Alisa stepped out of the Gate and back into Atlantis; relieved as her father walked over, catching her in a tight hug.
“You did it,” she grinned, a little unnerved by how tightly he was holding her.
“Of course,” Rodney finally released her and looked down at her intently, “And did you behave?”
A small smirk appeared on her lips, “I did as you said and stayed with Radek, Peter and Sergeant Bates.”
“Really?” suspicion filled Rodney’s voice and he turned to find Bates, nearby supervising the populations return, “Bates?”
The sergeant looked up at the call and walked over to join them, “Yes?”
“Did anything happen?” Rodney demanded, his arm still wrapped around his daughter.
Bates shook his head, “Nothing,” he replied, turning to leave before looking back, “But I’m putting out a warning about your card shark.”
Rodney turned to Alisa who had an innocent smile on her face, “How much did you fleece?”
“Enough,” she grinned, laughing as he did, “I’ll be buying dinner when we get back to Earth.”
“Come on,” Rodney started to move her from the Gateroom when she noticed the bandage wrapped around his jacket.
“Dad,” worry filled her voice, “What happened to your arm?”
Rodney hesitated for a second before he shrugged, “Just a slight accident it’s nothing to worry about.”
“Has Carson looked at it?” Alisa demanded, trying to get a better look.
“It’s nothing, Lissa,” Rodney assured her, keeping his arm away from her probing eyes, “Really,” she continued to look worriedly at him and Rodney sighed, “Alright, we’ll go see Carson okay?”
Alisa smiled relieved, “Okay.”
“Rodney…” Carson started as he stared at the cuts in Rodney’s arm.
“Just fix it and tell Alisa it was only a cut,” the scientist stated sharply.
“But…”
Rodney glared at him, “I am not worrying her over this. So…please just do it.”
Muttering under his breath; Carson gently cleaned, stitched and then wrapped Rodney’s wounds. He wanted to find out how these had been made because he knew knife wounds when he saw them.
“Good,” Rodney yanked his arm back the moment Carson had finished, “You should get some rest, Carson you look like hell.”
Before the doctor could reply, Rodney was off the bed and pulled open the curtain to where Alisa was sitting waiting for him.
“Is he alright, Carson?” she asked instantly, worry creasing her face.
Rodney turned to the doctor waiting.
“It’s just a cut, Alisa,” Carson told her reassuringly, “It’s clean and wrapped. There’s no reason to worry.”
A smile covered the girl’s face, “Good.”
“Are you happy?” Rodney asked with a frown.
Alisa nodded, “Now I am. Let’s go for dinner.”
*********************************************
“You have a daughter I’m told,” Koyla breathed in Rodney’s ear; twisting the knife in his arm, making him grit his teeth even harder, “Just imagine everything I could have done to her, Dr McKay…just imagine.”
Rodney covered his face with his hands, trying desperately to get those words out of his head. The ache in his arm started again and Rodney reached out, grabbing the painkillers Carson had given him, throwing two back dry. Once before someone had done this to him, they’d threatened to take Alisa away from him and that time too Rodney had done what had been demanded of him.
Angry with himself and the universe, Rodney threw back his covers and started to pace the room. He’d given up so easily, the people here were his friends but when it came to his daughter…
After a few minutes he headed to Alisa’s room, just wanting to check she was there and safe, despite knowing how stupid it was.
Opening the door to his room, relief filled him to see her sleeping and Rodney leaned against the wall, taking a few deep breaths.
“Dad?” Alisa groaned, blinking at him sleepily.
Rodney grimaced, annoyed he’d woken her, “Its okay, Lissa, go back to sleep.”
“You sure?” she yawned, sitting up.
Rodney nodded; “I was just…it was a long day and I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”
Alisa slid across her bed to one side, giving Rodney room to sit beside her; once he was there, Alisa rested her pillow against his leg and cuddled in, falling back asleep quickly.
Rodney couldn’t remember the last time he’d sat with her like this, she hadn’t needed him to watch over her sleep for a long time. His hand rested lightly on her head; gently stroking her long blonde hair, thinking back to when this was to comfort her from nightmares and not him.
It was about half an hour later Rodney moved, making sure he didn’t disturb her this time. He gently kissed her forehead, fixing her covers. Slipping out, Rodney decided to go for a walk, hoping to tire himself out.
“Rodney?” John was sitting against a wall in the darkened mess when Rodney entered, hoping to find some hot chocolate, “I thought you were sleeping.”
Rodney snorted, “Can’t. You?”
“Can’t sleep either,” John replied, he reached over across the floor and found a chocolate bar, “Want one?”
Rodney took the chocolate, tearing into it like a starving man.
“How’s the arm?” John took a bite of his own bar.
Rodney winced at the thought, “Fine.”
“Are you going to tell me what happened now?” John pushed, “Or are you going to wait.”
“John…”
“Rodney,” John cut him off, “Koyla was an absolute bastard. Elizabeth told me you were alone for a while then she came back, you had that wound and he knew the plan.”
Rodney swallowed, feeling his stomach roll and pushed away the rest of his chocolate.
“It wasn't your fault,” John continued, “I’ve had a knife in me, there’s…”
“I didn’t give in because of the knife,” Rodney cut him off.
John turned to him confusion in his eyes, “What?”
“I wasn't speaking,” Rodney continued, “No matter how many times he cut me, I stayed silent.”
“What happened?” John asked softly.
“He threatened Alisa,” Rodney whispered achingly, “He threatened my daughter and at that point, I would have done anything he wanted.”
John’s eyes widened in horror, “How the hell did he know about her? You never mentioned her when we were there, none of us did.”
“I don’t know,” Rodney snapped, “But he did. They had the Iris codes, John; I didn’t know…”
“If he could get to her,” John finished for him.
Rodney dropped his head against the wall, “I thought that being here, I’d never have to worry about this again.”
“Again?” John stared at him horrified, “Someone has done this before?”
Rodney’s eyes were dark, “And I did exactly what they wanted because I was terrified someone would take her away from me.”
“Who was it?” John demanded darkly.
Rodney shook his head; refusing to speak anymore, pulling himself off the ground, “Goodnight.”
“Rodney,” John called after him, making him turn, “I’d do the same for her. You know that don’t you?”
A slight smile touched Rodney’s lips, “Yeah.”
*********************************************
“Good morning,” Alisa bounced into the mess and took her seat at the table with her father, his team and Carson a few days later.
“Who let her at the coffee?” John muttered, tossing her a grin.
“Happy birthday honey,” Rodney leaned over and hugged her, “How can you be sixteen?”
“Happy birthday,” the rest of the table called, making the girl grin.
“What you doing today?” Ford asked.
Alisa shrugged, “I was planning on doing nothing, unless someone wants to take me flying.”
John and Rodney swapped grins at her hopeful look.
“You know,” John drawled, “I was planning on taking Jumper three out for a quick flight to make sure it’s working fine, if you want to come?”
Alisa grinned, “Dad?”
“What are the rules for your birthday?” Rodney asked, one finger in the air.
Alisa grinned, “I get what I want…within reason,” she rhymed off, “What time?”
“We leave after lunch,” John told her.
“Cool.”
Alisa sat in the co-pilots seat, watching the clouds skim by a grin on her face.
“You’re as bad as your father,” John laughed, “He loves to fly.”
Alisa turned to him, “I never knew that.”
“Can you believe it?” John dipped the Jumper, bringing the mainland into view, “I’d let you have a go but you need the gene.”
“Yeah and Dad refuses to let me get it,” she rolled her eyes, “I could always try today. He finds it hard to say no to me on my birthday.”
“I can believe that,” John told her, “Where to now?”
Alisa bit her lip slightly, “Can I see the stars?”
John grinned at her enthusiasm, “Hang on,” he told her, aiming the Jumper up towards the outer atmosphere.
Alisa let out a breath of amazement as the blue sky became a black star field; she leaned forward to get a better view, her mouth wide open as she stared at the view.
“This is incredible,” she whispered, tears filling her eyes, “I wish…”
“Wish?” John pushed.
“I wish my Mom was here,” she told him sadly, “But I make the same wish every year. It’d make Dad so happy if she was with us.”
John gently squeezed her shoulder, “I know, kid. Let’s do a complete orbit of the planet then we’ll head home.”
Alisa sat back again, “You’re the driver, let’s go.”
Rodney watched Alisa exit the Jumper with John, both were laughing and Rodney felt relief fill him again that everything had turned out fine after the storm. And now she was sixteen; he found it amazing so long had passed since the day she was born, yet he could recall that day so clearly.
“Rodney?”
He looked up from studying to see his extremely pregnant fiancé sitting on the hospital bed, frowning at him.
“What’s wrong, Lis?” he asked worriedly.
Alisa rolled her eyes, “There’s nothing wrong,” she laughed at him, “My waters just broke.”
“What?” Rodney cried shocked, “I should call…I should get…”
“Rodney,” Alisa caught his hand, “Take a deep breath. Now go to the nurses’ station and tell Christina I’m having the baby.”
He nodded but Alisa held onto him, pulling him back to her.
“What?” Rodney asked, worried at how tired and pale she was already.
“I love you,” Alisa reminded him, kissing him before waving him away, “Now go get Christina then call my Mom and Dad.”
Rodney stared at the bundle in his arms, aware of the warmth and nothing else for a few moments. He knew that in his arms was someone he was now responsible for and would be forever. He couldn’t believe that he had this kind of responsibility when he could barely take care of himself.
“Dad,” the rich voice of his daughter interrupted his musing.
Rodney turned and smiled, finding the sixteen year old version of the baby he remembered so well standing there expectantly.
“Enjoy the ride?” he asked, walking with her.
“It was incredible,” she enthused.
“You’re not getting the gene therapy,” Rodney cut her off.
“I thought I got what I wanted today?” she groused.
“Within reason,” Rodney shot back instantly, “Not reasonable. Now come on and get ready for your party tonight.”
Alisa stopped suddenly, “What?”
“Oh didn’t I tell you,” her father shrugged, “We’re throwing you a party,” he walked back to her and took her by the shoulder, moving her forward again, “Come on, this place doesn’t need statues.”
*********************************************
Rodney stood in the corner of the room, watching as Alisa danced with Ford. The party had been going on for several hours now and Alisa was obviously enjoying herself. Everyone had either given her presents they’d managed to get made by the Athosians on the mainland, while others gave her parts of their chocolate rations and a few gave IOU’s for when they returned to Earth. Rodney had a few things to give her but not until they were alone however neither was a proper present and he felt guilty he didn’t have an actual gift for her.
He fiddled with his wedding ring as he watched Alisa laugh, the beauty from her mother shining through. Rodney took one last quick look at her before he slipped away from the party.
“You know there’s a party going on,” John said, making Rodney look up at him.
“I’m well aware of it,” Rodney replied sharply, “So why don’t you head back to it.”
John moved to sit beside his friend, “I would but that leaves you sitting here alone in the dark.”
Rodney refused to answer and continued to sit staring at the stars.
“Come on, McKay,” John snapped annoyed, “Your daughter is in the middle of her party and will more than likely be looking for you.”
“She won’t,” Rodney replied softly, twirling the gold band on his finger, “It’s after midnight.”
John stared at him confused, his eyes drifting to the ring and back to Rodney’s face, “Can you give me a straight answer.”
Rodney sighed softly, “Five hours after Alisa was born her mother died. Yesterday I celebrated my daughter’s birth, today I mourn her mother.”
“Rodney, it’s been sixteen years,” John whispered.
“You think I don’t know that?” Rodney snapped, pulling himself to his feet, “Because I have lived every day missing her and raising the child we should have raised together.”
“What happened?” John asked gently, “You’ve never told me.”
Rodney sighed again before sitting again and telling his friend about the best and worst night of his life.
“Dad,” Alisa beamed as he returned to the hall just as the party was ending, “Thanks for this.”
Rodney shrugged, “I can’t take the credit. Ford and Teyla suggested it.”
Alisa hugged him tightly, “Do you want Mom’s ring?”
Rodney gently kissed the top of her head, “Yeah. You know…”
“I do,” Alisa cut him off as she reached under her top and unhooked the chain holding the gold ring she wore around her neck at all times, “I’m going to bed.”
Rodney took the band and held it tightly in his fist, “I have some thing to give you for your birthday, honey but it can wait until tomorrow.”
Alisa grimaced at him, “Sure. Night, Dad.”
Rodney gently touched her cheek, “Night, my little Lissa.”
Alisa gave a soft laugh and left him standing, staring at the ring in his hand.
*********************************************
Rodney sat with Alisa the next morning, nervously playing with a DVD case as she looked at him confused.
“This is for you,” Rodney said softly, handing her the case, “I was told to give you it when you turned sixteen. I did transfer it from tape but I haven’t watched it.”
“Okay,” Alisa stared at it.
“I’ll leave you to watch it,” he stood.
“Dad?”
Rodney turned back to her, “Yes, Lissa?”
“You don’t need to leave.”
He nodded with a sigh, “Yes, I do.”
“Is this thing working, Rodney,” a voice asked as the DVD started, “Alright good, now go away because I don’t want you hearing this.”
Alisa turned from where her father had just left and stared at the woman on the screen before her, “Mom?”
“Hi, baby,” her mother smiled at the camera, “You just turned sixteen and I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you. If you’re watching this then I died not long after you were born because otherwise you wouldn’t be watching this tape but another and I’d know your name.”
Alisa curled into her chair tighter, feeling tears slip along her cheeks.
“I know you’re a girl because I got the doctor to tell me but your father doesn’t know,” she smiled mischievously, “He’s so smart, it’s nice to be able to surprise him every so often, especially as his stunned face is so funny.”
She rested her hands on the large bump and smiled again, “So, I’m going to tell you a few things I think you should know and you’re old enough now to understand.”
Rodney was sitting in his lab, worrying about how Alisa would react to the DVD. He only knew his wife had wanted her to have it when she was sixteen and not before. Rodney had been tempted so many times to watch it, just to see it and hear her voice again but he’d always managed to be strong enough not to. The only thing he had done was transfer it from tape to disc so that it would survive.
“Dad.”
Rodney turned to find Alisa standing in the doorway, her eyes were red from crying but she wore a smile that he hadn’t expected, “Hey.”
“Did you really knock yourself unconscious at Mom’s first scan?” she giggled.
Rodney frowned, “She told you that story. Thanks, Lis,” he muttered but with a smile. He looked concerned at his daughter, “Are you okay, Lissa?”
Alisa nodded, sniffing slightly, “She…she told me why she chose not to have the treatment and a few stories about you and…” tears started to trail down her cheeks and Rodney drew her into a tight embrace, “And how much she loved us both.”
Rodney dropped his head, resting it on his daughters’ as she continued to hug him tightly, “She did, honey. I debated a long time about giving that to you because I was afraid it would upset you too much.”
“I’m glad you gave me it,” she whispered smiling at him.
Rodney nodded, “So am I.”
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