Close to Home - epilogue

[iesika]

Close to Home

Epilogue

Justine finished reading the article out loud and folded up the paper. She tucked it under the edge of Alex's lunch tray. "Poor kids," she said, her pretty face twisting into a frown. "Conner's so sweet. He came to check on you, and he was such a mess. He was trying to reassure me, though."

"He's a good kid," Alex agreed. They all were, really. He turned his head as far as the neck brace would allow and looked at the row of cards and vases that stretched along the window ledge. Funny thing, you never knew how popular you were until everybody thought you were dying. "I can't believe he's dating a celebrity," he said, and chuckled. "Small town boy made good, I guess."

"Hasn't sent a card, yet," Justine said. Lorelei tugged at her pant-leg, so she bent and lifted her up onto the bed to sit between Alex's feet. "There's one from that woman - his aunt, you said? She sent jam or something, too. Something in a jar."

Alex made a face. "Why didn't you tell me that before I ate that awful meatloaf? I'd have sent you down for extra rolls, or something."

"Hey."

Alex looked down the bed at the girl who was, for all intents and purposes, his stepdaughter. Her mother had pulled her hair back in a ponytail today, and it shone like copper in the sunlight. "Yes, sweetie?"

"Can I eat your jello?"

Justine snorted and pulled the rolling tray-table toward her daughter. "Have at, kid," she said, sticking a spork in her hand.

Lorelei's little face lit up, and she dug into the quivering green mass with great delight.

"You know what that's made of?" Alex said, smirking.

"Cow feet and pig bones," she said, sounding bored. "You told me already. But it still tastes good."

Alex chuckled, wincing a little at the pain in his ribs. "I find your pragmatism most admirable, young lady," he said.

Lorelei slurped jello through her teeth at him.

Someone knocked on the door, and then one of the nurses poked her head in. Alex hoped it wasn't a bad sign that he couldn't remember her name. "You've had another delivery," she said.

Justine exhaled and looked around. "I don't think there's room for more flowers. You think they're expecting bonus points in return, or what?"

"It's not flowers," the nurse said. She stepped into the room with a small, flat, brown box. "Little package."

"Maybe it's more cookies!" Lorelei said excitedly.

"You've already got jello," Justine said absently as she took the box. It was stamped 'FRAGILE', so she refrained from shaking it. "Want me to open it?"

Alex held up his hands, which were still loosely bandaged over his burns. "I think you'd better."

"No, me," Lorelei, said, reaching, but her mother pulled it out of her grasp.

"Honey, it says ‘fragile’. That means there's something in it that could break." She slid her nail under the packing tape, and then stopped, looking down at the box with a sardonic expression. "Alex? Have you been sending off letters to supermodels?"

To..."What?" he asked.

"The return address says ‘Kory Anders’."

Kory Anders? What? Alex tried to sit up, only to be fussed at by both his girlfriend and the nurse. Justine helped him raise the bed a little, and held the box out in front of him as she opened it. Inside, there was a card with a picture of a cartoon scientist on it, and a small, framed photo of Anders in a bikini under a waterfall, signed and bearing a lipstick print. Alex was already grinning at the thought of the comments he'd get from his students with that on his desk.

"Oh, that's tasteful," Justine said, dryly, and pulled the photo out to shove it under a blanket before Lorelei could see. The box rattled, and Dalton looked down to see there had been two little vials under the picture.

Justine lifted them out for his inspection. One was full of thick, dark, vibrantly orange liquid, and the other contained a curl of reddish-brown hair.

"Oh my god," Alex said, his breath coming quick. "They're samples."

"What?" Justine asked. "Hold on!" she scolded as he fumbled for the card with his painfully swollen fingers. "I'll read it!"

The card didn't have a printed message in it. Instead, it bore a few lines of delicate, loopy script in purple ink.

"’Dear Alex’," Justine read out. "’I've heard an awful lot about you from a friend of mine, and I just wanted to express my wishes for your speedy recovery. My friend thought you might have enough flowers, so he asked me to send along something a little more personal, with his regards. Best of luck, Kory Anders. PS, I'd love a copy of the paper when you're done with these. You can pass it on to Conner.’ And then she kissed the paper. You'd think the picture would have been enough."

Alex's fingers twitched under the bandages. "Oh my god," he said again. He turned to the nurse quickly. "Was the package at the desk for long? I need to know how old that blood sample is." His heart sank. "The mail must have come hours ago."

"Didn't come with the mail," the nurse said, taking the card from Justine to look it over. "This kid delivered it to the station just now. I barely even saw him, he disappeared so fast."

"Can you get me some ice? Dry ice, I mean. And an insulated box. You've got to have them in the phlebotomy and histology labs-"

"Mr. Dalton," the nurse said suddenly. "Calm down. You're sending your monitor haywire."

Alex took a deep breath and forced himself back against the pillows. "But can you get the ice?"

"I've got a friend downstairs," she said. She stepped forward and adjusted his IV. "I'll go call him, but you've got to stay calm, okay?"

"Right," Alex said, trying very hard to control his breathing. "Calm. Okay. Honey, can you call Charles? Tell him he can co-author if he'll let me use his lab. Oh, fuck. I can't even use my hands."

"Alex!" Justine snapped, clapping her hands over her daughter's ears.

He fell silent, feeling suddenly sheepish.

Justine sighed and gave him a fondly exasperated look. "They won't let you out of here if you give yourself a heart attack. I'll call Charles. Just calm down, okay?"

"Yes, dear," Alex said, but his mind was racing.

Alien DNA. Alex grinned. Oh, that was much better than another potted mum. What a thoughtful boy!

Index

Comments

[felonazcorp.livejournal.com]

OH MY GOD. THIS WAS--AND I WAS--AND KON AND TIM, OH TIMMY. ♥

I know you just finished and posted it and it's super long and probably took FOREVER, but seriously, you need to write more of this, okay? Because I'm stupidly in love with like everything about this, and more needs to happen asap. ASAAAAAAAP.

[munnin-odanin.livejournal.com]

I have no words for just how fantastic this story is! Your characterisations are perfect, the story was poignant and beautifully executed...

Ok – I have some words but they don’t do it justice at all. Well done, be proud.

[mremre.livejournal.com]

AHHH! I did miss the Epilogue! good thing I went back to copy all parts to my Sony eReader for subway-reread fun. THIS IS MARVELOUS! You have sucked me back into the black hole that Tim/Kon made of my life a few years ago. Oh the horror.

Thank you for a wonderfully written, sensitive and intelligent plot that was also full of characters I recognized.

[eliyes.livejournal.com]

I LOVE THIS ENTIRE STORY AND ALL THE OCS* (except Thomas and Patrick and Pete, really) AND YOU FOR WRITING IT! ♥

* ANd if they aren't OCs, it doens't matter, because I love them anyway.

[kat8cha.livejournal.com]

I just read this all and just.

Just.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

You totally made my night! like TOTALLY.

I love a good Superboy fic, and you just did an amazing job.

I also love sneaky Tim. XD

[porntestpilot.livejournal.com]

I want to write you an essay because YES SO MUCH YES! This is the kind of stuff I want him to do!

And hahahaah, Tim Wayne, Cassie is going to kill them both and it will be hilarious.

But the best part, is Martha yelling about Clark not giving Conner a middle name, because yeah, it's so much better to yell at your kid with a middle name.

I loved every second of this, and you did Tim's fake Wayne shit so well! Perfect! Thank you so much for writing this! <3 <3

[merelymine.livejournal.com]

I REALLY <333 YOU A LOT.

This was excellent, from the very first word. As soon as I saw it was finally posted I was all KICKYFEET and YAY and decided to devote the rest of my evening to it immediately.

You write Kon amazingly well, just perfect perfect perfect. I loved him here, wanting so badly to make friends, being adorable and clever and completely CLUELESS in turns.

The identity of the murder victim was so much more poignant for the meeting with Connor in the hallway. I had an image of this bright, happy kid in my head, and I was hoping Kon had made a new friend when... It really hit me like a sucker-punch.

I am still grinning like a loon that Tim showed up as Tim Wayne, snobby Gotham socialite, and at how Kon had absolutely no idea what to do with him. Also, I was going to vaguely threaten you for sequels, but I see you have admitted that there will be some. I AM VERY GLAD, BECAUSE I AM JUST AS CONFUSED AS POOR KON. Damn confusing Bat-brats.

JAKE. He was lovely and adorable and YAY.

I could really go on for years, here, because it's so SO fabulous, but I really need to go to bed now, so I'll stop.

You're awesome.

I mean it. :D

[ladymirth.livejournal.com]

You gave this such a great build-up that I felt that having Baumhauer be the culprit wasa bit too pat and predictable, but really, ask me if I give a damn. The Tim/Kon devoured my soul! I THINK MY OVARIES JUST IMPLODED.

God, those Bats love fucking with everyone's heads. I feel really bad for Cassie though. She doesn't deserve to be cheated on.

Now, I don't know whether I want you to write Kings Amng Runaways first or the sequel to this. I'm going to die of anticipation either way, but what a way to go.

I love that Conner now has legitimate reason to know Starfire. because his boyfriend's brother used to engaged to her. Conner is probably going to be the most popular guy in Smallville High.

I love Kory! Also, Dick isn't hetero. He's omnisexual. The universe wouldn't have put that much sex appeal into one person and made it otherwise. It cannot be that cruel.

[beef-wonder3.livejournal.com]

This was a joy to read.
I loved everything from the clear, complexity of Kon's characterization to the thick and twisty plot and a million other little things you did.
The OCs were really fleshed out and compelling and I think Jake is definitely one of my favorites :D.
The Tim/Kon interaction felt very natural and I like that Kon (nor I) still don't know if Tim acting like he wanted Kon was just that, or more.
And the message behind it was beautifully executed and made everything Kon went through all the more real.
Brilliant story, I enjoyed every second of it =D

[ladyblkrose.livejournal.com]

*queue one long hellaciously joyously giddy scream of delight*
I loved this to pieces BABY. It is so well written and well characterized and so much damn fun that I am delirious, that and it’s now 5:30 in the morning. I started this with the intention of reading a few chapters a day to draw out the pleasure, but like popping open a can of Pringles I couldn’t stop until I finished the whole thing. I laughed, sighed, chortled, and was so incredibly satisfied by this read that…..I have no words. I couldn’t even stop to write my own fic for reading this. And your previously posted snippets were like movie trailers, made me want more. Still want more. Tim/Kon are to me like Bruce/Clark, catnip, and this one was whiskey soaked, hickory smoked catnip.
Thank you for sharing, I appreciate all the hard work that went into crafting this and I eagerly wait for MOAR.

[batstalker.livejournal.com]

I loved everything about this fanfic so much that I can't properly explain it. The thing I enjoyed most was getting so damn invested in your *own* original characters. Also, I'll admit, I squealed a very loud fan girl squeal at the appearance of Tim Wayne. <3 Min-Bruces are always appreciated in these here parts.

I started reading this at chapter one, and couldn't stop for the *briefest* break once I began. At least not without itching to get back to it. I read it from cover to end in one sitting simply because I couldn't *stop* myself.

Amazing writing, glorious characterization, lovely ending.

You inspire me like crazy!!

[macey-muse.livejournal.com]

gleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee~

[hamartian.livejournal.com]

I loved this! I originally thought that Matt was going to be the OC in Kon/OC so I was very surprised. I thought the pastor's son was a red herring, so I was surprised again. This fic kept me guessing. I ended up reading it in almost one sitting. As a gay guy I must say that I'm very impressed with your GLBTQI characters. The story did not feel like a very special episode. I'm really looking forward to seeing how Cassie will react. Too many fic writers treat canon girlfriends as little more than obstacles to the gay. I loved how you had Kon casually using his powers and the way he interacted with Superman.

[swingbound.livejournal.com]

I don't normally go for Tim/Kon, but this... this had to be the most entertaining thing I've read in a long time.

So much fun, great characterizations, intriguing OCs and good pacing to go along side the drama. It was an absolute joy to read.

[shiny-glor-chan.livejournal.com]

I was having a pretty shitty night, and this definitely cheered me up! <3 Though, you have left me wanting more. I doubt you want to write anymore of this anytime soon after all the time it took, so you just have distract me with something Jason/Tim, and it's all good. XD

[vass]

What a wonderful story. Long and plotty and fun. Thank you for posting it.

Doctor Gomer? Really? Doctor Get Outta My E.R.?

Completely off-topic, but I like your rat icon.

[harborshore.livejournal.com]

I just ignored my homework for an hour and I don't regret A THING. This is seriously wonderful, heart-clenching and sad and funny and full of perfectly teenage confusion and bravery--no words. Just, none. So great.

[miss-tress.livejournal.com]

After reading all of the chapters of this fic all I can do is wave my hands around and make happy noises. It's just so wonderful!

[kickthebeat.livejournal.com]

yessssssssssssssssssssssssss. i love it. I'M GONNA TAKE IT ON DATES AND HOLD ITS HAND AND PINCH ITS BUTT AND STUFF. god, this was fantastic. WHY AREN'T MORE PEOPLE WRITING WITHIN DC CANON THESE DAYS, IT MAKES ME INSANE.


anyway, shit. i loved this. oh, kon. you made him just angsty and just ridiculous enough. AND TIM. JESUS. *has to go*

[stranj100.livejournal.com]

I thoroughly enjoyed this. I just can't express how much.

[ellie-mcphee.livejournal.com]

This was _such_ a delight. Thank you!

[fictionalknight.livejournal.com]

I really loved this! :D

It was so worth waiting for (and then not being able to read it for the longest time. *lol*)

<3

[jynx.livejournal.com]

.....wait, you mean there's no more? DDD:

....can i beg for more? *doesn't want it to end!!!!!*

iiiif you couldn't tell, i adore this! and yay fro the clark/dick hints! i'm gonna go scour your lj for other fic by you cuz guh. yum. you made me stay up way too late to finish this. but yaaaaay~

[engnrd-disaster.livejournal.com]

:DDD

This made me smile and laugh and kick my feet in joy.

[unlovablehands.livejournal.com]

okay okay okay. so this whole thing is AMAAAAAZING but the epilogue is the BEST PART somehow. BEST GET WELL PRESENT EVER.