Crossing Paths
Disclaimer: See chapter 1
Authors Chapter Notes: First off I have some apologies to make. For the lateness off the Chapter 4 update. But due to cyclones, a sick cat, a death in the family and some computer problems there was a long delay.
And for not answering all the wonderful reviews of chapter 3. I figured you people would much rather read a new chapter than have it delayed any longer?
Here's Chapter 4… Enjoy!
Chapter 4: "You've got to be kiddin me... another clone?"
Alec loved these night-time forays into Seattle; it gave him the same feeling of exhilaration his short career as a cat burglar had given him when he had first arrived in Seattle after his last solo mission for Renfro and Manticore had ended with Manticore burning to the ground, leaving him literally with no place left to go.
Alec had been a good Manticore soldier carrying out his duty, his mission efficiently. What else was he going to do? He'd been born and bred at Manticore; Manticore, mission, duty was all he'd ever known. One mission had changed that for a short time but the Beresford assignment had ended badly sending Alec to re-indoctrination, and that had seen to his lapse of his duty and mission.
It was Max that changed everything for Alec… she'd changed things for everything and everyone that had come out of Manticore. A few months After Max had been recaptured by Manticore after 10 years on the outside Renfro had set her plan into action. Unbeknown to Max Renfro had infected her with a virus targeted to kill Logan. That's where Alec came in; where his final mission had begun. Alec knew Renfro had used him because of the same face he shared with his twin, his clone, Ben. A face familiar to Max because Ben was one of the group of nine year olds who had escaped with Max. Alec's mission was simple…at least it should have been. Lead Max to believe him an ally in helping her escape; follow her to Seattle to ensure the virus could be delivered to its intended target. It was when he'd confronted her at Logan's after she had unwittingly infected Logan who was already feeling the effects of the genetically targeted virus that it had gone to Hell in a handbasket. Alec had told her that the only way she could procure the antidote and save Logan was to surrender herself back to Manticore. Alec knew Renfro had no intention of letting Logan live she would get the result she'd craved for a long time, and the 2 things she wanted most- Max in her control and Logan who's Eyes Only broadcasts had been a thorn in Manticore's side, dead.
In Logan's apartment he'd fought with Max and with Logan's help Max had somehow gained the upper hand and temporary control of the situation. Leaving him tied up at gunpoint by Logan she'd returned to Manticore for the virus' antidote. Alec had waited for the effects of the virus to render Logan barely conscious and incapable of holding the gun up and trained on him before he'd freed himself and followed Max back to Manticore. Arriving in time to see the place was well alight explosions rending the air full of sound lighting up the night sky and rocking the ground around the site for miles. Renfro was dead; during the ensuing melee and confusion as Manticore burned she was shot and killed by one of the Manticore guards. Max retrieved the antidote, set the transgenics, transhumans and even the nomalies free destroyed Manticore and returned to Seattle in time to administer the antidote and save Logan.
Now a year after the events of that night and that last mission it was sneaking out of TC that gave him a similar feeling and for Alec a purpose; under the radar and the noses of the police and National Guard stationed at what they thought were the only entry and exit points of Terminal City. They of course knew nothing about the unorthodox ways they had found around the barricades and blockades.
They'd been penned up in TC for twelve days before making the first runs for supplies; the sewers the vile sewers were the only method they could use in secret for the first runs for vital supplies. It was after one of the raids as he tried to rid his clothes, hair and body of the rank totally disgusting smell that he remembered something he'd read awhile back in one of Brain's many books in the apartment he'd sort of inherited after the highly intelligent, geeky, annoying but likeable transgenic was killed helping him and Max save Asha and the other members of the S1W.
The book had told how the Seattle of today was built over the top of the remains the original Seattle. The old city was founded on low lying ground and the city flooded by the waters of Puget Sound on a regular basis which was kind of ironic because they could have used that water in 1889 when a spark ignited a fire and a lot of the city was destroyed; anything wood or combustible went up in flames leaving behind only the brick shells of buildings. Seattle was rebuilt after the fire, this time on higher ground over the top of the remains of the old burned out city. This would ensure that flooding would no longer be a problem. The old buried city remained like a time capsule below the streets buildings and sidewalks and was still accessible if you knew where to enter. It had become home to the poor and vagrants for many years and later in the mid-20th century became a popular tourist attraction with many people taking tours of the enclosed ruins.
As luck would have it the remains of the buried city run under Terminal City. Using pick axes Alec, Joshua, Mole, Dalton, Luke and a couple of other transgenic's had gained access to the old city through the floor of the deepest basement level of one the unused buildings. It had taken a week to clear a usable path through the remains wide enough to transport larger pieces of equipment and machinery through; exiting up some stairs into Pioneer Place at the back of what used to be a bar where the tours of the remains of Old Seattle used to commence from. The exit was well disguised and was well clear on the other side of the barricades.
Alec found the remains of the old city fascinating. As he traversed the cobbled enclosed streets his cat DNA making it easy to see his way without a flashlight, the empty shells of what had once been sunlit, bustling, thriving businesses and shops around him. He could imagine them as they had been in the mid 1800's; the bank with the teller's cage vault and iron security door, the bar with a chandelier and a beautiful polished bar top. Glass panes filling the empty spaces in the brick facades of the shops reflecting potential customers images as they passed by. The jingle of tiny bells above the wood entrance doors as people entered and left. The hum of conversation and shouted greetings. He could hear the happy tinkling laughter of 2 young ladies, ankle length buttoned up, tight-waisted dresses each with matching satin and velvet hats trimmed with ribbons feathers and lace set atop intricately curled and coiffed hairdos as they exited the Eleanor-Jane millinery, each carrying a large hat box. He could smell the freshly baked bread from the bakery across the street that mixed with the pungent smell of seafood caught that very morning in Seattle Harbor emanating from the open canopied fishmongers stall a small distance away.
The access to this hidden world made supply runs for food, medical supplies, weapons, ammo, clothing, bedding, technical supplies, hardware for TC's command center and of course cigars for Mole a lot easier than negotiating the sewers which Alec hated with a passion.
Tonight Alec was on a slightly different kind of supply run and he was alone with no other X5 or X6 accompanying him and that was because no one else knew about it and this wasn't the first time he'd done this several times without informing Max or any of the other residents of TC. Although this was riskier than the other times and Max would be pissed at him for not informing her of his intentions and going outside TC's walls without backup but she would surely forgive him when she saw what it was he'd bought back and the benefits of having the portable laser for bar code tattoo removal. Although the laser treatment was only temporary if they had one in TC they could use it as often as necessary it would make it easier for him and the other X-5's, 6s'and 7's to blend in and mingle during daylight hours. With use of a laser they didn't have to limit their supply runs to after dark.
In the weeks since they'd been holed up in TC it had been reasonably peaceful especially after the siege and their flight from Jam Pony to TC. After White's humiliation that night 6 weeks ago he seemed to have backed off at least for now. This in itself was a worry. It could only mean one thing - White was lulling them into a false sense of security… of safety because he was planning something Alec had no doubt the man would strike when they were least expecting it.
Max had taken on the role of leader of the TC residents she was a natural leader and no one objected to her assuming the mantel. When Alec had broached the subject of White with her Max had agreed with him but until White showed his hand or made a move there was nothing they could do but wait until that happened and deal with the consequences then.
Max was outside of TC tonight meeting with detective Clemente which made Alec's foray outside TC easier to cover up. Max had met with detective Clemente several times before tonight, the meetings had to be in secret as Clemente had discovered the Seattle Chief of Police was in McKinley's and White's pocket. If it was found out Clemente was assisting the transgenics that would mean the man's job. Clemente was a good guy and the big man's dislike of the arrogant hard-nosed White made him an ally of sorts and he was the only ordinary other than Logan, OC and Sketchy who had escaped Jam Pony with them that knew of the night-time raids into the city. Clemente had helped them organize a feigned hostage release 10 days into the siege making sure hover drones and news crews were at the TC barricade when the release of hostages took place thus keeping Logan, OC and Sketchy free of any implication of wrong doing or collaboration with the transgenic's in the Jam Pony siege. None of the ordinaries wanted to leave TC, Logan particularly wanted to stay by Max's side and help in the fight but it wasn't a case of want they wanted it was a case of them not being able to stay. Ordinaries unlike the transgenic's, transhumans and nomalies could only tolerate the toxic atmosphere of TC for short periods. Max had wanted them out of there before they started showing any signs of illness.
Logan was now once again encamped in Joshua's house and with Alec's help he'd gathered the necessary equipment he needed to get the Eyes Only broadcasts back on the air and had made a few well-timed broadcasts in support of the transgenics and it seemed to be working in their favor as the general attitude to the transgenics had softened. He was also trying to make sense and decipher the rest of the ancient rune symbols and the cryptic message Sandeman had implanted into Max's DNA coding and the connection to White and the breeding cult. OC and Sketchy had somehow convinced Normal to give them their jobs back at Jam Pony. Normal who would never admit it but after delivering Gem's daughter, Hope in the midst of the battle with White and his Phalanx Warriors was now a sympathizer to the transgenic's plight for equality as American's and helped out wherever possible. Alec learned from OC that Normal often enquired about Alec. Normal's affection for the young man he'd called his Golden Boy and now knew was a transgenic hadn't changed. OC was now living alone in the apartment she and Max used to share; Max knew OC was lonely without her around and missed her 'girl'. Max would drop in and spend some time with her whenever possible. Sketchy was still freelancing for New World Weekly after penning several articles the first of which documented his time in TC, that and the following articles subtly supporting the plight of the Transgenic's. That Sketchy even knew the meaning of the word subtle amused Alec no end.
In the last couple of weeks after some of his solo clandestine night time raids Alec had taken to going back to his old apartment; the first thing he did there was make use of his shower as getting clean in the TC's communal showers made staying dirty somewhat more appealing. He'd then spend what was left of the night in his own bed and return to TC before sunrise with whatever booty he had stolen and no one would know that he hadn't been in TC all night. Nobody questioned where all these things came from they were just grateful that they had a few little luxuries.
Alec was actually a bit of a loner although no one in TC would have thought it or knew. He liked his own company and sometimes the atmosphere in TC got a bit claustrophobic and was becoming more so as ever day more and more transgenics, transnormals and nomalies showed up looking for shelter. Yeah Terminal City the freakin' promised land for my kind... us freaks.
Alec climbed the stairs leading to the street from the old city remains, pushing open the door he emerged into the darkness the evening air cool even though it was mid-June; summer took a lot longer to arrive in Seattle; it also left a lot earlier. Exiting the alley he made his way towards the plastic surgeons office that he and Max had first broken into months before. When Max was at TC her bike was hidden in an abandoned building nearby; he wouldn't take the Ninja even it was there. For two reasons; one because he didn't want to draw attention to himself and two he didn't want to piss Max off and give her a reason to chew his head off… again. Shortly before the siege Normal had given Alec and Biggs a trail bike for deliveries. He'd only got to use it for a short while and then Biggs was murdered and outed as a transgenic and Normal put a stop to Motor Pony and Alec had gone back to using his push bike for deliveries. He loved the freedom the bike had given him if only for a couple of weeks and one day he was gonna blow this depressing dump and just take off, steal a bike maybe a big powerful bike and get out of the city, hit the open road, feel the wind on his face and through his hair.
At night it was more difficult to tell the streets in this part of the city were in ruins, the darkness hid most of the damage and disrepair; the raggedy, disheveled people walking the streets and fire filled oil drums dotted about the only clue that most of Seattle was like a WW2 ghetto which Alec had also read about from Brain's books.
With his genetically enhanced eyesight Alec's keen green eyes scanned the street ahead as he made his way towards the doctor's office.
He turned the last corner; he was only a stone's throw away from his target. The doctor's office was about 60 meters down on the left side of the street. With a glance either way he crossed over the dark street at the tattoo parlor on the corner passing an oil drum fire, covering the remaining distance at a casual pace; looking to all who saw him like an ordinary guy out for a stroll. The street was empty save for a tall, lone shadowy figure approaching him on the other side of the street.
Without a sideways glance he slipped into the shadows of the doctor's doorway. His enhanced eyesight made the use of a flashlight unnecessary; he bent over the lock picking it quickly. As he pushed the door open he heard a deep male voice out on the street shout, "Dean, Dean!"
Closing the door quietly behind him he mounted the stairs pushing open the glass door at the top crossing the waiting area to the treatment room where he knew the doctor kept the laser. He and Max had been here several times late at night making use of the laser.
The dark of this room was no hindrance, his cat DNA making it easy for him to see into the darkest corners. Pushing the curtain that dissected the room open a small way, Alec moved to the cabinets next to examination table, opening one of the cabinet doors he was reaching for the case when he heard it.
"Dean? It's me Sam. I'm coming in." A voice said quietly. The same voice that called out to someone named Dean on the street?
Then a whisper of sound, the swish of the glass entry door opening, catching on the nape of the carpet. In a blur of motion he moved to stand behind the door, concealed from anyone other than maybe another transgenic.
He picked up the slight sound of stealthy movement on the other side of the partially open door. The sigh of a breath the rustle of clothing as the person stepped across the reception area and up to the door he stood behind.
Slowly it opened far enough for a tall figure to slip through. Although not quite Joshua tall he was tall, broad-shouldered and clad in dark clothing.
He stood inside the door with his back to him and Alec saw the pale blur of the man's face as he turned his head taking in the room. He saw the silhouette of the pistol the man held in his hand as he moved to the curtain using the barrel of the pistol to push the curtain aside. As if sensing Alec's presence the man turned stepping back towards the window and assuming a defensive stance the pistol now held in a two-handed grip.
Alec made his move blurring at the big man, grabbing hands full of the back of the stranger's jacket he flung him through the air as if he were a 50 pound kid. The man flew across the room his left hip impacted the table the pistol flew from his hand, his momentum carrying him over the shiny surface and off the other side into the doctor's chair, scattering the neatly placed items on top. The stranger came to a crunching halt when his head smashed into the wall leaving a dent and shaking loose a glass fronted framed diploma mounted on the wall above; the falling frame hit the man shattering the glass and splitting the frame; shards of glass and pieces of broken frame showered him as he slid down the wall to lay with the left side of his head and left shoulder propped against the wall body twisted at the waist and long legs splayed out on the floor.
The man no longer a threat Alec crossed the floor moving around the right side of the desk to stand over the slumped figure, scooping up the man's pistol from the floor as he passed it; a Glock he noted. Nice piece.
The stranger turned his head towards him; his brows pulled down and he blinked owlishly up at him dragging air into his lungs then pushing it out in pained puffs through pursed lips. "Dean?" he forced out in a breathless, confused whisper then his face slackened and his eyes slipped closed.
Standing over the unconscious man Alec took in the man's face; he didn't recognize him, didn't know him. But the stranger thought he knew him… had referred to him as Dean not once or twice but three times. Curious, Alec squatted down on the balls of his feet beside him, elbows resting on his thighs the man's Glock held loosely in his hand. He appeared to be around Alec's age a little older perhaps early to mid-twenties? His longish, shaggy brown hair falling across his forehead giving him a boyish, vulnerable look. The collision with the wall had opened a cut along the top of his left cheekbone and bruising was already coloring the skin there. Broken glass from the frame peppered his hair and the fabric of the jacket stretched across his broad shoulders. Using the barrel of the Glock, Alec checked for a barcode pushing the hair away from the nape of his neck, there was none, his skin was tattoo free not even a hint of any ink marring the skin.
"So maybe not a transgenic then," He muttered to himself.
He watched closely for signs the man was waking. He didn't have to wait long when a minute later his lashes fluttered and his eyes rolled beneath closed lids, eyebrows once again pulling together in a frown. Alec stood, the Glock held in loose fingers against his thigh but in plain sight. The stranger's lids lifted revealing dazed hazel eyes; he blinked once pushed his shoulders flat against the surface behind him using the heels of his hands to push up into a higher position up the wall.
"Dean what the hell! What's gotten into you? Didn't you hear me calling you?" He said voice strained with hurt.
Alec ignored the rapid fire questions, interjecting with one of his own. "Nice try pal. Why are you following me?
The stranger looked puzzled, "What? Following you? What are you talking about? I-" He stopped suddenly pushing his torso forward, glass tumbling from his hair and shoulders, his eyes narrowed as he stared intently at Alec, taking him in from top to toe.
Alec tried not to squirm under the man's scrutiny.
"Wait… you're not… Dean, are you?"
"Nope. Don't know a Dean," Alec replied lightly.
The stranger didn't move, his eyes never leaving Alec's face.
"Now answer the question... why are you following me?"
"I thought you were my brother, you look... you could be twins. Although... you look younger."
Alec didn't hear the last part as thoughts of Ben his Manticore twin filled his mind. If they made two of us who's to say they didn't make more. Rolling his eyes skyward on an exhale of exasperated breath Alec said, "You've got to be kiddin me... another clone?"
-CP-
Wait... did he just say… I thought he said… Clone?
Sam was having a hard time believing what he was hearing and seeing. His head hurt and there was a ringing in his ears making it hard to concentrate. The young man in front of him clad in a roll neck fawn sweater, khaki colored pants and brown jacket was almost the image of Dean, hell he was the image of Dean… when Dean was twenty or so, with his hair longer touching the top of his ears the ends tipped a lighter golden blond. It was hard to make out much of anything else with very little light but the laughter lines Dean had around his eyes not as pronounced in the younger man.
Sam put his first thoughts into words, "Wait... did you say... clone?"
The Dean look-alike ignored him and began to pace in the small space between the desk and the window just like Dean did when he was deep in thought.
On the third pass he stopped, oh so familiar green eyes settling on Sam.
"You said Dean is your brother and apparently my twin you must be an X5 what's your designation and where's your barcode?"
X5? Designation? Sam didn't have a clue what the young man was referring too. So he voiced these thoughts, "I don't know what you're talking about. I don't know about any designation or X5." Sam answered truthfully the confusion evident in his voice.
Dean's look-alike knelt down in front of him; Sam's own Glock held in his gloved hand, he leaned in close his eyes piercing as if they could see inside him, "You're either a good actor, you really don't know or maybe you're one of White's men."
It was then Sam remembered Scaly had a barcode. His thoughts must have shown on his face or in his eyes. The green eyes the mirror of his brother's pinning him like a bug narrowed ever so slightly.
"You do know what I'm talking about, don't you, Stretch?"
Sam stared back not sure if he should trust the stranger with Dean's face.
Tired of waiting the stranger grabbed a fist full of Sam's jacket and pushed him back against the wall none too gently, causing the ringing in his ears that had settled down to a minor distraction to rise and intensify again. Sam could feel the coiled, restrained strength in the man before him and knew he was holding back; he knew this man was capable of doing some damage.
"If Dean is my clone and you're Dean's brother then you're Manticore and you should have a barcode and a designation so start talking."
Sam came to the conclusion that he really didn't have a choice; he answered honestly. "I don't know anything about… Manticore but I can tell you my brother and me we followed a… someone here that had a barcode," he began.
He'd picked up on Sam's hesitation, "Care to be more specific? What kind of someone?"
"He was kinda like a… lizard… man," Sam answered watching the man's eyes to see his reaction. His expression didn't change.
"What do mean you followed him? Followed him from where?"
"2007." Sam blurted out.
He gave a derisive laugh, his expression pure Dean. "2007! You expect me to believe you and this brother of yours followed a transgenic from the freakin' past?"
That statement was so Dean-like Sam had to give himself a mental shake, "Believe me, don't believe me, it's the truth."
Still holding a fist full of Sam's jacket the young man said in a low dangerous tone. "You see that doesn't work for me because there weren't any transgenic's in Seattle in 2007 we were all locked up at Manticore."
Sam hadn't missed the fact that the young man had said we, "Transgenics?" Sam asked confusion evident in his voice. "I don't know what a transgenic is and I don't know anything about Manticore."
"Okay. So say you're telling the truth… which at this point I find highly unlikely, explain this, how did you get here from 2007?"
"It was a time portal," Sam said. At the young man's look of incredulity Sam continued. "This man Rocky he invented this… time machine and it worked. He transported the lizard man accidentally from… now back to 2007; Dean my brother and me we were trying to help Rocky send… bring the lizard man back to his time… this time… and we got caught in the time portal beam and ended up here in 2021."
"And what happened to this… lizard man?" The young man asked.
Sam didn't know how else to answer other than telling the truth, "Umm he didn't survive the return trip. Landed on some glass it severed his jugular."
The young man let go of his jacket and stood and began his pacing again; Sam noted his expression had changed from disbelieving to something resembling thoughtful.
"I know how it sounds… but… It's the truth," Sam repeated.
As if making a decision the young man abruptly ceased his pacing and stared down at him. "You were following me because you thought I was Dean… your brother Dean?"
"Yeah."
"And where is Dean now?"
"That's just it, I don't know. We were looking for Rocky. Dean said we could cover more ground if we split up… he was supposed to meet me, but he never showed I was looking for him when I saw you. He was getting sick because-" Sam cut off abruptly he was about to say because I shot him and then beat the crap outta' him, but instead he said, "I've got a bad feeling… I think he might be in trouble I need to find him."
"Let me see if I've got this right. You were looking for this Rocky guy in this time so he could send you back to 2007?"
"Yeah."
"What if this guy isn't in Seattle anymore? You don't know if he's even alive?"
"We didn't have any other choice; we had to try to find him. Rocky is the only person that can send us back."
Alec had no idea why he believed this guy's crazy story… but he did. The feeling that time travel was too outrageous to be a lie made him believe him; besides what he himself was, what he knew about Manticore and what they were capable of made time travel seem not that implausible. And the look in his hazel eyes and the strained tone in his voice when he talked about finding his brother was the clincher. Plus he was curious about this Dean who was some kind of clone or twin… maybe Dean was the DNA donor that had been used to create him and Ben?
His mission to retrieve the laser forgotten Alec made a decision, "If Dean looks that much like me then you could be right he might be in trouble. We need to get out of here."
As he stretched a hand down to Sam he said, "My apartment is not far, we'll go there."
Sam frowned up at his outstretched hand for a moment before he grasped his forearm and he pulled him to his feet. "What are you going to do?" Sam asked shaking his head to dislodge the remaining glass from his hair.
Flipping the Glock around he held it out to Sam, "Well Stretch… I'm going to help you find your brother," he answered.
Sam looked down at the proffered gun the young man held loosely in his hand; the show of trust that he believed Sam was telling him the truth was a relief and Sam felt himself relax a little. He grasped hold of the Glock and shoved it into his waistband.
"Come on," he slapped the back of his hand against Sam's chest for emphasis in another gesture that was so very Dean like.
The young man raced ahead back through the office out the door and down the stairs like an Olympic athlete keeping up a fast pace, sidestepping and skirting around any obstacles as if he had the night vision of a cat. Sam tried to keep up but slowed his pace after he tripped on the leg of a chair and stumbled into things he could barely make out until he was right on top of them. The young man was waiting for him to catch up at the main door onto the sidewalk when Sam pulled up beside him he peered out the door glancing up and down the street, "Come on this way." He said as he turned onto the street and trotted off in the opposite direction to which he had come.
-CP-
They'd only rounded the first corner when Alec stopped suddenly, flinging out an arm to stop Sam's progress hitting him across the chest before pushing backward until they were half hidden in the shadows of the nearest building, "Wait a sec, a hover drone."
"Hover drone?" Sam questioned peering over Alec's shoulder to get a glimpse of what Alec was looking at his face tipped skyward.
Moving slowly across the night sky above the roofs of the buildings was one of the metallic disks with Seattle Police emblazoned on the underside he and Dean had seen earlier in the day.
"We saw one this afternoon, oh and by the way it's Sam," Sam whispered watching the drone intently.
Alec shot a puzzled look at Sam his brows pulling down, "The hover drone is Sam?"
"No my name, its Sam not Stretch."
"Sam huh? A pleasure Sam I'm Alec," he answered never taking his eyes off the hover drone as it began to move slowly away. "It's moving away, come on Sammy let's go." Alec said, stepping out of the shadows and resuming the steady pace from a minute earlier.
With a shake of his head Sam couldn't hold back the quick grin at Alec's use of the pet name only Sam allowed Dean to use and took off after him.
A block further on Alec entered a shabby apartment block the foyer was dingy and smelled of urine the discolored wallpaper marked with unidentifiable stains Sam didn't want to think about peeled and curled away the wall. Moving swiftly across the large tiled area to the stairs Alec started up taking them two at a time.
Alec was on the third flight when he spared a thought for Sam. Although not a transgenic he was keeping up, he was right on his heels; Alec could hear his controlled breaths and light footfalls on the stairs behind him; then the muffled ring tone of his cell phone sounded and Alec felt the vibration from deep in his pants pocket. Without slowing he pulled it out and flipped it open glancing at the caller ID.
"Hey Logan."
"Alec… Where are you?"
"At my apartment… why?"
"Are you alright?" Logan's tinny voice queried.
Alec reached his floor and headed down the hallway towards his apartment. "Nice of you to worry after my wellbeing and here I thought you didn't care," He answered, flippantly.
Logan ignored the comment, "How'd you get away?"
"Get away… get away from what?" Alec asked as he pushed the key into the lock, turned it, shoved the door open and flipped on the light in one motion before stepping into the apartment.
"I just saw some hover drone footage on the news of you at least it looked like you being chased down; they used a stun gun or tazer on you or…whoever and took you away in an unmarked van."
Alec heard the door shut as Sam came in behind him, "Hang on Logan."
In one movement Alec gripped the middle fingertip of one glove between his teeth pulling it off and letting it fall to the floor he scooped up the TV remote from the chair and flicked on the TV. When the screen lit up the news presenter was commenting on the footage Logan was talking about.
"A word of warning some people may find this footage disturbing. Julie Bishop reports."
The reporter's nasal voice ran through her report over the silent, slightly grainy footage as it filled the screen.
"This footage was captured by a police hover drone late this afternoon."
It was taken from a fair distance away, making it hard to define anything specific about the people on the tape. A man was sprinting down a narrow alley chased by several other men; he was pulling slightly away from his pursuers but that changed in the blink of an eye when a dark colored van pulled up at the end of the alley effectively blocking his escape route. He skidded to a dead stop. The occupants of the van exited in a rush armed with rifles and took aim at the man, he spun around as the men chasing him approached a moment later he was surrounded going down to his knees and locking his hands behind his head.
"The suspect was handcuffed and found to be armed with an automatic weapon and a knife."
The reporters voice droned on in the background as a rifle was aimed at the now defenseless man's face and his arms were handcuffed behind his back as one of the men frisked him pulling a pistol from his waistband and handing it off to one of his colleagues then doing the same with a small blade he pulled from the man's right boot.
Sam tried to breath but his lungs felt constricted and his stomach felt like it had hardened concrete in it. Dean carried a small throwing knife in a sheath at his right ankle. He moved towards the TV trying to get a better look at the man on his knees.
"… He is suspected of being a transgenic although as you can see in the footage it doesn't appear as though the suspect has a barcode."
The hover drone footage zoomed in closer as the man's collar was pulled down and then a dark skinned man wearing a long dark coat over a suit stepped in front of the man and pulled his head back by his short hair jamming a pistol under his chin this action bought the man's face into clear view for the first time.
Sam's breath caught in his throat when he saw the man's face. "Dean!"
At that moment Alec could see why Logan had thought the man was him and why Sam had thought Alec was his brother. Simultaneously from beside him Alec heard Sam gasp out one word. "Dean!"
"… The man is also implicated in the siege at the Jam Pony messenger service in May."
Alec shot Sam a quick glance. That glance showed Alec a lot. Sam's brows were pulled down in a worried frown his lips pressed together into a thin line and his hazel eyes reflecting a myriad of emotions.
On the screen the man in the coat exchanged words with Dean before he smashed the barrel of the gun across his mouth, rocking his head to the side. Moments later the man in the coat put his weapon away and back handed Dean sending him onto his side on the alley pavement before he then kicked him in the stomach.
Beside him Sam stiffened on a sharp intake of breath.
"… and when the suspect refused to co-operate he was forcibly restrained,"
"Refused to co-operate?" Alec spat at the TV in disgust. "Are they kiddin'?
On the screen Dean curled into himself protectively as the dark skinned man squatted down beside him he held a long handled stun gun in his hand and was saying something to Dean. He saw Dean's lips move as he answered him; obviously not satisfied with Dean's answer he touched the stun gun to his chest. Dean's body jerked as the current raced through his body.
"… Before a stun gun and tranquillizers were used to subdue him,"
"Oh God, Dean." Sam said stepping closer to the TV running his hands through his hair before reaching out to the writhing figure on the screen.
After ten agonizing seconds for the two men watching, the stun gun was finally lifted away leaving Dean's body jumping and quivering.
The dark man said something else before he once again touched the stun gun to Dean's chest, when he lifted it away in what seemed like an eon later Dean lay still and motionless against the cold alley floor.
"… and he was taken into custody for questioning."
The drone footage zoomed out a little as two of the men gathered around Dean's body grabbing a handful of the back of his jacket they lifted him, his head fell forward between his shoulders flopping loosely as they dragged him to the end of the alley and into the rear of the waiting van.
"… This is Julie Bishop reporting for K.Z.J.O. evening news."
The footage switched back to the news presenter in the studio and Alec flicked off the TV, throwing the remote in the direction of the lounge before lifting the phone back to his ear.
"I saw it. Logan… that wasn't me," Alec stated.
"I kinda' got that. Someone else there… is that Joshua with you?"
"No not Joshua; the guy you saw on the tape… it's his brother."
"His brother? Alec tell me who the hell was that? Ben's dead?"
"It's a long story… listen do you think you can track the van?" Alec asked, watching Sam as he paced in front of the blank TV, hands running through his hair in a repetitive motion.
"Does it have something to do with White?"
"I don't know… but I'm going to find out. The van, can you track it?"
"I'll see if I can tap into the police drone feed I might be able to track it that way… Alec who was that on the tape?" Logan persisted for more information.
"Someone who's in trouble because he looks like me," Alec said his voice tight. "Logan you gotta find that van pronto."
There was a brief silence on the other end before Logan answered.
"I'll call you back when I've got something."
"Thanks," Alec said as he closed the phone.
Sam had stopped his pacing and was sitting on the edge of the old armchair his elbows on his thighs hands buried in his longish hair, head hanging low.
"Sam…" Alec started tentatively.
Sam's hunched position didn't change. He muttered barely loud enough for Alec to hear, "I knew it was a mistake, we shouldn't have split up… he was sick because of me… oh God oh God oh God."
Alec crouched down on the balls of his feet in front of Sam, placing his hand on Sam's knee. He could feel the constant tremor that ran through his lanky body.
"Sam, we'll find him. A friend is going to track the van, he'll find out where they've taken him and I promise you I will get him back."
Sam's thoughts were in turmoil but one thing stood out with crystal clear clarity Dean was in this because of Alec. Pushing his hands back through his hair he drew them down and into fists in front of him pulling his eyes up to meet Alec's. He knew this face he knew every expression and at that moment he knew that Alec was telling the truth. But Sam wanted to know why… what had he done that Dean was paying the price for? He needed an explanation.
"Why do they want you so bad…? What did you do Alec?" Sam asked hazel eyes boring into Alec's wide green ones.
Alec rubbed absently at the back of his neck in a manner Sam had seen many times in his brother.
Meeting Sam's eyes Alec drew in a breath unknowingly using the exact same words Joshua had spoken to the gentle blind girl Annie when they were trapped together in the sewer tunnels with White and the police closing in, "It's not what I did… It's… what I am."
Continued in Chapter 5: Suffering the Consequences