Circumstances part 2b/3
For story notes, see part 1
It was almost dark when Jon let herself into her father’s home. She wandered around, amazed at his talent at fixing up homes. He was always useful when she was growing up, but this house was an incredible achievement. Creating it was probably as therapeutic as tending the beautiful garden she had seen through the windows. When you lost a little boy it must be nice to see other things grow, or evolve. But the place was beginning to show signs of disrepair, signs of serious illness in the home. So as great as it was, it was also tragic.
Walking around the home, Jon found few mementos of her brother in the common areas. But she did see a few decoration pieces that screamed out the presence of a woman, and she was glad that her father had someone in the end. Their bedroom smelled a little like an infirmary, but it was filled to the brim with love. There were some pictures of her father and his team. Now she recognized them from the files and realized that Sam was the beautiful Major Carter. Other frames captured the faces of people she knew, some dead and some alive. Then, in gorgeous wrought iron frames were images of Sam with a bunch of people at different stages of her life. From them, Jon figured out that Sam had a brother who was married with a couple of kids. Since most of the pictures of the kids were taken without Sam, Jon assumed they lived far away. Then there were pictures of her mother until Sam was about ten or twelve, so her mother had probably died then. Her father seemed to still be alive…
Oh right, the Tok’ra. Wow, from Mike to a General who has a snake in his head. Snake- that’s one of Dad’s better descriptions in his reports.
Down in the basement Jon found a storage room full of things she had and her brother had shared with Jack when they were young. Stuffed animals and sports paraphernalia were arranged neatly, and there wasn’t even the lightest layer of dust. Sighing, Jon went upstairs and looked for a room for herself.
There were 4 rooms and 3 ½ bathrooms. Besides the master bedroom, one other room had an attached bathroom while the 3rd and 4th shared another bathroom. Naturally, Jon chose the room with its own bathroom and it had the added advantage of being close enough for Jack and Sam could call her when they needed her, but far enough that everyone had their privacy. She filled up the tub and soaked, waiting for the sounds of an approaching car, or voices on the doorstep.
But that night, no one came. Finally she slept, realizing that her father might sleep at the base sometimes, especially if Sam was away on a mission. Then she’d see him the next day, when she reported for duty. She’d thought she’d be too nervous to sleep, but, clutching the stuffed dog she’d extracted from the basement, she was asleep in minutes.
*
“Who?” Jack asked in shock.
The Brigadier General was alone in the briefing room with his CO, Major General Hammond. To the curious observers in the Gate room, it appeared as if Jack was intensely angry, but if they were in the same room they would have heard the pain in his voice. “The Stargate is an important place, but it is also dangerous. I’m not sure that I am comfortable with my daughter joining SG-2.”
Hammond was surprised by this admission. Although it suited a protective father, especially one who had already lost a child, he had expected anger. “I thought you might be upset at having to work with her…”
Jack interrupted with a laugh. “You mean the files say that we haven’t spoken for years? Well, that’s true, but we didn’t have a fight. I don’t believe in estranging yourself from your child; it’s not very paternal. But the truth is, sir, I was never angry with her. Hurt, yes, but I was ready to welcome her home two minutes after she walked out the door. And I am still ready for her to come back. It sounds like she’s finally ready, but I wonder why. Does she know…?”
“Yes, the circumstances have been explained to her. She should be here any minute. She’ll be brought to this room. Jack, I chose her because she was the best qualified out of all the recruits I was recommended. She’s smart, her martial skills make her one of the best fighters on the base and she is an emergency technician in her spare time. We need a qualified medic on the teams, and she’s been doing it for years, since high school, I believe. It wasn’t until after I decided on her that I started the background check and read her father’s, your, name. Then I read the rest of the file and I thought that I couldn’t let some private relationships interfere with her career. But I consider myself your friend, and I spoke to her. She told me much the same as what you’re saying, except that she couldn’t accept the changes and come home on her own. But…. I should stop here… she’s here.”
With that, Hammond walked out the door, but Jack wasn’t looking. His gaze was on the pretty face of his daughter, standing behind the glass. Father and child stared at each other, and realized that there was nothing much to say. Still, in case the other should run, they spoke quickly.
“I’m sorry if Sara and I couldn’t help you, or ourselves.”
“And I’m sorry if, for one moment, you even thought that I blamed you for Charlie’s death. I’m also sorry that I couldn’t be there for you. But I’m here now, and I found a great room in your house until Sara moves out of the homestead. Then I’ll live in the home I grew up in. But until then, I’d like to be there for you at a time like this. Will you let me?”
Again, the family was united as Jack wrapped his arms around his daughter and hugged her. He felt her strength and realized that she was going to be a great asset to the program. In turn, she felt his body's frailty, but did not allow herself time to mourn just yet.
Slowly, they sat down and talked. Their conversation touched on shared experiences as well as their individual adventures since their last meeting. Hours passed by while they sat in the briefing room, and for the first time since his illness began, the lines of pain and worry around his mouth and eyes smoothed away.
Lights flashed and sirens blared. As one, the two in the briefing room swiveled around to stare at the gate. The iris opened and a wormhole was established. Jon was astonished by what she was seeing and could not brace herself for the wash of energy that accompanied the process. Then she sobered up as shocking events unfolded.
Lieutenant Colonel Ferreti hobbled out of the gate, his left pants leg drenched in blood. He was in obvious pain, and a SF standing there rushed to support them. Jack, followed by his daughter, rushed down to the Gate room, and arrived in time to hear the General question the soldier.
“What happened? And where is the rest of SG-1?”
“Sir, Daniel was on first watch while the rest of us were sleeping, and then the natives ambushed us. I guess the Doctor was wrong about them being wiped out. Then I woke up to find myself in what looked like a cave. We decided that if one of us thought we could get out, we would, and bring help. So I did, but I got winged in my leg. But I… I… left them behind.”
Part 3