DISCLAIMER: In chapter 1.
AUTHORS NOTES: Thank you to everyone reading, reviewing, favouriting, and following. I appreciate the company on this journey.
PART 9
"Did you think I wouldn't notice?"
"I hoped you wouldn't."
"How? Why?" Kerry started to pace.
"Does it matter?"
Kerry stopped and looked at her savior, "Yes."
"I did it because you needed help."
"But why did you help me? Why did you interfere?"
"I didn't want to see you suffer any more."
Kerry stepped closer and looked into brown eyes. "Are they your real eyes?"
Jordan nodded, "Every now and then I take my original human form, from before I ascended."
"You were beautiful. You are beautiful."
Jordan blushed. "I just wanted to help…"
"You did!" Kerry grabbed Jordan's hands. "You helped me save SG-1. Because of you they are alive. Because of you they will save the universe time and time again."
Jordan shook her head. "You did that."
"Because of you." Kerry closed the distance between them and kissed Jordan. Suddenly everything made perfect sense. The first touch, the energized air, the further increased healing speed, how Jordan knew she needed help when Kerry only admitted it during the time loop.
When they parted Jordan let go of Kerry's uninjured hand and reached into her pocket. She withdrew a piece of paper and handed it to Kerry, who took it and unfolded it to reveal a date and time.
"What's this?"
"It's when you need to go back. I was going to leave it in Janet's mailbox. It'll take you to a day after you left. Everything should be as it should be. Your family will be alive."
"What about you?"
Jordan shrugged, "Nothing."
"Come with me."
"I can't, not without the others knowing."
Kerry sighed with disappointment.
"I can wait though," Jordan squeezed her hand. "I can meet you after you come back."
"At the park?"
Jordan nodded, "On the first day ending in 7 that you can. I will be waiting each time from midday. Until then I will watch over your family, and you."
Kerry gasped and then grinned, "You are my guardian angel."
Jordan frowned slightly, "What do you mean?"
Kerry continued to grin, "Firstly mum, Janet, was saved by an Ancient after she was shot by a Goa'uld staff weapon on some godforsaken planet. We don't like to talk about that. And then when mum was pregnant with me she told me that an Ancient blessed her. One night she was sleeping and she awoke to a glowing figure beside the bed. It laid its hand on her stomach and it glowed as well."
"And you think that was me?"
"It has to be! Who else?" Kerry beamed. "I'm different. I'm special. I can heal faster, think faster, and Ancients can't read my thoughts."
"I was wondering about that. It's one of the reasons why I like you so much," Jordan blushed, "because it's the first normal relationship I've had since I was alive. I like the fact that I don't know what you're thinking."
"You did it! You made me this way. It's like a self fulfilling prophecy..." The full weight of the realisation finally hit Kerry.
"I guess it was meant to be." Jordan smiled.
Kerry nodded in agreement, "I guess it was."
Jordan lifted Kerry's hand, which she was still holding. The entwined hands glowed, and Kerry could feel her palm tingling under the bandage. After a moment the glowing dissipated and the tingling returned to a normal 'contact with Jordan' level.
SJSJSJSJSJSJSJSJSJSJSJSJSJSJ
Kerry laughed at Cassie's misunderstanding in class that day. The future family was seated around the table having lasagna for dinner. Tonight was Kerry's last night before returning to her own time, and the night was almost perfect. Cassie continued to tell her school adventures well into the meal.
She eventually asked Kerry, "Where did you go to school?"
Kerry raised her eyebrow, "Wish I could tell you, Squirt, but you know I can't."
"Stop calling me 'squirt'." Cassie pouted.
"Hell no!" Kerry laughed. "I need to do it while I have the chance."
Janet and Sam shared a fond smile. They were glad their daughters got along, and will get along, so well. Of course, Janet knew the whole truth, and was very happy to know that the people she loved the most would remain in her life.
"This lasagna is great!" Kerry cleared her plate first. "It seems like forever since I had it last."
"We come over often?" Sam asked, none the wiser.
Janet tried not to choke on the mouthful of wine she had just taken, "Wrong hole…"
Kerry attempted to stop her face from turning red. She tried to laugh nonchalantly, "Yes. Yes we do."
Sam smiled genuinely and looked at Janet, "I'm glad."
"Me too." Janet took another sip of wine to hide the blush.
Cassie rolled her eyes, "As long as I don't have to change your nappies."
Kerry laughed again. She was having a good time. SG-1 was safe, and she was happy. "I wouldn't get your hopes up too much, Squirt."
SJSJSJSJSJSJSJSJSJSJSJSJSJSJ
Saying goodbye has always been hard for Kerry. She began with Cassie, while the 'adults' waited in the car. Her 'big' sis had been a pillar of support during this difficult time.
"Now remember, it'll take time but eventually she'll figure it out. You just need to continue to get her over here."
"I will."
"Excellent," Kerry hugged Cassie tightly. "See you in about 25 years, Well, you'll see me in about 5 actually."
Afterwards SG-1, General Hammond and Janet lined up in the gate room with Kerry awaiting her departure.
"Jack, keep out of trouble."
"I won't." Jack grinned after hugging Kerry briefly.
"Daniel, never give up hope. The answers are out there."
"Thank you, for everything. And we are definitely having a rematch in Uno." Daniel hugged Kerry with a squeeze.
"Teal'c, my man, anything is possible if you believe. As Jack would say, 'If at first you don't succeed: try try, try try, try try again.'"
Teal'c bowed his head and returned Kerry's embrace.
"General," Kerry saluted. "It's been an honour to serve with you."
"And you, Kerry," Hammond saluted the young officer, then turned to the guys. "Let's give the girls some privacy."
General Hammond and the male members of SG-1 left with last 'goodbyes', heading towards the control room. Kerry turned to her parents silently.
Janet stepped forward and pulled Kerry into a fierce hug. "Be good, Kiddo."
"I nearly always will be," Kerry winked. She then leant close to Janet's ear, "Just hang in there. I promise she'll realise it. What better proof than I?"
Janet gave a laugh through her tears. "Thank you for showing me the light."
Kerry stepped back with tears of her own. Oh how she wished she could have a family hug like she's used to! She gave Janet's hand one last squeeze before turning to Sam.
Janet cleared her throat, "I'll leave you two alone. Goodbye Kerry."
"Bye Doc," Kerry winked away a tear.
"I suppose you still won't tell me who your father is…?"
"No."
"Didn't think so."
"I will tell you something else though." Kerry hugged her mother.
"What's that?"
"You'll be happy, that I promise you." Kerry held on tighter. "Just don't let your fears get in the way. Follow your heart, always."
"I promise," Sam vowed through tears.
"And one more thing," Kerry pulled back slightly. "Don't worry about telling me not to take my notes with me. I discovered a self-fulfilling prophecy that I need to come back to create. We do love our paradoxes!"
Sam shook her head, "But that will mean you have to suffer again."
"Mum, it will all be fine, I assure you. I wouldn't be me if I don't come back. Trust me on this. I have your brains, after all."
Sgt. Davis spoke over the microphone, "Starting dialing sequence now."
"I'm not ok with this."
"Chevron one, locked."
"But you'll let me?" Kerry looked into Sam's eyes pleadingly.
"Chevron two, locked."
Sam sighed, "I will."
"Chevron three, locked."
"Thank you," Kerry embraced her mother again. "I'll explain it when I can."
"Chevron four, locked."
"You'd better."
"Chevron five, locked."
Kerry stepped back and let go of Sam.
"Chevron six, locked."
She looked up and smiled at her family in the control room and waved goodbye.
"Chevron seven, engaged."
KAWOOOOOOSH!
Kerry looked at her watch and then at the shimmering blue of the Stargate. She faced her mother and waved as she began to walk backwards up the ramp.
"Bad ramp!" Kerry waved her finger at the culprit to her initial injuries.
Sam half laughed, half cried.
Kerry's watched beeped, "Goodbye everyone. See you on the other side."
There was a chorus of goodbyes from the gate room and control room as Kerry reached the event horizon.
"Oh, and mum?" Kerry smiled knowingly, "It's a modern world, you can't just assume I have a father."
And she was gone.
