Infirmary, SGC; 0600 hours.
Faith opened her eyes slightly, only to find herself staring at a peaceful looking face with closed eyes and slightly parted pink lips; it was all framed with red hair facing her. Faith was laying on her side, her head on Willow's pillow while stifling the yawn she could feel was coming. Faith didn't want to wake her wife, not yet… and she also knew that she couldn't stay in the bed with her love for too long. There were things she needed to get done in her schedule from training with Teal'c to sitting down with General Landry about her mother and the restraining order, to heading out to the Air Force Academy where she was due for an interview. The interview was a formality since Faith was already told days months ago that she would be one of the civilian academic staff at the Academy for the upcoming semester.
And Faith didn't complain about it, especially since Willow would be working in her lab full time whenever they were off missions. Taking a deep breath, Faith blinked repeatedly to wipe out the cobwebs that blurred her vision and Willow's features before lifting her head and moving it up towards the clock on the wall. From her vantage point, the clock was just above the railing where the curtain, which gave her and Willow the needed privacy, was pulled out around them.
'Six in the morning,' Faith thought to herself; her vision slowly focusing on the numbers on the clock face which was visible in the otherwise dark infirmary thanks to the dim lights along the walls. She then shook her head, rousing herself awake, before turning her head to look back at Willow. A small smile formed on Faith's face before she leaned down and pecked Willow on the lips. Faith then pulled back her head before Willow stirred and formed a small smile on her lips; the latter then gently smacked her lips together before licking them.
"Ummmm…." Willow then moaned while her arm around Faith's back tightened around the dark-haired Slayer; a signal that Willow wanted Faith to stay with her on the bed for a few more minutes. Faith chuckled and obliged as she lay her head back down on the pillow they shared. Thoughts of Eileen were pushed aside, even the small voice in the back of her mind wondering if her mother was already dead, was pushed aside, as Faith gently breathed in and out. The entire time she was staring lovingly at Willow's peaceful expression whilst the latter continued her sleep.
Faith told herself that she would close her eyes for a few moments, 'just a few minutes.'
As Faith was about to close her eyes while mentally telling herself she'll have to wake up in thirty minutes, she suddenly heard a buzzing sound coming from the table next to the bed. Sighing, Faith rolled to her back, Willow's arm now between her back and the mattress, while reaching out for the cellphone with her outstretched left hand.
Faith grabbed the device, lifted it off the table, and then rolled back onto her side while checking the caller ID.
"It's Hank," Faith whispered to herself just as she looked away and found herself looking at a small frown on Willow's face while the redhead was squinting at her. Faith thought to herself that Willow looked very cute, and a small smile formed on her face before she placed the phone to her ear and whispered, "hey Hank."
"Faith," the General said as he glanced at the folder that had been placed into his hands not twenty minutes ago by Walter. The folder was open with several pieces of paper visible, the topmost piece was one with a picture of Eileen Lehane on the top left side. The General frowned at the picture before he looked away and spoke one the phone, "I need you in my office."
"Now?" Faith asked glancing at the time again.
"I know it's early, but yes… now."
Faith nodded her head while wondering what was going on, "sure, I'll be up." Putting the phone back on the side table, Faith slowly sat up on the bed while trying not to make any sounds so that her wife and the other patients could continue sleep. It was as she was about to reach down the outside of the railing to lower it did she feel Willow stirring. Faith looked over to Willow who was now pushing herself onto both her elbows while squinting her eyes as she looked at Faith.
"Go back to sleep, Red," Faith whispered.
"What happened?" Willow brought her left hand up and then wiped her eyes while asking, "is it your mom?"
'Is it about Eileen? Is that why Hank called? Is she dead? Or about to die?' Faith thought to herself before glancing at Willow staring back at her with a frown on her face. It was then she realized that she thought 'loudly'. Sighing, Faith then whispered, "I can't help thinking about her dying. She doesn't deserve pity or…"
Willow placed a hand on Faith's left hand and gently squeezed, "you've been through a lot, I get that. I saw it, I saw your memories… I felt it, Faith."
"Then you know I can't let go of my hate for her," Faith whispered back while shaking her head, "I just can't." Faith went silent for a few seconds before whispering again, "for years I thought I blocked those memories. I thought I already let go… and then she just had to call me and everything rushed back. The anger, the hate, the helplessness… everything that happened to me just came flooding back into my head."
Willow closed her eyes and nodded her head while whispering, "I know. I feel it," Willow opened her eyes once against and stared up at Faith before continuing, "the hate and every negative emotion just coming out of you. It's like a dam burst and the water's crashing into me and crushing me."
"Sorry," Faith apologized.
Willow took in a deep breath before she whispered, "when I was asleep… or at least when you were at the hospital, I went into your mother's mind."
"Red," Faith groaned while rubbing her forehead, "what happened to your rule of not entering minds without permission."
Willow let out a breath again before whispering, "I needed to know why she would come here looking for you. And I made sure that she couldn't see me."
A part of Faith was in disbelief that Willow would even attempt such a forced entry into someone else's mind. Sure the redhead had done it before, but that was usually during a mission or when they were fighting enemies off-world; or when someone would think too loud and she would overhear their thoughts. Faith wasn't a fool; she was aware that Willow was doing all she could to keep herself out of the minds of others, but still… this went against her own rules.
However, Faith couldn't help but begin to wonder why Eileen sought her out after so many years. And so, a part of her was glad that Willow did what she did by entering Eileen's mind. The dark-haired Slayer mentally told herself that she had a right to know why the woman, who was supposed to be her mother, was doing in Colorado Springs.
"That detective said she was non-responsive," Faith whispered to herself before looking over at Willow, "what did you see in her head, Red?"
"You," Willow whispered, and Faith narrowed her eyes in confusion.
"Me?" Faith said before looking away from Willow who was looking up at her, "did you see her standing by while…"
"She was sitting down on a bench and watching you while you were on the swing in a playground," Willow said, her hand laying down on Faith who then turned her head towards the redhead who continued on describing the dream Eileen was having, "you were happy, you were smiling, and then you were running around and playing with other children."
"Phfffft," Faith huffed looking away, "like that ever happened. Maybe you looked into someone else's mind."
"You said she could be dying… or is dying," Willow said as she lay down onto her back, the cast around her leg forcing her to remain the lower part of her body to remain flat on the bed, "maybe she has a lot of regrets."
"The detective said she was non-responsive," Faith admitted, "I just hope she dies. And I hope she dies painfully."
"Faith," Willow said as she turned her head towards the Slayer. Willow could see that Faith was about to reply, but Willow continued on without giving Faith a chance to add something, "I'm not saying that she doesn't deserve to be punished; all I'm saying is that she does regret things. At least that's what it looked like."
Faith signed before she lowered the railing on her side of the bed. Once it was down, Faith then spun around. Her legs were now hanging off the edge of the bed before she looked back over her shoulder, "I'm gonna go see what Hank wants to talk about."
Willow formed a small smile before nodding her head and saying, "come back after you're done, Faith."
Faith nodded her head before she left the infirmary where the other patients, including Dawn, were still asleep. Faith noticed a couple of nurses were milling around at the nurse station on the far corner of the large room, and she gave them a wave. Once she went through the double doors, she went into a light jog as she headed for her quarters. She wanted to quickly freshen up before running all the way to the General's office.
General Landry's Office, several minutes later.
The hallways of the SGC were quiet as Faith walked out of the elevator on the floor where the General's office was located. Her mind was on Eileen as she passed two Airmen walking the other way, the Slayer nodded at them while she strode past with her hands clenched into fists. It would be a few minutes later that she stood in front of the general's door. Taking a deep breath, she mentally hoped that the reason for being called this early in the morning was not for her mother.
'If it's about Eileen, I say the hell with it. Once she's conscious, then kick her out of Colorado and out of my life.' Faith breathed out as she mentally recounted what Willow ad said earlier about Eileen being seemingly regretful. Faith shook her head before knocking on the door, 'it doesn't matter whether she regrets it or not. I want her out of my life.'
"Come." Upon hearing the General's order, Faith twisted the door knob and then walked in.
"Hank," Faith said while the General stood up and then motioned at one of the two chairs that were situated across from him, "what's going on?"
The General told Faith to close the door behind her; which she then did before pulling back a chair and then taking a seat. As the General sat down, Faith had her hands on her knees… her forefingers on both hands tapping her knees; she was nervous. Very nervous… it was a nervous feeling that she couldn't help but feel gripping her heart.
"Hank, what's going on?" Faith asked once again as her eyes were affixed on the open folder in front of the General, the first page seemingly showed a picture of Eileen and some scribbled data. Faith could make out the sections on the paper where her height, weight, and many other statistics were listed, 'so it is about Eileen."
Faith pressed her lips together and stopped tapping her knees with her forefingers. She then leaned back on her seat while the General picked up a blue coloured folder from a drawer to his left, and then placed it in front of her. Faith glanced at the SGC logo on the folder before looking up at the General.
"It's about Eileen?"
The General took a deep breath before saying, "yes." He knew that Faith wasn't going to like what he was about to say. Heck, the only reason he found out about what was about to happen to Eileen was because the woman was on a 'red flag' list for Homeworld Security.
'Once the results of her blood test and her physical examination was entered into the database in UC Health Memorial, it was flagged by Lightspeed,' the General thought to himself before sighing, 'and when they accessed her hospital file, it was red flagged by us.'
"Faith," the General said while knowing full well he had no idea how the Slayer seated in front of him, who hadn't perused the file on Eileen and Lightspeed, would react to what he was about to explain. "I take it you know your mother was found non-responsive outside your apartment and the police took her to UC Health?"
"Yea, a Detective called me about it," Faith replied, her arms resting on the chair's armrests on either side of her, "I told him that there was a restraining order in the works against her and that he should talk to you about it."
The General nodded his head before saying that he hadn't received a call from the Detective yet. "But the tests that were run on your mother… well… they're not good news."
"Hank, she's a mess," Faith said after biting her lower lip from yelling out loud in joy, "I told you what she was like, what she did, and… well… she used to prostitute herself, she's a heavy alcoholic, she abused me, she's taken God know what kind of dugs since I was taken away from her, and I also have no idea what else she did after I was taken away. Whatever happened to her happened, and it's her own fault."
The General noticed that still hadn't picked up the folder. He suspected that she wouldn't cry much over the fact that Eileen was dying, but he didn't know how she would react upon finding out what would be happening next. In fact, he suspected that Faith would be at her indifferent; but she still needed to know… even though she was emancipated from her biological mother, Faith still needed to know.
"Before I begin," the General said before nodding at the folder on the table, "I need you to go through everything in that folder." The General saw Faith frown, but she still didn't move towards the folder. So he put on his own best frown – a silent order for her to do as he says, and mentally chuckled when Faith's frown deepened before she leaned forward and grabbed the folder.
Upon watching Faith open the folder, the General said, "as you can see, it has Eileen's details… everything from..."
"I get it, this has her entire life story," Faith interrupted as she turned the page before she scanned the next piece of paper with her eyes, "so she's dying." Faith looked up at the General and did her best to hide the smile threatening to form on her lips, "heart failure, kidneys just on the edge of failing, her liver is… well… I'm surprised it hasn't failed yet since she drank like a sponge."
Faith shook her head as she read on before saying, "I'm surprised she didn't catch anything the way she screwed one guy after another."
The General sighed. He suspected that this would be one of Faith's reactions. He placed his hands on the folder in front of him and then turned two pages before motioning at Faith to do the same. He looked on as Faith turned the page and then began going through the paper. He looked on as Faith read the page a few times, each time her face was scrunched in confusion before she finally lifted her head and narrowed her eyes at the General.
"Wait, what?" Faith exclaimed, "these guys know about the Stargate?"
"Everyone who's directly involved has been vetted and they signed the NDA's," the General said nodding his head as he leaned back, "to gain access to the technology we'll be giving them, they were only too happy to sign the NDA." It had been nearly two years since Lightspeed Inc. was set up before being awarded exclusive contracts with the military – specifically with Homeworld Command. The idea was for Lightspeed to branch out in those two years and absorb companies that were already dealing in areas such as technology, medicine, internet software and hardware, automation, cars, computers, life sciences, research and development, biotechnology, and even video games. Lightspeed and its subsidiaries have been growing and were on the verge of releasing new assimilated alien and human technology – technology brought back through Earth through the Stargate.
"The higher-ups have also been vetted. Considering what they'll be dealing with, it's absolutely necessary." The General then leaned forward and continued, "even with the discovery of the treasure in Merlin's cave at Glastonbury Tor, which would fund us for the foreseeable future, we still need additional funding sources."
Faith nodded her head while saying, "okay. While I think that's great, it still doesn't tell me why I'm here Hank." Faith looked back down at the folder before looking back up, "she's dying. I get that. I'm not going to go see her, or…"
"I'm not asking you to go see her," The General said before he sighed, "Faith, LightSpeed's biotech division will be running human trials that could theoretically reverse the kind of damage your mothers body has gone through."
"Theoretical?" Faith asked as her heart raced. She thought to herself, 'What are you saying, Hank? Are you saying she'll be that lucky to be chosen for an experimental trial? She's going to be rewarded for what she did to me?' She wanted to ask so many other questions, but Faith was afraid that she would scream in rage at the General's response.
Faith then shook her head, she wanted to absorb the information she just learned about that very possibility her mother may live. She switched her concerns to the people in Lightspeed Inc having biotechnology divisions. Faith wondered if they knew about the Slayers and the supernatural.
"They know everything, Hank?" She emphasized the 'everything'; referring to herself as a Slayer, Willow as Athena, and the existence of the supernatural. Before her mind could imagine scientists experimenting on Slayers, the General shook his head.
"They do not have access to every technology or every single information," the General said, "they have only what we've given them… and the more dangerous technologies are either at Area 51 or locked away." And Faith took the hint, not only did these people not have access to every technology- especially the ones that could very well destroy the planet if in the wrong hands – they had no knowledge of the supernatural. They did not have knowledge of the Slayers. That made her feel better; but with the thought of her mother being possibly cured from her ailments, Faith was still feeling angry.
"We'll still work on your restraining order, Faith," the General said, "but this was something I thought you needed to know."
Faith stared at the General for a few seconds before looking away, "as long as I don't have to see her, or hear from her, or have her pay me a surprise visit. I guess that'll have be something I have to accept."
'She's still mad,' the General thought to himself as he looked at the calm exterior of the dark-haired Slayer who was biting on her lower lip. The General then said, "good. Major Rosenberg and those under Colonel Carter will be informed about this new development. From what I've been told, expect the fancy new computers and cars to be announced in the next six months."
Faith nodded her head simply; she couldn't find it in herself to jump for joy that the humanity was about to make a technological jump. She was concentrating more on Eileen, and the hope that they would never ever meet.
UC Health Memorial Hospital, 0900 hours.
When Eileen woke up, it was to the feeling of warmth raining down on her face and the 'beep beep beep' of a heart monitor to her left. She slowly opened her eyes – the last thing she remembered was that it was cold when she closed her eyes after leaning back against Faith's apartment door. She found her throat was dry, so she coughed slightly before swallowing her saliva and then licking her lips. She felt herself lying on something soft, instead of the hardness of the wooden door to the apartment. At first, she thought that she was back in her Boston apartment since the blinds that were letting in some of the sunlight into the room through the window looked like the ones in her apartment.
'No.' Eileen then reminded herself that she travelled to Colorado Springs.
Looking away from the window, Eileen thought she was in Faith's apartment She thought that her daughter came home… and then found her lying outside in the common hallway before taking pity and having someone carry her into a guestroom.
Taking another deep breath, Eileen thought to herself that she was somewhere else. She was still somewhat groggy, but looking around, especially towards the sound from what she thought was an alarm clock ringing from a vast distance. Upon turning her head to the left, she discovered that the sound 'beep, beep, beep' was made by the machine reading her heartrate, her blood pressure, and what she also assumed was her blood oxygen.
'I'm in the hospital,' Eileen thought to herself as she stared back towards the greying ceiling. Her eyes were open as she turned toward the windows once again, but her vision was still blurry as she stared at the light filtering through the blinds. It was then that, in the process of bringing her left arm up off her side and over her eyes to block the light, did she feel a sting on the top of her hand just above the wrist. Hissing in pain, she looked at the drip attached to a transparent line… her eyes following it as she rolled onto her back and stared at the bag of reddish-brown liquid that was hanging next to her bed.
"What the…?" she whispered, her eyes catching the jug of water that was on the table next to the bed, before focusing on the bag. Her vision was still so blurry so she couldn't read the label on the upside-down bottle. Turning her head towards the ceiling once again, she took in a deep breath to settle her nerves.
'Faith must have brought me here,' Eileen thought to herself as she breathed out before mentally wondering what were the odds of the daughter who hated her having saved her life, 'or maybe she didn't.' Eileen pressed her lips together while continuing to think as she stared up at the ceiling, 'I know I haven't given her a reason to help me out.' Eileen breathed in slowly while closing her eyes at the sudden feeling of nausea. She cleared her mind and exhaled just as slowly. She continued this until the feeling of nausea was gone.
It was about this time when there was a knock on the door to her room. And before Eileen could say anything, the door opened and in walked two men. Eileen narrowed her eyes at the both of them as they stopped at the foot of her bed. Her heart was racing as she wondered who these strangers were and why one of them, a male wearing a simple blue shirt and black jeans reached down and grabbed a pad. Both were male, with one wearing a pin striped suit, his hair black and slicked back and wearing glass while the other stranger had on simple blue shirt and trousers.
"Mrs. Lehane," the man in the suit said while walking towards her left side, "how are you feeling?"
"Tired, and a bit nauseous," Eileen replied while shaking her head, "who are you?"
"She'll be acceptable," the man in the blue shirt said as he put down the pad, handing it on the hook attacked to the end of her bed. He then looked up at Eileen and a small smile formed on his face, "everything is going to be fine."
"Who are you people?" Eileen asked again with a look of suspicion on the two men. She had been involved in many 'activities' with strangers over her life, and having two people she did not know enter the room as if they owned the place set off alarm bells. She glared at the suited man who placed his hands on the railing while the other one was close to the machine now and writing down her blood pressure before he turned to look at the bag of liquid hanging next to it. Eileen looked back towards the man in the suit and pressed her lips together, "I…"
"My name is Tors Larson," the suited man said as he stepped back and put his hands into his pockets while nodding towards the other man who was holding the railing on the right side of Eileen's bed, "and that's Dr. Malcolm Caine. We know about you and your history. We know that you're dying, we know how ravaged your body is right now."
Eileen looked away and closed her eyes, "you don't have to remind me. Look, I just want to see my daughter and then…"
"Just listen to what we have to say," Tors said shaking his head before he clapped his hands, "now, would you like to live a longer life so that you could spend more time with your daughter?"
Eileen stared at the man. Her mind was trying to figure out what he wanted… what the two of them wanted.
'Why are they here? They never told me.'
"Again, why are you here?" Eileen asked once again.
"We've gotten approval to begin testing a series of new medical technology on human biology," Caine said as he gripped the railing and looked Eileen straight into her eyes, "like Mr. Tors said, this could very well save your life… if you decide to participate that is. You could live long enough to see grandchildren one day."
A part of Eileen was suspicious; very suspicious She couldn't help it. But another part of her was saying that she really didn't have a lot of loose.
"Will I be here? I mean, would you guys be testing me here?"
"We can start in an hour," Tor said as he stared at Eileen, "so, what's your decision?"
TBC.