Chapter Text
Everything was silent save for the quiet hum of the engines, just the way Chloe liked it, back on Earth she'd found it hard to sleep thanks to the mass of cars and sound of the city but aboard Destiny there was peace at night. Pale blues, purples and the occasional burst of green of the FTL lights shone in through the little porthole of the room bathing the space in an almost supernatural glow and Chloe found herself growing sleepy as she stared out of the circular window.
Her mind's thoughts troubled Chloe that night and something had been wrong since waking up from stasis, she loved Matt but there was some unspecified force pulling her away from him. Chloe did her best not to think about it though, maybe she just hadn't woken up from stasis properly; that's what it has to be. She glanced from the porthole to Matt who sat on the edge of the bed pulling off his black boots and tossing them to the ground before he clambered into bed beside the dark-haired beauty.
"Do you think that girl could really be my and Rush's daughter?" Chloe knew she'd not given birth to her but there was an emotion inside her heart that said the girl was their's.
"Of course not." Matt told her quickly in a reassuring tone that actually wasn't that necessary. "Don't be ridiculous, you're beautiful and fun and he's... Rush." Matt almost snorted. "The kid is either crazy or lying to get close to us."
"You don't think she's human?" Chloe questioned.
"Doesn't matter. I don't think she wants us all dead but who knows what people would do to get Destiny. I think Young is right and we can't trust her, there are so many things that don't add up with her." Matt leaned across the bed a little and pressed a kiss to her pink lips. "Don't worry Chloe, we all know she's got nothing to do with you."
Matt snuggled down into the bed and tried to go to sleep.
But what if she is? Chloe's mind continued to wonder.
Far away on the other side of the section of crew quarters was Rush's normally unused room, the little girl sat on his bed watching her feet as they swished back and forth while Nicholas, Camile and woman whose jacket revealed her to be Corporal Barnes went on about something the girl didn't much listen to.
"Are you sure you're alright with this, Nick?" Camile asked him softly.
Rush shot her a glance before pulling his watch off and tossing it down onto the table, he'd lost track how many times Camile had asked him that in the last ten minutes. Rush wished she's just leave and let him sleep, he'd been up since coming out of stasis which was around seventy-two hours ago, he finally had to accept he needed sleep.
"I'll be right outside, Doctor Rush."
"Fine, good-bye." He muttered dismissively and was thankful when they finally fled his quarters leaving him alone with his so-called daughter.
All was silent as he tugged off his green t-shirt, he dropped it to the floor uncaring as to where it landed and slipped into bed after turning the tiny lamp off, the little girl took that opportunity to climb into bed as well though she didn't try and cuddled up to him like she had throughout the day. She was rather quiet too.
"Night." He said trying to be polite and shut his stinging eyes.
"Night Daddy." She sounded sad but Rush just assumed the child was tired so said nothing about it.
Nothing else was said, the room was black apart from the flare of FTL light that had become a comfort to him. Nicholas had just started to doze off on his back with his left arm above his head when he heard sniffles and a tiny voice drifted through the darkness.
"Daddy, am I bad?" The sniffles continued.
Rush's eyes flew open, he let his head tilt to the side and for a moment he just watched her wondering what she meant, he could see her laying on her side facing him almost curled up in a ball with tiny tears slowly tumbling down her cheeks; her face halfilluminated by FTL light.
"What do you mean?" He finally asked in a voice groggy with sleep.
"Everyone keeps saying I'll hurt you all. That... that I shouldn't be here." She wiped a tear away from reddening cheeks. "Am... I human? Am I bad? Is that why... you and Mommy don't want me?"
She continued to hiccup and sobbed quietly, the little girl was so tiny but at the same time seemed mature beyond her years. Rush's brow furrowed with concern for the tear-y angel and it suddenly struck him that everyone spoke as though she wasn't in the room, everything they had said was nothing but hurtful to her. Nicholas could be an asshole but that crying little girl made his heart break.
"No, no, there's nothing wrong with you." He tried to reassure her. "Come here."
He pulled her close to his chest and didn't care when his white long sleeved shirt grew damp from her salty tear, Nicholas rested his bearded chin on her head keeping her close. In that moment something inside him changed, took root in him, he was beginning to care for her.
"You're not bad." He told her with a thick accent. "Young is just overreacting as usual. There's nothing wrong with you and we know you won't hurt us. And Mommy" He couldn't believe he was actually having this conversation. "she's just a little surprised to have you, she'll get used to the idea."
Rush couldn't know that for sure of course, Chloe had looked just as shocked as he'd been if not more so. His mind had been racing with thoughts as to where the little nameless girl had come from since that moment.
"Do you... want me to go away?" She sobbed into his chest. "I wanted to be safe-" She hiccup which caused her to leave the sentence open.
"No, you're staying here with me." That emotion that had taken root in him dug in deeper, sharp claws taking hold but it wasn't some outside force. "I'll keep you safe."
Nicholas couldn't deny that he wasn't liked by everybody around him and he didn't much care what they thought but he found it impossible to be his usual annoyingly rude and uncaring self when it came to the child.
"Promise, Daddy?"
Her tears had slowed but she showed no sign of releasing his damp shirt.
"Aye, Daddy promises. And I'm starting to understand where you came from. Now go to sleep, you'll feel better in the morning."
She didn't say a word and nor did he, Rush just lay there with the seven year old in his arms watching her slowly fall into slumber. This was all very strange but that feeling of being needed was just too pleasurable to him. Doctor Rush was the pariah of the ship, the one everybody loved to hate and yet there laying beside him was this sweet little girl who came to him for comfort and love, who trusted him and had faith in him.
XXXX
In the morning Rush woke to find he'd not moved all night and still had the honey eyed girl wrapped up in his arms. Her breathing was soft, gentle and her ebony curls draped over her snow-white cheeks, her little hands still gripped the fabric of his shirt. For the first time since Gloria had died Rush woke in a pleasant mood, his eyes didn't sting, his back no longer ached and for once his first thought wasn't about work.
Sensing his matching eyes on her the little girl stirred from her slumber and rubbed sleep from her eyes before looking up at her father with a sleepy smile, it was infectious and before long Rush was smiling back at her; one of those rare true smiles.
"Morning Daddy." She greeted.
He lay there for a long time with his daughter in his arms, over night that urge to take care of the little girl had grown and maybe it was selfish but that feeling of being needed and just plain liked sure did feel good. That moment ended though when there was a huge thud against his quarter's door, Rush groaned and hopped out of bed letting his arms fall from the girl. On his way to the door Nicholas grabbed his t-shirt and started to pull it on after hitting the door release, on the other side stood Colonel Young and TJ.
"You survived the night then?" Young asked flatly.
"I live yes, not that's she's going to hurt anyone. Are you, Little One?" Rush turned to look at the girl.
"No, Daddy." She answered quickly and pulled her seven year old self upright and tugged her knees to her chest.
Young didn't look convinced but said nothing on the subject, his eyes were drawn to TJ who walked over to the child and crouched down with a soft motherly smile.
"Come on, Sweety. We'll get breakfast and then the doctor should be here to see you."
"I can take her, you'll need to meet the doctor." Rush told Tamara and the girl lit up when he pulled her into his arms.
Young told James that Greer would relieve her as soon as they got to the mess hall; Vanessa had taken over from Corporal Barnes at some point of the evening.
"Camile will swap with the doctor as I said the other day, her name is Elyse Sawyer and apparently SGC think she's the most qualified for this. I'll be swapping with General O'Neill. Rush, make sure she's there on time."
With that he left the room, a rather perturbed looking TJ following behind but not before offering the child another warming smile.
In the mess hall father and daughter were greeted by Greer who sent James off to get some sleep and watched Rush set the girl down at the table closest the door before going to get two bowls of gruel and some of those dried orange flavoured grape-like things she seemed to enjoy.
"Hey kid." Greer grinned sitting down across from her.
"Hello." She muttered back.
"You managed to put up with Rush all night then?"
"Daddy is nice and kind."
Greer actually admired that she was quick to defend the man she persevered as her father. The Sargent leaned in close so only she could hear him.
"I bet he snores though."
It wasn't true but still they laughed and Greer found himself thinking the kid wasn't so bad, Young should have been more wary of who sent her not the little girl herself; but he was just a Master Sargent while Young was in charge. When Nicholas returned the military man couldn't help but notice that the chief scientist seemed more at ease than usual, it looked good on him, maked him seem less manic.
"Can we get some real food soon?" He mused aloud sitting down beside his little girl. "Some bloody recipes at least?"
"Not until we drop out of FTL." Mumbled Greer, he felt the same.
XXXX
General O'Neill opened his eyes to find himself sat aboard Destiny looking up at Lieutenant Scott, it was colder on the ship than it was back home and Young's body shivered a little, the idea of wearing Colonel Young still didn't sit right with him but he'd been through worse over his many years with the Stargate program; Carter, Teal'c and Daniel could attest to that. On the other side of the table that held the stones was Camile, or at least Camile's body, the consciousness was actually Doctor Sawyer. He and a few others – Colonel Carter being one of them – had selected Sawyer from a rather long list of pediatricians and had decided on her based on the fact she'd once been part of the US Army Reserve until a nasty car crash had left needing a cane. She looked at her feet in awe when she stood and O'Neill wondered if it was cruel for her to have this moment of happiness knowing it would be taken away again.
"Hello General O'Neill." Lieutenant Scott greeted.
Jack stood and looked around the room, he'd not been to Destiny before and he wanted to take it all in. Our spaceship's nicer was the first thought that came to his mind but he didn't voice it. He brought Young's eyes to Scott and nodded in greeting.
"You must be Lieutenant Scott, Everett's mentioned you a few times."
"All good I hope, Sir."
"Most of it." He flashed a small smile. "This is Doctor Elyse Sawyer, she's here for Rush Jr."
Since the kid didn't seem to have a name and so far no one had bothered to give her one Jack had taken to calling her Rush Jr or at least in his head he had, Carter didn't think it would go down well in his reports and what Samantha Carter thought was normally correct.
"I'm told she's attached herself to one of your scientists, it may be best to have him present when I perform my examination of her." Said Doctor Sawyer.
"Doctor Rush is our chief scientist and rather... grouchy." O'Neill snorted, grouchy was putting it mildly "It would probably be best to speak to TJ, em, Lieutenant Johansen about her first. She's our medic." Scott explained to Doctor Sawyer, she nodded.
"Very well, Lieutenant." Doctor Sawyer flashed him a smile. "Lead the way."
"Once the doctor is done with her I'd like to speak to her alone." Jack told Scott quickly.
With a nod from General O'Neill they were off, it was strange to see Young's body standing in such a relaxed manner but this was Jack O'Neill not Everett Young, of course he held himself differently. O'Neill seemed far more casual and at ease despite inhabiting another man's body, Matt decided he liked the General.
It didn't take very long for Tamara to fill Doctor Sawyer in on everything she'd gathered on the young girl, it essentially came down to four things; young, scared, healthy and she'd latched onto Rush and Chloe as her parents. Sawyer seemed almost giddy as Tamara went on, this wasn't the sort of thing the average pediatrician got to be part of.
Nicholas had a great sense of timing and appeared holding his so-called daughter in his arms just as Lieutenant Johansen finished her mini briefing, he set her down on the bed closest to TJ and Sawyer while Scott and General O'Neill watched on in silence. The little girl swung her legs back and forth happily but there was still an air of light fear hidden away in her honey eyes however, Rush's presence seemed to put her at ease. Elyse stepped forwards slowly.
"Hey there Sweetheart." She greeted the girl with ebony curls. "I know I look like CamileWray but I'm actually Doctor Elyse Sawyer, I'm here to take a look at you and make sure that you're healthy. Is it alright if I do that?"
After a second and a reassuring look at her father the little girl nodded slightly, steadily Doctor Sawyer preformed the examination with calm motions so as not to frighten Rush Jr; her smile never faded from her lips or more correctly Camile's lips. TJ, General O'Neill, Greer and Rush stood by just watching the doctor and child knowing they could do no more, all of them seriously doubted she was dangerous and hopefully they'd soon be able to convince Colonel Young of that.
"Alright, I just need to ask some basic questions and then we're done, okay Sweetheart?" The little girl responded with a light uh-huh. "I agree with Doctor Johansen that you're about seven, you're also perfectly human. It would be good if you could drink more water since you're a little dehydrated but I understand that can be an issue. Since you don't have a name-"
"Cressida." Nicholas interrupted.
Suddenly all eyes were on him.
"What?" Doctor Sawyer questioned.
"Her name, it's Cressida. Cressida Isobel Rush."
"Em, okay."
Rush didn't know why he'd suddenly named her, he'd not thought about it until the words were coming out of his mouth but from the look on the little girl's – no, on Cressida's face – he'd made her very happy. Rush knew he was growing attached and he almost cursed himself for it but he just couldn't bring himself to do so. No one questioned him knowing it wasn't worth mentioning, Cressida had every right to a name; TJ even smiled.
XXXX
When Doctor Sawyer had officially finished with the newly named Cressida Rush, General O'Neill was lead to the observation deck by Greer with Cressida trailing at his side. He'd asked Doctor Rush to be absent so it was just the General and the little girl, this wasn't going to be an interrogation like Young would like, it was just a conversation. Sargent Greer waited just outside the door for them and the two took a seat to watch the FTL lights, after a moment O'Neill started to speak.
"You know I'm not Colonel Young, right?" Cressida nodded.
"Daddy said there were stones."
He smiled.
"That's right. No idea how it works, I'm not the smart one, I leave that sort of thing up to Sam. I'm General O'Neill but you can call me Jack, okay Rush Jr? Sorry, I guess it's Cressida now." She grinned wider than he thought possible and O'Neill found it was infectious. "I take it you like your new name?"
"Yeah! Daddy gave it to me."
Jack couldn't help but think she was adorable and quite clearly a Daddy's girl, Young painted her as a vicious wolf in sheep's clothing but he could see that wasn't true. If she hurt anyone or tried to damage the ship is was most certainly against her will.
"I'm told you've said very little about where you came from." He broached the subject casually.
"Mommy and Daddy." She told him without looking away from the large observation window.
Jack snorted at the flat statement.
"Cressida, I'm going to ask you a direct question because I don't think you do well with beating around the bush." When she nodded the affirmative Jack continued. "What's your first memory? I know that's a loaded question but just answer honestly." That's it, straight to the point. If she is Rush's daughter she'll appreciate that.
She was silent for a long time but just when Jack started to think she'd closed off Cressida started to speak in a faint tone.
"There was... water."
"You were by a river? The sea?" Cressida shook her head knocking her ebony curls side to side.
"No. It was all around me." She pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. "I couldn't breathe."
O'Neill nodded to himself.
"Was there a lot of space or were you submerged in a chamber?"
"Chamber." She mumbled her answered. "I could see out."
"Was it glass?"
Cressida nodded, Jack could see she was scared. He'd certainly gotten more out of Cressida than anyone else save for Rush, maybe it was because he'd been a parent while Camileand Young hadn't. Slowly he snaked a comforting arm around her little shoulders and found himself smiling as she relaxed into his side.
"Did you see anyone?"
"I saw... the... the bad things."
"So they didn't look like us." It wasn't a question but she nodded anyway. "Were there snake-like things swimming around you?" Doctor Sawyer hadn't noticed any scaring and they were too far into outer space for the Goa'uld to have anything to do with her but Jack liked to be sure.
"No." Jack was pleased to hear that.
The next thing he knew Rush was striding into the room while slipping his overly used notebook into his back pocket pencil and all, Greer tried to stop him but Rush just dodged the taller man and entered the room anyway.
"They were blue, weren't they Cress?" His accent was thick.
Cressida nodded then hopped down from her seat beside General O'Neill and went to her father, once she was in his arms Cress answered him with a yes Daddy.
"Rush I asked you to wait." Jack stood and turned to face the chief scientist.
"I don't do well with orders." Rush shot back quickly.
"Joing the club." Jack sighed. "How long have you known it was the blue aliens youencountered that sent her here?"
"My suspicious started when she referred to Chloe Armstrong as her Mother. And it's the only logical explanation when you think about it." Rush's told the other man. "I think when we were held captive they stole our genetic information and for some reason made Cress, maybe they were just curious as to how we reproduced."
"Shouldn't she be a toddler then?" Jack asked like it was the first question that should have been asked.
"I think the water she just mentioned was actually the same gelatinous substance we found her in, I believe it stimulated her growth causing her to age and develop faster than normal. Lieutenant Johansen had to pump it out of her lungs so I suspect it is heavily oxygenated as well. We haven't performed thorough enough tests to yield a detailed result, we would need better equipment for that."
"And you didn't say any of this because?"
"You think I'd tell Colonel Young that my daughter is a creation of the Nakai? The same hostile aliens that will do anything to get their hands on Destiny and already tried to have Miss Armstrong sabotage the ship."
General O'Neill sighed.
"I suppose that's a valid reason, I'm still concerned for Young's mental health if I'm honest with you. Yet the crew respect and accept him as their leader." Some do, Rush thought while shuffling Cress' weight. "Have you told anyone?"
"No, but Camile suspects and so does Lieutenant Johansen, they just don't want to cause a panic. And if Miss Armstrong hasn't figured it out yet she soon will do."
General O'Neill took it all in for a moment with his eyes just watching Cressida happily cuddle into Nicholas' neck.
"That just leaves why they sent her here."
"I think they took my knowledge, somehow downloaded bits of what I know and gave it to her. Why I don't know."
"That's why she could fix the ship."
It wasn't a question and Nicholas wasn't going to bother clarifying that she'd not fixed the ship but rather prevented him from electrocuting himself, instead he simply nodded which seemed to please the General. There was a muttering from Greer just outside the observation deck doorway and a person who was quickly discovered to be Chloe entered the room, her hair hung loose around her face in a thick cloak just like her so-called daughter's did.
"Do you think they wanted her to sabotage the ship like I did?"
"Mommy."
Cressida grinned ear to ear and wriggled in Rush's arms until he set her down so she could run to her Mother, Chloe looked a little more hesitant than Rush to pick her up but she pushed it aside and did so anyway. Cress clung to her Mother happily with love.
"Hello, I hear Daddy named you, Cressida is a pretty name."
There was no denying that Chloe felt the same thing Rush did when she held Cress. She felt the same need to protect the child as well as something else, it was warm and soothing, strong and enjoyable. It was love. Matt didn't seem to approve but Chloe couldn't help but be pulled towards mothering Cressida and it scared her a little at how quickly she'd come to terms with being a parent.
"Possibly." Responded Rush. "I've not seen any symptoms like there was with you though." He took a step towards his daughter in Chloe's arms and smiled softly at her. "Cress, have you been waking up tired or stood across the room? Maybe forgetting things, little spaces where you can't remember how you got there?"
"You can tell us the truth, we won't be angry." Chloe added and Cress through for a moment.
"No. I woke up next to Daddy." She answered in that little silken voice of hers.
Jack watched them for a moment and if he wasn't already aware of who they were he'd have thought the three of them were a real family, a happily married couple with their young daughter trapped aboard an ancient spacecraft; General O'Neill knew the truth though. He knew danger and those who meant to cause harm, Cressida Rush was not one of those people and so resting his hands on his hips he started to speak.
"That's good enough for me. I'll have Young remove the constant guard rotation when he gets back for now -" He leaned to one side so as he could see around Chloe and shouted out to Greer. "- Hey Sargent Greer, you're not needed. Go get something to eat., read a book."
Greer opened his mouth to protest but thought better remembering he was talking to General O'Neill and not Colonel Young, he decided to just do as ordered. Jack looked back to the little family and tried not think of Charlie.
"I want one of those Kino's of yours in the room at night, you know, just to be certain."
"Thank you General." Said Chloe offering him a little smile. Jack was just about to return it when Rush started speaking again in that demanding tone he used more than any other.
"I want Cress to help me." The General was lost for a moment so Nicholas took the opportunity to elaborate. "There's no point letting her talent go to waste, she could be of great help. And Cressida is probably more competent than Volker."
Chloe tried not to chuckle at that. Jack thought the idea over for a time, he wanted to say no not because he thought he was dangerous but because he knew how Rush worked the science team to death. However, Doctor Park couldn't work as she used to and Franklin had been downloaded into Destiny's memory, they needed all the help they could get. If Nick was right Cress had the same intellect as her father essentially giving them a second Rush – Oh the horror – and that could benefit them no end. In a normal situation General O'Neill would have said no in a heartbeat but this wasn't a normal situation and that was how he found himself answering in the affirmative.
"Okay. She stays under supervision at all times when dealing with the ship and she doesn't do anything without running it by you first." Rush didn't do well with orders but he'd accept this one, mainly because he agreed.
"Seems fair."
"You're not..." Cressida's stuttering voice filled the room dragging the adult's attention. "... s... sending me away?"
Jack leaned down at a forty degree angle and looked the little girl in her burnt honey eyes.
"No Rush Jr, you get to stay." Cress beamed at him like the cat who'd gotten the cream. "I give the orders so what your Uncle Jack says goes."
XXXX
Finally she's got a name.