A/N: Team Sheppard is stranded offworld, longing to be home for Christmas.
I'll Be Home for Christmas
"I can't believe were in jail…again!" Rodney McKay paced from one side of his cell to the other like an angry ping pong ball. "And as always, it's your fault."
"My fault?" John Sheppard was leaning on the bars of his cell to the right of the door. The society they'd encountered on this was closer to the old West of the United States than most they'd encountered. "How do you figure?"
The physicist huffed. "Because this quaint little town's chief of police caught you making out with his daughter."
"How many times do I have to say it? I wasn't kissing her. She was kissing me."
Rodney threw himself down on the bed. "Same difference."
"No, it is not." This came from Teyla. "John would not put our mission in jeopardy by attempting to sleep with Verda." Her cell was across from Rodney and Ronon's was across from John. The Satedan was lying on his bunk not participating in the conversation.
"Oh? What universe have you been living in because in mine…"
"Enough!" John went to the divider between himself and Rodney. "Let's just work on gettin' out of here. I do not want to spend Christmas in jail."
"I'd love to help you with that, but sadly I've left my lock picking kit at home. They've taken my computer and all our C-4 so, if you have any ideas, I'd be glad to hear them."
John checked the time and sighed heavily. "We're already overdue. Atlantis should be sending someone soon." He went to his pallet and sat down. They all got quiet and he was thinking about taking a nap until he heard music playing. Moving over to the cell door again, he saw the guard at the end of the hall playing a stringed instrument that seemed to be a cross between a guitar and a mandolin. "Hey!" The man looked up from playing, a question in his eyes. "What's your name, pal?"
"Bannock." The man was approximately the height and weight as John but ten years younger.
"Bannock, could I see your, whatever that is."
"It's called a chitarra." Bannock approached warily keeping his back to the wall. John reached out to touch the body of the instrument. It was made of a type of wood he hadn't seen before and had a blue tint. It had six strings with the top and bottom being double strings. He plucked one and listened to the sound reverberate within the stone walls. "Um, I know I'm a prisoner and due to be executed in the morning, but could I try it? I promise not to try to escape."
Bannock thought it over then gestured John back from the door. John did as he was told, sitting on the pallet, his hands tucked under his thighs to show he was serious about not trying to run. After unlocking the door, Bannock set the chitarra just inside then slammed the door closed. As soon the he went back to his small wooden desk, John picked it up and sat down again. He strummed a few chords experimentally until he got the feel for it then began playing. Naturally he started with a Johnny Cash tune that was somewhat appropriate, Folsom Prison Blues.
Rodney sat up on the side of his pallet and listened as his friend played several more songs, all sad and lonely sounding. "Can't you play something a little more cheerful?"
"We're in jail, as you so kindly pointed out. What's cheerful about that?"
"Well, how about some Christmas music?"
"I haven't celebrated in years, but I'll see what I can do." He thought a moment then began playing Run, Run Rudolph.
Bannock came to stand where he could watch John play. He was doing quite well on an unfamiliar instrument. The words to the song meant nothing to him, but it was a catchy tune that had him tapping his foot along with the beat.
The companions of the one called Sheppard gave him light applause encouraging him to continue. The next song also made no sense, but, again, it was upbeat though Bannock wondered what a jingle bell was and what it had to do with rocks.
That song ended and the prisoner, whom he'd come to admire, began to play another tune except this one Bannock completely understood, even if he didn't know what Christmas was.
I'm dreaming tonight, of a place I love
Even more than I usually do
And although I know it's a long road back
I promise you…
I'll be home for Christmas
You can count on me
Please have snow and mistletoe
And presents for the tree
John turned his head to look at Rodney when the physicist began to sing along. Their voices didn't complement each other very well, but that didn't matter.
Christmas Eve will find me
Where the love light gleams
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams.
I'll be home for Christmas
You can count on me
Please have snow and mistletoe
And presents for the tree
Bannock heard knocking at the entrance to the cell area and went to answer it. He was distracted by the music and didn't check before opening the door. A bad idea on his part because he now found himself at the business ends of several P-90's being wielded by Atlantis personnel coming to rescue their friends.
Christmas Eve will find me
Where the love light gleams
Evan Lorne, his team and AR-3 followed the music to the source. They apparently hadn't heard the commotion because John continued to play. As one, the rescue team joined in on the last lines of the song.
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams.
John looked up when he heard the additional voices singing along and Evan smiled. "Sir, I can guarantee that you'll be home for Christmas."
"Thanks, Major. Um, how about gettin' us outta here?"
Evan nodded to a young Lieutenant. The woman took the keys from Bannock's belt and let Team Sheppard out of their cells.
Rodney rushed forward to poke the guard in the chest. "Where's my…"
"…our," Teyla corrected.
"…our equipment and weapons?"
Nodding in the direction of the outer room, Bannock said, "The safe in the chief's office."
The Lieutenant waited for John to come out and urged the guard into the now vacant cell with a shove in the back. As they passed each other the Colonel said, "Sorry." Bannock shrugged as if it didn't matter to him one way or the other. John lifted the instrument looking at it longingly before sighing and handing it over. "Um, thanks."
"You're welcome. Though I couldn't possibly duplicate what you've done with my chitarra, I thank you for the wonderful music you provided."
"Glad to do it." He turned to Evan who was peeking out the front door, his hand raised. Finally, he stepped back and gestured everyone out. AR-3 was waiting for them in back of the building with their weapons and equipment. As quietly as possible, the soldiers and civilians from Atlantis made their way out of town. Once they were far enough away not to be heard, John started humming then singing. By the time they reached the Stargate, the entire group had joined in and Teyla came in on the ending chorus.
Ronon rolled his eyes and dialed home.
Christmas Eve will find me
Where the love light gleams
As the group passed into the wormhole, they finished the song…
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams.
End
A/N: "I'll Be Home for Christmas" is a Christmas song written by Buck Ram, Kim Gannon and Walter Kent. In 1943, this song joined "White Christmas" to become one of America's most popular Christmas songs. The recording by Bing Crosby shot to the top ten of the record charts that year and became a holiday musical tradition in the United States. The idea of being home for Christmas originated in World War I when soldiers at first thought that the war would be quick and they would return by Christmastime. This inevitably did not happen, hence the line "if only in my dreams."
Chitarra Italiana is a lute-shaped plucked instrument with 4 or 5 single (sometimes double) strings, in a tuning similar to that of guitar. It was common in Italy during the Renaissance Era.
It is believed to have descended from Panduras, the Mediterranean lutes of Antiquity, and to be related to north African Quitra (or Kitra).