Carry on my wayward son There'll be peace when you are done

[lt_col_sheppard]

Once I rose above the noise and confusion
Just to get a glimpse beyond this illusion
I was soaring ever higher
But I flew too highHe checked his chronometer again--3:15 a.m., too early for anyone to be up yet, too late for anyone to be still working. He would be there, if they were anything alike, he'd be there. Somehow they both know the only

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[dr_macgregor]

It's entirely too damn early, but her John!sense says he's missing from bed sooner than he should be. His uniform is hanging up, so Rae goes and gets a mug of tea and heads to the office. Not even John would risk singing in the shower and pissing off Rodney at OhGod30 in the morning. The door opens with a soft hiss as usual, alerting him to her presence from where he sat in front of a laptop. Rachel pads over and kisses him on the cheek, whispering in his ear.

"Morning, handsome. Whatcha doing?" She glances at the screen, and it explains it. There's a John there she doesn't know, with deeper crows feet and a patch of white hair, smiling back at him.

"Ah, your alternate... Radek must have taken my suggestion, that he tell you what he loves about being a Dad. Mmmm. He's pretty good-looking, but I got the better one. Want some tea, hon?"

[lt_col_sheppard]

John pauses the playback when he hears the bedroom door click, and he waits in silence for a few moments to see if the woken spouse will go back to bed. Rachel eases into the office, tousled and sleepy and still-warm from the pile to kiss his cheek. He pulls her into his lap and cuddles them both up in the chair, her warm body easing the small chill he'd developed sitting here

[lt_col_sheppard]

I want this for you, and I know you'll still have reservations. But I'm here to tell you, as the person in the universe most likely to understand the way you feel...it's worth it.. don't let our martyr complex get in your way. This will change you, and you'll love it.

John smiles into the camera, and there is a soft sound behind as someone enters the room. His eyes light up and Radek appears at the edge of the screen, smiling indulgently. John nods and Radek draws away, John following.

[one last thing] he says into the camera, as he's switching it off, slipping smoothly into Spanish, as if he knows someone else might be listening. [she makes it all better...they make it all better. All the things we've went through, it doesn't make us a bad father--I know you think it too. It makes us a better one. Stop worrying so damn much.]

his smile is blinding just before the camera winks off and the transmission goes blank.

[dr_macgregor]

Rae snuggles into his embrace, sharing her tea and perfectly comfortable. The John on the screen starts to speak. It's a little odd, knowing the man holding her didn't make this video, but what he says brings tears to her eyes. He's obviously so happy, so much more at peace, he preactically *glows* when talking about it. Rae's sniffling by the time they watch the end. The Spanish means very little to her, but she can imagine he's telling John he's the best father a kid can have. Rae sets the tea on the desk and holds John tightly.

"Oh John... that was beautiful. I'm so glad he's so happy, and now you know you will be too. And just think... You won't get to miss the first one!" She smirks. "Although if I'm yakking in the bathroom and you even mention fried eggs, I will personally bleach your hair in your sleep, got it?"

Rae giggles at his attempt to be affronted, and gives him a slow, tea-warmed, sweet kiss. "You keep that in a safe place so you can watch it whenever you have doubts or start worrying."