Chapter Two

The cowboy kills the rock star
And Friday night's gone too far
The dim light hides the years
On all the faded girls
Broadway Is Dark Tonight
Goo-Goo Dolls

June 22nd
Graduation Day

Daniel didn’t sleep very much his body was sated and drunk but his mind wouldn’t shut off. Mostly he kept thinking about Antoinette and hoping he wouldn’t have to see her too much in the future. She was a good lay but she wasn’t Calla and he didn’t think he wanted to take her out for a spin again. If she started hanging out at O’Malley’s maybe he’d have to find another place to take his troubles and his money. That was too bad he liked hanging out there.

Still working on getting to hungover he stumbled out of bed and into another shower. He still felt dirty from last night and he was hoping the water would raise him a little bit. Daniel had to be at the school in a few hours and he didn’t want to go to his kids’ graduation looking and feeling like something the dog buried and then the cat dug up and dragged inside the house. Standing under the hot jets, brushing his teeth with one hand and soaping up with the other he couldn’t get the image of Calla standing at the window out of his mind. Over and over throughout last night and now he told himself it wasn’t her. The woman he’d supposedly seen had short strawberry blonde hair and Calla had incredibly long auburn hair. IF anyone had been there it wasn’t her.

Or at least he really hoped it wasn’t her. That wouldn’t be good at all. Nope that wouldn’t help his case one little bit.

After the shower and a bit of breakfast he turned on the morning news to catch up on current events while he dressed in a nice gray suit. On the TV the Arts & Entertainment reporter on MSNBC was telling him about a new artist—Callestah—a protégée of Andrew Hartley and about a whirlwind exhibit in Europe. CALLA told the kids about that just after she left so that was no surprise but the name hit him like a ton of bricks square in the chest. Callestah. He’d heard it before but it just stuck in his craw, the way she’d dropped his name as though it were no longer good enough for her. Yeah, he hated it. Old pictures of her flashed by and then they were on to the next Entertainment story of the morning.

She wasn’t giving out any interviews and it seemed she was avoiding the press like the plague. No one had photographed her since she left Colorado. Daniel supposed Hartley was keeping her sequestered in his brownstone while they got ready for this big to-do. He was surprised they were starting in Europe and that once again she had agreed to go so far away from home. It really just wasn’t like her to travel so much or to go so far away. Maybe she figured the more miles she could put them the better off she was.

Choking down a small handful of ibuprofen to squelch the hangover that was beginning to rear its ugly head he snapped off the TV. Daniel reminded himself that this was a happy day and his troubles weren’t going to spoil it for his kids.

Kids. Nicholas was a married man now. He wasn’t a kid anymore. Colleen he could feel that she was on her way out the door too. She spent more and more time with Terry and Sandy and Daniel didn’t like that. Sandy was all right but he didn’t like seeing her get so serious about one boy so quickly and Calla would outright hate it if she knew. Nicholas she’d forgive, Calla liked Annie and so did he. Annie was a welcome addition to the family. Still, it would have been nice to have a formal wedding rather than having them elope. Calla probably hated that too. She would have loved to plan a wedding for them.

Everything around him, everything that had been solid, was changing. It was all different now. How did that happen? He knew, he had all the pieces, still it just didn’t seem right more than that it didn’t seem fair. Nope it didn’t seem fair in the least. Straightening his tie he walked out of the bedroom and out the front door.

No it isn’t!

He walked over to the glass and looked inside his house. What a view it would have been, crystal clear. There would have been no mistaking what was going on in the living room IF she had been there. Daniel turned away from the window with a heavy heart and kicked something on the porch.

Clink. A little metallic sound was heard.

Daniel looked down at the porch floor. There was a key there. He picked it up, recognized it and clutched it in it his hand. It was the key to the front door.

**

Beneath the wide brimmed hat and dark glasses, Calla hung around far away from the crowd that was starting to gather she watched the people come in. She knew so many of the parents and grandparents here, she’d considered them all friends at one time or another and wanted very much to go up to them and say ‘hello’ but refrained. It was the twins’ day and although the media had been quite lately there was no sense in taking any chances. The football field was really filling up. She thought she’d better find a seat out of the way.

**

“It’s a beautiful day, huh?” Jack asked as he walked down the center aisle looking for a seat with a good view.

“Yeah it’s not so bad.” Daniel agreed.

“Hey, wait up!” Samantha called as she and Amanda rushed to join them with Teal’c and General Hammond close behind.

More than anything Calla wanted to walk right up to Daniel and ask if she could sit with him. However, Fate had another familiar face to throw her way today. The woman he was with last night was coming down the center isle accompanied by a man who was probably her brother and his wife. They saw Daniel and the dark haired woman in the tight red dress sat down next to Daniel while the others sat next to her.

“Hello Daniel,” Antoinette smiled as she took her seat next to him. “How are you this morning?”

Daniel cleared his throat. “Fine,” he said nervously. “What are you doing here?”

“My nephew’s graduating today, if you’d told me I could have just spent the night with you and we could have come together.” She winked at him. “Want to get together for a drink later?”

Some people are saved by the bell but Daniel Jackson was saved by the sounds of Pomp & Circumstance being struck up by the high school band and the graduates were making their grand entrance. Nicholas was by far the tallest of his class and he was very easy to spot in the crowd of the Gold & Red caps and gowns. Colleen was next to him as they walked down to their seats. Daniel watched them closely as they came down the aisle.

“Mom?” Nick whispered to no one and then looked around. Umpa was easy to spot he was leaning up against the fir tree they all smoked cigarettes under. Casting his eyes far down from his Grandfather’s stare there was a small woman with shoulder length strawberry blonde hair hiding beneath a straw hat and glasses. “Mom.” He said louder and smiled wide.

“Where?” Colleen elbowed him in the ribs and Nick pointed as they continued to walk with the other graduates. “Mom!” Colleen gave a big smile and a little wave and Calla waved back.

Daniel turned around to follow their stare and happy faces. He hardly recognized Calla standing with Ares under the tree. She looked so different now, her hair was incredibly short and she’d dyed it. Strawberry blonde. Those clothes! My god, what was up with those clothes? It wasn’t that she didn’t look nice, for a young woman of oh 19 or 20 she looked very sexy indeed but Calla never dressed like that. She liked long flowing pretty clothes and her blue jeans. The hem of that dress was almost up to her ass. It showed off her toned and sexy legs, the ones he always liked to have wrapped around his waist and that wasn’t so bad. In fact it made him smile a little. “She made it, I’ll be damned.”

“Who?”

Daniel nodded his head toward his wife and those who accompanied him today turned in that direction. Calla was too focused on the twins and she didn’t see the others looking at her with wistful smiles. What’s she doing with Ares? Where’s Hartley? What, did she dump him already? Daniel turned his stare away from her and back to the event. Out of nothing but sheer spite he put his arm around the back of Antoinette’s chair. If she was going to stand there so quietly defiant by her Father’s side then just let her bite on that one. Slut.

Nah, dat’s childish, Danny. David chided heavily. Tsk-tsk-tsk

Shut up and go away, Davy.

Pfffffff….Davy gave a loud Bronx Cheer in Daniel’s head. My son is up dare I’m stayin’.

Too bad ya kain’t git dat up fer our wife. Davy huffed. Wot-eva, its yow life, Danny but dun think yew gone pik dat one dare to replace Callie. She ain’t nuttin’ but trailer trash. Talk ‘bout yer sluts! Lookitup ina dic’shon’ary, yew see dat ones pitcher.

Daniel cleared his throat, fussed with the knot of his tie and shifted position in his chair. Yeah, so, ok, Antoinette wasn’t exactly a challenge, he had to give Davy that one.

“Aren’t you gonna go say ‘hello’ or something?” Sam encouraged.

“Maybe later,” Daniel replied. I’m sure she’ll be just thrilled to have me walk up and say ‘hey, how are ya?’ right now.

“Colleen Jackson,” the announcer said and she strolled across the make-shift stage. Colleen accepted her diploma and the man handing them out shook her hand and changed the tassel on the cap to the other side. Colleen looked out into the audience and waved at her Father, she blew a kiss to her Mother and then walked off.

“Nicholas Jackson,” the announcer said and Nick strolled across the stage and went through the same motions. He took smiled at his Father and waved to his Mother before exiting.

Soon the graduates all had their diplomas and were sitting in their assigned seats once more. The Principal of the school wished them the best luck and gold and red hats were tossed high into the air as everyone applauded and whistled their joy and approval, including Calla and Ares of course.

The graduates stood up and marched up the center isle, Nicholas and Colleen broke formation and walked up to their Mother. “Hi,” Nick said sheepishly.

“Hello,” Calla returned. “I told you I would be here.” She smiled and reached out for both of them.

From his seat Daniel turned around to watch the scene. She looked very happy to have her children in her arms again. He just sat there and watched. That feeling of being an outsider, the one he hadn’t had in years, returned to him.

“You should really go say something,” Jack encouraged and gave him a little nudge.

She did keep looking over at him. It would totally stupid of him not to get up and go over there and say something to her.

“I also believe you should do this.” Teal’c told him.

“She didn’t come to see me she came to see them.” Daniel finally said and gestured toward the kids.

“Oh for cryin’ out loud!” Jack groused. “Will you just get up….walk over there….and say something to your wife?” He stopped and then seemed to rethink his statement. “Something nice.” Jack clarified his earlier statement.

Taking a big breath to steel his nerves and wishing for a shot of liquid courage, Daniel stood up and began to make his way over to where they were standing. What was he going to say to her? It was obvious she saw him with Antoinette last night. That probably wasn’t what she was hoping for when she showed up on his door so late in the evening with her key in her hand.

If you don’t shut up I swear to God I’ll…..

They were within earshot now. “I have to go.” Calla said to them as she held out a hand to each of them. Nick took the one in the hard cast in his own and held it as lightly as he could. “I love you both. I’m so very proud of you. Both of you.” She gave their hands a tight squeeze. “I’ll be gone for a while but I’ll be back.” It was obvious to everyone that his approaching was making her nervous and she wanted to run.

Ares stopped her. He put his big hands on her shoulders to keep her in place while Daniel made his way through the crowd. “Don’t I get a ‘hello’?” He asked his Grandchildren.

“Umpa,” they mumbled in unison and cast their stare to the grass below. Neither of them wanted to talk to him.

“Family,” Ares sighed, “you gotta love it.” Daniel was within spitting distance now and Ares let go of her shoulders. “Congratulations,” he said to the twins.

“Hello, Calla.” Daniel said in as soft a voice as he could muster under the circumstances.

“Daniel,” she returned in the same tone.

“What’d you do to your hair?” He asked as he stood between the kids. “What’s with the clothes and the dark glasses?”

“It’s a new look,” she said with a heavy sigh and brought her good hand up to touch the ends of her lighter shorter hair.

“Do you think you could take the glasses off? The hat too, we all know who you are.”

Calla removed the offending items from her head and face and took in a deep breath before she looked up at him without hiding behind the dark frames. “How are you?”

“Hanging in,” Daniel told her with a terse expression. He was sorry he asked her to take the glasses and hat off. Her eyes were bloodshot and absolutely swimming in her head. Daniel knew she thought she was looking at him but her eyes kept drifting away. That was because she was rocked and seeing more than one of him, she didn’t know which one to look at.

The hat, he had sort of hoped that bad hair cut was a wig, possibly one that was attached to the hat but it wasn’t. She’d chopped it all off then layered and colored it. Hartley probably loved it but between the hair and the ultra short skirt he wondered where his wife had gone and who the cheap hooker in front of him was. “You?”

“Yeah, same.” Calla mumbled.

“Hello, Ares.” Daniel looked up as his soon-to-be ex-father in-law but didn’t hold out his hand. “What are you doing here?”

“Jackson.” Ares acknowledged Daniel’s presence. “It’s a family event and I ‘m still family.”

“So you are.” Daniel agreed begrudgingly and looked back at Calla. “Where’s Hartley?”

But he couldn’t help it, as much as he wanted to he just couldn’t stop himself. Every step he took to get over here made him angrier and angrier. Standing here looking at her when she was like…like..THIS…he just wanted to grab her and shake her and scream ‘wake up!’ in her face. Why the hell couldn’t she see what was going on? What the fuck was wrong with her?

By now Andy had gotten the message and she’d gotten the 8 voice mails he’d left. Calla knew Andy was on his way to Colorado. “He’ll be here anytime I’m sure.”

That was just great. Well, at least she’d had the sense not to bring him here. “So I suppose you’ll be leaving soon?”

“Yes, momentarily, I assure you.” She told him.

“We’re having a little party back at the house,” Nick said quickly since it looked like his stupid Father wouldn’t say anything. “You could come back with us, have some cake and a Coke. We could talk a little.” He invited. “Mom, I’m so sorry about your hands,” he choked, “you gotta know I never meant to hurt you.”

“I know,” she smiled at her son. “Don’t worry it’s all right. My hands are going to be just fine.”

Annie came over to join them she put her around her husband’s waist and leaned her head against his side. “Mrs. J? Is that you?” She said in a low but happy voice. “Hi.”

“Hello, Annie.” Calla looked from one to the other and then at their ring fingers where there were two silver rings on each hand. Calla reached out and hugged the small girl. “Congratulations,” she whispered in Annie’s ear. “I know you’ll make my Son very happy.” Calla broke the embrace as she turned to Nicholas. “I’d love to stay in fact I’d like nothing better than to spend time with you.” She looked from her Son to her Daughter and quickly glanced up at the man she once called Husband. “I have to catch a plane I have a very important appointment in Geneva.” She explained. “I just can’t miss it. But, I really wanted to be here to see you and keep my promise.”

Daniel found it most difficult to make his throat work. He knew what he wanted to say but it just wouldn’t come out. Finally he managed: “I don’t mind if you come back to the house.” Her excuse sounded like Calla Speak to his ears. If she wanted to spend some time with her children he’d put up with it somehow.

Well, that was very nice of him. Very gentlemanly, very adult indeed. Score one for Daniel Jackson. However, that pretty but slightly round brunette was done congratulating whoever the boy was and was starting to turn her attention back to Daniel. If she was going back to the house there was no way Calla was going back to the house.

Fate intervenes in moments like this and has a nasty sense of humor about it to boot. “There you are, love. Did you forget we have an appointment?” Andrew Hartley said with a cold smile as he came up from behind them. He was still reeling from the sheer and utter gall of her departure. He was so angry in fact that he had limousine meet him at the airport because he was afraid to drive. “Hello, Daniel.”

“Hartley,” Daniel returned through tight lips and watched the man slip an arm around Calla’s slender waist. You fucking son of a bitch! Get your hands off of her!

“I haven’t forgotten,” she stuttered as she looked up at Andy. The anger was clear in both mens’ eyes. “I was just telling them you’d be here at any moment.”

“And here I am.” He told her while looking at the rest of them. Andrew wasn’t sure what he’d just walked in on but she seemed happy to see him as she slipped her around him so he thought he’d follow her and see where she led him. “And who is this large fellow?” Andy asked as he took in Ares.

“Andrew Hartley,” Calla mumbled, “this is my Father, Ares. Ares, Andrew Hartley.” She finished the introduction in a groaning voice.

“Ares, hey?” Hartley’s eyes lit up as he put out his hand. For the love of God, the man really honestly could be Ares Greek God of War! Not only that but looking at the two of them almost side by side, Nicholas was a miniature—if one could use that word in regard to Nicholas—version of his Grandfather. There was no denying that this was the man in the painting with Callestah and Daniel, the one she had yet to finish.

“Yes.” Ares’ big mitt closed down harshly while he shook Hartley’s hand. “I hear you’ve been keeping my Daughter company.”

“That I have,” Andy admitted and tried to take his hand away from the crushing force. Out of the corner of his eye he thought he saw Daniel smile at his predicament. “She’s a wonderful girl.”

“Don’t you forget it,” Ares squeezed Andy’s hand so tight Andy thought all the bones there would just shatter to ash before he let go.

“I promise I shan’t forget.” Andy swore and shook his sore paw to bring the blood supply back. “Anyway, Nicholas, Colleen, congratulations on a job well done.” Andy smiled. “Darlin’, we have to go now.”

“Give your Mother a hug.” She said to the kids and they came as she asked. “I love you both, don’t forget that. I’ll be back in a while, be good until then. Don’t give your Father too hard of a time, ok?”

“Can’t you come back just for a little while?” Colleen asked with hopeful eyes.

“No, dear, I’m afraid she can’t.” Andy answered for Calla.

Daniel had about enough of watching this little exchange. “Why can’t she, Mr. Hartley? I mean, it is graduation day and she should be here to celebrate it with her children.” Daniel watched Calla’s mouth drop open as he spoke it was as if she couldn’t believe he might actually be standing up for her in some small way. He couldn’t help it everything in him that was angry at either Calla or himself or Ares turned its attention to Andrew Fucking Hartley and he just wanted to choke the ever loving shit out of the little bastard. But yet he stood still and kept his composure while he waited for Hartley to reply.

She watched him with Antoinette last night—and, with whom he’d been sitting throughout the graduation ceremony—and that was very difficult to explain, she probably didn’t want to hear it anyway but she was still too much of a Lady to even hint at what she’d witnessed. Did she really think she was better off with that snake? Were his promises of fame and fortune so grand and appealing they were worth walking out on everything they’d worked for over 18 years? Did he hurt her that much? Yeah, he probably did. She put up with his past infidelity and found a way to choke it down even before it was revealed that Rowan was really Psyche. This, this was just a little too big for her to swallow. Twenty+ women, and Medea and now Antoinette and you could toss in a pinch of Psyche and add a pinch of Sha’re just for good measure. What woman could forgive all that? Who the hell was he to stand here and judge her and what she was doing?

“Sorry, Daniel, but we’ve a plane to catch. It’ll take us an hour to get back to Denver and the plane leaves for Switzerland at two.” Andy said sternly and then turned to Calla. “If we leave right now we’ll just make it with enough time for check in.” He turned back to the twins. “I’m very sorry to have to whisk your mother away like this but it really is time we left. This was just a short little trip to surprise the two of you she was….very insistent about it.”

I bet she was. No one was more surprised than Daniel when Calla said she wasn’t going to be able to make it to the graduation after all. She ran away from him, that was how she got here today. Calla just did what she did best and found whatever means she could to get done what she had to. Hartley was pissed. Score One for Calla maybe she wasn’t as far gone as he thought. “What’s so important in Switzerland that it can’t wait for a later flight?” Daniel asked. “I mean I’ve heard about this European tour you’re doing, Ki…” he cleared his throat, “Calla….but I thought it didn’t start for another month or more.”

“Yes, what could it be?” Ares intoned and loomed over Andrew Hartley. “Hum, chocolates or coo-coo clocks?”

Andy’s eyes narrowed on the big man but he didn’t dare take Ares on. “It’s Callestah,” Andy corrected as he turned his attention back to Daniel. “She goes by Callestah now, you know, like Elvis or Cher.” He smiled. “Calla Jackson it’s just such a bland and boring name.” He complained lightly. “Callestah,” he let the name roll off his tongue in an easy whisper, “it just has so much more pop, don’t you think Daniel?”

“Come on one more hug.” Calla said quickly and held her arms out to Nicholas.

He couldn’t help it he scooped her up and picked her off the ground. “I love you, Mom. Don’t go.” Nick said in her ear. “You can stay with Annie and me.” Sensing it was the last time he was going to see her for a long while his arms wrapped tighter around and his big hand caressed her back, the soft cotton blouse wasn’t much cover.

Calla felt him tighten and draw in a hard breath. “Don’t say anything, promise me.” Calla whispered to her son.

“Mom,” he looked over her shoulder from Ares to Hartley and his own Father while he stroked the bumpy knotted skin under the flimsy shirt. “What….Hartley, I’ll kill…”

“It wasn’t Andy,” she was choking back tears as she hid her face in his long hair. “Please don’t tell anyone. I love you Nicholas please do this for me.”

Nicholas felt ill as he settled her back to the ground. “All right.” He whispered and then let go of her. “I love you, Mom. See you soon.”

“Yes.” Calla agreed and hugged Colleen and whispered to her she loved her and everything would be all right. “Good bye.”

Andrew Hartley escorted her away from them. “Gonna let her go, Jackson?” Ares hissed.

“Shut up.” Daniel returned in a snotty tone. “Why don’t you go after her?”

“Me? She doesn’t want me to chase her.” Ares stepped back, waved a good-bye to the kids then stepped around to the other side of the large fir tree and never emerged. He just disappeared back to his island and his cave.

“I never thought I’d find myself agreeing with Ares,” Jack said as he came up from behind, “but, yeah, Daniel, are you just gonna let her go off with him?”

“Did she look like she wanted to stay?” Daniel asked as he turned around and pushed his glasses up on the bridge of his nose. “I didn’t hear her saying anything like that. She came to see the kids and that’s it.”

“That’s it? Oh, come on.”

“Will you both just shut up?!” He turned back to see Calla and Hartley climbing into a stretch limo and pulling out of the high school parking lot.

“Both?” Jack looked around at Sam and Teal’c who were standing there but hadn’t said anything, they shrugged their shoulders and gave out little ‘I dunno’ glances to each other. “Who else is talking to you, Daniel?”

“You wouldn’t understand.” He couldn’t see the car anymore and he turned away from the hill and back to the group of people standing with him. “Come on let’s go back to the house. We’ve still got a celebration to get to.” Hang-dog expressions greeted him. “Your Mother would want you to celebrate even without her. She’s very proud of both of you.”

That was the nicest thing Dad said about Mom in weeks. “Ok,” they agreed and everyone met back at 1 North Cemetery Drive for a cook out and celebration for Nicholas and Colleen Jackson.

End of Chapter Two
Tarnished Heroes: Broadway is Dark Tonight--Daniel's Story
Continue to
Chapter Three