Authors' Note: Hi there, just so you know, this story was co-authored with my friend Nimeria. This story is as much hers as mine. Plus, this is the last chapter. Woo-Hoo!!!
Disclaimer: We don't own anyone or anything you recognize. Except for ourselves. And that last bit's only a "maybe" on a good day.
Why to Always Have an Escape Route
Chapter 22
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(Many hours later both girls are asleep. Elizabeth is sitting with the girls for moral support and to be on hand for any news. Jessie stirs slightly, sits up, and glances to the door where and exhausted looking Carson is standing.)
Jessie: Mary wake up! (…A loud whisper that wakes Mary and Elizabeth and several of the infirmary's other occupants)
Mary: What? (Jessie nods toward Carson) Oh.
Elizabeth: Carson?
Carson: She's gonna be just fine. She pulled through brilliantly. We've got her in a recovery room but you can go see her in the morning if you like.
(Jessie starts to protest but Mary silences her with a look. Elizabeth nods to Carson and shuffles out of the infirmary, presumably to her own room.)
Mary: (to Carson) Thank you.
Carson: Anytime.
(A few weeks pass. At the foot of the activated wormhole stands Daniel, Teal'c, Sam, and Mitchell, waiting. Jack comes walking into the gate room slightly sideways, and walks up to the others.)
Jack: Sorry. Got kinda lost. All these hallways look the same.
(Sam suppresses a smile.)
Mitchell: Yes sir.
Jack: Well, where are our young charges?
Teal'c: They appear to be arriving now.
(Mary, Jessie, and Taylor are coming down the stairs accompanied with Sheppard and Elizabeth.)
Elizabeth: ...so long as you know that you three are welcome to return any time you like.
Mary: Thanks. I'm sure we'd be happy to-(silences Taylor with a look, and gets poked by Jessie defensively) -take you up on that some day. But we'd better be getting back.
Jessie: Yeah, Harriman is probably missing us
(The group, sans Elizabeth, walks to the Stargate.)
Jack: Coming with us?
Sheppard: Yeah. Beckett said I needed a vacation.
(The girls are having a muffled argument.)
Taylor: No, you go first.
Jessie: What?
Mary: No you don't. If I go first you'll just stay here.
Taylor: No I won't.
Mary: (sigh) A little help here Jessie?
Jessie: Yep!
Taylor: (turns to Jessie) What?
(Mary waits for Taylor to look away and shoves her, not unkindly, into the 'gate. Jessie follows smiling, prepared for a thwack on the other side)
Daniel: That was...rude.
Mary: I know. I'll get beaten for it later. (walks in)
Sheppard: That's one odd bunch of girls right there.
Jack: Yup.
(On The Other Side of the 'Gate)
(Taylor stumbles out onto the ramp looking confused and then upset, before turning around to thwack her twin, which she does when Jessie stumbles out behind her.)
Taylor: That was so incredibly mean. (Glares as Mary appears through the 'gate) I WILL be getting you back for that you know.
Mary: Yes, I know.
(Others walk through the gate behind her. Jack ruffles the disgruntled girl's hair.)
Jack: Cheer up kid, you'll be back there soon enough I'm sure.
Sam: He's right. Once you've been it never seems to want to let you go. Sheppard: Don't I know it. NOT that I ever want to leave but...
(Taylor still looks disgruntled.)
Jessie: Walter-san!!!
(She runs up to the control room and glomps the gate tech. Others chuckle and Taylor attempts to hide her smile.)
Mitchell: (looking rather resigned) You know, I think I know just the thing to cheer you up.
(Leans down and whispers in her ear. Her face lights up and she nods happily and the girls leave the gate room, letting the remaining members be the ones to fill Landry in on all that had happened. After the debriefing, in the cafeteria, Jack finds the three young women sitting together at a table.)
Jack: Hiya girls. Mind if I join?
Taylor: Nope, feel fre-
Jessie: Um...what is that?
Jack: What?
(Jessie gestures vaguely at his tray.)
Jack: It's meatloaf.
Taylor: That's Meatloaf??
(Minutes later Daniel and Teal'c walk into the cafeteria, immediately spotting the four. It wasn't hard. There was the noise, for one. Daniel was grateful that the room was mostly empty.)
Taylor: (indignantly) Look, I didn't say that beef was bad, but that's not the best specimen of meatloaf I've ever seen.
Jack: Yes you did. You said 'Ew.' Ew is not a good word.
(Mary gets up and quietly leaves the table.)
Daniel: What's going on?
Jessie: It's the meatloaf. Apparently, it's either the source of ultimate evil or a holy relic, depending on your point of view.
Jack and Taylor: I didn't say that!
(Mary comes back with a tray.)
Mary: Here. (hands treats to both Taylor and Jack)
Jack: What is this?
Teal'c: (leaning over and snatching one) Chocolate chip, O'Neill.
Jack: I meant what is it For?
Mary: You get to demolish a plate of helpless cookies. Taylor gets to attack a defenseless bowl of ice cream.
(Mitchell walks in, and over.)
Jack: Who said I needed cookies? I don't want cookies.
Taylor: Mmphr Mce Meam Mever. (through a spoonful)
Mitchell: Well, sir, if you don't want them- (he reaches down)
(and has his hand slapped)
Jack: My cookies.
Mitchell: (with a sigh) Oh well. So. Girls. When are we trying that whatchamacallit again?
(Jessie sneaks two cookies while Jack isn't looking, and glares at him when he tries to get them back. He gives up and returns to what's left of his plate of chocolatey-chippy-goodness.)
Mary: ...can you be more specific?
Teal'c: I believe he means the 'movie fest'.
Jessie: YES!
Taylor: MMMPH!
Mary: You mean you want to try again?
Mitchell: That's all Sheppard's been going on about. He keeps telling me we need to watch Princess Bride, but I'm NOT watching a chick flick.
Taylor: (swallows) It has pirates you know.
Mitchell: Pirates? How does that make the movie worth watching?
(Three girls and Sam who has just walked in stare)
Taylor: How do-
Jessie: Is he serious?
Mary: I think he is.
Sam: Cam... really...
Teal'c: Colonel Mitchell, even I am aware that pirates make even the worst movie worth watching. (All others mutter in agreement.)
Mitchell: Even so...it is my house. (Immediately he realizes this wasn't the smartest thing to say when he's glared at.)...It is my house...so... um...We'll have to watch it first. (All who were glaring stop glaring)
Taylor: If we're going we should probably go. It's getting kind of late.
Daniel: Taylor, its only noon.
Jessie: Like she said, it's late.
Daniel: How can noon be late?
(The other girls ignore him as they poke Mitchell for daring to speak ill of the Dread Pirate Roberts, and Mary pats Daniel on the shoulder.)
Taylor: You still have the supplies right?
Mitchell: Well I should. Haven't been back to the house yet.
Jessie: (gasps) The Grog! (starts to giggle) It'll be fermented!
Daniel: It...ferments? Should it do that?
Taylor: We've got to Leave! We're wasting Daylight!
Jack: Driving yourself are you?
(Taylor contemplates this.)
Jack: No! No you're not. That's the point. Besides, someone's got to fetch Sheppard.
Mitchell: He was cleaning up when I left. He's probably lost.
Taylor: I'll find...no? Oh fine. (after a look from Mary)
Sam: Tell you what sir; I'll take the girls if you convince General Landry to let us leave.
Jack: Deal.
Teal'c: Daniel Jackson, shall we, as you put it, carpool?
Daniel: Yeah, come on.
Mitchell: I'll go find Sheppard then.
(Everyone heads off in their respective directions.)
(Not Long After at Mitchell's House)
(Sam is back on her futon; Taylor and Jessie are back on their bed; Sheppard and Mitchell have reclaimed their chairs; Jack and Daniel now share the couch; Mary, after much consideration of the promises of no glomping from the devilishly innocent twins; is back near them and Sheppard and Mitchell; although a little further away than originally; and Teal'c has taken Daniel's earlier spot near Mitchell.)
Mitchell: Okay, okay. Yes, the movie is better than I thought but... all the same...I probably would have preferred something else.
Taylor: (tilts head into odd angle to look at him) What would you have preferred?
Mitchell: Not this.
Jessie: Why not? It's fantastic (She and Taylor share giggle at The Doctor's word.) So why not?
Mitchell: Because.
(Taylor, Jessie and Mary stare. Taylor pokes Jessie.)
Taylor: I totally win.
Jessie: Awww. Fine. I'll get you the Christmas present I forgot to give you two years ago. Happy?
Taylor: Yay!!
Mitchell: I'm a little confused.
Jessie: Because is my answer to anything she ever asks me that starts with the word why. She bet one of you who hadn't met us before would say something like that before we left.
Mary: I'm a little surprised really. I knew we were probably rubbing off on
you but...
(phone rings in the background)
Mitchell: I'll get that. (leaves quickly, glad to get away from the apprising stares)
(Few minutes later)
Mitchell: (walks back into room) That was Landry. He wants us back at the base now.
(Taylor and Jessie share a look before glancing at Mary.)
Mary: Well, here we go again.
------ THE BEGINNING!!! -------
Authors' Note: And so we reach the end of Why to Always Have an Escape Route. Thanks for sticking with us thus far! Nimeria and I are still hard at work (...if you can call it
work...mostly it's fun...and used to stave off boredom...moving on...) writing which means that yes, there will be a sequel. If you've come this far, please feel free to drop
us a review. Input is great and flames make us giggle. Mostly, keep watch for the next installment of the Escape Route storyline: The Never Ending Escape Route. See you there!
- Bann and Nimeria
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