Don't Tell Mom
They were out on the town for a night of sisterly bonding. Drinks at Ashley's favorite bar, a band of Abnormals playing at an underground club, the best street food the Asian district had to offer, though not necessarily in that order. Sam wasn't exactly sure how she'd let Ashley talk her into it, but there she was walking down a dark, damp alley wearing a short leopard print skirt, knee high black leather boots, and a black long sleeve crop top. It goes without saying that she had also allowed her little sister to choose her outfit for the evening. At least Ashley had saved the mini skirt and sparkly tank top for herself, though Sam was a girl envious of the amazing pair of heels her sister was rocking. Of course Sam would never have been brave enough to wear the shoes, not because of the high heel, the pointed toe, or the price tag but because they actually belonged to their mother and Sam was fairly sure Ashley hadn't asked Helen if she could borrow them. Lt. Colonel Samantha Carter faced off against the worse the universe had to offer, mean, nasty, deadly aliens hell bend on enslaving or annihilating the humans of Earth without batting an eye, but facing off against an angry Helen Magnus made her stammer and stutter like a five year old and normally ended up with big bad ass Sam Carter squeaking out that it was all Ashley's fault.
"Sammie!" Ashley called out from a stall boxed in by crates topped with baskets of spices and dried things. "You have got to try this."
Sam smiled as she moved closer to her sister and took the wooden skewer with seasoned meat on it. "What is it?"
"Korean." Ashley said as she took another skewer while handing the old man some cash.
"That's not what I meant." Sam laughed.
"It's nothing weird just try it." Ashley replied while grabbing her sister's elbow and pulling her down the narrow street to another stall.
The elder of the two Magnus sisters looked at the meat dubiously for a moment and then shrugged before taking a bite. It was spicy, unexpectedly tangy but good.
Ashley flashed her sister a smug smile. "Told you."
They made their way along the street eating a variety of things on sticks, things wrapped in dough and fried, and noodles smothered in different sauces. The sisters were having fun and laughing, teasing each other with freeze dried fish with creepy eyes and fermented tofu that smelled worse then Steve's habitat after chili night. It felt good to get out and have some fun after everything they'd gone through. There had been a shake up at the SGC that had unsettled Sam, and then she was almost instantly thrown into action against Anubis.
Ashley had been sitting on the sofa cuddling with Helen when Henry had burst into the room in a panic. She remembered how it felt when Henry said there was something wicked going down in the Antarctic, and the look on Helen's face when she realized Sam had to be in the middle of it. Ashley still felt sorry for that poor Weir lady when Helen had tried finding out what was going on and how her daughter was involved. Thank goodness for Sam's girlfriend. Janet had managed to keep some measurement of peace between Helen and Doctor Weir, while giving support to and getting support from them as they all waited on news about Sam.
After saving the Earth from space evil Sam's idea of R&R was helping her mother and Nikola try to solve the mystery of holographic city. The holographic map spread out in the library was the most amazing thing Sam had even seen, and that was saying a lot. Part of this whole sisters' night out was to force Sam into taking a break from trying to figure the remarkable and frustrating thing out. After washing down all the spice they'd eaten with sweet milky tea Ashley grabbed hold of Sam again and started leading them back out of the Asian district so they could get to the club.
Neither of them, despite their training and experience, noticed that they were being watched. There were several people keeping an eye on the blondes but one guy in particular kept his strawberry milk colored, horizontal pupiled, twitchy eyes on the pair. When they left the area he jerked his head to signal his people to follow. The club they followed Ashley Magnus and the taller blonde too wasn't actually underground, it was in the long abandon Old City train terminal, and it was a part of the young suburban Abnormal scene. The ones who thought they were being edgy and different from their parents. In other words it was a hang out for Abnormal hipsters. Which meant to many Sanctuary allies so the group of followers would have to wait for the Magnus sisters to come back out.
"Ash." Sam said as she looked around and instantly felt out of place. "There's no one here over the age of thirty."
"Are you kidding?" Ashley said with a shake of her head. "There are tons of people here over thirty. You sister o' mine need to broaden your perspective on age, especially since there's still a very good chance you inherited Mom's anti-aging gene."
Taking her sister by the elbow Ashley led them through the crowd and over to the bar where she ordered a craft beer and Sam got a cranberry and vodka. Ashley scanned the room for several reasons, one to find the best place to watch the band, and two the most strategic place just in case. She wasn't expecting trouble but her life and Sam's had proven over and over that better safe than sorry wasn't an empty saying but a life style. Once she found the perfect spot she and Sam began making their way over.
No sooner had they laid claim to it a deep rich voice sounded in Ashley's ear as a strong dark arm slid over her shoulders. "Ashley Magnus." The voice sounded like the deep rumbling purr of a big cat. "Been a long time since I've seen you on the scene baby girl."
"I've been busy." Ashley said as she removed the ebony arm from her shoulder and side stepped out of the extremely handsome man's reach.
"Yes, so I've heard." The man said while flashing a dazing smile at Ashley before taking notice of Sam. He turned his sunset orange eyes on the taller blonde with the short spiky hair and growled softly with pleasure. "And who do we have here?"
"Marquis, no." Ashley said firmly as she moved between the man and her sister. "You know my Mom's rule."
Marquis' charming smile never faltered. "That only applies to you, baby girl. Now aren't you going to introduce me to your stunning friend?"
"The rule applies to her daughters." Ashley told him. "Marquis meet my sister Sam. Sam, this is Marquis St. James, lets just call him a friend."
"Hello." Sam said with a smile. She was standing in a deceptively relaxed manner as she offered her hand to the man, but one wrong flinch on his part and he'd be in need of an ice pack or two.
Marquis took Sam's hand and kissed it rather than shaking it. "Another daughter of Helen Magnus?" He looked her up and down several times before grinning. "Yes, now I see it, impossible to miss really. Damn."
Ashley laughed. "Sucks to be you."
"Yes indeed it does." Marquis replied. "Sex in leather and heels, all three of you, and I can't have any." He stepped closer to Sam, which made her tense up. "Not even a little taste of you."
"Marquis." Ashley warned.
"Alright baby girl." Marquis said as he stepped back. "I'll go find prey whose mother won't skin me alive." He stepped over to Ashley and kissed her cheek. "Glad to see you again, Ashley." He nodded and smiled at Sam. "A pleasure seeing you Sam."
The sisters watch the tall, well-built, dark man walk away and then Sam turned to her sister asked, "What was that?"
Ashley laughed. Then she explained that Marquis' species were parasitical sex addicts. Their bodies required an almost constant release of a hormone only produced through climax. "I'm guessing Mom hasn't given you the Abnormal sex talk because you're committed to Janet, but there are certain Abnormals that are completely off limits because we have the source blood markers. Marquis and his kind are at the top of the list."
"Not that it'll ever been an issue for me but why?" Sam asked.
"Mixing their abnormal gene with ours would be very bad." Ashley explained. "Possible deadly."
Sam looked a little startled. "Good to know."
The band was an odd mix of Nirvana and electric classical with hints of Carnatic music. It was a little strange at first but Sam ended up liking it. Sam was a bit more glam metal rock than grunge, but she knew good music when she heard it. The second band of the night sucked in Ashley's option so they decided to head to the bar she wanted to go to. Stepping out into the night the sisters stuck close together as they talked and laughed. They were both feeling the very beginning of a warm buzz from the drinks they'd had in the club, but they weren't drunk just yet. Which was a good thing because several blocks away from the train terminal Sam smiled, she kept her voice happy and light as she said, "We're being followed."
"Sensed that too did you?" Ashley chuckled as she nodded.
"Since we left the club." Sam replied.
"Two buildings down and to the left." Ashley said, still smiling.
The strawberry milk eyed man watched as the blondes turned into an alley and smiled. Now he had her. He wasn't stupid enough to understatement Ashley Magnus so he'd brought six of his best guys with him. He didn't know who the tall blonde was, he wasn't important enough to know Helen Magnus had an older daughter, so he wasn't worried too much about her. He figured she was Ashley's current fling. His mistake.
The alley appeared empty but there was no way the two blondes had come back out without them seeing them, and since it was a dead end they couldn't have gone through to the next block. "Where'd they go?" One of the thugs asked while strawberry milk eyed guy looked around confused.
"We're right here boys." Ashley said as she dropped down from a fire escape.
With everyone's attention on Ashley, the known threat, no one paid any mind to Sam who stepped out of a dark doorway. Military training and experience put a quick end to the street bawl. Though the thugs did land a few lucky punches that would leave a bruise or two, but thankfully nothing that couldn't be covered up by clothes.
Ashley and Sam knocked the six large goons unconscious and then Ashley threw out an elbow knocking strawberry milk eyed guy on his ass. Crouching down the longhaired blonde grabbed the idiot by the throat while pressing a knee into his chest. She smiled sweetly, "Hello Burt."
"Hiya Ash." Burt rasped out.
"You've been following us, Burt." Ashley said, her voice just as sweet as her smile. "Why?" Burt struggled but Ashley increased the pressure on his chest and throat so he stopped. "Come on Burt, talk to me, why are you following us?"
"You." The man croaked out. "Don't care about the leggy one."
Sam moved closer which put her under a flickering dim yellow light. She was standing in a defensive posture with her arms crossed. Marquis had called her sex in heels but in that moment she was very much danger in high heels. "Why were you and your boys following my sister?"
"Sister?" Burt squeaked.
Sam crouched down and gave him a look that Magnus would have been proud of. "Yes, sister, my little sister, and let me tell you Burt I'm very protective of my little sister. So, I'd advise you to start talking."
Burt's strange eyes darted between the two; his horizontal pupils expanding like inflating footballs. Finally he settled his gaze on Ashley. "Mick." He rasped out. "You done pissed him off good this time, Ash."
"He's pissed about the safe house." Ashley said with a sigh.
"You cleaned out his whole red list stock. Took him months to get what he had and you took it all." Burt croaked out. "He's got everyone out lookin' for you."
"Damn." Ashley grunted before letting Burt go and standing up.
Burt quickly got to his feet hoping that Ashley was to distracted by his news to hurt him, but of course she wasn't. He didn't even see the roundhouse kick coming until Ashley's fancy high heel made contact with the side of his head. Burt crumpled to the filthy ground with the rest of his dime store posse.
As they walked out of the alley, leaving the trash behind, Sam asked, "So what's going on, Ashley? Who's Mick?"
"Red list smuggler and wannabe gangster." Ashley answered. "He's a punk trying to make a name for himself in the Abnormal underworld and failing miserably. Anyone with any real power in that world thinks he's a joke or a liability."
"Is he dangerous?" Sam asked. She was following wherever Ashley was leading and wondering if Ashley knew where she was heading. They seemed to be going somewhere but no longer towards the bar.
Ashley shook her head and shrugged. "Nothing I can't handle. You should head back to the house, Sam. I need to clean up this mess and get this joker off my back."
"You don't honestly think I'm going to leave you do this alone do you?" Sam asked as she grabbed Ashley's arm to make her stop walking.
"This is my mistake to clean up, Sam." Ashley answered with a flicker of annoyance. "I can handle it on my own."
"I don't doubt you could." Sam replied. "What I'm saying is that you don't have too. I meant what I said back there. I'm not just going to stand by while some punk picks on my baby sister."
For several long moments Ashley just stood there glaring at Sam. She was use to picking up after herself on her own, she was use to picking up after Henry or Will, it was a little odd having someone willing to help her out for a change. Finally a slow smile pulled at Ashley's lips and she nodded, "Alright, fine, lets go."
As they made their way across town Ashley told Sam everything she needed to know about red list items, the op to clear out and shut down Mick's safe houses, and more about Mick himself. Sam did her best to reassure Ashley that it sounded like the only way to have avoided this was to eliminate the guy and since that wasn't how the Sanctuary handled things, she wasn't at fault. Of course that pegged the question what to do about him now? Ashley was fairly sure that if they could show Mick how easy getting to him was, put him on notice that if she had the mind to do it she could end him, it would make him back off. Sam hoped she was right.
"Dead Bridge?" Sam asked as she watched Ashley move towards the railing of the crumbling bridge she'd nearly fallen off of when she first found out the truth about herself and Helen Magnus. "Fitting."
Ashley chuckled as she began climbing over the railing.
"What are you doing?" Sam called out in alarm.
"Chill." Ashley replied and then dropped over the side. Her voice floated up as she asked, "Why does this place freak you out? Not a fan of bridges?"
"Only this one." Sam answered nervously. "Remember when I borrowed the custom bike from the garage? Yeah, I didn't know the bridge sort of just stopped in the middle."
Blonde fridge and two wide bright blue eyes popped up over the rusted iron railing. "You nearly drove my bike off the bridge?" Then those eyes went a bit wider as Ashley asked, "Does Mom know?"
"Do you think Mom knows?" Sam replied with a look that said do I look stupid. "Of course she doesn't know, and neither does Janet, so I'd appreciate you keeping it to yourself."
The tip of Ashley's head disappeared again. "I won't say a word." Her voice promised from the inky darkness. Several minutes later she was climbing back over the railing with a black bag slung over her shoulder. Once she'd rejoined Sam she pulled the bag strap over her head and dropped the bag to the ground before crouching to unzip it. Rummaging around for a moment she pulled out one of the modified Glocks they used and handed it to Sam. Then she pulled out several clips. "Live rounds." She said as she handed them to Sam before retrieving several more clips, which she again handed to Sam. "Tranquilizer rounds."
"Should have brought a bigger purse." Sam teased. Neither of them were dressed for carrying weapons.
Ashley snorted. "Wearing all that military gear has made you soft."
Sam stuck her tongue out at her sister while loading the tranqu clip into the Glock and then putting the gun in the waist band of her skirt, against the small of her back. She put the extra clips in her boots.
Ashley pulled out a Beretta and sighed. "I shouldn't have let my baby at home. Oh well. This will have to do."
Once they were geared up Ashley 'borrowed' a car to make things a little easier. Sam held in a groan. If her superiors ever found out about this she'd be in a shit load of trouble, and yet that didn't scare her nearly as badly as Helen or Janet finding out. They're first stop was a run down dive bar that Ashley knew Mick's people had laid claim to. Sam was hoping intimidation would work but that quickly fell to the wayside when some big-breasted redhead threw a punch at Ashley. The last bar fight Sam had been in she'd been wearing the Atonieks gauntlet. She, O'Neill, and Daniel had made quick work of a room full of burly guys Sam had just suckered in pool. She had never admitted to anyone, not even Janet, how much fun it had been. Sam Carter didn't have fun in bar fights. When this was all said and done she might admit it to Ashley though. It wasn't nearly as easy, Sam was going to feel some of the blows she was taking in the morning, but it was a rush.
The brawling came to an end when someone pulled a shotgun. Ashley drew her gun and moments later nearly a dozen wannabe badasses were tranquilized peacefully on the cheep beer soaked floor. Sam leaned against the bar panting as she checked out the damage. "I really wish I had a Zat on me. This could have ended a lot sooner and with less bruising."
Ashley laughed. "We're just getting started, Sam."
Now that Mick knew Ashley was coming for him because he'd been coming for her things got a little hectic. Four of the largest humanoid Abnormals he had in his little gang managed to chase Sam and Ashley into the sewers. Their hides were to thick for the tranqu rounds so they were forced to slow them down with non-lethal wounds using the live ammo. Wounded and bleeding the behemoths were easier to knock out with heavy lead pipes. Ashley reassured Sam they'd be all right, no permanent damage.
"Damnit." Ashley swore when they found themselves on the street again. "Mom's going to freak over her shoes."
Sam was gagging and making a face. "I smell like sewer."
Ashley laughed. "You kind of get use to it in my line of work."
Everything they did that night made Mick look weak. Two women, to pretty blonde girls in short skirts and high heels were taking out his best people. The real crime bosses in the Abnormal community would have no choice but to finally set Mick straight and put an end to his criminal career. Finding out that Mick had gone after the Sanctuary wouldn't help matters. People just knew better than to cross Helen Magnus, and they knew only the suicidal went after her daughter. The Cabal had learned that the hard way. They knew that if Ashley didn't fuck you up on her own Magnus would be at your door in a heartbeat. It was a no win. Poor Mick was an idiot.
The apartment building was three stories high, not including the stores on the ground floor, and long abandon. From the alley across the street Ashley could see movement in the windows of the top floor. It was hard to tell how many people were inside but she doubted it was more than she and Sam could handle. Mick's crew wasn't large and then already dealt with more than half. So she was hoping there weren't more than they could handle inside. She really didn't want to tell her mom about this or ask any one else for help. The plan was to go in, tranquilize anything that moved, and scare Mick crap less. Easy. She hoped.
"Ready?" Sam asked from over Ashley's shoulder.
Ashley nodded. "Thanks Sam. I know this isn't how you normally handle things. This whole night had been totally out of character for you."
"Maybe." Sam agreed. "But who knows, maybe this kind of night would have just been any other Saturday night for Sam Magnus."
Ashley laughed softly. "I don't know about that. Carter, Magus, I think you'd still have been the straight-laced one out of the two of us."
Sam laughed. Ashley was probably right.
They entered the back door of the building as quietly as they could. They walked slowly, silently with weapons drawn. They both hoped they had enough tranqu rounds because they didn't want to hurt anyone, so they made sure each shot counted. The first two floors were relatively empty, but the third seemed to be where everyone was hanging out. Several times Sam was forced to take cover from returned gunfire, and it kind of pissed her off a little knowing she was firing nonlethal rounds while they were firing real rounds at her. Ashley felt the sting of a knife swipe along her collarbone and swore loudly not because it hurt, which it did, but because that was going to be harder to hide.
When the sounds of gunfire and fighting reached Mick's apartment he quickly grabbed is gun and rushed out the door. His younger brothers were sprawled out on the floor and he saw red. "Patrick! Tommy!"
"They'll be fine, Mick." Ashley said from a few feet away. "They're just sleeping."
The tall ginger haired man who was older than Ashley but younger than Sam turned and aimed his gun. His bright green eyes widened a little when he saw Ashley standing there with her gun on him. "Stupid little girl coming here alone."
"Who said she was alone?" Sam called from where she stood. Mick's apartment had been a corner apartment, which meant he was now cornered on two sides by the Magnus sisters.
"You're done, Mick." Ashley said firmly as she took a few steps closer to him. "We just embarrassed the hell out of you all over town." She smiled at him and then put on her best borough. "Face it me lad you weren't meant for the thug life, it didn't choose ye, go back to cookin' school, ye eejit."
Sam groaned. "Wow, that was bad, Ash. I think I heard Mom cringe all the way across town."
"Michael?" A real Irish sounding voice called from inside the apartment. "Michael Fitzpatrick Donnelley what's…" When the woman, who was clearly in her mid fifties, stepped out into the hall her eyes went wide. "What the bloody hell is going on out here?"
"Nothin' Ma." Mick said, his eyes darting between Sam and Ashley. "Go back inside."
Sam knew what to do instantly. "Mrs. Donnelley, is it? Mick here sent a bunch of really nasty guys after my little sister, ma'am. We're just here to very nicely ask him to stop."
Mrs. Donnelley took everything in and crossed her arms over her chest. "Looks like you two aren't much more than thugs yourselves."
"Far from it ma'am." Sam replied as she lowered her gun. The boys on the floor were clearly Abnormals, Ashley had told her Mick was one, so Sam was guessing so was their mother or at least she knew what her sons were. "We're with the Sanctuary."
Mrs. Donnelley's eyes went wide and then she hauled off and clocked her son in the back of the head. "You crossed the Sanctuary? You fool boy! I'd be long dead and peltless if not for the Sanctuary! One good and dead selkie and you're eejit self wouldn't be here making trouble for these poor lasses." She hit him again and Sam cringed. "Apologize to the lass Michael. Sending your worthless friends after the poor child. I'm ashamed of ya, boy."
"Ma!" Michael protested.
"Don't you Ma me!" Mrs. Donnelley argued and hit him again.
Mick glared at his mother for a long moment before turning to Ashley. "I'm sorry for all the trouble."
Ashley blinked. This was not at all how she pictured this going down. "Yeah, um, ok. Just, ya know, go back to cooking school, man. Do something your mom can be proud of you for."
Sam smiled as she moved to stand beside her sister. "We're sorry about the mess, Mrs. Donnelley."
The old woman waved them off. "I don't live here lass. I got me a nice little condo in New City. This place is full of eejits."
Sam laughed.
"Well," Ashley said as they made their way home. Looking the way they did they couldn't just walk through the front door. It was nearly dawn and there was no way of knowing if Helen was awake or not. "That was an odd ending to the night."
Sam laughed as she followed her sister in through the catacombs. "Glad to see we're not the only ones scared of our mother."
Ashley snorted. "I'm not scared of Mom."
"Then why are we sneaking in?" Sam asked.
"We're being courteous." Ashley replied. "It's very late and we don't want to wake or disturb anyone."
Sam snorted. "Yeah, ok."
After a quick stop in the med lab to tend to their wounds, and after 'accidently' leaving Helen's heels with one of the residents known for stealing and eating her shoes, the girls made their way to their rooms. Just before the lift doors opened Ashley said, "Hey, um, Sam?"
"Yeah?" Sam replied as she opened her eyes to look at Ashley. Being this close to her bed had made her realized just how tired and sore she was.
"Thanks." Ashley said with a smile. "For helping me out tonight."
"Any time Ash." Sam replied. "Just let me know you need me and I'll be there."
Ashley nodded and then said, "Oh, and Sam, don't tell Mom, ya know about tonight."
Sam smirked. "Don't worry, Ash, I won't. She might not ever let us do it again."
"You'd do it again?" Ashley asked with wide eyes and a hopeful smile.
"We kicked ass." Sam said with a smirk grin. "We make a good team, Ash."
"Of course we do." Ashley beamed. "We're Magnus women. Kicking ass and being amazing is what we do."
Ashley smiled gratefully. Stepping out of the lift they walked carefully, silently towards their rooms. Nope, Ashley wasn't scared of her mother that was silly. But still, she did sigh a huge sigh of relief once she was safe in her room. She knew Helen would hate that she'd handled Mick on her own without informing her or the others about what happened, but she knew Helen would hate it even more that she'd drug Sam into the mess. Bar fights, shooting abnormals in the sewer tunnels, storming an apartment building like a two blonde swat team, it wouldn't look good if Sam's military bosses found out. Ashley had thought about that, but to be honest she'd really liked the idea of going on a mission with her big sister, just the two of them. Ashley had the biggest smile on her face as she finally snuggled into her bed after a long shower. They had kicked ass and it had been awesome!