Chapter 14:
Stone walked into the quarters he was sharing with his wife. Amanda was asleep on the bed.
Taking a moment to just look at her, Stone knew that she had endured more than most, just because she loved him. She was his center, the one that held him together.
Her Mediterranean roots showed in her skin and hair. Stone thought that she was the most beautiful woman, he had ever encountered, not just physically but mentally. He felt it was a miracle that she had not been twisted by their occupation. Oh, she had her moments, but who didn't.
He sat down at the edge of the bed. Took the dark shoulder length hair away from her face. "Honey, wake up." He said softly.
Amanda slowly woke up. "Michael, where have you been?"
"I am sorry that I left. I can explain." Stone kissed her deeply on the lips.
"Michael, you can tell after you come to bed." She replied sleepily.
Stone undressed and slid in besides her. After taking her in his arms, he told her about what had happen and was happening.
"You are not telling me everything, are you Micheal?"
"No, there is one thing only Kingston and I know plus the Asgard, and that is the way it is going to stay." Stone said firmly.
Stone put his hand on her stomach, there was a slight bulge.
Waking up the next morning Stone took care not to wake his wife; he needed to find out if there was any further news on the three children. He dressed in his fatigues and strapped on his shoulder holster for the USP-45. He was going lightly armed within the base, just the one pistol.
On the way to the commissary he meets Mulder and William. "Mulder."
"Sergeant, where are you headed?"
"Commissary."
"Great, me too. Shall we go?"
The two men walked towards the commissary. "So have you heard anything?"
"Yes, General Hammond called us late last night. We will get the children this afternoon. They will remember nothing about being on a spaceship or having been with the Asgard."
"Well, it is for the best. Hopefully, they can now live normal lives." Stone said relieved.
"Yes, Scully and I, are hoping to make their lives from now on as normal as possible. At first we are telling them we are the adoptive parent, then in the future that we are the birth parents."
"Well, Amanda and I are expecting one, but you have one already and now three five year olds. Aren't you, well, scared?" Stone asked Mulder.
Mulder took a moment to consider. "In a way no, and yes in others. Prehaps it is that I don't know that I am getting into."
"I understand, I can say with certainty that I don't know what I am getting into." Stone said as they entered the commissary.
As Stone was picking his breakfast he saw his uncle and his team at their usual table. Frasier was with them.
Stone and Mulder, went and sat down with SG-1.
After the usual morning greetings, discussion started.
"So, Mulder I hear you are getting more children." Jonas said with his mouth full.
"Yes, we are getting to meet them this afternoon." Mulder replied happily.
"So, where is Dana?" Carter asked.
"Oh, she wasn't feeling well, earlier this morning. So me and William decided to let her sleep and get ourselves some breakfast."
O'Neill turned to Stone, and clapped him on the shoulder hard. "So, there is a party in your honor tonight!"
"Not, my honor. The team's and they deserve it!"
"True, true." O'Neill said as he shoveled more Fruit Loops into his mouth.
"Indeed, Michael Stone. Warriors deserve to celebrate their victories." Teal'c shot in.
After the breakfast was finished, Stone walked with Mulder, who was carrying William.
"Stone, what is between your uncle and Major Carter?"
"What do you mean?" Stone looked at the man he was walking besides.
"Oh, don't tell my, you haven't noticed?"
"The truth is I have, but sometimes ignorance is a bliss. Especially if you are military!"
"Right, military discipline." Mulder said with irony.
Stone decided to change the subject. "Have you heard from AD Skinner?"
"Yes, He will be joining us here, next week. Hammond and Patrich, are as eager to meet him as is Skinner to meet them."
Stone just nodded.
"Doggett is going to meet him, in Denver and escort him to the Mountain."
"Speaking of Doggett and Reyes, I haven't seen them around."
"Skinner saw to it that they were allowed back in. Their punishment was to be assigned to the Denver Office." Mulder said with a big grin.
"So we have agents at the FBI Denver Office! That is good."
"Yes, the Special Agent in charge is an old friend of Skinners, an Agent Quinn Meikles. Skinner trust's him; say's that they were together in the Marine Corps in Vietnam. You know how it is."
"Yeah, the old military buddy system. Amanda will be happy that we have connections with agents at the FBI in Denver." Stone tickled William. "Well, I will see you at the party tonight."
"Wouldn't miss it for the world."
Stone walked away, he needed to see his old friend the chief of the armory.
Walking to the armory, Stone saw the chief, hunched over a 50 cal sniper rifle. "Heavy stuff."
"Some say heavy is better." Chief replied.
"True, it can be an advantage, but it can also be a liability." Stone looked the rifle over.
"So what can I do for you this fine morning?" Chief wiped his hands on a rag.
"I need you to customize a Heckler & Kock USP-Compact Tactical for me."
"Sound a little light for you!"
"It for my wife, I would feel better if she is armed at all times. Oh, and two Sig-Sauer P228 also. With the silencers for all."
"Alright, that is not a problem. Who are the Sig's for?"
"Two agents. They will also need holsters for the guns and magazines."
Chief wrought this all down. "I will have it for you by the end of the day."
"I have one more request for you. I need a customized M14, a Mod 14 EBR stock, with a fast detachable silencer, bipod and a Leopuld Mark.4 Tactical scope." Stone listed. "It will have to be accurate."
"Hm, yeah. I can get all that, but why?"
"Well, the M14 is a good rifle and I can use it as an Assault Rifle and as a Sniper rifle."
"Right, you will also want all the usual gizmos, laser sights and such?"
"No laser sight, sniper rifle, a mini-cam could be useful." Stone said thinking. "But there can be no glare of the lens."
Chief looked over the list. "It will take a few days."
"Thank, chief. There will be another case of scotch for you." Stone said as he walked out the door.
Stone walked in to the SGC infirmary. He had been ordered to be there, when the children were send down by the Asgard.
"Sergeant Stone, you just in time." Frasier noted.
"Doctor!" Stone nodded as he walked over to Mulder and Scully, William was in his father's arms. Stone took up a position just the behind the couple.
Scully turned to Stone. "Thank you again, Michael."
Stone just nodded his head.
As Scully turned, there on the three beds near them in the infirmary, the children appeared in a bright light of the Asgard transport beam. Stone took William from Mulder, so he could greet his children.
Scully rushed over to the nearest bed where Emily lay; tears were streaming down her face. The child she had only had known for a brief few days, then lost, a child she had thought was lost, was now back. She sat down at the edge of the bed, Mulder just behind her. As she caressed the girl's cheek, Scully noted that she looked just like the first day she saw Emily, she had not age a day, five years. Scully took the cross from her neck and placed it on Emily.
"Dana?" A weak voice came from the girl.
"Hey, sweetheart. How are you feeling?" Scully said in a broken voice.
"Tired, but better than before. Are the tests over?" The girl asked in a low voice.
"Yes, sweetheart. There will be no more test for now, sleep. You need your rest, I will be here when you wake up." Scully kissed the girl's cheek. "Sleep, I will be here looking after you."
After the girl fell asleep, Scully dried her tears, Mulder hugged her and then the two went over to the next bed. Where the boy Erik lay asleep, Scully sat on the bed like with Emily, Mulder besides her. Caressing the boy's cheek like she had done with Emily, tears again streaming down her cheeks, looking up at Mulder with a smile. "He looks just like William will in a few years time."
Mulder smiled back. "Yes, he does."
After placing a kiss on Erik's cheek, the couple went to the last bed. The girl on the bed looked just like Emily; the only difference was that the haircut was different. Repeating the process like with the other two children. When finished Scully when over to Frasier, Mulder came to Stone and took William. "Thanks for holding him!"
"No problem. Are they alright?" Stone nodded at the three children.
"They seem to be, but only Emily woke up for a moment." Mulder shifted William so he could see the children; the boy was looked at them interested, almost like he knew them already.
Scully finished her consultation with Frasier and came to Mulder and Stone. "Janet say's that they should sleep for a few hours. The Asgard complete repaired the damaged done to them; they don't even need physical therapy to counter the years in suspended animation. We can take them when they wake up." Scully smiled at William.
"I have already talked to General Hammond, about arranging quarter for them besides you own quarters." Stone said.
"Thank you, we can never repay you for what you have done." Mulder said as he handed William over to Scully.
"No thanks are necessary. The General's would like to see you now, if you are free." Stone saw immediately that this request didn't go well with Scully.
"I would prefer to stay here, if any of them wake up." Scully said.
"I will go and talk with them." Mulder volunteered.
"Thank you." Scully kiss Mulder cheek. "William can stay with me; he will get to know his new siblings."
Stone walked with Mulder to the General's office, leaving him there as Stone himself went to find his team.
Stone found them in the team new ready room on the ten floor of the SGC. The room had been converted so the team could react with minimal delay, weapon and equipment at rack near the door. Bed and benches, to rest and spend on duty.
The phone on the desk rang. Kingston answered. "Yeah."
Listening for a moment, then. "We are on the way, keep them occupied."
Stone walked over. "What is going on?"
"It was the main gate, there is some trouble going on. Some federal types demanding access." Kingston say as he pulled up his gear.
Stone walked over with Kingston, took his uniform a Tiger stripped uniform like the rest of the teams. "We will take Arrsen and Kristiansen. Next call, the others will go." Stone finished dressing and strapped on his equipment, a tactical holster for the H&K Mark.23 and Shoulder holster for the USP-45 tactical. Ammo was in the tactical vest, finally picking up a M4A1 carbine with a M203 grenade launcher. A Tiger stripped Boonie hat on his head, Kingston, Arrsen and Kristiansen were ready as well. All the uniforms were without rank insignia or which branch of the military they belonged to.
The four men walked to the elevator that was besides the room. Leaving the elevator in the garage, entered a M1025 Humvee from the Air Force. Kingston drove; Stone was driving shotgun with the radio, Arrsen and Kristiansen in the two back seats.
"Far Gates of Olympia, this is Achilles."
"Far Gates of Olypia, copies."
"How many are their?"
"Five, four men and a woman."
"We will be there in less five minutes, keep them occupied." Stone ordered.
"Yes, sir. Over"
Stone looked at Kingston. "Step on it."
Within the five minutes Stone had promised the Humvee pulled up at the first checkpoint, the four men jumper out of the Humvee and walked to the roadblock. There ten Air Force Security Force personnel were stationed. A lieutenant was arguing with a man in his fifties, dark haired and clean shaven. The man was clearly pissed at the persistence of the officer and his people to not allow them to enter the base.
Stone walked towards the two, checking his M4 and taking it of safety. As he came besides the lieutenant, Stone interrupted the argument. "What seems to be the problem here, sir?" Kingston, Arrsen and Kristiansen took up position to cover the area and their team leader.
The man pointed at the badge hanging from his neck. "I am U.S. Deputy Marshal Samuel Gerard, and this is my team." Gerard said indicating the four people near their cars. "We are here to take into custody an escaped federal convict, under the name Fox William Mulder."
"Who?" Stone asked. "And what reason do you have to think this individual is on this base."
"Ex-FBI agent Fox Mulder, he was reported to be in this base by high ranking FBI agent." Gerard was become even more frustrated by the lack of cooperation by the military personnel.
Stone turned and called to Kingston. "Check with command, ask them if they have any knowledge of a Fox Mulder on the base."
"Yes, sir." Kingston said before he entered the bunker of the checkpoint.
Turning back to Gerard, Stone made a show of adjusting his M4. Giving Gerard a chance to see it was not on safety. "I am sure this is just a misunderstanding."
Gerard saw Stone's M4, and understood the threat. "Yes, I am sure it is." He had also notices that the four new arrivals had on different uniform and had no rank insignias or which branch of the military they belonged to.
Within four minutes, Kingston came back out. Walked up to Stone. "Boss, command has no knowledge of an individual of the name Fox Mulder is on base or near it."
"So, there you have it, Marshall. There is nobody here by the name Fox Mulder." Stone said as he gave Gerard a grin.
Gerard was not satisfied. "We will need to search the base."
"This is the most secure base in the world; nobody enters or leaves without clearance. Trespassers are shot." Stone said firmly and giving no chance of misunderstanding. "You do not have clearance, so there for you are trespassing if you try to enter the base."
"Who are you? You are not Air Force; there are no rank or branch insignia on you uniform." Gerard didn't move from his position.
"That is also classified. Please, Deputy Marshall Gerard. If you would now move along!" Stone signaled the security team to come forward. "Before we are force to remove you and your team."
Gerard lifted the helm of his jacket, revealing a Glock 22.
"Marshall, you are outnumbered and outgunned. Don't make this difficult, for you or your team." Stone, Kingston and the lieutenant took steps back bringing their weapons up. "We are within our rights to use deadly force. I ask you again to leave peacefully."
All the military men lifted their weapons on the Marshalls.
"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?" O'Neill yelled as he came rushing up.
"Colonel. The Marshalls here refuses to leave the base." Stone explained without taking his weapon of Gerard.
Walking up to Gerard. "Just who the hell are you?" O'Neill asked.
"I am Deputy Marshall Sam Gerard, we are here to retrieve a escaped federal convict."
"Have you found him here?" O'Neill was using his best, I am pissed off Colonel voice. The airmen at the checkpoint were shaking in their boots, they had witnessed O'Neill on a warpath before. It was not a pretty sight.
"No, we have information that he is on this base." Gerard countered.
O'Neill turned to Stone, glaring at him. "Have you contacted command about this?"
"Yes, sir. Command has no knowledge of this individual being on base." Stone replied calmly.
"Have they informed you of this, Marshall Gerard?" O'Neill asked Gerand not too calmly.
"Yes, sir. But … " Gerard began.
"I must ask you to leave now, if not we will arrest you and throw away the key. You are trying to enter a high security military base. Because you are a federal agent, we are giving you the option of leaving." O'Neill broke voice no argument.
Gerard saw that this was pointless. "Alright, we are leaving."
As Gerard was walking to his car, O'Neill added. "Marshall, don't come back. Next time we shoot to kill."
"Understood, Colonel." Gerard slammed the car door behind him.
As the Marshalls drove away and went around the bent in the road. O'Neill started to laugh. "God that was fun."
"I thought that he was going to persist. He was ready to go up against the checkpoint team." Stone said keeping an eye on the departing cars.
"Yeah, that was one stubborn son of a bitch. I wonder who he is?" O'Neill thought up loud.
"I will have intelligence check him out. But I think that he is not a collaborator, he doesn't seem the character. Too much honor, sense of justice." Stone walked with his uncle to the Humvee. "He was probably chosen because he is not a collaborator."
"We should then see if we can recruit him. We need all the people we can get our hands on."
Stone smiled at the thought of the Marshall being on their side, not a bad idea. "I will get intelligence on it also."
The four member of Forlorn Hope came back to base, parked the Humvee, returned to their ready room .
"You remember that there is a party in the commissary tonight." Stone said as their stowed their gear.
"Hell, yeah. Boss, we are not likely to miss a party." Kingston answer, a grin broke out on Arrsen and Kristiansen.
"No, I think not. But behave yourself for the first part of the party, there will be children there. The three we rescued, William and Cassie Frasier, if you do anything wrong I will give you over to the good Doctor. Understood." Stone threaten.
"Ah, boss. You never allow us to have any fun." Arrsen whined.
"If you not good, there will also be no candy for you in the foreseeable future." Stone mocked Arrsen.
"Alright, I will be good, but I can't promise that Kristiansen will be." Arrsen shot back.
Kristiansen looked up. "What do I have to do with anything? I don't want to let the good Doctor get her needles in me, I have heard the rumors from the base personnel." The Norwegian shook himself. "But she can examine me as much as she likes!"
"No worries, boss. I will take care of these clowns." Kingston interrupted.
Stone walked to the door. "But it is you; I am most worried about, Kingston." Then Stone ducked out the door. Laughter followed him out.
"Shut up, you wankers!" Stone could hear Kingston yelling, as he walked down the corridor.
Stone and Amanda walked into the infirmary; they could hear children's laughter.
Looking around he saw Scully and Mulder, sitting on the floor of the infirmary with their children and Cassie Frasier. Stone tugged on Amanda's sleeve, then walked to the group.
Cassie looked up. "Uncle Stony! Aunt Amanda!"
Stone was taken back; this was the third time he had met the girl. Turning to Amanda. "I thought she was from … uh"
"She call Jack her uncle, so I gave her permission to call you here uncle and me her aunt." Amanda said in a mocking voice. "Just go with the flow, Michael."
"Yes, ma'am."
Stone went down on his knee, so he would not tower over the children. "Hello." Putting out his hand.
Erik was to shake hands with Stone. "My name is Erik, are you, also my Uncle Stony?"
Stone looked at Mulder and Scully, for permission. Both nodded their approval. "Yes, but you can call me Michael, Erik."
The boy shook his head. "No, I like uncle Stony better."
Then the girls came to greet Stone and Amanda. Stone was now known was Uncle Stony by all the children.
Cassie came last. Stone looked at the girl. "Cassie, thank you. You are going to get me in a lot of trouble."
A cheeky grin broke out on the girls face. "No thanks are necessary."
Erik looked at Stone and then at his new parents. "Can I get a haircut like he has?" Pointing at Stone.
Stone had a buzz cute, like most military men had.
Scully was taken back a bit. "Erik, are you sure." The boy was sporting a long wavy hairstyle.
"Yes." The boy said nodding solemnly.
Scully looked at Mulder, who was laughing silently. "Alright, Erik. But we can't get it right now, perhaps tomorrow." Scully answered, her intention obvious, to stall the boy until he would forget this idea.
All the grownups get the message, except Stone who was clueless. "He can get a cut right here at base, no need to delay."
The boy was ecstatic, Scully furious, the rest laughed.
"Alright Erik, because you uncle Stony said you can get a haircut here, he is going to take you to get it." Scully said with fake sweetness, glaring at Stone same time.
"But I …" Stone started, but stopped as Amanda put her hand on his arm.
"You dug you own grave, take the consequences of you action." Amanda said softly, so only Stone could hear.
"Alright, Erik. We are going to get a haircut." Stone said with false cheer. "Let's go, my man."
But before they could go William indicated that he wanted to go to Stone. Stone took the young boy and tickled him, but when tried to return him to his mother, he refused to let go of Stone's neck. He wanted to go with them to the barber.
"Oh, let him go with you, Stone. But remember that every action has consequences." Scully said sweetly.
"Right, consequences!" Stone mumbled as he walked out the door with the two boy's.
Amanda watch as her husband walked out of the infirmary, and shook her head. Michael was a great soldier, a good lead of men, but in some ways he was so clueless. Turning back to the couple and the girls.
"I am sorry for my husband." She said to Scully.
"There is no need to apologies. He is just like Mulder is sometimes, clueless." Scully said as she took the hands of Emily and Emma.
"Hey, I resent the implication. I am not clueless." Mulder said in a huff.
Ignoring Mulder, Scully walked the girl's to a bed and lifted them up on it. Amanda followed, standing at the end of the bed. Cassie came and stood beside her. "Aunt Amanda, Stony is really clueless, like Uncle Jack is."
Putting her arm on the girls shoulder. "Yeah, Cassie. But what is a girl to do; he is my husband and got me pregnant. So I think I am stuck with him." Amanda said with mock sorrow.
Cassie looked at the woman holding her shoulder, she knew that she was a friend of Sam, like her mother, but there were some thing you could not talk to you mother about. "Amanda, you know Sam, right?"
"Yeah. What are you thinking?" Amanda looked at the girl.
"Well, I know Sam is starting to see some man. I don't know who he is, but I don't like him. Sam should be with Uncle Jack, she loves him, not this new guy." Cassie said softly so only Amanda could hear her.
"Honey, we often wish …"
Cassie interrupted. "No, no. Aunty Amanda, it is not wishful thinking. Jack and Sam love each other." The girl said with conviction.
"Look, Cassie. I will talk with Sam, alright?" Amanda said to placate the girl.
"Yes, thank you, Amanda." With that the girl ran off to find her mother.
Amanda turned back to the bed.
Stone took the boy's to the barber shop of the SGC. The first person he meet there was his Uncle.
"Jack, so what are you doing here?"
Looking around, then back at Stone. "What do you think?"
"Right, stupid question. Meet my new friends" Stone indicated William and Erik.
"Boy's, I am Jack." O'Neill said as he shook hand with Erik and William.
"My name is Erik, he is William." Erik said indicating William in Stones arm. "I am going to get a haircut like, Uncle Stony."
Looking at Stone with a smug expression. "Oh, he is Uncle Stony, now how about that!"
"Jack!" Stone said with an undertone.
"What? Stony." A snicker came with.
"Come on Erik, let get you that haircut!" Stone walked the boy to the barber stool.
The barber place the boy in the chair. "So, young man. What can I do for you?"
Erik pointed at Stone. "I want a haircut like he has."
"Oh, a buzz cut." The barber said as he put the cover on the boy.
"Yeap." Erik said happily.
The barber took to the hair clippers and started to shave the boys head.
Within minutes the boy was sporting the same buzz cut as Stone was. As Erik jumped out of the chair, he thanked the barber, and stood besides Stone. As they turned to leave, William fussed.
"He wants' to get a haircut also." Erik said.
Stone looked at Erik, then at William. "I don't know!"
The William let out a howl.
"Alright, William. You will get a haircut also." Stone said as he put him in the chair, the mumbled. "You mother is going to kill me."
Within minutes William was like Stone and Erik, and happy as a clam. "It is as well that you are still in the infirmary, Erik." Stone said to the boy, as they walked out of the barber shop.
"What do you mean?" Erik looked up at Stone as they walked back to the infirmary.
"Dana is going to do some bad things to me, when we come back." Stone said deadpan.
"No, she isn't. Dana is nice, as is Fox. I like them." Erik said with certainty of the young.
"I wish I could be as certain as you, my young friend." Stone mumbled to himself.
Stone let Erik lead the way into the infirmary, perhaps the boy would reflect any anger Scully was harboring against Stone if Erik was in front of him and William in his arms. Not likely.