CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FOUR
A/N: Sorry for such a short chapter; hopefully, the next one will be longer! This chapter is dedicated to a friend, Debbie, who suggested that Jeannie's sister make an appearance.
For all those purists, I know she didn't appear until the third season, but since this is an Alternate Universe story, anything can happen, so I am having a little bit of fun going somewhat outside of canon. Enjoy!
Jeannie's sister, Jeannie The Second, blinked into the house where Anthony Nelson resided. She was amazed that her usually fantastic brain had failed to come up with these scenario eons ago. When one was faced with yet another whipping from one's own Master (although Aianalli didn't usually hit her too hard,) one could disappear into the past if one was a genie.
The house was also a perfect cover since, by her reckoning; it was almost nine months before Tony would meet her for the first time. If she could get her sister Jeannie out of the way, she could have him all to herself. Jeannie The Second pondered the trick she'd use this time. She heard Tony coming out from his garage and disappeared, listening on the wind for any information she could use to her advantage.
The astronaut came into the house, his arms full of groceries. The phone rang, but Tony ignored it. He didn't know who it was, of course, but since it was Saturday, he didn't have to talk to anyone if he didn't want to. He put the bags in the kitchen and his eyes fell on the now empty rollaway desk, its papers and ordinary contents without Jeannie's bottle in the middle making it look, well, ordinary.
Walking over to the desk, he muttered in a very sad, very tired voice, "I wish you were here. I wish I'd never said what I did to make you go away. If I could go to Hadji and make it all vanish, I would."
From her vantage point, Jeannie II put her hand to her mouth in consideration as she realized the endless possibilities. So, they'd had a fight of some kind, or he made a dumb wish, and the end result was that her darling sister was back with Hadji, was she? She finally knew what to do and, rematerializing outside of Tony's house in a lime green sleeveless dress, knocked on the door. Tony decided that maybe he should open it; perhaps whoever was at the front door could take his mind off of things, even if only for a moment.
He opened the door to a beautiful, dark haired woman. She bore a striking resemblance to the genie he had lost, and he found himself saying, "May I help you?" before prudence told him he'd be better off not opening any doors to any more pretty girls for awhile until he was over his depression.
Jeannie's sister said, "Yes. I am Jeannie's sister. I was in town, and hoping to see her."
Tony regarded the woman for a moment. She did look a lot like Jeannie, and Jeannie had mentioned a sister when she was trying to discover what her birth date was. He also thought that, if she was a genie too, maybe he could persuade her to help him find Jeannie. He opened the door wider.
"Come in," he said. When she came in, he offered her a chair. She sat down demurely, inwardly hating being such a goody two shoes, but reveling in the enjoyment she'd have when her plan came to fruition.
"So, Jeannie's sister," Tony said conversationally. "Do you have a name?"
"Yes, it's Jeannie," Jeannie II replied.
Tony was amused that Jeannie's parents would name two children the same name, but he knew that since she was dark haired and appeared to be slightly older even though Jeannie had said she had a younger sister, Jeannie's family could definitely tell them apart. He poured some water into a glass from a nearby pitcher and held it out to her. Jeannie II declined.
"She isn't here," Tony said, trying not to be sad.
"Oh, well do you know when she will return?" Jeannie II asked.
Tony shook his head, saying, "No, I'm sorry. She went to Hadji and I haven't seen her since."
Jeannie's sister peered at Major Nelson. She could tell that he hadn't had very much sleep. He looked weary, the light gone from his eyes. Well, she would perk him up soon enough if she didn't botch things. From past debacles, she knew she had to be cautious. Even if Jeannie had gone, she had to play her cards right, since Jeannie could always return suddenly, and with her return, bring Jeannie The Second's Master.
"Well, I happen to know where Hadji is today," Jeannie II told him. Tony brightened at that as she continued: "maybe I could help you find her."
Tony smiled, but studied her. Although he was anxious to get his genie back, he didn't want to worry her sister about Jeannie's disappearance.
"That would be great," he said, keeping his voice neutral.
Jeannie looked at him with her big, blue eyes as she said, "But if I help you, do you think you could do me a favor in return?"
Tony nodded vigorously, so overjoyed that she would take him to Jeannie. "Yes, I'll give you whatever you want! Just take me to her!" he said. She took Tony's hand in hers, instructing him to hold on tight, and together, they vanished into the past.