Disclaimer- I don't own the characters or anything to do with Stargate
Warnings-none
Summary- Told from the views of the Atlantis team as children, we uncover hidden pasts.
Still at the hospital- they want to keep me in for 'a night or so' but; Presents! True, it's only a few of them. . I get five presents now, five more tomorrow. Can't carry them all, John. These Canadians are so annoying, I'll bet it's because they know that America is so much better than their country. Why we had to come here for Christmas...oh right, Aunt Judy...i wish that kid would stop looking at me...
We are going away for a while, through the ring of the ancestors, until the village is rebuilt a bit. I can see the looks everyone gives us, looks of sympathy, so much sympathy. There isn't enough room on this world for all of us who travelled here, so we look to another. We are welcomed into the home of a lady who is ill.
It was Jeannie. This is good for the following reasons; 1)if it was Dad, he'd shout at me, 2) if it was Mom she'd lecture me and 3) Jeannie drove me straight to the hospital. I'm lying here, just waiting...my leg needs surgery- thats never good, right? There's a boy in the bed opposite me, he's just surrounded with people- I'm surprised he can breathe. Everyone is showering him with gifts...okay theres about five or six, but still. Jeannies trying to explain whats going on over the phone, Mom and Dad are mad...I feel really alone.
I'm forced to give up. She hasn't turned up and the market has gone for another week, my mother is going to be very disappointed. No rush, I don't need to run into 'I'm very disappointed'...on second thoughts the waiting is worse, start to run.
What's your problem? I ask the boy, Quit staring at me! My mom lightly clips me around the ear, Don't be rude! He looks away and I start to notice stuff. No family, no friends... no presents! It's Christmas day and he's by himself! I start to feel bad because he's right in frontof me and i'm almost flaunting my good fortune. Earlier i told my mom that I was thirsty and she tapped my dad to go and get me a drink...who's there to do that for him?
I ask the lady if she'd like some help; with cooking, with cleaning, with anything. She says no, but thankyou for offering. My son will be home soon, he will help me. But, i say, we are taking advantage of your hospitality. She laughs, if you feel that way so strongly, I will allow you to wash the vegetables.
Night came and I hugged my pillow. The boy opposite me whispers to me. Hey, he says, what did you do? He's an American, i gathered that from earlier. I fell out of my window. I whisper back, you? Down the stairs. I'm John. Rodney.
I get home and there are people in my house. Mother, I say loudly, who are they? They are from another world. They are staying here for a while. Why? They were culled.