No infringement intended.
Chapter Text
They returned to the living room, Lexie staying as far from the deadly syrup as possible. Duke handed her a bottle of water before he sat.
She gave him a strange look, staring him up and down for a moment before she sat back. "I still need containers for my Aether."
"Your what?" Nathan asked, swallowing his food.
"Aether. It's the essence of the Void."
"Sorry, I don't understand."
"Okay. Fine. Crash course. You know the Large Hadron Collider at CERN in Geneva? The thing they're using to try and find the God Particle?"
"I've heard the name... I think."
Lexie sighed. "The big machine thing that people were afraid would create a singularity that would kill everyone. I know you remember this. I think you called it the-"
"Doomsday Machine! Right, I remember. Lot of panic, nothing happened, like Y2k."
"Right, exactly." She stood and Duke swallowed hard, like he was trying not to say something. Suspicious.
She grabbed her backpack, bringing it back to her seat. She reached in, lovingly removing Jordan's orb from the top. She held it up with two fingers. "This is what they're looking for. They won't find it unless they fuck up like my people did and break through to the Void. This is Aether. Actually, this is the Aether that was in Jordan. This is what powered her Trouble."
Nathan was trying to keep up, but he had to stop her again. "What do you mean by 'your people', and what is the Void?"
"You saw the Void- well a piece of it, at least- through the doorway. The bright place. It's the buffer space between worlds. It's filled with Aether in active form."
"It looks different active?"
Lexie chose a different orb, carefully zipping Jordan's into a pocket. For some reason she felt attached to it, loved it. It hadn't meant to hurt Jordan, it was trying to help her by following its programming. She understood what it felt like to be blamed or equated with negative things when she was just trying to help.
She held the fresh orb up for Nathan to inspect. "This is dormant Aether. Not dead- it never dies. It's like a seed, it stays dormant until the proper conditions are met for it to become Active. Watch."
She focused her Intent, crushing the sphere and showing Nathan her black hand. "Please stay calm. Any shooting in my apartment will be done by me, 'k? They gave me a gun." She stage-whispered the last part and Duke coughed into his drink.
Raising her hand, she blew, and the Aether flew, forming a little girl of about six.
Lexie gazed in surprise, caught off-guard. "Come here, please."
The girl skipped to Lexie's side as Nathan stared, frozen. She shot Duke a brilliant, gap-toothed grin as she passed him. She had crazy black hair like his, but her eyes were almost sapphire blue, shot through with silver. She was beautiful.
"What's your name, Little One?" Lexie asked.
"I haven't been given one yet."
"Why did you take this form?"
The girl pointed at Duke. "He had a question that was bothering him, I answered it."
Duke froze. Oh shit. Seriously? Now Aether was selling him out? What kind of universe was this?
Lexie narrowed her eyes at Duke, but addressed the girl. "Thank you for your help, darling. You can go back now."
The girl nodded, blowing a kiss at Duke before blowing apart into glowing black dust that re-formed the orb in Lexie's hand. She offered it to Nathan. "Go ahead, you can't activate it. You're safe."
He held the orb gently, even lovingly. "I can feel it."
"Yes, you can. It's most of what I'm made of. It's what makes you feel me, even. Without the Aether, my body would wither, weaken and die. I was made reliant on it."
"But why? And what did you mean when you said, 'Your people?' "
This was going to be exhausting.
"I'll explain, but watch it- you scoff or even so much as ask if I'm sure, I will make sureyou feel it, clear? This is my life, no matter how strange or silly you think it is. I need you to trust, even if it's hard."
Nathan nodded seriously.
Duke laughed quietly. "Good luck with that, Buddy."
Lexie sat back, peeling the label off her water bottle.
"I wasn't born here, Nathan."
"Here in Haven?"
She looked heavenward, preparing herself.
"No, Nathan. Here on this world."
She waited for the interruption, but it didn't come. She rolled her eyes to look at him and he was silent, his 'listening face' on. Hmm. He was either actually listening or he was using his, 'pretend you believe the lying suspect' mask. She narrowed her eyes, suspicious, but continued.
"The place I come from is similar, but technologically advanced. Not so much, morally."
She shared the absolute basics, withholding the information about Duke. There were still things she had to figure out about that.
"So, we don't know why I was taken again. But the Barn is dead. The cycles should be over. There's nobody I can ask, unfortunately... unless..." Lexie looked at Nathan. "Howard was in touch with someone here. That person might have information."
"Do you have any idea who his contact was?"
"A couple of ideas, but I don't think you're going to like them."
"How bad could it be?"
"Nathan... it had to be either Vince or Garland."
"I- no, I'd know if it had been my father."
Lexie sighed, sad for him. "Can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
She stood, pacing a little.
"Did Garland warn you to stay away from me?"
Nathan blushed. "In a way."
"He said I'd cause you pain, right?"
"How did you know?"
"It's all history repeating. It could still be Vince. I'll have to talk to him directly to know. He'll have to wait til tomorrow though, because I'm exhausted and we still have to check on the Rouge."
Nathan's phone buzzed again. Lexie eyed it expectantly. "Depending on who told you about Jordan, that's Dwight or Vince."
Nathan grimaced before he answered. "It's Vince."
Lexie climbed into Duke's lap as Nathan spoke to Vince. She faced him, straddling his lap with her arms wrapped around his neck as she leaned into him, resting her face against his neck.
"Mmm. I think this is the closest to feeling 'relaxed' that I've been all day."
"Do you feel better with Nate knowing?"
Lexie chuckled. "Not that. I mean right now, in your lap, feeling your pulse on my face.That's what's relaxing me. You."
She'd surprised him again, and he stuttered a little. "I- you- I mean... really?"
"Yes, really. You make me happy, and your heart sounds like music." She hugged him hard.
"I keep expecting to wake up alone, with you gone for 27 years or for you to run to Nathan." He whispered the confession like he was ashamed.
"Shh, Duke. I couldn't leave you. I love you. I want to give you everything. I... I know I'll never be your first anything- you've been married, you've fathered a child. But I could be the last. I'd marry you and have your babies." She was smiling, but she felt him freeze beneath her. The embarrassment hit her like a truck when she felt him go still.
"I'm sorry, that sounded really clingy. I just meant, if you wanted... ugh!" She pulled away and paced to the kitchen sink, where she stopped to stare over the water.
What was wrong with her? She'd gone days without sleep before, she'd suffered exhaustion at least this bad before. Why was she so edgy now? Why was she saying this domestic stuff? He hadn't talked about a family at all, and he'd only mentioned marriage in an abstract concept.
She was acting like a stalker.
She closed her eyes as his hands landed on the counter on either side of her, boxing her in. She blinked furiously, trying to banish the tears in her eyes before he could see how crazy she'd gotten.
Duke pressed his lips to her ear, nuzzling her hair. "Did you mean it?"
"I didn't mean to sound needy and whiny. I swear I'm not that crazy or demanding."
"Lexie. Did you mean it about marrying me and having my babies?"
"Yes. But I understand it's really soon to even mention and you might not even want that, and that's okay. I mean it, but only... only if you ever wanted to."
He pushed against her, his front against her back as he brought one hand up under her shirt, fingers brushing her breast. He continued to stroke and squeeze as he spoke. "Nothing would make me happier. I want a family with you."
"You do?" Lexie barely breathed the words, gripping the counter. She was never this easy to get going. Never. But every time he even looked at her, her mind filled with irresistibly dirty thoughts.
"I absolutely do." His whisper echoed in her ear as he pressed closer, lips touching her ear as he spoke. "Making you mine. Hearing you say my name. Talking about marriage. Coming inside you... best moments of my life."
"I really, really need a few minutes alone with you." Lexie whispered.
She was about to go find a quiet spot when Nathan hung up. "That was Vince."
"Moodkiller." Lexie muttered.
"Cockblocker." Duke snarked just as quietly.
They both laughed, covering their mouths.
"So, what did the fearless leader have to say?" Lexie smoothed her shirt, turning to address Nathan.
"He wants to talk to us. All three of us."
"Great, he can come bring coffee."
"He was hoping we'd go there."
"Typical, he thinks he's at the advantage if we're on his turf."
Duke laid his hand on her hip, and she actually lost focus for a second. "Lexie, we've got to check the Rouge anyway, it's not out of the way."
"Yeah, okay, fine. But if he gets all snarly, you let me handle him. And don't tell himanything Nathan. Anything he hears has to come through me."
"That's totally fair. Just let Nate drive, and try to relax, okay? You're too tense, it's bad for... for you." Duke stuttered slightly, almost saying the wrong thing.
"Fine. Let's do this. Can we stop at the store after? I'm hungry."
They drove to the Herald while Lexie put her hair back up, keeping it draped over her chest so she could play with it. She kept her right hand on Duke's leg, but couldn't help reaching out with her left to touch Nathan's hand. She couldn't even be sneaky about it because he felt her. She was still mad, absolutely- but she still wanted to hug him.
They parked and Lexie grasped Duke's hand. "I just realized, I'm a hand-holder." She squeezed.
Duke smiled at her. "I like the sound of that."
She winked at him, turning toward Nathan. "Just- listen, no martyr-y talk, okay? If they want to talk about ending the Troubles, it gets done my way- one at a time, and no killing. Got it?"
"Are you going to tell them who you really are?"
"Nathan, I 'really am' Lexie. If I decide to tell more than that, we'll see. But like it or not, she's part of me, and I don't want to change." She narrowed her eyes, very serious.
"You need to really think about that, Nathan. Who you care about. It's a fact- Audrey wasn't part of Sarah. You haven't been quiet about your dislike of Lexie- but I'm as much Lexie as I am Audrey. You don't have to figure it out today, but you will soon." She patted his shoulder, trying to clear the lump from her throat. He hadn't even really told her he loved her. Hell, he might not.
Without another word, she walked into the office.
She saw Dave first, and couldn't repress her happy smile as she ran over, perching carefully on his lap to hug him tightly. "I missed you so much!"
He blushed adorably. "I missed you, too. When did you remember?"
"Duke came into the Barn, made me remember. I remembered everything, came back whole. Is Vinny flipping out?"
"Oh, that's a fair assessment. You know how he is."
Just then, Vince entered. He spotted Lexie reclined in Dave's lap, one arm over his shoulders, the other hand twirling her hair as she stared back.
"Miss DeWitt. Thank you for coming by."
"Such a friendly invite, how could I refuse?"
They stared each other down, everyone else silent as they watched.
Lexie won. Sighing, Vince sat in his chair and Lexie relaxed as Dave traced another star on her back. Smiling, she traced a figure eight on his leg.
"Okay Vince, you wanted to talk. Now that you're not surrounded by the Goon Squad, let's talk."
"There's talk that you were able to help Jordan with her affliction. Is that true?"
She tilted her head, staring at Vince as she stayed cradled on Dave's lap. "You mean the electrical charge in her skin? Sure. Of course I helped her, that's no way to live."
"What I mean to say is, how did you help her?"
"Not by killing anyone, that's a big start. You can't fix bad with bad. I'll play nice, but if anyone gets hurt or even threatened, I'm out- I won't work with people who can only function when they're hurting other people. Been there, done that. Can you give me your personal oath, Vince? Your Troth?"
She'd chosen her words very carefully- Vince had no problem lying, but his oath was sacred to him. One thing he would never break.
His eyes flashed to hers, knowing she'd used those words on purpose- but there were only three people who knew to use those words, and two of them were long gone, far beyond his reach. Yet this girl was draped over his brother like they were... old friends. He looked closer, squinting.
"Who are you?"
"Your oath, Vince. Or I'm getting up and walking out."
It looked like it physically hurt him to say, but he finally huffed, muttering, "You have my word" under his breath.
"Sorry, didn't catch that. Loud and clear, Vince. Make sure our witnesses hear."
She was needling him, but none of the parts of her personality objected. He had forced them to jump through enough hoops. It was his turn.
"I give you my solemn oath that nobody will be harmed."
Lexie stood and smiled, straightened up, shook her hair back and approached Vince.
"That wasn't so hard, was it?"
"Now will you tell me?"
"I took you to the hospital when you ate the rhubarb pie Eva Dunlevy baked you. She didn't know the leaves were poisonous."
"Sarah?"
She looked back at Nathan and Duke, an apology in her eyes though they didn't know why.
"You took me to the hospital when I was diagnosed with an ectopic pregnancy. You stayed with me and Dave when they killed our baby."
She was staring down, playing with her rings. She didn't want to see the looks on Duke's and Nathan's faces.
"But how? How do you remember multiple lives, how did you cure Jordan, how did you come back?"
"Duke. Duke, Duke and Duke. He came into the Barn, he made me remember. He helped me fix his Trouble so we could cure Jordan and he helped me get back. He's the only one who can safely remove Troubles, and you absolutely have to keep him and Nathan safe."
"How much do you remember?"
"Everything, Vince. Everything. Tell me- who was Howard talking to? You or Garland?"
"Don't blame Garland. We've been told to contact Howard anytime the Troubles came back, that he'd bring help. Farther back than anyone really knows. I should have made the call, but I was so damned tired and I figured maybe if we didn't request you you'd be left in peace. We tried everything else."
Lexie pulled up a chair, sitting between the brothers. She was really, really tired.
"He was right to call. It's my job. My duty." She looked at Duke, a sad half-smile on her face. "I just realized. When you make a home, you make a family. When you make a family... there are no term limits. It's for life."
She looked at her feet. "We can talk tomorrow. I'm beat, we've had no rest, I died, I got travel sick- I need to sleep. We'll meet tomorrow." She stood, putting her chair back. She patted Vince on the shoulder, kissed Dave on the cheek and stood with Duke and Nathan, avoiding their eyes.
"We still need to check the Rouge before we can sleep. I- oh. That is, I mean to say- right, right, I have an apartment. Sorry, just tired. Um, excuse me."
She walked quickly to the door, closing it carefully before she bolted, running around the side of the building.
What in hell was she thinking? She had actually forgotten that Duke didn't really live with her. Not to mention accidentally dropping an h-bomb on them. She couldn't have told them before, she hadn't had access to Lucy's memories. But she didn't want them to find out this way. All these little errors taken alone could be blamed on sleepiness. This many huge oversights in one day? That's terminal stupidity.
"So, why the time-out this time? Did Nate piss you off again?"
"Damnit, Duke." She sighed, wrapping her arms around herself.
He came around to face her, reaching to tilt her chin up. "Why'd you panic?"
"That wasn't panic. I don't panic. Ever."
"Why'd you run, then?"
"You'll think I'm stupid."
"Not likely, beautiful."
"I forgot you don't live with me." Lexie whispered quickly. "I told you, it's stupid."
"Lexie, come here." He pulled her into his arms. She counted her breaths, trying to force away the silly tears that threatened.
"I'm sorry. I've been so weird all day, and I should have told you about the stuff between Lucy-me and Dave. I suck."
"So you have a past. So do I. You said it yourself- I may not be your first, but I want to be your last." He gave her that sweet, heartbreaking smile that always made her gooey.
"Yeah?" She put her fingers in his belt loops, smiling up at him.
"Oh, yeah. And can I tell you a secret?"
"Anything." Lexie breathed.
"I wasn't going to sleep away from you. I'm not sure I can." Duke's whisper made her shiver.
Their lips had just met when they heard the door close and they broke apart as Duke muttered, "Fucking timing, people."
"Well, they're not shooting anyone, at least." Nathan came around to them. "Made me realize something, though."
"What's that, Nathan?"
"I forgot to say the most important thing."
He walked up to them, wrapping one hand against each of their necks and pulling them against him in a hug. "I missed you, I'm so glad to see you both and welcome home. Please don't disappear again."
Lexie barked a relieved laugh, hugging him back and kissing his cheek.
"You're still in there after all, Nathan."