AN: Hello everyone, and happy Friday! I'm sorry it was a rather long wait, but I expected it. The weeks are are long and highschool sucks. Oh well. It's here now.
Thanks: As always to my wonderful beta, sandgnat10. And to everyone who commented. I'm sorry I didn't respond to everyone... there was just so many this time. I've never had this many comments for two chapters. Thanks soooo much!!
That's it, really. Hope you all enjoy this one.
In the Arms of Angels - Part III
Something in side of Jeannie snapped. She couldn't leave her daughter in the diner alone with those people, she just couldn't. Couldn't walk out to safety knowing full well that Madison, her Madison, was being held at gunpoint by three grown men, but that was exactly what this man was asking her to do. She couldn't.
She dropped to her knees, desperately clutching Madison to her chest, and felt her body start to tremble.
"No, no!" she screamed, not even sure what she was saying or what others may be thinking. "Please! Take me, please!"
She kept pleading, kept begging, and all the while she was vaguely aware of John doing something similar, though he sounded more angry and forceful. She was also aware that the last of the evacuating civilians were slowing their evacuation efforts to see what was happening with Jeannie and her child.
"Mommy," she heard Madison cry, her tiny voice strained. Oh, how she wanted comfort her, how she wanted to kiss her cheek and make it all better. But there was nothing she could do right now except beg for her daughter's safe passage out.
"Silence!" Steve yelled. "Everyone STOP and get on the ground!" As he said it, his two gun men stopped the civilians and forced them back on the ground. There were only about three of them left, plus all soldiers, but there was still enough people to overpower the gunmen; and right now, it wasn't looking like too bad of an idea. If it gave Madison a better chance, then it would be worth it.
The room fell quiet as Steve began to speak, his gun still on John, who was absolutely fuming now. "I want you and the girl, Colonel. If I don't get that, then I'll start shooting these people now, starting with the girl."
John scowled, his previous ease gone and replaced with an anger and uneasiness that sent chills down Jeannie's spine. "The second you open fire, every soldier in this building, and everyone out there, will be all over you. And yes, I'm sure you'll take a few down, but it won't last very long at all."
Steve lowered himself to John's level again, raising his gun between John's eyes, "What makes you speak so bravely to a man who has a gun in your face?"
John forced a bitter laugh. "Because a few guys with guns stopped scaring me years ago," he answered, his acrimonious grin disappearing for a more serious expression. "Look, you said you had a problem with the Air Force So, keep me and let everyone else go."
"Sounds nice Colonel, but you laid the cards out for me, and I chose the aces," Steve stated simply. "I'm going to keep you, regardless, because you're a very important man, apparently. But if I keep the civilians, they may just blow us all up, as you mentioned, and if I keep the soldiers, then I run the risk of being over powered," Steve continued slowly. "So, the less the better. And out of all the people in this building, besides you, the girl offers the best leverage."
"Then let me stay, too!" Jeannie yelled, still not considering her words carefully. She wasn't scared for her life, not at all, anymore. "Please!"
"No," Steve stated as he stood back up. "Here are your options. Either everyone, except my aces, here," Steve said, motioning towards Sheppard and Madison, "are to continue with the evacuation plan as I ordered, or, I will shoot everyone right here and now starting with the girl, of course."
Jeannie could think of nothing more to say or do. Everything was crumbling down on her and she was being forced to leave her daughter in considerable danger. She didn't want to let go of Madison, but she didn't see how she could not. Begging was doing nothing but making Steve angrier. All eyes were on either Jeannie's crying, huddled form, or on John. There was nothing more she could think to do, except look to the one person in that diner she trusted.
When she looked up at John, she realized he had already been staring at her; his eyes held so much emotion. His usually tanned face was unnaturally pale against the dark red blood now streaming down his cheek and staining his white button-up shirt. She silently pleaded with him, looked to him for any indication of what to do. What scared her most was how unsure and scared he looked, himself. She found herself amazed at the sudden change in his demeanor, now that her daughter's life was being threatened.
It was then Jeannie knew for sure that John Sheppard would do anything to keep Madison safe. Knew that he, like herself, was willing to die for her child, but she still wanted to hear it from him. Wanted to hear him say it.
For a moment, time stopped and the only people in the diner was herself, her daughter, and John Sheppard. They were practically having an entire conversation with absolutely no words, and Jeannie could see the decision made in John's eyes, before he even said anything.
"They'll leave," John said finally, his voice low and filled with remorse. "Everyone will leave," he continued, more loudly this time as if addressing his men. "But you have to let me hold the girl," he said, turning to Steve. "She's scared and you're about to take her mother away. Just let me hold her." And for the first time since the whole thing began, Jeannie heard him plead. Truly plead for this one thing, and Jeannie knew it went against everything he was to do so.
Steve didn't speak for a few moments, just looked down at his prisoner with slight disgust and something else, something much deeper and profound that Jeannie couldn't really figure out. But she wasn't going to leave until she knew that her daughter would be in John's arms, if it couldn't be her own.
"Fine," Steve agreed quietly, "you can hold the girl, but I want everyone else out. Now!"
The tears were now freely falling down Jeannie's face as she looked into her daughter's eyes. Madison had stayed so quiet and so in control, even in this horrifying moment. Jeannie wondered if she knew exactly what was going on and what was at risk. But it didn't matter now; Jeannie had to leave her. God, it was going to hurt so bad. If it wasn't for John's protective, strong arms, she would not have even considered leaving Madison with the gunmen. They were the same arms that kept her brother, and all of Atlantis, safe for so many years.
"Get up," one of Steve's men ordered as his section of people made their way out the door. Jeannie's heart was still breaking, and a horrible feeling compelled her to remain on the ground and cradle Madison in her arms. But when she looked up and saw John staring at her, urging her up, she stood.
"Be strong, Jeannie," she heard him whisper.
Jeannie really wanted to be strong, for Madison, for herself, for John. It was just so hard. She would prefer to be kidnapped again, injected with nanites a million more times as opposed to this.
"Move it!" the gunman yelled again and pushed her.
"Come on, Jeannie," John urged again, his arms held out, ready to take Madison.
God, she couldn't do this. She couldn't do this, and yet, she was.
She took a few steps closer to his waiting arms and when she was close enough, she wiped her eyes with her free hand, and tried to gain some control before talking to her baby. She lowered Madison to the ground, right beside John, and fought the tears.
"Sweetie, Mommy…," she sighed, and sucked in a quick, shuddering breath, "Mommy's got to go. But Colonel Sheppard's going to take real good care of you, I promise. Okay?" she soothed, for herself as much as for Madison.
She gave up on holding the tears back, but tried to keep the smile. "Be a good girl and do exactly what he says, okay?"
Madison nodded, her eyes full of fear. Jeannie couldn't let go. How could she let go? She kissed Madison's forehead, not wanting to remove her lips.
"Time to go," she heard Steve say. But she couldn't. "Move it," he said, more forcefully this time. Then she felt a man's hand on her shoulder, and thought it was one of the gunmen's. But when she looked up, she saw soft, hazel green eyes penetrating her own.
"Nothing will happen to her," John said, his eyes unwavering. "Nothing."
Jeannie nodded and could feel a gun being pressed against her arm. She believed John, but still she wanted to stay with Madison. It felt wrong leaving her there. She was vaguely aware of the tension in the room increasing as she refused to move.
"Jeannie, you have to go," John said urgently, now wrapping his arms around Madison. "Please. I've got her, I promise."
"Oh my God," Jeannie heard herself say as she lost the small amount of control she had been able to keep. "Please," she cried, not knowing what else to do or say.
"Captain," John said to someone behind her, then felt the strong, yet gentle hands of one of the soldiers leading her away. But she couldn't take her eyes off her daughter the whole way out. She was leaving her. Abandoning her. Before she had the time to really think, she was being led through a wooden door and was greeted by the warm light of a setting sun and a cool, refreshing breeze.
How can it be so beautiful out here? thought Jeannie helplessly.
She was led further and further away from the diner, not sure where she was going or who was touching her. And then there were more people gripping her and ushering her towards something, but she didn't really care what.
"Mrs. Miller," someone said. But her eyes and attention were still on the small diner. "Mrs. Miller, look at me." She felt someone grab her shoulders and turn her around. She suddenly found herself staring into the eyes of General O'Neill.
"Listen to me," he said, still holding her shoulders. "We've got some of the best people on this," he assured, "and you've got one of the best possible people in there now. We'll get her out. We'll get both of them out."
Jeannie felt herself nod, but still couldn't really think.
"Mrs. Miller, you will need to contact your husband. Do you want us to call him?" he asked. "Mrs. Miller?"
"Yes," she answered finally. "Yes."
The world around her was a mass of blurred colors. There were so many people out there, so many flashing police lights, and ambulances. Then there were reporters and a growing number of onlookers. But they didn't matter, none of them did.
She wanted her daughter in her arms. She wanted her husband at her side, and her brother at the other. And she wanted John out of there, as well, safe.
She allowed General O'Neill to lead her off to the back of a dark car, a thin blanket draped around her shoulders. She could still see the diner, and that's all that mattered.
She felt another tear roll down her face, and drip onto her hand. Once again, she turned to God. She wasn't sure if He was real or not, but He was the only one that could be in there with John and Madison. It was therefore worth asking for help. She asked that He send an angel in there, and for the angel to wrap its arms around John and her daughter, and to keep them safe. She promised Him that if He allowed Madison to live, she would do everything she could to get to know Him.
She closed her tired, swollen eyes for only a moment, and continued to pray. It was all she had now.
This sucked. This really, really sucked. He had to be a marked man, because damn. It didn't matter where he went or what he did. It didn't even matter what galaxy he was in, he always found trouble. Always. It was that simple.
Now, it wasn't just his team he was forcing his bad luck upon. He wasn't running from some violent group of aliens, and he sure as hell wasn't up against the life-sucking Wraith. No, he was on Earth, his arms wrapped tightly around a trembling little girl, with three guns pointed at him.
He didn't care about the guns. It wasn't that he feared a bullet hole, or the fact it could kill him, because death wasn't something he feared. It was the mere fact he was the only thing standing between those guns and Madison. As long as she lived, then he had completed his mission. Because when it came down to it, you could remove him from his post, but you could never remove his need to protect.
Besides, Jeannie and Madison would have never been there if it hadn't been for him. The least he could do was get them both out safely, and he was already halfway there. But it wouldn't matter unless could save Madison too. It was like the Stargate only sending things through in one piece; he couldn't succeed unless everyone left that diner alive.
The trembling bundle in his arms had yet to speak, or make any real movements. He wanted to say something to her, but didn't know what. He actually liked children, but just didn't have any experience with them. Well, a little here and there, but nothing quite like this. He had never had to comfort one, or be real fatherly-like. While he wished Madison had never come to that diner, a part of him felt accomplished as he held her close to him, like he had a purpose.
The idea of having a child scared the hell out of him, and yet it exhilarated him. He couldn't imagine having to worry over its every move, or wonder how long he would be around for them due to his dangerous job. And yet, having a child would fill something inside of him that he knew was missing. Something he tried to appease with Atlantis and his team. Of course, his team was his family and he would do anything in the world for them, but they weren't his. They weren't his future.
Stay focused, John, he told himself. There will be no kids at all if you can't get your ass out of here in once piece.
The diner was now quiet, having emptied the majority of its occupants. There was only himself, Madison, and the three gunmen, all of which had their guns lazily pointed at him.
"What now?" Sheppard asked.
"Now," Steve said as he pulled up a chair with his foot and plopped down with a sigh, "we wait."
Did you get that from the 'Hostage Situations for Dummies' manual, John wanted to sarcastically ask, but bit his tongue before it came out. He couldn't risk Steve getting mad enough to attack him, not with Madison in his arms. Instead, he just lowered his head.
"That sound good to you, Colonel?" asked Steve, almost tempting Sheppard to screw up.
Sheppard sighed, again holding back flippant remarks. "Sounds fine."
Steve snidely chuckled and gestured at Madison with his gun, causing John to envelop her even more. "You're a little different when you're all alone. Or is it because of the kid." John just stared back, not seeing a point in answering.
"She don't look like yours," one of the gunmen said. "You banging her mom, or is she the one sneaking around on you?"
Hatred seared through John's veins. He found the gunmen's words slimy and insulting, but what really made his insides boil was the man's nerve to speak so raunchy in the presence of a child so young.
"He asked you a question, Colonel," Steve said as he leaned closer to John. "You might want to answer."
"Or what?" John sneered, unable to hold his tongue. "You'll kill me? Or you're going to hurt her?" he asked, nodding down towards Madison. "Because if you do, I swear, I. Will. Kill. You."
Steve's grin faded. "You have a lot of nerve," he said, making John fear the worse. "But, I don't plan on touching the girl unless I absolutely have to. That would be hypocritical, wouldn't it?"
John frowned, his left hand grasping the back of Madison's head. "Hypocritical?"
Steve nodded. John was sure there was a sadness to it, but having not expected it from such a harsh man, he wasn't sure if it was real or not. "You haven't even asked why I'm here, or what I have against the Air Force."
This was true. It hadn't been on the top of his list. Right when the gun was placed on his head what seemed like hours ago, plans began to form in his mind. It just so happened that his first plan -convincing Steve of his importance- had worked, and so he hadn't even moved passed that point. His next plan of action would have had something to do with Steve's demands, whatever they were.
"Does that mean you're about to tell me?"
Steve smiled warily. "Not now."
Definitely a bit of pain there. Odd, John thought. Steve obviously didn't want money, and his motives had something to do with the Air Force. But what confused Sheppard the most was his reluctance to harm Madison, and the look he gave her every now and then.
"Then tell me," John spoke cautiously, "what situation would call for harming her?" he asked, looking down at Madison.
"If you try to fight or get out of hand," Steve answered. "I can tell your a tough one, so she's my assurance you'll be on your best behavior."
"I'll only fight if you touch her."
"Then she should be fine."
John fell quiet after that. Steve was right; he was very different with Madison here. By now, he would have probably been beaten by all three men for his snide contempt. Probably would have been talking nonstop, trying to annoy them. He didn't know why he did those kind of things, but he always had, and so far, he was still alive. So, he must have been doing something right.
This was different, very different. Much more at stake now. He would do what he was told to keep Madison safe. He had promised. Of course, he had a few backup plans in case this submissive act didn't pay off. He really hoped he didn't have to resort to them, as none of them allowed for the safe passage for everyone, but he would do it if the moment called for it.
John was pulled from his possible scenarios when he felt Madison move beneath his arms. She was pulling away from him, not a lot, but enough to look around. Her eyes were puffy and red as they scanned the room, and her hands never left John's shoulders. He watched her take in her surroundings, and look towards the exit.
"Hey," he said softly, not really knowing what to say to her. She stopped looking around the room and turned to him. He saw fear in her big blue eyes, and it felt like a knife was slicing through his gut.
"You're bleedin'," she said, so quiet he could barely hear her. And that's when he realized she was right. He remembered getting hit those few times, but the injuries and pain hadn't been important enough to stay in the front of his mind.
"Yeah," he said, smiling. "Bumped my head."
"He hit you."
Sheppard froze. What would he say to that? He foolishly looked to Steve, as if he was going to help.
"Well, he plays too rough."
Madison watched him for a moment, then laid her head back on his shoulder and whispered, "I want to go home."
Me too, John agreed.
"It won't be long now," he assured her, looking at Steve, who surprisingly did not object. "I promise."
EN: Alright well, I did finish this story, however, I'm too sure I like the ending. Hopefully I'll be able to rework it fairly easily to make me like it, but the worse case scenario would mean a lot of revisions. I hope not though, and I'll be working on it this weekend even though I have to do 60-something AP Euro notecards... :(