DISCLAIMER: The Dexter characters are
the property of Showtime. The story contents are the creation and property of
Djinn and are copyright (c) 2013 by Djinn. This story is Rated R.
Unlikely Allies
by Djinn
This has major spoilers for Season Eight of Dexter (and previous seasons
by extension) up to the episode, "Are We There Yet?".
Deb
heard a knock on her door, opened it, and was stunned to see Hannah. ÒWhat? You got tired of breaking in?Ó
Hannah
had the grace to look almost embarrassed.
ÒIÕm turning over a new leaf.
The spirit of dŽtente and all that.Ó
ÒWhatever. What do you want?Ó
ÒWe
need to talk.Ó
Deb
moved so she was blocking the door more effectively. ÒNo, we fucking do not need to
talk. Talking to you is about the
last thing on a long list of things I do not fucking want to do.Ó
ÒItÕs
about Dexter. And not about Dexter
and me.Ó HannahÕs expression was
one Deb didnÕt think sheÕd ever seen on her face. The arrogance was gone. This was...fear?
ÒOkay. I guess.Ó Deb moved aside and let Hannah come in.
ÒBy
the way, this is a great house.Ó
ÒI
rent, itÕs not mine. And IÕm a
fucking slob in case you didnÕt notice.Ó
ÒWell,
I didnÕt say it was a neat house.Ó
Hannah grinned and Deb found herself responding to her, before she
reminded herself that the woman standing across from her making jokes about her
housekeeping had tried to kill her.
<I>Had</i>
killed others.
But
she hadnÕt killed her the last time sheÕd the chance. And that was worth something. Especially when Dexter and Harrison were
both so goddamned captivated by this murderous bitch.
This
murderous bitch who would probably end up being her
sister-in-law. Deb hoped Dexter
hadnÕt told Hannah about her own feelings for him. That would redefine awkward in a family
already skirting the bleeding edge of weird.
ÒCan
I get you something to drink? IÕm
sure I have some rat poison I can add.Ó
Hannah
laughed. ÒI deserve that.Ó She sat on the couch and shook her
head. ÒYou know Doctor Vogel,
right?Ó
ÒYeah.Ó Deb didnÕt know how much or little
Hannah knew about Vogel, so she wasnÕt going to give anything away.
ÒShe
made the code for Dexter. He feels
like sheÕs his...family.Ó
Deb
nodded.
ÒI
donÕt think she is.Ó Hannah met her
eyes; there was no bullshit in her expression, just pure concern. ÒWe had dinner with her. Dexter, Zach, and me. Dexter took me back to my hotel and
Vogel drove Zach home.Ó
ÒDexter
told me ZachÕs dead. That the Brain
Surgeon isnÕt dead—we thought we got him.Ó
ÒMaybe
Vogel let you think that. From what
Dexter said, Yates didnÕt fit the profile.
But Vogel said it was over, and you two wanted it to be over, didnÕt
you?Ó
Deb
looked down. Yes, she had fucking
wanted it to be over. Saving Vogel
from Yates helped put her back on a good path. SheÕd done something right.
Stopped
a serial killer.
Saved
a woman who was trying to help her.
Made
up a little for what sheÕd done in that container.
ÒWho
is this woman?Ó Hannah asked softly.
ÒWhat do we know about her?Ó
We? They were a fucking we now? Jesus. ÒShe was married. Her husband is dead.Ó
ÒKids?Ó
Deb
shrugged. ÒWhat is it youÕre
accusing her of exactly?Ó
ÒDexter
thinks Vogel showed up because of the Brain Surgeon. But the Brain Surgeon didnÕt show up
until Vogel did.Ó
ÒChicken,
egg?Ó
ÒRight. Why is she here? Here where her little prodigy lives and
works. What if sheÕs here to give
Dexter a chance to show her how well he learned the lessons she gave him.Ó Hannah smiled
and let out a puff of air—Deb realized it was an angry laugh. ÒGave him his Dark Passenger.Ó
ÒGave
it to him?Ó
ÒSociopaths
donÕt love, Debra. I do. You do. WeÕre not sociopaths even if weÕve both
killed people.Ó
Deb
narrowed her eyes. Had Dexter told
Hannah about LaGuerta? ÒMine was in the line of duty.Ó
ÒRight,
but still...Ó HannahÕs
expression didnÕt change. Maybe
Dexter could keep a fucking secret from the love of his life. ÒDexter waited until he was nineteen to
kill someone. Waited years.Ó
ÒSo? Our dad was holding him back.Ó
ÒYou
canÕt hold back a psychopath. I
know. I dated one. Remember?Ó She looked down. ÒI fell into it when I met Wayne. I murdered someone, gave into the
violence, but I felt no pleasure once it was done. I didnÕt want to do it again.Ó
ÒWe
both know you did, though.Ó
ÒNot
the same way. With Wayne, it was
stabbing. ItÕs so...personal. So intimate.Ó She took a deep breath. ÒIÕm giving you this, Debra, because I
want you to believe me when I tell you that I think Vogel made Dexter into a
killer. <i>Made</i> him.
Not molded his tendencies but gave him them.Ó
Deb
frowned. ÒMy dad was convinced
Dexter would kill.Ó
ÒBut
who did he work with? Who convinced
him? Dexter told me that your dad
went to her with concerns. Dexter
had a fascination with blood. He
was born in it, just old enough to remember—even if it was in his subconscious—sitting
in it for days, just feet from the body of his hacked up mother. The smell of that in a
hot container. Deb—I
think he was just a boy—perhaps a troubled one, but still just a
boy—looking for answers. Not
a monster. I think she made him into
a killer. And I think sheÕs here to
see just how well she did. And
maybe this Brain Surgeon is another one like him. One of her creations.Ó
ÒAs
theories go, this is really out there.Ó
She got up and went into the kitchen. ÒSoda?Ó
ÒWater?Ó
She
tossed Hannah a bottle and grabbed a can of soda for herself. ÒWhy would she do this?Ó
ÒBecause
sheÕs bored. She said at dinner the
other night that boredom is the greatest enemy, not danger. And she kept harping on how Dexter and I
have a bond.Ó
Deb
laughed softly. ÒYeah, sheÕs done
that with me, too. Is always so
surprised he can love a sister.
Love anyone.Ó
ÒDo
you know that she asked Dexter why he didnÕt just kill you when you found out
about him?Ó
ÒWhat?
Fuck no, she didnÕt.Ó
ÒShe
did. He told me. It surprised him sheÕd even ask. YouÕre family.Ó Hannah took a long pull from the water
bottle. ÒHe betrayed me for
you. He loves you. He loves me, too. He loves his son more than
anything. He is capable of
emotion. I think heÕs capable of
empathy, too. It just hasnÕt been
developed because your dad didnÕt think he had any and Doctor Vogel encouraged
that.Ó
ÒYouÕre
saying she made him into a killer?Ó
Hannah
nodded. ÒAnd I think sheÕs going to
take everything he loves away from him in this game—whatever it
is—sheÕs playing. We need to
get Harrison away from here.Ó
Deb
studied Hannah. Saw only
concern. ÒDo you love Harrison?Ó
Hannah
nodded. ÒI was pregnant once. I had a miscarriage. I really wanted that baby. Harrison fills that void. Not in a Ôkidnap him and run offÕ way,
but just that heÕs so sweet.Ó
ÒHe
loves you, too. ItÕs sickening,
frankly.Ó She rolled her eyes at
HannahÕs smile. ÒHis grandparents
are in Orlando. Jamie could for
sure use a change of scene. But
DexterÕs not going to buy it.Ó
ÒWhoever
killed Zach left him in DexterÕs apartment. HeÕll buy it, Deb.Ó
ÒItÕs
Deb now, is it?Ó
ÒWhy
not?Ó
ÒI
donÕt understand what Zach was even doing there, in that hotel room in the
Keys.Ó
ÒThe
intern Dexter mentioned...Ó
ÒOh,
fuck me. I thought he meant MasukaÕs daughter.
You mean he was taking on interns for...being a psychopath?Ó
ÒYou
make it sound so...dirty.Ó She
smiled and took another pull of her water.
ÒHe was actually a nice kid, I think, if you donÕt count that heÕd
murdered some folks. Dexter could
have helped him.Ó
ÒI
do not want to know this. I said it
then and IÕm saying it now. Fucking
son of a bitch, what is wrong with all of you?Ó
ÒItÕs
not us. Vogel suggested Dexter take
on Zach. When Dexter was going to
take care of Zach in his usual way, Vogel said Dexter would feel something from
this. A loss,
sadness. But then Dexter
didnÕt kill him. So she had to do
it for him—or whoever the Brain Surgeon is did it. Which of us will be next? She knows how much he cares.Ó Hannah frowned. ÒHis neighbor had a new boyfriend. He was a suspect, right?Ó
ÒFor
a hot minute. He had an alibi.Ó
ÒDid
it check out?Ó
ÒIÕm
not a cop anymore, remember?Ó
ÒWhat
if heÕs the Brain Surgeon? VogelÕs
other son. Maybe even a real
son.Ó Hannah stood up, started to
pace. ÒI canÕt snoop around too
much. IÕm wanted, after all. And Vogel knows I wasnÕt all that warm
at dinner.Ó
ÒYou? Cold? No.Ó Deb laughed and rolled her eyes.
ÒI
asked her what got her initially interested in studying serial killers. She said there was an incident but then
backed off. ThereÕs something in
her past. You can find it. You can find out when she really got
here—was it before or after the Brain Surgeon started killing, because
Dexter said she was called in, but she looked very much at home in her little
house.Ó
Deb
thought about it. Vogel really did
look cozy there and a lot of the stuff looked like hers not just the furniture
and knick knacks that came with a furnished rental.
Hannah
leaned back and shook her head.
ÒElbows.Ó
ÒExcuse
me?Ó
ÒZach
had his elbows on the table. She
told him to take them off. It was
the thing only a mother would do.Ó
ÒOr
a bossy headshrinker. Do you think
maybe youÕre making too much of this?
IÕm sorry your little mini Dexter is dead. Oh, wait, no IÕm not. He <i>killed</I> someone.Ó
ÒYou
tried to kill Dexter.Ó
Fucking
dickhead—so much for Dexter keeping secrets. ÒDonÕt know what youÕre talking about.Ó
Hannah
smiled. ÒYeah, you do.Ó
ÒSo
what? YouÕre blackmailing me?Ó
ÒNo. Dexter wouldnÕt like it. I consider it mutually assured
destruction. You turn me in, I tell
on you.Ó There was something in her
eyes that told her she knew more—but Deb really could not see Dexter
trusting her with the details about LaGuerta. More likely Hannah was just a hell of a
poker player.
ÒYou
said you wouldnÕt hurt me since it would hurt Dexter, too.Ó
ÒThere
may be a limit to that if you turn me in.Ó
She leaned in. ÒThat pen
Dexter gave you is all that links me to Sal Price. IÕd be a free woman if you were to, say,
get rid of it.Ó
ÒNot
a police officer—you hard of hearing?Ó
Hannah
pointed to the paperwork strewn on the table. ÒLooks like you soon will be again.Ó
ÒFuck
you.Ó
ÒWeÕre
getting off track. We can save our
mutual dislike for later.
Dexter...I think he loves Vogel.
As a mother. The mother he wanted but never felt
close to. HeÕs not going to want to
believe this.Ó
Deb
hated to admit blondie was right, but sheÕd thought
the same thing. ÒSo I check her out
and you...?Ó
ÒSheÕs
fascinated by me. I think she wonÕt
move until she fully understands me—or thinks she does. I can make that happen, seek her help.Ó
ÒSo,
what? YouÕre going to go to therapy
with her?Ó
ÒShe
did wonders with you, right? Maybe
sheÕll cure me.Ó HannahÕs smile was
annoying times a million. ÒAlthough
this would be a lot easier if I wasnÕt a fugitive.Ó
ÒIÕm
not taking the fucking pen out of evidence. I didnÕt take you into custody when I
found you in the Keys. ThatÕs the
most youÕre getting from me.Ó
ÒAnd
weÕll work together on this. For
Dexter?Ó
Deb
nodded. ÒIf we could just find the
tapes of her sessions with Dexter.
Those might shed some light on things.Ó
ÒIÕm
pretty good at breaking in if you know where they are.Ó Hannah looked pointedly at DebÕs sliding
glass door.
ÒYou
are a fucking pain in the ass. I
really donÕt like you.Ó
ÒDo
you like any women, Deb? How many
female friends do you have?Ó
ÒHow
many do you have, you stupid bitch?Ó
ÒBitch...okay,
maybe. But IÕm not stupid. And neither are you—I thought you
were and that was a mistake.Ó Hanna
put her feet up on the table. ÒSo,
when do you want to break into VogelÕs house?Ó