Fathers and Daughters
Part 2
Author: MacGateFan
Disclaimers in Part 1

"Carter, are you all right?"

I blinked, looking up at Jo. What the hell kind of question was that? Someone just knocked a bookcase on top of me. I gingerly felt the back of my head. Yeah, a knot was forming back there.

As I attempted to stand up, spots began to dance in front of my eyes. "Whoa!" Jo said, "Are you sure you should be getting up so fast? Maybe I should get you to a doctor."

"Nah, I'm all right. Besides, Zoë's waiting for me. She has this thing about wanting have dinner with her Father every once in awhile."

Jo nodded, but looked a little unsure of letting me go. "It's your head," she replied with a shrug.

Okay, maybe I just imagined it.

"I'm going to stay late and..."

I really don't know what else she said as my head was still pounding. I think it was something about the guy who hit me with the bookcase. We don't know who he is because apparently he can teleport in the blink of an eye. It's a bit disconcerting. We must be on the right track, though, because of what just happened.

Stark wasn't very helpful, not that that's surprising. He just said someone stole a teleportation device from Section 5. I'm telling you, for a town of geniuses, they don't seem very bright.

When I arrived home, Zoë was in the dining room finishing up her homework. "Hey Dad," she said.

"Hey. What are you working on?"

"Geometry," she replied, sticking out her tongue. She definitely has my affinity for math. "So I was thinking of burgers."

I nodded. "Sounds good to me!"

An hour and two burgers later, we leaned back in our chairs. "I am so glad we don't have to worry about dishes," Zoë said.

"Me too." I winced as my head started pounding again. "I think I'm going to turn in."

"Are you all right, Dad?" Zoë asked.

"Yeah. Just a little tired."

"K. Night."

"Night."

I had a little trouble getting jump started in the morning. I think SARAH nagged me about ten times before I officially got out of bed. After I finished my shower, I asked SARAH about coffee.

No answer.

"SARAH?"

Still no answer.

Time to call Fargo, I realized as I headed down the stairs. I was halfway down when I heard the click of a gun and before I knew it, I felt a bullet pierce my side and I was tumbling down the stairs, head first.

Yeah, that didn't help my head at all.

"Dad!" I heard Zoë cry a few minutes later. At least, I think it was a few minutes, I couldn't tell because everything seemed to be a big blur. "Daddy?"

"Zoë?"

"It's me, Daddy. What should I do?"

I didn't know if Mr. Teleport was still around or if he would pop up again any time soon. "Leave, Zoë. There's something wrong with... with SARAH and I don't know who got in. Please, save yourself!"

"Sorry. I'm not going anywhere!"

What was I thinking? "Zoë!"

"Don't talk right now, Dad. I'm just going to move for one second to get the phone." I nodded and when she came back, she asked, "Daddy, are you still with me?"

God, she hasn't called me 'Daddy' in forever, she must be so scared. "Still am, Zoë."

"Good," she said with a smile.

I tried to focus on her voice, but the blood loss and the fact that my head felt ready to explode made me a bit dizzy. Please don't let me die, I prayed. Not in front of Zoë and definitely not like this!

"Daddy?"

"Zoë?"

"Just... just checking."

That was the last I heard from her as I slowly lost consciousness.