Chapter Fourteen: Heart to Heart, Blood to Blood
Sam pulled her baby close as she rocked back and forth in the fading winter sunshine. Time had slipped through her fingers today as the last few months had. Her baby was seven months old and she's missed so much, being home only a few handful of days at at time. Luckily, Jack was here most of the time, but he had been the one to see Jasmine could crawl for the first time and most likely he would hear her first word.
As the war with the Ori dragged on Sam just wanted it to be over and then she'd be able to put in her retirement papers and spend her time where she wanted, with Jack and Jasmine.
After her trip to Pegasus she'd taken all the time off she could, a month straight, but it hadn't been enough. She hated not being there every day, but she was needed elsewhere and until the threat from the Ori was gone for good, she'd have to continue missing out on her daughter's milestones and rely on Jack and his trusty video camera.
In turn she knew it was hard for Jack, he was used to being out there fighting the good fight, but now he was sidelined and forced to let his wife go off to war, while he stayed home with the baby. Both of them knew why it had to happen but it did make it any easier for either of them.
Over the last few months, Sam had been able to come home most nights and tuck her daughter in with the help of the Asgard beam technology. It allowed her to continue her work at Stargate Command but join Jack and Jasmine in Alexandria each night, but now she was heading off world to test her new device and who knew how long she'd be gone.
"Sam, are you coming to bed?"
She looked up at the sound of Jack's voice. "Yes, just give me a minute longer. I wish I had more time with her. She's growing up so fast." Sam hated the tears which gathered in her eyes. "I miss-"
Jack knelt beside her, taking her hand. "Hey, we agreed to stop beating ourselves up. You can't be here and I can't go out there and save the world any longer. We have our jobs to do and so were going to do them to the best of our abilities. It's all we can do."
Leaning forward Jack kissed her. "Now why don't you let me have our peanut and you can take the shower you've been wanting all day." He took Jasmine. "Is your device ready? You're leaving in a few days for Planet P9C-882, don't you?"
"Yes, Cam is itching to get going to test it, but I'm not totally sure it'll work." She stopped and sighed. "It works, yes, but I have no idea if it will have the output needed or how long it will last once it's turned on. There are so many things I don't know…."
"Well, let's not dwell on that for now then. You have your shower and then meet me out on the balcony. I think we need some quiet time to forget our troubles and dwell on each other. I love you, Sam. Never forget that."
She smiled. "How could I, it took us so long to get here; I'll never forget it." Sam got to her feet and headed out of the room. "I'll see you in a few minutes and Jack, I love you too."
Sam wished she could shake the awful feeling that she wasn't coming back this time.
Jon pushed himself back from his computer and rubbed his eyes before saving the document. Feeling proud of himself, he got to his feet and stretched. Two hours sitting at the computer had taken a toll on his muscles but he was finally done. The first draft of Jack's old thesis was ready to show Haruka. Jon knew there would be changes to be made but for now he could revel in his success. Checking his watch he debated heading to bed, but there was time to meet the others at the commissary for a bedtime snack before it closed.
Grabbing his coat, he pushed his arms in. The hard crust of snow crunched under his feet as the wind whipped around the buildings. The walk across campus was quick, but as Jon stepped inside, he had to brush the white flakes from his hair. Cassie and Charlie sat in the corner whispering conspiratorially. Jon grabbed a piece of pie and headed over to them. "Whatcha all doing?"
Both girls jumped at the sound of his voice. Cassie was the first to recover and placed her hand over her heart. "Jon, you scared three years off my life. I thought it was Charlie who was supposed to be the quiet one."
Charlie grinned. "I am, but Jon's got some moves as well."
Placing his pie on the table Jon sat down and began to eat. Between mouthfuls he asked, "So what were you two conspiring about? Is it girlie stuff or can I know about it?"
The expression on Charlie's face was enough to make Jon raise his hands in defense as she spat out the words. "Girlie stuff, I don't do girlie at all. Do I need to remind you what happened last time I tried girlie?"
Her voice was deadly serious and Jon couldn't suppress a shiver. He sometimes forgot how deadly Charlie could be. Heck, that woman's favourite toys were a huge combat knife and a rifle.
"No offense meant, it was supposed to be funny. Well, what were you talking about so intensely?"
Charlie looked over at Cassie who nodded. "It's Nate, he seems to have disappeared. No one has seen him for days. I asked General Shark and she said he was supposed to be off base for a week on a special assignment but that was two weeks ago." Charlie's hands fidgeted with the straw in her drink. "I can tell she's worried too. I think she might know something but can't tell us. It's something bad, I can feel it even in my hair tips."
Jon stopped eating and pushed his pie away. "Do you know who else was supposed to be on this "special" assignment? Have you found out anything else?"
Sighing, Charlie shook her head. "No, no one knows anything. I did managed to discover that five other firsties have gone to the same course and returned. I don't know enough people to get their names. I was hoping Cassie could help me with that, she's got more acquaintances that I do."
Cassie nodded. "I'll see what I can find out, but I don't have many more friends than you do. But I can ask around." She looked over at Jon. "Do you think Jack could help us? I mean he's got his fingers in a lot more pies than we do."
Shaking his head, Jon reached out to take Cassie's hand. "Let's see what we can figure out before we go that route. We could get him in a lot of trouble if it's something he can't share."
The overhead lights flashed, telling them it was time to go. They got to their feet and said nothing as they walked over the new snow. All the joy was gone from Jon's day and he wondered if he'd ever get it back again.
Looking up at the sky, he wondered just where Nate was at this moment and how Haruka had allowed it to happen.
Nate drew a deep breath and turned the corner of the maze. He was never one to sympathize with (lab) rats but after spending day after day in this maze he was beginning to. Once again he reached a door and laid his palm down on the panel. It easily slid open to allow him through. On the other side of the door were two choices and after doing a quick eenie meanie miny moe, he chose the left path.
Although he pushed himself, Nate could feel his energy draining. He was thirsty and hungry, but there would be nothing to eat until he got out of this maze. Hours back, he'd been able to figure out one of the stupid puzzles and get himself a drink, but it hadn't been enough to quench his thirst completely.
Up ahead there was a beam of light and Nate staggered towards it, hoping this was finally the end, but he doubted even if it was the exit that the end was in sight.
He fell through he doorway and was immediately grabbed roughly under the arms and dragged away.
"He's the first to emerge and he has the strongest gene so it's not surprising he got though the maze. Take him to the infirmary and get him ready for the next trial, we need to know if he is as strong at O'Neill's. Our lives may depend on it one day. Don't forget the genetic sample."
Nate fought to make sense of what they were talking about, but the pinch in his arm washed away all thought and he tumbled into darkness.
Nate woke up in a small cell and looked around. He'd been here before, after each cycle in the maze he woke back here. This was his home until they made him run another gauntlet. He knew he was good, but… he didn't know if he could take much more.
He'd lost count of the days some time ago. Closing his eyes, a lone tear ran down his face. He could feel the others close to him. Drawing a breath, he reached out to them with his mind. "I wanna go home… Dad… Gramps… Fuyu-nee… Charlie… Mom!"
In four different locations on the world, four people woke with a start.
"Nate?!" Admiral Shark shook his white head, tired. "I swear I heard something…"
"Brother?" Fuyutsuki had no time for this… she was scheduled for flying patrol in an hour anyway. "Be okay brother…"
"Nate?" Haruka, who had been unable to sleep, had the same reaction as her father… "Where are you, son…?" she whimpered.
"Nate?" Charlie tried desperately to wipe the cobwebs off her mind. Just great, not enough that she worried in broad daylight about his absence, now, she even had to have to dream of him… wait. "Strange. I never dream – I talk to myself too much for that. And that dream doesn't make sense… Nate?" she asked the air tentatively.
But nothing happened and she relaxed, slightly laughing as she felt rather silly. Tossing the covers off, she got out of bed. If caught out of bed she'd be in big trouble. She had to find Haruka and make sure this wasn't a dream, at least not the regular kind.
By the time she reached General Shark's house and raised her arm to knock, Charlie felt a little stupid. She was about to leave and go back to bed when the door opened and Shark stood in the doorway, dressed and obviously agitated.
At the sight of Charlie, she stopped. "What are you doing here?"
Stumbling over her words, Charlie tried to explain what happened. "I had this dream about Nate and it freaked me out. It just seemed so real, too real… I was there with him in the dark. I could feel the dampness and… I wanted to talk to you about it. I think Nate's in danger, they were doing something to him. I know you told me he was away on some kind of training, but…"
Haruka reached out, gripping each of Charlie's shoulder and shook her. "He was in a maze. They had him running through it, like a rat didn't they? He was afraid because he'd seen what happened if you failed… Death, it lingered in that place. It surrounded him."
The otherwise collected twen shuddered. "Yes. That place stank of death… I know the smell since my neighbour got murdered last year… it was dark… and Nate… he's losing hope he'll ever get out… Haruka… I never dream and remember it unless it's a nightmare memory… and… I don't remember anything of this!"
"Come inside. We're going to talk about this. It has to mean something because I think we had the same dream." She wrapped her arms around Charlie and led the girl inside. The two of them sank down onto the couch, unsure just what to say.
They both jumped a few minutes later when the phone rang. Slowly Haruka got to her feet and picked up the receiver. "General Haruka Shark speaking."
The General tilted her head as she listened to the speaker. "Are you sure, Fuyutsuki. You saw him in a dark maze?" Her eyes flew to Charlie who was had almost curled herself into a ball by wrapping her arms around her knees. "No, you're not crazy, I had the same dream and so did Charlie. It has to mean something, but what I don't know." She paused while she listened. "No, you go. I'll make sure if I find anything out I'll let you know. Don't worry we'll find him."
She hung up the phone and turned to Charlie. "I need some very strong tea."
"No, I don't think that's what we need. Nate needs us to go back to sleep. Think that is the only way we can talk to him. Maybe if both of us try, we'll be able create a better connection. He reached out to us and maybe we can reach back now that we know he's there."
Haruka shook her head. "There is no way I can sleep right now, but I have a spare room if you want to give it a try. I'll be here doing some work if you need me. I'll make some calls and push a little harder. Something is very wrong."
Charlie nodded. "Over the years I've learned to sleep anywhere I can. Life with my mother made it a necessity. You never knew when things would get crazy." She paused. "I can't lose Nate, not now after… Haruka, we have to find him."
Without hesitation Haruka crossed the room and wrapped her arms around Charlie. The girl tried not to stiffen at the physical contact but old habits were hard to break.
Haruka seemed to ignore Charlie's reaction and held her tighter. "Life isn't always kind but I promise you we will find my boy and bring him back to you. I will do everything possible to make sure that while you are in my son's life, you will have good memories to dull those gloomy ones from your childhood. You don't have to be alone anymore Charlie. I'm here for you."
After a moment, Charlie relaxed in Haruka's arms and buried her face in the older woman's shoulder, for once glad to have someone to lean on for a while, but as always no tears flowed.
Stepping out of Haruka's arms, Charlie wiped at her eyes erasing all evidence that she was just a little misty eyed. "I'm going to sleep now. I'll see you in a few hours. Can you make sure I get to roll call?"
"I'll wake you in time, night Charlie."
Charlie disappeared into the bedroom Haruka indicated and laid down on the bed. Surprisingly, she was asleep in moments as though pulled into unconsciousness by an unseen force.
There are two more chapters up on my site and if you would like to check them out Google my penname and you will find me. I love to hear from you whether you liked it or loved it. :0P
Also I have published two original pieces of work on Kindle you can find a link to them on my website as well.
if I get enough review I will be pushed to add the chapter early, like Friday, instead of later next week. I have one so far this week but I think I could handle a few more.