Saturday P.2

[parttimewriter]

Terminal City, Seattle
Saturday
1230

Dean rolled his shoulders as the four of them came to a stop, the walk through the sewers had been long and painful, Dean favouring his left side while also trying to help his brother along. Both of them were stinging from the attack they had managed to slip out of. He looked over to the women, "So what? Are we just going to stand here or do you have a plan?"

"We are going up." Jamie pointed upwards to the uncovered man hole above them. Dean wrinkled his nose before looking at his brother who only shrugged, it wasn't like they were going to get any of their questions answered until they were finally in Terminal City.

"Whatever," he muttered as he then rolled his neck trying to loosen up his arms before making his way up the stairs, it was slow going for Dean due to the aches and pain that were shooting over his body but he refused to complain. Pulling himself out of the hole, he moved to the side waiting for his brother to join him. Both of them took in the surrounding area, it looked like an abandoned parking garage. It was clear that whoever had lived here had left in a hurry, old heaps of metal, what looked to be clothes,and other trash was scattered about the dark building. The only source of light was coming from old trash cans that had been stuffed with who knew what and lit on fire. They were placed in random order around the area, highlighting the safest places to walk.

"Welcome to Terminal City," Max stated watching them both as she made her way up. Coming to a stand just a few steps away from them, watching as they took in the area around them.

"Nice place you got here," was Dean's quick but heavily taunted sarcastic response.

"Its home," came a reply from the dark and both Dean and Sam were pulling guns. Sam held his pointed at the ground away from the group while Dean's was pointed at the voice that had spoken from the darkness.

"Well you could use a better decorator, I'm sure that Sammy can give you a few pointers,” he called, his eyes trained on the area in front of himself. His eyes widened slightly as the person, or rather thing, finally made its appearance. Sam's gun was close to being brought up as Mole stepped into the light, but a hand resting on his arm instead caused the gun to disappear.

Dean looked over the man in front of him, if he could be called a man. If not the next best thing would have to be lizard, the fact that he was carrying a shotgun like he knew just how to use it and the cigar, well those were both human traits, military, and Dean wondered just how much of the true story could be found in the New World Weekly papers.

"So are you one of these transgenics then?" he asked moving closer, gun still pointed at the man. He cracked a smirk as the other man snorted and took the cigar out of his lips.

"Yeah, I'm one of those, gotta say that I don't know why they made so many of you princess."

"I'm sorry?" Sam finally spoke up as he moved closer, giving his brother a look that was received with an eye-roll. He put the gun away, after all, one knock down drag out fight was enough for the evening.

"He was talking to me," came a voice from their left.

Both brothers turned as Alec came out of the darkness, the fire caught his eyes and they sparkled with gold. Dean's eyes narrowed at the sound of his own voice, then he felt his jaw drop open. Standing only ten feet from himself was, well, himself.

"What the fuck?" Dean muttered as he moved closer, taking the other man in.

He was younger, that much was clear, probably around ten years or so. His hair was still the light blonde that he remembered from years before, the skin pale compared to Dean's , who had become golden over the years from the hours of being on the road or working outside. While Dean had bulk, the boy was about the size of a stick yet. They were about the same height and Dean found himself looking into a pair of his own eyes. The boy/man/thing in front of him was looking him over at the same time.

"So this is what I will look like when I get old huh? What are you X3, X4?"

"Fuck that, I ain't no lab test, hundred percent human."

"What my brother meant to say is that he isn't a transgenic," Sam said, giving his brother another pointed look before trying to take point, but Dean had nothing of it.

"Don't be putting words in my mouth Sammy, I meant what I said," Dean growled, his eyes did not leave the younger version of himself and narrowed further.

"It is likely that you are perhaps a DNA donor," came a soft reply from Jamie and Sam looked over to her. The tension was growing between the two look a likes, words being spat back and forth Max was trying to stay between them to keep them from hitting one another.

"What do you mean?" he asked, his interest level raising. He hadn't been sure what to make of this entire ordeal, but he knew that from the proof in front of him that things had just gotten a lot more interesting.

"Most of the transgenics had a human base code, a lot of people, myself and Max included, are the combination of a number of different people to make one "perfect" human being. It appears that your brother's DNA coding was used as a base print. We can learn more about it back at command," she promised as she held her hand out for Sam to join her. "Please come with me, Max and Mole will make sure that your brother is safe." Sam looked back to his brother and shook his head.

"No offence but at the moment I'd like to keep my brother in eyesight, he's not always the most rational."

A grunt was the only reply as the woman lent into a metal brace and pulled her cigarettes out, she played with it for a few moments before lighting it and looking over to watch the action unfolding.

"So Maxie, one Alec wasn't good enough you, had to start your own collector's set?" the twin asked, finally breaking from the verbal assault that he had started with Dean. Sam shook his head, it figured that the smart ass would come along with the face.

"It's Max, and it was either bring him and his brother back here or let White take him thinking he was you." The twin looked shocked at the mention of White.

"White was there?! Why didn't you call for back up?"

"Yeah Max," the large lizard man said, stepping closer to the trio. "Shouldn't be playing around with White and his cult loonies by yourself."

"I wasn't alone, Jamie was with me and White wasn't a problem," she said without a pause, "not like we had a lot of choice in the matter."

"Wait a second," Dean said, holding up his hand, causing everyone to pause and look at him. "When did a cult become involved? Was that the freaks from the building? If so then you guys can't be as bad ass as everyone is saying."

"Oh yeah human? And why is that?" Mole demanded getting up in Dean's face and Sam was shocked that his brother not only met the man's stare but laughed in his face.

"Well this human killed one so what's the big worry?"

"You what?" Lizard Man said, shock once again clear in the air around them. Just when Sam thought blows would land from the tension the taller man's face broke into a smile before looking back to the twin.

"Silver knife to the heart, dropped dead. Take it you haven't tried that before?"

"Well, hot damn I think I might just get to like you after all human."

"Oh well gee, now I can die happy," Dean retorted with a snort before looking back to Max, his eyes now avoiding his twin who was staring at him as if he was a puzzle that he could sort out. "Got a medical centre around here? Sammy should be checked out and you have a lot to fill us in on," he stated, refusing to deal with the fact that his younger face was still staring at him as the small group made their way out of the parking garage and into the streets of TC.

Medical Facilities, NSA Headquarters
Saturday
1300

White watched as the doctor worked on his arm, I can't believe that the little bastard actually shot me. The transgenic's had learnt over the past few months that it didn't really help matters unless it was a killing blow and he wondered just what he had stumbled across in that small building. All the same his job wasn't finished and he knew that the Mistress would already know that he had failed at the task. If he wanted to redeem himself then he would have to kill 494 before anything else happened, but now that he was once more safe back in TC with 452 it would be harder. The doctor finished up and White nodded as the man spoke about how to take care of the arm.

Waving him off to take care of the other men, he left the small area and made his way over to his office. Otto had been one of the men taken out by 452 and the other unknown transgenic, so for the time being he didn't have to worry about covering all the time. Shutting his door he collapsed into his chair and picked up his phone, dialling the number from memory, he waited until the other side answered.

"I need your help. I need to gain control of the military blockade."

"..."

"I know that, I wouldn't be asking if it wasn't for a good reason."

"..."

"See that you do, contact me as soon as you have word."

"...."

"Yes of course, Fen'es tol."

Hanging the phone up, he turned his chair around and looked out the far window, now he just had to stir up some trouble, after all having control of the blockade would only help him so much. He had to give reason for an attack and he was sure that the older looking 494 would be the ticket. A grin formed on his face as a plan started to fall into place, yes that will work nicely. He picked up the phone once more, this time dialling a human contact.

"Channel Five News, how can I redirect your call?"

"Oh yes, I'd like to speak with Clayton Moore."

"In what regards?"

"Tell him its the story of his career."

Medical Centre, Terminal City
Saturday
1415

Dean had felt out of place the entire walk over to the medical centre. The group had tried to stay away from the populated areas, but as they approached the city centre it became harder and harder to avoid people. With people came the stares and hushed conversations, which Dean had been happy to leave in high school so many years ago. Instead of making a scene Dean found himself putting his head down and walking faster, just a few steps behind Max and the Lizard Man, who's name had turned out to be Mole. Sammy had been dragging ass the entire way, making conversation with one of the newest additions to the group, a teenage girl who had introduced herself as Gem, and Jamie. Dean's twin brought up the end of the freak train with some kid called Dalton, who had seemed just as shocked as Dean had been to see another version of himself.

The feeling of being out of place hadn't left when they had entered the medical area, which turned out to be the cleanest building they had passed so far. The inside had been practically gutted and all the machines seemed to be patched together at best. At least there was a lot of space which worked as everyone had managed to find a place in the room, some of them sitting in chairs, other lounging on cots, while Dean remained at the door, leaning onto the wall taking everything in. While the past day had probably been the longest and weirdest, of Dean's life which was saying a lot, he couldn't say that he felt completely at odds with it. Sure the fact that someone was walking around with his face was just creepy, not to mention the other people that he had caught sight of while the group had made their way across the city had been odd to say the least, but he still had a gut feeling that he was missing something.

His musing was interrupted when another transgenic joined them. The woman was human looking, at least outside of her eyes which were bright violet. It also didn't go past Dean that she was hot, not that any of the others weren't lookers, they all were, but well, this girl just stood out in Dean's mind, or maybe it was her attitude. Either way, Dean wasn't complaining about the new company.

"What is going on out here?" the soft voice demanded, and Dean grinned. The was sure that she could be quite the spitfire if the situation demanded it.

"Got some new bodies for you to take a look at Doc," Mole said with a smirk, cigar still being chewed.

"And the rest of you?" she asked, looking around the room. Her eyes fell on Sam first and then Dean, her eyes not giving anything away and only lingering for a few seconds longer than necessary. No one seemed to have a quick enough answer for her. "Okay then, unless you are hurt, dying, or in need of a welcome check up, out you all go," she said as she started to usher people out. A few moments, and a number of complaints later, the Winchester brothers were alone with what Dean had to assume was the city's doctor.

"Well, it seems like the two of you are big news," she said with a smile that was almost too friendly.

Dean was reminded of the doctors he had gone to over the years and wondered if it was a test that they had to pass before they were given their diploma. For a split second he thought about asking her, but instead wanted to stay on her good side and keep his mouth shut.

"It seems that way Ma'am," Sammy replied, Dean still silent by the doorway.

"Name's Marnie, what about you two?" she asked, her eyes once more falling onto Dean. He shifted slightly under her gaze.

"I'm Sam and this is my brother Dean."

"Brother?" she asked looking away from Dean and back to Sam.

"Yes, brother, you got a problem with that lady?" Dean asked, finally speaking up and she smiled as she looked back at him.

"Nope, so I take it that you aren't transgenics then?"

"No Ma'a-Marnine," Sam said, stopping himself, and using her name, "we are both just normal humans."

"Well that doesn't bother me. How about we take a look at both of you and see just what we are dealing with?" she said, patting a bed and looking at Sam, probably sensing that he would be the easier of the two to deal with at the moment. "You both look a little beat up."

"We had a run in with an Agent White," Sam explained, and once again the shocked look appeared and Dean wondered just who this White character was. Clearly he had it out for the transgenics and they didn't have any love for him.

"And you are both breathing, are you sure that you are human?" she teased and Dean moved slightly so he could watch her as she looked Sam over.

She checked his head wound and then ran some normal tests, getting his BP and a blood sample, explaining that they would just make sure that there wasn't anything that could put anyone around at risk. Dean figured there was more to it than that but let the doctor have her fun.

Sam and Marnie chatted about the outside world as she worked on him, cleaning up his cuts and making sure that he would take it easy for a day or so before she turned to Dean.

"Your turn Dean," she said as Sam left the bed and looked at his brother, puppy dog eyes already fixed on Dean.

"I'm fine."

"I'm glad for you but I still need to run some basic tests, Terminal City isn't the safest place for humans and I need to make sure that you will be able to survive. Wouldn't want you to drop dead now would we?" Dean narrowed his eyes and sighed when he heard Sam whine his name, he shuffled over to the cot that his brother had just left and sat down.

"Make it snappy Doc."

"Quite the shiner you have there," she commented as she ran the same basic tests she had on his brother.

"That happens when you get hit."

"So I've been told, would you like something for the pain?" Dean thought about it for about three seconds before he remembered the blacking out and shook his head.

"I'm good, just finish your tests up Doc."

"Dean just let her take a look, she's not gonna hurt you." He turned and looked at his brother as she took a vial of his blood for testing.

"Nothing to look at Sam."

"Yeah right, like you haven't been favouring your left side the entire way here," he said, giving his older brother a pointed look. Dean gave his brother the finger before turning back to face the doctor who had a look of concern on her face.

"It's nothing Doc, trust me it will clear up on its own."

She seemed to be torn but in the end she let them both leave, making them promise they would stop back later for the results. She told them that the others were waiting just outside before she made her way deeper into the building to run the tests. Dean slid down off the table, being careful to not let his sore body show itself to Sam again, and they made their way outside.

Most of the group seemed to have disappeared while they were busy with the doc and Dean let out a breath of relief that he hadn't been aware he had been holding. They were left with Max and Gem.

"Where's my twin?" Dean found himself asking and the two woman turned to look at the brothers as they came out of the medical building to join them.

"He had work to do," was the short reply from Max and Dean just shrugged as they came to a stop a few feet apart.

"So you owe us some explanations." Dean said as he crossed his arms waiting for someone to speak up first.

Sector Ten, Terminal City
Saturday
1445

"Come on Moore tell me what the hell has you so up in arms?"

"Just a tip from a reliable source, said that I should get to Freak-town as quick as possible if I wanted a scoop. Buddy has never pointed me in the wrong direction," he said as he pushed his camera man out the front door and towards their van.

"Man the freaks have international coverage, what do you think you will catch that they won't?"

"Not really sure but the man told me to be watching off Elm Street into Terminal City, so that is were we are going to be. Do you really want to give up the chance of getting the biggest story since the freaks were unleashed?"

Jimmy seemed to pause in thought before shrugging, knowing that Moore was right, he wouldn't pass it up.

"Alright fine, but if this is a bust you owe me a beer."

"Man if this is a bust I'll buy you a case."

Command Centre, Terminal City
Saturday
1500

The command centre had been almost empty when the Winchesters and Max arrived. Gem had taken off to pick up Hope. The others that had been with them earlier went back to their normal jobs, the council having taken a break for the evening and just letting TC go for the evening. The humans wouldn't attack over night and really all of them could use a little pause in thinking, or rather thinking about war. Looking after a twin was a welcome distraction at this point.

Dix and Luke both waved as they came in, "Hey Max, Alec, who is the new guy?" they asked after taking a quick glance at the trio as they moved into the main door.

"Name's Dean, dude, yours?" Sam stomped on his foot and raised his eyebrow. "What? I'm not being rude, if I was I would have asked him what the hell is on his head." Luke reached up and adjusted the bi-focal before nodding to Max.

"I'm gonna be elsewhere," he said, leaving, and Sam gave his brother a pointed look. The only reply from Dean was a roll of his eyes. Dean pushed past the other two and moved over to the remaining man, if he could be called that, and took a seat across from him before kicking his feet up.

"So dude, you got a name?"

"Dix, and that was Luke, " he said, finally looking up from his computer and frowning. "You are too old to be a transgenic."

"I'll have you know I am in my prime."

"That may be, but you are still too old."

Dean shrugged and cleared his throat as Max and Sam moved over, Max claiming the chair that Luke had left while Sam pushed Dean's feet off the chair and sat down.

"That's because he isn't one, we were hoping that maybe this would be the place to find answers to that." Dix looked at Max who only nodded before looking back to the brothers.

"Well I need full names, your parents names and your birthdays and I can see what we can find," he promised. A few of the techs from Manticore had managed to get a few files, most of it was pieced together. "I can't promise I'll find anything but thanks to some recon missions and Eyes Only did have a large number of files. I take it you will be around for a little while so you will have time to get the results," Dix said, still behind the computer screen, but his focus was on the man across from him.

"Oh I'd say I'm gonna be around until we get this all sorted out, can't have someone running around with my face unless they have my approval first. Gotta see how this all went down."

"Well as long as Max and Alec don't have a problem with it, I'll see what I can find for you."

"Well I have to say Dix, I think you might be my favourite. Name's Dean Winchester, parents were Mary and John and birthday was January 21st 1979. You'll let me know if you find anything?"

"I promise."

Dean grinned at the geek transgenic and turned to look at Sam. "He kinda reminds me of you, when you were likeable and not such a bitch."

"Shut-up jerk," Sam retorted with a small smile and a shake of his head. "Now maybe if you can be quiet long enough, we can figure out the rest of the story."

Max sat beside Dix as the three of them talked, she had to admit that she had been in shock for most of the day so far. She had been sure that when there was a report of Alec being on the outside that he was a transgenic clone, or even Ben. She had almost been disappointed when she had arrived to find someone that was about ten years too old to be Ben or a clone. The fact that she had walked in on the same face killing someone, even if it was a familiar, had shaken her up.

So far she didn't know much of anything about either man that she had brought back, just that she couldn't leave them out there with White on their ass and pretty much every human and cop gunning after them because of some genetics. He might not be transgenic but he was tied into everything. She hadn't admitted it yet, but she liked the taller man a lot more, the Alec look alike reminded her just too much of Alec. The smart alec mouth, the haunted eyes, killer reflexes. She wasn't really sure what to do with him, and she was pleased as punch when the taller one asked if they could perhaps talk somewhere in private.

"How about you two go into my office, I just gotta make a call and I'll be right in," she said with a smile pointing to the spare room across the hall.

It was her office but since the council was joined there wasn't anything of importance inside of the walls, it was just nice to have space that she could call her own. With little comment, both of them made their way over to the room, the door closing behind them. She turned to Dix speaking low, still unsure of what they were, at least until Marnie finished the tests.

"Let Joshua know that I'd like to speak with him and please call Alec, tell him I think he should have a side down with the two newbies."

"Will do Max, anything else?" She bit her lower lip, looking over her shoulder at the closed door and nodded.

"Yeah, if you get a hit on anything about Dean then let me know first if something is off."

"Sure thing boss, I'll call the boys and let them know."

"Thanks Dix, I owe you," Max replied with a friendly pat on the arm before leaving the transhuman to work on his current puzzle. That left her having to deal with two puzzles of her own, she wondered if it would be easier to do the computer leg work this time.

Location unknown
Saturday
1500

White made his way past the familiar guards and preceded into the Mistress' greeting room. He knew that she wouldn't be pleased, he had failed once more. The fact that he had a back up plan wouldn't matter, it was clear that she was unhappy when she had demanded that he leave work and come to speak with her. Walking in, he moved over to her and took one knee.

“Fen'es tol Woqan Ch'up.”

“Fen'es tol Ts'oon White,” she returned his greeting and he waited until she allowed him to rise before moving back to his feet, still not looking up at her. “You have failed us once more White.”

“I know Woqan, but I have put into motion a plan that should fix all of that.” She tipped her head in interest.

“I have not seen such a plan, what is it that you have in mind Ts'oon White?” Finally Ames grinned and looked up at her.

“I believe that you will like my plan Woqan Ch'up,” he said, addressing her by title once more before advising her just what he had planned for the transgenic scum.

Terminal City
Saturday
1500

Patrol wasn't by far Alec's favourite past time. They had a number of others that were happy to stay out of the centre of the city and keep an eye on the humans that “kept guard” just outside their safe walls. For a couple months now he always found himself getting updates from the sentries whenever he needed to think. There was enough space between them that he normally was able to sort out whatever was bothering him before he went back into the city and there was never anything of interest to report.

Today wasn't any different, he took a deep breath as he thought about what had happened since just yesterday. First getting shot, which was starting to get rather bothersome. He was just glad that the germ warfare that was kicking about in TC didn't bother their healing process at all, he already had almost full use of his arm back. The wound closed, just a matter of healing the internal damage now. He turned, sensing someone coming up from the left, and shook his head as he spotted Mole.

“Thought I said that I wanted to be left alone.” The older transhuman gave him a look and Alec just shook his head, he would never tell Mole, but he was thankful whenever he came to find him to try to pull him out of his funk.

“Well, I figure that you already have enough to worry about, don't need you trying to go AWOL because you aren't the only pretty boy around anymore,” Mole teased, falling into step with Alec.

They walked silently for a few moments before reaching the first checkpoint. French, a new transhuman, walked over to greet them. A quick status report that was just like the others, and the two commanders were moving again.

“So what do you think about your look alike?” Alec twitched when Mole finally spoke up, couldn't ever claim that the man tried to beat around the bush.

“I'm not really sure yet, doesn't seem to be too freaked out by what is going on around here but I suppose there isn't anywhere on the planet you could be and not get word someway or another of what is going on around here.” Mole nodded then just shrugged, moving his shotgun from one shoulder to the other as they kept walking.

“Figured you would want to be there when Max talked to them.”

Alec wrinkled his nose as they turned a corner. “I know Max and I know that I probably have about ten minutes before she sends someone looking for me. She had been hoping that it was one of her brothers, I think she is almost disappointed that it isn't.”

“Wasn't he a mass murderer?”

“Yep.”

“Chick is FUBAR.”

“Yep.”

They walked in silence for a little further before Mole posed another question that Alec had been thinking about silently. Sometimes Alec wondered if he had been spending too much time around the man, at the same time he missed the feeling of ease he had around other soldiers.

“So what are you going to do with them?”

“I guess that depends on what we find out, also what comes back from the tests Marnie is running. Figure if need be we can get Logan to get them some working ID's and get them out of town. I don't see them being too useful.”

“Look alike boy took out a familiar and held his own against White.”

“They are human, they would only get hurt if they stayed around here.”

“Just saying-”

“Well don't, okay?” Alec said cutting him off, coming to a dead stop. Mole held up his free hand in sign of surrender. Both of them were dead silent, when pounding feet of a runner caused Alec's head to twist over his shoulder and shake his head. “Max is so predicable.”

Max's Office, Command Centre
Saturday
1510

Sam and Dean were silent as they waited for Max to join them, there wasn't much to talk about, at least not at the moment, especially without any knowledge of just who was listening to them. Dean could tell that once they were alone he was going to get an ear full from Sam. He could see the wheels working in his brothers eyes, trying to put the logic together and understand just what was going on.

Dean was just hoping that the feeling in his stomach that had been growing since he found out about the transgenics would stop soon. He just couldn't seem to shake the feeling that he knew something. Both of their musings were cut short as the door opened and a tall dog man entered the room. Dean tipped his head slightly to the side as he studied him, he looked familiar but it took him a second to place where he had seen him from.

“You're the dude from Weekly World News.”

“Dean, Sam, this is Joshua,” Max said as she stepped in the door after the dog man, who was currently sniffing the air and looking at Dean.

“Hello Joshua,” Sam said, shifting slightly in his chair, the man finally looked away from Dean over to Sam, only for a second before looking back at Dean and stepping closer.

“Joshua?” Max asked concern leaking from her voice as Dean stood up. He was used to looking slightly upwards since Sam turned sixteen and grew two feet over night, but he found this almost ridiculous. The man was a tower, Dean knew that even Sammy would be looking up at this man.

“You smell familiar, ” he said, sniffing Dean, who tried to remain as still as possible.

“Well that's great, but how about personal space Dude.”

“Dude,” Joshua repeated and a toothy grin broke out on his face before taking a step back and looking to Max.

“Dude smells like Alec, but isn't Alec. Dude's smell reminds Joshua of time when Father was still around.”

“That's kinda rude you know,” Dean said with a raised eyebrow, “You smell like a dog but you don't hear me saying anything.” Joshua looked at Dean then a curious look sparkling in his eyes.

“Didn't mean to be rude Dude,” he said and it seemed like the nickname would be sticking, Dean didn't really mind at the moment, he had been called worse. “Put dog in my cocktail, I should smell like dog. You don't have Alec in your cocktail, shouldn't smell like Alec.”

“So glad we've cleared that up big guy.” The man grinned widely at Dean, which cased Dean to chuckle softly. “I think we are gonna get along just fine.” The two were smiling at one another while Max watched Joshua, a little concerned at how easily he was getting along with Dean. She wondered if it had to do with the fact that he looked so similar to Alec.

“You mentioned a Father?” Sam asked, giving Dean a pointed look, trying to get the conversation turned back into something of use. Dean rolled his eyes before reclaiming his seat, he might as well let his brother get his geek out now.

“Yes, Father,” Joshua said, turning to Sam now, “Father made me, made us all. Made me first, I'm special.”

“Did your father have a name?”

“Sandeman,” Max said as she moved towards the desk and claimed her own seat behind it. “He was the main scientist at Manticore for a while, until the military took over. He was the man that started this project.” Joshua moved to stand behind Max watching the other two. Dean kicked back, his feet going up onto Max's desk, blatantly ignoring the look from her as Sam and her started in on the history of Manticore and what had happened.

Medical Centre, Terminal City
Saturday
1530

Marine rubbed her eyes and pushed back from her desk, it had been a long twenty-four hours, hell it had been a long week. A number of new transgenics were making their way to TC, almost all of them with cuts and bruises of some type. It had kept her on her toes that much was for sure, she had actually become accustomed to pushing herself beyond what her body was use to, which she was sure what was happening now. It was the only reason why she could be seeing just what was in front of her. Pushing out of her chair she moved over to the intercom and held it down.

“Nate can you come in here please, I need you to check something for me.”

“Be right there,” came the quick reply.

She moved back over clearing the station of the work she had already done and reloaded new slides with fresh samples of the two brothers blood, that much had been clear within seconds of reading the first report. The part that had her confused was what she was seeing in the blood, both brothers had cells and RNA that just shouldn't be there.

It was a matter of seconds before Nate joined her in the lab area they had managed to set up, licking his lips he moved over to place a quick kiss onto the top of her forehead.

“What has you so confused love?” She smiled as she looked up at him, giving him a quick peck on the lips.

“The new norms that came in today, council wanted me to run some tests on their blood, I did the normal work up and it came out with some abnormal results so I wanted a closer look. I thought maybe it was just a mistake but I'm seeing things that shouldn't be there.”

“Okay sweets, move over and let me take a look.” She nodded and did as he asked, bending over the scope she watched as he seemed to be sucked into the blood in front of him. It was only a few seconds before he looked up from the scope.

“This shouldn't be possible.”

“That's what I thought.”

“Come on, we should talk to Doctor Carr before we show the fearless Leaders our findings."

Max's Office, Terminal City
Saturday
1530

“Okay, so this Sandeman dude created the freaks of the world to save it from a cult, ” Dean summarized, looking between Max and Joshua. “Could of just said that.”

“Dean, I don't think its that simple,” Sam said, sending an apologetic to Max and Josh.

“No, I think that about sums it up.”

“Dude is right, that about sums it up,” Joshua agreed, smiling at Max. Before Sam could speak up again there was a knock at the door, a second later Alec's head popped in the doorway.

“Heard you were looking for me?” Max waved him in, walking around Sam and Dean he took a seat on Max's desk ignoring the look she gave him just like Dean had a short while before.

“Yeah, you're just in time to hear the life story of Sam and Dean Winchester,” Max said as she crossed her arm and leaned back, staring at the brothers.

“Our little old life?” Dean teased and smirked over at Max, “I promise you that it's not as exciting as genetic clones, animal DNA and clandestine military projects.” Dean could feel his brother's eyebrow raising beside him, he looked over at him.

“What?” he asked looking at his brother, Sam gave him a pointed look before turning back over to Max, Alec and Joshua.

“I'm sorry about my brother,”Sam said with a polite smile, “he can be a little rude when he feels out of place,” he explained, which caused both Max and Joshua to smile while Alec just frowned slightly.

“We are use to it, why do you think his name is Alec?” Max said pointing a thumb at the man sitting on the desk. Alec turned and glared at her.

“You know I do have better things to do than to babysit two norms with you Maxie, I know you like to look at me and all but isn't two a little too much for ya?” he asked standing up, missing the look of surprise on Dean's face at hearing something so similar to what he would say himself. He wondered just how alike he was to this Alec kid. If what they had said was true, and the kid was a genetic copy of himself, didn't that make him family?

“You should be around to hear what we have to say,” Sam said, looking at Alec, the smile never leaving.

Dean was more than happy to let Sammy take over at this point, telling people the whole truth spiel really was Sam's strength. The puppy dog looks and empathy were right up Sam's alley, Dean pushed away his earlier thoughts and watched his brother lean forward in his seat.

Dean let his mind and eyes wander around the room as his brother started to explain what happened to their parents and how they had spent their lives. Dean had to admit that he was impressed with how the transgenics were handling themselves, everything was running smoothly and other than the odd TV appearance not a lot f people knew anything about the community or its people. Rubbing his stomach where the ache had started two days ago, he looked up as Sam got to the good part.

“Ghosts?” came the unsure voice of Max. Alec and Joshua were now watching them closer, waiting for them to attack, and Dean raised his eyebrow.

“Got a problem with that sweetheart?”

“I suppose you also believe in angels and all that other crap,” Alec said, watching the older version of himself. Both men weren't teasing when they brought this up and Alec knew that it unnerved Max . He was actually glad that she had invited him into this meeting. “At least now we know why Ben went crazy. Had fucked up DNA to begin with.”

Dean raised his eyebrow at him then looked at Max whose back was now pressed into Joshua, her eyes wide with worry, and could that be fear? Dean wrinkled his nose, it was the same look the priest had earlier when they had visited him and now he knew that something was going on here. “Who the fuck is Ben?”

Dean knew his brother was trying to catch his eye but just waved a hand at him, something he had been doing for far too many hours now, they really needed some time alone to put this all together. A look was passed between Alec and Max, a small shrug from Alec.

“That one is up to you Maxie, I can tell 'em or you.” A small nod and for a second Dean feels a little bad about asking, but then again if it gets such a response from people it's something that he deserved to know.

“Ben, well, I'm not really sure yet the relationship you have with him, but he was Alec's twin. They were both born together, he was in my unit growing up. When we broke out,” Dean watched Alec's reaction while Sam was watching Max. Joshua's arms holding her tight, and she almost looked like she was going to lose it. Dean could stand to watch a lot of things, seeing a woman cry wasn't one of them. “We split up, at least most of us did. Ben went off to do his own thing, but there were too many things to explain on the outside world. It didn't make sense to him and he went insane.”

“Wait a second, you mean to tell me that there is a crazy version of my twenty year old self running around here somewhere?” Dean demanded from her and Alec sent him a disgusted look.

“Shut up and let the woman finish huh?”

Dean rolled his eyes and motioned for Max to push forward with her tale.

“He was killing people, hurting them because he was sure that the Virgin Mary would save them.” She took another calm breath, this time Dean was silent. In shock, the fact was that his face had committed these crimes. He was a wanted man because of this Manticore place. His hands curled up in anger as he pushed to his feet.

“What happen to him?” Dean said slowly, looking away from Alec who was also now standing up and looking over at Dean, both bodies clearly tense and ready for a fight.

“I had to kill him, Manticore took his body. After they reclaimed him I don't know what they did with him.”

Dean's jaw clenched tight and he nodded, wondering why he was so upset, it wasn't like the military wouldn't cover up the murders. He was free and clear, the fact that it was his DNA, well it sounded like it was going to fall back into Nature versus Nurture. His eyes moved from Max over to Alec's, watching them for a moment before nodding and turning to Sam.

“I'm going for a walk, finish up here will ya,” he muttered before leaving the small group alone in the room, the door slowly closing behind him.

Sam looked over at the other two that were gathered before him. "Sorry,” he said and Alec wrinkled his nose.

"Don't worry about it Sam, how about you two talk and I'll go have a chat with Dean,” Alec said with a smirk as he followed Dean out of the office, leaving Sam and Max alone. The silence stretched for a long moment before Sam cleared his throat.

"I'm sorry about your brother,” he said, trying to ignore the fact that the man would have looked just like his brother. "I just lost someone really close to me,” he said with a soft smile as he played with the hem of his top before looking up to Max. "I think I could have saved her, I was too scared to be different to save her,” he confessed to her before ducking back down to stare at his lap.

"I'm sorry Sam," Max said softly a few seconds later. "What happen? If you don't mind me asking."

"Demon, killed Jessica because I refused to-" He paused unsure just what he had been too stubborn to prove. That he could leave the life, that he could be normal, that the visions weren't true.

"Refuse what?"

"I don't know,” he said before looking up and catching her eyes. "You can't tell my brother, he doesn't know I feel this way."

"Sam," Max protested, worry on her face and he shook his head.

"No." The word was final and Max knew that it was better to drop it for the time being, but she would figure it out. The silence this time was painful and harsh, their breathing the only thing audible in the room. Sam was once more the one that broke the silence.

"So what else can you tell me about transgenics?"

Command Centre, Terminal City
Saturday
1542

Dean blindly made his way out of the command centre, he didn't even hear someone coming up behind him. He did, however, feel the hand on his shoulder and he spun around, hand already on their throat. He blinked when he saw his own face and shook his head, gathering himself as he dropped his hand.

“Sorry kid, didn't hurt you did I?” he asked as Alec rubbed the spot that Dean had grabbed.

“Takes more then a Norm to damage this fine body,” he promised and Dean couldn't help but chuckle slightly, shaking his head as he turned back around, picking a direction, he headed off at random.

“So ghost hunting huh?”

“Yeah, what about it?”

“Its just...well, come on, I mean I've seen a lot of things, and I mean a lot. But a ghost?”

“You know it's not the only thing that goes bump in the night.”

“No, what else could there be?” Alec asked as he fell into step with the older man, Dean found it almost welcome to have someone that was the same height, not having to speed up to keep up with his brother's massive stride. The fact that they both had their hands in their jacket pockets, both had a slight bow legged problem and hunched shoulders while they walked wasn't something they noticed, but was something that the others around him noted.

“Well, you know, demons, shape shifters, witches you will learn to hate them trust me, trolls, ghouls, zombies. You name it and it's out there, all the bad evil things that go bump in the night.” Dean wasn't surprised that the kid wasn't impressed, wondering if he had a normal life, if that was what he would have looked like if someone had tried to tell him about the monsters under the bed.

“Hum, I thought it normally took longer for Terminal City to start making you Norms go crazy.”

“What? Your city will make my brother and I sick?” Dean demanded. Both of them came to a stop again, Dean's hand on his clone's chest to stop him. Alec looked over to him, tipping his head to the side, a smart ass smirk in place, and Dean could understand why his father had always commented about smacking it off him.

“Where you listening at all while Max explained everything?” Dean grinned back at him, winking as he let go of him and turning down an alley way.

“No, I let Sammy take the notes, I cheat off him after class, ” Dean said, looking around the run down buildings. Most of them were disasters just waiting to happen, but it was clear that the place was being cleaned up, just not at a fast speed. “So do you like it around here? Hanging out with the woman that killed someone with your face?”

There was a long pause before Alec spoke up, Dean looking over his shoulder at the boy who seemed to be lost in thought at the moment. “Max and I have...history, I owe her a lot and we've become friends.”

“Bet it doesn't hurt that she's nice to look at.” An animalistic growl was his only reply and Dean couldn't help but chuckle, once more shaking his head. “Backing off now,” he promised, turning again, knowing that he wouldn't be lost.

Wasn't like he could get past the gates anyway, not that he wanted to looking like the world's most wanted, but all the same. They were chatting randomly as they came back, what growing up had been like, comparing stories that Dean knew would make Sammy blush and by the end of the conversation Dean found himself liking the guy a lot more, at least a lot more than he thought he would have. It was like having a little brother who could have been your twin, or even you in every way.

“I don't believe ya yet, you know that right?” Alec said as they moved back towards command.

Dean was now calm enough to deal with Max, also figuring that Sam would have had more than enough time to enlighten Max just as Dean had attempted to do so with Alec.

“I can prove it ya know, well maybe not the latter of the bunch I mentioned, but the ghost, if this place went up like you mentioned then there has to be a pissed off spirit or two kicking around.”

A raised eyebrow was the only reply for a couple seconds before Alec shrugged, “Whatever, I'm down with that, I believe in what I can see.”

Dean grinned widely at him and nodded. “I do like the way you think my friend, now come on, I need access to reports or newspapers, whatever you have.”

It was Alec's turn to smile that time and it matched the one Dean had given him, perhaps more freckles showing. Dean really needed to get this boy into the sun.

“That we can handle,” he promised, holding the door open as Dean headed back into the large building.