Murphy's Law- Chapter Five
Taylor Kane
Disclaimer: I do not own, etc.
Thanks to my wonderful beta. Cheers.
Warning: This is AU and is a SeaQuest/Stargate crossover. It takes place in the SeaQuest timeframe (Season Two). I've just jumped Stargate (Season Five) a few years into the future. It suits my purposes. This is a sequel to The Search For One's Self.
I have had three great loves in my life: Rose, Shar'ee and my son, Lucas.
Sha're's death had left me a little weary of love. The pre-ascension SG1 behaviour had left me a little weary of relationships in general. As a result, I guess you could say that I had isolated myself. Lucas changed that… he gave me something to live for.
My son.
I'm not saying it was all easy but it was worth it.
He was such an amazing person. His blond hair and blue eyes that seemed to shine with humour drew people to him, especially the girls. And talk about intelligent… so much like his mother.
I don't think he ever really noticed the effect he had on people.
I only really knew my son for ten months; a fact that I'm still desperately trying to deal with.
Seven years ago, despite my hatred for psychologists and their lot, I agreed to see a therapist. I realize now that when I had first met Lucas, I had been suffering from depression. Everything had been too hard. I felt that I was to blame for everything that went wrong. And while Lucas was a light in my life, it hadn't really been enough.
When I died, I had had three choices: to die, to ascend or to live with who knows what consequences. I know I made the right choice but perhaps for the wrong reason. I chose to ascend to protect my son. Doesn't sound too bad does it? I chose to ascend to protect him from me. At the time, I had seen myself as a danger to anyone who knew me, especially my loved ones.
Despite my frustration, I know I was right to ascend. I may not have been able to continue the fight the way I had hoped but I know that I was able to help even a small few. Time has returned some of my ascension memories, so this I know for a fact. I don't remember the details of who, what, when and how. But I remember enough.
As for my pre-ascension memories, it took over twelve months for them to return completely; A very frustrating time.
Dreams had played a significant role in their return. By my second month back on Earth, I had begun dreaming about a blond haired figure. However, it wasn't until I came across a photo of this figure that I began to research who this person was. SG1 denied knowing the person in the photo, as did the rest of the SGC. But bit by bit, I was able piece together the mystery of the blond haired figure. Imagine my surprise when I found out (for the second time) that his blond haired figure was Lucas Wolencheck, my son. A son that nobody seemed to know about, and I wasn't about to tell them now.
Now that I had a name, finding the blond haired figure was easy. There were many articles on the net about one Lucas Wolencheck. According to various media resources, Lucas Wolencheck had been a child progeny.
A scientific genius who had, single handedly, revolutionized interspecies communication. Assigned to the SeaQuest DSV as a civilian scientist, Dr. Wolencheck had played a significant role in many scientific and technological discoveries. Dr. Wolencheck had been an asset to both the UEO and the scientific community. They would mourn the loss…
Loss… Dr. Wolencheck had been one of the crewmembers aboard the SeaQuest DSV when it went missing six months previously. The crew members of the SeaQuest had been listed as MIA, presumed dead.
It's taken me a few years, but I have learnt to deal with it. To deal with the loss of my parents, Rose, Sarah, Sha're and Lucas. I'm not saying that I'm over it… but I can deal and move on.
Three years ago, I met Emily. That is Captain Emily Reinhart. Twelve months ago, Emily and I married. Two days ago, Emily and I discovered we're going to be parents. Emily is nine weeks pregnant… unplanned, yes, but not unwanted.
I'm happy… extremely happy. And perhaps a little sad. I'm going to be a father again… and while I'm looking forward to the birth of my second child, I miss my first born.
Emily understands. She is the only person, besides my therapist, that knows about my son. She will quite willingly sit for hours listening to me tell stories about my son. Some nights, she will ask to hear a certain story, even if she has already heard it many times before.
Flashback:
"Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday, dear Daniel. Happy birthday to you," sang Emily as she pounced on the figure, desperately attempting to return to sleep.
"Mmm… sleeping," came the tired voice from beneath the blankets.
"Come on, baby… wakey wakey… it's not every day that a man turns…"
"Don't you dare finish that sentence, " growled Daniel as he surfaced to the daylight.
"Or what, tough guy," laughed Emily, "you can't even open your eyes."
"Ohhh… is that right," teased Daniel as he grabbed his wife, "that's it... tickle fest.. right now."
'No…" giggled Emily, "Daniel... don't … no.. DANIEL."
Five minutes later.
"Good morning, Mrs. Jackson," spoke Daniel, after they had both settled down.
"Good morning, Mr. Jackson. How is the birthday boy this morning?" replied Emily.
"A little tired, it would appear that my loving wife kept me up to all hours last night and insisted on waking me up at the crack of dawn this morning," groaned Daniel.
"Kept you up? Listen buddy, it takes two to tango… besides… you kept me up," jokingly argued Emily. "Besides, if you want to meet the others at Treableys for you birthday brunch then you had better get your gorgeous ass out of bed."
"Gorgeous, hey? I'll tell my wife you said so," teased Daniel as he headed for the closet. "So who's coming to the brunch? Whose idea was it to have a brunch? What happened to parties? When did I get to old for a party?"
"I believe it was a unanimous decision. Sam and I decided that after the 'mower' incident at Jack's party that there was no way we were having a party for at least twelve months. You boys cause too much trouble," explained Emily.
"Trouble? Me?" Daniel replied innocently.
"Yes Mr. Rally Racer.. don't make me go to the video evidence," threatened Emily.
"No.. not the video evidence," mocked Daniel, as he finished dressing himself.
"Shut up, you… you're getting as bad as Jack," said Emily as she wrapped her arms around her husband.
"Okay.. good enough reason," replied Daniel as he stole a kiss. "So... what did you get me?"
"You mean you don't want to wait till we get to the restaurant," mocked Emily, as she unwrapped herself and headed for the bedside table.
"Nope… prezzie now," demanded Daniel, sounding like a young child.
"From babe to baby," commented Emily as they sat down together on the bed. "Happy birthday, babe," she continued as she handed the brightly wrapped present over.
Daniel, neat as ever, ripped the packaging from the present. He stared at it.
How did I get so lucky? This beautiful, thoughtful woman is my wife.
"Daniel? Is it okay?… I mean I thought you would like it…," chattered Emily nervously.
"How?" asked Daniel as he stared down at the book before him. The book Emily had given wasn't just any book.
"I loved hearing the stories you told me about Lucas… I wanted our children to know about their brother. I hope you don't mind I raided your photos and made copies. It is okay, isn't it, Daniel?" questioned Emily.
Daniel lovingly stroked the cover of the book as he replied, " No one has ever done anything so wonderful for me before. Thank you."
Emily had a hidden talent for writing, not something she shared with many people. But something she was willing to share with her husband.
Daniel had shared many stories about Lucas… now recorded here in the book Emily had written. From the pale blue cover to the written words, it was obvious that a lot of effort had gone into the book. 'A boy named Lucas' declared the cover. Daniel's eyes were drawn to the picture… the drawing had obviously been sketched from a photo that Daniel had taken of Lucas. One of the many happy, smiling pictures Daniel had taken during their ten months as father and son.
Inside the cover were fifteen short stories, all based on a boy named Lucas. His Lucas.
"I love you.. you know that don't you," declared Daniel.
"Yeah, babe, I do… I love you too," smiled Emily.
"Thank you," repeated Daniel.
Together they had spent the next hour reading through the stories… laughing and crying.
It was Emily who had discovered that they were running late.
"You know Jack will blame you don't you," laughed Emily, running for the door.
"I can see him now.. never trust a archaeologist," mocked Daniel as he place the special book in a safe place and headed for the car. "The door, Jane… the birthday boy needs a chauffeur."
"The birthday boy needs a kick up the rear... but you don't see me doin' it do ya?" returned Emily, as she started the engine.
"Aww… the romantic things you say to me," replied Daniel, as they drove off to the restaurant.
Present:
"Daniel…. Daniel, you have a meeting with the General. You know what he will say if you're late," admonished Marsha, Daniel's personal assistant. Standing next to Marsha was Emily, neither looked impressed by Daniel's time keeping.
"Nag, nag , nag Marsha.. that's what I've got a wife for," teased Daniel, looking over at Emily.
"Make that soon to be ex-wife," joked Emily, as she followed her husband through the hallways and into the meeting room.
One of General O'Neill's initial command decisions had been to institute weekly staff meeting for Department Heads and senior officers. The meeting was a general debrief about the going on's in the various departments and the key SGC and SGA teams.
The meetings always started in a military like fashion. But tradition held, that after approximately one hour, the General would dismiss all but the department heads and SG2 leader, aka Daniel, Teal'c, Sam and Captain Emily Jackson, commander of SG2. All titles were then discarded at this time, leaving five friends discussing the fate of the earth.
Sometimes decisions were made, problems shared… but sometimes it was just a chance to escape from the responsibilities that they had all taken on. Today was the later.
"Excuse me, General, Sir," interrupted the General's aide.
"Yes, Thomas?" responded General O'Neill, turning in his chair to stare at the aide.
"News from Washington, Sir," replied Thomas, shifting uncomfortably.
"Yes…" came the not so patient response from Jack.
"Ah… the SeaQuest DSV has been found. Ninety percent of the crew; military and civilian accounted for," spoke Thomas. "General Sames requests that you…"
Found… the SeaQuest… Ninety percent… is it possible? Could Lucas? Please God… please let Lucas be part of that ninety percent... please…I don't think I could bear it.. please.
"Sam… you gather your scientific team and go with Rescue Teams 4 and 7. Three teams should be enough to help with the search and rescue. Teal'c, Daniel, Emily.. I don't think you will be needed for now. Dismissed," commanded General O'Neill as he headed off to phone the General back.
"Jack… I need… Jack, I really need to be there," came the quiet demand from Daniel before the General could leave the room.
"General, request permission to accompany Dr. Jackson to the SeaQuest, site," requested Emily.
"Daniel? Emily? Anything you want to tell me?" questioned the confused General.
"Not at the moment, Jack... just please…. I need to be there," begged Daniel, desperation showing in his eyes.
"I wanna hear all about it when you return," stated Jack, "Permission granted Captain Jackson. Please accompany Dr. Jackson and ensure his safe return."
"Yes, sir," replied Emily before saluting and leading her husband out of the room.
"Teal'c," spoke Jack," Go along and keep an eye on Danny. I don't know what's going on but it has him upset." Seeing Teal'c's nod, General returned to his office to make his phone calls.