By Friday night, Lee'al had had enough.
They had arrived on Monday afternoon, and were scheduled to fly out early Wednesday morning. And things weren't getting any better. Everyone managed to be civil in front of the children, but only barely. When the children weren't around, the air was filled with either acrimonious words or a stony silence. Alyson, Sam, and Lee'al tried to play peacemaker, but as often as not were drawn in to the fights themselves. Thankfully, although both Mark and his wife had taken time off for the visit, they still had to work some; it allowed time for tempers to cool. But it didn't take long for them to flare back up again. Mark was always spoiling for a fight, and Jake's temper was nothing to boast about, even with Selmak to help calm him down. Each fight covered the same territory over and over, like a pair of system lords battling over a planet, leaving only ashes in their wake.
Clearly, Something Had To Be Done.
##I don't like this,## Nelaris said for the hundredth time. Lee'al ignored her. The one real problem with the symbiotes was that their view of things was far too long; it went hand in hand with a lifetime that could last thousands of years. There were times it was a very good thing, but this was not one of them. Yes, Selmak and Nelaris had thousands of years to wait; Jake and Lee'al had hundreds, thanks to their symbiotes. Mark didn't. Re-building what little relationship he and Jake had had been a difficult challenge; re-building it under these circumstances, if the visit ended as it had began, would be damn near impossible. And she didn't know for certain what the effect of that would be on Jacob, but from the desolation she'd seen in his eyes when they were alone, she had a pretty good idea. Lee'al did not intend for that to happen. She had a plan.
It required careful planning, not least because if Jake caught any wind of it, he would try to prevent it. She squashed her uneasiness at going behind his back, which would have been much easier without the host/symbiote bond; Nelaris wasn't helping, and the fact that disentangling the emotions of the host from the emotions of the symbiote was next to impossible made it that much harder. It was for her mate's own good, she reminded herself.
It had been decided that Jake would take his grandkids and the three women to Seaworld the next day. Mark would not be accompanying them, but Mary had invited a friend. Which meant that two cars would be needed.
Which meant that it would be child's play to separate herself from the group and miss the trip. With a little help, of course.
"Alyson, can we talk for a minute?"
Mark's wife looked up from where she crouched in front of the washing machine, and pushed a strand of frizzy brown hair behind her ear. "Sure," she said. "Just let me get the laundry started and we can go someplace quiet."
Jacob and Sam were in the family room playing a board game called Monopoly. Nelaris would have been fascinated to stay and study the game, and the picture of Tau'ri socio-economic attitudes and structure it gave, but Mark was sitting in a corner reading a book, and she avoided him when possible; until and unless he calmed down, her presence only made it worse. They would not be surprised if she was absent for a time, and Alyson made a habit of puttering around the house doing small chores around this time of night.
After Alyson had started the laundry, she led Lee'al into the spare bedroom that she and Jake were sharing. "So, what do you want to talk about?"
Lee'al curled up on the bed and invited Alyson to join her. "Well, I think we both agree that the situation can't be allowed to continue as it is. There's too much anger flying around for the situation to be resolved on its own, and nothing anyone's tried so far has made the situation any better. In fact, most of the things we've tried have only made it worse."
"I know." Alyson sighed and plopped down beside Lee'al. It was the least guarded moment she'd had all week. "I'm sorry about Mark, I really am. I don't know what's going on inside his head. He's not usually like this. I expected an outburst when you showed up and he got his first look at you, but nothing like this. Jacob is trying so hard to reach out—well, most of the time—and Mark just keeps lashing out."
"Well, I think he comes by it honestly. From what I know of Jacob, twenty years ago he would have reacted exactly the same. It's why they didn't speak for so long." Lee'al shrugged. "Jacob mellowed out a great deal as he aged, and hopefully Mark will do the same. The problem is, by the time he's ready to take the next step and rebuild their relationship, it might be too late. Now, you'll forgive me if I don't really care much about how that makes Mark feel after this week, but it would hurt Jake very much."
"I don't blame you, but you'll forgive me if I do care how Mark feels about it." Alyson cocked her head. "You know, that's the first time since you've been here that you've made a reference to Jake's age?"
"I generally don't pay much attention to it. I don't think age is relevant in our case." Lee'al smiled. "Besides, Jake pays enough attention to it for the both of us. I think he's gotten over it, but sometimes he'll say or think the oddest things." She shook her head. "I thought that was all it was when he was so nervous about bringing me to visit. I should have listened to him. I knew their relationship was precarious enough as it was, it didn't need any added complications."
"You can't blame yourself for my husband being an asshole about the whole thing."
"No, but I can blame myself for not listening to his father who had a good idea it was possible." Lee'al paused, looking around the room. In contrast to the rest of the house, it was fairly bland. White walls, beige curtains and bed-set, brown carpet. Memory of the last few nights spent holding Jake in this very bed, comforting him as he dealt with the situation she had created, helped her continue despite Nelaris' continued misgivings. "I think that if I can talk with Mark—really talk, just the two of us with no interruptions—I may be able to bring him around."
"I doubt it," Alyson shook her head. "Normally, I'd say go ahead and try, but not the way he's acting."
"Could it possibly hurt?"
"Point. So, what kind of help do you need from me?"
Lee'al turned so she could look her right in the eye. "I need you to get everyone else out of the house tomorrow, without Jake realizing I'm not with you, at least at first. And then when he does realize I'm not there, I need you to keep him from coming home and interrupting us right away. You might need the kids' help. Jake's not going to like what I'm going to tell Mark, but it's for his own good."
Alyson laughed. "You don't ask for much, do you? And what, may I ask, are you going to tell him?"
"I'm going to tell him exactly what it is we do for a living." Lee'al shrugged. "I don't have as great a respect for 'need to know' and 'classified' as Jake has, and I think the whole situation is ridiculous. Jake'll forgive me, I know; he thinks the way the government is trying to keep it secret is almost as silly as I do. It'll be public knowledge soon enough, anyway. Given all that's happening, I'm shocked they've managed to keep it under wraps this long. No, telling Mark won't seriously hurt anything, and Jacob knows that. He'll be upset, but his bark is worse than his bite. And if it fixes his relationship with his son, I think he'll come around."
"So, do I get to know what this deep dark secret is? Are you searching for Osama bin Laden, or something like that?"
"It's a long story, and we don't want anyone to get suspicious. You'll find out soon enough, but for now why don't we plan out tomorrow's mission?"
"Fair enough."
"Granddad, can Lee'al ride with Mom and I?" Mary asked. It was eight-thirty, and they had hoped to be on the road by now, but the effort of getting three teens ready to go that early on a Saturday morning had killed that timetable. Ten years ago, Jacob would have been upset by the delay; now, he just sat back and watched the chaos. Selmak was rather amused by it all; he'd commented earlier that most major missions against the Goa'uld took less planning and preparation.
"Sure, honey," Jacob said with a smile, glad Mary at least was warming up to her.
"Thanks." Mary gave him a peck on the cheek and scampered back to where she and her friend were chatting with Lee'al. Standing next to the two younger girls, his mate appeared no older than they, and Jacob suppressed the customary twinge of unease at the thought. Even after over five years with the Tok'ra, he hadn't quite gotten over the habit of judging age based on the host's appearance.
##It's quite understandable, under the circumstances,## Selmak commented. ##As long as you are aware of it and don't let it mislead you. Such mental adjustments take time, and usually that's one of the last to happen. Nelaris and Lee'al understand.##
Yeah, but Mark doesn't.
##He would if you'd just tell him the truth,## Selmak said quietly. It was the symbiote's equivalent of muttering under his breath, and Jacob ignored it. Selmak was good at that sort of thing, and Jacob knew he had a point, but there was still enough Air Force in him to defend "need to know."
"Okay, I think we're all ready." Alyson came out of the house, carrying a backpack with her. Brian trailed after her, yawning pointedly and munching on a breakfast bar.
"You ready to go, kiddo?" Jacob asked Brian. Sam was already sitting in the car waiting for them.
"Sure," Brian said. He started around the hedge to the car parked in the street in front of the house.
Jacob smiled at Lee'al, who was climbing into the back seat of Alyson's Chevy. She waved back at him, then said something to Alyson that Jacob didn't catch. "I'll see you there," he said, and followed his grandson out front.
Once the obligatory debate over who got shotgun had been concluded (Jacob laughingly gave in to Brian's demand; after all, with Selmak to handle any cramps or stiffness, the backseat was no hardship to him), Sam started the car and they were on their way. Alyson pulled out of the driveway right behind them.
"So, Brian, you say you want to be a marine biologist when you grow up. What's your favorite kind of whale?"
Lee'al smiled as Alyson turned out of the driveway. Mary waved at her, and they were gone. Lee'al waited for a few minutes to be sure they were out of sight before rising from her position hidden behind the shrub. Mary sure had been eager to help, she thought fondly; the girl was no dunce, and was quite aware of the tense relationships around her.
Turning, Lee'al headed for the gate beside the driveway that led to the backyard. There was no telling how long Alyson and Mary would manage to keep Jacob from finding her gone, or if they'd manage to keep him there once he found out. Best to make use of what time she had.
Rounding the corner of the house, she spotted Mark already hard at work pruning the maple tree in which his children had built their fort. A pile of branches had already been accumulated at the base of the tree. Perfect. She came to a halt behind him.
"Mark, we need to talk."