CHAPTER 20 THE WAY HOME

When she came back with her father he was just... gone. Her face crumpled then, she couldn't help it. The news she had just received was shocking, almost beyond what she could take and she knew that her father had felt it hard. He had lost his wife, her mother not that many years ago, and the three of them, along with Jennifer, had been a strong family unit ever since. Gina felt a small sense of betrayal at what she had heard. She knew that Jennifer was not the person she had thought she was and that part of her life to date had been a lie. One of her reasons for gaining the degree in physics had not just been her own keen interest in the subject, but the fact that she had received so much encouragement from Jennifer. Had that too, been a lie? Knowing now, that Jennifer would have a granddaughter who would grow up to become a respected phsyicist, airforce pilot and help to initiate the stargate programme beyond the vague idea it was now, she had to wonder how much of Samantha Carter's life had been played with to get her to the point in her life where she was now.

"You let him leave Jen, without saying good bye. He chose not to take me?" Jennifer moved towards her, her arms open now needing to let her niece know that she had done what she had for only good intentions.

"I'm sorry Gina, Nate - I'm sorry for all the hurt this has caused you. I knew that he would be needed to come back here to make sure things stayed on track with the stargate programme. I've waited here for him to arrive, and all the points in your life have led to the moment when you were to meet him. Even Terrence O'Neill. He plays a role in where you are now. John needs to see himself, what his role is. Let him go, let him find out for himself. I have forced everyone's hand and John is different. He has a strength that I cannot manipulate - and both he and Rodney are right. It is arrogance on our part what we chose to do, but it is with the best of intentions. I need you both to understand that." The hurt in Nate's eyes was almost too much for her to bear. "I wish that you could go with her... but that is not possible. You still have a task to fullfill here, there is still unfinished business in your life. I can't tell you more. The rest you will need to discover for yourself."

Nate's eyes were bleak. "How do I give up my daughter? How can you ask me to do that?" The strength of the general seemed to have diminished in this past hour and she felt remorse at his human fraility but she knew that he would not hold human form for the entireity of his life. He carried the gene also, and strongly - even more so than Colonel John Sheppard. This was why General Nathaniel Mitchell had chosen to believe John's story with the simple faith of one who held all the answers inside himself, but had not yet learned the secret to unlocking them. He recognised the gene in the younger man, saw it as a kindred soul - a man who had chosen the military as he had and had grown to feel love for the daughter that was the light of his life.

"I wish I could take your pain away Nate, unfortunately humans need to feel pain in order to help them make the decisions they need to make."

"How much pain do you expect me to take? Damn it Jennifer, I lost my wife and had to watch my daughter abused by a man that I deemed worthy of for her. There are limits to what a man can take and today, I think I may have nearly reached those limits." When he looked around for his daughter he found that she was gone, and feeling his life come crashing down around him, he turned himself and left the cottage where he had often come to seek refuge from his busy career and enjoy the simple companionship being with his sister had brung.

John stood in the area around the waterfall, Rodney and Ronon on either side of him like sentinels. "How do we do this Sheppard? I don't see anything that looks like a portal.?" Ronon was scanning the area.

"You and Rodney - you need to go. This has always been my journey. I love you guys for coming to get me, but I've still got to complete the task I came here for. And I won't go without seeing her again. Without one more night."

Ronon's eyes were dark with concern. "You sure Sheppard?" At his nod Ronon moved to the pool area and looked down into the depths. "So, how do we do this? Jump in? Rodney?"

"Don't look at me Ronon, I don't even like water. My luck I'll drown before I get to the future."

"If you keep moaning, I'll make sure of it." John shut his eyes for a moment and stepped back. Opening them again he looked toward the falls, feeling their pull. Before he left this place, he knew that there were more secrets he had to discover about this place. Suffice for now that it was the way home, but it held other secrets and he would find them. A few more days... what happened to one night... no, I need to help Nate - General Mitchell with something. There is another task for me, and more secrets. Find the doorway, unlock the door - there's an order to these things.

"Step behind the falls - it'll only activiate with the right gene potency which you now obviously both have. Don't ask me how I know. Can't answer that one. Go guys, tell Elizabeth that you found me and I'm fine, then good luck explaining just what the hell it is I'm doing here."

"Do we tell her you're bringing back a plus one?" Rodney was fidgeting now, wanting to get moving and get home. Too much sun, too many flowers, too much outdoors. He needed the sanctity of his lab, the sterile calm conditions of his equipment. Not this hot, humid and extremely scented outdoors. That played havoc with this allergies.

"I'm not bringing back a plus one. I'll be coming home a minus one... minus a damn big part of me - but that's my choice and another discussion. Go, before it gets too late. I've got a woman to find.