Disclaimer: Stargate is not mine
C.J. drove her rental jeep, (hey, jeeps are cool, people.) up the driveway with its arching maple trees. Pulling into the circular drive she shut off the engine and sat, looking at the house of her childhood.
Her father was a Naval World War II, Korean and Vietnam war vet, her mother a retired teacher. They never thought they could have children, and they were in their early fifties when suddenly Paul, then a year later C.J. arrived. Paul and her were raised with the same values as her parents were during the depression. It sometimes bothered her and Paul that they didn't have the same freedoms of other kids their age, but when they got older they both realized that they were probably the worlds youngest baby boomers. Paul and her were raised on hard work, dedication to Church and school and revering the country that their father served. His example was enough for both Paul and her to join the military as well, though she didn't go to college first. It was another bone of contention between her parents and her. Her Dad had been enlisted and wanted his children to be officers, but C.J. faced him down with the argument that he turned out alright for an enlisted man. Her mother had twitted him for months after that, and there was no more discussion about her going to college.
The front door to the house opened, startling C.J. out of her reverie. She got out of the car and raced up the stair to hug her mother. "Mum!" she squeezed the tall gray haired woman who laughed and patted her back in return. "Hey honey."
C.J. finally pulled back, looking at her mother carefully, but seeing nothing to alarm her. "Hiya Mum, I'm home." Joanie in turn looked at her daughter carefully, seeing the new lines of stress around her eyes, and the trouble in their depths, but wisely said nothing. "Forever?" she smiled at her daughter. "Nah, but for a week, if that's ok?" C.J. looked away from her mother's knowing eyes. "That's wonderful dear. Go feed the animals then and I'll take your stuff up to the room." She shooed her daughter away and took the sea bag and carryon into the house. Shutting the door she went directly to the phone and dialed.
"Major Davis please, this is his Mother." Joanie said.
"Major Davis speaking, how can I help you?" came his voice.
"Paul Michael Davis! What in the hell is your sister doing home?" came his mothers voice. Paul gulped, "Mom?"
"Yes, now answer the question." She said sharply.
"Um, Mom, I don't know why C.J. is there." Then suddenly the light dawned, C.J. was just back from being kidnapped and infested with a goa'uld, but the General and Jack had said she was fine. "Mom, let me make a call then I'll drive down tonight and see you all." Paul busily started writing notes for his assistant.
His mother sucked in a breath, "Then there is something wrong." Paul winced again; his Mom was a sharp lady. "See you tonight Mom." And he hung up like the coward he was. Joanie regarded the phone with a frown, hanging it up.
C.J. fed Bella, the Morgan mare that she had learned how to ride on. Rubbing the mare's nose, she felt more at peace than she had for the past couple of days. Daniel had refused to talk about the goa'uld, the mission or anything. His silence had driven her crazy and finally she was driven to talk to Sam. She did not want to see the quack McKenzie, and had successfully avoided the annoying psychiatrist, but had needed to talk to someone. Sam had held her while she cried and talked out the feelings she had. Having Jolinaar made Sam the perfect person to understand what C.J. had been through. Then Sam had suggested that she go on leave and C.J. had jumped on it, gotten the General's permission and fled the mountain before seeing Daniel.
Paul called the direct line to General Hammond's office, "Hammond." The voice said.
"General, this is Major Davis." General Hammond shook his head, looking at Jack who was sitting across from him.
"Hello Major Davis, what can I do for you?" Jack's eyebrows rose.
"Sir, my mother just called and grilled me. She said that C.J. is at home, I thought that she was doing ok?" Paul's voice asked plaintively.
"Why don't I pass you to Colonel O'Neill?" the General handed the phone to Jack, who chuckled and said, "Hi Paul, what's up?"
"You tell me Jack, my mom just called to ask me why the hell my sister went home. So I'm asking you, you saw her last." Paul said firmly.
Jack sighed and settled into his chair, frowning at the General's amusement. Jack was a better mother hen than he was, Hammond thought to himself. "Listen Paul, C.J. talked it all out with Sam and she's going to be OK with our help." Jack replied, sounding very sure of himself.
"What about McKenzie, she didn't see that nut, did she?" Paul asked with some anxiety, no one liked the man, especially after what happened to Daniel.
"No, we headed McKenzie off at the pass. Your sister never saw him. She just decided that she needed a little leave to decompress. She really is ok Paul." The General was frowning about the McKenzie part, he knew that the man was not liked, but had no idea that the teams got around him until now.
Paul thought for a moment, "What about Daniel?" Jack winced. "Um, he wasn't much help. You have to understand, this coming after Shar'e really shook him. Don't worry, Sam, Teal'c and I knocked some sense into him." He said with satisfaction.
flashback
"Daniel, you're a moron." Jack said helpfully. The door opened and Teal'c walked in. "Indeed. In this situation, I will have to concur with O'Neill's opinion." Teal'c rumbled and sat down in the chair that Sam had dragged from the corner.
Daniel's mouth dropped open, "What?" he whined.
Sam stood and smacked Daniel on the head with a file folder. "Daniel Jackson. You totally ignored what C.J. had gone through when she needed you the most. She needed to talk to you about what happened, about her fear that she would never see you again, and what did you do? You ignored her." Sam smacked him again for good measure.
"Ow Damn it!" Daniel rubbed his head furiously, glaring at everyone. He knew that they were right, and he already was feeling ashamed. Freyr had warned him, but he screwed up anyway. He rubbed his face with his hands and sighed brokenly. He had lost her, the amazing woman who could take care of herself in any situation, and come out the other end stronger.
Daniel looked up into the face of the family he had now. They were all watching him, Jack with pity and Sam and Teal'c with understanding. Daniel knew that they understood him, inside and out. They had known Shar'e, and each of them had survived their own losses.
"I'm an idiot. I chased away the best thing in my life because I didn't want to lose her like Shar'e. Boy, how stupid is that?" Daniel shook his head, wryly acknowledging his mistakes. "Do you think she'll forgive me?" Sam came around the desk and hugged him.
Jack slapped him on the back, "Grovel my boy. You screwed up, make no mistake." Daniel leaned back in his chair with a sigh. "I wonder where she is?" he asked himself out loud, and noticed the looks of his friends. "What? Where did she go?"
Sam smiled, "Where would you go when you are hurting?"
Daniel's eyes widened, "Home." Teal'c bowed slightly and raised an eyebrow, "Indeed Daniel Jackson."