SERIES/UNIVERSE: SG-7
DISCLAIMERS: M7 characters belong to Trilogy, et al, SG-1 characters belong to Gekko, MGM, and Showtime. Adriana, Carly, Lizzie, Josie and Jessica Tanner, as well as Evan and Pegeen Larabee, 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, and Full Circle, also all five seasons of Stargate SG-1.
WARNING: The usual, violence and language. Some h/c, more comfort than hurt, and smarm, but again, I'll be trying to keep the smarm down to a dull roar.
Evan Larabee was beginning to regret he had ever laid eyes on Jessica Tanner. Was beginning to regret going to that damn football game, and he sure as hell was regretting sleeping with her! Not just once, but twice. God, what had he been thinking? That was the trouble, of course. He hadn't been thinking, at least not with his upper brain. She had been a pretty enough girl, but she definitely wasn't worth his Pegeen.
Pegeen. Evan looked at his wife of more than forty years. She was staring straight ahead, her mouth a thin white line. He had heard references to his son's Larabee glare. What most people didn't know was that Christopher had inherited it from his mother. Pegeen could kill with a look, just as her only child could. She could also kill with silence, as she had been doing ever since she found out about his three illegitimate children.
She had known and accepted that he had ... strayed. He had told her about Jessica. But what she found unacceptable was the discovery that he had abandoned his child. His youngest son, Kevin, after the death of the woman who had been raising him. Jessica had contacted him, told him that her elder sister was dying. She couldn't take care of two children, Kevin was his responsibility. Evan had told her that he couldn't take the boy ... he had finally gotten things right with Pegeen, he couldn't do that to her. He couldn't foist another woman's child on her.
Pegeen had flown into a rage when she found Jessica's letters to him, three weeks earlier, and demanded that Evan tell Christopher. She had figured out, in no time flat, that the Kevin in Jessica's letters was the Vin Tanner who had become their son's best friend. And she had demanded that he tell their son. Which he had. However, Christopher had called Pegeen two nights earlier, reading the letter back to her. Evan had written the letter ... but he hadn't precisely told Christopher about his brother. Not in those terms, at least.
And now, they were on their way to Colorado from Indiana. Pegeen had learned from their son that the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs was having an Open House. It would be the perfect time for her to meet her stepson, and she informed Evan that they were going. No arguments. Evan had stopped arguing after the first time she threw a vase at his head, and couldn't bring himself to ask why she was so intent on meeting the boy.
He didn't think he wanted to know. No ... after more than forty years of marriage, he knew he didn't want to know, and after just two go-rounds with one Tanner, he had no desire to even think about another. He said, breaking the silence for the first time in two hours, "I want to go on record as saying I am opposed to setting foot on a military installation. You know how I feel about the military."
"And you know how I feel about liars, but I found I married one anyhow, it looks like we're both out of luck," came the harsh reply. Evan flinched. Pegeen turned her head to look at him, her eyes as cold as ice, and said, "You lied to me, Evan. You lied to me, you lied to our son. You abandoned your own child when he needed you most ... not just once, but twice! I don't give a damn about how you feel about the military, or Christopher's career choice. For once in your life, you are going to think past yourself and do the right thing."
Evan slunk down in the driver's seat, wondering how the hell he had managed to get himself into this. He was angry with himself, angry with Christopher, angry with his wife, angry with Jessica, and angry with Kevin. Why couldn't the boy have simply stayed missing! He didn't want to meet his youngest son, much less his two daughters, but Pegeen had insisted. He hadn't thought she was serious at first, until she threatened him with a divorce. The last time she threatened him with a divorce, she had damn near gone through with it.
As if hearing his thoughts (which wasn't entirely unlikely, not after their years of marriage), Pegeen pulled something out of her purse. Oh damn. Not again. She had read that email five times since receiving it from Christopher the previous day. And every time she had read it, her mood had become steadily uglier. She read aloud this time, "We're both back, Mom, safe and sound. I'm so sorry I made you cry the other night when I called. I don't blame you for what Father did.
"Vin has been released into my care, and he'll be staying with me until he's stronger. I'm not the only one taking care of him, as our entire unit is standing down while he's out of commission. He has a girlfriend now ... he met Adriana years ago, when he was a bounty hunter in Texas, and she was getting her Bachelor's. She's an archaeologist ... Buck's younger sister, if that tells you anything. She's a little shy, but downright wicked when she gets going. I think Daniel Jackson put it best when he said that they probably fell in love with each other years ago, but it took this long for them to break down and admit it."
She paused and took a deep breath, then went on, "Adriana comes over for about an hour each day. I think she's afraid of intruding. Vin and Carly's sister Lizzie just arrived last night, and Lizzie has been staying with me. Her mother ... Josie, I mean ... has been staying with Adriana. I think Josie is as concerned about intruding as Adriana is."
Evan tried to tune his wife out. He didn't want to hear about any of the children he had created with Jessica Tanner. He wanted to forget he had ever been that stupid. Of course, Pegeen wouldn't let that happen. She continued in that determined voice, "You should have heard the reaming Adriana gave Jessica when they met. I've known Adriana for almost as long as I've known Buck, and I've never known her to rip into a person like that.
"Carly will be returning to the project after the Open House at the Air Force Academy. She's scheduled to give a talk to the freshman class. From what I can understand, it's her first lecture, and she's a nervous wreck. She and Vin are twins, but they deal with nerves in two totally different ways. I noticed Carly giving Buck a hard time last night, hassling him. He, of course, was enjoying every moment of it.
"It's an odd little family I've created here, Mom. I wish you could meet them all. I know you'd love Vin. Half the females over fifty in the SGC have designated themselves as his surrogate mothers. You've met Buck, of course. There's Josiah, who behaves as a combination of older brother, uncle, and father. I know I've told you about JD ... remember in my last snailmail letter, how I told you that he and Adriana didn't get along? Well, they've started mending fences. They still aren't the best of friends, but they're definitely getting along better
"I've told you about Ezra, right? Our resident negotiator, gambler, and general pain in the ass? And I've told you about Ezra's mother, the senator? Well, I should tell you that she helped to expose Jessica Tanner. I think that surprises him more than anyone else. What really surprises him is that she has asked nothing in return ... in fact, she told Josie that this was on the house. Surprised Josie, too. Right up until the time Maude admitted that Vin had saved her 'darlin' baby boy' more times than she could count, so if she could help Vin's aunt, well ... Besides, she doesn't like Jessica, and I think she did it also to stick it to her."
To Evan's surprise, Pegeen laughed softly at this. She continued, "I think I just heard some glass breaking, so I better check out. Nathan isn't yelling at anyone to avoid the broken glass, but I still better check it out. I love you, Mom. Listen, if you can ... why don't you come out to Colorado for the Open House? It would give us a chance to catch up, and you could meet all of my brothers ... and not just the one given to me by blood. With love, Chris."
Pegeen looked at him as she finished reading the email, and said quietly, "Now. Regardless of what you want, I want to meet this boy. Not once, with any of his friends, did Christopher ever tell me that he knew I would love one of his friends. Kevin is not only his brother, but his friend as well. And I want to meet this woman Jessica, who abandoned her child repeatedly. I don't want to hear another word, Evan."
Evan had already made that decision. His wife had that Look, the one which said you only crossed her if you didn't want to live much longer. He had married her, in part, because of her strength. It seemed like that was coming back to haunt him, because once more, he was finding that she was much stronger than he was. And so, he drove on in silence, toward his past, toward his children, toward this Open House which would decide most of his future. And he wondered ... what sort of consequences was Jessica facing?
"Vin awake yet, Lizzie?"
Elizabeth Tanner peeked into her brother's room, then shook her head. Colonel Chris Larabee continued, still in that low voice, "Then don't wake him up. He needs his rest." The golden-haired teen nodded and softly moved away from the door. Chris put his arm around his sister's shoulders and added softly, "In the meantime, you can help me make breakfast. Your mom and Adriana will be here in about twenty minutes."
"Cool! That's something I miss about college, I don't get the chance to make my own breakfast while I'm living on campus. When I move into my own apartment, then I can. And it just doesn't taste the same, you know?" Lizzie observed. Chris nodded, gently steering the teenager into his kitchen. Once they were safely away from Vin's room, the girl continued, "So, me being here really isn't a problem?"
"Not even close. And before you bring it up again, yes, I've known Vin for three years. But you're still my baby sister ... and put your tongue back in your mouth, young lady," Chris warned. At nineteen, Lizzie only barely tolerated the nickname she saw as childish, and she most certainly didn't appreciate reminders that she was the youngest of Evan Larabee's four children. Just because he didn't acknowledge the three out of wedlock ... well, that was his problem, and definitely not the problem of his oldest son.
Much less the problems of his two sisters or younger brother, and Lizzie had made that very clear as well. She had made it equally clear that as far as she was concerned, both Evan Larabee and Jessica Tanner were nothing to her. Her mother was Josephine Tanner, and her father was ... well, it didn't matter. Not to her.
Chris turned his thoughts away from his younger sister's fierce exclamation to that effect. It had been less than two weeks since Dickie O'Shea had been revealed as the traitor, since Vin had almost died, and since Chris had learned that his best friend was also his younger brother. The momentary resentment that he was no longer the only child had been squashed almost immediately ... partly because it was Vin.
For the first five days after that explosion which had almost taken his brother's life, Chris had concentrated almost solely on Vin. SG-7 was standing down ... again ... as a team. Individual members were being sent on missions. Ezra was away with SG-9 at the moment as a negotiator. One of the team members had broken a local taboo, and Ezra was needed to make sure the youngster remained in one piece.
Buck and JD had left this morning with SG-1, to act as additional support. That was trouble just waiting to happen, because Daniel Jackson still didn't have much use for JD. Buck wouldn't get anywhere with Sam Carter, but that didn't stop him from flirting with her. Chris grinned to himself, imagining the slow burn Jack O'Neill would do, watching Buck. Not that there was anything he could do about it, and Buck wouldn't cross the line with Sam.
Josiah and Nathan were with another team, SG-15, whose members were almost as accident-prone as SG-1 and SG-7 put together. Scary thought, that one. Chris was glad they weren't under his command. JD, the owie magnet, as Lizzie had described the young cartographer, was bad enough. Chris snickered to himself, relieved that JD hadn't heard the youngest Tanner's description of him. It was bad enough that Casey and Lizzie double-teamed the cartographer when the trio was together. Chris didn't want to think about what would happen if JD ever heard Lizzie call him an 'owie magnet.'
So Chris was free to concentrate on Vin in the first few days, and then Vin and his sisters, once Lizzie arrived. Carly was actually proving to be far more reserved than Lizzie. She would sit in Vin's room and watch him while he slept. That had made Chris ... uncomfortable ... until Adriana pointed out that Carly had known for the last eight years that Vin was her brother. And she had found it necessary to restrain her normal reactions, the way she usually acted toward those she truly loved, because she couldn't tell him what he was to her.
Right now, Josie had added, all she wants to do is ... just be with him. She's having a hard time accepting that this is really happening, that he really accepts she's his sister, and doesn't hate her for never telling him. Chris knew for a fact that Vin didn't hate his twin sister. He had been hurt and angry, yes. Despite his disavowal to Chris when he had first found out, Vin was angry with his twin for not telling him the truth.
It was a normal, natural reaction. Chris would have been worried if Vin hadn't been angry. It was just that his brother didn't feel he had the right to be angry with his sister. And when all was said and done, Vin's anger with his biological parents surpassed his anger with his sister. But even with that in mind, even knowing and understanding that, Vin still had a hard time forgiving himself for even that brief flash of anger with Carly. Which was why he never made a sound about her sitting at his bedside, even when he was awake.
The attention made him uncomfortable, Chris knew, but he dealt with it. What Vin was finding difficult now was how little he had seen of Adriana during the last few days. Josie had explained to Chris while they were there the previous day that Adriana wanted to give Vin time to get to know Carly all over again, as well as time to get to know Lizzie for the very first time. Vin understood that ... but Chris knew his little brother missed his lady.
Lizzie said now as they worked in the kitchen together, "You know, I think Mom and I should go shopping today, instead of Mom and Adriana. I think Vin misses her a lot. I mean, it's really nice of her, going out shopping with Mom, and showing her around. And I know Mom loves spending time with her. But ... Adriana is Vin's girlfriend, even if they don't put it like that. What, do they think they gotta sleep together before they can say that she's his girlfriend, and he's her boyfriend?" Chris, who had just taken a sip of orange juice, almost choked on it.
Lizzie looked up and said, "What? C'mon, Chris, I'm nineteen, not nine! I do know about that stuff, especially after the stunt my roommate pulled last year. And I know that Vin can't sleep with Adriana yet, 'cause he's still healing. Carly says that Adriana's healing, too, but she won't tell me how Adriana got hurt on the mission. Well, I suppose he could sleep with her, they just can't do anything else." Chris continued wheezing, staring at his sister in shock.
"Chris, close your mouth ... the way you're breathing, you sound like Darth Vader. And I know Aunt Josie will kick your ass if you wake up Vin. Morning, Lizzie ... isn't it a little early for you to be shocking Chris?" Carly asked with a yawn as she entered the kitchen. Chris closed his mouth with a snap. He still couldn't believe his baby sister had said that. Although, after spending the last few days with her, he also couldn't be too terribly surprised. To say that Lizzie was blunt was like saying JD liked to talk.
Lizzie was on her feet at once, throwing her arms around her older sister. From what Chris had learned in the last few days, Lizzie had known for the last few years that Josephine Tanner hadn't given birth to her, and that she had two older siblings. Chris had been an added bonus, as she had put it. Carly returned her sister's hug, pulling her along with her, and added, "I checked on Vin ... he's still asleep."
"We know, we checked on him, too," Lizzie said as Carly sat down at the kitchen table. Chris was shocked for the second time in a matter of moments when Carly pulled her nineteen year old sister down onto her lap, as if Lizzie was the nine year old she had claimed not to be. He would never understand this girl. Never. And in the back of his mind, he heard Sarah laughing at him. The girl just laughed happily, and said, "What do you think, Carly, do you want to come shopping with Mom and me?"
"Love to, kid, but I should go over my presentation. This is my first one outside my own little sphere of influence, and I don't want to screw it up. Chris, looks like you get some time to yourself. And Vin gets Adriana to himself, not that they can do anything about it," Carly said. Chris just glared at her, shaking his head. Carly just grinned, totally unaffected by his glare, and continued, "So, do you think your mom will come to the Open House? I know Aunt Josie wants to meet her ... any woman who has put up with Evan Larabee all these years has to be a saint."
"Or a glutton for punishment," Josie Tanner added, slipping into the house. Chris had given her a key the previous day, after she had picked the lock. He hadn't asked where she learned to do that. He didn't want to know. Adriana was right behind her, and Josie continued, "So, three of the four are up. Good. I wanted to talk to you guys about Evan. Chris already knows, but I've done some investigating into him."
"What kind, Mom? Uncle Orrin and Uncle George already told me that he's antimilitary, so maybe it's for the best that he doesn't admit that we're his kids," Lizzie replied. Meaning? Lizzie caught the inquisitive look from Chris, and explained, "Guess I forgot to tell you. I'm in ROTC, I'll be going into the military after college as a second lieutenant. Air Force, of course." This was said with a broad grin, and Chris bit back a grin of his own. Lizzie continued, "Like I said, I know he's antimilitary, so maybe it's just as well he doesn't acknowledge us. I know I don't acknowledge him."
"Elizabeth Madeline, he's still your father," Josie warned. Chris sighed at the rehashing of this old argument between the mother and daughter. It was, however, bad timing on Josie's part. His youngest sister looked up, her bright blue eyes flashing. And in that moment, for the first time, Chris saw the resemblance between her and Vin. Apparently, so did Adriana, because she quietly moved to stand beside Chris ... and out of the line of fire.
"No, Mother, he is not. He provided the sperm that created me, but he is not my father, any more than your sister is my mother. She gave birth to me, and he was the sperm donor, but they are not my parents. They don't acknowledge me, and I don't acknowledge them. You are my mother, Chris and Vin are my brothers, and Carly is my sister. That is my family!" Lizzie fired back, hands coming to rest on her hips. Chris ticked off the checklist in his head ... that was a mannerism he had seen in both twins.
"Y'all think ya can yell a little louder?" a hoarse voice asked, distracting Chris from his mental checklist and everyone else from the impending argument. Vin. Chris turned down the oven and immediately ran into his brother's room, followed by Adriana. Vin was still in bed, lying on his side, and white with pain. While Chris moved immediately to his brother's side, Adriana shook out two pain pills, then went into the adjoining bathroom for a glass of water. Chris eased his brother into his arms, supporting Vin's weight against his own body.
"I'm sorry, Vin, I didn't mean to wake you up," Lizzie said contritely, as she, Carly, and Josie entered the room. Adriana returned from the bathroom and Chris accepted the glass from her. Vin had already taken the pills from Chris, and he popped them both into his mouth, then drank the water. Lizzie continued, obviously very upset, "Is there anything I can do?" As soon as the words were out, she muttered, "Never mind, that was a stupid question."
"Lizzie, I think I might have left the gift which Cassie asked me to give to Vin in your mom's car ... would you check on that?" Adriana asked. Chris turned, just enough to see his young sister's face brighten ... and Josie mouth 'thank you' to the archaeologist. Lizzie dashed out of the room, almost running over Carly in her zeal, and Adriana turned her attention back to Vin, asking, "Pain getting any better?"
"Gimme few minutes. Tell Lizzie it ain't her fault, Aunt Jo, she didn't wake me. Was already awake," Vin rasped. Chris 'shhhed' him, but it wasn't necessary. Vin sighed, allowing Chris to take his weight. Carefully, the colonel eased his brother back against the pillows. He made eye contact with Adriana, then looked at Vin's torso. Adriana understood immediately, and quietly led Carly and Josie from the room. Vin whispered, grimacing in obvious pain, "Reckon it's time to check the bandage?"
"Yeah. Janet would kick your ass if you ripped any of her nice, neat stitches, and we won't discuss what Nate would do to you," Chris replied. He pulled the blanket away, then eased Vin's t-shirt, flinching as he always did at the two scars on his brother's abdomen. One was healed, and the other was healing, but they were both never-ending reminders to the eldest sibling of his own stupidity.
"Well, they look good to me ... but you're gonna be weak for a while. Are you sure you'll be up to this Open House? Even sitting in a wheelchair is gonna take a lot out of you," Chris warned as he released Vin's t-shirt and pulled the blanket back up. Vin simply looked at him, nodding. Chris didn't expect anything else. And Vin had already agreed to use the wheelchair. He needed to get out, if only for a few hours.
"I'm sure. An' like I said when we talked 'bout this earlier, I promise to let ya know if I get to feelin' poorly, Chris. I just cain't handle this no more. I gotta breathe," Vin explained quietly. They were the same words he had used when the topic first came up. Chris rested his hand on Vin's shoulder, understanding. Hell, Chris wouldn't have had the patience to last this long, much less with so many women fussing over him.
It wasn't just the Tanner women ... no, there was also Janet and Cassie Frasier, Sam Carter, Mary and Evie Travis. And that was after they returned to the SGC. Vin had to be feeling hemmed in. Chris replied, "Then we'll go." He was rewarded with a smile and a quiet sigh of relief. Chris continued after a moment, "Give yourself a little time, and we'll bring breakfast in for you, then get you dressed."
"Thanks, cowboy," Vin sighed, closing his eyes. Chris didn't leave immediately. Dickie O'Shea had died too quickly. For everything he had done, everything he had put those whom Chris considered family through, he had died entirely too quickly. They still weren't sure who had fired the shot which had killed him ... Chris or Charlotte Richmond. Chris supposed it didn't matter. The man was dead. Dickie O'Shea was dead, while those whom Chris loved most were all alive and intact.
Chris slipped his hand from Vin's shoulder to the back of his neck, gently massaging the tension away. Vin sighed quietly, not making any protests, and Chris wondered if Vin was finding this ... transition ... as difficult as Chris was. The transition had to be difficult for his younger brother. Going from the family he had helped to create, to having an older brother, three sisters, an aunt barely remembered from his childhood ... and a set of parents who didn't want him. For his own part, Chris found himself at odds with himself. Part of him just accepted and rejoiced that Vin was his brother, in all ways. Yes, he was hurt now, but he would heal. He would be fine.
There was another part of Chris Larabee which wanted to protect his brother, as he had been unable to protect him while Vin was growing up. Vin wouldn't accept that overprotectiveness under normal circumstances. But he was hurting, and he was unsure. Chris knew this. He knew that Vin was tolerating his demonstrativeness because of that uncertainty. The rules had changed, now that they knew they shared a father. And those new rules were still under construction, so to speak. Chris found himself wondering if Buck had such a hard time with Adriana when things finally got straightened out between them.
"Somethin' botherin' ya, cowboy?" Vin asked softly, opening his eyes to stare at Chris. The colonel eased his hand from behind Vin's head and rose to his feet, quietly slipping across the room to close the door. With privacy ensured, he walked back to Vin's bedside and sat down beside Vin's feet. Vin regarded him without speaking, only the tightness around his mouth betraying the pain he was in.
"I need to know that you're okay with this. With being ... with having so many siblings, with our need to make you're okay. I need to know that we're not crowding you ... that I'm not crowding you," Chris said. He didn't know where the words came from ... but they were the right words, and words he didn't need to take back. Words never came easy for Chris Larabee, and for a long time, they weren't necessary with this man. But now, they were necessary.
"Ya ain't crowdin' me, cowboy," Vin answered firmly. There was no hesitation, nothing held back. Vin tried to shift on the bed, then groaned in pain. Chris was at his side in any instant, gripping his shoulders and giving him an anchor. He remembered Billy holding Vin's hand after Vin had been stabbed by Ella Gaines, two years earlier. Billy had been holding Vin in place, preventing him from leaving them.
"Lie still," Chris said softly and Vin nodded, taking shallow breaths to combat the pain. Slowly, his breathing returned to normal, and Chris went on, "We can talk more later. Get some rest. I need to check on breakfast. Your aunt and Lizzie are going into town today, to do some shopping. Carly will be working on her presentation. Should I send Adriana in with the breakfast tray?" A brilliant smile was the answer he received, and Chris realized for the first time just how much Vin had missed Adriana.
"Thanks, cowboy," Vin said softly. Chris squeezed his shoulder, then rose to his feet. As he began walking out, Vin continued, "Chris?" When the colonel turned to face him, Vin went on, "Ya reckon Drina and Mary might wanna come with us to the Open House? That way, we'll both have our ladies with us?" Chris just smiled ... he had talked to Mary the previous night, when she called to let him know that she and Billy were home safely.
"I think they'd like that. Get some rest," Chris replied. He quietly closed the door behind him, and came face to face with three anxious Tanner females and one concerned Wilmington female. He smiled and said softly, "Let's check on breakfast, and let Vin get some rest. I'll tell you everything while we get his tray ready." He was aware that if Buck had seen him, the major would have teased him relentlessly. But right now, Chris didn't care about that. He only cared about his little brother getting well again and getting back his strength.
As they headed back into the kitchen, Lizzie said, "Mom, I'm going shopping with you. Vin misses Adriana." This blunt statement of fact, with the teddy bear Cassie had made clutched in her arms, brought everyone's attention to her. Lizzie continued, a defensive note entering her voice, "Well, it's true! He misses her. So, Carly is gonna work on her presentation, and I'm gonna go shopping with you."
"That's fine, honey, you just surprised me. Chris, is there anything you need while we're out?" Josie asked. Chris shook his head and Josie removed the teddy bear from her daughter's arms, handing it to Adriana instead. Josie continued, "Then we'll have our breakfast. Mindy is at Nettie's ... we dropped her off before we headed over here. Casey said to tell Vin that she's been thinking about him. I didn't point out that she was just here the other night. Didn't think she would take too well to that."
"Thanks for reminding me, Jo ... I almost forgot the other gift. Maybe it's best if I don't go shopping, the way my memory seems to have turned into Swiss cheese," Adriana said ruefully, closing her arms around the teddy bear. She sat down at the table as Carly got the bowls down. Chris stayed out of this part of the preparations, because it always ended up that the breakfast he was actually fixing, was for Vin.
As Carly passed the bowls to her aunt and sister, she removed a banana from the hanging basket with her free hand and tossed it to Adriana. Chris scowled, but said nothing. He supposed he should be grateful that Adriana even ate in the mornings, since she wasn't someone who normally ate breakfast. Josie asked, "Drina, honey, are you sure that's gonna be enough for you? Are you sure you don't want a bowl of cereal?"
Adriana shook her head as she settled the bear in her lap and began peeling the banana. She replied, "I don't normally eat in the mornings, Jo, this is actually perfect." Josie nodded her understanding, but continued to watch the young archaeologist with concern. Adriana asked, "So, Chris, did Vin sleep all right? Buck told me before he left this morning that he thought Vin was having nightmares."
"Vin was talking in his sleep this time, that's all. He has had nightmares, but not for the last few days. Last night, I think he was reliving the confrontation between you and Jessica, because I heard him muttering something about you tearing a strip from her hide," Chris replied. Adriana swallowed, her face turning bright red with embarrassment, and Carly just grinned very, very impishly. She had been there for the confrontation, as had Josie.
"You tore a strip out of Aunt Jessica's hide? Cool! I wish I could have been there to see that," Lizzie said, her bright eyes sparkling as she poured sugar ... a lot of it ... over her cereal. So that was why she was usually bouncing off the walls! The father in Chris winced at the amount of sugar she was putting in her bowl. Then again, there was no doubt in his mind that she burned it all off, but what about her teeth? Oh, stop it, Larabee, Chris told himself in disgust, she's your sister, not your daughter! Although, he couldn't help wondering what would have happened if Lizzie had met Adam. The thought sent an arrow into his heart, so he was grateful when Lizzie's mother distracted him from that train of thought.
"It was ... entertaining," Josie replied, struggling with a smile of her own. Adriana turned even redder, and Josie reached over to squeeze her hand, saying, "I'm not trying to embarrass you, hon, really, I'm not. It's just been a long time since my sister was speechless for that amount of time. And since she was told by so many people that you were so quiet and easy to get along with, she really wasn't expecting it."
"That was just plain stupid," Carly observed, taking a sip of her own orange juice, "One of the first things that Mr. Tucker told me, when I told him how quiet Adriana was, was not to make her mad. It's the quiet ones who are the most scary. The quiet ones and the ones who are really easygoing. Like Vin. Or your brother, Adriana ... Buck's not quiet, but he's easygoing, right up until the time you mess with a member of his family."
Adriana nodded in acknowledgment, observing, "And more than a few people have found that out, much to their sorrow. I remember this one time, about a month ago. It was right before we left for Washington DC. I guess one of the newcomers had been told that Buck and JD were really close. He just didn't realize that my brother is fierce about his entire team, not just JD, because he made a number of disparaging remarks about Vin in Buck's hearing."
All of the Tanner females had met Buck by this time, and as one, they winced. Adriana continued, smirking now in remembrance, "Buck had this idiot on his feet and against the wall. Told him that Vin Tanner was more than a man than he ever could hope to be no matter what the length of his hair was. Said idiot then really stuck his foot in his mouth and asked if ... ahh ... well, he questioned whether or not Buck really looked on Vin like a little brother."
"Oh ... you've got to be kidding!" Josie sputtered. Adriana shook her head, that amused smirk still in place. Josie responded with a streak of swear words in Japanese, Korean, and several other languages which Chris couldn't identify. Josie finally sighed, "So what did your brother did to this little twerp?" Adriana smirked again and glanced over at Chris. Shit. Well, he should have known he wouldn't be left out of this.
"Buck didn't do anything ... Teal'c scared the crap out of the twerp, as you put it, Josie. Literally," Chris answered. Adriana tapped her foot, raising her eyebrows at him expectantly. He glared at her, and she just laughed in response. Chris continued, sighing, "I ... uhm ... might have helped Teal'c scare him. A little." At this, Adriana began giggling helplessly, and Chris growled, "Okay! I helped him a lot, is that better, little princess???"
"Ah reckon," Adriana drawled, sending the three Tanner females into hysterics. She just grinned impishly, and said once the laughter died down, "Now. I heard your question to Maude, Josie, I just didn't hear her answer. Carly told me that Maude helped out a lot ... did she tell you what you would end up owing you for her help?" Josie shook her head, and Chris kept his mouth shut, having heard Maude's answer.
"She said I didn't owe her anything, that it was 'on the house.' After all the times my nephew has saved her 'darlin' baby boy,' she figured it was the least she could do. But, just for appearance's sake, and you know how appearances are everything," Josie replied, grinning.
Adriana laughed, nodding her agreement, and Josie continued, "Anyhow, she told me that since appearances were everything, a) she was showing Ezra that there were worse mothers than herself, and b) she also enjoyed putting Jessica in her place. Maude won't tell me what Jessica did to piss her off so badly, but I cannot argue that putting those two together is more dangerous than putting Carly together in the same room with Will Richmond."
"Rephrase that ... putting those two in the same room is as dangerous as putting me in the same room as anyone who has ever hurt Vin, or anyone else I love," Carly corrected her aunt, and Josie nodded. Carly polished off the last of her breakfast and rose to her feet. She kissed the top of her sister's head, hugged first her aunt, then Adriana, and said, "Thanks for breakfast, Chris. I need to get to work on my presentation."
Chris would have pointed out that she made her own breakfast, but by then, she was already leaving the kitchen. Instead, he closed his mouth with a snap, daring Adriana to say a word. She simply smiled serenely, and said, "Before you ask, Lizzie, no, I won't tell you what I said to your aunt. You'll have to ask your brother or someone else. And Chris, is that breakfast about ready? Good. I'll get a tray, so I can take it to Vin."
Outside his room, Vin could hear his brother, sisters, aunt and Drina talking and laughing. He focused on breathing, which helped to ease the pain. It was manageable, but Vin was careful to stay still. He didn't want a repeat of that last eruption. He didn't even raise his head when the door opened once more ... at least, not until he heard a soft voice singing softly. Drina? He opened his eyes as his lady moved carefully into the bedroom. Chris was holding open the door for her, a shit-eating grin on his face. He winked at Vin, then closed the door behind him.
"I knew you wouldn't be asleep, no matter how much pain you're in at the moment. Rephrase that ... you wouldn't be asleep because of the pain you're in. Gimme minute while I settle this somewhere, then I'll help you sit up. Let me do the work, okay? At the moment, I'm stronger than you are. We'll worry about how you'll eat in a moment. Okay ... there," Adriana said softly. She was talking as much to herself as she was to Vin.
He didn't care. He had missed her. Sure, he knew why she had been making herself scarce over the last few days. She was trying to give him time with his sisters and his aunt. But he had still missed her. Adriana sat down on the bed beside him, and as she had asked, he let her do the work. It would have been humiliating, but she made no fuss, saying, "Buck and JD left this morning, to go with SG-1. That's a disaster just waiting to happen, you know." Vin did know. While JD's relationship with Drina had improved dramatically, just during the last mission, everyone knew that Daniel still didn't have much use for the cartographer.
Her arms had eased around him, and Vin bit back a gasp of pain as her forearms lightly brushed his ribcage. Goddammit, that hurt! But he didn't cry out, just rested his forehead against her collarbone as she eased him into an upright position. He had actually fallen asleep in a reclining position, since it was less painful. Vin supposed he had just slid down during the night. Drina gently stroked his back, whispering, "Almost done."
And she was true to her word, carefully easing him back against the pillows, her hand bracing the back of his head. Vin closed his eyes, taking several shallow breaths. Drina gently stroked his arm, then reached down to take his good hand. She said nothing. After several moments, once the pain was again manageable, Vin opened his eyes to find her still sitting there, her eyes intent on his face. She smiled and said, "Hey there."
"Hey back," he answered in a hoarse voice. Jackass. Here he had been missing her so damn much, and now that she was here, he didn't have the first idea of what to say to her. He continued after a moment, as the pain continued to ease, "Ya been okay? Seem like I don't have a chance to talk to ya much lately. Missed ya." Drina just smiled, touching his face with her free hand.
"Well, I've been alright. Spending a lot of time with your aunt Jo. Getting blackmail information from her about you, from when you were a little boy. You were a mischievous one, weren't you, Kevin Parris? You haven't changed that much in the last twenty years. Do you feel up to eating?" she asked and Vin closed his eyes, concentrating on a moment, testing the endurance level of his body. Then he opened his eyes and nodded.
"Reckon I could eat somethin.' How we gonna do this? Ya gonna feed me, or what?" Vin asked softly, cringing at the pain in his throat. Damn. He hadn't talked much in recent days, letting his two sisters do the talking. So his vocal cords weren't well-used. Adriana sat back, regarding him thoughtfully. His arm was still in a sling, but carefully bound, to avoid causing his ribs any further pain.
"Well, let's see how you do first, okay? Damn. I'm sorry. That sounded patronizing," Drina sighed. Vin allowed himself a tiny smile. After a moment, she said, "Here's your spoon, I just remembered the orange juice. Be right back." She scooted from the room. Vin held the spoon in his good hand, and found his wrist trembling with the exertion of trying to keep the spoon in his hand and level. But he held it nonetheless. Only by exercising this hand would it get stronger. He might not be able to feed himself today or tomorrow, but in time, he would.
Adriana returned to the room a few minutes later. Her sharp hazel eyes took note of the spoon still in his hand and she set the orange juice down on the tray in front of him. Vin put down the spoon and took a drink of the orange juice instead. It burned its way down his throat, but that was a pain Vin could deal with. He settled the glass back on the tray, momentarily frustrated that he could hold an orange juice glass, but not a spoon. However, he was distracted as Adriana sat down on the bed, saying, "Lizzie and Jo just left ... they said to tell you they'll be back later today, probably sometime this afternoon. Carly is in her room, working on her lecture. Chris said he has some stuff he needs to do. Guess that just leaves us."
"Reckon so ... reckon I could use some help," Vin added. There was a part of him which was angry. Angry with himself, for his weakness ... angry with her, for forcing him to ask her for help. But Vin fought that back, knowing that he would have been angry with her if she had taken that task upon herself. And he had such a hard time dealing with his anger these days anyhow. Drina simply nodded and spooned some of the cereal and milk into his mouth.
There was no conversation, no silly little games. Just the business of getting him fed. And Vin didn't care, because she was there. He could touch her, could look at her, could see her smile, hear her laughter, smell the lilac perfume that was created by the body wash and shampoo she used. She had always loved lilacs, and honeysuckle. As he finished the meal, Drina spoke for the first time, asking softly, "What do you want to do, once Chris gets you dressed?"
"Aincha gonna do that?" Vin asked without thinking, then felt his face burn with embarrassment. Her face turned bright red, and he muttered, "Forget I said that, that was just plumb stupid." She put her hand over his, giving it a gentle squeeze, and Vin sighed, "I'm sorry, Drina, weren't thinkin' straight." Here they had agreed that they would take it slow, that neither of them were ready for ... how had Drina put it the second time they discussed it? Oh yeah. Physical intimacy.
"It's okay, Vin. If you weren't hurt and if I was in better shape mentally, I'd say absolutely, but ... Goddess, you have no idea how much I wish I could make myself do better. I get so frustrated with being ... where I am. But, I guess you do have an idea. Your body isn't reacting as quickly as you'd like it to, isn't healing as quickly, and for me ... " Adriana began. She closed her eyes and sighed.
Vin looked around the room, trying desperately to think of a way to distract her. She was continuing her sessions with the therapist, but as she had admitted, she was getting frustrated with her mental block when it came to physical intimacy and touch. Her father had molested her, for God's sake! She couldn't get over somethin' like that over night, if she ever did! What was promising was, she had talked to his aunt about it.
His eyes lit on the action figure of JarJar Binks that Adriana had left on the dresser. It had been a gift from Carly to Drina, after Charlotte had told Carly that Drina sounded like JarJar Binks during the interrogation of Dickie O'Shea. He asked hoarsely, "Whaddaya think 'bout us watchin' Phantom Menace then?" Adriana blinked and looked at him, then she smiled. They had gone to see the movie together when the movie originally came out, along with Chris and Mary, Nathan and Rain, and, of course, Billy.
"That sounds like a great idea. You want to watch it on the DVD player or the VCR?" she asked, but as soon as she asked the question, a devilish grin appeared, and she added, "The DVD! Remember the last time we watched this, right after it came out on video, Ezra watched it with us? Remember how he kept imitating Yoda? I thought Nathan was gonna kill him, for sure!" Vin did remember, and he grinned broadly at the memory. It had been a group of them together, not unlike the movies they had been watching in Virginia only a few weeks earlier. Nathan, Rain, Ezra had joined Chris, Mary, Billy, Vin and Drina for that movie night.
Drina eased herself from the bed and opened the dresser drawer that contained the DVD's. Chris had set this up as a guest room for each time one of the others stayed the night. Maybe they were too drunk to drive home, maybe they had been hurt. And maybe Chris had just wanted company. The DVD player had been a gift from Mary and Billy. Each of the team had contributed their favorites to the mix.
Vin smiled. This wasn't the first time he had watched a movie in the last few weeks, since he had been hurt. Lizzie had watched more than a few movies with him. Maybe it was better to say that Lizzie watched the movies while Vin slept. That was one thing he hated ... all the sleeping he found himself doing. You would have thought he had gotten enough sleep after getting blowed down that ridge.
Sure, both Nathan and Janet had told him that being unconscious wasn't the same thing as sleeping or resting. And Vin had known that from all the times he had gotten beaten up or some such thing as a bounty hunter. Still annoyed the hell out of him, though. There were things he wanted to do. Like be with his lady. Although, on the positive side, at least his aching body was providing relief in that respect. His body hurt too much for him to worry about desire.
Vin looked at the woman he did desire, to find Adriana still standing in the same position, her head lowered as she looked at the selection. He frowned and said softly, "Drina? Ya okay?" She nodded slowly, without turning to face him. Not at first, at least. After a moment, her shoulders rose and fell with a sigh, and she turned to face him. In her hand, she held ... what was that? Yeah, it was a DVD, but of what?
"I remember us going to see this with Will and Charlotte in Texas," she said without preamble, holding the DVD up for him to see. She didn't look at him ... instead, she was still staring at the DVD. It was Gettysburg, the first, last, and only time he had ever seen Drina cry over a movie. She continued, her voice growing husky, "I remember holding onto Charlotte as we left the theatre, because we were both crying."
Vin didn't say a word ... it occurred to him that she hadn't fully dealt with everything that had happened on their modern-day wagon train. And he didn't know how to help her. Drina looked up at him and said softly, "I don't know why I thought of that just now. I just ... I remember it was raining that night. That was the other reason Charlotte and I were holding onto each other ... we were both crying, and besides, you two macho idiots gave up the umbrella to us." Vin smiled ... he had been wearing a raincoat, protecting himself from the rain. So had the girls, but it had seemed like the best thing to do.
Drina continued, "You know, I didn't say a proper good-bye to Will when we left the planet. We had to make sure you would be okay, and he was busy with the biology group, since Carly had to come back with us. I wonder ... I wonder if he thinks I'm still mad at him. I got things right with Carly, after we got back. And I got things with Chris while we were waiting for you to wake up. But I never got things right with Will." Aw hell, he *knew* he had forgotten something! Without thinking, he put his hands to where his pockets would have been in his jacket, only to remember the jacket was in the closet.
"He knows ya ain't," Vin assured her hoarsely, fighting off the waves of pain caused by his action. Just before they had left, Will had given him a letter to give to Drina. The archaeologist looked up with a frown, and Vin continued, "Will done gave me a letter to give to ya. Said that everythin' was good 'tween the two a' ya. Cain't find it now, though. He said to tell ya that the next time ever'body was together, when he and the others come back in a few months ... well, he'll finish makin' it right. Somethin' he wants to do for ya."
Drina nodded almost absently and put the DVD away, picking up the DVD for Star Wars instead. Vin continued hesitantly, "Ya know, if ya really want ... reckon ya can send a message through. Don't imagine the general, either of 'em, would have too much of a problem with that." Drina didn't answer at first, and Vin wondered a bit uneasily if she was still struggling with what she had done to the Jaffa on the planet, the one who had lit the fuse.
Chris had admitted to him the previous day that she had been called into Hammond's office, but no one knew what had been said. Drina wouldn't talk about it, said that it was over and done with. She had probably received a reprimand of some kind, for excessive force, or some dumb-ass thing like that. It was hard to tell with Drina sometimes. Vin loved her ... but there were times when he didn't fully understand the way her mind worked.
Whatever had happened in there, Vin just hoped it wasn't anything that would take Drina out of the SGC. He still didn't know what his status in SG-7 was, now that everyone knew Chris was his older brother. The last time he had spoken with either of the generals, he had been barely conscious, and he vaguely remembered Orrin Travis telling him that since neither brother knew about their relationship, there was no reason Vin shouldn't remain a member of SG-7.
But he wasn't sure if that was an actual memory, or if it was wishful thinking on his part. He was distracted from this when Drina said, "Well. I don't know about you, but I really think I'm being silly. It's the first chance I've had to spend with my boyfriend in weeks, and I'm moping about something I can't do anything about yet." She paused, a faint smile curving her mouth, then whispered, "Boyfriend."
"Yup ... and when we're both ready, then we'll be more," Vin promised. She tilted her head to the side to look at him, and Vin added, "That's a promise, Drina. That day will happen." She considered this, then nodded her agreement. She finished loading the DVD into the player, then sat down in the chair beside Vin's bed. She grimaced, got to her feet, then scooted the chair over. Vin didn't understand what she was doing at first, until she sat down again, put her feet on the bed beside him and put her hand on his shoulder.
She was on the wrong side of the bed to hold his hand ... this was the best she could do under the circumstances. Vin smiled to himself, relaxing against the pillows as the movie started. And damn if he didn't fall asleep. It pissed him off, since he had liked all of the Star Wars movies. The next time he woke up, it was to find Chris quietly putting a blanket over Adriana's lap. She was asleep as well. Chris smiled faintly as Vin's confused eyes fell on him, and gently patted Adriana's leg before moving over to sit on the bed. He explained softly, "Before they left, Josie told me that Adriana's had nightmares the last few nights."
Nightmares? What sorts of nightmares? Chris continued, most likely seeing the question in his eyes, "Some about her father ... some about being locked in the shed again ... and some about killing that Jaffa. I find out last night about what happened in Hammond's office. She got reprimanded for using all that firepower to blast him into oblivion, instead of covering the defenders. Guess she didn't feel that, or the recharging she did when we got back, was enough."
Vin still hadn't heard everything about the battle between them and the Jaffa, after he ended up at the bottom of the ridge. Chris had apologized to him, twice, for shutting him out and for what he had said when Vin and Charlotte came back from looking for Katie. He had also heard that Drina had taken out the Jaffa who had lit the fuse, so to speak ... and that 'taking out of commission' was an understatement. It was more like 'pulverized.'
And then he focused on what Chris had said ... she had been reprimanded for using all that firepower on the Jaffa, instead of helping the defenders. But, Will had said that by that time, the firefight was almost over. He turned a puzzled look to Chris, who said softly, "The firefight was over, but it didn't matter ... she never even considered that she was leaving her own back open. She put her own life at risk, and had the circumstances been different, may have put the lives of others at risk. The generals both know that she wasn't thinking, but that ain't the point."
Vin knew his brother was right. He sighed, "Reckon it ain't." Chris simply watched him, and Vin asked, "Whatcha lookin' at, Larabee?" Chris just smirked. The pair was still working their way around this strange new facet to their relationship. More to the point, Vin was still having a hard time wrapping his mind around it. Chris really was his brother. Not just because they had adopted each other, but because they had the same father.
Vin was still trying to figure out that part right there. What kinda man just walked away from his kids? One thing he had come to accept over the last few weeks was, he wasn't the only child whom Evan Larabee had abandoned. He still wasn't sure how to feel about that ... if he should be relieved that it hadn't been anything he had done, or angry that the man pretended that three of his blood didn't exist.
"I'm looking at my brother, Vin ... that's what," Chris said, finally answering Vin's question. For men such as themselves, it wasn't easy, saying such things. They found other ways of saying things that couldn't be said. A hand around the back of the neck. Quietly supporting the weight of the other, and making it look like he was standing upright without trouble. Vin knew what he meant to Chris, and what Chris meant to him.
So, he was never sure how to react when Chris said things like that. 'I'm looking at my brother.' How did he react? All the rules had changed when the revelation that they shared a father had been made. What Vin knew of family, he had learned from women. From his twin sister, from Dawn, from Adriana, Nettie, Casey, and Charlotte. But there were different rules with women than there were with men.
He looked away, looked at the blank screen of the television set, suddenly confused. Chris said softly, "Remember what I told you earlier, Vin. About me pushing too hard. Hell, I know I can be a sonuvabitch."
Vin couldn't help himself ... he shot his older brother a 'ya think' look, and Chris laughed softly. Chris continued after a moment, "What I'm trying to say, Vin, is ... there will be times when I do push too hard. You can take care of yourself better than anyone I've ever met. You're smart, and you don't take stupid chances. But you're not just my second in command now ... and yes, you are still my second in command ... you're now my little brother as well. And a big brother's first instinct is to protect.
"You're gonna find that with Lizzie and Carly ... regardless of who was born first between you and Carly. Ask Buck and he'll tell you. A big brother's first instinct is to protect, whether the younger sibling needs that protection or not. But I gotta know if I'm going too far. I almost lost you once already, little brother. I'm not willing to take another chance ... and if that means I get my toes stepped on, so be it."
"Done tol' ya, Larabee ... ya ain't pushin.' It's just ... I ain't rightly sure how to act sometimes. 'Fore, ya could just say I was a friend, but now ... I'm yer blood relative, and I don't wanna embarrass ya. Any a' ya," Vin admitted. The second the words were out, he wanted to take them back, but that wasn't possible. Chris looked down at his hands, then looked back up at Vin, his eyes reminding Vin of a pair of green lasers. Aw hell, now he had gone and pissed 'im off!
"Don't let me ever hear you say that again! Are we clear on that? There is no way you could ever embarrass me, unless you became someone you're not. All right? If this is about you lapsing into old speech patterns when you're nervous, or your lack of formal education, or anything like that, it ends right now. I am proud of you, Kevin!" his elder brother hissed, the use of Vin's real name tipping the young sharpshooter off. He had really pissed off his brother.
Hell, it wouldn't be the first time! Vin sighed, "Hell, Chris, I ain't even sure what ... I ain't gonna be someone I ain't. I cain't do that, I don't know how, and I don't wanna learn. Reckon I just need a little more time, sortin' all this out. I ain't even ... aw hell!" He lay back against the pillows, closing his eyes. He got so frustrated when he couldn't think straight. For the second time that day, his brother slipped his hand around the back of Vin's neck.
"Look at me, Vin. This ain't easy for you, I know that. I've had more time to adjust to this. Words don't come easy to either of us. But I will help you in any way I can," Chris said softly. Vin opened his eyes and smiled faintly at his older brother. Chris smiled back sadly and eased Vin forward, carefully.
Even so, the motion sent agony rocketing through the guide's body. Awwww ... hell! When Vin was able to fight back the pain, Chris pulled him into a gentle embrace, whispering the words he had first spoken two weeks earlier, when Vin had first awakened. Vin made no reply. It wasn't expected or needed. At least, not a verbal response. But he gave his reply when he leaned his head against his brother's shoulder, and just remained in his brother's embrace. That was all that needed to be said.