Chapter Five

Coming out of the dark
Gloria Estefan

Morning came and went it rolled into afternoon before Daniel and Calla woke to the sound of a ringing cell phone. Daniel grabbed for it. “Dad! Dad!” Nick shouted. “You and Mom have to come home right now, Coley’s having the baby.”

“Is she all right?” Daniel asked as he was jarred into wakefulness. “Nick?”

“Daniel what’s wrong?” Calla sat up.

“Colleen’s in labor.”

“We have to go home...now.” She told him and sprinted out of the bed to get dressed.

“We’re on our way.”

“I don’t think there’s time for a plane trip, Dad. I’ll come and get you. Tell Mom not to worry, she’s not alone, Annie’s with her.” Nicholas hung up the phone.

“Nick’s on his way to get us.” Daniel told his wife who was already tossing blue jeans on and a shirt over her head.

“Oh a grandchild!” She cried softly. “I never thought I’d be blessed with such a wonderful event. We must hurry, I don’t want her to be alone and scared. I want to be with her.”

“I know you do. So do I.” Daniel tossed his own clothes on and they both headed for the bedroom door. “Nick says Annie’s with her, everything’ all right.” He assured her.

“Stan? Stan?” Calla called out to the empty house. “Stan?” No answer. “Where is he?”

“I don’t know, Kitty.” Daniel said hurriedly and they dashed down the stairs.

On the kitchen table they found an envelope with Calla’s name on it and the stone she’d found in the soup last night. Calla took it up in shaking hands and opened it.

There was another piece of paper in the envelope and Calla opened it. “Oh my God! Daniel!” She shouted. “Daniel!”

“What is it, Kitty? What’s wrong?”

“Look!” She held the paper out to him with tearful eyes. “Duncan’s signed the house over to us. It’s ours.”

The first thing Daniel thought was that he couldn’t wait for the weather to get warm so they could make love in the garden by the wishing well just like she’d always dreamed of. “He must love you very much.” Daniel said without jealousy. “Almost as much as I do.”

Nicholas suddenly appeared at the kitchen door. “Come on you two, the baby won’t wait!” He said happily. “My niece is very impatient.” He remarked with a smile.

“Oh, Nicholas!” Calla threw her arms around her Son. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” He glanced nervously at his Father. “You all right, Mom?”

“Right as rain.” Calla told him.

“Come on then, ready?”

“Yes.” Daniel said. “We’re ready.” He looked over at Calla who looked excited but also as though she were on the verge of passing out. “Breathe, honey.” He encouraged. “Everything’s all right. We’re gonna have a grandbaby!” He smiled at her and took her hands in his. “Everything is going to be fantastic!”

“Let’s go.” She said to both of them. “Hurry! Hurry! I don’t want to miss this!”

“Calm down, Ma. You won’t miss it.” Nicholas told her and took both their hands in his. They disappeared from the Scottish kitchen and reappeared in the SGC.

“Oh God, I’m glad you’re here!” Sandy said when the three of them appeared in the corridor. “Where have you BEEN?” Sandy shouted and started pacing around nervously. “I don’t know what to do. What am I supposed to do? Tell me what to do.” He rambled. “I’m gonna be a dad.” He moaned. “Oh God! I don’t know if I can do this.”

Daniel knew just how the young man felt. “It’s ok, Sandy. Coley’s gonna be fine, the baby’s gonna be fine.” He encouraged. “I thought you didn’t want anything to do with this baby.” He said suddenly wondering why the boy was here.

“Are you kidding?!” Sandy groused. “That’s my parents, they’re idiots! I know this is my baby, I know it I don’t need any stupid DNA test to prove it. I love Coley and this baby. I don’t want anything to happen to them. Please tell me they’re both going to be all right, Doctor Jackson.”

“They’re going to be fine, Sandy, just fine.” Daniel told the shaking boy. “You’ll see.”

“Yeah in no time at all you’ll be making child support payments.” Nicholas told him.

“Shut up big guy!” Sandy yelled. “I ain’t gonna be making no fucking child support payments. I’m gonna ask her to marry me. I shoulda done it a long time ago. Geez I hate my parents!” He grumbled.

“Just hang in there, Sandy.” Calla said to him and then turned to Nicholas and Daniel. “I’m going in.”

“Tell her we love her and that we’re all waiting.” Daniel told his wife and then kissed her. “Go get ‘em.”

Waiting in the corridor was agony. Soon Annie came out but she didn’t have any news other than things seemed to be going well inside the delivery room and that she’d been asked to wait outside with them.

“Hey, grandpa!” Jack said in a loud happy voice. “Not long now, huh?” He was joined by Sam and Teal’c.

“Let’s hope not, I don’t think any of us can take the suspense much longer.” Daniel said and paced around the corridor with the rest of them.

“Mom!” Colleen cried when she saw Calla. “Oh Momma it hurts!”

“I know honey but it’ll be over soon and it’s all going to be much more than just worth it, you’ll see.” Calla told her Daughter and came to her side to hold her hand. “I love you, honey. I can’t wait to see my grandbaby.” She said with tears in her eyes. “I’m so proud of you.”

“You are?” Colleen asked through the labor contractions. “Ohhhh.” She groaned as another one hit.

“Yes, very.” Calla eased Coley’s brow. “You’re going to be a wonderful Mother. Sandy’s here, did you know that?”

“N-no.” She groaned again. “Is he ok?”

“He’s very worried about you and his baby. So’s your father and Nicholas and Annie and I think I saw Uncle Jack and Sam in the hall before I came in.” She said happily and then picked up a towel and dipped in it a contained of water by the bed. Calla laid on Coley’s forehead and dabbed the sweat away from her eyes. “I think Sandy loves you, maybe I misjudged him.” Calla admitted.

“OK, here we go.” Dr. Adams said from between Coley’s legs. “Ready or not. One, two, three…come on, Colleen PUSH!”

“You can do it.” Calla encouraged and pushed Colleen into a sitting position while she bared down with the contraction. “Come on honey, that’s it. Keep going.” She cheered.

“Ok stop.” Adams said.

“Rest, take a breath and rest.” Calla said. “Everything’s all right.”

“It hurts, Mom it hurts.” She groaned

“I know but it’ll all be worth it, you’ll see. Just as soon as that baby is in your arms you’ll forget all about this.”

“Promise?” Another contraction hit. “Oh!”

“I promise.” Calla told her Daughter. “Come on honey, PUSH.”

Crying out in pain and sweating Colleen bared down again. “It hurts. Help me.”

“I’m right here.” Calla told her and held her hand. “I love you honey.”

“I’ve got the head!” Dr. Adams said joyously. “Not long now, Colleen. Come on, one more.” The labor was going faster than he anticipated as the next contraction hit before the last one was fully over. “PUSH!”

“Ahhhhhh,” Coley was brought to a sitting position by her Mother once more. “I can’t do this, I’m tired and it hurts.” She cried.

“Yes you can, you’re almost there. We’ve almost got a baby. Come on, honey, stay with me just a little longer.” Calla told her. “Just a little bit.”

Out the in hallway everyone was waiting and worrying. “What’s taking so long?” Sandy demanded to know.

Back and forth, back and forth the seven of the paced the hallway and waited for the new arrival to the Jackson family. Daniel didn’t think he could take it much longer, if that door didn’t open soon he was going to burst through it.

“PUSH!” Adams demanded.

“Oh God it hurts!” Colleen cried out but bared down as he told her to.

“Come on, Coley.” Calla cheered as though she were Colleen’s person cheerleading squad. “You can do it.”

“I’ve got the shoulders.” Adam said. “One more, Colleen, just one more. Ready?”

“Mom?”

“You can do it.”

“And…PUSH.” Dr. Adams ordered.

Calla pushed Coley into a sitting position. “Come on, baby, you can do it.”

“Oh, ah, oh,” Colleen cried and pushed and pushed until….

“Wahhhh, waahhh, waah,”

Adams looked up at both of them. “Yep, it’s a girl.” He said joyously. “Look at your daughter, Colleen. You did great.” He told her and lay the baby on her belly before the nurses took her away to clean her up. The newborn girl had a mass of curl red hair and bright green eyes.

“Oh, Colleen, look!” Calla cried out happily. “Oh she’s beautiful, she’s perfect.” Tears were spilling down her cheeks. “You did it, Momma.”

The newborn baby squirmed and cried on her Mother’s belly. “Do you want the honors?” Adams asked Calla and held up a pair of scissors.

“May I?” She asked Colleen.

“Go for it, Mom.” Colleen beamed as she held her new daughter in her arms and watched her Mother cut the umbilical cord. “Here you are, so you’re the one who’s been giving me so much trouble.” Colleen said and brushed the tears away from her face. “I’m your Mom.”

The sound of the crying baby brought everyone rushing into the delivery room. “Is that? Is she?” Daniel asked.

“Wanna hold your granddaughter, Dad?” Colleen asked.

“You know I do.” Daniel said and took his newborn granddaughter in his arms. “Hello you I’m your grandpa. I’m so glad you’re here.” He kissed Colleen. “You did great, kiddo” He said. He shouldn’t be so selfish there was someone else waiting to hold and greet this little bundle of joy. “And this,” he said as he handed the baby over, “is your dad.”

Sandy held out shaking arm to accept his new daughter. “Hi there” he said to the little girl. “I’m gonna take such good care of you, I’m gonna spoil you rotten little princess.” He kissed the baby’s head and went to Colleen’s side. “And you too, that is if you’ll let me” He said.

“I think that’ll be ok.” Colleen told him and looked at her daughter. “She’s pretty cool, huh?”

“Very cool. The coolest.” Sandy said.

“Well look at that,” Nick said, “you finally did something right, runt.” He was beaming from ear to eat at his new niece. “She’s awesome and so are you.” Nick pushed Sandy out of the way so he could kiss his sister.

“Great job.” Calla said and wiped the tears away.

“The best.” Daniel agreed and put his arm around his wife. “See I told you everything was going to be great.”

“So you did.” Calla agreed. “She’s beautiful, isn’t she? Both of them.”

“The best.” Jack said from behind them. “Congratulations, Colleen. Welcome to Planet Earth….ah, what are you gonna call her?”

“Calla Lilly.” Colleen said. “Her name is Calla Lilly.”

“Oh, Coley you don’t….”

“I want to, Mom and so does she. She says she’s very proud to have her Grandmother’s name. But we’ll call her Lilly if you want.”

“Lilly,” Calla said and peeked over Sandy’s arms at her new granddaughter. “It’s perfect for her. I love you, both of you. All of you.” She said to everyone in the room as she wept tears of joy. “You’re Daddy’s not the only one who’s going to spoil you rotten.” She promised. “Your grandpa and I are going to spoil you so much it will drive your parents crazy!” Calla smiled and reached out for Daniel.

“She’s really beautiful.” Sam said. “May I?” She asked Sandy.

“Yeah, sure. Hey, Lilly this is your Aunt Sam.” Sandy said as he handed the baby over to her.

Taking the newborn in her arms Sam looked at Daniel. “I can’t believe you’re a grandfather.” She said. “I remember when we first saw you on Abydos.”

“Yeah, not exactly grandfather material then, huh?” Daniel asked with a smile.

“No but you are now.” Sam said and bounced the baby in her arms. “Hey, Lilly, this is your Uncle Teal’c.” Sam tried to give the baby to him but Teal’c hesitated. “Oh, come on, she won’t bite she doesn’t even have any teeth yet.”

Teal’c opened his arms and she put the baby in them. “Hello, Calla Lilly.” Teal’c said. “You have a very honored name and you have a wonderful family who will love you and care for you and give you everything you could ever want or need.” He looked at Calla and Daniel and then at Colleen. “She really is beautiful, Colleen. We will all make sure that she never wants for anything, this I promise.”

“I know, Teal’c.” Colleen said and sat up on the bed. “Do you think I could hold her now?”

“Oh, of course.” Teal’c said and put the newborn in her mother’s arms. “Perhaps we should leave them alone for a while.” He suggested.

“Yeah,” Jack agreed. “Come by my office before you go,” he said to Daniel, “I’ve got some good news for you too.” Jack, Sam and Teal’c left the room.

“We’ll go too so you can get acquainted.” Calla said. “I can’t wait for you to meet you Uncle Stan.” She said to the baby.

“Who?” Colleen and Nicholas asked.

“It’s a long story, we’ll fill you in later.” Daniel told them. “But yeah, Stan’s going to be thrilled too.” Daniel said and kissed his wife. “Come on, let’s go. We’ll be right outside if you need us.”

Once in the hall Calla turned to Annie. “So, when is it going to be your turn? I want lots of grandchildren.”

“Oh,” Annie blushed. “I don’t know Mrs. J…..”

“Soon, Mom.” Nicholas said. “Real soon.”

“Good because I’ve got a twenty bedroom house in Scotland that I need to fill to the rafters.”

“A what?” Nicholas asked. “Yeah, yeah, I know it’s a long story you’ll fill me in later.”

“You got it.” Daniel said.

Calla didn’t want to bring the subject up but he should be here. “We have to call…we have to tell…”

“Ares!” Daniel yelled to the air. “Ares! Come and meet your great-granddaughter!” There was no anger in his voice.

There was a bright flash of red light in the hall. “She’s here?” Ares asked with great joy and anticipation.

“Yes Father, Calla Lilly has arrived.” Calla told him. “Knock before you go in.”

Ares let out a harrumph but knocked on the door and waited to hear ‘come in’ before opening it. “By the Gods! She’s gorgeous!” Was heard throughout the base.

In the hallway Calla laughed but then gave her Husband a hesitant gaze. “It’s ok, Kitty, we’ll work it out. All of it. If you can stand him so can I.” Daniel told her. “He is family.”

“Thank you, Daniel.”

“Yeah.”

Suddenly there were a thousand thoughts running through her mind. “Is the nursery ready? Do we have a crib? We have to have a crib and a bassinet and a playpen and a rocker and a stroller…and…”

“Slow down!” Daniel cried out with a smile. Behind him Nick and Annie laughed they’d all been very busy making ready for the new baby. “I’ve got most it covered. Don’t worry, we’re ready.”

“Wonderful,” she said with a smile. “Now do you have…” Suddenly there was a cell phone and business card in front of her; Duncan MacLeod Antiques and Antiquities. “You read my mind sometimes, don’t you?”

“I’m getting pretty good at it, don’t you think?” Daniel said and sat her down in the chair in the hall. “You call Stan, I’m gonna talk to Jack for a minute, ok?” Calla was already dialing she couldn’t wait to tell Duncan the news. “Why don’t you two go get something to eat,” he said to Nick and Annie, “or go back to the house. Colleen and the baby won’t come home until tomorrow and if I take her back to Scotland for the night you can have the house to yourselves.” Daniel invited.

“Subtle, Dad, real subtle.” Nick cracked with a wide smile. “I guess you’d like us to get started on that second grandchild?”

“Look at her,” Daniel said softly and tossed his head toward Calla. “She’s absolutely beaming. When’s the last time you saw her like that?”

“When she graduated.” Nick said without thinking about it. “Yeah that’s the last time I saw Mom smile that much.”

“Stan! Stan! Guess what!” She was saying into the small cell phone. “I’ve got a granddaughter!”

“We should all always be that happy.”

“Be nice, huh?” Nick asked and put his arm around Annie. “What do ya say? Wanna get started?” He asked with a wink and raise of his eye brow.

“Well we can try,” Annie cooed knowing she’d have to stop taking birth control first and having the entire house all to themselves for the night did sound good.

“We’ll see you tomorrow night, I’m sure she won’t want to stay longer than that now.” Daniel told them. “Everything ready at the house?”

“Yes…Dad…”Annie stumbled over the last word. Nicholas told her that he’d like it if she would consider not being so formal with his Father and that he thought Daniel would like it as well. Daniel did, he smiled wide at the word. “The nursery’s ready and all of…Mom’s…things are back where they belong.”

“You’ve got a great wife, you know that?” Daniel asked his son. “Hold on to her. Don’t ever let her go.”

“Don’t worry, Dad, I won’t.” Nick smiled kissed his wife and they walked off down the hall in one direction while Daniel took off in the other towards Jacks’ office.

“So what have you got for me?” Daniel asked as he sat down in the chair opposite Jacks’ desk.

“You’re not gonna believe this,” Jack said with a smile. “Hartley was so fucking arrogant he didn’t think he’d die so he didn’t leave a will.”

“You’re kidding?”

“Nope.” Jack laughed. “He was an ass. According to the terms of their contract if he should die before the end of the term the paintings or whatever artwork reverted back to their owner. The paintings are Callas’.”

“Why would he do that?”

“My guess?” Jack asked. “He was an ego manicial jackass. Probably wanted to find out how far he could push his artists before one of them tried to kill him. Too bad that clause is in really teeny tiny print or someone would have done it long ago.”

“No shit.” Daniel intoned. “They’re hers?”

“Yeah, well, I mean, she is still obligated to go through with the show at the New York Museum of Art and she is still obligated to put them for auction through Sotheby’s.” Jack said in an uneasy tone. “BUT, they said you can set a reserve price and if it’s not met you don’t have to sell the painting. So if there’s something she really wants to keep you can set the price so high no one will want to bid.” Jack suggested.

“Whatever money they bring is hers?”

“Aren’t you listening? Y-E-S.” Jack said with a toss of his head. “It’s all hers…yours…together…whatever. By the way, how’s its goin’? How's she doin'?

“Better than I hoped. Man do I have story to tell you when we get back.” Daniel said with a smile. “You’re gonna love it.”

“Back? Where ya goin’?”

“I’m taking her back to Scotland just for the night. Colleen and Lilly will come home tomorrow and Calla won’t want to be away from them but until then…she’s mine.”

“Sounds promising.”

“It is.” Daniel said with a wink and got up. “Thanks Jack. I suppose we’ll be having a big Welcome Home Party for Coley and Lilly this weekend you and everyone, we’d be very happy to have you.”

“And we wouldn’t miss it.” Jack told him.

“See you Saturday?”

“Around…oh…four?”

“Sounds good.”

“See you then.” Jack watched Daniel walk out of his office with a happy heart.

The End
Tarnished Heroes: Detox Mansion
by
Moon Mistress
a/k/a Lisa Beth Darling