DISCLAIMER: In chapter 1.
AUTHORS NOTES: Thank you to everyone reading, reviewing, favouriting, and following. I appreciate the company on this journey.
PART 3
Three days had passed since Kerry's debriefing of the team. Everyone had been out of sorts, for various reasons. Daniel had been quiet with his own thoughts and theories, Jack and Teal'c had been doing physical training together but neither were interested in conversation, General Hammond had done his usual duties but without his normal enthusiasm, Janet had been switching between trying to get all her work done, spending time with a very reserved Kerry and keeping track of Cassie, and Sam had been avoiding everyone. She had even left the base after a day and had not returned.
Kerry had barely spoken to anyone, only answering the nurse's and Janet's medical related questions. Every time Janet had asked about something more personal Kerry would just brush it off, saying she was tired.
Today was different. Although she was still reserved with the nurses, when Janet came in for her afternoon shift Kerry cleared her throat to get Janet's attention. When Janet looked over Kerry put on her best pleading face. Janet, the ever dutiful mother, was caught, hook line and sinker.
"Hey there," Janet said as she reached the bedside.
"Hey."
Janet showed false shock. "Wow, that's more than I have been getting lately. You must be feeling better!"
Blushing with guilt, Kerry answered, "Sorry."
"Well, you're talking to me now, and that's the important bit. How are you feeling?" Janet started by feeling Kerry's forehead for a temperature, followed by holding her wrist to check her pulse.
"Still a bit sore."
"Considering I've seen the footage of you coming through the gate, that's not surprising."
Kerry looked down and started fiddling with the corner of her sheet.
"What's wrong? I haven't seen you fidget before. But I know there's something Sam wants to talk about when she does it. Spill it kiddo."
"I want to go home."
"Home?"
Kerry just nodded in response.
"Home as in…?"
"When I'm from we all live at your house. That is our home." Kerry looked up at her mother. "I don't want to be here. I want to go home."
Janet paused, unsure what to say.
"Can you ask General Hammond, please?" Kerry had a real pleading look on her face this time. "I'll be good, I promise!"
"I know." Janet smiled. "You being good isn't the issue."
"Me being from the future is?"
"Well, probably, yes. I'm not sure if he will allow it." Janet looked concerned. "And what would we tell Cassie? I don't think 'Hi darling, this is your little sister from the future. Don't tell Sam,' is going to work."
"Why not?"
Janet snorted, "You've got to be kidding me! Do you know how close those two are?"
"Yes."
Janet paused again. "Right. Well, then you know what I'm talking about."
"Cassie and I are close too. I mean, we will be. Don't worry, she'll understand." Kerry tried to reassure the flustered doctor.
"And what about this time rules thing?" Janet waved her hand about.
"Temporal Law. And I've already broken most of it so I might as well go the whole nine yards. Why stop now when my military career is already over with the risk of jail for life? No point dwelling in the past." Kerry laughed, "Oh wait! I am!"
Janet squinted, "Have the nurses you given anything I don't know about?"
"No. I just really want to go home." Kerry swallowed, "I've had my whole family killed, had to come back in time alone to save the universe, and all I want to do is curl up on the lounge with my parents and my big sis watching whatever rubbish is on TV. Or even a movie! I love old movies like St Trinian's, or Imagine Me & You! Please mum, please make the General say yes!"
Janet sighed. "Alright. I will talk to him. But no promises, ok?"
"Ok." Kerry smiled genuinely for the first time since everything changed.
"And what do you mean 'old movies'?"
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"Come in." General Hammond ordered from behind his desk.
He had just been interrupted from his thoughts on the past few weeks. He had recently taken to sitting at his desk deep in thought, and was often interrupted with one crisis or another, as was the way of life in the SGC. But this time it was Doctor Janet Fraiser who opened his door, without any sign of urgency.
"Doctor, please take a seat." He sat up straighter. "What can I do for you?"
"Kerry has a request, Sir."
"Does she? And what would this request be?" Hammond laced his fingers together and rested his clasped hands on his desk.
"She would like to be able to leave the base and stay at my house, Sir."
General Hammond was silent for a moment. Janet was worried he was going to refuse. He had that familiar frown across his brow, after all.
"Although we know who she is, I will let her go on the proviso that one of SG-1 or yourself is with her at all times."
"Yes, Sir." Janet said, surprised at how easy that had been.
"What about Cassandra?"
Janet paused, "Kerry said she would explain as briefly as possible. Cassie is very mature and would understand. We know that she wouldn't discuss it with anyone given her history."
Hammond nodded.
"What about Sam? She hasn't been on base which is rare enough, but she hasn't answered my calls either. Have you heard anything?" Concern shone from Janet's eyes.
"She said she had some things to take care of off base, and then she left. I will call her and update her on the situation."
"Yes, Sir." Janet looked away.
Hammond noticed the gesture, "What would you prefer me to say to her?"
"Sir, she still doesn't know about Kerry being her, our daughter. When I spoke to Daniel yesterday he said Sam was acting a bit strange before she left. He said that she reacted oddly when he mentioned Kerry. Perhaps that's why she's left the base? Because she senses something about Kerry?" Janet spoke to reflect her thoughts.
"Perhaps. What do you propose, Doctor?"
"What if we tell Sam that Kerry is her daughter? Then that would explain any of the 'weird' vibes that Sam may have been getting."
"And you?"
"She must not know about my involvement. All we should tell her is that I kept it secret under your orders and that you have now decided she should know."
"What does Kerry think of this?"
Janet looked at her hands, "I haven't spoken to her about it yet."
"I would do so before you tell Major Carter." The General suggested.
"I don't think I should be the one to tell her."
"Then who should? I don't think Kerry is in the best state to do it. Her emotional state is fragile enough as it is without trying to explain something like that to someone who is possibly avoiding her."
"You could tell her."
"I could." Hammond paused. "You go and talk to Kerry. I'll call Sam now. Kerry can go home with you tomorrow afternoon after your shift."
"Thank you, Sir."
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"What?!" Kerry exclaimed. "I don't think that's a good idea!"
"Kerry, hear me out." Janet placed her hand on Kerry's arm to try and calm her. "Sam will have no idea about my relation to you, you can explain it however you want to Cassie, and you get to go home. And if Sam is suspicious about you staying at my house then I can tell her that you still need to have medical supervision."
"This is a disaster waiting to happen." Kerry said, shaking her head.
Janet held up her hands, "Hey, you're the one that asked to go home."
"I didn't mention anything about telling the others who my parents are!" Kerry whispered in frustration, not wanting to raise her voice too high.
"Sam, not the others."
"They'll find out. I know what we're like." Kerry folded her arms as best she could and put on her pouting face.
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The car pulled into pulled into the driveway and came to a stop. Janet glanced over at Kerry who had dozed off about 15 minutes ago. Although she had many forms of proof, at times it was still hard to believe that the young woman in the passenger seat was her daughter. And a daughter that she would one day share with her best friend none the less!
"Kerry."
Nothing.
"Kerry. Wake up sweetie. We're home." Janet squeezed Kerry's arm because shaking that side would cause pain.
Kerry shifted slightly, "Home?"
"Home."
Janet undid her and Kerry's seatbelts then got out of the car. She walked around to the passenger side and opened the door. Kerry had her eyes open and was looking around through half closed eyes.
"It looks a little different."
Janet smiled, remembering her first conversation with Kerry, "At least 20 years will do that to a place."
Kerry looked at Janet, getting the reference. "You think you're funny."
Janet smirked. "Come on. You've got a sister to meet."
Janet helped Kerry out of the car and then grabbed a bag from the back. Kerry followed just behind Janet, nervous of the events ahead of her. Janet opened the door and stood to the side to let Kerry in. Kerry paused for a moment then slowly crossed the threshold.
Immediately she felt a wave of warmth and comfort wash over her, but there was something unfamiliar about the place, something odd. It felt like the air was energised. Stepping further into the house she could hear the TV go silent. Was it turned off or put on mute? As she was about to turn into the family room a figure appeared in the hallway.
"Hi."
"Jordan, thanks for taking care of Cassie this afternoon." Janet came to stand beside Kerry.
"It's no problem at all, Janet. Gives me time to wind down from my work. Cass is just up in her room doing her homework."
"Good." Janet noticed the strange look on Kerry's face. "Jordan, this is Kerry, a family friend. Kerry, this is Jordan, my neighbour who is kind enough to look after Cassie occasionally."
Jordan held out her hand. "It's nice to meet you Kerry."
Kerry cleared her throat, "Likewise."
Kerry took the proffered hand and both women felt a jolt pass between them, although neither acknowledged it. They let go quickly and hid their emotions from their faces.
"Will $50 do?"
"What?" Jordan looked at Janet.
"$50?"
"No. I mean, it's alright. I don't want anything. As I said, it was good to take a break from my work."
"Oh, ok then. Thank you." Janet frowned slightly. "Speaking of which, how is the new piece coming? Will it be ready for your exhibition?"
"I think so, yes."
"Exhibition?" Kerry asked, curious about the stranger standing before her.
"Our Jordan here is a very talented artist, although she rarely says as much."
Jordan blushed, "I am just expressing myself through art, that's all. If people like or don't like it then that's up to them."
"See what I mean?" Janet smiled. "She has an exhibition at the local gallery on Friday night."
"Are you guys still coming?"
Janet paused, "Someone has to stay here to look after Kerry, but I'll ask if Sam can take Cassie."
"Why complicate things?" Jordan waved her hand. "Kerry, would you like to come? That way the good Doctor can look after you there."
Kerry smiled, "I'd love to."
"It's settled then. You can all come and enjoy the free drinks."
"Drinks?" Kerry's eye lit up. Between the pain medication and alcohol she wouldn't feel the aching of her ribs or memories. It was almost too perfect! Almost…
"No." Janet said sternly. "One, you're only 20, and two, there is no way in the whole history of the universe that I will let you drink with that medicine in your system."
"Well, there was this one time…" Kerry's words died as she received Janet's look of death. "I'll be sitting on the lounge. Nice to meet you Jordan. I'll see you Friday if I am allowed."
Janet watched Kerry awkwardly move past Jordan and into the family room. She shook her head and moved aside as Jordan walked past.
"Don't mind us. Kerry's recovering from a few injuries right now."
"It's quite alright. I should be heading off anyway. Plenty to do tomorrow as you can imagine."
Janet nodded. "Good luck."
"Thanks." Jordan was half way out the door when she turned back to Janet. "Tell Kerry I hope she feels better soon, and I really would like her to come to my exhibition if you'd let her."
"I will. Tell her that is" Janet winked. "We'll see how she is on Friday as to whether I'll let her or not.
"Thanks. Well, goodnight."
"Night, Jordan."
Janet carried the bag of fatigues and medicine into the family room and found Kerry channel hopping with mute on. "I see you've mastered the archaic technology already."
Without removing her eyes from the screen Kerry answered, "It's runs in the family."
Janet chuckled. "I know."
Janet came to stand behind Kerry and leant on the lounge, and watched what was being shown on the TV. Nothing particularly interesting was on; the news, a soap and sports. What Kerry was really dwelling on was the two conversations soon to take place: the first with Cassie, and the second when Sam arrived. She couldn't decide which one she was more nervous about.
"Do you want me to call Cassie down now?" Janet asked.
"Ummm," Kerry still hadn't chosen between her two approaches. "I guess I'll wing it like everything else. I'd ask 'what do I have to lose?' but I already know the answer to that."
Janet gave Kerry's good shoulder a comforting squeeze. "Cass! We're home!"
"We?!"
"Come down please! Stop making me yell!"
Footsteps were heard along the landing, and then down the staircase. Cassie walked into the room and stopped, looking between her mother and the stranger for answers.
"Cass, this is Kerry. She's going to be staying with us for a little bit."
"Hi." Kerry said, clearly nervous.
"Hi." Cassie said in return.
"Cassie, why don't you sit down with Kerry while she explains why she's here, and I'll go think up a dinner plan." Janet smiled and gave Kerry's shoulder one last squeeze before walking off to the kitchen.
Cassie looked at Kerry warily before making her way to one of the single seaters. "So, how do you know mum?"
Kerry chuckled nervously, "It's funny you should ask… I, um, well it's a long story."
"Good, it'll keep me from doing my homework longer then."
A genuine smiled graced Kerry's lips before she made the mental transition to 'explaining tone'. "I'm from the future, sent back in time to save SG-1 from being killed and subsequently saving the world and countless others."
Cassie blinked for a second, although for someone in her early teens she was quick to recover, "So you're an alien?"
"Nope, just your regular run-of-the-mill human. Well, for the most part. At the moment I'm a genetic mystery but they'll figure that out one day."
"But that still doesn't answer how you know my mum and why you're staying here and not at the SGC."
"Well, the answer to that is a bit sensitive, so I'll have to get you to promise that you won't repeat what I tell you to anyone but me or Janet."
"Sure, whatever."
"No, Cass, I need you to promise me. Swear to me on Janet's life that you will not discuss it with anyone except Janet or myself unless she or I say you can."
"You're serious, aren't you?"
"Very."
"Fine. I swear."
Kerry looked at her a moment.
"I swear on mum's life that I won't discuss what you tell me with anyone but you or mum without permission."
"Alright, good, well now that that's settled. I'm staying here because Janet is my mum, which is obviously how I know her."
"What? That's impossible. Mum doesn't have a boyfriend."
"I know. Nor will she."
"I don't get it." Cassie shook her head.
"You know who she likes, right?"
Cassie squinted her eyes, "Maybe."
"Well that person is my other parent."
"Impossible! Now I know you're lying."
"I'm not lying, Cass."
"Stop calling me Cass. You're not my sister."
"I am whether you like it or not. I have just seen everyone I care about killed before I came here, and now they don't even know me," Kerry was crying now. "Don't you think if I could make everything better by clicking my fingers I would? Mum is struggling to keep her feelings in check because she can't tell them about our relationship, G-Man is trying to keep a lid on everything, Sam-mum has been avoiding me and is feeling God knows what since she was just told that I was her daughter but no one will tell her with who, and now you're accusing me of lying when all I'm trying to do is save your life!"
Kerry was shaking now. She was so emotionally and physically drained that she couldn't stop the tears from flowing.
"I, I'm sorry." Cassie got up and sat on the lounge beside Kerry, unsure of how to take her pain away. She tried to think what her mum would do in this situation and put her arm behind Kerry and rubbed her back in the most soothing way she could.
Janet walked past at that moment and stopped in the archway to take in the scene. She debated whether she should help to comfort the distraught woman or let her daughters be. In the end she decided to help and walked around the lounge to sit on the other side of Kerry, her injured side. Kerry jerked slightly with another body beside her but the tension dissipated shortly after Janet pulled her into a mother's hug.
They sat like this for some time, Janet hugging Kerry while Cassie rubbed her back gently. The shaking and tears had stopped by the time the doorbell rung. Kerry sat up straight and regretted it immediately. She held her side and clenched her jaw to ride out this latest assault of pain.
"Easy!" Janet frowned. "Cassie, stay here with Kerry. I'll get the door. Remember what Kerry told you about what to say to who."
"Yes, mum." Cassie said in submission.
Janet stood up and pushed a strand of Kerry's hair behind her ear before heading towards the door. Kerry just stared straight ahead. She looked scared out of her wits.
"Kerry, you need to breathe." Cassie elbowed Kerry gently.
Kerry took a deep breath and looked at Cassie, attempting a slight smile. "Thanks. I forgot about that."
Cassie turned to look behind Kerry, "Hi Sam!"
"Hey Cass. How'd that science project go?"
"Really well. I got an A-."
"That's a good mark. You should be proud."
"Yep." Cassie looked at the still terrified Kerry. "I need to go finish my homework. I'll see you two after."
Sam walked around the lounge and sat next to Kerry, with her nervous hands positioned on her knees.
Sam cleared her throat. "Hi."
"Hi." Kerry's reply was barely above a whisper.
"I guess you're not going to explain more than you already have, right?"
Kerry shook her head.
"Didn't think so…" Sam paused for some moments. "So, um…" Sam let out a frustrated sigh and clasped her hands together on her lap.
This was not going the way Kerry planned. Not that she had planned anything in particular, she just knew how she didn't want it to go, and awkward was at the top of that long list. She mimicked the position of Sam's hands with her own and sighed as well, audibly with more sadness than frustration. Sam looked at her with concern.
"This must be hard for you as well." Sam admitted.
"Well, it's no picnic." Kerry conceded.
"No. It's not." Sam frowned. "There are so many questions! I want to ask them all, but I know you won't answer. Whoever came up with this Temporal Law thing has a lot to answer for."
Kerry genuinely laughed at this, and then clutched her sides with the resulting pain. Sam gripped her shoulder and laid a hand on her knee, "Whoa, easy there."
"Sorry, it's just… well, um… you wrote the core structure of the Temporal Law…" Kerry tried not to laugh again at Sam's face.
"Oh, well that figures. I would do something like that." Sam gave a small smile. "So I only have myself to blame?"
Kerry nodded. "Yep."
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The rest of the night passed quite quickly and without incident. Kerry and Sam didn't talk much longer before Janet came in and asked what Kerry wanted on her pizza. After sharing 2 pizzas, one being Kerry's cheese and bacon and the other a toppings galore, they settled down to watch a movie. Cassie and Kerry sat between Janet and Sam on the long lounge, which soon led to Kerry falling asleep with her head on Sam's shoulder shortly into the movie.
Janet couldn't help but smile at the scene. Her future daughter and her future partner? If she hadn't already seen unbelievable things working at the SGC she wouldn't have believed it. Even now she barely did. She gave Cassie a quick squeeze around the shoulders. Cassie wasn't far off from falling asleep either, but luckily the movie was almost over.
Once the credits started rolling Janet pushed Cassie up and ordered her to bed. It was one of the few times she didn't protest. That left the problem of a sleeping 20 year old leaning on Sam. Sam smiled at Janet, which contained the faintest of smirks.
"The spare room is ready." Janet spoke softly.
"I'll carry her up." Sam moved to try and cradle the younger frame.
Janet shook her head. "No. We'll wake her up."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. Doctor's orders."
"Yes Ma'am!" Sam saluted with her free hand.
"Kerry, sweetie, wake up," Janet squeezed Kerry's right shoulder. "You need to go to bed."
A grunt came from the limp form.
Sam pushed and held Kerry into an almost sitting position, "Kerry wake up."
Another grunt.
"Don't argue with your mother. Up and to bed now."
A shorter but more powerful grunt was heard as Kerry's body stiffened and held itself up. "I'm sleepy."
Both women laughed. "We know. That's why we're taking you to bed. Janet says the spare room is ready."
Sam stood and held her hands out to Kerry, who took them and was carefully helped up. Through instinct and experience she stood straight up and wrapped her arms around Sam's waist and leant on her mother. Sam closed her eyes and hugged her daughter back, the weight of the situation almost overwhelming her. They stood like this for a moment before Sam stepped back and, with her hand on Kerry's back, led her to the spare room upstairs.
Kerry didn't even bother changing into something else to sleep in. She got under the covers after taking her boots and socks off and lay on her right side. Kerry wrapped her arms around Sam's neck, pulling her down into a hug.
"Goodnight mum." Kerry said sleepily, mentally saying 'I love you' as well.
Sam pulled the blankets up to Kerry's shoulders. "Goodnight sweetie."
Sam turned off the bedroom light and half closed the door to block out the hallway light. She smiled at her daughter, the idea of being a mother growing even more on her. She's been a second mum to Cassie, for the most part, and has loved every minute of raising the alien girl with Janet. This was different though, but apart from Kerry being her own flesh and blood she couldn't say how.
Janet was finished tidying the kitchen by the time Sam walked in. She poured Sam a glass of water and refilled her own. It was something they both did before bed, reminding Janet how well they knew each other, and had so many little things in common. Both drank their glasses, Sam refilling hers and draining it before either spoke.
Sam opened her mouth to speak, but closed it again.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you." Janet said, her eyes looking at random spots on the floor.
"You couldn't. I understand." Sam responded calmly.
Janet looked into blue eyes. Oh, how she wanted to tell Sam everything and just fall into her arms! But now was not the time. Kerry had confirmed what she already knew. She would just have to bite her tongue and keep her hands to herself.
Sam gave a small shy smile, "Do you mind if I sleep upstairs with you? If she has another nightmare…"
"I know. You want to be close to her." Janet swallowed. "And I don't mind at all." She put the glasses in the sink and slowly headed back upstairs. "It's not the first time we've shared a bed, and I'm sure it won't be the last." Janet grinned and turned off the last of the lights, Sam right behind her.