"Mr Keller?" Sam asked when the wooden door in front of her opened.
"Yes. Can I…" He started before noticing Sam's uniform. Immediately his expression hardened and his eyes revealed distrust. "What is it now?"
"It's about Jennifer. Can I come in?" Sam replied cautiously.
"Jennifer?" The elder Keller asked confused. "What else is there to say? She's gone."
"It'd be better if we talked inside." Sam pressed. Jennifer's father just stood resolutely unmoving prompting Sam to say. "I don't know if you know this but I use to run the base Jennifer worked on."
"You're Sam?"
"Yes."
"Jennifer talked about you." The elder Keller said, his eyes softening slightly.
"It really is important we talk inside." Sam pressed once more. This time Jennifer's father paused before he stepped to one side and directed Sam to the lounge.
Sam took a seat and watched the elder Keller sit down and wearily look at her. Taking a breath she jumped straight in.
"Two weeks ago we discovered that Jennifer didn't die in the fire." The words causing Jennifer's father to open his mouth to speak, but the shock stopped any words emerging, causing Sam to continue. "The body we found was misidentified. Two weeks ago one of our teams found Jennifer."
"Alive?" Jennifer's father asked, almost whispering as he let hope wash over him.
"Yes."
"She's alive?" The elder Keller asked once more, unable to believe the news. "Is she okay?"
"Yes." Sam stated, deciding to keep her answers simple.
"But you told me she died six months ago. Where has she been?"
"Well…"
"You come in and tell me my little girl is dead, then you tell me she's not but you can't tell me what happened to her over the last six months." The elder Keller jumped in guessing he wasn't going to get a straight answer.
"I'm afraid not."
"Can you at least tell me if she was hurt?"
"I don't believe so. When she was found she was in perfect health." Sam answered. For a moment her answer caused Jennifer's father to sit silently trying to take in the news. Finally he asked.
"She's really alive?"
"Yes Sir. And she'll be here shortly."
"Here?"
"Yes." Sam smiled.
"She's coming home?"
"Yes Sir. I 'm just here to give you some advanced warning."
"How long…"
"She'll be here in about an hour."
"An hour. She's really coming home." Jennifer's father said, more to himself. After a few moments he stood and offered. "Would you like some tea?"
-00-
As the car came to a stop outside her childhood home Jennifer found herself staring at the house. As she stared she started to feel overwhelmed about being back. She was pulled from her thoughts by the car door opening. Looking up she saw Sam smiling down at her.
"You okay?" The Colonel asked.
"Yeah, it's just strange being home. How is he?" Jennifer asked as she climbed out of the car.
"Shocked, but happy. Plus very keen on seeing you." Sam grinned before pulling Jennifer into a hug and saying. "Call me anytime."
"Thanks." Jennifer replied.
"Now go see your father." Sam instructed as she released Jennifer and climbed into the car.
As the car pulled away Jennifer found herself once again staring at the house. A house she'd thought she'd never see again. Finally she strode towards the entrance and pushing the door open she stepped inside and called.
"Dad?"
Shutting the door she walked towards the lounge until she saw her father appear in the doorway. For a moment they both stood motionless and stared silently at each other. The elder Keller trying to convince himself that Jennifer was really in front of him, whilst the younger Keller tried to process everything that was happening and had happened. Finally it was the comforting sight of her father that proved to be enough to break the emotional dams she had built over the last few months. Bursting into tears she flew into her father's arms.
For a long time they held each other, neither wanting to let go in case the whole scene was a cruel illusion. Eventually though it was Jennifer who pulled back and looked at her father. As she did so she noticed how much he'd aged. Realising she was the reason she started to cry again.
"It's okay Sweetpea." Her father whispered hugging her once more. The use of the pet name she hadn't heard in years causing Jennifer to hold her father even tighter.
Finally Jennifer regained her composure and stepped back apologising.
"It's okay." He assured her as he looked down at her and realised how hardened her eyes had become, causing him to wonder exactly what she'd been through.
A/N: Thanks for reading and reviewing. Next chapter up on Saturday.