Author's note: Another chapter of...this, based on the Undertale AU, SecuriTale created by tekitourabbit her work found here: tekitourabbit* deviantart* com / (replace the asterisks with periods and remove the spaces.)

Undertale, related characters, and some words belong to Toby Fox.

Chapter song: Old Skin ft. Arnór Dan - Ólafur Arnalds

Chapter 10

Somewhere in the multiverse justice whispered:

'...oh brother, forgive me my secrets, my lies.

i never meant to hurt you, only protect you.

so that darkness could not taint the purest, bravest of souls.

...i failed you so many times.'

"...papyrus, it's so dark… please." Sans baritone usually strong and lusty, crackled weakly after eight days of disuse. The younger Bones shuddered, chilled by some unfelt cold, in his elder brother's arms. Papyrus shifted to hold his brother closer; risking further injury mattered not to Papyrus, so long as he could rouse his brother from the hellish slumber holding claim on Sans' soul.

"SANS, CAN YOU HEAR ME? I AM HERE, COME ON BABY BONES, OPEN YOUR EYES." Papyrus voice was both pleading and hopeful. Having spent one-hundred seventy-nine hours, forty-three minutes, and fifty-eight seconds, awake, in the desert that devoured all faith; the elder Bones drank deep from the oasis of anticipation, which sprang forth at the sound of his younger brother's voice.

"BROTHER, PLEASE… WHAT WILL I DO WITHOUT YOU," the question was asked and answered by Papyrus' sigh. The elder could hardly remember a time before they were two together; inseparable.

"I HAVE MADE SO MANY MISTAKES WITH YOU. PERHAPS THAT IS WHY YOU KEEP SECRETS FROM ME."

"...'pyrus, papyrus i'm sorry… i'm so sorry."

"SHH, HUSH NOW, I AM NOT ANGRY," Papyrus thought Sans was speaking of the events of the previous Monday. The younger Bones was however, just on the cusp of consciousness and as yet totally unaware of his surroundings; so Sans said something to his brother, something he thought he would take to the place where he would fall.

"...no matter what i did ...i-i couldn't save you."

"SWEET BOY, WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?"

"...i watched," Sans whispered throatily.

"WATCHED," Papyrus asked with trepidation.

"WHAT DID YOU WATCH, THAT COULD HAVE YOU THIS UPSET?"

"...i watched you die so many times…," Sans breathed hauntingly, but he sat up and hugged his brother; connecting himself with the only family he could remember.

"...you died so many times, i tried to stop it… i tried, i was afraid… numb." Sans sobbed into his brother's shoulder, clutching Papyrus for dear life.

The statement sent a chill through Papyrus' bones, it explained everything and nothing; everything about his brother's overly protective nature, yet nothing about his secrecy. Surely, this was just more of Sans fearfulness from childhood coming back to haunt him and give him nightmares; was it not? Papyrus cuddled his brother closer and hummed softly, and soon Sans' soft snores filled the room.

"FINALLY, ACTUALLY SLEEPING LAZYBONES? GOOD, NOW MAYBE YOUR BIG BROTHER," the elder yawned, "CAN GET SOME SLEEP." Papyrus released the magic he was using to maintain the shield, before slipping into easy slumber; still holding his brother.

Oddly enough, it was Sans who woke first and not Papyrus, but the sound of screaming, banging, splintering wood and the groan of steel under strain would wake anyone. Sans tried to shout over the din, but he quickly discovered that his hyoid was against it and would not allow him to voice anything but the tiniest squeak. The door to Sans' room groaned under some kind of pressure, the hinges creaking, until the door gave way with a splintering pop and the shearing of metal. Undyne and King Asgore stood in the doorway, each holding crowbars; Queen Toriel was standing behind them looking quite anxious; Frisk was holding her mother's hand, her face ruddy, with two dry salty tracks down her cheeks; and Alphys was hopping nervously behind everyone holding what looked to Sans like a bag of monster candy and a first-aid kit.

*...what's up,* Sans signed then patted where his throat would be if he had flesh, as everyone stared first at him and then his brother. Frisk was the first to break the silence.

"S-Sans," her voice wavered, it sounded strained. The girl released her mother's hand and ran into the room pushing past Undyne and her father, and stood at the side of Sans' bed; in the small space between the bedside table and Papyrus. Frisk hesitantly took her best friend's hand, clutching it all too briefly in her own, before quickly dropping it back onto the bed.

*I heard you scream and I feared the worst,* she signed in response to his question.

*I yelled and yelled, but neither of you came and the door was locked. That was when I called Undyne and Mother, of course Undyne brought Alphys and Mother brought Father. I humbly apologise for your bedroom door, but I could not find the key anywhere.*

"...so'k kiddo," Sans' voice cracked, it was barely audible.

"Papyrus," she whispered, *is he alright?* Frisk reached for the elder's hand and stroked it gently.

"...'pyrus," he returned to signing when he realised his voice was going to betray him.

*...he's okay, just tired. i think he had a shield up, i felt something when i woke up the first time, * Sans sighed and checked his brother's HP with trepidation; eleven, it was eleven. Sans wondered fearfully what he had done.

"...alphys, could i have some water," he asked his voice barely above a whisper. The scientist looked at him dumbly for a moment, before it registered that he was indeed addressing her and while he looked weak he seemed to be okay.

"S-sure Sans," Alphys said, pressing the first-aid kit into Undyne's hands, setting the sack of candy on top, before running down to the kitchen. The sound of Alphys' feet running down the stairs seemed to break the tension and give the others permission to speak.

"My boy, it is good that you are well, we were beginning to worry," Asgore said in his gentle bass.

"Yeah Clown, we thought the worst. Especially when Papy kicked me out and stopped answering my texts." Undyne stepped into the room taking a place to Sans' left, behind Papyrus, while gently and strategically pulling Frisk into her wake; each of the others followed her and took places around the bed. The warrior fish placed the first aid kit onto Sans' bedside table, apparently turning her attention to removing the ribbon from the bag of boiled monster sweets, though it was clear to anyone with military training that she was watching Sans for any untoward moves.

*...he had his reasons, i'm sure.* Sans did not miss the way Frisk was being removed from his presence, nor the way Undyne watched him as a hawk eyes its prey. The younger Bones was also fully aware that Toriel had checked his brother's HP, the look on the Queen's face gave her away; it was abundantly clear she was not the only one who had done so, their faces told the young Agent everything. Sans was surprised that Queen Toriel had not yet made the offer to heal his brother, the former keeper of the Ruins instead watched him warily.

"Maybe," Undyne responded, doubtfully, twisting the ribbon from the candy in her fingers.

"Sans dear, perhaps I should bake a pie for when he wakes up," the Queen offered, her voice gentle and steady as ever yet there was fear in her eyes. Sans wondered at the fear, it reminded him of something he could not place, as he watched Toriel move from her place near the foot of the bed to her daughter's side, her Highness was taking her cue from Undyne, quickly clutching the girl's hand in her own.

*...queen toriel, my brother and myself would be honored. i humbly thank you.* Sans sketched a seated bow with difficulty; his brother's hold was tight, despite the fact that Papyrus was deep in slumber. The Queen gave the young agent a small smile before excusing herself to the kitchen, taking her reluctant daughter with her. As soon as the two women were gone Undyne grabbed Sans roughly by the collar, pulling him from his brother's arms and Papyrus fell forward limply onto the bed.

"What the hell did you do and why is Papy… hell Sans, what happened?"

*...undyne i don't know,* the younger Bones struggled to sign from his position, Undyne's grip was like steel.

*...all i know is i remember waking up a while ago and my bro, he lulled me back to sleep.* Sans shrugged, his eyes held a look of confusion.

*...but he told me he wasn't angry.* Sans sighed deeply and struggled to find his voice, he wanted to be heard.

"...undyne you know i would never, never hurt him. he's the only family i've ever known. he's all i have," Sans swallowed thickly, his mouth felt painfully dry.

"Undyne," the king was shocked, "is such a LV really necessary? Certainly Captain Bones would gladly answer all of your questions, right my boy?"

"...yes, your highness," Sans whispered raspily.

"Your Majesty forgive me," the Director released the young Agent roughly onto the bed, in order to give King Asgore a sloppy curtsy.

"I need answers, Your Highness. We still don't fully understand what happened with Sans, and now we come here and Deputy Director Bones is out like a light. I bet any of us can count on one hand, the number times we've actually seen Papy sleep."

"True my girl," Asgore spoke gently, "but as a leader among my people you must remember: compassion before passion." Undyne nodded at him apologetically and the king smiled at her; Asgore then picked up Papyrus as if he weighed nothing.

"Our friend here looks a bit uncomfortable. I'll just take him to his own room, so he can rest and let you two talk." The king the plodded across the fallen door, and exited the room. Sans watched his brother being taken from his sight and shivered slightly, before returning his attention to Undyne.

*...undyne, why don't you start by telling me what happened. the last thing i remember is giving my brother my report, in the forest, before dozing off. i know my… my HP was really low.*

"Clown… Sans," Undyne suspired in frustration, she looked away from the younger Bones to the almost forgotten fabric which held the sweets in her hands. The fish warrior fiddled with the sack in thought before pulling out a singular wrapped confection and handing it to her subordinate.

"Look, let me start by asking you a question, what day is it?"

"...tuesday," Agent Bones managed to croak, as he reached for the candy; unwrapping it thoughtfully as he listened to his Director.

"Yes it's Tuesday, but I need the date Sans. What's today's exact date?"

*... weird, but okay. today is tuesday, eleven may 202x.* Sans signed, before popping the sweet into his mouth, with a confused look on his face. Undyne shook her head.

"No Nerd, today is Tuesday, Eighteen May 202x."

"...eight days," Sans coughed, nearly swallowing the candy, "i was asleep eight days?"

"Just about," Undyne nodded, as Alphys entered the room with a pitcher of water and several glasses.

"H-here Sans," Alphys offered the Agent a glass and filled it with water.

"...thanks al," Sans said, after taking a drink his baritone sounded more normal, doubtless the monster candy was doing most of the work.

"...what time is it," the young agent asked, boiled sweet clicking loudly between his teeth. Undyne pulled out her phone and glanced at the screen; she looked back at Sans questioningly.

"Fourteen hundred forty-five, why?"

"...uh, no reason just wanted to check somethin'," the young Agent glanced around the room, clearly looking for something.

"S-Sans, is t-there a problem?" The Scientist looked at him quizzically.

"...uh, heh," Sans coughed again and took another sip of water.

"...i was, uh... just looking for my phone." Sans sucked on the candy lustily before crunching the sweet loudly; his voice sounded stronger now, not with its normal timbre but better. Undyne rolled her eyes and snorted with disgust at his noise.

"I-I'm afraid its seen better days, t-though it fared better that that p-pack of cigarettes you were carrying. S-Sans, I-I don't have a lot of p-places to store u-unstable antimatter." Alphys frowned and looked at her hands.

"...really? wow, that's so cool! the last time i saw them they were in quantum flux… aww shit, what about my lighter."

"I-I t-think, that is t-to say, your lighter m-may have f-fused with your c-cigarettes… t-that may have been w-what started the f-fire. M-most likely I-I can salvage your m-mobile's data, probably… umm, m-maybe?"

"I cannot believe, we are having a conversation about the crap you keep in your pockets!" Undyne grumped, crossing her arms.

"Sans, we all know you cheat to hold more loot than a Temmie." Alphys snorted at Undyne's comment and gave the fish warrior a playful shove, which made Undyne face light up with a toothy smile. Sans guffawed loudly, before falling into a coughing fit while still grinning at his two friends. The three laughed for a few brief moments, slowly calming; Alphys was the first to sober.

"S-Sans, you k-know you… y-you died right? Papyrus almost went crazy," the Scientist said softly.

There it was, that unwanted truth; hanging in the air like a broken birthday banner flapping in the face of reason and logic. Undyne watched Sans' face very carefully but his visage was a neutral mask, as he reached for the pitcher and poured himself more water; taking a steadying drink before asking.

"...did he hurt anyone?"

Undyne chuckled.

"You remember Carl?"

"...if i recall, he was doin' some aerial acrobatics before i passed out." Sans blinked slowly a few times trying to recall the memory of Carl screaming and struggling in the hold of Papyrus' magic.

"Nasty case of whiplash, and a torn rotator cuff. Your brother told the idiot not to struggle." Sans nodded and hummed in thought.

"...good i was worried. now to the more serious question, how long was i dead?"

Alphys did not speak, but tugged on her tail anxiously. Sans pulled Alphys' tail from her hands, forcing the Doctor to look at him.

"...how long al?"

"F-four minutes,"

"...hmm, a short hop it might not register. was DT stable for the duration?"

"Y-yes, well f-for the most part… umm, there was a seven millisecond DT spike."

"...when did it occur," Sans asked, his voice serious; gone was the pranking comic, in his place was the cold logician. Agent Bones hated this feeling of not knowing, it made him feel weak, but he needed to know.

"...damnit al, when did it occur?"

"W-when your HP l-last bottomed out, right b-before… before y-you…" Alphys was clearly dismayed by the whole ordeal. Sans knew things like this upset Alphys delicate mental state; her tendencies to self-blame and self-harm, were something the younger Bones always regretted being unable to stop. Sans watched her closely, as always, for signs of backsliding, but Undyne was right there pulling her girlfriend into a tight embrace.

"...before i died?"

Doctor Alphys nodded, but allowed herself a sweet moment of comfort, in loving arms, before continuing.

"T-that's not all, S-Sans your existence was w-wavering."

"...wavering," he mulled that word over, playing with it in his mind, before repeating it.

"...wavering… wavering how?" Alphys sighed and leaned further into Undyne's embrace.

"J-just like the fallen did, r-right before they coalesced i-into amalgamates." Sans ran his hand over his brow, then down his nasal bone, before scrubbing his left hand over his entire face.

"...you know what this means don't you," he asked and Alphys nodded.

"...al, if i took on more DT… it's serious alphys, i don't know how much more i can handle. You have to promise me that you won't say anything, not a word to papyrus."

"I-I'll do my best S-Sans, but h-he inadvertently found out a-about the trackers."

"...i know al, i shoulda told him myself. asking you not to tell him was a mistake."

"You two nerds know I'm still here, right? Sans I can't do it, I won't do that to your brother. After the fiasco with the trackers I swore to Papyrus, full disclosure." Undyne gave her subordinate a stern look, then gave her ponytail a tug.

"...undyne, please this is something my brother cannot know," Sans gazed into the warrior's eye, while his own expression was both serious and pleading. Undyne watched the younger Bones, suddenly something in her eyes changed and she growled before she spat out.

"Alright, but if Papyrus finds out..."

"...i know, he won't have a chance to be pissed, because you'll dust me first. damn undyne, one might think he was your brother and not mine."

"Brothers in arms nerd," she huffed gently, "if it weren't for Papy I'd have lost more than my eye."

"...i know, undyne, i know, " Sans sighed, tiredly, remembering all too well the damage Undyne had sustained at the hands of another, less fortunate human, and how his brother and Gerson had tried to ease her pain. Undyne's screams were something his young ossicles were never meant to hear, and they were something he would never forget.

"...leastways, the kid didn't do it this time."

"I-I don't know S-Sans," Alphys spoke softly, "her proximity w-was too close to r-rule Frisk out completely, s-she may still have been t-the catalyst… you k-know Papyrus i-is right, you sh-should be studying Astronomy, o-or better yet Quantum P-physics. T-this security job i-is a waste o-of your brilliant mind."

Sans ignored Alphys' comment, he was still extrapolating the known to this new unknown. He had felt himself die, yet he had not seen the possible outcomes nor had he seen any of the other Sans-es

" I still don't buy half the crap you nerds are selling, I can't believe the punk is capable of..." There was a sudden loud bang in the the hallway and Undyne was unable to finish her thought as the sound of running footsteps came closer. Papyrus ran into Sans room, nearly tripping over the fallen door; King Asgore followed behind did not enter the room, but leaning on the doorframe. The elder Bones skidded, falling on his knees in front of his brother; pulling his young sibling into a tight embrace.

"...hey 'pyrus." Sans put his arms tightly around his brother's neck

"OH THANK GOD, WHEN I WOKE UP AND HIS MAJESTY WAS THE ONLY ONE IN THE ROOM I FEARED THE WORST. I THOUGHT PERHAPS…" Papyrus shook his head, as if to dislodge negative thoughts.

"ARE YOU ALRIGHT?"

"...heh, you know me i'm always ok bro, i'm unbreakable."