Vegas: Invasion9
"And enterprises of great pith and moment With this regard their currents turn awry, And lose the name of action."
Moira balanced a tray loaded with food and beverages. For once she was glad of the baby bulge as it nicely doubled as a third hand. She moved carefully out of the cafeteria but the tray began to wobble and tip precariously to one side.
"Moira, whoa! Do you need some help?" Not waiting for an answer Katie Brown deftly caught the bottom of the tray and steadied it.
Moira smiled. "Thanks! I think I overloaded it! Grab those beers, please, before I drop them. John would be heartbroken if anything happened to his precious beer."
Katie laughed and took hold of the three bottles. "We can't have that! I assume that is his handiwork, as well?" The auburn-haired botanist indicated the blue handprints on her friend's shirt. "Apart from the baby, I mean. I know that is his doing."
Moira laughed as the two women began to stroll along the hallway. "Yes, it's all his handiwork! John's idea of a joke, but you should see where I got him."
"You should have sent him for lunch," Katie scolded.
"No, he is finally painting the nursery! And besides, he is under house arrest."
The two women descended the stairs, eschewing the elevator for more privacy. "Has he said anything?" Katie's tone turns abruptly somber.
"No. Not much. We won't get into it until later. But things don't sound very good out there," Moira commented. Sighed. "This is a lousy time to have a baby."
"You can't do anything about that now, Moira. And John wouldn't want you to think like that."
"I know. But it is true, despite how much everyone pretends that it's not."
There was a knock at the door. "Shit." John stepped out of the nursery, wiping his hands on a rag. "There had better be beer for me, Moira. Lots." He opened the door. Stared.
"I know, I know, you're not to be disturbed on your twenty-four but this will only take five minutes," Richard apologized under John's glare. "I just need your opinion on a—"
"Woolsey!"
Richard jumped at the sharp voice and turned to see Moira making a beeline for him, tray in her hands. Katie was standing at the end of the hall, watching. "Um, Moira, this will only take a few minutes, just a few-" he spluttered, raising the folder in his hands as if to defend himself.
"Here!" Moira reached them and shoved the tray into John's hands, all the while glaring at the other man like a lioness defending her mate. "John is not to be disturbed during his twenty-four. There are no exceptions!"
"I know, I'm sorry, I just-"
"You'll be sorry if you don't leave now! Go! In!" She shoved John backwards into the room, whirled and slammed the door shut. "Fuck! The nerve of that man!" she exploded. "What does he think? Does he think he can just barge in here and make demands on you while you are under house arrest? My house arrest! You are not to be disturbed on your twenty-four! Everyone knows that! Hell, even the President knows that! Goddamm Woolsey thinks he can just waltz in here like he runs the place? Rodney's in charge when you're not here! Well? John? Damn it, John, say something!"
John's ire had turned to amusement. He was trying not to laugh, both aroused and humored by his wife's ferocity. "I can't, Moy. I'm afraid to say a word," he quipped.
Moira glared then smiled. "And so you should be, sweetie. Here." She took the tray and set it on the table. "I got you a turkey sandwich, detective, the way you like it. And my own concoction of Swiss cheese, cucumbers and sweet relish."
John released the laugh he had been holding. "Ah, Moira! If I had men as fierce as you, sweetheart, I could win this war in a day! But oh my God…are you really going to eat that?"
"Funny, John. Let's have lunch!"
"I'm serious, Moira. Wow! Aren't you even curious about what he oh, okay, me neither, not at all, let's eat lunch," he backpedaled as she glared at him. John grabbed a beer. Took long, generous swallows of the amber beverage. "Seriously, sweetheart, are you going to eat that, that thing? I hesitate to call it a sandwich. Ow!" he complained as she hit his arm.
"Shut up, detective, or I will eat yours as well!" She laughed at his consternation. "I better check on your progress."
Moira crossed to the nursery to stand and stare round the empty room. The two blue walls. The box with the crib was in one corner, as yet unopened. The room felt suspended in time, awaiting completion, awaiting the baby she was carrying. She hugged herself suddenly, daunted by the enormity at the task at hand. Having a baby, raising a baby in some underground facility while the battle for the planet waged on above their heads.
A battle waged by her husband.
She gasped as suddenly John was standing behind her. He wrapped his arms around her, drew her close. Kissed her brow. "John?"
"I know, Moira. It will be all right."
She caught his hands at her waist. "No, John. It won't be all right. How can it be?"
"Simple. Life goes on, Moira, even now. If we stopped they will have won."
"They are winning, John!" She turned to him. Brown eyes wet with unshed tears. "Don't you see that? Why doesn't anyone see that? We can't win this war, John, we never could! The best we can do is to hope to survive and maybe fight them on our terms, but we will never defeat them! They are too advanced for us! Rodney knows that and so do I! You do too but you won't admit it because you can't, not to your men anyway but you can admit to me!"
"No, Moira. They may be winning now—"
"They are winning now!" she interjected.
"But they won't in the long run," he finished, ignoring her outburst. "We'll think of something. McKay will find some technological glitch we can exploit. Beckett will find some bioweapon we can use against them. Lorne will keep the SGC secure and send us those Drones."
"Since when did you become Mr. Optimism?"
He smiled. "Ever since this." He touched the gold ring on her finger. "And this." He touched her swollen belly. "And that's Colonel Optimism, baby. Well, Detective Optimism since it's you." He kissed her. "Moira…my Moira…"
"John! You don't have to pretend for me! Okay? You don't have to pretend anymore. About anything. John…John, I am so sorry." Her brown eyes filled with tears again. "What you had to do, to save me. To save John junior. I couldn't ask that of you. I…"
John tensed. "No, Moira. It had to be done. It was, it was the only way. You…you remember? You remember all of it?"
"Yes, John. I saw you…her…the Wraith….Todd…the…that poor woman. And I don't even know her name."
John hesitated. He looked down at her swollen baby. "Molly," he said quietly. Feeling the need to unburden himself, to seek her absolution if no one else's, even after all of this time. "She was a nurse I knew…she just happened to be the first person I ran into when I was getting a, a volunteer to save you. To save our son, Moira."
Moira touched his arm. Gently stroked. "It must have been terrible for you, John. I am sorry."
He met her gaze. Green eyes fierce now. Somber. "I'm not. I'd do it again, Moira, to save you and our son. In a heartbeat I would."
She shook her head. "No…you mustn't say that," she whispered. Appalled. Overcome.
"I would, Moy. For you and our son. Why else do you think I continue this damn fight? Of course I know it's unwinnable, at least by conventional means. But I do it for you. For our son. For myself, since you are my world now, and my son will be soon enough."
Moira felt a wave of emotion that caught in her throat, strangling her words until another more palpable wave struck along her abdomen. "Oh shit!" She doubled over suddenly, slumping but John caught her.
"Moira! Moira, was it is? Is it the baby? Moira? Is it the baby?"
"Gee, I don't know, John, what could these cramps possibly mean? Of course it's the baby!" she snapped, crying out as the labor pains rippled.
"Shit! Okay, okay, I'm here, Moira! Let's get you to medical! Shit!" He guided her to the main room but she yanked at his arm, nearly pulling him to the floor.
"No! I won't make it to medical, John! This baby is coming now!" she exclaimed, as her water broke.
"Shit!" John swore, easing her to the floor. "I'll get Beckett! Don't move!"
"Funny, John! GO!"
