Jim Valenti sat at the counter of the small diner in Colorado Springs, the one closest to the cabin owned by one Colonel Jack O'Neill, United States Air Force. His breakfast was eaten and paid for, and he sipped his coffee as he debated his next move. The best case scenario would be Max was still at the cabin with the Colonel and his team. The worst case scenario would be if the Colonel had brought him back to the military complex situated in the Cheyenne Mountain. Valenti had tried to call the cabin, but the operator told him the line was knocked out a few months prior during the big storm. The owner had not gotten it fixed yet.
Before a final decision could be made the diner door opened with a small ring of the bell, "Hey Becky!" said a voice Valenti recognized from the phone call yesterday, "is our to-go order ready yet?"
Jim looked up to see Colonel Jack O'Neill come up to the bar. When they locked eyes, the Colonel moved over to make sure he was next to Jim, his friend following him blindly as he still looked half asleep. Clearly O'Neill knew who he was.
"Hi Colonel!" said Jim's waitress Becky, "Joey needs about ten more minutes- we are finishing up the morning rush."
"No problem," said Jack easily, "we'll just wait here- that okay?" The extra question was moot though, because Becky was already putting fresh mugs of coffee in front of the pair and topping off Jim's own coffee. The other man with O'Neill was already inhaling his coffee.
"Easy there Daniel," said Jack with a teasing tone to his companion, "we don't need a repeat of the last time you drank a place's coffee supply."
Daniel just glared at his teammate over his mug.
"Colonel O'Neill," started Jim with a deceptively calm voice, "my name is Jim Valenti, I work for the Sheriff's office in Roswell, New Mexico, but I'm not here in an official capacity." He pulled out his badge to show the Colonel as he spoke.
"That's good," said Jack as he sipped his own coffee, eyed the badge, and watched Valenti with his poker face up, "you are a little out of your jurisdiction to be here otherwise."
Jim nodded, "I received an interesting call yesterday from a boy from my town. He was calling from your cabin and you were speaking to him on your end. I believe you know who he is and I also believe you know about how special he is. I'm not here to make trouble, but I would like to make sure he's okay. He has a lot of people back home who are very worried about him since he disappeared a little over a week ago."
Jack let out a sigh, "I knew he was talking to someone on the damn phone. That little imp," the visions O'Neill had gotten right after suddenly made a lot more sense as well.
"Let me guess," said Valenti, "Kid's been two steps ahead of you this whole time and you're just now realizing it."
Daniel snorted into his coffee, "oh yeah. Jack here's not used to that."
"Jim, can I call you Jim?" Jack didn't wait for a reply as he pointedly ignored Daniel, "this is my teammate Doctor Daniel Jackson, a civilian consultant at the Mountain. Daniel, Sheriff Jim Valenti of Roswell, New Mexico."
"Nice to meet you Sheriff," said Daniel as he reached across Jack to shake Valenti's hand. "He's safe. We're keeping an eye on him until the group that grabbed him is dealt with."
"Daniel, you sound like The Godfather," said Jack exasperated, "finish your coffee please."
"I'd still like to see him for myself if that's alright." said Jim, but Jack knew it really wasn't a request.
"Here you go Colonel! Joey added extra pancakes in there for you because you had to wait." Becky set the bags of food on the counter in front of O'Neill.
"Thanks Becky! This is why you guys are my favorite. Make sure you split this tip with Joey okay? I know how hard he works back there," Jack handed over two twenties to the young waitress. He had already paid for the food when he called it in earlier.
"Sure thing Colonel!" Becky pocketed the money and headed off to help another customer.
Jack eyed the bags and debated what to say, "Look Jim. The situation surrounding our friend isn't quite resolved yet. It'd be safer if you weren't seen coming to and from the cabin a bunch if you are planning to stay here for any length of time. That being said, he would probably be relieved to see you and I'm sure you have loads to talk about. If you do come back with us, you need to be aware of the risks involved."
Jim nodded, "I can be careful and I know how to spot a tail."
Jack nodded back, decision made as he and Daniel both picked up a bag of food, "You have a car? Go ahead and follow us back. But I will say this- from here on out, if anything happens to the Kid because of you, I will shoot you myself- are we clear?"
"Right back at you Colonel," said Valenti, not backing down from the threat. The pair stared each other down for another minute. Daniel looked like he might intervene but it was unnecessary. The pair nodded at each other again then turned towards the door. Valenti followed the SG team out.
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"Captain Carter," said Teal'c when he heard a second car pull up with O'Neill's car, "it appears Colonel O'Neill has brought someone back with him." He had moved to the window next to the front door to watch the procession of cars.
Carter was sitting at the couch with Max. She kept asking him to change things into different things on the coffee table in front of them, then asked more questions about how he did it. Max was doing his best to answer her questions, but he really couldn't put his power into words. Both she and Max looked up at Teal'c announcement then moved to stand by the window to see for themselves. Though Carter did keep Max further back so it was harder for someone looking in to see him.
Max drew in a deep breath when he saw who got out of the second car, "Sheriff Valenti."
He attempted to get to the door, but Carter held onto his arm, "Woah, Sweetie, let them come in here first okay? It will be safer that way."
Max understood what she was saying, but he was also practically vibrating with his need to confirm what his eyes were showing him.
A minute later the front door was opening, "Morning Campers!" said Jack, "Breakfast is here, to be served in the dining room in five minutes time. Be there or be hungry."
Daniel came in behind him and brought the food into the kitchen to set on the counter. Valenti came in behind him then Jack closed the door behind everyone.
Jim's eyes ran around the room and landed on Max, "Max- ooph,"
His air was cut off a moment later when Max plowed into him and practically strangled him with his hug. Jim brought his arms up around Max, hugging back just as tightly, glad the kid wasn't dead.
"You came," said Max so quietly into the Sheriff's shoulder, SG-1 wasn't sure he actually said anything.
"Course I did Son. I told you that yesterday on the phone- remember? God, your parents are so worried about you Max." Valenti's response they did hear.
"Teal'c, Carter- this is Jim Valenti, the Roswell Sheriff that Max was apparently talking to on my dead phone line yesterday," introduced Jack mildly, even though Max looked like he wasn't about to let up on his hug anytime soon.
"What you said," said Max to Valenti when the teen suddenly pulled back from the hug and ignored what Jack said, "about Isabel and Michael- is it true? It can't be true. They wouldn't… They..." He couldn't finish the sentence, just shook his head in denial.
"Max listen-" Valenti started to say, but Max cut him off with a sharp noise then put a hand up to the Sheriff's head, "I need to see it. I can't believe they would…"
~/They were in an abandoned mine, "He wasn't *there* Liz," said Michael practically yellng, there was absolute terror in his voice. "They.. They…" He couldn't finish the sentence, but he did slam his hand into the wall and cause the room to shake. That was Valenti's first clue that Max wasn't the only one- that the others could also be like him.
"We need to go Michael, Isabel," said Tess trying to get the pair to listen to her, "It's not safe for us here. Who knows what they got out of Max before they killed him. Where is Nasado, did he leave with you?"
Isabel was in tears, clutching Alex, unable to respond. Michael shook his head no, "I heard gun fire. The feds put the place on lock down, if it wasn't for Valenti I would've been caught behind the hand scan locked door. The whole thing was a trap."
"Okay. This is good," said Tess, "we can revive Nasado- he can't die, not really as long as we use some healing stones-"
"We have them," said Isabel finally coming back around, "we can use them on Max also right? If he's dead?"
"We need his body first. I'm afraid the Unit might've burned it- that's what they did to the others when they were done experimenting." Tess added quietly.
"We need to get off this planet." said Michael, "once we revive Nasado, he can take us home. We can't stay here and let them keep hunting us. Isabel, we *need* to do this. Max wouldn't want us to also get caught. We need to honor his sacrifice. Find home- where we can be safe."/~
Max pulled away from Jim with a wounded noise, and was out the front door before anyone even realized he had moved. He didn't go far, just to the dock behind the house. He did know that the NID was still hunting him, but he needed a minute alone.
Jack's, "What the hell Valenti?!" followed him out the door.
/Isabel… Michael.../ He suddenly realized why he couldn't reach them at all. He curled up in a small ball right on the edge of the dock overlooking the water. He kept running the scene through his head over and over again. He didn't realize he was crying until he saw drops fall into the water below him.
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"Jack, wait," said Daniel urgently, as he grabbed his team lead's arm, "we don't have all the information, remember? Maybe the Sheriff can fill in some of those blanks for us."
"O'Neill," said Teal'c as he came back into the room from outside where he had followed Max around the house. He kept an eye on Max, but allowed the teen his space, "Max Evans is at the dock outback. He appears distressed."
"Start talking Jim," said Jack with a dark tone.
"Look," said Valenti with a heaviness overtaking his features, "how much has Max told you? About Roswell, or what happened before he was caught by that special Unit? It will be easier if you tell me what he's shared with you first and I can fill in some blanks."
Jack motioned everyone into the living room where they could watch Max at the dock. "Max told me yesterday he healed a young waitress at a diner called the Crashdown about a year ago and attempted to cover it up. He was caught by a group that you know as a Special Unit for the FBI, but are really a different secret group called the NID. We were in Area 51, trying to get back some artifacts related to what we currently do, when Teal'c heard screaming. When we investigated later that night we found Max, strapped to a table and looking like the doctors were trying to test the "death by a thousand paper cuts" theory, only with actual incisions. We grabbed him, and all the files they had on him. We brought them back to the Mountain to receive medical attention and for his safety."
"We know about the alien that's been killing people with a glowing hand print since the 40's through present," added Daniel from next to Jack, "and we know a lot of what the NID did to Max in what he referred to as the White Room. When he woke up on base he was terrified. His powers were neutralized- probably from the drugs the NID agents were pumping into him, and he had no idea where he was or what was happening. It took a while for us to gain some trust with him, and it was only when his powers started to come back that he really believed we weren't going to hurt him."
"He completely healed his chest," said Carter, "and was able to heal Colonel O'Neill here, when the NID mole attacked the two of them in Max's room at the Mountain. The NID managed to grab him again, but didn't have the drugs on hand to suppress his powers. He woke up in the back of a truck, neutralized the agents by putting them all asleep and managed to get away into the forest. When we found his tracks Teal'c followed him to make sure he was safe. We met up with him here yesterday and that's when he apparently contacted you."
"He called me from your cabin," said Valenti with a nod.
"He also keeps calling out for an Isabel in his sleep," added Teal'c from his spot at the window as he kept an eye on Max, "It's happened multiple times now."
"So," said Jack, "what don't we know yet that set off Max like that?"
Valenti took a deep breath and let it out to gather his thoughts, "The alien that you are referring to- the kids call him Nasado, it's from the Mesaliko Native American language, it means 'The Visitor.' Their reservation's not far from our town. They would have more information about him, but generally he's a shapeshifter, he takes on new human forms constantly. He looks like a human, but is definitely *not* human and is considered extremely dangerous. He and another of his kind apparently survived the crash in the 40's, but were caught by that group the NID. Nasado was the one that managed to get away."
The Sheriff paused to gather his thoughts, "the waitress Max saved was Liz Parker, the owner of the diner's daughter. She's the one that came to me to tell me about the rescue attempt by the others to get Max out of Area 51- they were walking into a trap. When we realized he wasn't there, we got out and regrouped at an old Mine outside of town that's been abandoned since my dad was a kid. Isabel… Isabel is Max's sister, she and Max, and another boy- Michael, were found wandering the desert when they were six. Isabel and Max were adopted together by the Evans family a few months later, while Michael was moved to a foster home in town."
"Up through a few days ago, I didn't think they were like him," SG-1 drew in deep breaths, realizing what Valenti was saying, "Max was the one that had taken the risk to save Liz."
"What happened to them? Max was pretty distraught," asked Daniel as he connected the dots.
"They thought Max was dead. They didn't want to stay here anymore, running from Pierce and his unit if they had a different place in the universe." Valenti said sadly.
"They left." Said Carter, "They left Earth. Max feels like they abandoned him here, but they didn't know he was still alive." Jim nodded.
"I think," said Jack, who now had a pretty good understanding of why Max was so distraught, "this is a good pausing point. I will go talk to Max and get him back in here to eat breakfast. Why don't you guys all sit down and start dishing out food. It's already getting cold as is."
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Jack made some noise as he walked on the dock towards the curled up teen. He paused at the edge of the water, not yet sitting down but his gaze went out over the lake, "We should do some fishing today," he said, then moved to sit on the edge of the dock, his feet dangled down close to the water.
Max heard him, but didn't move or speak.
Jack kept his gaze out over the lake as he talked to Max, "Earlier this year, Daniel found out about a threat to Earth. The Goa'uld Apophis had two ships he'd sent to destroy us. According to Daniel it was going to be "Independence Day" style, where they took out all the major cities first then military bases across the whole planet. None of the higher ups believed this impending threat was real- they thought Daniel had finally lost his mind. But, because I know him, our team ended up breaking orders to sneak onto the planet where the invasion was starting. Only, it wasn't a planet we gated to, it was the actual warship. And we were passing a planet that looked like Saturn, with no way to dial back to the SGC and let them know Daniel was right."
The Colonel paused the story to try to get a response from Max. Max turned his head to look at Jack, "what happened?" He asked quietly. This was the first time someone from the SGC was giving him detailed mission related information- information he hadn't pulled from them through his flashes.
"We stopped the invasion," said Jack matter of factly, like it wasn't a big deal, just another Tuesday for him. "But towards the end Daniel was shot. It wasn't fatal on impact, but it was pretty bad- he didn't have much time at all and we couldn't get him to the escape pods without all of us getting killed. He probably wouldn't even have made it that long either."
This time when Jack paused Max didn't interrupt. The Colonel took a deep breath and released it, "Daniel made me leave him there, on the ship that was less than a half hour away from exploding. As team leader, I made the call- but he forced the issue. He's a stubborn jackass like that. The rest of us got out and made it back to Earth a few days later. When we entered the gate room it was to a standing ovation from the entire Mountain, and a cake. None of that mattered though because we thought Daniel was dead and I had made the call. Then there was Daniel. Standing there, completely healed and smiling like the cat that ate the cream. He's got more lives than a damn cat and the devil's own luck. Don't tell the others, but even Teal'c shed a tear when we saw him. Carter and I both smacked him when we were done hugging him."
Max's mouth pulled up into a small smile. He'd turned his head to lean it on his arms as he watched and listened to Jack's story.
"My point," said Jack, also turning to look Max in the eye, "is we thought Daniel was as good as dead. And we left him behind. *I* left him behind. But he found a way to escape and came back to us. Do you understand what I'm saying to you Max? It might feel like your family abandoned you and that will definitely hurt for a long time, but they also tried to rescue you, they were just too late. You are alive and you were found by a group whose literal job is deep space exploration. We can help you find them and bring them back, or let you join them. Like I said before- we can let you decide when the time comes. It feels like you're alone right now, but you have a Sheriff that came halfway across the country to make sure you were safe and you have us. You also have friends and family back in Roswell that miss you and would love to see you alive and well again.
"It hurts," said Max quietly, "that they left me here. I *know* they thought I was dead. I *know* they were scared. But we...we are family. We've been together since the beginning. I don't know how to be me without them, it's not something that I've ever had to do."
Jack put an arm around Max's shoulders and pulled him over so his head was leaning on Jack's shoulder. "You're a smart kid Max, I'm sure you will figure it out. We will all be there to help if you let us."
Jack got a flash of three six year olds in a cave, covered in some odd organic slim. The little girl put her hand out to Max, who was looking between the two and the other girl still in the Pod. He reached out his hand to the awake girl and they all walked away together.
"Isabel and Michael?" asked Jack quietly, as he squeezed Max's arm lightly. Max nodded, "Isabel and Michael."
"Come on," said Jack a little while later, starting to pull back so they could both stand, "before Teal'c eats all the pancakes and we are both stuck with nutrigrain bars until lunch."
Max snorted in amusement but realized Jack was probably serious. The pair stood up and Max subtly wiped his eyes so it didn't look like he'd been crying.
"Sir," said Carter as they walked in, "we waited for you so you could properly battle Teal'c for the pancakes. Everything's cold, though we could probably heat it all up in the oven really quickly."
"I'm sorry Max," said Jim as the pair moved to the table, "I should've tried harder to get them to stay." He pulled a small bottle of tabasco sauce out of his shirt pocket to hand to the teen, "I also brought you this- I know you love adding it to your food."
"It's okay, Sheriff," said Max as he eyed the cold food, "I appreciate you coming here though. This was a huge relief."
He waved a hand over the table, heating up all the food in seconds. "... Or Max can do it," said Daniel with a shrug as he dug into the now steaming hot food.
"Kid!" exclaimed Jack, exasperated, "what did I tell you about your powers last night?!"
Max took a bite of his hot sauce covered pancakes before answering, "...not to change furniture into other furniture until we got back to the Mountain?"
"That is what you said O'Neill," said Teal'c after a beat into the silence that followed Max's response.
Valenti chuckled, "two steps ahead Colonel." Was all he said as he waited for them to finish eating. He did grab another cup of coffee to sip on while they ate.
"More like four steps," muttered Carter, which caused the tension to break in the room as everyone cracked a smile or chuckled.
Jack pinched the bridge of his nose, and tried to not crack a smile of his own. "Two words. Latrine. Duty.," he said to the room at large.
Everyone ended up chuckling more, but breakfast did proceed uninterrupted. And Jack did have to battle Teal'c for the extra pancakes. He didn't win.
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"I think," said Jim who was sitting on one side of the couch with O'Neill on the other. Max was between them while Carter and Teal'c each took an armchair. Daniel pulled a chair in from the dinning room to sit at, though he did turn it backwards, so he had something to lean against. "Before we talk about next steps, we need to let Max decide if we should call his parents."
Max drew in a breath and turned his eyes to Valenti. "Max," the Sheriff continued, "when Liz came to me after you were caught she told me everything about you- granted I was already aware of most of it, but that's not really the point. Later, when Isabel and Michael left with Nasado and Tess, she also told your parents everything… about you... all of you."
Valenti paused to gauge Max's distress level and added quietly, "she also told them you were dead Max"
The look of betrayal on Max's face was hard for the group to look at. "She did that? Why? It wasn't her place. Isabel should've told them, if she didn't then there was a good reason behind it."
Jim shrugged helplessly, "she's a teenage girl Max, I can't really say what she was thinking when she went to them. I do know your parents are heartbroken that you are supposedly dead. I know your mom already knew- you did save her from a grease fire. After the fire she came to me to talk through what happened, she figured out that you were different. She knew you were terrified to tell her as well, so I told her not to push you. You'd tell her when you were ready. Your father is putting together at least two lawsuits against the FBI- maybe more since I last spoke to him two days ago."
"Max," said Carter, catching his eye, "is Liz important to you?"
Max shrugged, "I thought so? But she keeps telling people about me. When I told her, I asked her not to. I was so scared of what would happen if people found out. First it was her friend Maria, she wrote about me in a diary that she lost, then told Alex and Valenti. And now this."
Max shook his head before he added, "I don't understand."
"It sounds," said Carter as the only female in the room, "that she might not be mature enough to handle your secret. From what you're saying, she's betrayed your trust over and over again. She might've had a good reason, or what she believed to be a good reason, but it still wasn't her place to do so. Girls her age like to be the center of attention, perhaps by telling others she was showing off how important she was to be the first to know." Carter shrugged, not sure how much her explanation made sense to a room full of men.
"Well," said Daniel, in an attempt to turn the conversation back to Max's parents, "if your parents are already aware of your status Max, then there really isn't anything stopping us from contacting them or bringing them here to see you."
"Except the NID," said Jack flippantly.
"Well no," said Daniel, working through his theory as he said it, "if Max's sister and other family have gone into space then we could potentially ask his parents if they'd be willing to move here. We could set them up with confidentiality agreements and get them resettled. That way Max would be close by for us to keep an eye on him and he could be a part of the search for the rest of his family. If the NID pulled something again, we would be able to mobilize a response much faster."
"What do you think, Max Evans?," asked Teal'c.
Max still seemed to be processing the information from Carter and looked startled to be brought back into the conversation. /My parents knew about me. They've known about me and never changed their behavior or let on they knew./
"She really knew?" Max asked Valenti, "she didn't just have an idea that I was human with a gift?"
"Yeah Max," said Jim, "I didn't tell her, I let her work through all the information she had after the grease fire. When she brought up the alien part she just needed me to confirm it, but she was already sure that's what you were."
Max hugged his stomach and leaned over to breath into his knees, "I was so terrified she would hate me. That they would kick me out or turn me over to alien hunters."
"Max," said Jack, putting his hand on the distressed teen's back, "I can't say there aren't shit parents out there that would do exactly what you are saying. But from all the time I've spent with you, I know for a fact your parents would *never* do that. Not with how they raised you, I can see it in who you are."
Max got his breathing under control then sat back up to lean against the back of the couch again. He uncrossed his arms over his stomach and rubbed his hands over his pants. "I'd like to see them if that's okay. But I don't want them to know I'm alive until after they get here. I'm not sure I want the others to know I'm alive."
/I don't know if I want *Liz* to know I'm alive right now. Not with this betrayal. There's too much going on. Carter's right, she's not mature enough to handle the information. It's probably better if she thinks I'm dead./ Max looked at Jack with sad puppy eyes- a move Daniel was also adept at, "can we call them and bring them here?"
Jack actually glanced at Daniel when he saw the look Max was giving him- convinced the archeologist was somehow involved but couldn't prove it. He quickly worked through possible scenarios and tried to come up with the best solution. It's not that he didn't want Max to be reunited with his parents, he was just concerned for everyone's safety.
"Let's call the airport to get some flight information first," said Jack after a minute, "then Valenti can call them and see which flight they can take out here. Don't tell them why- just that it's urgent they get here and not tell anyone in Roswell about the plans. Or if they do, they should say it's because of the loss of both their children back to back like this. They need to get away. The sheriff and I will meet them at the airport and bring them here. We can figure out next steps after that.
"Carter, perhaps you and Daniel could head into town and touch base with the General to get an update and perhaps get him to slip out four confidentiality agreements for our guests. Maybe Janet can deliver them, and you ladies can do a spa thing," Jack waved his arm in a way he hoped would support his point. It didn't.
Carter's eyebrow went up in a pretty good mockery of Teal'c's signature look. "Spa thing?," she parroted back deadpan.
"Oh geez," said Daniel as he turned away to hide his smile. Max covered a giggle with a cough, watching the trainwreck Jack was barreling into at mach 3. Teal'c realized both eyebrows at O'Neill, while Jim just shook his head in amusement and covered his eyes with his palm.
"Yeah," added Jack, not realizing how dangerous the ground was he was treading, "you know. Hair… nails… female… spa… things." He trailed off as Carter's look got a little more frosty with every word he said. Daniel snorted this time and Jim added helpfully, "stop while you're behind Colonel."
"If Captain Carter murders you in your sleep tonight, I'm not reviving you again Jack ," Max added, causing the others to break out into laughter. Well, everyone except Carter who just smiled evilly at her commanding officer, and Jack who finally realized he was probably screwed.
Daniel stood to call the airport. He realized after he picked up the phone that it was still dead- there was no dial tone, "Uhh Max?" He waved at the receiver with the headset in his hand.
Max also stood from the couch and moved over to the phone. He touched the side of the receiver, "you'll have to ask the operator to transfer you to an airport line, I don't know the number to connect it directly like this." Said Max as he nodded for Daniel to dial a moment later.
Carter turned her attention away from Jack to analyze what Max just said, "that's an interesting limitation." Her 'I have another theory I would like to test with Science!' tone distracted her from plotting Jack's demise. For the time being at least.
"Hi yes," said Daniel, talking to the airport attendant a moment later, "Are there any open seats on flights from Roswell New Mexico to Colorado Springs for today or tomorrow?" He listened intently as the woman rattled off a few options, writing down times and airlines on the pad next to the phone, "thank you, have a good day."
"Okay," he said as he hung up and turned to the group, "The afternoon flights for today are already booked, but there is a later flight that leaves there around 9pm and would get here around 11. The flights for tomorrow are a little more open, including a 6am flight that had the most seats available."
"With the drive from the airport, we would need to add another hour to get here," said Carter, doing the math quickly.
"We could bring them to my hotel for the night then come here in the morning," added Valenti, also thinking through the options as he stood from the couch to walk over to the phone, "though they will probably want to be here as soon as possible- not really worried about the timing."
"Let's see if they can come on the morning flight tomorrow," said Max quietly as his eyes darted from person to person. He still needed a little time to process the fact they *knew* what he was and still wanted him.
Jack nodded, agreeing with Max but for different reasons, "that would be a good idea. We will need a lot of time to go over everything and we should have the confidentiality agreements ready before they get here. They will need to be signed either way."
"Right," said Valenti as he took the phone from Daniel, "whenever you're ready Max."
Max took a steadying breath before reaching for the receiver again. This time he touched his hand over the numbers. They glowed for a moment, but Max kept his hand in the same spot. He could hear his house phone ringing seconds later. Carter looked like she wanted to record the process to analyze the differences between the two calls.
The line was picked up with a shaky, "he..hello?" It was Max's mother. He almost dropped the connection when he heard the anguish in her voice. Daniel put a steadying hand on his shoulder, while Valenti talked to her, "Hi Diane, it's Jim. I have a bit of an odd request for you and Phillip- is he also home right now? I'd like to talk to both of you about something pretty important."
Diane let out a shaky breath, "yeah, he's here. Let me have him pick up the other line- hold on a second," her voice was softer as she turned to call her husband, "Phillip, it's Jim. He needs to talk to both of us on the line, can you grab the other phone?"
There was a click and another voice joined the conversation a moment later, "Jim, what's wrong? Did you find Isabel? Is she okay?"
Max let out a breath and leaned against the table, trying to not lose his composure. *Both* of his parents were so close.
"Hey Phillip," Valenti glanced over at Max, "no this isn't about Isabel. I got a call yesterday at my office with a lead on some information that led me to Colorado Springs. I don't want to say too much over the phone for the reasons we spoke about in my office a few days ago, but it is *really* important that both of you take the earliest flight here tomorrow morning. There's a six am flight through SouthWest that has open seats. Can you guys get on that flight to come here? I'll meet you at the airport and we can chat more in person."
There was some muttering as Diane and Phillip talked over the information, "Jim," said Phillip, "you know I'm working on those lawsuits against the FBI-"
"Phillip," Valenti interrupted him, "this is pretty urgent. You're both going to want the information I have, trust me. I just can't say what it is over the phone. You know I wouldn't pull you away from Roswell with Isabel missing if it wasn't really important, you'll have to trust me on this."
There was more muttering between Marth and Phillip, "okay. We can pack a bag and be there in the morning."
Jim nodded, as he let out a breath he didn't even realize he was holding, "Thanks. You won't regret this. I promise you." He hesitated a moment to look at Max before adding, "It's also important that you not tell anyone why you're coming here. If anyone asks please just say you need to get away from the tragedy of losing Max and Isabel in such a close time frame. If they push, say that you got word from me that Isabel was found dead but you don't know anything else. It's not true, but it will keep people from asking more questions. If they do push, don't tell them that Colorado Springs is your final stop, tell them you have a layover."
"Yeah Jim," said Phillip while Diane added a soft, "okay."
Daniel held up the pad of paper for Valenti, "The flight's gonna be paid for- when you get to the counter, tell them who you are and they will have the tickets ready. I'll see you in the airport tomorrow morning."
"Jim," added Diane, "do you want me to check in on Kyle?"
Valenti paused, "that would be great thanks. Let him know I'll be home in a few days, but I don't really have a way for him to contact me where I am."
"You're not in trouble are you Jim?" asked Phillip suddenly, understanding what that statement could mean.
"Nah," said Valenti, "just crappy service in the area is all. There's no guarantee he could get through to me- not that he really wants to talk to me. I'll talk to you both in person tomorrow morning okay? Just remember what I said a few days ago when we talked- about giving other people information."
Daniel and Max both rolled their eyes with a small smile at the phone service comment.
"Thanks Jim," said Diane while Phillip added, "see you tomorrow morning." The pair hung up. Valenti also put the phone back on the receiver.
Max let out a breath and used the table to keep himself upright, "I'm okay," he added quickly, "I wasn't ready to hear their voices is all."
Everyone paused for a moment. "I think," said Jack contemplatively, "that we're going to need more fishing poles and camping chairs."
Groans filled the room from the rest of SG-1.
The rest of the day went by in a whirlwind for Max. Lunch was buffet style. Either find something in the fridge and heat it up (read- ask Max to heat it) or make it yourself (sandwiches and chips).
Carter and Daniel left to check in with the Mountain and get the confidentiality agreements, as well as stop by an outdoor supply store for more air mattresses (they didn't know what Max's parents would want to do when they found out he was alive), some camp chairs, and a few more fishing poles (Jack made it an official order). To better accommodate the amount of people about to be at Jack's cabin.
Janet agreed to stop by after her shift to drop off the confidentiality agreements and while Hammond wasn't happy about the situation- he would never purposely keep Max away from his parents. He agreed that Daniel's suggestion was probably the best scenario and asked them to try their best to get the teen's parents to agree. He also authorized Daniel to pay for their flight to Colorado Spring using SGC funds.
After lunch, while they waited for Carter and Daniel to get back, Jack corralled everyone else out to the dock where he set them up with fishing poles and chairs. Valenti had done this before, so he helped Jack prep Max and Teal'c's poles. The whole thing was oddly relaxing for Max, who used the time to process that his parents were going to be at the cabin in the morning. And they knew what he was. And they still wanted him.
"...are there actually fish in this pond?" Max asked Jack about a half hour into the venture when there wasn't a single bite on any of their lines.
"Kid," said Jack deadpan, "it's called fishing. Of course there are fish."
"I think your assessment needs some revision, O'Neill," added Teal'c another half hour later, "I do not believe there are actually fish in this pond."
"Teal'c, just relax and take in the moment," said Jack, exasperated, "let the fish come to you."
When Carter and Daniel got back, everyone helped unload the car. Sam pulled Max into the kitchen to experiment with more recipes and his power, while Daniel was corralled into Max's vacated seat, a fishing pole was in his hand before he could even blink.
Jannet showed up with pizza in time for dinner and handed O'Neill a briefcase at the door.
"Feeling okay Max?" She asked gently, but kept her distance from the teen, aware of how terrified he was of doctors.
Max nodded, but also kept his distance from the doctor. Valenti noticed, so Daniel added, "Janet's the base's head surgeon. She had to examine Max before we could move him from the infirmary floor, nothing invasive, just a standard check up, but he was terrified to let her near him after what Pierce did."
"Nice to meet you ma'am," Jim put out his hand to introduce himself and help take the pressure off Max, "Jim Valenti, Roswell's Sheriff."
Janet shook his hand, "I'm glad you cared enough to come out Sheriff. We're all glad he has such good people in his corner."
Valenti gave a small smile, "just doing my duty ma'am."
Jack called everyone to the table then for pizza. Max stayed near Teal'c, Jack, and Valenti, while Janet chatted with Sam and Daniel further down the table.
After dinner, Janet begged out early. "You know how it is at the Mountain," she said by way of explanation. SG-1 just nodded and everyone wished her a good night.
"If you don't need me to stay the night Max," said Jim a few minutes later as he looked over at the teen, "I'll head back to my hotel to clean up and get some shut eye myself. The Colonel and I have an early start tomorrow."
"I'll be okay," said Max, who moved over to hug Valenti again, "thank you for everything," he said quietly so only the other heard him.
Jim handed him the phone number for his hotel when they parted, complete with the room extension, "Just in case."
Jack silently approved the move, "If you stop by tomorrow morning Jim, we can head over to the airport together. These guys can hold down the fort here while we're gone."
Everyone said their good nights to the Sheriff, who left moments later.
"Shall we continue our Star Wars marathon?" Asked Teal'c a few minutes later. He had enjoyed Star Wars Episode 4 a lot and was eager to watch the next ones.
"I'll get the popcorn," said Jack in response, as everyone else moved to the living room. Max could feel his anxiety build as the night went on, but tried his best to ignore it.
Pretty soon episodes five and six were over and the SG team was debating everything from the actual science, to the evolution of the alien life forms, and the epic battles. Max let it all wash over him and let them talk.
Before Max knew it, he was in bed staring at the ceiling in the dark room. Somehow he ended up asleep, but he had no idea how. Maybe it was the calming presence of Teal'c as he performed his meditation, or he finally came to terms with his parents' recent arrival.
Either way, he was up with the sun the next morning the same as Teal'c.
Jim was back over after breakfast, ready to go with O'Neill to the airport.
"Okay Campers," said Jack surveying the rest of his team and Max. He pointtrd at Carter, "do not blow anything up," he pointed at Daniel, "do not do something stupid that will require some kind of dramatic rescue," he pointed at Teal'c, "do not let them talk you into something stupid that will either get something blown up, or require a dramatic rescue," he pointed at Max, "or over use your powers. None of you should leave, and this cabin better be left standing when we get back or so help me..." He left the sentence open as a whole before he left with Valenti.
"I do not blow things up," said an affronted Carter, while Daniel in mock offense said, "I do not require dramatic rescues."
"Actually," said Teal' to the pair, "O'Neill was pretty accurate in his assessment of your tendencies."
"Yours as well Teal'c?" Asked Max playfully.
"I do not believe so, Max Evans," said Teal'c.
"Ha! That's false!," said Daniel, "remember that time when…" As he told Max the story the group moved back into the living room. Carter also added bites and pieces, while Teal'c added denials. Max completely relaxed and actually forgot his parents would be here in a few hours.
It was only when Teal'c announced that Jack and Valenti were back and four car doors slammed closed that Max's anxiety spiked again.
His parents were here.
-End Chapter 5-