One more for you guys!
Enjoy!
M.
Chapter 76
Friday, November 16, 2012.
The crestfallen expression on the girl told Jessica all she needed to know.
"She's not coming," Parker mumbled.
"She's sorry, Parker."
"Yeah, she always is," Parker said. There was a lack of judgment in her voice that always managed to surprise Jessica.
"Maybe she gets here for reading time. Miss C only said she was going to be late." Jessica offered. Hoping to see some glint of hope in Parker's eyes. There was none.
An hour later, Parker was all tucked in and there still was no sign of her mom.
"Jess? Can we stay up for an hour? It's Friday. I don't have school or games tomorrow. Just another hour, please?" Jessica looked at her, then sighed.
"Okay. One hour, but after that, you need to go to sleep." Parker grinned. Grabbed the book she was reading by herself and buried her nose in it. Jessica shook her head. The kids she knew would've gone for the game console or computer games. Here she was taking care of the only kid she knew that would take a book over 'goofing off'.
An hour later, she knocked on Parker's door. She saw the girl sigh. Her heart broke a little. She knew how it worked. She was the daughter of a military man herself. She knew all about her dad not getting there on time, missing plays, games, and even birthdays.
"Hey, you know what? If you go to sleep now, then when you wake up tomorrow, she'll be here. It'll seem like time has sped up."
"Time doesn't speed up when we sleep," Parker deadpanned. Jessica chuckled, sometimes this little girl knew too much for her own good.
"I know, but it will seem like it… Trust me on this one. You'll go to dreamland and then you'll wake up to your mom being home."
Parker didn't look quite convinced by this, but nodded, nonetheless. Placing her book beside the one she was reading with her mom. She made herself comfortable in bed and turned off the lamp.
"Good night, Jess."
"Sweet dreams, P."
In the dark, Parker sighed. In the dark, she could pretend for a second that it was her mom, closing her door. In the dark, she could pretend the knot in the pit of her stomach wasn't there. That come morning, everything was going to be alright. Even if deep down, she knew something was wrong.
She woke up the following day and padded around the house, searching for her mom. The kitchen was clean and empty. The basement had no sign of her or Fred. She checked the backyard and the roof… The lump in her throat telling her to check everything before checking her room.
When there was no place else to look, she walked to the master bedroom and knocked on the door softly. There was no answer. She opened the door. The room was empty. Padding inside, she noticed the bathroom door ajar, but the lights were off. She tried to convince herself that she would find her mom there. She wasn't surprised when she found it empty.
"Good morning, Parker," Jessica said, rubbing her eyes as they met in the kitchen. "I haven't heard your mom arriving."
"She's not here." Parker frowned and walked to the phone. "Something is wrong, Jess." She said as she waited for her mom to pick up. "She always picks it up by the third ring. She always said that if she didn't, something bad had happened."
As if on cue, there was a knock on the door. Jessica frowned and walked to the door. "Maybe's Fred." She said. She opened the door to find a redheaded woman on the other side. "You are not Fred."
"You're not Parker," Cassie said, as an answer. "I'm Cassandra Fraiser. Is Parker around?"
"I'm not sure I'm supposed to let you in," Jessica said.
"What happened to my mom?" Parker asked as she walked to the front door.
"Parker." Cassie took a deep breath. She had done the 'I'm sorry your loved one didn't survive' a lot in the last few years. Watching Parker waiting so seriously for an answer was heartbreaking. Jessica nodded her in. Parker walked to the living room and Cassie kneeled in front of her to be at her level.
"Let me start by telling you, she's alive." Parker's eyes widened, and Cassie cringed. "There was an accident yesterday. Your mom was driving home, but a trucker failed to break, and…" Cassie took a deep breath. "Her car rolled over a couple of times. She was taken back to the base for treatment. Since you know me, I was asked to take you there."
"Okay." She nodded.
"Have you had breakfast yet?" Parker shook her head no.
"Why don't you get changed and we'll solve the breakfast thing."
"Okay."
"Is it bad?" Jessica asked.
"It doesn't look as bad as it could be. She's unconscious, but she didn't sustain any major injuries. By any chance, you know who should we contact about this? Do you know? Someone who can take care of her?" Cassie asked, turning towards Jessica.
"No. She never left any instructions for that circumstance."
"Jordan. We can call Uncle Jordan." The older women turned towards the girl. "Jordan Craig?" she offered at the confused pair.
"I can call Mr. Craig," Jessica said, grabbing her phone. Parker shook her head.
"He would never pick up like that," she said, disappearing towards her mom's room. Cassie followed her and soon was presented with a cellphone. "Here. It's the only number on this phone."
Cassie took a deep breath. If this was any other person, Cassie would've wondered why there was a phone with only one contact number hidden in her room. But it was Sam, and she had received a phone like that when she was younger.
"Go. Get your breakfast. I'll do this. Okay?" Parker nodded. Cassie found the number and pressed the call button.
"Grand Empress… Why are you calling me this early?" the voice on the other side sounded sleepy and yet a bit amused.
"I... Is this Jordan Craig?"
"You're not her. What's happened to her?" Jordan asked quickly.
"I… Sam had a car accident. She's…"
"God, please tell me she's alive."
"She is. But… She's unconscious and we don't know what to do with Parker. We were hoping you knew if she had some fail-safe or whatever…" Cassie stopped as Jordan laughed.
"Holy... Do you even know this woman? She has fail-safes for her fail-safes. Who is this anyway?"
"I'm Cassandra Fraiser." There was silence on the other end. "Hello?"
"And you don't know what to do with P?" He seemed surprised.
"No." Jordan sighed. "So… do you know how she would like to proceed in this case?"
"Look, I had a procedure in case I ever got a call like this. It was from before she got her name back. I'm not sure it still stands."
"What is it?"
"Can you repeat your name again? I need to check it's you."
"Cassandra Fraiser." She heard a faint sound and a mechanic 'voice confirmed, Cassandra Fraiser.'
"Okay. Well, I'm not sure what you expect me to do. This thing says Parker should go to Johnathan 'Jack' O'Neill, Janet Fraiser, or Daniel Jackson until her demise can be confirmed. Then there's a number in case the worst happens. Hey, the good thing this happened now, that I know who Parker is. I would be utterly confused if this happened a few years ago."
"That's not possible. How could she want her daughter with them?" Cassie frowned in confusion. Jordan sighed.
"You don't know it? Fuck… The only reason she even tried to get back to Samantha Carter was for those guys and you. Hasn't she spoke to any of you at all?"
"No."
"Look… It took me years to gain her whole trust. I'm risking losing her friendship over this. That woman only trusted in those people and yourself for the longest time. So, it's not surprising she would ship her daughter to you if she disappeared. Please, take this phone with you. Call me to update me on her status. I really care about her… She saved me when I thought I was lost. Since then, I've tried to help her as much as I can. Not that she ever listens to me… But I guess you know how that goes."
"I really don't know what to do with Parker…." Cassie mumbled.
"I get it. Don't worry, that kid knows exactly what to do with herself. It pains me to tell you this, but she's been trained for the worst-case scenarios for years. Even if it all was played as a game for her sake."
"Cassie? I'm ready." Parker said, entering Sam's room again.
"Can I speak to her for a sec?"
"Sure…" Cassie said reluctantly, passing the phone to P.
"Don't worry, Uncle J… It wasn't the bad guys. Just bad luck." Parker smiled. Then she nodded and looked at Cassie. "Yeah, don't worry. I'll behave."
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Since her cold departure, he had waited to call her again. Hoping she would get home and pick up her phone once she was there. She hadn't. He waited and tried several times, but it rang until it went to her voicemail.
Jack wanted to throw his phone angrily to the wall, but there was a chance she would call him back. There was a chance HWS needed him. There was a chance his own family might call him… There were too many fucking chances related to the damned device. So, instead, he threw a glass that shattered against the wall.
Another shattered glass related to issues with Sam Carter… One day, he hoped there wouldn't be a need to throw something against a wall just to deal with the emptiness and the pain that everything related to her seemed to bring upon him.
She had been gone for hours now, and most likely was avoiding him. It made sense. He had agreed that the fuck was enough, hadn't he? But the truth was if that's all she could give him… He would take it. Whenever it came to Sam Carter, he was all but a doormat. He was a man stranded in the desert, and she was his never-ending fountain of water.
His landline rang… He jumped at the shrill sound piercing the night and his pain. Then, rushed to grab it, hoping it was her. It wasn't.
"O'Neill." He barked into the phone.
"Sir…"
"Janet?"
"Sir, there's a situation. You need to get here ASAP."
"What happened?"
"I'll rather not tell you over the phone, sir."
"I'll be there in ten or sooner." He said already grabbing his keys and wallet while walking to his truck. He sped all the way to the mountain. Janet wasn't one that would just call him out of the blue at three forty-two in the morning over some mild bad news. So, whatever had happened, was fucked up.
She wasn't waiting for him by the entrance. The airmen there told him that 'Doctor Fraiser was waiting for him in the infirmary'. There was a grim exchange between the two guards that only added to the knot in his stomach.
Fear settled right next to tension, making themselves comfortable in his shoulders during the way down. He made for the infirmary in quick, long strides, trying to keep his cool not to run there. Daniel was out there and so was Teal'c. There was a quick exchange of glances between the two of them before Teal'c moved towards Jack. Stopping him from going inside with a hand placed over his dark shirt. While Daniel rushed inside.
Janet came out then, looking a bit disheveled. She had the I'm-not-sure-how-to-tell-you-this expression, but it wasn't the someone-died one. He clenched his jaw.
"Weren't all of you off shift around 1800 yesterday?" Jack frowned. Fighting with himself not to embrace himself around the middle. No, Generals didn't feel the need to support themselves like that. So, he pushed his hands deep into his dark jeans. When had he started to wear such dark clothes? He wondered for a second.
"Yes, sir. I returned when I learned my team was still on base late before a mission day," Janet said, looking pointedly towards Daniel's retreating form. Teal'c had also taken his leave then. "I came down here out of, I don't know, a gut feeling, maybe? When we received a call. It was the Clinic asking if we could take this General on since we were closer to the accident site."
Jack gulped. Colorado Springs had a large military population. It could be that there was a retired General out there. They could simply need him to give him a clearance now that he was stuck at the SGC until further notice. Maybe Janet had called him because they couldn't get a hold of Carter. Carter was ignoring his calls. Maybe she thought he was being extra annoying. Taking his chance to call from the base, knowing she wouldn't not pick that up.
"General Carter was in a crash, sir. Her SUV turned twice before it stopped. I'm not sure how it happened, or how she's only unconscious. She luckily only sustained minor injuries from the rollovers. Protocol says I should call you to take over her command."
Jack blinked several times as if he hadn't heard Janet's words at all. Then it dawned on him. Carter wasn't avoiding his calls. Carter was unable to answer him altogether. He'd been an idiot hating her and himself for what they'd done.
"When did this happen?"
"Around 2200. She arrived here at 2300. The first responders called the clinic when they spotted her dog tags. Once she was out of the vehicle, they took a closer inspection, and here she is. They found her belongings. Her wallet and cellphone are in our possession now. I also had to remove her dog tags to check her out." Janet said. She kept to herself the ring she saw hanging from the chain. She also didn't mention she saw there were several missed calls from his number.
Jack knew Janet had seen the missing calls. Guilt joined the fear and tension in his shoulders. Guilt because it was around that time when he had called her. There was a chance he was responsible for the accident.
"Sir, SG-1 was scheduled to leave at 1100. I request to have the mission canceled, sir."
"I agree."
"There's another issue, sir," Janet said seriously. Jack clenched his jaw. What else could there be besides the fact that Carter was laying in a bed inside the infirmary because of him and his reckless need to call her?
"What would that be, Janet?" He hissed.
"Parker Carter, sir. General Carter's a single mother. We don't know what to do about her daughter." She announced. Jack pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Someone needs to pick that girl up and inform her of the situation. Maybe find Mark Carter and ask him to come to take care of her."
"Sir…" Janet said.
"What Janet?"
"That girl only saw Mark Carter for a handful of hours," Janet whispered. "We can't possibly drop her in his hands when she doesn't know him at all."
"What do you want me to do, Janet? It's not like I am the father and I can take her in…" Jack huffed. Now, it was Janet's turn to rub her face tiredly.
"I'll ask Cassie to pick her up in the morning. Cassie has visited them a few times and gets along nicely with Parker."
"You do that," Jack whispered tiredly and turned around.
"Sir…" Janet said, stopping him from going away. "It's empty. You can go in now." She said, giving him a knowing yet sad smile. Jack nodded. Stopped by her placing a hand on her shoulder in thanks. "I'll stay right here until you're done, or she needs me."
Jack nodded. He already was concentrating on fighting his fears about what he was going to see inside the room. It wasn't as bad as his mind provided him. If it wasn't for the bruise on her face that seemingly extended under her medical gown, it looked almost like she was just sleeping.
The only disturbing noise was the one coming from the heart monitor at her side. The only other thing disturbing her body was the IV that was shoved in her left hand as it hooked her up to some saline and painkillers.
"I'm sorry, Sam. I'm so sorry." He mumbled, choking with the words. "This is my fault. I shouldn't have… We shouldn't… I'm sorry. God, I don't know what I'd do if you're really gone. Please, come back to me… Even if you don't want me anymore… Even if all you want from me is some type of release… Just open those eyes and be here… Be alive."
He lowered his head on the mattress. Laced his hands with hers. Just like many times before, all those years ago, he fell asleep by her bed.
