michael another of his sisters were here, Lucifer had offered to give him a full list but his brother had refused, saying it wasn't worth it right now…
Instead Alex turned to see Noma and Kate listening to the brunette's radio, both of them pretty quiet and barely responding.
Kate huffed as she turned back around, jaw working for a moment as she waved at Gabriel to come over.
"What's up K?" Connors asked, turning on the bleachers fully now that Jackson and Reilly had headed back to their own things.
"Border scouts keep seeing random shit, nothing new there just guard switch, there's a couple idiots who keep forgetting I'm off the on-call rotation."
Gabriel grunted, shaking his head, "Sounds like some of my younger brothers."
"That's exactly who it is."
The archangel snorted, "And you needed me why?"
"Michael's back at the lodge."
Xxx
It wasn't an emergency, they still had some time at the Rings before leaving, but Alex knew after Kate's announcement it would be more wrapping things up than actively participating. Unit Six was confident in their skills, and Alex had turned down the new armor for now as Noah still had to make adjustments and was running out of patience with rookies breaking everything in training. The Chosen One was content to deal with his own gear for now.
The drive back to the Lodge was a mix of apprehension and contentment. Originally, the goal was for Audrey to return Michael to the cabin after Unit Six got done and was there already, apparently something had changed.
Alex was hoping it had nothing to do with the doctors appointment and more with Michael wanting the company.
Considering they walked in to find the archangel sitting on one of the couches sound asleep yet still looking exhausted, it was a mixed conclusion.
Audrey pulled all five of them into the Hub, shutting the door to keep the noise level down.
"What's up mom?"
"Nothing...or at least nothing too serious. Michael's just really worn out and it was easier to bring him here to rest instead risking him getting overtired and sick right now."
While that made sense, Alex knew that wasn't the whole story, not with Jeep still sitting out in the living room on watch.
Noma knew it too, "What else is going on? What did Carlisle say?"
The Lady sighed softly, "Michael's fine, mostly, a bit tired and dehydrated but nothing serious like I said. It was just a long day. The baby keeps turning over so Dr. Carlisle and Raphael are keeping Michael under watch for a few days, such high activity can trigger labor and all of us would rather be aware of it immediately instead of waiting."
"Mom…"
Audrey sighed again at Kate's complaining tone, nodding in defeat as she went on, "There's a concern that the baby's getting stressed out, not sure why, the ultrasound didn't really point any fingers and the blood tests aren't back yet. But both Raphael and Dr. Carlisle are leaning towards the possibility of Michael having the baby early, whether induced or naturally."
"What about a C-section?" As steady as Noma sounded, Alex knew she was on edge, arms crossed over her chest as her face remained professionally impassive.
"I don't think so," Audrey replied, "Not at the moment, there's signs of stress but nothing major and the most right now is an induction. But Michael's in enough pain and uncomfortable right now, preterm labor wouldn't be unheard of."
"Would it be a health issue?" Connors asked, bringing up the one question on everyone's mind.
Audrey shook her head, "At thirty-three weeks it's not a huge issue at all, just that baby spends time in the NICU to monitor breathing and formula intake, as well as if not in someone's arms being kept warm, will likely need to be in an incubator to ensure it can maintain body temperature. The only concern is birthweight, smaller babies find it harder to get going outside of the womb. Hence why all of us have been pushing for Michael to keep eating, any weight on that baby right now is a good thing. But you guys really shouldn't panic, if you're on edge Michael's just going to feel worse and he's pretty crabby right now as it is. I mean c'mon, Kate here came at 32 weeks and was just fine."
Ethan snorted, "Well...that's debatable-Ow!"
They all laughed as Kate slugged him.
Xxx
It was decided through careful deliberation as to who would stay with Michael while Jeep and Audrey got some actual work done.
Aka rock-paper-scissors
Connors was a sore loser with this game.
Alex waved off his complaint, following Noma and Kate to the kitchen while the red-head and Ethan stayed in the living room with Michael.
"...honestly though it would just be easier to scrap the damn thing and start over, those pilings have got to be just about shot right now."
"Yes, but that would take weeks, and if it keeps raining like this, months to complete, do you really want to drag this out? Repairs would at least hold things off for a couple months so the summer rains would die down." Jeep argued, barely glancing up at the soldiers' arrival. Audrey wasn't having it, growling as she adjusted something on her computer pad.
"Then why not just adjust this…"
Alex went ahead and ignored them, heading right to the fridge for something to drink while he waited for the bridge discussion to be over. It was easier to question Audrey for food and further details when she wasn't distracted, not that he needed to know much, judging by the neatly packed bags by the front door, the Lady's agenda of finding Michael clothes that would fit from now until July had been successful. No, Alex was hanging around because Raphael was leaning against one of the counters flipping through a medical file deep in thought.
Hopefully Michael could be cleared to return to the cabin, the archangel preferring solitude the most and if his day had been long and uncomfortable, remaining at the busy Lodge wasn't a good idea. The plan was to let the archangel sleep until late evening, get hot food and then leave. Simple enough really, half that plan was already complete since even with others banging around other wings of the Lodge Michael wasn't waking up...
"Ow! Shit!"
Never mind.
Raph beat Alex to Michael's side only because he'd been five feet closer to the doorway anyhow. Either way it didn't help Alex's nerves seeing Michael leaning on the couch hunched over, grimacing in pain as his hand held his stomach uncomfortably.
"You better be counting." Raphael snapped, immediately bracing his brother upright upon reaching his side.
Michael jerked his head in a nod, blowing out a breath harshly as Connors moved to kneel on the couch so the archangel could lean on him instead of the lower arm.
"Ah...still the same as the last one." Michael gasped out, blowing out another breath slowly as he started to straighten up. Raphael's hand slid along his side when all moving did was make the archangel cringe even more, hunching over again in pain. Alex winced a little, Michael had only been having Braxton-hick contractions every other day, but they were still hard and painful. Knowing today there'd been more than one, no wonder he was hurting, each spasm acted like the signal for the baby to just throw a fit.
"Damn...why is it still rolling over like that?"
Kate growled, "Did you seriously not listen to me this morning?!"
All she got was a snort from the healer, "I heard you just fine, that doesn't answer my question as to why it keeps happening. As for you brother, just sit back down for now, apparently moving is not a good idea."
Michael nodded, leaning against Connors further as the soldier guided him back down, once off his feet Michael was obviously in less pain, wilting back against the cushions with a sigh as he panted for air.
"That...wasn't pleasant."
"You think?" Raphael's snark earned an honest-to-ok Alex almost kicked himself for thinking god, bitch face from Michael. The archangel was in no mood for his brother's taunts. At least the dread-locked archangel got the hint, holding up his hands in surrender as he backed away.
"Hungry brother?"
Michael shook his head, resting it back again with another sigh, "No, I'm fine."
"Alright." With that Raphael turned and left, dragging Jeep with him back to Audrey in the kitchen.
Noma moved to sit next to Michael once Connors jumped up so he could actually remove his gear this time, smiling gently when he turned just enough to look at her.
"Tried to get up huh?"
He nodded, propping his feet back up on the coffee table with a low sigh as his hand rubbed circles over his stomach, "Apparently movement isn't allowed today."
"How many is that today?"
"Just two, always on my back though, nothing full yet."
"Key word 'yet'."
This time he grinned, settling further into the couch as his unit found their own places around the seating area, "I don't mind the wait, I'd rather…"
Alex's brow furrowed as Michael's trailing off wasn't picked back after a few seconds, the last few days Michael would pause midsentence and then keep right on going, likely getting hit in the lungs or diaphragm and being unable to continue for a moment. Right now he wasn't looking like he was about to go on at all.
"Michael?"
"Boss?"
The archangel still didn't speak for a moment, eyes vacant as his hand moved to cup the bottom of his stomach as if to check.
"Michael what's wrong?"
He didn't answer, moving his free hand to the side table and pressing a button on a black pager sitting there as he finally glanced over to Noma.
"Go get my brother."
Alex stood up as Ethan took off running, the blonde moved closer as Michael forced his breathing to remain steady.
"Michael what's going on?"
"I...don't know...something's different…" The archangel murmured, not seeming to dare to move or even speak abruptly as if that would make whatever this was worse.
Something banged onto the back porch, loud and rustling as Raphael followed Noma back into the living room, concern etched onto his face as the something called from the back door.
"Michael?"
"You paged Cass?"
Michael nodded to his brother's question, exhaling slowly as Raphael sat on the coffee table in front of him once Michael put his feet down, "Something's…"
"Off?"
Nodding, Michael let Raphael take over, moving his hands aside only to find Noma grabbing one when his eyes started to glaze over in anxiety. The archangel grimaced slightly as Raphael pressed along his stomach, brow furrowed in concentration while Cassiel appeared wind swept and out of breath.
"Note to self: It kinda sucks to sprint from the house like that. Anyway what's crackin' bro?"
Raphael didn't look up, nor did he speak to his sister, Michael on the other hand complied with the soft direction to sit up further, straightening just enough his brother could lightly press his fingertips along Michael's lower back to gauge the muscles. "What can you feel?"
"Little movement, but not sleeping, not like this. Feel's like my heart's racing…"
"But it's not." Raphael finished, glancing at Cass beside him, "Go grab the monitors from Audrey's office, for once I'm glad she has them here...two of you come here, Michael I want you stand up, slowly alright? See what happens if you move to the longer couch and lay down."
Alex and Connors jumped up instantly, both still confused until Noma moved to prep the couch and spoke up, lucky miracle one of them had medical training still, "Think the fetal heart rate is up?"
"Or down," Raphael replied, "Either one isn't exactly a shock but I'd rather know what's going on, been a long day though."
"Rough day." Michael corrected, letting his arms wrap around the soldier's shoulders to pull him up as Raphael kept a hand on his back to steady them. Once upright, Michael wasn't much...different? Not entirely sure if better was the right word in Alex's mind, but his mentor wasn't in noticeable pain. Just standing for a few minutes didn't change anything, though judging by Raphael's hand moving along Michael's stomach the baby was at least moving a bit more again.
Cassiel appeared with a pair of belts and portable screen, a bag slung over her shoulder as the soldiers moved Michael to the other couch and helped him lay back. The first belt was a simple muscle monitor, and immediately showed nothing once the screen was activated, the second took longer to adjust, the plastic Doppler having to be moved multiple times until the belt was pulled tight against Michael's abdomen. A low murmur started up on the monitor once Raphael adjusted the monitor, staring at the screen for a full minute in silence as Michael watched his face carefully.
Their sister leaned over the back of the couch, humming softly, "182, what was it at the appointment?"
"196." Raphael replied tightly, "Jumped to 203 for awhile and then dropped back to high one-eighties again."
"Michael has it always felt like this?"
Shaking his head Michael risked moved a hand from the couch, resting it against his stomach above one of the belts as Cassiel let her own fingertips drift lazy circles along the swollen bump, "A vague few moments but today has just been...off…"
"BPM dropped when he was up and moving, but went higher almost right away when resting, but low activity level. Moved more if Michael was in motion." Raphael explained, Cass nodded with a low sigh, not stopping her fingers as her eyes went vacant for a moment.
"She's almost bordering on distress again."
Noma shifted, "She?"
Cass smirked, eyes still not really focusing, "Automatic response, I call all babies I haven't met girls. I can't tell for sure, just feels uneasy."
Raphael growled softly as he adjusted the heart belt, trying to do so and not cause Michael discomfort, "Where's Lailah when you need her?"
"Dead," Cass retorted, "Alongside Kekebel and Iofiel, that doesn't help us right now Raph."
He shrugged, "Bordering on distress is not the same thing, but I don't know why there's low activity and high heart rate, Michael are feeling anything we're not?"
Michael shook his head, voice steady only because his hands had balled into fists by now, Alex had already glanced around the room to his unit mates, even Kate was about ready to jump in if the two archangels didn't start helping Michael relax. "Faint shifting, but no more, still feels like my heart's pounding."
His sister grabbed his wrist long enough to check his pulse, ignoring the fist or didn't even notice it, "Your heart rate's going up too, not a lot...Raphael give me something."
"Call Carlisle, he's at home so wake him up if you have to, going to monitor Michael from here for the night but I want him on stand by, if this doesn't settle down by morning we're going back in."
"OR and C-section?"
"Exactly, page Jeanette and have her and Roxi get some sleep, Lisa and Rachael can switch shifts with them. If not surgery tomorrow at least better monitoring if I have to pull the trigger. I'm not waiting for an induction since this has been going on for over six hours."
Cass left instantly, wings spreading even before she was outside, apparently she was forgoing the phone entirely.
Kate shifted, seeing Michael's face flicker into less anxiety and more actual panic, "Raph go find your brothers, I need to pull Jackson and Reilly sooner than I thought."
The archangel complied after syncing his hand held device with the monitor, still either ignorant or ignoring Michael's own distress, he glanced at Noma to ensure she knew what to do, receiving a nod in return before Connors and Ethan followed him and Kate back to the kitchen.
Alex hung around until Noma was satisfied with Michael, voice too low for him to hear before she jogged out to the kitchen for whatever.
Michael didn't say anything as Alex moved closer, sitting on the coffee table that held the small monitor screen. The archangel stared at the constant readout of the heart beats, almost as if his gaze would make it settle down and go back to something closer to normal instead of bordering on serious.
Would probably help if Michael wasn't so tense to begin with.
He wanted to speak, wanted to say something to ease his mentor's nerves at least for a little while.
It wasn't that he didn't have anything to say, Jeep just beat him to it.
"Alex!"
"What?"
The man looked pissed, cocking a shotgun as he headed towards the door with Audrey, "We need to go, you're with us."
"Why?"
"Because I said so."
Xxx
Alex worked his jaw in frustration, if the arguing wouldn't have upset Michael further, the blonde would have protested Jeep's orders, especially since both he and Audrey were refusing to answer any questions until in the truck and driving full speed for the fence.
Raphael was staying with Michael, keeping Ethan in the Lodge while everyone else did their thing, in Noma's case get her arm checked out to see if she would be allowed to assist or have to be in the waiting room tomorrow, Kate and Connors were tracking down the soldiers Alex had picked out for immediate guards. There goes Michael meeting them ahead of time...
Meanwhile Alex got dragged out past Red Ridge's border to where three angels were standing around a writhing body.
Jeep parked the truck well away from them, glancing at Audrey to make sure she was ok. The Lady had lost all of the confidence and strength Alex had come to see as natural in her, now a shaking person bordering on tears as she stared out the windshield.
"Alex?"
"Yeah?"
His adoptive father sighed heavily, "Gabriel told me you performed an eviction on an eight ball when leaving Vega."
"What about it?" Ok, now Alex was on edge…
Turning to watch the writhing body try to flee it's impromptu circle of guards, Jeep winced as Joel kicked it back into submission, "I need...we need...you to try to do that again."
Alex wanted to question things, but the apparently trapped eight ball shuddered on the ground, screaming into the skies as the Chosen One stepped out of the truck in time for Audrey to let the tears fall. He followed the two older adults closer, Joel and Naomi turning to face them as they approached but the third angel, one Alex had yet to meet didn't look away.
He was a bit busy restraining the eight ball as it tried to flee again. Now it made sense why is was shaking, just close enough to the fence to be affected but not seriously harmed right now.
Jeep stared at black eyes for a long minute, taking in the dark skinned eight ball carefully, the well toned body was ragged and filthy, but there was enough of the original look still there to recognize who the man had once been.
"Alex this is...or was...Kyle Williams, he was at the Paradise Falls Diner the night before you were born, he died protecting Audrey...or so we thought, he went down in a swarm of eight balls trying to save a kid who ended up being possessed."
The man let out a throaty laugh, twisting his captor's arms. His voice was grating, horrible noise, but Audrey still flinched at the sound, guess even after twenty-six years there was still some familiarity in it.
It also meant after all this time she could still hear his voice in her memories, the scars of this war ran deeper and deeper the more Alex learned about it and came into his fate.
"Look-y here...if it ain't little Audrey...all grown up now huh? Damn you turned out good...a piece o' you would go a long way huh honey-"
"Shut up!" Audrey lost it, her boot flying up to hit the eight ball between the legs, it buckled, but didn't drop like a human would have, Jeep stopped her from throwing any punches, hissing in her ear to get it together, too bad the eight ball heard him just fine.
"Nah man, don't go hushing the lil lady Jeep...ain't like you got anythin' to crow about. Now tell me, where's Michael, seems like if we're gonna have a reunion shouldn't the Big Man be here?"
Naomi snorted softly, shaking her head as Jeep tensed slightly, "As if we would know...what are we doing here, let's just kill this dog…"
Her sneer was met with a faint look of confusion from Alex, glancing at Joel and the higher holding the eight ball...or Kyle...or whatever he was now. Joel jerked his chin ever so slightly, but his message was loud and clear, Naomi had no idea Michael was here. Guess the upper ranks of angels hadn't exactly been as forthcoming with the archangel's presence after all. Nor for that matter had Alex's identity gotten around either.
Well, the latter she was about to find out, the eight ball was still taunting Jeep and Audrey, ignoring the last human there as he struggled in the higher angel's hold, Joel took over once the eight ball sunk his teeth into his captor's arm, laughing hysterically as he was thrown at the next angel.
"Fuckin' dogs...never figured out what Father saw in the bastards…" He snapped, heading back to Jeep's truck for the first aid kit to clean the wound before it closed, Alex watched his shoulders tense as he moved closer to the fence, guess even the pain from the boundary line wasn't enough to keep higher angels away from eight balls. Once finished he left entirely.
Naomi snickered, staring at Joel for orders, "Well? Can I kill it now?"
"No," Joel adjusted his grip, driving the eight ball to its knees in front of him, "Hold still or I'll drag you closer to the fence."
That made it shut up for a minute, and Jeep nodded to Alex, "Go for it, now."
"I don't even know how I did the first time and you want me to do it again?"
"At least try…" Jeep's voice cracked, "Not all...not all eight balls have such sharp memories from their vessel's after so many years."
"Wait...what's going on?"
Alex wanted to answer Naomi, might as well clear up one of the points of confusion.
Until the eight ball opened its mouth again, catching on a lot faster than the female, "Oh you have got to be kidding me? Is this that baby Michael was going on about? The savior of mankind! Look at you...all grown up...and a soldier! What would your mother say-"
That earned a faint growl, and Alex's hands balled into fists to keep still as he stared at the creature kneeling in front of him. He wanted to make it shut up...he wanted to make it stop…
"Oh did Michael ever screw up with you...what was he thinking? That sonuvabitch never should have kept you humans alive...nah man…"
Alex's jaw twitched, eyes like burning ice as he tried to ignore the taunting and calm down, trying to recall the feeling that had taken over his limbs the last time. This monster...he wasn't supposed to be here, wasn't supposed to make Audrey cry over someone she lost being right in front of her. Alex wanted to make this stop...wanted this war to end…
He wanted Kyle back.
The eight ball smirked, "You're just some slut's bastard-"
"Enough!" Alex was at the eight ball's throat before he could keep going, hand latching on the body's throat with a vice like grip as his icy stare burned into the black empty one in front of him, "Sanctificabisque illud vas reducas militiae, corpore carere fur…"
"Oh my god…"
Audrey's weak words went unnoticed, Alex adjusting his stance as he dragged the eight ball upright, Joel keeping the body relatively still since it was starting to shake violently.
"Sanctificabisque illud vas! Reducas militiae, corpore carere fur!"
The eight ball convulsed, starting to scream as the skin touching Alex's bare hand began to hiss with smoke...or something…
"Sanctificato hoc vas! Tolle hoc corpus-Aufugio et rrumabo DE!"
Alex jerked back as if struck, the eight ball going limp and being dropped as it's screams abruptly died. He yanked his jacket off, rubbing at his arms as the tattoos swirled over his skin violently, the buzzing loud in his ears and mind. Jeep kept him from backing away too far, nodding at the writhing body on the ground.
And the ghostly white vapor threading out of its mouth.
Out of Kyle's mouth…
Once it was free, Joel carefully nudged the body with his boot to get it to lay flat, allowing the shaking form to catch its breath.
The vapor twisted in the air, almost as if fighting with itself before...well dispersing fit the best, Alex figured it just sort of vanished to wherever eight balls went if they didn't have a body.
As for the body…
"Oh my god...is it...hey...hey...can you hear me?"
A low groan slid from the black man's throat as Audrey carefully tapped his cheek, shaking slightly as the dark eyes locked on her.
They were brown.
"What in the...where the fuck am I at? Who the fuck are you?"
"Kyle? Oh my god...Kyle-"
"Audrey?! You...what the hell...you're…" The man's hand drifted up to Audrey's cheek, brushing the skin gently as Audrey started crying again. Jeep stepped forward to help Kyle sit up, smirking as the recognition slowly dawned in him again.
"Jeep...what...what the fuck is going on?!"
"You got possessed-"
"That I know!"
Jeep smirked at the snap, "And Alex evicted the eight ball…"
"Alex?"
The blonde flinched a little from the sharp gaze suddenly on him, staring back as Jeep and Joel pulled Kyle to his feet, the higher angel was firmly silent, almost as if in shock.
Alex was too, what the hell just happened.
"Holy shit...you're-"
"Yeah...the Chosen One."
Kyle shook his head, "Yeah I got that...nah man...you're Charlie's kid...damn you look just like her."
Now Alex was uneasy, in shock and uneasy...he nodded slightly, jaw tightening as Kyle trailed off.
"She's...she's not here anymore...is she?"
Alex didn't answer, looking away as Jeep quietly confirmed Kyle's guess, the man sighed loudly, still leaning on Audrey as she kept an arm wrapped around him, almost in disbelief to everything going on.
"Damn man...that sucks...how about Michael? I'm guessing tall, blonde, and silent here ain't him."
Joel shook his head, arms crossing over his chest as he let Jeep answer.
"He's not here-not like that!" Jeep caught Kyle's look, "No, he's further in with the others, just…"
"Just what?"
Audrey chuckled at Jeep's faint panic, "He's...fine...you just wouldn't believe me right now if I told you."
Kyle shrugged, "Probably not, not with how my head's spinnin'…"
"Let's get you to the hospital and checked out, we'll explain everything on the way."
Nodding, Kyle slumped against Jeep better, breathing raggedly now as the three...no, four humans headed back to the truck.
"Joel...want me to scout out then since Nathanial left?"
The blonde angel waved off Naomi, not even turning as she took off. Alex paid her no mind either, glancing at Kyle carefully as they moved. Something wasn't right…
"So, first thing, Alex...thank you."
He received a smirk and a nod before going on, "But I gotta ask...how long's it been? Alex ain't a baby no more."
"Twenty-six years."
"Damn, what the fuck ha…"
Jeep paused as Kyle trailed off, sagging to the side as he lost the ability to stand.
"Kyle...c'mon we're almost to the truck…"
Scratch that...he'd lost the ability to breathe…
Alex froze as Kyle slumped to the ground, being stopped by Audrey as she screamed at Joel to do something.
The angel just shook his head, not stepping any closer as Kyle started shaking, choking on air that wouldn't make it to his lungs. It happened so fast there was really nothing they could do…
"He's…"
Audrey groaned as she dropped her head to the still one in her lap, shaking with tears that were long overdue.
Alex was desperately trying to speak, choking out one question as Jeep pulled Audrey away so Joel could grab the body.
"What went wrong?"
Shrugging slightly, Joel picked up Kyle's dead form, careful as he backed away just enough the fence wasn't going to hurt him, "Probably the eight ball being in there for so long...but if he held out like that...I bet the dog tore him up inside as it was evicted."
"So I fucked up…"
Jeep growled, "No, no you did nothing wrong…"
"Just might not have been fast enough." Joel finished, cutting off Alex's protest with a growl as he turned away, "Don't argue, you didn't know...none of us did, I've lived for thousands of years Alex, and I have never seen a successful eviction, this...was a success, the body was freed and the original soul took over again completely. Yes, he's dead, but he's also free. I bet he'd rather be free and dead, than still trapped, eight balls fuck with people's heads...especially on the inside. You three should get back to Michael."
Direct and to the point, very clinical and angelic. But Joel was right, this had been a long shot from the get go...just...damn...
"And not tell him." Alex added finally, glaring at Audrey's shocked face, "The last thing Michael needs to hear was I tried an eviction, let alone on someone he used to know…"
The Lady of the Ridge huffed angrily, "If we're keeping this from him, for now…"
"Yeah?"
"I need a drink."
Xxx
Correction, several drinks.
Alex winced in sympathy at the same time as he was biting back his laughter as he half dragged half helped Audrey into the Lodge. Jeep was on her other side, a stupid smirk having been permanently etched onto his face for the last hour now.
It had taken the pair a couple hours, but Alex had called it quits for them all once Audrey came up with the brilliant idea to start singing.
The drive from Central City had been long and obnoxious, but at least Audrey had quieted down once Alex had reminded her (for the fifth time) that Michael was in the living room. Though he was beginning to suspect she was about to pass out.
Sadly, it wasn't to last, Audrey wasn't the problem once they were in the door.
No, it was Jeep running into the weapons rack as loudly as possible.
Michael jerked awake, but remained where he was as he stared at the awkward trio staggering into the Lodge as Kate and Gabriel came running from the kitchen, having apparently been near enough to keep an eye on Michael but not bug the crap out of him.
"What the hell…"
Jeep held up a finger as if to answer Gabriel, seeming to sober up enough to respond. Instead Alex just watched as he dropped, right to the floor. That bang drew Lucifer from upstairs, the shirtless archangel pausing at the railing as he stared down at them.
Alex sighed, nodding a little to himself in exapseration as he adjusted his grip to hold onto Audrey on his own, "Yep, just like old times."
Lucifer huffed, "Well then...just a typical night here huh?"
Kate groaned as her mother swayed even with Alex holding on, "Not again...alright you two, pick a body."
Gabriel chuckled, stepping forward as Lucifer jumped down from the second floor, not bothering to land quietly as Michael was already awake and leaning up on his elbows, and everyone else in the lodge was either human or Raphael who Alex already knew could sleep like the dead.
"Does it matter which one?" Gabriel asked, letting Lucifer pick since he knew what to do.
His brother paused, "Audrey will wake up in a few hours and wander the house still drunk and looking either for another drink or to bake something. Jeep just needs someone to watch him so he doesn't fall out of bed and break something."
Gabriel immediately picked up Jeep.
"Thought so," Lucifer swung Audrey up into his arms with ease, sighing as his wings flared and he jumped up to the second floor. Gabriel huffed as he disappeared, having slung Jeep over his shoulder in a fireman's carry.
"Show off."
Alex chuckled as the other archangel left, going up the stairs instead of jumping since he couldn't exactly spread his wings.
Kate groaned again, shaking her head as she headed back to the kitchen and her post.
Sighing, Alex made sure the front doors were secure before making to follow her, pausing when Michael called his name softly.
"Yeah?"
"What happened?"
Alex froze, luckily not facing the archangel at all as he fought to keep his hands from balling into fists. There were many things he'd done to and because of Michael, but the one thing he hated the most was lying to his mentor. Michael was right, he never lied to Alex, and yet the Chosen One didn't really have a choice…
"Nothing Michael...nothing at all."
He just wished that would be the end of it.
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Translations:
"Sanctificabisque illud vas reducas militiae, corpore carere fur…"
"Sanctify this vessel, bring the back its host, rid this body of the thief..."
"Sanctificabisque illud vas! Reducas militiae, corpore carere fur!"
"Santify this vessel! Return this host, rid this body of its thief!"
"Sanctificato hoc vas! Tolle hoc corpus-Aufugio et rrumabo DE!"
"Sanctify this vessel! Take this body-Get the fuck OUT!"
