Meeting Mark
"O'Neill!" Teal'c's voice barked over the radio. He and Sam clear away the undergrowth concealing a grate covering what appears to be a storm drain it as Daniel, O'Neill, Alison and Jacob come up. Carter crouches by the opening
"Ok. We've got a point of entry, now what? As soon as we get near anyone on the inside, we could get compromised and shot." Said Sam
"Or worse. We get dosed with that organism and all of a sudden we're working for Seth." Daniel added
"It won't work on me or Teal'c."
"Yeah, but he'll sense you're Goa'ulds as soon as you're within fifty feet. And with the arsenal he's got we wouldn't even get close to him without being gunned down." Sam argued against Jacob
"Which is why you're not going in." Jack stated clearly not willing to debate the issue. They stood for a while trying to decide what to do.
"Dad, you said an electrical shock like a zat gun would snap us out of it." Sam clarified
"Yeah?" answered Jacob wondering where his daughter was going with this
"Sir, I think I have an idea." Said Sam turning to Jack
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Back in the tent Sam was looking through at microscope at one of the ear pieces while Hamner was checking to see if Daniels was working. "Give me a test count."
"One Mississippi, two Mississippi, three Mississippi, four Mississippi, five Mississippi…"
"I've always used elephants myself…" muttered Alison from the tent flap. She had her arms folded across her chest and a scowl on her face. "Why can't I go?" she asked allowed for what seemed the hundredth time.
"Because you have no experience with the Goa'uld" snapped Jack, "Carter?"
"It'll work, sir, assuming Dad's right."
"Dad?"
"If the jolt is big enough it'll work, but you'll have to stay under the nish'ta control long enough for it to spread through all your tissues. Otherwise it'll regain a strong hold in your body."
"Give me a ten count." Said Hamner as he fitted Jack with an earpiece
"One, two, three, four, five, six, seven…"
"That's good. You ready for yours, Captain?"
"One second…OK, Teal'c, push the button." Teal'c did as he was told and the earpice sparked blue as the electricity surged through it.
"Ow!" Daniel yelped
"Hey! Ok." Jack grabbed his ear.
Alison's face was split with a hude grin suddenly thinking that staying behind wouldn't be so bad. "Oh I am so pushing that next time!"
"Ok. Wire me." Ordered Sam in a no nonsense tone turning towards her sister.
"Yes ma'am" Al muttered stepping forward.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Jack, Daniel and Sam were making their way down the tunnel into Seth's compound.
"So Daniel, you feel pretty certain that if we get caught, he'll turn us into one of those zombies, rather than kill us?" asked Sam in a deceptively calm voice.
"Well, we're more valuable to him that way."
"Why? How do you think he'll use us?"
"Well historically, he used women as a harem. They catered to his every whim and as a result they were well cared for."
"Super." Said Sam, sourly.
"And the men outside the main court were used mostly as warriors and guards, protecting his compound, pretty much doing his bidding."
"Dare I ask about the men inside the compound?" asked Jack
"They were turned into eunuchs." Said Daniel in a waaaay to cheerful voice
"Eunuchs as in snippity-do-da? Sweet." Jacks face got a little bit paler as he opened a heavy door into a large, sealed chamber.
"Daniel?"
"What?"
"Now what?" asked Jack looking around the circular room which had no apparent exit.
"Why are you asking me?"
"Well you…you knew there'd be tunnels, so…" Sam tailed off.
"Well, in the digs there were stairs leading up to the main structure."
Transport rings suddenly came down from the ceiling and took them upwards. They rematerialized in Seth's throne room, surrounded by armed disciples, who quickly disarmed them and forced them on their knees before Seth.
"I hate when that happens." muttered Jack
Seth looked down upon the three of them, surrounded by young women kneeling on cushions fanning him.
"Welcome. Who are you?"
"Well I'm Larry, this is Mo, and of course, everyone's favorite, Curly." Replied Jack indicating Sam and Daniel.
"Say goodbye to your impure military past. We're always happy to welcome new disciples to the bliss that only Seth can bestow." Said Seth his eyes flashing gold. He raised his hand revealing a ribbon device. Green gas pours from the statues flanking Seths throne and the three begin to lose consciousness.
"So help me, if I wake up and I'm singing soprano…" chocked out jack before collapsing on the floor next to Sam and Daniel.
Sam woke up in a bed wearing a white robe and a female disciple standing over her.
"Welcome disciple. How are you feeling?"
"Ok, pretty good." Replied Sam
"Good. Do you feel strong enough to be in service of your god Seth?"
"Yes, of course." Answered Sam eager at the thought of such a privilege.
"This way." Said the disciple leading Sam out of the room.
Teal'c was listening to SG-1 through their ear implants as Alison was pacing up and down behind Jacob and Teal'c.
"They are awake. Shall I activate the devices?" Asked Teal'c, Alisons pacing stopped for a moment.
"No. We must wait to be sure the nish'ta has permeated their tissues before negating it." Replied Selmak. Alison continued her pacing
"How long?" she asked
"About an hour. It's a smart virus. If there's any unaffected tissue remaining in the body, it will give the organism safe harbor in which to mutate. Then it will overtake the body once again." Alison stopped pacing a gain as Levinson entered the tent.
"Excuse me. Mind if I watch? I mean, my son's in there you know, I just want to be involved."
Jacob dropped his head, retaking control of his body from Selmak, "I'm afraid I can't let you do so. I'm sorry."
"Yeah. Figured. Can I grab a cup of coffee?"
"Sure, go ahead."
"Ow!" gasped Levinson as he spilt coffee on his hand causing Teal'c to jump up from his seat and Alison to dart towards him.
"Sorry. Sorry, it won't happen again. Just been kind of short fused…since I found out about Tommy."
"I understand." Replied Teal'c. Alison relaxed a little and went to stand behind Jacob as Teal'c returned to his seat.
"I find out from his college room-mate, cause…Tommy and me hadn't been talking for something like six months before they sucked him in." continued Levinson
"I do not understand. How could a father not speak to his son for so long a time?" asked Teal'c and Alison felt her father shift uncomfortably in his seat.
"That's the funny thing about it, I don't even remember why. Obviously something pretty stupid in the scheme of things. I'll get out of your hair." Levinson answered as he left the tent.
"Do human parents not love their children unconditionally?" Teal'c asked, turning to Jacob.
"Sometimes, things get complicated."
"Many things are complicated General Carter. In Jaffa society, loving one's children is not one of them."
"In human society, sometimes it is."
"'specially if said child is a royal pain in the…"
"Alison!" admonished Jacob before she could finish.
"Hey, 'cause of him I missed nearly half of Sam's life and a considerable portion of yours!" she argued loudly, when Jacob did not reply she continued quietly, "I trusted him and he let me down so I'll call him what I like, thank you very much."
O'Neill and Daniel, wearing the white robes of disciples, were brought before Seth. Sam was already kneeling before his throne. Seth gestured to his disciples, who lead Jack and Daniel to a collection of weaponry on the floor of the chamber where the other disciples were cleaning guns.
"With these weapons I have provided, we will defend against any incursion by the impure forces outside our gate. Let no other gods draw you away from Seth."
"Seth is life, Seth is happiness, Seth is almighty." Chanted the disciples
"Again." Commanded Seth
This time, Daniel and O'Neill joined in with the other disciples.
"Again!"
"Seth is life, Seth is happiness, Seth is almighty."
Seth suddenly looked down at Sam who was gazing up at him in lovingly. He lifted her face to his.
"You were once blended, were you not?" she asked
"Blended?" questioned Sam, clearly having no idea what it meant. Seth roughly twisted her face to the side.
"No entry marks. But still…I sense a trace. Bring me those who came with her."
"General Carter, there is a problem." Stated Teal'c just as Hamner entered the tent
"What?" he asked
"It's nothing we can't handle." Replied Jacob calmly
"He made your people, didn't he?" demanded Hamner
"Y'know anyone would have thought you'd been eavesdropping" drawled Alison
"We don't know yet." Added Jacob in answer to Hamners question.
"Go away please." Asked Alison glaring at Hamner as he stormed out if the tent in frustration.
Daniel and Jack had once more been brought before Seth.
"Who sent you? The System Lords? The Tok'ra?" Seths eyes glowed the angrier he became.
"I am your god, you will tell me what I want to know! Who does your military work for? The System Lords or the Tok'ra?"
"I have a vague recollection of what you're talking about…the Tok'ra." Answered Sam helpfully. Seth motioned for one of his disciples to bring Sam forward.
"C'mon Dad , they're gonna let something slip." Alison begged as she nudged Teal'c out of his chair, "Sam always has to give an answer doesn't she? She ruddy well knows everything."
"Is it not time enough?" Asked Teal'c, stopping Als complaining.
"No choice, do it now." Ordered Jacob and Alison flicked the switch activating the ear implants.
SG-1's ear implants emitted an electrical charge, breaking the nish'ta's control over them just in time for Jack to answer Seths question.
"We work for a deprogrammer, who hired us to come remove one of your disciples."
"But now we are enjoying the bliss that is Seth." Continued Daniel a blissful expression crossing his face.
"How is it possible that you enjoy the bliss…when you are able to lie to Seth?" he demanded and an armed disciple approached the throne
"My lord, the impure forces that you have prophesied are surrounding the compound."
"You will pay eternally for bringing this down upon us." Threatened Seth to SG-1 "Take them and kill them." He commanded
The disciple pointed his gun at Sg-1 and the filed out of the throne room as the rest of the disciples gathered around Seths throne.
"Uh, a quick question about old Seth…" started Jack, turning towards the disciple. He knocked the zat gun away and Sam grabs it shooting him with it. The disciple, free of the nish'ta, looked at them in confusion.
"What happened?"
"It's ok, we're here to help you."
"Um, Daniel." Said Daniel, introducing himself to the Disciple.
"Uh, Tom."
"Levinson?" Jack asked
"Yeah. I'm really confused. Who are you?"
"We're friends of your father."
"Where are the zats?" Asked Jack, anxious to get moving, Seth knew he was under attack.
"Zats?"
"These." Answered Sam indicating the Zat she had taken from him.
Tom turned to unlock a weapons locker behind him. Its shelves are filled with rows of zats.
"Now, can you activate those transport rings?"
"I-I think so." Jack began to distribute the Zats, "I need you to start transporting people out of here. Can you handle that?" he asked Tom.
"I-I guess."
"Good."
Jacob and Hamner climb out of the truck and approach Alison and Teal'c atanding at the entrance of the compound. Armed men are running to positions, preparing to storm the building.
"I have to prepare for the worst. If your people have been caught and I don't act, it's on me if they get killed." Explained Hamner
"It won't be on you, it'll be on me." Replied Jacob
"It will reside on me also." Intoned Teal'c, Alison fought the grin that as hreatening to break out at Teal'cs reply.
"Not that it makes much difference but I'll have some of that good ol' blame too"
SG-1 stormed into the throne room, firing their zats, as Seths followers are arming themselves, "Go!" yelled Jack as the disciples fell.
Daniel, Sam and Tom helped the recovering people to their feet and position them in the transport area.
"Carter! Go with them, make sure they get out of here." Ordered Jack
Sam and a group of followers are transported down to the cavern below via rings.
Jacob was waiting outside the storm drain. Hamner and some of his men were waiting nearby.
"Ok, I think I've been very patient…" started Hamner as a cloaked disciple climbed up out of the drain.
"Call the medical teams up here stat…some blankets and shoes. Come on you guys, get in here." Hamner shouted over to his men as more cult members began to climb out.
O'Neill sent another group of cult members down to the underground tunnel, using the transport rings. As he and Daniel began to walk away, Seth and more disciples came down the stairs.
"How dare you challenge the power that is Seth?"
Jack and Daniels bullets bounced harmlessly off of Seths energy shield.
With a growl of anger, Seth lifted his ribbon device and sent Jack and Daniel flying back across the room. He walked over, setting a round device on the floor between them. Discarding his jacket, so that he was wearing only the white robe of a disciple, he used the transport rings to escape.
"Bomb?" asks Daniel
"Bomb." Jack confirmed jumping to his feet
Levinson watched as former cult members were helped out of the storm drain. One member emerged whom he recognized.
"Tommy? Tommy?" he cried reaching down to help his son out, pulling him into his arms.
Teal'c ran over to Jacob and Alison.
"General Carter, our friends have been neutralized. I must go in. I believe Selmak will be of help."
"Who's Selmak?" asked Hamner
Jacob glanced up at him as he fitted a ribbon device onto his hand.
"It's a long story." He said as he followed Teal'c into the tunnel
"One that no-one can be bothered telling!" added Alison winking, she ignored the ladder and just jumped down the hole.
"Teal'c, stay outside and cover the other end! Just make sure he doesn't get out another way." Instructed Jacob as he and Alison ran through the tunnel pulling down disciples hoods as they went.
"Dad? Where are you going?" asked Sam
"Setesh used a hand device on Colonel O'Neill and Daniel. Are you ok?"
"I'm fine."
"Carter! He's down here!" yelled Jack from the other end of the tunnel.
Jacob, Alison and Sam passed through the cult members, looking for Seth. They passed a hooded follower, but Jacob went back and pulled the hood away to reveal Seth.
"Setesh!" exclaimed Selmak
"Tok'ra kree chok!"
Seth raised his hand, sending an energy wave from the ribbon device at Jacob, throwing the Tok'ra against the wall. The Goa'uld's eyes flared as he disappears into the shadows. Carter quickly crouched down by her father.
"Dad!" cried Sam and Alison as she ran across the tunnel towards them.
"Your father will survive. Stop Seth." Selmak ordered Sam handing her the ribbon device.
"How? I can't control this."
"You have the will within you. You must summon it."
"Use the force!" Alison grunted as she lifted her father into a more comfortable position.
Sam rolled her eyes as she reluctantly slipped on the ribbon device, going after Seth.
"Hey!" she shouted over to Seth.
Seth raised his ribbon device, but Sam was quicker. She used the ribbon device Selmak gave her and Seth was thrown back. As Sam crouched down by the injured Goa'uld, he tried to use his ribbon device once more. Carter instinctively raised her own and blasted him into the ground. Daniel and Jack arrived and saw Seth's dead body.
"You killed him." He said looking at Sam in mild shock.
"Hail Dorothy." Quipped Jack as Sam looked a little ill.
"Well done Jonathon, you killed the God of the bunny rabbits, Carrots everywhere are in your debt" exclaimed Alison patting Jack on the back as the 6 of the approached the aircraft taking them to Colorado Springs.
"Ah yes, and let's not forget Elmer Fudd either. He definitely owes me" The pair grinned at each other.
"So, Al eh… Dad and I are going to go visit Mark in San Diego, we were wondering if you wanted to come with?" Asked Sam hesitantly
"Nope!" replied Alison flippantly
"Alison if I can attempt to fix this relationship then I think you can too!" argued Jacob
"The only reason you're doing it is because you've got Selmak ragging on you! I have got a perfectly legitimate reason for not wanting to see Mark!"
"And what's that?" asked Sam
"I'll break is nose the second I lay eyes on him! That and in the past 48hrs I've used up my emotion quota for the year. I, quite honestly, can't handle anymore angst."
"Giving up on your zen thing then Al?" asked Jack amusement dancing in his eyes.
"No I haven't actually, but it requires peace to and I won't get any peace in San Diego, will I?" Alison snapped
"But you will in D.C?" asked Jack clearly knowing the answer already
"What's in D.C?" Asked Jacob
"My dress blues" called back Al as she walked towards the plane, clearly trying to leave the conversation, "and my hairdressers"
"And Rob and Becca" rounded of Jack glaring at Al. She wasn't getting out of this one, not if it hurt Carter. There was no way in Hell that he was getting caught up in a family feud. They were going out sort this out now.
Alison spun round and served Jack a look that surely would have killed a lesser man "I hate you, you know that right?"
Jack merely shrugged it off, if this worked out then she would thank him. If not…well his butt would never be the same.
"And what of it? I still need to collect my Blues. I still have to go to D.C what else I do there is of little consequence."
"So come round later." Begged Sam. Alison was about to say no when she saw the desperate look in Sams eyes. She looked so much like their mother. Alison never could say no to mom, whenever she teased her father or they got too rowdy it was always her mother that calmed them down.
"I'll think about it, see how much time I have." Alison caught sight of Jack, "And wipe that smile of your face or I'll tell her exactly what you did in Germany!"
Jacks face suddenly grew dark, "You wouldn't dare!"
"Try me!" and with that she stormed up the steps into the aircraft.
Sam and Jacob turned to follow but Jack reached out a hand to stop Jacob as Sam went on ahead.
"Listen, eh…Jake. If Al does go to Carters' brothers then you should probably know she wasn't kidding, she is pissed and very likely will break his nose."
"Jack I don't think that…"
"Oh she will. Trust me he says the wrong thing and she'll just Hulk out."
"Hulk out?"
"yeah, you know like the Incredible Hulk? Big, green, rage monster? There is a reason she tries to be all zen and at peace or whatever."
"I think with Selmaks help we'll be okay Jack." Jack paused to consider what he was going to say next,
"Alison's let you in Jake, It took me months to gain that trust, and we held each other's lives in our hands. Don't blow this cause you won't get another chance."
And with that Jack entered the plane.
Jacob stood for a moment collecting his thoughts.
"O'Neills warning is not something to take lightly, he will have received the same training as Alison and there is clearly more to her than meets the eye."
"Yeah and Alison has been doing martial arts since she was 4, we hoped the discipline would help but she always did have a short temper. I can remember thinking she was quick then. That speed plus a lifetime of training…"
"Yes, I see how she could be a formidable opponent"
"There is still so much about her I don't know and some of it I never will."
Jacob sighed and entered the plane closing the door behind him.
Sam and Jacob walked up the driveway towards Marks house, sharing a quick hug, before Jacob went up to the door and knocked Mark Carter answered the door. Jacob embraced him and, after a moment, Mark returned the loving gesture. Jacob picked up one of his grandchildren, smiling, before entering the house. Sam follows and shared a hug with her brother.
Sam and Jacob were sitting in Marks living room while he was in the kitchen making coffee.
"See Dad it wasn't so bad" Said Sam
"Ok I'll admit, that could have been a lot worse, you were right."
Marks wife had taken the children to the park to give him and his father some time to alone. David and Lisa had had no problems accepting their grandfather, swinging from his arms for the first 15 minutes after meeting him. Jane, Marks wife, had been pleased to finally meet her father in law smiling at the sight of him with her children and the prospect of closer family. Mark, however was still a little apprehensive. While he had welcomed his father into his home he was still unsure how to act around him. Jane had left 30 minutes ago and after some painful attempts at conversation Mark had retreated to the kitchen.
Just then the rumble of exhausts could be heard from along the road, it grew louder and louder. Mark came through from the kitchen carrying two mugs
"What the...?" He made his way over to the window Just then the noise cut out, "Who is that?"
Sam made her way over to the window and looked out. Grinning she turned to her father,
"Well, I guess she could make it after all!"
"Who?" asked Mark turning to his sister.
"Alison" replied Jacob
"Wh...oh" said Mark his cheeks colouring slightly,
"Well at least he knows enough to be ashamed of his behaviour" Thought Jacob.
"Jacob! You are supposed to be mending you relationship with him!" Scolded Selmak, however she couldn't help but agree with her host.
Jacob had no idea what his eldest would do or even what she was capable of but if O'Neills warning was anything to go by it would not be pretty if he let it get out of hand.
Alison climbed off her 1962 Triumph Bonneville, her first bike. When dad had bought it for her it was falling apart and she had spent years fixing it up. She had flown down to San Diego directly from D.C stopping only at her Beach house to collect the rent from the Wilkinsons and her bike. It probably wasn't the wisest thing to visit her long lost brother, with whom she was most definitely pissed at, having had no sleep or food for the last few hours coupled with a very emotional few days. However she had promised Sam to try and visit and so she would even if it meant putting her brother's life at risk due to an extremely short temper. Al hesitated at the door hiking her bag up onto her shoulder.
"Crap" she muttered as she saw the curtain twitch, no backing out now then. She raised her hand and knocked. What was she supposed to do when she saw him? Smile? Hug him? That would be difficult all she really wanted to do was punch Marks lights out. Because of this man she had left half of her life behind. Because of his anger. Because of his misplaced anger at that. "Deep breath" she whispered to herself, inhaling through her nose and out through her mouth.
The door swung open to reveal Sams smiling face. Als shoulders sagged with relief, she crossed the threshold and returned Sams smile, "Hey" she said in greeting. Sam gestured for her to go through a door on the right.
Alison entered the living space to see her father sitting straight backed on one side of the sofa. Al smothered the smile that was threatening to break across her face, he really couldn't look more out of place. Alis' eyes scanned the room as she moved to the corner giving her a good view of the whole room and out of the window, it was nicely decorated, though a bit too flowery for her tastes, and all around the room were photos of what must be Marks family. With that thought Als attention was drawn to a movement by the door as Mark entered.
An awkward silence fell over the room so tense that it could have been cut with a knife. Mark stood taking in his elder sisters appearance. She wore jeans with a plain white t-shirt covered in a black leather jacket that showed of her figure. Her hair, now freshly cut and only about 2 inches long, was sticking up all over the place making her piercing blue eyes that much sharper, their gaze fixed on Mark. Mark cleared his throat uncomfortably and shuffled his feet as his sister continued to stare at him unblinkingly.
Jacob had to admit that he could see why his daughter made such an excellent soldier. He hadn't seen it before underneath her joking, child-like demeanour. Now, gone were her laughing eyes, that near constant smile and the fidgeting. It had been replaced by this statue of ice, unmoving and cold, threatening, ready for business. It sent chills down his spine at how drastically she had changed making him wonder if he would ever really know what she was truly like.
"Hello Mark" said Al in an expressionless voice, breaking the stalemate.
"Alison" croaked Mark. Silence fell again.
"Now would probably be the time for you to offer some sort of explanation." This time Alisons voice was laced with anger. Clearly she was trying to keep her temper in check.
"I eh..." Mark cleared his throat, "I'm sorr…"
"Nah-ah" she raised a finger, "I didn't ask for an apology, I asked for an explanation" Alison cut across Marks stuttering.
Sams eyes flicked between her brother and sister. Mark looked down apparently fascinated with shuffling his feet, clearly uncomfortable and unsure what to say. Alison stared at him her ice cold eyes never leaving the top of Marks bowed head.
"Alison" said Sam softly. Als eyes met her sisters softening a little. Jacob could hear her take a deep steadying breath.
"Alright" she sighed. "But bear in mind that I will not forgive him. I agree to tolerate him for your sakes." Gesturing to Sam and Jacob as she flumped down on the sofa next to her father. Her change in mood caught him slightly off guard. Her eyes were still shielded but the rest of her body seemed completely at ease.
"So Dad, How was the drive over?"
"Fine" replied Jake
"Sam let you drive then?" She wasn't even bothering to hide her grin now and her eyes were sparkling slightly
"No" Said Jake bitterly "And how did you know that?"
"Jack may or may not have mentioned something about Sam being possessive of her car."
"You spoke to Colonel O'Neill?" Sam asked
"Yeah, I called him, got him to make sure my place in Springs is habitable"
"Is it?"
"Not for human life"
"You're welcome to stay at mine until you get it sorted." Sam offered
"Nah, it's okay I'm just gonna crash at Jacks"
"So what's wrong with your house?"
"The electrics are gone for starters, I'm thinking mice."
"I know a good electrician if you want."
"I'm a qualified electrician, Sam, I can do it myself."
"Really"
"Well yeah, half the fun of refurbishing all the houses was doing all the work on your own. I had help with heavy lifting but that was it."
"How many houses do you have?"
"Well I just bought one in Alaska, don't tell Jack I said I was only thinking about it, so 9"
"9 Houses!" exclaimed Mark getting completely ignored by Alison. Jacob turned to her.
"How can you afford 9 houses on a Lt Colonels wage?"
"I can't, I bought Columbus right after you left. You let the Air Force deal with it all and I had been living off base when I was in the country so had a fair bit of money saved up. I moved all the stuff I had taken from the house from base back to the house and left it there. I pay a maid to go in once a fortnight to clean up but that's about it."
"Wait Columbus, as in our old home?" butted in Mark
"Next was Santa Fe," continued Al as if Mark wasn't there, "But that was only for when I was stuck doing some recruiting work, I just didn't bother selling it again. I didn't buy my house in D.C it was Robs when we got married and we just kept it. Rob was a surgeon so he left me a lot of money; coupled with me earning hazard pay nearly all my career I had enough to buy the place in Colorado. I was working on that when Jack left for his first mission after what happened with Charlie. So as soon as I was done, I cleared out and moved to Texas. But Jack came back and I bought a house in Springfield in honour of his triumphant return." Said Alison as if quoting someone, "We met up; he helped me decorate it. There is a Simpsons mural in the living room. It was Jack that suggested I rent out my old places so that's what I did. I went back to Texas and spent a year finish up there while and rented out my places in Santa Fe and Colorado. I gave Jack a key to the Springfield place so that is basically his. Then when I finished in Texas I rented it out and moved to Montana. That is where Jack found me I move around every couple of months, to collect rent and a bit of the Country.
"Those, including your house in Alaska only make 8, where is the other one?" Asked Mark clearly not getting the fact that she as trying to ignore him.
"Here, I bought a beach house in Laguna Niguel so I could be near the only member of my family I thought was talking to me." Alison snapped. "I mean, come on Mark, what was going through your head? I sent you wedding invitations to pass on to Sam and Dad! You never thought to tell me you weren't talking to them? It never crossed your mind that I might be upset that none of my family attended my wedding? All these years it didn't occur to you that the fact that you were creating a void in our family was a bad thing? You orchestrated this Mark, I thought you were passing on my messages, I thought Sam and Dad were ignoring me! The fact that we have a screwed up family isn't because mom died Mark, it's because you're a selfish bastard!" Jacob's hands were gripping Alison's arms in an attempt to keep her from striking her brother.
"Alison, calm down" ordered Jake
"No! Let me go Dad!" Yelled Alison, trying to break free from her father's grip. A near impossible task with Selmak helping to restrain her. "Dad let me GO!" She continued to struggle not wanting to hurt her father in order to get to Mark, she knew she would regret it later. Sam walked over to Alison, narrowly avoiding the legs kicking out trying to reach Mark. She took one of Alisons arms and helped her father.
"You expected me to talk to Dad after what he did? It's because of him Mom's dead!" Cried Mark taking a few steps back.
"What!" Al yelled outraged, she stopped struggling, which was a good thing because Jakes grip had suddenly loosened. "Dad isn't to blame for Moms death."
"If he had picked her up like he said she would then she would still be here!"
"You don't know that! If Dad had picked her up then they both might be dead! A drunk driver collided with them Mark! If it's anyone's fault it's his. Dad didn't tell him to get drunk! Dad didn't make him get in the car. Dad didn't tell him to run a red light! And most importantly Dad didn't tell mom to get a taxi. She could have waited, it was her choice. I can guarantee that if Dad had known that mom getting a taxi would kill her there isn't a force on Earth that could have stopped him picking her up. But no you were too selfish to see anyone's hurt but your own; you don't think Dad felt guilty? He had just lost his wife Mark, the love of his life. You seriously blame him for what happened?"
"He blamed himself!" argued Mark "And Sam blamed him too."
"Of course he blamed himself you dolt, so would you. His work got in the way of family again. He broke his promise to Mom again. He was allowed to feel guilty, you were allowed to feel bad that she was dead but you can't spend 20 years blaming him for her dying, it was an accident. And I don't care if Sam blamed him, she forgave him, she accepted it was an accident even if it took her a while to see it."
"And you were an angel and never blamed him at all?" asked Mark sarcastically
"I never blamed him for Moms death, I was angry because afterwards he never stepped up. He left us took look after ourselves. And no Mark I have never considered myself an Angel merely the only one with some common sense." With that Alison stood up and tossed her bag onto her fathers lap. "Don't suppose you could bring those back in the car?" She asked before walking out of the house, not waiting for a reply.
The three Carters inside the house heard the sound of a bike starting up and moving away from the house.
