A/N: Thank you so much for the lovely reviews. They meant a lot to me. Especially Cocogirl. Thank you so much. I just also found out through the wonder that is my stat page that Teri BBF on her C2 page. And for a writer as such as her to include me...well it's a great honor. Anyway, the next installement will be posted next week. Enjoy!
-Chapter Five: A road trip and a holiday -
For the first time in Melinda Russell's life, she felt freedom. True freedom. No one dictating where she was doing or who she spoke to or even how she looked, nor how she behaved. She was simply free to be her. And it felt glorious! Since Dover, she drove through Washington, DC and took in the sights. She went to Lincoln Memorial, and the Capital building. Oliver in the middle of the tour of the Capital building, coped his first temper tantrum. Which they got dirty looks from the tour guide from.
Melinda, who was used to dealing with inefficient idiots, gave the tour guide a cold look that cold put a chill in fear in the coldest of hearts. A look that to the stupid little man that he exactly who he was missing with. And it certainly wasn't any ordinary mother. And that effect squelch any other dirty looks from the tour guide.
Next, they walked the streets of DC. And they played on a real play ground which was a first experience with Olive. The mother and son played on swings, and the jungle gym. It made her feel as though she was five years old again. They ate junk food, and was conned by a very smart four year old into watching Barney, which she will never admit to in a million years. Then they drove to through New York, and they had a picnic in central park. And shopped for brand new clothes in the village. They ate New York's famous hot dogs. Some of which, ended up spilling on the her and the the poor hot dog vendor, who just shrugged it off. He explained that it was nothing new when you're the father of small kids. Which got a small chuckle out of the normal frigid Melinda Parker.
And as the time went on She felt like she was leaving Ms. Parker behind. Oh she still had her temper, (the incident at the Capital building was prime example). She long ago accepted the fact that her temper was always going to be apart of her.
Mel shaked off her inner musings, and looked into the rear view mirror as they passed the Virginia state line. She couldn't believe how much younger she looked, now with her sun kissed brown hair, and the minimal makeup she wore. She didn't have time any more to be too glamorous. Oliver, and life on the run kept her pretty busy. They looking for her. And was hard to be always looking over your shoulder. Never staying in one play long enough. At times she would wonder how Jarod did it over the years, and still kept his sanity. 'Only God Knows."
She looked back at her sleeping son in the car seat. The dark haired boy head dropped to one side. She couldn't help but chuckle how since they left the Centre, two weeks ago the little boy was happier than she had ever seen him. How vibrant he was, and how kind he was. Every little minute with him, was a precious gift that was more precious than gold. He reminded her so much of his father at times that it hurt, but what surprised Melinda the most was how easily it was to be around the little boy, even when he had the occasional temper tantrum ( that further proved that he was indeed his mother's son). Oliver was very smart and well spoken for a four year old. He spoke words that were for the most were far too complicated for someone who wasn't even pre-k yet. It just confirmed that he would later reeked the benefits of having both Jarrod's and Sher's DNA. benfits that came with a terrible price that she hoped that she could be strong enough to protect her child from.
She couldn't help but smile more, when in his presence. Oliver, like his father had the conspicuous ability to wrap himself around her heart. And she loved him so much now, that it hurt. Oliver was always an affectionate boy, even with his Centre up bringing. He was always quick to give a person a hug or kiss. Yet even sometimes he was painfully shy, depending on the person he was around. He had a heart as big as his fathers. Painfully so. A lot of things that her son did reminded her of Jarod. And it was a constant pain, ache in her chest. Yet another constant comfort was the connection, the affinity to their love for one another that she was constantly with her.
Another small comfort was the mental link that she shared. It was sometimes so very hard to be a single mother, and to not have Jarod by her side was slowly killing her, but the link was ever constantly giving her the love and strength to continue on. And in return, she sent the link her gratitude and joy and return got a mixture of love and laughter. Every time she would feel the link, it would make her day a little bit better.
Melinda, looked at the clock on the dashboard, and grimaced. It was almost midnight. It was a more than a little pass the little tike's bed time. He needed to be in bed, and so did she. So as she passed the town of Gavinton ( which was several miles outside of Richmond), they stopped at the Tate Inn at the very edge of town.
Melinda still didn't know exactly hers and Oliver's destination. The only thing she knew that wanted to be as far away from Blue Cove and the memories it held their, as possible. Even now two weeks later, she still didn't know where she was going. Yet for the first time in her life, she wasn't going to plan anything. She was just going to follow where fate led her and her little boy. And for now that was enough for her.
Major Doctor Samantha Carter began to realize after the third day of her vacation, why she never took vacations. Outside of work, she didn't have any other close friends. It was always too much of an hassle, and a pain in the ass to continually lie to friends or boyfriends for that matter. She for the lack of a better word to define it, she had a secret identity. On the outside looking in, She had her normal life, far away from parasitic Gouald, she was just scientist. A great scientist, and a solider. And for the better part didn't do too much combat in the field. For which her unknowing brother, Mark, was grateful.
Yet in the small realm of her job, she was part of the greatest team assembled in the SGC, and consequently the first. She was part of SG-1. Who were not only her friends, her colleagues, but her family. The people that supported her, encouraged her, made her laugh when all she wanted to do was cry for days. The people who held her together when the bad days came. Teal'c, Daniel, and especially the Colonel held a part of her. And visa versa. It was what made them an extraordinary team. In the realm that she came from, she was admired, trusted, revered for her brain, and because she was damn good solider to boot.
However at home, she was a little bit lost without her family. The toneless that came with an empty house. It didn't held any laughter, or love, but especially she didn't have the joy of knowing that there was someone she could come home to, that would be waiting for her. And it never will be. It was enough to bring her to tears, but instead she did what she always did, when the facts of her pathiec social life came into focus for her. She worked, and cleaned. Tried to kept her self busy, but was met with the humongous silence of her home. And this time she couldn't escape in the company of good friends, or go back to work. Colonel O'Neil banned her from the base for the entire month! He wanted her to 'enjoy her vacation'. Bah! Teal' and Daniel were offworld at the moment. Teal'c was home, visiting Ry'ac, while Daniel was on a dig with SG-9 that he was hoping to go to. The Colonel went where he always went on his vacations--the elusive cabin. So she was left alone, channel surfing, in her quiet house. Her boring and quiet house. Then suddenly a idea popped in her head as she was looking at a documentary on the Hell's angels.
She hadn't been on her bike for a while, not with her ever pressing irresponsibilities. And she could use a change of sceneary...So why not do some traveling on her bike. Make her own adventure? What was stopping her?
Nothing, absolutely nothing.
So that's it! She was going, and nothing was going to stop short of apocalypse was going to stop her! She hurriedly clicked off her television. Grabbed her keys, and headed out to the store to buy supplies, before her brain could talk her out of it. She was going to have the best vacation ever, even if killed her!