The Cradle Will Fall; Gods Playing Poker
by
Moon Mistress
a/k/a
Lisa Beth Darling

Being an Olympian did have its perks, one could go from Colorado, USA to a small Greek Island in under fifteen seconds and that was just the start. The world outside Ares’ cave and indeed his own world inside were torn asunder by one of his most favored Sons and his ex-lover. Ares’ women lay scattered all over his home, their bodies a tangled bloody mess. Holding Enya’s premature daughter in his protective arms Ares couldn’t help but feel sad as he looked around at the women who had served him well and been his companions. They were good women fine women who did not deserve this Fate. Now Hades had his black mitts on them. The women who returned with him wept and wailed while they gathered the bodies and took them outside to the where the sea met the sand.

“Aren’t you going to help them?” Zeus inquired looking at the wailing working women.

“No,” Ares returned, “this is good for them let them do it. They will come and get me when it’s time to light the fire.” It took him a while to build his stable as high as he had, which was still puny by Olympian standards. Well, it seemed that Ares’ own standards were getting higher and higher as the years went by. “Tula!” He shouted out. “Bring Nectar and food then you can go back to doing this, we must tend our guests.”

“Yes, My Lord,” Tula agreed. “Shall I take the baby?” Reaching toward him she held her arms out ready to do just that.

Ares turned his big body away from her. “I’ll keep her with me for now. Go and bring libations.” As she left to do h is bidding Ares gestured toward the rugged wooden table and the eight chairs around it. The air was chilly and so with just his mind Ares lit the fire in the large hearth bringing an orange glow and radiating warmth to the room. Callestah was right the baby was pitifully small. Zeus took a seat at the head of the table nearest the newly lit fire. Poseidon sat at his right, Morpheus to his left. “Get up,” Ares said to the lesser of them. “The baby is cold she needs to be near the fire.” Morpheus started to say something but then just gave a wane smile and moved down one chair. Ares sat next to his Father with the baby in his arms. Achilles took a seat near Poseidon where he could keep an eye on all of them.

“You’re going to need a wet nurse,” Zeus intoned wearily.

“Don’t you remember? They have bottles.” Ares reminded his Father. “We’ll get some of those, some diapers and some clothes.”

The others seated around him just looked from one to the other but said nothing.

Tula walked into the room with a large silver tray laden with Nectar, chalices, grapes, figs, tomatoes with oil and basil, some cold meats. “Anything else my Lord?”

“Yes, go into the bedroom, get the wallet and bring it here.”

Another queer but silent look passed among those at the table.

A black leather wallet was presented to Ares who took a credit card from it….Visa….Platinum. “Take this and the boat, get everything she needs. Whatever it is whatever it costs I don’t care just get everything.”

“If you say so, my Lord.” Tula’s dark eyes lit up as she plucked the card from his hand with her slender fingers. It had been a long time since she’d gone shopping. “I will get everything I believe she needs.”

“Be quick about it.” He ordered. She was off and on her way with a bounce in her step.

“What was that thing you gave her?” Achilles asked pouring himself a chalice of Nectar.

Poseidon leaned in close to look his nephew in the eye. “It’s a credit card, isn’t it Ares?”

Ares grunted but said nothing.

“A credit card? You’re going to pay for the things this child needs with mortal tender?” Zeus asked. “I don’t believe it.” Now it was Zeus who leaned across the table, his old gray head joining that of his Brother. “What’s gotten in to you? Are you ill, Ares?”

“Oh for gods sake! Shut up!” Ares roared and the tiny infant in his arms let out a shrill cry. “Now see what you’ve made me do.” He huffed.

“Who would ever give you credit?” Morpheus asked as he drank from his own glass of the warm brew.

“First Bank of Greece,” Ares admitted in a much softer voice. “I’ve managed to collect a lot of….mortal tender of the last eighteen years.” He offered. “I have Triple A credit.”

“Do you have one of those…..” Zeus twirled his hand in the air, “what do you call it? Li—Drivers licenses too?”

“Yes,” Ares said begrudgingly. “And six cars on the mainland.”

“Six?” Zeus said with a mocking pride. “Let me see it, hand it over to me it must be in that strange purse you carry.”

“It’s a wallet not a purse.” Ares said as he fished through the items in his wallet and handed over his driver’s license.

Zeus took in the photograph of his Son and then read the name out loud. “Aristotle Pappathanisou.” He pursed his lips, nodded his head approvingly and tossed the plastic card onto the table. “That’s not you, I mean the picture is you but…..”

“No one names their son Ares anymore, old man.” The God of War grumbled plucking his driver’s license from the old man’s hand.

Zeus leaned in further toward his Son. “A good Greek man always names at least one son and one daughter for the Gods.”

“Times change.” Ares returned stuffing the wallet into his pocket.

“You’re part of their world.” Achilles voice sounded more like an accusation than a statement. “You have dealings with them? Cars? What are those? Whatever they are, you probably have property of theirs as well, don’t you? What has gotten in to you? This is not the Ares Bloodthirsty God of War that I knew.” His eyes narrowed on the baby. “The Ares I knew would slay that runt.”

Baby held snug and safe in one arm Ares snatched out with the other to grab Achilles by the throat—always his favorite opening move.

“He’s right. My Son would sooner kill that child, especially given its parentage. Yet here you are ready to raise it? What’s going on Ares?”

Applying a last burst of pressure to Achilles neck Ares shoved him back into his chair. “Enya was a good woman. I promised her this child would grow up strong.” Ares put both arms around the baby.

“Jackson? What of him?” It was Poseidon who eased back in his chair on his own taking a glass of Nectar and plate of food with him. “What will you tell Callestah?”

“Surely once she regains her senses she will discover this is her Husband’s child.” Achilles added. “Having just lost her own, how do you think she’ll feel about that?”

“We may never know,” Ares intoned looking down at the premature little girl. Without raising his eyes he asked. “Is there anything you can do help her, Father?”

Dead silence. One could have heard the proverbial pin drop onto the dirt floor at their feet. It took Zeus a moment to realize Ares was talking to him and another moment or two after that to form a response. He couldn’t remember the last time his Son called him ‘Father’, it was usually Old Man. Zeus looked around the room for some imaginary man. “Oh, me? Were you talking to me?” The old God pointed to himself and grinned. “What would you have me do, Ares?” Zeus did not want to risk antagonizing his Son further at the child’s expense but he did want Ares to be clear on this.

“I don’t know. Make her bigger. Make her stronger.”

“Make it so that she will live, huh?” Zeus asked.

“Yes.”

“Why?” He popped a juicy red grape into his mouth. It had been years since he’d tasted Earth food and the grape was sweet it made him smile so he popped another one into his mouth. “What of Jackson and Callestah?” Another grape into his old jaws and he pointed at Ares. “What trick have you got up your sleeve?” Two grapes this time were squished and juiced between his teeth.

“All right, I admit it,” Ares groused loudly and the baby jumped in his arms. “I was going to hold her over Jackson’s head and use her to force him into give Callestah up to me.”

“Ah,” Zeus said with a happy smile, popping the last grape into his mouth. Grabbing a handful of cashews from the tray he eased back in the chair he held his arms out to Ares, “that’s my Son. So, go on fill us in.” He began chomping on the nuts.

“Why shouldn’t he give her up?” Achilles said from his place at the table. “Jackson slept with Ares’ Consort, he impregnated her, Callestah should be told of his infidelity.”

Good old Achilles always thinking two moves ahead and already trying to get the pieces on the board to line up at his advantage. “I said I was going to do that.” Ares reiterated in an unpleasant voice but not enough to make the little girl jump once more. “Jackson was not unfaithful, well not this time.” Ares huffed. He went on to tell them how Enya had been given the task of watching over Jackson while Ares was busy with Callestah for two days. How Enya eventually became jealous of the amount of time Ares spent doing what he was doing with her and how that lead Enya to engage in sex with an unconscious man. “Perhaps I can convince Callestah that this is my Daughter after all. That is what she already believes.” Now he did raise his onyx eyes to look into the faded blue ones of his Father. “If you help me.”

“Why would Callestah ever believe such an outrageous lie?” Achilles asked reaching for a slab of cold meat.

“Because she doesn’t know, does she Ares?” Zeus asked. “She doesn’t know there is a reason she is your only Daughter, she thinks that…..what…she is some type of fluke?”

“I doubt she realizes she is my only Daughter.”

“Well she does now,” Achilles said through a mouthful of lamb. “I told her.”

“You what?” Ares shouted and the baby wailed.

“Give me the child,” Zeus demanded holding out his frail old arms for the baby. “You’re upsetting her.” Ares handed the baby over. “Achilles didn’t know he shouldn’t say anything.” Zeus brought the baby in close to his chest and turned his body toward the fire to bring the infant more warmth. “Why didn’t you tell her?”

“She never asked.” Ares shot.

“Lamb droppings!” Zeus hissed in an old man’s voice. “Why didn’t you tell her?”

“Tell her what, Father? That her very existence is an insult to her Grandfather the Almighty Zeus?” Ares demanded. “That she was never supposed to be born? How do you think she’d take that news?” His tone dropped as he spoke until it was almost sulking as he sat brooding in his chair. “Would you want to know that?”

Zeus thought about it for a moment. “Perhaps not.” He finally agreed. “How much did you tell her, Achilles?”

It was Achilles turn to think while the stare of the Gods’ fell upon him. “She introduced herself as your Daughter, I said that wasn’t possible and that Zeus forbid you Daughters.” His thoughtful tone stopped and he thought some more. “I don’t know if she was surprised by that or not, she didn’t ask why anyway.”

Poseidon looked around. “I don’t know if we can make her believe the baby is your offspring, Ares. Not with that knowledge.”

“I don’t know if she remembers what said,” Achilles spoke up quickly. “She was tired even then when she woke me and more concerned with her task than anything I had to say. With everything else that’s happened she may not remember.” He offered.

Ares was certain Callestah had not heard the part of his conversation with Aphrodite where they agreed all of his Sons had gone insane and there was a reason Zeus forbade Ares Daughters. He never wanted her to know about any of that. As far as Ares was concerned there was no reason to burden Callestah with such information.

“Jackson? Does he know this is his child?” Morpheus inquired.

No one knew. Nicholas had been in the cell with Enya, Ares knew that much because he could smell him in the room but whether Enya or someone else told Nicholas of the girls’ parentage was hard to say. If that did happen, was it too late to keep him from telling Jackson? If it was would Jackson go along with this plan? Ares was positive the answer to the last question was ‘no’.

“So, I see we are stymied here.” Zeus intoned. “I will help the child, Ares but until we know what Jackson does I won’t help you fool Callestah. If he doesn’t know or if he should be willing to go along with this then, yes, I will do this for Callestah but not for you.”

“Of course not, Father.” Ares agreed in a soft voice. Reaching in front of him to the table he gathered his own plate of food and poured a chalice of Nectar. “Aren’t you going to demand that I treat the child well?”

“That goes without saying but if you insist….”

“She is cute,” Morpheus said looking down at the baby interrupting Father and Son. “She’s got Jackson’s eyes. Tonight when they fall asleep I can find out what Jackson and Nicholas know.”

It was Zeus’ turn to grunt. “Fine until then I will give the little one the strength she needs to thrive, this baby will live and grow strong, Ares, but under what circumstances remains to be seen.” A peaceful white light sparkling with streaks of purple rose between the old Gods’ hands as he held the tiny baby. It sank into her cold little body and surrounded her in a blanket of energy. She did not cry but her eyes opened to embrace it. The little girl did not get any bigger as the energy sank further and further into muscles and bones but she did appear to get stronger. Her color was better, she didn’t appear so thin and gaunt. In front of the hearth appeared a handmade rocking cradle the basket of which was suspended between two spindles and the bars of which carved from oak. Zeus stood up and placed the new baby into the cradle covering her with a fresh blanket. “She will be fine, I have no doubt she will live a long and happy life, for a mortal.” The baby drifted off to sleep and Zeus resumed his seat at the head of the table. “So much for that…for now. What do you say, my Son, you got any of those cigars you used to love so much hanging around? Your credit get you that?”

Those around the table laughed.

“Very amusing,” Ares agreed in a dry voice. Five hand rolled cigars appeared in his hand. “You were always more fond of these than I was, Zeus.” Creating a flame at the tip of his index finger Ares lit Zeus’ cigar and then those of the other men at the table. Soon the cave was filled with the scent of cigar smoke. Not the sickening scent of cheap cigars but that deep rich heady scent that only a truly fine cigar can produce.

Zeus inhaled deeply letting the smoke roll around between his cheeks before he took down into his lungs and then exhaled. “Ah,” he sighed happily, “been a long time since one of these crossed my lips.” And he licked those same lips to have the biting taste of the leaf dance upon his tongue. “So, what about Hades? What shall we do with him?”

“What do you want to do with our dear Brother?” Poseidon asked. “You know him every thousand years or so he explodes this happened to be a particularly grand event this time.” He bemoaned.

“Aphrodite’s been taken away from him,” Morpheus said with a smile and then looked over at Ares, “he did prize her so highly.” Ares sneered but said nothing to the little dig. “Any idea where you sent her?”

Ares and Achilles exchanged a glance before Achilles answered. “None.”

“Pity,” Morpheus intoned. “Be nice to know where she is so we could keep an eye on her.”

“More important,” Poseidon began as he poured a third glass of Nectar, the cigar clenched between his teeth. “The world as the Mortals knew it is gone now. Hades cannot change that fact and we have to decide what we are going to do about this.”

“We can’t change it either,” Zeus returned. “The Mortals will have to make the next move. The Celts won’t extend a hand to them first neither will the Norse. All may go back to the way it was simply out of fear of each other.” Zeus advised.

“Eventually they will find us, one of them will get adventurous and drag us out into the light.” Morpheus said.

“There’s nothing we can do about that.” Replied Ares.

“Yes there is,” Morpheus countered, “we can leave here. O’Neill will send us through the Stargate to a suitable planet. The others can come with us or find their own planets, it’s not safe here any longer.”

That was one viable possibility. They could all just up and leave.

“What about David Jackson?” Zeus asked. “If we leave who will keep an eye on him?”

“I believe I will,” Ares said unable to believe the old man even asked the question. “You don’t think I’d go with you and leave her behind do you? You know as well as I that she will not leave this planet or her family. If I am here then he will never fool her again.”

Zeus had to think about that one for a while. Callestah kept as many secrets from her Father as her Father kept from her. Looking at him Zeus though it possible that Ares was aware of what David Jackson did when he was inside the Jackson house. Perhaps, what with Ares being such a part of the Mortal world and all these days, he’d seen it on the Internet. But something deep within Zeus told him Ares had no idea of what David Jackson put Callestah through on a cold snowy night in an abandoned insane asylum far from here. If he did, New Man or not, Ares would cut him in half without a second thought.

Father and Son seemed lost in a game of Mental Combat while they measured and gauged each other in silence. Zeus was with Callestah all those years she spent with Kanan. “Did she have a son named Achilles?”

“Yes,” Zeus answered.

“Where is he?” Achilles wanted to know.

“Dead like the other children she bore Kanan during her servitude.” Zeus replied in a cold voice with no hesitation. Secrets always did have a way of coming to the surface. “Yes, Ares, you must know that I was there for all of it. Granted I was stuck inside a staff by Kanan’s bed but I saw and heard…..everything.” The grin on his face turned just the slightest bit wicked. And why not? Once upon a time Zeus did die at the hands of the man sitting next to him. “Shall I tell you more?”

Ares blew a large puff of smoke into the older Gods’ face. “Shut up old man.”

“He doesn’t like to think about the years Callestah spent with Kanan,” Poseidon said suddenly. “Do you Ares? You don’t like to be reminded of the years she suffered because of your temper.”

“I never intended to leave her with him for twenty-five years. Never!” Ares insisted pounding oversized fist on the table.

“Still you feel guilty,” Zeus said, “so here you are with your driver’s license and your credit cards because the one thing Callestah wanted more than anything was to be part of the Mortal world. This is how you try to atone? By keeping the pain of this child’s existence away from her?”

Rolling smoldering eyes glared at the old man. “I’ve nothing to atone for,” Ares hissed at his Father.

Zeus started to chuckle then giggle and soon it was a full burst of laughter. “Did you hear him? He says he has nothing…nothing…” his voice broke off into more fits of laughter.

“My Lord…..Lords,” a young woman mumbled as she interrupted the gathering. “The bodies are washed and laid out, its time to light the fire.”

The mood in the room turned somber. In a painful motion Ares stood up he walked over to the cradle. Not wanting any stray embers to catch he moved it a distance away from the fire. The others rose from their seats and joined him out on the beach while the baby girl slept warm and safe inside Ares’ cave.

Outside at the shoreline a funeral pyre lay waiting. The bodies of twenty women were laid out upon a bed of dry driftwood and covered with white linen cloth only their faces were to be seen. “Such is the cost of war,” Ares mumbled. Taking up a large metal container of oil he walked down the line of bodies pouring on them and the dry wood as he went. At the end of the line he turned around walked past each body, stopped at each in turn, knelt and placed two gold coins on each pair of eyes. Hating the idea if sending any of his women to Hades but having no other choice Ares lit the wood beneath them as he passed by the row of bodies one last time. No torch just his own power to make the dried wood and scented oil spring to life.

While the bodies burned said a prayer for their immortal souls and the women around them cried as they tossed incense and flowers into the fire by the handful. Those perished were Sisters and would be sorely missed by those left behind. Ares’ harem was a tight knit group of women, except for Enya none of them ever appeared jealous of another. Then again maybe none of them cared about him in the same way Enya had. When they were full engulfed in flames and the oils, incense and flowers no longer enough to remove the stench of burning flesh from the air they all retreated back to the safety and warmth of Ares’ cave leaving them burning on the beach.

Back inside Ares went to pour refill his glass but found the pitcher empty. “More Nectar!” Ares shouted at the women as he slammed the empty ewer onto the table. “Fill it!” Rudely he tossed it at the small crowd of grieving women who skittered away from the heavy object as it crashed to the dirt floor.

“Ares!” Poseidon said in a stern voice, “don’t take your grief and anger out on them, they are mourning as well.”

Ares only grunted as he turned around to look at the stable, one of the older women was gathering the pitcher from the floor of the cave. Her name was Angelina. Normally Ares liked his women younger, no more than 25 or so but Angelina was nearing 40 and he enjoyed talking with her and getting the perspective of a more adult woman from time to time. The only woman in his stable older than her had been Enya. Angelina neither looked up or down as she picked the now dented pitcher but rather directly at the object and quietly went off to fill it at her Master’s request.

Tula came into the large main room of the cave, her arms full of packages. “The rest of you, help Tula.” Ares ordered. “I want the baby in my room so arrange her things in there.” Ares walked over to the cradle by the fire, the baby was still sleeping peacefully. Raising the baby wasn’t a problem for him, well, not the huge hurdle he once thought it would be. Looking down at her, so small and innocent, perhaps Achilles was right and once upon a time he simply would have dropped a rock upon the infants’ head. Yes, surely Achilles was right about that. Of course he would have. Things were drastically different now. “Let’s get this over with. Are they asleep, Morpheus?”

Putting his feet up on it, Achilles resumed his seat at the table and relit his cigar. Morpheus sat next to him and closed his tired eyes. All open eyes turned to him as Angelina placed two fresh pitchers of Nectar onto the table along with a fresh plate of food. She filled her Lords’ glass and then departed in silence.

Morpheus smiled, his old lips turned up at the corners just a bit. “Nicholas is not sleeping,” he said through the grin. In his mind Morpheus walked through Callestah’s quiet house. Colleen was asleep with her Daughter in her arms. Poking around in her dosing mind, the Lord of Dreams and Illusions found what he was looking for. “Colleen was there, Nicholas told Jackson. There was an argument, Jackson firmly protested his innocence.”

“So Jackson knows but he does not believe. What about Colleen, does she believe him?” Ares asked knowing that Daniel was innocent in the situation. In fact, now that Enya was dead, Ares was the only one who knew the entire story.

“She wants to.” Morpheus replied. “Callestah was not present when Jackson was told. In the argument Nicholas tells his Father that his Grandmother told him this and that Enya confirmed it.” Now Morpheus’ grin turned to a frown. “The brother was also present.”

“David knows?” Ares asked heatedly. “Damnit! What about Callestah? Can you see her?”

Morpheus knew Callestah’s house well. Perhaps he didn’t visit by day as often as he should but, every now and then mind you, he was known to come by late at night and have a look around. Sitting by the fire in Ares’ cave, Morpheus’ mind wandered up the stairs in Callestah’s house, down the hallway to the master bedroom where he walked through the door and was met with an odd sight. “Jacksons’ alone in their bed.”

“What?” Zeus asked leaning forward. “Are you sure?”

There was person in the bed where they should be two wrapped up in each other’s arms. Coming in for a closer look and poke around in the sleeping man’s mind Morpheus came to an ugly conclusion. “It’s not Daniel, David sleeps in their bed.”

Ares growled. Why would Jackson allow David, his own brother, who tricked his wife into sleeping with him into his bed? Ares wasn’t happy with leaving the little prick breathing but Callestah seemed adamant about it. Still…..

Achilles rose to his feet. “I think I’ve heard enough, if Jackson intends to share her with that low brother of his, I demand you end that marriage and give her to me as you once promised!” Achilles ordered Ares.

“You promised her to him? Huh? When?” Zeus demanded to know. “Why?”

“Is that what he’s doing?” Poseidon asked unable to believe that bit of news. In his opinion Daniel Jackson would rather cut off his own arm than share his wife with another man. “Sharing her?”

Ares, who had no intention of answering Zeus, growled again louder this time, the deep low guttural sound of a wolf about to pounce, his upper lip curled into a snarl and all he had to hear was the ‘y’ in ‘yes’ come from Morpheus’ mouth and he’d be off like a shot.

Morpheus took his time and a good look around. David was alone in the bed and dreaming. “Daniel and Callestah are not in the house.”

“If they are not there what is he doing in her bed?” Poseidon asked.

“You don’t want to know,” Morpheus replied.

“Better yet,” Zeus spoke up, “if they’re not there, where is Callestah?”

“Yes, Cousin, where is my Daughter?” Ares didn’t have to ask or be told what David Jackson was doing in her bed. If she wasn’t there with him then it was undoubted that he was whacking off probably with one of those lacy nightgowns of hers. Ares felt a quiver go through his own large frame while he found the thought of David doing such disgusting the idea of doing it still teetered on the edge of pleasurable.

Morpheus’ eyes opened. “I don’t know.”

All of the Olympian Gods at the table began looking for the one little Olympian Goddess left to them not even Zeus knew where to look for her but the lone Mortal at the table did. “Try Avalon.” Achilles suggested. “She took Daniel there to return the sword.”

“How would you know that?” Zeus asked popping a fig into his mouth. It had been a very long time since he’d tasted the food of his home planet and the God of Gods just couldn’t get enough off of it and the Nectar Ares was being so free with. Well, if nothing else, Ares always did know how to be a gracious host and throw a good party.

“You saw her when MacLeod handed over Excalibur to her, she might as well have been taking some diseased carcass in her arms.” Achilles huffed downing the last of the Nectar in his glass and reaching for a handful of olives. “They were demanding that she bring Jackson before them as soon as she possibly could.”

“What would the Ladies of Avalon want with Daniel Jackson?” Ares asked.

“I don’t know but by the time we left Avalon they seemed rather miffed over the fact that he’d once been her Sa’Tan but then suddenly reneged and claimed his place as her Husband instead.” Achilles informed Ares.

Avalon. None of them could look there with their minds nor enter with the bodies save her. Ares thought she was exhausted and even though Achilles was probably on the right track and she did want to be rid of that sword as soon as she could maybe they hadn’t made it Avalon just yet. With his own mind Ares searched out the Manor House in Scotland, the one MacLeod gave them. Sure enough there they were in an upstairs bedroom, Callestah dosing in Jackson’s arms. Jackson was wide awake. “There,” he said to Morpheus. “Look into her dreams and tell me what she knows.”

Morpheus followed his Cousin’s lead and found the sleeping Goddess.

In the bedroom Daniel felt a sudden chill and brought her closer to him while tucking the blankets around them but he saw nothing.

So tired and worn, so sad and empty. Callestah’s mind raced in a thousand different directions as she tried to rest, although several of them ran to Jackson none of them ran toward Enya’s child in fact most of them were only concerning the son she’d recently lost. “She doesn’t know.” He said and continued to look around. With Jackson awake, Morpheus couldn’t get a good peek in his head but then again he didn’t need it. Jackson’s thoughts were clear on his face. “He’s wondering if the baby is his and what he’s going to do about it.”

Well Jackson didn’t have to wonder about such things. It was Ares turn to disappear. Right in front of all their eyes…poof…he was gone. None of them had to ask where he’d gone.

**

Daniel Jackson was awake in bed with his head propped up against the headboard and Calla sleeping in his arms. He was grateful that he’d been able to convince her to at least stop here for a while before continuing to Avalon and bringing back Excalibur. Funny thing was she didn’t need a lot of convincing, in fact, it was almost as though she were hoping he’d suggest they stop at the Manor House for a day or two or three or forever before going on to Avalon.

Good old Doc Adams had been hanging around the SGC where they’d left him and he insisted on examining Calla as soon as he realized she’d lost the baby. Much against his better judgment but knowing that Adams was the best they could do under the present circumstances Daniel allowed it. Of course, he and David stayed in the room the whole time. Daniel would have preferred Jack but he was already gone and she wouldn’t allow Nicholas in the room.

David stood off in a corner quietly observing and not knowing why but still ready to jump on the doctor should the need arise. Daniel held her hand and made damn sure Adams used two gloves. When he was done Adams proclaimed he had to a ‘procedure’ on her, in other words he had to go in and remove what was left of their son and the placenta. It didn’t take very long and she didn’t even have any anesthesia.

Calla cried the whole time. He held her hand, David stood in the corner looking ashamed, Adams did his doctorly business between her legs and she wept. There wasn’t a damn thing that Daniel could do about any of it but watch and share the grief with her.

The whole time it was going on, the whole goddamn time! In the back of his head all he could think was what if that little girl is mine? What do I do? How do I tell her, after all this, how in Gods’ name do I tell her that AND that I want to bring the baby home to live with us?

He couldn’t even remember sleeping with Enya! It couldn’t be his baby! God couldn’t be that cruel that he would take away their son and let Enya’s child live. He just couldn’t be.

Adams was finished and putting away his instruments, he told Calla to lie still for a while and that he wanted to talk to Daniel alone. Daniel told David to stay with Calla and reminded him that was a glass partition and that he wouldn’t lose sight of Davy for a second therefore he shouldn’t do anything stupid. One eye on Davy through the glass and two ears on Adams voice, Daniel listened as the man once again apologized for his earlier indiscretion and swore it would never happen again, he just didn’t know what came over him before. The other thing Adams wanted to tell him was that Husband and Wife wouldn’t be engaging in intercourse for the next few weeks. Sex? As beautiful as she was it was still the last thing on his mind. He was too numb for anything like that and she was too hurt, physically and mentally. Right now, as she lay sleeping in his arms with her head on his chest, as sweet as that was, he had no idea how long it would be before he wanted to make love with her again. There were just too many secrets, too many lies and too much unfinished business between everyone in the Jackson family. Daniel couldn’t remember what if anything he’d said to Adams but he did remember not wanting her to get back into that bloody bathrobe. Stupid fucking robe of hers! She’d been wearing it for days now, ever since Ares came to the house and demanded she go off on that little mission for him the one that put her in danger and cost them their sons’ life. He remembered mumbling something about finding her new clothes and Adams saying he wanted to talk to her alone for a few minutes. Once again his memory fuzzed out a bit he couldn’t remember where he’d gone and found the uniform for her to wear, the one that was currently on the floor by the bed. She’d bathed upon getting here, two hours in the tub and his company was not wanted the bathroom door was locked. She came out red as a lobster and wrinkled as a prune and immediately climbed into the big feather bed. Daniel tried to get her to eat but Calla said she wasn’t hungry.

Anyway, as he made his way back to Adams’ office, past the bodies which still littered the hallways of the SGC with the uniform in his hands he heard her screaming. Suddenly Davy was yelling at the doctor and Calla was telling him to get away from her. Coming around the corner fast as he could Daniel saw Nicholas barge into the room and then heard the unmistakable harsh thud of someone hitting the door. Pushing his way inside he found the commotion was over a syringe. Adams, who was nursing a sore jaw courtesy of Nicholas, wanted to take blood from her and run a few tests and Calla freaked out at the site of the needle. “He wants to take blood, Kitty,” Daniel soothed, “he isn’t going to inject you with anything. OK?” She didn’t answer him right away. “Show her the damn thing is empty.” He hissed at Adams.

“Look Calla, see there’s nothing in it.” Adams held up the syringe so she could see it. “I’m just going to take a little blood, that’s all.” Finally she sat still enough to let him take one vial but that was it, she wouldn’t allow him to take anymore.

Suddenly something dark moved in the shadow of the old Scottish bedroom. “Ar…”

The God of War raised a finger to his lips and pointed at the sleeping woman with the other hand. “Shhh,” he hushed Daniel. “Do as I tell you and she need never know. Just don’t say anything to her until you and I have a chance to talk, promise me that much, Jackson.”

Daniel looked down at Calla who was starting to stir in his arms, she’d heard the sound of her Father’s voice. He didn’t know what to do or who to believe. Kissing the top of her more silver than auburn head, Daniel nodded at Ares. For her sake he could hold off saying anything for a while but probably not forever. “We’ll talk.” He said in a soft voice so as not to wake her further.

“Soon.” Ares said and then quietly took his leave from the oversized bedroom in the Manor House.

“Daniel? Father?” Calla pushed herself on one sleepy elbow.

So light and weary, she was easy to bring down again. “Cuddle with me and sleep, honey, no one’s here but us.” If Ares wanted to have such a conversation then Daniel’s doubts of the little girl’s paternity were put to rest. Somehow that little baby was his.

She need never know.

If only it was that easy.

Less than two minutes after he disappeared Ares reappeared at the table. “He’ll hold off saying anything until Jackson and I have a little chat.”

“Little chat?” Zeus asked easing back in the chair. “You don’t think he’ll let you raise his child, do you Ares?”

“If he wants to keep Callestah he will.” Ares shot. “I will make him see that.”

“Hmm, I’d like to be a fly on the wall during that conversation.” Poseidon said beginning to rise. “The hour is late, I’m going to return to my Kingdom. You are welcome to stay with me, Brother.” He said to Zeus.

“As always, you are most generous Poseidon.” Zeus said happily. “You go on ahead, I’ll join you soon.”

Point taken by all in the room; Father wanted a private word with Son.

Morpheus rose. “I should be going as well.” He said snatching another piece of lamb from the table. “So good,” he said with a grin while he ate it. Morpheus who spent little time in the Mortal realm, indeed in the Corporeal realm, was very satisfied with the small bit of food he’d eaten this evening. “When shall we gather again?”

“I’m sure Ares will call us together when he’s done talking with Jackson, won’t you Ares?”

“Of course I will, old man.”

“Are you going to let me stay here or are you going to make me sleep on the beach?” Achilles asked as he also rose to his feet.

“Take whatever room you want.” Before Achilles could open his mouth Ares answered the question he’d yet to ask. “Whatever woman too, tonight I don’t give a damn. I’ve no males to offer you for the night. Tomorrow you can go to the mainland and pick one or two who suit you.”

“Always the accommodating host,” Achilles intoned with a nod of his head. “Until next we meet, good night gentlemen.”

Poseidon and Morpheus took their leave of the cave. Achilles went in search of something to keep him warm throughout the night. Ares and Zeus stood face to face in the main room of his cave. “What do you want, Father?”

“Let me see it again,” Zeus huffed and held out his hand. “Come on, come on, give it to me.”

Letting out a big huffing sigh and reaching into his pocket once more Ares produced the wallet. “Why does this fascinate you so?”

Popping a few more grapes and nuts into his mouth Zeus resumed his seat while he laid out the pictures of Nicholas, Colleen, Annie, Lilly, and Callestah on the table next to Ares’ credit cards and his drivers license. A few more nuts. A few more grapes down the hatch as he stared at them. “I know why you do this.” He said with a grin. “I know why you told Achilles he could have her.”

“This should be priceless. Tell me, O Wise Father, Zeus, God of Gods, Ruler of All Olympians….why?” Ares crossed his arms over his chest while starring down at Zeus.

Zeus smiled a big grinning old mans’ smile. “You told Achilles he could have your Daughter because you had none and never thought you would. So like you to bargain with something you don’t have.” His eye brow raised as he dropped a few black olives into his mouth. “And, you figured, on the off chance you did have a Daughter Achilles would either be long dead by that time or that his seed would be a welcome addition to your line. I see your point on that one, Ares. But, you, ah, you my Son, you never intended to actually let Achilles have her, not for himself, not to marry. Only to breed with.”

Ares felt a headache coming on and so sat down at the table. He handed a fresh cigar over to Zeus and lit it for him. “Keep going you’re on a roll. Don’t stop now, old man.”

Zeus puffed and puffed on the cigar sending smoke wafting up through the cave. “Um, I won’t.” He grinned, still puffing on the stogie he motioned at the items on the table with his hands. “You do this because something strange happened to you, Ares.”

“What’s that?” He groused.

“You never expected to love your Daughter, but you do. You expected, should you ever have a Daughter, she would be nothing more than another of your possessions. A vessels a tool a means to an end by which you could attain what you most desire. But Callestah,” Zeus sighed and let out a little smile. “She’s special, isn’t she, Ares? Not only do you unexpectedly love her, you’re actually in love with her, aren’t you? You hope and pray that one day she will wake up and return your affections. That’s why you don’t kill that baby.” He pointed to the cradle with the cigar. “More important it’s why you don’t kill Jackson. It’s why you have all of these things because she lives in the Mortal World. Because of it you need to be part of it. Why? To impress her? Perhaps. Callestah is not easily impressed by such trappings so my guess is you have these things so that you seem more….normal…in her eyes. More so, that she will see you as a man, not always as her Father and certainly not as God.” Zeus stopped talking and resumed puffing on the cigar. He waited for Ares to say something but no reply came. “I see I’m right, years ago you would have sent me flying across the room for saying such things. Callestah has softened you, smoothed out some of those rough edges, hasn’t she?”

“Callestah is my Daughter, of course I love her!” Ares protested.

“And you loved all of your Sons.”

Ares just snickered at that. Truth was Ares didn’t know half of his Sons and those he did know, well most of them, he detested.

“You’re in love with her. That’s why you do not demand she come to your bed and give you the children you so desire.” Zeus said in a voice which was more accusation than statement. “Why you don’t tell her that I forbid her existence. All of these trappings just to gain the love of the fair Lady Callestah instead of forcing her to your side. That’s love, Ares. In your case I don’t know if it’s good or bad, I guess we’ll find out at some point.”

“What are you babbling about, old man?”

“Love, Ares. I’m talking about Love and how it can drive the sanest of people to the most insane acts. If you could find her I’d suggest you ask Aphrodite about it.” Not believing he was going to get very far with Ares tonight Zeus stood up to take his leave.

“Did she really bare him six children?” Ares asked without looking up.

“Kanan? Yes and he really killed five of them while they were still soaked with placental fluid.”

“Fool.” Ares spat.

“Yes, and to think you’d give anything and everything, even your cars and your credit for just one child from her.”

“Was he always cruel to her?”

“Put it this way; Kanan was never kind to her…..not once.” Grabbing up one last handful of olives and a bunch of grapes he looked down at Ares who was still seated and deep in thought. For the first time in Forever, Zeus didn’t see the tantrum tossing God of War but his own Son, Ares, the one his Granddaughter Callestah was always telling him he should trust. The trust thing was a little difficult given the fact that Ares did poison Zeus in Callestah’s name but in this moment, Zeus found that he could feel pity for him. If nothing else Zeus did believe Ares never meant to leave her with Kanan for so long. “Good night, my Son. I trust we will get together again very soon?”

“Yes, as soon as they return from Avalon I will talk to Jackson.” Still Ares wasn’t looking up and the sass was totally gone from his voice. “Good night, Father.”

The End Of
The Cradle Will Fall; Gods Playing Poker
by
Moon Mistress
a/k/a Lisa Beth Darling