“Sha’re is busy,” Edward pre-empted the question when the John looked confused to find him sitting in Sha’re’s office, “What can I do for you?”
“Wallace on the mainland thinks he’s found something,” John explained, “Since the team there are busy, I thought I could take Jeannie and Rodney to have a look.”
Edward frowned as he looked over the information John handed him, “Are you bored already, John? You guys just got back a few hours ago.”
John shrugged, “Jeannie and Rodney are geeking out about this in that weird half-sentence conversation way they do where no one else actually understands them.”
Edward shrugged, “Well, I see no issue with this. Just don’t start any explosions or anything like that.”
John nodded, “Don’t worry. I’ll take Cadman with us to keep Rodney under control.”
“So in other words,” Edward smiled slightly, “This is just an excuse for a family outing.”
John shrugged as he wandered out, “I have no idea what you mean.”
*********************************************
Janet frowned as she reached Sha’re and Daniel’s room with Jack at her side to find Daniel only a few meters from the door sitting leaning against the wall staring blankly. They’d been in the Gateroom trying to re-establish contact with the planet when Sha’re had called her.
“I’ll take him,” Jack murmured, “You check on Sha’re.”
Janet nodded and gently touched the chime waiting until the door opened. When it did she glanced over to Jack, watching him approach the man lost in his own thoughts and giving him a quick nod.
“Sha’re,” Janet entered the room.
Janet frowned as she found the young woman sitting staring into space, her son held close to her as tears slipped along her cheeks.
“Here,” Janet said gently, “Why don’t I put Mel in his crib?”
“Oh,” Sha’re looked up surprised to find the woman she’d called was there before offering her son to her friend, “Please.”
Janet took the squirming infant into her arms, she checked to see if he needed changed before placing him into his crib. Turning back she saw Sha’re huddle into a tight ball on the couch.
“Hey,” Janet whispered taking the seat beside her friend, “Tell me.”
Sha’re looked up at Janet, “He does not remember. I knew I should not have told him about Mel, not yet. Not until he remembered some more.”
“Oh honey,” Janet wrapped her arm around Sha’re, “What exactly happened?”
“Dan’iel said he could not love me,” she whispered, “And he could not be a father to Mel. I do not…he…”
“Sh,” Janet soothed as Sha’re started to cry, “It’s going to be okay.”
“How?”
Janet took a deep breath and pushed Sha’re’s hair back from her face in a way she would do to Cassie when the girl was upset, “We both know that before Daniel met you he kept himself separate from the world. He didn’t believe that he would ever have a family and promised himself he would never put a child in the position he was left in. Sha’re, Daniel just needs some time.”
Sha’re sniffed, “You said yourself that his memory may never return.”
“I believe that Daniel will always love you,” Janet comforted her, “Even if he has to fall in love with you all over again.”
Sha’re rested her head against Janet’s shoulder staring into space as her friend gently rocked her.
“Is there a reason you’re taking up space in the hall?” Jack asked the moment he reached Daniel.
The other man looked up at him, “I don’t know how to get back to the infirmary.”
“Ah,” Jack nodded in realisation, “I’ll show you.”
Daniel pulled himself off the ground and turned waiting. After a second he rubbed his forehead, “I don’t know you,” he reminded Jack.
“Jack O’Neill,” Jack introduced himself, “And as a matter of fact you do know me.”
Daniel shrugged, “Okay.”
“Let’s go,” Jack smiled, clapping his friend on the shoulder, “If you want to know anything I can answer most of your questions.”
Daniel nodded, “Good. Cause I have a lot. Like how do I know you?” Jack gave him a confused look making Daniel chuckle, “If you can answer most of my questions then obviously you know me. So how?”
Jack clapped his shoulder, “Well, we met just after you presented your theories…”
Daniel took the mug Jack handed him with a slight nod as they sat in a small office near the back of the infirmary.
“Carson won’t mind,” Jack said as he ushered Daniel inside, “He’s on the mainland at the moment.”
Daniel watched the other man, Jack was waiting for the next question to come and Daniel knew what he wanted to ask but couldn’t find the words – which for him was quite a feat.
“Are you going to ask about her at any point today?”
Daniel sighed, “Am I that obvious?”
Jack grinned at him, “You may not remember your life with her but Sha’re has without a doubt always managed to get your attention. The first time you two met all she did was hand you water and you didn’t take your eyes off her for the rest of the day.”
Daniel dropped his eyes, “I know what I’m like in a relationship, and I know I don’t want a kid. How? Why would I…” he trailed off, “Jack, why would I do that to them?”
“Do what?” Jack asked with a chuckle, “Daniel, you two are a solid couple while that kid is adored by all and sundry. Even if something did happen to you two then there are tons of people who would care for that boy. What happened to you would never happen to him, I promise.”
Before Daniel could reply a beep sounded from one of the consoles, Jack leaned over and hit the button.
“O’Neill.”
“Edward is looking for you,” a woman said, “Meeting is in ten.”
“Thanks, Lisa,” Jack replied.
“I’ve also to let you know that Sheppard has taken Jeannie, Rodney and Laura to the mainland to check out some recent energy signals that have been detected,” Lisa continued.
“And people say I can’t sit still,” Jack rolled his eyes, “Tell the others I’ll be up in a few minutes.”
“Will do,” Lisa replied before the radio fell into silence.
Daniel waited wondering what his new ‘friend’ was going to suggest Daniel do now.
“I can either pass you onto someone else to answer your questions,” Jack answered the unasked question, “Or you can go back to your…” he trailed off at the panic that covered Daniel’s face all of a sudden, “How about we assign you a temporary room until you’re ready?”
Daniel nodded, “Okay. Am I allowed to walk around on my own?”
“Sure,” Jack replied, “But if you get lost ask someone or use this,” Jack tossed him a radio, “Put it in your ear and if you say who you want to talk to it’ll connect you to them.”
“This is bad,” Jacob noted as Janet filled them in on Daniel’s condition, “We need Daniel if we’re going to succeed in freeing Earth.”
“He has been training others,” Edward reminded them.
Bra’tac shook his head, “But he had knowledge of the complex that his trainees don’t have.”
“How is he coping with this?” Carolyn asked, “This has to be so confusing.”
Jack sighed, “He’s fine. The biggest confusion for Daniel right now is the fact he has friends, where his memory is right now that wasn’t the case. He has a temporary room for now and he’s going to explore. Hopefully the more he reads and studies the quicker his memory will return. This is all we can do right now since we can’t get a lock on the planet again. Teal’c has reminded me that they’re going to contact us so until they do we just have to go with this.”
Carolyn nodded, “That’s good. So who do we send in his place if his memory doesn’t return in time?”
“Dixon and French,” Jack said instantly.
Janet tilted her head, “Why those two?”
“They’re the ones Daniel noted as the best in his appraisals,” Jack replied, he turned to Jacob, “I do actually read what I’m supposed to no matter what Sha’re thinks.”
“Martin Dixon,” Jacob pulled up the files, “Lesley French, they’re both good but there is no way they can replace Daniel.”
“Just now we don’t have him,” Jack reminded them, “So Jacob, you and Bra’tac will have to get them ready. People, we have a hellish few weeks coming up but if we can do this then we can win. It’s time to focus.”
*********************************************
Laura pinched the bridge of her nose as she felt a headache building, “What did you touch?”
“Nothing,” the offended chorus came from behind the solid wall.
Laura turned to Jeannie, “Do you believe them?”
“Not even slightly,” the other woman replied.
Laura let out a long sigh, “Rodney, is there anything near you that will help you open the door?”
“No,” came the sharp reply.
Laura forced a smile onto her face knowing it would come through in her voice, “Darling, try that again.”
The silence that followed made Jeannie and Laura smile at each, the grins widening as Rodney’s voice came again.
“I’m having another look.”
“John, use that over inflated gene of yours and try to open the door,” Jeannie added.
“Actually,” John said, “We’re going to look around a bit.”
“No!” both women yelled.
“What’s wrong?” Rodney asked annoyed, “There has to be something here and since we’re in here we may as well find out why.”
Jeannie rolled her eyes, “Mer, have you ever realised that you two are a walking target? Stay where you are until we can open the door then we’ll look around.”
John dropped onto the ground as Rodney continued looking around to see if he could find the door controls. They’d found the controls outside easily enough but when John and Rodney moved to look inside the door shut behind them suddenly.
“You know it’s more than likely the controls are deeper inside,” Rodney noted finally, “We should head further in.”
“You know what your fiancé and your sister will say to that,” John reminded him as he picked up a rock from the ground and threw it into the circle in the dirt that Rodney had made with his pacing.
Rodney grimaced, “Good point. Laura and Jeannie can be evil when they put their minds to it and working together…” he shuddered at the thought.
John laughed, “Exactly.”
“But,” Rodney continued suddenly, “If we find something it might be worth it?”
At his friend’s hopeful look John sprung to his feet and grinned, “The doghouse can be fun when you’ve got company. Let’s go.”
*********************************************
“What do you think?” Jack asked as he and Janet sat in the conference room after everyone else had filed out.
“Well to be honest I’m not that worried about Daniel just now,” she told him, “He’s physically healthy and although he doesn’t remember the past decade Daniel is a very strong willed individual. He’s coping for now and when he does start to remember he has a good support system in place.”
“I feel a ‘but’ coming in,” Jack grimaced.
Janet nodded, “I’m worried about Sha’re.”
“Really?”
Janet nodded, “She’s trying to deal with a husband who doesn’t remember her, look after her son and she’s about to be responsible for sending a whole load of people including those she counts as her family to a dangerous fight. She may crack under the pressure.”
“Sha’re’s strong,” Jack reminded the doctor, “She’s dealt with things like this before.”
“But that was different,” Janet replied, “Daniel’s her rock, even when he was incarcerated by Carter she knew he loved her and now he doesn’t even know her. She’s afraid and I’m worried that this will be too much for her.”
Jack grimaced, “Is there anything we can do?”
“The only thing I can suggest is we encourage him to spend time with her,” Janet said, “And we look after her until Daniel either gets his memory back or he works out that she’s the love of his life.”
“Considering Daniel,” Jack noted, “That might take a while. You know how stubborn he can be when he’s being told to do something.”
Janet sighed, “Let’s hope not.”
Daniel stood on the balcony he’d found near the room he was given and stared out across the ocean. He’d never been a fan of the ocean, he preferred the sand when that was all you could see, but the fact that he was in a huge crystalline city that was floating on water, it was breathtaking.
Hearing a voice nearby he glanced back inside and Daniel spotted the woman he’d been told he was married to walking with the baby in a stroller. She was talking to him as he chewed on a toy and all Daniel could do was stare at them. He didn’t understand why he would let himself get into that situation. Without a doubt she was beautiful, but Daniel had learned a long time ago that letting someone into his heart only meant it hurt more when they left. It was a lesson he’d learnt several times in his life.
It was the reason he sabotaged any relationship he had, the few girlfriends he’d had could testify to that – especially Sarah. The thing that was really scaring him was the fact he did want to be close to Sha’re, he’d never been so strongly attracted to anyone in his life. As she turned Daniel dived back so she didn’t see him, he knew he’d already hurt her once today and he couldn’t bear to see that pain in her beautiful brown eyes again.
After a few seconds he looked back and winced as she was standing waiting for him.
“Ah, hi,” he managed.
“You do not need to hide from us,” Sha’re said softly, “I do not bite although I cannot say the same for Mel.”
Daniel couldn’t stop his smile. After a second he noticed the weariness in her eyes and he grimaced.
“I’m sorry,” Daniel said softly, “I know I hurt you earlier.”
Sha’re shook her head, “I understand. It took a talk with Janet but I do understand. I remember how hard you found it to open up to me when we first married. I hope you will regain your memories, Dan’iel but if you do not then I hope you will spend some time with us and get to know us once more. Mel needs his father.”
Daniel looked down at the little boy; he was playing with a rattle and gurgled happily at noises he was making with it.
“You may not recall him but he is your son,” Sha’re reminded him, “And he misses you.”
Daniel crouched down and gently touched the boy’s hand with his finger smiling as the little fist clasped around it.
“Hello, Mel,” Daniel said softly, smiling even more as the boy let out a giggle at Daniel’s voice.
Daniel gently stroked the boy’s cheek before he stood to look at the woman standing there. Sha’re stepped closer to him and pushing herself up very gently touched her lips to his, Daniel closed his eyes at the soft kiss. When Sha’re’s lips left his he looked at her and sighed.
“I don’t know how to do this,” Daniel told her sadly, “And I don’t want to hurt you.”
“You have never hurt me, Dan’iel,” Sha’re squeezed his hand, “I have work to do now, I hope you will meet me for dinner later.”
Daniel hesitated but the taste of her lips on his remained and he found himself nodding in agreement.
“I know you fear allowing someone into your heart, Dan’iel but as you can see you have already,” Sha’re smiled at his confused expression, “We will see you later.”
Edward looked up surprised when to see Sha’re entering the office, “Sha’re, what are you doing here. I told you to take some time off.”
“I am here simply to check on some things,” Sha’re replied with a fond smile at the man, “It is just a few items that I wish to ensure I completed correctly. Mel and I will be here for only a few minutes.”
Edward smiled back at her, “Alright, but once you’ve finished you’re out of here. With what’s happened to Daniel you have more than enough on your plate just now.”
“I promise,” Sha’re replied; she motioned him to keep the seat behind the desk and drew the spare chair over to the small console on the other side of the room. She fixed Mel’s stroller at her side and gave him a new toy to play with while she worked.
They sat in silence for ten minutes with the only sound Mel as he played and laughed. Sha’re suddenly stopped working and turned to the man occupying her desk.
“Where is John this time?” Sha’re demanded, “We need him to speak with his father concerning the return to Earth.”
“He took Jeannie, Rodney and Laura to check out some energy readings on the mainland,” Edward explained, “They shouldn’t be too long.”
Sha’re shook her head, “This is typical of John.”
“I did agree to let him go with them,” Edward reminded her, “Besides it keeps him busy and out of our way until we let him actually talk to his father. You know how annoying John can be.”
Sha’re chuckled but before she could reply the Stargate activated.
“Incoming traveller,” Peter called from the control room, as Sha’re and Edward walked over to him he looked up at them, “There are no teams offworld just now.”
“Are we receiving a signal?” Sha’re asked as she shifted Mel in her arms.
Peter shook his head, “No…wait we are but it’s not one I recognise.”
Sha’re spun as the shield deactivated, “What are you doing?”
“It’s not me,” Peter replied.
“Reactivate the shield,” she looked around to find Lisa relieved to see her sitting at her desk and motioned the younger woman over to take the baby to get him to safety.
“I can’t,” Peter replied as the seventh chevron locked in place and the event horizon formed.
Sha’re moved forward, “Stand ready,” she ordered the guards.
As they readied their weapons the event horizon rippled and two cloaked figures emerged. Sha’re stared at them in surprise as the first looked up revealing features cat-like in appearance.
“My name is Margee,” their first visitor announced, “And I must speak to whoever is in charge.”
Heliopolis Main Archive
A Stargate: SG-1 Fanfiction Site
Cuckoo In The Nest
by LE McMurrayKapitel Bemerkung:
Thanks to Stonedtoad for betaing as always.Working on the next part. A review has made me realise I missed out a something in the original post. Not much in terms of wordage but it explains one or two things. So here is the updated version.
Enjoy.
Site Navigation
Support Heliopolis