Authors Notes: Well, here it is. The end of the road, for this story at least. I hope you had as much fun reading it as I had writing it. This last chapter is a bit of an epilogue with a bit of a teaser thrown in. Before everyone starts writing nasty emails, let me reassure you there will be one more story in this series. I'm writing it now and barring any computer problems or real life disasters I hope to have it out soon. Thanks for reading.
Disclaimers and Warnings in part 1.
Enjoy.
The ringing telephone cut through the silence of my house. Sighing, I put down the pen I was holding and casually reach for the handset. "Hello," I say, grateful for the break. Paying bills may be a necessity, but it does get boring.
"Dad?" I say with joy. It had been a while since I last talked to him, and I was eager to continue our reconciliation. "How are you? When did you get back?"
He answered my questions with the typical responses, but something in his tone made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Something was wrong, and I could only think of one reason he would call me. "Is there any news on Sam?" I asked in a small voice. The realistic part of me dreaded the answer but I needed to have closure one way or the other. I carefully listen to what he has to say.
"You found her," I asked excitedly, interrupting him mid sentence after I heard those words. The warning bells going off in my mind were suddenly silenced by a wave of euphoria. The SGC had told me it was a long shot, finding Sam, and even less chance of her coming out of this unscathed, but I knew she would make it.
It took me another minute to realize that my dad was still talking, until something he said reached up and yanked my attention. "You what!" I yelled, suddenly glad that Sally had taken the kids to the park for the day. "How could you let her get away?" The doorbell rang, but I ignored it. Whoever it was couldn't be more important than this call.
"I thought you were supposed to be the best of the best," I practically shout into the phone. My euphoria has quickly turned into rage that was all directed at my father. "How can you leave her behind again?"
He's talking again, trying to explain the situation to me, but I don't care. It's mom's death all over again. "Will you ever put your family before your work?" I ask.
We both pause at that, though for different reasons. I instantly regret saying it, but I am too hurt to apologize. Deep down I know he didn't have a choice, but after years of hating him the hate comes more naturally than the understanding. The doorbell rings again, followed by several thumps on my door. "There's someone at my door." Now I am as grateful for this mystery person as I was for the phone call. I don't want to loose my newfound relationship with my father, and given my current mood, I am sure I would say something I would regret later. "I gotta go. Talk to ya later." I slam the phone down, but my small sense of satisfaction is shattered when the pounding begins on my door.
"I'm coming," I snarl as I make my way to the door. I hope whoever it is isn't offended easily, cause I'm in no mood to be polite to anyone. The pounding is getting louder and more frantic as I get closer to the door. "I'm coming," I again yell, trying to get my voice loud enough to be heard over this racket. This is not the way to calm myself down. I reach the door and violently yank it open.
"What do you wa..." My voice trails off as I see the one person I truly never believed I would see again. I open my mouth, trying to articulate any form of communication, but my voice betrays me. I swallow hard, hoping moisture will do the trick, and finally I am able to get my voice, quiet as it was, over the lump that suddenly developed in my throat.
"Sam?"
The End
