Chapter Fourteen
Jessica had been home for over a week when she got some devastating news that changed everything for her. Her mother was put back into the hospital because of cancer. She was sitting by her side holding her hand when her dad came into the room. The machine indicating that her mother's heart had stopped had been long shut off, but Jessica could not move from where she was. She didn't want to believe what was being said. Her mother couldn't be gone. After all she had went through this was the worst that could happen to her. Nothing could be any worse. Not the what the wraith had done. Not John braking her heart once again. Not even her father choosing now of all time in her life to be protective. She felt his hand warm and gentle on her shoulder. A sign of comfort she was sure.
"I'm sorry sweetheart." was all that he could say to her.
" When do I go back to Atlantis?" she asked wanting to not talk about the obvious.
"How can you talk about work now at a time like this?" He asked concerned that she was using work as a way to hide from her feelings.
"Because it's what we do dad." she retorted then stood up." I can't change what happened and it doesn't feel like it's real..." she took a deep breath" Please dad I just need to get back to work. I need to process this in my own time my way."
"Okay. " he took a deep breath as he looked at the woman that he once loved enough to have a child with. His was using all his strength now not to brake down" Col. Caldwell is about to leave within an hour if you want you can leave then or in two weeks when he comes back." He half hopped she would chose the later knowing she needed time to deal with everything.
"I need to go home and pack some things." she said dashing his hopes
"Okay I'll let him know you'll be going." he said still fighting to hold his self together.
"Thanks dad." she said as she walked out. She needed to breath that room was sucking the life out of her like it did her mom. Tears started to fall down her cheeks as she opened the door to the apartment her and her mom shared. It smelled like her. It held signs of her everywhere. Every little nook. Jessica couldn't take anymore she sat on the floor and cried until her eyes burned from no more tears. Her mom was gone. She was never coming home. Jessica would never feel her arms wrapped around her. It hurt to breath. She carefully got up and went to her room. She packed up clothes that she would need and bath supplies. Everything she needed for Atlantis. That was the one place that she could go that would not remind her of her mom.
Gen. Landry told Col. Caldwell that Jessica would be returning with him and he also informed him that her mother had just died. Col. Caldwell promised to keep a close eye on Jessica. They were waiting at the gate when Jessica finally showed up. She was in civilian clothes with her down and curled at the ends. She had a little makeup on.
"Sorry I'm late." she said as she looked at both men.
"You're right on time." Col. Caldwell said
"Be careful." Gen. Landry said as he hugged her tightly and kissed her forehead
"You too." she told him
"Come on the rest are waiting" Col. Caldwell said
"Bye dad" she said as her and Caldwell walked through the gate.
"Sir you ok?" Col. Mitchell asked concerned
"I watched my daughter close off her emotions just like a trained solider." he said still staring at the gate that had long closed.
"People deal with grief in their own way." Cameron said trying to reassured the much older man
"I know, but she's not just a 'person' she's my daughter." he said" I'm going to visit my other daughter if you need me I'll be in the infirmary."
"Okay." Cameron said as he followed the general out the gate room
Gen. Landry knew that he couldn't help Jessica now because she didn't want help, but when she needed him he would be there for her. He just hoped that she didn't do any damage to herself or anyone else before she came to terms with what happened. He caught a glimpse inside her eyes and saw so much pain there in her depths that he almost forbid her to go. She was his little girl and she was going through the worst thing she could go through right now. All he could do was let her go off and handle this her own way. He sighed deeply as he found Carolyn. She was working on a patent. He smiled proudly as he watched her. Both his daughters became great doctors and worked in the military. Only one of them decided to go to Atlantis and fight for the greater good there. He feared for her life everyday, but he knew she'd come through it. Col. John Shepard was there with her and he would protect her with his very life. That much he was sure of.
