Wake of Destruction Interludes (2/ )
The second time he loses Ford and the first time he meets Ronon, is also the third time in nineteen years that his brother contacts him. This time it’s less of a curt notification and more of a desperate plea.
It has been a busy week, as it always is in Pegasus, and this is the first time he’s been able to check his mail. He’d been chasing after Ford when the data-burst came in and he’s already dreading the amount emails in his inbox. There will be complaints from the science department because McKay has most likely already denied their request and insane requests from his Marines that he and Lorne will stare at skeptically.
When he sees his brother’s name he leans back in his chair and gives the laptop screen an incredulous look. John can admit that he’s curious. David wouldn’t contact him unless it was something he feels John needs to know but a part of him doesn’t want to open it because the last time David contacted him it was to tell John that his wife died. When he finally clicks the link David’s face pops up.
He looks awful. His shirt is wrinkled; his hair a mess and his eyes are bloodshot. He looks as though he hasn’t slept in weeks. A far cry from the immaculate man John remembers.
“Hello, John. I hope this message reaches you in good health.” here David pauses and his eyes shifts away from the screen as though he has to think about what to say next. That, more that David’s appearance, makes John’s heart clench. Even when they were little David had always been the composed one.
“I have a son. His name is Connor,” John remembers. He’d been in Germany when he’d received a letter and a picture of a new born baby boy. He still has the picture in a small shoe box where he keeps the knick-knacks he values but never look at.
“He’s nineteen. Made it into Stanford. Full-ride,” David looks so proud when he says it that John smiles softly.
David suddenly laughs mirthlessly. “You’d have liked him, John,” and John stiffens at the phrasing. “He pissed dad of more than you ever could. They were always at it. He was always causing one problem or another. Did you know that the faculty at his high school held a ‘Good Riddance’ party for him and Layla’s grand-daughter?” he didn’t and he can’t imagine any child of David’s being anything but perfect.
John remembers Layla. She’d always known how to make him feel better after a fight with his father. David runs his hand through his hair and John notices that his hand is shaking.
“Connor’s missing.” and his voice sounds like broken glass.
“He arrived at the dorms and his roommate can account for his whereabouts till Friday morning. After that… The police found his car in Los Angeles in a warehouse district. They,” David chokes. It takes him a while before he can continue, “They found blood.”
John pauses the recording and takes a moment to just breathe. He stares at the frozen image of his brother’s agonized face and John can’t imagine what he’s going through.
He presses play.
“There wasn’t a body. Oh thank God, there wasn’t a body. It’s like he walked into that warehouse and just… disappeared. There’s been no activity on his cards. His friends have no idea where he could be. He’s just-John, he’s just gone.
“I’ve tried everything I could think. Dad and I… we’ve tried everything,” David tilts his head back and when he speaks again he sounds guilty.
“The last time I saw him, he wanted me to stay. Just for that night. He had all these DVDs set up; Rebecca, The Philadelphia Story, Casablanca. He didn’t like them but he wanted to watch them with me. And I just left. Told him I’d see him that weekend and that was the last time I saw him.”
David straightens, as though he’s steeling himself for something. “I need your help. Please John. I know that things haven’t been good between us but I will do whatever you want if you’ll help me find my son.” he looks so defeated when he says this that John just knows that David doesn’t expect anything from him.
“Please,” then the recording ends.
John finds that he has to watch the video again. He hasn’t had contact with his family in so long but he can’t possibly deny his brother help when he all but begs for it.
It never crosses his mind not to help and despite their lack of a relationship it hurts to know that his brother feels he needs to beg him for help. Hurts to know that David doesn’t expect him to help.
And he will help. He wants to help but he’s in another galaxy and it isn’t like he can just take a plane to DC.
The first thing he does is reply to his brother. Then he writes emails to the few friends he still had in the ‘regular’ Air Force and tells them about his missing nephew. It’ll be a surprise to them… they don’t even know he has a brother.
Next he writes one to General O’Neill. He doesn’t have any clout with the General but he’s hoping that since the man has put so much faith in him-reading him into the program that maybe the man could do something to help. He isn’t expecting much but if he’s unable to help personally, what’s the harm in using his contacts?
The next data-burst wasn’t for a week and hopefully his messages will get there in time to help.
When he’s done everything he can think of, he heads off to find Ronon. Dealing with the Runner is something he can do and it makes some of the helplessness go away. He’s never been good at sitting on his hands and the situation with Ronon is something that takes his mind off his distraught little brother.