So I think this is the real start of the resolution involving Craig and Carson...
Happy Reading :)
It was the next morning and we found ourselves stood just round the corner from Craig's room; my breaths were coming short and quick as I worried over how I could tell my brother where I'd really been for the last five years. "We'll get through this, Carson, no matter what happens." I took a deep breath before taking John's hand and going into Craig's room.
Like the first day, he was sleeping lightly, but this time I couldn't wait to talk to him. I went to his side and put my hand gently on his shoulder, waking him up almost instantly. "Hey." I whispered with a teary smile.
"Carson!" He cried out, pulling me into a hug, "I heard what happened – are you okay?" He checked me frantically for any sign of injury but I waved his hands away from me. I sat down in the chair next to the bed, "I'm fine, Craig, he didn't touch me." However, the dried blood on my knuckles didn't go unnoticed.
"Carson." He stared at my hands until I gave a defeated sigh. "I saw him and I threw a punch, that's all – John was there, he'll tell you." Just as I had said it, John confirmed my actions. "I would have stepped in if it had escalated." He said and Craig accepted it.
"Look, Craig, there's something I need to tell you but I'm not quite sure how." Craig looked at me with a frown, "What's wrong Carson?" He asked cautiously.
"When I told you I worked for the United States Air Force you assumed that I was in America?" Craig nodded, still not quite following where this was going. "I do work for the Air Force, Craig, but I don't work in America."
"So where do you work?" He asked and quite rightly so, "You've got to hear me out, okay. I promise I'll get there eventually." Craig nodded, getting comfortable and I sensed John sitting in the corner watching over us but giving us privacy at the same time. "Fifteen years ago there was an archeological dig in Egypt and there was a discovery. They uncovered a large device that they described as, simply, a door.
"This device, now known as a stargate was transported back to the Cheyenne Mountain Complex in Colorado.
"How this device worked or even what it did was unknown until about two years later when Doctor Daniel Jackson discovered it's true purpose. This gate was capable of creating a stable wormhole to other planets within our galaxy.
"Just bear with me," I noticed his disbelieving expression, "It works. We have the capability to travel to other planets in a matter of seconds and there's been a program set up by the military to allow for us to explore the galaxy. There's life out there, Craig, hundreds of other races."
"There are little green men in shiny space suits?" He asked with a hint of humor, "They tend to be a little less generic than that but yes. Actually, the Asgard are pretty close to that description," I joked to John behind me who nodded in agreement.
"Who is the Asgard?" He asked with one eyebrow raised, "Amongst these hundreds of races there are four that are more superior and far more advanced than you could ever dream. One of these races is the Asgard, as well as the ancients, the Knox and the Furlings. It wasn't until recently that we had advanced enough to be considered 'The Fifth Race'."
"So what are you trying to tell me?"
"Most of the people who work within the stargate project are based in America, yes, but five years ago we discovered something amazing. Have you heard the tale of the Lost City of Atlantis?"
He shrugged, "That's the city they reckon is lost somewhere at the bottom of the ocean?" I nodded, "Aye, that's the one…
"Five years ago we discovered that if you have enough power you can travel not only within our galaxy but you can also travel into the next galaxy. Doctor Jackson discovered what he believed to be the co-ordinates to what we refer to as Atlantis."
"Holy…I thought it was just some little myth they thought was entertaining?" I chuckled a little, "It's the most beautiful city I've ever seen, Craig, and you could never imagine it in your wildest dreams." Craig shook his head trying to clear it, "Wait, what?"
"Craig, there was an expedition formed. At the time we actually believed it to be a one-way trip; we only had enough power for one trip. I didn't think I had anything lose so I agreed to go with them." Craig looked sadly at me, "I'm sorry little brother." I shook my head and took his hand lovingly.
"Doctor Jackson was right about it being Atlantis. It was under water too but when we got there we had to surface it because the shields were failing." Craig frowned, "Hang on, it was underwater but you actually moved it, just like that?"
"It's not just a city Craig; it's a fully functioning ship. I know this sounds very star trek but I swear to you it's all real."
"Star Trek indeed. I thought you said it was a one way trip; how are you here now?" I smiled, "For a long time we were on our own and I won't lie to you it wasn't easy, we've got enemies out there and nasty ones at that. About a year after we got there was the great siege, our enemies, The Wraith, were attacking us hard and we were losing in every sense of the word.
"However, a team back on Earth had discovered a power source, left by the creators of the stargates…The Ancients, and they were able to send through reinforcements just in time. We managed to trick The Wraith into believing that Atlantis had been destroyed but we weren't.
"There are now hundreds of people in Atlantis, trying to work their way through the Ancient's database to uncover their knowledge and their technology."
"You talk about them like they're dead?" He said and I couldn't do anything but shrug, "I guess, technically, they are. The Ancients were far more advanced than even the other three races and they found a way to go to a higher plane of existence where they exist as a single conscience of pure energy rather than dying in their human bodies."
"Wait, they're human?"
"Aye, who do you think built the great pyramids in Egypt?" Craig's heart rate went up and I was first to notice. All of this was a lot to take in and I assumed that he was having some sort of anxiety attack.
I sat on the edge of the bed and held his face still, "Craig you've got to relax, take a few deep breaths for me." He nodded and gasped as best he could before exhaling again. We repeated the process several times until his breathing returned to normal. "I know it's a lot Craig but I've got my reasons for telling you."
"When I was eighteen I graduated from college with my brother at my side. A week later my brother was gone and we had no idea where he was. Doctor Emery told me you were here for a while before you went to America. I didn't know this until a few days ago but I accepted it, America's supposedly land of opportunity, whatever.
"But that was fifteen years ago, Carson, and to make it worse you weren't just the other side of the planet, in fact you weren't even on the planet, you were in a different bloody galaxy! If you couldn't even speak to me and tell me you were at least alive for all these years, why would you possibly start telling me anything now?"
A tear rolled down my face as I slumped into the chair, staring down at my hands. "I'm so sorry, Craig, I'm so sorry." I whimpered but he had no answer, neither of us did.
"For all these years," He whispered after a few minutes of silence, "I thought my little brother was gone for good but I never stopped praying that you were okay, that you weren't hurt or alone. I prayed that I might someday get my little brother back." I sobbed into his hand as he stroked into my hair.
Not going to lie, I even got a little emotional at it... But it's going to get happy again for sure :)