My POV
It was hectic at the SGC. People were coming and going quickly, but no one would tell me what was going on. I'd had another memory dream. Well, actually, it was a repeat of one I'd had a couple of years before. I woke up scared to death and unable to find mom or dad. Finally, I cornered Dad in the briefing room. Grandpa George and Uncle Teal'c were there.
"Dad!"
"Jessie, you shouldn't be here," he said. "You need to get Landon and go home."
"What's going on?" I asked, fearful of his answer. I was shivering already.
"It's just a slight hitch," he said, pulling me into his arms. I probed his mind. Sam.
"Where is she?" I demanded. "Where's my mom?" I tried contacting her, but she wasn't answering me.
"She's on the Prometheus," he said. "They're releasing Simmons and the Goa'uld that he had taken."
My world collapsed. My premonition had come true. I hit my knees, trying to catch my breath. I couldn't breathe. Dad knelt beside me and held me close.
"No, no, no, no, no!" I screamed.
"Shhh, Sunshine. We're gonna get her back," said Dad.
I kept shaking my head. My chest hurt so much. I couldn't breathe. My mom was in danger. I could feel it. Once Simmons got her, then he would try to get me. I realized what I had to do. But, I knew Dad wasn't going to let me.
"I'll go," I whispered tearfully.
"What?"
"I'll go. I know he wants me. If he has me, he'll let mom go," I said against his chest as he ran his fingers through my hair.
"No!" he said. "Your mom has Jonas with her. She'll be fine. Teal'c and I are on our way there now." He cupped my face between his hands. "I'll get her back, Sunshine. I promise."
"I'm scared, daddy," I whispered. "I want my mom." I started to cry harder.
He hugged me tight. "I know, baby. So am I. But, I promise you. We will get her back," he said, kissing the top of my head.
I was so messed up that I couldn't stop crying. I didn't even realize that dad had already left. I knew something bad was going to happen, but I couldn't tell what.
Jack's POV
I hated leaving Jessie behind. Although she was a part of SG-1, she was also – more importantly – my daughter. I wasn't going to let Simmons anywhere close to her. I had a feeling that, before this mission was complete, I was going to kill him. Not just for shooting me and taking Sam. No. He was a dead man for what he'd done to my daughter. He'd shot her, zatted her, and scared her. Because of him, Jessie lived in a constant state of fear. Oh yeah. I was going to get my revenge.
(Daddy?) Luckily, I wasn't driving and could concentrate on Jessie.
(I'm here, Sunshine)
(I'm scared)
(I know, baby. I know)
(I wanna go with you)
I shook my head, not even thinking about the fact that she couldn't see me. (Not this time, honey. I'm gonna get your mom and we're coming home)
(No, you won't. Something bad's gonna happen. I can feel it)
(Jessie…)
(Please, daddy. Please come back) I could hear her tears through her thoughts.
I couldn't stand hearing her beg like that. The pain in my chest was overpowering. I was close to giving in when I thought about Simmons again. That right there, stopped me from turning around and going back to my daughter.
(Honey, I wish I could, but, I can't. I don't want you anywhere near Simmons)
(But…)
(No, Jessie. That's my final word on it. Sunshine, I love you and I just wanna keep you safe)
I didn't get a reply to that.
(Jessie?) Still no answer. I sighed deeply. (Honey, I'll get your mom and we'll be home tomorrow)
I waited a few seconds for her to respond, but didn't get anything.
(I love you, honey)
(I love you, too, daddy)
It was just a whisper in my mind, but it was enough to lighten the burden on my heart.
We arrived at the site and I went into command mode. I jumped all over Paul Davis. I knew it wasn't his fault. But, it was my wife who had been taken. It was my wife whose life was in danger.
Sam's POV
I knew there was something wrong the minute we stepped onto the Prometheus. I couldn't put my finger on it, but I could feel something was wrong…something was going to happen. Jessie's name popped into my head.
(Jessie?)
I didn't get an answer. Why didn't I get an answer from her?
(Sam?)
(Jack? What's going on? I can't hear Jessie)
(Simmons and Adrian Conrad are being released. The camera crew is part of Maybourne's old unit. As for Jessie…I think Janet sedated her)
(Why would Janet sedate her? What's wrong, Jack?)
(She was…umm…upset with me for leaving her behind at the base)
(She wanted to come? Even though she knew it had something to do with Simmons?)
(Yeah)
I felt the Prometheus leave the ground and enter space.
(Where are you?)
(With Teal'c. We're flying in through the cargo bay)
(Be safe, Jack)
(I love you, Sam)
(I love you too, Jack)
I escaped from where I'd been hiding, only to get captured again. One of the crew was getting ready to zat me when from nowhere, he was zatted.
Jack came around the corner and I jumped into his arms. He kissed me hard before grabbing my face in his hands.
"Are you ok?" He looked over my body to make sure I wasn't injured.
"I'm fine. I'm not injured," I said, touching his face gently, easing the worry lines from his forehead.
"Let's get this show on the road and get home," he said, kissing me one more time. We felt the hyperdrive engage and were suddenly no longer in earth's orbit.
We went to the engine room. It was empty.
"Clear...can you shut down that hyperdrive?" asked Jack.
I shook my head after looking at the computer. "The computer's been reprogrammed. I don't have the access codes."
He gritted his teeth. "All right, let's find the others."
To make a long story short, we found them. Adrian Conrad was dead and Simmons was missing. He'd been taken over by the Goa'uld that had been in Adrian Conrad. Jack finally got his revenge by pushing him out of the airlock.
There was just one problem. I didn't know where we were. Since I didn't know where we were, I couldn't plot a course for home.
We were just kind of drifting when as Asgard ship appeared.
Jack leaned forward when Thor appeared. "Thor, buddy! Nice timing!"
"It has been some time, O'Neill. I owe you all a debt of gratitude for rescuing me from my Goa'uld captors."
"Ahh…" said Jack, waving off the sentiment. "Hey, I thought you were going for the new body."
Thor looked at him. "I did."
Jack's eyes got big and I was trying not to laugh at the expression on his face. "It's nice," he said.
I figured I would rescue my husband. "So, how did you find us?"
"The Asgard monitor all hyperspace activity in the vicinity of Earth. We have been tracking you since you left orbit," said the diminutive alien.
"Excellent! Can you help us out here?"
"In fact, it is we who need your help. The Asgard homeworld has been overrun by the Replicators. We have need of both you and your ship."
Jack's POV
I should've said no. I should've just let Thor have the ship and send us home. But, he'd saved us more than once. We agreed to help. At least we were able to tell Jessie that we were safe. She still wanted to come with us, but Thor told her that he needed her to stay on Earth. I knew there would be hell to pay when we got back. After all, we'd promised her that we'd never leave her behind again. And the first thing we do is leave her behind…not once, but twice. I could only hope that she would forgive me…us.
After the pain we'd gone through with the human-form Replicators, we needed a vacation. Sam was angry with me for leaving Fifth behind. But, he wasn't human. He was a Replicator and she knew it. Even though he seemed remorseful for what they were doing to us, he was still nothing more than a machine.
I think I'd finally convinced her of that by the time we got to Earth. The only thing on my mind by this time was Jessie. I could feel her pain from space and wanted nothing more than to hold my daughter. I looked over at Sam and knew she was thinking the same thing.
"Sam?"
"I'm worried about Jessie," she said softly. "Something's wrong."
"I get the same feeling. I just don't know what's going on. She won't answer me when I call for her."
She put her head on my shoulder and I wrapped my arms around her. "She won't answer me either," she whispered.
"She's probably mad that we left her on Earth rather than let her go with us," I said.
"That's an understatement, Jack," she said with a snort. "We promised her that we'd never leave her behind again."
"I know, honey. I know," I said.
We were given permission to enter Earth's orbit and made our way home. Thor appeared, thanked us for our help, and beamed us to SGC.
"I take it you were successful," said General Hammond.
"Yes, sir," I said.
"The time-dilation device went off as we left orbit," said Sam. "The human-form Replicators were trapped inside."
"Good job, SG-1," he said. "Now, infirmary and then home to rest."
"Yes, sir," said Sam as she began walking towards the door. "Sir?" she stopped and turned around.
"Hmmm?"
"Jessie isn't here, is she?"
I saw a look of sadness flash through his eyes quickly before it was gone. "No, Sam. She's not here."
"Then…" I began, but he cut me off.
"Talk to Janet," he said. "She'll explain."
We left albeit reluctantly and headed for the infirmary. Teal'c and Jonas had already been checked out and had left for their respective quarters.
Janet was waiting with her needles. She gave us our physicals and cleared us to go home. She wouldn't answer any of our questions while we were being examined.
"Ok, you two are free to go," she said.
"Doc, what's going on? Where's Jessie? I thought she would be here when we got back," I said.
"Sir, she's at home. She said she wasn't going to come in," said Janet.
"She knew we were coming home," said Sam.
"She didn't…" Janet trailed off.
"She's angry at us, isn't she?" I asked.
"Pissed is more like it," said Janet. "She hasn't been back here since you left to go get Sam."
"Why?" I asked.
"She's pissed, yes. But, that's not the only reason," she said. "Guys, she passed out in school. They called me because you were 'out of the country'. She was unconscious for three days. When she came too, she immediately went home."
"You said she's at home. Our home or your home?" I asked.
"Yours. Landon was staying with her but Thor called him away three days ago," said Janet. "Cassie's with her now."
I nodded my thanks and grabbed Sam's hand. "Let's go," I said.
We made it home in record time, the thought of our daughter being hurt and angry spurring us on. It was close to 2000 hrs when we finally got in. The house was dark and it didn't look like anyone was home.
I opened the door and we went inside. Cassie was watching a movie on TV, but Jessie was no where to be found.
"Cassie?"
"You're back!" She jumped off the couch and hugged us both.
"Cassie, where's Jessie?" asked Sam.
"I don't know," she shrugged. "I think she's in her room."
"You don't know?" I asked, anger rising quickly.
"She went in there a couple of hours ago. Said she was going to bed," she said, shrugging her shoulders again.
We ran up the stairs to Jessie's room. It was unlocked. I opened the door slowly, just in case she was asleep. She wasn't even there.
"Jessie?" I asked, looking in her bathroom. She wasn't there. Her bed looked as if it hadn't been slept in for days.
"Jack," said Sam, coming up behind me.
"What? She's not here, Sam. Where could she be?" I was starting to panic.
"She's in our bed," she said softly.
I ran from the room, across the hall, and into our room. Sure enough, Jessie was curled up around her bear, in the middle of our bed. In the dim light, I could see the tear tracks on her face.
We changed into our night clothes and crawled into bed. Sam wrapped her arms around Jessie and held her closely. She opened her eyes.
"Mama?" she said sleepily.
"I'm here, honey. So is dad," said Sam.
"We're sorry, Sunshine. We're sorry for leaving you behind," I said softly, reaching for her.
She came willingly into my arms and buried her head in my chest. "I was so scared, dad. I was scared you wouldn't come back. It hurt so much."
"I know, baby. I know," I whispered, as Sam began rubbing her back soothingly.
"No, you don't. You don't understand. I felt everything you went through," she whispered, pushing away from me and running out of the room.
I looked at Sam and saw she was staring at me in horror and confusion. I knew the look was mirrored on my face. We quickly followed Jessie to her room. She was curled up in the middle of her bed and shaking uncontrollably.
I laid down behind her and pulled her closely. "What do you mean, Sunshine?" I whispered as I rocked her slowly.
"When the Replicators had you, I felt it when they entered your mind," she whispered. "I screamed and screamed, but no one could hear me."
Her body slowly relaxed as Sam crawled into the bed and I pulled her close to us. "I passed out at school from the pain. Aunt Janet said I was unconscious for three days. When I came too, I remembered what had happened. I came home and ever since then, I've been sleeping in your bed."
She looked up at Sam. "It was the only way I could feel you without hurting," she sobbed.
Sam pulled her from my arms and into hers. Jessie curled into a ball against Sam and cried harder than she had in a while. I looked at Sam over Jessie's head and saw tears in her eyes. I could feel the tears gathering in my own eyes as I thought about what Jessie had gone through while we were away on a freaking mission.
I buried my head in Jessie's hair and cried for what had happed to her…and to us. Long minutes later, I realized that she and Sam had fallen asleep. Our bed was bigger than hers, so I gently picked her up and took her to our room. I laid her on my bed and went back for Sam.
"Sam…Sam, baby wake up," I said softly, gently shaking her shoulder.
She opened her eyes slowly. She quickly realized Jessie wasn't there. "Jessie!"
"Shhh…she's in our room. Come on, let's go to bed," I whispered, helping her stand. I took her hand and led her to our room. She crawled in bed with Jessie and, pulling her back into her arms, promptly fell asleep.
I went downstairs to turn off the TV which was still playing. Cassie was still sitting on the couch eating popcorn. I reached for the remote and turned off the TV.
"Hey! I was watching that!" she exclaimed.
"It's time for bed, Cassie. Jessie's been sick and she needs her rest," I said. "You can take the guest bedroom if you don't wanna drive back home."
There was something in her eyes…something not normal. "I guess I'll leave then. I know when I'm not wanted."
"Cassie…we do want you here. But, we're all tired and, like I said, Jessie's been sick. She's been through hell these last few days." I ran my hand over my face. "We've all been through hell these last few days."
"I'm sorry, Uncle Jack. I'm just cranky. Been up since 4:30. Had finals today," she said sweetly. I narrowed my eyes. Something wasn't right here, but I couldn't put my finger on it.
I hugged her. "You gonna stay?"
"Nah. I think I'll head on home and sleep in my own bed tonight," she said. She hugged me back and left.
I shook my head. Something wasn't right. But, at that moment, I was so exhausted, I couldn't think straight. I went back up stairs and crawled into bed. I wrapped my arms around Sam, who had her arms wrapped around Jessie. I fell asleep with my family in my arms, dreaming of the day we didn't have to fight.
A/N: I know. I know. It's been a long time. Over a year since I last updated. I'm just now getting back to my stories after a year of ups and downs. Please review me.
