Protect and Follow

By: MusketeerAdventure

Summary: This takes place during the episode Lay Thee Before Kings. Alex, Noma and Pete escape New Delphi. Michael and Gabriel remain captive – but on the verge of freedom; and Lyrae's warped sense of revenge takes a toll.

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Chapter Ten: Capture and Escape to Sanctuary Part II

Pete felt the weight of the eight ball on top of him like a ton of bricks. He let loose the tire iron, and pushed his hands into the frenzied being's chest and extended his elbows to hold the wild creature at arm's length. His arms; shoulders and back shook with the effort; and his fingers ached as they grabbed at fabric and flesh.

The eight ball screeched over him and spittle flew down onto his cheek. He winced and attempted to look away as the saliva dripped down on him like rain. He could feel the floor boards underneath give to their combined weight, and splinters dug painfully into his back. He thought for a moment, he would die here – now – alone – in this house; with Alex and Noma waiting for him back in the woods – the chosen one and his faithful warrior left to die.

But adrenaline took over his maudlin thoughts of death and concluded that he would die, yes – but it wouldn't be today. He had survived much already – torture, two possessions and flight from the crazed Lyrae. This was not to be the end. He would not give up. He would not let Alex down.

So he let go one hand; reached for the tire iron at his side; struck the eight ball on the side of his temple with all the spent strength he could gather.

The eight ball's head snapped to the side from the blow – but it did not have the desired effect of getting the thing from atop him. Instead it slowly turned his head back to him; leaned down into his face and hissed with laced hatred once more – "This is my home."

It then swiftly stood to his feet – grabbed Pete by his collar and brought him up with him. The eight ball shook him mercilessly; and lifted him overhead like a small child. Out of necessity, he reached down and grabbed a hold of its writs and held on for dear life; his feet dangling in the air.

As he reached to hold on, Pete felt his hand lose grip on the tire iron once again; heard it thud to the wooden floor – and then he was flying through the air.

When he hit the wall of the little home – he could feel air whoosh from his lungs; and see stars dancing through the gloom of the living room. He grabbed at his chest; slid to the ground and tried to bring in much needed air – to get to his feet; retrieve his weapon and tackle the eight ball.

He knew – the fight for this house was one to the death.

Noma rested against Alex's chest and could hear the strong beat of his heart and felt the tension in his body. She knew he was worried about Michael – held captive back in New Delphi – and for Pete; looking now for somewhere safe for them to hole up.

All around them now was only quiet – except for the noises the forest makes at night- owls hooting, insects chirping; and small animals rustling through the brush beneath them.

"He's going to be alright you know", she voiced. "Pete's a resourceful kid; and a survivor."

"And stubborn", he countered – remembering how Pete pulled away from his grasp and took off before he could talk him out of his fool hardy plan. He hugged Noma closer to his side; and hoped that plan would work. He had prayed to God for Pete's safe return, and prayed now that he would be answered in the affirmative.

"Sound like anybody you know?" she asked – trying to lighten the moment and bring some levity to their situation.

"You, I think." he volleyed back and laughed a little – despite their circumstances. He watched her smile slightly up at him; and his heart fluttered at how beautiful she was. He touched the side of her face, and thought to kiss her.

He frowned at his audacity; dismissed such thoughts from his mind, and brought himself back to reality.

Pete was brave. He could see that now. But what would he do if he died because of him. Like Noma – he couldn't lose him. Not now. Not after evicting angels from his body and watching him come back to life. Pete was his responsibility. They should have gone on together; just as he should have stayed and fought at Michael's side.

But looking down at Noma, he knew Pete and Michael were both right. Noma couldn't have taken another step; and would never have made it this far if he had stayed behind. She would have bled out; and then what?

Noma slapped his chest lightly in mock surprise at his comment with regard to her stubbornness; and winced as her back stung without warning at the pain of her injury – white noise muted the night noises around her; and bright light pricked at the edges of her vision. The pain was intense and caught her off guard.

She could feel the blood running down her back; wondered at how much longer she could last this way; and breathed through the pain. She hoped the moment of weakness had gone unnoticed by Alex.

But he heard her gasp anyway; held on to her tighter; and helped her ride through it – rocking her back and forth; speaking soft words she couldn't understand.

When her senses returned, she heard him whispering in her ear, "I'm here Nomes – just hold on."

The first thing Michael noticed upon regaining consciousness – besides the pain that lanced through his head – was the love in his brother's eyes.

He groaned; surveyed his surroundings and found himself bound and tethered to a chair – his brother watching him anxiously.

It seemed they were in dire straits together once again. He examined the contraption they were connected to and it looked menacing to his eye. Empyrean steel laced through his bonds; wires hung overhead - and a pole stood between them. This did not bode well.

Lyrae's true madness was evident here – in this what, game of torture?

How were they to escape this? He needed to get away – back to Alex; look after him, make sure he was safe. Help him save Vega; and save humanity. He struggled against his bonds and when they would not give; gave up and looked once again to his older brother for ideas. Gabriel always knew what to do - how to extricate himself from impossible situations. He could always depend on him to think of a way out of any problem.

He would save them now.

Gabriel watched his brother carefully as he summed things up in his mind. He was now more determined than ever to get his brother out of here. That look to him for help was all it took for his protective instincts to kick in.

Lyrae had been here earlier – goading and leering with insanity. Too long part human had warped his revenge into playing games; inflicting pain. Well – he could play that game too.

He had come to a decision while his brother lay unconscious. He would save Michael – thus saving Alex and Father's message, and kill Lyrae without impunity. He would find the amphora and destroy Vega. He would win this war – and bring his Father back.

Michael wouldn't like his still unformed plan, but that's the way it would be.

Pete sat still on his bottom, against the wall and willed himself to breath; to move – to do anything to defend himself; and fight. However, the will in him was depleted, and he couldn't budge; air constricted in his lungs and his legs were like rubber.

He looked to the eight ball bearing down on him and thought of his friends. They would wonder what happened to him; why he had disappeared and not come back – he had failed them.

Pete closed his eyes and waited for the painful end; wondering if it would hurt more to die this way than to be taken over by an angel.

But the end didn't come. Through his closed lids, he saw a flash of light and felt heat on his skin. When he opened his eyes – the eight ball before him was engulfed in flames – screaming – twisting and turning in agony – running out the door and into the dusty, disheveled yard – illuminating the night.

He gulped in an agonizing breath and gingerly made it to his feet – every bone and muscle in his body aching. He followed the eight ball to the door – held tightly onto his chest; and watched as it burned to ash.

He rubbed his eyes, unclear as to what he just witnessed. What was this? What just happened? He had been saved again, but by what – by whom? Was there some higher power at hand here? By all rights – he should have been beaten to death and left to rot.

Pete took a tentative look out into the yard – and there out on the perimeter – near the trees stood a dark silhouette of someone – a man? A man out there in the darkness watching him – with a large hat on his head; hands on his hips.

Pete squint his eyes to see better, but it was too dark and the stars gave him little assistance.

He shook his head and the silhouette was gone – vanished; as if it had never been there.

Was he hallucinating?

He looked down at the ground and saw no sign of the eight ball in the black ink of night. That must be it. He was beyond tired; his body was battered; and his mind was foggy from little sleep and no food or water.

What he needed to do was to go back for his friends – tell them he found shelter and lead them here to safety.

Pete ran to the well in the yard and heaved on the rope that led down into its depths; felt the heavy pull of a bucket and hoped he would find water. When he got the bucket to the top of the well, he thanked God for answering his prayers and drank as much as he could from his cupped hands and poured the rest over his head – sputtering with joy.

Someone was looking out for him, and he was grateful.

Somewhat revived – he took off running; back toward Alex and Noma – glad his mission to find shelter was a success; and glad he still lived to fight another day.

Thanks for reading. I hope you are enjoying my interpretation of these season two Dominion episodes with Pete being human! Please let me know what you think.