Unmistakably a Sanctuary

 This alternate contains an alternate. And both are better.

When their captor comes in to take Hank away, Jeremiah offers an alternative.

“No please, take me.” Jeremiah Danvers said in a rush. The alien lowered his fist. “I might not like him very much, but I cannot let this continue. We have rules even in plain war. You don't keep hacking at a man after he's down. He's no longer any threat to you. If for no other reason than to prove you're better than us - better than him, leave him be."

“I do not understand what you are suggesting.”

Jeremiah hesitated for a moment. "He has a beacon to activate in emergency and call for extraction. Activate the beacon and leave him...or drop him off somewhere. Other agents will find him. I'll go with you."

“You would give up your freedom for this man's life?” He said, mystified.

“For his freedom AND his life...yes. And to be completely open, I'd rather not go back. If you let me go with you...well you'd be doing exactly that. In a way you'd be giving me a new life. And almost certainly a better one. It comes down to this, if you will not only let him Live but let him Go, then without your order to the contrary I will not leave your side. I will not run and I will not fight. I take my oath on it.”

A soft smile grew on the other man's face. He crouched down, put the back of his hand against Henshaw's temple. The man drifted to sleep. “Activate the beacon. Then we'll get out of here.”

“Stop this!" The alien raised his fist, relenting from his assault. “Is this how you prove your superiority? Attacking a defenseless solider?”

“You defend him, why? Who is he to you?”

“He is my commanding officer. I make no excuses for his actions nor my own. He's no longer any threat to you, leave him alone. We have rules even in war, you don't kick a man when he's down. If for no other reason than to prove you're better than us –better than him– leave him be.” My words must have made an impact because he stepped away from us. 'You are a strange one, whoever you are.' I heard the man say. Although I'm not entirely sure he said it.

“I'd be happy to never see his like again. But I cannot trust that you would leave me alone. I cannot simply let you go.”

“You don't want him anywhere near you. I understand. I hope that...Do you have the same problem with me?” The stranger stepped closer to me, almost like he was taking my measure. I did the same and found myself rather drawn to the man. I saw something noble in him. He was a solider and an experienced one at that. He had seen enough battle to value life. I hoped I wasn't creating things out of nothing.

“You, I have no problem with.” He said finally.

“Then let him go. I'll stay.”

“I honestly do not understand what you are trying to say.”

“I'm asking that you let him go. He has a beacon in his vest pocket. Let our people find him and bring him home. But don't let them find me here.”

“You would give up your freedom for this man's life?”

“For his freedom and his life, yes.”

He seemed mystified anyone would make such a sacrifice. Indeed he was looking at me with such an incredulous expression I had to fight to keep from laughing at him. Looking a little harder at his green skin I realized he was surprised a human solider would so willingly surrender themselves to the care of an alien solider. I had to assure him of my grasp of the situation, as much as my sincerity. “For his safety and freedom. I swear to you on anything that would matter, if you will not only let him Live but let him Go, you can take me. I will not leave and I will not fight. I take my oath on it.”

He bent down, put the back of his hand to Hank's temple and stood up.

"Activate the beacon and let's get out of here."

I activated the beacon and stood up. “We should learn each-others names.”

“We should get to shelter first.”

We walked for a couple of hours, headed southeast near as I could tell. Eventually we came to an old schoolhouse. He motioned me in. there were two rooms, one on either side fo the breezeway. In the room to the left there was a coffee table, a floor lamp and even a makeshift mattress propped up on cinder blocks. “I hope you'll be comfortable here. There's a lavatory and laundry room. I have a friend I must visit before sundown.”

“Your name.” I reminded him.

“I am, J'onn Jo'nzz.”: He said haltingly.

“I'm Jeremiah Danvers. And maybe I don't get to say this now, but for my part you can consider me a friend. Thank you.” I said in a rush.

“ I should be thanking you.” He quipped. And left without another word.

The next morning he came back. I stood the instant he walked into the room. He looked thoroughly uncomfortable. “I do not know...I don't intend...” He stammered.

I realized he had misinterpreted my overture. “I'm sorry. I stood at attention every time Hank entered the room. Old habits really must die hard.”

J'onn nodded in understanding. “A sign of respect or fear?”

“Respect, for his authority and position. He was my superior offic...”

I paused, realizing what he'd said. “I do not FEAR you. Of that you may be assured.”

“Then please, no unneeded courtesy or ceremony. It comes off as pretense.”

“Take your own advice.” He actually smiled at me. But didn't say anything else. I realized the ball was still in my court. “Do I, actaully intimidate You?” I asked him.

“Confuse me, yes. I can tell there is more to you than most. You are, as Sarrin would no doubt say, 'a glorious exception'.”

“You mean I'm a better human than most humans you know?”

“Exactly that.” He took a deep breath. “Shall we have an exchange of truths?”

“I'm game.”

“Tell me why you are so unshaken by me.”

I couldn't help chuckling. “I'm rather familiar with at least one very cool alien. Two if you count my adopted son. And not all the aliens the D.E.O. encountered were hostiles to be caged. Something we took to heart and took into account with almost every alien we dealt with. For whatever reason, we honestly thought you were a threat. Your physical appearance had nothing to do with it. Even if it did? I can trust the evidence of my eyes.”

“So you trust me not to be your jailer?”

“I'm..not..sure how to take that actually. And it isn't intimidation you are sensing from me as much as...uncertainty. I don't know what to expect. And you are surprising the hell out of me.”

“I don't intend to treat you as any sort of captive Jeremiah. I never did. You are my guest. As welcome here as myself.”

“Would I seem ungrateful to ask why you are being so kind to me?” J'onn gave a start. “I wasn't an eager participant but I was on a mission to kill you.”

“I've lived on this planet for 300 years and you were the first human to treat me as an equal, knowing who I really was. I've looked human for most of my time on your planet. My race are shape-shifters. If I wanted to I could look like your commanding officer. You and Henshaw are the first humans in more than 50 years to see me as I truly am FIRST. And you didn't fear me. Actually, I don't think either of you were particularly afraid of me.”

“Hank is narrow-minded and stubborn. But he isn't as bad as most people think.” Suddenly I felt like hanging my head. “I owe you an apology. I do not understand how but we were VERY wrong about you. And I am sorry.”

"Jeremiah...Well for one thing may I call you that?"

"Of course."

"Jeremiah. You're different. And it seems you do not know what is worthy of honor.” He shook his head, as if amazed he was explaining something so simple to someone like me. “If I didn't have as high an opinion of you, you wouldn't be here."

“What is this place?” I asked him.

“A...a place that you have to see for yourself. Are you ready?”

“Just let me wash my hands.” I joked. He moved back. “I was kidding. I'm ready.”

In this Earth, Jeremiah broke Nikita out of the D.E.O after working there for almost 5 years and seeing Nothing that would indicate she was an enemy or a threat. Also Jeremiah's adopted son is Superman. Didn't want to give that away.