Title: Be careful what you wish for

Summary: It's one of those future fanfics (set seven years into the future) about the long awaited return to Earth. Only the conditions under which John returns aren't really ideal. In fact he spends all of his time home trying to find a way to get back, not just for his sake, but for that of his daughter.

Disclaimer: I don't own Farscape or any of its characters.

Be Careful What You Wish For



Question time

Once the module had received confirmation that they were allowed to dock John instantly initiated the procedure. After twenty minutes of careful docking on the docking arm, and attacking the airlock, John and Jamie were finally able to open their hatch.

" Now when we get in there I want you to leave all the talking to me okay? And if you need to tell me something then tell me in anything other than 'human' unless I tell you otherwise okay?" he said quickly. Jamie nodded obediently. " If you see them doing anything suspicious then tell me right away, or even if you just want to get out of there!" Jamie nodded again.

" Will they hurt us?" she asked seriously.

" I don't think they will, they're scientists," he assured her. Then overcome by emotion he pulled her into a hug and he kissed the top of her head. " It'll be fine, you'll see and I think it's best if we live the weapons here okay?" Jamie nodded and pulled her pulse pistol out of the holster and placed it under the seat.

They'd just finished doing this when the airlock door opened and a man stepped forward (with a whole load of younger men and women gathering behind him excitedly). John let Jamie climb out of the module first and everyone gazed at her hungrily, taking every inch of her in. Jamie was a bit of a mystery to everyone on Moya. She looked nothing like either of her parents. She had a full head of long white-blonde crinkly (she insisted it wasn't curly and it was too edgy to be wavy, so Jamie called it crinkly - it looked like someone had taken a massive crimping iron to her hair) hair, a very pale complexion and pale blue icy eyes. John though, insisted that she looked exactly like his little sister.

John then quickly climbed out and joined her side, protectively shielding her from view.

" Commander Crichton, may I welcome you, on behalf of IASA back to Earth," Commander Taylor said and he held out his hand. John reached forward and shook it. " I'm Commander James Taylor." John nodded to him.

" John Crichton," was all he said. Everyone looked eagerly from him to Jamie again. John sighed and stepped to the side exposing her again. " This is Jamie, she's my. well she's my daughter," he said and the crew started whispering ecstatically.

" Daughter? But how can that be." Taylor began, but John held his hands up quickly.

" Look I'll be happy to answer your questions, just let me do one thing first. I need to talk to my dad, can I do that?" he asked hopefully. Jamie looked up at the scientists eagerly.

" Yes of course, he's already been summoned to the IASA headquarters, as has your friend Dr Knight."

" DK?" John laughed. " Man I'd love to see the look on his face when he knows I'm back!"

* * *

DK stared at the sensor read-outs in shock. He'd already listened to a replay of the conversation ISS had had with John, and he'd seen the pictures, and he wasn't convinced. This had to be some cruel joke. His brain was telling him that those sensor readouts and that picture proved it wasn't a joke, but he had mourned for his friend, so his heart couldn't allow him to be back.

" DK are you okay?" Mel, a woman he'd worked with briefly before he'd quit his job with IASA, asked him and concern filled her face. DK snapped out of his unhappy reverie and he looked at the woman, noting not for the first time that she looked absolutely beautiful, if not more so, because she had that 'I-just-got-out-of-bed' look that a lot of the IASA personnel seemed to be sporting, only for none did it work so well as it worked for Mel.

" Yeah I'm fine," he lied quickly. Mel saw through the lie, but didn't want to upset him any further. " So who is that child?" DK asked frowning.

" We received a short transmission from the communications officer moments before you arrived telling us that she is the commander's daughter." Mel began.

" Daughter?" DK gasped. 'That settles it, that takes all credibility away from this joke, how can John have found another human out there, let alone a female, and let alone one pretty and intelligent enough to meet his high standards and then have a daughter with her?' he thought to himself bitterly. " I'm sorry Mel, but this has got to be some practical joke, this just isn't possible!"

" Would you like to talk to him, we've set up a video link so you can see him and he can see you." Mel began and DK jumped; would he be able to bring himself to see John. Hearing his voice had been bad enough.

" Well what about Jack, won't he want to see him first?" DK asked nervously, hiding his true reason for holding back.

" Jack is still an hour away DK, can you wait that long?" Mel asked frowning. DK gulped hard and shrugged his shoulders.

" No I guess not," he said and he sat down in front of the viewer. Mel told Biggs that DK was ready and Biggs (having not left the side of the monitor since he first spilt his coffee) relayed the message to the ISS and started setting up the link.

DK stared at the blank monitor and he could feel his heart pounding. This was the ultimate test. He knew the moment he saw whoever was out there, that he would be able to prove it wasn't John and that would be the end of it. John was dead!

" Okay DK, are you sure you're ready?" Mel asked and DK nodded uneasily, not taking his eyes away from the screen.

The screen flashed and then all of a sudden there he was, looking a little older, very tired and very.what was the word.wise. DK gulped again and his jaw fell open. 'This could all still be a joke' he reminded himself, but now John was smiling.no one could fake that smile. John was back. His friend was alive.

" Hey there DK," John eventually said.

" Uh...hi," DK stammered.

" Bit of a shock to see me again right?" John asked and DK could see sympathy in his weathered face.

" Uh yeah. So uh.how've you been?" John's face then broke out into a smile, and DK allowed himself a small smile too.

" I've had my ups and my downs," John replied. " You?" DK felt a lump building in his throat. should he tell him, tell him about giving up on him and turning away from the programme altogether?

" Oh yeah, been great." DK was lining up his next question when he heard a completely alien sound that made him shudder. John was looking at something. or someone that was just out of view, DK could just about make out an elbow and John was talking to it in that same alien language. Eventually he turned smiling back to the camera.

" DK I'd like you to meet someone," he said, and his face was beaming with pride and warmth. the same look he'd had on his face when they'd got the job at IASA. John then nodded to the person just out of sight and a little girl stepped cautiously into view. DK was astounded by how pretty she was. and she looked real enough. " This is my daughter Jamie." The alien child spoke again in what sounded like a disapproving tone. Whatever she said made John smile more. " Sorry," he told her and then he turned back on the camera. " I'll start again. I'd like you to meet my daughter Talyn Crais Jameson Crichton. it's a long story." he began.

" I was named after two heroes," the child interjected boldly. in English, but then she shrunk away under John's glare. He told her something in 'Alien' and she hung her head and nodded. Then John turned back on DK.

" Well say something," he laughed. DK shook himself out of his shock.

" I uh. don't know what to say John. I mean first you disappear into thin air, and then you come back ten years later with a kid.what am I supposed to say?" he said sounding desperate. " What happened to you out there?" John sighed.

" Look I know this is tough on you DK, it aint exactly easy for me either. what happened was I was sucked down a wormhole." He explained everything, leaving out nothing. Once he had explained the events that had led to him and Jamie suddenly reappearing he stopped and was amazed by the absolute silence that followed. Everyone, on the ISS and down in the headquarters had listened with bated breath.

The silence was broken by a voice that sent shivers up John's spine.

" Let me through, I have to see my son." Jack Crichton had forced his way past the dozens of bodies that filled the room. He had heard John's voice from down the corridor and had started running. Finally he pushed past Mel and Biggs and he was standing right behind DK. DK instantly jumped out of his seat and offered it to Jack, who collapsed into it in shock as he saw the sight in front of him.

* * *

Jamie stared at the man on the screen and decided once again that her father had not done the original justice in his sketches. He was so old to start with. Jamie had never seen a Sebation that old before; he had grey hair for crying out loud! She then studied her father's expression. It was one of complete joy and shock. John seemed to have entered a trance, as had the man on the screen.

" Dad," she said quickly in the language she spoke with her mother (Jamie wasn't aware of how translator microbes worked, but she knew that if she consciously tried to speak in the language of one species, she could). " Aren't you going to say anything? Everyone's waiting for you to speak!" Then she shook his arm and he did indeed jump out of his trance as did the man on the screen. To Jamie's surprise, the man on the screen broke into a huge smile. a smile that reminded her of her own father.

" You don't know how good it is to see you again son," Jack said eventually. Now it was John's turn to smile.

" I think I do," he said and the ice was broken. The father and son talked for another hour, until Jack suddenly became aware of Jamie's presence. He hadn't heard anything about the child yet.

" Son, who's that?" he asked pointing to her. Jamie had stood at her father's side faithfully throughout their whole conversation, not moving, keeping a neutral expression on her face. Jamie was trying to act like her mother would - indifferent.

John put his arm around Jamie and Jack suddenly realised that she needed no introduction, he could see it in their faces, in their mannerisms; he was looking at his granddaughter.

" Good God John, you're a father," Jack gasped before John could say anything. John smiled and nodded.

" This is Jamie," he said proudly. Jack stared at the child just as the scientists aboard the ISS had; it was a hungry look, that took in every detail of her appearance.

" But how." Jack began. John smiled.

" She's not human if that's what you're thinking. There's a species out there who look just like us, they're called Sebations. Well Jamie's mother is a Sebation," John explained.

Jamie hung her head again. Mentioning her mother hurt her, how was she ever going to see her again? She missed her so much, it was like having a whole chunk of her missing.

" So are there any more kids?" Jack asked eagerly. John shook his head smiling.

" Aeryn, her mother was critically injured a cycle after Jamie was born, now she can't have kids any more," John explained sadly.

" What about Warer and Breiyden?" Jamie said quickly. Jack jumped, he hadn't heard her before, he'd been too preoccupied with the sight of his son, but he heard her this time. Hearing this girl. his own flesh and blood talk in that alien language was terrifying. John noticed the surprise.

" Jay, you can talk in English now if you want," he said giving her an urgent look. Jamie frowned, but nodded.

" Okay, what about Warer and Breiyden?" she repeated in English.

" You're right," he told her smiling and then he turned back on his father who was looking a little more settled. " I have an adopted son called Warer. He's a Sebation, we rescued him from slavery five cycles ago and Breiyden is a peacekeeper teenager who we took on board three cycles ago, I looked after her a lot at first, she's like daughter to me!"

" And a cycle is?" Jack asked smiling.

" Yeah sorry, a cycle is little longer than a human year," John explained.

" And how old are you Jamie?" Jack asked his granddaughter directly. She cast John a serious look, who nodded.

" I'm seven cycles and three nomens," she said proudly. " I'm three weekens older than Warer!" she added even more proudly.

The reunited family talked for a further ten minutes, until Taylor interrupted saying they really couldn't wait any longer to ask some questions. The team down in headquarters had sent up some of their own questions and they had so many to get through. John regrettably said goodbye to his father, promising him that he'd talk to him again soon.

" If you'd like to follow me to the conference room please sir?" Julie asked John sounding embarrassed. John couldn't bring himself to smile at her, he was fed up with these people already. Instead he just took Jamie's hand and nodded to the woman. Julie led them quickly through a series of tight corridors to a more open room, which had a table and assorted chairs organised around it, everyone else from the crew were sitting down.

" Please sit down," Commander Taylor instructed the visitors. John sat down in a chair on the opposite side of the long table from all the others and after some consideration, he pulled Jamie onto his lap protectively.

" They're going to think I'm a baby," she hissed at him in her mother's language, though secretly she was glad for the security, this situation was getting a little scary.

" It's for your own good," he replied in the same language and then they turned on the others. John's hopes plummeted when he saw sheets and sheets of questions in front of the commander. This was going to take a while.

* * *

Moya had reached her destination and what they found there brought about some relief and a little more fear. They'd found no trace of the module.or anything for that matter. The solar system was devoid of life of any kind. It only had two planets, one of them showed signs of a settlement.or the ruins of one. The gang decided to go down planet side and investigate the settlement. Aeryn, D'Argo, Rygel, Tripp and Deacon were getting a transport pod ready for departure when Breiyden walked into the hanger.

" Yes what is it Breiyden?" Aeryn asked in an impatient tone. Breiyden felt uneasy with this attitude towards her. Aeryn was normally very supportive of Breiyden and treated her like one of her own. Aeryn was the one who convinced the crew to allow Breiyden to stay on Moya. she felt somehow responsible for the girl.

" I was wondering if I could come with you," Breiyden asked, sounding more confident than she was feeling. Aeryn smiled warily.

" I thank you for the offer, but you'll be much safer up here," Aeryn said firmly.

" I don't need to be safe, I need to help!" Breiyden said in a tone equal to that of Aeryn.

" Well I would feel better if you remained up here on Moya," Aeryn said, getting a little agitated. Why did Breiyden choose this moment to start regaining some of her independence?

" I have to help find them Aeryn! Don't you understand that I have to do this?" Breiyden said and her voice cracked with emotion.

" I'll watch her back if it would make you feel better," Deacon said walking over to Aeryn.

" I still don't think it is a good idea and would rather you stayed here," Aeryn said getting angry.

" Please Aeryn." Breiyden began.

" No, I've already lost my husband and daughter, I am not losing you!" Aeryn snapped and she stormed out leaving Breiyden both touched and furious.

" It's okay kid, I'll go talk to her," Deacon told the youngster and he walked out following Aeryn.

* * *

John had spent two whole hours answering questions, and they weren't even half way through the pile of sheets either. John insisted though on taking a break so he and Jamie could have a rest, they were both growing tired now.

The most junior member of the ISS crew Sam was given the orders to lead the two of them to a cabin. He did this excitedly, asking more questions on the way. John answered them with as much detail as he could muster in his drowsiness, but was happy when they reached the cabin and were led inside. It was small, not very nicely furnished, but it had two beds, which was all they needed. John thanked Sam, who rushed off beaming.

" Dad, what are we going to do?" Jamie asked the second the door was closed. " We cannot go down to the planet! You could see it in the faces of the people down on the surface. it wouldn't be safe for me!" John sighed and nodded. She was right, as usual, but oh how he wished she was wrong this time.

" Look, we don't have to think about that yet," he said. " But one way or the other, we need to plan how we're going to get back."

" Dad I don't think that it was a wormhole that got us here," Jamie announced simply, voicing for the first time what she'd been thinking. John frowned, he'd been thinking the same thing, but how had she picked up on it? She was too clever for her own good!

" I agree," he replied.

" It's too much of a coincidence isn't it, getting back to Earth like that?" she said and fear entered her voice. John's heart went out to her; how scared she must be, but she would never let on to something like that. She was half peacekeeper, she had their pride in her genes. or Aeryn had taught her too much. Either way, an onlooker would think that Jamie didn't have a sense of fear, or any sensitivity, but when you truly got to know the child, you discovered that she did get very scared and she was in fact very sensitive. She just knew how to hide it.

John sat down on one of the beds and leant against the wall, before motioning for Jamie to sit next to him. She rushed to his side and snuggled into the crook of his arm.

" I know you're scared kid, you don't have to hide it with me," he said gently. Jamie felt her tears welling up again and she brushed them away.

" I just miss mom," she whispered. " She's probably driving herself insane right now daddy! She'll loose it totally, like when we were on Delron, she'll just turn insane!"

The incident Jamie was referring to was when John, Jamie, Warer and Breiyden had been taken captive by the Androlians and sent to the concentration camp. Aeryn had stormed in and killed fifteen Androlian guards single-handed before and of the other Moya gang made it down to the planet. Aeryn tended to loose is when her family was in danger.

John agreed with Jamie.

" I'm sure D'Argo and the others are watching over her, don't worry," he said grimly and he kissed the side of her head.

They sat there for a long time, until John realised Jamie had fallen asleep. So he lay her down and climbed onto the other bed. He wasn't really in the mood for sleeping, there was too much to be done, but he had to preserve his strength. So he looked at his daughter's silent form one more time and then closed his eyes.

* * *

More to come soon!