Title: Congenero
Author: Knife Hand
Feedback: Constructive feedback appreciated, flames unappreciated
Spoilers: None. A few differences to both SG1 and Buffy Canon but they will be explained.
Rating: M
Disclaimer: I do not either SG1 or Buffy.
Summary: Family is very important to the Scoobies. Family is very important to SG1. It just so happens that the Scoobies and SG1 are family.
A/N: I have changed the birthdates for both Sam Carter and Xander to make this story work, making Sam about a year older and Xander a few months younger. Title is Latin for 'binds by ties of kinship', at least that is what the online translator says.
Sam was sitting on the back patio of her house with her phone in her hand and the documents with the contact number of her son Alexander. It just gave her some basic details about her son, including his phone number and that he lived in California. It was Saturday afternoon and therefore was a good time for her to call as he was likely to be awake and less likely to be at work or in class. At least that was what she told herself, trying to ignore the fact that she had been sitting her for the last five hours and had started to dial at least three times. Gathering up her courage she dialled the number on the documents in front of her and took a breath as the phone rang. God she would rather be facing a Goa'uld unarmed and naked.
"Hello." A perky female voice said on the other end of the phone.
"Can I speak to Alexander Harris, please." Sam said, trying to hide her nervousness.
"Xander! Phone!" the female voice came through muffled over the phone.
"Hello. Xander speaking." Came a strong male voice.
"Hello. My name is Maj… err… Sam Carter." Sam said, her voice quivering slightly.
"Oh…. Hey." Xander replied, his voice now hesitant. "So you're the one. Oh god, that did not come out right."
Sam stood from her seat and ran her hand through hair.
"I know what you meant." She replied as she began to pace. "This is awkward."
"Um yeah." Xander said, and then his voice became muffled. "Buffy, put Wills down. Wills give back her top."
Sam turned to face the house and saw Colonel O'Neill and Cassie coming through towards the back patio. She had been so preoccupied with the call to Xander that she had forgotten that today was her fortnightly chess game with Cassie.
"Sorry about that." Xander said. "Just an issue with my best friend and my girlfriend."
"That's ok. So… girlfriend?" Sam said, and then realised how that could be taken. "Sorry. That was rude."
"Hey Carter!" Jack called.
"Sam!" Cassie added, barrelling towards Sam, who pulled the girl into a one armed hug.
"Hey Sir. Hey Cassie." Sam replied. "Cass, can you do me a favour and wait inside with Jack. I just need to finish this phone call. Why don't you set up the board?"
"Ok." Cassie said and went back inside at a more sedate pace.
"Sorry." Sam said into the phone.
"Was that your husband and daughter?" Xander asked, an edge in his voice.
"What? No!" Sam replied. "That was my CO and the daughter of a friend."
"CO? Military?" Xander asked.
"Yes. Major in the Air Force." Sam said, holding her breath waiting for his response.
"That's kind of cool." Xander replied.
"I guess." Sam replied. "Some parts more so than others. So… I'm guessing you graduated from high school. Are you going to College?"
"Yeah." Xander said, sounding a bit weary. "High School was murder but we survived. I'm just started a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering."
"Ahh. That's good." Sam said.
There was a pause for about a minute, Sam trying to decide if she should tell him that she had a Masters in Mechanical Engineering as well as her PhD in Theoretical Physics. Before she could decide, Xander spoke again.
"So… why?" Xander asked, his voice heavy with emotion.
He did not have to say anything more, she knew exactly what he was asking.
"I was fifteen." She replied. "I could not give you what you needed by myself and my father was an Air Force Colonel and we moved around too much. You deserved better than that."
"And my father?" Xander asked.
"He never knew and would not have wanted to." Sam replied, with a sigh and a shake of her head. "He was gone before I even knew I was pregnant. Giving you up was the hardest thing I ever did and my biggest regret, but I thought it was best for you."
Xander was silent for a few seconds, and Sam looked up when she heard the Colonel knocking on the glass doors and indicating for her to come in because Cassie was waiting.
"Alright I get that." Xander said. "Look, something has come up here. I'm gonging to have to go."
"That's ok." Sam said. "Would it be alright if I called you again?"
"Yeah." Xander replied. "I think I would like that."
"Thank you." Sam said, relieved. "If you need me or just want to talk, give me a call."
After rattling off her personal number, both home and mobile, Sam hung up.
"That could have gone better. Could have gone a lot worse too." She whispered to herself as she headed inside to play her game of Chess with Cassie.
Joyce Summers answered the knock at the door and saw Xander standing there.
"Hey Xander, come on in." Joyce said.
Xander entered the house and sat down on the couch. Joyce could tell something was bothering him as she sat down on the single chair opposite him.
"Hey Mrs S." He said.
"How many times do I have to tell you? It's Joyce." She said.
"Can I talk with you about something?" he said, looking at his lap.
"I'm sorry Xander, I don't think Buffy would approve if we ran off and eloped." She said with a grin on her face.
"What?!" Xander said, snapping his head up, until he saw her grin he could not help but chuckle. "That was mean."
"Sorry, but you needed something to lift your spirits." Joyce said. "And that's my job."
Xander say there for a minute in silence.
"My birth mother called me today." Xander said.
Joyce simply sat and waited for Xander to speak in his own time. After a second, Joyce went to the kitchen and quickly brought back a plate of cookies that she placed down in front of Xander.
"She said she was fifteen when she had me." Xander said, before pausing again.
He took a cookie and quickly at it.
"She said that she could not take care of me. She wanted what was best for me." Xander said.
"That is what a real mother does. She does whatever is best for her children, regardless of how much it hurts her." Joyce said.
"Then why did she leave me with the Harris' then?" Xander said with anger in his voice.
"She didn't." Joyce replied. "She gave you up to the system. It was the system that left you with them."
"I suppose." Xander replied.
"There is nothing harder that a mother having to give up her child." Joyce said with emotion. "I did it once. I could never do it again."
"I just don't know." Xander said.
"Look at it this way." Joyce replied. "She is making the effort now."
"I suppose." Xander replied. "She did sound pleased when I told her what course I was doing. She is a Major in the Air Force."
"It will take time for you to get to know her." Joyce said. "But that does not mean we are not still your family. You are of age, so she has no legal rights to tell you what to do. I just think that she wants to get to know you. Maybe a wish on what might have been."
"Does that mean I can marry Buffy?" Xander said, with a grin.
"Remember the deal." Joyce replied. "Not till you both Graduate from College."
"Yes, Ma'am."
TBC…