Title: Wandering Home
Authors: Dizzydame and Virkatjol
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Cam and Vala face one of the toughest times of their lives. Part 4 of Adria Series
Disclaimer: Not ours.
AN: Thanks to Marieelise0928 for the fantastic BETA.
Jo: This part was a struggle at times for me. Thanks for keeping me sane Dizzy!
The phone shrills and it's not the normal tone. He stares at it like it's going to jump up and bite him, waiting to see if it does it again. He's just about to head into a very long, very boring, probably ninety percent pointless meeting.
It doesn't disappoint - it rings through again with the same urgent sounding tone.
He answers this time, actually believing that the device meant to make the sound. "Mitchell."
"This is Sergeant Philip Winters with the Colorado Springs Police Department."
What the fuck?
"How can I help you?" He's never been contacted by them before, the phone must be triggered to ring special for it, which is why he'd never heard it.
"There's been in incident and we need you to come to the Grand Valley Market right away." The voice on the other side sounds cold to Cam. It can't be good news.
"On my way." He doesn't spare the time to ask anymore question. There's only one person that has him as an emergency contact and it's Vala. His heart is already in his throat when he swings by Sam's office. "I have to go, just got a call from the police and they want me at Grand Valley…"
"The supermarket?" She's just as confused as he was, but at his nod, asks if he wants her to go with.
"Nope, I'm not sure what's up."
"Okay, call me if you need anything." He nods and jogs to the parking garage.
He doesn't really bother stopping for red lights on his way to the market. The mountain is fairly isolated so even with his traffic infractions it still takes him at least twenty minutes to get there, during which time he's conjured up all sorts of horrific scenarios in his head.
He parks his car beside Vala's and jumps out, barely remembering to grab his keys. He sees three police cars and his heart nearly stops.
Vala's at the front of the store, Tyler in her arms. He can see even from a distance that she's shaking and hugging him.
"Vala?" He calls out.
She turns and there are tears running down her face. "I don't - I don't know what happened-"
As soon as she starts to speak she's sobbing, bawling in a way that he can't ever remember seeing her do. "Vala, honey-"
She puts Tyler down, but keeps a tight hold on his hand. When Cam goes to reach for her she jerks back, raising her free hand to her mouth.
"You have to explain to me what happened," he says, voice gentle, trying to coax it out of her - and then it hits him. "Baby, where's Lyra?"
Vala just shakes her head. "I turned around for two seconds-"
"What?"
"He took her... he just... I tried to..."
"Mommy tried to fight him," Tyler says. Cam looks down at his five year old son. "Mommy punched him and the bad guy yelled but he ran away fast and no one could catch him. But Mommy tried and she almost did so don't be mad at her, Daddy."
"I lost her," Vala finally says. "Someone took her. I couldn't get her back-"
Cam feels like he's going to be sick. "Someone has our baby?"
His baby girl. His precious little daughter. "The police-"
"We're on it, sir." The person speaking is an officer. Cam hadn't even noticed him standing there. "We got a good description of the man from your wife, and we've already got an APB out."
"Did you get a make on the car?"
"No, sir," the police officer says.
"I had to come back - Tyler was-" Vala grips Tyler's hand more tightly and Tyler winces in discomfort but doesn't say anything to her about it. "I couldn't leave him, too."
His voice shakes but he has to be the rock. Vala is a mess. "We'll get her back, baby, we will." He reaches for her a second time, this time she lets him pull her into his embrace. "Why would anyone take her..."
It hits him then. It's probably not just anyone. "What are you thinking Cam?" His body went stiff next to hers and she can feel him tilting his lips towards her ear. The word that comes out of his mouth makes her stomach clench. She shakes her head and squeezes her eyes shut.
He whispers it once more. "Ori."
"We need to get Adria." Vala say's, nearing a panic attack and one of the officers must know the signs because she comes over to offer her a chair or to call an ambulance. Vala shakes her head and clings closer to Cam.
"Let me call the base. If it is what I think it is we'll need them to take over the investigation." It's only a moment before he gets a hold of Landry. "Sir, we've got a situation. One the Air Force might need to take control of." He pauses and then tells him about Lyra. The actual reasons can't be expressed clearly over the phone but Landry understands. He knows Cam's right too.
The strain in Cam's voice makes Vala feel worse. She doesn't know how she could have let this happen. How did someone manage to steal her baby? "What did he say?"
"He agrees. Also we need to go get Adria from school. We're all moving to base for awhile..." It's not that fun for the kids living on base, but if it really is the Ori, there isn't any safer spot for them. If they've taken one child what's to stop them from trying for a second or a third. Keeping Adria out of their hands is the top priority now. She's the Orici. The one they truly want.
Right now Cam's not sure if they took Lyra because they think she's the same or to try to use her as a bargaining chip for her sister.
"Can we go?" The young officer Cam addressed looks around and nods. "Thanks." Cam picks up Tyler and carries him back to His car. He secures him in his seat before he takes Vala's face in his hands. His lips brush hers gently, meaning to soothe her. "We'll go get Adria. I want everyone on base. We'll get your car later, Okay?"
Vala nods and a few more tears slip free. "I'm so scared for our baby."
"Me too, honey, me too."
xxxxxxxxxxx
They don't take the kids to the base that often anymore. They have a house now, and with Vala doing less work for the SGC there's just not as much need. Adria's also old enough - and more than smart enough - to notice things that she might have questions about. So far the "deep space radar technology" is working - more or less - but Cam and Vala together made the decision that none of their children were old enough to know the truth.
He isn't worried about Vala's car. He'll get his parents to go back for it later. They stopped just long enough for Tyler to get his things, though Vala started to shake and cry again at the sight of Lyra's diaper bag. Cam grabbed it, because he didn't want to just leave it, so he threw it into the back seat.
They drive straight to Adria's school. He parks in front, and turns around to look at Tyler. "Stay with your Mom, okay, buddy? I'm gonna go get Addy and then I'll be right back."
He feels bad for Tyler right now and he knows that having his big sister around will help him, since Vala still seems to be in a state of shock.
"Okay, Dad," Tyler says, his voice much more serious than usual. He climbs out of his child seat and into the front, putting his arms around Vala. Somehow, that makes Cam feel better.
He walks into Adria's school, straight into the office. It takes a minute to verify that he's on the list of people that can check her out and then to sign the necessary paperwork, but while he's doing that they're getting Adria out of her classroom.
He's standing just outside the office waiting when she comes running down the hallway, an office aide following distantly behind her. "Daddy?"
She only calls him Daddy now when she's scared or tired. The rest of the time it's Dad! in that sassy voice. "Hey, sweetheart," he says, blinking back tears. She and Lyra do have the same eyes, Vala's eyes.
"What's wrong?"
"Something happened. Come on, your mom and your brother are in the car." He puts a hand on her back and starts to walk, but she stops.
"Why isn't Lyra with them?" Her eyes fill with tears. "Daddy?"
"She got... she was... someone took her. Your sister is... missing."
Adria doesn't say anything to that. Cam thinks she probably doesn't know what to say. She starts walking with him. When they get to the car, Tyler is still talking to Vala. He stops when the door opens, climbing onto Vala's lap. "Daddy, do I have to-"
"Yeah, buddy, sorry. Gotta get in the back. Go give your sister a hug." He feels badly since Tyler was obviously making Vala feel a little bit better, but he won't risk Tyler's safety.
"Where are we going?" Adria asks.
"The mountain."
"How long will we be there?"
He looks over at Vala, who answers this time. Her voice only breaks a little. "It might be a while, sweetheart."
"I need my-" Adria starts to say.
"No," Cam says, not even letting her finish. "Whatever you need, we'll have someone go get."
She starts to cry then and Cam feels bad. "What about Roger? He doesn't like strangers, and he won't come out and eat..."
Cam relents. "I'll go later and check on Roger."
"He hates you, Daddy," Adria sniffles. "But okay. Give him some milk, too."
Cam has no idea when he'll actually make it to the house, because he has no idea what comes next. He sees Vala's hands tightly clenched in her lap and reaches over to pry her fingers apart, letting her grip him instead. She gives him a grateful look.
He can tell that Adria probably wants to ask what happened but she's perceptive enough to know that right now isn't the best time. Tyler starts to talk to her, telling her about something he'd seen on TV that morning, and Cam is glad for the distraction from the tension. "You're okay," he whispers to Vala, squeezing her hand. "We're gonna get her back. They wouldn't hurt her. Not if they want..."
"But she's not," Vala whispers back. "And if they realize-"
Cam shakes his head abruptly. "No. Don't think like that. They wouldn't. And we don't even know-"
"Who, Daddy?" Adria's voice breaks in.
Cam winces. They should know better than to think anything will get past her. "No one."
"Dad!"
"Adria." His voice stops her from asking anything else. She leans back against the seat of the car, arms crossed, sulking, until they arrive at the mountain.