The Summers' Residence, 1500 hours.
Major Sheppard looked at the friends of the sister he just discovered he had and sighed. Standing with his hands in his pocket, he then told them that he was involved in a lot of classified work that involved national security. He then told them that his file was monitored twenty-four hours a day in case of any intrusions and that any hackers who tried to get in could expect serious espionage charges.
The man stole a quick glance at Tara as she looked at the redheaded girl who was looking back at him with terror written on her face.
'Yeah' though the Major to himself, 'should probably calm her down, she looks like she's going to faint… or puke. Oh God, don't puke.'
"Willow, right?" asked the Major as he looked at the redhead who nodded her head with eyes wide open, "just wanted to tell you what could have happened so you don't do it again. Honestly, we'll put you in contact with the people responsible for the… what is it again? You know… supposed to prevent intrusions, and things?"
"Firewall" said Willow, "yeah it was a bit tough but I found a backdoor and….. yeah… I'll shut up."
Willow saw Tara looking back at her and then hung her head in shame.
"They'll want to know what you did" said the Major, "and how you did it. I'll push for the warning, you'll probably have to sign something… but.. yeah."
The Major then told the Scoobies that he needed to make another call outside, and that he'll be right back; that he needed a few questions answered. Once the man had gone out the door, Tara walked over to Willow who was still avoiding looking at her directly. The blonde just looked at the redhead before she gently reached behind Willow, wrapped her hands round her back and pulled her in close for a tight hug.
"Thank you for being concerned about me" said Tara as she whispered into Willow's ear, "but please don't do something like this again. I want to know about John the old fashioned way, asking questions and… I mean, you know. NO magic, no technology."
"Sorry" said Willow whispering into Tara's ear as she returned the blonde witches hug, "I swear I wont do it again."
And that was something that Willow wanted to take into heart. She remembered how angry and disappointed Tara was with her when the redhead made Tara forget the fights they were having with magic, or that she wiped the Scoobies of all their memories – an act that when she was found out by Tara, had ended their relationship. The two of them had just gotten back together after months of being apart, and Willow had no intention of letting Tara go again.
Willow and Tara pulled apart as Buffy approached Tara and told her that it was her idea that Willow check on the Major's file.
"Tara" said Buffy as she scratched her head, "you know what the Initiative did in Sunnydale. They were also trying to find out about magic and.. I was really, really afraid that he was sent here to take you and Willow by force. To be honest with you, I really don't know what to think about him… but… but do you trust him?"
"I know it's strange" said Tara, "but… but I do."
"Is there any way that letter, and that picture could be you know… magically created?"
"It's possible" said Tara nodding her head, "but I would have felt something, and that picture of me was missing for years before I came to Sunnydale."
"I have my suspicions about him" said Buffy as Tara nodded her head and gave a small smile.
"We care about you, Tara" said Xander as the blonde turned around and smiled at Xander who then placed a hand gently on her shoulder, "we really don't want to see you get hurt."
"I know" she replied looking at Xander, and then at the others, "but I trust him. The letter said that I could provide some answers from him, but I don't know the questions. I… I was hoping that you guys would stay with me when… when he asks me.. .you know?"
"You know we will" said Willow nodding her head as Dawn approached Tara.
"So, he's your brother huh?" asked Dawn as she put her hands behind her back and looked at the blonde Witch who was nodding her head, "if.. you know.. if he takes you flying.. you know.. or something…. Could you ask him if.. you know. He could take me up on a ride?"
"Looks like Dawn has a new crush" said Willow as she nudged Buffy who had her hands folded over her chest.
'Hey" said Xander as he looked at Willow and Buffy, and then at Tara nodding her head at Dawn's request, "I'm the one she has a crush on. No one else….. ok, that came out wrong."
"Xand?" asked Buffy just as the door opened and the Major walked back him, keeping his phone back in his pocket.
"So" asked the man as he rubbed his hands together, "let's talk."
Dr. Carson Beckett's quarters, SGC, 1515 hours.
Although Dr. Beckett wasn't leaving for the airport to return home to Glasgow for a few more hours, he had already changed into his civilian clothes. He had every intention of getting some souvenirs for his excited family before he left. Sitting down on the cot in his quarters, the doctor put on his socks, and then his shoes before he heard a knock on his door.
"Come in" said the doctor as he stood surprised to find Dr. Weir, along with Daniel standing outside his room, "Dr. Weir, Dr. Jackson.. good to see you both? Are you heading out?"
"Ummm Carson" said Dr. Weir as she looked at Daniel who shrugged before looking back at Dr. Beckett, "how would you like to go for a trip?"
"I'd love to, but my flight…"
"Major Sheppard needs us in Sunnydale" said Dr. Weir as she and Daniel looked at the doctor who had his mouth hanging open, looking confused at the both of them.
"California" said Daniel as Dr. Beckett nodded his head, "Sunnydale, California."
"My flight…." Said the doctor as he picked up his tickets from a table next his cot and showed it to the two of them, "I don't think I can make it back here, and my family's waiting for me and…."
Dr. Weir and Daniel looked at each other before looking back at the doctor and telling him that he's needed to verify Major Sheppard's story.
"Hold on there" said the Doctor in shock, "the Major has a sister?"
"Apparently it's a surprise for him too" said Daniel as he leaned on the doorframe.
"And he asked for you, and Rodney specifically" said Dr. Weir as Dr. Beckett sighed while the leader of the Atlantis expedition told the man that the Major asked for everything they had to be brought for Sunnydale.
"Everything as in?" asked the Doctor looking at both Dr. Weir and Dr. Sheppard.
"Scanners, medical equipment…. The whole shebang" said Daniel, "I'm guessing that he's talking about things related the Ancients."
"The Ancients? What would the Ancients have to do with a city in California?"
"It's just a guess, Carson" said Dr. Weir with a small smile on her face, "but it's probably to do with him having abilities that he never exhibited on Atlantis."
"Wait, what" said Dr. Beckett in surprise as Daniel and Dr. Weir looked at each other and smile, "what abilities? Don't leave me in suspense here."
"He just called me again" said Dr. Weir, "said he displayed telekinetic abilities; he pulled out a bullet from a young woman's abdomen."
"Oh my" said the doctor, "is she alright?"
"Yeah" said Daniel, "he healed her."
'Excuse me?" asked the doctor, "oh wait, I remember the file on that Ancient lass,.. umm…."
"Ayiana" said Daniel as Dr. Beckett nodded his head, "yeah, she was able to heal SG-1 from a plague we believe wiped out most of the Ancients, at least the ones that didn't ascend or move to Pegasus. Even Jack had healing powers the second time he downloaded the Ancient repository into his head."
"He told us that he's felt something ever since he arrived in Sunnydale" said Dr. Weir, "so while you check him medically, I'll ask Rodney to grab his equipment and check out the environment… maybe there's a reason why Major Sheppard's been able to display these abilities there, but not here… or in Atlantis."
"We've already talked to General Landry and he'd like for you to bring a DNA kit, as well as any medical supplies that may be needed in case Major Sheppard's been injured."
"Very well" said Dr. Beckett as he sighed, "I guess I could call my mom and tell her that I've been delayed to help a friend."
"Thank you, Carson" said Dr. Weir as Dr. Beckett gave a nod before he walked out of his quarters. He closed the door behind him while telling the two of them that he needs to gather supplies from the infirmary, as well as any equipment that he may need. Dr. Weir nodded at him and told him to get whatever he thinks may be needed to give the Major a full physical as well, "just to be on the safe side. Have one of the security personnel help you bring your equipment to the surface."
Dr. Beckett nodded his head before heading down the hallway before she looked at Daniel and sighed.
"Rodney?" asked Daniel as Dr. Weir looked at him and smiled.
"Yes" she replied nodding her head, "you get to tell him, Dr. Jackson."
"Should've said heads before flipping the coin" said Daniel as he and the diplomat walked down the hallway to Mackay's quarters.
The Summers' Residence, 1525 hours.
The Major was seated on the couch as he saw that a still nervous Tara was sitting on an armchair, while Willow sat on its armrest. The redhead was looking at the Major while Tara took nervous glances at him periodically. Giving Tara a small smile, which she returned before looking at the floor again, the Major turned to look at Xander who was leaning on a wall and Buffy who was looking at him suspiciously while seated on an armchair across from him.
"So" said the major, "about why you guys tried to look into my file?"
"John" said Tara as everyone looked at her.
Major Sheppard looked on as Willow leaned in and then whispered something into Tara's ear. The redhead then looked into Tara's eyes, before the blonde told Willow to trust her. Willow nodded her head before turning to face Buffy who frowned before nodding her head. The Major had observed this interaction between the people in front of him and took a wild guess that it was Buffy who he assumed to be the leader of this little group. Shaking his head as Tara called for him again, the man looked at his sister and leaned forward.
"I.. I know this will.. will be hard to understand" said Tara as she glanced at Buffy and then at her brother, "but…. but there are things in the world that go far beyond anything you've ever seen."
"Ok" said the Major nodding her head.
"Be… before you ask questions, let… let me just finish… and.. and then you'll know why my friends wanted to look into your file" said Tara. She then told the man about the existence of magic in the world, the mystical convergence known as the Hellmouth which lay under the city while releasing energy that attracted vampires, and various other demons, witches and warlocks to the city.
"Oh" was the only thing that the Major could say as he looked at Tara, and then at Buffy, Willow and the others, "Ok…."
"Hold on" said Dawn as she narrowed her eyebrows at the man, "why aren't you, you know… jumping up and down saying that's impossible or, 'you're nuts'… does this mean that you're a part of the Initiative?"
"Dawn!" said Buffy as she looked up at her sister who took a seat on Buffy's armrest before looking down at Buffy and shrugging her shoulders, "what? What?"
'The Initiative?" asked the Major as he looked at the others, 'what's the Initiative?"
It was then that Buffy's living room phone started to ring. Getting up, she glared at Dawn before picking up the receiver while Xander explained that the Initiative was a group of soldiers that nearly destroyed Sunnydale. While he, and Willow, was telling the Major what happened; Buffy walked back to the kitchen when she heard Riley's voice on the phone.
"Hi, Riley" said the blonde Slayer as she entered the kitchen and leaned her back onto one of the counters so that she could look at what was going on.
"Buffy" said Riley over the phone as the Slayer's heart broke again. She recalled the pain in her chest when Riley returned to Sunnydale almost a year ago needing her help in capturing someone called 'the Doctor'. Although she did eventually agree, she was more shocked by the fast that he had gotten married to someone else. Shaking her head as she heard Riley call her name over the receiver a third time, she asked him how he was.. and how Samantha was doing.
"She's fine, Buffy" said Riley, "she says hi,"
"I… I… I'm sorry about calling and…. are you busy? I mean.. where are you and…"
"Classified, sorry" said Riley as he looked at a helicopter that was parked at an Air Base while talking on a satellite phone, "listen I checked up on that name. Major John Sheppard."
"And?" asked Buffy expectedly.
"I don't know what you're dealing with, Buffy.. or how you know that name" said Riley, "but the moment I asked some of my contacts, walls just got up. My superiors just told me to stop looking into him."
"Riley?" asked Buffy confused.
"Look" said Riley, "all I know is that he's involved in some top-secret stuff, stuff that's above my level of clearance and need-to-know classification. Don't look into him and…"
"I already did" said Buffy as Riley sighed on the other line, "Riley, look…. All I need to know is if he's part of some Initiative group, or something?"
"No" said Riley, "all I know is that this guy is involved in something that's really Top-Secret. If he was in the monster hunters club, then I'd have known about it. Whatever it is, just don't do anything else to bring attention to yourselves. I don't know if he can be trusted, or… I just don't know. Just… just use your best judgement, and be careful for God's sake."
"I will" said Buffy as she sighed, "you guys be careful too."
"We will" said Riley before he told Buffy that he'll call her again soon, that he needed to go off for a mission.
Once Buffy walked back into the living room, she heard Willow and Xander talking to Major Sheppard about Adam. She looked at the Major who was listening intently to what they were saying, always they never made any mention of Tara and Willow being Witches or that she was the Slayer.
'But it will come up' thought Buffy to herself as she put the phone back down on its cradle. Upon hearing the click, Xander and Willow stopped talking and looked at Buffy who was looking at the phones, and then back at the others.
"Buff?" asked Willow, "everything alright?"
"That was Riley" said Buffy as she looked at Willow and then at Xander, before finally settling her eyes on the Major, "I asked him to ask around you."
"Oh boy" said the Major as he leaned back, "and?"
"He was told to stop looking" said Buffy as she sat down while the others all looked back at Major Sheppard, "something about this being way above his clearance."
"If he was told to stop looking, and asking" said the Major as he leaned forward, "then he probably doesn't have clearance."
"John" said Tara as she leaned forward as the Major looked at her, "why… why aren't you… you know… shocked, or surprised, or…."
"Going nuts?" asked Xander as he shrugged his shoulders.
"Oh I am" said the Major, "on the inside. I've got remain a bit cool… don't you think?"
"Right" said Willow nodding her head.
"What was that thing you did?" asked Buffy, "you know, after I was shot and…"
"Wait" said a surprised Dawn as she looked at Buffy, before walking towards her and slapping the blonde Slayer's arm real hard, "you were shot?!"
"Ow" said Buffy looking up at Dawn while she rubbed her arm, "and yeah, sorry…. I think I forgot to mention it."
"Well, don't" said Dawn as she gave Buffy a hug, "the next time it happens, don't forget."
"I'm sure she's not looking to get shot, again" said the Major before he looked at Tara once again, "I don't really know what I did; all I can say is that I have a few members of my team setting up base at the Army Base so that they could go over me."
Tara looked at the Major's aura and knew that he was hiding something from all of them. She wanted to say something but decided against it, thinking that it would most likely be related to some classified project.
"If the military's conducting experiment on soldiers again" said Willow as she looked at Buffy, and then at a confused Major. The redhead told him that the Initiative were also dosing their military personnel with specials drugs without their knowledge.
"Are you sure?" asked the Major suspiciously.
"I used to be part of the Initiative" said Buffy as she sighed and leaned back on the armchair, "even had to get clearance, and everything."
"Signed that handy Non-Disclosure too" said Xander as Willow looked at him and opened her eyes wide, silently asking the man to shut up.
"Yeah, shouldn't have told me. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone you did, but what I just did wasn't like what you say happened in the Initiative" said the Major, "that's all I can tell you."
The Major looked at Buffy and wondered what role she played in the Initiative, 'were you a civilian specialist, or part of the military?'
However, the man thought it best to ask those questions later, right now he was more concerned with talking to Tara.
The Major then looked at a still slightly nervous Tara and asked her if they could talk. However, Tara told him that she'd be more comfortable if her friends could stay with her, that whatever he had to tell her; it was safe to tell in front of the others.
"It's… um…. Personal" said the Major.
"It.. it's alright" said Tara as she nodded her head.
"Alright" said Major Sheppard as he told the stunned Tara about the dream he had where he saw what had happened to her back in the Maclay house, and back at the hospital when her mother died. Tara looked on in shock as tears welled in her eyes when the Major mentioned what Laura had told her about shining as bright as the sun.
"I.. I remember" said Tara as her voice broke while Willow put her hand on the blonde witch's back.
"She told you about some music box?" said the Major as Tara looked on in complete shock, "I saw what they did after she was gone, Tara. I wish she told my dad. Did… did they come after you after you left?"
"Yes" said Dawn as she looked at the Major, and then at Tara who was looking at the floor with her hand covering her eyes while Willow rubbed her back, "they wanted to forcefully take her away."
"The.. The female side of my family have always… always had.. po… power" said Tara as she looked back up at Major Sheppard, "we.. we.. can…. I mean…"
"Magic?" asked the man as he got up and walked towards Tara before crouching in front of her. Tara then nodded her head and looked down at the floor, "Tara, I'm not here to hurt you. My team aren't coming here to hurt you, either. They just know that something's going on with me, and they'll be examining me to see what's going on. I know a few of them would be excited, and a few of them would be sceptical about magic and would like to see how it works.. I guess. I leave it up to you if you want to show them, but no one is going to harm you."
"Yeah" said Buffy as Major Sheppard stood up and turned to face the Slayer, "that's what you say."
"If the wrong people find out about her" said Xander, "then they'll use her for…"
"Xander!" said Willow before she looked down at Tara while the dark haired man apologized.
"Like I said, if she doesn't want to tell people.. then I won't."
Buffy saw the look on Tara's face and her heart fell when she came to the realization that the blonde witch was taking the responsibility of being the 'unique' one for all of them. She had already told the Major that she was the one who helped beat Adam, with the help of the surviving members of the Initiative, using some very powerful magic so that Buffy and the others could be protected.
'And now' said Buffy as she looked at Willow, and then back down onto the floor, 'if anything happens, she'll be the one taken away. Tara says that we can trust this guy, but… but if we're wrong, then we're all screwed.'
"The reason" said Buffy as the Major turned away from Xander and looked at Buffy, "the reason that I got clearance to be a part of the Initiative, although it was for only a few days, was because I'm the Slayer."
"The what now?" asked a confused Major Sheppard.
"She hunts and kills vampires, monsters, demons… you know… stuff" said Dawn before she looked at the Major, "like I'm sure you.."
"Dawn" said Xander, Buffy, and Willow while Tara just looked up at Major Sheppard.
"Tara wasn't the one who beat Adam" said Buffy as she walked past the Major and stood next to the blonde protectively, "it was me. It was all of us, actually…. And my high school librarian."
"Librarian?" asked the Major.
"Yea"
"Oh."
"Long story" said Tara with a small smile.
"I bet" replied the Major as he gave a small smile at the blonde witch.
"I.. I'm a witch too" said Willow as she looked at the Major, "I mean I'm trying to cut down on magic and… yeah."
"So" said the Major as he looked at everyone, "two witches, and.. a Slayer?"
"Yep" said Xander as he put his hand up, "I'm the fixer… you know. I fix the stuff that gets broken."
"Right" said Major Sheppard as he looked at everyone, before looking at Tara, "I won't tell my friends about you guys, not unless you want me to tell them. But I'm sure that Dr. Beckett will want to take a look at Miss Summers when he gets here. Kinda told him she got shot and I healed her."
"Fine" said Buffy before Tara asked everyone if she could talk to the Major alone.
"You sure?" asked Buffy.
Tara nodded her head before Willow, Buffy, Dawn and Xander headed out the door and began walking towards the Magic Box. Meanwhile, back at the house, Tara stood up and approached Major Sheppard before taking a seat next to him on the couch.
"Is there anything you want to ask me?"
"When.. when did you get.. get this letter?" asked Tara as she looked at the Major, glad that most of the nervousness she felt earlier had slowly melted away enough for her to be alone with him.
"I just got back from…. Let's just say a place very far away" said the Major, "I was part of an expedition that got lost, and we were just rescued a few days ago. I was gone for almost a year before I checked my mail in Colorado Springs. I had directed all mail to my P.O. Box right before I left for the expedition and.. and well, I found that when I got back."
"Oh" said Tara as she looked at herself playing with her thumbs.
"Are.. are you going back?" asked Tara softly, "I mean… you know, back to Colorado Springs? I mean.. when are you heading back to Colorado Springs?"
"Well" said Major Sheppard, "I came here immediately after I read the letter, so…. I mean… if you want me to stay for a little while? I could. Do you want me to leave?"
"No" said Tara as she turned and looked at the Major, "no, I.. I'd like for you to stay. Can.. can you tell me about your… I mean my, Father.. I mean."
"To be honest with you" said the Major as he combed his hand through his hair, "me and the old man haven't talked in a long time. It's like a Cold War between us."
"Why?" asked Tara, "I mean.. if you don't mind me asking?"
"We wanted different things" said the Major, "I wanted to go to Stanford, he wanted me to go to Harvard; he had my whole life planned out for since I was fourteen, and I didn't want any part of that; he wanted me to take over the business, I wanted to join the Air Force."
"Oh" said Tara, "so you joined the Air Force?"
"Right after Stanford" said the Major as Tara gave a small smile as she looked down on the floor, "then we had a big fight when I chose the Academy over his dreams for me… and yeah. Dave's helping the old man run the place."
"Dave?"
"Oh, right" said the Major, "my… well, now yours too I guess… brother."
"Oh."
"If you want to meet them, I guess I could handle seeing the old man again… or I could just leave you there and…."
"Don't you dare" said Tara.
"Kidding" said the Major, "I'd probably get drunk so that I…"
"No" said Tara.
"I guess we need to bring that letter?"
"Yeah."
"How about we go in a couple of days?" asked the Major as Tara nodded her head, "in the meantime, we get to know more about each other?"
"Agreed" said Tara.
"How about I go check into a hotel, and then we grab a bite to eat?"
Tara smiled, and nodded her head, before the both of them left the house. Locking the door behind them.
TBC.