Rating: T
Spoilers: Season 5
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters or Stargate: Atlantis, but the McKay children are of my creation
A/N: Please leave reviews. They are always welcome. Thanks to Shadows-of-Realm for the Beta.
Chapter 10- Two Worlds
Jennifer laid on the bed next to Rodney's as Amanda took her blood pressure. She was feeling a little less queasy after drinking a can of ginger ale, "You don't need to do that. I'm fine."
"You haven't eaten very much in the last few days, have you?" The current CMO question her predecessor. Amanda knew the woman was worried about her husband as the family had hardly left his side since Rodney was brought in.
The worried wife sighed, "I know that I should know better, but I haven't been hungry. I need you to draw blood and check my hCG level."
"You think you are pregnant?" Amanda asked. She knew that Jennifer had only been back almost two weeks and her blood tests that were run on her after her arrival did not indicate that she was pregnant.
Jennifer closed her eyes, not knowing what to do, "The only time I got sick like this was for the first two trimesters with my first pregnancy." The mother was careful not to mention that it was with twins as her children were close enough to hear her. She did not have any morning sickness with Abigail and Zoe and it did not make sense to her as she and Rodney had only been together that one day since her return and she could not be showing symptoms of pregnancy this soon. A slight panic began to set in and Jennifer thought it best to for Radek to finish going over the data the device downloaded before the explosion before she settled into full panic. If Rodney's hunches about the intent of the device were true then there would be nothing to worry about if she was pregnant. It would simply be that her husband got her pregnant three years ago, close enough to the explosion at the outpost that it would not have shown up in the blood tests they ran when she got back, but now that she had been back two weeks that she might start to show symptoms.
Dr. Cole nodded, "I will run the test." She turned to one of the nurses and asked them to draw Jennifer's blood. "You just lay here for a while and make sure you eat. You need to keep your strength up."
Jennifer gave a weak smile and looked over at her comatose husband in the bed. She could not help but to smile as the sight of their children were around his bed, they really adored their father and knew this had to be hard for them. It was hard for her too and the woman felt like something divine had it out for them. They were just beginning to settle in as family again when the explosion occurred. Life was not fair in the least bit.
Zoe broke free from Arthur's embrace and joined her mother on the other bed. "Are you okay?" the small girl asked as she rubbed Jennifer's back. "Daddy rubs our backs when our tummy hurts."
The ill mother nodded, "I will be. Thanks, Zoe."
"Can I stay with you?" the youngest asked.
That made Jennifer smile, "Of course you can." She turned on to her back from her side. "Are you hungry?" she started to play with Zoe's hair.
"No," Zoe shook her head and cuddled with her mother. "When is daddy gonna wake up?"
"Hopefully real soon," Jennifer said softly. That was all she could hope for and right now she needed him more than ever.
Arthur looked over at his mother, concerned for her especially after the conversation she had with Dr. Cole. "Do you need anything?" he asked.
The mother shook her head, "No, but can I get a hug?" Jennifer wondered if she was ready to bring another life into the world. She was just getting to really know the three she had missed out on so much and now the possibility that there was another on the way was scary.
Arthur jumped off his father's bed and went over to his mother's. "Are you sure you are okay?" he hugged Jennifer tightly.
Jennifer nodded, "I didn't eat today. That's all."
The boy rolled his eyes and wondered what was with his parents that they forgot to eat sometimes. "You should know better," Arthur said in a stern, paternal tone as he sat on the edge of the bed.
"Yes, I should," the mother had a feeling this was not the first time her son had given this lecture. He was very mature for having turned seven a month ago. Jennifer looked over at Abigail who had taken the seat she had previously been and was holding her father's hand.
"Come on daddy, wake up. You gotta wake up. You can't sleep anymore. It's time to get up. We've got to home," Abigail gently tried to shake Rodney awake. She pouted when it did not work and she then turned to her mother and siblings, "If we take him home will he wake up?"
Jennifer sighed and shook her, "It doesn't work that way, sweetie."
"But can we still take dad home?" Arthur asked. Even before their father had been injured he had been wondering when they would be going back to Colorado. "We don't like it here." It was his duty as the oldest to speak up for him and his sisters.
The slightly dizzy woman looked at all three of her children for confirmation and the two girls nodded, agreeing with their brother.
"We want to go back to our house," Abigail added. "Can't Carson or Dr. Lam help make daddy better instead of her? There is Uncle John too. He can yell at daddy until he wakes up." she looked over at Dr. Cole.
Jennifer went silent to think on the idea and thought the kids had to be uncomfortable here since they only knew life in Colorado. They had been pulled from their stable lives for the chaos of the past two weeks and the mother was starting to think that being in familiar surrounding would be good for everyone. "I can talk to Dr. Cole about transferring you dad back to the SGC," she did not see a reason to stay here other than being nervous about returning to Earth. Rodney was stable for transport and there was no difference if he was treated here or back on Earth.
The children's mood brightened at the prospect of going home, but they were all clearly distressed by their father's condition.
Jennifer stayed in the bed for fifteen minutes before sitting up. The dizziness had passed, but there was still the lingering nausea and she knew it was not going to go away soon. "Why don't you sit on my lap," Jennifer said to Abigail who was sitting in the seat vacated by her mother.
The blonde girl nodded, "Ok." She got up so her mother can sit. "You'll like the house. It's really big and has lots of room for all of us. You can sleep in daddy's room when we get home. I'm sure he doesn't mind if you use it," Abigail had seen the two adults share a bed every night and felt that she could use his bedroom.
"Thank you for that, Abigail." Jennifer paused when she caw Amanda walking toward her. She took a long breath before asking the question of the day, "What did the blood work say?"
Amanda was not sure if congratulations were in order, "Do you want to talk in private?"
Jennifer nodded, "I'll be right back." She told her children and walked so she was out of earshot range.
"You are most definitely pregnant."
The frazzled woman pursed her lips, "But nothing showed in my blood work from two weeks ago." Her hand went instinctively to her stomach. It was the wrong time for this to be happening. She had convinced herself that Rodney's ideas about the device were right and hearing this news the certainty crumbled.
"It could mean that you conceived after the tests were run or that conception before the blood tests and it was too soon to get a positive result," the doctor explained.
Jennifer shook her head, "It wouldn't be after. We were only together the day before the accident." She really needed Radek to get done with his research. "How high are the levels?"
"Based on that fact and nothing showed up on your initial blood work I would have to guess conception happened about three weeks ago. Your hcG levels are on the high end of normal levels this stage."
"How high are we talking about?"
"5876. It is still normal. There are a number of reasons for the high level."
Jennifer sighed when she heard that, "Like that it could be twins." That thought made everything scarier.
"That is one possibility. You've had twins before," Amanda paused and looked up. "I think Dr. Zelenka is looking for you," she nodded at the short man who had just entered the infirmary with a tablet in hand and looking very anxious.
"Do you have anything, Radek?" Jennifer asked impatiently. It felt l like her sanity hinged on the news he had.
Radek nodded, "I believe I do. Luckily the device was about to download it's coding. It took me a while..."
"Just tell me what you found out. I don't need a detailed rundown," the distraught wife was not in the mood for any extra science babble.
"Rodney was right with his assumption of time dilation. The device was supposed to create a time dilation field. I was able to figure out that for every ten minutes that passed inside the field a year passed outside of it. So when only a little over a half hour passed for you for the rest of us it was almost three and half years," the small scientist explained. He wished it did not have to come at such a high of a cost. Radek hoped that Rodney was going to pull through as this was not right that they should be going through this.
To say Jennifer was beyond relieved was an understatement. "Thank you, Radek," she threw her arms around him as a sign of thanks. One huge burden was lifted off of her as any lingering doubts about her whereabouts for the last three years was answered; the baby they said she had less than a year ago was now definitely the now four year old Zoe and the one she just learned she carrying could only be Rodney's.
"Um. You're welcome," Radek was shocked by the sudden mood change, but he suspected that she was glad to get this news. "Any change?" he asked, looking at Rodney still unconscious in the bed.
Jennifer shook her head, "Not yet." She turned her attention to the other woman, "I want to have Rodney transferred to the SGC. The kids want to go home and I need to do what is best for them."
Amanda nodded, "Understood. I will talk to Dr. Lam about a transfer. You also need to take care of yourself too," she gently reminded.
"I know," Jennifer laid her arm across her stomach. "They come first."
"It's going to be at least twelve hours before I can transfer him. Why don't you all get some rest and eat something," Dr. Cole said more as an order.
The relieved mother nodded and headed back toward her family.
"Are we going home?" Abigail asked immediately.
"Later today," Jennifer replied, sitting down and slipping her hand into Rodney's. "Dr. Cole said she has to talk to Dr. Lam first." she was glad that news put the first smile for days on her children's faces. "We should eat and get some rest before we go back."
None of the children wanted to leave their father's side, but the look from their mother told them they had no choice.
Jennifer leaned over and pressed her lips to Rodney's ear. "We will be back soon, my love. I've got some news for you. The bruise isn't the only thing you left me from that evening in the jumper. We are going to have another baby. So you've got to come back to us," she whispered to him. "I love you," Jennifer stood up and kissed his forehead.
Rodney sat on the edge of the bed and winced as Jennifer shone a pen light into his eyes, "My head doesn't hurt anymore. The pain only last a minute or two." He felt really uncomfortable being surrounded by his other self's family especially the children that were dead or not born or as he was having a sneaking suspicion not born yet. Rodney was not sure if it would be insensitive to ask her when the small boys were conceived as he wanted to know if he had a pregnant wife at home. The would-be father looked at the small boy tugging on his pant leg.
"Abby no play dress up," little Rodney held his arms up as if he wanted to be picked up by the older man.
The elder Rodney looked torn as if he should pick the boy up or even if he wanted to. Looking at the younger him stirred up a lot of different emotions. At this moment he wanted nothing more than to go home and give each of his children the tightest hugs and never let go and the same for his wife. The father could only resist the blue eyes that matched his own for long. "May I?" he asked, looking over at Jennifer.
The woman nodded, not seeing the harm. Jennifer's breath caught in the back of her throat as she saw the two next to one another. She always knew her youngest twins looked like their father, but she didn't realize how much until she saw them side by side.
"Hey there," Rodney said as he picked up the child and placed him on his knee.
"Why do they have the same name?" Abigail asked as she carefully studied the two males, noting they looked similar. "It's not like it's a common name," the young girl said defiantly; it was a look Rodney knew well and saw often with his Abigail. Not so different after all.
"I know why," Elizabeth said with a telling grin. "I know your secret," she pointed at the man.
Rodney's eyes went wide, "You told her?" He was not sure if he was upset or not. It would have been easier to handle if it were not the daughter he lost.
Jennifer did not like the tone of his voice. She thought he had no reason to be upset with her because these were her children and not his. "She figured it mostly for herself. Why are getting upset with me?"
The man rolled his eyes, "I think you would have figured that one out by now." Rodney glanced over at Elizabeth for a second before turning his attention to the boy on his knee.
"Don't get that attitude with me," she snapped. The man in front of definitely had her husband's personality. The realities were a little too close for comfort.
"Look I know this situation sucks big time for both of us. I just want to go home to my family. I don't want to cause any problems with yours," but he knew there were problems with Elizabeth knowing who he was.
Abigail looked between the two intense adults and was confused by what was going on. "What's his secret?" she asked her sister.
"Don't!" Jennifer yelled at Elizabeth. She knew it was stupid for her to have told the girl the truth, but she had asked after seeing the picture. Her attention was back to the alternate version of her husband, "Yes, I did figure it out. I'm sorry. How old was she?" she knew the children would have no idea what she was talking about.
"A week shy of four months," there was no emotion in his voice. "And what do you want?" Rodney's voice changed dramatically as he made a silly face at the miniature version of himself who was staring at him.
The small child laughed, "Don't know. Want your glasses."
Rodney shook his head, "I can't see without them." He removed his glasses and pretended he could not see. There was still one question he wanted to ask and he was fidgety as he figured a way to ask the question.
"What are you two talking about?" Elizabeth asked. She had no idea what the two were talking about. "Why do adults have to talk in code so we don't understand?"
"Exactly for that reason. So you don't understand," Jennifer said pointedly to Elizabeth. She could tell there was something Rodney wanted to ask as her version would fidget the same way when he had something to say, but was not sure if it was right to say. "What is it?"
"When was..." he trailed off the question and nodded toward the child who had now confiscated his glasses.
Jennifer bit her lip just figuring out why he was asking. He was trying to figure out if he was going to be a father again. "Jumper after..."
"After the Christmas party? Yelled at him that day for a bruise on your hip?" that was the last thing he needed to confirm. It was really amazing that of all the realities to be transported to that it was one extremely close to his own.
The woman nodded, "Yes." she could feel her chest tighten. To this day she regretted yelling at her husband for causing the bruise because had she known it would be the last time she would ever see him she would have chosen her words differently. Apparently this Rodney had the same argument with his wife before the explosion. A pang of jealousy struck her insides as she knew that when he got home that he was going to have everything she longed for. "I don't think time dilation should affect a pregnancy unless there was serious injury during the explosion."
A smile formed on Rodney's face as he realized that he was going to be a father again and twins again. He shook his head, "No serious injury. Just a concussion and some minor bruising." The smile would not disappear from his face.
Jennifer had hoped that would have been the reaction she received from her husband had she had ever had a chance to tell him. She had to squeeze her eyes shut to hide the tears that threatened to fall.
"Time dilation? Who's pregnant?" Abigail could not follow the conversation and now her mother looked like she was going to cry. None of it made sense to her. "Do you get it?" she asked Elizabeth.
The older sister shrugged, "I don't know." The whole time dilation thing was confusing her. "I think his wife is," she thought that would make her, her mother from his reality.
Jennifer shook her head, knowing she should not have had this conversation in front of the children. "Yes, his wife is pregnant." There was no use hiding it from them. He would be having his own set of identical twin boys in about eight months one of which was sitting with him now.
"How did you know that?" Abigail asked.
Elizabeth did not care she was going to get in trouble, but she felt her mother was being ridiculous. "He is from an alternate reality. He's our dad from another reality where he did not die in the explosion."
Rodney and Jennifer exchanged looks of horror. It was bad enough that Elizabeth knew the truth and now she had to confuse Abigail and little Rodney.
"ELIZABETH!" Jennifer yelled. "What did I tell you?"
"What?" the girl rolled her eyes. "It was only a matter of time before one of the loud mouths here let the truth slip. Secrets never last long here."
Rodney had to bite his lip to stop from laughing for two reasons. One the girl was right and two she had his Abigail's attitude nailed down. He knew as parent he was not supposed to have favorites, but he had to admit Abigail was his favorite. Even though he yelled and complained a lot, he could not help to relish in the fact that she was the miniature version of him as several people had pointed out.
Abigail pondered on the idea for a moment, "Interesting. Does that mean there is another version of me where you come from?"
Jennifer sighed as she looked at Rodney, "Always full of questions. You can go ahead." She knew they would keep pestering with questions and sometimes it was easier to just give in.
The man nodded in agreement, "Be lucky that you don't have to deal with almost weekly notes home from school. Only in kindergarten and I have a collection of about twenty notes." Rodney turned to Abigail, "That is a yes."
Elizabeth saw this as an opportunity to ask the question she had wanted to ask, "What about me? You recognized Arthur right away, but not me."
Rodney's face darkened for a moment as he thought of what to say. After a couple of seconds he shook his head and shrugged, "Never had a daughter named Elizabeth." It hurt to say that, but it was for the benefit of the child. "Alternate realities are funny like that."
"Daddy?" Little Rodney looked up.
"Not exactly, kiddo."
The toddler shook his head. "You daddy," he left no room for argument.
I will be when my wife gives birth. "If you say so." If he learned anything from raising his kids, it was that it was pointless to argue with them when they got this stubborn.
"Here," the younger handed the older his glasses back.
"Thank you," the older put his glasses back on.
"Does this mean you are staying here? This is going to be so cool," Abigail said excitedly.
This was exactly what Jennifer was afraid of; the children wanting Rodney to stay. "He can't stay..." she looked over at Rodney who had moved her son to the bed and was holding his head again.
The pain had come suddenly again and luckily Rodney had time to move the younger him off his knee and to the bed. Again it was like a stabbing pain in his brain and he heard the voice of his wife as well. We will be back soon, my love, you've got to come back to us and I love you he heard in his head. As quickly as the pain came it was gone and his face was streaked with tears from the pain.
"Are you okay?" Jennifer asked as Rodney removed his hands from his head. She could see the tears on his face and knew the pain had to be pretty bad.
Rodney nodded silently as he tried to regain his composure. "What's wrong with me?" he asked, scared that it was something serious and that it could prevent him from getting home. "I heard her voice again," he knew the Jennifer in front of him would not be speaking those kinds of words to him.
The physician paused for a moment, "Your scans did not show anything. We could rerun your blood work to see if there is anything there."
"What about the mark on the back of his neck. Maybe something bit him," Elizabeth pointed out.
Jennifer had noticed the mark on his neck the other day and knew exactly where it came from. Or someone bit him. "It has nothing to do with it," she turned her attention back to Rodney, "Have you ever heard voices before?" It puzzled her that he was hearing voices only when accompanied by pain.
"Once for about two weeks also saw things, but that had a very specific cause," Rodney did not want to go into much detail as it was a very low point in his life.
"From a head injury?" Jennifer inquired. She knew her husband never had an episode like he described, but this was one of the differences in their realties.
"It took a falling off the East pier and some memory loss to make it stop," he said with a shrug and adverted his eyes from Jennifer's.
Her jaw dropped, "You jumped from the pier?"
"No!" Rodney wondered why that was everyone's first reaction. "Hypoglycemia. Didn't eat. Was going to get sick and either lost my balance or fainted." He was not sure why he gave so much info but felt like he had to defend himself from that time. So many people thought his fall had been a suicide attempt and he still got defensive to this day when someone hinted at the thought.
Jennifer had a good idea what he was talking about and knew not to question him on it. "If your blood work doesn't show anything you are free to go," but she thought Abigail was ready to pester him with questions.
"Thanks," Rodney ran his hands through his hair and sighed, knowing he was about to be bombarded with questions from the two young girls.