I do not own EUReKA.
Jallison in Wonderland
Chapter 10: There's No Place Like Home
"I'm still not sure I understand how this all happened, let alone that I believe any of it."
"Nathan, I assure you, this is not some elaborate ruse. Jack and I are trapped here and we just want to go home."
"Trapped? You make it sound like you're being held captive. Is it really that bad to be in a relationship with me?"
"No, of course not. Nathan, what we had was special and I am so grateful to have had you in my life. You gave me Jenna. I will always love you for that."
Nathan grabbed a pillow from off the bed and an extra blanket from the linen closet and settled himself on the chaise near the window. After they'd all had a chance to come to the realization that Jack and Allison were indeed in another timeline, he and Tess resigned themselves to the truth. The issue Nathan was having was what was going to happen if and when they put Allie and Jack back where they belonged. Would his Allison come back to him? And what about Jack? Would it be his old pal who returned? The bigger question is how could he even trust the two of them again? He would always be wary of the connection they would now have, knowing that whatever timeline they were in, it seemed that Jack and Allison were destined for each other.
As for Tess, she resented the fact that she was forced to play along with this charade under the guise of being a happy couple. All she wanted right now was to be as far away as possible from Jack, Eureka and it's residents. It wasn't that she didn't believe their story, it was that the story seemed more like a fairytale. Besides, Zoë was old enough to know, fairytales weren't real.
Declining to take the master room bed she'd shared with what she referred to as fake Jack, Tess found refuse in a spare bedroom they had. Still reeling from the events of the day, she pulled the covers up to her chin and curled up into the fetal position.
What she and Jack had here was special, but it seemed nothing like what he had with Allison. When he looked at her, she saw something she'd never had. The look of undying love. Jack had never once asked her to marry him, nor had he even spoken of having children. What was it about Allison that made men want to give so much of themselves? Hell, even Nathan would consider keeping this Allison just as long as he was with her. She couldn't imagine Jack being wiling to sacrifice himself in that manner. That's what had upset her the most.
Well, as far as she was concerned, she couldn't wait for this Jack to go back to his reality. And if and when she got her Jack back, she would lay her cards on the table. If he wasn't prepared to make a real commitment to her, then it was time for her to move on.
While Tess was busy contemplating her future, Jack was down in the kitchen, pacing the floor, cold beer in hand. He couldn't sleep due to the enormity of the tasks which lay before them. It wasn't that he didn't have confidence in the newly minted 'Get Jack and Allison Home' team, he'd seen them work miracles before when there had been no chance of hope.
What bothered him was how this whole thing had worked out with Tess. Even in their own timeline, he and Allison had never come clean to Tess, and for that he'd always felt guilty. One thing was for sure, when they did get back, he felt that they had to clear the air with her. He'd always had a huge weight upon him that they didn't divulge their relationship from the start and that they'd gotten engaged and married all without her knowledge.
But now was not the time for introspection. Tomorrow was going to be a big day. Tomorrow, hopefully, they would be going home.
Up bright and early the next morning, each of the participants felt a sense of anxiety and urgency. Though there had been no adverse effects of Jack and Allison's appearance, it still caused them to wonder what it had done to their true timeline.
Henry and Fargo had been up most of the night working on scenarios for recreating the anomaly and had finally settled on one that would work all in part thanks to Fargo.
For Henry, this Carter represented someone he could imagine being best friends with. He was witty, kind and loyal beyond belief. He wondered if his Carter returned, they could foster a new relationship. Odds are that it would be further from the truth. How were Nathan, Tess and he supposed to forget the personas that would be leaving them? Henry was sure Nathan would forever have the question in the back his mind of a Jack and Allison union as would Tess. Alas, the time for contemplation was over. Regardless of the outcome of today, it would take time, counseling and understanding.
Henry had surmised, though they could not place them back during the same date, utilizing the exact time of day under similar conditions may allow them to traverse during the precise moment. But, of course as with any experiment; and thats what this was ultimately, there was always a risk. Sure, Jack and Allison could have easily stayed here with them, but their desire to be with the ones they knew and loved was a testament to their vows for they'd made a promise not only to each other, but to their children. And because of that, Henry had to make sure this was a success.
Arriving at the point of the incident, Jack and Allison piled into their jeep and prepared for the trip home. Henry and Fargo had set up an apparatus which would duplicate the occurrence that brought them here.
One hand on the steering wheel, Jack reached over and took Allison's hand in his.
"What ever happens, I want you to know that I love you. Always have, always will."
"Baby, don't talk like that. This is going to work. We are going to make it home," Allison placed her hand on her belly where their baby was growing inside in the alternate Eureka, "and we are going to be with our family."
Nathan, Tess, Henry and Fargo stood off to the far side of the road and waved goodbye to the pair and all said a silent prayer that the Jack and Allison they knew would return.
The almost inconspicuous device lay just in front of their vehicle and whirled to a start. Before them a beam of iridescent light appeared as the waves radiated around them. Jack had listened as the group spoke of the physics that allowed the machine to operate, but of course, it all went over his head. What he heard was that it had to do with some doohickey added to a thingamajig creating a whatchamacallit and blah, blah, blah. All Jack was concerned about was wether it was going to work, shift them into another time loop or shred them to pieces.
Jack stared out the window and nervously tapped his left foot as he revved the engine with his right. Reaching over, he took Allison's hand in his and before taking the big leap, leaned over and gave her a loving kiss. As for if it would be their last, only the next few seconds would tell.
Overly anxious, Jack missed Henry's cue and drove through the barrier a split second before being directed. Thankfully, his eagerness did nothing to disrupt the transition as a blinding light was the last thing they saw of the alternate Eureka.
Bringing the car to a screeching halt, Jack looked at their surroundings and several things glared out at him.
First, Allison at his side now showed the swell of a pregnant belly. Second, there was not Henry, Nathan, Tess or Fargo standing near the Jeep. And third, the area directly in front of them seemed nothing out of the ordinary, but somehow Jack knew that they were at last home.
"Jack. The children. We have to see about Zoë, Kevin and Jenna."
His heart rate now racing, Jack pressed hard on the gas, breaking many a law along the way but he didn't care. He needed to get home. He needed to know their family was their waiting for them and that they were safe.
Arriving outside of the bunker were parked several cars, two of which they did not recognize.
Cautiously, they headed downstairs, the door automatically opening for them and before their eyes, in various locations around the room were Henry, Jo, Fargo and their doppelgängers.
"Oh. My. God." Jack uttered, "Another me."
"So, this is your Jack." Jack's twin rose from his seat. "God, I feel like this place is bad touching me."
"This cannot be happening… How did this happen?"
"Your Jack's not to bright, is he?"
"Relax, it was a rhetorical question. I just meant whatever happened to us must have pulled you into our reality."
"No shit, Sherlock."
"Hey. There's no need for name calling."
Then the carbon copy Allison stood and took notice of her slightly rounded stomach and laughed devilishly.
"This is one time I agree with you Carter, this place is all kinds of wrong. I mean, really. I can't believe that I would procreate with you."
The real Allison thought how strange to be amongst their duplicates knowing what they now know. She was glad of one thing though, she was right were she wanted to be.
Concern then enveloped her. "Henry, where are the kids?"
"They're fine. Zane took them to see a movie and Zoë is at GD. She's been helping Grace try and find a way to get your doubles back home."
He then stopped short. "Speaking of which, how did you get here?"
Allison went into detail of their own time in Eureka number two, their time spent their and how they were able to make the teleportation device work. That's when the light clicked on in Henry's head.
"My God. Why hadn't I seen this before?"
Apparently, the inhabitants of this Eureka were struck with a similar situation. The newly arrived Jack and Allison number two had been on a case and passed at the same location and point in time when Jack and Allison number one did. That's when Henry's experiment went haywire causing them to switch realities.
At least now, they had an explanation and a solution; a way to get them back to the timeline and Henry waisted no time putting the plan into action.
So at precisely one o'clock the next day, Jack and Allison saw themselves off to their alternate lives.
That Saturday, the Blake-Carter clan along with their extended family spent the day at Copernicus Park. Today was a celebration of sorts for them all. Jack and Allison were home and they presumed their alternate world personas were as well as they disappeared in the same manner as they'd reappeared. Allison had her prenatal check up and all was well with the baby; a major concern of theirs after the events of the last few weeks. Jack and Allison had reached out to Tess and retold not only the story of their adventure, but all that had been left unsaid between them. To their delight, Tess confessed she'd always felt their was something between them and she couldn't be happier that her best friend and the man who'd become a good friend despite their unfortunate breakup were together at last. Besides, she'd found love herself and was engaged to be married. She said she was so angry for so long, but had to let it go because it did nothing but make her miserable. Once she allowed herself a chance to heal, she was able to open herself to the possibility of loving someone again. Though the circumstances could have been handled better she said, she also admitted she'd never have found her happiness had it not been for them. Kevin and Jenna seemed to be unaffected by the course of events. Allison sometimes forgot he wasn't a baby anymore and his maturity allowed Jenna to get though this tough time seamlessly. She also had to remember that their friends; who were more like family, played a huge role. Henry, Grace, Jo, Zane, Fargo and to a no lesser extent, Taggert, Vincent and a slew of others acted their roles to make sure the status quo remained as such.
Allison was especially thankful for one thing; faux Jack and Allison managed to stow their differences and maintain some semblance of normality around Jenna. Jo told her that Jenna was the one person who managed to bring the two together and she wouldn't be surprised that when they got back to their Eureka, their relationship would be forever changed.
Overall, everything worked itself out and they were grateful just to be back where they belonged.
Their corp group then sat down to barbecue, drinks and a laughter all around.
Allison recalled the line to one of her favorite books, and one that she'd recently begun reading to Jenna at bedtime…
There's no place like home.
Fin.