SERIES/UNIVERSE: SG-7
DISCLAIMERS: M7 characters belong to Trilogy, et al, SG-1 characters belong to Gekko, MGM, and Showtime. Original characters (mainly Adriana in this story, though others are mentioned) 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, all twenty-one episodes are fair game, along with my previous stories, More than Friends, A Light in the Distance, Under the Sun, Days of Yearning, Sun, Fun, and Ezra on the Run, Full Circle, and Open House; also all five seasons of Stargate SG-1.
WARNING: The usual, violence and language. Quite possibly the most smarmy story I've ever written, but I'll try to keep it from becoming too syrupy.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I've been wanting to write a story for some time about Vin as a child, but every time I thought I had something, I'd come across someone who had used it. And then, the Gou'ald, for once, came to my rescue. Imagine that.
Just as an fyi ... this series, this universe, ignores the events of the latter fifth season of Stargate SG-1. Specifically, Meridian and Revelation. Which also gets rid of Jonas Quinn in sixth season.
This couldn't be termed, in any way, shape, or form, light duty. Routine, yes. Light duty, no. And with this team, 'routine' tended to turn 'ugly' real fast. Jack O'Neill glowered at the young man keeping watch on the four members of SG-1, a dark expression which bothered him not at all. Then again, it wouldn't. He had Chris Larabee for a brother, and Chris was known for the infamous Larabee glare.
Jack wasn't the only one concerned for Vin Tanner, as both Teal'c and Daniel Jackson glanced at the young guide in concern. Only a few months earlier, Vin was nearly killed while SG-1 and SG-7 were escorting a group of scientists, a modern-day wagon train, as Captain Mary Travis put it. One of the scientists, Dr. Richard O'Shea, was a traitor ... and the man who almost killed Vin Tanner, albeit indirectly. He had given the order to fire, even though he wasn't holding the staff weapon ... even though he didn't pull the trigger.
O'Shea died a few days later, while trying to escape ... while the Jaffa who was carrying the staff weapon which ignited the explosion died that day. No one was entirely sure whose bullet ultimately ended the traitor's life ... whether the bullet came from the gun of Colonel Chris Larabee, Vin's older brother, or from Dr. Charlotte Richmond, whose own life, as well as the life of her young daughter, was threatened by the traitor.
It didn't matter. The man was dead, and he could no longer hurt anyone whom Jack cared about. Including the sandy-haired young man, who continued to move a bit slowly. He had been cleared for duty, as he was fully healed. He had been assigned to accompany SG-1, because he was going stir crazy, and was starting to get on General Hammond's nerves. He had cleaned the weaponry more times than anyone could count, and did anything to keep himself from going insane. The mission to PZ8425 was just what he needed ... a routine mission.
Chris had just asked Jack to watch over his younger brother. The younger colonel was still struggling with the revelation that Vin was his brother by blood, as well as by choice. He was fighting to keep from smothering Vin. The young man, who was only months from his twenty-eighth birthday, had been on his own for a long time before meeting first his girlfriend Adriana, then eventually his brother. He didn't need anyone acting as a nursemaid.
But he did need someone to watch his back. Which was what Jack was doing right now, watching Vin's back while he watched theirs. Jack still wished Vin had remained at the SGC. He was worried about Vin's reflexes ... about whether he could move fast enough. Teal'c murmured, as if hearing his thoughts, "If it becomes necessary, O'Neill, I will carry Vin Tanner. But I will wait until he's unconscious first."
Jack grinned at that. That would probably be necessary. Vin wasn't stupid ... highly independent and proud, yes. He would accept help ... but unless he was actually too weak to walk, carrying him would not be readily accepted. The colonel replied, "Wish I'd brought some of those tranqs ... we get into a situation where we gotta carry him, we might need one of them." Teal'c merely raised an eyebrow.
"Sir, I think you should come take a look at this ... you, too, Daniel. I need someone who can read this ... it's a machine of some kind," Major Samantha Carter called. Daniel, who had been standing only a few yards from Vin and discussing something, pushed off the wall and walked to Sam's side, kneeling in front of the Gou'ald device they had found. She shook her head, her fingers brushing over the words, as if they were Braille and she was blind.
Vin pushed off the wall at the same time, saying in his soft Texas drawl, "Reckon I oughta take a look, too. Ya might wanna step back, Major, ya never know what them thin's might do." He was approaching Sam when the machine began pulsing in a way that just ... didn't seem right. Jack cried out a warning, but Vin proved all of them wrong as the young man dashed the length from the wall to the machine. Sam was just standing there, her blue eyes wide.
Vin grabbed the blonde major, swinging her around until his own back was to the machine. He pushed her away as a bluish light enveloped the room. Jack's vision dimmed and there was a roaring in his ears. The next thing he knew, Teal'c was helping him to sit up. Jack groaned, wondering what the hell just hit them. He managed to croak out, "Everyone okay?" Sam and Daniel both assented ... but Vin remained silent.
"Vin ... you okay?" Sam called out, looking around as she pushed herself to her feet a bit unsteadily. Silence. Sam repeated, her face growing worried, "Vin? Can you hear me, Vin? Vin?" Teal'c slowly helped Jack to his feet, and for the first time, Jack saw a pile of rags near the Gou'ald machine. A pile of rags which looked an awful lot like the jacket Vin had been wearing on this mission.
He was just about to say something to Teal'c, when the pile of rags moved. He wasn't the only one who saw it. Daniel breathed softly, "Everyone ... stay still." He moved carefully over to the pile of rags, and it hit Jack.
The pile of rags ... that was about where Vin had been standing when the Gou'ald machine started pulsing, just before the explosion. Daniel crouched beside the rags and murmured, "My God." He threw something to one side, and over Daniel's shoulder, Jack saw tousled sandy hair. He was missing something. The sandy hair was the same color as Vin's hair, but ... if that was Vin, he should be ... taller. Longer.
Daniel said softly, gently, "It's okay. No one's gonna hurt you. Jack, quit scowling, I think you're scaring him." Jack glared at his best friend's back ... how the hell did Daniel know he was scowling? And who was he scaring? Daniel turned to face Jack, and for the first time, the colonel saw him. A little boy, no more than four or five years old. Sandy brown hair which fell in waves to his thin shoulders. Bright blue eyes.
Clothes which hung on him. The only thing he was actually wearing was the shirt Vin Tanner had been wearing that day. The blue jeans lay beside the trembling, terrified little boy. And on that count, Daniel was right. The little boy looked scared to death. Daniel gently rubbed the small back, whispering, "It's okay, no one's gonna hurt you. My name's Daniel, what's yours?" He was wearing Vin's shirt. He'd been lying under Vin's jacket. And Vin's jeans were lying beside him. There was an obvious explanation here, but Jack couldn't seem to wrap his mind around it.
Not even when the frightened child whispered, a Texan drawl making itself known, "Vin. M' name is Vin." Sam's face was almost ashen as she looked from the little boy, to the machine, and back again. The little boy whispered, "Ya ain't from the home, are ya? M'aunt Jessica's gonna come fer me. Ma said she would, and ma wouldn't lie to me." No, Jack thought as he finally forced his mind to accept the truth, but Jessica did.
"No, we're not from the home, Vin. We're ... friends. We'll take you to some place safe," Daniel replied softly. He slowly picked the child up, easing the little boy into his arms. God, he was so tiny. Daniel picked up Vin's jacket and wrapped around the tiny body, whispering soothing nonsense to the boy. There was no reason for the child to trust them, but he didn't pull away from Daniel. If anything, he lay his head down on the Egyptologist's shoulder, whimpering softly. Daniel rubbed his back, resting his cheek against the light brown hair.
Teal'c looked at Jack and said very softly, as if trying to avoid frightening the little boy further, "It would seem the Gou'ald machine has turned Vin Tanner into a child of five, O'Neill. Colonel Larabee will be most displeased with this turn of events." Jack looked at the man in astonishment. Displeased? Displeased? No, displeased was General Hammond after Teal'c had 'experimented' with the controls of a ride at Busch Gardens. Larabee would be damn near homicidal when they brought his little brother home in the body of a five year old!
But as he glared at Teal'c, he became aware of the little boy curling against Daniel more securely, as well as Sam's glare, as she picked up Vin's jeans and folded them. So, instead of telling Teal'c exactly how pissed off Larabee would be, Jack contented himself with a growled, "Ya think?" Daniel glared at him again, still trying to comfort the five year old in his arms, and Jack arranged his face in a smile which made his mouth hurt. Larabee was gonna kill him!
"Incoming traveler ... signal matches SG-1."
Colonel Chris Larabee lifted his head, hearing that announcement even in the cafeteria, and looked across the table at his long time friend. The last time they heard that while Vin Tanner was away with another team, he almost died. Come to think of it, the young sharpshooter had been almost killed twice, just in the last six months. Ordinarily, he left that amount time in the infirmary to the youngest member of SG-7, Corporal JD Dunne.
Major Buck Wilmington said, trying to reassure his old friend, "I'm sure Vin's fine, Chris." Chris just glared at his friend. This was SG-1 they were talking about. The team that had its own personal JD Dunne, Dr. Daniel Jackson, who was also the youngest member of his team. This was the team which could get into trouble even when SG-7 stayed out of it. And they were early coming back from a mission. And Buck thought Vin was fine?
Nathan Jackson, the medic for SG-7, said softly, "Last time we heard that, he got shot in the back, comin' back through the Gate. Reckon Chris is thinkin' the same thin' we all are. You wanna check it out, Chris?" The colonel looked at the dark-skinned man gratefully and nodded. On that signal, everyone at the table ... including Captain Mary Travis ... rose to their feet and headed out of the cafeteria.
From the corner of his eye, Chris saw Gloria Potter approaching Mary, a worried look on her face. Mary squeezed the widow's hand, then followed SG-7 from the cafeteria, heading for the Gate Room. Chris was aware that he was probably being an overprotective big brother, but he had learned the hard way not to ignore that niggling wrongness in his gut. Mary slipped her hand into his, and Chris gave her a vague smile, aware that she was trying to comfort him.
If Vin was in trouble, Chris was almost glad that Vin's girlfriend, Dr. Adriana Wilmington, was off duty today. She had been putting in long hours, since Christmas was coming up, and she was trying to make sure she had the holiday, as well as New Year's, off. So far, it was looking promising, since all of the other floating archaeologists were remaining healthy, and there were enough to go around. Still, the generals didn't want her collapsing from exhaustion.
Which was why she was at home, hopefully sleeping in. And if not sleeping in, then she was at least playing with her dog, or having fun. Besides, with her at home, there was less chance of a murder occurring in the SGC ... the murder of her older brother, the tall man now striding at Larabee's side. During recent weeks, Chris had noticed his 'little sister' getting more and more annoyed with her older brother, as Buck tried to get information about her relationship with Vin.
Put more bluntly, he was trying to find out if she was sleeping with the second in command of SG-7. She, quite bluntly, told him to mind his own damn business. Buck responded by reminding her that she was his business. Adriana's response to that was something as colorful as anything Chris could come up with. The colonel smiled proudly, remembering what JD told him about that argument. Damn, he taught her well!
Adriana was as protective of her boyfriend as she was of her privacy. If something had happened to Vin while he was on the mission, Chris wanted to have a chance to break it to her gently. Something which wouldn't happened if she had been here. They reached the Gate Room. SG-7, plus Mary. The first person through the Gate was Jack O'Neill. The other colonel glanced at Chris, then quickly looked away. He looked almost ... guilty.
That niggling wrongness in his gut intensified, and Chris tightened his hand around Mary's. Sam Carter was the next to come down the ramp, clutching something in her arms. She looked even more guilt-ridden when she looked at Chris. By now, the colonel was feeling out and out nauseous. Where was his brother, dammit? Teal'c was next to come through the Gate, and he inclined his head toward Chris.
That was the first bit of acknowledgment Chris had received yet, and it worried him. Daniel was the last to come through the Gate, holding a small child in his arms, and the Gate closed behind him. Chris tried to protest, but nothing would come out of his mouth. Behind him, he heard JD questioning where Vin was. And in the briefing room, where the techs sat, General Hammond asked, "Colonel O'Neill, where is Mr. Tanner?"
O'Neill and Carter both looked at the little boy in Daniel Jackson's arms, then back at the general. Hammond said very, very slowly, "SG-1 ... I want both you and SG-7 in the briefing room. Right now. And ... bring the youngster with you. Dr. Frasier to the briefing room." Chris was feeling like he had stepped through Alice's Looking Glass. He was missing something here. Something important.
Mary tugged on his hand, and Chris followed obediently, feeling somewhat like he was in shock. He looked over his shoulder at the child in Daniel Jackson's arms, trying to get a better look at the boy, and felt something go 'thud' in his heart when he got his better look.
He reminded Chris of Adam. The boy was no more than four or five, about the same age as Adam when his son died six years earlier. He had soft, light brown hair and bright blue eyes. There was something very familiar about him, but Chris couldn't figure it out. Until Mary whispered, "My God. He looks just like the pictures of Vin I saw, the ones taken right before his mother died, the ones Josie sent to your mother."
"That's because, Captain Travis, that is Vin. It's a long story ... but that little boy is Vin Tanner," Major Carter replied softly, her use of Mary's rank indicating just how serious she was. Chris looked at the major in disbelief. That ... was Vin? That was his ... no. No. His little brother was a grown man, twenty-seven years old, and he would be turning twenty-eight in March. He wasn't five years old! That couldn't be Vin!
He wasn't the only one who heard it. As they reached the briefing room, he saw General Hammond's eyes narrow, then the general said very quietly, "SG-1 ... I think you have some explaining to do. And I want the boy examined when Dr. Frasier gets here." SG-1 all looked at each other numbly, then nodded. For his own part, it was all Chris could do, just to sit down without collapsing. He couldn't take his eyes off the child. How was this possible? So many times, he had wished he had known Vin as a child ... and now ... it had happened? How did this happen, and what did they do next?
Mary Travis did not let go of Chris Larabee's hand, even when everyone was seated at the large table in the briefing room. She couldn't. She had the terrifying sense that this strong man had just been sucker punched, and that if she let go of him ... he'd slip under the waves. She couldn't let go of his hand ... she couldn't let go of him. Nor could she take her eyes off the tiny child, huddled against Daniel Jackson.
That was Vin Tanner. That terrified little boy who didn't seem to want to let go of Daniel was Vin Tanner. Her little brother. The strong-willed, stubborn man who had helped to catch her husband's murderers, who had always been there for Mary when she needed him. Mary couldn't reconcile it in her mind. That little boy, who was shaking in the arms of the Egyptologist, was Vin Tanner. The man whom Mary had always considered tough as nails and fearless.
Through what seemed like cotton wrapped around her head, Mary heard what happened. The machine. The explosion. Daniel finding Vin, under his clothes. Daniel chastising Jack for frightening the little boy. As SG-1 finished the story, General Hammond said quietly to the doctor who had appeared in the briefing only moments after the story began, "Dr. Frasier, take the boy to the infirmary and see ... look him over."
Janet Frasier nodded and carefully approached the little boy. She knelt in front of Daniel and Vin, saying softly, "Vin, my name is Dr. Frasier. I need to make sure you weren't hurt." Mary could tell from Janet's expression that she was as stunned as anyone, but Janet remained gentle and professional with the little boy. Vin looked at Daniel, as if asking, 'is she okay for me to go with?' Daniel nodded reassuringly, and Vin looked back at Janet, then held out his arms to her. Janet picked him up, cradling against her body, and carried him from the room.
Mary watched them go, too confused to even make sense of what she was now thinking. She had seen pictures of Vin when he was a little boy ... but this was something totally different. In all the time she had known Vin, even in the two times he was almost killed, she had never see him this fragile. Because he had still been an adult ... still trying to keep that wall up, the one that kept his fears to himself.
That wall was now gone. Every fear, every emotion, was clearly expressed in the bright blue eyes. There was no wall. Vin Tanner was totally vulnerable, with no defenses. Daniel had told them that he mentioned his aunt Jessica, and his mother swearing she would come for him. So it wasn't that long after his mother's death. God. He was hardly more than a baby! Just a sweet little boy who was still learning to construct defenses around his heart.
It was that understanding which pushed the confusion away. Mary still didn't know how they would get their Vin back, but for now, all she needed to know was that this child version of Vin needed them. In the nearly four years since SG-7 was created, there was never a time when Vin wasn't there for them. Wasn't there for her, wasn't there for Billy. And she swore that she wouldn't let him down.
Looking around the faces of the men, she could see some of them coming to that conclusion already. She saw that understanding, but she also saw rage. Mary was angry, too. She just wasn't sure whom she was angry with. Just who she wasn't angry with, and that was the little boy Janet had just carried from the room. And Chris ... Chris was still in shock. General Hammond said softly, "The boy will stay here for the moment, at least until we're sure he's all right. Dr. Frasier will run every test she has. You know her. SG-1, I want you to go back to the planet and find out exactly what kind of a machine that was."
"Requesting permission to accompany them," Chris said hoarsely, speaking for the first time since the revelation that the child was Vin. Mary looked at her lover, who still held onto her hand. Chris continued, "I'm Vin's commanding officer ... I want to know what did this to him. Why he was standing so close to that thing, why he didn't get out of the way before it blew. I want to know everything." The last three words were practically hissed.
The shock was giving way to rage now, Mary could tell. The green eyes were narrowed as he glared at Jack O'Neill and Sam Carter. Mary heard the same story Chris did ... that there were only scant seconds between the time Vin got between Sam and the machine, and when the machine finally blew. The glare was transferred to General Hammond when the general replied, "Permission denied. SG-1 is standing down, until we're sure there's no radiation, and as Mr. Tanner's commanding officer, Colonel, your place is here."
If looks could kill, George Hammond would have been plastered all over the room. But he hadn't attained the rank of general by being a coward. He added in a gentle, but firm, voice, "Chris ... Vin needs you right now. You're not just his commanding officer, but his older brother. And right now, he needs you. He's frightened and confused. He needs your strength. You've said it often enough, that you wish you had been there when he was a child. Well, now he is a child. What are you gonna do about it?"
Chris slumped back in his seat as the general threw his own words back in his face. Ezra Standish said softly, "General, that boy has no idea whom we are. Mind and body, he's no more than four or five years old ... judging from what Daniel told us, he's five." The former police negotiator waved his hands helplessly, trying to say something, but the words weren't coming out. However, Mary understood. How did they win this child's trust?
It was strange, seeing Ezra Standish so off-balance. In many ways, the Southerner was the most cool and composed members of the Seven. And he loved children. Buck Wilmington said in a soft voice, "We teach him to trust us again. We're lettin' ourselves get scared of a little boy, a little boy who's more scared of us. It ain't no different than if Vin had amnesia, and he forgot who we were. Only difference is, he's a little guy now."
"Precisely. This five year old Vin Tanner has no idea whom we are. In fact, I'm amazed that he went to Dr. Jackson as easily as he did," Hammond said quietly. He paused, then added, "There's something else ... the matter of Dr. Wilmington. I'm not blind to their relationship ... neither of them allows it to affect their work, which is why I haven't said anything. But when she returns tomorrow, it will be to find her ... significant other a five year old boy."
Oh God ... Drina. Mary had almost forgotten about her friend, through all of this, as she had been focusing on the frightened little boy now in the infirmary, and on her own lover. But the general was right ... Drina would need to know about what had happened to Vin. The question was, who would tell her? Mary saw the others coming to the same conclusion as she had ... and to a man, each quailed.
Chris said softly, "I'll tell her. She deserves to know from a member of her family." And Buck would never be able to tell his little sister what had happened. Mary knew that. He was still so protective of Adriana, he'd never be able to get the words out, not without frightening his sister. Chris was protective, but in a different way. Chris tended to get upset if Adriana put herself in the line of fire, even though he taught her self-defense when she was still a teenager. He still didn't like the idea of Adriana being in danger, for any reason, just as he hated the idea of Mary being at risk.
"I'll stay with the little guy," Buck decided, "I'd like to get to know this five year old Vin Tanner. Once Janet says he's okay. Can't imagine what he must have been like when he was a little guy, when he ain't scared to death of us, I mean." Mary smiled faintly at that, and looked at Chris, wondering if he wanted any company for when he went to see Adriana. Or maybe she should stay here? Buck was an overgrown kid, in many respects, but he was a big man. And there was the chance he would scare Vin, without meaning to. Maybe ...
"Mary, could you stay with Vin? You've got an eight year old ... and you're not much older than Julia Tanner was when she died. He may have an easier time trusting you," Chris requested hoarsely. His green eyes flickered to Sam Carter and Jack O'Neill, and Mary understood what he wasn't asking, as well as what he was. Right or wrong, he blamed SG-1 for what had happened to his brother, and right now, he didn't trust Sam or Jack in particular.
With an apologetic look at the blonde major, Mary replied, "Of course, Chris. We'll stay with Vin. You do what you need to, and call us if you need us." Chris smiled, the first warmth she had seen from him since Daniel carried little Vin down the ramp in the Gate Room. Mary smiled back, and continued, "Speaking of which, before I go to the infirmary, I do need to return home. I still have some old clothes that Billy outgrew, and Vin will need a change of clothes."
"Excellent idea ... Major Carter, why don't you accompany Captain Travis? I want to check on the boy, myself," General Hammond said. There was a general murmur, and everyone nodded their agreement with this plan. General Hammond continued crisply, "Dismissed!" As the general left the room, Mary rose to her feet ... then turned and lightly kissed Chris, removing her hand from his. She promised to take care of his brother, made that promise with her eyes. He nodded and she smiled once more, then began planning what she would bring back for Vin.
Vin was scared. So scared, he forgot what his ma told him, about not talking to strangers, and he told Daniel his name. But Daniel had nice eyes ... his eyes reminded Vin of his ma's. And Daniel had been nice to him, had taken care of him. Just like he promised. At least until they got to this strange place, and the pretty lady doctor took him to the in-firm-a-ry. She explained that it was kinda like a clinic, only inside of a big building. A clinic, or a little hospital.
The pretty lady doctor was nice. She explained to him exactly what she was doing, and why. What she couldn't explain to him was how he got here ... aside from that funny tunnel, with all them weird lights. Vin had buried his face in Daniel's shoulder for most of the trip, because the water scared him. How did he get to that strange place, why wasn't he with the Montroses ... not that he minded the last. He didn't like them. Didn't like the way the father looked at him.
The lady, who had told him to call her 'Janet,' said now, "Well, you seem to be okay. I need to do some tests, make sure you weren't hurt in that explosion, but those can wait until later. They're a bit scary, and I think you're frightened enough right now. But ... if you wouldn't mind answering some questions, maybe we can figure a few things out. You told Daniel when he found you, Vin, that your ... that your aunt Jessica would come for you, that your mother promised and she had never lied to you. Vin ... is your mother dead?"
Vin bowed his head, remembering the last days of his mother's life. She could barely talk at the end. And Vin knew, he knew she would leave him. She admitted to him as much, saying she didn't want to leave him, but she couldn't stay. She told him that his aunt Jessica would come for him ... but she hadn't come yet. And then she told him to always remember he was a Tanner. Vin still didn't know what that meant, but it sounded really special, and Vin wanted to make his ma proud ... wanted to live up to being a Tanner.
Janet put her finger under his chin, until he could see her brown eyes. She said gently, "It's okay, Vin. It's okay to cry. My daughter Cassie ... she had another mother once. And I know she loves me, but I also know that she has never stopped missing her first mother. She's fifteen now ... that's ten years older than you are. So don't think that you're not a big boy, if you miss your mother. Because that's just not true."
Vin whispered around the lump in his throat, "Ma said I had ta remember I was a Tanner. So I gotta be brave, so I live up to bein' a Tanner." Janet's face softened even further. She sat down on the table beside him and lifted him into her arms. Vin didn't struggle. She really reminded him a lot of his ma, 'cept her hair was darker, and so were her eyes. But her smile warmed him, and her touch made him feel safe. Something he hadn't felt since his ma died.
"Vin, I want you to listen to me, honey. You are a very brave little boy. And your mother would be very, very proud of you. I know I would be," Janet said softly. Vin relaxed against her, and Janet gently stroked his hair, just like his ma did. Stroked his hair and rocked him. His tummy made a really loud noise, and Vin almost cried. It had been so long since he ate, he was really hungry. Janet hugged him, whispering, "I think someone's hungry. C'mon, baby, let's go to the cafeteria and see what we can get for a little man like you."
Little man. His ma used to call him that. He was her little man, her brave little man. Janet was really nice, but she was making him miss his ma even more, because she was so much like his ma. He buried his face against her shoulder, trying desperately not to cry. But it was hard. He was hungry and he was tired. He hurt all over, he missed his mother, and the spooky lights hurt his eyes. He wanted to live up to being a Tanner, wanted to live up to being his Ma's little man. He really, really did.
Vin clung to Janet as she carried him, and she gently rubbed his back, her fingers combing through his hair. Over his head, Vin heard Janet say, "Mrs. Potter, I have a very hungry little boy here ... can you make something for him? Nothing big, we don't want him getting sick, but I don't know when the last time he ate." Curious, Vin lifted his head from Janet's shoulder and found himself in what looked like a school cafeteria ... except, there were no kids around.
He turned his head back toward Janet and found himself face to face with an older lady with dark hair and sad eyes. The lady smiled and said, "Well, hello there! My name is Gloria. Of course, Janet, I'll fix him a bowl of cereal ... maybe some fruit to go with that?" Vin nodded. He liked bananas. His ma used to slice bananas onto his cereal. Gloria looked at him, adding thoughtfully, "You remind me of someone ... a young man I know. He liked to have a banana with his cereal, so he could put banana slices on the cereal and milk. Would you like that, too?"
Dumbfounded that anyone else liked to eat cereal that way (the Montroses never heard of such a thing), Vin nodded happily until he thought his head would come plumb off his shoulders. Gloria smiled at him again, then Janet carried him to a nearby table. She settled herself in the chair, still holding him, and asked, "So, Vin ... is that your real name? Or is it short for Vincent?" The question provoked a strange pain in his heart.
But he shook his head, replying, "Uh-uh. M' real name is 'Kevin.' 'Cept, only m' ma was 'lowed to call me that. 'Kevin' is a sissy name." He crossed his eyes as he pronounced 'sissy,' and Janet just nodded. Vin paused, then said slowly, "But ya remind me a' m' ma. Reckon it would be okay for ya to call me 'Kevin,' if ya want." That made Janet smile, and Vin decided he liked it when Janet smiled.
"I'd like that ... it might ease the confusion," she replied. Vin frowned, not understanding, and Janet explained as Gloria put the bowl of cereal in front of him, "You see, I have a friend named 'Vin,' and it might be confusing with the two of you. He's ... away ... right now, but I think it still might get a little confusing. Would it be okay if we all called you 'Kevin,' so no one gets you confused with the other 'Vin,' honey?"
There was another Vin? He didn't know anyone else with his name before! The little boy replied around his mouthful of banana slice and cereal, "Reckon that would be okay. Janet? What's the other Vin like?" He swallowed his mouthful before turning in Janet's arms to look up at her. There was a moment of sadness in her brown eyes as she looked at him, then it was gone. Even so, Vin was a sensitive little boy ... he knew when adults were sad, and he didn't like that. He wanted Janet to smile again.
"Vin? Well, he's very, very smart. One of the smartest men I've ever known. There are times when he's sad ... he's a bit like you. He lost his mother when he was your age, and he's never stopped missing her. He's funny ... some of the tricks he plays on Colonel O'Neill ... and he's very, very sweet. He always tries to take care of people around him. Me, his friends, his girlfriend," Janet replied.
"Ick! Girlfriend!" Vin said, making a face. Girls were icky! Well ... his ma wasn't icky. And neither was Janet. And the pretty blonde lady in the room with all them men, she didn't seem icky. Vin swallowed another spoonful of cereal, then qualified his previous statement, saying, "I mean, little girl-kids are icky. Not you. I like you." Janet grinned at that, her brown eyes lighting up with laughter.
"Well, thank you ... but Vin's girlfriend, Adriana, isn't a little girl. She's twenty-seven, the same age he is," she replied. Twenty-seven. Nope, that wasn't a little kid at all. Vin decided the other Vin's girlfriend was okay, after all. Janet continued, "Enough talking, more eating. So, you don't mind if I call you 'Kevin,' then." Vin shook his head, his hair falling into his eyes. Janet murmured, "Bath wouldn't be a bad idea ... probably got very dirty in that place."
Vin turned and regarded Janet with horror. Bath? But he had one earlier this week! At least, Vin thought it was earlier this week.
It occurred to him that he didn't know how long he was in that strange place before Daniel found him ... maybe a bath wouldn't be such a bad idea. Janet said, evidently seeing what he was thinking (and of course she was, she was an adult. His ma always knew what he was thinking, why wouldn't Janet?), "The bath can wait. Let's get some clothes for you first. I'll talk to the general, see if Mary has some spare clothes for you. Her son is a bit older than you are."
For the first time, Vin realized he was still in the same ... thing ... he was wearing when Daniel first found him. It was wayyyyyyyyyyy too big on him, and Vin decided that clothes would be a very good thing. So would sleep ... he was so tired. Janet said softly, "Are you getting sleepy, Kevin?" He nodded sleepily, putting the spoon back down into the bowl, and Janet continued, "Then don't worry about finishing it ... just lean back against me."
Vin sighed, doing just that, and Janet's fingers began combing through his hair again. He closed his eyes. Janet whispered, "Sleep well, Vin, I've got your back." Vin almost giggled ... that was a funny thing to say. But he was too tired to even giggle, and besides ... it sounded familiar. I've got your back. Where had he heard that before? Before Vin came up with the answer, he was fast asleep.
I don't want to talk to you ... I don't want to look at you, was the meaning of the Look Chris Larabee gave Sam Carter and Jack O'Neill as they were leaving the briefing room. And he didn't. He had trusted those two with his little brother ... trusted them to watch his back. And thanks to them, he had come back from the mission as a child. A five year old boy, who didn't know Chris or any of the others.
A five year old boy who reminded Chris so much of Adam, it hurt to even look at him. Chris didn't know what was harder ... seeing his lost son in this five year old version of his brother, or seeing the fear in Vin's eyes when he looked at each of them. He was afraid of them. He would be, he didn't know any of them. It was the general consensus that Vin had been returned to a time, not long after Julia's death. But knowing that didn't make it hurt any less. And at the same time, it was hard to ... believe ... that it was really Vin.
"Colonel Larabee," General Hammond said, startling Chris as he headed toward the elevator which would take him to the surface. The colonel looked at his CO, and the general continued, "Are you on your way to see Dr. Wilmington and explain the situation to her?" Chris nodded, and Hammond said, "I want her to stay at home today. The boy had a lot of unfamiliar faces surrounding him at the moment, and he doesn't need another one. If need be I want you to stay with her ... this will be hard for her to accept."
A half second after that, Chris heard the general add almost under his breath, "It's hard for all of us to accept." Chris nodded a bit numbly. So he wasn't the only one having a hard time with this. He was almost glad of that. Hammond said, "Chris, I know this is hard for you. And I know you feel as if Colonel O'Neill and Major Carter betrayed your trust. But there is no way anyone could have known this would happen."
Chris didn't want to hear it. Rationally, he knew the general was right ... just as he knew that Vin was doing what Vin did. Protecting others. But there was another part of him which simply didn't care. That was his little brother, dammit. His little brother, his second in command, his best friend, and Vin was suddenly five years old. Five years old, and had no idea who any of them were ... had no idea who Chris was.
And that was what hurt. More than seeing his brother so tiny and so helpless (and so very much like Adam) ... Vin no longer knew him. Oh, it was logical, of course. Vin and Chris didn't meet until Vin was twenty-four years old, almost twenty years after his mother's death. But knowing that, didn't make it hurt any less to see the outright fear in Vin's bright eyes. Never in the last three years had Vin ever been afraid of Chris.
That was why Chris trusted him ... in part, at least. Because he wasn't afraid of Chris, because he always knew that Vin would tell him the truth, and not what he wanted to hear. If Chris ever had any doubts about that, they were washed away after the first encounter with Ella Gaines. And Chris wondered ... had he ever told Vin how proud he was of him for that? And how ashamed Chris himself was for lashing out at Vin as he had?
The truth was, there was always a part of Chris which always knew Vin was telling the truth about Ella. That was what hurt so much, when he heard the words, when Vin laid the evidence out for him. But accepting it was something else. The colonel's instincts had warned him that something wasn't ... right. The timing ... three years to the day after Sarah and Adam's murders, Ella Gaines came back into his life.
But he hadn't wanted to believe his friend. And then he found that he had betrayed his wife and son ... with the very woman who had murdered them! A woman who had given orders to her team to wipe out SG-7. Even now, years later, that memory was enough to sicken Chris. He slept with the woman who murdered his wife and child! His feelings for Mary were not a betrayal of his wife and child ... but that act was.
Chris closed his eyes, trying to focus on the present. There was nothing he could do about that betrayal, and Mary had seen to it that Ella Gaines would never hurt anyone again. The important thing now was Vin. As if hearing his thoughts, General Hammond added softly, "Enough with the guilt trips, Chris ... Vin needs you, as I said. I don't know anything else right now, but I do know this. We will not give up until we get him back."
Chris lifted his head, to look the Texan straight in the eye. He found only determination there. Sometimes, he forgot just how ruthless General Hammond could be when it came to his people. His children. He worked within the rules ... but knew the value of bending those rules.
"Thanks, General, I think maybe I should stay with Adriana for the rest of the day. Vin needs me thinking clearly ... he needs his big brother, and right now, I can't give him what he needs. He's afraid of me, General. Little kids are sensitive to moods, and he doesn't need my anger right now. I'm not angry with him ... but I don't think he'd understand that," Chris replied. General Hammond just smiled and nodded, as if Chris finally realized something.
"Good thinking, son. Take care of yourself and that girl. Dismissed, Colonel," the man replied. Chris nodded, saluting the general, which was returned. Chris did an about face, then headed toward the security booth, to inform them he would be leaving the compound. And it occurred to him that Hammond was a man whom he would never hesitate to salute. He had heard rumors that Senator Kinsey wanted to replace General Hammond with someone more malleable. Over Larabee's dead lifeless body, would that happen!
Whether Senator Kinsey understood it or not, they were at war. And the warriors in the battlefield had to know they could count on their general, on their commanding officer. Chris didn't know why Kinsey didn't understand that. He really didn't know much about Kinsey ... not in terms of knowing facts. But he knew the important things ... Kinsey was trouble, in capital letters. Chris grinned as he left the elevator and headed to his car. If it became necessary, Chris was sure he could convince Jack to double-team Kinsey!
But as soon as he was away from the compound, his mind began drifting to the coming confrontation with Adriana. She only lived about twenty miles from Cheyenne Mountain, an area she chose deliberately. In case there was an emergency, she wanted to live as close as she could without being too close. Chris understood her rationale. She wanted to be nearby, in case she was needed ... but she wanted her space, at the same time. This was a compromise she could live with. And, it was in a nice neighborhood.
Not that Nettie was impressed with that last argument. Vin had told him before leaving on this new mission that Nettie was worried about Adriana in her new house. Mindy was a dear, but she didn't bark much, and Nettie really didn't like the idea of a young woman living alone, with only a dog for company. Chris grinned, realizing exactly what Nettie was hinting at. He wasn't the only one. That was one sneaky old lady.
All too soon, he was pulling up in Adriana's driveway ... sure enough, there was her Tracker, sitting out in front. Chris turned off the engine and eased himself from his own truck, then headed up the walk. As he passed by a window, he heard music blaring from the living room, and caught sight of a figure spinning and dancing in time to the music. Chris couldn't help smiling ... oh yeah. She was definitely relaxing today.
Then he remembered why he was here, and his smile fell away. He walked slowly to the door and rang the bell, wondering if he should use the key Adriana gave him for emergencies. It was anyone's guess if she could hear him over the music ... and what was she listening to? It didn't sound like any of her usual stuff. On the other hand, she did grow up in the eighties, and it sounded to him like she was dancing to REO Speedwagon or some such group. With a sad smile, Chris realized that Sarah probably would have known exactly what she was listening to.
However, only a few moments after he rung the bell, she appeared at the door ... hot, sweaty, with her dark hair pulled back into a pony tail. Chris tried not to smile, because he didn't want her realizing just how much like a teenager she looked. She smiled at him, saying breathlessly, "Hey ... hope you haven't been waiting long. I didn't see the light until just a minute ago." The light? Adriana continued a bit ruefully, "The previous renter was deaf, and my landlady had a special light installed, so she would know when someone was at the door."
"And you haven't gotten around to having it removed," Chris guessed. Adriana shrugged, that rueful smile never fading, and Chris said, "I'm not here for purely social reasons, little princess." Adriana eyed him warily, and Chris realized he had used Ez-speak. Damn. That was scary. Chris continued once he regained his composure, "Let's go inside. I don't have bad news, just ... well, let's just go inside."
Aw hell ... she always worried when Chris warned her before he started speaking! It usually didn't bode well for someone. But Adriana led him into her living room, realizing from his uniform that he was on duty. That didn't stop her from asking if he wanted any water or lemonade, since she was headed for the refrigerator. He quietly declined, then muttered something unpleasant under his breath.
As she left the living room for the kitchen, Adriana realized the reason for his disgust. Mindy was sitting in his favorite chair, and the infamous green Larabee glare had absolutely no effect on her. In fact, if Mindy thought Chris was hurting Adriana, she had been known to ... make her displeasure known. She wasn't a large dog, by any stretch of the imagination. Then again, Vin wasn't a large man, and he was still lethal.
Adriana smiled, thinking of her boyfriend. She was finally getting used to the change in her relationship with Vin. The first few weeks hadn't been easy, especially with the difficulties created by Evan Larabee. Adriana scowled, thinking of that man. Although, calling him a man was a terrible insult to both of his sons, who really were men. Evan Larabee was nothing more than an overgrown child.
While Will Richmond had a bad habit of annoying the hell out of her, and while he could be dense, he wasn't Evan Larabee. In fact, she had received a message from Carly when her friend returned to the rest of her team, and Carly was quite explicit about Will's reaction when the biologist told him about her encounters with the sperm donor. Adriana's scowl melted away, remembering that ... as well as hearing what Charlotte had to say. Every time she forgot how dangerous Charlotte was, her old friend reminded her.
Now, as she returned to the living room, it was to find Chris pacing back and forth in front of the sofa. Mindy was watching him warily, and Adriana wondered if the colonel was making the dog dizzy ... she knew she was getting dizzy, just from watching him. She said, taking a sip of cold lemonade, "Sit down, Christopher, you're wearing a hole in my carpet." Which wasn't entirely accurate, as she had a rug in front of the sofa.
However, Chris sat down, though he sure as hell didn't relax. Adriana frowned thoughtfully, sitting down in her chair, and asked, "What's going on, Chris? It isn't like you to be this nervous." Unless something's wrong with Vin, ... a little voice whispered, he did tell you that it wasn't bad news, but something that would shock you. Which, in Chris speak, means you should probably sit down.
"SG-1 came back earlier this morning," Chris said quietly. Two warning flags went up immediately. First, she knew Vin was out with SG-1 on what was supposed to be a routine recon mission, checking out the ruins of a Gou'ald city. Secondly, they had only left about twelve hours earlier, and the mission plan was for a three-day recon. According to what Daniel told her before they left, there was a distance of four hours from the Gate to the ruins of the City. Which left only four hours to explore the city. This was not good. However, Adriana kept silent.
Perhaps encouraged by her silence (a fact which really scared her), Chris continued, "Before I say anything else, you have to know. Vin is alive and he is healthy." Why do I hear a 'but' coming in there? Chris continued, "But ... he's been changed. Jesus, little princess, I don't know how to tell you this? Except straight out." Okay, Chris ... now you're scaring me. Just tell me already, dammit!
She found herself wishing she hadn't thought that, when Chris took a deep breath and said in a rush, "Vin'sbeenturnedintoachild." Adriana blinked, sorting through the words, separating them out until she could make sense out of what Chris had just said. Vin ... has ... been ... turned into ... a ... child. Vin's been turned into a child? Even now, with the words separated out, it still didn't make sense to her. She returned her attention to Chris, willing him to say ... something. She knew Chris wouldn't joke about this, but ...
But Chris just nodded, and Adriana saw in his eyes a reflection of what she was thinking and feeling. Her surrogate big brother had never been a man who talked a lot ... which was a good thing when she was growing up, and needed someone to just listen to her. But just as importantly, she had learned from Chris, because of that reticence, the importance of being able to read a person. Using body language, facial expression, and a person's eyes.
That helped tremendously when she and Vin became friends. Vin. The shock was starting to melt away, enough for her to ask as she flopped down beside Chris on the sofa, "How? How did this happen?" As soon as the words, the last of the shock receded and was replaced by anger. She continued, the words tumbling over themselves as she demanded answers, "How in the hell did something like this happen? Did anyone in SG-1 get ... child-ized, or was it Vin? And what is with this sudden rash of ... accidents? If Elizabeth was here, she'd say that Vin's gonna give JD a run for his money as a trouble magnet!"
Chris snickered at her words, and Adriana responded with a glare all her own. He murmured, "Sorry, little princess. How did it happen? We're not sure yet. Janet is still running tests on the boy, to make sure he's fully healthy. I just know that a Gou'ald device of some kind was activated, and Vin got caught in the crossfire. No, no one in SG-1 got zapped. Daniel Jackson was carrying Vin when they arrived back on Earth."
Vin was a child. Adriana wondered whose ass she should kick first ... well, except for Teal'c. Chris continued, "We figure he's five years old, because he makes reference to Jessica coming for him, so it's not long after Julia's death." Adriana grimaced. Jessica Tanner had started making amends to her son for abandoning him after her elder sister's death, but it would be a long time before Adriana would trust the woman. Vin was a child. Adriana shook her head.
Chris whispered, "Jesus, little princess. He was so scared ... he was afraid of us. Afraid of me." The last few words were barely audible. Adriana looked at him, then understood. It made sense. The five year old Vin wouldn't know them ... wouldn't trust them ... and in a strange situation, not long after his mother died ... of course he was scared to death! And as the next thought ... Vin needs me ... crossed her mind, Chris said softly, "General Hammond wants you to stay here, little princess."
Say ... what? Adriana eyed her surrogate brother, her mouth drawing into a thin line, and Chris explained, "I ain't real happy with it, myself, but I can't argue with his reasoning. That boy is surrounded by unfamiliar faces ... adults whom he doesn't know, and has no reason to trust. One more person comes in ... " His voice trailed off, but it wasn't necessary for him to continue. Adriana had seen the holes in her own logic. She hated to admit it, but he was right. They both were. Vin didn't know Chris ... and he wouldn't know her, either.
Which meant he would have another strange face ... another adult whom he didn't know or trust. Adriana swallowed hard. Dammit, she didn't want to listen to logic right now! She wanted to go back to the SGC, wanted to help in whatever way she could. Wanted to kick some member of SG-1's butt. She wanted to be there for Vin. She found her own desires mirrored in her surrogate brother's eyes. But that was the problem, wasn't it? Vin was her boyfriend ... and at the moment, he was a little boy.
At an age where girls were starting to become yucky. And something else occurred to her. She looked at Chris once more and whispered, "I'd only confuse him more, wouldn't I?" Chris just nodded sadly and Adriana sank back against the sofa. She sighed, running her hands over her face, and muttered, "Shit. You and I are in the same boat, Chris. Right now, he's scared and confused, and the two people who love him most ... have to stay away from him, so he's not even more scared and confused."
It was the baggage issue. Because they both loved him so much, they would put expectations on him, whether they meant to or not ... expectations which the twenty-seven year old Vin Tanner could meet, but the five year old could not. And because they loved him, they had to stay away. Chris just took her hand and squeezed it gently and Adriana asked, trusting this man as she trusted only one other, "Stay with me, Chris? It's gonna be a rough afternoon." Chris squeezed her hand again, giving her that smile ... the one that always made her heart do flip-flops.
"Just try to get rid of me, little princess," he replied. In spite of herself, in spite of what had happened today, in spite of her continuing fears for her beloved, Adriana giggled. Get rid of him? Was he nucking futs??? Chris grinned himself, his eyes lightening. Then he said, putting his arm around her shoulder, and putting into words what they were both feeling, "I know, little princess ... I know. I'm afraid of losing him, too."
Adriana leaned into his embrace, murmuring, "Then I guess you'll be strong for me, and I'll be strong for you." Because in the end, that was what it came down to. She felt Chris nodding against her hair, and Adriana sighed, "I don't see any other choice. But I want your word that you won't interfere when we get back to the SGC, and I gotta kick some SG-1 booty." She heard Chris stifling a laugh, right before he gave his word. And she knew she could trust that, because Chris Larabee had never broken his word to her.
Feedback to Author