Chapter Six – History Lesson

The next morning Alora met Colonel Shepherd in the commissary for breakfast. After discussing their respective schedules for the day they settled on meeting in the training room for their mother-son talk. It was difficult for both of them to concentrate on the tasks at hand since they were both so nervous about that evening. Dr. Weir saw how distracted Colonel Shepherd was, and knowing the situation, called him into her office.

"You obviously talked to Alora, she's requested to stay," she asked.

"Yeah, we spoke for a few minutes last night and we're having a sit down tonight," John confirmed.

"Are you going to be OK? Do you want someone to be with you?"

"I think things are going to be alright, and this is something I have to do alone," John answered.

"My door's always open if you need to talk," Elizabeth said.

"I appreciate that, thanks," John said before excusing himself from her office.

Dinner seemed to take forever and John rushed to his quarters to change into street clothes before heading down to the training room. He got there and found the room empty and checked his watch, he was a full fifteen minutes earlier than the agreed upon time. Only a couple of minutes went by before the doors slid open and Alora entered trying to contain her laughter.

"What's so funny?" John asked.

"There's a new rumor going around the city," She answered.

"You mean they've moved on from the ones about you?" he asked. "So, what's it about?"

"It's gotten around that you and Dr. Weir were in Dr. Beckett's office yesterday alone going over some kind of test results," Alora explained.

"Yeah…" he said his concern beginning to grow.

She said with a smile, "Apparently Dr. Weir is expecting and you're the father. Why didn't you tell me I was going to be a grandmother?"

"What!"

"Don't worry, no one's really taking it seriously, it's just something juicy to share," Alora assured him. "It'll blow over."

"But still," John said.

"C'mon, take a seat," Alora said as she moved over to one of the built-in benches.

John took a seat near her and asked, "So, when exactly were you around?"

"First day of school, the day you entered the Air Force, the day you finished flight training," she said. "The day of the crash."

"The angel," John said.

"And while you were at that first foster home," she said softly.

"My imaginary friend," John said, "But he was a white tiger I named Bob."

"Yeah, that took a little getting used to," She said.

"Tell me about dad," John requested.

"He was a good man, so kind and gentle, that's what made him such a good doctor," Alora said with a sad smile, "He was doing his pediatrics rotation when we met. He was working night shifts, I used to visit the sick children. I saw how he was with them, especially the terminal ones. When he found out I was pregnant he was so happy. He loved you so much, we both did."

"I wish I could remember him," John said sadly.

"You can," Alora said.

"How?"

"Take my hand," she said as she held it out for him.

John took her hand in his and his mind was pulled into a spiral of thoughts and emotions. Just as he thought he was about to be buried by the chaos everything stilled.

"Sorry, that takes a little getting used to," Alora's voice said, "You can open your eyes."

John opened his eyes and found himself standing in the center of a hospital room surrounded by beds with children in them.

"Where are we?" he asked as he looked around.

"My memory," Alora said as he noticed for the first time that everything seemed to be bigger than he thought it should be. "Once your father enters, everything will play out as the original events did."

She was dressed as a young mom right out of the seventies and she was tall, far taller than she was in the real world.

"What are you wearing?" he asked.

Alora smiled and said, "I'd find a mirror before I ask that question in that tone."

John spied the reflective surface of a full length mirror on a wall between two of the beds and quickly ran over to it. He gasped in surprise when he saw his reflection. He wasn't himself anymore, he looked to be a young boy of about four or five years old. Worse yet was the fact that he was dressed in a sailor suit and little white shoes.

"What the hell is this?" He asked as he turned to face Alora.

"That's what you were wearing in my memory of this day," she explained.

"But a sailor suit?" he whined.

"Is that my little man?" came a cheerful voice from the doorway.

John looked up to see a tall man, just over six feet with sandy blonde hair and green eyes dressed in slacks and a lab coat. A stethoscope hung around his neck and a sheet of clown stickers peaked from the pocket on his coat.

"Dad?" John asked.

"Johnny," the man said and knelt down as he opened his arms wide.

Without hesitation John ran into the man's embrace and was picked up into an enthusiastic hug.

"I missed you dad," John whispered.

"I know son, these late shifts stink, but they're almost over." Martin Shepherd said then pulled back to look his son in the face, "Then we have two whole weeks just you and me and your mom. We're going to go see the Grand Canyon and the mountains and we'll go fishing. We're going to have so much fun."

Martin shifted his son over to his hip as Alora approached them, a smile of contentment on her face. She leaned in and gave her husband a kiss on the lips then turned and placed a soft kiss on John's forehead.

"Let's get going, since you were so good today, why don't we stop by the store for some ice cream?" Alora suggested.

"Sounds good to me, how 'bout you?" Martin asked his son.

"Yeah!" John agreed joyfully as he threw his arms around his father's neck.

The happy family made their way out to the car in the parking lot and Alora passed the keys to her husband. All three of them climbed into the front seat of their sedan and headed for the grocery store. They got their ice cream and Alora kept her eyes on her husband and young son as they talked all the way back to their house.

"Alright little man, it's time for bed," Martin said once they finished their ice cream.

"Do I have to?" John whined.

"Yes, go get ready, we'll be up to tuck you in soon," Alora said as she gave her young son a gentle shove towards the stairs.

John's shoulders were slumped in disappointment as he made his way up the flight of steps. When he reached the top he turned around to see his mother in his father's arms. They both had radiant smiles on their faces just before they leaned in for a kiss. John smiled and turned to go to his bedroom. He was surprised when he knew exactly where his bedroom and the small, turquoise colored bathroom were. He put on a pair of space themed pajamas and climbed into his small bed with matching sheets. A couple of minutes later his mother and father entered and sat on the edge of the bed.

"Good night Johnny," Martin said as he leaned in and gave John a light kiss on his forehead, "I love you."

"I love you too daddy," John said just before they all heard the phone ring.

"I better get that, see you tomorrow," Martin said then got up and left the room.

"Sleep well my little boy," Alora said as she too gave John a kiss on the forehead.

"Momma, sing to me," the little boy requested.

"Ok," Alora said then began to softly sing what John had heard in the corridor.

John's eyes slowly slid closed and Alora gently ran her thumb across his little cheek as she finished the lullaby.