SERIES/UNIVERSE: SG-7
DISCLAIMERS: M7 characters belong to Trilogy, et al, SG-1 characters belong to Gekko, MGM, and Showtime. Adriana, Carly, and the Tanner sisters are all mine ... don't mind if you borrow them, just ask first, give them back intact and give credit where credit is due. Mindy belongs to herself and my neighbors, though she still thinks my family and I belong to her.
SPOILERS: For Mag7, primarily both parts of Wagon Train, my previous stories, especially More than Friends, but also A Light in the Distance, Under the Sun, Days of Yearning, and Sun, Fun, and Ezra on the Run, also all five seasons of Stargate SG-1.
WARNING: The usual, violence and language. Some h/c and possibly even a little smarm later on, but I'll be trying to get the smarm limited.
On a totally different planet, five women were experiencing a difficult night, though for a very different reason. They had just gotten back to Colorado that afternoon, and rather than heading to Cheyenne Mountain, Nettie had offered the use of her boardinghouse for the night. Josie Tanner, the undeclared leader of the Tanner females, had readily agreed, and once they reached the boardinghouse, called Maude Standish.
It was agreed that they would meet at Cheyenne Mountain the following morning at six am. It would take until nine am to go through all the security checkpoints, because of Josie and Jessica's civilian status. Technically, Josie was a civilian who technically didn't know about the Stargate or anything else ... however, where Josie Tanner was concerned, technicalities didn't meant shit, her niece had discovered. Then again, in the last few days, she had learned a great deal about her aunt, some of it discomfiting. On the other hand, she had only to think about the revelations which awaited her twin brother, and she stopped feeling sorry for herself.
After calling Maude Standish, her aunt had called Carly's cousin Elizabeth next. Lizzie was nineteen years old, in college, and Carly had a feeling her aunt needed to hear her daughter's voice. More than that, she knew that Aunt Josie had needed to hear that her daughter was all right. That she had been a good mother to Lizzie. She knew this, because she had heard Aunt Josie ask Lizzie if she had been a good mother. And then Carly had slipped off to the room where she would sleep for the night, already feeling as if she had intruded.
Vin's room had been given to Carly, because she was his twin sister, and Carly could see his mark here. Lying under the comforter, Carly tried to sleep. Tomorrow, she would be at Cheyenne Mountain. Tomorrow, she would see Adriana. She swallowed hard. How would she explain to her friend about the secret she had kept from her, all these years? Before they had left Texas, Adriana had been her best friend.
And she had no illusions about Adriana's reaction ... her friend would be furious with her, and rightfully so. But Adriana would be even more furious with Jessica. With Carly's mother. Dammit! Carly squeezed her eyes shut, as if she could shut out the voices in her head. The last few days had been almost unbearable with the tension. She could barely stand the sight of the woman who had given birth to her.
Aunt Josie wasn't real happy with her younger sister, either, although Carly suspected that was partially due to the fact that Jessica still hadn't told her, or anyone else, why she hadn't gone to Texas for Vin, as she had promised Aunt Julia. She clung to her story that Gramma had needed her. That was a load of manure. Gramma had already started coming back, so to speak, when Aunt Julia had died. No. There was something else.
Carly had to believe there was something else. Some other reason why the woman who had given birth to her, who had helped to raise her, had left her five year old son in Texas, when she had promised her older sister to take care of him. Something other than the simple fact that even at forty-three, her mother was still as irresponsible as she had been when she was sixteen or twenty-one ... even now, she couldn't accept that her mother hadn't learned a damn thing.
"Are you okay?" a soft voice asked from the doorway, and Carly sat up, reaching for a weapon that wasn't there. Casey Welles regarded her with anxious brown eyes, and Carly ran her hand over her face. The brunette closed the door behind her, then eased herself to the ground, saying softly, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. Aunt Nettie is in bed, but she wanted me to make sure you were all right before I headed to bed myself. It feels strange in here, without Vin. In the boardinghouse, I mean. I don't spend time in his room. I guess it's kinda weird for you, too. I mean, you've had this time to accept that he's your twin brother, but then here comes another revelation and knocks you on your ass."
Carly laughed, and was startled to realize it was the first time she had done so in days. She answered huskily, "You could say that. I wanted to thank you ... for reaming Jessica, and for backing down when I asked you to. I know how much control that took. It made me realize just how much you and your aunt love Vin. He's a very lovable person, but it's still nice to know that Adriana has had help taking care of him through the years."
Casey just smiled, and it lit up her face. She replied, "He's real special. Can't count the number of times he's been there for my aunt and me, all the times he's let me cry on his shoulder. I'd do anything for him, and the other guys. Chris, and Josiah, Nathan and Buck, Ezra and of course JD." Carly laughed. She had found out that JD was Casey's boyfriend, and she was looking forward to meeting them all.
"I guess you're also worried about meeting Adriana again, and her being angry that you never told her that Vin was your brother," Casey added, drawing Carly's attention back to her. Carly nodded silently, and Casey said, "Well, I think she may be mad at first. You gotta understand, ever since she started therapy for what her father did to her, Adriana's had a real hard time with being angry. She used to be scary, 'cause she wouldn't get angry ... now it's scary because it takes so little to make her angry. Not that I blame her ... her dad, who's supposed to protect her, molests her, and her mom, who's supposed to ... be a mom, doesn't love her."
Her dad, who's supposed to protect her, molests her. My God. I was right, Carly thought. She had realized that most people in Adriana's circle had noticed the way she reacted to being touched, her habit of trying to fade into the woodwork. At the time, Carly had attributed it to her shyness. It didn't occur to her until years later that Adriana had been molested. She had known that Adriana hated her father, yes, and that was all she needed to know to make sure the bastard never found her. She had never known why.
Casey went on, "But she's getting better. Aunt Nettie thinks that a dam has broken, everything is coming out at once. I bet you've missed her a lot. She and JD didn't get along at first. He was jealous of her, 'cause she's Buck's sister. And she was jealous of him, because Buck only wanted to hang around with JD, and not talk to her." Oh he did, did he, Carly thought grimly, we'll just see about that, Major!
Maybe that showed in her eyes, for Casey added hastily, "Oh, but things are okay now! Buck is spending a lot of time with Adriana. She almost died, and it really scared Buck. Anyhow, I know you're tired ... I'll see you in the morning." She smiled and rose to her feet, and slipped from the room. Carly stared after her, still thinking about what Casey had said. Things were better. Good, Carly thought, 'cause if he hadn't straightened up and flown right, I would have had to kick his ass. After I finish with whoever paid that guy in Texas to mess with my car. She frowned, thinking about that.
When Carly had gone to pick up her car a few days earlier, she had been informed by the head mechanic at the garage that someone had definitely sabotaged her car. She wasn't meant to die ... whoever had done it just wanted to keep her from going anywhere. This was connected with her new assignment, she was sure of it. Dickie O'Shea was the most likely person to benefit from this setback. The trouble was, he hadn't known she was coming from Texas. Not even General Hammond had known that, until she had arrived in the state to visit her aunt before heading to Colorado.
She had yet another argument with Jessica Tucker before leaving Illinois, one that left her trembling with rage even days later when she thought about it, and she had needed to talk to Aunt Josie, and clear her head.
So, who? Who knew she would be in Texas, who would have access to her car? Only her family had known. Aunt Josie was out of the question. Not because she wasn't capable of it ... hell, Carly was starting to think she was capable of just about anything. Her grandfather? Not friggin' likely. When she had told him that she would be near Vin, and that she planned to tell him the truth, Paris Tanner had been thrilled. He had missed his grandson, the grandchild he had never known.
That left ... no. No, that wasn't possible. Carly shook her head, trying to deny that possibility, even as ice water surged through her veins. She spoke aloud, "No. That couldn't be it. Even she has limits. I know she didn't want Vin knowing that she had abandoned him, but there is no way she had someone sabotage my car!"
JD Dunne was awakened early the next morning by a cold, wet nose in his face. As well as a soft voice whispering, "JD, you gotta get up. We need to talk." It was Adriana. And Mindy. JD blinked the sleep from his eyes, and stared up at the anxious-looking archaeologist. He glanced over at Buck, who was still sleeping ... and snoring like a damn freight train. Hell, how was it possible for him to get any sleep?
He nodded, and Adriana eased back out of the tent, taking her cold-nosed dog with her. JD quickly dressed, then joined her outside the tent. He could see Jack O'Neill sitting near the fire, his eyes focused on some place JD couldn't see ... it was his turn for watch. No one else was up. Adriana whispered, "There are some things you need to know, but the most important is, I'm gonna lead an ambush today. Against Will. You in?"
"Hell, yes! You got some information?" JD hissed. Adriana nodded firmly and proceed to outline what she had learned, and what she had remembered. When she was finished, JD murmured, "I'd dearly love to know what O'Shea was doing last night." Adriana nodded, and the cartographer continued, "All right. I have a feeling things are gonna escalate, so I think we should bring things to a head now, before anyone else gets hurt."
"Agreed. I'm gonna tell Vin. I can't do much about Chris, but I have a feeling part of the reason Vin hasn't been allowing Will to bother him is because he's had a sense that something wasn't right," Adriana said softly, her eyes searching the area around them. She looked back at JD and added, "What do you think about telling Jack? He's been a little more reasonable than Chris lately ... okay, a lot more ... and I'd like to have at least one of them on our side."
"I'll do that while you're talking to Vin," JD agreed. Adriana nodded her acceptance and started to head toward Vin's tent.
JD didn't know what made him do what he did next, or say what he said, but he caught Adriana's wrist. Immediately regretted it, as her hand started to fly toward his face, balled into a fist. She quickly brought it down to her side, but it was a reminder to JD that while Adriana was better about being touched, grabbing her was still not a good idea. JD said softly, "If you're wondering if you did the right thing by not confronting O'Shea last night, then don't."
"That may end up causing more people to get hurt. I could have ended this last night, JD, if I had followed him and found out what he was up to," Adriana said quietly. JD shook his head, locking his own hazel eyes with hers. The archaeologist continued, "I could have ended it, JD. I could have gotten proof one way or the other, solid proof that he's the traitor and saboteur." Again, JD shook his head.
"No. You would have gotten yourself killed. And while that would have smoked out the traitor, it would have killed Buck, and Chris, and Vin. There are some things which you can't do alone, regardless of whether you're Billy Travis or Chris Larabee. And this is one of 'em. Meet you at Richmond's tent in twenty minutes?" JD asked. Adriana took a deep breath, then nodded her agreement. Twenty minutes.
"When the hell did you get to be so smart? Don't have to ask how, I already know that. You've had the others teaching you," Adriana said with a teasing grin. JD just grinned back at her. He noticed her fisted hand, still resting against her thigh. He put his hand under her elbow, raising the fist automatically, then lightly tapped the balled fist with his own. Adriana's expression, which had been bewildered when he touched her elbow, changed to understanding, and she responded with a tap of her own against JD's fist.
It was their own covenant. They had a long way to go before they were friends, much less the siblings Buck wanted them to be, but for now, they were allies. And for now, that was good enough. With one last smile, Adriana turned and walked toward Vin's tent, leaving JD to approach Jack O'Neill. The colonel looked bored out of his mind, after spending four hours on watch, and he blinked as JD approached.
In a low voice, to avoid any attention, JD told the colonel about the information which he and Adriana had been collecting over the last few days. O'Neill sighed, "Damn, way too many people keeping secrets around here, and not enough people trusting each other. I'm not blaming you, kid, because you didn't have anything solid. No, I'm mad at the two idiots, Richmond and Larabee." JD frowned. Chris? Jack said softly, "Teal'c thinks Chris has been acting as if he doesn't trust Vin, to smoke out the traitor."
"Oh ... shit," JD muttered under his breath. This was getting worse by the minute. But still, it explained a lot. The cartographer looked back at Jack, asking, "What do we do? I mean, knowing that Chris ... " JD floundered, not sure how to explain what was bothering him. But it seemed Jack understood, and JD relaxed. At least until Adriana emerged from Vin's tent, without Vin ... and looking distraught. So much for relaxing. JD tried to tell himself that Adriana was probably overreacting, that Vin could have gone out looking for breakfast. Until he looked back at Jack, who looked just as troubled.
The archaeologist approached the two men at practically a jog, gasping, "Vin's not in his tent." They had known as much, just from her expression, but hearing the words somehow made it worse. Jack swore under his breath, and JD put a comforting hand on Adriana's shoulder. She was trying hard not to let her imagination get the better of her, he could tell, but in spite of their best efforts, things were spinning out of control even faster.
"Naw. Been trackin' me a weasel," a soft, raspy voice announced. Adriana spun around, twisting away from JD. The cartographer winced at the feral expression on her face, as well as the direction of that glare. Vin grabbed for Adriana's wrists, adding, "Whoa! Easy, girl! Damn, good thin' I ain't Dickie O'Shea, else y'all be real dead!" Adriana struggled for composure, and at her side, Mindy growled softly.
"Either we would be, kid, or you would be. Adriana told me that O'Shea was out that way last night," Jack said, indicating the direction of Vin's tent. Vin had approached from the opposite direction. Jack continued, "So, what happened? You catch him doing anything naughty?" Vin released Adriana's wrists as she finally brought her emotions under control, and Jack added, "One of these days, kid, you'll learn not to scare her like that."
"Reckon that would be the smart thin' to do. And Drina is right, the weasel was out that way last night. I saw him, weren't sure if anyone else had. I waited 'til he come back, then went out to the area. Looks like he was sendin' signals of some kind, ain't rightly sure what kind, but it don't look good," Vin answered. He sighed, then continued, "Anyhow, I come back and got a few hours asleep. He woke me a few hours ago, and I followed his ass. He went into his tent 'bout thirty minutes, 'fore y'all got up. Been watchin' ya ever since."
They had been right, then. JD's instincts had been right. He wasn't sure how he felt about that. Oh, he knew he should be pleased ... pleased that he was starting to develop good instincts about situations and about people. But this time, the secrets and divisions caused by the traitor may have shattered JD's family. And that darkened any relief or gratitude that he was learning what he was supposed to learn.
And what of Chris? Colonel O'Neill had told him that Teal'c believed Chris had never stopped trusting Vin, that he had actually been trying to smoke out the traitor with that ruse. Thinking it through, JD had to admit that it made sense. Lull the traitor into thinking that he had fooled everyone, lull him into making a mistake. But ... why hadn't Vin picked up on it? As well as he and Chris could read each other ... it made no sense.
Unless, JD thought, Chris isn't letting Vin read him? Somehow, he's managed to block out that ... whatever they do. They both swore it wasn't telepathy, they couldn't reach each other's minds, it just seemed that way. Or maybe, Vin's own hurt was getting in the way? As Adriana's had, when Will kept taking those cheap shots at her, about her relationship with Vin? JD didn't know. He just knew it was time to finish this, before someone else got hurt. He glanced at the faces of his three companions. It was pretty clear he wasn't the only one who felt that way. Jack, Vin, and Adriana all looked determined. Under any other circumstances, JD might have felt sorry for Dickie O'Shea. But not this time.
"Any chance he knows we're onto him?" Jack asked, and Vin shook his head. There was no uncertainty in the bright eyes, no doubt. He had been watching O'Shea, and he had been watching over his friends. Evidently, Vin's answer was good enough for Jack as well, for the colonel said, "JD, Adriana, you update Vin. And then you decide who gets to confront Richmond. I have work to do."
"Be careful, Jack. I'm not talking about O'Shea, but Chris," Adriana said softly. Jack winked at her, and she told JD, "What do you think ... you update Vin, then we figure out what comes next? I want to start packing again, and get our jeep checked over, make sure O'Shea didn't leave a little surprise for us. That reminds me ... why do you think it went off when it did last night ... the bomb in Will and Charlotte's jeep?"
"Ain't rightly sure. Now, JD, there was somethin' ya wanted to tell me?" Vin asked. Adriana just rolled her eyes, and headed off to her tent, Mindy trailing along at her side. Vin watched her go, a troubled expression appearing, then turned back to JD with his eyebrows raised in question. JD took a deep breath, wondering where exactly he should begin. Without meaning to, his eyes strayed to the tent assigned to O'Shea. Who had he been contacting? And when would his allies attack?
But the fates were working against the new conspirators, because as soon as everyone was up and packed, they had set out again. Jack had cursed Chris up one side and down the other, but Adriana had decided they would wait until lunch to confront Will. That was all right, though. That was fine. It would give her time to decide what to say. A glance over her shoulder told her that Charlotte was watching her with a worried expression.
Adriana smiled at her as reassuringly as she could, and Vin asked quietly, "Jack tell y'all what he told me? 'Bout how Teal'c thinks Chris is settin' a trap for O'Shea?" Adriana looked at Vin, frowning. Come again? Vin continued, "Teal'c thinks, and I reckon the rest a' SG-1 agrees, that Chris is settin' a trap for O'Shea, by actin' like he has. Ain't rightly sure what I think about that." Adriana settled herself in her seat more comfortably and thought about that.
It was a valid suggestion. She hadn't understood why Chris continued to shut Vin out, even after she had told him about the child ... about Tansy, as she now knew the child's name to be. But Jack's suggestion made a lot of sense. She said slowly, "That's not the only thing that's bothering you, though, Vin." It was a statement, not a question. Adriana focused her attention on the terrain ahead of her, but saw the tawny head dip once in acknowledgment. Taking a deep breath, Adriana decided to go out on a limb and asked, "It's that you didn't think of it yourself."
"Yeah," Vin breathed. He was silent for several moments, then said, "The man's been my best friend for three years, Drina. He could always read me. And I could always read him. The only time he ever doubted me was when that she-devil got her hooks into him." He didn't specify which she-devil, because he didn't have to. It could only be Ella Gaines. Vin continued, "So, why didn't I ever think that Chris was just settin' a trap?"
"Because, when he wants to be, Chris Larabee can fool himself and everyone else. And he really wanted to, this time. I know you, Vin, and no matter what I say, you'll find a way to blame yourself. You've got the most overdeveloped sense of responsibility I've ever seen. But I'll say it anyhow. This isn't your fault. It isn't your fault that Chris got whammied, it isn't your fault that Will has been such a prick, and Dickie O'Shea simply existing most certainly isn't your fault," Adriana said firmly.
She glanced at him, and saw him shaking his head. Exasperated, Adriana sighed, "Goddess, Vin, don't you see? Every time you take responsibility for something that someone else did, you make things worse! You take responsibility, and they don't have to ... they never learn, they never get punished. I did the same thing for almost twenty years, blaming myself for what my father did. But I wasn't to blame. He was. And you're not to blame, either. You can only be a friend if Chris lets you. He hasn't been letting you. End of story."
Vin was silent for several moments, then drawled, "Well, now, ya put it that way ... " A small smirk appeared, and Adriana relaxed. That was more like it! Vin asked, his blue eyes twinkling, "Whaddaya say we turn the tables a bit on that jackass? Give back a little of what he's been dishin' out the last few days?" Intrigued, Adriana just waited for Vin to continue. He obliged by pointing out, "Reckon it's gettin' close to noon. Thinkin' might be time to stop."
"If Jack told Chris about O'Shea, Chris won't want to stop. So, we look for a place that provides cover. According to JD, there's a valley up ahead. The bad thing is, it's a good place for an ambush. The good thing is, the hills alongside make for natural protection. You wanna head there?" Adriana asked, and Vin nodded. She continued thinking aloud, "If we post guards, we should have some warning before the Gou'ald attack."
"There's seven in our group, and four in SG-1, that gives us a total of eleven possible guards," Vin added. The pair looked at each other, then Vin gave her an unholy grin. He returned his attention to his driving, adding, "Also, ya figure if we stick close to one a' the sides, reckon that'll make it harder on the snake-heads." Yeah ... if they chose the right side. But she knew Vin would have thought of that.
He slowly braked, drawing the jeep to a halt, and held up his hand. Once the jeep was fully stopped, both the guide and the archaeologist got out, followed by Mindy. Sure enough, as they headed back to the civilians, they were met with a fuming Chris. Both Charlotte and Will had gotten out of the jeep they were sharing with Gerard and Katie Whitman, the anxiety on Charlotte's face giving way to ... anticipation? It looked like she knew the storm was about to break, and she was looking forward to it. She wasn't the only one. As for Will ... Charlotte's anxiety had evidently been transferred to him, for he looked between the leader and the guide.
"What the hell is wrong with you, in case you hadn't noticed, we have a traitor to worry about inside, and the Gou'ald outside!" Chris growled at them. By this time, the rest of SG-7 had joined them. Not wanting to leave SG-1 out of the loop, Adriana quietly turned on her walkie-talkie, kept on her belt. Vin simply folded his arms over his chest, returning the Larabee Glare with the Tanner Look. This promised to get interesting.
"It's 'most noontime, cowboy. Reckon it's time these people got some food. Wouldn't want any folks fallin' out of the jeep from hunger, now wouldja?" Vin retorted. Adriana dug her fingernails into her skin, trying not to laugh. It was the first time Vin had called Chris 'cowboy' in the last few days. Chris just scowled at him, especially after Vin added, "JD tol' me there's a valley up ahead. Reckon it would be a good place to have cover and eat lunch."
The radio crackled, signaling Jack's entrance into the conversation. The colonel said with some exasperation, "Oh, for cryin' out loud! Chris, you got us moving this morning before any of us had a chance to eat. Some of us are hungry! Vin, as one of the senior officers on this expedition, I'm telling you ... find this valley, and we'll stop for lunch." With one last growl of annoyance, Jack made his displeasure known, and then the radio went silent.
Vin smirked and tipped his hat to Chris, then headed back to the jeep, throwing over his shoulder, "Reckon we'll be there in half an hour! Oh, and cowboy? It's been my experience that the best way to catch a bad guy is the good guys workin' together." He didn't look back again. Charlotte made her way around to the various jeeps, relaying to the other civilians and scientists that they would be stopping for lunch soon.
Adriana turned her attention to both Chris and Will, saying, "Now, seems to me that you boys haven't been playing nice with the other campers. It makes it real hard to trust a person when they're not playing straight with you ... and neither of you have been playing things straight since this whole damn thing started. Now, I don't have time for this nonsense, not if we want to beat this asshole. And I do want to beat him. I want to make sure no one else gets hurt."
She was pleased to see Chris drop his eyes, and Will redden with embarrassment. Good. She wanted Will embarrassed. That was when he was the easiest to catch off guard. He would spend the next half hour reassuring himself that she didn't know anything. It had been decided that she and Vin would confront Will with Charlotte, while JD remained on guard with the others. Didn't want people getting too suspicious, after all.
With one last look at the pair, she leaned to one side, catching Mary's eye. She nodded, very slightly. It was a signal, to keep her head up. Mary inclined her head in acknowledgment, then Adriana turned back, heading to the jeep. While the others were eating lunch, she and Vin would ambush Will. He would probably be in the mess tent, since Will usually waited until everyone else ate.
As she got into the jeep beside Vin, she asked in a conversational tone, "Just out of curiosity, what did you guys do with what was left of the jeep?" Vin just smiled slowly. Maybe they had left a surprise for the Gou'ald?
However, Adriana didn't ask, because she knew that smile. It meant that Vin wouldn't tell her, not even if she tickled him 'til he was breathless. Instead, Vin said softly, "Seems to me that the valley I done tol' ya 'bout? That was the suggested site ... the one that General Hammond thought the scientists oughta use as their base camp." Adriana looked at him quickly. Then she understood and smiled. Jack had known.
"Final confrontation?" she asked, and Vin nodded. Well, it was fitting. It was time they took a stand. That valley, the suggested site of the base camp, was as good a place as any. She continued as they started forward once more, "That may be where they plan to attack us ... O'Shea could have been signaling the Gou'ald last night. Vin, what bothers me is, if he's just joined the SGC, how did he know about the Gou'ald?"
"Kinsey?" Vin suggested. Adriana inclined her head. She hadn't thought of that, but it made sense. But why would Kinsey try to make a deal with the Gou'ald ... unless there was something else she didn't know about? As if hearing her thoughts, Vin observed, "Reckon if Kinsey's desperate enough, he'd make a deal with the devil to git Hammond out of command of the SGC. He done it before." That he had. And that possibility chilled Adriana even more than the identity of the traitor. One thing was clear. It was time to end this.
He had been put on notice. Somehow, Adriana and the others had figured out what he was doing, and very shortly, he would be called to account for his actions. Curiously, instead of making Will feel nervous, he felt better now than he had in a long time. He wasn't alone any more. He may have lost Adriana's friendship for good, may have even damaged his marriage for all time, but he wasn't alone in his battle against O'Shea anymore.
So, he wasn't surprised when Adriana, Vin, and Charlotte approached him in the mess tent. SG-1 were in the process of setting up the field hospital, since this was the site designated as the base camp. SG-1 would remain behind for about a week, until one of the other SG teams were at full strength, and it would be that team, led by Colonel Rafael Martinez, who protected the scientific expedition.
"We need to talk, Will," Adriana said quietly. It was the first time she had directly spoken to him in days. Vin and Charlotte flanked her, Tanner looking serious and Charlotte downright pissed. Will looked around, finding that he was alone in the mess tent, except for the three pissed-off people in front of him. Adriana observed, "We waited until you were alone, and JD took Mindy to save your shoes. We want answers. We want to know exactly what's been going on the last few days, and why you've been such a rat bastard to us."
Will took a deep breath, then began, "It began the day before we arrived at the SGC. Do you remember the telephone call I got, Charlotte?" His wife nodded, and Will continued, "It was Dickie O'Shea, telling me that he had received the spot of top biologist on this team. I don't know how the hell he got my telephone number, but he did. He knew that we had a daughter, how old she was, what her name was, even what school we were enrolling her in.
"He said an unfortunate accident had already happened to Carly Tucker. He laughed when he said it, so I knew he had something to do with it. I told him that if he was threatening me, I would make sure people knew he was involved in whatever happened to Carly. His answer was that he would take away everything I loved if I said anything to General Hammond. And he would start with our baby."
A familiar fire was burning in Charlotte's eyes, and Will continued, "I knew I couldn't tell you ... if I did that, you'd confront him, and at that point, I didn't know what he had done to Carly, or what he would do to you. Later, I just seemed to be getting deeper and deeper into trouble. I made up a plan. He would know if I had told you, or General Hammond, or General Travis, but I would make sure I put him in a position where he would be watched."
"The attacks on Vin," Adriana observed and Will nodded. Yes. Both times he had attacked Vin in the SGC, Dickie O'Shea had been watching. The biologist had to believe that Will was totally alone, that he was no threat to O'Shea. The biologist would get cocky and stupid. Then, and only then, could they take him down. Adriana continued, her eyes reflecting the old hurt, "And that's why you got so ugly with me the second time, in the hallway. He was watching then, too."
"Yes. I knew I had to alienate you, Adriana, because you would have tried to help me, and endangered yourself. I didn't know about ... well ... about what your father did to you, or I would have never said that. What tipped you off? I was counting on you figuring it out a lot later. Not that I think you're stupid ... I know you're anything but ... but I figured that the hurt would have ruled a lot longer than it did," Will said.
"It would have, if not for a young cartographer by the name of JD Dunne. He was watching you after you attacked Vin in the hall, and noticed some things were off. He found me in the hallway later, and started putting the pieces together. I should have figured it out a long time ago," Adriana sighed, shaking her head. Will didn't know about that, but he had a habit of letting his pride rule him sometimes. It got him into a lot of trouble.
"I don't know if any of you can forgive me. I know I hurt all of you, but as God is my witness, I wanted to protect you. Especially you, Charlotte," Will said quietly. Neither of the women would look at him, but Vin nodded. Will addressed his next comment to him, saying, "I'm sorry about last night, too. O'Shea was watching then, and I'm almost positive that he's the one who rigged the jeep to explode. And I'm really sorry about hitting you."
"What do we do now?" Charlotte asked very softly. Will wanted to know that as well. He knew there was a better than even chance that none of the archaeologists would listen to him now, that Hammond would relieve him of his post.
"Jack already knows about our suspicions, and he was planning to talk to Chris. So, at least one of the colonels knows, and it wouldn't hurt if you talked to him as well, Will. Let him know that JD was right. I don't know about Chris ... he's so unpredictable right now, he's liable to do just about anything to you. And I'm still pissed enough at you to let him do it," Adriana replied. Will gave her a half-smile in acknowledgment.
However, he never got the chance to say he understood, because JD Dunne came barreling through the doors, gasping, "Katie Whitman is missing! And so is O'Shea!" Will felt as though he had been kicked in the gut. He had been trying so hard to protect his own wife and little girl ... it had never even occurred to him that O'Shea would actively threaten another child. Looking around, he saw Vin, Adriana and Charlotte glowering.
"JD, git back out there, start searchin' along the ridge. I'm headin' over, to see what I can find out. It may be a diversion. Drina, I need ya to do me a favor ... find Chris. Tell him everythin,' and tell him where I've gone. Even if Katie is just playin,' O'Shea would take advantage of that by sayin' he got her when he don't. Charlotte, Will ... " Vin began. Will was already nodding, already knowing what the guide was suggesting.
Evidently, so did Charlotte, for she said, "Will, you get with Mary and find out where Katie might like to hide. And try not to let Billy scare you ... he's still just a little boy." Will found himself turning bright red with embarrassment as he recalled the scene the previous night. Being physically shoved away from Vin by an eight year old boy. Charlotte continued, "Vin, I'll go with you. No, don't argue with me. Katie knows me, she's comfortable with me. Just like Raquel was comfortable with you. You know it, and I know it."
"Aw hell," Vin muttered, looking down at his feet. Will could understand his consternation. Finally, he looked up and said, "Okay. In that case, JD, would ya mind goin' with Drina to talk to Chris? I reckon I'd feel a little better if she wasn't alone." Adriana just rolled her eyes at him, but didn't argue with him. Will grinned to himself. When would Tanner finally just break down and admit he loved the girl, and be done with it? People said Will was stubborn, but Tanner was worse!
"No problem, Vin. Drina, I think I saw Chris in one of the sheds ... the temporary shed for the tools. If we hurry, we can catch him before he heads some place else. Don't worry, Vin, I'll take good care of her," JD Dunne told the guide. Adriana held her hand out to Vin, which he squeezed, then the two headed out of the mess tent. That left the guide with the two Richmonds. Well ... almost.
At the door, Adriana stopped and turned, saying quietly, "I understand what you did, Will. But I still don't know if I can ever forgive you." Will nodded his understanding. Hell, of course he understood! With that, Adriana turned back around and followed JD from the mess tent. Will looked at his wife. How many more times would he find it necessary to ask her forgiveness? How much could one woman take before saying 'enough,' and walking away, this time for good?
"I ... I don't ... can we do this later, Will? I ... can't think right now," Charlotte said softly. Will nodded, and Charlotte told Vin, "Let's go."
Vin nodded, tipped his hat to Will. Oddly enough, despite everything he had done to the guide during the last few days, there was acceptance in the bright blue eyes. And while Will knew he had gone about protecting his wife and child all the wrong way, he had the unnerving sense that Vin Tanner would have done anything to protect that which was his. The guide could be ruthless, as ruthless as Dickie O'Shea, but this man would never threaten a child.
Tanner followed Charlotte from the tent, and Will decided that since he had created this situation, with his secrets and lies, he had to do something constructive to bring it to an end. He had no way of knowing that as he went out to help another father, another terrified parent, finding his missing child, he was being watched. That the enemy was still within the camp, and still quite capable of destroying both teams from the inside out.
"Now," General Orrin Travis said very carefully, placing his hands on the conference table, "tell me again. And this time, I want the whole truth, nothing but the truth, no evasions of any kind." Behind him, he could sense Colonel Martinez, the new commander of SG-3, shifting uneasily. He had asked Rafael to join them when he realized what kind of trouble Maude Standish had brought with her this time. That woman could give him worse headache than her son ever dreamed of.
The woman he was currently addressing wasn't Maude Standish, though she certainly looked like she could be the troublesome senator's younger sister. She wasn't Maude Standish's younger sister, however. Her name was Jessica Tanner Tucker, and it seemed she was the mother of both Dr. Caroline Tucker ... and Vin Tanner. And that when the woman who had been raising Vin, her sister Julia, died in 1978, Jessica had left that five year old boy to fend for himself.
Dr. Tucker was leaning against the wall, her blue eyes downright wintry as she glared at her mother. At her side stood Orrin's old friend, Josie. It had never crossed his mind that Vin Tanner was related to Josephine Tanner, the pretty young sergeant who had saved Orrin's life in Southeast Asia, so many years before. Tanner was such a common last name, and Vin looked nothing like Josie.
Orrin shifted his gaze to George Hammond, who was looking at Jessica Tucker as if she was a species of bug he had never encountered before. That should have told him something. Not that George loathed her, but that Maude Standish, who wasn't a candidate for the Mother of Year by anyone's standards, denigrated her abilities as a mother. Jessica Tucker had fired back that Maude had abandoned her son as well, so she had no room to talk.
Maude had answered, "At least I knew who had my son, and how I could find him!"
George and Orrin had quickly broken up that catfight before it could start, and all they had gotten out of Jessica since then were half-truths, as she contradicted herself several times. They knew the lies because her eyes would shift away, and because Josie Tanner would start muttering under her breath. Orrin had finally warned their unwilling guest ... either she told them the entire truth, or face the consequences.
"My name is Jessica Tanner. I was born in 1957, in Chicago. My parents were Paris and Clarice Tanner. I had two older sisters, Julia and Josephine. Julia was four years older, and Josie is two years older. When I was sixteen, I went to a college football game with a few friends. I met a man there. We slept together, and I became pregnant. When the twins were born, I gave custody of my son Kevin to my oldest sister, Julia, who died five years later," Jessica recited in a dead voice.
That, they knew ... they had learned that during Josie's interruptions. In the corner beside Josie, Maude Standish shifted uneasily. Orrin wondered about that. When Ezra had first joined SG-7, Maude had been ... well, she thought it was beneath him. Ever since she had took her late husband's Senate seat, at least until the next election, she had done a one-eighty. Become one of the strongest supporters the SGC had in Washington.
Her late husband, Preston Wingo, had known about the Stargate project and often wavered according to what was popular with the others. That was reason enough not to like the man. Besides, he came up with the most purple poetry known to man. Orrin had read several samples of Vin's poetry over the years, and one of the things he found most moving about them was their simplicity. He wasn't a man given to flowery speech, and that made his words all the more powerful.
Maude's support was subtle, but there, if you knew what you were looking for. And Orrin was curious. What was she getting out of this? Not just her support of the SGC, but this meeting. His question was answered in part by the woman herself, as she said impatiently, "Oh, do get on with it, Jessica! The sooner you finish whining about your sorry life, the sooner your daughter can begin her mission, unless that's the point of this? Keeping your children apart?"
"Who are you to judge me? At least I raised my daughter, instead of pushing her off on relatives and boarding schools! Did it ever occur to you that maybe it's best if my son doesn't know the truth? Best for him? Not that you'd know anything about the truth, a lying, conniving bitch like you," Jessica hissed. Orrin started to speak, but fell silent as Maude Standish approached the other woman, her eyes blazing.
"Now you listen to me," Maude snarled, "I will be the first to admit I was never meant to be a mother. But I did what I could for my son. Will you tell them, Jessica, or should I? Should I tell them about the blonde woman who paid one of the mechanics in your sister's local garage? This mechanic was given one thousand dollars to make sure Caroline Tucker would never reach Colorado ... and he was instructed to make sure she wouldn't be harmed. Shall I give them a description, Jessica, of the blonde-haired, blue-eyed woman in her early forties?" Orrin's blood ran cold as he realized what Maude was saying. Jessica went white as she came to the same conclusion.
"You ... bitch!" Josie growled as the color drained from her sister's face. She pushed off the wall, stalking toward her younger sister. She was trembling with rage, her brown eyes filled with a righteous fury which put Orrin in mind of his daughter-in-law when someone had threatened her son, one of her 'little brothers,' or any of the remaining Seven. Josie repeated, slapping her sister hard, "You bitch!"
"I just didn't want her to tell Vin," Jessica admitted in a broken voice, "I didn't want her to get hurt. I knew that once he found out I had given birth to him, he would want to know who his father was. And then that would be it. I'd have to tell him about his father, and why I never went to Texas after my sister Julia died. I couldn't do that. I've built a good life for myself with my husband. I couldn't stand to lose it."
Dear God. Dear God. Orrin didn't think he was capable of thinking anything else. Was it possible that after supposedly raising her daughter, Jessica Tucker was still that same sixteen year old girl who had given birth to the twins? Had she learned nothing in the last twenty-seven years? Carly Tucker asked in a dead voice, "That begs two questions, Jessica. First ... who is our father? And second, why didn't you get Vin? You weren't married to Mr. Tucker then. That little boy couldn't have screwed up your perfect life then. So why?"
"Because!" Jessica cried out, tears running down her face, "Because I had spent the last five years being both a mother and a sister! Because your father knew about both of you, and I was sick of doing everything myself! Because your father was supposed to go to Texas and get your brother! Vin wasn't supposed to grow up the way he did! But it wasn't fair! I was taking care of you, it was only right that your father take care of Vin!"
Now Carly pushed off the wall to join her aunt and Maude, the young woman hissing, "You didn't answer the other question, Jessica. Who is he? Who is our father, and who the hell do you think you are, blaming him, when you promised Aunt Julia that you would take care of Vin? Do you think it was fair for her to give up her dreams because of you? Do you think it was fair that you almost cost me my dreams by sabotaging my car? How could you???"